The Usa Patriot Act, a Controversial Public Policy, Julius Taka Essay Example

The Usa Patriot Act, a Controversial Public Policy, Julius Taka Essay The USA Patriot Act of 2001 is a controversial public policy, which greatly undermines the civil liberties and constitutional freedom of the American people. This essay will moved from an overview of the USA Patriot Act to a review of the critical literature regarding the importance of the Act to the safety of Americans and shows how the Act violates the civil rights and liberties of citizens and noncitizens alike. After presenting sufficient evidence that the Patriot Act violates many of the basic principles that have been articulated in the U. S. Constitution, particularly within the Bill of Rights, I will, propose recommendations that if implemented scrupulously could help to restore American confidence in governments determination to continue functioning as the protector of civil liberties and rights. In the wake of the worst terrorist attacks in U. S. history on September 11, 2001, just six weeks later with little Congressional resistance or analysis; the U. S. Congress passed into law the USA Patriot Act. The Patriot Act titled â€Å"Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism† granted an unprecedented and vast power to federal investigative services, which greatly undermines the civil liberties and constitutional freedom of the American people. The main objective of the Patriot Act is to deter and punish terrorist acts in the U. S. and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes, (Act, 2001, p. 1). We will write a custom essay sample on The Usa Patriot Act, a Controversial Public Policy, Julius Taka specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Usa Patriot Act, a Controversial Public Policy, Julius Taka specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Usa Patriot Act, a Controversial Public Policy, Julius Taka specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Despite this purpose, the Act represents both good and bad points with respect to fighting terrorism and negative consequences on the civil liberties of U. S. citizens. For the most part, I believe the USA Patriot Act does little to combat terrorism and represents a threat to the liberties of the American people. There is no denying that the hastily passed Patriot Act does have provisions and measures that help the U. S. Government expand its surveillance of suspected terrorists and their activities. For example, Section 101Establishes a new counter terrorism fund without fiscal year limitation and of unnamed amount, to be administered by the Justice Department for its own use. Section 103Re-invigorates the Justice Departments Technical Support Center (established by the Anti Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996) and gives it $200 million for each of the next three years, 2002 through 2004. Section 105: Establishes a national network of electronic crimes task forces o be set up by the Secret Service throughout the country to prevent, detect, and investigate various electronic crimes including potential terrorist attacks against critical infrastructures and financial payment systemswhich can mean a wide variety of computer crimes. (Michaels Van Bergen, 2002). Moreover, section 203 of the Act combined forces of domestic law enforcement and foreign intelligence, previously separate collection operations on separate tracks, (Podesta, 2002, p. ). Furthermore, the Act pro vides U. S. authorities with expanded powers to freeze suspected terrorist assets in foreign countries and increases their ability to gain access to offshore banking records. The Act amended what is known as the Bank Secrecy Act. The funding of terrorism is a criminal offense and those who fund terrorists are often able to conceal their activities. The Act is good in resolving this issue, as Section 312-319 stipulate as follows: (1) sets a 120-hour deadline for financial institutions to respond to certain information requests by federal investigators involving wide range of accounts; (2) creates new forfeiture provisions for those charged or convicted of certain terrorist crimes especially including money laundering, setting forfeiture authorities virtually unheard of in federal law to this point, and (3) permits access by federal investigators of records of certain correspondent accounts with foreign banks. (Michaels Van Bergen, 2002). To facilitate the job of the Justice department and other federal agencies involved in this counter terrorism mission, the Act makes it mandatory upon banks and domestic financial entities a new minimal and enhanced due diligence requirements on certain accounts, as a way of revealing possible use of accounts for terrorist financing. In addition, Section 412 of the Act provides for mandatory detention of suspected aliens, lists seven bases for such detention, allows a person to be held for seven days without any charge, permits possible indefinite detention for aliens deemed not removable, and ensures limited court review. Despite these and other positive aspects of the Act, which do, indeed, help U. S. officials combat terrorists and their activities, many other provisions violate civil liberties, the U. S. Constitution, and jeopardize the privacy of U. S. citizens without recourse for challenge. The arrest of suspected terrorists or their sympathizers has seen the arrest and detention of many Americans without due process of law. Basic rights of privacy have been eroded by the Act, including expanded search and seizure and surveillance laws. Responding to the Patriot Act, groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (Congress takes aim, 2003) have filed legal challenges to the Act and have worked to lobby members of Congress to reconsider many of its provisions. The ACLU has argued that measures contained in the Act such as the right to obtain so-called sneak and peak warrants under a low evidentiary standard are direct violations of the intent and principle of Fourth Amendment protections. The Fourth Amendment was designed to protect the public against unreasonable searches and seizures. Consequently, law enforcement officials have until passage of the Patriot Act have needed to present a reasonably strong case to a court in order to obtain a warrant to enter a private home or business, confiscate certain types of property, or eavesdrop electronically on private conversations and communications. An ACLU spokesperson maintains that the Act represents an overnight revision of the nations surveillance laws that vastly expanded the governments authority to spy on its own citizens, while simultaneously reducing checks and balances on those powers like judicial oversight, public accountability, and the ability to challenge government searches in court, (Surveillance, 2005, p. 3). From arrests without evidence to random search and seizure, the Act represents a potential danger to the rights and civil liberties of the American people much more than it helps as a practical tool in combating terrorism. Consequently, cities across the United States, according to Schabner (2003), have begun to revolt against provisions of the Act, saying that it gives law enforcement too much power and threatens civil rights. In Massachusetts, the cities of Cambridge, Northampton, and Amherst and the township of Leveret have passed resolutions characterizing the Act as a threat to the civil rights of community residents. Berkeley California and Ann Arbor Michigan have also adopted such resolutions, while police in Portland and Oregon have refused to cooperate with the FBI on investigations of Middle Eastern students in their city. Schabner (2003) states that these resolutions and actions may be largely symbolic in that local governments or agencies have no authority to compel federal law enforcement to comply. Many Americans and units of government are concerned that the Act goes too far. For example, libraries, workplaces, private homes, schools, and other institutions which have e-mail services available to the public or a PC owner are vulnerable to surveillance by federal agencies (Sanders, 2003). The legislation enables the FBI to require libraries and other institutions to turn over data on individual activity, including book purchases and library check-outs, e-mail traffic, and so forth all without a showing of probable cause. The problem, says Robert Levy (2003) of the Cato institute, is that while the rationale for the Act and expanded investigative powers is that national security is at stake, the provisions of the Act are already being employed in matters that have little to do with terrorism or anti-terrorism investigations. Nancy Talanian (2002), a spokesperson for the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, identified the effects of the Patriot Act with respect to specific Amendments contained in the Bill of Rights. It is with respect to these basic civil liberties and protected rights that the policies changed by the Act will have the most impact. Earlier in this report, an overview of Fourth Amendment effects was offered, but Talanian (2002) pointed out that the Patriot Act also affects the First Amendment, Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, and Eighth Amendment. The First Amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. (Talanian, 2002, p. 2). As elucidated elsewhere in this paper, the Patriot Act is a complete violation of the First Amendment. The Fifth Amendment reads no person shall be held to answer for a crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law (Talanian, 2002, p. 7). The Patriot Act removes the requirement of obtaining judicial permission before listening in on conversations between prisoners and their attorneys, thus forcing prisoners to effectively be a witness against himself or herself. The Act establishes trials by a military tribunal at the discretion of the president for noncitizens, denying due process of law and permitting secret evidence and hearsay to be used against the accused. Talanian (2002) contends that the Fifth Amendment is impacted because the Patriot Act allows a committee composed of the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, and the CIA Director to label citizens and on citizens as enemy combatants placing them in military custody, holding them indefinitely, interrogating them, and denying them communication with outsiders or judicial review. Further, the FBI gains the ability to monitor and survey religious groups and political groups without evidence of wrongdoing, potentially compelling an unsuspecting participant in such gatherings to be a witness against himself. Finally, the broad powers given to the Attorney General to certify immigrants as risks deprives immigrants of liberty without due process of law. The effects of the Patriot Act on the Sixth Amendment are also significant. The Sixth Amendment establishes the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the state and district where a crime is alleged to have occurred; the right to be informed of the nature and cause of an accusation; the right to be confronted with witnesses, and the right to have compulsory process for obtaining defense witnesses and the assistance of counsel in constructing a defense (Talanian, 2002). Under the Patriot Act, each of these rights are suspended. Similarly, the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and the infliction of cruel and unusual punishment. As Talanian (2002) has commented, Section 412 of the Patriot Act gives the Attorney General broad powers related to mandatory detention of suspected terrorists and suspension of habeas corpus and judicial review. This has the potential to result in the cruel and unusual punishment of deportation. Taken together, Talanian (2002) asserts that each of these attacks on civil liberties and rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights creates a situation in which the Executive Branch enjoys excessively broad discretionary powers. As public policy, therefore, what the Patriot Act does is that it effectively undermines the fundamental tenets of the American democratic system. With the possible exception of some critics, there are few in the United States today in and out of government who do not believe that terrorism continues to present a very real threat to national security or that government has both the obligation and the responsibility to take affirmative action to protect the security of the nation and its citizens. However, allocating virtually unlimited powers to the Executive Branch, with the potential to permit dilution of the rights and liberties guaranteed by and enshrined in the Constitution, is not appropriate and may well be extremely threatening to the American democratic system. Consequently, alternative policies must be examined. Among these alternative policies is the elimination of the provisions within the Patriot Act that seek to reduce the oversight authority of courts with respect to all types of surveillance. Schabner (2003) intimated this abuse of power is not necessarily out of any deliberate attempt to diminish civil liberties but rather in an overzealous effort to identify potential terrorists or other criminals. By requiring that federal investigative agencies follow standardized procedure for obtaining court warrants for surveillance activities and showing probable cause; greater attention to the right of individuals to be free from excessive searches and seizures will be established and guaranteed. A second policy initiative is the creation of a Congressional task force or oversight committee that works directly with the coalition of federal investigative agencies headed by the Department of Justice. Creating a mechanism for Congressional involvement in the activities of these task forces will help to restore the balance of power within the government as provided for by the Constitution. Michaels and Van Bergen (2002) believe that creating coalitions of this type will help to render the entire process of combating terrorism more transparent. Transparency will also introduce new elements of accountability and help to prevent any Executive Branch abuses of new powers. To maintain the provisions of FIS and to ensure equality between the various organs of government, section 218 of the Patriot Act should be eliminated. Under FISA, a specifically created federal court must approve electronic surveillance of citizens and resident aliens believed to be acting on behalf of a foreign power (Levy, 2003). Under FISA, approval for a warrant is lower than probable cause but higher than other standards. Finally, the Patriot Act must have the provisions regarding Executive Branch powers of detention removed. Under Section 412 of the Act, noncitizen suspects linked to possible terrorist activities can be held without counsel for seven days. The Act effectively allows expanded detention simply by permitting a detainee to be charged with a technical violation (Van Bergen, 2002, 2002 b, 2002c, 2002d). Levy (2003) contends that more than 1,000 detainees to date may have been denied access to their attorneys under this section of the Act. The USA Patriot Act does little to ombat terrorism and represents a threat to the liberties of the American people. Since the passage of the USA Patriot Act, there have been numerous terrorist attacks around the world. The worst terrorist attack after 911 was the Fort Hood killings right here in the U. S. While legislation like the Patriot Act is required to help provide authorities with the tools they need to combat terrorism, such legislation must endur e lengthy congressional review, public debate, and stop at the place where U. S. citizens rights and civil liberties begin. If not, we risk creating a government whose ultimate power may represent more of a threat to the American people than any terrorist group. This essay has moved from an overview of the USA Patriot Act to a review of the critical literature regarding the importance of the Act in relations to the potential of the Act to lead directly to violations of the civil rights and liberties of citizens and noncitizens alike. The unintended and intended public policy consequences of the Act have been analyzed, along with recommendations for perfection of the Act. As a type of public policy, there appears to be sufficient evidence that the Patriot Act violates many of the basic principles that have been articulated in the U. S. Constitution, particularly within the Bill of Rights. Because this is the case, it is now important to reconsider whether or not the Patriot Act should be allowed, modified or to remain in place. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the leading organization calling for fundamental changes in the Patriot Act. The policy recommendations presented above address the fundamental changes to Americans legal rights that are contained in this Act. Schabner (2003b) has suggested that these types of changes to the procedures outlined or permitted in the Patriot Act can help to restore American confidence in governments determination to continue functioning as the protector of civil liberties and rights.

Malcom X

Malcom X Free Online Research Papers Malcolm X The Civil Rights Era was a time of hardships and oppression for minorities living in the United States. Minorities were treated unfairly and oppressed for the past 200 years which is why many of them wanted a change in the society they lived in. Throughout the course of the Civil Rights Movement many leaders arose to lead their followers to liberation from discrimination and racism. Malcolm X was one of these leaders. He was a phenomenal speaker and very influential leader. However Malcolm believed in achieving liberation, equal rights, and freedom through violent revolution. He advocated and promoted violent protest and hate to rally support from his followers. These radical protests negatively impacted the course of the movement. Examples of these negative influences were shown in Malcolms faith, his view on the J.F.K. assassination, his condescending view of Martin Luther King, his controversial speech The Ballot or the Bullet, his blatant racism against whites, and his opposing views of racial integration. Malcolm Xs violent ideology negatively affected the success that the Civil Rights Movement had for American minorities. Malcolm repeatedly told his followers that violence and harmful crimes would lead them to freedom and liberty from the whites. In his speech The Ballot or the Bullet Malcolm said, The only thing Ive ever said is that in areas where the government has proven itself either unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes, its time for Negroes to defend themselves. Article number two of the Constitutional amendments provides you and me the right to own a rifle or a shotgun. It is constitutionally legal to own a shotgun or a rifle. This doesnt mean youre going to get a rifle and form battalions and go out looking for white folks, although youd be within your rights I mean, youd be justified; but that would be illegal and we dont do anything illegal. If the white man doesnt want the black man buying rifles and shotguns, then let the government do its job. Thats all.(X) Although Malcolm brings up the constitution, his statements are still morally wrong. He is telling hi s followers to go out and purchase guns. By telling them to arm themselves, he is promoting violent means to achieve liberation from racism and segregation. Harming or injuring any person in order to prove a point would certainly not motivate the government or any other person to make a change in their society. Instead it would cause greater chaos and promote even more problems. In The Ballot or the Bullet Malcolm told his listeners, Any time you demonstrate against segregation and a man has the audacity to put a police dog on you, kill that dog, kill him, Im telling you, kill that dog. I say it, if they put me in jail tomorrow, kill that dog. Then youll put a stop to it. Now, if these white people in here dont want to see that kind of action, get down and tell the mayor to tell the police department to pull the dogs in. Thats all you have to do. If you dont do it, someone else will.(X) This is one of the ways in which Malcolm promoted violence amongst his followers. He told them to go out and violently demonstrate against racism and discrimination. He told them they have the right to kill anything that got in their way. This proves his extremist attitude toward ending the suffering and mistreatment of minorities. This type of violent attitude would only impede the progress that the Civil Rights Movement was making. Aggressive behavior would not help African Americans achieve desegregation and win freedom from oppression; instead it creates a hostile and dangerous environment for all of America. Malcolm made several statements during speeches and interviews that significantly harmed the view of African American activists by other Americans. In an interview Malcolm said, the Negro has already given up on non-violence. This new-thinking Negro is beginning to realize that when he demonstrates for what the government says are his rights then the law should be on his side. Anyone standing in front of him reclaiming his rights is breaking the law. Now, youre not going to have a law-breaking element inflicting violence upon Negroes who are trying to implement the law, so that when they begin to see this, like this, they are going to strike back. In 1964 youll find Negroes will strike back, there never will be non-violence anymore that has run out.(Gallen 125) This is what Malcolm wanted. He wanted a violent revolution to occur because he thought it was the only way for black to get the rights they deserved. Malcolm wanted to stir up the blacks so they would revolt violently against the whites. Malcolm made several statements that harmed his stance in the movement. Malcolm Xs rising star in the Nation of Islam came tumbling down in 1963. At a rally on December 1 he referred to President John F. Kennedys assassination as a case of the chickens coming home to roost, meaning that the same hatred that whites had directed at blacks had felled the president.(Gallen 61) Malcolm began to become more radical and extreme in his acts. In this statement he mocks the assassination of one of our presidents because he is so fed up with the discrimination of his people. Malcolm humiliated the black community with these words and created a bad stigma for activists like himself and Martin Luther King. Malcolm criticized and blamed the government for the racial problems within their society and he vehemently disavowed his allegiance to America. Malcolm once said, Im not anti-Democrat, Im not anti-Republican, Im not anti-anything. Im just questioning their sincerity and some of the strategy that theyve been using on our people by promising them promises that they dont intend to keep.(X) Malcolm demonstrates how he was an extremist fighting against the government. Malcolm constantly reprehended Americas government for not helping solve the problem of black discrimination. His comments were taken as a threat by the government and gave them reason not to make changes for the good of African Americans. In his The Ballot or the Bullet speech he said, No, Im not an American. Im one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism. One of the 22 million black people who are the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy. So, Im not standing here speaking to you as an American, or a patriot, or a flag-saluter, or a flag-waver no, not I. Im speaking as a victim of this American system. And I see America through the eyes of the victim. I dont see any American dream; I see an American nightmare(X) Malcolm blamed America for the discrimination of his people. He revoked himself as an American and led his followers to believe that the American system was not helping the black community of the country. Thus negatively impacting the view the rest of America had on their community. Malcolm had a very pessimistic view concerning the future of blacks in America. Malcolm once said, The job of the Negro civil rights leader is to make the Negro forget that the wolf and the fox both belong to the (same) family. Both are canines; and no matter which one of them the Negro places his trust in, he never ends up in the White House, but always in the dog house.(Ali) Malcolm had a cynical outlook on the future of black Americans. He believed they wouldnt get anywhere unless they resorted to violent acts against the whites. His contemptuous views invoked passionate rage and hate amongst his followers and drove them to seek vengeance and participate in violent protests which, in turn, negatively affected the direction the movement was heading. In his speech Gods Judgement of White America Malcolm states, Is it possible for America to escape this divine disaster? If America cant atone for the crimes she has committed against the twenty-two million Negroes, if she cant undo the evils she has brutally and mercilessly heaped upon our people these past four hundred years, then America has signed her own doomand our own people would be foolish to accept her deceitful offers of integration into her doomed society at this late date!(Ali) Malcolm doesnt believe that America can get out of the social depression it has dug itself into. He brings up the idea of integration and shuts it down saying it will never help out the problem within Americas society. Integration was the one thing that would have and did save the black community and Malcolm thought it would not assist their cause. Malcolm frequently denounced the peaceful protests of the nations great civil rights leader, Martin Luther King. He once said, The goal has always been the same, with the approaches to it as different as mine and Dr. Martin Luther Kings non-violent marching, that dramatizes the brutality and the evil of the white man against defenseless blacks. And in the racial climate of this country today, it is anybodys guess which of the extremes in approach to the black mans problems might personally meet a fatal catastrophe first non-violent Dr. King, or so-called violent me.(Ali) With two different approaches to solving their crisis Malcolms and Dr. Kings ideas constantly clashed. Malcolm disregarded Dr. Kings ways and believed only his own ways were the right way to go. This however proved to be incorrect and his tactics would become highly controversial and unsuccessful during this movement. Kings peaceful protests were clearly more effective than Malcolms yet Malcolm still criticized King s beliefs. While Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was teaching blacks to fight racism with love, Malcolm X was telling blacks to understand their exploitation, to fight back when attacked, and to seize self-determination by any means necessary. Malcolm spoke publicly of his lack of respect for King, who would, through a white mans religion, tell blacks to not fight back.(Hamilton) Malcolms teachings of the Islam taught him about the mistreatment of blacks and he believed that the only solution was through violence. Malcolm fought hard and stampeded through anything that got in his way, like Martin Luther king. He disagreed with Kings beliefs and believed that violence was the only answer. Those violent teachings created a negative effect amongst African Americans and caused chaos, terror, and violent dangerous protests within America. Malcolm was blatantly racist towards whites and very outspoken about it which gave the civil rights movement a bad image from the perspective of fellow Americans. Ive never seen a sincere white man, not when it comes to helping black people. Usually things like this are done by white people to benefit themselves. The white mans primary interest is not to elevate the thinking of black people, or to waken black people, or white people either. The white man is interested in the black man only to the extent that the black man is of use to him. The white mans interest is to make money, to exploit.(Ali) Instead of trying to reason, Malcolm decided to criticize and negatively stereotype the white people. This had a negative impact on the uprise of the black movement. It created even more reason for the whites to continue their oppression and discrimination of African Americans. The common enemy is the white man.(Ali) Malcolm tells his followers that the white man is the enemy. In a nation w here more than half the population is white, calling the major populous the enemy isnt exactly the best plan. Rather than reason with whites, Malcolm decided to attack them and go to war with them. Malcolm was against the one thing that would have changed civil rights in the most influential way; desegregation. In his speech Gods Judgment of White America he said,If this white government is afraid to let her twenty-two million ex-slaves go back to our country and to our own people, then America must set aside some separate territory here in the Western Hemisphere, where the two races can live apart from each to her, since we certainly dont get along peacefully while we are here together.(Ali) Malcolm did not want integration, which would give blacks more freedom and rights. Instead he wanted the country to split into two and have the entire country be segregated. Malcolm strongly believed that integration will weaken black power and influence. He stated, If I have a cup of coffee that is too strong for me because it is too black, I weaken it by pouring cream into it. I integrate it with cream. If I keep pouring enough cream in the coffee, pretty soon the entire flavor of the co ffee is changed; the very nature of the coffee is changed. If enough cream is poured in, eventually you dont even know that I had coffee in this cup. This is what happened with the March on Washington. The whites didnt integrate it; they infiltrated it. Whites joined it; they engulfed it; they became so much a part of it, it lost its original flavor. It ceased to be a black march; it ceased to be militant; it ceased to be angry; it ceased to be impatient. In fact, it ceased to be a march.(Ali) By saying this Malcolm is rejecting the help from whites. Whites marched with the blacks in a march to help out the black movement. Even though they probably could have done a great deal for the movement, Malcolm still thought they didnt belong. Although he was a revolutionary and a very influential leader of African Americans, his teaching worked in the opposite way he was intending them too. His public protests and beliefs had a negative effect on the civil rights movement. Malcolm had great influential power and had great effect on thousands of people. His teachings carried on to greater changes in the United States during the 60s and 70s. He significantly impacted the Black Power Movement and other Civil Rights activists and revolutionized African American protests. Although his beliefs werent always morally correct Malcolm was a courageous, influential leader that greatly altered the time in which he lived.. Ali, Noaman. Malcolm-X.org. 13 Dec. 2007 . Gallen, David. Malcolm X As They Knew Him. New York: Carroll Graf, 1992. Hamilton, Neal A. Malcolm X. Facts On File. American History Online. Facts On File. 7 Nov. 2007 . X, Malcolm. The Ballot or The Bullet. Cleveland, Ohio. 3 Apr. 1964. Student Resource Center Gold. Gale. Westview Lib., San Diego, CA. 8 Nov. 2007 . Research Papers on Malcom XCapital Punishment19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraWhere Wild and West MeetQuebec and CanadaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHip-Hop is ArtRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Bakhara marketplace Essay Example for Free

Bakhara marketplace Essay Siad Barre’s rule was oppressive and divisive. Once an intelligence officer of the Italian fascists, he pitted clans against each other as a diversion from his decreasing popularity. Due to the strategic location of Somalia at the entrance to the Red Sea, it became of interest to both the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. By 1966 Soviet Union became a supporter of Somalia and this would go on for 10 years. It supplied the country millions worth of arms and military equipment. But a territorial conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 over the annexation of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia which is believed to be part of Greater Somalia saw a shift of support by the Soviet Union to Ethiopia which strained the relationship of the two countries. Siad Barre renounced their Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, expelled all Soviet advisers, and ejected all Soviet personnel from Somalia. Barre then switched alliance with the United States. It supplied him with a total of $154 million worth of weapons and military equipment from 1981-1991. In this decade, Somalia descended into chaos with the continued warring clans. An insurgent group formed by the Hawieyah clan, the United Somali Congress, ousted Siad Barre from power in January 1991. Internal disputes led to a power vacuum and Somalia plunged into civil war. Two different faction leaders within the United Somali Congress announced their claims to power: Ali Mahdi Mohammed and Mohammed Farah Aidid. â€Å"It was this war, coupled with bad harvests, which led to the horrifying scenes of starvation that were televised around the world in 1992. By the end of 1992 about 350,000 Somalis had died. Another 1. 5 million, close to one-fourth of the remaining population, were thought to be in danger of starvation without massive food aid. â€Å" Somalia’s plight attracted international food aid. The United Nations launched Operation Provide Relief (UNOSOM – I) in August 1992 for Somalia. But the mission failed in their objective because food and supplies were often stolen and utilized as leverage for securing loyalty from clan leaders while almost three hundred thousand Somalis died of starvation. In December 1992, responding to the United Nations’ call for assistance, President George Bush obtained an approval from the U. N. that the United States combat troops lead an intervention force to Somalia. This was the famous Operation Restore Hope whose initial objective was to secure trade routes in Somalia so food could get to the people. The deployed troops would be sent home in time for then President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Shortly upon his assumption of office, President Clinton intended to trim down U. S. troops in Somalia to be substituted by the United Nations peacekeeping troops. UNOSOM II was launched in March 1993 to restore order, improve infrastructure, and to help set up a representative government as part of its â€Å"nation building† mission in Somalia. During the inspection of Somali weapons storage site on June 5, 1993, 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed and it was believed that Aidid was responsible. The hunt for Aidid followed. Several military operations were done from June 12 to 16 in relation to Aidid’s capture including bombing a house in the capital, Mogadishu, where clan leaders were gathering. Four Western journalists investigated the scene but were beaten to their deaths by Somalis. By August 1993, four U. S. military police were killed and six soldiers were wounded. Then Task Force Ranger consisted of 440 elite troops from Delta Force led by General William Garrison flew into Mogadishu with the mission to capture Aidid. On that fateful October 3, 1993 the group raided the Olympia Hotel in Mogadishu. What followed was a seventeen-hour urban battle where eighteen U. S. soldiers were killed and eighty-four were wounded. Unfortunately, the Olympia Hotel was located east of the crowded Bakhara marketplace. Hundreds of Somalis were part of the casualties. However, the mission led to the capture of three important Aidid senior officers and about twenty Aidid supporters hiding within. News stories flashed and printed by the international media showed â€Å"chilling pictures of dead and captured Americans†, â€Å"television footage on CNN showed a frightened, wounded Blackhawk helicopter pilot†¦under interrogation by his Somali captors†, â€Å"Somalis watching as the body of an unidentified American was dragged through the streets at the end of a rope. † Bakhara marketplace. (2017, May 13).

Working out Alternatives Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Working out Alternatives - Case Study Example In retrospect, FAR one of the players of Adventure racing faces the challenges of inadequate revenue and from the influence of competitors. The company’s management predicts the company will continue making losses (Holland and Jackie 248). This influence has an impact of the return on investment value of the organization (R.O.I) In analyzing the external environment of FAR various aspects influence organizational performance. First FAR sponsors act as the first influence to the organizational revenue collection. Sponsors have been important in adding value to the organization due to their financial contribution to Racing events. On the other hand, local governments as well as national governments have an implication on firm’s operation (Hoang and Frank 739). It also comes into perspective that environmentalist have an influence on the organization. Environmentalists have an influence on the choice of the routes for the races. Their sentiments ensure that racing events does not influence the environment negatively (Vahlne and Neil 24). On the hand, customers have an important role to play on the success of the firm. Customers purchase tickets to racing events adding value to the revenue of FAR. An analysis on the revenue of FAR, reveals that the organization provides tickets affordable to every individual. The company’s president Zietsma maintains a low-ticket cost of $1,400 and $4,200 per team. The first price represents a 36-hour race while the next price concentrates on extreme race events. In comparison to other events within the region, FAR rate ranks low. British Colombia races and other races rate at $2000 for the 36-hour race and $5000 to $9000 for extreme races. Other races have higher costs due to increased costs translating from hiring of vehicles, staff and in renting equipments. Other related expenses that make the firm unique to competitors are that it does not incur

Managing ethnic diversity in British workplace Essay

Managing ethnic diversity in British workplace - Essay Example In their standards of recruitment, training, and promotion, government agencies and human services organizations have been more effective as equal opportunity employers than the private business sector. But even in government and human services agencies there is room for improvement. Many equal opportunity employers are merely paper compilers; their behavior is anything but exemplary of equality in action. If the policy of equal employment opportunity (EEO) is to apply without regard to sex, race, creed, color, or national origin, an important first step is to ascertain whether influential members of an organization harbor prejudices. Following Allison (1999) "Unlike the instrumental focus on corporate culture and productivity that characterize the functionalist perspective, critical analyses provide reflection on different types of management issues including, "epistemological issues, notions of rationality and progress, technocracy and social engineering, autonomy and control, comm unicative action, power and ideology" (78). Numerous studies conclude that a large number of minority workers receive insufficient information about their present job conditions and future opportunities. Specifically, many minority workers quit or retire from organizations without ever having understood what their supervisors diagnosed as their needs, why certain procedures were followed and, if failure resulted, what their failures consisted of and the reasons for them. The minority workers' rights include the right to courteous, prompt, and the best supervision. They have the right to know what is wrong, why, and what can be done about skill deficiencies (Konrad et al 2006). The managers could build a case of minority workers' ignorance as... Traditionally, British workplace represents a homogeneous unity consisting of British employees. Thus, globalization and immigration processes create new problems for managers. Managing ethnic diversity is one of the main problems required effective solutions and strategies to be introduced. Ethnicity and race are often confused in the United States. Equality of treatment and opportunity has been the official policy of some organizations for many years. In their standards of recruitment, training, and promotion, government agencies and human services organizations have been more effective as equal opportunity employers than the private business sector. There are two main approaches to diversity-related attitude change. Both approaches center on communication. The formal attitude-change approach is based on learning theories and assumes that people are rational, information-processing beings who can be motivated to listen to a message, hear its content, and incorporate the learnings w hen it is advantageous to do so. The means of change is formal, structured communication, and the reason for change is either actual or expected reward for embracing diversity (Konrad et al 2006). The amount of attitude change depends on employees' initial position regarding diversity, their attention to the message and to the communicator, their understanding of the message, and their acceptance of the message.

Less Talk, More Work Essay Example for Free

Less Talk, More Work Essay Have you ever thought that there is a greater need to work constantly on a daily basis than to catch up on your social life with family and friends? Work addiction is a growing problem today. Most workaholics seem to put work, a main priority, before anything else such as time spent with others. The obsession with work is due to many reasons. For some people, work is needed to earn money to pay for necessary expenses such as food and bills. However, too much of a workload affects a person mentally, physically, or even both. Stress is one of the many reactions when it comes to constant hours or days spent at work. In â€Å"The Company Man,† written by Ellen Goodman, the main character Phil shows how chaotic he is with himself and with his work that eventually leads to his tragic farewell. The lifestyle of working excessively is common. The idea of becoming a workaholic is to strive for a certain value or feeling for oneself. Goodman’s story of The Company Man illustrates a vivid example of a common workaholic. If a workaholic is spotted, the image is depicted as â€Å"anxious, guilt-ridden, insecure, or self-righteous about †¦work†¦ a slave to a set schedule, merciless in his demands upon himself for peak performance †¦compulsively overcommitted† (Marlowitz 7). This workaholic image illustrates Phil. In Phil’s world, everything he does is directed towards work. As an addict living with a wife and three children, he works nearly every day as well as many nights (Goodman 61). He works for an important company, serving as a vice president (Goodman 60-61). Having a high-level position makes him feel important because he â€Å"worked like the Important People† (Goodman 61). Based on his high position, Goodman hints at Phil’ s pride, a powerful factor influencing his motivation and duty to work. While Phil is driven mainly by pride there are many other reasons why he works too hard. These reasons include his identity, self-respect, self-esteem, self-doubts, pressure from family expectations, perfectionism, a coping mechanism for his negative emotions, and his obsessive-compulsive behavior. Some of the key components of workaholism include intensity, energy, competition, and motivation (Machlowitz 26). Workaholism also includes three other main components such as enjoyment, drive, and work involvement (McMillan). When it comes to workaholic men like Phil, they view themselves as the family caretaker and feel completely responsible for taking care of all the family needs (Killinger 139). This viewpoint brings pressure on workaholic men because they feel that they are expected to ensure that there is both financial protection and emotional well-being in the family (Killinger 139). They must be independent especially with earning money. Money attracts power, freedom, and independence (Schaef 120). Chasing after the goal of money-making is a way for workaholics to ga in achievement, which sets off a powerful drive (Schaef 120). Not only do pressures from the family increase this drive, but the work addict himself plays a factor as well. A workaholic is able to enjoy and love a job if he is fairly good at it. His self-esteem increases with the thought of being good at something. Therefore, he would feel even better and take even greater pride in what he knows and what he is capable of doing. This pride takes over and motivates him to excel and become a perfectionist. However, there comes a moment when perfection gets out of hand and he develops an obsession. A psychological dependence grows out of the addictive behavior from workaholism (McMillan). Work becomes central and all other aspects of life are forgotten (Schaef 119). As compulsive workers, they become obsessed with work and cannot stop (Shimazu). Their drive is ongoing with the thought of taking charge and taking control over everything and everyone (Shimazu). Fears, doubts, and insecurities start to develop inside, which pushes their mindset to work to the full extent. Aside from these feelings, workaholics hold ambitions, enabling them to be superior and competitive at all times, which can bring an overload of stress (Machlowitz 43). Working hard appears to be the only solution to overcome and avoid negative emotions such as anxiety and to gain respect and approval from others (Machlowitz 43). Other reasons for Phil’s obsession with work include his Type A personality and fears of laziness, failure, and loss of control, and. Phil is motivated to work long and hard because he cannot bear the thought of failing. Failure portrays the end of the world to workaholics like Phil; therefore, they must succeed (Machlowitz 41). Another fear is laziness. Ironically, workaholics hold a strange belief that they are naturally lazy (Machlowitz 42). As a result, they drive themselves even harder to avoid falling behind in work. Some, but not all, workaholics develop a Type A personality. This personality consists of negative traits such as impatience, aggressiveness, and competitive impulses (Machlowitz 44). A Type A also includes the need to rush, to work rapidly, and to set aside feelings such as fatigue during working hours (Machlowitz 44). Workaholics hold an illusion over the loss of control (Machlowitz 45). Because of their obsession, they are made to believe they are given all the respect and hold all the power if everything is done only their way and no one else’s (Killinger 8). Work has the ability to consume selfish and demanding feelings in an addict (Killinger 9). Being a workaholic can significantly affect both psychological and physiological health. According to Barbara Killinger, workaholics are at a loss because they suffer through many mixed emotions. Workaholics experience confusion and pressure from their families, doctors, or colleagues which causes them to reduce the amount of hours they work (133). Severe fatigue and exhaustion also occur (133). When they decide to slack off and the work starts piling up, they are at a loss of control, becoming stressed, overwhelmed, and panicky, and experience claustrophobic moments (134). Some, but not all, may feel empty and at a loss for sense of direction (134). They may also become overly sensitive, restless, and easily annoyed (134). They then go into frenzy, taking all things personally (134). Workaholics have a problem with the need to regain control in order to feel satisfied after (134). They know they cannot accept failure and so, the goal is to succeed fully, otherwise, they turn irate and feel worthless (134). However, the more adrenalin they build up into their system, the more constant fatigue they will most likely experience after (134). Barbara Killinger also mentions fatigue as a leading cause of a number of conditions in behavior (134). A pattern of eating and sleeping changes, sexual desires increase or decrease, inability to concentrate, and lack of motivation in work or play. Other signs include isolation from family and friends, memory loss, mental, physical and emotional exhaustion, unreasonable frustration or mistrust, and lack of care and need to distance oneself from a problem (134). In addition to these signs of depression are the harmful responses from anxiety and workaholism. Such responses can include inability to keep calm, nervousness, dizziness, abnormal blood pressure, heart problems, difficulty breathing, and other physiological symptoms (135). As for the psychological responses, these include an increase in stress and defense responses. Once they experience extreme anxiety they may cope by resorting to fantasy and exaggeration (135). Excessive worry and sense of sudden danger occur as well (135). Once workaholics become paranoid, they also experience high levels of doubt. They feel anxious and worry that bad things are about to occur (135). Going back to Phil, he most likely could have experienced one or more of these kinds of signs or symptoms. As the passage states, â€Å"Phil was overweight and nervous and worked too hard. If he wasn’t at the office, he was worried about it. Phil was a Type A, a heart-attack natural.† (Goodman 62). Therefore, he did have three symptoms: nervousness, worry, and heart problems. These symptoms did some serious harm to him. It is no surprise that Phil passed away because of a coronary thrombosis (Goodman 60). Workaholism also affects those around the workaholic. Very often, workaholics do not consider how their behavior affects others, particularly family members. Consider Phil from The Company Man as an example. Work interference puts the role of parenting in jeopardy. Work serves as the main priority. Because Phil works so much, this interferes with his ability to be a good parent (Killinger 159). There are three types of fathers: authoritarian father, indulgent father, and negligent father (Killinger 147). All three types affect children in negative ways (Killinger 147). Phil is the negligent father type. He is oblivious to the needs of his family and engages solely in work (Killinger 147). A lack of communication exists between Phil and his twenty-four-year-old daughter. They have nothing to say to one another (Goodman 61). A lack of interaction also occurs between Phil and his twenty-year-old son who graduated from high school and works various jobs to support himself for food (Goodman 61). Phil is impressed by his son’s good actions of earning money and the son is Phil’s favorite. However, Phil’s absence and his unavailability is such a disappointment, especially for his son. Phil’s son tries so hard to reach out and grab his attention and approval (Killinger 161-62). Although Phil shows little affection by staying up many nights in excessive worry for his son, it is still not enough to say that there is interaction or love between the two because there is none. Sons of missing fathers think as if they don’t belong in society and feel like outsiders (Killinger 162). As a result, these negative thoughts and feelings cause them to turn to drugs and crime or drop out of school (Killinger 162). From the money Phil’s son earns, he uses it to buy â€Å"grass† or drugs (Goodman 61). His action portrays how badly affected he is for the lack of acceptance, personal warmth, and value he desperately needs from his father (Killinger 162). The negative affection is the same for Phil’s forty-eight-year-old wife Helen (Goodman 61). Phil’s constant absences emotionally harm her the most. As a spouse, it is hard to maintain an intimate, loving relationship if the significant other happens to be a work addict (McMillan). Maintaining such a need leads to a bad outcome. Since there is no emotional attachment, care, and intimacy presented, the relationship is put at risk due to work interference (McMillan). In addition, the family is left in dissatisfaction and distress. Phil chooses to give up his social life, an essential value, instead of his work obsession, what he believes to be most important than anything else (McMillan). Having to continue putting up with Phil’s behavior, Helen is left with no choice but to give up trying to fix the problem of keeping everyone united together when the real problem is Phil and his lack of presence and his role as the father. Emotional damage is not just in family members but in coworkers as well. Coworkers have to deal with the complaints and demands from workaholics (Machlowitz 52). In addition, they are given all the blame and criticism, especially if tasks are not done perfectly (Machlowitz 54). Some workaholics tend to do more than what is expected of them, making everyone else’s hard work seem very little as if they have not done enough (Shimazu). Recognized as aggressive individuals, workaholics put a great amount of pressure and verbal harassment on coworkers (Machlowitz 44). Because of this negative abuse, coworkers may feel easily annoyed or put down too much, which can affect their work performance (Shimazu 156). According to Marilyn Machlowitz, there are actually four types of work addicts (32). Knowing for a fact that there is more than one type is unusual for one may assume all workaholics are the same based on the one activity they have in common: work obsession. However, this assumption is not true. The four types of work addicts are the dedicated workaholic, the integrated workaholic, the diffuse workaholic, and the intense workaholic (33). Phil is a dedicated workaholic because this type of workaholic has no outside activities or hobbies (33). If anything, their relationship with their job serves as the only activity they will ever have because it is their only prime focus. Consider the line of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, â€Å"I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date. No time to say hello, goodbye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!† (Killinger 132). Every second is precious because time is a major necessity that cannot afford to go to waste (Machlowitz 31). Impatience is presented but a strong dedication is shown as well. Workaholism works the same way. Like the white rabbit, Phil shows a strong commitment to work and to act on it fully. Studies have shown how badly workaholics put themselves in with themselves and their lives. Studies also show the negative health effects on workaholics more than non-workaholics such as sleeping problems, depression, and dissatisfaction with the balance between work and life, and constant worry over lack of quality time with family and friends (Keown). For example, 56% admit being unable to make time for leisure and making plans to change all that (Keown). Another example declared that one-third prefers to be more isolated (Keown). These studies show how much of a huge impact work has on their identity (Keown). Although they accept the consequences they must bear and the sacrifices they must cope with, workaholism does not eliminate the outcome of having poor detrimental health. Everyone has their own excuses, reasons, and values to workaholism. Their compulsive attitude and behavior gives the impression that nothing gets in the way of work, the â€Å"only† priority in life. However, workaholism puts one’s health, whether mental or physical, at high risk. Emotional and physical harm is targeted not just towards the workaholic but towards his or her family members and coworkers too. The Company Man depicts Phil’s workaholism displaying a serious effect on his wife and children. His work obsession also illustrates the loss of his social life with his family and his coworkers.

The Marginalization of Minority Groups in The Electoral System Essay

The marginalization of minority groups in the electoral system impedes a comprehensive representation by further entrenching and aggravating ethnic division. The lack of minority representation in political-decision making has limited the ability of a true representative democracy to come into fruition. The inconsistency of elected assemblies mirroring the population has decreased the representation of ethnic minorities and deepened the racial and ethnic cleavages. Reforming the electoral system to accommodate proportional representation will not only enhance interethnic relations, but also ensure that racial, ethnic, and social diversity is reflected in national leadership. This paper will aim to create to create a strong electoral system that promotes the sustainability and longevity of democracy amidst racial and ethnic cleavages. To do so, I will show that proportional representation under parliamentary system can not only bridge the gap between underrepresented minorities and na tional leadership, but also ensure that there is a more equitable diffusion of power. I will focus on outlining the essential components of proportional representation to provide the framework for my argument. Assessing the tenets of this type of democracy will elucidate its distinguishable factor that makes it apt to curb this challenge. In addition, the assertions of Linz, Cheibub, and Lijphart will substantiate my argument that a parliamentary system, unlike a presidential system, can allow greater proportional representation of all minorities. To ensure a more balance and equitable representation of the candidate pool, I will argue the necessity of employing a Single Transferable vote. While many may see the flexibility and lack of stability in par... ...stem must be constructed that not only strengthens civil society, but also ensures its equal representation. Under this mode of governance, not only will there me a more equitable representation of all minorities, but also the ideals of democracy and constitutional liberalism can be sustained. As stated by Fidel Ramos, â€Å"Governments may come and go, but the people remain. It is the majesty of people power that we exalt when we build functioning and free electoral systems.† It is of utmost importance for the electoral system to be not only, the voice of the people, but also be an outlet from which the interests and pleas of society can be expressed and manifested into legislation. While proportional representation does have it flaws, its ability to truly represent the choices of the electorate will create an egalitarian representation and a successful democracy.