The Formation of Arab Nations - 1956 Words

The Formation of Arab Nations Much of the modern political Arab world was born at the end of World War I, as outside powers divided up their shares of territories that were loyal to their regimes. For example, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon came to exist along side the precarious state of Palestine. By World War II, these states had begun to want independence, and the following decades would witness revolution, regime change, violence, and, ultimately, a break from the grips of the Ottoman Empire and European powers (Provence). Today, the so-called â€Å"Arab Spring† uprisings, ongoing now for several years, are in part as a result of mid-20th-century political rule and administration by outside powers. In the early 20th century, the†¦show more content†¦Perhaps more importantly, Jordan’s newest residents were Palestinians who potentially had no interest in being Jordanian (Anderson). That tension exists to this day, as Jordan continues to host large numbers of Palestinians (Anderson), as well as Iraqis and Syrians looking to escape instability in those countries (IRIN). Jordan continues to serve as the place of escape for Arabs fleeing unstable places. Refugees from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and occasionally Egypt, live in Jordan. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq Jordan took about 100,000 Iraqis seeking temporary escape from the war in their country (IRIN). Jordan is a strong US ally and they were the second Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel after Egypt. This is an enormously contentious issue in Jordan where about half the residents are Palestinians who left their country between 1948 and 1967 (Anderson). When Jordan’s King Hussein signed the peace treaty it was a risky move. Jordan has no oil reserves, and the population tends to be pretty poor. Some Jordanians saw the treaty as an indication of further instability rather than development. Promises of US aid money and support helped prompt the deal, but Jordanians understand this agreement means that the US is required to continue support Jordan indefinitely (Anderson). Other Arab countries experienced upheaval as well. Iraq, for example, has political boundaries that include two different andShow MoreRelatedGrowth of Arab Nationalism1085 Words   |  5 PagesArab nationalism was a movement striving for Arab political unity in the Middle East. There was undoubtedly a huge increase in an Arab sense of nationalism between the years 1948 and 1973. One major reason for this was the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, which gave the Arab powers something to unite against, because not a single Arab nation recognised Israel as a legitimate state. There were other reasons, however, most notably the continuing struggle of the Palestinian people and the PalestinianRead MoreThe War Of The Middle East952 Words   |  4 PagesThe war in the Middle East is an Arab-Israeli conflict with a lot of external parties with their own interests involved. The seed for the war was sown by the British Empire in charge of Palestine in the early twentieth century, when it promised an independent Arab state that included Palestine to the Arabs (Shah). In contradiction the British Foreign Minister also promised the same land to the Israelis through the ‘Balfour Declaration’ and aid for the establishment of ‘a Jewish national home’ inRead MoreRace, Tribalism, and Genocide in the Sudan648 Words   |  3 Pagescase with the vast majority of nations which were conquered and colonized by the British during their reign of global imperialism, the Sudanese people of Africa experienced a rapid restructuring of its age old cultural identity system. Located in the Cradle of Civilization, a region straddling both the African continent and the Arab-speaking Middle East, Sudan has long been home to a diverse population that is representative of its many cultural influences, with Arab adherents of Islam living inRead MoreSummary of ‘Why Are There No Arab Democracies? Essay861 Words   |  4 Pagesexplores the question of why there are no Arab democracies in the Middle East and North Africa. He shows us the relatively stagnant levels of democratic freedoms that have been the norm in the region for the past several decades. Diamond gives us a multitude of potential explanations for the absence of a sustainable democracy. His first explanation implicates that there must be something within the Islam or Arab culture or religion, that prevents the formation of a democratic society. Because as AlfredRead MoreThe Israeli Palestinian Conflict And The Jewish Movement1230 Words   |  5 PagesIsraeli-Palestinian conflict has been a long standing clash between the Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs due to several significant events. The Israeli-palestinian conflict is one that goes way back to the time of the Old Testament. The land known as Israel, was given to the jewish people by God through Abraham. God Promised to give Abraham s descendants the land eternally. Throughout the thousand of years, thousands of Arabs have moved to those lands which they called Palestine. When it comes to whom should ownRead MoreThe Arab Spring Movement Of 2011965 Words   |  4 PagesSection I: While the Arab Spring Movement of 2011 Didn’t Culminate in the Ultimate Goal of Achieving Real Democracy for Most States with the Exception of Tunisia, the Arab Spring Did Disrupt the Status Quo and May Eventually be a Stepping Stone in Years Long Struggles for Democracy. Never known for being a pillar of peace, the Middle East has always been rife with turmoil. However, in 2011 this turmoil was super-charged, as several nations experienced civil uprising. Citizens of Algeria, Iraq, KuwaitRead MoreThe Arab Israeli Conflict : The Palestine1533 Words   |  7 PagesThe Arab-Israeli Conflict has roots from centuries ago. Zionists sought to reestablish the Land of Israel in the area of Palestine The conflict is a result of the Zionist movement, declaration of the Israeli state, and the invasion of Arab nations into Israel. Entering the war, the Arab nations are more superior militarily, and a shift in strength is seen as Israel emerges with the passage of time as a force to be reckoned with. The historical implications of this conflict are directly tied to theRead MoreThe British Policy Towards Palestine And The Creation Of Israel Changed1241 Words   |  5 Pagesperiod of 1915-1948. This can be seen in many documents and reports of the British Government and their correspondences with the Jewish, Arabs and German in their quest to gain allies and an independent Jewish State. Some of these documents include Der Judenstaat, The McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, the Balfour Declaration, the British Mandate by the League of Nations and the British White Papers. The first push toward an independent Jewish State began in 1896 with the publication of a pamphlet calledRead MoreThe A rab-Israeli Conflict1427 Words   |  6 PagesThe Arab-Israeli dispute is among the centermost issues facing the Middle East today. The conflict itself has spawned a number of wars, myriad militant skirmishes, and several embargos, as well as a lasting peace between Israel and a number of its former opponents. The conflict today is waged primarily between Israelis and the Arab Palestinians that inhabit Israeli territory. The Arab-Israeli dispute is rooted in the separate movements of Zionism and Arab-nationalism. Zionism is an historical movementRead More British Diplomacy in Palestine Essay1000 Words   |  4 PagesCommissioner Sir Henry McMahon dealing with the future political status of the Ottoman Empire. The Arab’s were planning on revolting against the Ottoman Empire because of the promise that after the war was over Britain would recognize the independence of the Arab areas of the Ottoman Empire now known as Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and Saudi Arabia. The British encouraged the revolt against the Ottoman Empire because they were allies with the Germans, during World War I. The British

What Is Artistic License

Artistic license means an artist is accorded leeway in his or her interpretation of something and is not held strictly accountable for accuracy. For example, the director of your local theatre group might decide its high time Shakespeares Hamlet was staged with the entire cast walking on stilts. Obviously, this was not how they did things when it was written, but the director has an artistic vision and must be indulged. Music sampling is a relatively new discipline, in which bits and pieces of other works are taken and compiled into a new piece. Samplers take (sometimes wild) artistic license with other musicians works. In many cases, the sampling community will rate new pieces, and one of the judging criteria is entitled Artistic License. Deliberate Use of Artistic License Artists are notorious for insisting on creating what they see in their own heads, and not necessarily what anyone else sees. Occasionally, as with Dadaism, artistic license is applied with a heavy hand, and the viewer is expected to keep up. The Abstract Expressionist movement, Cubism, and Surrealism are also good examples of this. While we are aware that humans dont have both eyes on the same side of their heads, realism isnt the point in this context. The painter John Trumbull created a famous scene entitled The Declaration of Independence, in which all the authors—and all but 15 of its signers—are shown present in the same room at the same time. Such an occasion never actually occurred. However, by combining a series of meetings, Trumbull painted a composition full of historic likenesses, engaged in an important historic act, that was meant to evoke emotion and patriotism in U.S. citizens. Lack of Information Artists often havent the time, resources or inclination to faithfully reproduce historic persons or events in exhaustive detail. Leonardos mural of the Last Supper has come under close scrutiny of late. Historical and Biblical purists have pointed out that he got the table wrong. The architecture is wrong. The drinking vessels and tableware are wrong. Those who are supping are sitting upright, which is wrong. They all have the wrong skin tone, features, and dress. The scenery in the background is not Middle Eastern and so on. If you know Leonardo, you also know he did not travel to Jerusalem and spend years researching historical detail, but that does not necessarily detract from the painting. Unintentional Use of Artistic License An artist might have attempted to portray things hed never actually seen, based on someone elses description. Before the use of cameras, a person in England trying to draw an elephant might have greatly misinterpreted verbal accounts. This hypothetical artist may not have been trying to be funny or falsely represent a subject. He just didnt know any better. Everyone sees things differently, artists included. Some artists are better than others at translating what they see onto paper. Between the initial mental image, the artists skill, and the subjective gaze of the viewer, its not hard to amass actual or perceived artistic license.

Foreign Aid and the Trump Administration - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2727 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/03/27 Category Politics Essay Level High school Topics: Donald Trump Essay Did you like this example? During the 2016 US Presidential Campaign, candidate Donald Trump separated himself from the pack of Republican candidates by championing a more isolationist foreign policy. While more establishment Republican candidates like Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush advocated for more hawkish foreign policy positions with greater US activity around the world, Trump wanted to pull back from the world. This became a key cornerstone of his America First policy. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Foreign Aid and the Trump Administration" essay for you Create order Ostensibly, this pro-isolationist stance struck a chord with a segment of the American people. In part emotionally drained by over 15 years of US intervention in the Middle East, the American people appeared willing to support a dramatic isolationist foreign policy, the likes of which had not been seen since the years leading up to WWII. Against Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trumps America First policy stood in stark contrast to her pro-diplomacy and more pro-interventionist approach. Ultimately, the US electoral college chose President Trump and these isolationist foreign policy stances. Upon arrival in office, President Trump quickly established his isolationist policies. In the FY2018 budget released in March 2017, Trump telegraphed the scaling back of US diplomacy and foreign aid for international development by making dramatic budgetary cuts. Despite this strong attack on conventional US foreign policy and aid disbursement, several evolving factors went on to challenge his American First foreign policy budget. Congressional pushback, government bureaucracy, and larger geopolitical trends have all constrained President Trumps attempts to dramatically make cuts to the State Department and USAID. Despite, all the presidents bluster and promises to restrict foreign aid, conventional US foreign policy including the disbursement of foreign aid have undermined the America First tenets that Trump campaigned for. In fact, specific geopolitical factors have not only compelled the administration to keep diplomatic and aid budgets untouched, but great expansions have been ma de to aid disbursements. Trumps Original Plan to Slash State and USAID Budget After campaign promise after campaign promise focusing on Americans at home and not the international community, President Trump made good on his promise of slashing international aid when his FY2018 budget was first released. Crafted meticulously by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney, OMB took up Trumps mantle of putting America first again. This FY2018 budget quickly made it clear where the Trump Administration would focus its efforts on exacting its isolationist goals. In Mulvaneys first press conference as Director of OMB, he made it clear what message the cuts he proposed would communicate to the world, It is not a soft-power budget. This is a hard-power budget. And that was done intentionally. To the shock and general consternation of the US foreign policy and USAID community in Washington DC, Trumps budget proposed a dramatic 29% cut in funding from $38 billion to $27.1 billion. Only the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) was targeted with a more dramatic cut of 31%. Notably however, Trumps first budget did not seem to completely champion the isolationist sentiment that he had campaigned on. While the administration did specifically target diplomacy and aid, the Department of Defense (DOD) enjoyed a robust proposed budget increase of 10% to $632 billion. This further illustrates what Director Mulvaney meant when he said that his budget would be a hard-power budget. This budgetary increase to DOD while coinciding with a dramatic proposed cut to State and USAID illustrates some of the early calculus of the Trump administration. Trump, surrounded by his collection of generals, sees the military as his tool of choice when it comes to foreign policy. The military, not diplomacy, would serve as his primary instrument of choice in dealing with potential conflicts and projecting the USs national security interests to the world. Trump saw the State Department as a bastion of the deep-state with bureaucrats who had served under Secretary of State Clinton. Distrusting State, he appointed Rex Tillerson to serve as secretary of state. Tillerson surrounded himself with his own hand-picked officials largely ignoring the career diplomats that secretaries and presidents often rely on. By choosing a secretary of state willing to reduce the role of the department and by elevating DOD through his budget focusing on hard-power, Trump introduced a far less globalist foreign policy than previous administrations enacted. In Trumps first budget, entitled American First: A Budget Blueprint to Make American Great Again, the administration reveals its justification for slashing the budget for both State and USAID. The administration explains that none of the cuts made would impact the security for diplomatic forces around the world. Instead the cuts would primarily go to ending the funding of various international organizations that the administration deems as not being aligned with US foreign policy objectives. The United Nations (UN) was one of those international organizations that was threatened to be targeted. The goal of these cuts was to make both State and USAID leaner, more efficient, and more effective. Instead of the administration focusing its attentions on the revitalization of the State Department, it instead wished to free up some of its budgets to go to other governmental departments that they thought would be more worthwhile for the goals of putting America first. Importantly, these proposed cuts made by Trump did not come to pass. Although, the administration tried again for FY2019 to dramatically slash the budget of State and USAID, the administration met similar pushback. In fact, State and USAID largely kept the budget that they had been operating under since the late Obama Administration. Despite the efforts of both Trump and Mulvaney to craft a budget slashing money for State and USAID, other more powerful factors kept the coffers of these departments largely untouched. Trump Administrations Cuts to Diplomacy and Aid Find Legislative Push-back Almost immediately after Trumps first budget was proposed to the American people, congress made it clear, on both sides of the aisle, that this budget would be dead upon arrival. Even legislators who are great champions of President Trump rejected this plan outright. In a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing regarding the proposed budget, Senator Lindsey Graham, a powerful ally of President Trump in the Senate, carefully navigated his position when posing questions to then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. While being complementary to Tillerson and the aspirations of Trump, Senator Graham made it clear that both the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate at large would never accept such dramatic cuts to the budget for State and USAID. Sure enough, congress passed its own budget into law which ignored the nearly one-third cut to the State Department. Trumps proposed cuts to aid failed in congress for a few reasons. Since 9/11, there has largely been a bipartisan consensus that various international affairs programs should be heavily invested in by the congress. There is substantial evidence supporting the fact that foreign aid has been incredibly important for rising standards of living around the world. Foreign aid has been met with rising levels of income and the decline in infant mortality. While these altruistic benefits to US aid certainly are important, foreign aid also plays a more pragmatic role in international politics. Congress has made the calculus that both US security and economic goals are at stake when it comes to international aid. If the US were to pull its aid from several regions, as Trumps budget proposed, congress might expect that US citizens might be negatively affected at home. Potentially, pandemics might spread in areas where the US pulls its health aid and even terrorism might take root when the US is no longer there to keep extremism at bay. These concerns on the behalf of congress also touch upon the greater geopolitical risks that less US aid might lead to which will be explored further in the next section. Interestingly, congress was not the only part of government that categorically rejected these cuts to both State and USAID. While Mulvaney and Trump were prepared to make dramatic cuts to these departments, other members of Trumps cabinet rejected his cuts. Members of the broader Washington establishment like General Mattis expressed in the past his respect and reliance on the State Department famously saying that when State is not funded, he must buy more ammunition. Secretary of State Tillersons successor Mike Pompeo also appears to be much more pro-State and USAID than both Trump and Mulvaney. Pompeo has regained some of the trust of the career diplomats at State that was eroded during Secretary of State Tillersons tenure. Trump and Mulvaneys plans to slash the budget of State and USAID have gone beyond both the FY2018 and FY2019 budgets. As recent as August 2018, OMB planned to cut as much as three to five billion dollars from States budget via a rescission process. The rescission package would have restricted money going to various foreign aid campaigns via the United Nations (UN). But, like the budgets before it, congress pounced on this sneaky rescission package and ended any chance of its passage. After the immediate rebuke of this rescissions package made by both Democrats and Republicans, the Trump Administration began to reevaluate its approach to specifically slashing foreign aid. How Geopolitical Trends Have Inhibited Trumps Attempts to Withhold Foreign Aid Seemingly out of nowhere, the Trump administrations advocacy for dramatic budget cuts to foreign policy suddenly reversed. In October 2018, while Washington and the world watched the Kavanaugh Hearings dramatically unfold, quietly and without little fanfare a dramatic reorganization of US foreign aid was passed by congress and signed into law by President Trump. The BUILD Act championed bipartisanly by Senator Bob Corker, Senator Chris Coons, Congressman Ted Yoho, Congressman Adam Smith, and Congressman Ed Royce reaffirmed the USs commitment to international development and foreign aid. The BUILD Act consolidates Development Credit Authority (DCA) of USAID with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) into a new government entity entitled the US International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC). Congress and Trump have awarded the USIDFC with the authority to provide $60 billion in loans and insurance to various private companies wishing to do business in developing na tions. Congressman Ted Yoho, in particular helped sell this expansion in foreign aid to both congress and Mulvaney. In an interview after the passage of the BUILD Act, Yoho reveals how China and national security were the key reasons leading him to champion the act. Despite running for House on the platform of slashing foreign aid, rising national security threats were enough for Yoho to change his mind. He implored both his colleagues in congress and Mulvaney to recognize the growing national security threats that China had begun to impose through its foreign aid. The key mechanism of USIDFC is the strong capitalist argument to invest in developing countries. Promoting an equity positions in investment, which involves investment made by a third party in a business in exchange for stock, USIDFC is meant to reduce the potential risk to American private companies in investing in the potentially risky environments of developing nations. USIDFC adopts many of the tenets that China and Europe currently have adopted to encourage more international development. Trump was compelled to abandon his black and white America First approach to foreign policy and foreign aid by strong political arguments made on behalf of many Republican congressmen. Trump and the government bureaucracy of Washington at-large have uneasily watched as China continues to unveil new political and economic campaigns to display its burgeoning economic, political, and technological prowess. In an attempt to counter China, Trump is now focusing on expanding infrastructure aid to Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In October 2018, President Xi Jinping of China made a pledge to give annually $60 billion for the development of Africa. Considering the dramatic levels of aid that China today pledges to various developing countries, a fear persists throughout the government that those countries receiving Chinese aid will become beholden to China. Various Congressmen including Bob Corker reveal that most of our foreign policy budget is now focused on specifically countering Chinas nefarious activities. Despite all the money that is now being dedicated towards foreign aid and countering Chinese aid, the US simply cannot compete with the amount of aid that China is providing. Current Chinese infrastructure plans in Kazakhstan and Kenya alone represent seven-times as much money as was spent by the US during the Marshall Plan. Instead of trying to compete with the sheer volume of money that China is pouring into developing countries, the US, as well as other key foreign aid contributors and US allies like France, UK, and Japan, should focus their aid on developing the financial sectors of these countries. The development of the financial sectors of these underdeveloped countries will make these jurisdictions more hospitable to further investment in the future. Instead of taking the short-term path of developing infrastructure like the Chinese, Western powers can create an environment more compatible for future development by targeting their financial sectors. This is a plan that even t he once reticent to foreign aid President Trump can get behind. What Happens If US Aid is Actually Cut Despite the recent change in fortune for the State Department and USAID, international aid continues to be under threat. Career bureaucrats will hold their breath in anticipation to see what Trumps proposed FY2020 Budget will look like. While USIDFC does look like a concrete pledge by the president to continue to support international aid for the foreseeable future, there is still a concern that the Trump administration might continue to look for more ways to slash international aid where they perceive there being no threat to national security. Several studies compiled by the global campaign for aid transparency website Publish What You Find explore what would happen if the US withdrew their aid from vulnerable communities including Senegal, Liberia, Cambodia, and Nicaragua. In all case studies, it was apparent that a sudden reduction of the US foreign assistance budget would undermine current programs and potentially reverse the progress made to date. Looking at Liberia, the US has led aid campaigns over the past few years investing in democracy and governance power. If the US would pull out of Liberia, we would see their governance capacity become severely strained and it would also likely waste all the investments the US has made in the country. Likewise, in Senegal, the US has been allocating small but purposeful amounts of aid to the country for years mainly directing funds to the countrys agricultural sector. This aid has gone so far as to make the country a reliably peaceful and democratic ally to the US. Currently, the US is helping to resolve a conflict in the Casamance region of the country. A withdrawal of any amount of money from the agricultural sector might be enough to not only render many of those living in the region as food insecure, but it could exacerbate the conflict in the country. Liberia and Senegal illustrate how even small countries receiving small amounts of aid can be beneficially impacted by US foreign aid. Publish What You Find reveals that over the past two years, the mere threat of the withholding of USAID funds has been enough to completely shut down aid programs. They assert that even in these countries far away from the major loci of world power, China can pounce on any country that the US decides to cut international aid from and develop its own sphere of influence. Conclusion President Trump ran on a foreign policy plan of America First. A rejection of globalization, he wished to pull the US back from foreign entanglements and involvement. For the first two years of his presidency, he fought hard against the Washington establishment, including congress, State, USAID, and even some naysayers in his own cabinet. In the end however, the administration was forced to bow to the establishment and the geopolitical trends that do not align with his campaign promises. Despite the intention to cut aid and slash the budgets for State and USAID, Trump has been unable to do either. The budgets of State and USAID remain the same thanks largely in part to bipartisan efforts in congress. Aid has not been slashed but expanded through the promise of the USIDFC which promises to meet the challenge of countering the grower influence of China. A president who relishes in his rejection of the Washington establishment has been forced by the establishment and geopolitical trends to abandon, for the time being, a keystone of his American First platform.

The Christian Beliefs Of The Trinity - 783 Words

Throughout this semester I have learned many of the different christian doctrines. Many of them were challenged and also accepted in my weekend trip throughout Saint Louis. I think one of the most important topics that was discussed during my weekend was the consideration of the Trinity. In the Christian thought the word â€Å"trinity† is a term used to talk about the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three of the staple thoughts include; God is three person; each person is divine; there is only one God. In their relations to one another, they are stated to be on in all else, co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial. With these three thoughts about the Trinity you also must remember that Christianity is a monotheistic religion. When I was visiting the Jewish Synagogue we talked about what their thoughts were on the trinity and what Mem talked about was you cannot believe in the Trinity and be Jewish. There ar e many modern Jewish people that have considered Jesus to be great, or even one of the greatest Jews who ever lived. They have been brought up to believe that God is One, this is an idea that excludes any idea of God manifesting himself through Jesus. Christians, as well as Jewish people, must believe in One God. The Jewish believe that â€Å"echad† in Hebrew and one in English do mean the same thing and can mean either single unity or compound unity (God as One). Many of the critics of the trinity see theShow MoreRelatedChristian Beliefs Of The Trinity852 Words   |  4 PagesA cornerstone teaching of many Christian beliefs is that of the Trinity. It is also a debated and misunderstood concept. Besides being just outright refuted, there are a couple of ways in which the Trinity is misunderstood. These misunderstandings can relate to other religions which a person may be more familiar with, or might believe. God as the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit is a difficult concept to embrace fully but is not much unlike the concept of understanding an omniscient and omnipotentRead MoreThe Beliefs that Effect Christianity Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesChristianity is a diverse religion with a multitude of beliefs that comprise the core of the religion. There are an abundant number of sects within Christianity however there are a few core principles which are generally true for all of them, for example the belief of the Holy Trinity or bett er known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is what would be considered a primary belief. A primary belief is an idea that is a generally universal idea that is accepted by all the differentRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Trinity861 Words   |  4 PagesBefore discussing the Trinity, it is essential to first understand the Doctrine of the Trinity and what it states. Unfortunately for Christians, an exact definition for the Trinity is not provided in the Bible, actually the word ‘trinity’ is never even used in the Bible. Fortunately, however, the Bible is saturated in the belief of a Triune God. The Doctrine of the Trinity states that there is only one God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one God, but the Father is not the Son whoRead MoreChristianity And The Holy Trinity955 Words   |  4 PagesBible. Along with the teachings of Jesus, Christians believe in the Old Testament, that has biblical records that date back to 1500 B.C.E.. Some of these beliefs include the Holy Trinity, salvation, afterlife, and the Bible. The belief in the Holy Trinity is what I believe to be the most important belief in Christianity. The Holy Trinity consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The first part of the Trinity is the Father or God. Christians believe that God created the world, and thatRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Trinity978 Words   |  4 PagesThe word Trinity cannot be found in the bible, but neither can omnipresent or omniscient; yet they all describe the Biblical expression of who God is and how he is revealed to humanity. Furthermore, the doctrine of the Trinity is so crucial to Christianity, that if it was removed Christianity would crumble and fall into cult status. Even through the doctrine of the Trinity took almost a three hundred to be formally stated at the Council of Nicea (325) and the Council of Constantople (381);1 RogerRead MoreThe Five Principle Beliefs Of Christianity1642 Words   |  7 PagesPRINCIPLE BELIEFS OF CHRISTIANITY The principle beliefs associated with Christianity exuberate the understanding of life for its adherents, whilst perpetrating an influence on society. This therefore allows for the comprehension of sacred texts and its cohesive meaning on an entity. The principle beliefs of Christianity include the divinity and humanity of Christ, his death, resurrection and ascension, the nature of God, revelations and salvation. The correlation between these beliefs ultimatelyRead MoreWhat Is Christian Doctrine?938 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is Christian doctrine? Christian doctrine tells us the truth about God, ourselves, and our world. Doctrine means teaching or instruction. A Church historian once defined Christian doctrine in this way: â€Å"Christian doctrine is what the church believes and teaches.† A doctrine is what the whole Bible teaches us about a particular topic. Christian doctrine may be defined as the fundamental truths of the Bible arranged in systematic form. The Assemblies of God has 16 fundamentals of truth or doctrinesRead MoreGod, God And The Creator Of The Earth And Living Things1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe definition of the word religion is known as the belief or worship of a superior power, which can be known as God. God plays a major role within many different religions. However, religions with similar beliefs can differ in numerous ways as well. For instance, both the Jewish and Christian scriptures share a few beliefs in common. Both scriptures identify the belief of one God, who is almighty and the creator of the earth and living things. Both scriptures express the understanding that the EarthRead MoreBook Review Of The Christian God By Richard Swinburne1623 Words   |  7 PagesThe book I’ve chosen for the book review was The Christian God by Richard Swinburne. The Christian God book is the third volume in Swinburne’s tetralogy on the philosophy of the Christian Doctrine. His other two volumes are Responsibility and Atonem ent and Revelation. Swinburne was from Britain and a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford before he retired. For the past 50 years Swinburne helped influence the philosophical argument for the existence of God. His work was influenced fromRead MoreThe Sacred Text And The Principal Beliefs Of Christianity1738 Words   |  7 PagesChristianity has organised its beliefs into a systematic theology that draws from its sacred writing and tradition. While the main beliefs of Christianity are shared by all Christian variants, there are degrees of different in the interpretation of these beliefs and how they are lived out in everyday life. This can be seen in the important of sacred text, principle belief of the concept of salvation in John 3:16, principle belief of divine and humanity in ‘John 1:14’, principle belief of resurrection in ‘Mark

Bank of America Company Profile Free Essays

Bank of America is a global financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, NC. It is one of the world’s largest financial institutions. Bank of America serves over 53 million customers. We will write a custom essay sample on Bank of America Company Profile or any similar topic only for you Order Now They serve these customers through 5,500 retail banking offices. Bank of America is known as a leader in the online banking world. Online alone the company services 30 million active users. The company serves customers in all 50 states and more than 40 countries. The company has numerous different lines of business and employs over 260,000 people. (Bank of America 2012) Historical Perspective The entire banking industry is made of mergers and acquisitions. The history of Bank of America is no different. Bank of America’s earliest predecessor was called the Massachusetts Bank. Boston petitioners wanted the right to start a bank. They were armed with $300,000 in capital and had many supporters. 15 of the original shareholders were woman. Among the founders and first customers were names like; John Hancock, General Henry Knox, and Paul Revere. That branch opened for business on July 5th 1784. This happened before the US Constitution had even been adopted. John Hancock was the governor of Massachusetts. In 1784 he signed the banks charter making it only the second bank to receive a state charter. In 1786 Massachusetts Bank financed one of the earliest sailings of an American ship to china. This opened up the china trade. The bank continued to grow throughout America. Expanding to new states and changing names like Pacific National. It is believed that the Easton National Bank, one of the predecessors to Bank of America, was the first pay interest on deposits. Offering numerous financing to significant projects through history, one of the most notable is in 1815. After the fires that devastated the capital, the bank financed the reconstruction of the capital. Fast forward over a century to 1998. NationsBank merges with Bank of America. This move created the first coast-to-coast retail banking franchise. (Our Heritage, 2010) Bank of America continues to grow acquiring financial service companies like US Trust and Merrill Lynch. With a storied history in the financial services sector, and building of our country, Bank of America is the most fitting name. Lines of Business Bank of America focuses on 3 customers. They focus on the people, companies, and institutional investors. They are the leading provider of checking, savings, credit and debit cards, and home equity lending. Bank of America is the nation’s largest loan servicer offering numerous different home mortgage options. Bank of America is a strong hold in Global Corporate and Investment banking. The Bank also has a strong focus on financial advising and wealth management. The addition of Merrill Lynch has put Bank of America as the leader in Financial Services. Financial Position Bank of America, or BAC, is often one of the most popularly traded stocks. In April, the share price of BAC declined over 5% to $11. 63. (Oleinic, 2013) As interest rates start to bottom out, the bank must constantly adjust to keep revenue up. Currently the 52 week range of BAC is $6. 90 – $13. 99. Although it has a larger 52 week range, the company is still somewhat stable. It has achieved this by building a strong balance sheet. In 2012 Revenue in millions was reported at $84,235 while Net income was reported at $4,188. Compared to 2011 revenue dropped almost $10,000 however Net income increased from $1,446. As far as the shareholders are concerned, BAC has an EPS of $. 2. Overall the company is positioning itself to remain strong during the current downturn. (Bank of America 2012) Bank of America must constantly adhere to stricter policies from the SEC; while still maintain a positive image in the consumers mind. As the bank continues growth it must remain competitive against its 3 competitors; Citi, Wells Fargo, and Chase. Conclusion Bank of Amer ica plays a major role in the global market place. From its beginning in the late 1700’s, the bank has seen the value in financing international trade. Centuries later the same remains true. Any company as large as Bank of America will be influential in the Global market place. As mentioned above, with 260,000 employees, the company has certainly left a very deep foot print in the global economy. The unique thing with Bank of America in the global economy is the amount of other global businesses that depend on the stability of the company. It is a company that finances several other global companies. For this reason, I think Bank of America will be here for a long time. It has positioned itself to grow during an economic downturn. We will have to wait to see if it has been good growth. How to cite Bank of America Company Profile, Papers

Grapes Of Wrath California Essay Example For Students

Grapes Of Wrath California Essay Grapes of Wrath EssayBecause of the devastating disaster of the dust bowl, the Joad family was forced to leave their long-time home and find work and a new life elsewhere. They, like many other families, moved to California. The land of milk and honey. The people in the dust bowl imagined California as a haven of jobs where they would have a nice little white house and as much fruit as they could eat. This dream was far from the reality the migrant farmers faced once in California. The dreams, hopes, and expectations the Joads had of California were crushed by the reality of the actual situation in this land of hate and prejudice. The Joads dream of owning a nice white house and being overwhelmed with fruit was quickly put to end after their first night in California. Ma says, But I like to think how nice its gonna be, maybe, in California. Never cold. An fruite everplace, an people just bein in the nicest places, little white houses in among the orange trees. They had been lied to by the handbills and other propaganda that was circulating in the dust bowl region. The growers in California knew that the people of the dust bowl would have to leave their houses because of the crisis. They also knew the more pickers they had the lower they could make their prices. The number of handbills sent out far out numbered the number of jobs available. Many people in the dust bowl were constructing a view of California that was devastatingly false. However most of the people had to go somewhere, and all they knew was agriculture, so the natural thing was to go to the only place in the country at that time that was in peak agricultural condition. This was all true in the case of the Joads. They had no experience with any other kind of lifestyle. They were farmers and they thought that was what they would remain. What they became was job hunters, starving and hungry people, and homeless vagrants. California was no dream land, but the exact opposite. A promised heaven that was revealed to be a very real hell. During the long journey to California the Joads, and other migrant travelers, encountered many warnings of what California was going to be like from migrants who were returning home, mostly destroyed by the true reality of California. They got a warning in the camp they stayed at on the side of the road while Tom, Al, and Casey were fixing the car. There was a ragged man there that told a gruesome story of his experience in California. He told of the land that was good but was not being farmed. He told of the Hoovervilles and dirty living situation of the migrants. He told of how his own children and died because he couldnt get a job to feed them. He said, Sompein it took me a year to find out. Took two kids dead, took my wife dead to show me. . . The Joads were warned again right near the border of California, by the river, where they stop to camp. The men go down to the river to get cool and encounter a man and his son. They tell of how bad it is in California. They are returning home. Of course what the Joads hear doesnt in the slightest encourage them to turn back. They cant. Their lives back home have been destroyed by the dust and they only have one chance at a good future. .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 , .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .postImageUrl , .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 , .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:hover , .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:visited , .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:active { border:0!important; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:active , .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81 .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7e6b65a8ac5052834aae6ce132aa5a81:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: To Kill a Mockingbird Essay California is that chance. They must keep a good image of her in their minds so they dont go crazy with fear. Its not that they dont believe any of the people, its that they dont fully want to believe. The Joads continued on to California, despite al the warnings on the road they had received, because there was just no other possible future for the family. Upon entering California the Joads got a glimpse of the unused farm land and their first taste that the rumors they had heard on the road about California, were in fact true. They drove down the road and would gaze at all the land that wasnt being used to produce food and crop for the people. They were amazed and thought if only they could have just that little bit of land, they would make it great and it would become part of them as theirs was back home. They encountered Hoovervilles. Great camps of migrants. Massive amounts of dirty tents and beat up cars. This would be the migrants only home. They encountered the prejudice towards them from the Californians. Them Okies? Theyre all hard-lookin. They witnessed fellow migrants become accused of false crimes just because they werent liked. They saw the fear in the peoples eyes that the migrants would one day band together and take that which they wanted of California. It was a situation of magnificent hate and despair. The Californians hated the migrants because they had no jobs and they were dirty and they couldnt feed their children. The migrants were jobless, homeless, dirty, and too poor to feed their children because California wouldnt give them a break. The migrants received an undeserved hate. This of course wouldnt be the first, or last, time in our country this has happened. The last remnants of the dream land the Joads saw as California were now completely eradicated from their minds. Now they saw what was real and what was the way of life they had chosen, or rather been forced into. There was no turning back now. The dream of California is necessary in the beginning of the book. The dust bowl had taken away much of the pride and courage of the Joad family. They needed something to believe in. They needed a light at the end of the tunnel because if they stayed where they were they would surely have not survived. The Joads couldnt stay where they were and without a goal to reach, something to look forward to, one just wanders around life aimlessly and hopelessly. They kept the dream alive throughout the journey. Even through the harsh rumors they heard along the road. They still kept that fragment of hope in the back of their heads that California would be everything they hoped it would be. Even in their worst times in California they would still look forward to earning enough money and getting a little white house to live in. Their lives really were destroyed when the dust bowl hit but no one can except those facts so they must tell themselves it will be all right. We will go to California and everything will be even better there than it was here. Unfortunately that wasnt the reality of the situation and the Joads were forced to deal with that harsh reality once in California and on the hard long journey there. California was no dream land, but rather a sealed fate to a life of fighting for food and watching loved ones die. California was the pain of the migrants summed up in one word.

Animal Testing Essay Conclusion Example For Students

Animal Testing Essay Conclusion When it comes to animals and their rights, there is a definite line between our needs and our taking advantage of those species that we consider inferior. As long as man has existed he has been carnivorous, and the same holds true for many other species of animals. Animals are a necessity to humans for survival, whether it be for food, clothing, etc. However, the unnecessary torture of animals through testing is not a necessity for human survival. When it comes to the needless torture of animals that we claim to benefit, the animals lives need to be taken into consideration. S. F. Sapontzis gives his theory as to why animals should not be used in testing. To start with, animals are not capable of giving their consent to be used as subjects in an experiment. Secondly, experiments can only be performed on an individual who is willing, morally speaking. Therefore it is immoral to use animals in experiments (Sapontzis 209). It would be great if this world where our lives were actually governed by morals. The sad truth is that we do not. Until we do, someone is going to have to stand up for the silent majority that is incapable of voicing its opinion. When there is torture and unjust treatment towards humans, people then realize that it is wrong. These people realize that its wrong when it comes to animals as well. Henry Spira said of the animals used in experiments: the victims are unable to organize in defense of their own interests (Spira 194). When it comes to needlessly conducting experiments on animals, no one ever says anything. Humans need to stop thinking about themselves as a superior species to other animals. They have to start thinking about how we can stop the cruelty that they inflict upon animals day after day in experiment after experiment. Tom Regan, a well-known animal rights activist, wrote, the fundamental wrong is the system that allows us to view animals as our resources, here for us- to be eaten, or surgically manipulated, or exploited for sport or money (Regan 14). Nothing could be more true than this fact; man considers itself such a superior species that all others were put on earth for his convenience. It is this type of thinking that has gotten humans to the place where we are today. What humanity needs to do is get off its high-horse and realize that they are not the king of the jungle and we really are no better than any other animal that roams the earth. It has been suggested that we are a higher form of life than animals. Following this line of thought, according to Sapontzis, experiments should be performed on animals in order to preserve the life of man. Therefore experiments should be performed on animals in order to protect our species and enhance our lives (Sapontzis 209). If this is true, then humans should have the right to do whatever it takes to better our situation, including taking advantage of other life forms that we consider lower than themselves.In Animal Revolution, Richard Ryder writes, Scientist frequently justify experiments upon non-humans in terms of the benefit they may bring to others (Ryder 241). This line of thinking illustrates the idea that the sacrificing of one living thing is made in the name of science if it leads to saving of other living things. The problem with this is that animals- such as rats, mice, rabbits, even dogs- are being used to find ways to save the lives of humans. .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 , .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .postImageUrl , .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 , .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:hover , .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:visited , .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:active { border:0!important; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:active , .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32 .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u495fd8174d09e122fdb6ef2a999f6c32:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Bilingual Education Position Paper Essay Once again, humans are placed above all other animals when it comes to superiority in life. Ryder also writes, Experimenting on humans might well produce far more valid results than do tests on rats (Ryder 241). If this is true, the fact that humans continue to do research on rodents is absurd. Researchers claim that tests on such animals are needed in order to protect humans in some cases, yet this makes no sense if the data has gotten from these experiments has no relevancy to humans at all. What this amounts to is the unnecessary use and torture of innocent animals that brings about no real