This paper examines the policy adopted by the U.S. military regarding gays - that if they do not openly announce their sexual orientation, they can not be dismissed.
Abstract This paper argues for the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy claiming that even though it may be considered an infringement on human rights and freedom of expression, it protects the rights of the rest of the military and opens a loophole for gay men to serve in the armed forces. It discusses how other countries have successfully integrated gay men into their militaries and compares the treatment of other "minority" groups in the military.
From the Paper "Under the terms of the Don"t Ask, Don"t Tell policy, military personnel are not asked about their sexual orientation and are not discharged because they are gay. However, gays can be discharged if they either acknowledge their homosexuality by word or deed or if they engage in sexual conduct with a member of the same sex. Gay advocates believe that this policy fosters discrimination against gays in the military. While the policy is by no means an ideal, it does represent the best option for the military at this point in time. The military isn"t noted for facilitating rapid policy change, rather it takes place gradually over time. This coupled with strong anti-gay prejudices and the military's lack of knowledge and resources for coping with the problem make the Don"t Ask, Don?t Tell policy a suitable foundation for facilitating further change in the future."
Abstract Analytical essay which discusses and argues against the argument, by Samuel Huntington in "Clash of Civilizations", that a root cause of the conflicts between nations is differences in religious convictions. The essay also attempts to present the reasons why "Clash of Civilizations" received such severe rebuke by highlighting the loopholes in the author's reasoning.
From the Paper "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order is the masterpiece by Samuel Huntington which is based on the author's view that the clash of distinct cultures and civilizations world over is the potential root cause of the reinvigorated conflicts between nations differing in religious convictions. Huntington considers this clash of religious faith to be the bane of the global peace thereby imposing augmented threat of tumult. The same is the author's thesis, which raises thought provoking questions as well as arguments the role of the world superpowers and challenges the foreign policy makers of particularly the West (Huntington)."
Abstract As Western culture expands and attempts to become the global standard, many societies are forced to take upon themselves Western ideals and notions in order to adapt. This is true with ideas concerning religion and government. This paper discusses the main aspects of an Islamic society and how these aspects would fail or thrive if a democratic government was put into power.
From the Paper "After examining the theories of democracy and how they relate to Islam, one can see that there is no simple answer to the question: Is Islam compatible with Democracy? While many of the principles of democracy contradict Islam in it's purest form, different interpretations of Islamic doctrine have allowed the religion to adopt a more democratic worldview. Perhaps, as history has shown us, Islam can exist within a democracy and still hold true to its faith. But by conforming to varied forms of organized leadership, are Muslims actually holding true to their faith? This question has compelling answers on both sides of the argument, both with support from the Koran itself. Ultimately, one cannot say that Islam is compatible with democracy and be absolutely right or absolutely wrong."
Abstract The writer of this paper examines, compares and contrasts the two presidents? health care reform efforts and their successes and failures. It discusses the many social and political factors involved with each of the presidents? attempts at health care reform.
From the Paper "The party line politics have always been influential in the development of policy in the United States, and the issue of health care reform was no exception. While the federal administrations of Harry Truman and Bill Clinton grappled with the debate over the nation's healthcare system the state administrations lined up on either side of the debate.
Truman was well known during his reign as president to push for health care reform. Truman wanted the nation to adopt a one size fits all type of health care policy that would allow all Americans to receive healthcare regardless of societal, or socioeconomic status. His idea was not only shot down but he was accused of designing an communist based plot to begin the change of American from a Democratic body to one of dictatorship. The scare tactic worked and the idea of Universal Health care was quickly extinguished(Kazi, 1994). "
Abstract The conflict that took shape in the 1790s between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists had a large impact on American history. The paper shows that the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, represented the urban business interests of the seaports. The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson, rallied for the rural and southern interests. The paper shows that while supporters of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton both desired economic growth and development, they differed on how best to accomplish that goal. These alternative policies occurred at a critical time in American history, and the policies that ensued between these two important architects govern the country, even today.
From the Paper "Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist, who believed that a strong federal government was vital to the survival of the new America?s, a view with which Washington agreed with. Hamilton and the Federalists feared that having a weak government would allow for conflicts between the new states, and invasion by foreign forces. Hamilton believed that the wealthy elites were best suited to govern the people, and that commonplace man as was easily led off track (Elkins, 1993)."
Tags: Articles, of, Confederation, James, Madison, Congress
Abstract This paper looks at how the recent history of the Middle East has been dominated by the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict or more specifically the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It evaluates the strategic importance of the area because of its vast oil reserves makes the continuing volatility in the area doubly important. It explores the history of the problem, identifies some key areas of controversy and looks at the differing perspectives of the people belonging to the left, the neoconservatives and the far right in the U.S.. It also examines which branches of the U.S. government have been involved with the issue and analyzes whether the government's response has been effective and according to the people's wishes.
From the Paper "Following a UN Resolution calling for a partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, Israel declared its independence On May 14, 1948. Several wars have been fought between the Arabs and Israelis since then. The first was fought immediately after the formation of Israel which the Jewish state surprisingly won. The war also resulted in the displacement of a large number of Palestinian refugees who settled mostly in refugee camps in the neighboring Arab countries. Most Palestinians still live in those camps. The second Arab- Israeli war followed the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt in June 1956, and the third was the pre-emptive strike in 1967 by Israel on Egypt, Syria and Jordan. In all of these wars, the Arabs were thoroughly humiliated. The six-day 1967 war resulted in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and all of Jerusalem. It also resulted in a second wave of Palestinian refugees."
Abstract John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a leading British philosopher and economist who left a great impact on the 19th century Western thought in areas as diverse as philosophy, economics, political science, logic and ethics. Mill has left behind several writings on society, politics, ethics, logic, and religion besides economics. This paper includes brief biographical information about Mills and examines his contribution to economics as well as his economic theories.
From the Paper "John Stuart Mills, the eldest son of James Mills (a follower of the Utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham), was born in London on May 20, 1806. He was given an unusually early and rigorous education by his father and deliberately shielded from boys of a similar age, intended to instill intellectual discipline in the young boy. His education began with the study of Greek at the age of three and by time he was 17 Mill had completed advanced courses in Greek literature, chemistry, botany, psychology, and law. ("John Stuart Mill"-Encarta) He grew up a convinced Utilitarian like his father but suffered a nervous breakdown at the young age of 20 that convinced him that there was more to life than the philosophy of Bentham. It was then that he started to study the works of Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Goethe and proceeded to theories that develop that emphasized a scientific approach to understanding social, political and economic change while incorporating the insights of poets and other imaginative writers. (Mautner) His intellectual relationship with Mrs. Taylor (who he late married after the death of her husband) also helped him to climb out of his mental despair that had, in part, been brought about by his overly strict education and severe physical and mental strain."
Abstract A review of Giddens' work which is an attempt to reconcile an essentially Socialist point of view with the political and economic events of the time; as well as with the rising conviction among many early Socialist and Communist visions of the world. The paper discusses what Marx's ideal society was and compares these aspirations to Giddens' point of view.
From the Paper "This may look a lot like Socialism proper, and this is the real weakness with Giddens? model, although he does not admit to it (viz 80-3). He seems convinced that there is a possible blending of the best of both capitalism and Socialism, arguing that "third way politics sees these problems not as a signal to dismantle the welfare state, but as part of the reason to reconstruct it" (113). It would probably have been better had he stuck to an unreconstructed form of Socialism, which at least has the advantage of offering a form of true belief to those involved. This watered-down version of Socialism seems far too attenuated to offer to the workers of the world the chance to smash their chains. It might make them more aware of the weight of those chains, but it is hardly of benefit to humanity to remind us that we are oppressed ? and at the same time to be reminded that the tools that we have at hand are not sufficient to set us free."
Tags: marx, socialism, communism, socialist, communist
Abstract Homelessness continues to be a major problem within the U.S. Since the 1980s, it has continued to receive ongoing attention as an issue of concern to the public as well as policy-makers. Within this paper, an overview of homelessness is provided. The service programs that have emerged as a consequence of governmental influences are identified and discussed. Finally, a proposed solution to homelessness within the US is offered. A summary and conclusions are also provided.
From the Paper "When homelessness was first brought to the public's attention during the 1980s, it was estimated that there were approximately two to three million homeless individuals living throughout the US (Hewitt, 1996). The accuracy of these estimates as well as those that exist today remain questionable and have led to many discussions among homeless experts and within the literature as to the problems associated with counting the homeless. The challenges involved with counting the homeless are a result of a number of different factors including the manner in which the homeless are defined; the reality that many of the homeless are "hidden" throughout the country at any one point in time which may not correspond to periods when the homeless are being counted; duplication in counting that occurs when the homeless are counted on the basis of participation in a service; the mobility of the homeless as they search for different locations for shelter; and the reluctance of those who count the homeless to approach some potentially homeless persons (Wright, Rubin & Devine, 1998)."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of increased military spending by the U.S. government, since the September 11 attacks. With the constant threat of terrorism and imminent war on the horizon, the United States government is spending billions of dollars on drastic measures to fight a large-scale war as well as to continue to combat terrorism. The paper includes a review of the opinions for and against this increase in spending.
Contents:
Introduction
Efficiency in Increased Military Spending
Equality in Increased Military Spending
Liberty and Increased Military Spending
Conclusion
From the Paper "In today's society, military spending is on the minds of American citizens more than ever. With the constant threat of terrorism and imminent war on the horizon, the United States government is spending billions of dollars on drastic measures to fight a large-scale war as well as to continue to combat terrorism. Critics against increased military spending argue that the funds set aside for such defense measures could be better utilized in other areas that directly affect Americans, including education, healthcare, and economic stimulus packages. However, supporters of increased military defense spending argue that such expenses are critical for the United States to reassure Americans in their fears concerning terrorism and other threats against the homeland."
Tags: war, september, 11, politics, government, defense, terrorism
Abstract This paper discusses the difficulties faced by human rights groups in monitoring violations. It examines the problems in obtaining a truly universal measure for morality and ethical behavior and the fact that what one society sees as a human rights issue may not be deemed as such by another society. The writer examines why even defining human rights violations is controversial due to its subjectivity.
From the Paper "Attempts to impose a universal morality encounter resistance at various levels and may not be realistic, but we often make the effort. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights embodies a conception of human rights that can be ascertained and compared to other approaches in the literature on the subject of human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an example of quasi-legislation by non-binding instrument, something the United Nations has created for a number of different purposes. The Declaration was created in 1948. The fact that the United Nations would make a declaration on the issue of human rights is in keeping with the structure and genesis of the entire organization."
Abstract This research paper addresses a debatable, yet highly pressing issue, regarding military practices based on the concept of insubordination. The paper incorporates various examples from real life situations and military cases that the world history has witnessed so far in order to highlight the right as well as the inaccurate and unjustified practices in the name of insubordination.
From the Paper "Just like other realms of society, military or armed forces also have their well-defined codes of ethics in order to strengthen the entire armed force and to promote discipline and order. These laws and regulations form the basis on which rests the foundation of the military and command various aspects of the lifestyle of military men (Marple). Military society is that part of our society that is devoid of emotions and therefore its laws and rules are rigid and remain constant without subject to any change. Thereupon, every soldier is expected to reflect the moral, ethical and social values that this institution works hard on to incorporate in its people (Marple). Thus, the autocratic institution of military exists "with a built in moral compass to avoid change of that nature. If the military did not have that moral compass, then any order that came down would be obeyed despite the morality of the order" (Marple). For instance, Nazi Germany is considered to be a nation devoid of humanity or a nation with a military force functioning without a built in moral compass. This is because their armed forces did not hesitate even in taking away precious and most of all innocent human lives."
Abstract This paper examines how Mills explores the idea that liberty is in fact, truly realized only in a nation where a representative government is elected. A representative government can be defined in fact, as a democratic government, one that is elected for the people by the people. The writer explains how Mills defines government in many ways, in an attempt to identify the role of government in keeping order and maintaining progress in a democratic society, yet also in a manner that supports the cause of ?liberty and justice for all.?
From the Paper "Mills reconciles or brings together liberty and democracy by demonstrating how the two exist in and of themselves yet also together. A democratic government, for example, is in essence one that promotes the liberty of it's community members and people. Mills goes on to discuss the importance of political institutions as mechanisms with which to foster in members of the community that have "desirable qualities, moral and intellectual". A government that fosters such desirable traits will operate in the most efficient manner."
Abstract The Tonkin Gulf Crisis 1964 ranks with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as events that David Kaiser of the U.S. Naval War College refers to as "controversies in American political history that dwarf all others". The paper shows that today, Tonkin Gulf researchers are still examining the evidence to determine whether or not President Johnson's administration intentionally instigated the first attack on Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin. It is still not entirely clear whether or not Hanoi actually launched a second attack on Maddox, either. The paper shows that researchers are investigating the facts to determine whether or not Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara deliberately lied to the U.S. Congress to gain support for the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which sealed Johnson's re-election and led the United States into the Vietnam War.
From the Paper "According to McNamara at the time of the incident, the Maddox crew did not have knowledge of the 34-Alpha raids. McNamara has since acknowledged that this claim was false, but denies knowing this at the time. The crew knew of the 34-Alpha operations and were worried that the 34-Alpha operations were putting their ship in danger. Many say that this incident made the crew nervous, therefore making them unreliable sources regarding the second attack in the Tonkin Gulf.
When the Senate approved Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Senators Morse and Ernest Gruening opposed the resolution. However, Congress voted 4160 in support. Morse stated, "I believe that within the next century, future generations will look with dismay and great disappointment upon a Congress which is now about to make such a historic mistake (Ford, 1997).""
Abstract This paper argues whether Americans of African decent are entitled to compensation for the American South's slavery past. It debates whether the American government owes people whose ancestors were slaves reparations in the form of money, land or capitol goods. It examines how many African-Americans and white liberals feel that black Americans are owed something and how a movement in this country has been stirring for a while agitating for forced reparations by the U.S. government. It puts forward the argument that reparations for slavery should not occur and demonstrates why reparations are wrong and how reparations would ultimately cause deeper divisions in our society then already exist.
From the Paper "No evidence has yet been produced by respected and/or qualified economists that prove that living individuals have been adversely affected by a slave system that was ended over 150 years ago. (Engerman, Inikori ) (Horowitz). Cleverly, reparations advocates do not always make the claim that today's descendents of slavery have been directly harmed by slavery. Indeed, Adjoa Aiyetoro, a legal consultant to the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, said, "We're not raising claims that you should pay us because you did something to us 150 years ago. We are saying that we are injured today by the vestiges of slavery, which took away income and property that was rightfully ours." (Levin, Itzkoff 1997) This begs the question then of why were blacks doing better in terms of positive gains in employment, education, and social structure 15 to 20 years after slavery then they seem to be doing today?"
Tags: society, blacks, government, money, capitol, goods, land
