Constitution in USA Essay Example for Free

Constitution in USA Essay A constitution is either a written (codified) or unwritten (uncodified) body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state is acknowledged to be governed. Generally, a constitution is only written after a major event. In the case of America their constitution was written in 1787, after the American Revolutionary War came to a close. There are a number of issues with America’s constitution which make it, arguably, unfit for the 21st century. The most apparent issue with the constitution is the overall ambiguity that it’s based upon. Take for example the eighth amendment which forbids the federal government from imposing cruel or unusual punishments on American citizens. However, what’s classed as a cruel or unusual punishment? Many have argued that capital punishment can be seen as a cruel punishment, which has led to some states, such as Illinois, abolishing the death penalty altogether. Though, despite eighteen states abolishing the death penalty so far, there has been no move to amend the constitution to include the death penalty as an example of ‘cruel punishment’. Another example of an ambiguous amendment is the first amendment which protects the right to free speech as well as freedom of religion. However, how far this amendment applies has been questioned on numerous occasions. For example, Texas passed a law which prevented flag desecration (burning of the American flag), however the Supreme Court overturned the Texas law due to it violating citizen’s first amendment right as flag desecration is seen as an expression of belief, which the first amendment protects. This has led to numerous calls for flag desecration being outlawed via a constitutional amendment, however just like the eight amendment this would be incredibly hard to achieve. This is purely due to how difficult it is to amend the American constitution. The American constitution’s amendment process is long and difficult, which is mainly due to it requiring a supermajority. A supermajority is where 2/3rds of both houses of Congress have to agree to the amendment put forward. Even if either house falls short by one vote, the amendment is dropped. This process was made to be hard intentionally by the Founding Fathers. This was  because they believed that the constitution shouldn’t be constantly changing, and so they created the need for a supermajority to stop the federal government from making rash, in the moment, decisions which they could grow to regret later on. However, it is this founding belief that has made the constitution, arguably, untenable for the 21st century, which can be contributed to Congress’ explosive growth over the last 200 years. For example, in 1789 there were only 65 Representatives in the House of Representatives, which grew to 435 by 1963 and plateaued due to the House of Representative s being capped in 1911. This is an increase of 370 over a period of 174 years (meaning that there were two new Representatives every year). This continually increased the amount of people who had to work in unison to pass constitutional amendments, and as evidenced by the 1911 Act which capped the size of the House of Representatives, America grew far more than the Founding Fathers had originally intended. The constitution can also be seen as unfit for the 21st century due to an ever increasing political pace, as well as rapidly changing circumstances which have led to very different outcomes when compared to the British political system. This can mainly be seen with gun control which is protected in America by the second amendment (â€Å"Right to bear arms†) despite the amount of shootings which have occurred in recent times. An example of this would be the Sandy Hook shooting, which occurred on December 14th 2012 at an elementary school in Connecticut. This caused nationwide outrage which in turn caused support for disarmament groups to increase. However, after several months the support fell away and no constitutional amendments were put through, despite pledges and campaigns from Barrack Obama and Joe Biden. Now, when compared to England, there was a shooting spree in a Dunblane Primary School in 1996. Following national outrage, much alike that caused by Sandy Hook, guns were criminalised by an Act of Parliament, which was significantly easier to do as the UK does not have a written constitution, rather an unwritten one which is drawn from several sources. However, despite the faults with the American constitution, it must be fit for purpose if it still exists. This is because if it wasn’t fit for  purpose, and didn’t work at all, it would have been scraped by one of the American administrations after its conception. This is mainly aided by the argument that the constitution’s ambiguity is what allows it to adapt to changing circumstances as well as its ability to change without formal review. What is meant by this is the fact that the Supreme Court can uphold or repeal earlier decisions made in relation to the constitution, meaning that if the correct decisions were repealed the constitution could be drastically changed.

Computer Implementation in Learning Environments :: Technology Technological Essays

Computer Implementation in Learning Environments Abstract This paper seeks to analyze the current research and reports on computer implementation in learning environments. The three articles discussed come from Annual Editions—Computers in Education 04/05, 11th edition, edited by J. Hirschbuhl and D. Bishop (2004). For analysis are the proposals of investing in e-learning in higher education, more effective use of computers through initiation, implementation, and institutionalization, and improving student/computer interaction through the use of computer tutor programs. This paper concludes with some suggestions for the practice and implementation of the aforementioned strategies and/or programs, and highlights for educators the most relevant points made by these articles on the topic of computer implementation in learning environments. Computer Implementation Analysis in Learning Environments Computers as a form of technology are assisting daily the advancement of various societal fields, from business, to science, to education. This particular innovation in technology has literally taken the world by storm and countless authors and experts are continually determining its effects on our society. Indeed, newspapers, educational journals, and even the evening news are each eager to report the successes and failures of technology in education. In this paper, I will analyze three articles on the subject of computer implementation in learning environments. I will seek to summarize the main points for computer technology use in education and conclude with the authors’ suggestions for practicing technology in these learning environments. Each of the analyzed articles can be found in Annual Editions—Computers in Education 04/05, Eleventh Edition edited by J. Hirschbuhl and D. Bishop. The first article, Investing in Digital Resources (McArthur, 2002), seeks to define educational technology and its related vocabulary, outline reasons for planning e-learning, and describe the necessary steps for implementation, chiefly in respect to higher education. McArthur (2002) states, â€Å"it no longer makes sense to debate whether e-learning should be accepted or rejected—either in individual schools or by higher education as a whole—just as it is no longer reasonable to consider spurning the Web in business or at home.† He defines various e-learning options, such as web displayed, web enhanced, hybrid, and on-line, and maintains that, â€Å"none of these e-learning options necessarily diminishes the role of the instructor in learning and teaching† (McArthur, 2002). The defense for e-learning is that it provides an environment where students can easily and flexibly shape and own their learning (McArthur, 2002).

Adolescent Counseling and the Significant Aspects of Counseling Our Youth

Adolescence is a developmental stage that is broken down into three stages. During this time, adolescents have a difficult time trying to find who they are and who they want to become. This is a time that adolescents may need to turn to someone else for help and guidance. For this reason Adolescent Counselors are extremely important and it can be both tricky and rewarding. There are many different important aspects that pertain to Adolescent Christian Counseling such as Rapport, Trust, Respect, Warmth, Empathy and Genuineness. To provide the appropriate and effective counseling to adolescents these aspects must be taken seriously. There are many different ethical guidelines to follow when dealing with adolescent minors that can be complicated but must be followed. Biblical values and personal values must also be intertwined into adolescent Christian counseling. To ensure one is a Competent Christian counselor, tools given to the counselor should be taken seriously and used in an efficient manor. Adolescent Counseling and the Significant Aspects of Counseling Our Youth â€Å"Adolescence is the developmental stage that lies between childhood and adulthood† (Feldman, 2011, p. 350). The Encyclopedia of Family Health, (2011) divides adolescence into three phases: â€Å"(1) early (10-13 years, marked by rapid physical changes with the onset of puberty), (2) middle (14-16 years, marked by the rise in importance of peer group values), and (3) late (17-mid-20s, marked by years of college or work after high school, increased decision-making capacity, and transition from full family financial dependence to limited monetary support and a goal of economic independence)†. As you can see there are many transitions that adolescents make during this time, which may be difficult for them to face alone. During this time adolescents are also trying to find themselves and who they are. Feldman, (2011) states, â€Å"During adolescence, questions like â€Å"Who am I? And â€Å"Where do I belong in the world? † begin to take a front seat† (p. 382). At times these questions are too much for our youth to handle so they seek counseling as a way to get through the tough times and explore themselves. Adolescents handle their struggles in different ways and have different methods in coping. Clinton & Ohlschlager, (2003) believe there are three common ways adolescents deal with their struggles. â€Å"They (1) hold them in, (2) act them out, or (3) work them through†(p. 68). Counseling is particularly important with those adolescents that want to work through their problems. They are ready to take responsibility for what has happened or what they are going through in their lives and they want to move forward and work through the struggles. Having the ability to help these adolescents is why the topic of adolescents is extremely important in counseling. Adolescents find it difficult to open up to people because of the fear of being judged looked at differently or what they say going back to their parents. They need someone they can trust, from an appropriate bond with and open up to. ‘Bond’ describes the system of positive attachments between the client and therapist, including trust, acceptance and confidence† (Campbell & Simmonds, 2011, p. 196). The bond that a counselor has with a client can set the tone for what is to come and rather or not the adolescent will open up to them. Warmth, Genuineness, Empathy, Respect, Trust, and Rapport are among the other important aspects of counseling adolescents. To have the ability to effectively counsel adolescents a counselor must have the ability to understand the adolescent and where the feelings they are having are coming from. This does not necessarily mean the counselor must agree, they just have to understand and be willing to look at it from the adolescent’s perspective. â€Å" The most important instrument you have to help adolescents is you (Parrott, 1997). Who you are as a person is critical in determining the effectiveness of your counseling† (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2003, p. 571). Understanding the client is not the only thing that is important to counseling adolescents. There are many different legal issues and ethical concerns in relation to counseling our youth and they are determined by the state the counselor lives in. You must be aware of rather or not the state requires an adolescent to have parental consent, the age they can consent to treatment for themselves and what types of treatment they can consent to. You must be aware of whether or not you should speak to the minor about informed consent and to what extent confidentiality takes place (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 187). There are many ethical concerns when treating minors and they should all be taken into consideration to be able to effectively counsel the adolescent as well as ensuring the counselor is following guidelines. The counselor’s values need to be a part of the counseling relationship with adolescents as well. Being a Christian Counselor one must be â€Å"deeply committed, spirit guided, servant of Jesus Christ, that applies their God-given abilities, skills, training, knowledge and insight to helping others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability and spiritual maturity† (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 44). With that being said, the values of the counselor and the adolescent will help point the counseling sessions in a direction that the counselor as well as the client agrees with. Fostering an alliance with children may be more difficult because children rarely refer themselves for treatment, can be reluctant to enter therapy, infrequently recognize the existence of problems or agree with adults on therapeutic goals (Campbell & Simmonds, 2011, p. 196) Being able to share values with them and believing in the same things can help the client be more open with you therefore allowing you to help them. Major Themes Warmth Accepting where your client is coming from is a very important aspect in counseling, especially when dealing with adolescents. The key to nonpossessive warmth is acceptance. It is an attitude that does not evaluate or require change; it simply accepts the thoughts, feelings and actions of the client† (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2003, p. 572). Adolescents want to be heard and to feel as if the people around them care and accept them for who they are. It is very important for counselors to make each client feel important and make sure they know th at they matter. When adolescents feel as if they matter and that they are important, they will open up to the counselor making it easier to work through problems and the search of who they are. Adolescents are always searching for who they are and when a person in an important role can accept the adolescent for who they are, the adolescent may begin to accept themselves. Genuineness Just as a counselor can tell if someone wants to be in counseling, an adolescent can tell if you want to help them or not. Counselors want to be honest with their clients, show that they care and make it known they care about the wellbeing of the client. Counseling is sometimes a long process, therefore you need the adolescents to stay connected to you and feel as if they are accomplishing the goals you have set in counseling. When topics in which a counselor does not agree with come up, or when a counselor feels as if progress is not being made, they need to be truthful with the adolescent. â€Å"When counselors are genuine with clients that means they are being real with their clients and informing them accurately about the helping process. Rogers believes that genuineness is one of the important factors required to help people grow. Counselors need to be real and honest with clients in order for clients to see how they need to change and start making the steps to do so. Counselors need to be willing to be open with their clients and not afraid to challenge them when appropriate† (Smith, 2013). Adolescents are on a constant search for who they are; helping them find who they are often requires counselors to challenge their thoughts and actions. Being honest and showing that the counselor genuinely cares about the adolescent will help the therapeutic process. Empathy A client wants their counselor to understand what they are going through and have been through in their life. Understanding what the client is feeling and letting the client know you understand is very important in adolescent counseling. Adolescents want to be heard and they want you to understand the feelings they have to try and make sense of them. â€Å"As a counselor acquires an empathic understanding of a client, this awareness may contribute to effectively formulating and executing a range of therapeutic interventions† (Clark, 2010, p. 353). It has been shown that Peer Counseling is often very effective and expressing empathy is one of the main reasons that peer counseling is so effective (Geldard & Patton, 2007, p. 42). If Counselors need to possess the ability to relate to the client’s issues, concerns and feelings the way their peers do the counseling will be effective. Being empathetic to the clients needs, will allow the client to feel more comfortable and open up. Respect Respect is something that every professional relationship must have. â€Å" According to Gerard Egan, respect is the foundational value of counseling. Without it, the counseling process is likely to fail. Respect is not just an attitude we have towards someone; it is also a way of talking and acting. Respect is shown to someone when we honor a person through word or deed just for who they are, and it involves honoring their rights too† (Smith, 2013). Every person has the right to have their own beliefs, counselors must have the ability to respond in a respectful manner to those who do not have the same beliefs or values in which the counselor has. Respecting an adolescents beliefs and values can help and adolescent from withdrawing emotionally from the counseling process. Trust Trust is an important factor in every relationship we have in life. â€Å"In counseling there are two foundational prerequisites to counseling children; 1) Understanding your clients developmental level and 2) Building rapport and establishing trust with your client†(Adams & Paxton, 2013, p. ). Trust will take a client a long way in counseling and it is important that counselors not break that trust. Therefore they must be open and honest when it comes to informed consent and what the counselor can and cannot keep confidential. Adolescents face a lot of different battles as they grow into young adults and they may be shy, emotional and uncomfortable sharing certain aspects of their life. â€Å"When adolescents feel that they can trust an adult or advocate, or health education teacher, they know that their feelings are being considered and understood† (Thompson, 2011, p. 18). Every counselor needs to form a therapeutic alliance with his or her client and trust contributes a great deal to the ability to develop that therapeutic alliance (Therapist Perspectives, p. 198). Rapport Rapport has been described as â€Å"the relative harmony and smoothness of relations between people† (Spencer-Oatey, 2005, p. 96). Building a rapport should be one of the first goals in adolescent counseling. The fact that most adolescents do not want to be in counseling and are forced to be there makes first impressions extremely important. Counselors should begin building a rapport and establishing trust with their clients right away. When clients feel comfortable with their counselor and can relate to them they will open up to them. With adolescents this may make them see that counseling could be good for them and could be a positive way of getting them to come back to counseling and continuing the process. Important Legal and Ethical Issues When working with adolescents there are many different ethical and legal dilemmas that come into play with the counseling process. It is extremely important for every counselor to become familiar with their states laws pertaining to minors. In most states minors must have informed consent from either the parent or legal guardian, if that consent is not given the counseling must be court ordered (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 187). The law requiring minors to have the consent of their parent or legal guardian makes it difficult for counselors to keep what is talked about in counseling confidential. Therefore it is extremely important that every counselor be open and honest with his or her client and have them sign informed consent forms, therefore you know they understand the boundaries of their relationship. Counselors also have the responsibility to ensure that the adolescent clients understand the therapy process, if a client does not understand how the process works; the counselor is legally obligated to explain it to them. The ACA, 2005 states â€Å"When counseling minor clients or adult clients who lack the capacity to give voluntary consent to release confidential information, counselors seek permission from an appropriate third party to disclose information. In such instances, counselors inform clients consistent with their level of understanding and take culturally appropriate measures to safe- guard client confidentiality. There are certain situations when working with minors that may not require a counselor to have the informed consent of the parent, nor do they have to release the confidential information. Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 187 state â€Å"Informed consent of parents or guardians may not be legally required when a minor is seeking counseling for dangerous dru gs or narcotics, for sexually transmitted diseases, for pregnancy and birth control, or for an examination following alleged sexual assault of a minor over 12 years old†. For instance in Virginia, a minor has the right to seek counsel when deciding if they would like to have an abortion or give their child up for adoption without consent of a parent or legal guardian (Smith, 2013). Counselors also need to include the adolescents in the therapy process and explain the different goals of therapy to them. Therapy is a relationship between the client and the counselor, and rather or not the client wants to be their they still need to be an active part of the process for counseling to be effective. Counseling adolescents becomes a lot easier when the adolescent, the counselor and the parents and or guardian come to an understanding. Because counselors are legally obligated to share information with the parents if asked, adolescents often do not open up to the counselor in fear of their parents finding out information. Having an agreement between all parties in the beginning of counseling about what information will be given to the parents may help the adolescent open up. However there are situations in which it does not matter what agreements have been made. The counselor is legally obligated to inform the parents if the adolescent is planning to harm himself or herself or someone else. However there are also laws that go the other way, meaning that if a client is at risk of harm if information is relayed to the parents or guardian, then the proper authorities need to be informed and the parents or guardians do not need to be informed. Ethics and issues in counseling can be very difficult. It is up to the counselor to stay up to date with the Ethical Guidelines pertaining to their field as well as the ethical guidelines in their state. It is also important to document everything therefore if a parent or guardian comes and says that the counselor failed to give information pertaining to a minor the counselor is covered. Documentation includes having client’s notes, and informed consent forms signed by both the adolescent and the parent or legal guardian. The counselor knowing and understanding their boundaries are key to effectively counseling and following ethical guidelines. * Biblical Values The AACC Ethics Code has 7 foundations or biblical values that Christian Counselors should follow to be a successful Christian Counselor. The first Foundation is to ensure that each counselor follows ethical guidelines, Christian counseling practice and caregiving activities. The second Foundation states that Christian Counselors should maintain a positive and committed relationship with the church. The third foundation is to maintain a spirited route to encouraging those to mature and develop a relationship with Christ. The fourth foundation states that Jesus Christ should be their first love, and respect everyone they come across in their career. The fifth foundation is to believe in the bible and what the bible says. The sixth foundation is to follow the religious rights of people. The last foundation is to is to represent Christ, the church and honor their commitments and obligations in both social and professional settings. Christian Counselors have been given the gift to help people through their troubled times. When helping adolescent’s Christian counselors must remember that they are guiding the future of our world. Christian counselors must stay close to the bible and close to Jesus Christ, ensuring that adolescents know and understand his word. Adolescents spend their time looking for who they are and their place in this world. It is the job of the Christian counselor to ensure each adolescent knows what their future can hold for them as long as they believe in God and the plan he has. By following the Foundations of Christian Counseling in both counseling sessions and in their non-professional lives, it becomes easier for the counselor to guide individuals down the right path. Personal Reflections I believe that Christian Counselors are one of the most important people adolescents can come into contact with. I believe that rather the adolescent wants to be there in the counseling room or rather they are forced to be there, that progress can be made as long as the counselor tries their best. Adolescents are looking for themselves, they are trying to find who they are and who they want to become in life. They need guidance and they need unbiased guidance at that. If the counselor knows him or herself and knows the foundational values of their practice, I believe they have the ability to guide each and every adolescent in the right direction. Adolescents look for ways to grow and someone to look up to. In their times of need they need someone to talk to that will respect them and help them through their situations without judgment. This is why I believe that first a counselor must build a good rapport with their clients. They must then look to build their trust and respect. Adolescents are more willing to open up when they believe you respect them and are not judging the decisions they have made in their lives. I also believe that it is very important to empathize with what they have gone through in their lives and what they are facing. The old saying, â€Å"Do not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes† comes into play with adolescent counseling. The counselor may not know or understand everything the adolescent has done, but to be able to empathize with them is the key. Adolescents face many different problems in the world today, rather it is the struggle of getting good grades in school, having to play sports and so forth to get scholar ships or dealing with the hardships of their parents divorcing and so forth. There are a lot of problems that adolescent’s face that they did not ask for. They are left with the burden of so much that sometimes they just need an unbiased, professional to talk to and guide them through. Having the ability to do what the adolescents need you to do. It is also important to follow the ethical guidelines can sometimes put the counselor however in a bad place. This is where I believe that being open and honest with both the adolescent and the parents are the best way to provide a trusting relationship with your client. When I become a counselor I plan to dedicate myself to helping individuals with their hardships want to have the ability to work with the adolescent groups and help them through the troubled times they have faced in their lives. I believe that if I can follow the path in which God has led me down to this point, I will be able to do so. I believe that through my education of learning how to respond to different situations in counseling, learning the different ethical concerns and what the ethical guidelines are though my schooling that I will also become a Competent Christian counselor. I plan to use every tool given to me because it is my dream to help the young adults in need and guide them to a better, more Christian tomorrow. Conclusion Counseling adolescents can be an extremely difficult and taxing job. However having the ability to do so can help so many young adults in their journey to develop. Knowing your client, having a good rapport with them, developing a positive trusting relationship and a bond that cannot be broken is key to helping these young adults. Adolescents need guidance and they sometimes do not know where to get the appropriate guidance they need. Devoting your time to helping these individuals is such a reward. In doing so a counselor must ensure they are following the appropriate guidelines when working with these clients. They must also make sure they are using their personal values and biblical values in a professional manor to help guide. They must also remember, the most important instrument in counseling is the counselor (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2003, p. 571). References Adams, L. G., & Paxton, M. (2013). Counseling children and youth in times of crisis: Tips to achieve success and avoid pitfalls. American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Retrieved from http://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/childrights/docs/CounselingChildrenandYouth.pdf Adolescent Counseling. (2011). In Encyclopedia of Family Health. Retrieved from http://www.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/sagefamhealth/adolescent_counseling American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). (2004). AACC code of ethics: The Y2004 final code. American Counseling Association (ACA). (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved from American Counseling Association website: http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

“Fair Game” Film Review Essay

Born in New York City in 1965, director Doug Liman is known for producing multiple things from the T.V series the â€Å"O.C† (very successful) to another T.V series that flopped in â€Å"Mr. and Mrs. Smith (which only aired the pilot). He is most known for his work with â€Å"The Bourne Identity† saga. Which leads us to one of his most recent works â€Å"Fair Game†. When talking about what particular â€Å"genre† this movie possessed, we will have to quote â€Å"IMDB† and use the words Biography, drama, and thriller. As Haas would protest when the controversial conversation would come up about if it fits the political â€Å"genre†. He would simply break movies into four categories, which fits into â€Å"Politically Reflective Films†, â€Å"Socially Reflective Films†, â€Å"Pure Political Films†, and â€Å"Auteur Political Films†. I would actually put this somewhere around the â€Å"Pure Political Film† cate gory in my opinion. It opened in October 2010 and starred Naomi Watts (Valerie Plume), Sean Penn (Joe Wilson), and Sonya Davison (Chanel Suit). Watts is known for her busy career including movies like â€Å"21 grams†, and the two â€Å"Ring† movies. Penn has been just as busy performing in classics such as â€Å"Fast Times at Ridgemont High† to teaming up with Watts in â€Å"21 grams†. â€Å"Fair Game was nominated for 6 awards, taking home two victories. It was the 2010 â€Å"Best Narrative Feature† at the Mill Valley Festival Awards. It also claimed the â€Å"Freedom of Expression Award† at the National Board of Review. With top-notch actors, and an experienced aggressive director, â€Å"Fair Game† set out to become a memorable film and a must see. Did it succeed? Let me start critiquing the empirical (content) part of the film as mentioning the character Joseph Wilson, who served as a U.S ambassador to Gabon, San Tome, and Principe in previous duty. He was a diplomat with a very heavy opinion and was also very blunt. He was sent to Niger to investigate the situation of the White Houses suspicion that Iraq was buying Uranium from the African country for Nuclear power. Wilson who was approached because his wife Valerie Plume was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency (who’s character we will get into later), accepted to her approval. As Wilson came back from his endeavor he heard the famous speech that Bush gave when he addressed the Union. He became very prideful and stubborn with what he knew. He simply thought that it was untrue in every way possible. He went on to submit a piece in the â€Å"New York Times† claiming these reports to be false. Not only does this strike outrage with his stance with the White House, but it puts his wife’s job in jeopardy. This ultimately causes his wife’s identity as a CIA officer to leak (only Wilson and parents knew before this). This puts an end to Valerie Plume’s operations in which she had been helping a family of 15 get out of Baghdad during war, which caused a great deal of stress and trust being broken. Then both started receiving death threats and could not be seen in public without getting ambushed by reporters, taxi drivers, among others. The once happy marriage was being put to the test as Valerie takes the kids to her parent’s house searching for answers. Eventually as time passes by, Valerie realizes that he was right to fight the â€Å"wrong fight† (Valerie was also considered as â€Å"Fair Game† as one quote in the movie indicated.). She then proceeds to show up back at their home with a quote I loved from the dialogue, â€Å"Are you ready to fight?† Plume finally decides to back her husband and goes in front of congress to tell the truth and everything she knows about the situation. She says she does her best as a covert operational officer and it’s because she loves her job and her country. This ends with National Security adviser Scooter Libby being charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. One thing that I was appreciative of was the way director Doug Liman set the stage from the beginning in how he wanted you to portray this movie. He took you into the behind the scenes of the White House after September 11, 2001. He showed you what kind of pressure was on not only the president and White House, but also all of the related institutions including the CIA. The biggest threat to America was Iraq and Suddam Hussein. As America eagerly waited a rebuttal or response from Bush and company, the president came up with a game plan. That game plan set the pitch for the rest of the movie. In justifying taking action against Hussein and Iraq, Bush addresses the State of the Union in 2003 alluding to Uranium’s use in building weapons of mass destruction. Was this true? This is only up to ones opinion at this time. My take on what a good movie needs to do is to ultimately grab the viewer right from the start. This sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Most audiences (which James Combs quotes â€Å"A film participates in a political time not in how it was intended, but how it was utilized by those who saw it.† ) feel bored and robbed when movies sometimes do this, but it is necessary to get the full effect at the end. â€Å"Fair Game† simply did a fairly decent job setting up the viewers by telling Valerie’s character story first, this makes most appreciate her, so it kind of puts you in her shoes when she awakes one day and her husband’s opinion is in the paper (something that would forever change her life). I like how it put my mind to a critical thinking stage. What would I do in her situation? This in my eyes makes a great film. There were also parts of the film that I did not care so much about and I will explain why. First if Iraq and Suddam Hussein were the main threats as terrorist to the United States, doesn’t that give us enough justice to go to war with them as it is? Why need to make up something about nuclear power (if that was the case) in order to get the ok. This is a true example of what I do not like about â€Å"biographies† that relate so much into the current events. Something to this nature (even though it is fiction) bothers me in the slight est. The second thing was the story of Hammad and his 15 family members waiting to get to safe territories out of Baghdad because of Valerie’s word. It simply turns a huge story which kind of dominated most of the movie, into â€Å"Hammad and family are missing†. I was just hoping for a better conclusion to that story. This seemed to get the director to his main message no matter the case. Overall I believe the main point of this movie was to give you the overall behind the scenes look at the political side of things after a recent tragedy such as September 11, 2001. It shows you every angle that’s involved including the White House outlook to the CIA, to every one person being affected by these situations. It discusses that there are a ton of things that go on behind the scenes that not many people ever get to see. Things like this beg you to ask the question every time there is a current event situation. Is it true? Along with discussing and analyzing it. The one thing you do not do is write a post to the newspaper questioning the president, because we all know (quote from movie said to Wilson â€Å"The White House men are the most powerful people in the world†.) how that ends up. My rating for this movie was 3 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed most of it, especially the plot. I also thought the acting had a big affect on turning a good movie to something more. I enjoyed going back a few years and remembering exactly what I was doing during the time of these current events. Only a few nitpicks that I didn’t like which could’ve had my rating go even higher, which I discussed earlier. When suggesting this film to others, I would only recommend if politics were at a interest in you. If not the case, I could think of other films instead. I have friends that are both. I am going to conclude this review with a quote from the movie. Jack replies to Valerie when she is questioning his actions. I thought of it as being very deep, â€Å"Do you want to be loyal to your husband or to the CIA?† The following were used as resources for my work: 1. IMDB.com 2. Political Matinee: Hollywood’s Take on American Politics, edited by Richard Herrera

Japans civilization

Japans civilization A number of internal and external factors shaped Japans early civilization. However, the Meiji restoration stands out from the other factors. The Meiji era occurred between 1868 and 1912 (Huffman). Additionally, Meiji Restoration was a peaceful coup that occurred in 1868 (Huffman). According to the Photographic Book, the Meiji Era began when Tokugawa Shogunate was overthrown by the imperialist.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Japans civilization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The leaders of the imperial government were youthful Samurai (Photographic Book). After the coup, it took Japan forty-five years to become a modern state and a powerful colonial power (Huffman). Other highlights of the Meiji era include abolition of the Samurai class, expansion of Japan’s territory and development of a stronger military. This essay discuses the role of the Meiji government in shaping Japans early civilization. The Meiji government planned to transform Japan into a competitive modern state. For that reason, leaders who advocated for radical changes in Japan prevailed. In 1868, the government declared its reform goals and promised to consult the people when necessary (Photographic Book). The Photographic Book adds that the regime also promised to seek extra knowledge from external partners. Additionally, the Meiji restoration was to provide leadership in abandoning outdated customs (Photographic Book). According to Huffman, the Meiji government developed nationalism in Japan. However, nationalism could not have occurred without unification of all domains in Japan. Therefore, by 1871, Japan has a centralized system of government (Photographic Book). This occurred when the Meiji regime managed to convince all domains to surrender their powers to the central government (Photographic Book). Afterwards, the regime embarked on a campaign to instill national pride. Japan journey to modernity was also initi ated by the Meiji government. After unification of the domains, half of the Meiji leaders were sent on diplomatic assignments worldwide (Photographic Book). Historians refer to these diplomatic assignments as the Iwakura missions (Photographic Book). These missions found out that the development in the western world had occurred within two centuries only (Photographic Book). From these findings, Japan felt that it was possible to achieve modernization and industrialization in a shorter time. Japan, then, embarked on reforming its entire economy. For instance, elementary education became compulsory and better taxation laws were formulated (Photographic Book). As a result, Japan became one of the most modernized states. In 1876, the Meiji government halted its payments to the Samurai class. Furthermore, the regime brought to an end Samurai’s privilege to carry swords (Photographic Book). For that reason, there were a number of rebellions by the Samurai class. However, all the u prisings were successfully crashed by the government. As a result, Japan brought an end to the Samurai class.Advertising Looking for essay on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Meiji government should also be credited with the expanding. For instance, in the 1870s, the government captured and controlled islands adjacent to Japan (Photographic Book). This regime also drafted a plan to colonize Hokkaid and successfully captured Ryukyu and Bonin Island. Through an agreement with Russia, Japan was also able to control Kuril Islands (Photographic Book). Furthermore, the Meiji government had a strong military. This military defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War in 1894. A decade later, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese Wars. In conclusion, the Meiji era saw Japan establish it’s self as one of the modern states in the world. In addition, Japanese people embraced the spirit of nationalism during th is period. Furthermore, under the Meiji regime, Japan was able to expand and had a stronger military. Photographic Book. n.d. Meiji Restoration. n.d.Web. voyagesphotosmanu.com/meiji_restoration.html Huffman, James. 2008. The Meiji Restoration Era, 1868-1889. 2008. Web. http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/the_meiji_restoration_era_1868-1889#sthash.4epiNmJq.dpbs

The Effects Of A Greek Default On The Uk Economy Dissertation

The Effects Of A Greek Default On The Uk Economy - Dissertation Example With the passage of time, the issue of the sovereign debt crisis has been getting worse. There are several European Union countries who have taken loans in order to survive in these circumstances and strive to make their overall economic condition better. According to the researchers and analysts out of all these countries, Greece has the worst situation and there is high possibility that the country will default and will not be able to repay the loans. The implications of this possible Greek default will not only be on the respective country but also on the other countries in the European Union. It is important to acknowledge here that the increasing globalisation and changing global practices have resulted in generating more integrated and related economies. For this reason, no country can avoid the influence of the economic issued being faced by any other country or economy. Through international trade and other cross country connections the distances among the economies of the world. There has been increasing convergence in the economies and as a result all activities are directly related and inter connected. This connection and relation among the world economies have resulted in the events of Great Depression and the recent economic downturn. 1.2. Background to the Research Study: Researchers, analysts, and economists have been conducting several research studies in order to evaluate and explore the impact of one economy on other related economies. The events like Great Depression have forced the researchers and economists to think about the reasons behind the global imp act of default of one economy. Economists and theorists have provided different theories in this regard, and the most important reason behind this is the integration of the economies. It is not possible for any country to survive in isolation in this global world. After the recent economic recession, the analysts are considerate about the potential recession European Union countries are heading towards. Several countries in the region of European Union are facing the issues related to the relatively lower growth rate and ongoing debt problems. According to the analysts, the main reason behind this is the austerity plan and policies implemented by the Greece. The Greece is all set to default, as according to Moses (2011), there are around 98 percent chances that Greece will default owing to the worsening debt conditions in the European Union region. Different European countries, including Germany, United Kingdom, France, etc, are taking considerable preventive measures in order to av oid and reduce the impact of the Greek default on their economies. All of this results in calling for formulating effective and efficient strategies on the national level to avoid another worse recession. For this purpose, it is important to first identify and explore the reasons behind the potential Greek default and its implications on the other related countries. Secondly, it is important to acknowledge that the Greek default will directly influence the trade and bond market of other European countries also. Along with this it will also affect the exchange rate and value of Euro. 1.3. Rationale of the Research Study: The research study has been undertaken by the researcher in order to identify the causes behind the worsening economic and debt condition of Greek and to explore its impact on other European Union countries specifically United Kingdom. United Kingdom has direct trade relations with Greece, and if Greece is unable to repay the loans this will results in exposing the b anks in UK to the issues of the financial system in Greece. As, the banks and financial institutions in UK will have to write off assets because of the repayment failure on part of the Greece, and this in turn will influence the short term profits. Apart from this there are also several other negative implications associated with the default of Greece. It is important to understand the relationship between the fiscal policy and the country

Kuder Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Kuder - Assignment Example These reflect my personality as well as my upbringing. I have always been an individual who is ready to help and would not think it impossible to advance the interest and welfare of others above my own or in the interest of the greater good. In looking at specific variables in the result regarding the potential industries that I would thrive in, I realized that these are aligned with what I have been interested early on. For instance, I got high marks on health science. This was not really surprising because I have always been interested in biology in high school. I could still remember promising to be a doctor after we viewed a video lesson about avian flu and the impact of an epidemic on people. The focus of my extracurricular activities also reflected my interest in areas such as communication, technology and relationship with people. There are certain areas in the result that perplexed me a little. I scored high in education and training yet I did poorly in hospitality and tourism industries. The reason for this is that I have been considering a career in the latter cluster since I do like to cook and I am curious about the hospitality industry whereas the academe has not entered my mind as yet. But when I saw my work values I sort of understood this part. I am quite independent with a deep hunger for accomplishment: that is, I had to know and feel that I am doing something meaningful and important not just for others but also for the society. This thought also helped me understand why – according to the assessment - I might not excel in managerial and administrative positions. My ethnic background sets great importance to management position and those around me tend to believe that it is one of the ultimate objectives of any career, to be the boss. I found that I will be more successful elsewhere. With all the information I have from the Kudder and Work Values assessments, I feel I am more in the position to choose the