Speak Up About Gun Control - Free Essay Example

Twenty one thousand six hundred thirty seven by suicide. Twelve thousand two hundred two hundred forty six by homicide. Nine hundred eighty two by police brutally. That is the approximate number of gun related deaths each year. Two thirds of gun related deaths are through suicide. The likelihood of one committing suicide increases when one has possession of a firearm. Suicide by a firearm has a 85% success rate, suicide by any other way has a less than 5% success rate. Homicides are one third of the gun related deaths each year. America has a twenty times higher rate of homicide than any other higher income countries. Guns are the second leading causing among children in America. How many more people have to die before gun control is taken into effect? February 14, 2018 at 2:18 PM, hundreds of students lives changed forever. Nikolas Cruz, 19, went into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and opened fire, killing seventeen innocent people. Seventeen people who had families to go home to. Seventeen innocent people who had a future ahead. Seventeen innocent people who didnt know that day was going to be their last day. Seventeen innocent peoples families lives changed forever. Seventeen innocent people who never knew a bullet would be what took their life. Seventeen innocent people ranging from the ages of 14 to 49 lost their life in one of the most inhumane ways possible. Student, Samantha Deitsch, 15, addressed the situation in a poem titled, MSD shooting poem: My experience. Deitsch indicates the day she turned 15, was also the day she lost her friends. She asks the question, [u]ntil gun policy changes how many more do I have to lose? (16). In reality, what has to change before gun policies go in affect? Another school shooting? Higher rise in suicide and homicide rates? More gun related deaths? What has to change? Deitsch also expresses how she was feeling when shots were being fired, I sat in a closet scared and confused/As our second amendment right were being abused./No one needs an AR-15/Unless it is to kill and injure over seventeen (17-20). Cruz bought the firearm legally. He had no issue purchasing one due to the fact he was over the age of 18. If gun control laws were stricter, tragedies like this one can be prevented. Cruz was mentally ill and a history of violence. A video on Snapchat, indicates Cruz used a sharp object to cut his arm up and express his desire to purchase a firearm. When authorities arrived to his house, the choice not to hospitalize him was made. Along with self harm, Cruz suffered from depression, ADHD, and was believed to have autism. Extensive background checks along with checking the persons mental stability should be conducted to ensure the person who is purchasing the gun is mentally fit and is able to handle a gun. One extra week of doing background checks, and mentally stability checks can save lives of others and even the one who wants to purchase the gun. Noah Pozner, 6. Charlotte Bacon, 6. Lauren Rousseau, 30. Anne Marie Murphy, 52. Those name are among the four out of many victims whom were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. Shooter, Adam Lanza, was also mentally ill. Unlike Cruz, Lanza did not own the guns. Instead the guns were owned by his mother, Nancy Lanza. Mrs. Lanza was a fan of guns and took her son to the the range frequently. Therefore, Lanza had an early exposure to firearms and how to operate them. During earlier years, Lanza was bullied, shy, and a possible outcast. All reasons he was ruled as mentally ill. Another man who killed several due to him being mentally ill. Another thing mental illness can do to the human body. Tragedy strikes often. But how much is too much? In 2003, the band, The Black Eyed Peas, wrote a song, Where is the Love? The rhetorical question makes society think about, where really is the love in all of this chaos? One verse that sticks out is, I think they all distracted by the drama and [a]ttracted to the trauma (The Black Eyed Peas). How many times has there been a shooting where it was top headline, then within a week it was old news? There was one in Las Vegas, Orlando, Manchester, Aurora, and Sutherland Springs. All of those shootings were tragedies, but no forgotten. It was the drama that distracted society at the time, trauma that attracts people to things. As time passes, things fade nothing is in the news for long, then it wouldnt be new. Suicide noun: the act or an instance of taking ones own life voluntarily and intentionally. Although one may be mentally unstable, and feel the desire to kill themselves it doesnt mean life is worth ending. The phrase, Guns dont kill people, people kill people is quickly disproven by the definition of suicide. One is truly in charge of their one life, and nothing else. Firearms is the leading cause in suicide rates, along with the highest success rates. Guns can kill people instantly and effortlessly. Guns can take lives as soon as the bullet hits. If one is mentally ill enough to be suicidal, more than likely one will strive to achieve the goal. Although, not everyone who is suicidal would be able to go through the recommended background check and mental fit check. It could save a life. Saving one life at a time. Firearms, should not be ruled out completely. That would cause more of an outrage to people. However, firearms should be harder to posses. Firearms shouldnt go out to every human over the age of 18 who deems fit. Firearms shouldnt go out to people who are mentally unfit. Although the process of background checks and mental stability checks could be lengthy, unneeded, and tedious. Should a students biggest fear truly be what would I do if a school shooter came in? Should students and staff truly fear going to school because of what may happen throughout the day? The answer is obvious, it is a no. A student should not have to wonder what they would do in a school shooting. Students and staff shouldnt be scared of what may happen throughout the day. The change starts with you. Speak up about gun control.

Robert Wrhinghim in James Hoggs Novel, The Private...

Robert Wrhinghim in James Hoggs Novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner Works Cited Not Included James Hoggs classic novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, portrays the fictional story of Robert Wringhim, a strong Calvinist who justifies murder by quickening the inevitable. Robert commits infamous acts of evil, believing that these murderous actions glorify God by annihilating sinners not chosen to be saved. I believe that a combination of factors involving both nurture and nature shape Wringhim into the suffering creature that he becomes. The greatest of these factors include Paranoia Schizophrenia, Multiple Personality Disorder, and the rejection of society. To my†¦show more content†¦He wishes to be a ?champion? for God, cutting down sinners by the sword. However, I feel that he subconsciously desires to be a ?champion? over his own fear of damnation and through believing that murdering the damned is God?s calling for his life, this allows the means to defeat his fear. Another mental illness that is shown in Robert Wringhim?s life is Multiple Personality Disorder. Psychologists are still trying to understand what causes MPD. There is much debate whether this mental condition is caused through nature or through nurture: I believe, like many psychologists, that it?s a combination of both. In this belief, MPD victims recall one specific event that?s so traumatic that their mind escapes insanity by blocking out the event and taking on a new identity (or identities). It?s a form of the mind?s self defense which allows a victim to go on living their life without reflecting on harrowing experiences that would result in madness for the victim. The reason why this disorder is believed to also be caused by nature is because it helps explain why people who suffer the same or similar traumatic experiences as MPD victims, never obtain MPD. On page 170, Robert becomes aware that he looses all track of time. This is very common for MPD victims. The minds will check in and out of time whenever it feels a need for safety; the mind still functions, it just takes on the form of a new personality. Moreover, a MPD victim

Reflection Paper Law free essay sample

In most businesses there Is a top manager that Is In charge of taking care of the overall assets for the owner. Various titles are bestowed upon these leaders from store managers to general managers. Yet, the end result is the same, and that is protecting the assets and the business from any and all liabilities. One very important role is how a manager identifies and protects the tangible property rights of an organization.In the retail business, training is provided to the manager to ensure that he or she understands how to handle and protect the tangible assets of an organization. With the home improvement giant, Home Depot, the company provides training for their managers, along with providing them with resources to perform their Jobs effectively. One resource Includes corporate help lines which ensure that If the manager has a question, the manager has someone to call (Home Depot, 2011). Tangible property items at Home Depot can range from the desks, chairs, registers, and the Inventory, to the actual physical building. One specific way manager can protect the tangible property Is by phoning the police department to make them aware if an item is being stolen from the business. The hotel industry is much like the retail industry. In a hotel, a manager must be able to identify the various tangible property items such as beds, televisions, fitness equipment, pool, spa, microwaves, refrigerators, linen, terry cloth, banquet chairs, restaurant chairs, and restaurant equipment. As the general manager of a hotel one must protect both the hotel and the restaurant and meet the expectations of that brand.These expectations are measured by the brand performing inspections of these standards (Business Traveler, 2011). During these inspections the Inspector walks guest rooms, public areas, and the restaurant. In these Inspections the Inspector is ensuring that the hotel and restaurant are meeting or exceeding the brand standards that are outlined. The way a manager ensures on a dally basis that the hotel Is following the standards is through daily inspections by the general manager and department managers. The other large piece of tangible property that the general manager is expansible for protecting is the building itself. During certain times of the year a building may be faced with a visit from Mother Nature which could destroy ones building. This is why a general manager must have a plan or a company in place to take over once the storm has passed for assistance with recovery. Some will use a company called Advanced Catastrophe Technologies which will come in and get to work on the cleaning and restoration of the property (Hospitality Lawyer, n. D. ) . This will help minimize the down time that the hotel faces. This particular restoration many actually specializes in the hotel Industry (Hospitality Lawyer, n. D. ). On the other hand, the trucking Industry Is very different as the company does not Just have the tangible property such as the trucks and trailers. The company also has to protect the tangible property it is transporting for other companies. One way a device that is placed on every truck (ATT, 2010). This device will alert the manager as to where the truck is at all times, along with speed of the truck, mileage, average fuel consumption, and any maintenance that the truck made need (ATT, 2010). This IS very helpful to any trucking company manager, as it allows them to view this information and keep track of the shipments that the company is responsible for Nile in transit. Another way for a manager to protect the tangible property in the trucking industry is to follow the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration policies. The United States Department of reincorporation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets the minimum requirements for a person to obtain a legal drivers license to operate such vehiclesII-AS Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, n. D. ). Once the driver poses the license, it is up to the manager to do the due diligence to do a check on work history, accident reports and random drug screening (US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, n. D. ) . Rhea manager does play a major role here in protecting the tangible property assets for the business owner. Negligence on the managers part could cost that business a lot of money from various liabilities.The music industry is very different from both the hotel and trucking industries as the tangible property that a musician has is the artwork or the lyrics that one may have. For a person who is trying to make it big in the music industry, one thing they have to do is be very careful in how they advertise their non-copyrighted music (Record Deal Marketing, 2011). With social media being very easy way for artists trying to make it big, the artist will post their music on these sites, and because it is not copyrighted, it is free for anyone to take to make it heir own (Record Deal Marketing, 2011).This is where having a manager in the music business is very helpful and strongly recommended. An experienced music manager knows exactly the steps that need to be taken to get your artwork and lyrics copyrighted. The manager will typically work for a percentage of the money earned by an artist along with fees for expenses (Busch ; Associates, 2010). The managers other responsibilities are to assist in marketing the musician, landing gigs, obtaining record deals and getting publicity (Busch Associates, 2010) .The managers main responsibility is to protect the tangible property of the artist by ensuring that the artwork and lyrics is protected by copyrights. Even though it works little differently in the music industry, the manager still has the same responsibility, and that is to protect the tangible property such as the artwork and lyrics. After reviewing all of these different industries it looks like a manager has a very big role to fulfill. Managers are the key to success in many different industries. By having the properly trained and experienced manager, the company will have its tangible repertory protected in all industries.

Risk Management Applications

Table of Contents Introduction Company description Social benefits of Beacon Power Company Highest risks of failure The strategies to prevent such failure Conclusion References Introduction Any business or company may develop or plunge depending on certain circumstances. Despite the fact that the primary objective of any business is to prosper, companies or business organizations must be aware of the risk factors associated with their prosperity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk Management Applications specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Normally, there is extensive public attention to companies that are rapidly growing, thus risk management is a fundamental aspect in such companies to minimize chances of failure. Globally, green technology companies have continually been in the public limelight for their rapid progress, making substantial impacts both socially and economically (Rugy, 2012). In special atten tion to the United States of America, the state has witnessed the emergence of changes in the transportation sector and energy sector. Electric Vehicle (EV) technology, electric auto producers, and coal-fired utility companies have emerged. However, such companies have risk-associated factors like environmental squalor among other factors. Therefore, this essay seeks to examine social benefits, highest risks of failure, and recommends possible strategies to prevent that failure in Beacon Power Company. Company description Beacon Power Corporation is an American company globally renowned for flywheel-based energy storage technology. The company began operating in the year 1997, as a branch of Sat. Con’s Energy Systems Division in Chicago. The company aimed at investing in the energy sector by establishing advanced flywheel-based energy storage system. In the year 1998, the company became a separate entity and got publication in 2000 (U.S. Department of Energy, 2011). Beacon Po wer Corporation Company started operating in North America where the first and second flywheel technology systems gained public awareness. In 2004, the company became interested in developing an energy recycle system that absorbs electricity from the grid when demand is low and releases it when the demand is high. Tremendous efforts in the project became successful and the company demonstrated the system from 2005-2007. Thereafter, in 2012 the Rockland Capital took over the company and renamed it as Beacon Power, LLC.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Beacon Power Company deals with commercial production of electricity using â€Å"composite flywheel technology for grid-scale frequency regulation† (U.S. Department of Energy, 2011). The primary business objective of the company is to provide frequency regulation service, through owing, building, or even operating flywheel -based frequency regulation companies on a commercial basis. The company mainly uses environmentally sound flywheel technology to produce energy that has turned imperative in providing Americans with clean energy solutions (U.S. Department of Energy, 2011). The company has developed exponentially since 1999 and currently is among the leading US energy companies in green technology in providing economically, socially, and environmentally friendly services. Currently, plans are underway to expand in the business market by inviting co-investors to manage some of the company’s regulation plants. However, recently the company has been in the public realm as being marred with several challenges that serve as risk factors to its failure. The company suffers bankruptcy and in most cases responsible for some social economic and minor environmental effects. Social benefits of Beacon Power Company Beacon Power Company has continually proved significant in providing some social benefits to the Americans and some parts of the world as well. The company plays a pivotal role in the socio-economical life of Americans. Due to its rapid growth and development, the company initiates several construction projects of which majority of them last for almost a year or several months. Therefore, through construction, the company provides a number of direct jobs to the population. Constructors, builders, and engineers acquire employment in the construction site. On the other hand, the company has some indirect positive economic impacts within the construction area since vendors and other equipment suppliers become beneficiaries from capital orders for construction equipment and support systems (U.S. Department of Energy, 2011). On completing the construction, several job vacancies emerge ranging from managerial to subordinate jobs. Construction of the company further leads to urbanization of the region, thus calling for other business investors that in turn create job vacancies. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk Management Applications specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Being an energy provider, Beacon Power Company has extensively invested in production of efficient, reliable, and resilient electric smart grid that ensures a constant supply of power in areas where it is incorporated. The company produces over 20-megawatt as measured in the utility-scale providing energy to on an estimated population of about 5.3 million residing in Chicago County. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (2011), the smart grid demonstrates regionally unique projects that are technologically fit and capable of providing services at low cost. The projects contain smart grid business models ranging from different scales, which can be readily adapted and replicated around Chicago County. Beacon Power Company possesses smart grid technologies that have advanced digital technologies that are extremely im perative in planning and operating the electrical power system, which ensures maximum effectiveness of the plan resulting in minimal delays in power supply. Another social significance of the company is occupational health and safety. Beacon Power Company’s construction and maintenance undertakings are always in accordance to regulations set by the occupational safety and health administration. It ensures that it follows recommended guidelines in the process of handling, maintaining, repairing, and even installing its onsite equipments. On top of that, the company involves itself in providing formal training to local police and firefighters in handling emergency issues by helping them in understanding the features of the system (U.S. Department of Energy, 2011). The company has designed system operations that automatically shut down the flywheel in case of any arising malfunction. The company has as well designed a monitoring system with an automatic sensor-based fire alarm t hat instantly indicates accidental loses that mitigate chances of insecurity in terms of fire breakout. Despite the fact that there exist some unavoidable short term negative environmental impacts like air emissions and dust from the construction sites during construction activities of the company, the company ensures that it is environmentally sensitive.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Unlike other energy providing companies that produce electricity using fossil fuel and biomass that emit dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide gas, and lead, Beacon Power Company uses procedures that are environmentally friendly to produce electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (2011), in areas where use of specific material is essential, the company uses available biodegradable antifreeze materials like percent propylene glycol. The company has gone an extra mile by coming up with solutions to negative environmental impacts that result from construction activities of the company. The company uses best management practices including soil stabilization and watering of exposed soil during the construction process. The presence of flywheel-based frequency regulation reduces significantly the amount of fossil fuel power plant, thus reducing dependence on fossil fuel. Highest risks of failure Beacon Power Corporation Company has been in the public limeligh t for its endeavors as well as some of its failures. The company in most cases ranks among three leading companies in the United States of America questioned for bankruptcy. Beacon has continually depended on the department of energy for loan guarantee programs to keep it moving since it is marred with financial woes. In fact, the company has in numerous occasions, failed to repay loans guaranteed to them by the government, thus falling short of its goals. According to Rugy (2012) in October 2009, â€Å"Beacon Power Corp., an energy-storage company that received $43 million in backing from the 1705 loan program, filed for bankruptcy† (p. 1). Several factors have led to failure of Beacon Company including investing in projects in the open market without government guarantee, as well as investing in projects that were legible to loans, but instead enjoyed loans that were provided by the Department of Energy. Beacon has also failed to prove its commitment in maintaining its publ ic image in terms of its socio-economic impacts. The fall of this company has adversely affected the majority of taxpayers. Serving under a leading company does not guarantee Beacon as risk- free entity. Several projects including Beacon-initiated projects serve under large companies that leave taxpayers in problems whenever there is a failure in the projects as the parent company simply restructures and continues providing other projects. By failing to repay its loans, Beacon set the cost of the investment to taxpayers (Rugy, 2012). As the government extends loan guarantees to high-risk companies, taxpayers in turn carry the burden of any failure. Due to lost trust from the community, Beacon is still on the verge of collapse since citizens no longer have the faith they had in the company before. This aspect will influence its future goals and objectives, leaving the company barely capable of reaching its intended horizon. Mismanagement of funds has led to failure of Beacon Power Co rporation Company. Despite several loan guarantees by the federal government, Beacon has failed to manage its funds effectively by investing in numerous risky projects. According to California Energy Commission (2011), â€Å"some of the loans went to provide capital for high-risk projects, projects likely unable to get financing from the broader market without a government guarantee† (p.143). The company has survived collapsing for three years with the management barely understanding the risks associated with misallocation of capital and labor. This malpractice in management leads to negative impacts since risky projects pass on the losses associated with the company’s failure to the taxpayers. It is absurd that the government continues to support companies like Beacon financially at the expense of the taxpayer’s money. Hence, there is a need for the government to rethink on its loan terms to Beacon Power Corporation Company. The strategies to prevent such failu re Great attention is wanted to address financial issues associated to the fall of Beacon Power Company. Firstly, the company should emphasize on proper use of resources that have cost the company a substantial amount of money to develop rather than excessively depend on loans granted by the federal government. Beacon Power has successfully developed a flywheel network; thus, the company should use it to generate revenue rather than depending on loans. Secondly, the company has a significant advantage over other power generating companies. Since it produces power using environmental friendly procedures, Beacon should take this advantage and extend to international borders to help generate more income that will in turn guarantee them of financial stability. Thirdly, the government should provide financial support to Beacon under strict terms that would act as a source of motivation to enable the company in achieving a broader financial prospect that will assist in its operations. In addition, considerable precautions should be put in place in a bid to overcome mismanagement of funds entrusted into the company. Beacon Power should engage in productive and less risky projects that would assure that the company continues to serve the nation without financial woes. Several changes in management that might prove effective are imperative to restore the company to its initial position. The company should emphasize on expanding beyond boarders by engaging in international energy market to avoid concentrating in the United States. This move will assist in determining if the performance intended projects could differ from one country to another depending on social, economic, and/or environmental issues of the company. The government should bar the company from engaging in malpractice by assisting the company in justifying the effectiveness of projects through comprehensive research covering and other means that might prove significant. Conclusion Green technology compani es have proven significant in recent years by providing clean energy solutions, thus receiving wide public attention. However, in most cases, such companies’ operations come to standstill with the majority not knowing the reasons behind the stagnation and thus such companies â€Å"fall short of their stated goals of developing clean energy and creating jobs† (Rugy, 2012, p.11). Beacon Power Corporation Company is among such companies. Despite the fact that Beacon has been significant in providing some social benefits like creating jobs, enhancing urbanization of regions under its operations, and producing electricity in an environmentally friendly manner, it has somehow failed. The company has in the recent past failed to protect its public image by going bankrupt after engaging in risky projects. Beacon has in numerous cases failed to repay loans guaranteed by the federal government and thus passing on the burden to taxpayers. Therefore, in a bid to address these chal lenges, Beacon Power Corporation should remain cautious on project management and expand to international markets to avoid depending on loans. References California Energy Commission. (2011). 2020 strategic analysis of energy storage in  California. Report on Public Interest Energy Research. Web. Rugy, V. (2012). A guarantee for failure: Government lending under sec. 1705.  Web. U.S. Department of Energy. (2011). Final environmental assessment of the Beacon  Power Corporation flywheel frequency regulation plant. Web. This essay on Risk Management Applications was written and submitted by user Helen Lamb to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Culture Wars

Culture Wars While I, as an artist, feel that the debate over Serrano’s â€Å"Piss Christ† and Mapplethorpe’s â€Å"The Perfect Moment† exhibit is ridiculous, I can appreciate the need for debate in our society. A world where everyone agrees with everyone else, while impossible, would be incredibly frustrating to live in. As a whole our society thrives on debate. This is why we have a political democracy, or some form of it, and not a dictatorship. Dissent and debate are important tools in our culture that are used to further the knowledge and understanding of society. Censorship should not be part of this system. Censorship has been an issue for as long as have been organized power structures in communities. Censorship is something that is done by people who are afraid of new ideas, different ideas, and ideas that are not given to them by someone higher up than themselves. Censorship is based on fear, the fear of losing one’s power, the fear of corrupting morals, the fear that young adults and children are not capable of thinking for themselves, and the fear that god will not approve. One of the main focuses behind censorship is religion. Religion is a tool that is used by powerful men who wish to have an easy means of control. Religion is thought to be a rational set of standards by which people are supposed to live their lives, but it seems more like a control mechanism for those who desire power. The American Family Association is a good example of how religion can mobilize a group of people to censor things that otherwise would be considered normal. On their website the AFA states, â€Å"The bible is clear on the matter of homosexuality. It is a sin†¦ The consequences of calling this behavior anything but what god calls it are staggering. For example, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are rampant among homosexuals† (See attached material). This one sided, biased opinion omits the fact that the AID... Free Essays on Culture Wars Free Essays on Culture Wars Culture Wars While I, as an artist, feel that the debate over Serrano’s â€Å"Piss Christ† and Mapplethorpe’s â€Å"The Perfect Moment† exhibit is ridiculous, I can appreciate the need for debate in our society. A world where everyone agrees with everyone else, while impossible, would be incredibly frustrating to live in. As a whole our society thrives on debate. This is why we have a political democracy, or some form of it, and not a dictatorship. Dissent and debate are important tools in our culture that are used to further the knowledge and understanding of society. Censorship should not be part of this system. Censorship has been an issue for as long as have been organized power structures in communities. Censorship is something that is done by people who are afraid of new ideas, different ideas, and ideas that are not given to them by someone higher up than themselves. Censorship is based on fear, the fear of losing one’s power, the fear of corrupting morals, the fear that young adults and children are not capable of thinking for themselves, and the fear that god will not approve. One of the main focuses behind censorship is religion. Religion is a tool that is used by powerful men who wish to have an easy means of control. Religion is thought to be a rational set of standards by which people are supposed to live their lives, but it seems more like a control mechanism for those who desire power. The American Family Association is a good example of how religion can mobilize a group of people to censor things that otherwise would be considered normal. On their website the AFA states, â€Å"The bible is clear on the matter of homosexuality. It is a sin†¦ The consequences of calling this behavior anything but what god calls it are staggering. For example, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are rampant among homosexuals† (See attached material). This one sided, biased opinion omits the fact that the AID...

First 3 Religion Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

First 3 Religion Journal - Essay Example The main questions worried modern religious leaders are s Should "practicing" Christian homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgendered people be allowed to serve as ordained ministers? Should the unions of gay and lesbian couples be recognized as legitimate marriages in the eyes of God? These and other questions rend congregations, denominations, and sometimes even our families. One side asserts that people should be welcomed into churches, into the ministry, and into our understanding of the American family regardless of their sexual orientation; the other side insists that any sexual preference other than heterosexuality is a sin and should be proscribed by all faithful Christians. No apparent solution to these disagreements lies on the horizon (Rudy 54). The presence and social acceptance of homosexuality challenges the concept of a God who is known solely or primarily through gender. By their very existence, gay people, and particularly gay Christians, contest the notion that human be ings are meant to live in nuclear, heterosexual families. As a result of their desire to be faithful to and known by God, conservative Christians today are producing an environment in which theological reassurance, salvation, American exceptionalism, homophobia, and political involvement have become gravely interdependent. The marriage doctrines of the Bible demonstrate that conservatives wholeheartedly support sex in instances that uphold the overarching structure of gendered theology. The vicious animosity directed toward homosexuals, along with other aspects of the family values, keeps women at home and dependent on men and thus guarantees every Christian man, woman, and child a relationship with God. Recognition that the bifurcation is not simply between "flesh" and "spirit" brings into sharp focus how hard conservative sexual ideology and the campaign for family values work to keep women in their place. The current struggle over homosexuality in the church, then, is not only a struggle about the morality of sexual preference; it is a conflict rooted in Christian identity and the nature of God (Rudy 51). The struggle among contemporary Christians over the moral acceptability of homosexuality is directly related to who God is perceived to be and how believers think God relates to us in the world tod ay. While the Christian Right championed and developed an extensive discourse about the value of the family and the sinfulness of homosexuality, mainline Christian denominations failed to issue clear, unambiguous statements on these issues. Even progressive Christians marshaled no counterpart to conservative rhetoric. In part this is due to the fact that the belief that the heterosexual nuclear family was both superior to other configurations and in need of protection was hard to escape. It was advocated not only by religious conservatives, but also by an assortment of scholars, journalists, and cultural critics who asserted the family's superiority on sociological or psychological rather than religious grounds (Rudy 54). Homosexuality violates traditional institution of marriage as a core of the society but religious believers have no right to blame or reject homosexual men. In religious tradition, the family is the source of values necessary for resistance to power and tendencies in the modern world. Another Christian justification of homosexuality rests on the idea that homosexual activity is no less moral than intentionally heterosexual activity; that is, homosexuality is morally equivalent to the use of birth control. 2. One of the nine fruits of Spirits is "Goodness". I suppose that goodness is important for every person because

Enterprise 2.0 (blogs) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enterprise 2.0 (blogs) - Assignment Example PricewaterhouseCoopers uses media sharing sites and social networks as part of its operations processes. The global adoption of these media has a direct impact on customers, employees, investors and stakeholders. In web 2.0, customers and stakeholders create their own versions of the firm. Web 2.0 also helps the firm to improve and protect its stakeholder’s values. PricewaterhouseCoopers uses blogs and wikis as a business strategy. This means that Web 2.0 is used to enhance the brand reputation of the firm. It is also used as a platform for communicating with markets. Internally, Web 2.0 provides competitive advantages through the engagement of employees in the process of generating or creating ideas and solving customer problems (Rother, 2010). PricewaterhouseCoopers looks at its top business priorities and evaluates the roles of social media in supporting these goals. This means that Web 2.0 offers innovative ways of building strong relationships with customers and other sta keholders. Web 2.0 offers PricewaterhouseCoopers a platform for enhancing transparency. Rumors and news travel instantly through these social media platforms. They have immediate impacts on the opinions generated by the investment community, regulators and industry analysts. PWC also uses Web 2.0 as a tool for governance (Basole, 2008). The firm’s engagement in social media activities involves numerous risks. The firm uses the platform to identify and assess risks and risk management. PWC is a successful business that has established governance structures, which include procedures and policies that allow flexibility and the setting of parameters that will guide interactions. PWC has taken emerging risk audit to evaluate the implication of social media before an issue or risk occurs. Web 2.0 has the ability to control interactions and resolve issues before they explode to full-scale problems. It has