Plessy Versus Ferguson

Plessy Versus Ferguson Cobe Hill Lynn Jenks Homer Adolph Plessy was a black man who had dealt with oppression his entire life. He was born in the late 1800s after all. That happened to be prime time for racism in America. Homer was the type of man that faced his problems and stared them down. This lead him to sitting in the All Whites car in the East Louisiana Railroad in 1892. This was a mistake in the eyes of the white people, so they decided that it was about time to kick this kid off. The security guards laid down a beating on him then kicked him off the train. They kept his name and information though, as they were going far enough to sue him in the pending future. This is exactly what he wanted to happen, as he was a part of a black civil rights organization that opposed the recently passed Separate Car Act. He wanted them to put him in the courts, to show he was ready to fight for his rights as a black man. This case began locally, and Homer fought his way through many courts leading up to the Supreme Court. The most important was that of the Louisiana Supreme Court. This court upheld the law and declared it constitutional according to their interpretations. This set Homer off, and he knew that there was only one court left for him to appeal to and gain the freedom he knew he deserved. He had to go all the way up to the Supreme Court. Simply because there were so many black civil rights cases trudging their way up to the Supreme Court at that time, many people didnt believe whole-heatedly that this case was going to be reviewed. Homer wrote his appeal and submitted it to the Supreme Court within days of the rulings in Louisiana. Homers appeal was reviewed by the Supreme Court, just as every other case is and it was thought to be a potentially grounds-setting case. A committee was assigned the case and reviewed Homers facts against Louisiana and vice-versa. The case was deemed appropriate by the committee so they proposed it to the rest of the Court. They all seemed to be on board, so they decided to see the case as soon as they could. This just happened to be a long time later; 1896 to be specific. The states had created a law that was known as the Separate but Equal Act, and this acted just like it sounded. It upheld the fact that black and white men and women were equal, but they must be separated in the public facilities. This included areas like bathrooms, restaurants and of course, trains. There were plenty more segregated areas that were specifically designated to black people or white people respectively, but these werent supposed to be what was on trial here. Rather than the Separate but Equal Act as a whole, what was supposed to be on trial here was the Separate Car Act. For Homer Plessy, this Separate Car Act was the least of his issues, and he knew that there was more to fight for than good seating in a train. He was fighting for true equality for all people of color, and starting with trains didnt seem like enough for him. He wanted to just end it all in one court case, and had big plans to fight the entire Separate but Equal Act, which was a large bite to chew. He gathered all of his facts and took them with him to D.C. His lawyer was all for supporting equality between races and genders, but he knew that this was a large law to be attacking with such a small base. Only having gone through the courts fighting against the Separate Car Acts meant a lot for this Supreme Court case. They would have to change many things about their approach and their plea. He couldnt support Homer in this endeavor, but what he could do was broaden the picture of their case. He was going for the Supreme Court to overrule the Separate but Equal Act, not among the entirety of the United States, but just within Louisiana. This would potentially set the precedent for further cases, and if they won this case, that precedent would push the equality agenda more than ever before. When the case was accepted by the Supreme Court, the public opinion was that this law should be upheld. There wasnt very much budge in the public eye, and the courts had all seen that. Juries were impossible to be chosen without some sense of prejudice and or hatred within it. This was a problem that had plagued this case. This made all of the juries biased, and because the public was always against him, Homer lost all of the juries votes as soon as they were selected. With that all behind him and a fresh new court without such elegances as a jury, Homer believed that this was his chance to change peoples minds for real. He didnt have to sway an entire jury, just the Supreme Court, who had shown a similar bias towards cases like this one. They had voted that separation in the school system in Alabama was legal, which is concurrent to the effect of this case. It was a ruling that allowed Separate but Equal to be voted through by each state individually. Since this ruling, many states in the south decided to apply Separate but Equal to their public facilities. Louisiana was one of the states that had extended the power and use of Separate but Equal to every possible situation. Even in restaurant seating and in the public drinking fountains. There was still a very obvious distinction between the quality of these areas as well. Every area that was specifically for the white people was treated well and kept up, while the areas that were black only were trashed and never cleaned. This was all that was going through the state, and there wasnt an area that they could all go to get away from it. Homer knew that this had to end here, so he fought and fought with his lawyer to help him destroy the precedent and set his own. Pleading like he was already in court, Homer begged and begged. In a surprise turn, Homers lawyer decided that it might actually be a good idea to broaden there plea on the court, and chase after that freedom that blacks were in dire need of. He figured that it would be a better way to show the brutality of the separation and the way that they were treated. If they could give examples of every situation that included the separation, it might tear through the hearts of the Justices. They were people after all. It would be hard to show them the pain that the black community had been going through with just a little train car incident. That was the least of their problems, and attacking that wouldnt work, they needed to show everything that had been tormenting them, and Homers lawyer knew exactly how. He wanted to show that there was legally no difference between black people and white people. There was no legal way to treat them different, simply because of their skin color. He wasnt trying to prove that they were the same, just equal. There shouldnt be a way to treat white people in court or in public, and a way to treat black people. In the system of laws that were in place at this time, it would have been completely acceptable to just deny someone service because they were black. Finally the case came along, which was an incredibly stressful but exciting experience for Homer. He was ready to prove his point that he shouldnt be treated so poorly, but that wasnt what was going to happen that day. He didnt know it yet, but the case had been laid out against them from the start. The precedents set before this case were so overwhelming that it would only take a shred of evidence that Homer was in the wrong, and it would be over. That is exactly what happened on that day. Homer went from being excited to prove his innocence and show the world that it was wrong to segregate based on skin color to being depressed about the fact that he failed to represent his people. The cases ruling came to be that it wasnt above the law to imply a legal distinction between peoples of different skin color. Despite the fact that this seemed to be in complete contrast with the 13th and 14th amendments of the constitution, it was ruled this way. Homer was a precedent setting case that sadly held firm until a very closer time to our own. The case that finally ended the segregation and the Separate but Equal Act was the Brown vs. Board of Education case of 1954. This ended the torment that black men and women had to live through for over 100 years.

The Importance Of Water In Islam Theology Religion Essay

The Importance Of Water In Islam Theology Religion Essay In Malaysia, after Pakatan Rakyat party successfully conquering Selangor state from Barisan Nasional party since 2008, they have launched a lot of initiative welfares for Selangor residents. On 13 March 2008, Selangor State Government has announced the implementation of Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) agenda to improve living standard of Selangor residents. There are 14 agendas included in MES and one of them is free water provision for the first 20 cubic meters water domestic consumers who using individual meters in Selangor starting from June 2008. Selangor State Government offers first 20 cubic meters water which equivalent to 20,000 liters or 5.680 gallons per month for free. This benefit is for all Selangor people regardless of their economy status, race or political affiliation. Other than that, the main objective of this welfare is to reduce the burden life especially for low-income groups as a result cost of living and the inflation rates are continue to increase. At the same time, it is of the holistic and integrated components to restructuring water management in order to provide more efficient and effective service. Through this program, Selangor State Government bear the average cost of rebate RM 11.00 per month for each user. Then, the record payment by the Selangor State Government is stated in bill received by each user from SYABAS (Selangor Water Supply Company). Besides that, 20 cubic meters of free water supply is only eligible for domestic consumers who use individual meters. For domestic users who use bulk meters in condominiums and apartments, they need to change to individual meters to enjoy this free water. Change of bulk meters to individual meters is subject to the conditions set by SYABAS. As the result, currently more than one million people who use individual meters enjoy it especially low cost apartment dwellers. Until July 2012, over RM 6 million was spent on free water to residents of low-cost apartments through Safwa Scheme (Free Water Rebate Scheme). According to Housing and Property Selangor Board (LPHS) report, 92% or 58, 049 units already received. While the remaining 8% or 6, 666 units failed to implement the rebate claim due to labor shortages in Joint Management Body (JMB). This positive action shows the governments responsibility toward public welfare. In Islam, this is a good example because the leader should take care of their people. However, some consider this program involves high costs and will affect the allocation of funds provided by the Government of Malaysia to Selangor state. In Islam, the leader should manage the public properties to avoid waste for not so important activities. Therefore, a comprehensive study and analysis are needed to ensure that the program is consistent with Islamic law. 2. WATER ACCESIBILITY ANALYSIS 2.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN ISLAM Historically, all ancient civilizations in the world began in area that has water resources such as river or seashore. For instance, Mesopotamia civilization began at Euphrates and Tigris River, China civilization began at Huang He River and India civilization began at Indus River. This fact shows that they are really rely on water in their daily life. Water from the river is used to irrigate agricultural areas, cooking, bathing and others. Based on Al-Mujam Al-Mufahras book, water or al-ma in Arabic was mentioned 63 times in the Al-Quran. According to Naser I. Faruqui, water is very importance in Islam. It is a blessing from Allah that gives and sustains life, and purifies humankind and the earth. It is based on Allah words in verse 65 of Surah Al-Nahl: And Allah sends down water from above, and therewith gives life to the earth after its death. Surely there is a sign in this for a people who listen. Besides that, Allah said all beings is made from water. According to the research, the earth is covered with 3/4 water and the human body contained of 3/4 water. In verse 30 of Surah Al-Anbiya: Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were closed up, so We rent them. And We made from water everything living. Will they not then believe?. Due to water is very important resource for every people regardless rich or poor, Islam declared that everyone has the right to a fair share of water consumption. This claim is emphasized by the hadith reported by Abu Dawud that Rasulullah said Muslims have common share in three things: grass (pasture), water and fire (fuel). In addition, the Prophet forbids Muslims hoarding the excess water and he is obliged to allow others to use it. The Prophet stated: Among the three people Allah will ignore on the Day of Resurrection are a man who possessed superfluous water on a way and he withheld it from the travellers. This hadith was narrated by Al-Bukhari. https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8g4Uk3P9ItU0f-ejiXhXQbYkshXwyH6OQ1Ic463fu1Fuk030Chttps://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsOS628HbJuBc5CBTS7_dg-mbQo9POI1BgyGI90Ns8hB9hHBFF Tigris-Euphrates River in Egypt and Huang He River in China use for irrigation 2.2 TYPES OF WATER IN ISLAM In Islam, water is essential for the Muslims to purify themselves such as perform ablution (wudhu) before the prayer and perform obligatory bath (ghusl) after having sexual intercourse. One of the conditions, these actions is necessary to use pure water to make it valid. Thus, the absence of clean water will make it difficult for Muslims to manage their daily life and to worship to Allah SWT. In reality, there are different types of water in this world and not all water is suitable for human. Basically, the water covers around 70% of the earth and it is very exposed to other elements that can change its original condition. Thus, this requires human wisdom to determine whether the water can be used or not. In Fiqh Taharah or Islamic Hygienically Jurisprudence, Islam has divided water into three main parts which pure water and can purify other things (tahur), pure water but cant purify other things (tahir), and water containing dirt which not pure and cant purify other things (mutanajj is). First major category is pure water and can purify other things (tahur). This water can be divided deeper into mutlaq water and musyammas water. For mutlaq water, it remains with the original nature of its occurrence have been made by Allah. It is water that has not been mixed with dirt, water reservoir that is more than two tanks no longer used and not mixed with other substances. In addition, the water is still mutlaq water even thought it has changed due to abandoned for long period in soil, moss and stagnant areas. In addition, if the water continuously flowing but contain sulfur it still categorized as mutlaq water. This is due to water is in liquid condition and difficult to differentiate it. For two tanks measurement, the length and the width is 60 centimeter or 22.5 inches respectively with depth 62.5centimeter or 25 inches. If the two tanks measurement is converted into the weight measurement, it equals to 174 liters or 190 kilogram or 11 kerosene cans. Besides that, there are eight types of water including in the mutlaq water which are river water, well water, rain water, dew water, sea water, snow water, spring water and tap water. The Prophet Muhammad also ordered to use mutlaq water to clean the dirt. This evidence is based on Abu Hurairah narration: a Bedouin stood up and peed in the mosque, so his friends prevent it. Upon this Rasulullah said, leave him and pour a container of water over the urine. Indeed, you are asked to facilitate not troublesome. Then, according to Sheikh Abu Abdullah Husayn Nasir bin Muhammad Taib in his As-Subyan Hidayatul book :Not valid the purification unless water come from common qaid such as sugar cane, sugar, soap and such, and water from the sky such as rain and dew or water coming out of the earth such as sea water, river water and well water. On the other hand, musyammas water is quite different compare to mutlaq water. In Al-Badrain Matla book written by Sheikh Abdul Al-Fatani Faqir Muhammad Bin Ismail Daud Al-Fatani stated: Musyammas water is also pure water and can purify other things but abominable (makruh) to use it on the body. It afraid contributes to hairpiece disease when people used it. The position is permanent in a container and heated by sunlight in hot climate states. This matter very seriously considered by Rasulullah as in a story narrated by Baihaqi: From Saiditina Aishah indeed she is heating the water under sunlight, and Rasuluhlah SAW had said to her: do not do that O Aishah because the water can cause hairpiece disease. Literally, makruh means dislike, blamed and displeasing. It refers to leave anything not demanded by Allah but not prohibited to do it. Acts which are makruh are definitely discouraged but the evidence to prove they are forbidden is less strong. Thus, the commission of makruh acts is n ot blamed but its omission is preferable. Second major category is pure water but cant purify other things (tahir). This water can be divided more into mustamal water and muqayyad water. For mustamal water, the water is able to drink but not applicable for cleansing. According to Ibn Akhil in his book entitled Al-Mutaalim Zadul: Mustamal water is less than two tank that has been used for impurities such as has been used in ablution and bath or water that has been used in remove the dirt. After that, it is not valid to purify other things. Besides that, water from trees, fruits and roots also considered as mustamal water. Then, all water can change by two ways which are changing by taqdiri and changing by hissi. Changing by taqdiri means the water only change on taqdir (stipulation) and the changes cant be seen. So, mustamal water is under changing by taqdiri However, changing by hissi means the changes that can be seen. Mutlaq water is under changing by hissi. In addition, Syeikh Faqih Dr. Wahbah Al-Zuhaili argued that the a mount of water also affect water quality. For example is mustamal water become mutlaq water if the quantity more than 2 tank or 270 liter. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0UD8Gfr4rgylURYBPxO62QvqaX2R-FdgCT7_RTwC7A1tbfZP4CZB8bBxst_K-DgXsiop7ephGDJpke_o2frPzdIJQX3U4_jxFuaoIGfD444q5xwhjf7MPjFwyNHsJKP8p37yVStnSzA/s1600/embun.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nnUqsIEWWw4/UEkvF_5_9PI/AAAAAAAABkU/_9k9GRFtIFw/s1600/Sungai+Kehidupan.jpg https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gVdSLqn3l2l5zYao-nbElJvZK0lgyYQFtqdGH3dmxUL2Co-2Ic32dEX4DGzcQKoBZZ5_XfbZcMMqlIcHjTVrbsCn7HDPGPL97BoSY7pWxtjyhsRfPoNHvKWltMIeSDXVojXIzYfOdgo/s1600/Salji+memutih.jpg Dew water, river water and snow water are some sources that can be used for mutlaq water Next, water is mixed by two ways. First way is through mujawir. This means the water changes because there is something that can be separated from the water. For example, a person put a stick in a pail to stir the water in the pail. Then, the stick can be pulled out from the pail. Then the water is still regarded as pure water. Second way is through mukhalit. This means the water changes because there is something that unable separated from the water. For instance, a person put the fruit flavor in a pail of water. It is impossible to separate fruit flavor and water to their original condition. Then the water no longer exists as pure water as has changes to mustamal water. In contrast, muqayyad water is water that is mixed with something pure that changing one of the characteristics. For instance are coffee water, sugarcane juice and soap. In Islamic view, parameters for water quality are based on the chemical and physical characteristics of smell, taste, color and temperature. Then, qayyad on water is divided into qayyad lazim and qayyad musfaq. For qayyad lazim, it means substances attached together until it absolutely different from pure water such as coffee and honey. Although pure, it still cant be used for purification because already mixed with variations of water. However, for qayyad musfaq, it means substances detached among each other and not affect pure water such as rain water and well water. Thus, the water is still cited as pure water. Third major category is water containing dirt which not pure and cant purify other things (mutanajjis). There are three main conditions regarding to mutanajjis water which unable for purification. First condition is water containing less than two tanks even though the water does not change color, smell and taste. Second condition is water containing more than two tanks but has changes color, odor and taste due to the dirt. Third condition is water is mixing with clean substances but has the color, smell and taste. In terms of language, dirt is defined as dirty things such as blood, urine and feces. In terms of syara, dirt is defined as all the impurities that prevent validity for pray. There are three types of dirt according to their hierarchy and all the dirt must be purified using mutlaq or pure water. The lightest dirt is mukhaffafah. It is the urine of baby boy who only eat breast milk and less than two years old. The cleansing methods are by wash and wipe the urine before sprinkle the pure water on the place. The moderate dirt is mutawasittah. It is including blood, pus, vomit, saliva, alcohol and others. The cleansing methods are washing until lost any nature color, smell and taste before cleanse by pure water. The heaviest dirt is mughallazah. It is the dirt relate to dog and pig. The cleansing methods are by wash once by soil water. Then, continue washing by using pure water for six times until loss any nature color, smell and taste. If still not gone, repeat the washing method. 2.3 THE WATER MANAGEMENT IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES In December 1998, the Workshop on Water Resources Management in the Islamic World was held in Amman, Jordan. One of the discussions is implementation approaches for water demand management (WDM) within the context of Islam. The approaches are water conservation and wastewater reuse. In water conservation approach, they argued supply of water is fixed. Thus, water management is needed to ensure the amount water supply is enough with the amount of water used. This opinion can be approved in verse 18 of Surah Al-Mukminun: And We send down water from the sky according to certain measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to drain it off (with ease). Human can use water in moderate way and not consume beyond the limit. If extravagant exist, Allah has right to take back His blessings. The Prophet also taught human to consume efficiently. According to Al-Bukhari: The Prophet Mohammad used to perform ablution with one mudd of water [equal to 2/3 litres] and used to take a bath with one sa up to five mudds [equal to 2-3 1/2 litres]. Currently, this water conservation approach shows positive impact when the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a health education program through mosques. The program included training imams on proper health practices, water conservation, water saving, proper sanitation and hygiene in the prevention of diseases. In addition, the imams then gave sermons about water conservation during the congregational Friday prayer. For wastewater reuse approach, they argued water should not be wasted. Thus, water should be used for beneficial purposes and use it in effective and efficient way. In verse 31 of Surah Al-Araf: O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters. From this verse, Allah hate people who are wasteful in eat and drink. Normally, individual drinking water every day in their life because thirsty. However, if some people deliberately waste the water, others people might not able to drink sufficient of water. Reusing wastewater is an essential component of a demand management strategy because it conserves freshwater for the highest-value uses. In 1978, the Council of Leading Islamic Scholars (CLIS) in Saudi Arabia concluded in a special fatwa in 1978 that treated wastewater can be used even for ablution and drinking as soon as absence of health risk. This fatwa was concluded based on detailed study by scientists and engineers toward waste water condition and its short-term and long-term effects toward human health. https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSoqOSAOx-jkOGFXzuoHnGRRLp9YxRrEyJ9h43NZnWLDLZpKPlMBAhttps://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSzWez8vfEZ2s1lOiiy2JAJYwffJC_oiFVrqNqQe0W-P0qUZfRJw Saudi Arabia Wastewater Treatment Plant at Riyadh and Al Hail Both water conservation approach and wastewater reuse approach was introduced before are classified as non-economic approach. However, in a book entitled Water Management in Islam, one economic approach which called family planning was added. Basically, family planning not directly reducing the average water consumption. However, it helps for further reductions in overall availability of water per capita. By family planning, the government can predict future reduction of water consumption as size of members per family smaller. When future result is known, it facilitates the government to provide systematic long-term planning in order to overcome future problems. However, the problem is family planning or contraception is new in Islam. During Prophet Muhammad era, most Muslims have big family members because it didnt have birth control regulations. Therefore, based on this situation, a few Islamic scholars believe that birth control is not allowable in Islam. Still, some others scholar said it is no strong evidence in Islam to support a ban on family planning. Moreover, they contend although the religion encourages having children, it is not obligatory. Finally, the contemporary jurists agreed that family planning is allowable in Islam with a few conditions must be followed. First, it is only permissible for married couple man and woman. Second, it should have the mutual consent of the couple and thirdly, the chosen method must truly controllable. As conclusion, three approaches stated before will provide some alternatives for Islamic countries to choose the possible method for their water management. The holistic assessment should be implemented according to advantages and disadvantages of each approach. For water conservation, the advantage it is not very large cost but the disadvantage may no full commitment from society. For wastewater reuse, the advantage it is able for countries which doesnt have abundant water sources but the disadvantage it covers very high cost for building plants and continuous treatment process. For family planning, the advantage it is the government able to predict future water usage but the disadvantage it will reduces number of Muslims population in that country. 3.WATER RIGHTS http://mes.selangor.gov.my/modules/content/content.php?page=air-percuma-setiap-bulan http://airkumalaysia.blogspot.com/2011/06/cara-menjimatkan-air.html http://web.idrc.ca/openebooks/924-0/#page_xx http://www.meed.com/sectors/economy/government/saudi-arabia-presses-ahead-with-a-wastewater-revolution/3007439.article http://istajib.blogspot.com/2011/04/air-dan-islam-sorotan-ringkas.html http://www.ustaznoramin.com/2011/03/pembahagian-air-dalam-islam.html http://www.ustaznoramin.com/2011/03/pembahagian-najis-dalam-islam.html http://www.al-azim.com/masjid/infoislam/ibadat/air.htm

Ludovico Ariosto :: Essays Papers

Ludovico Ariosto Ludovico Ariosto is considered by some as the greatest epic poet of the 16th century. He has been called the â€Å"Italian Homer† and is recognized as a great influence on the works of William Shakespeare. Ariosto was born on September 8, 1474 to Nicoli and Daria Ariosto. Nicoli was the governor of Reggio, which probably influenced his son’s choice of career. At an early age, Ariosto began to study law. Thus began his career in politics. From 1503 to 1517 he served at the court of the Cardinal Ippolito d’Estes as a courtier, ambassador, and administrator. In 1518 it is rumored that he fell out of the Cardinal’s favor, so he sought employment with the Cardinal’s brother, the Duke Alfonso of Ferrara. Ariosto made Ferrara his home for the remainder of his life. He moved on to govern the district of Garfagnana from 1522-1525. His greatest achievement while governing Garfagnana was riding it of the robber bands that had infested the area. Arou nd 1530 he married his mistress and love of his life, Alessandra Benucci. He died at Ferrara on June 6, 1533. GRAFICA Despite his long service in politics, Ariosto’s true passion was poetry. He dedicated over 20 years of his life to studying the works of Greek and Latin authors. Ariosto wrote satires, drama, and epics in the ancient form. The Latin influence can be best seen in his satiric works, which were written for the entertainment of the Cardinal. Ariosto was one of the earliest in a long chain of artists, poets, and writers who took inspiration from the Greek and Roman classics. For Ariosto poetry was more than just an art, it was an obsession, he spent many years revising and rewriting his poetry to achieve the perfect literal form. His son states, â€Å"He (Ariosto) was never satisfied with his verses, that he kept changing them again and again, and for this reason never remembered them (Chroche pg. 31).† His masterpiece, Orlando Furioso, took over 30 years to create a final draft. Orlando Furioso (The Mad Roland, Roland Enraged, The Crazy Orlando, etc.) is Ariostoâ₠¬â„¢s most recognized work. The poem is a continuation of Orlando Innamorato (Orlando in Love), written by Matteo Maria Boiardo. It is considered by some as the greatest literary work of the entire 16th century.

The NRA Killed Gun Control Legislation Essay -- Argumentative Persuasi

The NRA Killed Gun Control Legislation By the year 2003, it is expected that firearms will cause the most injury-related deaths in the United States, surpassing even automobile accidents. Poll after poll have revealed that most Americans favor stricter gun control laws. Five recent suburban school shootings have demonstrated that when guns and kids mix, tragedy results. Yet gun control legislation remains at a standstill. The battle for stricter gun-control laws has not been without victories. In 1968, Congress passed the Gun Control Act in the wake of the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert Kennedy. The law mandated stricter licensing requirements, prohibited the sale of handguns to out-of-state residents, and banned mail-order gun sales and the import of guns not "suitable or readily adaptable to sporting purposes." The 1984 Crime Control Act lengthened the minimum mandatory sentences given to those who carry and use armor-piercing bullets to commit violent crimes. In 1993, the Brady Bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The law, named after James Brady, who was shot and paralyzed in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, requires a five-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns. The "Assault Weapons" ban of 1994, passed despite a massive campaign by the National Rifle Association (NRA), ba nned nineteen assault-type weapons, including the Street Sweeper, a 12-gauge shotgun that can be fully discharged in three seconds. The ban also covered many semiautomatic firearms. The NRA's bid to repeal the law was stymied in 1995, with the explosion of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which killed 168 peopl... ...gun's owner may be required before the gun will fire; another technology would allow an owner to activate and deactivate his or her gun via remote control. If S.113 were to become law, it would be much more difficult for children and young adults under eighteen years of age to fire their parents', relatives', or friends' guns. New Jersey's S.113 sits presently in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee - there are not enough votes to get the bill out of committee. Â  Although the NRA boasts several millions members and a great deal of money, polls show that they hold the minority view. The fact that they have helped prevent the passage of federal and state legislation that would promote more gun-control laws shows that the NRA's minority is a vocal one. If the majority becomes half as vocal, tragedies such as the school shootings can be avoided in the future.

Freedom both Digital and Literal Essay -- Censorship

With recent events such as the Megaupload shutdown and occupy protests around the globe, the internet and its current state has been receiving much attention. The internet has become an integral part of our lives, link people overseas, transmitting ideas, and propelling innovation. Because of this, governments and service providers should not regulate, restrict, or censor the internet. The Internet we know today serves as a medium for our entertainment, communication, and commercial needs. It is something many of us have come to take for granted. However, the original intended purpose of the first â€Å"internet† goes back to the days of the Cold War where the ever looming threat of a nuclear missile strike prompted the U.S., as well as many other countries, to build a robust, fault-tolerant, and distributed computer network. By 1970, ARPANET had been born, funded by the Department of Defense and linking research facilities from the east coast to the west. Not until the 1990’s was the internet commercialized, gaining widespread popularity and incorporated into many aspects of our lives. With 2.2 billion people connected today, problems must undoubtedly rise. However, how different groups attempt to handle these problems can be as different as day and night. There are several issues at stake here regarding regulation, including anti-piracy laws, net neutrality, and freedom of speech. The most recent of these issues concerns many pieces â€Å"anti-piracy† legislation that have appeared before Congress in the United States and before the European Union. In 2010, Congress attempted to quietly pass the Combatting Infringement and Counterfeits Act. Fortunately, news quickly spread and petitions were submitted to prevent its passing. Senator Wy... ... saw."ZDNet. ZDNet, 15 Nov 2011. Web. 13 Apr 2012. "Growing Chorus of Opposition to "Stop Online Piracy Act"."Center for Democracy & Technology. N.P., 09 Jan 2012. Web. 13 Apr 2012. PROTECT IP Act of 2011, S. 968, 112th Cong.  § 3(d)(2)(D); "Text of S. 968," Govtrack.us. May 26, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2011. "Senator: Web Censorship Bill A ‘Bunker-Busting Cluster Bomb’." Wired. (2012): 1. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. Tassi, Paul. "You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You." Forbes. Forbes, 03 FEB 2012. Web. 13 Apr 2012. "BitTorrent Piracy Doesn’t Affect US Box Office Returns, Study Finds." Torrentfreak. N.p., 10 Feb 2012. Web. 13 Apr 2012. Suderman, Peter. "Internet Cop." Reason. 01 Mar. 2011: 20. eLibrary. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. "Background." Global Internet Freedom Consortium. 04 June 2006. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. .

6 Steps India Can Take to Help Rape Victims Essay

The outcry over the brutal gang rape of a young woman in New Delhi last month has not only brought into focus the issue of violence against women in India but has also shone a light on the way the country’s criminal justice system frequently fails rape victims. There were 24,206 rapes reported in 2011 by the National Crime Records Bureau, equivalent to one rape every 20 minutes. While many Indians are calling for changes in the law such as capital punishment for rapists and new legislation to protect women, many civil rights’ lawyers disagree. They say India has good gender laws already, but they need to be strengthened and enforced. The following is a list of six steps India can take to ensure rape victims receive adequate care and support and that swift justice is delivered, compiled from interviews with police, lawyers and human rights activists. 1. GENDER SENSITISATION & MORE FEMALE POLICE Like most large organisations in the country, India’s police force is male-dominated – only 6.5 percent of officers are women. Deep-rooted patriarchal beliefs mean the police force, like many other institutions such as government bodies or parliament, is often seen as insensitive to the issues faced by women. Gender sensitisation training as well as increasing the number of female police officers in India will help change attitudes within the police force, activists and lawyers say. This would also help ensure victims’ complaints are treated seriously and sympathetically. 2. MORE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY There have been numerous cases of girls and women being turned away by the police when they try to report a rape – officers do not take the crime seriously or they blame the victim. In many instances, the largely underpaid, overworked police officers have little interest in registering or investigating a gender crime that can take years to reach judgment. Sometimes, if the accused is powerful or wealthy, police can be influenced into taking no action. Activists say current methods of filing complaints against the police are cumbersome and difficult for the average Indian. A simple mechanism should be set up to channel and address public complaints and police should be penalised or suspended if found guilty of dereliction of duty, they add. See more: Analysis of Starbucks coffee company employees essay 3. GUIDELINES FOR SUPPORT OF RAPE VICTIMS India has no formal protocol in place for medical or psychological support of victims. They are often not given adequate treatment for injuries or infections, let alone counselling. Cases have been reported of traumatised victims who are made to go from one government hospital to another for medical examinations or who are forced to sit for hours in bloodied clothes after the assault. Activists say there needs to be a standard protocol across the country to examine and treat rape victims, such as the World Health Organisation’s guidelines for medico-legal care for sexual assault victims. 4. STRENGTHENING RAPE INVESTIGATIONS A failure to invest in the police force has left many officers lacking the expertise and resources required to conduct adequate investigations, resulting in weak evidence and low convictions. Lawyers say the handling of forensic evidence such as fingerprints, hair or nail samples – a key component in rape cases where the onus lies with the prosecution to prove the rape – is often collected, transported and stored in a careless manner. The core competencies of the police need to be strengthened and officers must be given training and resources to carry out their work, lawyers say. Standard operating procedures for conducting investigations need to be applied across the country, they add. 5. FAST-TRACK RAPE COURTS One of the biggest impediments to gaining justice for rape victims is the lengthy duration of the trials, awyers say. A lack of prosecutors, judges and courts mean that an average rape case can take five to 10 years to get to the judgment stage, leaving victims or other witnesses vulnerable to intimidation or unwilling to pursue such drawn-out court trials. The Delhi gang rape has fuelled demands for special fast-track courts to deal with crimes against women, but some lawyers say not only are such courts costly but that swift justice does not always mean just justice. Some legal experts add that India needs to invest more in the legal and judicial system and concentrate on hiring of thousands more judges and prosecutors. 6. WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM Victims and witnesses can be intimidated by the accused, who in some cases is granted bail by the court, even though rape is a non-bailable offence. As a result, victims can feel pressured into accepting illegal â€Å"out-of-court† settlements such as a small cash payment. In more extreme instances, the victim’s family is pressurised into marrying their daughter to the accused.

Enhancing Employee Job Satisfaction Essay

1.Executive Summary Communication problems often become apparent due to their consequences. If a department suffers from high staff turnover, this often can be a sign of poor communication between and supervisor and the team. If the team doesn’t understand what is expected from them, received unclear instructions or is not sure about the overall strategy and why they are asked to do what they do – all issues down to poor communication – they often feel dissatisfied and this can result in employees leaving the business after a relatively short period of time. Another cause that can justify reviewing if there are any departmental communication problems is low motivation, productivity and poor business performance. If staff does not receive the information they require or do not feel appreciated, valued and kept informed they might not go the ‘extra mile’ for their employer. They might feel frustrated and can’t see the point of what they are doing and this in turn leads to poor performance. Open and regular disagreements between managers and the team, such as open conflict or rejected appraisals, are also a clear sign of communication issues and should be looked into. But suspecting that a departmental issue is down to poor communication is not sufficient to bring improvement about. Once you suspect that there are communication problems how do you find out for sure enabling you to target them? A good method of identifying if there are communication problems is to talk to the involved parties and try to gain an understanding about their opinion. Why do they think the department underperforms? Do they feel they get all the information and feedback they need to do the job? What would they change if they could? Are their opinions heard and accepted? I is important to keep this feedback confidential in order to ensure that honest feedback is received – either through anonymous surveys or through individual conversations with a neutral party such as an HR manager. Another method is to question staff about the things they should know, e.g. how their work fits in with the business strategy and why they do what they do. If they are not able to answer these questions, it is likely that communication is insufficient or ineffective. Identifying communication problems between managers and staff can be easily identified using above suggestions. By rectifying these major positive impacts on business performance and employee satisfaction can be achieved. A final suggestion on how to identify communication problems between managers and staff is to observe how both parties interact. Are conversations kept courteous and respectful and show trust or are they sharp and without showing signs of a good relationship. Body language should also be observed to identify if both parties listen to each other and communicate effectively or if information is not taken in and heard or offered effectively. A review of the key communication channels used can also be very valuable, e.g. email should be used for clear step to step instructions to ensure understanding, but at the same time direct communication face-to-face or per telephone is needed to ensure a relationship is developing and queries can be easily resolved. 2.Background of the study To avoid the consequences of job dissatisfaction. Employees lack motivation, perform poorly and possess negative attitudes means that they are dissatisfaction on the jobs. These symptoms can directly affect a company’s profit and vision. We should understand the reasons why employees are unhappy at work. Understanding the causes can help us find the right solutions. To improve employee motivation and performance, we wonder how to get employees to work with a higher degree of effort. What motivates an employee to perform varies from employee to employee. Some people work to satisfy needs, meet goals or fulfill accomplishments. Motivation to perform is not a rule that can be enforced; it comes from within the employee. To inspire motivation, we must create a work environment that encourages employees to feel motivated. Improve employees’ engagement to prevent unhappiness, turnover and even profit declines. To improve teamwork, is to realize the importance of teamwork and become proactive about having colleagues work together as an important element of the business. We need to improve and enhancing employee’s job satisfaction, engagement, collaboration and teamwork to resulting in increased productivity. Employees are a company’s livelihood. How they feel about the work they are doing and the results received from that work directly impact company’s performance and, ultimately, its stability. For instance, if employees are highly motivated and proactive, they will do whatever is necessary to achieve the goals as well as keep track of performance to address any potential challenges. Employees have low motivation is completely vulnerable to both internal and external challenges because its employees are not going the extra mile to maintain the company stability. An unstable ultimately underperforms. 3. Introduction and background of Hotel 3.1 Introduction & background of Hotel We are one of Hong Kong’s best designed hotel are perfect choice for travelers who demand the best short term stay and long term accommodation. Since we opened in 1997, our hotel in central Hong Kong has been recognized by guests and the hospitality industry for its outstanding performance. The 350 guest rooms are all tastefully furnished and are completed direct telephone line with voice mail. Our equipped kitchenettes include microwave, induction cooker and refrigerator and broadband internet access are available in our hotel. Location Situated in the heart of Hong Kong Island, superbly located in the mid-levels commanding spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and Victoria harbor. It is also a prestigious address that enjoys the proximity to prime business districts of Central and Admiralty. Attraction The Hong Kong Park and Botanical Garden are in the proximity, with lush greenery and ample open space nearby Central MTR station and Hong Kong’s popular nightspot Lan Kwai Fong are also within 10 minutes walking distance. Well connected by public transport to the main shopping district areas, Causeway Bay Hong Kong. It is perfectly located in an area with a mix of history, art & culture, and a touch of stylish contemporary. Antique shops, art galleries and designers boutiques scattered around, together with high rise office buildings, massive shopping centre and party venues of Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo. 3.2 Hotel Structure The Hotel structure that’s split into two basic groups: administrative and operations. The administrative side of the structure includes such departments as sales and marketing, accounting and human resources. The operations side is generally split further into food and beverage and rooms. Both administration and operations report to the general manager. The administrative group is fairly straightforward. Any function that does not consistently interact with the guests or impact the service level falls into this group. The operations group is a bit more complicated. Food and beverage, for instance, might include the hotel’s restaurants, bars, nightclubs, banquets department, catering department and sometimes room service. Rooms might include the front desk and front-door personnel, housekeeping, concierge, guest services and sometimes security and engineering. Human Resources Department The human resources department plays a vital role in a hotel’s efficient operation. The functions of the human resources department are employee recruitment, benefits administration and training. Although the human resources department recruits, interviews, and screens prospective employees, the final hiring decision rests within the department in which the potential employee will be working. Accounting Department The accounting department’s responsibilities are include recording financial transactions, preparing and interpreting financial statements and providing the managers of other departments with timely reports of operating results. Other responsibilities, carried out by the assistant controller for finance, include payroll preparation, ac-counts receivable, and accounts payable. Rooms Department Responsibilities of the rooms department include reservations, guest reception, room assignment, tracking the status of rooms (available or occupied), prompt forwarding of mail and phone messages, security, housekeeping of guest rooms and public spaces such as lobbies, and answering guests’ questions. This very department provides the services guests expect during their stay in the Hotel. The front office is usually considered one of the most important departments in a hotel because that is where the most interaction with the hotel guests takes place. Frequent and consistent communication among front-office functions is critical. Reservations, for instance, must communicate with the front desk each day about the number of rooms that have been presold. The front desk must communicate with housekeeping staff members to let them know when guests check out. Management for all front-office departments must stress consistent and frequent communication to ensure a smooth-running operation. The housekeeping department is vital to attracting and keeping guests through its role of maintaining top quality decor, cleanliness and service. The housekeeping department includes many roles in the service staff of a hotel. Aside from room attendants, who tend to room cleanliness, the department includes gardeners, maintenance men, bellhops, laundry staff and floor managers, as well as, occasionally, customer service professionals. Food and Beverage Department Food and beverage department is to provide food and drink to a hotel’s guests. Arrange multiple events scheduled for the guest. A coffee shop, gourmet restaurant, room service, banquet halls and function rooms where food and beverages are served. This department is an integral place in the hotel which is responsible for the systematic and the actual Service of food and beverage to the general public or customers as per the order in any F &B outlets. Marketing and Sales Department The marketing and sales department’s managers who make up the marketing and sales department are sales, or the selling of the hotel facilities and services to individuals and groups. Sales managers sell rooms, food, and beverages to potential clients through advertising, attendance at association and conference meetings and direct contacts. The marketing and sales department is also removed from most of the day-to-day operational problems faced by other departments. The division of work among the sales managers is based on the type of customers a hotel is attempting to attract. Engineering Department The engineering department’s responsibilities include preventive maintenance; repair; replacement; improvement and modification to furniture, fixtures, and equipment; and ensuring uninterrupted provision of utilities (gas, electricity, water). Preventive maintenance involves routine checks and inspection of the key components of all equipment. Maintenance of recreational facilities may be part of the engineering department’s responsibilities. the engineering department’s responsibilities include preventive maintenance; repair; replacement; improvement and modification to furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE); and ensuring uninterrupted provision of utilities (gas, electricity, water). Organization Chart – Appendix I 4.Methodologies 4.1 Questionnaire (anonymous) A staff questionnaire is an effective tool used to find out what the employees feel about the organization, it policies, work environment, job responsibilities, co-workers, superiors etc. In any work environment, it is important for the upper management to be aware of what its staff wants and expects; this will lead to better retention of employees and a mutually productive relationship between the staff and the boss. Staff questionnaires to discover what are employees really thinking. These are completed on an anonymous basis usually once or twice a year. Because the employees can’t be identified we are more likely to get honest answers. This information can be revealing; it may also help to tackle hidden problems quickly and, more importantly, before staff gets blown out of proportion. Sample of Questionnaire – Appendix II 5.Analysis & finding of current problems 5.1Problems in communications Some employees might also be afraid or not feel comfortable to speak up about problems they are having with other co-workers. Some employees might think that if they speak up about trouble they are having they will be frowned upon for future projects. 5.2Employees initiative and commitment Some employee not willing to handle multiple tasks, responsibilities and take on new challenges. Hidden interest in and no enthusiasm for the job and completes assignments slowly and non-efficiently. Not able to adapt to new situations and changing work priorities and responsibilities when needed. 5.3Employee job dissatisfaction Staff expects to get a commensurate reward. The wage should be fair, reasonable and equitable. Employees who feel stuck in their job position are less motivated to maintain high productivity. Managers with poor leadership skills tend to offer little feedback on employees’ performances. 5.4Inter-department conflicts A manager or employee will know an important piece of information, and assume that because he knows it, then everyone else must know it as well. 5.5Employees’ behavior Employees feel threatened by fellow employees, experience workplace burnout, lack respect for management and feel unappreciated. 6. Conclusion Businesses without effective staff communication suffer from lost profits, poor productivity and poor employee morale. In order to solve many business problems, employees need to be able to collaborate and cooperate effectively. Good communication can encourage employees to work harder, solve problems together and work towards a common goal. It is the job of every supervisor, manager or boss to make sure employees are communicating effectively. If a department suffers from high staff turnover, this often can be a sign of poor communication between and supervisor and the team. If the team doesn’t understand what is expected from them, received unclear instructions or is not sure about the overall strategy and why they are asked to do what they do – all issues down to poor communication – they often feel dissatisfied and this can result in employees leaving the business after a relatively short period of time. Another cause that can justify reviewing if there are any departmental communication problems is low motivation, productivity and poor business performance. If staff does not receive the information they require or do not feel appreciated, valued and kept informed they might not go the ‘extra mile’ for their employer. They might feel frustrated and can’t see the point of what they are doing and this in turn leads to poor performance. Employees feel dissatisfied with their jobs at one point or another. Some employees leave their jobs for better opportunities, while others choose to stay. Employees with low job satisfaction can negatively affect a company because they typically lack motivation, perform poorly and possess negative attitudes. These symptoms can directly affect a company’s bottom line. Managers should understand the reasons employees are unhappy at work. Understanding the causes can help managers find the right solutions. One of the primary reasons for job dissatisfaction results from companies underpaying workers. The stress of paying bills with limited income causes many workers to feel dissatisfied with their jobs. A lack of career growth and advancement is another reason why employees are dissatisfied at their jobs. Employees who feel stuck in their job position are less motivated to maintain high productivity than those who do not. Workers feel valued when employers include them in their long-term plans and show their appreciation through promotions. Employees who move up in an organization and receive just compensation to reflect their title and responsibility changes usually commit themselves to the company for the long term. A lack of interest in the work is another reason why employees are unhappy. Most employees want to perform job duties that are engaging and challenging. Monotonous work causes an employee to experience boredom. Bored and unchallenged employees experience little incentive to concern themselves with workplace productivity. The nature of employees’ work accounts for the most situational influence in workplace satisfaction. A key reason employees perform poorly in the workplace is poor management. Managers with poor leadership skills tend to offer little feedback on employees’ performances. Micromanaging and dictating to employees instead of motivating them can cause a decrease in employee productivity. Poor communication is one of the main causes of conflict between employees in the workplace. This can result in a difference in communication styles or a failure to communicate. For example, a manager reassigned an employee’s task to the employee’s co-worker but failed to communicate the reassignment to the employee. This may cause the employee to feel slighted, which can transform into animosity among the two employees and the manager. Failing to communicate in the workplace may cause employees to make incorrect assumptions and believe workplace gossip. Poor communication in the workplace not only causes conflict but decreases productivity and employee morale.