The Death Penalty Is Justified - 932 Words

Imagine receiving an unexpected call from the police, saying a loved one has been murdered. Every sixty seconds, someone’s life is taken from them by horrendous crime. Families and relatives are devastated. They are forced to sit through hours of police investigation and multiple court cases. Some families are allowed closure by convicting the alleged victim. Other families are not so lucky. Some are forced to forever wonder who the victim’s killer is and why they took that person from them. These and many other questions go unanswered, but they do not have too. The punishment for a convicted murderer is most likely life in prison without the possibility of parole, but in other states, the death penalty is enforced. While this might seem unethical to some, one must take into consideration the long term effects the victim’s family will endure. Losing a loved one by homicide can create traumatic effects. While some individuals are able to at accepting death better than others, the tragic and emotional strain of losing a loved one can lead to other harmful effects. Many times coping with the death of someone close can lead to alcohol addictions, severe depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety disorders, and can also lead to suicide. In some cases of homicide, the murdered victims not only leave behind family and friends, but children as well. To these children, they have not just lost a father or mother, but a role model, a best friend, and a piece of them as well. WhileShow MoreRelatedIs the Death Penalty Justified?1824 Words   |  8 PagesIs the Death Penalty Justified? Jessica Valentine PHI 103 Informal Logic Professor Stephen Carter March 20, 2012 Is the Death Penalty Justified? The death penalty will always be a topic some people refuse to talk about. When in fact, it is a very serious topic and people should know how and why the death penalty is not justified. I believe the death penalty is not justified in the least bit because there are people sitting up in prison just living life because the state does not want toRead MoreIs Death Penalty Justified?995 Words   |  4 Pages995 Is Death Penalty Justified? Death penalty is the capital punishment given to the person where a person is put to death who has done crime or involved in a crime. It is for those people who is doing the crime intentionally. It is given by the government to the traitors, murderer and so on. The sentence is vindicated by the type of offense committed. There are certain conditions where a death penalty can be correct and should be consider Justified by the government. The death penalty guaranteesRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1534 Words   |  7 Pagesit is ethical to kill a convicted criminal. People who oppose the death penalty often argue mistaken identity and wrongful conviction. They argue that long-term imprisonment is the better course of action, because it allows for the possibility that if a mistake was made in the conviction of a suspect, they would be able to correct it without ending the life of an innocent person. They also state that the threat of the death penalty is not a deterrent and people will commit crimes regardless, as oftenRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1346 Words   |  6 Pagespast and recent years, the death penalty has remained a huge debate between individuals that agree or disagree whether the death penalty is justifiable punishment or not. Is capital punishment truly a justified and powerful approach to the violations of specific prisoners? Many individuals believe that having the death penalty is cruel and inhumane. Others believe that people who commit such heinous crimes should be punished with the death penalty. Instilling the death penalty is the same as saying â€Å"eyeRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1828 Words   |  8 PagesThe Death Penalty Daniel Heydari Professor Sheldon Philosophy 262-0 12 October 2015 1.) The author of this letter, submitted to the New York Times, claims that the death penalty is wholly and morally justified, seeing as its existence results in the lessening of violent deaths and gun use due to the perpetrator’s fear of killing a person in haste and thus being given the death penalty. 2.) The author argues his claim of the death penalty being justified as a means of punishment for violent crimesRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified923 Words   |  4 Pagespilots who also had to bomb innocents to win the war,† (Gorman). More recently, a common trend has been the disapproval of the death penalty, exhibited by the thirteen percent drop in the number of people on death row since Spring of 2005 (Death Penalty Info. Center). Life without parole has become the preferred sentence of unavoidable capital punishment. The death penalty has frequently been viewed as inhumane. However, isn’t lack of remorse for such vile acts inhumane? In cases of intentional murderRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1143 Words   |  5 PagesAllison Shu 2/25/16 Period 2 Objective paper on the death penalty Capital punishment is legally authorized killing as punishment for a crime. The death penalty questions the morality of killing a person as justification for their crime. It also brings to question whether the death penalty actually serves as a deterrent for crime, and that some of the people executed are found innocent afterwards. The debates over the constitutionality of the death penalty and whether capital punishment should be usedRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified995 Words   |  4 PagesThe Death penalty has been a controversial topic for many years and recently the debate about it has been getting bigger and bigger to where at some point soon a decision will have to be made. Many people will disagree with the death penalty because it goes against their moral beliefs, this is thought process is seen more in the northern states. However, here in the south the death penalty is strongly believed in by most, but who is put to death and why? Did they deserve this sentence or were theyRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1603 Words   |  7 PagesTHE DEATH PENALTY Many nations have criminals to punish, but what’s changing is how they punish their criminals. Most countries, even some states, have come to the realization that the death penalty is an unfair, inhumane, unconstitutional, and irreversible punishment that’s much too severe and is an unfit punishment for a fair and just society. Internationally, the U.S. ranks fifth in terms of the number of prisoners put to death, putting America in such ill-esteemed company as the regimesRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified858 Words   |  4 PagesSince the foundation of our nation the Death Penalty has been a way to punish prisoners that have committed heinous crimes, however since the turn of the 20th century the practice of Capital Punishment has been questioned on its usage in America and the world as a whole. The Death Penalty is used in America to punish criminals who have committed murders, or taken the life of an innocent person, and while the death penalty seems like it is doing justice to those who have killed others it is actually

Summary and Critique of George F. Will’s View on Inaugural Addresses Free Essays

Wade Vierheller Professor Combs English 300 27 September 2012 ‘Let Us’†¦? No, Give it a Rest Summary and Critique George F. Will is a Pulitzer-Prize writer and an editor for Newsweek. He is well-known for his strong conservative political commentary. We will write a custom essay sample on Summary and Critique of George F. Will’s View on Inaugural Addresses or any similar topic only for you Order Now He discusses the history of Inaugural Addresses and how they reflect the way the country has changed throughout the years. He points out a number of differences such as sentence structure, tone, and topics. For example, he cites the numbering of words. He mentions George Washington’s second sentence of his address, which was 87 words. On the one hand, I was summoned by my country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love, from a retreat which I had chosen with the fondest predilection, and, in my flattering hopes, with an immutable decision, as the asylum of my declining years–a retreat which was rendered every day more necessary as well as more dear to me by the addition of habit to inclination, and of frequent interruptions in my health to the gradual waste committed on it by time. Back then, the culture was much different, as most people learned to read were through difficult literature such as Pilgrim’s Progress and the King James Bible. Herbert Stein, â€Å"who for 60 years was an economist and connoisseur of American’s political culture,† discovered that the average number of words per sentence for Inaugural Addresses has steadily decreased: â€Å"from Washington through Buchanan the average number of words per sentence was 44; from Lincoln through Wilson, 34; since Wilson, 25. † Will believes that â€Å"the general shortening of sentences reflects, in part, a change in nature of Inaugural Addresses. He refers to Teddy Roosevelt who called the presidency â€Å"a bully pulpit. † Later addresses have had an incentive to tell Americans how to behave with phrases such as â€Å"The only thing we have to fear†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"Ask not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A more popular phrase which was used by Kennedy and Nixon was â€Å"Let us†¦,† which according to Will means, â€Å"For Pete’s sake, pull up your socks and shape up. † The content of the Inaugural Addresses has also changed. George Washington had to be much more modest, speaking about his personal problems and as much as he would like to rest, his country was calling him. In the beginning with Washington, the issue was that he would be able to turn the presidency into another monarchy. Around the time of Cleveland and Garfield, a major issue was polygamy. During the time of Monroe, the issue was coastal fortifications. As of today, these are no longer on the list of major issues. This progression shows how the country has grown over the many years. Though Will is happy that we do not have to talk about the issues of the past anymore, he does not like the shortening of sentences and how Presidents have become more like preachers. He shows appreciation of Washington’s modesty despite the amount of praise he was showered with, but understands how there were different problems during that time. Most of what Will says is backed up with some strong points, using factual information from past people such as Cleveland, Garfield, and Teddy Roosevelt. This greatly backs up his claims, making them hard to argue against. He makes strong arguments that clearly show how there has been quite a change throughout the history of the Inaugural Addresses. A significant point he brings up is the decrease in the word count per sentence over the years. It’s true there has been a major change in literature over the years. Personally, I had some trouble keeping up with the incredibly long sentence made by George Washington. It’s interesting how he partly blames it for the â€Å"change in the nature of Inaugural Addresses. † I’m not sure if I see much connection between the two. Also, though shorter sentences shows our reading mental muscles are weaker than our ancestors’, but this does not seem to have any major negative effect on society, unless Will’s statement about the changing in Inaugural Addresses in coordination with shortening of sentences is true. This leads us to another point about the context of Inaugural Addresses. Looking at the parts of Washington’s address or Lincoln’s address (â€Å"Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this might scourge of war may speedily pass away†¦ With malice toward none, with charity for all†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ), they show hope and love in their speeches. When looking at later ones, they’ve become much more preach-y. For Will, this does not seem to be a good adjustment, and I have to agree with him here. At least in the beginning, it’s never been the President’s job to tell us how to behave. It is true that he is our leader, but his part in leading the country is taking care of political matters such as federal law and diplomatic troubles. Another very interesting matter he brings up is the drastic change in subject matter from speech to speech. With Washington, it was the fear of monarchy. For Monroe, it was coastal fortifications. For Lincoln, it was slavery. For Garfield and Cleveland, it was polygamy. Throughout the years, the severity of the nation’s problems has declined. It’s really something to be proud about. It shows that despite the other reasons Will has pointed out, this country has grown for the better. We’ll always have problems and we’ll keep working to solve them. This gives us drive and displays our strength and motivation. In his article, Will has done a good job of backing up his opinions with strong factual information. While I do not completely agree with him, I’m able to understand and respect his views. Really the only problem I have with the paper is the assumption on how the shortening of sentences â€Å"reflects†¦ a change in the nature of Inaugural Addresses,† because I can’t understand how that exactly works. Works Cited Will, George F. â€Å"‘Let Us’†¦? No, Give it a Rest. † Newsweek 22 Jan. 2001: 64. Print. . How to cite Summary and Critique of George F. Will’s View on Inaugural Addresses, Papers

Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change

Table of Contents Background Social change in entrepreneurship The positive externalities theory Explanation of the positive externalities theory Criticisms of the positive externalities theory Conclusion References Background In the current world, increasing pressure from problems that arise due to daily changes in the business sector is driving businesses towards finding alternatives to abate the problem. In fact, businesses are drifting further away from the old forms of thinking and incorporating sustainability programmes to create new market (Elkington, Schwab, Hartigan, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The changes witnessed in the current business world and the crazy search for new markets is driving entrepreneurship to have a new shift in leadership and management. Social entrepreneurship is like a hybrid that combines bo th commercial entrepreneurship and social aspects in an organization. Social change in entrepreneurship Failing governments and the lack of economic enterpreurship has driven the need for social entrepreneurship to rise (Wei-Skillern, Austin, Leonard, 2007). Social enterpreurship is a form of enterpreurship that incorporates facets of both economic and social aspects in a business idea (Martin Osberg, 2007). It is a venture that brings into account the activities that impact positively in a society bringing about social change. This shift in business paradigm occurred due to the existing suffocation of markets and the need for new markets. The urgency of these new markets has been brought about by the increasing competition faced by businesses. Although social entrepreneurship starts as a small venture or limited effort, it marks troubles with the local output but makes global significance. This includes provision of water, promoting micro-businesses, waste managing and the preser vation of the environment. For example, the escalating growth of micro-industries in the world is due to social entrepreneurship (Zahra et al., 2008). The development of such ventures and their success has turned them to the spotlight and they have received scholarly attention. This scholarly attention has led to the need to formulate theories that explain this phenomenon (Kuhn, 1962). The idea of social enterpreurship offers a platform for alleviating world poverty through promoting social good (Yunus, 2007) The positive externalities theory It is important that any theory that tries to define the concept of social entrepreneurship should address the issues of value creation and value appropriation (Mizik Jacob, 2003).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The theory of positive externalities best explains the shift towards social enterpreurship. It is apparent that economic entrepr eneurship cannot exist in a vacuum. This theory suggests that economic enterpreurship is not valid in areas where there are strong positive externalities. Basically, the assertion is that the potentiality for value creation is not marched by the potential for value appropriation because the ensuing benefits to the society go much above the benefits accrued to the transacting parties. It is also observed that consumers are likely to reward businesses with positive externalities by consuming more of their goods. Further, it is perceived that government initiatives and economic entrepreneurship benefits those people with powerful access to resources neglecting the powerless societies. In this theory, powerless society benefits from social entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurs benefit from the powerless society by establishing markets that ensure sustainability. Although this venture brings forth an implication in the theory, it is not contrary to the definition of the terminology (Cam pbell Temple University, 2008). Explanation of the positive externalities theory The theory points that the externality notion cannot be clearly depicted by market operation or market price structure which leads to incompetent distribution of wealth, social remuneration, personal expenditure and communal expenses (Ying Guoli, 1997). Characteristics of positive externality hypothesis include transferring via other way and not through the price system, non-exclusive and inseparable part as a characteristic of end user, bringing other utilities expenses to decrease and the alleviation of costs to the beneficiary. The positive externality theory assumes that the allocation of social entrepreneurship is largely for the benefit of the society and not targeted towards the profit analysis. Therefore, the social enterpreurship system distributes benefits and costs based not on the market system of analyzing where profits can be maximized, but by targeting the neglected areas of the society .Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social entrepreneurship also targets areas where economic entrepreneurship has failed to venture, a characteristic that is not exclusive of any player in the society. It aims at creating societal value and not economic value. Social enterpreurship alleviates the standards of the economic as well as social conditions of a neglected or powerless society. In this quest, it aims at reducing the costs of certain provisions that would have been so costly if provided by the economic entrepreneurs. The positive externality theory aims to balance between value creation and value addition in cases where it ventures (Ellwanger, 1997). Criticisms of the positive externalities theory Social enterpreurship is an innovative change that is gripping the business world daily. It is apparent that what the social entrepreneu rs strive to achieve is becoming more complex and the desire to augment the costs incurred in creating social value is rising day by day. The costs also involved in the set up of the social entrepreneurship activities are proving hard to meet by the entrepreneurs thereby distorting the credibility of the theory. Furthermore, as inflation rises, due expenditures in these endeavors are becoming increasingly complex and are therefore neglected to be attended to by the government (Wei-Skillern, Austin, Leonard, 2007). This leaves a lot of unfilled gaps in the tenacity of the theory. Conclusion The idea of social entrepreneurship taking shape and being embraced by the business world requires a thorough consideration and thought before being implemented. It takes a different mindset from the one embraced by economic entrepreneurs in their profit maximization. Social entrepreneurship on the other hand aims at creating social value. In the wake of inflation and increased costs, social entr epreneurs need to have a re-consideration of the theories they use.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Campbell, K. A. Temple University. (2008). Towards a general theory of entrepreneurship. London, UK: ProQuest. Elkington, J., Schwab, K. Hartigan, P. (2008). Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets that Change the World. New York, NY: Harvard Business Review Press. Ellwanger, G. (1997). The externality effects of transport, rail international. New York, NY: MacMillan Publishers. Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago, IL: Chicago University press. Martin, R. L. Osberg, S. (2007). Social entrepreneurship: The case for definition. Stanford Social Innovation Review, pp.28-39. Mizik, N. Jacobson, R. (2003). Trading off between Value Creation and Value Appropriation: The Financial Implications of Shifts in Strategic Emphasis. Journal of Marketing, 67, pp. 63-67. Wei-Skillern, J., Austin, J. E., Leonard, H. (2007). Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector. London, UK: Sage Publications. Ying, Y. Guoli, O. (1997). St udy on the development strategy of urban rail transit based on externality. New York, NY: MacMillan Publishers. Yunus, M. (2007). Creating a world without poverty: Social business and the future of capitalism. New York: Public Affairs. Zahra, S. A. Rawhouser, H. N., Bhawe, N., Neubaum, D. O. Hayton, J. C. (2008). Globalization of social entrepreneurship Opportunities. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 2 (2), pp.117-131. This essay on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change was written and submitted by user Derrick Price to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards Essay Essay Example

Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards Essay Essay Example Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards Essay Essay Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards Essay Essay Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards Com/156 Date: 08/31/2011 Instructor: Dierdre McKee Americans Should Not Use Credit Cards Why Americans should not use credit cards, throughout the United States,  credit cards  have become one of the most popular forms of payment in everyday shopping whether consumers are making a routine trip to the grocery store or  shopping online. There are various motives for not having a credit card and it is frequent for credit card companies to try to lure new or existing clients in by offering a zero percent interest rates and low fees. What they do not tell people is that there might be fees for doing so or that the rate only lasts for ninety days. These come in addition to  annual fees and late fees, which are insanely high. Sure, consumers can avoid them by finding cards without fees and paying on-line so that payment is not lost in the mail, but why go through that trouble? Interest Rates and Fees The one thing to dislike about credit cards is the  interest rates can be high if you do not choose the right one. To use a credit card correctly, one must make purchases he or she is able to pay off upon getting the monthly  bill, but some Americans  do not. Credit cards should be  only use as second-hand funds for emergencies only. A heavy user can be liable to abuse  credit cards. According to the Federal Reserve report, (2010), the total U. S. consumer revolving debt fell to $866 billion at the end of 2009, down from $958 billion at the end of 2008. About ninety-eight percent of that debt was credit card debt. Americans  who  utilize this financial tool are liable to spend more on transactions than those who purchase things with cash. As soon as the bills turn up, some people would pay only the minimum payment on their credit card. Keep in mind, small minimum expenditures just are not sufficient to cover finance charges. According to Mason, (2010), â€Å"Credit cards interest rates are at its highest in nine years. The average rate today is 14. 7% for every cardholder and last year interest rates was 13. 1% this is because of the new credit card regulations. In addition, new credit card rules may harm more than help. All of the credit card rules may force Americans to be more careful, but it is not going to help a struggling society pick up the pace,† (para. 2). Unpaid Balances No matter what the reason is for closing a credit card, it is imperative to make a note that not all credit cards should be closed. As a structure of damage control, some people decide to close a credit card when they have a high balance on it. According to Buttell,(2009) â€Å"This is not excellent because that balance will continue to build up high interest rate charges in the future and must pay off not only the remaining balance transfer but the purchase balance as well as any new balance transfers or purchases the consumer put on his or her card or cards. Before the cardholder can even touch his or her cash advance balance, which has the highest interest rate† (para. payment allocation details). What is an unpaid balance? An unpaid credit card is when a cardholder closes up a credit card account that has a  credit balance, the  credit card issuer credit limit  on that card is reduced to zero, and it comes across as if the cardholder has maxed out the card. According to Morah, (2009) â€Å"very high credit card interest rates are another reason why people close their accounts. If you still have an unpaid balance on a credit card with a high interest rate, closing the card. Beneath the existing state of affairs, it may possibly take customers years to pay off high interest rate balances,† (para. reasons for closing a credit card). What effect does an unpaid balance have on a cardholder? Having a maxed-out card, or even a card that simply appears to be maxed out, will have an unconstructive blow on the person’s credit score. â€Å"If someone has a horrible credit score, applying for a credit card is going to be agonizing. However, rates vary depending on the type of card he or she apply for, with a score below 599 the applicant will most likely be stuck facing an APR of 24% or higher. In fact, First Premier Bank offers a Gold MasterCard with a whopping 59. 9% rate for those people with less than perfect credit† (Ellis, 2011,para. 7). While creditors have no obligation to agree to negotiate the total sum a consumer owes, they have a legal responsibility to provide accurate information to the credit reporting agencies, as well as failure to make monthly payments. â€Å" In some instances, when creditors win a lawsuit, they have the right to garnish wages or put a lien on homes. That can result in a negative entry on credit reports. In certain situations, creditors may ave the right to sue to recover the money owed. Finally, the Internal Revenue Service may consider any amount of forgiven debt to be taxable income,† (Federal Trade Commission,  2011). Conclusion Consumers who are in a tight spot may find themselves needing to use credit cards. Today’s  society is  continuously  struggling to get rid of debt, although while attempting to eli minate debt we sometimes  generate extra debt. The one foremost trouble  we all encounter dealing with credit cards is debt. Anyone should not want to utilize credit cards because they may create a spending routine that is awful. Not having power over these bad habits will consolidate and lead to more debt for the near future. Credit cards allow people to go into debt. This is not the way to build wealth and become financially secure. Yes, the borrower has to pay the debt back within thirty to sixty days, depending on billing cycle, but no one can ever go into debt if relying on using cold, hard cash to buy everything. â€Å"There is no positive side to credit card usage. A person will spend more if they use credit cards. Even by paying all the bills on time, the credit card companies will never lose. However, most families do not pay on time. The average family in today’s society carries the burden of at least eight-thousand dollars in credit card debt according to the American Bankers Association† (Ramsey, 2009). There is no assurance that debt settlement services proposes are legitimate and there is no assurance a creditor will allow fractional payments of a legal debt. In actuality, if a consumer brings to a halt making expenditures on a credit card, late fees, and interest more often than not are added to the debt every month. If the cardholder exceeds his or her credit limit, additional fees and charges also can be added. This can cause the consumer’s original debt to double or maybe even triple and all these fees will put anyone further in the hole. References Ellis, B. (2011, January  28). Credit card rates at record highs near 15%. . Retrieved from http://money. cnn. com/2011/01/28/pf/credit_cards_interest_rates/index. htm Morah, C. (2009, June  20). Should you close your credit card. . Retrieved from investopedia. com/articles/pf/08/close-credit-card. asp#axzz1WfEy2qTU Federal Trade Commission. (2011). Facts for Consumers. Retrieved from ftc. gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre19. shtm Ramsey, D. (2009, August  4). The truth about credit card debt []. Retrieved from daveramsey. com/article/the-truth-about-credit-card-debt/ Mason, A. (2010, August  24). New credit card rules may harm more than help []. Retrieved from cbsnews. com/stories/2010/08/23/eveningnews/main6798896. shtml Tomasino, K. (2011, August  14). Credit card APRs unchanged for 3rd straight week . . Retrieved from reditcards. com/credit-card-news/credit-card-interest-rate-report-0817-1276. php Buttell, A. E. (2009, June  Day). Until then, use these strategies to cut down debt Read more: creditcards. com/credit-card-news/law-bans-credit-card-payment-allocation-trickery-1282. php#ixzz1WfoH9fyc Compare credit cards here CreditCards. com. . Retrieved from creditcards. com/credit-card-news/law-bans-credit-card-payment-allocation-trickery-1282. php Federal Reserve . (2011). C onsumer credit. Retrieved from federalreserve. gov/Releases/g19/20100305/

Spence v. Washington (1974)

Spence v. Washington (1974) Should the government be able to prevent people from attaching symbols, words, or pictures to American flags in public? That was the question before the Supreme Court in Spence v. Washington, a case where a college student was prosecuted for publicly displaying an American flag to which he had attached large peace symbols. The Court found that Spence had a constitutional right to use the American flag to communicate his intended message, even if the government disagreed with him. Fast Facts: Spence v. Washington Case Argued: January 9, 1974Decision Issued:  June 25, 1974Petitioner: Harold Omond SpenceRespondent: State of WashingtonKey Question: Was a Washington State law criminalizing the display of a modified American flag in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments?Majority Decision: Justices Douglas, Stewart, Brennan, Marshall, Blackmun, and PowellDissenting: Justices Burger, White, and RehnquistRuling: The right to modify the flag was an expression of freedom of speech, and as applied, the Washington State statute was in violation of the First Amendment.   Spence v. Washington: Background In Seattle, Washington, a college student named Spence hung an American flag outside the window of his private apartment - upside down and with peace symbols attached to both sides. He was protesting violent acts by the American government, for example in Cambodia and the fatal shootings of college students at Kent State University. He wanted to associate the flag more closely with peace than war: I felt there had been so much killing and that this was not what America stood for. I felt that the flag stood for America and I wanted people to know that I thought America stood for peace. Three police officers saw the flag, entered the apartment with Spence’s permission, seized the flag, and arrested him. Although Washington state had a law banning desecration of the American flag, Spence was charged under a law banning â€Å"improper use† of the American flag, denying people the right to: Place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, color, ensign or shield of the United States or of this state ... orExpose to public view any such flag, standard, color, ensign or shield upon which shall have been printed, painted or otherwise produced, or to which shall have been attached, appended, affixed or annexed any such word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement... Spence was convicted after the judge told the jury that merely displaying the flag with an attached peace symbol was sufficient grounds for conviction. He was fined $75 and sentenced to 10 days in jail (suspended). The Washington Court of Appeals reversed this, declaring that the law overbroad. The Washington Supreme Court reinstated the conviction and Spence appealed to the Supreme Court. Spence v. Washington: Decision In an unsigned, per curiam decision, the Supreme Court said the Washington law â€Å"impermissibly infringed a form of protected expression.† Several factors were cited: the flag was private property, it was displayed on private property, the display did not risk any breach of peace, and finally even the state admitted that Spence was â€Å"engaged in a form of communication.† As to whether the state has an interest in preserving the flag as â€Å"an unalloyed symbol of our country,† the decision states: Presumably, this interest might be seen as an effort to prevent the appropriation of a revered national symbol by an individual, interest group, or enterprise where there was a risk that association of the symbol with a particular product or viewpoint might be taken erroneously as evidence of governmental endorsement. Alternatively, it might be argued that the interest asserted by the state court is based on the uniquely universal character of the national flag as a symbol.For the great majority of us, the flag is a symbol of patriotism, of pride in the history of our country, and of the service, sacrifice, and valor of the millions of Americans who in peace and war have joined together to build and to defend a Nation in which self-government and personal liberty endure. It evidences both the unity and diversity which are America. For others, the flag carries in varying degrees a different message. â€Å"A person gets from a symbol the meaning he puts into it, and what is one manâ⠂¬â„¢s comfort and inspiration is another’s jest and scorn.† None of this mattered, though. Even accepting a state interest here, the law was still unconstitutional because Spence was using the flag to express ideas which viewers would be able to understand. Given the protected character of his expression and in light of the fact that no interest the State may have in preserving the physical integrity of a privately owned flag was significantly impaired on these facts, the conviction must be invalidated. There was no risk that people would think the government was endorsing Spence’s message and the flag carries so many different meanings to people that the state cannot proscribe the use of the flag to express certain political views. Spence v. Washington: Significance This decision avoided dealing with whether people have a right to display flags they have permanently altered to make a statement. Spence’s alteration was deliberately temporary, and the justices appear to have thought this relevant. However, at least a free speech right to at least temporarily â€Å"deface† the American flag was established. The Supreme Court’s decision in Spence v. Washington was not unanimous. Three justices - Burger, Rehnquist, and White - disagreed with the majority’s conclusion that individuals have a free speech right to alter, even temporarily, an American flag in order to communicate some message. They agreed that Spence was indeed engaged in communicating a message, but they disagreed that Spence should be allowed to alter the flag to do so. Writing a dissent joined by Justice White, Justice Rehnquist stated: The true nature of the State’s interest in this case is not only one of preserving â€Å"the physical integrity of the flag,† but also one of preserving the flag as â€Å"an important symbol of nationhood and unity.† ... It is the character, not the cloth, of the flag which the State seeks to protect. [...]The fact that the State has a valid interest in preserving the character of the flag does not mean, of course, that it can employ all conceivable means to enforce it. It certainly could not require all citizens to own the flag or compel citizens to salute one. ... It presumably cannot punish criticism of the flag, or the principles for which it stands, any more than it could punish criticism of this country’s policies or ideas. But the statute in this case demands no such allegiance.Its operation does not depend upon whether the flag is used for communicative or noncommunicative purposes; upon whether a particular message is deemed commercial or politica l; upon whether the use of the flag is respectful or contemptuous; or upon whether any particular segment of the State’s citizenry might applaud or oppose the intended message. It simply withdraws a unique national symbol from the roster of materials that may be used as a background for communications. [emphasis added] It should be noted that Rehnquist and Burger dissented from the Court’s decision in Smith v. Goguen for substantially the same reasons. In that case, a teenager was convicted for wearing a small American flag on the seat of his pants. Although White voted with the majority, in that case, he attached a concurring opinion where he stated that he would not â€Å"find it beyond congressional power, or that of state legislatures, to forbid attaching to or putting on the flag any words, symbols, or advertisements.† Just two months after the Smith case was argued, this one appeared before the court - though that case was decided first. As was true with the Smith v. Goguen case, the dissent here simply misses the point. Even if we accept Rehnquist’s assertion that the state has an interest in preserving the flag as â€Å"an important symbol of nationhood and unity,† this does not automatically entail that the state the authority to fulfill this interest by prohibiting people from treating a privately own flag as they see fit or by criminalizing certain uses of the flag to communicate political messages. There is a missing step here - or more likely several missing steps - which Rehnquist, White, Burger and other supporters of bans on flag â€Å"desecration† never manage to include in their arguments. It’s likely that Rehnquist recognized this. He acknowledges, after all, that there are limits to what the state may do in pursuit of this interest and cites several examples of extreme government behavior which would cross the line for him. But where, exactly, is that line and why does he draw it in the place he does? Upon what basis does he allow some things but not others? Rehnquist never says and, for this reason, the effectiveness of his dissent completely fails. One more important thing should be noted about Rehnquist’s dissent: he makes it explicit that criminalizing the certain uses of the flag to communicate messages must apply to respectful as well as contemptuous messages. Thus, the words â€Å"America is Great† would be just as prohibited as the words â€Å"America Sucks.† Rehnquist is at least consistent here, and that’s good - but how many supporters of bans on flag desecration would accept this particular consequence of their position? Rehnquist’s dissent suggests very strongly that if the government has the authority to criminalize burning an American flag, it can criminalize waving an American flag as well.

Legacy of Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legacy of Conflict - Essay Example This paper will argue that, in the "Legacy of Conquest", Limerick functions more as a revisionist than a prophet. More specifically, this book review will argue that her approach to the American West, in terms of invasion, conquest, and development, is a valuable contribution to the study of American history regardless of academic debates regarding the efficacy of her writings as a larger foundation for a more generalized theoretical model. As an initial matter, Limerick takes great pains to define the American West as a place rather than as an abstract process. The frontier was, in her view, a stage of development. The American West exists no less today than it did a thousand or two hundred years ago. This is a valuable continuation; it is valuable because the frontier is no more the American West than the Silicon Valley, Hollywood, or tourist-packed Yosemite National Park. Students and citizens alike are better served by viewing the American West as a place, and they are also better served by viewing the American West as a place which has changed and developed over time.

Leadership management and change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Leadership management and change - Essay Example So, the values of Tesco can be lined up as follows: Tesco has a consistent strategy that has allowed the company to strengthen their core business in UK and also helps to drive expansion towards new markets. The underlying principle for this strategy is to widen the scope of the business as the company is able to deliver sustainable growth for long term. This can be done by following the customer in domestic as well as in the new markets of abroad. They had taken a strategy to diversify the business in the year of 1997. The new businesses that have been started and developed due to this strategy over the last 13 years are now profitable and competitive enough. Even Tesco is now becoming a market leader in many of their markets outside UK. The group is able to make good progress. This strategy basically has five objectives. Since the 1990, the company has been seeking out for new opportunities for generating returns and growth for shareholders in new market. Today, the group is able to operate in 13 markets outside the United Kingdom and includes that of Asia, Europe and North America. The full appearance in international retailing is not something which can happen overnight. It needs long term approach. Tesco has evolved a strategy based on six factors. Those are as follows Flexibility: Every market is different from each other. So they have their unique approach. For example, in Japan fresh products are preferred and so they tend to shop several times a week and because of that reason, the stores are located in the heart of the community. So, it would be prudent to enter into that market through acquiring of discount supermarket operators. Maintain Focus: The group understands the customer’s requirement. They know that customers usually looking for great value and great choice. So, the company’s wish to prove themselves as the leading local group needs long term effort. Use multi-formats: