George W. Bush Biography

George W. Bush Biography George Bushs Childhood and Education: Born on July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut, George W. Bush is the oldest son of George H. W. and Barbara Pierce Bush. He grew up in Texas from the age of two. He came from a familial political tradition as his grandfather, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator, and his father was the forty-first president. Bush attended Phillips Academy in Massachusetts and then went on to Yale, graduating in 1968. He considered himself an average student. After serving in the National Guard, he went to Harvard Business School. Family Ties: Bush has three brothers and one sister: Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy respectively. On November 5, 1977, Bush married Laura Welch. Together they had twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara.   Career Before the Presidency: After graduating from Yale, Bush spent a little less than six years in the Texas Air National Guard. He left the military to go to Harvard Business School. After getting his MBA, he started working in the oil industry in Texas. He helped his father campaign for the presidency in 1988. Then in 1989, he purchased part of the Texas Rangers baseball team. From 1995-2000, Bush served as the Governor of Texas. Becoming the President: The 2000 election was highly contentious. Bush ran against Democratic President  Bill Clintons vice president, Al Gore. The popular vote was won by Gore-Lieberman who carried 543,816 votes. However, the electoral vote was won by Bush-Cheney by 5 votes. In the end, they carried 371 electoral votes, one more than is necessary to win the election. The last time the president won the electoral vote without winning the popular vote was in 1888. Because of the controversy over the recount in Florida, the Gore campaign sued to have a manual recount. It went to the US Supreme Court and it was decided that the count in Florida was accurate. Therefore, Bush became President.   2004 Election: George Bush ran for reelection against Senator John Kerry. The election centered on how each would deal with terrorism and the war in Iraq. In the end, Bush won a little over 50% of the popular vote and 286 out of 538 electoral votes. Events and Accomplishments of George Bush’s Presidency: Bush took office in March 2001 and by September 11, 2001, the whole world was focused on New York City and the Pentagon with the attacks by Al-Qaeda operatives that resulted in the deaths of over 2,900 people. This event changed Bushs presidency forever. Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan and the overthrow of the Taliban which had been harboring Al-Qaeda training camps.In a very controversial move, Bush also declared war on Saddam Hussein and Iraq for the fear that they were hiding Weapons of Mass Destruction. America went to war with a coalition of twenty countries to enforce UN disarmament resolutions. It was later determined that he was not stockpiling them within the country. US forces took Baghdad and occupied Iraq. Hussein was captured in 2003.   An important education act passed while Bush was president was the No Child Left Behind Act meant to improve public schools. He found an unlikely partner to push forward the bill in Democrat Ted Kennedy. On January 14, 2004 the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded killing all on board. In the wake of this, Bush announced a new plan for NASA and space exploration including sending people back to the moon by 2018. Events that occurred at the end of his term that had no real resolution included continuing hostilities between Palestine and Israel, worldwide terrorism, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and issues surrounding illegal immigrants in America.   Career After the Presidency:   Since leaving the presidency George W. Bush withdrew from a time from public life, focusing on painting. He avoided partisan politics, making sure not to comment on President Barack Obamas decisions. He has written a memoir. He has also teamed up with President BIll Clinton to help victims of Haiti after the Haitian earthquake in 2010.

Drug Courts and Their Efficiency

Drug Courts and Their Efficiency Introduction The growing rates of incarceration among people, who take drugs, prompted legislators to adopt different strategies in order to address this issue. Drug courts are believed to be one of the solutions to this problem. This paper is aimed at examining the functioning of these institutions and their efficiency.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Drug Courts and Their Efficiency specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These are the main questions that should be examined. Overall, it is possible to say that these organizations can reduce the level of recidivism among drug offenders and help them reintegrate into the society. To a great extent, these institutions can help people cope with their addition. However, they can be effective only in those cases when if there are well-developed rehabilitation programs that support people who are in the urgent need of help; otherwise this policy may not attend the res ults expected by the community. Moreover, much attention should be paid to the use of resources. Policy-makers should remember about opportunity costs associated with drug courts. Still despite these limitations, one can say that these organizations can help community develop better tools of crime prevention. This is the main thesis that should be analyzed more closely. The main rationale for the establishment of drug courts There are several reasons why that made policy-makers to consider some alternatives to existing methods of crime prevention. In particular, one can speak about the increasing rates of recidivism among people who had been previously convicted of drug offences (Longshore, Turner, Wenzel, Morral, 2001, p. 7). Additionally, substance abusers are overrepresented in the criminal justice system (Boyum Kleiman, 2002). As a rule, their dependence on substances is the underlying factor that increases the likelihood of their deviance (Boyum Kleiman, 2002). In many cases , these individuals are not able to reintegrate themselves in the society because very often they remain addicted to substances (Bennett 2005). Moreover, in many cases, these people can commit even more serious felonies provided that their addiction is not treated effectively (Franco 2011). Very often legislators advocate the use of minimum sentences on criminals; however, this policy is not sufficient for reducing the rates of recidivism (Waller, 2008). Thus, one can speak about the existence of a vicious cycle that should be broken in some way. This is one of the details that researchers focus on (Boyum Kleiman, 2002). Thus, the absence of an effective policy is the main factor that led to the establishment of drug courts. These institutions were supposed to be response to this problem. It should be noted that drug courts examine only non-violent offences such as possession of cannabis, the purchase of drugs with the help of forged prescriptions, or small-scale dealing.Advertisin g Looking for critical writing on constitutional law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The offenders are obliged to undergo such procedures as in-patient detoxification and rehabilitation (Franco 2011, p. 20). Drug courts do not interact with individuals that can pose a threat to the life or health of other people. In most cases, there is no need to incarcerate these people. This is one of the issues that can be distinguished. The efficiency of these institutions There are various studies are aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of drug courts. In order to cope with this task, researchers compare the experiences of people who participated in drug court programs and those offenders who did not (Fulkerson, 2012). They pay attention to various indicators such the rates of recidivism or people’s ability to cope with drug addiction (Fulkerson, 2012). This is the main peculiarity of their research methodology. These academic sources can be divided into several groups. First, one can mention that many authors emphasize the reduced rates of recidivism. For example, according Cassia Spohn et al. (2001), people, who participated in drug courts programs, were less likely to be arrested for misdemeanor (p. 160). For instance, 42.1 of these people part were re-arrested; yet, this rate was 60.8 % for people who were tried in conventional courts (Spohn et al., 2001, p. 160). Moreover, these organizations can benefit juvenile offenders who are dependent on substances (Torgensen, Buttars, Norman, Bailey 2004). Additionally, the participation in drug courts reducing the risk of family conflicts (Green Rempel, 2012, p. 169). Finally, such rehabilitation programs can people who may have various forms of addiction. This is one of the improvements that these organizations can bring. However, much attention should be paid to characteristics of people who took part in this program. Much attention should be pa id such characteristics as the support of close relatives, peer pressure, employment opportunities, and many other forces that can influence a person’s behavior. This question is not closely examined in this research articles. This is one of the limitations that should not be overlooked by policy-makers who should evaluate the performance of drug courts programs. They should pay more attention to the factors that increase the efficiency of drug courts because in this way, they can make this policy more productive. This step is important for helping people reintegrate into the community. Other researcher point out that the efficiency of drug courts programs depends on such criteria, as marital status, education, or employment opportunities.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Drug Courts and Their Efficiency specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, Allison Mateyoke-Scrivner et al (2004) point out t hat older offenders are more likely to complete a rehabilitation program (p. 617). Additionally, researchers note that people with the history of intravenous drug use are less likely to rehabilitate (Roll, Prendergast, Richardson, Burdon, Ramirez, 2005, p. 641). This form of addiction is usually more difficult to overcome (Roll et al., 2005). Moreover, researchers point out the offenders, who have already undergone drug treatment, are less likely to benefit from rehabilitation programs (Miller Shutt, 2001, p. 91). Such individuals have already made an attempt to struggle with their dependence but some of them have lost confidence in their ability to overcome their addiction. Certainly, these studies indicate at the efficiency of drug courts. However, they also show that some participants can derive more benefits from the treatment that drug courts offer (Roll et al., 2005). This is one of the main aspects that should be considered by legislators, policy-makers as well medical work ers who develop rehabilitation programs. They should also bear in mind that some drug offenders will find it more difficult to reintegrate into the community. Legal professionals can anticipate the difficulties that they can encounter in the future. Overall, scholars, who examine this question, acknowledge that their studies cannot capture the complexity of social or economic factors that can shape the choices that drug offenders can take. As it has been said before, one can speak about employment opportunities or the support of relatives. Additionally, one should pay attention to the competence of people who should provide psychological assistance to drug offenders. These professionals should be able to find an approach to various individuals who may represent different educational backgrounds, races, ethnicities, cultures and so forth (Fulkerson, 2012). Therefore, one cannot argue the behavior of separate offenders can be attributed only to the role of drug courts. More attention should be paid to the competence of separate professionals, rather than organizations. This is one of the limitations that should be taken into account. Nevertheless, one can say that such forces always play an important role, but their presence does not mean that drug courts are not necessary. These organizations create a framework through which offenders can get access to efficient treatment. This is one of the arguments that can be put forward in support of this policy. Yet, there are researchers, who are highly skeptical about the efficiency of drug courts. One of their arguments is that there are many hidden costs of drug costs. In particular, the money which has been invested in these institutions might have been directed to other areas such as education, healthcare, or infrastructure (Carey Finigan 2004).Advertising Looking for critical writing on constitutional law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They are important for creating opportunities to community members and researchers are aware of these concerns (Carey Finigan 2004). Thus, one can argue that policy-makers should consider the interest of other stakeholders. This is one of the objections that can be raised. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the effects of drug-related crimes can be much more expensive because people, who cannot cope with their addiction to drugs, can pose a great threat to the lives, health, and property of many people (Carey Finigan 2004). By overlooking this problem, the society can be exposed to various risks (Carey Finigan 2004). This is one of the details that should not be overlooked by legislators. Therefore, the criticism of drug courts may not always be justified. Secondly, the critics of drugs courts say that the alleged successes of drug courts are often based on cherry picking. In other words, these institutions select only those offenders who are more likely to complete a rehabilitation program (Barnes, Miller, Miller, Gibson, 2008, p. 166). As a rule, these organizations lay stress on screening interviews which can determine whether an individual can benefit from the rehabilitation program (Barnes et al., 2008, p. 166). For instance, people, who have prior convictions, are less likely to qualify for drug courts programs (Duke, 2012; Shaffer 2011). Moreover, there are different forms of addition. Some of them are very difficult to treat. The main problem is that drug courts do not accept people with this form of dependence. Therefore, one can argue that such organizations may not work with people who urgently need their assistance. The adoption of this strategy is important for explaining the effectiveness of drug courts. However, this policy may not necessarily result in the reduction of recidivism among drug offenders. These examples are also vital for objective evaluation of drug programs. Therefore, while evaluating various studies related to d rug courts, researchers should closely examine the way in which these organizations select the participants for their programs. This examination is important for the validity of the research methodology. However, one can provide several objections to the criticisms of drug courts. First of all, one can say that screening interviews are necessary because one has to identify possible mental disorders and cognitive deficiencies. This information is necessary for determining whether a person can pose a danger to the lives of others (Miller Shutt, 2001). Therefore, legislators should make sure that the participants are able to benefit from these programs. Thus, one cannot say that screening interviews are not necessary because they are important for eliminating many risks. Secondly, the instances of cherry picking can be eliminated by introducing clear eligibility standards. The selection should not be based on the subjective opinion. These are the main details that should be considered by policy-makers who need to evaluate the positive and negative aspects of adopting this policy. These are one of the main points that can be made. Conclusion These examples suggest that the efficiency of drug courts is a subject of many studies. Numerous studies have confirmed that these institutions can benefit many people. In particular, they are able to overcome their dependence on drugs and avoid the risks of recidivism. However, it is important to examine possible criticisms that are related to such a practice as cherry picking because it can undermine the very goal of the organizations. These organizations should develop policies ensuring that people are not denied the access to rehabilitation programs because drug courts want to improve their performance indicators. Furthermore, it is vital to make sure that the resources allocated to these institutions are effectively used. Provided that these issues are addressed properly, drug courts can become an effective solution to c rime. These are the main details that should be considered. Reference List Barnes, J. C., Miller, J. M., Miller, H. V., Gibson, C. (2008). Juvenile drug court program admission, demeanor and cherry-picking: A research note. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 33(2), 166-176. Bennett, T. (2005). The Association Between Multiple Drug Misuse and Crime.  International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 49(1), 63-81. Boyum, D., Kleiman, M. (2002) Substance abuse policy from a crime-control perspective. In J. Wilson J. Petersilia (Eds.), Crime (2nd. Ed.) (pp. 95-1 11). San Franciscom, NC: ICS Press. Carey, S. Finigan, M. (2004). A Detailed Cost Analysis in a Mature Drug Court Setting A Cost-Benefit Evaluation of the Multnomah County Drug Court. Journal of Contemporary Criminal, 20(3), 315-338. Duke, K. (2012). From Crime to Recovery The Reframing of British Drugs Policy?  Journal of Drug Issues, 43(1), 39-55. Franco, C. (2011). Drug courts: Background, Effe ctiveness and Policy Issues for Congress. Journal Of Current Issues In Crime, Law Law Enforcement, 4(1), 19-50. Fulkerson, A. (2012). Understanding Success and Nonsuccess in the Drug Court, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology,  57(10), 1297-1316. Green, M., Rempel, M. (2012). Beyond crime and drug use: Do adult drug courts produce other psychosocial benefits? Journal of Drug Issues, 42(2), 156-177. Longshore, D., Turner, S., Wenzel, S., Morral, A (2001). Drug courts: A conceptual framework. Journal of Drug Issues, 31(1), 7-25. Mateyoke-Scrivner, A., Webster, J., Staton, M., Leukefeld, C. (2004). Treatment Retention Predictors of Drug Court Participants in a Rural State. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 30(3), 605-625. Miller, J., Shutt, J. (2001). Considering the need for empirically grounded drug court screening mechanisms. Journal of Drug Issues, 31(1), 91-106. Roll, J., Prendergast, M., Richardson, K., Burdon, W., Ramirez, A. (2005). Identifying Predictors of Treatment Outcome in a Drug Court Program. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 30(3), 605-625. Shaffer, D. (2011). Outcomes Among Drug Court Participants: Does Drug of Choice Matter? Journal of Drug Issues, 31(1), 259-291. Spohn, C., Piper, R. K., Martin, T., Erika, D. F. (2001). Drug courts and recidivism: The results of an evaluation using two comparison groups and multiple indicators of recidivism. Journal of Drug Issues, 31(1), 149-176. Torgensen, K., Buttars, D. C., Norman, S. W., Bailey, S. (2004). How drug courts reduce substance abuse recidivism. The Journal of Law, Medicine Ethics, 32(4), 69-72. Waller, B. (2008). You decide!: current debates in criminal justice. New York, NY: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Gender Identity Disorder and Psychosexual Problems in Children and Research Paper

Gender Identity Disorder and Psychosexual Problems in Children and Adolescents - Research Paper Example Gender identity disorders are often neglected by the parents and even by some doctors. In some cases, the pediatrician may advise the parents that the gender identity problems may vanish at some point of time and nothing to worry in that. It is a totally wrong conception. Like all the other physical and psychological problems gender identity disorders also should be treated. Some of the common symptoms of gender identity problems are cross dressing, cross gender play lack of same sex friends etc. In other words, a boy with gender identity problem may like dress like females whereas a girl with gender identity problem might dress like boys. Same way the boy with gender identity problem might play with girls and he likes the company of the girls very much. On the other hand, the girls with the above problem may play with boys and will try to make more friends from the boy community. In most of the cases, the children or adolescents with gender identity problem might have the realization that they are actually boys or girls and their desire to achieve the company of the opposite sex is not a socially accepted thing. Because of the clashes between their psychological need and social need, children with gender identity problem might be unhappy and depressed. If they engage in homosexual activity as adolescents, they are more likely than boys who do not to be involved in drug and alcohol abuse or prostitution; to attempt suicide; or to contract a sexually transmitted disease, such as HIV/AIDS.

The Racial negative and positive dynamics coming from supervisors Essay

The Racial negative and positive dynamics coming from supervisors - Essay Example First, there is a likelihood of the supervisor falling in favor with some workers in the work place. Being a racist supervisor, there is a likelihood that one will be in good books with others while one may not be in goods with others. In case one is favored by a majority of the workers, there is a likelihood that they are likely to influence a positive relationship within the dyad and the higher the chances of having work done on time. (Priest, 1994) Being a racist supervisor, there is a likelihood of having a loyal following of employees who are favored. This means that as a supervisor, one is likely to have an "underground intelligence force" in the work place which might one gather a lot of information about what is happening. The supervisor will therefore be able to monitor and come up with formidable solution to situation before they happen. For example, if workers might be planning a boycott of duties, the supervisor will have first hand information on it even before it materializes. In this regard, the likelihood of a boycott happening in the work place is reduced in a number of ways. Hence as a worker if you are favored by your supervisor, you are likely to get things done the way you want. This means that as a worker you will be favored by supervisor in allocation of duties and other aspects of work. First the supervisor employs what can be termed as a political policy of "divide and rule" tactics. This ensures that the supervisor have a part of loyal supporters who are favored in return while the rest of the workers may be against. The concept at work here is that there is no unity among the workers since they cannot speak on one term. This makes it difficult to plan any kind of work boycott. As a worker, this division among the workers can give you an undue advantage over the rests since the supervisor will be referring to you on most matters. Second, with the underground intelligence gathered by the loyal workers, other workers who are not "loyal" to the supervisor may find it difficult to integrate with the 'loyal" workers and hence such a plan cannot work. Hence as a worker you may be in a position to act as a spy for the supervisor which gives you an upper hand in the work place since those who are not favored by the supervisor cannot be given such a task. (Reynolds et al., 2002) Hence being favored by a racial supervisor will give the worker an advantage over the rest. But this will depend on the number of workers in the work place who are favored by the supervisor against the number that is not favored by the supervisor. In this regard if majority are favored by the supervisor, they may be likely to have an advantage over the rest but if they are the minority, they will have no advantage over the rest. At the same time there are a number of negative aspects that are associated with being a worker under a racist supervisor at the work place. First, it may affect the relationship within the dyad such that it becomes difficult for the supervisor to implement their duties effectively and the workers to perform their tasks effectively. This is because practicing racism among the worker brings about division among them such that it becomes difficult for the worker to work as a team. It kills the spirit of team work. Once workers are divided, they

Susan Glaspells Trifles Essay Example for Free

Susan Glaspells Trifles Essay Susan Glaspell’s play, Trifles, explores the fact that women pay attention to the little things that may lead to the solution of a bigger problem. Why do women pay attention to the little things? Could it be because the attention to detail is the starting point to solving the bigger problem? Let’s think of the ‘little things’ like pieces of a puzzle. When all the little pieces are put together, they usually form a picture; therefore you see the whole picture. In this play, the men think it’s just like women to worry about the little details that they see throughout the house, they think it’s ‘trifle’. What they don’t seem to realize is that by the women paying attention to the little things, they are actually solving the murder of Mr. Wright. The first little detail is the fruit preserves when Mrs. Peters said to Mrs. Hale â€Å"She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break.† That’s when the Sheriff replied â€Å"Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves.† (Glaspell, 2010, lines 27-29, p 143). If Mrs. Wright hadn’t been preoccupied, she could have started a fire to keep the preserves from freezing. Why was Mrs. Wright preoccupied? This is probably when the two women thought that perhaps the Wrights were having an argument or maybe even something worse was happening. Another little detail is the fact that Mrs. Wright didn’t wake up while her husband was being strangled to death. Unless Mr. Mrs. Wright slept in separate beds she should have felt him struggling while the noose was being put around his neck or heard him gasping for air. It also seemed strange that there was a gun in the house and it wasn’t used. Why strangle him? Why not use the gun? According to an essay on Susan Glaspell’s Trifles, the author noted â€Å"The strangling of Mr. Wright, which perplexes all when a gun was handy, is reminiscent of the strangling of that bird.† (Susan Glaspell) Another little detail the women notice was the empty birdcage that was stuffed in the cupboard with no bird in it. Mrs. Hale asked if the Wrights had a cat, to which Mrs. Peters replied, â€Å"No, she didn’t have a cat. She’s got that feeling some people have about cats—being afraid of them.† (Glaspell, 2010, line 84, p 146). Then they notice the broken door hinge and Mrs. Hale thought it looked like someone was rough with it and being rough with the cage was perhaps a sign of anger. An example of anger and hostility was when Mrs. Hale described what it was like to be around Mr. Wright. But he was a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to pass the time of day with himlike a raw wind that gets to the bone.† (Glaspell, 2010, line 97, p 146). Mrs. Hale then went on to explain how Mrs. Wright was like a bird. â€Å"—real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and—fluttery. How—she—did—change.† (Glaspell, 2010, line 101, p 146). The Mrs. Wright that is described here is different from the character we know in the play. The women we know in the play seemed to be a cold and angry woman. She didn’t have children and the only company she had was a bird. Mrs. Hale suggested to Mrs. Peters that she bring the quilt to Mrs. Wright in the jail. While they look for scissors and more patchwork to take with them, Mrs. Hale finds the dead bird wrapped up in a little box to which she exclaims â€Å"But, Mrs. Peters—look at it. Its neck! Look at its neck! It’s all—to the other side.† and Mrs. Peters says, â€Å"Somebody—wrung—its neck.† (Glaspell, lines 107-108, p 146). This is when the two women realize Mrs. Wright killed her husband, but neither of them wants to break the alliance they made and turn her in. Mrs. Wright was living her life as if she was already living in jail. That kind of life is such a lonely and isolated one. A person would do just about anything to escape that emotional and physical prison. Because these women took notice of all the â€Å"little things†, they were able to put the puzzle together, piece by piece. They were able to feel the loneliness and pain of Mrs. Wright. They were able to see the whole picture and solve the case. Because the men were only interested in physical evidence they were not able to see the little things that the women did. They were not able to come to any conclusions as to what happened and why. Instead, they made fun of and belittled Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters for worrying about the little things. References: Glasspell, S. (2011), Trifles, in D.L. Pike and A.M. Acosta’s (Eds.) Literature: a world of writing poems, plays and essays. Retrieved from VitalSource eBook for Education Management Cooperation Susan Glaspell’s Trifles – Little Things Mean a Lot, 123HelpMe.com. Retrieved fromwww.123HelpMe.Com/view.asp?id=8589 on October 21, 2010

A Review on the Works of James Baldwin Essay -- Literature

Introduction The works of James Baldwin are directly related to the issues of racism, religion and personal conflicts, and sexuality and masculinity during Baldwin's years.James Baldwin's works, both fiction and nonfiction were in some instance a direct reflection his life. Through close interpretation you can combine his work to give a "detailed" look into his actual life. However since most writings made by him are all considered true works of literature we can't consider them to be of autobiographical nature. Religion Personal Life Baldwin reflected his own life in various forms. These include autobiographical essays to fiction and drama. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and play, The Amen Corner, mirror his childhood experiences in the storefront churches of Harlem where James and his stepfather, David Baldwin, preached. The "Autobiographical Notes" section of Notes of a Native Son and the "Down at the Cross" section of The Fire Next Time provide a seemingly realistic view into Baldwin's childhood and his growing involvement with the civil rights movement. Filled with a number of autobiographical passages in Nobody Knows My Name, No Name in the Street and The Devil Finds Word join together to provide a general, somewhat realistic, autobiography. One interest in particular is Baldwin's view on his relationships with Richard Wright ("Alas, Poor Richard") and Norman Mailer ("The Black Boy Looks at the White Boy"), both of which are included in Nobody Knows My Name .(Werner, Craig 45-48) When Baldwin was three years of age his mother married David Baldwin, a Southerner who had made the journey to New York as part of the large stream of black migration north during the times following the First World War. James, t... ...aesthetic: James Baldwin's primer of black American masculinity." African American Review 32.2 (1998): 247. MasterFILE Premier Werner, Craig. "JAMES BALDWIN." Research Guide to Biography & Criticism 1.(1985): 45-48. Book Collection: Nonfiction. Baldwin, James Preservation of Innocence." Zero 1.2 (Summer 1949). Rpt. in Out/Look 6 (Fall 1989), 40-41 Powers, Peter Kerry. "The Treacherous Body: Isolation, Confession, and Community in James Baldwin." 787-813. Duke University Press, 2005. Academic Search Premier. de Romanet, Jerome. "Revisiting Madeleine and `The Outing': James Baldwin's revision of Gide's sexual politics." MELUS 22.1 (1997): 3. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. Robert E. Morsberger. "James Baldwin." Magill Book Reviews. Salem Press, 1998. eNotes.com. 2006. 4 Dec, 2010 james-baldwin-0080505824

A diverse and interesting learning environment for all students Essay

Accepting attitudes towards all human beings creates a diverse and interesting learning environment for all students. I recall an incident while at a summer program a few years ago. We, the students, were staying overnight on a college campus to participate in seminars that would further our growth and readiness for the future. As part of the program, we were required to stay overnight in the dorm rooms. We were each paired up with one other person who would be our roommate for the two days. I come from a neighborhood that is primarily white so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I would be sharing a room with someone who was from the Middle East. We quickly settled into our rooms and prepared ourselves for the first of two days of learning activities. My roommate awoke, got up and spread a blanket on the floor to pray. I watched my roommate kneeling on the floor saying words in a language that I didn’t understand. When finished, I asked my roommate about this practice and learned a little bit about the Muslim religion and why prayers are said several times daily. See more: Satirical essay about drugs I also had the opportunity to share a little bit about my own faith. I had a large amount of respect for my roommate because it isn’t easy to pray in front of other people let alone people one doesn’t even know. I also gained respect because my roommate wasn’t ashamed of praying or of the Muslim faith. This experience has helped prepare me for life in a world made up of people from all over the world with different values, viewpoints and religions. My own background and life achievements would add to the diversity of University because I too have valuable ideas and customs that would add to the interesting mix of University life. My ability to gain respect for people who have different life values enables me to be a student of a University that embraces acceptance for other cultures. Even though I would be considered the majority, I welcome the opportunity to learn alongside people from different places.

The Life and Works of Rudolfo A. Anaya

Rudolfo A. Anaya, a New Mexican writer, is considered one of the creators of Chicano Literature. He is most known for his novel Bless Me, Ultima. He has been recognized with many prestigious rewards for his work. As Anaya says, â€Å"As a Chicano writer I am part of a community which for the first time in our contemporary era has produced enough literary works to create a literary movement. Prior to the 1960s western literature was written about us, but seldom by us. Now the world has a truer insight into our world; the view is now from within as more and more Chicano and Chicana writers explore their reality† (Rudolfo A(lfonso) Anaya Biography 1). Anaya was born on October 30, 1927 in the small village of Pastura, New Mexico (Anaya 363, Contemporary Hispanic Biography 1). He was born to Martin and Rafaelita Anaya. Anaya was the fifth of seven children. His father came from a family of cattle workers and sheepherders, was a vaquero, a horseman who worked on ranches surrounding Pastura, and his mother came from a family of poor farmers (Contemporary Hispanic Biography 1). At a young age, his family moved to Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Their house was perched over the Pecos River, and young Anaya spent his childhood roaming around the planes with his friends, hunting, and fishing in the Pecos River. He was raised in a strong Catholic household, he stated, â€Å"In my child hood world the power of prayer was supreme† (Anaya 362). Also, Anaya grew up in a Spanish speaking only house hold. He stated that his parents only mostly spoke Spanish and that at the age of six or seven when he started school he knew very little to no English (Anaya 362-365). My parents spoke only Spanish. My dad worked for big ranchers and he could buy and sell cattle, which meant he could get along in English. But at home it was a complete Spanish-speaking household. By the time I went to school when I was six or seven, I didn't know English, I only knew Spanish† (Stone). At the age of fifteen Anaya moved to Albuquerque, and he attended Albuquerque High School. In Albuqu erque Anaya was exposed to prejudice against Latinos as well as some cultural and ethnic differences he had not previously faced. Anaya played football and baseball in Albuquerque. He managed to avoid the trouble of gangs, and he kept good grades. (Anaya 364-366, Contemporary Hispanic Biography). At the age of sixteen Anaya suffered a diving accident. Diving into an irrigation ditch, Anaya broke two vertebrae; he nearly killed himself. Anaya said in his short auto biography, â€Å"The doctors would later explain that I had fractured two vertebrae in my neck, and I had gone into instant paralysis. I could not move a muscle† (Anaya 369). His mother nursed him through his paralysis with daily massaging the stiff limbs, and his friends never wavered. He swam, exercised, and slowly began to reenter the rough and tumble life. He mentions that one of the first things that he did was return to the YMCA pool alone. As a way to conquer his fear he dove into the water alone (Anaya 369-372). In 1956, Anaya graduated from Albuquerque High School. Anaya then attended business school for two years before dropping out and enrolling in the university. University life sent Anaya into an identity crisis. He speaks of losing his faith in god. Anaya found that the culture at the university was not his own; also, Anaya found that his classes were devoid of relevance to his own culture. On top of all this a recently failed relationship with a girl pushed Anaya to begin writing to help his pain. However, much of these early writings were later destroyed. Anaya thanks his friends for helping him survive the university. On weekends he would get with his friends and go out drinking, playing pool, and meeting girls. Anaya received a degree and soon after accepted a teaching position in a small town in New Mexico. (Anaya 373-375). In this small town he still continued to practice his writing everyday (Contemporary Hispanic Biography ). He married a young woman named Patricia Lawless. Patricia, from Kansas, provided him with encouragement, and Patricia would read his work and respond to its weaknesses (Anaya 374, Contemporary Hispanic Biography). Marriage provided Anaya with a stable base for which to write; although, two miscarriages were the most difficult experiences of his married life. Through this stable base Bless me, Ultima was born. He would teach by the day, and he would come home at night to write. Anaya 376) Anaya says that his inspiration for Bless Me, Ultima came when he had a vision of an elderly woman dressed in black standing in his room, and it was this vision that inspired him to start writing the novel (Contemporary Hispanic Biography). In Anaya’s words, â€Å"One light was on, a desk light near the typewriter, I heard a noise and turned to see the old woman dressed in black enter th e room† (Anaya, 377). Bless me, Ultima tells the story of Antonio Juan Marez y Luna, a six-year old boy growing up in rural New Mexico during World War II. Antonio is befriended by Ultima, a kindly curandera, or healer, who has come to stay with Antonio’s family. Antonio discovers the mysteries of the plains surrounding him and learns how to use its plants for medicinal purposes. Ultima later cures curses placed on Antonio’s uncle by a family of witches. Much of the drama or conflict in the novel developed because of this. (Contemporary Hispanic Biography). This story relates in many ways to Anaya’s own history. Antonio, in the novel, is pulled between his father’s wandering life as a vaquero and his mother’s harmonic, grounded existence with the earth itself. He questions the validity of his Catholic faith that seems helpless against pain and suffering while Ultima’s magic heals. He discovers the golden carp in the river, which as told in local folklore, is a god. The idea that the carp may share divinity with God, to Antonio, feels like a betrayal of his mother’s faith. However, this is a question that he cannot help but to ask (Anaya; Bless Me, Ultima, Contemporary Hispanic Biography). â€Å"In my first novel, Bless Me, Ultima, I used the people and the environment of my childhood as elements of the story. Like my protagonist, Antonio, my first language was Spanish. I was shaped by the traditions and culture of the free-wheeling cow punchers and sheep herders of the llano, a lifestyle my father knew well, and was also initiated into the deeply religious, Catholic settled life of the farmers of Puerto de Luna, my mother's side of the family. â€Å"(Anaya 380) Anaya eventually was published by Berkeley. Although the path to getting published wasn’t easy, â€Å"I approached dozens of publishers, the result was always the same. I collected enough form letter rejections to wallpaper the proverbial room, but I was undaunted† (Anaya 379). Bless Me, Ultima was a huge success. Anaya won the prestigious Premio Quinto Sol Award for the novel. Anaya also received many other prestigious rewards for the novel. Such as, Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima appeared on the Big Read site. The Big read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture. There are 30 books selected every year for this site. Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima was also chosen as one of the literary works to appear in the 2009 American Academic decathlon. The New York Times stated that the novel was, â€Å"probably the best-known and most respected contemporary Latino Fiction†, and the San Francisco Chronicle said Bless Me, Ultima was a, â€Å"poignant†¦ an important book that deserves to be hailed as a classic† (Bless Me Ultima to be flimed in New Mexico reports Gov. Bill Richardson, 3) A Bless Me, Ultima sculpture was even made at the north entrance to Park Lake off Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa Dedicates ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ Rudolfo Anaya Sculpture Park, 4). A play was also made after Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima, and has been shown all across New Mexico (Bless Me Ultima – The Play). Also, a movie was made after the novel. The film versions began Shooting in Santa Fe in October 2010 (Bless Me, Ultima' Film Based on Rudolfo Anaya's Novel Will Shoot in N. M. ). The director of the film is Carl Franklin, and the film is staring Bento Marinez, David Rees Snell, and Miriam Colon (Bless Me, Ultima article, 2). Overall, Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima has sold over 360,000 copies. (Rudolfo Anaya UNM Article, 3) Anaya’s father owned a land grant that stretched for miles along the Rio Grande in Albuquerque’s south valley, and then for miles west into the desert as far as the Rio Puerco. This grant had been passed down from generation to generations. Anaya’s father, as heir to the land grant, received and sold some lots that were part of the grant in the forties; on the other hand, Anaya’s mother, having that peasant Nuevo Mexicano instinct and love for the land, believed the grant was a source of our values (Anaya 382). As Anaya said, â€Å"she believed that someday we would all own a piece of that grant which had been handed down for generations† (Anaya 382). However, the real history of the Spanish and Mexican land grants of New Mexico would prove her wrong. Most of the big land grants were stolen away from the true inheritors. Anaya says that is was these themes that lead him to create his second novel. The main character is Clemete Chavez, a farmer who loses his land at the start of the narrative and is forced to move into barrio in Albuquerque. While in the city, Chavez, and his family, they watch helplessly as their teenage children lose themselves in drugs violence, and sex. Chavez undertakes a soul-searching quest for an identity and a role for himself. As an attempt to provide a fictive analogue to the Chicano consciousness-raising efforts of the 1970s, the book ends with a Chicano march against the oppressive Santa Fe Railroad (Portales 2). Heart of Aztlan, was published in 1976. (Anaya 383) Anaya was invited to serve on the board of the Coordinating council of Literary Magazines (CCLM) in 1974. Their office was in New York. The council held regional workshops around the country twice a year and Anaya used this as a great way to meet different people in the writing community. Many of these friends would remain close friends with Anaya for life. (Anaya 380-385) During these years Anaya was working on Tortuga. Tortuga was the third novel in his series, and it was designed to loosely complete his trilogy (Contemporary Hispanic Biography). Tortuga was his hospital story, and thus he considered it a very difficult novel for him to write; however, many see it as one of his best novels, and it won the Before Columbus American Book award from the Before Columbus foundation for Tortuga in 1980 (Contemporary Hispanic Biography). It was loosely based on his own experience in a hospital, but it quickly became more than that. â€Å"The theme of healing still occupied my thoughts. How do people get well? I looked around and saw that we had created a society that was crushing and mutilating us. People were sick physically and spiritually. How could those people be helped? The hospital I created became an existential hell, symbolizing our own contemporary hell†¦ In Tortuga I took my characters to the depths of despair and human suffering, and they find in their hellish existence the faith they need to survive in the world† (Anaya 385). Anaya began to spend more time writing plays and learning the techniques of drama. Anaya wrote his first play in 1979, the Season of La Llorona, first produced in Albuquerque. The Farolitios of Christmas was produced in Albuquerque in 1987, Matachines was published in 1992, Ay, Compadre! was published in 1994, and Billy the Kid and Who Killed Don Jose was published in 1995. (Rudolfo A(lfonso) Anaya Biography) Anaya began working with and translating some old oral materials which had been collected by folklorist. This renewed his connection to that exciting and magical stream of oral tradition. Cuentos: Tales from the Hispanic Southwest was published in 1980 (Anaya 389, Rudolfo A(lfonso) Anaya Biography). In his free time he was also working on making short stories. Somewhere between writing novels he would squeeze out short stories. In 1982, The Silence of Llano (short stories) was published by Berkeley. The Legend of La Llorona was published in 1984, and was soon followed by Lord of the Dawn: The Legend of Quetzalcoatl. Anaya also wrote poems in his free time, The Adventures of Juan Chicaspatas was published by the Arte Publico Press in 1985. In 1986, A Chicano in China was ublished as a nonfiction account of Anaya’s travels to China. Also, Anaya began to edit numerous publications (Anaya 389). When asked why he became a writer Anaya responds, â€Å"†¦I became a writer in my childhood. That is why that time has been so important to me. The character of my childhood, the family, friends, and neighbors that make up my world, they and their lives fed my imaginat ion† (Anaya 375). In 1995, Anaya published his first murder mystery, Zia Summer; also in 1995, Anaya released his book Albuquerque, a good he considered to be a celebration of the city. Zia Summer was followed by rio Grande Fall in 1996, a continuation of his murder mystery series. In 1999, Anaya introduced Shaman Winter. Finally in 2005, Jemez Spring was introduced. Aside from writing, Anaya was a teacher. Anaya began teaching at junior high schools first, then at High schools throughout Albuquerque (Anaya 370). His first teaching position was in a small New Mexican town. Anaya, then, began to work as a public school teacher in Albuquerque from 1963 to 1970. He was appointed the Director of counseling of the University of Albuquerque in 1971. (Rudolfo A. Anaya, article) Then, in 1974, Anaya was offered a position at UNM to teach creative writing (Anaya 380). Anaya worked at UNM from 1974-1993 when he retired. (Rudolfo A. Anaya, article) As Anaya says on the topic of his retirement from UNM, â€Å"I don’t view leaving the University of New Mexico and teaching as retirement. I view it more as the mid-career change, to do a lot of writing and other things, like reading. I want to do more essays. So I think it’s just a shift of energy into new areas† (Anaya, Dick, Sirias, 153). Anaya has received many awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded the prestigious Premio Quinto Sol literary award for Bless Me, Ultima in 1970 (Anaya, 363). Anaya has been awarded the New Mexico Governor’s Public Service Award twice, in 1978 and in 1980. The Before Columbus Book award was rewarded to him for Tortuga in 1980. (Contemporary Hispanic Biography) In 1982, Anaya received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting script development award for Rosa Linda (Biography of Rudolfo Anaya (1937-). He received the Award for Achievement in Chicano Literature from the Hispanic Caucus of Teachers of English in 1983. In a Salute to American Poets and Writers, Anaya was invited by President Jimmy Carter to read at the White House (Gonzales, 1). The PEN-West Fiction Award was awarded to Anaya in 1992 for Albuquerque (Biography of Rudolfo Anaya (1937). In 2002, Anaya was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George Bush. He was one of the eight Americans receiving the award at Constitution Hall. Anaya received the award for his contribution to American literature that has brought recognition to the traditions of the Chicano people. Gonzales, 2) In 2003, Anaya was awarded the Outstanding Latino/a Cultural Award in Literary Arts or Publications (Biography of Rudolfo Anaya (1937). Since Anaya’s retirement from the UNM English department in 1993, he has dedicated his life to traveling, writing, and reading. He currently lives in Albuquerque with his wife, the same state where he was born (Rudolfo Anaya Author of Bless Me, Ultima Article). He has said that he has no desire to leave. Anay a is overall, one of the most successful and one of the most significant figures in the landscape of Chicano literature. Anaya says, â€Å"†As a mestizo, a person born from these two broad streams (or more correctly, from many inheritances), I want to create a synthesis, a worldview† (Rudolfo A(lfonso) Anaya Biography, 2). Anaya lives and breathes the landscape of the Southwest. Anaya sees this as a powerful force, full of magic and myth, and this is apparent in all of his writings. Anaya has moved from one genre to the next, an acclaimed novelist, a poet, a dramatist, an essayist, and anthologist, a playwright, a children’s author, a travel writer, and finally, an editor. His works are standard texts in Chicano studies and literature courses around the world. He has done more than, perhaps, any other person to promote Chicano literature. As Anaya said, â€Å"I fished, scaled the mountains of Taos, hunted with Cruz from the pueblo, finished high school, entered the university, married, and began to travel. I climbed mountains and crossed oceans and deserts in foreign places my old friends back home didn’t know existed. So who is to judge whether an adversity comes to crush us or to reshape us† (Anaya 371).

Othello Moderno essays

Othello Moderno essays O is a teen adapted modernization of Shakespeares play Othello, The Moor of Venice. Now, with modernizations things can get a little shaky. The filmmakers tried to make it as close to the actual story though. It revolves around Odin Othello (Mekhi Phifer). He goes to an esteemed prep school which is located in America. In the story Odin is on the basketball team, from the story you can see that he was accepted for his ability to bring glory to them on the basketball court. The antagonist of the story is Hugo Iago (Josh Hartnett). Some say that Jealousy is a dangerous emotion. In this case one could say it really is. The affection of Hugos father, who is also the coach of the basketball team is enough to cause a spark. There is a part in the movie where the coach (Martin Sheen), says of Odin, "I love him like my own son." Hugo has the ability to manipulate people to do his own doing. This is a part where the movie itself lacks a bit. The ease he has with convincing people makes it look like he is not manipulating them, but merely playing upon their sense of gullibility. From then on Hugo begins a path of manipulation and deceit towards his own plans, which will bring about the destruction of Odin. The way Hugo brings about this is working towards Odins soft spot. This is Desi (Julia Stiles) whom is the woman that Odin loves. He works his manipulative games by subtly leaving hints to Odin that Desi is cheating on him, when in reality she really isnt. Hugo also enlists in the help of his roommate Roger Rodriguez (Elden Henson of "The Mighty" in the Rodrigo role), to bring Odin down. The acting in the movie is pretty solid. Mekhi Phifer does a good job all in all with playing Odin. He really captures the inner struggle that hes going through when he begins to believe that Hugo was right about his allegations of Desis cheating on him. ...

Biography of Matthew Ridgway, Korean War General

Biography of Matthew Ridgway, Korean War General Matthew Ridgway (March 3, 1895–July 26, 1993) was a U.S. Army commander who led the United Nations troops in Korea in 1951. He later served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, where he advised against American intervention in Vietnam. Ridgway retired in 1955 and was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. Fast Facts: Matthew Ridgway Known For: Ridgway was a U.S. military officer who commanded United Nations troops during the Korean War.Born: March 3, 1895 in Fort Monroe, VirginiaParents: Thomas and Ruth RidgwayDied: July 26, 1993 in Fox Chapel, PennsylvaniaEducation: United States Military AcademySpouse(s): Julia Caroline  (m. 1917–1930), Margaret Wilson Dabney (m. 1930–1947), Mary Princess Anthony Long (m. 1947-1993)Children: Matthew Jr. Early Life Matthew Bunker Ridgway was born on March 3, 1895, at Fort Monroe, Virginia. The son of Colonel Thomas Ridgway and Ruth Bunker Ridgway, he was reared on Army posts across the United States and took pride in being an army brat. Graduating from English High School in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1912, he decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and applied for acceptance to West Point. Deficient in mathematics, he failed in his first attempt, but after extensive study of the subject he gained entry the following year. Ridgway was classmates with Mark Clark and two years behind Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley.  Their class graduated early due to the U.S. entry into World War I. Later that year, Ridgway married Julia Caroline Blount, with whom he would have two daughters, Constance and Shirley. The couple would divorce in 1930. Early Career Commissioned a second lieutenant, Ridgway was quickly advanced to first lieutenant and then given the temporary rank of captain as the U.S. Army expanded due to the war. Sent to Eagle Pass, Texas, he briefly commanded an infantry company in the 3rd Infantry Regiment before being sent back to West Point in 1918 to teach Spanish and manage the athletic program. At the time, Ridgway was upset with the assignment as he believed combat service during the war would be critical to future advancement and that the soldier who had had no share in this last great victory of good over evil would be ruined. In the years after the war, Ridgway moved through routine peacetime assignments and was selected for the Infantry School in 1924. Rising Through the Ranks Completing the course of instruction, Ridgway was dispatched to Tientsin, China, to command a company of the 15th Infantry Regiment. In 1927, he was asked by Major General Frank Ross McCoy to take part in a mission to Nicaragua due to his skills in Spanish. Though Ridgway had hoped to qualify for the 1928 U.S. Olympic pentathlon team, he recognized that the assignment could greatly advance his career. Ridgway traveled south, where he aided in supervising free elections. Three years later, he was assigned as the military advisor to the Governor-General of the Philippines, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. His success in this post led to his appointment to the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. This was followed by two years at the Army War College. World War II After graduating in 1937, Ridgway saw service as the deputy chief of staff for the Second Army and later the assistant chief of staff of the Fourth Army. His performance in these roles caught the eye of General George Marshall, who had him transferred to the War Plans Division in September 1939. The following year, Ridgway received a promotion to lieutenant colonel. With the U.S. entry into World War II in December 1941, Ridgway was fast-tracked to higher command. Promoted to brigadier general in January 1942, he was made assistant division commander of the 82nd Infantry Division. Ridgway was later promoted and given command of the division after Bradley, now a major general, was sent to the 28th Infantry Division. Airborne Now a major general, Ridgway oversaw the 82nds transition into the U.S. Armys first airborne division and on August 15 was officially re-designated the 82nd Airborne Division. Ridgway pioneered airborne training techniques and was credited with turning the unit into a highly effective combat division. Though initially resented by his men for being a leg (non-airborne qualified), he ultimately gained his paratrooper wings. Ordered to North Africa, the 82nd Airborne began training for the invasion of Sicily. Ridgway led the division into battle in July 1943. Spearheaded by Colonel James M. Gavins 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the 82nd sustained heavy losses largely due to problems outside of Ridgways control such as widespread issues with friendly fire. Major General Matthew B. Ridgway (center), Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division, and staff, overlooking the battlefield near Ribera, Sicily, 25 July 1943. USMHI Italy In the wake of the Sicily operation, plans were made to have the 82nd Airborne play a role in the invasion of Italy. Subsequent operations led to the cancellation of two airborne assaults and instead Ridgways troops dropped into the Salerno beachhead as reinforcements. They helped hold the beachhead and then participated in offensive operations, including breaking through the Volturno Line. D-Day In November 1943, Ridgway and the 82nd departed the Mediterranean and were sent to Britain to prepare for D-Day. After several months of training, the 82nd was one of three Allied airborne divisions- along with the U.S. 101st Airborne and the British 6th Airborne- to land in Normandy on the night of June 6, 1944. Jumping with the division, Ridgway exerted direct control over his men and led the division as it attacked objectives to the west of Utah Beach. The division advanced toward Cherbourg in the weeks after landing. Market-Garden Following the campaign in Normandy, Ridgway was appointed to lead the new XVIII Airborne Corps which consisted of the 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions. He supervised the actions of the 82nd and 101st during their participation in Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. This saw American airborne forces capture key bridges in the Netherlands. Troops from XVIII Corps later played a key role in turning back the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge that December. In June 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant general and dispatched to the Pacific to serve under General Douglas MacArthur. Arriving as the war with Japan was ending, he briefly oversaw Allied forces on Luzon before returning west to command U.S. forces in the Mediterranean. In the years after World War II, Ridgway moved through several senior peacetime commands. Korean War Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in 1949, Ridgway was in this position when the Korean War began in June 1950. Knowledgeable about operations in Korea, he was ordered there in December 1950 to replace the recently killed General Walton Walker as commander of the battered Eighth Army. After meeting with MacArthur, who was the supreme United Nations commander, Ridgway was given latitude to operate the Eighth Army as he saw fit. In Korea, Ridgway found the Eighth Army in full retreat in the face of a massive Chinese offensive. Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway, circa. 1951. Public Domain An aggressive leader, Ridgway immediately began working to restore his mens fighting spirit. He rewarded officers who were aggressive and conducted offensive operations when able. In April 1951, after several major disagreements, President Harry S. Truman relieved MacArthur and replaced him with Ridgway, who oversaw U.N. forces and served as military governor of Japan. Over the next year, Ridgway slowly pushed back the North Koreans and Chinese with the goal of re-taking all of the Republic of Koreas territory. He also oversaw the restoration of Japans sovereignty and independence on April 28, 1952. Chief of Staff In May 1952, Ridgway left Korea to succeed Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, for the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). During his tenure, he made significant progress in improving the organizations military structure, though his frank manner sometimes led to political difficulties. For his success in Korea and Europe, Ridgway was appointed U.S. Army Chief of Staff on August 17, 1953. That year, Eisenhower, now president, asked Ridgway for an assessment of possible U.S. intervention in Vietnam. Strongly opposed to such an action, Ridgway prepared a report that showed that massive numbers of American troops would be needed to achieve victory. This clashed with Eisenhower, who wished to expand American involvement. The two men also fought over Eisenhowers plan to dramatically reduce the size of the U.S. Army, with Ridgway arguing that it was necessary to retain enough strength to counter the growing threat from the Soviet Union. Death After numerous battles with Eisenhower, Ridgway retired on June 30, 1955. He went on to serve on numerous private and corporate boards while continuing to advocate for a strong military and minimal involvement in Vietnam. Ridgway died on July 26, 1993, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A dynamic leader, his former comrade Omar Bradley once remarked that Ridgways performance with the Eighth Army in Korea was the greatest feat of personal leadership in the history of the Army. Legacy Ridgway was highly decorated for his military achievements. In addition to the Congressional Gold Medal, he received a Purple Heart, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Ridgway remains a U.S. military icon and is widely admired by servicemembers. Sources Bachrach, Deborah. The Korean War. Lucent Books, 1991.ï » ¿Ridgway, Matthew. Soldier: The Memoirs of Matthew B. Ridgway. Harper Brothers, 1956.

Romanticism and Realism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Romanticism and Realism - Essay Example It should be noted here that this was a time when religion had lost its hold over the common man with the advent of modernity. Religion and mythology were losing the charm and power they exercised over the common man. Also church was no longer the only powerful figure who commissioned artists to paint artworks on religious or mythological stories. Thus artists became inspired by the common man. In both the romantic and the realist era, common man gained a certain respect. Artists became fascinated with the life of the common man and focused on his life. The Romantic focused on the common man’s emotions while the realists focused on the commonness of man. Both the art movements were more inspired by the rural man rather than the urban one. This is because previously rural life had been ignored in the art circle and in the Romantic era, the subject came forward as an original subject or theme. This was then brought forward by the Realist movement where artists removed the exagge rated emotion from the common man and presented him as he was. In order to draw an effective comparison between the two movements, one artwork from both the movements would be analyzed. The artwork selected from the Romantic Era is The Raft of Medusa painted by Thà ©odore Gà ©ricault. The painting selected from the Realist Era is Stone Breakers by Gustav Courbet. The Raft of Medusa depicts the survivors of the French naval frigate Meduse. It depicts a horrendous scene about how the survivors endured the destruction and how they lived.

Juvenile delinquency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Juvenile delinquency - Essay Example And with the change in the family values in the modern world the pressure exerted on the juveniles according to the nature of their families has increased. Usually it is seen that the children who have a small family tend to make friends outside i.e. in their schools. These children then tend to get involved in peer activities which can at times result in delinquency. Thus family size can matter in curbing or increasing the rate of delinquency in the juveniles. Similarly the way the juveniles are being treated at their homes is also a strong factor in determining that a child would get involved with criminal activities or not. For e.g. child from a divorced couple may be more likely to get involve with these activities. Divorce is an important aspect which can lead to a distortion in the behavior of parents which can further lead the children to go into a state of trauma. This trauma can therefore lead to the involvement of children in unusual activities of criminal nature. On the ot her hand it can be noted that children who have been provided with proper care and treatment in their homes are less likely to be involved in such activities. Furthermore the social class to which the child belongs also plays an important role in determining his future. By social class here it is meant as to which class of the society does he belong to, i.e. race, ethnicity and status. Race and Ethnicity can be important in the lives of children as nowadays all over the world there is a widespread discrimination amongst certain castes. This discrimination can lead to negligence of the children by his other peers or teachers which may lead to distortion in his behavior. School plays an important role in the life of a child as it is the first public institution to which he is exposed in life. And if his first experience in school is loaded with taunts and abuses then he may land up in getting involved in criminal activities.