When American History Began essays

When American History Began essays I believe American history began in Philadelphia on July 4th 1776. It was here that colonists led by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison signed the Declaration of Independence. Up to this time it could be argued that what had taken place was part of British colonial history and not American history. This document formally ended the colonists British citizenship. Previous to this date these men considered themselves British subjects who owed their loyalty to the laws and crown of England. They made this choice based on the principles of justice, equality, and the right for all people to be free. This revolutionary act was unique in the history of the world at that time. Based on the vision and leadership of these men, this document was one of the foundations upon which this country was born, and what I consider to be the beginning of American history. ...

Things Fall Apart pt. 1 essays

Things Fall Apart pt. 1 essays The Ibo Society reveals its own sunderings into privileged and marginalized colonial groups by basically three factors. The first two factors the people of the Ibo have no control over. Women have basically no rights in this society, and are collected as cattle by men, who have multiple wives, but women who are able to bare more children are held with greater esteem then those who cannot. The "First" wife is basically the leader of the wives within a family. The first wife is either the favorite wife or the first one married to the husband. Women are sold at a young age by their fathers for sticks in the Ibo Society. The more attractive the woman the more sticks she is worth. The Second factor has to do with age. Old men are held in great esteem. This is not to say that younger men cannot be held in the same esteem as old men. If a younger man can prove his worth on the field of battle then he will be held in the same esteem as the older wiser men. The third factor is the one that all men have control over. The harder the worker, and this goes for anything, the more respected that man is. Okonkwo's father was lazy and accumulated much debt during his life, which he never paid off. He was never given a title, which is a major accomplishment in the society. Every time a man receives another level of achievement in his life he is given another title. The higher the title the more privileges that man will receive. The Ibo follow very strict laws that many of the surrounding clans do not follow as strictly. I think that the strict way the Ibo follow these laws that they follow so sacred is foreshadowing what will be their demise for the fact that they will not be able to adapt when the white man (which many have never seen) comes. ...

Social issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social issue - Essay Example However, despite these gay movements, gay marriages are still banned in many states, and society still frowns at and hesitates to  accept this ‘deviant’ group. To deny the gay couples the chance to marry and enjoy the full benefits of marriage as accorded to heterosexual couples is unjustified and unjustifiable; in this regard, Gay marriages should be legalized in all the states in the US to allow gay couples to  get married without legal or societal restrictions whatsoever. The US constitution provides for equality and liberty with regards to matters pertaining to marriage and family life- these rights have elaborately been captured and protected in the constitution. To deny gay couples a right to exercise these same rights provided for in their own laws is totally discrimination, and it should not be encouraged. Gay couples deserve to enjoy the rights of freedom of choice with regards to their sexual orientations without discrimination. In addition to this, marriage is also one of the basic human rights, and thus, same sex or heterosexual marriage should be accorded to all, and sundry. Just as the interracial marriages, same sex marriages deserve protection, and should not be discriminated against denying same sex couples a right to marry is denying them their basic human right as provided for in the constitution. Allowing same sex marriages is bound to curb a lot more other social issues such as prostitution, infidelity, divorce and the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS studies have shown that such vices have been on the decline in many states that have legalized same sex marriages. For instance, the state of Massachusetts registered a 21% drop in divorce rates after legalizing gay marriages (â€Å"Should gay marriage be legal?†). In this regard, it is clear that instead of hurting heterosexual marriages as it is widely feared, gay marriages will in fact boost the marriage institution

See Attachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

See Attachment - Essay Example By doing this, they would be assimilated into the American culture. Most of the Cherokee adopted the new culture; most of them learned English and became Christians. They rather preserved some of their cultures and traditions; they included ceremonial dances, and their ball games ritual. Missionaries and the federal agents deemed the Cherokees a great success in the process of adopting the white culture. In 1802, an authorized removal policy began to take place. Presidents Thomas Jefferson government signed an agreement to purchase all the Indian land in Georgia immediately (Theda and Green 2005 p.g10). Creeks and Cherokee occupied much of the land that was claimed by Georgia this land extended to the Mississippi River (present day Alabama and Mississippi). Indian land could only be acquired by the use of treaties with the federal government as the Indian nation was deemed sovereign. In the near the beginning of 1800 the federal government occasionally bribed the southern Indian territories including the Cherokee to signing land treaties. In the treaties, they blindly sold their land and were guaranteed right to keep the remaining land. Cherokees took a bold step to evading the removal. They put together their laws, made a constitution and later on elected John Ross as the principal secretary. Ross joined Charles hick (Theda and Green 2005 p.g13), and Major Ridge in the Cherokee Triumvirate he gained lots of recognition due to his efforts in negotiating the treaty of 1819. New Echota was launched in 1825 as the capital of Cherokee. In the years between 1827 and 1831 the Georgia legislature, unrestricted pushed their jurisdiction to the Cherokee territory and passed laws purposing to close down laws and government of the Cherokees. They even put a motion a procedure to capture the Cherokees’ land and partition it into parcels and

African American Muslims in prison Essay Example for Free

African American Muslims in prison Essay Most African-American Muslims look to mainstream orthodox Muslim organizations such as the Muslim Society of America (Christian Science Monitor, February 14, 2002). This includes believers once affiliated with NOI who eventually parted ways with the group due to its emphasis on Black identity.   In order to assess the potential threat of radicalism in the African-American Muslim community, it is important to distinguish between the myriad of ideologies that influence the outlook of Black Muslims today from the groups and individuals on the extreme fringe implicated in terrorism. This holds especially true when one considers social protest movements that fought for racial equality during the U.S. civil rights struggle that continue to wield influence today, such as the Nation of Islam (NOI). Founded in 1933, in its early years NOI encompassed a mix of Islamic discourse and a worldview that held that Blacks were Gods chosen people. Whites were seen as inferior, oppressors and regularly referred to as devils, in what many observers contend was a reaction to the ideals of white supremacy that prevailed in society [3]. NOI borrowed heavily from the beliefs held by the Moorish Science Temple. Founded in 1913 by Timothy Drew, later known as Noble Drew Ali, the Moorish Science Temple of America (MSTA), as it is referred to today, is regarded as the first major Black identity movement. Islam, Judaism, Christianity and other belief systems shaped MSTA’s worldview. MSTA declared that African-Americans are the descendants of the ancient Moorish Muslim civilization whose culture had been suppressed by the legacy of slavery.   NOI helped inspire the radical Black Power movement of the 1960s that broke with the non-violent approach of activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr., including the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, later known as the Black Panther Party (BPP). BPP did not rely on religious discourse and instead emphasized popular revolutionary struggle in the name of social justice and Black liberation. NOI also influenced Black identity movements across the English-speaking Caribbean, Canada and Great Britain. In many respects, the agendas of NOI and BPP converged in a number of areas. The Nation of Gods and Earths, also known as the Five Percent Nation of Islam or simply as the Five Percenters (FP), represents another side of the Black identity movement that mixes aspects of Islam, Judaism, Christianity and other beliefs (http://www.allahsnation.net). FP, which split from NOI in 1964, is adamant that it is not a religion, but maintains that Islam represents a way of life. Its worldview declares Blacks as the original people of the earth and the founders of civilization. FP sees Black men as Gods, which they refer to as ALLAH (Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm and Head), not to be mistaken with the Arabic word for God. FP ideology also espouses the theory of Supreme Mathematics, which among other things maintains that followers represent the chosen five percent of mankind who lead a virtuous life. FP enjoys a large following among popular Hip Hop artists and African-American activists [4]. It also has a following in the U.S. prison system, where some members have been linked with gang activity and violence [5]. FP made headlines when false allegations surfaced linking convicted Washington DC-area snipers John Allen Muhammed and John Malvo to the group. Muhammed was actually a former member of NOI, but had left the group years before the attacks.   Orthodox Sunni Muslim organizations regard MSTA, NOI and FP as heretical cults. Indias Ansar us-Sunnah Library and Research Center refers to NOI as the Nation of Kufr (unbelievers) for its emphasis on Black nationalism and identity and what it describes as a blend of false Muslim and Christian beliefs. The groups website places NOI alongside Shiites, which they describe as rafidah (rejectors), and other groups they consider heretics such as Sufis, Druze and Amhadis in a section warning Muslims to guard their faith (http://www.allaahuakbar.net). The NOI continues to grapple with the dilemma of reconciling its origins as a Black identity group with orthodox Islam. This has led to major rifts and splits within the movement over the years. Despite the influence of NOI under the charismatic leadership of Louis Farrakhan, the vast majority of Black Muslims today subscribe to orthodox Islam, a trend that has been growing over the years. Homegrown Terrorism The highly publicized Seas of David case was not the first of its kind. The case of the obscure Jamaat al-Fuqra (Community of the Impoverished, JF), a Muslim association with branches in South Asia and North America, once raised concerns about radical trends in the African-American Muslim community. Works Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   African Muslims in Antebellum American by Allen Austin, 1984 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Arab World Published by the Arab-American Press, 1945 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   African Presence in Early America by Ivan Van Serbia, 1987

Survival (on The Book Night) :: essays research papers

The book Night is about the holocaust as experienced by Elie Weisel from inside the concentration camps. During World War II millions of innocent Jews were taken from their homes to concentration camps, resulting in the deaths of 6 million people. There were many methods of survival for the prisoners of the holocaust during World War II. In the book Night, there were three main modes of survival, faith, family, and food. From the examples in the book Night, faith proved to be the most successful in helping people survive the holocaust.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While obtaining food seemed to be the entire purpose of life for the people imprisoned in the camps, it often killed more people than it saved. Though focusing on food seemed like a logical thing to do when you are being starved, it was not always very effective in helping people survive. There are many situations in the book illustrating how living for the sole purpose of acquiring food—under any condition—could turn out to be lethal. Elie wrote of one time, during an air raid, when two half-full cauldrons of soup were left unguarded in a path. Despite their hunger, the prisoners were too frightened for their lives to even touch the cauldrons. One brave man dragged himself to the cauldrons intending to drink some of the forbidden soup. Before he could so much as take a small taste of the soup, he was shot, and he fell to the ground, dead. In Night, Elie recalled him as a 'Poor hero, committing suicide for a ration of soup'; (Weisel, 56). Later in the story, there is yet another example of how food could kill. While the prisoners were in cattle cars, being moved to a different camp, a worker in one of the towns they passed through threw a piece of bread into one of the cars, and watched as they literally killed for just a mouthful. Through that experience, Elie witnessed a man kill his own father for a few meager crumbs of bread, only then to see that man be killed moments later for the same small portion of bread. 'Men threw themselves on top of each other, stamping on each other, tearing at each other. Wild beasts of prey, with animal hatred in their eyes; an extraordinary vitality had seized then, sharpening their teeth and nails'; (Weisel, 95). Clearly, food as a method survival wasn't a particularly effective way to stay alive.

Basic knowledge of Commercial Bank

There is no guarantee in any credit market that lenders will be willing and able to accommodate every borrower. 3) The Length of Time for Which Funds are Needed Some funds sources may be difficult to access immediately such as commercial paper and long-term debt capital. 4) The Size of the Institution that Requires More Funds A denomination often exceeds the borrowing requirements of the smallest financial institutions. 5) Regulations Limiting the Use of Alternative Funding Sources Federal and state regulations may limit the amount, frequency, and use of borrowed funds.Basel I represent a â€Å"one size fits all† approach to capital regulation. It failed to recognize that no two banks are alike in term of their risk profiles. Basel II sets up a yester in which capital requirements are more sensitive to risk and protect against more types of risk than has been true under Basel l. Basel II attempts to ensure that, consistently, low-risk assets require less capital than high-risk assets, whereas the reverse was often the case with Basel l.There are four new elements of Basel II: 1) Internal Risk Assessment 2) Operational Risk 3) Credit Risk Models 4) A Dual Set of Rules. 1) Character The loan officer must be convinced the customer has a well-defined purpose for requesting credit and a serious intention to repay. ) Capacity The loan officer must be sure the customer has the authority to request a loan and the legal standing to sign a binding loan agreement. 3) Cash The loan application centers should assess borrowing customers' ability to generate enough cash to repay the loan. ) Collateral In assessing the collateral aspect of a loan request, the loan officer must ask whether the borrower possess adequate net worth or own enough quality assets to provide adequate support for the loan. 5) Conditions The loan officer and credit analyst must be aware of recent trend in the borrower's nine of work or industry and how changing economic conditions might affect th e loan. 6) Control The control element centers on such questions as whether changes in law and regulation could adversely affect the borrower and whether the loan request meets the lender's and the regulatory authorities' standards for loan quality.The CAMELS is a system used by federal bank examiners for evaluating the overall condition of a bank based upon the adequacy of its capital, the quality of its asset portfolio, its management quality, the adequacy of its earnings, its liquidity and its sensitivity to market risk. Depository institutions whose overall CAMELS rating is toward the low, riskier end of the numerical scale-?an overall rating of 4 or 5-?tend to be examined more frequently than the highest-rated institutions, those with ratings of 1,2,or 3. ) Unusual or unexplained delays in receiving promised financial reports and payments or in communicating with bank personnel. 2) For business loans, any sudden change in methods used by the borrowing firm to account for deprec iation, make pension plan contributions, value inventories, account for taxes, or recognize income. 3) For business loans, restructuring, outstanding debt or eliminating vividness, or experiencing a change in the customer's credit rating. 4) Adverse changes in the price of a borrowing customer's stock. ) Losses in one or more years, especially as measured by returns on the borrower's assets (ROAR), or equity capital (ROE), or earnings before interest and taxes (BIT). 6) Adverse changes in the borrower's capital structure (equity/debt ratio), liquidity (current ratio), or activity levels (e. G. , the ratio of sales to inventory). 7) Deviations of actual sales, cash flows, or income from those projected when the loan was requested. 8) Unexpected or unexplained changes in customer deposit balances. Basic knowledge of Commercial Bank There is no guarantee in any credit market that lenders will be willing and able to accommodate every borrower. 3) The Length of Time for Which Funds are Needed Some funds sources may be difficult to access immediately such as commercial paper and long-term debt capital. 4) The Size of the Institution that Requires More Funds A denomination often exceeds the borrowing requirements of the smallest financial institutions. 5) Regulations Limiting the Use of Alternative Funding Sources Federal and state regulations may limit the amount, frequency, and use of borrowed funds.Basel I represent a â€Å"one size fits all† approach to capital regulation. It failed to recognize that no two banks are alike in term of their risk profiles. Basel II sets up a yester in which capital requirements are more sensitive to risk and protect against more types of risk than has been true under Basel l. Basel II attempts to ensure that, consistently, low-risk assets require less capital than high-risk assets, whereas the reverse was often the case with Basel l.There are four new elements of Basel II: 1) Internal Risk Assessment 2) Operational Risk 3) Credit Risk Models 4) A Dual Set of Rules. 1) Character The loan officer must be convinced the customer has a well-defined purpose for requesting credit and a serious intention to repay. ) Capacity The loan officer must be sure the customer has the authority to request a loan and the legal standing to sign a binding loan agreement. 3) Cash The loan application centers should assess borrowing customers' ability to generate enough cash to repay the loan. ) Collateral In assessing the collateral aspect of a loan request, the loan officer must ask whether the borrower possess adequate net worth or own enough quality assets to provide adequate support for the loan. 5) Conditions The loan officer and credit analyst must be aware of recent trend in the borrower's nine of work or industry and how changing economic conditions might affect th e loan. 6) Control The control element centers on such questions as whether changes in law and regulation could adversely affect the borrower and whether the loan request meets the lender's and the regulatory authorities' standards for loan quality.The CAMELS is a system used by federal bank examiners for evaluating the overall condition of a bank based upon the adequacy of its capital, the quality of its asset portfolio, its management quality, the adequacy of its earnings, its liquidity and its sensitivity to market risk. Depository institutions whose overall CAMELS rating is toward the low, riskier end of the numerical scale-?an overall rating of 4 or 5-?tend to be examined more frequently than the highest-rated institutions, those with ratings of 1,2,or 3. ) Unusual or unexplained delays in receiving promised financial reports and payments or in communicating with bank personnel. 2) For business loans, any sudden change in methods used by the borrowing firm to account for deprec iation, make pension plan contributions, value inventories, account for taxes, or recognize income. 3) For business loans, restructuring, outstanding debt or eliminating vividness, or experiencing a change in the customer's credit rating. 4) Adverse changes in the price of a borrowing customer's stock. ) Losses in one or more years, especially as measured by returns on the borrower's assets (ROAR), or equity capital (ROE), or earnings before interest and taxes (BIT). 6) Adverse changes in the borrower's capital structure (equity/debt ratio), liquidity (current ratio), or activity levels (e. G. , the ratio of sales to inventory). 7) Deviations of actual sales, cash flows, or income from those projected when the loan was requested. 8) Unexpected or unexplained changes in customer deposit balances.