Largest Counties by Population in the United States

Largest Counties by Population in the United States Forty-three counties in the United States have a population greater than 1 million, ranked by population. The data for this list is based on mid-2016 population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. In 2010, only 39 counties in the United States had a population of more than 1 million, and Los Angeles County had fewer than 10 million residents. The top five list remains the same as in 2010.   From this list, you can see that although much of the countrys population is concentrated in the megalopolis region of the Northeast, there is considerable population in the metropolitan regions of the Sun Belt from Texas to California. These heavily populated cities of Texas, Arizona, and California continue to experience phenomenal growth as population declines in places like the Rust Belt continue.   Largest Counties by Population Los Angeles County, CA: 10,116,705Cook County, IL: 5,246,456Harris County, TX: 4,441,370Maricopa County, AZ: 4,087,191San Diego County, California: 3,263,431Orange County, California: 3,145,515Miami-Dade County, Florida: 2,662,874Kings County, New York: 2,621,793Dallas County, Texas: 2,518,638Riverside County, California: 2,329,271Queens County, New York: 2,321,580San Bernardino County, California: 2,112,619King County, Washington: 2,079,967Clark County, Nevada: 2,069,681Tarrant County, Texas: 1,945,360Santa Clara County, California: 1,894,605Broward County, Florida: 1,869,235Bexar County, Texas: 1,855,866Wayne County, Michigan: 1,764,804New York County, New York: 1,636,268Alameda County, California: 1,610,921Middlesex County, Massachusetts: 1,570,315Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: 1,560,297Suffolk County, New York: 1,502,968Sacramento County, California: 1,482,026Bronx County, New York: 1,438,159Palm Beach County, Florida: 1,397,710Nassau County, New York: 1,358,627Hillsborough C ounty, Florida: 1,316,298 Cuyahoga County, Ohio: 1,259,828Orange County, Florida: 1,253,001Oakland County, Michigan: 1,237,868Franklin County, Ohio: 1,231,393Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: 1,231,255Hennepin County, Minnesota: 1,212,064Travis County, Texas: 1,151,145Fairfax County, Virginia: 1,137,538Contra Costa County, California: 1,111,339Salt Lake County, Utah: 1,091,742Montgomery County, Maryland: 1,030,447  Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: 1,012,539Pima County, Arizona: 1,004,516  St. Louis County, Missouri: 1,001,876

USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Cold War

USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Cold War USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Overview: Nation:  United States Type:  Light Aircraft Carrier Shipyard:  New York Shipbuilding Corporation Laid Down:  July 10, 1944 Launched:  July 8, 1945 Commissioned:  July 14, 1946 Fate:  Sold for scrap, 1976 USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Specifications: Displacement:  14,500 tons Length:  684 ft. Beam:  76.8 ft. (waterline) Draft:  28 ft. Propulsion:  Geared steam turbines, 4 Ãâ€" shafts Speed:  33 knots Complement:  1,721 men USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Armament: 10 Ãâ€" quadruple 40 mm guns Aircraft: 42-50 aircraft USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Design Construction: In 1941, with World War II underway in Europe and growing tensions with Japan, President Franklin D. Roosevelt became increasingly worried that the US Navy did not anticipate any new carriers joining the fleet until 1944.   To remedy the situation, he ordered the General Board to examine whether any of the light cruisers then being built could be converted into carriers to reinforce the services Lexington- and Yorktown-class ships.   Though the initial report recommended against such conversions, Roosevelt pressed the issue and a design to utilize several Cleveland-class light cruiser hulls then under construction was developed.   Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 and the US entry into the conflict, the US Navy moved to accelerate the construction of the new  Essex-class fleet carriers and approved the conversion of several cruisers into light carriers. Dubbed the Independence-class, the nine carriers that resulted from the program possessed narrow and short flight decks as a result of their light cruiser hulls.   Limited in their capabilities, the primary advantage of the class was the speed with which they could be completed.   Anticipating combat losses among the Independence-class ships, the US Navy moved forward with an improved light carrier design.   Though intended as carriers from the outset, the design of what became the Saipan-class drew heavily from the hull shape and machinery used in the Baltimore-class heavy cruisers.   This allowed for a wider and longer flight deck and improved seakeeping.   Other benefits included a higher speed, better hull subdivision, as well as stronger armor and enhanced anti-aircraft defenses.   As the new class was larger, it was capable of carrying a more sizable air group than its predecessors.    The lead ship of  class, USS Saipan (CVL-48), was laid down at the New York Shipbuilding Company (Camden, NJ) on July 10, 1944.   Named for the recently fought Battle of Saipan, construction moved forward over the next year and the carrier slid down the ways on July 8, 1945, with Harriet McCormack, wife of House Majority Leader John W. McCormack, serving as sponsor.   As workers moved to complete Saipan, the war ended.   As a result, it was commissioned into the peacetime US Navy on July 14, 1946, with Captain John G. Crommelin in command.       USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Early Service: Completing shakedown operations, Saipan received an assignment to train new pilots off Pensacola, FL.   Remaining in this role from September 1946 through April 1947, it then was transferred north to Norfolk.   Following exercises in the Caribbean, Saipan joined the Operational Development Force in December.   Tasked with assessing experimental equipment and developing new tactics, the force reported to the commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet.   Working with ODF, Saipan primarily focused on crafting operational practices for using new jet aircraft at sea as well as electronic instrument evaluation.   After brief break from this duty in February 1948 to transport a delegation to Venezuela, the carrier resumed its operations off the Virginia Capes. Made flagship of Carrier Division 17 on April 17, Saipan steamed north Quonset Point, RI to embark Fighter Squadron 17A.   Over the course of the next three days, the entirety of the squadron qualified in the FH-1 Phantom.   This made it the first fully-qualified, carrier-based jet fighter squadron in the US Navy.   Relieved of flagship duties in June, Saipan underwent an overhaul at Norfolk the following month.   Returning to service with ODF, the carrier embarked a pair of Sikorsky XHJS and three Piasecki HRP-1 helicopters in December and sailed north to Greenland to aid in the rescue of eleven airmen who had become stranded.   Arriving offshore on the 28th, it remained on station until the men were rescued.   After a stop in Norfolk, Saipan proceeded south Guantanamo Bay where it conducted exercises for two months before rejoining ODF. USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Mediterranean to the Far East: The spring and summer of 1949 saw Saipan continue duty with ODF as well as conduct reservist training cruises north to Canada while also carrier qualifying Royal Canadian Navy pilots.   After another year of operating off the Virginia coast, the carrier received orders to assume the post of flagship of Carrier Division 14 with the US Sixth Fleet.   Sailing for the Mediterranean, Saipan remained abroad for three months before steaming back to Norfolk.   Rejoining the US Second Fleet, it spent the next two years in the Atlantic and Caribbean.   In October 1953, Saipan was directed to sail for the Far East to aid in supporting the truce that had recently ended the Korean War.    Transiting the Panama Canal, Saipan touched at Pearl Harbor before arriving at Yokosuka, Japan.   Taking station off the Korean coast, the carriers aircraft flew  surveillance and reconnaissance missions to assess Communist activity.   During the winter, Saipan provided air cover for a Japanese convey transporting Chinese prisoners of war to Taiwan.   After taking part in exercises in the Bonins in March 1954, the carrier ferried twenty-five AU-1 (ground attack) model Chance Vought Corsairs and five  Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw helicopters to Indochina for transfer to the French who were engaged in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.   Completing this mission, Saipan delivered helicopters to US Air Force personnel in the Philippines before resuming its station off Korea.   Ordered home later that spring, the carrier departed Japan on May 25 and returned to Norfolk via the Suez Canal. USS Saipan (CVL-48) - Transition: That fall, Saipan steamed south on a mission of mercy following Hurricane Hazel.   Arriving off Haiti in mid-October, the carrier delivered a variety of humanitarian and medical aid to the ravaged country.   Departing on October 20, Saipan made port at Norfolk for an overhaul prior to operations in the Caribbean and a second stint as the training carrier at Pensacola.   In the fall of 1955, it again received orders to aid in hurricane relief and moved south to the Mexican coast.   Using its helicopters, Saipan assisted in evacuating civilians and distributed aid to the population around Tampico.   After several months at Pensacola, the carrier was directed to make for Bayonne, NJ for decommissioning on October 3, 1957.   Too small relative to the Essex-, Midway-, and new Forrestal-class fleet carriers, Saipan was placed in reserve.      Reclassified AVT-6 (aircraft transport) on May 15, 1959, Saipan found new life in March 1963.   Transferred south to the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile, the carrier was slated to be converted into a command ship.   Initially re-designated CC-3,  Saipan was instead re-classified as a major communications relay ship (AGMR-2) on September 1, 1964.   Seven months later, on April 8, 1965, the ship was renamed USS Arlington in recognition of one of the US Navys first radio stations.   Re-commissioned on August 27, 1966, Arlington underwent fitting out and shakedown operations into the new year before taking part in exercises in the Bay of Biscay.   In the late spring of 1967, the ship made preparations to deploy to the Pacific to take part in the Vietnam War.      Ã‚      USS Arlington (AGMR-2) - Vietnam Apollo: Sailing on July 7, 1967, Arlington passed through the Panama Canal and touched in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines before taking up a station in the Gulf of Tonkin.   Making three patrols in the South China Sea that fall, the ship provided reliable communications handling for the fleet and supported combat operations in the region.   Additional patrols followed in early 1968 and Arlington also participated in exercises in the Sea of Japan as well as made port calls in Hong Kong and Sydney.   Remaining in the Far East for most of 1968, the ship sailed for Pearl Harbor in December and later played a support role in the recovery of Apollo 8.   Returning to the waters off Vietnam in January, it continued to operate in the region until April when it departed to aid in the recovery of Apollo 10.    With this mission complete, Arlington sailed for Midway Atoll to provide communications support for a meeting between President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu on June 8, 1969.   Briefly resuming its mission off Vietnam on June 27, the ship was again withdrawn the following month to aid NASA.   Arriving at Johnston Island, Arlington embarked Nixon on July 24 and then supported the return of Apollo 11.   With the successful recovery of Neil Armstrong and his crew, Nixon transferred to USS Hornet (CV-12) to meet with the astronauts.   Departing the area, Arlington sailed for Hawaii before departing for the West Coast.    Arriving at Long Beach, CA on August 29, Arlington then moved south to San Diego to begin the process of inactivation.   Decommissioned on January 14, 1970, the former carrier was stricken from the Navy List on August 15, 1975.   Briefly held, it was sold for scrap by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service on June 1, 1976.    Selected Sources DANFS: USS  Saipan  (CVL-48)NavSource: USS  Saipan  (CVL-48)USS  Saipan  (CV-48) Association

Media and Reality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Media and Reality - Research Paper Example According to Friedman (2002), we live in a technological phase since persons spend several hours on electronic screens conversing or inquiring on diverse topics. Evidently, television programs; for example, â€Å"All in the Family† can alter people’s perceptions of individuals from other races (Dill, 2009). Exposure to this episode can influence the person to generate an optimistic attitude to other races and compel them to initiate interactive relationships. Such a program can instigate a substantial urge to destroy racial bigotry; thus, becoming a force of societal changes (Dill, 2009). However, this program can differ from the realistic situations existent in the country. Racism can be extensive in numerous areas; however, the program acts on our perception since it shuns the reality. Indeed, reality is our discernment of the truth despite the obvious anomalies in the details that can be existent in the background. Television commercials are created in entertaining f orms to lure the audience. They usually encompass an appealing story displayed repeatedly in attractive designs hoping it will induce the audience to ponder on the commercial message. Perception and Reality Friedman (2002) affirms individuals are currently living in two dissimilar worlds that have contrasting realities. One entails the world that the media channels portray and a world that one experiences by engaging in real processes. There are instances where the conceptualization of these diverse worlds significantly varies; thus, shocking the people since it is differs from the expectations (Dill, 2009). As such, the Media controls how we react to gender roles, sexuality, politics and institutional matters (Friedman, 2002). For example, the American Media relays numerous reports on the security threat of other nations to its citizens. Thus, the media portrays violent content leading to a feeling of paranoia amidst the citizens. Consequently, the sensation of exterior threats and violence propagated by the media was instrumental in propelling the US invasion witnessed in diverse countries; for example, Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, the obsession of the media with potential repercus sions of external threats continues to influence airlines, immigration authorities and corporations, which have boosted their security protocols. Interestingly, the repetitive conveyance of the Muslim countries as threats continues to shape the perception of the US populace towards Muslims (Dill, 2009). As such, there were incidences of racial attacks towards American Muslims who fail to engage in the acts of distant relatives. Indeed, this is one of the adverse implications of media on societal perceptions. According to Dill (2009), such influential power of the media is escalating to controversial levels since it is instigating widespread changes in the mannerisms and circumstantial implications on individual lives. Technological advancements are consistently becoming a mechanism of

Conflicts between public interest and personal interest, which created Speech or Presentation

Conflicts between public interest and personal interest, which created by Human Rights Acts 1998 (Can the British Bill of Right handle the problem) - Speech or Presentation Example Article 8 of the conventions provides for respect for one’s private life, home and family life. The Article covers areas concerned with self-determination. The definition of private life is complicated and broad. The privacy entitles people to life without the intrusion as in the case of Terry v Persons Unknown (Rev 1) [2010] EWHC 119 (QB) (29 January 2010) (BAILII 2010). Contrary to Article 8, Article 10 provides for freedom of expression. One of the aspects of expression involves communication. Communication entitles citizens to express their ideas without limitations. However, communication may also be limited depending on the infringement of an individual’s privacy (BAILII, 2012). It, therefore, can be deciphered that the two aspects considered in the two articles breach confidence in their interpretation. Whereas Article 10 advocates democratic expression, Article 8 suppresses such fundamental entitlements. Article 10 demands transparency and openness, contrary to article 8 that advocates privacy. Upholding Article 8 requires prior consultation of individuals while exercising expression. Such incidence occurred between Mr. Max Mosley sought for an injunction to uphold Article 8 (Mosley v The United Kingdom [2011] 53 E.H.R.R 30). An inference of lack of proper ways of upholding Article 8 can be made from the case. Article 9 provides for an individual’s freedom to uphold a wide range of ideas and beliefs, based on religious ideologies. The article empowers citizens with autonomy regarding their actions and lifestyles (Equal Rights Trust 2014, p. 2). The issue of public interest involves anything that may interfere with other standards upheld in the society. The extent of manifestation of beliefs may be limited as in the case Eweida and Others v The United Kingdom; ECHR 15 January 2013 (BAILII, 2013). Usually, one’s autonomy conflicts with that of the mass. Personal interest concerns

William Shakespeare also known as “The Bard” Essay Example for Free

William Shakespeare also known as â€Å"The Bard† Essay William Shakespeare was one of the best writers of his time, and has written stories that are still being read and talked about today. He was thought of to be an inspiration to many upcoming writers and has helped to shape literature into what is today. Shakespeare’s writing s give vivid and interesting details about the topic he is writing about. His writings also tend to make others enjoy reading more often. Even though Shakespeare has no birth records there are church records which indicate that a William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. From that information they believed that he was born either on or near April 23, 1564. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582. William was 18 and she was 26 and also pregnant. Shakespeare’s first child was a daughter born on May 26, 1583, they named her Susanna. Shakespeare was the third child of John Shakespeare who was a leather merchant and his mother Mary who was a local landed heiress. Shakespeare had two sisters Joan and Judith, and his three younger brothers Gilbert, Richard and Edmund. From roughly 1594 Shakespeare was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men Company of theatrical players. It was said that â€Å"Shakespeare wrote plays that capture the complete range of human emotion and conflict. Shakespeare was also often called the English national poet and is to be considered the greatest dramatist of all time. Also there are little Cox 2 records of Shakespeare’s childhood and virtually none about his education, but scholars think Shakespeare attended King’s New School. Others often ponder on whether William Shakespeare really existed. By 1952 there was some evidence that Shakespeare was living as an actor and a playwright in London and may have had several plays produced. Around 1597 15 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays  had been published. By 1599 Shakespeare and his business partners built their own theater, which they later called the Globe. Shakespeare’s early plays were written in a conventional style of his time with complex metaphors and rhetorical phrases that didn’t always match with his plot or characters. Although Shakespeare was very modern, adapting to the customary style to his own motives and creating a freer flow of words. Shakespeare’s work and been a major influence on later theatre and literature. Throughout the 1590’s Shakespeare’s reputation continued to grow. From 1594 to 1608 he was fully involved in  the London theater world. During much of this period, Shakespeare was ranked as London’s most popular playwright, based on the number of times his plays were performed and published. By the late 1590’s Shakespeare had become an established writer and a prosperous. Cox 3 By 1612 Shakespeare had become England’s most successful playwright. It was said that he divided his time between Stratford and London. Shakespeare was a respected man of the dramatic arts who wrote plays and acted in the late 16th and early 17th century. Today his plays are highly popular and are persistently studied and reinterpreted in plays. The genius of Shakespeare’s plays will forever be performed and read. Furthermore William Shakespeare also known as â€Å"The Bard† was a man who changed the way we look at literature today. Also he was thought to be a literature genius making his plays different and extraordinary. Shakespeare is a man who others have looked at throughout the course of history to learn to be better writers. William Shakespeare was a legend and shows just how much reading and writing can take you. Cox 4 Citation Page www. biography. com – William Shakespeare www. worldbookonline. com – William Shakespeare.

Spanish Conquistador Essay -- Christopher Columbus, New World

1492 was the year that Christopher Columbus, the Spanish conquistador, came to the â€Å"New World† and explored it which to be later colonized by Spain, France, and mostly England to establish the soon to be, colonial America. In time, when colonists arrived in the New England region ruled by Britain their lives were being controlled by many factors consisting of religion, wealth, social status, race, conflicts with other colonists/Indians and gender. In the book, Everyday Life in Early America, written by David Freeman Hawke, it is argued that these immigrants were colonists that were forced to adapt to a new way of life. The author, Hawke, believed these colonists living in the New England region or the Chesapeake region could not really survive in this â€Å"New World† with what they learned about their culture in Europe such as customs and traditions back from Europe but had to get used to the new territory and new society or face the hardships that the â€Å"New World† had to offer. Overall, the book shows who came and how they settled, farming and housing, health and manners, and morals and witchcraft, and even difference in race and conflicts with Indians. As colonial America started to settle in, towns and counties were developing and causing conflict. The early colonial American settlers that â€Å"the bulk of the emigrants came voluntarily, and more often than not they were the most â€Å"vivid people† of England, those with energy and courage to make a new start in life† (Hawke, 1). To Hawke’s point that the early colonist faced hardships, was when they encountered the Native Americans. This was one of the reasons why colonial Americans were encountering new ways of life, that what they were taught and knew about Europe had to be disregard... .... The historical events of the everyday life of the settlers are very true no matter about what topic he talks about. His accuracy then compared to present could have been lowered as the book was written 23 years ago, so anything new could have been discovered about the colonists. This book is easily one of the most informative book on United States history as it not dull but fascinates. One can easily learn the hardships of the early settlers on their way to the â€Å"New World† and see what they faced there when they arrived. One can show great enjoyment for this book as at least one part/topic must interest one as it goes from a wide variety of interesting topics such as recreation, war, housing, settlement, and crime. Taken as a whole, the book can be read by many no matter how busy one is, as this could possibly be the most interesting non-fiction book out there.

The importance of agriculture

Since the time men learnt to grow crops, agriculture has been the main source of food. Today, most of the people in all parts of the world, especially in developing countries, are engaged in agricultural activities. Human is mainly a grain-eating animal. In Asia, most of the people eat rice. In Europe, North America and Australia, wheat is the main food crop. If rice and wheat cannot be grown, millet and other cereals are grown as food crops.Though men also eat meat, they enjoy eating meat only when they take it together with rice or bread which is made from wheat. It is therefore clear that grains are the main source of man’s food, and grains are agricultural products. Men, however, cannot live on grains alone. They need other foods too to make his meals more palatable. Therefore, they learnt to grow vegetables, potatoes and fruits. Like grains, these things come from the soil. They have to be planted and grown with great care.As a result, men have made many experiments on so il for several centuries to increase their production of crops. Men have also learnt to consume dried leaves to refresh themselves. Tea and tobacco, the dried leaves of certain plants, have become very popular as sources of refreshment. Even coffee and cocoa are products of plants. Cotton, jute and other fiber are used to make cloth and several other things for our daily needs. All these plants have become very important in agriculture.In some countries, agriculture is a main source of wealth. The rubber tree and the oil-palm in Malaysia bring millions of dollars every year. In Bangladesh, the jute plant is the main source of wealth. Similarly, in almost every country there is at least one plant which makes a great contribution to the economy of the country. We arrive at the conclusion that agriculture play an important role in men’s world. Invite friends to read this article.

Is the Use of the Death Penalty Justice and Is It Fair Essay

It is fair to say that capital punishment is under attack, particularly in the South where it is most commonly practiced. Not only have serious criticisms been raised by scholars in criminal justice, criminology and related disciplines, but newspapers have published scathing news reports suggesting that innocent people have been sentenced to death and even executed, and alleging racial discrimination in capital punishment practice. According to Robinson (2011), four basic facts establish the realities of American capital punishment. The first is that capital punishment is practiced in most but not all United States jurisdictions. Specifically, there are 34 states with the death penalty, and 16 without. The federal government also maintains capital punishment, as does the military, but the District of Columbia does not carry out executions. However, of these death penalty jurisdictions, only nine regularly carry out an execution, meaning they have averaged at least one execution a year since 1976 when capital punishment was reinstated; thus only about one-quarter (26%) of death penalty states (nine of 34) and 18% of all states in the country (nine of 50) average one or more executions per year. Further, only one state has carried out at least ten executions per year since 1976, Texas. In fact, only about 10% of counties with the death penalty imposed a death sentence between the years 2004 and 2009. Justice is typically defined as administering and maintaining what is just or right. Robinson (2011) says that there are three broad issues discussed and debated by scholars of justice theory: freedom, welfare, and virtue. Some justice theorists argue that what matters most for deciding what is right or just is freedom; whether individual rights are respected and protected. Another school of thought is the egalitarian libertarians. These scholars suggest that what matters most for justice is equality of opportunity in society and taking care of the least advantaged citizens. Other justice theorists focus on welfare, or general well-being and happiness of people in society. They argue that what matters most for justice is the welfare of society, or its overall happiness. Finally, other justice theorists argue that what matters most for justice is virtue, or moral goodness and righteousness. The purpose of the death penalty is incapacitation, deterrence, and retribution. Incapacitation is understood as removing the ability of offenders to commit future crimes. Incarceration is the typical form whereas execution is the ultimate form. Deterrence refers to creating fear in would be offenders through punishment to prevent future crimes. Capital punishment can only be aimed at preventing crime by would-be murderers, general deterrence, since it cannot create fear in murderers who have already been executed, specific deterrence. Retribution refers to righting or rebalancing the scales of justice through punishment in order to achieve justice for crime victims. Executions are often depicted as retribution for the crime of murder, as well as a source of closure for murder victims’ families. Robinson (2011) claims that criminologists and capital punishment scholars overwhelmingly indicate that the death penalty fails to achieve these goals, mostly because of the rarity of death sentences and executions. Logically, if death sentences and executions were more common, capital punishment would be more likely to achieve these goals. Yet we also know that the more frequently the death penalty is used, the greater the costs associated with the policy, including not only additional financial costs but also a greater risk of convicting, sentencing to death, and executing the innocent. This ultimately has great significance for the â€Å"justice† of capital punishment. Van Den Haag (1986) says that the death penalty is an effective form of deterrence because it is feared more than life imprisonment. Many of the convicts under death sentence appeal their sentence and try to get it reduced to life imprisonment. Van Den Haag argues that even though there is no factual evidence that the death penalty deters would be criminals more than life imprisonment, the fact that more people fear the death penalty makes it a better deterrent. Reiman (1985) agrees with Robinson’s view that the use of the death penalty is not successful as a deterrent. He gives four main reasons that refute Van Den Haag’s argument. His first reason is that although people fear the death penalty more than life in prison, nobody wants to spend life in prison either. People do not have the mentality that they can commit a crime because they will â€Å"only† get sentenced to life in prison. Although the person will be alive, they will have all freedom taken from them, which after awhile, can be seen just as horrible, if not worse, than death. Reiman’s second point is that if a person is contemplating committing a crime, they are already facing an enormous risk of being killed in the process. Roughly 500 to 700 suspected felons are killed by police in the line of duty every year and many Americans own their own guns. When taking that into account, it does not seem very likely that the would be criminal will be able to commit the crime without at least being injured by the police or the would be victim. His third reason against Van Den Haag’s view is that using the death penalty is hypocritical. The law states that a person cannot take the life of another, but when they do, their punishment could be death. It is not possible to say murder is illegal and then have it as a possible punishment. He argues that not having the death penalty better exemplifies that idea that murder is wrong. His last point is that it is illogical to practice the death penalty simply because it is feared more than life imprisonment. He says that people would fear death by torture more than lethal injection, so does that mean we should begin the practice of death by torture because more people are afraid of it? Unless it can be proven that the death penalty is a better deterrent than life in prison, Reiman (1985) argues that the death penalty should be abolished. Robinson (2011) says that as for the issue of innocence, there is little doubt that people are wrongly convicted of murder every year and that a handful are even sentenced to death. More than 130 people have been freed from death row during the era of â€Å"super due process† that began in 1976 when the US Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment. Wrongful convictions often occur due to honest errors such as mistaken eyewitness testimony and faulty forensic evidence, but when they occur due to issues such as: false confessions, lying informants, government misconduct, and ineffective defense counsel. There is also little doubt that innocent people have even been executed, although most of the known cases are from prior to the era of super due process in capital sentencing. There remain at least eight widely known cases where men have been recently executed despite serious doubts about their actual guilt. On the issue of executing the innocent, Van Den Haag (1986), makes the argument that the advantages of using the death penalty as a punishment outweigh the unintended losses. He states, â€Å"Miscarriages of justice are offset by the moral benefits and the usefulness of doing justice (139). His argument is that mistakes have and do occur in innocent people being sentenced to death, but the benefits of using it are more important. It would be more of a detriment to society to stop the use of the death enalty than it is when an innocent person is executed. In regards to race, America’s death penalty has always been plagued by serious racial biases. Little evidence remains of the historic discrimination by race of defendant, although state-specific anecdotal evidence suggests blacks are still occasionally discriminated against, especially when accused of killing whites and when juries are overwhelmingly white. Robinson (2011) says that most experts now point to a â€Å"race of victim† effect, whereby killers of whites are far more likely to be sentenced to death and executed than killers of other races and. For example, a comprehensive study of race and the death penalty in North Carolina showed that killers of whites were more than three times more likely to receive death sentences than killers of blacks. In the state, 80% of those people executed since 1976 killed white people; only about 40% of North Carolina homicide victims are white. Further, a study of capital punishment practice in the state from 1999 to 2006 found that blacks who killed whites were 14 times more likely to be sentenced to death than whites who killed blacks. Also, there were six executions of blacks who killed whites during the time period, yet zero executions of whites who killed blacks. Van Den Haag’s (2011) stance on the distribution of the death penalty being discriminatory is that â€Å"punishments are imposed on persons, not on racial or economic groups† (138). The death penalty is not specifically issued to certain races. It depends on the crime that the person committed. Van Den Haag also says, â€Å"Justice requires that as many of the guilty as possible be punished, regardless of whether others have avoided punishment. To let these others escape the deserved punishment does not do justice to them, or to society. But it is not unjust to those who could not escape it† (139). Van Den Haag does not view the fact that black people or other minorities receive the death penalty more than whites as being unjust. However, what is unjust is the white people who were not sentenced to death when they should have been. Given these important empirical realities of the death penalty, the next issue to address is which of them are relevant for the â€Å"justice† of capital punishment practice. As noted earlier, it depends on which theory of justice is being referred to. Libertarians ask whether capital punishment respects liberty or freedom. The most important question for egalitarians is whether capital punishment practice is equal or applied in an equal fashion. For utilitarians, the most important question is whether capital punishment increases overall utility or happiness in society. Finally, for virtue-based theorists, the question is whether capital punishment respects and promotes our values, our moral goodness, and whether it is the right thing to do. The questions above do not have universal answers. Everybody will have his or her own opinions on whether the death penalty respects a person’s freedom or whether it is the right thing to do. Reiman, Robinson and Van Den Haag all made successful and convincing arguments so it is hard to determine one view as more convincing than the other. It comes down to a personal choice and what a person chooses to believe as to whether the death penalty is fair and a proper form of justice.

Tao of Pooh Start Essay Example

Tao of Pooh Start Essay Example Tao of Pooh Start Paper Tao of Pooh Start Paper The Tao of Pooh Essay In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff, the author is explaining Taoism to people who do not know what it is, using a classic childhood story, Winnie the Pooh. Hoff observes every character from the childhood story and finding Pooh to be the best for all. The main and first thing talked about in the story is what Taoism believes as the uncarved block, Hoff which then says it is everything in its simplest form. Pooh represents the uncarved block because he in his self is simplistic. Pooh is always calm, and relaxed nd doesnt stress about anything, well except his honey of course. The concept of Wu Wei is a major concept in the book, where there is no struggle to doing something, for example you dont but the round peg in the square hole, or vice versa, because it is to put the round peg in the round hole. Wu Wei doesnt try, it Just does. One of the first major ideas in The Tao of Pooh is the uncarved block. When talking about the uncarved block, Pooh is the best example, and character chosen to be described, and describe the uncarved block. The uncarved block is everything being in its simplest form, and within simplicity has its own power. pooh is used to describe the uncarved block because he is simple. Pooh doesnt worry about much of anything, he doesnt over think, and he simple minded. Rabbit is used as the opposite as the uncarved block because he is always running around and is very busy because thats who he is. Expressing this is showing you miss many things in life being busy and trying to rush everything. With the topic of Rabbit, it shows how not to life live. As Pooh is The Uncarved Block, Rabbit is the exact opposite, which is the opposite of The Uncarved Block. Hoff is basically telling us doing as Rabbit does is not the way to live life. Rabbit is always rushing around and not taking the time to enjoy life. He is too busy trying to rush and missing so many things and opportunities and not taking any time for himself. Missing out on the little things in life can cause unhappiness and regret. Regret and Unhappiness is not what is suppose to happen in Taoism, because of the uncarved block. Tao of Pooh Start By kegger13

Three Blatant Acts of Racism Against Obama

Three Blatant Acts of Racism Against Obama When Barack Obama became the first African-American elected president on November 4, 2008, the world viewed it as a signal of racial progress. But after Obama took office, he was the target of racist illustrations, conspiracy theories, and Islamophobia. Do you know the tactics used to attack him on the basis of race? This analysis covers three blatant acts of racism against Obama. The Birther Debate Throughout his presidency, Barack Obama was dogged by rumors that he was not an American by birth. Instead, the â€Å"birthers†- as the people spreading this rumor are known- say that he was born in Kenya. Although Obama’s mother was a white American, his father was a black Kenyan national. His parents, however, met and married in the United States, which is why the birther conspiracy has been deemed equal parts silly and racist. The birthers have also refused to accept as valid  the documentation provided by  Obama that proves he was born in Hawaii. Why is this racist? New York Times columnist Timothy Egan explained that the birther movement â€Å"has little to do with reality and everything to do with the strangeness of Obama’s background- especially his race. He continued, Many Republicans refuse to accept that Obama could come from such an exotic stew and still be ‘American.’ †¦So, even though the certificate of live birth first made public in 2008 is a legal document that any court would have to recognize, they demanded more.† When Donald Trump repeated the claims of birthers in April 2011, the president responded by releasing his long form birth certificate. This move did not completely quiet the rumors about Obama’s origins. But the more documentation the president released about his birthplace, the less ground the birthers had to suggest that the black president did not belong in office. Trump continued sending Twitter posts questioning the birth certificate authenticity through 2014. Political Caricatures of Obama Before and after his presidential election, Barack Obama has been depicted as subhuman in graphics, email, and posters. While turning politicians into caricatures is nothing new, the ones used to criticize Obama frequently have racial overtones. The president has been portrayed as a shoeshine man, an Islamic terrorist, and a chimp, to name a few. The image of his altered face has been shown on a product called Obama Waffles in the manner of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben. The depictions of Obama as ape-like have arguably sparked the most controversy, considering that blacks have been portrayed as monkey-like for centuries to suggest that they’re inferior to other groups. Still, when Marilyn Davenport, an elected official in the Republican Party of Orange County, Calif., circulated an email portraying Obama and his parents as chimps, she initially defended the image as political satire. Mike Luckovich, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, had a different take. He pointed out to National Public Radio that the image wasn’t a cartoon but Photoshopped. â€Å"And it was crude and it was racist,† he said. â€Å"And cartoonists are always sensitive. We want to make people think- we even want to tick people off occasionally, but we don’t want our symbolism to overwhelm our message. †¦I would never show Obama or an African American as a monkey. That’s just racist. And we know the history of that.† The â€Å"Obama Is Muslim† Conspiracy Much like the birther debate, the debate over whether Obama is a practicing Muslim appears to be racially tinged. While the president did spend some of his youth in the predominantly Muslim country of Indonesia, there’s no evidence that he himself has practiced Islam. In fact, Obama has said that neither his mother nor his father was  particularly religious. At the National Prayer Breakfast in February 2011, the president described his father as a â€Å"nonbeliever† whom he met one time,  according to the  Los Angeles  Times  and his mother as having â€Å"a certain skepticism about organized religion.† Despite his parents’ feelings about religion, Obama has said repeatedly that he practices Christianity. In fact, in his 1995 memoir Dreams From My Father, Obama describes his decision to become a Christian during his time as a political organizer on Chicago’s South Side. He had little reason at that time to hide being a Muslim and pretend to be a Christian as it was before the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his entry into national politics. So, why do rumors about Obama being a Muslim persist, despite his declarations to the contrary? NPR senior news analyst Cokie Roberts faults racism. She  remarked  on ABC’s â€Å"This Week† that a fifth of Americans believe Obama’s a Muslim because it’s unacceptable to say, â€Å"I don’t like him ’cause he’s black.† On the other hand, â€Å"it’s acceptable to dislike him because he’s a Muslim,† she declared. Like the birther movement, the Muslim conspiracy movement against Obama highlights the fact that the president’s different. He has a â€Å"funny name,† a so-called exotic upbringing, and Kenyan heritage. Rather than  point  out their distaste for these differences, some members of the public find it convenient to label Obama a Muslim, This serves to marginalize him and is used as an excuse to question his leadership and actions in the war on terror. Racial Attacks or Political Differences? Not every attack against President Obama is racist, of course. Some of his detractors took issue with his policy alone and not with his skin color. When the president’s opponents use racial stereotypes to undermine him or accuse him of lying about his origins because he’s different- biracial, bred outside of the continental U.S., and born to a Kenyan father with a â€Å"strange name†- an undercurrent of racism is often at play. As former President Jimmy Carter said in 2009: â€Å"When a radical fringe element of demonstrators †¦begin to attack the president of the United States as an animal or as a reincarnation of Adolf Hitler†¦people who are guilty of that kind of personal attack against Obama have been influenced to a major degree by a belief that he should not be president because he happens to be African American.†

Seven Floors by Dino Buzzati Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Seven Floors by Dino Buzzati - Essay Example The theme of TIME In virtually all the short stories of Buzzati, time is a major player that is calculated and predicted in terms of its relationship with space, juggled into a confusion of days, locked into large crates, or thrown out of synch with the events that are supposed to compose it (p87). Accordingly, Buzzati says â€Å"time remains uncontrollable and the minutes and hours march forward like great lords with so much composure, no one would ever say they are our enemies† (p90). Buzzati thus declares â€Å"time to be the force that leads us into the clutches of death, which appears in Buzzati’s stories as it appears in life: waiting outside the garden gate, furtively entering our homes as we lie sleeping, or violently tearing away at the foundations of our homes† (p101). Seymour (p127) observes that â€Å"this objective and eternal time is seen as a real power, a living figure that ends up by identifying itself with death†. The element of CHARACTERIZATION Buzzati’s characters are never fully defined as they are given common Italian names. Their lives are filled with repetition, routine and monotony in what he calls â€Å"the absurd human condition† (p117). His characters are â€Å"humble, ordinary and unblessed as they are less important than the realities that determine the course of their lives†

Unknown Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unknown - Thesis Example This interesting because in 1692, witchcraft was considered a crime in the United States and anybody who is tried for the crime will be denied legal counsel. US legal system was also flawed at that time and could even be considered worst than the most fatalistic government today. During that time, anybody can be convicted by just an accusation that a person was seen in a dream committing the crime (spectral evidence) where gossips and hearsays were used as evidence (Linder, 2009). An accused is also tried on the basis of either he or she is with God or against God (McGill, 1981) where evidences were based on religion instead of facts (Eugen, 1959). And yes, America hanged their convicts too especially when it involves witchcraft. This piece of America’s history is not that popular because it ran counter to cherished value that we now enjoy. Yet at some point, America was like her critic that would make this research an interesting excursion into America’s dark