Freedom of Religion in the U.S

Freedom of Religion in the U.S Introduction Religious disagreements have often been the cause of discord, violence, and hatred in many parts of the world. In the U.S. during the colonial times, religious differences were the cause of religious conflicts and persecutions before the founders of the US undertook to work together to protect religious freedom and end persecutions and religious intolerance (Gunn 189).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Freedom of Religion in the U.S specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The new religious pluralism, in the American context, guarantees religious tolerance and religious freedom, which has transformed the religious landscape to allow the coexistence of many religious standpoints. Unlike in the past, the religious pluralism allows the interaction of multiple religious traditions within the state and the civil society. However, despite this remarkable success, currently, religious confrontations often arise over many issues of religious faith. In particular, issues of creationism and evolution raise religious disputes, which are increasingly growing more intense. At the same time, the U.S. promotes religious liberty and pluralism as one of the cornerstones of democracy in the rest of the world. However, in the US, politics, law, and religion often generate disagreements and divergent religious views whereby, divisive politics on a number of religious issues threatens the commitment to religious freedom. Religious Freedom in America Despite some episodes of religious intolerance in the past, the US has made considerable progress in promoting religious freedom. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights purposely aimed at protecting individual right of worship and religious freedom. In particular, the framers of the constitution included three distinct commitments to religious liberty viz. the religious oaths to public office, prohibitions to freedom of worship, and legislations against the establis hment of religious facilities were declared against the constitution (Gunn 197). From the colonial era dominated by Protestant pluralism, the US presently allows the expression of almost all world religious faiths. This step presents a significant stride in promoting religious pluralism and encouraging religious tolerance.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the US, many people do not profess any religious faith and they include the secularists, humanists, and atheists. Since the constitution offers no religious preference or any state religion, in the American context, religious freedom implies the religious liberty for all citizens including the non-believers. Religious liberty encompasses three principles: firstly, religious liberty is an individual right that transcends the state power (Gunn 201). Secondly, religious liberty, according to the constitution, confer s freedom of conscience to people of all faiths. Lastly, religious liberty means the right to practice a given religious faith or no religion at all without government interference. Thus, in the US, religious freedom allows all individuals to profess any religious beliefs or no religion without any state control. The Religious Landscape in America The freedom of religion as embedded in the constitution did not aim at preventing religious beliefs or institutions from participating in public life. In effect, the disestablishment resulted to less or no state interference in religion. Additionally, the freedom of religion provisions in the constitution barred any religion from becoming a state religion. As a result, many religious faiths play a vital role in shaping public policy and public life. The need to separate religion from the state was meant to prevent the government from being biased in the denominational competitions. Additionally, the religious freedom has significantly shap ed the religious landscape in the US. Religious tolerance among the Catholic, Jewish, the dominant Protestant, and other religions coupled with low cases of religious violence or turmoil are the results of the freedom of religion. In recent times, the denominational rivalries have declined giving rise to religious interest groups that go beyond religious boundaries. Religious views tend to reflect perspectives within and across denominations (Castelli 324). Commonly, religious opinions to controversial issues involve the religious versus the secular, or the conservative versus the liberal, which reflects a considerable change in religious boundaries and alliances (Castelli 327). Currently, unlike in the past, most disputes in the US involve competition amongst various religious interest groups but not conflicts. Threats to Freedom of Religion Considerable progress has been made in many religious settings following the articulation of the freedom of religion in the constitution. Amer icans are more tolerant to religious views and appear to transcend religious prejudices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Freedom of Religion in the U.S specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, angry confrontations over issues touching on religious faiths threaten the religious liberty that is so celebrated in the US. In particular, issues about public financing of religious projects such as schools, the Ten Commandment monuments, taxation as well as the use of the name of God when swearing allegiance to public office threaten this religious freedom (Sullivan 80). Religious disputes are also apparent in the public education system over teaching of controversial topics such as evolution and creationism. Religious divisions on other controversial issues including euthanasia, gay rights, abortion, and stem-cell research are apparent in the US. At the same time, the U.S. promotes religious freedom as a â€Å"universal human right† internationally. Through the International Religious Freedom Act (IRF) of 1998, the U.S. offers multilateral assistance to countries to promote religious freedom as one of the cornerstones of democratic development (Sullivan 81). It also sets out various initiatives to prevent violations of religious freedom by countries and promote religious tolerance. Conclusion Religious freedom is a right conferred upon Americans by the constitution and the Bill of Rights. Though much success has been achieved including religious tolerance and coexistence, religious disagreements often arise on a number of controversial issues. Internationally, the U.S, through the IRF Act, promotes religious freedom as a way of enhancing democracy. However, locally, the interaction between politics and the state as well as religious disagreements on many issues threaten the religious freedom. Castelli, Allen. Praying for the Persecuted Church: US Christian Activism in the Global Arena. Journ al of Human Rights 4.3 (2005): 321-331. Gunn, Jeremy. The Complexity of Religion and the Definition of ―Religion in International Law. Harvard Human Rights Journal 16.4 (2003): 189-205. Sullivan, Winifred. The Impossibility of Religious Freedom. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2005.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Fences Vs A Lesson Before Dying essays

Fences Vs A Lesson Before Dying essays In the novels, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines and Fences by August Wilson, the characters struggle to overcome lifes difficulties and to find the true meaning of their existence by freeing themselves from their troubles. This form of self-redemption helps to renew each characters conscience and bring him or her to a new light, where they can reach the full potential of their lives. Both works of literature contain several characters that overcome lifes hardships with redemption, but the ones who make the biggest sacrifices are the most important. The two that truly redeem themselves are Grant, from A Lesson Before Dying and Rose, from Fences. In August Wilsons novel Fences, it is Rose who experiences the greatest redemption when she agrees to care for Troys daughter, Raynell. Rose experiences one of lifes worst hardships when she discovers that her husband has had an affair with another woman. When Troy admits the truth to Rose about his affair, she is heart broken and deeply hurt. Rose can not believe that after eighteen years of marriage Troy would go and do such a thing. Not only was Troy neglecting his family but he was also jeopardizing the well being of his new daughter, Raynell. It was then that Rose truly begins to see the real Troy. She sees how selfish he is for visiting the woman at his leisure just to make himself feel better. In the following line from page 78, Rose explains to Troy how he is not the only one suffering and that she too feels like she is trapped inside their small, immobile world. You not the only one whos got wants and needs. But I held on to you, Troy. Unlike Troy, Rose has accepted her current situation and has learned to deal with the problems she is faced with everyday. She has also not strayed from Troy, but has stayed in his bed. The next big problem Rose must face is what to do with the baby. On page 78, Troy uses symp ...

Analysis of Corporate Culture and Corporate Identity with Special Essay - 1

Analysis of Corporate Culture and Corporate Identity with Special Reference to the Hotel Restaurant Erbprinz, Ettlingen, Germany - Essay Example y is linked with the brand and image of the organization, and hence it is expected to directly impacts upon the revenues and capitalization of the organization. As such, there is a need to understand and assess what comprises of corporate culture and corporate identity and how the two can be assessed and even perfected. This need is even more significant in the case of service intensive organization like the hotels and the restaurants, as the customers largely form their opinions about the organization on the basis of their interactions with the staff. The current research is therefore aimed at analyzing the corporate culture and corporate identity at hotel Erbprinz in Germany. The research was conducted using both secondary and primary methods. An exhaustive literature survey was undertaken where numerous books, journals, articles and data bases like springlink, emerald and ebosco etc, were used to collect the basic material for the review. The primary research was conducted using the interview method and selecting the Director of Erbprinz as the respondent. Some of the conclusions derived from the interview findings are as follows. Corporate Culture is the set of values, attitudes and behaviors that the owners of the organization expect the employees to cherish and follow. Organizational Culture is the set of values, attitudes, beliefs that the employees of the organization share. Corporate Identity is the way the organization is positioned in the minds of its stakeholders – customers, partners, competitors and employees. Corporate culture and Organizational Culture both impact upon the Corporate identity of an organization. There is a basic difference between Corporate Culture and Organizational Culture. While Corporate Culture is the outcome of the vision and mission of the organization as envisioned by the owners/founders, Organizational Culture is the result of the complex interaction between the employees. Corporate Culture can be deduced from the

K-Swiss Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

K-Swiss - Research Paper Example From first half sales of $274 million and profits of $45 million in 2006, the company's sales and profits dropped to $225 million and $26 million in the same period in 2007. This case reviews the company's performance, analyzes the potential reasons for the large drop in sales and profits after forty years, and suggests changes in corporate strategies. K-Swiss primarily designs, develops, and markets athletic footwear for sports use, fitness activities, and casual wear under the brand names K-Swiss and Royal Elastics. It also markets apparel and accessories under the K-Swiss brand: tennis apparel such as skirts, shorts, tops, polos, dresses, and warm-ups for men and women, as well as tee shirts, caps, socks, and bags for casual athletic consumers. Products are sold through sales executives, independent sales representatives, and its website www.kswiss.com to specialty athletic footwear stores, pro shops, sporting good stores, and department stores here and overseas. Arthur and Ernest Brunner were avid skiers and tennis players who moved from Switzerland to California in 1966 to start a business venture selling shoes. In the typical fashion of craftsmanship for which the Swiss are known worldwide, they designed a shoe that responded to and supported the specific needs of tennis players by focusing particularly on cushioning for the soles of the feet, as well as the construction of a firm upper that would not easily give way to the pressure of forceful lateral movement (Schlax 7). Marketing, Design and Pricing Strategies They called their shoe "The Classic", introducing the product at Wimbledon in 1966 where it met with great success. The design of the shoe was intended for intense use, but its appearance was simple, austere, and elegant: three sturdy leather pieces constituted the shoe's upper, which was held in place by five narrow leather strips. The sole was a thin but strong strip of lightly treaded rubber that allowed it to be light and relatively frictionless. Aside from a small Swiss flag on the heel of the shoe, the K-"Classic" was entirely white in color, giving the shoe a timeless, preppy appearance. Each piece was numbered, the label was hand-sewn into the shoe's inner lining, and each pair sold for $20 when the most expensive tennis shoe at the time sold for only $7.50. Tennis players and upscale consumers took to the shoe immediately, and soon K-Swiss was enjoying a small but growing popularity in the U.S. as a fashion statement: simple, elegant, sturdy, and expensive. It was not only used for tennis and walking, but for daily casual wear, its white color allowing it to be used by men and women with any fashion combination (Taub 9). Its West Coast location attracted a great number of Japanese residents and tourists, and by the early 1970s, K-Swiss gained an almost cult-like status in Japan, moving the company to open dozens of accounts in that country. When the company's U.S. market exploded, the company began manufacturing the shoes in Southeast Asia, where labor costs were lower,

Total reward Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Total reward - Coursework Example experienced more staff movements between Business and Retail banking and few movements between Central Support functions and Corporate Banking (Wright, 2004). The foundation of reward carried out is job evaluation and the organization has 20 grades. Due to the difficulties experienced in the Mitchell Bank, this report has been made to find solution to the problems through Total Reward. The report is to analyze the effectiveness of Total Reward in MB and come up with recommendations to promote high profitability and employees’ motivation within the bank. Total reward as a term had been adopted to give reward strategy that come with extra components like development, learning together with factors of the working environment, into the benefits package (Armstrong & Brown, 2001). Total rewards are all the equipments accessible to the employer that may be applied in the attraction, motivation and maintenance of the employees. According to Armstrong, total reward approach benefits involve total effects of different reward types giving a deeper and progressing impact on employees’ commitment and motivation (Wright, 2004). The employment relation developed by the total reward approach applies total use of transactional and relational rewards and hence more appealing to the employees (Davis & Edge, 2004). Total reward could be financial or non-financial. Financial Reward (FR) constitutes job-based payment which gives base pay considering the job’s significance, and person-based pay that gives rewards in the merit’s shape pay that identify individual’s capability or contribution. Non-financial motivators are the intrinsic factors that concentrate on recognition, achievement, influence, responsibility and personal growth (Armstrong, 2012). The model of total reward applied in this report Towers Perrin. Adopting this model would provide improvement on productivity and lowers staff turn over since it is more in details as compared to other models. The model assists

Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay Introduction The process of restructuring the telecommunication sector truly got under way in Cameroon in June 1995, when the authorities decided thoroughly to reform network industry sectors such as water, electricity and telecommunications with a view to creating a favourable environment in which to develop their infrastructure and services and thus to satisfy increasingly exigent demand. The process took the form of liberalization, State withdrawal from the sectors concerned and the establishment of a  market structure enabling Cameroon to remain in step with the especially rapid global developments in the telecommunication sector; indeed, in spite of the investments made, the coverage rate and quality of service offered had remained largely inadequate. The process was carried out not only by defining the conditions and mechanisms liable to guarantee the sectors opening to private initiative, but also by enacting regulations and taking measures intended to enable the sector to play the decisive role incumbent on it in Cameroons economic development. Telecommunication sector reform in Cameroon is not limited to the establishment of new regulations and legislation, to the revision of the institutional framework and the establishment of an interconnection regime or to the introduction of competition. It should also comprise bringing behaviour in line with the times. One of our chief concerns is therefore also effective application of the regulations with a view to fulfilling the universal service obligation, ensuring consumer protection and providing for effective and appropriate regulation of true competition. The acquisition of the required know-how is the biggest challenge we face. The institutional players on Cameroons telecommunications scene are, as in many other African countries, of the opinion that any society that delays in jumping on the NTIC train will remain mired in a state of underdevelopment. Observations Background Before 1990, as in most African countries, telecommunication services were managed by a national publicly-owned monopoly. The administration in charge of telecommunications set the rules, ensured they were applied and was itself an operator. The results did not always live up to expectations. In June 1990, the President of the Republic signed the order on the programme to privatize public and semi-public enterprises. The telecommunication sector was added to the programme in June 1995. In July 1998, law 98/014 governing telecommunications in Cameroon (the Telecommunications Act) was promulgated. It established the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency and attributed sector responsibilities to a variety of players: the operation of  telecommunication networks to operators, regulatory matters, i.e. application of the rules and supervision of operators, to a regulatory body, the definition of sector policy and the enactment of market regulations to the telecommunication administration. In September of the same year, two public enterprises, CAMTEL for the fixed telephone service and CAMTEL MOBILE for the mobile telephone service, were set up to take over the telecommunication activities of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and of the public enterprise INTELCAM, which was in charge of operating and developing international telecommunication installations. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency was set up at the  same time. Immediately after, the sale of a mobile telephone licence and the process of privatizing CAMTEL and CAMTEL MOBILE got under way. In June 1999, a mobile telephone licence was granted to a private enterprise. The privatization of CAMTEL MOBILE was completed in February 2000. The privatization of CAMTEL is not yet complete. A third mobile telephone licence is to be issued. In less than two years, the sector has undergone sweeping change. Suffice it to mention one indicator: in January 2000 there was one mobile telephone operator with about 5 000 subscribers; on 31 March 2001 there were two operators with over 140 000 subscribers. This rapid and in-depth transformation is taking place within a constantly improving legal framework. II A liberal legal framework The development of new technologies and liberalization have permitted access to new telecommunication services which, depending on their specific natures, require appropriate regulation. The Telecommunications Act sets forth a new regulatory framework, opening the telecommunication sector to competition. The framework, which distinguishes between public and private networks, provides for three legal arrangements: concessions, authorizations  and declarations. 1 Concessions The State can grant one or several public or private corporate bodies all or part of its rights to establish and/or operate telecommunication networks. The concession is subject to strict compliance with the requirements set forth in a list of terms and conditions. This arrangement allows the State not only to keep a watchful eye on the harmonious development of modern telecommunication infrastructure, but also and above all to heighten its control over the development and supply of the basic services and facilities us ually demanded by the majority of users. 2 Authorizations The arrangement of prior authorization applies to the establishment and/or operation of telecommunication networks by physical persons or corporate bodies with a view to providing the public with a basic telecommunication service, a value-added service, a bearer service or any other service by using one or several radio frequencies. A list of terms and conditions containing the requirements to be met is attached to the licence issued to the bearer of a prior authorization. The authorization is issued for a fixed period and can be withdrawn under certain circumstances. 3 Declarations Declarations apply to the establishment of private internal networks, low-range and low-capacity private independent networks (that are not radio networks), low-range and low-capacity radio installations (to be determined  by the Administration), and the provision to the public of telecommunication services other than those subject to the arrangements of concession and authorization. Telecommunication terminal equipment is either freely provided or subject to type-approval. Certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act are detailed in decrees and implementing legislation. We shall not examine all of them here; indeed, some of them are still being drafted. The reform in Cameroon established the separation between the regulatory and operating functions. It works in favour of operators being entities controlled by private capital. The general framework for competition is governed by legislation on competition. The legal framework is supplemented by institutions. III 1 A revised institutional framework The telecommunication administration Spectrum management and the legislation and regulations relating to telecommunications are the exclusive domain of the State. The telecommunication administration has been invested, on behalf of the government, with general jurisdiction over the sector. It sets the general regulatory framework. It therefore establishes and implements telecommunication sector policy, whose aim must be to safeguard the missions of public service, to promote harmonious network development throughout the national territory and effective private sector participation in the sectors wealth and employment-generating activities, and to ensure compliance by all operators with the applicable treaties, laws and regulations. In addition, the administration supervises the telecommunication sector, oversees public telecommunication enterprises, represents the State at international telecommunication-related organizations and events, and manages the radio spectrum on behalf of the State. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency, which technically answers to the telecommunication administration, is the specialized body in charge of  facilitating actual application of the regulations issued. 2 The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency The organization of the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency established by the Telecommunications Act is set forth in decree No. 98/197 of 8 September 1998. The Agency has three main duties: – to ensure the regulations are implemented; – to guarantee respect for the regulations and the exercise of competition; – to settle certain disputes between operators. The Agencys regulatory authority is subject to performance of the following activities: – definition of the principles governing tariffs for services; – examination of requests for authorization and declaration and of type-approval files for terminal equipment to be connected to public networks; – establishment of principles for calculating interconnection costs; – establishment and management of numbering plans; – management of the frequencies attributed to telecommunications; – submission to the government of proposals aimed at developing and modernizing the sector; – opinions on draft legislative and regulatory texts concerning telecommunications; – control and penalties for infractions. The Agency is specifically competent to settle disputes concerning interconnection, access to a public network, numbering, cases of harmful interference, and sharing of infrastructure. The Telecommunications Act provides the Agency with a quasi-judicial body and an arbitration procedure can be set in motion should one or the other of the parties be opposed. The parties remain free to bring their case before the competent court. IV Human resources Human resources are the key to management and progress, for they have knowledge, that rarest of economic commodities in the 21st century. The current transition from a monopoly environment to that of controlled competition has given rise to new demands in terms of basic knowledge and know- how in telecommunication regulation. Telecommunication leaders and staff in Cameroon were still dealing with the transition from analogue to digital when circuit switching was suddenly replaced by packet switching. This recent change has reshaped the concept and definition of telecommunication networks and services. Everything must therefore be done to make sure the human resources acquire the skills they need for their own development and that of companies, which create wealth for the well-being of peoples. The Ecole Nationale Supà ©rieure des Postes et Tà ©là ©communications, an independent facility run by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, provides basic instruction in telecommunications and ICT to technicians (technical and operating staff), supervising technicians (operating technicians and supervisors) and senior technical managers (works engineers and operating inspectors). It plans to organize standing professional certification for the staff of public and private enterprises and of the public administrations in charge of telecommunications and ICT. V International cooperation Cameroon has always been present and active in regional and international telecommunication organizations. It is a member of the Administrative Councils of both the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It has had very few bilateral exchanges of experience and information with other African countries. The ineffectiveness of regional (ATU) and subregional organizations (CAPTAC) has precluded the launch at subregional level of cooperation activities aimed at developing telecommunications in Cameroon. At the international level, ITU  has not been closely involved in telecommunication sector reform. In the past eight years, it has provided some technical assistance but otherwise almost no support for telecommunication development projects in Cameroon, possibly because the Area Office in Yaoundà © is not functioning. The capacities of the Area Office in Yaoundà © should be reinforced. Its main duties should be: – To disseminate ITU documents and information in the area. For this, it should have the means required to provide the documentation centres of the main players in each of the areas countries with the documents and books needed to acquire knowledge in telecommunications and ICT, for most of the sectors African managers will have to teach themselves. In this respect, hard as opposed to electronic copies remain invaluable in Africa.

Educational Goals and Philosophy :: Philosophy of Education Teaching Teachers Essays

Educational Goals and Philosophy There are several reasons why I want to be a teacher. One reason is that I love being around children. Another reason is that I love to see the look of amazement on child's face when they learn something new. I also love the look on their face when they discover that they can do what they just learned. During my observation, I met a little boy who had just moved back to West Virginia. This little boy is in the first grade and he has a learning disability. The class that I was observing was a special education class and I had the pleasure of helping the teacher with this little boy. The teacher thought that one of the best ways to help the little boy with his disability was to begin by playing games; we played games with flash cards, numbers, and the alphabet. The teacher asked him to spell his name with the alphabet cards, which he did, then she spread the cards out on the table and asked him to find the letter that she said. Each time he found the correct letter, his face would light up at the teachers praise. He was really excited when he found the "difficult letters". After watching the little boy I was just as excited as he was that he was doing a great job. Being a teacher would mean that I would have the opportunity to teach children new things everyday, and I would be able to share in their joy of learning. In my classroom I would use essentialism, the back to basics approach, I believe that all students should be taught the basic subjects. I would incorporate games into each subject so that the children will have fun while they learn. For example, we would play math bingo, and do crossword puzzles for reading. For science, I would have them bring leaves to class and then we could learn what type of leaf it is and what tree it came from. I think that if you make learning fun, a child will want to learn, they won't just look at it as something that they have to do. I also believe that the classroom environment contributes to the learning atmosphere.