Science vs Religion Essays -- Human Evolution vs Relgion

â€Å"Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light†years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.† -- Carl Sagan Students bring with them many assumptions about science, about religion, and about their relationship. These assumptions may impact, positively or negatively, their willingness and ability to engage the scientific study of human origins. This essay is provided as a guide to begin thinking about science and religion in the context of the possible interactions of religious worldviews with a scientific account of human evolution and origins. In other words, this essay will explain how human evolution and religion can peacefully coexist. What is science? Science is a way to understand nature by developing explanations for the structures, processes and history of nature that can be tested by observations in laboratories or in the field. Sometimes such observations are direct, like measuring the chemical composition of a rock. Other times these observations are indirect, like determining the presence of an exoplanet through the wobble of its host star. An explanation of some aspect of nature that has been well supported by such observations is a theory. Well-substantiated theories are the foundations of human understanding of nature. The pursuit of such understanding is science. What is religion? Religion, or more appropriately religions, are cultural phenomena comprised of social institutions, traditions of practice, literatures, sacred texts and stories, and sacred places that identify and convey an understanding of ultimate meaning. Religions are very diverse. While it is common for religions to identify the ultimate with a deity (like the western monotheisms – Judaism, Christianity, Islam) or deities, not all do. There are non-theistic religions, like Buddhism. What is the difference between science and religion? Although science does not provide proofs, it does provide explanations. Science depends on deliberate, explicit and formal testing (in the natural world) of explanations for the wa... ...e is practiced without reference to religion. God may be an ultimate explanation, but God is not a scientific explanation. This approach to science is called methodological naturalism. However, this method of isolating religious interests from scientific research is not an example of the separation approach. Historically, this bracketing out of religious questions in the practice of scientific inquiry was promoted by religious thinkers in the 18th and 19th centuries as the most fruitful way to discover penultimate rather than ultimate explanations of the structures and processes of nature. A third possibility for the relationship between science and religion, one of interaction, at minimum holds that dialogue between science and religion can be valuable, more that science and religion can constructively benefit from engagement, and at maximum envisions a convergence of scientific and religious perspectives. Generally, this view encourages an effort to explore the significance of scientific understanding for religious understanding and vice versa. With this approach science remains relevant beyond the classroom for many people who might otherwise ignore scientific findings.

The Significance of Dinosaur Art Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

The Significance of Dinosaur Art Dinosaurs are creatures that seem to fascinate humans, since all we have left are their fossils. Although, through art, their bodies can be put back together and we have a better sense of what they looked like. The problem with art is that pictures can sometimes be disproportionate, unrealistic, or even made up. Young children who learn about dinosaurs may think that they are actually different colors and can talk for example. This is why it is important to make dinosaur art as realistic as possible and more informative. In an article titled, "Do They Really Look Like That? The Science Of Dino Art", writer John Roach discusses people who do art and paleobiology for a living. A man by the name of Chris Sloan is a paleo artist for National Geographic in Washington, D.C.. He's not just a simple artist for the magazine, but also a researcher. He has to do activities such as "attend paleontology conferences, read scientific journals, study dinosaur fossils, talk with scientists, and go on digs"(National Geographic Society 2). This is in order to make dinosaur illustrations attractive to the eye and scientifically accurate. Being a paleo artist also requires paying close attention to the most recent discoveries. New discoveries happen all the time, and artists are very dependant on the information so that they can start their next project. It is important, however, not to be fooled by incorrect information, or hoaxes, which also happens a lot. A good paleo artist will do extensive research on the new information and get to the bottom of it before beginning a piece of art. Sloan, for example, will "read scientific papers, visit paleontologists, or sometimes travel to where a dino... ...r work published. In the future, many more discoveries of dinosaurs will be made. This way, paleo artists are never without jobs. Their work is very important and will be used always. It is important to note that â€Å"art is a reflection of science† (Sloan 2). Generations to come will need to know the truth about dinosaurs, what they looked like, and environments they lived in, so as long as scientists keep making more discoveries, dinosaur art will continue to become more realistic and accurate. Sources 1. Roach, John. â€Å"Do They Really Look Like That? The Science of Dino Art†. National Geographic Society. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0310_030311_dinoart.html 2004 2. Speed, William. â€Å"What Did Dinosaurs Really Look Like†¦And Will We Never Know?†. Discover. http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dlm/m1511/9_21/64698201/p7/article.jhtml?term= Sept 2000 The Significance of Dinosaur Art Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research The Significance of Dinosaur Art Dinosaurs are creatures that seem to fascinate humans, since all we have left are their fossils. Although, through art, their bodies can be put back together and we have a better sense of what they looked like. The problem with art is that pictures can sometimes be disproportionate, unrealistic, or even made up. Young children who learn about dinosaurs may think that they are actually different colors and can talk for example. This is why it is important to make dinosaur art as realistic as possible and more informative. In an article titled, "Do They Really Look Like That? The Science Of Dino Art", writer John Roach discusses people who do art and paleobiology for a living. A man by the name of Chris Sloan is a paleo artist for National Geographic in Washington, D.C.. He's not just a simple artist for the magazine, but also a researcher. He has to do activities such as "attend paleontology conferences, read scientific journals, study dinosaur fossils, talk with scientists, and go on digs"(National Geographic Society 2). This is in order to make dinosaur illustrations attractive to the eye and scientifically accurate. Being a paleo artist also requires paying close attention to the most recent discoveries. New discoveries happen all the time, and artists are very dependant on the information so that they can start their next project. It is important, however, not to be fooled by incorrect information, or hoaxes, which also happens a lot. A good paleo artist will do extensive research on the new information and get to the bottom of it before beginning a piece of art. Sloan, for example, will "read scientific papers, visit paleontologists, or sometimes travel to where a dino... ...r work published. In the future, many more discoveries of dinosaurs will be made. This way, paleo artists are never without jobs. Their work is very important and will be used always. It is important to note that â€Å"art is a reflection of science† (Sloan 2). Generations to come will need to know the truth about dinosaurs, what they looked like, and environments they lived in, so as long as scientists keep making more discoveries, dinosaur art will continue to become more realistic and accurate. Sources 1. Roach, John. â€Å"Do They Really Look Like That? The Science of Dino Art†. National Geographic Society. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0310_030311_dinoart.html 2004 2. Speed, William. â€Å"What Did Dinosaurs Really Look Like†¦And Will We Never Know?†. Discover. http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dlm/m1511/9_21/64698201/p7/article.jhtml?term= Sept 2000

Children with Incarcerated Parents

Juvenile Justice And The effects on Children of Incarcerated Parents Loretta R. Lynch Capstone 480 Ms. Mel Jones Abstract Today prisons are overcrowded and over two million Americans, male, and female are sitting in jail or prison, and two thirds of those people incarcerated are parents (U. S. Department of Justice). Approximately two million of these children are separated from their mom or dad because of incarceration of which these are the custodial parent.These children suffer from poverty, inconsistency in caregivers, separation from siblings, reduced education, increased risk for substance abuse, alcoholism and incarceration themselves. Studies have shown that children who lack parental relationships that combine loving support with structured discipline will show increased signs of antisocial behavior (Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 21(4). This behavior is exhibited in children with incarcerated parents because bonds are likely to have never formed or are broken upo n imprisonment.The attachment a child has to their parent, as well as the indirect controls a parent has over the child, forms protective factors that reduce the incidence of delinquency (Abidin, R. 1983). Children of incarcerated parents are not always afforded protective factors, and are exposed to higher levels of risk factors that can contribute to delinquent behavior. Parental incarceration increases a child’s chance of experiencing disruptions, ineffective parenting, and loss of parental contact and academic difficulties, which can lead to juvenile delinquency.In the last three decades, family life in the United States has changed dramatically. Currently over eight point five million families with children under eighteen years of age are maintained by single parents, eighty percent of which are single as a result of separation or divorce (Hamner & Turner, 1990). A significant contributing factor to single parent households is the estimated eight percent of the children in the United States who have one parent who is incarcerated (Butterworth, 1987).In my interview with one family court judge at the Chesterfield County Juvenile Justice Court (Brice, 2012), it was apparent to me that these children are more likely than their peers to become incarcerated as adults (. The parent-child relationship, which is extremely important in a child’s development when broken, can have strong implications on the behavior that has exhibited from the child. It was also apparent that according to statistics nationwide, more than 2 million children have a parent who is incarcerated in state or federal prison (U. S. Department of Justice Report 2009).Loosing a parent to incarceration can have a wide range of devastating effects on prisoner’s children. In an interview with a female inmate (Inmate X, 2012), a mother of three children, it was apparent that the lack of parental bonding had affected not only the relationship with her mother who was seventy-one and in bad health, but also with her children. On top of her worry of being incarcerated, the inmate had just learned that her oldest was beginning to show signs of acting out and smoking marijuana. She spoke to me about her children ranging from ages two, seven and twelve.This female inmate discusses how much she missed and loved them her children, but due to circumstances, she would not be able to be in their lives for five years. She stated that it was her decision for her mother not to bring the children to the facility for any visits for fear of the impact it might cause on them seeing her in a place behind bars. When I asked her what made her in up in prison, she stated drugs. As a child, she was raped by her step-grandfather and she had turned to drugs to cope. In another interview with a female inmate (Inmate Y, 2012), she shared how he was raised in a single parent household. Her father was in and out jail for various crimes until 1996 when charged with Involuntary Manslau ghter during the commission of a robbery when she was approximately twelve. It was toward the end of the interview that I learned she is one of five children in a family of two girls and three boys. The saddening fact was that in this family of five, three of her siblings were incarcerated for various crimes. Forty-two percent of men and woman today had a parent who was also incarcerated (U. S. Department of Statistics 2009).We know much more about incarcerated mothers than we know about incarcerated fathers. For example, over 70% of female inmates are mothers of dependent children under the age of eighteen. Almost 90% of incarcerated females are single parents and heads of households. According to some estimates, a quarter of a million children are separated from their parents each year by jail and prison (Glick & Neto, 1977; McGowan & Blumenthal, 1978; McPeek & Tse, 1988; U. S. Department of Justice, 1992). We do not have this kind of information about incarcerated fathers.The lac k of statistics concerning fathers in prison may suggest that they are a forgotten group. Research has revealed that a father’s involvement in his child’s life greatly improves the child’s chances for success. Helping incarcerated fathers foster stronger connections with their children (where appropriate) can have a positive effect for children. What is needed is stronger training of social workers and prison personnel to help males with bonding and effective parenting skills. Prisons also need to work on reorganizing visiting spaces in prisons because they are not always child friendly.This also makes it extremely hard for families. According to a report written by Sarah Schirmer, Ashley Nellis, and Marc Mauer of The Sentencing Project, â€Å"The increasing incarceration of women means that more mothers are being incarcerated than ever before. There is some evidence that maternal incarceration can be more damaging to a child than paternal incarceration, which results in more children now suffering negative consequences†. First, fewer correctional institutions for women means that mothers are often located far away from the homes of their children.Second, children of female offenders are more than twice more likely to be placed in foster care than are children of male offenders because children of incarcerated fathers typically remain with the mother. Incarceration can add a tremendous burden to the already stressful situation of not having contact with the family. Many inmates are placed not in the same vicinity as their families, and many families cannot afford to relocate close to a prison, in order for the incarcerated parent to stay involved with the family. Thus, there is limited interaction between parent and child.This is especially hard for female inmates whose prisons are usually not in the same state in which they live. The average frequency of visits, according to some accounts, is at the most once a month, maybe less. T he only time inmates get to interact with their children is when someone chooses to bring the children to the institution. Even when children visit, it is common for the incarcerated parent to lose a sense of closeness with them since most of the children who visit their parents are unable to touch them. Nearly half of them grew up in families that received welfare, and had a substance-abusing parent.Family poverty, alcoholism and crime set up a subsequent cycle of generational recidivism. In my interview and time working in a boys group home seems as though the effects of their separation from an incarcerated parents was significant and played a major role in why they were now themselves locked up. They spoke of feelings of abandoned, while at the same time feeling a sense of freedom to do whatever they choose to do. This is extremely sad working with them because they are not bad kids they have just been thrown into bad situations and most of them are just looking for someone to s how them affection and attention.In my interview with a fourteen year old (boy A, 2012) raise by his paternal grandmother said that she was an older woman of eighty and could not discipline him; instead, she spoiled him and gave him everything he wanted. Another juvenile, age eleven (boy B) was raised by his mother’s sister who gave him little or no attention because she had 4 children of her own; and before he knew it he was stealing cars and getting into trouble for attention My last interview with a juvenile aged sixteen (boy C, 2013) was the saddest because he was raised by his brother and sister in law.The twist of the story was that his sister-in-law was molesting him and so in turn, he started molesting younger girls in his family. Statistics have shown that these boys were four times more likely to become involved in criminal activities than children from the same social economic background were with parents at home. The pattern continues as they enter their adult lif e, where research clearly indicates that children who had an incarcerated parent are at high risk for incarceration as a juvenile or adult (Burchinal, L. , Hawkes, G. , & Gardner, B. 957). The statistics that I have learned while doing my research is horrifying. These young children are critical to our society and they are our future generation of potential lawyers and doctors. The question has always been how do we address this problem? I do not think there is any easy answer to this dilemma, but we must try to find a solution because our children are suffering. Some are suffering in silence and some are suffering aloud. Whatever way they are suffering, they are crying for attention and we must listen and hear their cries.The crimes that these people commit not only effect society, but on their children as well. My thoughts are, the sooner they realize the effects they are having on their children, the sooner we might be able to find a solution to juvenile crime, and delinquency an d save our children. Figure 1. A transactional model of the predictors of children's adjustment following parental incarceration and reunion after (Conger & Elder, 1994; Hetherington et al. , 1998). References Adalist-Estrin, A. (1986). Parenting from behind bars. Family Resource Coalition – FRC Report, 1, 12-13.Abidin, R. (1983). Parenting stress index. Charlottesville, VA: Pediatric Psychology Press. Burchinal, L. , Hawkes, G. , & Gardner, B. (1957). The relationship between parental acceptance and adjustment of children. Child Development, 28, 67-77. Inmate X. (2012, December). Interview by L Lynch [Personal Interview] housed at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women Inmate Y, (2013, December). Interview by L Lynch [Personal Interview] housed at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women Boy A. (2012, December). Interview by L Lynch [Personal Interview]. Boy B. 2012, December). Interview by L Lynch [Personal Interview]. Boy C. (2013, December). Interview by L Lynch [Pe rsonal Interview]. Brice, L. (2012, December 14). Interview by L Lynch [Personal Interview]. Juvenile justice system. http://www. fcnetwork. org/AECFChildren%20of%20Incarcerated%20Parents%20Factsheet. pdf La Vigne, N. G. , Naser, R. L. Brooks, L. E. & Castro, J. L. (2005). Examining the effect of incarceration and in-prison family contact on prisoners’ family relationships. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 21(4). ———————– [pic]

Which Strategies for Conflict Resolution Would You Employ?

Cathal McCabe PO4107 Id# 085475 Word count: 3290 Which strategies for conflict resolution would you employ in cases of violent ethnic conflict? Explain why giving examples of success and or failure. 3,534 in Northern Ireland. Approximately 140,000 in Former Yugoslavia. Approximately 800,000 in Rwanda. The list goes on. Violent ethnic conflict is simply a harsh reality of life that has cost millions of innocent civilians their lives.We have witnessed its atrocities first hand in our lifetimes, and have sometimes felt powerless as individuals to curtail it. We can employ successful strategies for conflict resolution but the question really is how do we implement them successfully? There are strategies working, but the key now is to identify the successful strategies and be quicker to implement them in the future. In July 2010 Stefan Wolff declared that casualties from ethnic conflict have decreased by two-thirds in just over a decade – 12,000 killed in ethnic wars of 1997/1998, today this figure stands at just over 4,000 (Wolff, 2010).Ethnic conflict is unlikely to ever go away, but the death toll has reduced somewhat. Is reducing the death toll the best success we can hope for in resolving conflict? Will ethnic conflict ever go way or can we only moderate the violence? Have we eventually learned that war is not the answer or have we simply become more efficient at peacekeeping? Are these deaths simply down to ethnic pride or is there another reason which spurs man on to kill his own people? This essay will attempt to determine the true meaning and motives for ethnic conflict.It will then examine what the â€Å"strategies† for resolving ethnic conflict are, and examine the application of these strategies as the causes and resolutions to various conflicts throughout the globe. It will draw a helpful analysis of the cases of Rwanda as a failure and Northern Ireland as a success and what we can learn from it. Ultimately it will try and discover what th e best strategies for conflict resolution are in order to minimise the trail of destruction left behind by violent ethnic conflict†¦US President John Adams once asked â€Å"Do I have to study politics and war so that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy†? We must first look into the reasoning of ethnic conflict before we can achieve peace and freedom. The theories behind the motives for violent ethnic conflict are rooted in the origins of nationalism. Connor Walker describes the nation state as â€Å"a state that self-identifies as deriving its political legitimacy from serving as a sovereign entity for a nation as a sovereign territorial unit† (Walker, 2004, P. 2). Theorists argue that this is an evolution from the simple meaning of the word â€Å"nation† (a community that share a common ancestry) per se. Ethnic conflict may simply be a process of evolution as nations look to establish themselves and represent a community of bel onged people -the citizens. Perhaps there must be a common bond for a nation to remain at peace. Anthony Smith notes that ‘not only must nations be founded upon ethnic cores if they are to endure’ (Smith, 1986, p. 207).Therefore if a nation is colonised or artificially planted with a different tribe, a friction is likely to occur. This of course is the starting point of ethnic war. Ethnic violence ensues. By studying the origins of their motives we can understand their ailment better and it’s then easier to cure. The very first rule in employing successful strategies is having a deep understanding of the motives of the conflict. Engaging in conflict resolution without knowing the full purposes of the conflict is political recklessness.We must sympathise before we can strategize (Hutchinson, Breuilly, and Smith, 1994, P. 104). Nationalism and ethnic identity are the core tenets of ethnic conflict hence the phrase â€Å"ethno-nationalism†. Extreme nationalis ts will harbour a need for identity and this involves being amongst their own citizens. It is these very people, extreme nationalists, who are the principle actors in ethnic conflict; it’s essentially a mass crusade driven by unsatisfied nationalists (Hastings, 1997, p. 27).Ethnic conflict therefore is in lay man’s terms is the struggle for man to be amongst his own people in a community. Furthermore they are likely to want this community to be the chief and sole power in a nation as in the case of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes in Rwanda. The one question that remains to be answered however is why experts believe that ethnic conflict has become more prevalent since the Cold war? Academics like Samuel Huntington predicted a proliferation of conflicts fuelled by tribalism, resource scarcity and overpopulation (Huntington, 1993, P. 2). The reality is that this period witnessed a rise in ethnically-informed secessionist movements – mainly in the former communist states like in Former Yugoslavia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Wallensteen and Sollenberg hold that â€Å"the displacements of capitalist states were accompanied by a decline in total warfare, ethnic wars and the number of refugees and displaced persons† (Wallensteen and Sollenberg, 1995, P. 350). Ethnic conflict certainly seems to be a â€Å"new phrase† but the reality is that unrest and disillusionment always occurred in states.It’s also a certainty that it’s in man’s natural instinct to defend himself and what he loves until he is secure and established – much like his state. Each case of violent ethnic conflict is different, but the motives remain largely the same. Those who plan strategies for ethnic conflict should be well briefed on the case. Understanding is crucial; otherwise the results are severe†¦ There are common themes in the raison d'etre of ethnic nationalist violence – lack of belonging, lack of understanding and a lack of t rue leadership. Edward Everett once said that â€Å"education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army†.It’s the very people who commit the atrocities that don’t have these basic needs. The case of Rwanda provides us with the perfect breeding ground for violent ethnic conflict – uneducated peoples led by a brainwashed Government. In April 1994 two tribes strived for these basic needs as a longstanding ethnic struggle culminated with 20% of an entire population being wiped out by genocide. This case provides us with all the ingredients of mismanagement of conflict strategy which only coerced further violence – approximately 800,000 deaths in just over 100 days.It was managed so badly that it prompted former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to declare in 2000 that â€Å"the international community failed Rwanda and that must always leave us with a bitter sense of regret† (Doyle, BBC, 2004). In this case the minority Tutsi tribe wer e overthrown by the Hutu tribe in the rebellion of 1959-62. The Tutsi tribe looked to seize back power when the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front – a Tutsi dominated rebel group) invaded Rwanda from the Ugandan border. The small East African country was in crisis until an eventual ceasefire in 1993 with assistance from neighbours Tanzania.This however came to an abrupt end in April 1994 when leader Habyarimana was assassinated by the RPF leader Paul Kagame (Hintjens, 2008, P. 5-7). The Hutu’s responded with mass slaughter (genocide) of the Tutsi’s and their own people who they believed to be collaborationists. The ceasefire in 1993 provided Rwanda with an opportunity to resolve the conflict peacefully but as we will see the Government provided weak strategies to consolidate the peace. The only solace we can take from 1994 is what we can learn from it in order to strategize better in the future.All the elements are present to encourage violent ethnic conflict; the str ategies employed only incited more violence. In Rwanda there was a lack of education at all levels, from the people on the ground right up to brainwashed Government officials who were obsessed by power and sought to accomplish it all costs. Education comes from liberal thinking, being open to a variety of sources and having the resources in place to attain this (Dewey, 1994, P2). None of this was possible in a country of authoritarian rule with little choice or democracy for voters.The then incumbent Prime Minister Jean Kambanda revealed in his testimony before the International Criminal Tribunal that genocide was openly discussed at cabinet meetings, and that the people believed that Rwanda’s problems would be over without the Tutsi (Doyle, BBC 2004). The people were blinded by myths; they believed that peace pacifists were collaborating with the other side. A large part of this comes down to how the media was run. The Hutu’s controlled the radio and the many who coul d not read bought into their propaganda campaign (Melvern, 2006, P. 7).For those who could read would read the Hutu run journal â€Å"Kangura†, and its â€Å"ten commandments†, one of which being â€Å"the Hutu should have no mercy on the Tutsi’s† (Melvern, 2004, P. 49). The ancestral divide in Rwanda called for conflict resolving strategies to be put in place. Instead the authorities increased the divide by insisting on â€Å"tribal ID’s† and encouraging identification myths about the other tribe such as skin colour etc. The Government for their part organised two militia groups to assist the killings – the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi (Melvern, 2006, pp. 4-27). We can still see the effects of poor leadership today as Libya has been torn apart under the Gaddafi regime. Ethnic conflict like this highlights the importance of citizens to fight for democracy, to fight for freedom, and fight for choice. The leader of a country has a monu mental bearing on the outcomes of a nation. We must fight for our freedom to choose. This involves participating in democracy to help maintain it (Diamond, 2009, P. 12). Strategy starts on the ground with the citizens; afterwards power is vested in the Government.Unfortunately in Rwanda a corrupt power influenced the media, which in turn corrupted an unwitting population. Sometimes history and circumstances can be unfortunate on a country like Rwanda and the people may have little choice. A country in trouble may often require outside assistance to attain peace. This is a major factor why Rwanda failed and Kofi Annan’s words pay testament to this. In their hour of need Tanzania, other neighbouring countries and the UN were helpless. Rwanda was ultimately left with nothing but warmongering strategies and this is why it failed.A case like Rwanda needs outside help, and hopefully we have learned to be more responsive. Unfortunately the circumstances were ideal for genocide in Rw anda which probably afforded the outside forces with little chance. Ultimately there was no democracy in the strategy in Rwanda. The natives and outside forces were powerless to strategize effectively and the result is a lesson we must take to future conflicts. The Northern Irish story began in 1609 with the Ulster plantations, but it’s â€Å"The Troubles† which are commonly understood as beginning in the sixties (McGarry, O’Leary, 1995, P. 18).The violence was led by the armed campaigns of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force). Alongside the violence, there was a political deadlock between the major political parties in Northern Ireland over the future status of Northern Ireland and the prospective form of government. On learning from the case of Rwanda we now can now examine successful strategies for conflict resolution. . In May 2007 two men from contrasting backgrounds (Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley) met at Stormont and finally shook hands, sealing a horrible conflict that sentenced 3,534 people to early deaths.However 4 years later on June 20th of this year and the violence threatened to escalate again†¦ Attaining peace may be a greater challenge than ever in two communities of disenfranchised people. Assuming that fair democracy is being practiced the responsibility now rests with the powers that be – the Government. The role of the leader is central, a leader is the figurehead for an interest group and his/her attitude towards a conflict will be examined carefully (Ackerman, 2002, p. 32). In 1997 Ireland and Britain elected new Governments. Both leaders Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair made the Northern question a priority.Tony Blair’s first reaction in the North was to hand down the gauntlet to the IRA who refused to abide by a ceasefire at the time (incidentally a year before the Omagh bombings). Tony Blair stated â€Å"my message to Sinn Fein is clear. The settlement train is leaving. I want you on that train. But it is leaving anyway and I will not allow it to wait for you†. The impetus that the new leaders brought to the table was a positive strategy; they brought a renewed energy and innovation reinvigorating the campaign. The primary strategy for solving conflict is peace-talks and negotiation.This involves compromises, consensus-building and some level of mutual trust. The party leader must earn this and their personality is a key factor in an attempt to reach an agreement. A peace agreement or accord is a formal commitment between hostile parties to end a war. In the North a simple ceasefire wasn’t enough, a state with its own Government had to be established (Bew, 1994, p. 32). Regardless of the political decisions made, negotiators have to prepare for â€Å"spoilers† (groups that have an interest in sabotaging the process) and public rejection of settlements.When the public has experienced significant trauma, it may not be ready to ma ke compromises or accept a negotiated solution, as happened repeatedly in the North. It is the task of the leadership to generate support for peace. The personality of the parties involved is a very significant in making peace talks a successful strategy. Peace talks are the primary means of conflict resolution so it could be said that appointing the right negotiation team is a fundamental strategy to success, which thankfully it was in May 2007.Leaders have a role to play outside of peace talks too. The â€Å"ambassadorial† role in everyday society involves sharing with people who have suffered. Diplomacy is at the heart of conflict resolution strategy. It shows that a Government cares and is still in control in a society that still abides by law and order. In August 1998, Mary McAleese walked the streets of Omagh consoling the victims, while her husband Martin visited familes of UVF militants. This showed that they were not isolated but that the World cared, Ireland cared a nd there was an urgency to end the conflict.This was above strategy, it made strategy essential. Peace had to be achieved, and the leaders were relentless until it was achieved. Dr. Matt Cannon explained the need for a multi-level approach at a lecture in October. This involves all levels of the community coming together, the Government uniting and external sources showing interest in resolving conflict (Cannon, 2011). All tiers are uniting to create a powerful peace-building team. In Guatemala and Northern Ireland, civil society forums were established to promote wider societal involvement in the peace process.The terms â€Å"third side† or â€Å"track three† are sometimes used to describe the effort of engaging and uniting individuals at the community level to generate â€Å"people’s power,† public opinion and coalitions in support of peace. In Northern Ireland the communities have come together to rally against the violence and promote peace which is a massive help to the process. One practical example was the replacement of sectarian murals with peace-walls. A common memory and identity is now being created in Northern Ireland. A segregated community is being replaced by a common identity.Both sides are remembering each other’s losses and giving up something for the common good. There is now evidence of shared features such as memorials, museums and holidays which are also finally being reflected by a common Government. Dennis Murray worked for most of his career as Northern Ireland correspondent for the BBC. This September BBC filmed a documentary covering his reporting of the Troubles. The documentary finished with Murray’s parting thought – â€Å"we can’t build a new future without unravelling the past.The story of conflict in Northern Ireland will never finish† (From Our Ireland correspondent, 2011). The case of the Troubles is as close as we may ever come to conflict resolution and it†™s equally fascinating to analyse the strategies employed in this quest. The strategy that now needs to be employed in the North is maintaining peace. There may be no textbook strategy to resolving conflict; it is an ongoing effort to maintain peace in Northern Ireland. Each case is different. Peacemaking in Northern Ireland is a model for resolving ethnic conflict resolution throughout the World.The one factor that appears to be in Northern Ireland’s favour as opposed to Rwanda however is that Northern Ireland was a developed country with a better environment to carry out a conflict resolution. The first virtues in successful conflict resolution are patience and persistence. In Northern Ireland there was a persistence to achieve an end to violence and achieve peace by successful political means. The security forces in Northern Ireland enforced the law. This strategy of law enforcement brought the paramilitaries to realisation that they could not win (Ruane and Todd, 1996, P. 17).There was no overnight solution to ending the violence. The British Government admitted that the IRA could not be eliminated militarily. Utimately ethnic violence is a force. It requires a strong team to defeat it. International interest strengthens a peacebuilding team massively. Bill Clinton’s regime shared an interest in the Troubles and appointed George Mitchell as special envoy. He was presented with the Liberty Medal in 1998, where he stated: â€Å"I believe there’s no such thing as a conflict that can’t be ended. They’re created and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings.No matter how ancient the conflict, no matter how hateful, no matter how hurtful, peace can prevail† (Mitchell, 1998). Northern Ireland now had a combat team, this is where Rwanda failed where external sources were powerless. A case of violent ethnic conflict that becomes unmanageable is referred to the UN. The United Nations was established to r eplace the flawed League of Nations in 1945 in order to maintain international peace and promote cooperation. Peacekeeping is a primary mission on the UN with the aim of helping countries torn by conflict and creating the conditions for lasting peace.It is the last resort following peacemaking and peacebuilding (Bellamy, Williams and Griffin, 2004, P. 5). The United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. For this reason, the international community usually looks to the Security Council to authorise peacekeeping operations. The role of peacekeepers is to help uphold any agreements made during peacetalks. Peacekeeping provided ways to achieve self-sustaining peace.Another viewpoint raises the problem that the peacekeeping may soften the troops and erode their combat ability, as the mission profile of a peacekeeping contingent is totally different from the profile of a unit fighting an all-out war. Before peacekeepers should be deployed theUN has a role in providing assistance in the development of human rights an democracy in the various countries and preventing these countries from becoming a breeding ground for ethnic conflict like Rwanda was (Jasper, 2001, P89). The UN also has a role to encourage more women to become involved in conflict resolution.The lack of involvement for women has a negative impact on resolving conflict and in society. In this essay we have seen what works as successful strategies for conflict resolution. First of all we must be vigilant and defend democracy – preventing conflict from occuring in the first place. We must also uphold law and order as a combat to violence. We must participate in peace and democracy and elect the right leaders and believe in their charismea and diplomacy to solve conflict. We must also acknowledge the roles of member and identity in building an imagined community as part of a three -tier approach.The top tier of UN involvement is only required in times of desperation. Ultimately ethno-nationalism will never go away but violence can. As George Mitchell declared on appointment â€Å"there is no place for violence at the table of democracy†. Bibliography Ackerman R (2002), The Wounded Leader: How Real Leadership Emerges in Times of Crisis, Jossey-Bass, P. 32 Bellamy A, Williams P, Griffin S (2004), Understanding Peacekeeping, Polity, P. 5 Bew P (1994), Ideology and the Irish question: Ulster unionism and Irish nationalism, 1912-1916, Oxford : OUP, P. 2 Cannon M (2011), â€Å"Achieving peace in Northern Ireland†, Speech on October 25th, University of Limerick. Dewey, John (1944). Democracy and Education, The Free Press. pp. 1–4 Diamond L (2009), The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World, St. Martin's Griffin, P. 12. Doyle M, (2004-03-26), UN chief's Rwanda genocide regret, BBC, available: http://news. b bc. co. uk/2/hi/africa/3573229. stm [accessed: 2011-11-12] Doyle M (2004-03-26), Ex-Rwandan PM reveals genocide planning, BBC, available: http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/africa/3572887. tm [accessed: 2011-11-12] From our Ireland correspondent (2011), BBC, Monday 3 October at 10. 35pm Hastings, Adrian, (1997), â€Å"The construction of nationhood: ethnicity, religion, and nationalism†, Cambridge Press, P27. Hintjens Helen, (2008), ‘Post-genocide identity politics in Rwanda’ Ethnicities, Vol. 8, No. 1, P. 5-7 Hutchinson, Breuilly, and Smith (1994), Nationalism, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, P. 104 Huntington, Samuel (1993) The clash of civilizations? Foreign Affairs 72(3), pp. 22-49 Jasper W (2001), United Nations exposed, John Birch Society, P. 9 McGarry, J, O'Leary B (1995) Explaining Northern Ireland. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 18 Melvern, Linda, (2004) Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide, 1st ed. London: Verso, 2004, P. 49 Melvern, Linda, (2006), Conspi racy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide, 2nd. ed. , London: Verso, P. 7 Mitchell G (1998), Liberty Medal acceptance speech, speech on July 4, 1998. Available: http://www. constitutioncenter. org/libertymedal/recipient_1998. html [accessed: 2011-10-08] Ruane, J and Todd J (1996) The Dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland: Power, Conflict and Emancipation.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. P. 17 Smith, Anthony (1986) The Ethnic Origins of Nations. Oxford: Blackwell. Wallensteen P and Sollenberg M (1995) After the Cold War: Emerging patterns of armed conflict 1989-94, Journal of Peace Research 32(3), pp. 345-360 Walker C (2004), The Timelessness of Nations. Nations and Nationalism, New York: Alfred Knopf. Wolff S (2010), â€Å"There is no good news about ethnic conflict and civil war†¦or is there? †, Speech in July 2010, Oxford, Available: http://www. frequency. com/video/stefan-wolff/506736? raw=true [accessed: 2011-10-23]

Paris au Pluriel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Paris au Pluriel - Essay Example In the Journey to the End of the Night, Paris has been depicted from the point of view of the marginalized, working class and slum dwellers of the early 1930’s, that is between the wars, a time when, in the language of the narrator–protagonist Ferdinand Bardamu, the world was busy with â€Å"killing or adoring, or both together. 'I hate you! I adore you!'’." The story, narrated in argotic language, almost echoed Celine’s life from1913 to 1932, with some changes needed for fictions. Cà ©line pursues Bardamu through World War I trenches in Africa, the a nightmarish work in a Ford factory in the United states, and his return to postwar Paris, starting medical practice in a Paris suburb area. Celine himself was a Doctor in pitiable Parisian districts, the misery of whose residents gave him a cynical view of humanity that he translated into his fictions - side-splitting besides being scary and ostensibly vulgar. The fictional La Garenne-Rancy where he painfully observed the appalling condition of the workers â€Å"bent over their machines,†¦ calibrating bolts and more bolts, †¦vapor that burns your throat and †¦attacks your eardrums from inside. It's not shame that makes them bow their head. You give in to noise as you give in to war. At the machines you let yourself go with three ideas that are wobbling about at th e top of your head. And that's the end." (from Journey to the End of the Night, as cited in Celine, kirjasto.sci.fi ) With 'Journey†¦, Celine liberated the French novel from the synthetically styled prose of Gide and Proust and gave it a plain passion and gnaw it never came across after Rabelais. It is a picaresque novel with the rogue protagonist, or antihero Ferdinand like Don Quixote, fighting "against all", yet whereas Cervantes, the creator of Don Quixote, lamented for the death of courtliness, Celine talked mockingly about the death of civility. As a slum doctor in Paris, he had heard every sort of howls-- of pain, rage and misery; mixed with his own typical French humor and changed by a style of high revulsion. This 450-page account of anger, acrimony, despair, disappointment, and acquiescence depicts a Paris of conflict, spinelessness, lies, sleaze, treachery, exploitation, perversion, bullying, cheating, gluttony, illness, isolation, insanity, lust, tittle-tattle, abortion, reprisal, and murder in a narrated in a way in which rarely any cheery word could be traced. From a literary stan ce, The Journey possibly could be ranked as havinng brought a strikingly new style, a chatty language that also includes many cultured elements wielding significant influence on later-day French literature. Albert Thinaudet, renowned French essayist and a major literary critic between-the- wars said that in January 1933 Journey was still a widespead topic at dinner parties in Paris (Godard, "Notice," in Cline). Journey was an instant success making Celine as a major literary figure. An broken up, hallucinatory and dreary novel heavy in slang, it followed Ferdinand Bardamu from the trenches of the First World War, to Africa, to America, ending back in Paris, where Bardamu started medical practice. The split, self-exiled narrative portraying a disintegrated world without loveliness, decorum or possible salvation was something awful to French readers: The worst part is wondering how you'll find the strength tomorrow to go on doing what you did today and have been

MIDTERM PART 1 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MIDTERM PART 1 - Term Paper Example Questions that are of particular interest to the scientist in this group are as follows: 1what is race? 2. What is its purpose on your planet? 3. We find that our meritocracy has served us well; allowing as doing amazing things, would a meritocracy work for you? Pleas answer the extraterrestrials questions. Page response maximum=3 Race is analyzed as the social construction that involves the racial classification with a common meaning. Racial formation includes both the racial groups and the constant racial thought. With the human interaction with the natural differentiation, the emphasis on the power of race in our current society greatly traverses with the ancestry and appearance of the individuals of a certain society. Hair, complexion facial features are major characteristics that influence the domination of races in lives (Williams, 1996). For a number of learners, that questions the different concepts of racial differences and ethnicity, cultural and heritage as well as nationality has been invested in the racial-differences. In the racialized realities that involves ethnic rituals that shows the historic interracial studies that helps in interacting with people coming from different backgrounds with the highly racialized boundaries ( Newport, 2011). The implications that multicultural classes vary from the ethnic studies classes that explain an historic separation of different races that is normal. The racial subject that is brought about by the common norms among people is manifested in the racial and economic prospects of different communities. Cultural differences is insurmountable that creates the existence of the â€Å"bona fide† mono racial groupings (Williams, 1996). Currently, all the learners were not challenged to consider on how race races are constructed. Therefore, making the claim that the race is faulty concept is significant its sociological application that do not mention in the interracial

World Political History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

World Political History - Essay Example This led to deaths of majority foreigners leading to political wrangles between the Yugoslavian leaders and the Soviet Union. This led to the creation of strongly organized military force. Therefore, this led to the development of powerful armament in the nation in order to counter enemies. This led to depression of the nation’s economy and deterioration of foreign relations. What are the threats in your country? Different political ideologies Yugoslavia experienced conflicting political ideologies among its key leaders. This was due to the existence of both nationalists and communists in the country. This posed a nationwide threat as it led to increased conflicts among different political parties. The communists conflicted with the nationalists as both craved to control the country (Rajak 2011). This led to increased human fear as this signaled an outbreak of another war in the country. This was highly influenced by leading nationalists and communist nations that tried to inf luence their ideologies in Yugoslavia (Rajak). Ethnicity Aftermath of the Second World War was marked by increased ethnicity in all nations that participated in the war. This was due to settlement of war soldiers and captives in foreign countries. Yugoslavia experienced high levels of ethnicity as many war captives, and soldiers who were of foreign origin were retained as captives. This led to increased human suffering in the nation leading to frequent mass protests in the country. This created high tension among the population leading to fear of ethnic clashes among the natives (Rajak 2011). Disintegration of Yugoslavia Moreover, Yugoslavia disintegrated into different nations that sought for self-governance. These conflicts among different... According to the paper Yugoslavia entered the conflict as it tried to align to Soviet Union that dominated the Eastern Europe due to factors such as strong military base, organized military forces, economic success, foreign relations and strong political organization. This caused increased hatred among the local natives and the ethnic Germans leading to increased tension. This led to deaths of majority citizens with no media coverage unlike in other nations. The paper makes a conclusion that Yugoslavia experienced conflicting political ideologies among its key leaders. This was due to the existence of both nationalists and communists in the country. This posed a nationwide threat as it led to increased conflicts among different political parties. The communists conflicted with the nationalists as both craved to control the country. The U.S influenced the International Monetary Fund to give them loans which they were unable to pay. The Yugoslavia government collapsed, and that ended communism leading to disintegration of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia disintegrated into different nations that sought for self-governance. These conflicts among different communities were as Germany and Austria-Hungary wanted to expand their territories. People of Yugoslavia particularly politicians fled to United Kingdom where they formed a committee for the creation of united Yugoslavia. However, it was crushed by Nazi Germany. The people of Yugoslavia resisted the communist’s rule in protests.