Consequentialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Consequentialism - Essay Example Having to make decisions based on the general welfare of people or its capacity to bring about positive change is justifiable under all circumstances. Consequentialism has been accepted by many realists, who understand that some actions, even if considered wrong with regard to moral rules, may have positive outcomes, benefitting a large number of people, which then justifies the act. The argument presented is to validate the superiority of Consequentialism over other ethical theories in practice. It is important to defend the ethical theory of Consequentialism which can be the key to maintaining stability in the society, without forcing upon them a set of rules to accept as moral standards, giving them more realistic options, and allowing them to decide upon the moral implications of their actions based on its outcome. It requires to be accepted as a moral theory and not an incessant practical casuistry as alleged by opponents of Consequentialism. Standard rules that define moral values are not practically feasible, as many decision making situations may be indefinable in terms of morality. Standard Consequentialism is a theory of decision. It attempts to identify, from a given set of options, the option which is right that an agent should take. The right option to any decision is the option that maximizes probable value or that which will have the best probable consequences, which directly aims at common welfare, which should be the underlying goal of an ethical theory such as in Consequentialism. The function which determines what is the right decision is also the function which ought to be applied in decision-making: it serves at once to evaluate options, and to select them. (Pettit) Consequentialism promotes a more realistic and futuristic approach to define moral standards, implying that, a certain act may be justified by its

Coastal Land Management Outlook: Tokyo

Coastal Land Management Outlook: Tokyo Coastal Land Management Outlook  Of The City Of  Tokyo    Introduction All around the world, the coastal resources are under bringing pressure to bear from population growth and development. More people are placed in coastal areas than in any other type of area, so that putting a strain on beaches, marine plants and animals, water resources, and natural resources. Coastal land management programs strive to protect coastal resources for future generations while balancing todays competing economic, cultural and environmental interests. The shortage of land resources, quality degradation and inefficient use has become an important restrictive factor affecting the ecological security and sustainable development of coastal developed areas. It is likewise a practical problem faced by land use management and planning decision. Many famous coastal cities in the world, such as Perth, Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York City, because of the contradiction between people and land is becoming more and more prominent, and land use becomes more and more complicated. Their c oastal land management is facing a series of issues and opportunities. Tokyo, as one of the coastal cities in the world, is selected to discuss its coastal land management outlook in this report. This report will focus on the following aspects: i) Background discussion in an international and national context. ii) The SWOT analysis for Tokyo. iii) The basic profile of Tokyo city iv) a range of coastal land management issues, opportunities, policies and prospects. v) Methods to solute and improve the current situation vi) Community and business sentiment. Each of these aspects is intricately linked. Background discussion International context It is indisputable fact that the key pressures that impact the coastal land management in the worldwide include population growth, pollution and climate variability. Due to the increasing number of housing, commercial, recreational, industrial and retail, the number of tourism increase and cause the coastal population growth. At the same time, pollution such as chemical, physical and biological waste also increases. For example, more tourism means more demand for hotels and tourist infrastructure in coastal areas, because of this, more trees or vegetation are cut down and used to build these facilities. In this process, trees as barriers may lose and also cause the loss of habitat and biodiversity, which means increasing of the coastal erosion. For this reason, the probability of the occurrence of natural disasters will increase. Therefore, coastal land management issues are interlocking and coastal land manager should pay attention to every problem. In addition, coastal land managem ent has its opportunities in global is an economic benefit. The main positive economic impacts of sustainable coastal tourism are contributions to government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, generation of employment, and business opportunities (WWF-Canon and SIIRLIA, 2008). Moreover, the policies of coastal land management are made as plans to provide non-regulatory policy guidance to coastal land managers in order to protect and manage coastal areas (Queensland, 2016). Cities have already transformed their local environments. So adapting to living with global change will likely usher in a new era of environmental and social transformation in the future (Coastal megacities, 2015). National context Furthermore, in the national contexts of Japan, the contemporary issues of the coastal land management in Tokyo are natural disaster, human utilization and ecology problems. Due to the unique topography, most of Japans coastlines are threatened by flooding and high waves during the typhoon season and earthquake. In addition, Japans coastline is prone to erosion. Thus, prevention of disasters related to typhoons, tsunamis, and erosion is one important functional aspect of coastal land management in Tokyo in Japan. Tokyo Bay area brings a fantastic business opportunity which produces 40% of Japans GDP every year. The coastal land is an extremely important gateway for both people and goods flowing into and out of the Tokyo metropolitan area (jsce, 2017). A basic theoretical framework for an integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) scheme in Japan is introduced. Specifically, it must address the ecological, human utilization, and disaster prevention aspects discussed above. Thus, seekin g a long-term and broad-based perspective in coastal management and creation of a healthy and stable environment foundation is the goal of ICZM (oldsite.nautilus, 2017). The SWOT Analysis for Tokyo Strengths Weaknesses 1. Diversity of tourist attractions and services. 2. Easily accessible location. 3. Improve the efficiency of business. 4. Increase the trade including import and export. 1. High coastal land maintenance costs 2. The density of human activities in coastal areas is too high Opportunities Threats 1. New product development in coastal areas 2. Disaster management 3. Growing economy 1. Flooding and high waves during the typhoon season 2. In the seismic zone Introduction to Tokyo Basic Profile Tokyo is located in the southern tip of the Kanto plain, roughly in the center of the Japanese archipelago. Tokyo is the largest city in Asia, the worlds second largest city, one of the worlds largest economic centers. According to Higashide (undated), the total area of Tokyo is 2,190.93 square kilometres. The area of Tokyo is 0.6% of the total area of Japan. As of October 1, 2015, the population of Tokyo is estimated to be 13.491 million, or about 11% of Japans total population, and it has the largest population among all the 47 prefectures. With a population density of 6,158 persons per square kilometer, Tokyo is the most densely populated prefecture in Japan (metro, 2017). Economic Profile The Tokyo region is Japans leading industrial center, the major economic base of Tokyo is manufacturing base. Heavy industries are concentrated in Chiba, Kawasaki, and Yokohama, while Tokyo proper is strongly inclined toward light industry, including book printing and the production of electronic equipment (city-data, 2017). Transport Profile Tokyo represents one of the most efficient and fast public transport systems in the world. It combines an extensive train network, underground subway lines, a bus system, taxis, and car rentals (tokyo-tokyo, 2017). According to japan-guide (2017), Tokyo is covered by a dense network of trains, subway and bus lines, which are operated by about a dozen different companies. Train lines operated by JR East and the subway lines are most convenient for moving around central Tokyo. Availability of public and green spaces    Tokyo also contains numerous parks and gardens. There are four national parks in Tokyo Prefecture, including the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which includes all of the Izu Islands (gojapango, 2017). The percentage of public green space (parks and gardens) is 7.5% in Tokyo (Worldcitiescultureforum, 2017). Issues Tokyo is faced with two major environmental crises. The first one is the threat of damage to health caused by air pollution aggravated with the increase in the number of automobiles on the road and the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere. The other crisis is the problem of the heat island effect in urban areas caused by enormous energy consumption and global warming due to the increase of carbon dioxide in the air (legcogov, 2017). Opportunities Polices Prospects Sentiment Recommendation As mentioned above, coastal land has brought huge economic wealth to Tokyo. Therefore it is important to save coastal land spaces and use land economic, make every piece of land valuable. The current issues of the coastal land management in Tokyo are natural disaster, human utilization and ecology problems. In order to address its root causes. Perhaps the most effective method of doing this would be for the coastal land managers to set up a coastal management plan. As well as using soft engineering and hard engineering solutions to improve quality of coastal land. Determine the goal of the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) scheme, follow a good coastal management plan to create a healthy and stable environment foundation in the future. Conclusion Bibliography Coastal megacities (2015) Coastal megacities: Risks and opportunities. Available at: http://www.igbp.net/news/features/features/coastalmegacitiesrisksandopportunities.5.62dc35801456272b46d17b.html (Accessed: 22 February 2017). Higashide, M. (no date) à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ãƒ ©Ã†â€™Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ©Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬Å"à ¥Ã‚ ºÃ…“à §Ã…“Å’Ã £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ ¤Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ºÃƒ ¥Ã‚ Ã‚ £Ãƒ £Ã†â€™Ã‚ »Ãƒ ©Ã‚ Ã‚ ¢Ãƒ §Ã‚ ©Ã‚ Ãƒ £Ã†â€™Ã‚ »Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ºÃƒ ¥Ã‚ Ã‚ £Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¯Ã¢â‚¬  Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¦Ãƒ £Ã†â€™Ã‚ ©Ãƒ £Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³Ãƒ £Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ­Ãƒ £Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³Ãƒ £Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °. Available at: http://uub.jp/rnk/p_j.html (Accessed: 22 February 2017). Queensland (2016) Coastal management plan. Available at: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/coastalplan/ (Accessed: 22 February 2017). WWF-Canon and SIIRLIA, E. (2008) Impact of tourism in coastal areas: Need of sustainable tourism strategy. Available at: http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sustainable_tourism_strategy#Benefits_of_Sustainable_coastal_tourism (Accessed: 22 February 2017). Chrome http://wenku.baidu.com/link?url=sHBY68U77eGSkEoJLBDE5TApTx13B6X5e5G4oiYzYVxRC0jngpsyQFvcGTkIS8-fSu_l_HXlHxvYlQF9agbZDCQ9kvZoJJm5tmxQNC48TKK http://ielts.xdf.cn/201207/7007413.html http://enviroeducation.com/resources/coastal-management-academic-requirements-professional-outlook http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sustainable_tourism_strategy#Benefits_of_Sustainable_coastal_tourism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_management http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/coasts/coastreforms-act.htm http://www.huaxia.com/hxhy/hyqy/2011/06/2463210.html http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-06-24/the-25-best-coastal-cities-in-the-world/17 http://www.igbp.net/news/features/features/coastalmegacitiesrisksandopportunities.5.62dc35801456272b46d17b.html https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/coastalplan/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569114002944 http://www.academia.edu/1477305/The_Issue_of_Tokyo_Bay_s_Reclaimed_Lands_as_the_Origin_of_Urban_Utopias_in_Modern_Japanese_Architecture http://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=539 http://www.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/civil_engineering/2007/91-4-1.pdf http://oldsite.nautilus.org/archives/papers/energy/IsobeESENAY2.pdf http://nautilus.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NakataESENAY2.pdf https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/asia-pacific/japan/tokyo/profile http://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.jp/jigyo/faq/kisei/hozen/ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD#.E6.A6.82.E8.A6.81 http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/asia/japanese-political-geography/tokyo#INTRODUCTION https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instantion=1espv=2ie=UTF-8#q=the+basic+profile+of+Tokyo https://translate.google.com.au/?hl=zh-CN#en/zh-CN/Cities%20have%20already%20transformed%20their%20local%20environments%2C%20so%20adapting%20to%20live%20with%20global%20change%20will%20likely%20usher%20in%20a%20new%20era%20of%20environmental%20and%20social%20transformation%20in%20the%20future. https://www.gojapango.com/location/tokyo/tokyo/ http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr05-06/english/sec/library/0506in30e.pdf http://www.worldcitiescultureforum.com/data/of-public-green-space-parks-and-gardens https://tokyo-tokyo.com/tokyo_transportation.htm http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html http://www.city-data.com/world-cities/Tokyo-Economy.html http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/ABOUT/HISTORY/history03.htm http://uub.jp/rnk/p_j.html http://www.tokyomap.com/ http://reports.advisorgate.com/swot-t/6552-swot-analysis-tokyo.html http://www.medmaritimeprojects.eu/download/ProjectMitomed/MITOMED%20SWOTanalysis.pdf http://www.glocom.ac.jp/column/1991/07/a_theory_of_integrated_coastal.html#3 Edge web http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-16_u-140_t-414_c-1451/coastal-management/nsw/coastal-management/issues-in-australian-environments/geographical-issues-physical-environments https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/6_Common_Problems.pdf https://www.environment.gov.au/science/soe/2011-report/11-coasts/2-major-issues http://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/another-word-for/international.html http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-16_u-140_t-414_c-1451/coastal-management/nsw/coastal-management/issues-in-australian-environments/geographical-issues-physical-environments https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/6_Common_Problems.pdf https://www.environment.gov.au/science/soe/2011-report/11-coasts/2-major-issues

Serial Killers :: Papers

In the last three decades the USA has been troubled by an approaching problem, the serial killer. A serial killer is a person who kills a number of people, usually considered over five, with a cooling off period between each murder, usually one murder at one given time). Two murders at one time occasionally happen and these murders may go on for a period of months or years until the killer is caught. Throughout the last three decades the US serial killer rate has risen 94% and it is estimated that by the next millennium it will claim an average of 11 lives a day. Serial Murder is an epidemic; there are at least 35 serial killers active in the USA today who claim one third of the annual murder rate. The USA has 6% of the world's population yet it has three quarters of all serial killers. Not only are serial killers appearing in more numbers in the US but also all over the world countries are terrorized by serial killers, which are appearing in more numbers year and year after. KILLER TRAIT: A serial killer is a typical white male, 20-30, and most of them are usually in the USA. Their main motives are sex (even though the act of sex may or may not take place), power, manipulation, domination and control. The sex motive is usually rape for an organized killer and sadism for a disorganized killer. They act in a series of 5 or more murders with a cooling off period between each murder. Serial killers can go on for months and years before they are usually caught. The victim is usually the same for every killer - prostitute, hitchhiker etc. Their victims may also have the same or similar attributes in gender, age, race, general look, residence etc. Serial killers also stick by their modus operandi very closely and may change it with experience. Most murders occur by strangulation, suffocation, stabbing etc. Serial killers act by a sex-murder fantasy based with their control, they usually live in this dream world in their teens until they act it out for real when they get into the adult stage. As each murder occurs a serial killer may be disappointed by his murder fantasy and may act it out again to achieve it to there own satisfaction. CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERIAL KILLER: 1. Killings are separate ('serial'), occurring with greater or less frequency, often escalating over a period of time, sometimes years, and will continue until the killer is taken into custody, dies, or is himself/herself killed.

American Buffalo

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Possible Solutions to Self-Harm

[Enter title here] A large number of people in western society have found self-mutilation as a means to â€Å"escape† from the problem’s haunting their everyday life. The act of cutting oneself has been proven to release chemical compounds into the body to momentarily clear the mind of such problems. These compounds, known as endorphins, relieve the body of whatever tension and stress that is undergone in the individual’s life.Harming one’s self is a serious problem that must be assessed and treated in an appropriate manner that will not only stop the act within the individual but also remove the source of such trauma in their life. The cause of such actions has been known to come in from a large multitude of personal problems. Problems such as an unsuitable household, difficulties within a person’s social background, or even the image they see within themselves. Professor Keith Hawton oversaw a study taken over the amount of adolescents who admitte d to inflicting harm upon themselves.His survey took place in forty-one schools involving 6,020 subjects aged fifteen to sixteen. The results were that â€Å"398 (6. 8%) participants reported an act of deliberate self harm in the past year† (Hawton 2002). According to the results, more females admitted to this act than males. Of those females who were accountable to deliberate self-harm, they confessed the causes being their â€Å"friends, self harm by family members, drug misuse, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and low self esteem† (Hawton 2002).The factors found within the males were drug use, suicidal behavior found within their friends and family, and low self-esteem. Patricia and Peter Adler discuss the effects that undergone by the individual through the expectations of those around that person. In their writing, â€Å"The Glorified Self† the Adlers present how a society creates an image of those within it and the pressure placed upon those people create an inner conflict â€Å"between their desire for recognition, flattery, and importance and the inclination to keep feeding this self-affirming element† (Adler 195).As society continues to surround the individual, the pressure increases as the person begins to take on a role which they may not feel is best suited for them, yet must be upheld in order to feel better accepted within their society. Such expectations are found in those closest to that person: parents, siblings, friends or anyone who could affect that person’s life. These expectations can create a dilemma within the individual, whether they wish to be who they want or who they are required to be.Through the burden of deciding on they wish to become, the troubled person begins to turn away from the sources of their problems and look for a quick escape. That escape varies among the individual experiencing such complications in their life, anything from substance abuse to physically abusing their own body. The human body finds whatever means necessary in order to cope with the difficulties presented in their life. This coping mechanism is the brain’s way of releasing the stress that builds up over time from dealing with whatever obstacles that are laid out before the person.In order to stop such actions taking place, the source of the problem(s) must then be removed, or tuned down enough to no longer give the desire for the person to find a momentary escape. Removing all sources of responsibilities in a person’s life is nearly impossible. Instead of removing the source of the problem, a more possible solution is to show the people undergoing such problems that they aren’t alone in their responsibilities. Giving out a hand to those in need will show them that they don’t need to hold their problems to themselves.Encourage a troubled individual to express their fears, problems, and concerns in hopes that in doing so, that person may then be able to realize that a s tough as things may be, they are never alone. Another way to relieve stress in a positive manner is meditation. True this seems like it won’t do much, but â€Å"that small amount of peace in your day can help you deal with or even release stress† (Alvarez 2012). There are countless ways to combat the problems in an individual’s life, remedies that expand anywhere from eating healthy to taking a few minutes in their day to meditate or exercise.Sources Cited Adler, Patricia A. , and Peter Adler. â€Å"The Glorified Self. †Ã‚  Social Theory. Ed. Roberta Garner. 2nd ed. [S. l. ]: Univ Of Toronto, 2009. 195-207. Print. Alvarez, Manny. â€Å"10 Ways to Relieve Stress Naturally. † Newsgroup. Fox News. Fox News, 9 Aug. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Hawton, Keith. â€Å"Deliberate Self Harm in Adolescents: Self Report Survey in Schools in England. †Ã‚  Ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 23 Nov. 2002. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.

Branch Davidians and the Waco, Texas Massacre

Branch Davidians and the Waco, Texas Massacre For more than fifty days, FBI agents were stationed outside Mount Carmel Center, the headquarters of the religious cult called the Branch Davidians.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Branch Davidians and the Waco, Texas Massacre specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They were waiting for the groups charismatic leader David Koresh to stand down and order his followers to lay down their arms and surrender to the overwhelming force that has surrounded their compound. But as time breached the deadline set by the FBI, David Koresh and his followers were intent to wait out to be certain that what they are going to do next is in line with prophetic utterances made a few years earlier. They were willing to wait for divine instructions but the federal government and the FBI who did not understand the worldview of the Branch Davidians and therefore they could not wait any longer and they believed that they were justified to use force. If only they knew the aftermath of the assault they would have made a different decision. Background A historical background is needed to at least make sense of the numerous and sometimes conflicting accounts of what really happened in the aftermath of the final attack on Mount Carmel center in April 19, 1993.[1] It has to be pointed out that this group did not come out of nowhere; in fact, the origin of the Branch Davidians can help explain why Koresh was able to hold sway over a group of people and ultimately led many of them to their death. This group came from a splinter sect that broke away from a Christian denomination known all over the world as the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA).[2] The SDA is known for â€Å"their belief in the imminent return of Jesus Christ to earth, for their special vegetarian dietary restrictions and for their retention of Saturday as their Sabbath.†[3] Those who are aware of the practices of the SDA can ascertain that the Branch Davidians came from the SDA. This does not mean that the SDA is responsible for what happened at Waco but at least it provides a backdrop that will help understand how and why the splinter group used some of the ideas and doctrines they had at SDA and shaped it into their own. Nevertheless, it can also be said that these two groups were linked by: â€Å"†¦historical roots, the origins of their members, their name, their identity, and their apocalyptic preoccupations, idiom, and paranoias.†[4] Once again it must be reiterated that the SDA is not responsible for creating the Waco debacle and yet it is also clear that David Koresh learned much from them, especially when it comes to their strong interests with regards to apocalyptic events.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The breakaway sect was founded by a man named Victor Houteff who was an SDA member since 1919. But after more or less ten years of membership Houteff began to express his disappointment with the errors he found in the doctrines of SDA and so he wrote a book entitled The Shepherds Rod in 1930.[5] But more than that Houteff believed that he was a messenger sent by God and in 1935 he founded the Mount Carmel center, the same facility that would figure prominently in news headlines fifty years later. Houteff called his group the Davidian Sevent-Day Adventist and after World War II he began to recruit members outside the United States. But in 1955 he died and soon after his wife took over the vacant leadership position and she made a prophecy that the world will end on April 22, 1959. When the supposedly dreadful day came and nothing happened many members began to desert the group. The organization almost disintegrated due to the failure of the prophecy but a man named Benjamin Roden assumed control of the group and he renamed it the General Association of Davidian Seventh-D ay Adventists.[6] After his death his wife Lois and son George took over. The year 1981 was a significant year for the group because during this time a man named Vernon Howell joined the group; he was 21 years old and he became the groups handyman.[7] Three years later Vernon Howell married the daughter of a prominent member of the community, her name was Rachel Jones and a power struggle ensued between George Roden and Howell.[8] But Vernon Howell came out on top and in 1985 he spearheaded a drive to recruit members abroad.[9] The strategy that he used to recruit was interesting because he targeted former SDA members who were disgruntled with the SDA.[10] Nevertheless, Howell achieved success in this regard especially when he went to the United Kingdom. He was able to convince a number of British citizens to come and join him. In the aftermath of the final raid it was discovered that thirty-three out of the eighty two followers who died at Waco, Texas were British.[11] The recruitm ent plan was not only limited to England but was also aimed at Canada and Australia, after a successful round of recruitment the membership of the Branch Davidians can be said to be multi-racial ad multi-ethnic of whom 45 were black.[12] It was also during this time that Vernon Howell decided to change his name so that he will be known henceforth as David Koresh. He had his name legally changed and submitted a court document that explains that the purpose for dong so was â€Å"for publicity and business purposes.†[13]Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Branch Davidians and the Waco, Texas Massacre specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The group was know known as the Students of the Seven Seals and correctly interpreted as students of the scroll protected by the seven seals.[14] The name Branch Davidians was not an official name that the group adopted but it was what the Waco Tribune-Herald used extensively t o refer to them.[15] Aside from going to different countries to look for new members Koresh also traveled to the land of Israel in 1985 and this experience added another dimension to the group. According to some experts there is a phenomenon called the Jerusalem Syndrome that sometimes develops after a pilgrimage in the holy city.[16] A year after his visit, Koresh began to refer to himself as the â€Å"Sinful Messiah.†[17] It is easy to generalize the whole group based on the thought pattern, activities, achievements and the declarations made by their leader. From an outsider’s point of view Koresh has no value as far as the normal standard of what constitutes a productive citizen is concern. He has no real job, he was no entrepreneur and he was not a professional. Thus, it is easy to conclude that his members came from the same mould. As one reporter had insinuated during the crisis and wrote the following: Cults such as the Branch Davidians attracted the lonely, the lost, the unloved and the naà ¯ve. Their members came from all over but had at least one thing in common: they were alienated from modern society and were searching for a replacement. Many were society’s losers with nowhere else to go. Others sought spiritual salvation and believed they would discover it by joining a cult. A few, like George Roden, were simply mad.[18] This sweeping statement cannot be used to describe every member of the Branch Davidians. There are those whom one can consider to be of good standing in the community and men of great achievement, for example Wayne Martin, one of the followers of Koresh was a Harvard-trained lawyer while Steve Schneider the group’s spokesperson had a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii and Livingstone Fagan had a degree from the Manchester Metropolitan University and at the same time a trained Seventh-day Adventist pastor.[19] Understanding Davidian Theology No one outside the Branch Davidian cult can clearly explain what David Koresh was trying to say – his prophecies as well as his declarations. He clearly had his own system of interpretation. Nevertheless, it is important to try to understand what he said in order to determine if FBI and the ATF were justified in storming the gates so to speak that resulted not only in the death of Koresh but dozens of members including women and children. The type of Biblical study that Koresh seem to be passionate about is referred to as apocalyptic. In the last few years of his life Koresh was obsessed with the Book of Revelation the last book of the Christian bible and it was believed to be written by the Apostle John.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this book there is an important section that deals with a scroll or book with seven seals and the person who can break the seal is the one who will be able to read and understand these books and the fact that they are sealed means it is of utmost importance. However, the bible says that no one was able to break the seal.[20] As one reads this particular passage in the Book of Revelation one can feel a sense of urgency and suspense not knowing what will happen next. But this feeling quickly passes because in just a few verses the One who is able to break the seal was revealed and he is none other than the Lamb.[21] In the case of the members of the Davidian cult there is no need to ask who is the Lamb and there is no need to experience an acute sense of anticipation for his coming because they knew who the Lamb is and who can open the seal. He is not a spiritual being but made of flesh. He is human and he is none other than their beloved leader – David Koresh.[22] But Chris tians all over the world will sneer at this remark because they will also argue that the Lamb is none other than Christ. The Old Testament of the Christian Bible repeatedly discussed the need to offer a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the people. This was ingrained into mainstream culture after the release of movies like the Ten Commandments wherein one can see the blood of the lamb painted on doorposts and the consumption of a roasted lamb as a means to preserve the Hebrew slaves from impending doom. This act and this symbolism were easily understood as a sacrifice that is acceptable to God. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible the prophet John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said that he is the lamb of God that will take away the sin of the world.[23] In other numerous instances in the New Testament one can also the reference to Jesus Christ as the lamb of God.[24] It is therefore puzzling why Koresh would claim to be the Lamb of God. But the moment he was convinced that he is indeed the One who can break the seals as mentioned in the Book of Revelations and the moment that he had followers who believed in what he said then the sky was the limit in terms of what he thinks can be done through his actions. The following is an excerpt that Koresh gave in an interview with a reporter from Time magazine and he made the following assertions: I offer to you my wisdom, I offer to you my sealed secrets. How dare you turn away? My invitations of mercy †¦ Who are you fighting against? The law is mine, the truth is mine †¦ I am your God and you will bow under my feet †¦ I am your life and your death. I am the Spirit of the prophets and the author of their testimonies. Look and see, you folls, you will not proceed much further. Do you think you have power to stop my will? †¦ My seven thunders are to be revealed †¦ Do you want me to laugh at your pending torments? Do you want me to pull the heavens back and show you my anger? †¦ Fear me, for I have you in my snare †¦ I forewarn you, the Lake Waco area of Old Mount Carmel will be terribly shaken. The waters of the lake will be emptied through the broken dam.[25] Even the most objective assessment of Koresh’ words will lead to the conclusion that this man needed help because he believed that he is equal to God. At the same time he needed to check himself into a mental facility because he does not only deluded into thinking that he is God but he also believes that he has the power to destroy the Lake Waco Area referring to the water that comes from a nearby dam and therefore hinting at the destruction of this facility. It is not only the message of doom that forced the federal government and the people surrounding the siege to act quickly, without a doubt their actions were influenced by how the Waco Tribune-Herald portrayed Koresh as the archetypal cult leader, â€Å"a man whose hold over his followers was complete, to the point of his being able, if he so wised, to order them to commit suicide† and therefore the need to stop this madmen from leading people to their untimely deaths.[26] For those who stand in the foundation laid by the U.S. Constitution, specifically the First Amendment there is nothing wrong with what Koresh was babbling about. Even if Koresh believed himself to be the devil the federal government cannot and should not curtain his freedom to express himself and the kind of religion that he will adhere to. It is therefore important to stress that the federal government agents who stormed Mount Carmel Center did not breached the facility because they were not in agreement with the Branch Davidians’ rhetoric but they did so on the other grounds. It is therefore crucial to take note of the fact that the agents wanted to arrest Koresh because of the legality of some of his actions. The First Attempt On February 28, 1993 a seventy-six strong and heavily armed ATF agents were in an eighty vehicle convoy going to Mount Carmel center just outside Waco, Texas.[27] For the past several months ATF acted on a tip that the Branch Davidians were purchasing illegal firearms materials and this was allegedly for the purpose of converting AR-15 semiautomatic rifles into machine guns.[28] This was not allowed according to the law because the Branch Davidians were supposed to report this to the government and they had to pay the required fees and since they did not, ATF was obliged to get them and force them to pay for their offenses. If only they knew what was in store for them the ATF may have reconsidered their decision to play hardball with the Branch Davidians. The ATF agents carried with them a search and arrest warrant.[29] They also brought with them two cattle trailers pulled by pickup trucks and these two were filled with ATF assault forces and these were driven quickly in front of the headquarters of the Branch Davidians to unload its cargo of lethal force while at the same time two b lack hawk helicopters came out of nowhere possibly as a means to intimidate the inhabitants to surrender to the authorities.[30] All of these can be ascertained but what soon followed was disputed by both sides.[31] According to David Koresh he shouted at the incoming ATF agents that there were women and children inside the building and so he told them to get back for he was ready to negotiate but he added that the ATF agents[32] replied with burst of gunfire. His assertion was strengthened by a 911 call asking the authorities to stop the violence. The ATF agents on the other hand said that they identified themselves and shouted to Koresh that they had a warrant but all of a sudden they were cut off by a hail of bullets and the reason why they had to fire back.[33] It was a bloody initial attack. When the sound of crackling gunfire was over in the said initial attack four federal law enforcement agents were killed by the Branch Davidians.[34] Six Branch Davidians members were killed by the agents.[35] In just a matter of hours the whole thing was transferred to the hands of the FBI.[36] There were negotiations made and Koresh released ten children. The Media The Waco Tribune-Herald played an important role in the debacle because before the first raid by the Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms the Waco Tribune-Herald already had an idea that such an assault will be made and who was the target of the raid. As a result on February 27 a day before the ATF tried to serve the warrant to search and seized evidence of illegal activities, the Waco Tribune-Herald released a report entitled The Sinful Messiah.[37] In the said report the Branch Davidian was reduced to nothing but a scary cult where the leader is an expert in brainwashing and has managed to control the members to follow him blindly. In other words the Waco Tribune-Herald had a hand in demonizing the obscure sect and propelled them to world prominence. Aside from that the Waco Tribune-Herald released details that painted an image of David Koresh as a sex pervert who seemed to have his own harem – a collection of wives who were still married to his followers and if this was not enough according to the report Koresh had the propensity to have sexual intercourse with girls as young as 12 years old.[38] This means that if proven true Koresh is not only stockpiling illegal firearms but also guilty of statutory rape. However, the evidence is still sketchy with regards to this part of the Branch Davidians’ story. It can also be said that the Waco Tribune-Herald helped create a scenario that made it extremely difficult for the FBI and ATF agents to sit idly while Koresh continued with his propaganda regarding his belief that he is the messiah and that the end of the world is near. This is because after the initial attack CNN broadcasted all over the world images of dead ATF agents being retrieved while the agents of the federal government seemed in retreat. For example th ere were footages and images were played over and over again on TV screens around the globe.[39] It could have been a simple hostage negotiations but it is no longer possible to simply talk to David Koresh and his men because now they have to answer to the deaths of the agents in the first raid. On the other hand the Branch Davidians were an obscure sect before this incident and after their headquarters was seen on TV the group achieved a level of notoriety that made their name synonymous to religious fanaticism while at the same time earned sympathies from those who see the government as an intrusive entity that will try to bend the law with regards to the First Amendment. The Government The Federal Government was drawn into the destructive saga because of the belief that the government is supposed to enforce rules but it turned out that the government was not helping the situation. It was the height of irony that the Federal Government will act as fire accelerant to the flame beca use their presence convinced Branch Davidians that biblical prophecies was about to come to pass. The more that the FBI tried to end the siege by force the more that they gave ammunition to David Koresh without knowing it. The government had a narrow perspective with regards to the Branch Davidian problem. For the FBI negotiators Koresh and his men could not talk about anything of substance and so their frustration increases every passing day. The Branch Davidians on other hand went deeper into their paranoia that what they feared was about to come to pass. On the other side of the fence the FBI agents were also convinced that this paramilitary group is just doing everything in their power to elude capture and therefore the government has to act quickly. They approach the situation from a legal point of view and by being legalistic about it they could not figure out anything except to use their hostage and rescue team and other specialists to end the crisis using tools of warfare an d other tactics. The FBI negotiators did their part by connecting a private line between them and the Mount Carmel Center and through this line they were able to talk to Koresh or his spokesperson a man named Schneider.[40] In one report submitted to the Department of Justice authorities said that Koresh would often go into a two or three hour monologue.[41] This means that it was increasingly difficult for the FBI negotiators to influence Koresh to think about surrender. Hostage/Barricade After the immense blunder of the initial attack the Federal Bureau of Investigation were called to take over and they did. The firs thing that they had to do was to assess the situation and then formulate the right strategy to end the crisis. One of the first things that they had to do was to label the problem correctly and it has to be pointed out that in this case the FBI could not find the exact terminology to indicate what they are trying to deal with and therefore they came up with an awkward name for it and they said that it is a kind of a hostage situation.[42] However, the people inside the building could not be said to have been taken against their will. The FBI had to reassess their initial description of the situation and so someone said that it is a hybrid between a barricade and a hostage situation. If it is a barricade then the agents had no choice but to wait it out until the group surrenders out of exhaustion there would be no justification for storming in. But if it is a hostage situation and the agents feel that the hostage taker is going to harm the lives of the people then they have all the reasons needed to enter in using force. The Aftermath It was time for the second raid and this time around agents from the federal government made sure that all bases were covered. Armored vehicles punched holes into the walls and gas canisters were thrown inside the building and in the aftermath this is what can be seen: â€Å"†¦the compound was burnt to the gro und and at least 75 sect members, including Koresh and 25 children under 15 years of age were killed.†[43] The bloody end was once again broadcasted to the whole world and while there was a strong condemnation against a religious cult leader who allegedly abused his members, the result of the attack and the death of the children earned them sympathy. It did not take long before the word wanted to know why if the federal government did everything in its power to resolve the crisis without having to destroy the lives of the innocents. The images of the burning building and the death of the children created a wave of protest from those who suddenly saw the contrast between the story that they heard on the news and the actual event. Surely the group can be considered as communal religious sect that may have subscribed to bizarre practices and yet there is no reason why their lives must end this way. The red flames covered the building and no one knows what to do with the children trapped inside. This is perhaps the reason why the U.S. Constitution and the founders of this nation inserted the First Amendment; they must have known that someday people will be killed for their beliefs. The First Amendment The debacle at Waco presented to the world a unique case where religious freedom and the right to bear arms converged in the life of one group the Branch Davidians. It was a curious case because most of the time the world has to deal with religious freedom, the right to worship and the right to choose ones religion without interference from the government. However, there is an added element because this group did not only struggle for religious expression like the Old Order Amish or the Mennonites but this group also tried to make a point about their right to bear arms. From another perspective one can see that the Branch Davidians wanted to be left alone to pursue what they believe is the only way to lead their lives. If other religions are allowed to do so th en why is it that the federal government had a different outlook when it came to David Koresh and his followers? It can be said that the Old Order Amish of Iowa and other similar groups exerclised the same right and no one bothered them.[44] The existence of the Amish people is a celebration of the First Amendment and it is a testament to the power of the Constitution to create a diverse society without its citizens destroying themselves to create a much simpler society. This has been at the forefront of the Branch Davidian fiasco, was the federal government intent on wiping out a religion that would not conform to a more acceptable type of belief system? According to the Religious Studies Professor Rowland A. Sherrill: â€Å"Let’s not beat around the bush: Our first response to people who are religious in ways other than we are is to be irritated.†[45] He added that common views regarding religious people are that they are intolerant; that heaven is for a select few; and that they have a blind adherent to their religion that can be a source of annoyance or dread. The Waco Tribune-Herald, the government, and the people living within that particular community labeled them as a cult and there is no need to expound on the fact that this term carries with it a load of meaning that can surely illicit a negative response. This added to controversial image of the group. Others however contend that the use of the term cult can be easily abused or misused. Political scientists like Michael Barkun contends, however, that the term cult, â€Å"has become virtually meaningless, little more than a label slapped on religious groups regarded as too exotic, marginal or dangerous†, in the same way that English settlers used the label barbarian and applied it to the Native Americans of this country.[46] This is the question when it comes to the Branch Davidians, do they have the right to worship freely and even further, do they have the right to bear arms? I t is clear in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that an American citizen has the right to own a weapon. The only question is what kind and how many? This is an issue that is not easy to resolve and it is evidenced by the number of books, articles, TV ads and speeches made because of the need to create a common ground – gun rights advocate are asking for more while those who had an aversion for gun toting citizens are asking for greater limits. One of their most popular supporters is actor Charlton Heston who spoke out in their behalf and said: Just about everything I hope is good about me – who I am, what I’ve tried to do – can be traced back to those smoking muskets and the radical declaration of independence by those ragtag rebels. Wearing threadbare coats and marching on bleeding feet, they defeated the finest army in the century, and they gave the world hope. Within them flowed an undertow of personal freedom, a relentless sense of what is right, so irresistibly strong they simply could not resist.[47] The fears of those who cry for gun control is repeatedly justified every year after news of indiscriminate shootings and the deaths of many due to firearms.[48] The Waco, Texas incident was no exception. On the other hand gun rights advocates made clear their own set of fears. It is not only their fear of being mugged and assaulted without the ability to defend themselves but also their fear of the government. There are those who said however, that this right and this talk of freedom from the First Amendment to the Second Amendment have been blown out of proportion. There are those who even contend that these ideals were taken from the militia myth created after the success of the American Revolution.[49] In other words there is no need to form a private army in this day and age but many cling stubbornly to the idea that they must be prepared at all times to defend themselves not only against intruders but a powerful g overnment. Groups like the Branch Davidians may also offer a counter-argument that their purchase of weapons is justified by the fact that the government has its standing army known as the National Guard. They may even argue that it is their right as an American citizen to be armed in order that no entity foreign or domestic can overwhelm them and take their freedom away from them. The need to bear arms was strengthened by the belief that a time will come that the federal government will try to limit the freedom of the people. The right to bear arms is also justified by the belief that only an armed populace can defend the U.S. Constitution against those who would try to tamper with it to serve their personal purposes. A general understanding of why private arms keeping should be allowed was expounded in the following argument: â€Å"†¦to deter tyranny and, if necessary, to overthrow it and restore the Constitution.†[50] Those who support this view will also add that a f ederal government â€Å"could become tyrannical† and it is the duty of the armed people to deal with the problem by being able to stage a revolt.[51] There is logic to the arguments made by gun rights advocate but in the case of the Branch Davidians and the Waco, Texas incident there is more to the issue other than the right to bear arms.[52] It is a confluence of the First Amendment and the Second Amendment rights. The difficulty in separating the two proved futile. And after the event it is easy for many people to judge what happened to the Branch Davidians from either of two perspectives: one will say that it is a violation of their right to free speech and religious worship while others will say that the government came in because of the weapons that they stockpiled within the Mount Carmel Center. Resolving the Crisis The negotiators worked diligently to establish rapport with Koresh but it was not an easy task, in fact it was an impossible task. The FBI asked the help of experts, even those who are familiar with biblical prophecy. There were also third parties who tried to get through Koresh. One of them is the station manager of a radio station based in Dallas who urged Koresh to surrender and ask for medical help.[53] The station manager also tried to convince the cult leader to release more children but instead of a favorable response Koresh started what authorities would later call as a mad rambling from a psycho and he would talk and talk about his religious views and he was oblivious to the fact that the station manager and his audience find his rhetoric unintelligible. Nevertheless, it was easy to understand that patience is needed and at first the government was willing to wait, willing to diffuse the situation and willing to resolve the crisis without using violence. But after weeks of doing nothing except to observe and listen to a boring monologue they were ready to consider anything new. It was discovered later that weeks before the fin al attack leaders in both Washington, D.C. and the FBI were increasingly frustrated over the delaying tactics of Koresh and his men. This was exacerbated by the fact that Koresh promised to stand down after March 2 but when the window of time given for his possible surrender began to close, the FBI was considering more drastic actions. On March 15, 1993 FBI agents began to draw up a new strategy to finally defeat Koresh. It was called a â€Å"modified negotiations strategy† and this was a new directive to the negotiators to be firm and to make Koresh surrender.[54] This also meant that they would no longer listen to what Koresh had to say, from that time forward the Branch Davidians had to show that they are willing to comply or the FBI will make their lives miserable. By doing so negotiations began to break down. At around the same time the FBI began to use â€Å"stress escalation† and harassment techniques.[55] Electricity was temporarily cut-off and then afterwards the FBI ordered that the power must be cut permanently.[56] The FBI were demanding and no longer listening to what Koresh had to say. The FBI would demand that Koresh should release more people and when he refused to comply they would retaliate with punitive measures.[57] Such as the use of searchlights during the night in the obvious attempt to keep the people inside the building from getting any sleep. Loud music were played during the night as loudspeakers continued to blare out irritating sounds.[58] However, these actions prompted a negative response. Instead of forcing Koresh and the people to leave the building they were pushing them deeper into their shell because now they believed that the government is evil and it only seeks their destruction. It can be argued that there could have been a better way to end the siege or hostage situation. The federal government and the FBI should have made a correct assessment of the situation by first determining correctly that there are t wo sides of the issues. First, the government has the right to regulate the use of weapons. It does not matter what others will say with regards to the ownership of guns and other high-powered weapons because it is clear that many had suffered from the misuse of weapons and therefore it is just proper for the government to enforce the law. Secondly, the federal government should have considered that this is a multi-part problem and that the Branch Davidians were not only stockpiling weapons but they were convinced that they are part of a communal religious group that believed in the imminent fulfillment of biblical prophecies. This should not be taken against them for this is what they believed. But more importantly the FBI should have realized that their presence and the failed entry of the ATF agents weeks beforehand was the signal for the Branch Davidians that the end of the world is near and that they were not seen as law enforcement agents but as enemies in the spiritual contex t. If this was insight of the federal government then they would have reconsidered their plan to use deadly force. Conclusion David Koresh and the Branch Davidians were arguably the victim of the media hype specifically the report written by the Waco Tribune-Herald. This report forced people to see them in a very negative light and put pressure on the government as well as the law enforcement agencies to bring David Koresh and his men to justice. In the process no one placed an emphasis on their right to worship in the way and form that they want to worship. Due to negative information that were broadcasted to outsiders and people who had no clear idea of what the Branch Davidians was all about the group was demonized. As a result there was an urgency to end the crisis by force. This is the reason why so many people were killed including women and children. If the negative reports did not influence the law enforcement agents who were responsible for resolving the crisis using non-le thal force then the story could have ended differently and the lives of the people would have been spared. Bibliography Carter, Gregg Lee. Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture  And the Law. California: ABC-CLIO, Inc. Crothers, Lane. Rage on the Right: The American Militia Movement from Ruby Ridge to  Homeland Security. Maryland: Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2003. Edwards, Linda. A Brief Guide to Beliefs: Ideas, Theologies, Mysteries, and Movements. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. Gibbs, Nancy, Michael Riley, Richard Woddbury. â€Å"The Branch Davidians: Oh, My God,They’re Killing Themselves.† Time Magazine Archives. Web. Kerstetter, Todd. God’s Country, Uncle Sam’s Land: Faith and Conflict in the American West. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2006. Kerstetter, Todd. â€Å"That’s Just the American Way: The Branch Davidian Tragedy and Western Religious History.† T he Western Historical Quarterly 35(2004): 453-471. Lawson, Ronald. â€Å"Seventh-Day Adventist Responses to Branch Davidian Notoriety: Patterns of Diversity within a Sect Reducing Tension with Society.† Journal for the Scientific Study  of Religion. 34(1995): 323-341. Morris, Leon. The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross. Massachusetts: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1984. Murray, Bruce. Religious Liberty in America: The First Amendment in Historical and  Contemporary Perspective. Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press, 2008. Newport, Kenneth. The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic  Sect. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. Reavis, Dick. The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1995. Robinson, Bruce. â€Å"Branch Davidians: History, Beliefs, and Practices.† Religious Tolerance: Ontario Consultants on Relgious Tolerance. Web. Schwieder, Elmer Thomas Morain. A Peculiar People: Iowa’s Old Order Amish. Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1975. Tabor, James Eugene Gallagher. Why Waco?: Cults and the Battle for the Religious Freedom  in America. California: University of California, 1995. Footnotes Nancy Gibbs, Michael Riley, Richard Woddbury, â€Å"The Branch Davidians: Oh, My God, They’re Killing Themselves,† Time Magazine Archives. Bruce Robinson, â€Å"Branch Davidians: History, Beliefs, and Practices,† Religious Tolerance: Ontario Consultants on Relgious Tolerance. Ibid. Ronald Lawson, â€Å"Seventh-Day Adventist Responses to Branch Davidian Notoriety: Patterns of Diversity within a Sect Reducing Tension with Society,† Journal for the Scientific Study  of Religion. 34(1995): 323. Robinson, p.1 Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Linda Edwards, A Brief Guide to Beliefs: Ideas, Theologies, Mysteries, and Movements, (Louisville, Kentucky: John Knox Press, 2001), 408. Robinson, p.1. Edwards, 408. Robinson, p.1. Ibid. Edwards, 408. Ibid. Ne wport, 4. Ibid. Revelations 5:3. New International Version. Ibid. Dick Reavis, The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation, (New York: Syracuse University Press, 1995), 102. Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, (Massachusetts: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1984), 129. Ibid. Edwards, 407. Kenneth Newport, The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic  Ã‚  Sect, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006), 2. James Tabor Eugene Gallagher. Why Waco?: Cults and the Battle for the Religious Freedom  Ã‚  in America. (California: University of California, 1995), 1. Ibid. Newport, 1. Tabor Gallagher, 1. Ibid., 2. Ibid. Ibid. Todd Kerstetter, â€Å"That’s Just the American Way: The Branch Davidian Tragedy and Western Religious History,† The Western Historical Quarterly 35(2004), 453. Lawson, 323. Newport, 1. Tabor Gallagher, 2. Ibid. Newport, 1. Ibid., 5. Ibid. Tabor Gallagher, 4. Lawson, 323. Elmer Schwieder Thomas Morain, A Peculiar People : Iowa’s Old Order Amish, (Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1975), 37. Bruce Murray, Religious Liberty in America: The First Amendment in Historical and  Ã‚  Contemporary Perspective, (MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 2008), 24. Kerstetter, Todd. God’s Country, Uncle Sam’s Land: Faith and Conflict in the American West. (Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2006), 134. Lane Crothers, Rage on the Right: The American Militia Movement from Ruby Ridge to  Homeland Security, (MD: Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2003), 34. Gregg Lee Carter, Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture  And the Law, (California: ABC-CLIO, Inc.), 175. Ibid. Carter, 257. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid., 6. Ibid. Ibid.,7. Ibid. Ibid.

The Expert Guide to the Columbia Supplement

The Expert Guide to the Columbia Supplement SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Only 6% of applicants are admitted to Columbia every year. Do you want to be one of them? If so, you’ll need to write amazing Columbia essays as part of your application. In this article, we’ll outline the different types of essays you need to write for your Columbia Supplement and teach you how to write an essay that will help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants. What Does the Columbia Supplement Include? Like many major colleges and universities, Columbia University requires its applicants to submit essays as part of their application for admission. Columbia requires that you write a total of three essays and answer five short answer questions. You’ll need to answer a prompt provided by the Common Application or Coalition Application, depending on which one you use to submit your Columbia application through. You’ll also need to respond to two Columbia-specific short essay questions. The Columbia essay prompts offer you plenty of opportunities to show off your qualifications as an applicant and wow the admissions committee. The first, and longest, essay that you’ll write for Columbia will be based on one of the essay prompts provided by the Common App or the Coalition App, depending on which application you use to apply to Columbia. If you want to learn how to write a great essay for the Common App or Coalition App, check out our dedicated blog posts on each topic. Columbia Essays, Analyzed In this section, we’ll be looking at both of the Columbia supplemental essays in depth. Remember, every applicant must answer both essay prompts, so you don’t get to choose which essay you would like to write. You’ll need to answer each essay prompt strongly if you want to be admitted to Columbia. Let’s take a look at each of the two Columbia supplement questions and see how to write something meaningful for each. Columbia Essay Prompt #1 Please tell us what you value most about Columbia and why. (300 words or fewer) This prompt is deceptively simple. While the question is brief, you should take care to answer it with specific information about Columbia and why it is the best university for you. The admissions committee is interested in learning about your curiosity inside and outside of the classroom, so don’t feel like you have to limit your expressed interest in Columbia to its academic resources. For instance- how are you planning to utilize Columbia’s location? That being said, remember that the most important thing here is to be specific. Although the fact that Columbia is in NYC can certainly be a draw, do not use "city life" as your topic- it’s too broad and will sound insincere. A better answer would be to talk about the partnerships Columbia has with the many companies that are in New York City or to discuss how certain Columbia classes integrate with the world-class museums nearby. The committee is looking for students who will take advantage of all that Columbia has to offer them as an institution- so be honest in your response, and do some research. Instead of simply saying that Columbia has great academics, go into detail about a professor you admire or a class you are excited to take. Maybe there is an internship or specific program that you only have access to through Columbia. Being specific is more powerful than speaking in generalized platitudes. Don’t feel limited to your potential major. You don’t have to write solely about your predicted course of study. In fact, this prompt is an opportunity to diversify your academic portfolio, so to speak, and show the committee that you’re curious and open to new ideas. Columbia Essay Prompt #2 The third essay that you’ll write for Columbia will depend on the college that you’re applying to. Columbia’s application has different prompts for Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering And Applied Sciences. While the prompts are basically the same, the strategies will differ a bit based on the school to which you’re applying. Columbia houses different fields of study under each of the colleges. If you’re interested in the Arts, Life Earth Sciences and Humanities, you’ll apply to Columbia College. If you’re interested in Engineering, you’ll apply to the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The colleges are not the same- each reviews its applicants separately and you’ll take different curriculum depending on the school that you’re accepted to. While you can have the freedom to talk about different academic interests in this prompt, you should make sure that you’re talking about experiences that are at related to the school you’re applying to. Don’t wax on about how you want to write like Keats if you’re applying to the engineering school. Columbia College Prompt If you are applying to Columbia College, tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have an interest at this time. (300 words or fewer) Although this essay gives you a chance show yourself as a well-rounded person who has a variety of different interests and talents, make sure that you are describing a real, true experience from your life that inspired you to pursue your projected major in college. If you have absolutely no clue what you’re going to major in, it’s still crucial to describe an experience that inspired you to care about and study something. It can be simple, but it has to be genuine. Columbia’s committee is more likely to take notice of a real interest in something you actually care about than an exaggerated account of your experience serving soup at a shelter that one time with your school’s National Honors Society chapter. Essays are a great opportunity to present yourself as a well-rounded person. Don’t repeat information that the committee can find elsewhere on your application. Take the time to share fun, personal details about yourself. Be specific- the committee wants to get a real picture of you as a person. Don’t just say that you love to play video games, say exactly which video games you love and why. This essay is also a great time to show off your community- the friends, family, teammates, etc. who make up your current life. Since the prompt asks about personal experiences, you can talk about the deep bonds you have and how they have affected you. What the admissions committee mainly wants to see is that you’re an intellectually curious student. Whatever your passion is, elaborate on how it has become an intellectual pursuit. For instance, if you’re interested in studying Classics, you can talk about how you’ve researched the origins of different myths. If you care about studying journalism, talk about why you’re so passionate about an impartial press. Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Prompt If you are applying to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. (300 words or fewer) This Columbia essay prompt is exactly the same as the prompt for Columbia College, with one big caveat: there’s no room for being undecided here. If you’re applying to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, you’ll need to select a field or fields of study. Because you’re required to select your potential field of study, your essay needs to be related to that selection. You need to relate your course of study to your personal interests, not what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Don’t say that you want to engineer an issue the world’s clean drinking water shortage just because you think it sounds good to the people reading your essay. That’s not to say you can’t talk about providing more people clean drinking water- you just have to have a personal connection to issue. Want to get into Columbia or your personal top choice college? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Columbia Short Answer Questions Analyzed In 150 words or fewer, please list a few words or phrases that describe your ideal college community. This question asks you to describe what you are looking for from your college community. The word "community" is key here- you’re not just talking about academic experience. You should also mention what you want from your peers and out-of-class life, too. The other key to this prompt is brevity- you need to cover a lot of ground in less than 150 words. You don’t want to waste words here. You’ll need to get your point across quickly and clearly. You should describe a community that reflects Columbia’s values: a place where academic curiosity and rigor are prioritized. That being said, you don’t want to sound trite or like you’re over exaggerating. Don’t say that you want to participate in endless literary salons just to sound smart. Instead, say things that actually ring true: e.g., you want a community where people are excited to create art or talk about what they’re learning in class. Don’t try to cover your entire college experience in less than 150 words. It’s better to paint a vivid picture of a small portion of your ideal college life than a blurry one of your entire experience. For the four list questions that follow, we ask that you list each individual response using commas or semicolons; the items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order. No narrative or explanatory text is needed. It is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications. Author names may be included, but are not required. You do not need to fill the entire space or use the maximum number of words; there is no minimum word count in this section, so please respond to the extent that you feel is appropriate. Please list the following (150 words or fewer for each question): the titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year; the titles of books read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year; the titles of print or electronic publications you read regularly; and the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year. This question can be intimidating! It’s normal to be nervous to share what you’re reading or enjoying outside of class. That being said, you should opt for honesty here, rather than impressiveness. Don’t feel like you need to say that enjoyed reading Hind Swaraj if you actually vastly preferred your English class’ foray into Tolkien. Be truthful and real. This question is also a great opportunity to share different interests that you have. If you love Miyazaki films, but also love documentaries about climate change, feel free to share! The more information you give, the more fleshed out you’ll be as a person. It’s important to note the directions here: don’t justify your responses or give any commentary. Simply list the works you’ve enjoyed and leave it at that. You can choose to list the works in a number of ways: alphabetically, chronologically, or in order of interest. I’d suggest going chronologically or in order of interest, but there’s not a right or wrong way to go here. How to Write a Great Columbia Essay: 3 Key Tips Regardless of which Columbia essay prompt you’re responding to, you should keep in mind the following tips for how to write a great Columbia essay. #1: Use Your Own Voice The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person. You should, then, make sure that the person you’re presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don’t try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you’re not. If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Columbia wants you to be. #2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases When writing your Columbia essays, try to avoid using cliches or overused quotes or phrases. These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, â€Å"Be the change you want to see in the world.† Strive for originality. Similarly, avoid using cliches, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work. Columbia’s admissions committee will see hundreds, if not thousands, of essays that talk about how much the applicant loves New York City. Saying that you want to study amongst the bright lights of the Big Apple is trite and overdone. If you are excited about going to school in New York City, make sure that you have a really specific reason that also ties to Columbia’s opportunities. #3: Check Your Work It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Columbia essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Columbia application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays. Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit. It’s a good idea to have someone else read your Columbia essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven’t missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be. Recap: Writing the Columbia Supplemental Essays Your Columbia essays cover a lot of ground! You'll have the opportunity to share why you want to attend Columbia, as well as about your academic interests and potential pursuits. You'll also get to talk about Columbia's community and the art and literature that interests you. Be honest and sincere in your Columbia essays. Make sure your essays are a great representation of who you are as a person, not just a What’s Next? Wondering how to excel on the "Why Columbia" essay?We break down this essay prompt and specific examples on our blog. You might be wondering what kind of test scores you need to get into Columbia and other similar schools. We tell you what good scores are for Ivy League schools plus MIT, Stanford, and UChicago here. Looking for a detailed guide on how to be one of the few students accepted to Ivy League level schools? Read PrepScholar co-founder Allen Cheng's reflections on his college application and tips for how you can get into Harvard and other Ivy League-level schools. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

The History and Invention of the Jet Engine

The History and Invention of the Jet Engine Although the invention of the jet engine can be traced back to the aeolipile made around 150 B.C., Dr. Hans von Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle are both recognized as being the co-inventors of the jet engine as we know it today, even though each worked separately and knew nothing of the others work. Jet propulsion is defined simply as any forward movement caused by the backward ejection of a high-speed jet of gas or liquid. In the case of air travel and engines, jet propulsion means that the machine itself is powered by jet fuel. While Von Ohain is considered the designer of the first operational turbojet engine, Whittle was first to register a patent for his schematics of a prototype, in 1930. Von Ohain obtained a patent for his prototype in 1936, and his jet was the first to fly in 1939. Whittles took off for the first time in 1941. While von Ohain and Whittle may be the acknowledged fathers of modern jet engines, many grandfathers came before them, guiding them as they paved the way for the jet engines of today. Early Jet Propulsion Concepts The aeolipile  of 150 BCE was created as a curiosity and never used for any practical mechanical purpose. In fact, it wouldnt be until the invention of the fireworks rocket in the 13th century by Chinese artists that a practical use for jet propulsion was first implemented. In 1633, Ottoman Lagari Hasan Çelebi used a cone-shaped rocket powered by jet propulsion to fly up into the air and a set of wings to glide it back to a successful landing. However, because rockets are inefficient at low speeds for general aviation, this use of jet propulsion was essentially a one-time stunt. In any event, his effort was rewarded with a position in the Ottoman Army. Between the 1600s and World War II, many scientists experimented with hybrid engines to propel aircraft. Many used one of the piston engines forms- including air-cooled and liquid-cooled inline and rotary and static radial engines- as the power source for aircraft. Sir Frank Whittles Turbojet Concept Sir Frank Whittle was an English aviation engineer and pilot who joined the Royal Air Force as an apprentice, later becoming a test pilot in 1931. Whittle was only 22 when he first thought to use a gas turbine engine to power an airplane. The young officer tried unsuccessfully to obtain official support for the study and development of his ideas but was ultimately forced to pursue his research on his own initiative. He received his first patent on turbojet propulsion in January 1930. Armed with this patent, Whittle again sought funding to develop a prototype; this time successfully. He began construction of his first engine in 1935 a single-stage centrifugal compressor coupled to a single-stage turbine. What was meant to be only a laboratory test rig was successfully bench-tested in April 1937, effectively demonstrating the feasibility of the turbojet concept. Power Jets Ltd. the firm with which Whittle was associated received a contract for a Whittle engine known as the W1 on July 7, 1939. In February 1940, the Gloster Aircraft Company was chosen to develop the Pioneer, the small engine aircraft the W1 engine was earmarked to power; the historic first flight of the Pioneer took place on May 15, 1941. The modern turbojet engine used today in many British and American aircraft is based on the prototype invented by Whittle. Dr. Hans von Ohains Continuous Cycle Combustion Concept Hans von Ohain was a German airplane designer who obtained his doctorate in physics at the University of Gà ¶ttingen in Germany, later becoming the junior assistant to Hugo Von Pohl, director of the Physical Institute at the university. At the time, von Ohain was investigating a new type of aircraft engine that did not require a propeller. Only 22 years old when he first conceived the idea of a continuous cycle combustion engine in 1933, von Ohain patented a jet propulsion engine design in 1934 very similar in concept to that of Sir Whittle, but different in internal arrangement. Upon the mutual recommendation of Hugo von Pohl, Von Ohain joined German aircraft builder Ernst Heinkel, at the time seeking assistance in new airplane propulsion designs, in 1936. He continued development of his jet propulsion concepts, successfully bench-testing one of his engines  in September 1937. Heinkel designed and constructed a small aircraft known as the Heinkel He178, to serve as a testbed for this new propulsion system, which flew for the first time on August 27, 1939. Von Ohain went on to develop a second, improved jet engine known as  the He S.8A, which was first flown on April 2, 1941.

Interview with grandfather Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Interview with grandfather - Essay Example The paper has been able to apply the learned reflections for a mission engagement (Cash & Charles 53) My grandpa stayed with his father before he passed away. He shared his father’s personality. So my mother told me a lot of stories about him, and how everyone loved and respected him, because he loved and respected everyone as well. He was not a rich man, but his inheritance was a little bit of money, and big cows and some small cows to benefit from it. He had worked when he was 15 years old, and he sacrificed for his family because he always was saying â€Å"I don't want you to need any help from anyone except me†. My grandpa had used his cows to sell some of her milk to get money. I took a lot of his character because I really like what he had done in his life. Previously I did not realize anything before I heard my grandfather’s story, but after that I become serious and responsible  about everything especially my family. For instance, how he made his dream, how he was helping everyone, and how his behavior and his personality were. First of all, in that old days everyone had an independent work and no one needed to get any help from others; all of them helped themselves. But obviously if they asked anyone to have what they need they would find everyone beside them. My grandpa is one of the honest people, because he had built his life by himself. He had two jobs at the same time; the first job was milking his cows in the morning to get what his family needed and to bring some clothes and some food. The second job was a seller at the supermarket with his friend's store, therefore, he had earned a lot of money, and he saved for his family in case or start his project or if he dies. By having two jobs at the same time, he was able to provide for his family whilst providing employment to other people in the society. In other words, he played a major role in bringing development in his society. His project was to build a dairy factory. He w as dreaming about building that factory since he was child when he grows up. Indeed, his dream came true, seeing that he was hardworking and a principled man who never stopped until he achieved his goals in life. However, he never stopped working. Actually, he continued and developed that dream to make his company impact some kind of medicines which is the same company for the dairy but another department. I learned from his experiences and from his willingness when he has a small idea how he improves it and how he had never given up. As I have seen from him I will do in the future, because if I keep going and I never give up certainly I will reach my goals. Although, he was busy in the beginning of his life, he was also playing on the popular soccer team in Saudi Arabia. I was always asking him how you can make all these things at the same time and how you were perfect in all that what you had done; he answered me by a useful wisdom â€Å"Love what you are doing, to do what you lo ve." After that, I say to myself why I could not be like this man. In one way or the other, he was very inspiring and he played a key role in modifying my life. Since that time I promise myself to put my goal in front of me and then remind myself about my grandfather’s story, and what he had done. Finally, he had worked at a small column in the newspaper which is a famous newspaper in the Saudi Arabia; he was a big Journalist and wise. At that

STAR WARS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

STAR WARS - Assignment Example Therefore, they drill into the earth’s crust and pump in water. The principle of contraction and expansion works best here. When cold water comes in contact with the hot rocks, fractures develop on the rocks thus giving room for water to horizontally move towards the already drilled second hole. Steam escapes through this second hole to reach the earth’s surface. Depending on what has been set up, the steam can be used in turning turbines or steam engines (World Nuclear Association, 2013). Permanent disposal of war nuclear waste is increasingly becoming a problem because it takes a very long time for the waste isotopes to decay into safe levels. Even though waste management specialists’ advice users to bury such wastes deep below the ground; it is easy for particles to move thus causing ethical concern. War has a huge impact on the natural environment since it causes massive pollution to water sources, soil and air. For instance the Iraqi war of 2003 led to massive death among people blue plastic barriers that had a high level of uranium oxide got lost but dumped in the river to for barriers (Cardona, 2004). Residents unknowingly used the containers to store water and other food stuffs. Since then, there has been an increased death due to leukemia. Another example is the Gulf war of 1991 where Iraq and Kuwait differed over oil fields. In response to it, Iraq dumped close to two million tons of crude oil in the Persian Gulf. This had a huge effect on marine life. People living by the shows died due to brain cancer and kidney failures. For some reasons, nuclear energy is good. However, it has long negative impacts on the environment. This is evident through the major wars the world has experienced. The Hiroshima bombing in Japan still has effects to the city occupants. The effects of radiation have led to gene mutation and infertility in some

Case Analysis (Continued 2) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Case Analysis (Continued 2) - Essay Example So, in the remainder of the present segment, we shall attempt to determine Otis’s position on the Global Integration / Local Responsiveness Grid to determine the extent of the veracity of the statement. So, it is evident that Otis in Russia is influenced both by global as well as local factors. Thus, from this perspective, the notion of Otis being solely Russian does not hold. It is true that local factors play an important role, but the impact of global integration factors is not insignificant enough to validate the statement. However, if we consider the facts that the Russian operation is self financed with all employees and traditions being Russian, along with the strength of the local responsiveness factors, the statement cannot be so easily invalidated. The most important part is that Modernization, which is the most important part of the business, was invented and introduced by Otis in Russia, the statement does seem to be at least partially true. To facilitate an enhanced perception of the possible areas that can be focused upon to increase the extent of value created, the value creation at various stages is presented in the following table. The accorded comments for each stage in resources, assets and competencies are explained thereon through a more detailed narration. Otis’s prime strength lies in its R&D capabilities. Being a part of United Technologies Company (UTC), Otis strives on its constant innovations which in fact account for a significant part of the company’s budgets. UTC has a considerable number of engineering centers spread all over the globe and the culminated know how is efficiently utilized for all major subsidiaries. As a result resources, assets as well as competencies, all are significantly value generating for the R&D stages. Particularly in case of Otis-Russia, it benefits from not only this