The Game Of The Basketball State Playoffs Essay - 1667 Words

It is the first round of the Basketball State playoffs, and with eight seconds left, the talented Northwest team is down by three. The star point guard speed dribbles up the court, the tension on and off the court is immense, the pressure is even greater. Everyone during and prior to this game, had witnessed a season full of promise, and the consensus conclusion for most recognized this team as the best team to have ever come out Northwest High School. This was our best and likely only chance for success. So as the point guard puts the ball up, time nearly stops, it has a chance, but in like in life, the game of basketball is unforgiving, he misses. As most made their pre-conceived predictions of the future, or lack thereof, a young sophomore and his Junior Varsity teammates, inspired by our elders walking off the court, and the doubters going home, bonded together. Believing we were destined for something historical, and mythological outside our small circle thus a community was bor n. The 2016 Northwest Varsity Basketball team, the discourse community, where I developed relationships with people I call my brothers, a community which has shaped my work ethic, and has given me the knowledge of the amount of work it takes to be successful. Work which came in the efforts of a particular goal which at the time was unknown amongst teammates. To us the future was still a mystery, a mystery in which we knew would outline some kind of success. Fast forward two years since theShow MoreRelatedEssay about National Basketball Championship1671 Words   |  7 PagesNational Championship game was 3 inches off the mark, allowing perennial power Duke to walk away with their fourht National Championship. However, Butlers magical run shows why the NCAA Tournament is such a great event and why it does its job as a fair way to decide the National Champion. Meanwhile, three months earlier, Boise State is stuck at home, wondering what could have been as they watch Alabama and Texas get the opportunity to play for the National Championship. Boise State was undefeated. TheRead MoreHouston Rockets Vs Oklahoma City Thunder1019 Words   |  5 PagesPlayoff Series Rankings After a lackluster season where constant debates over players resting and who should win Most Valuable Player overshadowed the product on the court, the Playoffs are here. . The Playoffs are providing a breathe of fresh air as a number of top tier teams are playing efficient basketball. While other top tier teams face a deficit. The following list will rank each playoff according to their entertainment value thus far. While the playoffs are unpredictable, one thing isRead MoreDiscourse Community Analysis : Northwest Varsity Basketball Team Essay1621 Words   |  7 PagesDiscourse Community Analysis: Northwest Varsity Basketball Team It is the first round of the Basketball State playoffs, and with eight seconds left, the talented Northwest team is down by three. The star point guard speed dribbles up the court, the tension on and off the court is immense, the pressure is even greater. Everyone during and prior to this game, had witnessed a season full of promise, and the consensus conclusion for most recognized this team as the best team to have ever come out NorthwestRead MoreThe Legendary Lebron James1641 Words   |  7 Pageskids can’t even imagine. Lebron grew up without a father and moved from house to house, but now he is one of the most successful men in the world. On April 4, 2014 Lebron is the youngest player ever to reach 23,000 career points in the National Basketball Association (NBA), beating Michael, Kareem, and Kobe to this amazing achievement Lebron still thanks his mother for what she fought through to get him to where he is at now. Gloria James was only 16 at the time she had Lebron, and LebronsRead MoreMichael Jordan Was Born On February 17,1963, Brooklyn,933 Words   |  4 PagesJordan developed a competitive edge at an early age. He wanted to win every game he played.He did not make the high school basketball team as a sophomore, but did make the team as a junior. After high school he accepted a basketball scholarship to the UNC (University of North Carolina) where he played under head coach Dean Smith.In his first season at Carolina he became only the second Tarheel player to start every game as a freshman and was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the YearRead MoreEssay about Hockey-The Rodney Dangerfield Of Sports1056 Words   |  5 Pages Hockey, The Rodney Dangerfield Of Sports nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the US, there are four major sports; football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Out of the four, hockey gets the least amount of respect. This is something that bothers me as hockey player and fan, and it also bothers other hockey fans around the country. They way that hockey is covered in the newspapers, on television, and not just professional hockey. It goes the same for college hockey and also high school hockeyRead MoreWorld Class Athletes : The Best Athlete Of The 20th Century1725 Words   |  7 Pagesathlete of the 20th Century by ESPN, once stated, â€Å"I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.† Magic Johnson is known for changing basketball by being the tallest point guard to play the game. Also being the first NBA player to come out with AID S. He is now a successful entrepreneur. George Foreman is one ofRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1539 Words   |  7 PagesBrett Ott Argument Paper Rough Draft 11/20/15 One of the biggest debates in sports right now is whether or not college athletes should be paid. They spend an extensive amount of time between classes, workouts, practices, and games. As an NCAA Division III athlete, I can relate to having a demanding schedule. Everybody has to go to their classes and practice every day. In addition, we have skill workouts between classes depending on the day, as well as lifting four days per week in the offseasonRead MoreWinning A One Loss Florida Gators Team Won The Southeastern Conference Title Game1336 Words   |  6 PagesSoutheastern Conference title game and jumped ahead of number two Michigan who didn’t play that week. In 2004 an undefeated Auburn Tigers team was not able to able to play for the National Championship because they started out at a ranking of 17 in the beginning of the season and were not able to jump ahead of USC or Oklahoma since they went undefeated as well. Critics argue that if the change was made to have a playoff the BCS rankings will not by having a playoff system the BCS rankings will notRead MoreImportant Sports in the Society of The United States Essay1142 Words   |  5 PagesSports are important in the society of the United States. Sports promote and motivate the development of physical fitness and sports participation for all Americans of all ages. The four major sports are most popular in the United States ; American football, Basketball, Baseball, and Ice Hockey. They are all enjoyed by not only americans, but also people in all around the world. Especially sports are associated with education in the United States. Most high schools and universities organized sports

Political Culture And Its Impact On Society Essay - 832 Words

Political culture is connotative of a stream of collective consciousness relating to ingrained theoretical expectations of government and the governing. Political culture is a shared aspect of society that shapes how we react and interact within the system , it s reflective of our collective morals, ideals, and beliefs. There are three core American values that shape domestic political culture: Democracy, Freedom, and Equality. As we know our political system is that of a representative democracy, as citizens, we elect representatives whom we feel are the best or most appropriate to run our government. Democracy in regards to political culture, extends a bit further. In this context, Democracy also refers to inclusivity, the interests of the people as a whole are taken into account and resolutions are achieved via majority rule. In order for a democracy to maintain validity, citizens must be able to navigate the system within the realm of Freedom. Freedom relates to unrestricted will; American political culture thrives off of the expectation that the government, though allocated certain powers, cannot directly penalize its citizens for acts of dissent (not including terrorist acts or acts that put other citizens or the republic in danger). This directly contrasts a totalitarian state where occupants are prohibited from critique and must remain submissive. American political culture’s emphasis on the rights of the individual is reminiscent of Classic Liberalism which alsoShow MoreRelatedHow does the Bible Influence Political Thought and Action in Our Culture?1166 Words   |  5 PagesHow does the Bible Influence Political Thought and Action in Our Culture? The Bible is a unique book that is different from others because it contains sacred text that has continued to influence societies from generation to generation. Generally, the impact of this sacred book is worldwide since it has affected every department of human activity. The influence of the Bible on society is derived from the fact that it contains various themes that are used to shape the moral progress of the worldRead MoreWith The Recent Election Being Highly Controversial And1378 Words   |  6 PagesWith the recent election being highly controversial and contested the United States finds itself with an incredibly volatile and inclement political climate. While the United States continues to face social and political issues rap music and its artist have been a source to document the oppression that is still occurring within the country. Documenting racism and oppression by using politically charged lyrics is a method the rap community is particularly familiar. As time we nt on rap artists beganRead MoreGreek And Roman Civilizations : Greece And Ancient Civilizations1503 Words   |  7 PagesGreek and Roman Civilizations In examining the impact that the ancient world has had on modern Western civilization, the two ancient civilizations which are frequently understood as having had the greatest influence are Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. These two civilizations would eventually come to shape much of what would become the modern European culture, politics and society, and by extension, a vast proportion of global culture and society. In scrutinizing the trajectory of modern historyRead MoreGreek And Roman Civilizations : Greece And Ancient Civilizations1498 Words   |  6 PagesGreek and Roman Civilizations In examining the impact that the ancient world has had on modern Western civilization, the two ancient civilizations which are frequently understood as having had the greatest influence are Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. These two civilizations would eventually come to shape much of what would become the modern European culture, politics and society, and by extension, a vast proportion of global culture and society. In examining the trajectory of modern historyRead MoreThe Theory Of The Political Economy872 Words   |  4 PagesThe theory of the political economy in the context on media studies, is that behind every media product, has a commercial and economic imperative and as such, has particular impacts on the media content that would not exist if such imperatives ceased to exist. It is these impacts that both limit media products, and allow media products of a particular nature exist. A political economic approach in the production of media is in contrary to the nature of m edia itself; accuracy, integrity and authenticityRead MoreThe Political Economy And Cultural Studies Theories1429 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Mass media plays an important role in the society by providing entertainment, information and acting as the government’s overseer. Several scholars have developed philosophies that help people understand how mass media fulfills its roles in the society. For example, Horkheimer and Adorno have constructed theories that explain the functions and impacts of mass media in the society across the globe (Mosco, 2008). The central theme in all mass communication models entails the meaning ofRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1452 Words   |  6 PagesImperialism has been characterized as the expansion of rule or even impact by a specific government to the next, or the impact of one general public to the next. In history, imperialism came to its peak during the time of the Roman Empire. In Europe there has never been another empire to rise above and assume control over the Roman Empire. However, imperialism in Africa remained a recorded element from 1750 to 1945. This paper v isits how control and changes were influences over the Africans duringRead MoreThe Political System Of A Nation Impact The Human Identity ( Culture ) Of Families1651 Words   |  7 Pagespaper. The project will be evaluating the extent which the political system impacts families in Israel. Sources such as memoirs, articles, and interviews will be used to gain the information necessary to answer these questions. The change in political system within Israel altered the way the average Israeli family lives to this day. Example Outline To what extent does the political system of a nation impact the human identity (culture) of families in Israel? Marriage laws placed during the Arab-IsraeliRead MoreThe Impact of Hollywood in American Society1568 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough it started out as a novelty and a source of controversy, Hollywood has had an impact in American society significantly on political aspects in the 20th century as well as shaping our modern world. In 1894, two French Brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumiere introduced the portable motion picture camera and projector as a solution to the smaller projection of Thomas Edison’s original invention the kinetoscope. In April of 1896, the two men unveiled their vitascope and presented theRead MoreWestern Culture And Indian Culture1604 Words   |  7 Pagesglobal world is full of dominant cultures that infiltrate their ascendancy into many of the world’s countries in a conscious and subconscious manner. An example of this cultural dominance can be seen in the bidirectional influence that Western Culture and the Indian culture portray onto one another. The cultures of the Western world and India in particular are alike one another on the basis that they are both economically established and are full of vibrant social societies. There is an idealized belief

Social Media And Its Impact On Today s World Essay

As technology increases in today’s world, so does the use of social media. Social media, as defined by Merriam-Webster is, â€Å"forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content.† That definition is what will be implied from now forward. Social media and its growing popularity, especially among the younger generations, has lead to difficulties with socialization skills. Although social media may come with other benefits, this side effect can be more problematic in the long run. The power of the internet has grown rapidly and so has the use of social media. Vanessa Denice provides us with some quick facts about social media and it’s literally millions of users. So many people are online in today’s world that Facebook, in a single day, hit 1 billion active users (Denice). This proves that social media is a rapidly growing platform and with any growing platform co mes change. This change is debatable as to whether it is for the better or worse. Social media provides its users with a connection to parts of the world that normally a teenager would not think of. Being able to connect with someone thousands of miles away surely is a benefit. But, is the connection made with them beneficial to everyday lives involving face-to-face communication? Face-to-face communication is arguably to most important way that humans can communicate. It causes a connection that can not be made via theShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Modern Technology On Us And Our Society Essay1704 Words   |  7 PagesThe Impact of the Modern Technology on us and our society. Today it is hard to imagine what our lives would look like without the technology that surrounds us, it is even harder to imagine what our lives would be with the technological advancements that begun to take shape during the industrial revolution that, begun in England during the 18th century. The industrial revolution brought on many changes into humans everyday lives, allowing us as mankind to increasingly become smarter, faster andRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effect On Communication1269 Words   |  6 PagesSocial media and social networking seems to be play an imperative part in individuals lives around the world. Not only is it part of your everyday life, but it is also about of the workforce world as well. Many can debate whether social media is crippling or in fact improving our communication skills. Perhaps sitting behind a computer communicating with our family and friends seems to be getting easier. However, what happen to the days where one would have to pick up the phone and reach out to theirRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society970 Words   |  4 Pagesfriend in the new media world we live in. I felt Garreau came across as jaded by most of the interviews he conducted. He did not seem to speak with a wide array of people that gave positive impacts social media can have, but rather focused on the negatives of the subject. Garreau did bring up valid points, however, from personal safety to the aspect of different people in your life seeing your different personalities. For instance your Grandma that you go to church with on Sunday s is now seeing theRead MoreCulture and the Mass Media1400 Words   |  6 PagesImpact of Mass Media on Enculturation The mass media and culture go hand and hand in today s society. The American culture thrives on the Mass media and this has become American culture today. â€Å"Mass media is any medium used to transmit mass communication. Until recently mass media was clearly defined and was comprised of the eight mass media industries; books, newspapers, magazines, recordings, radio, movies, television and the Internet (Lane, 2007).† The mas media is no longer simple to defineRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1421 Words   |  6 PagesSocial media has become a very popular form of entertainment, resource for information and an excellent tool for communicating your thoughts and personal life with the rest of the world. In this day and age it is very uncommon to not be connected to the internet in some way or another, But just like everything Social Media has it’s pros and cons. Many people can agree that Social Media is a life changing tool that helps us find out more a bout the world and helps us connect to people around us orRead MoreImpact Of Social Media On Business Performance1730 Words   |  7 PagesImpact of Social Media Marketing Introduction: It is considered that social media tools have gained a lot of popularity as well as increasingly used in day to day operations of many business organizations or companies, from start-up to small medium as well as large multinational organizations. Despite the fact that social media has gained popularity over it use, little has been known for their values to the business world or industry. The tools and technologies support for social media on businessRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society Essay1560 Words   |  7 Pageshigh, society has become more and more dependent on social media. One must realize, while the use of social media in today’s society is a necessity due to the fast-paced environment that has been created, it can never fully replace the value received from personal interaction with others. The short film titled, The Library Book, perfectly illustrates this as the characters within the film learn to assimilate in a society dominated by social media. The actions of each character and their surroundingsRead MoreImpact Of Technology On Our World909 Words   |  4 PagesThe impact of technology has undoubtedly shaped the way we live in today’s world. This impact has made life much easier and convenient in every aspect of our everyday lives. However, when technology is broken down to different types and purposes, that is when we begin to recognize is certain technology actually moving the human race forward or backwards? One highly debated and arguably the most popular type of technology, is social media. Social media has negatively impacted our world to the pointRead MoreSocial Media Is Changing The Way We Communicate1311 Words   |  6 PagesFor many years, social media has been the number one resource teens in today s generation depend on. It has provided an advantage to communicate with family members and it has given many the opportunity to make new friends. However, with the use of social media, teens are becoming antisoc ial. Amy Jo Martin stated, â€Å"Social media is changing the way we communicate and the way we are perceived, both positively and negatively. Everytime you post a photo, or update your status, you are contributing toRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society1459 Words   |  6 PagesSocial media is a relatively new concept in today s society. It is one of the main factors in the way we obtain our news, interact with people from around the world, and provides an outlet to express one’s creativity and individuality. Drew Hendricks, an author for the site smallbiztrends.com stated â€Å"The first recognisable social media site, Six Degrees, was created in 1997.†. This website paved the way for the biggest social sites today, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. All of these

Siegfried Sassoon free essay sample

Sasson Siegfried Sassoon was born on 8 September 1886 in Matfield, Kent. His father, Alfred Ezra Sassoon, was part of a wealthy Jewish merchant family, originally from Iran and India, and his mother part of the artistic Thorneycroft family. Siegfried had one older brother, Michael, born in October 1884, and one younger brother, Hamo, born in 1887. His parents separated when he was very young, meaning that in his younger years he saw his father only rarely. Alfred died of consumption in 1895. As a child Siegfried was prone to illness, and spent many hours reading and writing poetry. He was sent to study at the New Beacon School in Kent in 1900, followed by Marlborough College in 1902. Sassoon studied at Cambridge University but he left after a year without a degree. For the next eight years, he lived the life of a country gentleman, hunting and playing cricket while also publishing small volumes of poetry. Published privately, Sassoons poetry made very little impact on the critics or the book buying public. We will write a custom essay sample on Siegfried Sassoon or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Siegfried joined the Sussex Yeomanry on 4th August 1914, the day that England declared war, but soon after broke his arm in a hunting accident. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in May 1915, he was posted to the Western Front in France. Considered to be recklessly brave, he soon obtained the nickname Mad Jack. While drilling at Litherland in November 1915, he received word of Hamo’s death at Gallipoli. Siegfried left England to join his battalion in France on 17th November (1915) just after the Battle of Loos, serving as a transport officer. In March 1916 Siegfried was finally able to secure a front-line placement. In April 1916, he attended 4th Army School at Flixecourt. He displayed courage and calm under fire, receiving a Military Cross for his actions during a raiding party in May 1916; in fact he displayed such bravery that he attracted the nickname Mad Jack. He spent the early summer of 1916 on leave, returning to his battalion for the Somme offensive in July. He contracted dysentery, and was invalided to Somerville College, Oxford. In June 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross for bringing wounded man back to the British lines while under heavy fire. While in France he met the poets Robert Graves and Wilfred Owen. During his recovery period, discouraged by the politics of war at home and the deaths of numerous friends at the front, he made contact with the group of pacifists led by Bertrand Russell and Lady Ottoline Morrell. He returned to France in January 1917, was wounded by a sniper during a raid near Fontain e-les-Croisilles in April, and was sent back to England. In July 1917 he published a Soldiers Declaration. In July, at Craiglockhart Hospital, he was officially referred with shell-shock; he met Wilfred Owen. In February 1918 Siegfried was dispatched to serve in Palestine, but in May found himself back in France with the battalion supporting allied forces shaken by the St Michael’s Offensive of March. On 13th June while returning to the trenches from a patrol in No Mans Land he was accidentally mistaken for a German by a sentry from his company, and was shot in the head. This event ended his direct experience of the war. He also published Counter-Attack and Other Poems. In the inter-war years he developed a wide literary circle, lived in Oxford and involved himself in Labour politics, served as literary editor for the Daily Herald, and travelled widely in the United States and Europe. 1920 Lecture tour of U. S 1926 Satirical Poems published 1928 Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man published 1930 Memoirs of an Infantry Officer published 1933 Marries Hester Gtty 1935 Vigils published 1936 Sherston’s Progress published 1936 Son, George, is born 1938 The Old Century and Seven More Years published 942 The Weald of Youth published 1945 Siegfried’s Journey published1945 Marrige ends 1953 Made an Honouarary Fellow at Clare College 1957 Sequences published 1957 Awarded the Queen’s Medal for Poetry 1967 Dies on the 1st of September at Heytesbury House in Wiltshire WHY WAS HE IMPORTANT IN WWI? Siegfried Sassoon was a major influence on the poetry world as he spoke how he felt and how he viewed WWI. He provided an eyewitness view on life in the tr enches and showed a darker side to life in the war; that people had not seen. He wrote poems on suicide in the trenches and he gave his view on the world through the eyes of a soldier. | The Death-Bed HE drowsed and was aware of silence heaped| | Round him, unshaken as the steadfast walls;| | Aqueous like floating rays of amber light,| | Soaring and quivering in the wings of sleep. | | Silence and safety; and his mortal shore| 5| Lipped by the inward, moonless waves of death. | | | | Someone was holding water to his mouth. | | He swallowed, unresisting; moaned and dropped| | Through crimson gloom to darkness; and forgot| |

Supernatural In Hamlet Essay Example For Students

Supernatural In Hamlet Essay In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Thus, the supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of Shakespeares plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and augments the impact of many key scenes. The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied forms. In Hamlet, the most notable form of the supernatural that appears is the ghost. However, in Macbeth, a ghost, a floating dagger, witches, and prophetic apparitions make appearances. The role of the supernatural is very important in Hamlet and Macbeth. The role that the supernatural plays is important because it is an integral part of the structure of the plot. We will write a custom essay on Supernatural In Hamlet specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now A ghost appearing in the form of Hamlets father makes several appearances in the play. It first appears to the watchmen, Marcellus and Bernardo, along with Horatio near the guardsmens post. The ghost says nothing to them and is perceived with fear and apprehension; it harrows me with fear and wonder. It is not until the appearance of Hamlet that the ghost speaks, and only then after Horatio has expressed his fears about Hamlet following it, What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, or to the dreadful summit of the cliff. This illustrates how Horatio is concerned for Hamlets well being. The conversation between the ghost and Hamlet serves as a catalyst for Hamlets later actions and provides insight into Hamlets character. The information the ghost reveals incites Hamlet into action against a situation he was already uncomfortable with. Hamlet is not quick to believe the ghost, The spirit that I have seen may be a devil and perhaps out of my weakness and my melancholy abuses me to damn me. Thus, an aspect of Hamlets character is further revealed when Hamlet encounters the ghost in his mothers room. In this scene the ghost makes an appearance to what Hamlets almost blunted purpose. Hamlet is now convinced of the ghost and he no longer harbours any suspicion. He now listens to it, Speak to her, Hamlet. In Hamlet, the supernatural is the guiding force behind the character of Hamlet. The ghost asks Hamlet to seek revenge for the Kings death and Hamlet is thus propelled to set into action a series of events that ends in Hamlets death. The supernatural is a re-occurring event in Macbeth. It is present in all the scenes with the witches, the appearance of Banquos ghost, the prophecies the apparitions bring, and in the air-drawn dagger that guides Macbeth towards his victim. Of the supernatural phenomenon evident in Macbeth, the witches are perhaps the most important. The witches represent Macbeths evil ambitions. They are the catalysts, which unleash Macbeths evil aspirations. Macbeth believes the witches and wishes to know more about the future so after the banquet he seeks them out at their cave. He wants to know the answers to his questions regardless of whether the consequences are violent and destructive to nature. The witches promise to answer and at Macbeths choice they add further unnatural ingredients to the cauldron and call up their masters. This is where the prophetic apparitions appear. The first apparition is Macbeths own head (later to be cut off by Macduff) confirming his fears of Macduff. The second apparition tells Macbeth that he can not be harmed by anyone who is born by a woman. This knowledge gives Macbeth a false sense of security because he believes that he cannot be harmed, yet Macduff was not of born by a woman, his mother was dead and a corpse when Macduff was born. This leads to Macbeths downfall. The third apparition is a child with a crown on his head, represents Malcolm, Duncans son. This apparition also gives Macbeth a false sense of security because of the Birnam Wood prophecy. The supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of the plays written by William Shakespeare. In Hamlet and Macbeth the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. In these plays the supernatural provides a catalyst for

Is Bolivia a Quality Democracy

Is Bolivia a Quality Democracy Free Online Research Papers Democracy is defined by Princeton University as â€Å"the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives.† (University 2010) Basically a democracy is a government that is run by the people and/or its elected officials. A democracy is a government that is meant to serve the will and needs of the people to improve life in all aspects. Both the USA and Canada are examples of successful, and long lived, democracies. The opening to the book Assessing the Quality of Democracy states the essences of democracy and the need for it to be an adaptive state: â€Å"As democracy has spread over the past three decades to a majority of the world’s states, analytic attention has turned increasingly from explaining the character of democratic regimes. Much of the democratic literature of the 1990s was concerned with the consolidation of democratic regimes. In recent years, social scientists as well as democracy practitioners and aid agencies have sought to develop means of framing and assessing the quality of democracy. This stream of theory, methodological innovation, and empirical research has three broad motives; First, that deepening democracy is a moral good, if not an imperative; second, that reform to improve democratic quality are essential is democracy is to achieve the broad and durable legitimacy that marks consolidation, and third, that long established democracies must reform if they are to attend to their own gathering problems of public dissatisfaction and even disillusionment.† (Diamond and Morlino 2005, 1) Skipping ahead a little in the book they go in to say, â€Å"Who is to define what constitutes a ‘good’ democracy, and to what extent is a universal conception of democratic quality possible? How can the effort to address deficiencies of democracy avoid becoming paternalistic exercises in which the established democracies take themselves for granted as models and so escape scrutiny? How can assessments of democratic quality go beyond mere analytics and be useful to political reformers, civil society activists, international donors, and others who seek to improve the quality of democracy? These are only some of the questions that pervade and motivate this growing subfield of study.† (Diamond and Morlino 2005) From this we can see how deciding whether or not a country is a quality democracy is a little tricky and involves many different facets of thought. This paper is obvious my approach and opinions in this matter and it is very possible I am wrong in my assumptions. A quality democracy is defined, in my opinion, by several things. First, and foremost, is the concern for the people and their welfare before anything else. The people are the country, and the reason for any kind of governing system. The second mark of a good democracy is the dedication to bettering the economical wellbeing and stability of the country. The more prosperous a country becomes the better the living situations and the overall quality of life should increase within that state. The goal should be to become prosperous in order to benefit the country and its people as a whole; not to make the government more powerful or wealthy. Not that the country has to be a rich one to be a quality democracy just that the ultimate goals and values are those that are for the betterment of the country, and not politicians. My thesis for this research is that Bolivia is not a quality democracy and the facts and research outlined in this paper will either prove or disprove this statement. Political and Governmental To take a quick look back to the 16th century, Bolivia was originally populated with an Indian population that was under the rule of the Incan Empire and used to be known as Upper Peru. (Skidmore, Smith and Green 2010) They gained their Independence in 1825 from Peru and renamed the country after independence fighter Simon Bolivar, who subsequently became Bolivia’s first president, which at that point in history was intended for life. Part of the power of the president at this point in history was the power to nominate his presidential successor. Even though Bolivia had a president, all the workings and policies reflected those of a monarchy. This is just a quick look into the first instance of a Bolivian president, even if it is not in the modern sense and concepts. One point that kept showing with the research into Bolivia is similarity to most other Latin American countries by having a long history of military interference with the government. Currently, Bolivia is considered a Democratic Republic and has recently drafted, and implemented, a new constitution in 2009. It is a completely electoral state including the smaller governing bodies such as mayors of the smaller towns. Since Bolivia is a democracy, it is ruled by a President elect who is the head of the government as well as the head of state. There are nine departments in the Administrative divisions of the government with many smaller branches. â€Å"The reforms (of the 1990s) just changed a few, but it wasn’t enough. It was a change in name only. They, the politicians, made the changes among themselves, the authorities. They never consulted with the people (el pueblo) †¦ So, the people arose, they got mad and the kicked out Goni (the president, Gonazales Sanchez de Lozada). (Grey 2007) The third millennium is the epoch of the original peoples, no longer that of the empire; it is the epoch o the struggle against the (neoliberal) economical model.† This quote is from Bolivia’s current president Evo Morales, the former leader of the coca growers union and a member of the Movement toward Socialism party. He was also descended from the indigenous Indians who had lived in Bolivia for centuries. (CIA 2010) Morales has been in office since 2005 and was re-elected into office in 2009, which is highly unusual since according to the old Bolivian constitution a president can only serve one term in office. In the old constitution, the president would be chosen by the Senate if neither of the candidates was over 50 percent of the popular vote. The drafting of a new constitution in 2009 allowed a candidate to be re-elected if neither of the new candidates were over 50 percent of the popular vote and if the margin of votes was less than 10 percent dividing them. (CIA 2010) (Reuters 2010) (Coster 2010)This erases the term limit that is placed on the former president and allows him to enter the race. This was history making because it w as the first time in Bolivia that a president ran for re-election, let alone won and started a second term. Plus, it had the added feature that he was part of the indigenous people descended from the Incans of the past. â€Å"Morales†¦ broadened the scope to include real participation of the Indian population in local and national governance†¦ Morales organized a special inauguration ceremony following Aymara (the indigenous people) rituals prior to the official event. He represented himself as the first full-blood indigenous president who was dedicated to overturning Bolivia’s centuries-old social hierarchy. After centuries of oppression, this was a stunning culmination and display of newly found Indian power.† (Skidmore, Smith and Green 2010, 181) Morales policies are intended to focus the countries resources towards those areas that need it and not the ones that already have a stable means of support, such as the natural gas areas and the farming areas. Part of the new constitution was the re-distribution of land to the people to balance the prosperity of the land with the impoverish people. The idea was to give the people not only a way to feed themselves but also a way to make a little extra money and better their lots in life. This, obviously, was not a popular idea with the prosperous land owners who had long enjoyed the privileges of their class. Another area where he lacked popular support was with the indigenous classes that he so proudly came from. He didn’t fluently speak either of the native languages and the majority of the time speaks Spanish. According to The New York Times; â€Å"Officials in the lowlands, where most of Bolivia’s food and petroleum are produced, ridiculed the new charter. But others say the new Constitution addresses underrepresentation of Indians, pointing to articles that would reserve seats for them in Congress and in other areas of the fast-growing bureaucracy. Even Mr. Morales’s cabinet has just two Indian ministers; his top aides, the vice president (a former guerrilla) and the chief of staff (a former military officer), are light-skinned intellectuals† (par 9 10) The new constitution was created to try and balance the social classes as well as stabilize the economy but it seems regardless of the changes made there was still mass unhappiness in Bolivia with the various aspects of change that Morales has, and wants to, implement in Bolivian society. Officially Bolivia calls itself a Plurinational State which basically translates to a focus on the diversity and needs of the population. The general idea is that the government distributes the nation’s income to different areas in order to help those who need it the most. These general ideals aren’t that different from the Marxist ideas that are so prevalent in Latin Americas history. (Skidmore, Smith and Green 2010) I am including a breakdown from the CIA’s World Fact Book of the political structure to help illustrate how the Bolivian government is constructed. Branches: Executive Branch- which includes the president and governmental cabinet. Legislative Branch- there are actually two legislative chambers in Bolivia. Congress also falls under this branch. Judicial Branch- There are five levels of jurisdiction in the Bolivian judicial system. It is headed by the Supreme Court with has a separate Constitutional Tribunal, as well as a Supreme Electoral Tribunal which rules on matters related to the electoral process. There are nine departments that are subdivisions of the government which is headed by elected governors. Within the political system in Bolivia there are four major political parties. They are: 1. Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), 2. National Unity (UN), 3. Fearless Movement (MSM), 4. Social Alliance (AS) There are many smaller civilian-based parties but none that are of any consequence or major influence. (Government 2010) There is history involved in the politics that would indicate that Bolivia was a bad democracy, but the recent changes in the government, both leadership and structurally that are showing great promise and potential in making Bolivia a quality democracy. So far my thesis seems to be in jeopardy of being proven false. Social The majority of the general populous still has a high content of Indian descendents and most are fiercely proud of that heritage. As stated previously, the large majority of the Bolivian population is indigenous and descendant from the Incan Indians that had inhabited the area before Spanish conquest. Originally under the control of the Viceroy of Lima the land then called Upper Peru would eventually become Bolivia. The majority of the proceeds from the silver that was mined there was a very large contributing factor to the Spanish Empire. Towards the beginning of the nineteenth century Upper Peru declared its independence from Peru and Spain, renaming itself after the freedom fighter Simon Bolivar in the mid-eighteen twenties. Just because independence was achieved this didn’t meant instant stability or prosperity. The growth of a new government was slow and there were constant changes and upheavals in the first half century or so. Some of their land was even taken over by Chile, which effectively cut off sea access and the ease of trade that Bolivia had enjoyed and taken for granted for all those years while still under Spanish control. Not only did Bolivia mine gold and silver, they had gold mines as well, which became one of the few saving graces for this newly independent country. Gold was ever increasing in value in the world market. Gold mining was definitely a profitable endeavor for the mine owner as well as the country, but this was soon surpassed by the mining and exporting of tin. The natural reserves of tin far outweighed any of the other metals and other natural resources that Bolivia possessed. The increase in wealth with the mine owners had an eventual effect on the political systems in Bolivia, when they decided that they wanted or needed anything they would simple hire strong arms and place pressure on the still weak government. This was a fairly successful method, especially since a large majority of the countries jobs and income came from the mines. Despite the wealth of the various mines and other natural resources available to Bolivia, it has a very high poverty rate because it is still one of the least developed countries in Latin America by comparison. Somewhere around two thirds of the population consists of impoverished subsistence farmers. The annual population rate is incredibly low, averaging less than two percent a year. (Grey 2007) Another factor in the social state is the literacy rate, which is also very low. Many of the children attend less than a year of schooling in their lives, and that is if they are lucky enough to get that. The prominent religion is Roman Catholic thanks to the early influences from Spain; however there is a slowing rising Protestant movement in recent years. The poverty rate in Bolivia is staggeringly high, toping over sixty percent of the general populous. That would roughly be around six million people all living in squalor with no sewage system, no running water, no medical care and barely enough food to survive. (Grey 2007) The people have bad working conditions in the silver and tin mines, as well as no education or any opportunities to better their lots in life. The Great Depression was especially hard on Bolivia cutting the price of tin down below half of what it was. Because of the loss of the easy sea access, shipping costs had always been high for Bolivia and the effects of the Depression were devastating. While the struggling economy from the Depression almost crippled them, tin would eventually bring Bolivia out of its slump and in later years and place them as one of the four leading suppliers of tin worldwide. Working in the mines in dangerous conditions and low pay was a prominent social structure until a war broke out with Paraguay in the nineteen thirties. The shock of the war helped the working classes realize that they needed more from life and formed various social groups to pursue and hopefully achieve these goals. The workers in the mines were both men and woman. Often times there were even children that worked the mines in order to help feed their families. One woman worker from the mines said, â€Å"We eat the mines and the mines eat us†. (Skidmore, Smith and Green 2010, 158) This shows the general feeling that was prevalent among the people, especially those in the mines. According to The New York Times many laws were recently passed to fight different aspects that were considered problematic to society in including racism. â€Å"Bolivia’s leftist president, Evo Morales, signed an anti-racism law Friday that his opponents say could be used to stifle media criticism of his government. The law allows authorities to close down news outlets deemed to have published racist content, which has led to protests by senators from the eastern region of Santa Cruz, the nation’s richest area and an opposition stronghold. Mr. Morales, Bolivia’s first president of native Indian descent, said the measure ensured greater equality for the indigenous majority in South America’s poorest nation.† (Reuters 2010) This shows at least a general awareness, if not concern, for the stability of the relationship of the people of Bolivia by its leadership and the recognition of the need for change and evolution. They recognized that there are problems present from the history of the country and they want to change as a way to move Bolivia towards a more modern and tolerant society. From research, the social structure of Bolivia is a divided and impoverished one. There is drastic difference in the social classes and there is little available to move out of where you are born. Classically speaking I would say that Bolivia had a very poor social structure and that directly reflects on the government’s influences and practices. Looking at the past social aspects of Bolivia I would say this was definitely an argument towards Bolivia not being a quality democracy, however with the new governmental changes and the amendments to the constitution that distributes money where it is needed and gives land to the workers, I would definitely say that Bolivia is on the right track to correct mistakes and problems of the past. The governing body is showing concern for the needs of the people and working to fill those needs. Once again there is hope for this small country in regards to a new governing body that works and is beneficial to country and the people. Economic systems Economically speaking, Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in modern Latin America. (Government 2010) There have been recent discovery of natural gas deposits and the country is hopeful this will help boost them as a significant player in the world economy. Other industries include; sugarcane, tobacco, petroleum, mining and clothing. Bolivia’s original exports that brought them commerce and eventually times of economic stability, were silver and tin. Because of the changing times and the advancements of the times, tin was surprisingly the leading export for Bolivia for many years and is still one of the major mining and export industries in the country. There were other natural resources that were present in Bolivia and a major one was petroleum. There were wells being drilled as early as 1916 by private companies and when the Bolivian government saw the value in this industry, they simple nationalized the entire operation by the end of the nineteen thirties. The petroleum industry was a steady export and the peak for Bolivian petroleum was in the 1970s and steadily declined after. The ever changing global economy and market contributed to the decline in the Bolivian petroleum industry, they are a small country and they were competing against many large countries, most of which the drilling companies were privately owned and inevitably, by the early 1990s the oil industry returns to being privately owned. (Skidmore, Smith and Green 2010, 158) Another export, though not as prevalent as their other ones or quite as legal in many cases, was coca. This plant is what is used in the manufacturing of cocaine and thrives in the South American climate. The farming of this plant not only affects the economical structure in Bolivia but it has some political connotations as well. Helen Coster of the Washington Post wrote, â€Å"The United States says that Bolivia the worlds third-largest producer of coca, after Colombia and Peru produces too much excess coca, which is often processed into cocaine and sold in South America and Europe. Critics say the decision is political, intended to punish Bolivia for its lack of cooperation in the U.S.-led war on drugs, specifically President Evo Moraless decision to kick out the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2008. Washington is saying that if youre not fighting the war on drugs the way we want you to, well punish you, says Sdenka Silva Ballon, a sociologist and founder of the Museo de la Coca in La Paz. If Bolivia had invited DEA agents back, then the U.S. would probably be pleased with its efforts. (Coster 2010) The Bolivian government takes a stance against drugs and the production of cocaine but refuses to outlaw the farming of the coca plant. Coster goes on to say, â€Å"Coca is an issue that has long defined U.S.-Bolivian relations, and which Morales, a cocalero and head of the coca growers federation, uses to galvanize his base.†Evos electoral stronghold was the cocaleros and other groups with the same school of thought: the have-nots neglected by the government masses, says Caesar Guedes, representative of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime in Bolivia. Theres a thin line where the government has to be careful: keep the culture of coca without the support and endorsement of cocaine. It takes work for the government to make that message clear. (Coster 2010) While the production of cocaine is obviously illegal, the farming of the leafy plant is not and surprisingly plays a part in the history of the country. The indigenous people have long used this plant as a medicine to combat fatigue, hunger and thirst. It had also been used as a mild anesthetic before stronger ones were wildly available. There were also smaller tribes that used the plant in religious ceremonies to assist in vision quests and many times was used as an offering to their gods. There was a brief gold rush in the 1980s which fit right into the countries mining history and for a short time they were exporting around 80 percent of the legal gold exports in the world market. The Bolivian economy was history making in the 1980s with prices increasing by over 20,000 percent in a one year period. This was a real threat until a new government was formed in the end of 1985 that instigated a stabilization program. This plan capped prices and halted inflation and actually lessened it for awhile. Not too long after it started to rise again. There was not one major war that effected the Bolivian economy but the buildup of the various government coups that seem to be very prevalent in this country’s history. They were also affected by high interest rates, price drops for commodities and the instability of the foreign markets. The country hoped that the solution to their economic problems was Siles Suazo, who was elected in 1980 but did not take office until 1982. His government would have power for a short three years. By this point in their history Bolivia could not obtain any foreign loans and the inflation rate was over 300 percent annually. According to Juan Antonio; â€Å"By any standard, Bolivias economic crisis in the 1980s has been extraordinary. Like its neighbors. Bolivia suffered from major external shocks, but the extent of economic collapse in the face of these shocks (including a hyperinflation during 1984-85) suggests that internal factors as well as external shocks have been critical to Bolivias poor economic performance. One major theme of our work is that the recent economic crisis in Bolivia is a reflection of political and economic conflicts in Bolivian society that have undermined the development process throughout this century. While major reforms have been begun by the present government, many of the deepest problems in Bolivian society that contributed to the crisis remain unresolved.† (Antonio 1988) Natural gas became a commodity for this small country. A major pipeline was constructed in the 1970s and twenty years later another line was built due to an agreement with Brazil for export. Bolivia has the second largest reserve of natural gas in Latin America and equaled almost 30 percent of its exports. Controversy was sparked due to control of the natural gas and the economical impact it would have on the surrounding areas. Based upon the research for Bolivia contained in this research, I would say historically this was, and is, a fairly weak and poor country. The political structure was constantly unstable with various instances of military involvement. The recent strides with the redrafting of the country’s Constitution shows promise for the country’s future, and the future of the people. The discovery of the gas reserves is also a promising note for the country. I don’t see historic Bolivia as a good example of a quality democracy because of the aforementioned facts; however, I do see potential and hope for this country in the coming years. Recent times and changes within the government system and leaders have shown a renewed hope and energy that Bolivia will become a stable and prosperous nation. There are many years of calamity and disaster for Bolivia and the hurdles that the new powers have to jump are not easy ones. They are showing themselves to be loyal Bolivian citizens a s well as practical minded in regards to the changes that were/are needed to make their homeland something to be proud of. Antonio, Juan. Bolivias Economical Crisis. NBER Working Paper Series, Vol. w2620, June 1988. CIA. The World Fact Book. September 29, 2010. www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bl.htm. Coster, Helen. Bolivia Walks the Line as it Struggles to Battle Coca Production. The Washington Post, November 13, 2010. Diamond, Larry Jay, and Leonardo Morlino. Assessing the Quality of Democracy. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005. Government, US. U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action. May 13, 2010. www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3575.htm. Grey, Nancy. Now We are Citizens; Indigenous Politics in Post-multicultural Bolivia. New York: Stanford University Press, 2007. Reuters. Bolivia: New Law Called Threat to Media Critism of Government. October 09, 2010. Skidmore, Thomas E., Peter H. Smith, and James N. Green. Modern Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. University, Princeton. WordNet, A Lexicon Database for English. September 20, 2010. www.wordnetweb.princeton.edu. 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Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) - Sociologist Profile

Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) - Sociologist Profile Best known for developing theories of deviance,  as well as the concepts of self-fulfilling prophecy and role model, Robert K. Merton is considered one of Americas most influential social scientists.  Robert K. Merton was born July 4, 1910 and died February 23, 2003. Early Life and Education Robert K. Merton was born Meyer R. Schkolnick in Philadelphia into a working class Eastern European Jewish Immigrant family. He changed his name at the age of 14 to Robert Merton, which evolved out of a teenage career as an amateur magician as he blended the names of famous magicians. Merton attended Temple College for undergraduate work and Harvard for graduate work, studying sociology at both and earning his doctorate degree in 1936. Career and Later Life Merton taught at Harvard until 1938 when he became professor and chairman of the Department of Sociology at Tulane University. In 1941 he joined the Columbia University faculty where he was named to the Universitys highest academic rank, University Professor, in 1974. In 1979 Merton retired from the University and became an adjunct faculty member at Rockefeller University and was also the first Foundation Scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation. He retired from teaching altogether in 1984. Merton received many awards and honors for his research. He was one of the first sociologists elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the first American sociologists to be elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 1994, he was awarded the National Medal of Science for his contributions to the field and for having founding the sociology of science. He was the first sociologist to receive the award. Throughout his career, more than 20 universities awarded him honorary degrees, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Chicago as well as several universities abroad. He is also credited as the creator of the focus group research method. Merton was very passionate about the sociology of science and was interested in the interactions and importance between social and cultural structures and science. He carried out extensive research in the field, developing the Merton Thesis, which explained some of the causes of the Scientific Revolution. His other contributions to the field deeply shaped and helped developed fields such as the study of bureaucracy, deviance, communications, social psychology, social stratification, and social structure. Merton was also one of the pioneers of modern policy research, studying things such as housing projects, the use of social research by the ATT Corporation, and medical education. Among the notable concepts that Merton developed are unintended consequences, the reference group, role strain, manifest function,  role model, and self-fulfilling prophecy. Major Publications Social Theory and Social Structure (1949)The Sociology of Science (1973)Sociological Ambivalence (1976)On The Shoulders of Giants: A Shandean Postscript (1985)On Social Structure and Science References Calhoun, C. (2003). Robert K. Merton Remembered. asanet.org/footnotes/mar03/indextwo.html Johnson, A. (1995). The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.