Cultural Syncretism - 1599 Words

Cultural Syncretism Abstract The concept of cultural syncretism exists when two different cultures combine their ancient beliefs of the past to create new traditions and/or beliefs. There are several cultural factors that influenced both Africa and the Americas such as weaponry, technological advancements, medical and religious. China and India’s values were quite different when it came to cultural beliefs. They would isolate themselves from outside traditions, which made them more resistant to syncretism. Cultural Syncretism Syncretism is the process by which cultures are merged, generally between traditional culture and traits of an introduced culture. This process was especially pronounced in the Americas with the introduction of†¦show more content†¦The Mayan civilization derived from a massive empire that covered Mesoamerica from modern-day Mexico in the north into El Salvador. While the Mayan culture has remained prominent in isolated pockets in some areas of Mexico and Guatemala, in general the culture was extremely integrated into the colonial culture of the Spaniards, rather than being lost through a process of acculturation. Spanish legislative policies towards the indigenous Mayans were lenient and allowed them to keep their language and customs for the most part. The encomienda estate system in the Americas relocated the natives to allow them to work on the Spanish estates, where they were taught English as their primary language, as well as conversion to Christianity (Shuman, 1999). Religion was one of the few areas where the Spanish actually forbade native practices, forcing Christianity on the Mayans. Rather than replacing the native beliefs, the gods were merged together into the personhood of the Catholic Saints. This overt religious practice appeared to the Spanish as colonial, while still retaining the traditional meaning for the Mayan peoples (O’Neil, 2009). The impact of colonization within Native American tribes of North America was much more pronounced than the syncretism in South America, with many British colonial policies essentially obliterating some aspects of NativeShow MoreRelatedCultural Syncretism2190 Words   |  9 PagesCultural Syncretism Cultural Syncretism Christina Doty Alexis Garrett American InterContinental University Online HUMA215-1205B-07 Topics in Cultural Studies Erin Pappas January 27, 2013 Abstract The legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa, and the Americas have been compared and contrasted with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encounter in China and India. The cultural factors that caused these different outcomes are discussed. This discussion is followed by the legaciesRead MoreStuart Halls Cultural Identity and Diaspora1599 Words   |  7 PagesOuahani Nasr-edine A Paper about Stuart Hall’s article: Cultural Identity and Diaspora Stuart hall talks about the crucial role of the â€Å"Third Cinemas† in promoting the Afro-Caribbean cultural identities, the Diaspora hybridity and difference. Hall argues that the role of the â€Å"Third Cinemas† is not simply to reflect what is already there; rather, their crucial role is to produce representations which constantly constitute the third world’s peoples as new subjects against their representationsRead MoreMarni Finkelstein in With No Direction Home1607 Words   |  7 Pagesthere were 26 males and 24 females. She then also records the age these youths left home, in order to decide if there are any correlations between the age the youth left home and the number of youths that left home (2005, 15). The author applies cultural and moral relativism throughout her entire case study. She states that she did not prepare a fixed set of questions; rather she allowed the youths to generate the questions based on their interaction with her (2005,11). Fink elstein demonstrates herRead MoreSocial Structure Essay example1164 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Structure HUMA 215 – Topics in Cultural Studies 9/8/12 Abstract Cultural syncretism has transformed and shaped our world today; because of encounters years and centuries before our time we have religion and even art. Our modern culture was contributed to by the happenings of yesterday. Social Structure Introduction The legacies of cultural syncretism in the Americas and Africa can be compared and contrasted with the resistance to cultural change that westerners experienced in ChinaRead MoreCause of the Disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization1675 Words   |  7 Pagesintermarriage with the Aryans, floods, drought, and/or decline in trade with other societies. Topic 1: On several occasions in class, we discussed the processes of accretion and syncretism. Describe and analyze the cross-cultural influences in a Mediterranean and Indus Valley context. Your essay should provide examples of cultural (remember the components of culture we discussed early in the semester) interchange between different societies and civilizations. Introduction Culture is the complexRead MoreMeztisos: People of Idigenous and European Blood Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagesthese drives in the ultimate search for power. Unfortunately, these motives caused a European-Indigenous syncretism that virtually changed the native peoples way of life. Ultimately, syncretism meant survival for Native Americans in a world where their way of life did not suit the life styles of expanding Europeans. These indigenous peoples were forced to conform to a new life style of syncretism or face the possibility of extinction. The forefronts of exploration, illustrated by the desire forRead MoreReligious Syncretism - Paper1196 Words   |  5 PagesYaqui Religious syncretism Submitted by Jeffrey D Brown Submitted to Robin E. Rickli MA. Instructor People of the Southwest (ANT 306) Northern Arizona University In the first five days after the Jesuit Missionaries came to the Yaqui country, they had converted five thousand Yaqui natives. The Yaqui’s have taken this convergence and now have what is considered to be a complex syncretism of their native and Catholic beliefs. One does not have a superiority over the other, there is noRead MoreSyncretism And Anti Syncretism : The Politics Of Religious Synthesis Essay2024 Words   |  9 PagesSA2602 Book review Syncretism/anti-syncretism: the politics of religious synthesis Charles Stewart, Rosalind Shaw,1994 Syncretism, a controversial topic in anthropology yet occur to me a rather new and unfamiliar subject. Reading Stewart and Shaw’s work would be my first encounter to the idea and discussion of syncretism, and aided as an introduction to syncretism. Thus the aim of this book review is to show my understanding, merely as a novice reader trying to get a glimpse of the seemingly obscureRead MoreEssay On Salsa1201 Words   |  5 Pagesassert their contributions to the society for many centuries. Synergetic process Racial Syncretism and the Problem of Racial Categories The Spanish conquerors, unlike their counterparts, the English colonialists, were not allowed to carry their families with them to the new land. This led to a free mixing of the Europeans, Africans, and the Americans races. The mixture leads to a widespread racial syncretism that in turn leads to a racial discrimination among people. Several terms were used for discriminatoryRead MorePossibilities And Challenges Of Interreligious And Secular Dialogue809 Words   |  4 Pagesand opportunities for Christians to understand their own being, their mission, and relationship with other religions. Some tensions that may exist in duality are: fundamentalism/relativism, proclamation/dialogue, identity/openness, inculturation/syncretism, local autonomy/human rights, and freedom/reciprocity. Fundamentalism/relativism. These tensions could be beneficial or a problem especially when fundamentalism becomes radical. For instance, the situation that is happening in Syria, where there

Response to The Futile Pursuit of Happiness, by Jon...

The Futile Pursuit of Happiness by Jon Gertner was published in September of 2003. It is an essay that discusses the difference between how happy we believe we will be with a particular outcome or decision, and how happy we actually are with the outcome. The essay is based on experiments done by two professors: Daniel Gilbert and George Loewenstein. The experiments show that humans are never as happy as we think we will be with an outcome because affective forecasting and miswanting cause false excitement and disappointment in our search for true happiness. Gertner jumps right into his essay with examples. He repeatedly states that we are wrong to think that nice things will make us happy. His language starts out blunt and†¦show more content†¦Gertner claims that these mistakes in expectations can lead to making bad choices in what we think will make us happy. This is called miswanting. Gertners explanation of miswanting is filled with more examples and experiments. The experiments are credible; they are done by professors at prestigious colleges. The examples are also believable. They are very helpful because they make the reader think back to a time when they really wanted something that they couldnt have, which is what miswanting is. People think that the key to being happy is getting the future they want. Gertner says that the real problem is figuring out which of those futures is going to have the higher payoff and is really going to make us happy. But, sometimes we make alarming choices depending on what type of mental state we are in. In the next few paragraphs, Gertner discusses hot and cold states. He uses, yet again, examples and experiments to get his point across. The example he gives about Loewenstein is very effective. He also gives the reader a little comic relief with his Superfreak example. Hot and cold states can affect the way we think when making decisions. A hot state is brought about by anxiety, fear, courage, drug craving, sexual excitation, or something else which tends to make us think a little irrationally. A cold state is when we are mentally calm. The studies show that while

Juvenile delinquents Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Juvenile delinquents Persuasive Essay This newest phenomenon in the world of crime is perhaps the most dangerous challengefacing society and law enforcement ever. They are younger, more brutal, and completelyunafraid of the law. Violent teenage criminals are increasingly vicious. Young people, oftenfrom broken homes or so-called dysfunctional families, who commit murder, rape, robbery,kidnapping, and other violent acts. These emotionally damaged young people, often are theproducts of sexual or physical abuse. They live in an aimless and violent present and have nosense of the past and no hope for the future. These young criminals commit unspeakably brutalcrimes against other people, often to gratify whatever urges or desires drive them at the momentand their utter lack of remorse is shocking (Worsham 1997). Studies reveal that the major cause of violent crime is not poverty but family breakdown;specifically, the absence of a father in the household. Today, one-fourth of all the children in theUnited States are living in fatherless homes which adds up to 19 million children without fathers. Compared to children in two parent family homes, these children will be twice as likely to dropout of school, twice as likely to have children out of wedlock, and they stand more than threetimes the chance of ending up in poverty, and almost ten times more likely to commit violentcrime and ending up in jail (Easton 1995). The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, reported that the rise in violent crime over the past 30 years runs directly parallel to the rise infatherless families. In every state in our country, according to the Heritage foundation, the ratefor juvenile crime is closely linked to the percentage of children raised in single-parent families. While it has long been thought that poverty is the primary cause of crime, the facts simply do notsupport this view. Teenage criminal behavior has its roots in habitual deprivation of parentallove and affection going back to early infancy, according to the Heritage Foundation. A fathersattention to his son has enormous positive effects on a boys emotional and social development. But a boy abandoned by his father is deprived of a deep sense of personal security. In awell-functioning family the very presence of the father embodies authority and this paternalauthority is critical to the prevention of psychopathology and delinquency . The overwhelmingcommon factor that can be isolated in determining whether young people will be criminal in theirbehavior is moral poverty, Parker says (Parker 1996).Psychologists can predict by the age of 6 wholl be the super-predators. According toexperts, child abuse and parents addicted to alcohol ruins these childrens lives. Each generationof crime-pron e boys has been about three times as dangerous as the one before it. Psychologistsbelieve the downhill slide into utter moral bankruptcy is about to speed up because eachgeneration of youth criminals is growing up in more extreme conditions of moral poverty thanthe one before it. Moral poverty is defined as growing up surrounded by deviant, delinquent, andcriminal adults in abusive, violence-ridden, fatherless, godless, and jobless settings. The super-predator is a breed of criminal so dangerous that even the older inmatesworking their way through life sentences complain that their youthful counterparts are out ofcontrol. Super predators are raised in homes void of loving, capable, responsible adults whoteach you right from wrong. It is the poverty of being without parents, guardians, relatives,friends, teachers, coaches, clergy and others who habituate you to feel joy at others joy, pain atothers pain, happiness when you do right, remorse when you do wrong. It is the poverty ofgrowing up in the virtual absence of people who teach these lessons by their own everydayexample, and who insist that you follow suit and behave accordingly (Zoglin 1996).The needto rebuild and resurrect the civil society (families, churches, community groups) of high-crime,drug-plagued urban neighborhoods is not an intellectual or research hypothesis that requirestesting. Its a moral and social imperative that requires doing and doing now (Duin 1996). A super predator is actually a young psychopath or psychotic, almost completely without ambition, and are often of below average intelligence. They do not recognize, intellectually orotherwise, any rules of society. While psychopaths and the super-predator both share the inabilityto feel emotion, the psychopath can feign it to achieve a result.The super predator seemscompletely incapable of even that. More interestingly, the super predator is remarkably candid. .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 , .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .postImageUrl , .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 , .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:hover , .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:visited , .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:active { border:0!important; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:active , .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207 .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u001c9088bae519ffdb9b5d5408a7c207:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tennyson, Carlyle And The Tragic Hero EssayThey will more often than not admit not only to their crimes, but also as to the why. They feel asif nothing wrong was done and would do it again if placed in the same situation. When asked what was triggering the explosion of violence among todays young streetcriminals, a group of life-term New Jersey prisoners did not voice the conventional explanationssuch as economic poverty or joblessness. Instead, these hardened men cited the absence of people family, adults, teachers, preachers, coaches who would care enough about young males tonurture and discipline them (Zoglin 1996). Even more shocking than the sheer volume of violentjuvenile crime is the brutality of the crime committed for trivial motives: a pair of sneakers, ajacket, a real or imagined insult, and a momentary cheap thrill. For example: a 59-year-old manout on a morning stroll in Lake Tahoe was fatally shot four times by teenagers looking forsomeone to scare. The police say the four teenagers, just 15 and 16 years old, were thrillshooting. Another example can be the case of a 12-year-old and two other youths were chargedwith kidnapping a 57-year-old man and taking a joy ride in his Toyota. As the man pleaded forhis life, the juveniles shot him to death (Duin 1996). 1. Duin, Julia Alarm over crime puts focus on our nations moral crisis., The Washington2. Easton, Nina J The Crime Doctor Is In; But Not Everyone Likes Professor. JohnDiIulios Message, There Is No Big Fix; Home Edition., Los Angeles Times, 3. Parker, Shafer, Violence With a Youthful Face.., Vol. 23, Alberta Report /Western Report,4. Richard Zoglin Reported By Sam Allis/Boston And Ratu Kamlani, New York, Crime:Now For the Bad News: A Teenage Time Bomb , TIME, 01-15-1996, pp 52+.5. Worsham, James-Blakely, Stephen-al, et, Crime and Drugs., Vol. 85, Nations Business,Bibliography:Deloach 4Works Cited1. Duin, Julia Alarm over crime puts focus on our nations moral crisis., The WashingtonTimes, 11-17-1996, pp 31. 2. Easton, Nina J The Crime Doctor Is In; But Not Everyone Likes Professor. JohnDiIulios Message, There Is No Big Fix; Home Edition., Los Angeles Times, 05-02-1995, pp E-1. 3. Parker, Shafer, Violence With a Yout hful Face.., Vol. 23, Alberta Report /Western Report,06-17-1996, pp 27. 4. Richard Zoglin Reported By Sam Allis/Boston And Ratu Kamlani, New York, Crime:Now For the Bad News: A Teenage Time Bomb , TIME, 01-15-1996, pp 52+.5. Worsham, James-Blakely, Stephen-al, et, Crime and Drugs., Vol. 85, Nations Business,02-01-1997, pp 24.

Trinidad and Tobago and Member States free essay sample

?In the year 1958, the West Indies Federation, was started by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956 and the objective of starting this federation was to create a political unit that would become independent from Britain as a single state. This Federation consisted of ten (10) territories which were: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, Montserrat, Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Vincent and lastly Trinidad and Tobago. The total population of the West Indies Federation was between three (3) and four (4) million people, and contained around twenty-four (24) inhabited islands with the largest being Jamaica. The Federal Parliament was bi-cameral consisting of an elected House of Representatives and a nominated Senate. Sir Grantley Adams, of Barbados was the one and only Prime Minister of the Federation, Queen Elizabeth II was the Head of State and the Federal capital was located in Trinidad. Also, flag was made to represent the ten territories that made up the Federation. We will write a custom essay sample on Trinidad and Tobago and Member States or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Aims of the West Indian Federation: Britain did not show much interest after Emancipation because sugar no longer gained massive amounts of profits to Britain and this forced the member countries of the Federation to develop ideas to solve their social and economical problems. To achieve independence. To obtain cheaper wages for imports and gain better wages for exports. Also, to resist the United States intervention in the affairs of the Caribbean. The West Indies Federation also achieved some goals and theses were uniting the smaller states to enhance their effectiveness in dealing with international bodies and gained independence through a united voice. In May 1962, the West Indies Federation had collapsed due to arguments around finance and freedom of movement. These factors disbanded the Federation: -There were conflicts among members, for example determining the capital site. -It’s two largest members, Trinidad and Jamaica, was expected to provide eighty-two percent (82%) of funding for the operating expenses of the West Indies Federation with ten territories. -Competent people refused to be the head of the Federation, for example Dr. Eric Williams of Trinidad and Mr. Norman Manley of Jamaica. -Distrust of the smaller states since the two largest states proposed to change the constitution of the West Indies Federation into their own interest. -Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago then withdrew from the federation due to a referendum in September, 1961 and Dr. Eric Williams made this statement ‘one from ten leaves nought ’. These factors created the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) which was formed in 1968. Its membership comprises of eleven states. CARIFTA acknowledges the big gap between the more developed Caribbean states and the less developed Caribbean states and also created a Free Trade Area among its members. CARIFTA was intended to encourage balanced development of the member states by liberalizing trade by abolishing quotas on products produced and tariffs, increasing trade by importing and exporting more products among member states, diversifying trade by expanding the variety of products and services available for trade and also, ensuring fair competition by developing rules so that the smaller states would not be dominated. CARIFTA also involved in the removal of customs taxes, duties and licensing arrangements which encourages more trade among the member states. The CARIFTA agreement sought to promote industrial development in the less developed countries and the development of the coconut industry, to ensure that the benefits and credits of free trade were equitably distributed among its member states, and to rationalize agricultural production. CARIFTA helped markets grow by approximately seventy four percent (74%) for example Saint Vincent has received substantial gains by exporting ground provisions and other commodities to Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana provide the larger markets for CARIFTA exports and each collecting about one-quarter of the total amount. The less developed countries accounted for approximately ten percent (10%) of the total, Guyana and Jamaica together accounted approximately thirty-five percent (35%) or the total amount and Trinidad and Tobago, the largest exporter in the region exporting fifty percent (50%). Unlike the West Indies Federation which failed in May 1962, CARIFTA did not fail. The benefits to member states of cooperating in free trade were numerous and members of CARIFTA came to the conclusion to widen regional cooperation among the member states by creating CARICOM on August 1st, 1973. CARICOM also known as the Caribbean Community and Common Market and is an organization consisting of fifteen (15) Caribbean nations and dependencies. CARICOM’s objectives are to improve the economic development of member states through The introduction of free trade (economic cooperation) Functional cooperation by air transport, meteorological services, health, broadcasting, shipping, culture, intra-regional technical assistance, education and training. Common policies in dealing with non-member states and transnational corporations and CARICOM member will effect a common external tariff, a common policy when importing goods and attracting foreign investors to the region(Harmonization of Fiscal Incentives) and a common policy on tourism. CARICOM’s accomplishments include: Development of the single market (CSM) which is the member states were trading with each other without any restrictions or tariffs and this CSM was implemented in January 2006 which resulted in the dismantling of the free movement of capital, trade barriers, goods and services. The CSM then created a system to certify tertiary and vocational educational skills and this is the creator of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ). Establishment of the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). CROSQ is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality. Some functions are to promote consumer welfare and safety and to support standards-infrastructure development at the national level. The establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which had two jurisdictions an original jurisdiction which applies the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and an appellate jurisdiction. A treaty to avoid double taxation of incomes earned by citizens operating regionally. When this tax is removed the citizens may use the money for other purposes for example to buy fertilizers for their plants to export. The implementation of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). CXC’s objective is to provide regionally and internationally recognized secondary schools leaving examinations relevant to the needs of the region. CXC’s first examination was held in 1979 to test student in both academic and technical/vocational subjects. The operations of CXC are funded chiefly by contributions from participatory governments and examination fees. Establishment of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). US $60 million was recommended as a good start up figure and contributions to the fund will be collected from member states, non-member states and the regional private sector. Establishing the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) which is one of the oldest examples of regional cooperation and some of its functions include arranging inter-territorial cricket matches, and assisting in financing cricket matches played in the West Indies or abroad. After these achievements there were some factors that led to the failures of CARICOM. These factors are that there is competition among member states in air transport, member states failed to cooperate in exploring common resources which caused conflict among members, The West Indies Shipping Corporation (WISCO) has been plagued with problems since inception and over the years there have been conflicts that member states contravened the free trade agreement and enacted trade barriers for goods produced within the region. Although CARICOM did a lot there are still some suggestions I will like to make to benefit the member states and the people of CARICOM and the are: Bond markets which also serve as a means through which large capital inflows can be sterilized. Well developed bond markets tend to reduce the bias towards short- term investment and provide the market with financial instruments and various maturities. Bond markets also help in reducing the risk of financial crises of member states. Domestic debt markets also help in facilitating monetary policy which relies increasingly on indirect instruments of control. Wages in the long term bond market give information about what to expect of likely macroeconomic developments and about market reactions to monentary policy moves. Create an organization signed by all Caribbean islands that in case of emergency or if a natural disaster occurs all the other islands help the needed island by either collecting items like food and transport it to the needed island. The more developed countries like Trinidad and Tobago should give at least ten percent of their profits to the less developed countries so that they can develop industries and export more products. Hotels and restaurants have been importing products while those products could be bought in the market, the products will be fresher and the money will stay with-in the region. CARICOM could introduce the rest of the world Clearance and settling facilities the systems which are used by each country are known for operating smoothly and facilitating the effective functioning of their markets.

Intel A Corporation essays

Intel A Corporation essays "A corporation is a business that, although owned by one or more investors, legally has the rights and duties of an individual. Corporations have the right to buy, sell, and own property. Corporations may make legal contracts, hire and fire workers, set prices, and be sued, fined, and taxed. A business must obtain a charter of incorporation from a state legislature or Congress to be legally recognized as a corporation."(Watson, p211) While corporations didn't exist until the mid to late 1800s, the idea of the corporation had existed since the early 1600s. It all started with English merchants who started trading companies to help fund the early colonies. If the colonies thrived, the stockholders reaped in the profit. (Watson, p211) A corporation is started when a sole proprietorship, a one-owner business, that is the most common form of business institution in the US, or a partnership, an association of two or more people in order to run a business, decides that they don't want to be personally responsible for any loss the company might have. (Watson, p211) Or they might decide that they want the company to "live on" after they die, that is for the business to have "unlimited life". Since neither of these goals can be reached with a sole proprietorship, or a partnership, the owner (or owners, as the case may be) decide that he (they) want to "convert" their business to a corporation. The owner(s) file a charter of incorporation from the government to be legally recognized as a corporation. (Boyd, March, 99) The owner(s) then sell shares of stock, documents representing ownership in the corporation, to investors. These investors buy and sell the stock to small investors, or stockholders. Since there is n o limit to the number of shareholders to a company, the investors vote (for every share you own you get one vote) on a board of directors. The board of directors are in charge of hiring the people responsible for the eve...

Brady Act Background Checks, History, and Application

Brady Act Background Checks, History, and Application The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act is perhaps the most controversial federal gun control law enacted since the Gun Control Act of 1968, and several events in the U.S. led to its creation and enactment. In an effort to deny guns to those who would misuse them, it requires firearms dealers to perform an automated background check on prospective buyers of all rifles, shotguns or handguns. Brady Bill History On March 30, 1981, 25-year old John W. Hinckley, Jr. tried to impress actress Jodi Foster by assassinating President Ronald Reagan with a .22 caliber pistol. While he accomplished neither, Hinckley did manage to wound President Reagan, a District of Columbia police officer, a Secret Service agent, and White House Press Secretary James S. Brady. While he survived the attack, Brady remains partially disabled. Driven largely by the reaction to the assassination attempt and Mr. Bradys injuries, the Brady Act was passed, requiring background checks on all persons attempting to purchase a firearm. These background checks must be performed or applied by federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs). NICS: Automating the Background Checks Part of the Brady Act required the Department of Justice to establish the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) which can be accessed by any licensed firearms dealer by telephone or any other electronic means for immediate access to any criminal information on prospective gun purchasers. Data is fed into the NICS by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and state, local, and other federal law enforcement agencies. Who Cannot Buy a Gun? Between 2001 and 2011, the FBI reports that over 100 million Brady Act background checks were performed, resulting in more than 700,000 gun purchases being denied. People who may be prohibited from purchasing a firearm as a result of data obtained from the NICS background check include: Convicted felons and people under indictment for a felonyFugitives from justiceUnlawful drug users or drug addictsIndividuals who have been determined to be mentally incompetentIllegal aliens and legal aliens admitted under a non-immigrant visaIndividuals who have been dishonorably discharged from the militaryPeople who have renounced their American citizenshipPeople under domestic violence restraining ordersPeople convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes Note: Under current federal law, being listed on the FBI Terrorist Watchlist as a suspected or confirmed terrorist is not grounds for denial of a firearm purchase. Possible Outcomes of a Brady Act Background Check A Brady Act gun buyer background check can have five possible outcomes. Immediate Proceed: The check found no disqualifying information in the NICS and the sale or transfer can proceed subject to state-imposed waiting periods or other laws. Of the 2,295,013 NICS checks done during the first seven months the Brady Act was enforced, 73% resulted in an Immediate Proceed. The average processing time was 30 seconds.Delay: The FBI determined that data not immediately available in the NICS needs to be found. Delayed background checks are typically completed in about two hours.Default Proceed: When a National Instant Criminal Background Check System check cannot be completed electronically (5% of all checks), the FBI must identify and contact state and local law enforcement officials. The Brady act allows the FBI three business days to complete a background check. If the check cannot be completed within three business days, the sale or transfer may be completed although potentially disqualifying information might exist in the NICS. The dealer is not required to complete the sale and the FBI will continue to review the case for two more weeks. If the FBI discovers disqualifying information after three business days, they will contact the dealer to determine whether or not the gun was transferred under the default proceed rule. Firearm Retrieval: When the FBI finds that a dealer has transferred a gun to a prohibited person due to a default proceed situation, local law enforcement agencies, and ATF are notified and an attempt is made to retrieve the gun and take appropriate action, if any, against the buyer. During the first seven months, the NICS was in operation, 1,786 such firearms retrievals were initiated.Denial of Purchase: When the NICS check returns disqualifying information on the buyer, the gun sale is denied. During the first seven months of NICS operation, the FBI blocked 49,160 gun sales to disqualified people, a denial rate of 2.13 percent. The FBI estimates that a comparable number of sales were blocked by participating state and local law enforcement agencies. Typical Reasons for Denial of Gun Purchases During the first seven months in which Brady Act gun buyer background checks were performed, the reasons for denial of gun purchases broke down as follows: 76 percent - Criminal history of a felony8 percent - Criminal history of domestic violence6 percent - Criminal history of other offenses (multiple DUIs, non-NCIC warrants, etc.)3 percent - Criminal history of drug abuse3 percent - Domestic violence restraining orders What About the Gun Show Loophole? While the Brady Act has blocked more than three million gun sales to prohibited purchasers since taking effect in 1994, gun control advocates contend that up to 40 percent of gun sales occur in â€Å"no questions asked† transactions that often take place over the Internet or at gun shows where, in most states, background checks are not required. As a result of this so-called â€Å"gun show loophole,† the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence estimates that about 22% of all gun sales nationwide are not subjected to Brady background checks. In an effort to close the loophole, the Fix Gun Checks Act of 2015 (H.R. 3411) was introduced in the House of Representatives on July 29, 2015. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), would require Brady Act background checks for all gun sales including sales made over the Internet and at gun shows. Since 2013, six states have enacted similar laws.

Innovation in a sustainable future Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Innovation in a sustainable future - Essay Example Ever since my childhood, I have many anticipations and objectives for my future career. A few of the anticipations have eventually faded away as time has passed by. However, at present, my career aspiration is concentrated in the area of science. Furthermore, I would also prefer to mention that my career aspiration is to become a diligent engineer. Based on this aspect, the report discusses about my career aspirations and potential professional development in engineering field for the next ten years. Career in Engineering.Engineering is one of the most important fields of study in the academic life which opens up various career paths into a range of science areas. Engineers have extensive assortment of career options in comparison with other professions such as business or management among others. Engineering has vast scope in advance fields such civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and electrical engineering among others. In this context, I would like state that my career aspiration in engineering is to become an electrical engineer. This branch of engineering is largely related with the design and application equipment in order to generate power and distribute energy.What Electrical Engineers Do.As discussed above electrical engineers are concerned with the generation and utilisation of electricity. It is one of the leading braches of engineering. The key emphases of electrical engineers are to develop sources of power, energy control systems and sign al processing. As an electrical engineer, I will concentrate on planning, maintaining and creating products which can effectively generate electricity. Electrical engineering area is quite vast and there are so many areas of specialisation to select from such as electronics, power, communication and computer among others. I would take specialisation in the area of power or energy1. Energy Demand in Daily Life Over past few decades, the requirement of energy in daily life has increased considerably. Although there are several sources of energy, most of the effective energy sources are non-renewable in nature such as coal, natural gas and oil among others. This high requirement for energy along with non-renewable nature of key energy sources has generated the need for innovation of an alternative energy source. One of the most prevalent alternative energy sources is solar energy. In comparison with other non-renewable energy sources, solar energy is highly accessible and it also has l ow adverse impact on environment during power generation. Furthermore, I would also like to mention that this area of engineering has not been exploited properly and possesses a huge prospect in future as a sustainable energy source. By understanding the importance of solar energy, I have selected this area as my future career aspiration and after ten years, I want to see myself as great innovator in solar energy engineering field where this energy source will become much inexpensive and effective to produce energy and to satisfy the considerable level of energy demand2. Career Aspiration in Solar Energy Engineering Solar energy engineers require developing, designing and evaluating energy based products and projects in order to minimise energy expenses and enhance energy efficiency. Solar energy engineers also specialise in heating, ventilation, cooling, green building and lighting among others. Concerning these specialisation areas of solar energy engineering, I would prefer to ta ke cooling. The reason is that in power generation