Critique of ADA and Affirmative Action

Introduction The American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Affirmative Action were instituted to counter inequality. The ADA was instituted to offer civil rights protection to Americans with disabilities. ADA ensures equal opportunities for people with disabilities in government services and public accommodation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Critique of ADA and Affirmative Action specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, affirmative action was meant to introduce people of various races, genders, religious affiliations, and ethnic groups into workplaces and occupations where they were previously missing (Capaldi 15). This essay seeks to analyze both the ADA and affirmative Action and how they affect diverse populations. Affirmative Action Affirmative action is a concept that comes up frequently in day-to-day life. This subject comes up in workplaces, government organizations, educational s ettings, and even in performance arts. Calls for affirmative action began in the civil rights movements’ era. However, the term Affirmative Action was first used in 1961 through an order signed by President Kennedy (Capaldi 48). The concept was later amended to include women in the concept. During the 1996 general election, it was an issue of concern with republicans calling for its abolishment. According to them, Affirmative Action was reverse racism. The State of California removed affirmative action in its statutes in 1997. Affirmative action was touted under the banner; equal opportunity for all. However, marginalized populations are still reeling in poverty a few decades after affirmative action. Some have argued that the government put affirmative action in place and then forewent its responsibility of combating poverty among marginalized populations. Affirmative action just inducts a few members of minority groups into the system. On the contrary, a sizable majority of the same population is locked out thus making this concept quite ineffective. For affirmative action to work, another group of the population has to be discriminated against. For instance, the reason African-Americans were included in the affirmative action was to compensate them after centuries of social injustices.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, now whenever an African American is offered a job under affirmative action, there probably is an equally qualified white American being passed over. This, some argue, is unwarranted discrimination. Affirmative action may serve as an encouragement for mediocrity and incompetence. If the only way a member of a minority race can advance is through affirmative action, then the value of hard work among this population will be negated. People of any group in the population should believe in their ability to progress on their own. One of the important principles of governing is the principle of merit. Affirmative action overlooks this principle in that it rewards association other than excellence. Principle of merit is responsible for a smooth running of the society. Affirmative action ensures people of a minority race achieve things they would not have otherwise achieved. These beneficiaries of affirmative action go on to become role models for the rest of their communities. In addition, affirmative action advocates for a diverse society. This means a member of any group of the population may achieve or be involved in any activity of his/her choice. Without diversity, it is easy for some portions of the population to be overrun by dominant ones. Moreover, affirmative action works by leveling the playground for all (Atkinson and Hackett 143). Some scientists believe that the only reason some members of the population advance more than others, is because they have better opportunities. Affirmative action is me ant to provide all with equal opportunities to help them in their advancement. Americans with Disabilities Act It is estimated that more than fifty million Americans have disabilities. This represents a significant portion of the population that is protected under the ADA. The ADA came into effect in 1992. It spelt hope for millions of disabled people across the country. The ADA requires employers to offer reasonable accommodation to their employees with disabilities. The cost of this requirement is estimated at around nine hundred dollars per worker. These economic implications are the subject of debate amongst ADA critics.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Critique of ADA and Affirmative Action specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More ADA regulations were meant to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities when it comes to wage determination. However, by year 1997, the wages of the disabled were still fo rty percent lower than that of their non-disabled counterparts. This fact seems to nullify the effectiveness of ADA. ADA’s main goal was to help people with disabilities realize their dreams. Groups of people with disabilities have attested that ADA has achieved this goal. People with disabilities have witnessed positive changes in their lives since ADA came into force. Conclusion ADA and affirmative action were incepted in the spirit of the civil rights movement. This means that their goal was to ensure justice and equal right for all regardless of an individuals’ physical, racial, religious, or gender attributes. The issue of affirmative action being racism in reverse is still being debated in various States. This has prompted some States to do away with affirmative action. On the other hand, ADA has successfully improved the lives of people living with disabilities. Works Cited Atkinson, Donald, and Hackett, Gail. Counseling Diverse Populations, Boston, MA: McGraw-H ill Companies, 2004. Print. Capaldi, Nicholas. Out of Order: Affirmative Action and the Crisis of Doctrinaire  Liberalism, Buffalo, NY: Prometheus, 1985. Print. This essay on Critique of ADA and Affirmative Action was written and submitted by user Alvaro O. 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.

Greenpeace History Essays - Greenpeace, Irving Stowe, Free Essays

Greenpeace History Essays - Greenpeace, Irving Stowe, Free Essays Greenpeace History The year 1996 is a year of celebration for greenpeace. They are celebrating their 25th year anniversary. Everything startde in 1969; Members were part of the Don?t make a wave committee in vancouver. This committee was founded by Jim Bohlen. He was a forty-three year old American and was a composite-materials researcher. Another founder of the committee was Irving Stowe; he was a Philadelphia lawyer. A jew who had joined the Quaker religion. Paul Cote, a canadian lawyer in his mid twenties who had just gotten out of shool when he joined the committee. During this year, the United States had chosen to test its nuclear arsenal in Amchtka, which is a small island off the west cost of alaska. This was a home for many animals including eagles, falcons, endangered sea otters,etc... These three men decided to produce means to end nuclear testing in Amchitka.Next they decided to sail a boat they?d name it Greenpeace because they wanted the earth to be green and yhey wanted peace. It was Bill Darnell who came upwith that name. Suddenly, more peaple joined the commitee to stop nuclear testing in Amchitka, including Terry Simmons, a cultural geographer. Bohlen and Stowe were attracting journalist, columnist, writer, anyone who had somthing to do in the media. It took them two years to get them ready for their journey towards justice for a land. Bohlen and cote were in charge of fiding a boat. Meanwhile, Stowe took care of fiding the money. He used contacts from the United States; he was a very serious man and did everything possible to get the money they needed, he even organized a benefit concert which made seventeen thousand dollars. The first boat they found Phylis Cormack was first seen as old and used that wasn?t going to be capable of sailing to Amchitka, so they weren?t sure of using this boat; it would carry twelve crew members and the trip would last six weeks. During this year the Don?t Make a Wave committee changed their name to Greenpeace foundation. The day of the Greenpeace departu! re to Amchitka, it was allover the news , everybody wanted a story on it. During their voyage they ran through some complications and the day they were suppose to be in Amchitka they were miles away from it.In that year, Greenpeace I (the Philys Cormack) and the Greenpeace two (the Edgewater Fortune) finally sailed toward Amchitka. During their voyage, they stayed with the cree Indians who described to them the legend of ( UNESCO Courrier, 1994:p38 ). From then they were looked upon as the Rainbow Warriors since their goal was to help the environment from unfortunate diasters. Unfortunately, their first voyage was defeated but the American government announced the ending of nuclear tests, whaling fleets, protection for seals, etc.... In 1972, Greenpeace III was sent ( the Vega ) to sail to Moruroa Atoll in France Polynesia to stop french atmospheric nuclear tests. On board of this boat David Mctaggart, a Canadian founder of Greenpeace. The french Marine?s reaction to the greenpeace boat was very aggresive so the Vega turned back to were it came from. But that wasn?t the end, in 1973 , David Mctaggart went back but was severely beaten by the French Marine. Word got around fast and it was all the madia it gave a bad reputation to the French government. In 1975, France announced the of atmospheric blasting but transfers the testing underground. This was Greenpeace?s first victory.Greenpeace was expanding all around the world : Canada, Australia, England, Scotland, U.S.A ,Europe, Danmark, Germany, U.S.S.R, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Antartica, etc... I will write some of their past realisations: In 1977; three Toronto Greenpeacers invaded by canoe the ungarded Bruce Nuclear Power Station on Lake Huron to expose the reactors vulnerability to attack. In 1979; Canadian Greenpeacers parachute into the world?s largest nuclear power plant constuction site at Darlington, Ontario as part of a mass ocupation with other antinuclear groups. In 1980; the Rainbow Warrior boat is seized and held for several months by the Spanish government for interferring with illegal Spanish whaling operations.Five months later, the shipand crew mae a daring night time escape pursued by the Spanish Navy. In 1982; two Canadian Greenpeacers activists spend

Customer Knowledge Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Customer Knowledge Management - Essay Example Customer knowledge gained from firsthand customer contact is very persuasive. Smart CEOs at firms like IBM, Cisco, and EMC intuitively realize this, and their senior managers contact their major customers on a regular basis. These firms also act on that information to improve relationships with those important customers. The benefits of customer knowledge management have concentrated at the individual level. For example, Dreyfus, like other mutual fund firms, keeps track of client activity, claiming that they can predict when a client is going to shift money out of their mutual funds. Clients receive a call from a Dreyfus representative, who wants to know how the client feels about the investment and if his or her goals are being met. If Dreyfus is able to track clients at all stages of the consumption process, then the firm has a better chance of retaining the customer. A number of CRM - and ERP-type software programs allow companies to track processes in the life of a specific sale s order from order entry all the way to delivery to customer. Of course, FedEx introducing package tracking is a well-known example from years ago. There are a number of benefits of information technology for firms of any size. The marketing research practice has undergone a major transformation in recent years. A primary function of marketing research activities is to collect and analyze customer information. Technology has enabled all phases of the marketing research process ranging from sampling and data collection to analysis and reporting. With newer technologies and faster cycle times, firms conduct research at all stages of the product lifecycle and not just at the product development stage or the test marketing stage.  

Language of Thought and Fodor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Language of Thought and Fodor - Essay Example This paper is based on his book titled The Language of Thought, as it seeks to prove that Fodor was right in saying that the nature of human thought requires the existence of a language of thought that is not one's native language. At the very onset, it is imperative to highlight the main features of the nature of human thought. Human thought is that course or process which enables a human being to make rational choices and recognise symbols. This process goes beyond language, according to Fodor. It is contained in the laws of nature and the reaction that a human instinctively offers in the study of these laws. Here, it is imperative to speak about language so as to compare and contrast the two before proving Fodor's theory. (Fodor, 1975) The knowledge of a language is akin to the art of knowing about an entire culture, nation and people. Language may be defined as a form of expression that reveals a person's identity and gives him or her a sense of belonging. But how does a language structure a person's experiences To begin with, the role of language in one's life is one that fulfils the need to belong. This sense of belonging springs from one's immediate environment where there is focus on the language one speaks along with complementary elements like accent, nuances and other such features that form the general social and cultural terrain of the particular place. Language offers people first hand knowledge of a variety of symbols that one comes to associate with a place. This in turn generates a more enriching quality to one's experiences. (Mercer, 1996) In knowing and learning a language, whether by birth or subsequent settlement, there is a certain amount of satisfaction that helps contribute to one's sense of identity. This also has certain mental implications as it shows the person's basic aptitudes, besides brining him or her face to face with the challenges of implementing the language. This makes a person draw from experiences of the past, learn from present experiences and contribute to future experiences, which will shape his or her overall life experiences. This also renders a certain amount of creative and communicative competency to a person and his or her sense of confidence with which he or she carries out interactions with people. If Fodor is to be believed, then the competency of a person comes from being able to effectively use language to portray what is within. For this, it is imperative to portray the most elementary human thought in a language that transcends words, diction and pronunciation. This connects langua ge with experience. (Fodor, 1975) In this regard, it is necessary to shift focus to the process of learning of a language and garnering communicative competency. This process is important in every individual's life as the knowledge comes only after learning. The very process of learning is a journey throughout which an individual is brought face to face with experiences. These experiences form his or her general perspective on things. In this way, there is a certain level of competency which in turn, springs from the areas and experiences that a person finds comfortable to deal with. Learning a language is a crucial part of describing how a language shapes a person's experiences. (Girvin, 2000) Learning a language has always been a great challenge. While this is a matter of creating awareness, it is also a matter of creating certain comfort level that will trigger communicative com

Developing work in and with communities Assignment

Developing work in and with communities - Assignment Example There is no denying that the only way forward is by strengthening the community through cross-community relations. Personally, I believe that integration is a long-way battle considering that Northern Irish society in general, do not subscribe to a unilateral agenda. And as long as these divisions are encouraged, the same issues will thrive and Northern Ireland will remain a weak state in the face of a hypercritical world. Today, various interests groups abound but it is the growing number of youth and working professionals taking part in a nonviolent form of resistance that holds a promise. It means that students do not only feel the burden, they also want to lessen the burden. It means that the working class seeks for counter-culture attacks in the face of the ignoble Irish failure (against European success). It means that the status quo is not favored and the once naà ¯ve groups are finally capable of taking responsibility. The foundation of Section 75 I believe is a testament that the conditions mentioned above are recognized by the state. It is like reinforcing the people that public authorities are there to serve and that amidst the many divisions, the government is one with the people in pushing for a better and inclusive Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, statistics and empirical evidence do not seem to reinforce the government’s stance. Records would agree that children’s rights are continuously hindered by poverty and that poor children are still easy preys for discrimination and economic exploitation. Children remain voiceless. Though there have been researches that involved children’s perspectives on sectarianism, equality promised by Section 75 is nowhere to be found. Although various structural mechanisms have been created to foster service provisions to the youth, the fact is that even schools are no longer havens

A Comparison Of Machiavelli And Hobbes Politics Essay

A Comparison Of Machiavelli And Hobbes Politics Essay Machiavelli and Hobbes were the most important political philosophers of early modernity. Politically, modernitys earliest phase starts with  Niccolà ³ Machiavellis works which openly rejected the medieval and Aristotelian style of analyzing politics by comparison ideas about how things should be, in favor of realistic analysis of how things really are. He also proposed that an aim of politics is to control ones own chance or fortune, and that relying upon providence actually leads to evil. Machiavelli argued, for example, that violent divisions within political communities are unavoidable, but can also be a source of strength which law-makers and leaders should account for and even encourage in some ways.  [1]   Machiavellis recommendations were sometimes influential upon kings and princes, but eventually came to be seen as favoring free republics over monarchies. Machiavelli in turn influenced  Francis Bacon,  Marchamont Needham,  Harrington,  John Milton,  David Hume, and many others.  [2]   Important modern political doctrines which stem from the new Machiavellian realism include  Mandevilles influential proposal that Private Vices by the dexterous Management of a skilful Politician may be turned into Public Benefits (the last sentence of his  Fable of the Bees), and also the doctrine of a constitutional separation of powers in government, first clearly proposed by  Montesquieu. Both these principles are enshrined within the  constitutions  of most  modern democracies. It has been observed that while Machiavellis realism saw a value to war and political violence, his lasting influence has been tamed so that useful conflict was deliberately converted as much as possible to formalized political struggles and the economic conflict encouraged between free, private enterprises.  [3]   As I said in the first paragraph of this essay I will start with  Thomas Hobbes, attempts were made to use the methods of the new modern physical sciences, as proposed by  Bacon  and  Descartes, applied to humanity and politics. Notable attempts to improve upon the methodological approach of Hobbes include those of  Locke,  Spinoza,  Giambattista Vico  and Rousseau.  David Hume  made what he considered to be the first proper attempt at trying to apply Bacons scientific method to political subjects, rejecting some aspects of the approach of Hobbes.  [4]   Modernist republicanism openly influenced the foundation of republics during the  Dutch Revolt  (1568-1609),  English Civil War  (1642-1651),  American Revolution  (1775-1783) and the  French Revolution  (1789-1799 A second phase of modernist political thinking begins with Rousseau, who questioned the natural rationality and sociality of humanity and proposed that  human nature  was much more malleable than had been previously thought. By this logic, what makes a good political system or a good man is completely dependent upon the chance path whole person has taken over history. This thought influenced the political (and aesthetic) thinking of  Immanuel Kant,  Edmund Burke  and others and led to a critical review of modernist politics. On the conservative side, Burke argued that this understanding encouraged caution and avoidance of radical change. However more ambitious movements also developed from this insight into human  culture, initially  Romanticism  and  Historicism, and eventually both the  Communism  of  Karl Marx, and the modern forms of  nationalism  inspired by the  French Revolution, including, in one extreme, the German  Nazi  movement. Francis Bacon inspired by Machiavelli Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was one of the leading figures in natural philosophy and in the field of scientific methodology in the period of transition from the Renaissance to the early modern era. As a lawyer, member of Parliament, and Queens Counsel, Bacon wrote on questions of law, state and religion, as well as on contemporary politics; but he also published texts in which he speculated on possible conceptions of society, and he pondered questions of ethics (Essays) even in his works on natural philosophy (The Advancement of Learning).  [5]   After his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge and Grays Inn, London, Bacon did not take up a post at a university, but instead tried to start a political career. Although his efforts were not crowned with success during the era of Queen Elizabeth, under James I he rose to the highest political office, Lord Chancellor. Bacons international fame and influence spread during his last years, when he was able to focus his energies exclusively on his philosophical work, and even more so after his death, when English scientists of the Boyle circle (Invisible College) took up his idea of a cooperative research institution in their plans and preparations for establishing the Royal Society.  [6]   Bacons method for permeating his philosophical ideas into the collective unconscious of the age can best be summarised in his motto: bene visit qui bene latuit One lives best by the hidden life. Bacon resurrected the Rosicrucian Mystery School and the Freemasons, and injected new life into these secret fraternity societies so they became vehicles for the new Baconian philosophy of reason and scientific enquiry. Bacon, like Goethe, scorned knowledge that did not lead to action and also scorned the denial of evil in ourselves. Bacon was grateful to Machiavelli for his frank appraisal of the shadow side of human nature in politics: We are beholden to Machiavelli, and writers of that kind, who openly and unmasked declare what men do in fact, and not what they ought to do; for it is impossible to join the wisdom of the serpent and the innocence of the dove, without the precious knowledge of the nature of evil.  Bacons works touch on all aspects of humanity politics, religion, theology , scientific method, but his most brilliant observations are psychological. Foreshadowing the discoveries by Carl Jung about the nature of the unconscious and the shadow side of man, Bacon recognized that the baseness of man should be recognized and dealt with openly, not repressed and personified as the devil.  [7]   In modern political vernacular, Bacon was a conservative. He saw an ideal Government as one which was benevolent without the worst excesses of despotism by rulers, or by the majority the same as Machiavelli. It is almost without instance that any government was unprosperous under learned governors.  Ã‚  [8]   In science, Bacon sought nothing less than the reconstruction of a system that could be applied to the relief of mans suffering. He constructed a new Classification of Science (The Advancement of Learning, 1603-05), described a new method for the Interpretation of Nature (Things Thought and Seen, 1607, Thread of the Labyrinth, 1606, Novum Organum, 1608-20). He investigated the phenomena of nature in Natural History (1622), and showed how the writers of the past had advanced their truths to the time of Bacon in Forest of Forests, published in 1624. Bacon recorded anticipations of scientific results he felt would come from application of his methods in On Origins (1621). As a result of applying these principles, he described the basis of a new society that would emerge in The New Atlantis (1624). This Magna Instauratio, the great reconstruction, was inspired by the vision Bacon had in his youth, and was a herculean task without precedent in the history of thought. As Bacon stated in th e preface to Magna Instauratio. and I am laboring to lay the foundation not of any sect or doctrine, but of utility and power. To Bacon, Knowledge is power, not mere argument or ornament. In Advancement of Learning, Bacon suggested that all areas of life had rational rules and an empirical basis: medicine, psychology, even dreams, predictions and other occult phenomena. Yet he comes full circle at the end of this survey, concluding that science needs to be guided by philosophy. Bacon applies this to politics.  [9]   Comparison Hobbes and Machiavelli on Human Nature Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), whose current reputation rests largely on his political philosophy, was a thinker with wide-ranging interests. In philosophy, he defended a range of materialist, nominalist, and empiricist views against Cartesian and Aristotelian alternatives. In physics, his work was influential on Leibniz, and leads him into disputes with Boyle and the experimentalists of the early Royal Society. In history, he translated Thucydidess  History of the Peloponnesian War  into English, and later wrote his own history of the Long Parliament. In mathematics he was less successful, and is best remembered for his repeated unsuccessful attempts to square the circle. But despite that, Hobbes was a serious and prominent participant in the intellectual life of his time.  [10]   Thomas Hobbes and Machiavelli shared a commonality in the time period in which they each lived. Separated by approximately 100 years, both thinkers were focusing on political theory. Hobbes theory tended to focus on the social contract between a people and its government. Machiavellis theory focused on the attributes that formed a successful ruler. Examining both theories, a comparison is evident in that Machiavelli and Hobbes both seem to discuss the human nature of society. In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes views human nature as individual self-preservation and as a place of constant war. There is a constant struggle between men. What causes this conflict amongst men? Hobbes believes that competition and glory causes war between men. He says, If two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies to destroy one another. He concludes that self-preservation is the only way to safeguard from being destroyed. The only way to preserve one is to become more powerful than the other. Government must also be instituted to ensure peace and security through whatever means necessary. Hobbes believes that life without government would be poor, nasty, brutish and short.  Ã‚  [11]   In the Prince, Machiavelli views human nature as pertaining to those who are ruled and those who rule. He promoted a secular society and believed that morality stood in the way. He distrusts people and believes that in a time of adversity, when the state is in need of its citizens there are few to be found. He questions the loyalty of the citizens. Because of this, he advises the Prince that, because men are wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need keep your word to them. Machiavelli believed that the secular form of government to be the most successful. His views were to benefit the prince by maintaining power rather to serve the well being of the citizens. Hobbes and Machiavelli both have interesting ideas on Human Nature. Both of their ideas also contain an evident theme. The theme is the usage of fear as a means acquiring power and maintaining it. The theme of fear is not illustrated in great detail in Hobbes work as it is in Machiavellis. Nevertheless an interesting comparison can be drawn between the two.  Ã‚  [12]   Hobbes believes that people naturally fear death. The easiest and safest way to avoid death was to create a centralized state. An autocracy would ensure the universal desire for life. According to Hobbes, people would give up their power collectively to one ruler. In turn, the people would shut up and do what they were told. The only right they would have would be the right not to be killed. They would live under a tyrannical ruler who had all powers to decide good and evil for the people. He believes that fear is essential to maintain power and authority of the people. This is evident in his text with, And covenants, without the sword are but words, and strength to secure a man at all.  [13]   Machiavelli poises the question to the Prince is it better to be loved than feared or vice versa He addresses this question in regards to what benefits a ruler more. He concludes that a prince cannot be both feared and loved. Machiavelli believes that it is better to be feared by the citizens. This is seen as an economy of violence in which fear is used by violence to invoke a lasting impression on the people. This economy must happen at the beginning on an event where the timing is equally important. The violent act must be made into a spectacle done in the open where people can see and judge. People judge by appearances, so what they see will affect their mentality. The more violent the act the more fearful the individual will be of the same act upon them. Fear in a sense is used by both authors to train the people. It must be instilled upon them in order to maintain a successful regime. It is like the training of an animal. The master must instill on the animal that he is in charg e. If he does not then the animal will overpower the master. The master must make the animal afraid of him by punishing it when it does wrong. Eventually the animal will realize who is in control.  Ã‚  [14]   Spinoza and Machiavelli ideas. Spinoza is one of the most important philosophers-and certainly the most radical-of the early modern period. His thought combines a commitment to Cartesian metaphysical and epistemological principles with elements from ancient Stoicism and medieval Jewish rationalism into a nonetheless highly original system. His extremely naturalistic views on God, the world, the human being and knowledge serve to ground a moral philosophy centered on the control of the passions leading to virtue and happiness. They also lay the foundations for a strongly democratic political thought and a deep critique of the pretensions of Scripture and sectarian religion. Of all the philosophers of the seventeenth-century, perhaps none have more relevance today than Spinoza.  [15]   Spinozas political thought draws from a number of sources, both classical and modern. As one commentator puts it, Spinoza formed new conclusions from facts and concepts borrowed from others. It is worth briefly considering some of the sources of the facts and concepts that he inherits.  [16]   At some point in the mid-1650s. Spinoza began studying Latin with Franciscus Van den Enden. Van den Enden was an ex-Jesuit and radical egalitarian with revolutionary tendencies. He was put to death in 1674 after having been found guilty of conspiring to depose Louis XIV in order to establish a free republic in Normandy. Van dan Enden was an anti-clerical democrat who appears to have profoundly influenced Spinoza. One commentator has gone so far as to call Van den Enden the genius behind Spinoza, claiming that Van den Endens writings contains a political theory which is in fact the same as the one worked out by Spinoza. Whether or not this assessment is fair, it is clear that Spinozas thinking was nourished through his association with Van den Enden and the larger radical Cartesian circle in Amsterdam.  [17]   Hobbes influence on Spinoza is unmistakable. We know that Spinoza read  De Cive  carefully and that it was among his possessions when he died in 1677. He might also have read  Leviathan, which appeared in Latin in 1668, as Spinoza was completing the TTP, although we do not know this for sure. I will discuss Spinozas work in relationship to Machiavelli in some detail below. Here I want to mention the impact of Machiavellian on Spinoza. Machiavellian thought was introduced into Dutch political discourse by Lambert van Velthuysen, an anti-clerical, liberal physician. Velthuysens Dissertatio  is an unabashed defense of Machiavelli thought, in which the duty to preserve one is given pride of place. Spinoza read and admired Velthuysen as a man of exceptional sincerity of mind, and was thus disconcerted when Velthuysen denounced the TTP as the work of a cunning atheist.  [18]   Aside from Velthuysen, the other primary Dutch conduits for Machiavellian thought prior to Spinoza were the De la Court brothers. Most of the De la Courts writings were published by Pieter De la Court after the death of his brother Johan in 1660. However, because it remains unclear how much Pieter added and how much he profited off his studious younger brother, I will refer to these authors of these writings simply as the De la Courts, so as to avoid attribution problems. The De la Courts were ardent republicans who maintained good relations with Johan De Witt. Indeed, De Witt is thought to have written two chapters in the second edition of their book  Interest van Holland. The De la Courts adopted the basic features of Machiavellian anthropology, but eschewed juridical concepts like right and contract, opting to analyze the civil condition in terms of the competing interests of participants. According to them, the aim of the state is to ensure that the interests of rulers are tied to the interests of the ruled, which is possible only if one adopts a series of institutional measures, such as the use of blind balloting, the removal of hereditary posts, and the rotation of offices. Republics, they argued, will be marked by greater checks against self-interested legislation than monarchies. Spinoza evidently studied these works carefully; his institutional recommendations in the  Tractatus Politicus.  [19]   It was likely the writings of the De la Courts that impressed upon Spinoza the perspicacity of Niccolo Machiavelli. The notion of balancing the interests of competing parties was ultimately derived from Machiavelli. Spinozas  Political Treatise  is shot through with Machiavellian insights and recommendations. Right at the outset of the work, Spinoza parrots Machiavellis critique of utopian theorizing, elevating statesmen over philosophers, since only the latter begin with a realistic conception of human psychology. Machiavellian realism pervades Spinozas political writings, playing a particularly large role in the constitutional theorizing of the TP. Spinoza, like Machiavelli, understood that prescriptions for improving the governance of a state can be offered only after one has a proper diagnosis of the problems and a proper grasp of human nature.  [20]   Machiavelli and Locke John Locke (b. 1632, d. 1704) was a British philosopher, Oxford academic and medical researcher, whose association with Anthony Ashley Cooper (later the First Earl of Shaftesbury) led him to become successively a government official charged with collecting information about trade and colonies, economic writer, opposition political activist, and finally a revolutionary whose cause ultimately triumphed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Much of Lockes work is characterized by opposition to authoritarianism. This opposition is both on the level of the individual person and on the level of institutions such as government and church. For the individual, Locke wants each of us to use reason to search after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities or be subject to superstition. He wants us to proportion assent to propositions to the evidence for them. On the level of institutions it becomes important to distinguish the legitimate from the illegitimate functions of institu tions and to make the corresponding distinction for the uses of force by these institutions. The positive side of Lockes anti-authoritarianism is that he believes that using reason to try to grasp the truth, and determining the legitimate functions of institutions will optimize human flourishing for the individual and society both in respect to its material and spiritual welfare. This in turn, amounts to following natural law and the fulfillment of the divine purpose for humanity.  [21]   John Locke and Niccolo Machiavelli are political philosophers writing in two different lands and two different times. Lockes 17th century England was on the verge of civil war and Machiavellis 15th century Italy was on the verge of invasion. The focus of this part of my essay is to examine the treatment of the people by both authors, to discover what Machiavelli and Locke write about the peoples role in their different structures of government. In particular, this paper seeks to understand that role in regards to the political power each author yields to, or withholds from, the people. In addition, these treatments of power and the people will be compared to the writings of another timeless political philosopher, Plato. By Discourses on Livy, The Prince, and The Republic against one another, this paper will show how writers from three very different centuries all agreed upon an identical notion of the relationship between the power of the people and their role in government. This the ory is not readily apparent upon initial reading of these authors. Indeed, most political philosophers would argue that each author has a very distinct notion of what role the people play in government. Therefore, an ideal place to start is in the differences of each authors portrayal of the people and the political power they wield. Machiavelli, the most pessimistic of the three writers in regards to humans and human nature, writes that all men can be accused of that defect which Livy calls vanity and inconsistency. He continues by writing: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦people are nothing other than a brute animal that, although of a ferocious and feral nature, has always been nourished in prison and in servitude.  [22]   Animals, that are by their nature ferocious, become scared and confused when released from captivity. Without the shelter and food they had come to expect when domesticated, they are more susceptible to future attempts at captivity. Man also becomes scared and confused in freedom after living under the government of others. Machiavelli writes that these men lack understanding of public defense or public offense, and quickly return beneath the yoke that is most often heavier than the one it had removed from its neck a little before. Men are docile like domesticated dogs or cattle, according to this description, and have a role in government of little political power. With Plato, there is a continuation of the same theme started by Machiavelli.  [23]   The oligarchic rule the city through the license of the multitude, and the orderly rule in business through the disadvantage of the multitude. Thus, Machiavelli sees the people as subjugated and Plato sees the people as fatuous, both doomed to political ineptitude. With Locke, however, the character of the people is redeemed. The people, for Locke, represent a political power akin to force. Indeed, the people are the ultimate source of power for Lockes government, whether that government is a legislative body or a prince. In the closing chapter of his second treatise, Locke details the ways that government can dissipate when rulers misuse their power. According to Machiavelli, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the people neither desire to be commanded nor oppressed by the great. In this sense, the people constitute a humor of the city, the opposing humor being the desire of the great to command and oppress the people. A man should be wary of becoming prince with the support of the great instead of the support of the people. Without their support, the prince is doomed to govern either a territory filled with an unmanageable great or a large body of unruly people. Indeed, Machiavelli echoes this in a later chapter by stating à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ a prince should have two fears: one within, on account of his subjects; the other outside, on account of external powers.  [24]   In both this text and Lockes Two Treatises, the authors yield an incredible amount of power to the people: the power to both influence the creation of and bring about the destruction of governments. For Machiavelli, the people are a large body of people, viewed as more formidable, and, therefore, more influential, than the great aristocrats in principality building. For Locke, the people exert a similar influence over the building of a commonwealth, since it is from the people that the power of the prince or legislature originates. Moreover, the people can decide to bring about the end of a particular regime of government if they feel that it no longer adheres to its responsibilities. Thus, the people, in both Machiavelli and Locke, appear to share a similar amount of power both in the formation of government and in its oversight: namely, that of adjudication. In the Discourses, Machiavelli writes of a cyclical succession of governments, one after another, each one rising to prominen ce only to fall to licentiousness. It is through this cycle that Machiavelli demonstrates the power of the people to adjudicate, and he argues that it is this adjudication that perpetuates the cycle. Kings rise to prominence based upon character, until the monarchy becomes hereditary and degenerates into sumptuousness and lasciviousness.  [25]   Machiavelli and Locke both considered the nature of government and mans individual interests as they relate to governmental structures. Machiavellis idea of fortune and Lockes state of nature concept both shaped the theorists arguments about the purpose of political life. It has been posited that for Machiavelli, politics is an unpredictable arena in which ambition, deception and violence render the idea of the common good meaningless, while Locke would argue that political or civil society exists only to preserve the rights of the individual. It can be argued that for both Machiavelli and Lock, political activity, then, becomes merely a means of satisfying selfish ends.  Ã‚  [26]   Napoleà ³n Bonaparte a follower of Machiavelli One of the greatest military commanders and a risk taking gambler; a workaholic genius and an impatient short term planner; a vicious cynic who forgave his closest betrayers; a misogynist who could enthrall men; Napoleon Bonaparte was all of these and more, the twice-emperor of France whose military endeavors and sheer personality dominated Europe in person for a decade, and in thought for a century.  [27]   In 1513, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a piece of work called, The Prince. It was written to all principalities, and that which is parallel to what Machiavelli suggests is often referred to as being Machiavellian. The purpose of this essay is to ask the question Is Napoleon Bonaparte Machiavellian in Nature? By the evidence found from Napoleons life and accomplishments it can said that he was not Machiavellian in nature, which can be demonstrated by numerous accounts as well as some suggested characteristics given by Machiavelli, to support this theory. This essay will take a look at Napoleons leadership skills, his beliefs and ideals, as well as his personality that made him a great political figure. These aspects of Napoleons persona give a description of how his character was different from that in Machiavellis The Prince. In the area of leadership, Napoleon had many qualities that set him apart from the rest. Napoleon was a great leader but at times his people hated him. Machiavelli believed that, one cannot call it virtue to kill ones citizens, betray ones friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; these modes can enable one to acquire an empire, but not glory.  [28]   Machiavelli said, it remains now to see what the modes and government of a prince should be with subjects and with friends. Apparently Napoleon was not a good friend considering when he was exiled the second time his friends that had been with him since the beginning were said to have killed him. Based on this it can be said that Napoleon does not display characteristics of being Machiavellian. Napoleon believed that he would be a much more successful leader if the people liked him. This is thought so because when he was trying to get political support by the people he did not user fear, he found something they all wanted to hear and he said them. Even though Machiavelli said, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it is much safer to be feared, then loved, if one has to lack one of the two. Napoleon also tried to make the people like him by setting up the Napoleonic Code, which was a set of laws that gave religious freedom and equality. Another illustration of Napoleons beliefs and, or ideals was, instead of appearing to have Machiavellian characteristics, Napoleon actually had them. Thus it is not necessary for a prince to have all the above mentioned qualities in fact, but it is indeed necessary to appear to have them. Napoleon was actually a feared leader and thought of people as disposable but Machiavelli only said to appear to have these traits. The final area of Napoleons behavior is his p ersonality. Machiavelli stated, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it is very natural and ordinary to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will be praised and not blamed; but when they cannot, and want to do it anyway, here lie the error and the blame.

Shark Population Decline Essay example -- Sharks Extinction Populatio

Every Jaws fan knows the shark gets it in the end. What they do not know is that too many sharks have gotten it; and that has caused a rapid decline in the shark population over the past thirty years. Since the 1970's, sharks of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico shores have declined eighty-five percent. Sharks are vital animal to our world's ecosystem, and if the decline is not controlled; we could be facing devastating problems in years to come. Information has been obtained from two books: The Shark Almanac by Thomas B. Allen and Sharks, An Introduction for the Amateur Naturalist by Sanford A. Moss. Sources also include a number of online references, among them BBC News, ENS News, The New York Times, and two online scientific journals: Congruent Trends in Long-term Zooplankton Decline in the North-east Atlantic and Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Fishery Catches off West Ireland and Shitfting baselines and the decline of pelagic sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Sources conclu de with two brief articles: one written for USA Today by Traci Watson, and the second written for Newsweek by Lucy Howard and Paul O'Donnell. The informational taken from these sources include topics such as history of fishing for sharks and what their body parts are used for, the decline in the shark population, and why it is so harmful, and what measures need to be taken to control the shark population. Articles also illustrate how the decline in sharks has been portrayed to the general public and they are reacting. For centuries, humans have been hunting sharks for sport, food, medicine and leather with little regards for the health of the shark population (Allen, 1999). Sharks are considered one of the most challenging fish to catch, and their ... ...ating to scientific reality, most of the articles you find on the topic speaks the writer's opinion on the matter and interrelated scientific facts, true facts and statistics that are mostly found in books scientific journals. Sharks have been around for over 400 million years. They out lived the dinosaurs and other terrestrial species. Today, they live much like they did then, with little evolutionary changes. There are 375 different species of sharks, but if the problem with managing the populations of sharks will continue if change is not made. If everyone cannot agree on a way to stop the rapid declines there will be serious consequences on our environment, especially our oceanic plankton. We have seen that because of our need to want luxurious objects and delicate meals has caused a problem so big in our oceans ecosystems we cannot tell what it has done.

HTC Marketing

IntroductionThe mobile phone handling is on the rise day after day and it is transforming the field of technology and people’s lives across the world. In today’s modern life; people spend considerable amount of time using mobile phone for various purposes. Thus making it the most wanted gadget that people use most frequently. HTC is one of the biggest brands in mobile phone & telecommunications industry globally.HTC has shipped around 32. 6 million unit of mobile phone accounting 4.6 % of the global market; placing the HTC brand as number 4 mobile phone globally in 2012. The Taiwan based company HTC caters mostly for the middle end segments. HTC has its presence in every segment of the market. It offers the cheapest of smart phones with the most basic features as well as high-end phones with all the latest features and was the first to introduce android. (http://htcsource. com/) The purpose of this assignment is to produce an outline with justification of HTC’s p roduct market decision to the international business under the following topics.What is international marketing? Firms entering international markets Researching international markets & emerging markets International marketing environment International marketing strategies of HTC Product & pricing strategies of HTC The marketing plan of HTC The marketing mix of HTC International marketing culture of HTC International marketing communication strategies This will help how HTC’s way fits in to the theories of International Business Marketing.History of HTCHTC Corporation (HTC) is a Taiwanese operation with the most part of being influential, creative and leading players in global telecommunications with an escalating influence in the industry’s future. HTC is the synonym of â€Å"High Tech Computers† it starts its operation in 1997 and has made a name for itself in the global market and has been identified as one of the fastest brand & technology growing in the fie ld of mobile communication. HTC’s portfolio includes smart-phones and tablets powered by the Android software and HTC Sense operating systems (HTC Annual Report, 2010).It has started marketing its mobile phones under its own brand name (HTC) since 2006. Founded by Cher Wang, HT Cho and Peter Chou, which also reflects their initials in the brand name, the company has been the runner up in several successful operator branded devices, with established close partnerships with key players in the operator dominated mobile markets in Europe and Asia. HTC’s products are the most flourished in the world at the moment and thus since it has launched its own brands which have registered the fastest growth rate in the History of HTC.Its products are highly innovative & predictive of the future market trends, needs and demand with product range includes the full array of multimedia, wireless and web resources. HTC is related to the primary objective of most businesses entity which i s profit maximisation. Surprisingly for many specialists of the mobile phone technologies; HTC has been classified by the Business Week magazine in 2007 as the second best performing Technology Company in Asia while it was the third largest globally in year 2006.HTC has been ahead of one of its competitor Apple by breaking the technology trends in touch screen mobile telephones from 2002 onwards. (http://www. roc-taiwan-hn. com/) International Marketing A company becomes a ‘multinational corporation-MNC’ when it conducts any business function beyond its domestic borders’ (Cullen & Parboteeah, 2010). Internationally HTC has captured markets of Asia & Europe. Their principles are to promote trust, openness, teamwork, and professionalism, and pride as part of their principles across the globe.From a global market share of 2% in 2010, HTC is aiming to hold 10 -15 % of the global smart-phone market share. The CEO of HTC Mr Chou has announced that there are four Americ an telecom carriers have been promoting the device in the U. S. market. This marks the first time that HTC has collaborated with four U. S. telecom operators to simultaneously promote sales of a single HTC handset. Adding to this part of the company's new marketing strategy to enter international markets Source:Gartnerr Research HTC Entering International Market HTC is probably inexperienced with dealing with political issues associated with different countries. Therefore, it is most likely a good idea that HTC decided not to merge with a company that was involved in different world markets such as Apple, Samsung or Nokia. They have instead chosen to take a slower route to internationalization, e. g. the US market which was a difficult market to get through as it is a closed market.Therefore HTC can’t sell its mobile phones directly to customers, so it has to be sold to network providers and then the operators sell it to their customers on behalf of HTC as agreed partnership (http://www. behance. net/). Researching international markets & emerging markets According to thomaswhite. com, whatever the reasons are; the East Asian nations of South Korea and Taiwan have transformed themselves from being the manufacturing backyards of the USA and Japan into high-tech giants in just over a generation.Their expertise in the field of electronics is impressive and all-encircling. The market for mobile phones includes of two significant markets segmentations; 1st the fundamental, ultra-inexpensive mobile phones which offers very little or just the basic function of the traditional communications boundaries. These inexpensive devices come with the basic voice telecommunication and text messaging services.2nd the technologically advanced types of phones are widely referred as smart-phones, they are assembled in and from a variety of technologies, scoping from the internet to video-calling. Both segments of the market are ultra-competitive, although the smart-phones s egment offers slightly better margins. Therefore the emergence of the Taiwanese mobile phone manufacturer, HTC which was involved in the design and manufacturing of cell phones for other organisations such as Microsoft and Google, has therefore transformed itself into a mobile phone brand (HTC) in recent years.International marketing environment The major component of external environment that affect businesses in various ways are the forces of globalisation (Paul, 2006) and the way the organisation has go forward from its start to its actual position, shows that HTC own this force at first and foremost. HTC started operations as an individual Brand on the global scale since 2006, thus because of the globalisation, HTC reached its customers on the global marketplace.According to Shelly and Rosenblatt (2009) nowadays organisations cannot operate at all without the use of the internet in a way or another. The internet as an external factor had considerable achievements on the developm ent of HTC at two levels. 1st: HTC was competent to differentiate and improve its smart-phones on the basis of internet, by including one of its key features which is the internet browsing possibility. Other companies on the marketplace manufacturing mobile phones do not have many advanced elements that can be found on HTC smart-phones.Therefore without the external factor of the internet, HTC would have never developed to its current level of brand image and profitability on the international market 2nd: HTC has greatly benefited from internet in the same way that most other business benefited as well. In particular, internet was an external factor that assisted HTC to be ahead of its current level through endow with platform to reach to the global market area, to promote its products globally and to get your hands on strategic partners as well as to correspond with its stakeholders at the global level.International Marketing Strategies The international marketing strategies of HTC have its uniqueness compared to some of its competitors. The marketing management of HTC has helped the organisation to penetrate numerous new markets and carried out efficient changes with rigid formulas within the existing markets. HTC has been identified in the leadership position through the process of adopting innovative approach in production & design and introducing to the market the first tri-band UMTS 3G device on the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform (2006), the first Microsoft Windows Smartphone (2006), the first Tri-band UMTS PDA, and the first spontaneous touch screen to allow finger tip navigation (2007) (Products and Innovation, 2010).By analysing HTC’s strategy, product differentiation and cost leadership are regarded as to be the lane to the market scope; whereas segmentation strategy is a narrow market scope (Porter, 1998) Product expansion is rarely used by HTC when the company introduces new creations to its existing active markets. Recent growth was real ized by the company by introducing the HTC One and previously with HTC Titan as well as the HTC Desires series for the medium-low range  market (htc. com).Product & Pricing Strategies As per Condor (2010) HTC’s marketing strategy is going through massive changes since the company is introducing more low-cost devices. The mid-pricing strategy adopted by HTC has been ultra-successful, since the company believes that its products are specifically customised to gratify customer’s desires. HTC’s customers are willing to pay even a higher price as they believe that HTC’s products has features that worth the premium prices.HTC smart-phones prices vary from a country to another according to the economical status of the country (htc. com). Marketing plan of HTC HTC’s marketing plan was in reverse gear in 2012 compared to 2011, where the mobile phone manufacturer did better according to the company’s annual report 2012. The CEO of the Organisation M r Chou ultimately believes it was HTC's poor marketing that led to disappointment in year 2012. He revealed that HTC can be expected to redouble its promotional efforts in 2013 (http://www. theverge. com/).The chief marketing officer (CMO) John Wang has decided to go for a more passive and aggressive direction with its marketing plan as from 2013 to boost up profit maximisation through innovation and customer satisfaction. Marketing mix of HTC Marketing mix is well thought-out to be the fundamental element of marketing communication. Buhler et al (2009) revealed that marketing mix was at the outset referred to as 4P’s of marketing with the combination of product, price, place & promotion. The 4P’s can be study individually as part of a broad HTC marketing strategy analysis.HTC products are widely known for their range of smart-phones which are innovative in their design and functions. Product HTC’s own brand was developed from the personal digital assistant (PDA ) market to smart-phone products manufacturer (Asemi et al, 2011). It depends on the products specifications and the number and types of functions the product can perform. It also values the segmented market of the product such as low-cost, mid range or high end market. HTC’s products focus on the mid range & high end segment.Prices of HTC products are not unlike dramatically compared to the products of its competitors, such as Apple, Nokia and others, and the price of each individual category of mobile phone. Place in the case of a mobile phone manufacturer is to have the widest possible market share globally. HTC has got a massive presence in Europe & Asia, with emerging markets over USA and Africa. On the Australian continent the Taiwanese manufacturer of cellular phone has also been powerful due to the increasing number of Android software user on the continent.The place element of the HTC’s marketing mix are available from many locations within all forty countries the company has operations in, as well as through the company web-site. Promotional techniques used by HTC to advertise their products are mainly posters promotions via mobile phone shops windows and promotions in popular media such as magazines, newspapers and TV channels to penetrate the larger market. In essence HTC marketing strategy that has allowed the company to enter new markets was based on innovation and ensuring the high level of friendly user interface in its products.International marketing culture of HTC One of the most important factors to consider when penetrating an international market is the local cultural differences which can be a source of massive challenge. HTC usually take into account the cultural factors when engaging in international expansion. Each individual or group of people have different perceptions of life, different life values, beliefs and different ways of doing things. Without any doubts these differences would reflect on how they perceive HTC brand in general, and each specific products in particular as well.These issue are addressed the management of the organisation in the most efficient approach, since international expansion has been identified as the foundation of strategic plans of any company (Gray, 2013. htcsource. com) So far, all the challenge associated with various local cultural differences where HTC has entered has not yet affected HTC negatively. Particularly when the possible issues associated with cultural differences narrate to combine marketing communications efforts of any foreign corporation engaged in business in a country. E. g. the marketing communication efforts in most European countries and USA would at times involve women to feature in their publicity with allusions to their sex appeal.While such type of publicity are perfectly suitable in the western world, the same publicity would be judged to be offensive in some Asian, and Arab countries, due to cultural, religious or else differences. Any global organisation aiming for further international expansion that prefer ignoring such issues in their marketing communications and other aspects of their businesses, would be at risk to attract negative reputation for their brand image, which will damage the value of the brand on the long-term basis.International marketing communication strategies HTC do not take on a â€Å"me-too† strategy and persists not to follow or directly competing with its clients in the market. The mobile phone organisation has put into practice as its marketing communication strategies the transformation of the company from Taiwanese to International by sustaining the silicon-valley culture to promote innovation. This has been implemented by the formation of a global marketing resource team. Their primary target market is the first time smart-phone user.The marketing communication strategy has been driven by the branding strategy and product awareness.HTC’s SWOT Analysis Swot-Internal Ana lysis:Weakness: Leading PDA & Smart-Phone Manufacturer High Manufacturing Cost Strong Research & Development Set-up Low Brand Awareness Strong Relationship with Business Partners Lack of Products in Low Price Category Branded & Perceived as â€Å"Value for Money† Products Do not have own operating system Swot-External Analysis:Opportunity: Threats: Increasing demand for touch screen phones with 3G Technologies Patent Wars Fast Growing & Emerging MarketsLess Customer Loyalty Development of App’s to add value to customers Rapid Technological Change HTC mini tablet could be the next Market sensation Expected competitors tie-up, e. g Google acquiring.Motorola SWOT Critical AnalysisThe brand position of HTC is appropriately perfect; smart-phone is the proper choice of most customers. Without doubt the smart-phone market is a prospective market for HTC to keep investing. However, in significant markets such as China and USA, where most people still use cheap phones the deman ds for mid-range or mass price cell phones are still huge.HTC do have a pricing advantage over Apple and Samsung, but the low brand awareness do not appeal to the young generation or even first time smart-phone users. Therefore having some low price product branded HTC might be a threat to the mid range & high end market, if we take as example the story of Toyota & Lexus, which has disappointed many luxury car customers when they have found that Lexus was a product of Toyota. However as tablets are very fashionable at the moment, HTC could accelerate its research & development in to the manufacturing of an HTC tablet.RecommendationRecommendation 1: As a major player in the telecommunications industry, it is highly recommended that HTC consider opening its own application storefront as this will help creating their own operating platforms which will give them more control over their operations.Recommendation 2: According to the HTC annual report (2012), 5% of its revenue is reinveste d into research & development, they should therefore participate into launching new products range such as tablets and messaging systems; since they already have a strong structure in implementing new product lines.Recommendation 3: The slogan of HTC is â€Å"Quietly Brilliant† and it is recommended that HTC develop an aggressive and noisy marketing campaign to build up their brand awareness and position themselves among Samsung & Apple. Conclusion As a mobile phone manufacturer, HTC has mainly diverse components and do assemble them in an eye-catching way to sell to its customers. Being able to bring to the market the very first touch screen smart-phone three weeks before Iphone, clearly shows the capacity of HTC’s engineers and this is the main reason for their success in the industry.HTC’s management team and engineering team can pride themselves for manufacturing one of the best brand mobile phones on the market nowadays. HTC also have various sources of dif ferentiation such as innovation, style & quality. As outlined above, the competitive advantages of HTC are their Research & Development, customization abilities, and partnerships with software, operators such as Microsoft & Google. This is a more powerful resource for HTC to open its own storefront and build up customer loyalty.

Baptism By ImmersionA Discourse On The Merits Of Baptism By Immersion

Baptism By ImmersionA Discourse On The Merits Of Baptism By Immersion Introduction Baptism is one of the issues with the greatest consensus among Christians in general terms. Many Christian denominations consider baptism to be an essential part of the expression of the Christian faith. However, the agreement seems to end there. There are all manner of views relating to the significance, power and the appropriate mode of baptism.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Baptism By Immersion:A Discourse On The Merits Of Baptism By Immersion specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper addresses itself to the modes of baptism within the wider context of the debates relating to baptism.1 The paper raises the contextual issues that help to clarify the debate relating to the different modes of baptism. In particular, the position of this paper is that baptism is by immersion alone. This position comes from a review of the practice of baptism through out the life of the church. The debate is n ot recent, but has been the subject of many discourses throughout church history. It seems to be intensifying with time as proponents of the various modes of baptism find new ways of looking at the issue. This notwithstanding, it is the position of this paper that the accurate mode of baptism is immersion and no amount of debate can change this position because of the overwhelming evidence available in and out of scripture to confirm it. Definition Of Baptism The debate about baptism starts from the definition of the word itself. This definition is important for all sides of the debate because it provides the basis for the thinking that surrounds its practice. The most accepted definition of baptism is â€Å"to immerse†2 as opposed to â€Å"washing, wetting, and drenching†3 which are the result of immersion. However, there are those who concentrate on the ritualistic value of the observance and hence include all modes proscribed to achieve this end.4 In this sense, the decision to stick with the primary meaning of the word baptism, which is to immerse, or to use the wider ritualistic meaning brings about the two main streams of though surrounding the use of the word. The bible speaks of at least five kinds of baptism. There is the baptism of John meant for the Jews, Christian water baptism, the baptism of Jesus in suffering, the baptism of the holy spirit and the baptism of Jesus by fire.5Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This paper deals exclusively with Christian water baptism since it is addressing the specific subject of baptism by immersion, which is only possible through water baptism. There are indeed a number of baptisms in the New Testament. Distinction is necessary to maintain their uniqueness. 6 The Significance Of Baptism To The Christian Faith In order to argue out the correct mode of baptism, which is immers ion7, there is need to explore the greater meaning of the rite. The logic behind this line of thinking is that if the meaning of the rite is clear, then it will justify the best mode available to conduct it. The first issue regarding the significance of baptism to a Christian is that Christ instituted baptism. Granted, baptism predates Christianity, and it is arguable that the baptism of John was not a Christian one, but a Jewish rite that symbolized a readiness to welcome the coming messiah.8 This notwithstanding Jesus gave express instruction that the apostles were to baptize in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit, anyone who came to faith because of hearing the gospel (Mt 28.19). In this case, Jesus gave a new meaning to the act of baptism by making it an important part of becoming his disciple. This argument makes it imperative for all Christians to follow in the command of Jesus to receive baptism. Therefore, baptism is not an optional component of Christianity but one that signifies getting into a new life of faith in Christ. Secondly, baptism signifies participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. The hope of the Christian faith lies in the fact that Christ died and rose again. In fact, Paul wrote that without the resurrection, the Christian faith is nothing better than a hoax (1Cor 15:17, NIV). Therefore, the death and resurrection of Christ is very central to the Christian faith, because the entire appeal of Christianity lies in the hope of resurrection. This realization must inform the mode of practicing baptism. As a symbol9, baptism best expresses the underlying thinking when practiced by immersion.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Baptism By Immersion:A Discourse On The Merits Of Baptism By Immersion specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Immersing a person in water is a clearer as a symbol of death than any other mode of baptism, sprinkling or washing someone does not have the same symbolic effect. In the same vain, lifting someone out of the water is better symbol of resurrection than the sprinkling or the pouring of water on a person. The forgiveness of sins is a central in the practice of baptism. While baptism in itself is no more than an act of immersion, its role as a symbol of what has taken place in the heart of the believer increases the need to stick with immersion as a mode. Water is a universal cleanser hence when someone undergoes baptism it becomes a physical symbol of the cleansing of the sins of the believer. The problem with all the other modes is that by substituting immersion, they reduce the power of the symbol. None of them communicates the meaning of the cleansing away of sins with the same intensity as immersion. Immersion communicates a total and complete cleansing of sins because of the submersion of the person undergoing baptism. Part of the role that baptism plays is that it is a public pronouncement th at one is now a follower of Christ.10 The places where baptism took place in the New Testament were public, such as John baptizing people at the river Jordan (Mt 3.6). With the possible exception of the Ethiopian eunuch’s baptism, most biblical references to baptism show mass baptisms with many participants and witnesses (Acts 8:26-40, NIV). In this regard, it makes a lot of sense to have a universal mode of practicing baptism as testament to the universality of the Christian faith. Again, immersion is the best-placed mode of baptism to meet the need for a universal mode of baptism. This comes from the fact that immersion provides the closest meaning that the word baptism evokes in different cultures hence it stands a greater chance of acceptance and thereby retaining its ritualistic significance among different people. Simply stated, immersion has the potential of easing the challenge of making disciples because it is a very clear statement of what has taken place internally despite theological and denominational differences. In addition, most denominations do not refute immersion as a valid mode of baptism.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Those that do not practice it still consider it an option. The reverse is not true. This means that immersion can provide a clear universal statement of faith in Christ in more ways than any other mode of baptism. Baptism: A Symbol In closing the discussion of the significance of baptism to the Christian faith visvis the efficacy of immersion as a mode of practicing baptism, it is important to qualify the position of baptism in the Christian faith. The two extremes concerning the power of baptism range from the view that baptism is not just a ritual but also the means of attaining the forgiveness of sins. This view confers supernatural power to the act of baptism and makes it a mandatory requirement of becoming a Christian. This view comes with a real risk of reducing Christianity to a ritualistic faith governed by certain ordinances. This cannot be further from the truth. The call to Christianity does not come with obligatory ritualistic expressions.11 Hence, elevating baptism to a supernatural level distorts the Christian message. On the other end of the spectrum, there are sections of the universal church that totally disregard the need for baptism and relegate it to an optional matter of secondary importance at best, or discard it entirely at the worst. This extreme is erroneous because it totally disregards the directive of Jesus to baptize in the name of the father, the son, and spirit. In the scripture popularly called the great Commission found in Mat 28.16 Of Jesus The call to Christianity is fundamentally a call to discipleship. In the great commission, Jesus asked the apostles to go and make disciples. The Disciples of Christ have a duty to follow in his example in every area. In essence, if Christ underwent immersion during his baptism, and considering he did not practice any other variation of the process, the compulsion is on every one following him to follow his example. While Christians in different denominations can argue about the effects of baptism, the mode of baptism cannot be subject of such debates simply because the Master left an example for the rest to follow. This position is consistent with the other calls a Christian must answer to, such as the call to deny self and take own cross, call to prayer, call to withstand persecution whenever it arises, and the call to wait in hope for the second coming of Christ. While the primary mission of Jesus was to save man from sin, he undoubtedly came to set an example for his followers. He directed his disciples to teach converts everything he had commanded them. Jesus’ Final Instructions Jesus did not leave much in terms of teachings or even parables concerning baptism. However, when he was issuing his definitive final orders in the great commission, he made baptism the second ceremonial observation expected of his followers. The other ceremonial observation Jesus instituted was the Holy Communion and there is plenty of scriptural references to this observance in t he book of Acts. The fact that Jesus mentioned baptism in his last instructions after the resurrection at least means that all Christians must take it seriously. While he did not indicate what mode he preferred for this process, we can assume it is because there was no other way to look at baptism except by immersion. Practicing alternative forms of baptism can qualify for disobedience to instructions. In effect, it is tantamount to the creation of choices in a matter that did not have any. The implications of practicing baptism by immersion is that since this is the entry point into discipleship, it is better that the observance be consistent with the pattern discernable in the bible. Since it is a very important part of Christian missions today, there is a need to make it conform to the standards that existed for the early Christians.18 It is possible that a new convert that does not undergo baptism by immersion will have doubts relating to the authenticity of the faith they have subscribed to because of the apparent disparity between the different modes of baptism from what is discernable in scripture. Immersion raises the no such questions. Better Illustration Of â€Å"Dead With Christ† Baptism is essentially a symbol of the Christian faith. It is the public statement of faith about inward transformation after believing the gospel. In this regard, there is a need for the symbol to conform as closely as possible to what it stands for. The going down into the water stands for death with Christ. As the baptizer lowers a person into the water, the image portrayed is that of someone lowered to death. In cultures that bury their dead, they lower the body into an open grave. It is a very dramatic image for anyone observing the process of baptism. Indeed, as the water comes over the person undergoing baptism, it appears as though the person has undergone burial. To the believer, baptism brings alive the fact that they have faith in what the death of Christ achieved for them. This is indeed the whole point of evangelism. On the other hand, baptism by sprinkling or pouring dramatically reduces the power of the symbol. The fact of Christ’s death remains imaginary and allegorical. The stress in these cases is ritual purification.19 The implications of immersion in the area of death with Christ are very clear. The actual actions are so similar to actual practice of burying the dead that no one who either witnesses or undergoes baptism can fail to grasp its full meaning. A Better Illustration Of Resurrection In terms of the future, rising out of water is very significant. The resurrection of Christ is the keystone of the Christian faith. Without it, Christianity degenerates to a cunning creed. As the baptizer lifts the person undergoing baptism from the water, it symbolizes the new life to which Christ calls all people. It is a new beginning and the source of the Christian hope in eternal life. It is impossible to recreate this image through immersion or pouring. These two modes leave it to the imagination of the participants. Immersion on the other hand, demonstrates it. Definitive Public Statement Perhaps the strongest element of baptism by immersion is actually in its cumbersomeness. Baptism is supposed to be a public demonstration of faith. It surely lacks the decency and convenience of alternative modes of baptism. This comes from the fact that it takes a lot more planning to organize for a baptism by immersion than through the other alternative modes. The practical issues relating to baptism by immersion makes it a truly memorable and public event. It has a greater potential from impact, both on the person receiving baptism and the witnesses to the process. It is very possible for someone to undergo baptism in the back seat of a car by sprinkling or pouring. These methods emanate from and promote the view that baptism achieves some form of ritualistic cleansing along the same line as the ablutions that Je ws practiced. However, their impact as symbols for a believer dying in Christ and rising with him in hope remains utterly diminished. Bibliography Abott, Jacob, and John S C Abott. Commentary of Matthew 3: John S.C. Abott and Jacob Abott Illustrated New Testament. Studylight. 1878. studylight.org/com/ain/view.cgi?book=mtchapter-003 . Adam, Clarke. The Adam Clarke Commentary. Studylight. 1832. studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=mtchapter=003 . Beecher, Edward. Baptism: With Reference to its Imports and Modes. Broadway, NY: John Wiley , 1849: 23-30 Cottrell, Jack. Baptism: A Biblical Study. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1989: 48-56 Cullmann, Oscar. Baptism in the New Testament. Studies in Biblical Theology No. 1, 1959: 84. Dyer, Larry E. Baptism: The Believers First Obedience. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000: 2-3 Haymes, Brian. A Question of Belief and Age. ALTA Online Journal, Date Unknown. Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible. Bible Study Tools. 170 6. biblestudytools.com/commentaries/ . International Bible Society. Holy Bible, New International Version. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, 1984. Jamieson, Robert, A R Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Bible Study Tools. 1871. biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/romans/romans-6.html . Menacherry, Cheriyan. Culture, Conversion, Baptism in the Indian Mission Context. ASVATTHA: International Journal of Culture, Philosophy Theology 3 (December 2005): 1-24. Shelley, Bruce L. Why Baptism. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987:2-3. Transmontanus, and Edwin Hall. What is Baptism? An Essay, Being Chiefly a Review of the First Part of a Work Entitled as Exposition of the Law of Baptism, by Edwin Hall. Essay, Harvard, MA: Harvard University, 1844: 13-18 Utley, Bob. Study Guide Commenatry Series: New Testament, Vol 4. Marshall, TX, 2011. Ware, Bruce A. Biblical Support for Believers Baptism by Immersion . In Baptism: Three Views, by David F Wright, 21-34. Downers Grove: Intervasity Press, 2009. Wright, David F. Baptism: Three Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009: 1-3 Footnotes 1 The issue of whether dipping or sprinkling was the original form of baptism is the subject of many modern day debates. Adam, Clarke. The Adam Clarke Commentary. Studylight. 1832. studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=mtchapter=003 . 2 Transmontanus, and Edwin Hall. What is Baptism? An Essay, Being Chiefly a Review of the First Part of a Work Entitled as Exposition of the Law of Baptism†, 13. 3 Transmontanus, and Edwin Hall. What is Baptism? An Essay, Being Chiefly a Review of the First Part of a Work Entitled as Exposition of the Law of Baptism, 14. 4 Beecher, Edward. Baptism: With Reference to its Imports and Modes. Broadway, NY: John Wiley, 1849: 23. 5 Dyer, Larry E. Baptism: The Believers First Obedience. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000: 2. 6 Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, an d David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Bible Study Tools. 1871. biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/romans/romans-6.html . 7 Ware, Bruce A. Biblical Support for Believers Baptism by Immersion. In Baptism: Three Views, by David F Wright, 21-34. Downers Grove: Intervasity Press, 2009: 23. 8 Dyer, Larry E. Baptism: The Believers First Obedience.Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000: 12 9Abott, Jacob, and John S C Abott. Commentary of Matthew 3: John S.C. Abott and Jacob Abott Illustrated New Testament. Studylight. 1878. studylight.org/com/ain/view.cgi?book=mtchapter-003 . 10 Shelley, Bruce L. Why Baptism. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987: 2. 11Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible. Bible Study Tools 12 In Jn 3.22, Jesus seems to be baptizing but in Jn 4.2, the matter becomes clear, showing that Jesus did not baptize in person. Cullmann, Oscar. Baptism in the New Testament. Studies in Biblical The ology No. 1, 1959: 84. 13 Dyer, Larry E. Baptism: The Believers First Obedience. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000: 3. 14 An example of an incident showing that the baptism of John was part of the missionary experience of the apostles is in Acts 19.1-3 when Paul goes to Ephesus 15 Cottrell, Jack. Baptism: A Biblical Study. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1989: 48. 16 Wright, David F. Baptism: Three Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009: 3. 17 Haymes, Brian. A Question of Belief and Age. ALTA Online Journal, Date Unknown. 18 Menacherry, Cheriyan. Culture, Conversion, Baptism in the Indian Mission Context. ASVATTHA: International Journal of Culture, Philosophy Theology 3 (December 2005): 1-24. 19 The book of John stresses the relational aspects of the Christian faith, and not the ritualistic ones. John does not record the baptism of Jesus nor the last supper. See Utley, Bob. Study Guide Commenatry Series: New Testament, Vol 4. Marshall, TX, 2011.

Forensic sciences Essay Example

Forensic sciences Essay Example Forensic sciences Essay Forensic sciences Essay Essay Topic: Confessions Name: Instructor: Course: Date: : How the portrayal of forensic science in media (CSI, for example) has influenced the court system Forensic sciences Forensic science refers to the usage of a broad range of sciences to give answers to questions of concern in legal systems and scientific studies. The term forensics and forensic science are used interchangeably to mean the scientific investigation that serves to give evidence to a question from the courts. The science involves the application of biology, physics, chemistry and other branches to come up with unique evidence that eliminates other possibilities and explicitly identifies an individual. The use of forensic science knowledge has been exploited by three main bodies: law enforcement agencies, the media and perpetrators of criminal activities. In criminal history, it proved difficult to prove that suspected criminals were guilty beyond doubt. Court proceedings depended on the confessions that were sometimes coerced and corrupted as well as testimonies from witnesses. Elements of forensics began developing in Ancient China where the Song Dynasty solved many crimes using answers that were biological in nature. Modern forensics developed around the 16th century in Europe where French and Italian army doctors came up with various categories of how soldiers died for instance strangulation, drowning and poisoning. These developments were recorded in documents such as A Treatise on Forensic Medicine and Public Health and The Complete System of Police Medicine (Ramsland 27). Toward the end of the 19th century, forensics began developing more and even subdivided into more branches that specialized on specific aspects of forensics. Some of the major areas in forensic science include criminalistics, digital forensics, forensic anthropology, forensic DNA analysis and mobile device forensics among other subfields. These subdivisions and manifestations of forensic science have greatly improved the quality and efficiency of the legal system since it is now easier to prove that an individual is innocent or guilty of a crime. Scholars who have been influential in the development of forensic science over the years include Alphonse Bertillon, Alexandre Lacassagne and Wilton M. Krogman. The reasons behind looking to science to aid in improving the quality of services of the legal system revolve around changes in crime and law enforcement techniques. First, there are increasing incidences of crimes happening within the neighborhoods and the city centers. These crimes range from petty offenders such as pickpockets to organized gang robbery. There are also changes in the constitution and other relevant legal documents, such as the penal code, that have forced law enforcers to turn to science for assistance. The advent of new crimes and weapons such as terrorism using biological and digital weapons necessitated the scientific intervention to reduce such attacks. The media have been crucial in disseminating information on forensic science through the various movies, TV shows, documentaries and news sections (Newton 128). Some of the notable TV series that became famous for their inclusion of forensic techniques include Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, who used forensic science in his investigation of criminal methods. Agatha Christie also employed forensic qualities in her publications such as Hercule Poirot. More recent television series include The Mentalist and CSI Miami. The development of the plot of most television dramas has closely followed the changes in the legal system and the law enforcement. To this extent, the media has been hugely influential in changing the perceptions that people have about forensic science in crime solving. In this section, the influence of the media on the legal system will be the main subject of discussion. Forensics science specifically fingerprint evidence was not popular within legal systems until the 1980s when it was first experimented with at the Illinois Supreme Court. Clarence Hiller had been murdered in his home. Thomas Jennings was the main suspect who was caught in the possession of a revolver and unused bullets from the Hiller’s home. Four fingerprints belonging to Jennings were also found on the crime scene that helped the jury to convict him. Since then, fingerprint evidence was embraced as a valid source of evidence and could be used as enough material to convict a suspect. Bernard Knight, a chief pathologist for the British government commented that television crime programs have done a lot of damage in raising the expectations of jurors and judges within the legal system. Most television series such as CSI Miami exaggerate the collection of evidence, the presentation of cases and the decision of juries to an extent that has influenced the attitudes, standards and decisions of jury panels. The current generations of jurors have come to demand more resounding proof than forensic science can deliver. The wide berth between fiction and reality makes it even more difficult to rectify the situation. Terming it as a â€Å"CSI effect†, the pathologist defined the phenomenon as that of jurors having impractical prospects of forensic evidence and investigation methods and having an increased concentration in the discipline of forensic science. These sentiments were echoed by Evan Durnal, an employee at the Criminal Justice Department in the University of Central Missouri. He also argued that increased prevalence of investigative television series have transformed how the American legal system conducted its trials. One of the most obvious assumptions made was that jurors thought they had a detailed understanding of forensic science after viewing such programs on TV (Newman 34). In reality, they do not. The process of selecting juries has also been lengthened in order to ensure that potential jurors did not use television standards to judge scientific evidence. Courtrooms have been converted into debate areas where prosecutors and lawyers attempt to school juries on why certain pieces of evidence can or cannot be considered relevant in the court. This has led to new development such as negative evidence witnesses whose function is to clarify that investigators may at some point fall short of finding evidence at crime scenes. This has diluted and corrupted the real purpose of the courtroom as a place where trials are heard and judgment passed. Defense lawyers are equally affected by the CSI effect since they can benefit from misguided ideas that science offers jurors. Using this argument, defense lawyers can then argue that there lacks incriminating scientific evidence, which will constitute reasonable doubt. This can provide grounds for acquittal of a suspect. However, the CSI effect can also produce negative consequences for defense lawyers. This happens when they are summoned to explain the close similarity between a television drama’s devices, such as fingerprint or DNA matching, and the fingerprint database at a local police department computer. In such cases, their client could end up being found guilty thanks to the jurors’ inquisitiveness and pre-knowledge of television programs (Kiely 27). The problem with prioritizing scientific techniques as the main standard in determining a person’s guilt or innocence is that forensic evidence is based on complex probabilities. Take the case of fingerprint evidence, where an expert categorically comments that his method has a 90% chance of finding the owner of the print, and an infinity chance is someone else who was not related to the case left the prints. DNA evidence has proved to be more accurate, but experts in this field still claim to work with probabilities and not certainties. Jailing an innocent man or setting free a perpetrator of wrong deeds based on probabilities distorts the whole concept of justice. Conversely, the media and production houses strive to produce reality drama shows that include sophisticated police equipment and applying the real laws from the constitution. While this makes for quality drama, criminals also watch these shows and slowly refine their techniques to use these loopholes and get away with law breaking activities. More murderers now use bleach to kill any DNA on the crime scene. They also wear gloves and prefer to tape shut any envelopes than licking them. This gives investigators more trouble, as they have to cover crime scenes with a fine toothcomb that may sometimes yield no evidence. This develops into a trend where more and more unsolved cases are shelved for future reference creating a backlog of cases at the courts. As much as the use of forensic evidence can be said to be changing the way in which justice is meted out, it has greatly refined the quality of court trials. In one relevant case, jurors inquired whether a certain piece of evidence had been tested for possible DNA matches. It had been tested but had not been entered as part of the evidence. The inclusion of the negative DNA results ultimately exonerated the defendant, and he was acquitted. To that extent, both Evan Durnal and Bernard knight acknowledge that the makers of television shows are not to blame for the effect that they have had on the justice system. It remains the responsibility of the lawyers, judges and other stakeholders in the legal system to determine when to consider forensic evidence as valid and useful (Embar-Seddon et al 56). ` As was mentioned above, crime-solving television drams have significantly increased public awareness on the position that science holds in gathering evidence and solving crimes. However, some key differences set aside real crime investigation and television dramas. Television shows have professionals who are armed, making interrogations and arrests, as well. These television stars normally receive their DNA and fingerprints results almost instantly. In real life investigation, pathologists and scientists are not equipped with guns and body armor. They also lack the authority to make interrogations and arrests, as it is a job left for the area police. Real forensic results also take exceptionally long before they can be gotten and used. In fact, the fastest There has been much criticism leveled at the increased influence of the media on the legal systems in most countries. Of particular importance, is the focus on the forensic methods used to determine whether a person’s DNA or fingerprints were found at the scene or on the victim. Since the adoption of forensic methods in courts, over half of the convictions passed on suspects, were based on invalidated or inappropriate forensic science presented by professionals. First, forensic scientists have been elevated to the level of a juror or a judge in that their recommendations will eventually convict or acquit a person. Forensic scientists are always summoned after all the evidence has been presented by the defendant’s lawyer or state that brings out the perception that these scientists hold the key that turns the tide of the case. Coupled with the â€Å"CSI effect† bias that was mentioned earlier, jurors are manipulated to depend on science to determine the fate of suspects. The problem is that this number of unfair convictions could even be larger (Begley 12). This is because no studies have been done to determine if different human DNA samples may be similar in structure and might unwittingly link to the wrong person. To that extent, invalid forensic results might have helped to convict the wrong people. The best attempt at forensic science that can be depended upon would be fingerprinting which is better than studying handwritings, dental formulas and shoe sizes. On their part, most legal professionals have lost their own skills and resorted to science. Jurors have been given the wrong impression television programs like by CSI, Bones, and the notion that science will always prevail. Many members of the jury, panels of judges and the bar agree that they need to step up their modus operandi and their reliability on forensic techniques. Groups up against the overindulgence in forensic science such as National Organization of Criminal Defense Lawyers have made campaigns that call for the reforms of the sector. They argue that, over a decade, crime lab investigations have shown that forensic evidence brought before the court is often bogus and is based on speculations, poor quality control, and subjective understanding. A case study of the extent of misuse of forensic science can be the Maguire Seven case where the convictions were quashed, and the forensic scientists exonerated because of the forensic results that were tampered with. The family members were convicted based on the forensic results that revealed traces of nitroglycerine on their hands. On these grounds alone, the whole family was thrown into jail. However, their acquittal was later considered because the forensic tests themselves were too flawed to be reliable. The case of Fred Zain from West Virginia is also relevant in questioning the role forensic science plays in law (Adler et al 34). In the Fred Zain case, he was entrusted with giving valuable information on forensics that was used to convict many people. Unfortunately, he had clinched the position on false credentials that meant that his recommendations were not qualified and accurate. These two examples are a clear indication of the extent to which the media has integrated low-level, superficial science into the minds of decision makers such as juries and pathologists who determine the fate of an individual. Work cited Adler, Joanna R, and Jacqueline M. Gray. Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice. Abingdon: Willan, 2010. Accessed on 24 October 2012. Retrieved from http://lists.lib.portsmouth.ac.uk/items/7AE1E27C-26B6-4A69-5759-A78076CA7382.html Begley S. But it works on TV! The Daily Beast Accessed on 24 October 2012. Retrieved from thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/03/31/but-it-works-on-tv.html Embar-Seddon, Ayn, and Allan D. Pass. Forensic Science. Pasadena, Calif: Salem Press, 2009. Print. Kiely, Terrence F. Forensic Evidence: Science and the Criminal Law. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press, 2001. Print Newman, Robert C. Computer Forensics: Evidence Collection and Management. Boca Raton, FL: Auerbach Publications, 2007. Print. Newton, David E. DNA Evidence and Forensic Science. New York: Facts on File, 2008. Print Ramsland K. CSI: Without a clue, a new report forces police and judges to rethink forensic science. New York Post. Accessed on 24 October 2012. Retrieved from nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/item_cZHjTuCHuisPQlUkw7iKjN;jsessionid=184810DD4B5E16D37B74096588931092