Category: Uncategorized

Unit IV (4) Journal

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Tittle

Professor’s Name

Date

My opinion on Intelligence Assessment

After reading chapter 8, my opinion on intelligence assessment is that it implies the capability to comprehend complex ideas, take part in various forms of reasoning, learn from experience, adjust effectively to the environment, and overcome obstacles through psychological effort. Intelligence signifies a feature of life that scientists have for a long time attempted to assess, measure, and define ever since its origin. A number of models on intelligence originated in the early 1900s, momentarily after contemporary intelligence assessment appeared. With different models come different forms of intelligence assessment. Different intelligence is assessed to determine their validity. To begin with, the Pro-certified IQ test of the International High IQ Society is an example of the intelligence assessment. It was a timed assessment made up of eight pattern identification questions. Contemporary intelligence assessment usually focuses on abilities such as memory, spatial perception, language abilities, and mathematical skills. The capability to solve problems, see relationships, and remember information are significant intelligence elements, so they are usually the skills on which IQ assessments center. The assessment is recorded in terms of intelligence quotient, or IQ, an idea initially proposed by German psychologist William Stern and adopted by Lewis Terman in the Stanford-Binet Scale. The perception of intelligence draws back to the Latin verb intellegere, denoting the acquirement, processing, and storage of information. From this perspective, intelligence is limited to the intellectual, psychological capabilities of the individuals. 

Whether We Have a Better Job of Making It Less Biased Than It Was In the Past or Room for Improvement

So far, we have done a better job making intelligence assessment less biased than in the past. However, there is still much room for improvement. Improved and better intelligence assessments are reliable, signifying that they are consistent over time. They also show concept validity, meaning that they, in reality, measure intelligence instead of something else. The intelligence assessments done in the modern time gave some information about their particular text and what made it good and had their own advantages and disadvantages. However, some assessments tend to be the best generally is actually measuring as a whole. Intelligence assessments are developed son how we comprehend intelligence- our theories. One of the theories that best explain intelligence is the multiple-factor model of intelligence. Some intelligence assessments cover an extensive range of diverse psychological abilities, permitting it to assess an individual’s numerous bits of intelligence more systematically. So far, we do a better job of making intelligence assessment less biased than it was in the past. There is only a small room for improvement. Most intelligence assessments are good, and the fact is that they are not culturally biased increases their validity. However, at other times, the intelligence assessment is too narrow in its questions and does not assess multiple intelligences the same way a good assessment is supposed to do.

Whether IQ is a relevant, culturally-competent concept

IQ is a relevant, culturally-competent concept. It is evident that culture impacts IQ scores. However, some researchers assert that intelligence is a concept specific to a certain culture. According to them, intelligence’s cultural specificity makes IQ assessment biased towards the settings in which they were developed. One actual thing is that intelligence cannot fully or meaningfully be understood outside its cultural context. The connection between different intelligence features can be different across cultures, with positive relationships in one setting demonstrating to be negative in another. IQ is a relevant culturally-competent concept signifying that culture impacts IQ scores. Something that we think of as intelligence in a particular state means a lot in some regions and somehow little in others. An individual cannot just disregard IQ scores he does like, as most people do at times, as invalid as a result of cultural differences. Intelligence cannot completely or even expressively be comprehended outside its cultural context. A certain thing that is well-thought-out as intelligent in a particular culture might be well-thought-out as unintelligent in another culture, and vice versa. Furthermore, individuals in diverse cultures have dissimilar implicit models of intelligence, so they might not even signify a similar thing by the word. The associations between diverse features of intelligence can differ across cultures, with optimistic connections in one environment demonstrating to be undesirable in another.

History

Students Name

Institution of Affiliation

Course Title

Date

Civil religion is a concept to which dates its origin from the French political thoughts and eventually becoming a major topic for the American sociologists. The idea was first used by Robert Bellah in the 1960s. Civil religion means the inherent religious values of a nation as they are expressed via the public rituals and symbols such as the national flag and the ceremonies on the sacred days as well as at sacred places that include the battlefield, monuments and national cemeteries. Churches are excluded from the civil religion though at sometimes they are incorporated to be part of the civil religion in America. In the sociology of religion, the civil religion is regarded as the folk of the nation and as well as the political culture of the nation.

Sociologist Robert Bellah in his seminal 1967 essay, he argued that the United States had an elaborate and well and a well-instituted civil religion that existed alongside and was rather clearly differentiated from the religion conducted in the churches (Bellah & Tipton, 2006). Civil religion is also referred to as religious nationalism, public piety, shared faith and public religion, and that it provides a religious sanction for the political order as well as the divine justification for and the support for the civil society and the practices of the nations. Also, civil religion may be used to imply the state’s use of the consensus religious concepts, sentiments as well as symbols for its purposes. As a system for the established rituals, norms, values, allegiance and symbols, the civil religion is deemed to function as the social glue that binds the people of a nation together giving them an overarching sense of spiritual unity. Civil religion involves beliefs, events that reveal the purposes of God such as the American Revolution and the civil war, sacred places such as shrines to Washington, prophets such as Jefferson and Lincoln, sacred texts such as the constitution. Also, the civil religion further includes the ceremonies such as the Independence Day, hymns such as God bless America and my country as well as rituals that include the prayers at the public events such as the national day of prayers.

The Constitution in the American civil religion

Max Lerner in his classic article, the constitution and court as symbols, he pointed out to the role of the United States Constitution to what later the analysts termed as the American civil religion (Levinson, 1979). Lerner said that every tribe cling to something to which they believe to possess supernatural powers as an instrument for controlling the unknown forces in the hostile universe. The American tribe is no different from the others, and, the same and very habits of the mind derived from the authoritarian bible, as well as the religion of submission to a higher power, have also been carried over to the American authoritarian constitution. Also, philosophy to the submission to a higher law and a country like America in which its early traditions had prohibited a state church, ends by attaining a state church after all, although in a secular state. The United States Supreme Court plays a significant role in seeing to it that the constitution is followed to the letter and that the violators of the constitution do not go unpunished. The constitution being the supreme authority in the region helps to keep all the aspects in check including regulating the powers of the president and making sure that everyone is fairly treated even if not fully.

The hymn ‘God Bless America’ as a civil religion in America

The hymn God bless America is a popular song to which majority of the American population are conversant with and can be able to sing at any time if necessary. The song is taught in the American schools, and it is regularly performed at the sporting events. The hymn ‘God bless America’ sheds light on the cultural tensions that are within the US that are both past and present offering a historical chronicle that is full of surprises, and that will both edify and delight readers from all walks of life (Kaskowitz, 2013). The performance of the song at major sporting events qualifies the song to be incorporated into the components of the American civil religion as it binds all the people at the event making them be one. Furthermore, the song is taught in all schools, an indication that it is an important factor in the American population and that each person needs to know about it as well as the generations to come. The song has been passed to generations for quite a long period for now and has continued to be passed to the later generations to signify a common culture and embrace the symbolism of unity derived from the song. After the attacks of September 11th, the song God bless America was sung on the steps of the capital, at spontaneous memorial sites as well as during the seventh inning stretch at basketball games. The performance of the song at the majority of the events have made Americans become even more deeply embedded in the Americans collective consciousness. Civil religion has existed since the birth of the American republic and has continued to be present in all of the forms of the civil life, emerging with unusual strength in the times of a national crisis as evident from the hymn God Bless America. The hymn has some significant efforts to connect America with both divine blessings and guidance.

The president of America as a prophet and leader of the civil religion.

The president is a national figure and a symbol of unity, and that’s the main reason behind being led by a single president. Throughout the American history, the president has provided the leadership in the public faith. At sometimes, the president has primarily functioned as a political prophet just as the likes of Abraham Lincoln, at some occasions acting as the nation’s pastor like Dwight Eisenhower while at some times perform basically as the high priest of the civil religion like Ronald Reagan (Grinder & Shaw, 2016). In the prophetic civil religion, the president examines the nation’s actions about the transcendent values, calling upon the citizens to make sacrifices in times of crisis and also to repent of their corporate sins at the times when their behaviors fall short of the national ideals. As the national pastor, the president provides for spiritual inspirations to the people by affirming the American core values and urging them to appropriate those values and through the comfort of their afflictions. By assuming the role of the priest, the president makes America itself the ultimate reference point, leading the citizens in affirming and celebrating the nation and reminding the citizens of the country’s mission while at the same time praise and glorify his political people.

The American civil religion has been in existence since the nation became a republic. The founding fathers of the nation were responsible for the initiation of the civil religion, especially the post of the president, the constitution, national flag as well as the national currency. The components of the American civil religion are the symbols that are used to show unity among the American citizens in the manner of conducting their daily activities. The constitution acts as a check of balance and a supreme authority ensuring that justice is enforced through the courts. The hymns such as God Bless America are passed from one generation to the other as part of the American culture.

References

Bellah, R. N., & Tipton, S. M. (Eds.). (2006). The Robert Bellah Reader. Duke University Press.

Grinder, D., & Shaw, S. (2016). The Presidents & Their Faith: From George Washington to Barack Obama. Elevate Publishing.

Kaskowitz, S. (2013). God Bless America: The Surprising History of an Iconic Song. Oxford University Press.

Levinson, S. (1979). ” The Constitution” in American Civil Religion. The Supreme Court Review, 1979, 123-151.

Civil religion

OUTLINE

IntroductionOrigin and Concept of civil religion-

Civil religion is a concept to which dates its origin from the French political thoughts and eventually becoming a major topic for the American sociologists. Civil religion means the inherent religious values of a nation as they are expressed via the public rituals and symbols such as the national flag and the ceremonies on the sacred days as well as at sacred places that include the battlefield, monuments and national cemeteries.

Bellah’s contributions in civil religion

Sociologist Robert Bellah in his seminal 1967 essay, he argued that the United States had an elaborate and well and a well-instituted civil religion that existed alongside and was rather clearly differentiated from the religion conducted in the churches

Forms of civil religion in America

The American constitution

Max Lerner in his classic article, the constitution and court as symbols, he pointed out to the role of the United States Constitution to what later the analysts termed as the American civil religion

The hymn God bless America

The song is taught in the American schools, and it is regularly performed at the sporting events. The hymn ‘God bless America’ sheds light on the cultural tensions that are within the US that are both past and present offering a historical chronicle that is full of surprises, and that will both edify and delight readers from all walks of life

The American president as a prophet

Throughout the American history, the president has provided the leadership in the public faith. At sometimes, the president has primarily functioned as a political prophet just as the likes of Abraham Lincoln, at some occasions acting as the nation’s pastor like Dwight Eisenhower while at some times perform basically as the high priest of the civil religion like Ronald Reagan

Conclusion

The American civil religion has been in existence since the nation became a republic. The components of the American civil religion are the symbols that are used to show unity among the American citizens in the manner of conducting their daily activities.

Bibliography

Bellah, R. N., & Tipton, S. M. (Eds.). The Robert Bellah Reader. Duke University Press. (2006). 

Grinder, D., & Shaw, S. The Presidents & Their Faith: From George Washington to Barack Obama. Elevate Publishing. (2016). 

Kaskowitz, S. God Bless America: The Surprising History of an Iconic Song. Oxford University Press. (2013). 

Levinson, S. “The Constitution” in American Civil Religion. The Supreme Court Review, 1979, 123-151. (1979).

Assignment 1

My Opportunities

Student’ Name

Student’s ID

MWL 101 Personal Insight

Lecturer’s Name

Trimester: 201903

Word Count:

Executive Summary

I would utilize this report to present, analyze and evaluate my skills, traits and characteristics that with respect to my career growth and desire to work in the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Accordingly, this document would rely on my professional and industrial dashboards its basis. Precisely, I would utilize different tools including the 16 personalities test, shapes, academic review, personal performance style and values to test, identify and present my characteristics, skills and traits. Subsequently, I would respond to the findings from the different tests that I conducted. Moreover, the report presents my strengths and weaknesses, analyze and evaluate them (strengths and weaknesses) with regards to my desired job and industry. Thus, I would explain the importance of every strength and negative impacts of my weaknesses. Further, the report illuminates on the trends shaping the Tourism and Hospitality industry, analyze and evaluate such trends to determine employability level of the industry in the next couple of years. Finally, the document offers detailed analysis and evaluation of gaps in my skills with regards to the requirements of the selected industry. Conversely, the findings indicate that the Tourism and Hospitality industry is a highly-competitive industry that continues developing due to the ever-changing demands of its varied groups of customers. Luckily, I exhibit some of the essential skills and traits that are vital in the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Such skills include altruism, leadership, tolerance and reliability. As the industry strives to remain relevant and ensure provision of quality services and products, it focuses on recruiting highly-qualified individuals. Thus, this report presents my skills gap that I should handle to increase chances of succeeding in my career.

1.0Introduction

The Tourism and Hospitality industry serves as the most dynamic industries that continuously evolve since it focuses on offering quality products and services to a wide array of clientele. Tourists’ demands and expectations tend to change with time and differ from one category of individuals to the next. Moreover, the advancing technology impacts significantly on the industry as relevant tourism firms that entail hotels, travel agencies and airlines strive to establish, install and utilize the most suitable technologies for seamless communication and related processes. Consequently, individuals working under the industry of Tourism and Hospitality are expect to demonstrate particular skills and capabilities to ensure they remain competent in the highly-competitive environment. The relatively challenging processes of handling diversified types of tourists rely significantly on the ability of an individual to critically analyze and evaluate the business environment, determine and deliver the most appropriate products and services that meet or exceed expectations of the clients. Currently, I could adequately work as a management trainee in the industry following my limited scope of skills and experience. Accordingly, this report strives to illustrate and explain my current skills, characteristics and traits. Moreover, the report presents appropriate improvements that I ought to accomplish to attain better chances of excelling in my career. Therefore, this document presents descriptions, analysis and evaluation of my skills, characteristics and traits while focusing on necessary adjustments to remain relevant and competent in the dynamic industry.

2.0My Capabilities

2.2 My Capabilities – Analysis

2.2.1 Findings of My Tests

I strongly agree with the results since they paint my picture at a relatively high degree. I am an extrovert who likes hanging out with different persons including friends, relatives and family members. I spend most of my mental energy on handling intuitive processes rather than making mere observations of prevailing conditions. Consequently, emotions greatly influence my decision-making activities. Even so, I rely significantly on judgment to evaluate and determine suitable approaches with regards to my decisions-making processes, planning and execution of my duties and responsibilities. My overall identity is turbulent because I always desire more improvements, performances and developments (See Appendix personality 3).

I am a great Hospitality and Tourism enthusiast with desired traits and characteristics. For instance, I demonstrate excellent attitudes to tourism and hospitality related processes and operations. Moreover, I have great strategies, preferences, habits and skills that facilitate better development and growth in the industry. Unfortunately, I have a little weak experience in the hospitality and tourism industry since I have spent most of my time in studying with extremely limited industrial experiences (See appendix 1).

2.2.2 My Strengths and Weaknesses (Areas of Improvement)

As a protagonist, I exhibit some of the most crucial traits and characteristics that would contribute immensely in my career growth and development. I am a reliable individual who can be entrusted with varied activities and processes. Moreover, I am a charismatic person who can easily win attention of my audience and develop suitable communication environment. Still, I can tolerate varied situations and individuals, hence can work effectively in teamwork. Naturally, I am a true leader. My teammates would probably request me to lead them in handling varied events. Also, I am an altruistic person who strives to attract goodness for the largest number of parties (See appendix 3).

On the contrary, I exhibit some traits and characteristics that attract negative consequences with regards to my career development. As a protagonist, I am overly idealistic, and thus could realize many instances of conflicts with my workmates. Moreover, I am too selfless and hence my end up spending virtually all of my energy and time helping my workmates. Still, I am too sensitive and could end up suffering from relatively minor and less-relevant issues. Finally, I exhibit a fluctuating self-esteem that could attract detrimental effects with regards to my motivation (See appendix Personal 3).

2.2.3 Impact of these Strengths and Weakness on My Job Choice

Being an outgoing person would enable me to interact effectively with some ease while handling my managerial duties. Such a desirable aspect would enable me to overcome fear and socialize with persons from varied backgrounds, a practice that is expected of every hospitality and tourism personnel. Moreover, leadership skills would contribute significantly to effecting delivery of my duties as a manager. Also, I would be striving to attract more successes and improvement of applicable processes through the effect of my turbulent identity and altruism (See appendix personal 3).

Unfortunately, the weaknesses in my experiences, traits, skills and characteristics would adversely impact on my capacities to perform as a manager. Emotions would negatively impact on decision-making processes my forcing me to make conclusions that may be inappropriate to the industry, instead, I would be developing decisions that favor my desires and those of my organization. Similarly, limited exposures and experiences would negatively impact on my effectiveness and efficiencies when handling my managerial roles (See appendix 1).

Additionally, my selfless nature could adversely impact on my service delivery capacities. I would be spending more time helping others other than handling my duties. Also, the fluctuating self-esteem could result in loss of motivation. Moreover, my tendency to spend lots of time handling a given role could result in unwanted delays (See appendix 3).

Conclusion

Various tests as seen in my professional dashboard reveal that I exhibit lots of positive traits, characteristics and skills that are critical in the dynamic Tourism and Hospitality industry. My extrovert nature empowers me to effectively interact and work with persons from varied backgrounds, a practice that is inevitable in the industry. Moreover, my excellent attitudes and preferences toward the industry processes and operations are invaluable in encouraging more growth and development. Similarly, my capacity to intuitively handle situations and make appropriate judgments would allow me to properly execute my duties as a manager by facilitating development of informed decisions. Similarly, my turbulent identity contributes significantly in ensuring that I yearn for better performances and improvements at personal and organizational levels. Furthermore, I am a charismatic person who is a leader by nature. Even so, I am too sensitive, tolerant and idealistic, conducts that could attract unwanted consequences that include unnecessary focus on minor or irrelevant issues and wastage of time. Nonetheless, my relatively limited experiences in the industry coupled with my practice of making decisions under the influence of emotions could attract undesired consequences. Accordingly, I strive to develop such areas of weaknesses to remain more competent in the industry whose jobs become more competitive with time. I endeavor to acquire more knowledge and skills to close the existing gap and gain more competing capabilities to improve chances of prospering in my career. Thus, establishment and evaluation of professional and industry dashboards at regular intervals are invaluable in facilitating career development.

Appendix 1: SHAPE

Weaker areas Strengths

0-5 5-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50

Non-existent Very weak Weak Quite weak A little weak SHAPES OK Quite good Good Very good Excellent

Skills Habits Attitudes Preferences Experience Strategies Appendix 2: PPF Table

PPF Aspect Score Level and direction of preference

Structure 25 A score of 20 – 30 for the ‘More structure’ column suggests you have a strong preference for working or studying in an organised and systematic way. This can be a very productive way of working, and you are likely to be someone who gets things done and in an organised and timely fashion. It is worth considering whether more flexibility and openness to new ideas would benefit your performance. Danger points to watch for are over-rigid ways of thinking and working (79).

External Direction 21 A score of 20 – 30 for the ‘Less external direction’ column suggests you have a strong preference for taking control over how you work. This can be very useful in developing as an independent, autonomous learner, capable of taking on new projects and setting targets for yourself. It is worth considering whether you need to be more open to ideas from others. Danger points to watch for are possible weaknesses in team working and not fulfilling the requirements for an assignment (81).

Working with Others 27 A score of 20 – 30 for the ‘working with others’ column suggests a strong social preference when working or studying. This can be very useful for gaining a wide set of perspectives and ideas, for developing social skills, for team working and for developing mutual support. It is worth considering how far you would benefit from more time studying independently. Danger points are possible over-reliance on others and not developing your own ideas in an independent way (80).

Physical Stimulus 2 Scores of 2 for any item suggests that your performance might be affected if that stimulus is not present (81)

Global / Serialist 22 A score of 20 – 30 for the ‘Serialist styles’ column suggests you take a logical, analytical approach to study. This can be very useful in ensuring clarity and structure in your work. It is worth considering whether you need to create opportunities for developing your imagination and intuition. It may help to experiment with searching out links and connections between ideas. Possible weaknesses may be in drawing together your ideas into a strong whole and in making connections between what you are studying and the bigger picture (83).

Pressure 27 Scores of 20– 30 for ‘low pressure’ suggest that you may be good at protecting your health and well-being, and at producing good work even when there isn’t external pressure to do so. You need to beware of over-sensitivity to stress and to external requirements and conditions.

VAK 45 No strong preference: If your scores for all three areas are similar, then you may not have a strong sensory preference for learning. If your scores are high (40– 48 for each area), then you use all of your senses well to assist your learning. If scores are low (between 0 and 24), you may need to use your senses more consciously to assist your learning and experiment more with your learning

Appendix 3: 16 Personalities

My organization is fairly small and does not have any form of PMO within the structure. As such, I choose to focus on Intel, one of the global tech leaders of the current decade. Intel has a formal PMO that works to define and maintain project management best standards as well as guidance in a repeatable process and system within the company. Intel’s PMO has an added role of overseeing coordination, implementation, and assessment of projects directly and indirectly in a support role. Intel formally calls its PMO within its IT department the Program Management Office. Over the years, Duggan (2009) notes that Intel has used its PMO to advance its transformation by way of focused investments and smarter prioritization of projects. Intel adheres to its unique Agile PMO referred to as the focused Agile Persistent Team that use a self-direction structure in decision-making and prioritizing objectives (Calhoun, 2020). To make sure that their goals are in line, Intel’s Agile Project Management Office (PMO) and Agile Persistent Team collaborate closely with members of the business on a daily basis. Additionally, Intel has chosen a portfolio investment method for the work that emphasizes decision-making via a cost and benefit oriented perspective and considering the IT portfolio as a whole. This enables the examination of systemic risks, the ability to make decisions involving trade-offs, and a thorough understanding of the strategic value that the portfolio is meant to provide.

Recent projects at Intel including the Project Apollo cloud services and software utilized the Agile PMO to foster data driven process of decision making, transparency, accuracy, and accurate, consistent, and complete information for better products (Intel, 2022). The Agile PMO applied in the project helped to determine the value of the project, align it to industry standards, and ensure that it creates value for the organization. As Intel goes ahead into the future, the Agile Project Management Office (PMO) will enable lean ideas that give a clear line-of-sight from strategy to execution. Intel wants to keep up its cross-capability road-mapping in order to make it easier to prioritize future capabilities and innovation initiatives. This will be carried out as part of Intel’s endeavor to generate commercial value via better project management.

References

Calhoun, B. (May, 2020). IT@Intel: Modernize IT Portfolio Management with an Agile PMO. IT Project Management Office. Available at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/it-management/intel-it-best-practices/it-portfolio-management-with-agile-pmo-paper.html

Duggan, L. I. (2009). Intel IT PMO: journey to maturity. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2009—North America, Orlando, FL. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute. Available at https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/intel-it-pmo-journey-maturity-6748Intel. (May 10, 2022). Intel Announces New Cloud-to-Edge Technologies to Solve Challenges of Today and Tomorrow. Available at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/news/vision-2022-news-overview.html#gs.3yyj0n

Response to Veronica Yan

Your presentation is very clear and highlights a key methodological approach to PMO that IBM applies. Your use of external references is also important as it allows one to read deeper and to better understand your position. The project you have selected is also an excellent example of how PMO can be applied in a real-life organization to foster shareholder and stakeholder objectives.

Civil Rights VS Public Safety

CJA/550

The argument over public safety versus civil rights has been an ongoing process in the United States since the creation of the Constitution. Some argue that in order to have public safety in our society the government tends to violate some of our amendment rights, while others believe it is a mistake to sacrifice public safety for civil rights. Civil rights are rooted in our country and protect the people who live in this country. Many believe the safety of the general population is more important than protecting the rights of citizens. This paper will analyze public safety versus civil rights with focus on the death penalty, gun control, and pursuit driving and hate crimes.

The death penalty or capital punishment is the execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense (Encyclopedia 2008). The death penalty has been an ongoing debate on whether it should be allowed or whether it violates our constitutional right. While most developed Western nations have stopped executing the United States continues to execute offenders (Zimring 2004). From 1977 through 2008 1,136 people have been executed, which consisted of people who committed murder (Procon 2010). Those who are in favor of the death penalty believe it is an important tool to help deter crime and it cost less than life imprisonment (Procon 2010). They believe retribution helps console the grieving family and it also ensures that the offender will never be able to commit another heinous crime (Procon 2010). According to Grant (2004) some people believe that some offenders should face the death penalty because of vengeance and retribution for violent crimes. During the time when Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City Bomber) was executed about 80% of viewers said he deserved to die. (Grant 2004). I remember after 911 a lot of people wanted to execute the people responsible for all of the deaths that were caused as a result of 911. According to a study that was done by Hashem Dezhbakhsh and Joanna Shepherd (2003), they found a strong link between executions and reduced murder incidents. They also found that for each execution on average there were 18 fewer murders (Dezhbakhsh 2003). In the civilizations of the Ancient Near East capital punishment was a way of life and the bible clearly supports this: “And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die; so shalt you put away the evil from your midst; and all Israel shall hear, and fear” (Deut. 21:21) (Capital 2002).

For the people who are against the death penalty believed it is unethical to kill a criminal for any reason because that person is a human being. According to some scholars and philosophers a human being regardless if he is a criminal or not, was created by God and it not appropriate to award a person the death penalty (Grant 2004). Some argue that the death penalty violate the VIII Amendment, cruel and unusual punishment. According to Grant (2004), death is not only unusually severe punishment but it does not serve penal purpose better that less severe punishment. During the Global Summit of Nobel Peace in 2003 many of the winners stated that they believed the death penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment that should be abolished (Grant 2004)

Another argument that has to do with public safety and civil rights is the right to buy and own a gun. The Second Amendment protects the right of people to keep and bear arms. In 2008 and 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects a person’s right to buy and own a gun that has no ties to the military. The individual’s right to bear arm is a symbol of individual freedom. Opponents in favor of the right to bear arm believe that a person has a right to use a gun in self defense and argue that any attempt to control their use is unconstitutional (Woods 2005). Opponents who do not favor the right for an individual to buy and own a gun argues that the 2nd Amendment only applies to the collective right of the militia to bear arms (Woods 2005). They argue that the language of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is only meant to be use by the militia. The 2nd Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed” (Woods 2005). They believe that the right to bear arms is only meant for the sole purpose of a well regulates militia for the safety of a free state. Some argue that our government is sacrificing the public safety by allowing individuals the right to own a gun without being connected to a militia. Opponents who support gun control argue that by having gun control laws they curb access by criminal, juvenile and other high risk individuals (Woods 2005).

Pursuit driving is another public safety issue that deals with law enforcement officers engaging in high speed chase in order to catch a suspected criminal. The problem with pursuit driving is that it put innocent people, police officers, and criminals lives in danger. The numbers have shown over the years that pursuits continue to increase and the number of pursuit related injuries and deaths have increased also (Samaha 2005). Some Law enforcement officers are faced with fleeing suspects all the time and they must decided if the apprehension of the suspect worth the risk of endangering the public (Samaha 2005). In 1998 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 314 people were killed in police pursuits (Samaha 2005). Some people argue that the lack of a mandatory reporting system interferes with NHTSA attempt to track pursuit fatalities and these results in the collection of only half of the actual data (Samaha 2005). According to police pursuit records, the majority of pursuits involve a stop for a traffic violation, at least one person die every day as a result of the chase, and 1 percent of police officers who died in the line of duty los their life as a result of a car pursuit (Samaha 2005). Part of the problem with police pursuit is that most officers lack the proper training to properly maneuver their vehicle while chasing their suspect. Most officers were trained on how to pursuit but not when to pursuit.

Opponents who are in favor of police pursuits believe that if law enforcement agencies get rid of police pursuit that this will allow people who get pulled over for a traffic violation to flee because they know the officers cannot chase them (Samaha 2005). If I allow myself to think like a criminal I would not hesitate to flee from the law especially if I had a warrant out for my arrest. A no chase policy would keep the public safe from car accidents caused by police chase but at the same time it would keep more criminals on the street because they would flee every chance they get. Another argument is that many traffic stops result in arrests of violent criminals along with drug offenders (Samaha 205). A couple of weeks ago in Dallas TX there was a guy who was pulled over for speeding and when they ran his information they found out that he was wanted in a string of bank robberies. Although this guy did not flee, if he would have he may have gotten away because Dallas Police Department have a no chase policy, unless approved by a supervisor (only two officers are approved) and the suspect must be wanted for a violent crime.

Hate crimes have been around since the beginning of time and occur when a person targets a victim because of that person racial group, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, nationality, class, ethnicity and disability (Gerstenfeld 2010). Hate crimes happens any and every where, in small and large cities, and every state. As long as hate crimes have been happening the actual name “hate crime” is new and so is the idea of special treatment of these offenses (Gerstenfeld 2010). The first hate crime law was not passed until 1980 and 3 decades later only 44 states, District of Columbia and the federal government have some form of hate crime legislation (Gerstenfeld 2010). In this day and time I find it hard to believe that not all 50 states have some type of hate crime law. Some people do not believe there should be special laws for hate crimes because they say all violent crimes are hateful regardless of race and sexual orientation. Those in favor of hate crime laws argue that there are hate crime laws because; the person who commits a hate crime deserve an increased punishment because these type of crimes are worse than ordinary; hate crime laws will deter the act; and that the laws will show that this type of crime is not allowed (Gerstenfeld 2010). In the US the most frequently reported hate crime is racism against blacks with 3,000 of the 8,000 hate crime reported to the FBI against black people (FBI 2009). In 1990 the Hate Crime Statistics Act was created which requires the Attorney General to collect data on crimes committed because of a person’s race, religion, disability ethnicity and sexual orientation (Gerstenfeld, 2010). According to the Uniform Crime Report (2010) since 1991 there have been over 113,000 hate crimes with 55% being racially motivated, 17% because of religion, 14% because of sexual orientation 14% because of ethnicity and 1% based on disability. Although there are laws that deal with hate crime there should be more laws and all 50 states should be required to have hate crime laws.

Trying to choose which is more important public safety or civil rights is really a waste of time because both are important and both have a time when one may appear more important than the other one. For example because of 911 some people believe their civil rights have been violated for the safety of the public because of the government’s actions when they passed the Patriot Act of 2001. I believe depending on what is happening in our society at the time that public safety and civil rights will always be sacrificed one for the other.

References

Dezhbakkhsh, H., & Sheperd, J. M. (2003). The Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment:

Evidence from a “Judicial Experiment.Encyclopedia Britannica (2008) “Capital Punishment,”

FBI (2010) Uniform Crime Reports – Hate Crime Statistics.Gerstenfeld, P. B. (2010). Hate Crimes: Causes, Controls, and Controversies (2nd ed.). : Sage.

Grant, R. (2004, Jan/Feb). Capital punishment and violence. Humanist, 64(1), 25-29.

Procon.org. (2010) Death Penalty ProCon.org. DeathPenalty.ProCon.org.Retrieved from http://deathpenalty.procon.org/

Samaha, J. (2005). Criminal Justice (7th ed.). : Cengage Learning.

Woods, G. (2005). Right to bear arms; American rights. : Infobase Publishing.

Zimring, F. E. (2004). The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment. : Oxford University

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Civil War and Emancipation

Slavery has been cited as one of the reasons for the American Civil War. However, the Southerners were in reality fighting to keep the institution intact for several economic and political reasons. The Civil War entailed the North and South fighting each other mainly over the institution of slavery. The southern states firmly held on to slavery as it was the primary source of their income. The slaves were the most valuable part of their economy. Slave-owners could not imagine how they would survive without slaves working on their plantations. Slavery was a source of free labor, and the plantation owners incurred little expenses in their workers. The Northern states believed in the freedom of all men. President Abraham Lincoln and other Republicans were strongly opposed to spreading slavery to the western states which the southerners were vehemently opposed to. African-American slaves took advantage of the Civil War to fight for their freedom, greatly encouraged by Lincoln’s Emancipation Declaration.

Abraham Lincoln’s presidency was a ray of hope for the slaves. The northerners did not believe in slavery, and this irked the southern states. Lincoln was voted in without a vote from the southern states showing that they were wholly opposed to his fight against slavery. Several accounts from slaves show how they made the ensuing war all about their freedom. In ‘Thirty Years a Slave’ by Louis Hughes, the author details how the war tore down his employer together with his family, finally allowing the slaves to escape. Before his owner, McGee, Died, Hughes had attempted to flee twice but had been captured and taken back. When the Union soldiers seized the town of Memphis, Hughes and other slaves ran to the city where they would be free (Hughes, IV). In the end, Hughes explains that while his master had been more humane than other slave owners, there could be no excuse for buying and selling human beings.

Hannah Johnson, an African-American woman, wrote a letter to President Lincoln telling the president of her son who fought in the war. She told the president that the unjust slave owners should be treated the same way they had treated their slaves so that they would learn a lesson. The slave-owners were furious that the black men used the war to fight for their freedom from the white masters. Her son was a brave man who joined the battle to fight for his country in the hope that the south would be defeated and the slaves would be free. She praised Lincoln for his role in freeing the slaves by saying, “When you are dead and in Heaven, in a thousand years that action of yours will make the Angels sing your praises I know it.” (Johnson)

The third example of the slaves’ fight for freedom in the civil war is in the letter by a soldier, George W. Hatton. The African-American soldier explains how, during the war, they captured a notorious slave-owner named Mr. Clayton. Most of the soldiers in his regiment were from the plantations in the Wilson’s Landing region (Hatton). These soldiers invited the slaves whom the white man had whipped to do the same to him. William Harris was a soldier who had belonged to Clayton and some other women. Their position in the regiment had freed them from slavery under cruel masters like Clayton.

The Civil War paved the way for many slaves to be free. Many plantation owners in the south were furious at the Emancipation Declaration and vowed to stand their ground but were defeated by the Union soldiers. The slaves joined the regiments so that they would fight the southerners and gain their freedom.

Works Cited

Hughes, Louis. Thirty Years a Slave: From Bondage to Freedom. NewSouth Books, 2002.

Johnson, Hannah. “Letter From Hannah Johnson” Primary Sources. 31 July 1863. Retrieved from https://www.learner.org/workshops/primarysources/emancipation/docs/hjohnson.htmlHatton, W. George. “Retaliation in Camp” PBS online.28 May 1864. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h3082.html

My Parents House

The house that my mother and father built last year was a spin of a design that they had ordered from an architect. My uncle built it and a few changes were made to the plan as it went up. The house is now 2 ½ years old.

From the front of the home, it appears to be a lot smaller than it looks. The siding on the outside is a hybrid material made up of concrete. It is dyed blue in color. Along the front side of the home you can see a porch that stretches from one side to the other. There are wooden pillars that support an overhang above the porch. The front door is in the center of the home. To the left side of the front door there are two windows. To the right side of the door, there are two more windows. The roof has dark tar shingles that are crosshatched. There are three windows that jetty outward. The garage for the cars is on the left side of the home. The garage is a two car garage with a single door that opens the room.

On the right side of the home, there are no windows or doors. The left side of the home has a different aspect because of the garage. It also has the aspect of more windows. One window on the second floor is from the master bathroom, while the other is from the garage. If the garage were not there you would be able to see a window from the downstairs kitchen.

The rear of the home is blessed with the majority of windows and doors. From the second floor you can see three large windows and a door. On the right side there is a door and a window that open from the master bathroom. The window and door both open on to a wooden deck. To the left of the deck is another window that looks out of the upstairs common bathroom. Then the leftmost window looks out of one of the bedrooms.

The lower floor also has a nice amount of windows and entranceways. Starting all the way to the left is a door that leads into the garage. To the left of the garage door is a window that looks out of the half bathroom. In the middle of the home are two French doors that enter into the breakfast room. Next over is a window above the sink in the kitchen. Finally, all the way on the left is a window that looks out from the dining room.

When you walk in the main entrance on the front, you are inside a large cathedral foyer. The foyer has a light wood floor. To the left of you is a swing door closet, and your immediate right hosts the stairs up to the second floor. As you walk through the foyer, there is an entrance to the family room. The family room has a short industrial carpet made up of mixed colors. Within the family room is a fireplace and another entrance to the breakfast room. If you were to go straight through the foyer you would be in the kitchen, just to the left of the breakfast room.

The kitchen houses the stove, refrigerator, sink, and dishwasher. The floor in the kitchen is made up of clay tiles. It has a horseshoe shaped counter area. Above the counter area are counters, except where you have the window on the outer wall. To the right side of the kitchen is the dining room. The dining room has the light wood floor. There is one window in the room. As you enter the dining room from the kitchen you see the entrance to the living room on the right.

The living room has the short industrial style carpet. There is one window that looks over the front yard, and the covered porch. On the right side is another entrance that leads back into the foyer.

If you were to have gone left at the kitchen you would have ended p going into the breakfast room. The breakfast room has clay tiles for a floor. There are French doors that lead to the back patio and yard. Next to the breakfast room is a half bathroom and a laundry room. In the middle of these two rooms is a door that leads into the garage. The garage has one window that looks out the side and a large power door for vehicles.

As you go upstairs you have two bedrooms immediately on the right. The stairs are made up of the light wood flooring. The bedrooms on the other hand have a short blue carpet. The bedroom that is situated at the front of the house has a large closet and a partition with a window. The bedroom that is at the rear of the house is a bit smaller than the front room. It also has a window, but it lacks the partition. Both rooms have generous closet space.

Directly at the top of the stairs is a full bathroom. The bathroom has a light gray tile on the floor. Within the bathroom is a window that looks out upon the backyard. The bathroom contains a toilet, sink, and shower/tub.

If you were to go left at the top of the stairs, you would have ended up in the master bedroom. The master bedroom has a short, light tan carpet. The master bedroom has a partitioned window looking over the front of the house. Towards the rear of the master bedroom, and house is the room’s master bathroom. The master bathroom also has the light gray tiles for a floor. Within the master bathroom is a large whirlpool tub. There is a countertop that covers two walls, with a sink on both walls. Across from the countertop is a stall shower and toilet. The wall across from the countertop has a window looking over the garage. The rear of the bathroom has a door leading to a wooden deck. The deck looks over the backyard.

This is the home in which my parents live, and I lived for two years. This should give you a beneficial description of the home, alongside the floor plan. You too could almost feel as if you were there.

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My Personal Decision Making Style

Each person has their own preferred decision-making style that they employ in making decisions in their day-to-day activities. My personal decision-making style is the analytical style. I tend to be the kind of person who likes to collect and analyze information thoroughly before making a decision. I like looking at matters from all possible angles before making a decision. If I fail to do this, I will not be confident about my decision. I will keep second-guessing myself and asking if I made the right choice. I tend to be keen when it comes to making decisions. I prefer dealing with reliable facts and data when making decisions because data does not lie, and it rarely leads one astray. Worth noting, I am the kind of person who likes seeking other people’s opinions while making a decision. This is because I like listening to other people’s points of view. While I like seeking outside counsel, other people’s opinions will rarely sway my decision, but rather, it helps me deny or confirm knowledge. I believe I am an analytical decision-maker because I am adaptable and have a high tolerance for ambiguity. Ambiguity prompts me to think deeper about my decision, thus helping me make informed decisions. One downside of being an analytical decision-maker is that I like to be in control of the decision process. Because I tend to be so focused on finding the best solution, I like to be in control of matters. Because I enjoy finding solutions, I ensure that all decisions I make benefit all parties involved. I also enjoy discussing new challenges and will do whatever it takes to find the best solution.

Citizen United V. FEC

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Citizen United Verses FEC

On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court gave what is definite to become a momentous presiding in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In a 5-4 presiding, the Law court struck down federal confines on what associations, including unions, nonprofit organizations, and profit corporations, might say during elections. A prohibition on direct contributions to contenders was left in place. The preponderance thought that the speech restrictions desecrated the First Amendment and laidback political manifestation. With this presiding, the Supreme Court appeared to antithesis the tendency of the past century’s tendency, which resulted in larger confines to corporate political discourse and activity.

Citizens United pursued an injunction contrary to the Federal Election Commission in the US District Law court for the Constituency of Columbia to stop the request of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) to its Movie Hillary: The Movie. The film showed sentiments concerning whether Candidate Hillary Clinton would be a good head of state. In an effort to control “big money” movement contributions, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act puts into practice several constraints to campaigning communications (Kantor, 2018). Segment 203 of the BCRA averts labor unions or corporations from financing such communication from their common funds. Sections 201 and 311 necessitate the revelation of contributors to such communication and repudiation once the communication is not sanctioned by the contender it aims to support.

Citizens United debated that Section 203 break up the First Amendment on its face and once practical to The Movie and its linked advertisements. Also, Sections 201 and 203 are unconstitutional as applied to the state of affairs (Rainford, 2018). The US District Court of law repudiated the injunction. This was because Section 203 on its feature was not unconstitutional for the reason that the Court of law in McConnell v Federal Election Commission had previously reached that resolve. The Court also alleged that The Movie was the purposeful comparable to express advocacy, as it tried to enlighten electorates that Candidate Clinton was not fit for office. Therefore Section 203 was not unconstitutionally practical. Finally, it apprehended that Sections 201 and 203 were not unconstitutional as practical to the Movie or its advertisements.

Reference

Kantor, C. J. (2018). Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, and the Inherent Unfairness to the “Un-united” American Citizen.

Rainford, C. (2018). Cornering the Political Speech Market: Consequences of Corporate Speech Following Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission