...Constructive Ways Change is inevitable. It has always happened and always will. However, making changes in society has never been easy. In order to change society in lasting and constructive ways, it requires charismatic leaders, a group of people that has faith and obeys the leader, and strategic plans. Without charismatic leaders, changes in society might not be made. A leader is an important person because they are willing to stand out to direct and control people. Leaders require the characteristics of a hero. In the article, "Eve's Daughters," Polster (2001) writes that heroes have faith in themselves, and they can also convince other people that the habits and customs of the community can be changed. They are willing to be the catalysts even if they have to face opposition. They even consider the risk of death and injury to be less important than their purpose. Indeed, if no one was willing to take risks, we would not be able to live in such a highly developed society today (Smith, 2006). For example, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr. for using nonviolent resistance to overcome injustice, for trying to end segregation laws, and now, there is no longer segregation in restaurants, on the buses, etc. Anything that happened must have started from one person, even if that is not the person who we can recognize today in our history books. Tollefson (1993) writes in his article "Is a Hero Nothing but a Sandwich?," that without a leader, changes in society might also...
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...By Abebe Gellaw | May 29, 2012 Editor's Note - The following paper by Abebe Gellaw was first published in March 2011. Given its timelessness, the paper is being published for the second time. “Freedom is not free; you have to pay for it.” Anonymous In May 2005, over 2 million Ethiopians came out in full force to demand change Imagine the power all these people wield collectively when they decide to act together for radical change, dignity and freedom Nonviolent struggle is a smart option for Ethiopians to end tyranny As ordinary Egyptians have erupted in jubilant euphoria at Tahrir Square and on the streets of Egypt after the fall of the three-decade long dictator Hosni Mubarak, Ethiopians in and outside of the country have been keenly watching the wind of change from North Africa. We have witnessed history unfolding once again. When people are determined to be free, nothing can stop them. After an epic struggle against him, Mubarak had no choice but to surrender. The world is a better place with the fall of one more dictator. What a beautiful moment to celebrate and watch! The momentous events in Egypt and Tunisia are testimony to the power of nonviolent struggle. When people are united and speak in one voice, nothing can stop them. No guns and tanks have stopped the peaceful revolutions that have ended tyranny and ushered in liberation to ordinary people in many countries across the world. Ethiopians also know what revolutions are like. But they have never tasted the sweetness...
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...Dismantling the status quo is never completed without a substantial struggle and dedication to the cause. America won independence through war, along with countless other civilizations throughout time that yearned for a free society. Perhaps the most perplexing agent of change is peaceful resistance. In the past century, social justice warriors have embraced this method of protest as opposed to outright violence. The entire Civil Rights movement was ushered in with civil disobedience. Protesters actively defied laws and were consequently punished, and, in order to change a corrupt system, this peaceful resistance was continued. In...
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...“The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires change of heart.” Mahatma Gandhi The real name of Mahatma Gandhi is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He also knew as Father of the Nation, Bapu (Father) and Gandhiji. The word Mahatma (often employed in ordinary journalistic usage without any definite article, as if it were Mohandas Gandhi’s first name) is actually the Sanskrit word for “Great Soul.” Mohandas Gandhi is considered the father of the Indian independence movement. Gandhi spent 20 years in South Africa working to fight discrimination. It was there that he created his concept of satyagraha (fast, civil disobedience), a non-violent way of protesting against injustices. satyagraha would resist the injustice by refusing to follow an unjust law. In doing so, he would not be angry, would put up freely with physical assaults to his person and the confiscation of his property, and would not use foul language to smear his opponent. A practitioner of satyagraha also would never take advantage of an opponent's problems. The goal was not for there to be a winner and loser of the battle, but rather, that all would eventually see and understand the "truth" and agree to rescind the unjust law. “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him.” Mahatma Gandhi. While in India, Gandhi's obvious virtue, simplistic lifestyle, and minimal dress endeared him to the people. He spent...
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...Imagine living in the Civil Rights Era where racial tensions between African Americans and White Americans were very high. Your race determined what jobs you could and weren’t allowed to get. If you weren’t dressed nice as an African American restaurants could deny you service. Transportation was much longer since only a few taxi cabs will pick you up if you were African American. Real estate agents would direct you to neighborhoods based on your color of skin. Despite finally achieving equality life was very segregated. This built up anger is one of the few reasons for the cause of the Watts Riots. On August 11, 1965 an African American man by the name of Marquette Frye was arrested for drunk driving by California highway patrolman Lee...
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...While a protest is being executed in order to change a political policy it is the influences that can also play a role in the outcome. In this case this being a grass root movement the influences of politicians was critical. Meyer explains authority figures, “People who can support and perhaps channel the frustrations of citizens at the grassroots. These allies can include disgruntled elected officials or candidates for office, experts cut out of the policy in process, or cultural figures who can bring visibility…” (2014). this shows that by the grass roots movement it is the organizations that provide a collective action. Although it is the people in the grassroots that want change it works upwards, where many other public figures can get...
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...Russian Terrorism The devastating defeat of Russian forces in the Crimean War exposed the backwardness of Russia. In response, Tsar Alexander II passed a series of reforms, which were intended to liberalize Russian society. They included the abolition of serfdom, the modernization of the government, the opening of universities to people of all socioeconomic classes, the granting of semi-autonomy to the Russian territory of Poland, and the relaxation of some laws that were punitive to various religious groups (Burleigh 27). While these reforms had good intentions they failed to have the intended effects. The educational reforms did allow more people to be admitted to universities, but they did little to change life conditions for these new people. For example, women left universities with no new societal roles in which they could utilize their education. In addition, educated people of lower classes had few employment opportunities available for them upon graduation (Alexander and His Times). The tough situation for the newly accepted students caused students to rise up and take control of their professors (Burleigh 28). The emancipation of the serfs was also not entirely successful. This is because it left awkward agreements between former serfs and landlords that forced serfs to reimburse their former masters for the financial loss of losing them as unpaid workers. These agreements caused tension and some unrest in rural areas. Even in Poland, the limited self-rule...
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...studies as it works in conjunction with conflict management, conflict resolution, disarmament and also truth and reconciliation. Hence it has been supported by various scholars such as Gaultang and Krisberg.Thus the essay will look in detail in relation to why conflict resolution is becoming more popular with reference to case studies. Conflict transformation has been defined by as the use of the holistic and multi faceted approach to managing violent conflict in all its phases. Thus the term signifies an ongoing process of change in relations, behavior, attitudes, and structures from negative to positive (Lederach 1995). Conflict transformation views peace as centered and rooted in the quality of relationships, It moves beyond the episodic expression of the conflict and focuses on the relational and historical patterns in which the conflict is rooted. Harrington and Merry (1988) advocate that societies are transformed when fundamental social and political changes are made to make correct inequalities and injustices and to provide all groups with fundamental human needs. Thus they regard conflict transformation as the restructuring of social institutions and structures so that people can realise their potential. Conflict transformation refers to outcome, process and structure oriented long-term peace building efforts, which aim to truly overcome revealed forms of direct, cultural and structural violence. The ideas of Lederach have heavily informed peace practioners as to avoid the...
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...system control the world in a way that disproportionately benefits a minority, undermines democracy and is unstable.[8][9][10][11] The first Occupy protest to receive wide coverage was Occupy Wall Street in New York City's Zuccotti Park, which began on 17 September 2011. By 9 October, Occupy protests had taken place or were ongoing in over 95 cities across 82 countries, and over 600 communities in the United States.[12][13][14][15][16] Although most active in the United States, by October 2012 there had been Occupy protests and occupations in dozens of other countries across every continent except Antarctica. For its first two months, authorities largely adopted a tolerant approach toward the movement,[citation needed] but this began to change in mid-November 2011 when they began forcibly removing protest camps. By the end of 2011 authorities had cleared most of the major camps, with the last remaining high profile sites – in Washington DC and London – evicted by February 2012.[17][18][19][20] The Occupy movement is partly inspired by the Arab Spring,[21][22] and the Portuguese[23] and Spanish Indignants movement in the Iberian Peninsula,[24] as well as the Tea Party movement.[25][26][27] The movement commonly uses the slogan We are the 99%, the #Occupy hashtag format, and organizes through websites such as Occupy Together.[28] According to The Washington Post, the movement, which has been described as a "democratic awakening" by Cornel West, is difficult to distill to a few...
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...Being thrown on the ground for no reason when he/she knows they have not did anything wrong and are not resisting arrest they are then violating your Fourth Amendment. “However, if it is proved that an officer used more force than was necessary, the officer can be held criminally and civilly liable”. “In Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 105 S. Ct. 1694, 85 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1985), the Supreme Court ruled that it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment for police officers to use deadly force to stop fleeing felony suspects who are nonviolent and unarmed (West's).” This proves that police may not use deadly force on suspects that are not resisting or unarmed. If they do they could face criminal charges for using deadly force when it was not necessary. “A distinction is sometimes drawn between power and authority.” “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with the powers to conduct investigations, to make arrests, and occasionally to use lethal force in the line of duty.” “But these powers must be exercised within the parameters authorized by the law.” “Power exercised outside of these legal parameters transforms law enforcers into lawbreakers, as happened when Los Angeles police officer Laurence Powell was convicted for using excessive force against rodney king, who had been...
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...unjustified response to civil disobedience that has harmful consequence. 29 Civil disobedience is traditionally non-violent. 29 Civil disobedience is a form of exercising free speech- which is essential in a democracy. 30 Civil disobedience has been used to fight slave laws 30 Civil disobedience played a role in ending the Vietnam war. 30 Civil disobedience shouldn’t be punished- but recognized as enhancing democracy. 31 Even if laws are created by democratic means- civil disobedience can still be justified. 31 Civil disobedience is justified because it promotes equal marriage laws. 31 Civil disobedience is a integral part of American history. 32 Civil disobedience has certain criteria. It must be illegal, nonviolent, and the...
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...1. Interest groups- organization of people who share political, social or other goals; and agree to try to influence public policy to achieve those goals. 2. Alexis de Tocqueville- French political writer noted for his analysis of American institutions 3. public goods - benefits that everyone gets whether or not they join the group, 4. private goods- benefits that ONLY come to those who are members 5. free rider problem- Why would anyone join a group that will provide benefits to everyone regardless of membership? 6. union shop- anyone working for the company has to join the union or at least pay a part of the dues to cover cost of negotiating contracts 7. right-to-work laws- outlaw union shop contracts 8. benefits for group membership: solidarity- make people feel good for joining a group and working with others to make the world a better place. 9. Material- include things like discounts on goods or services, or low cost life or auto insurance. 10. Information- provide members with information that they find interesting and useful. 11. “Federalist Number 10”- how the new government created by the Constitution would help deal with the problem of factions. 12. Faction- He lumps parties and interest groups togetheras including both large groups (majority factions)and small groups (minority factions) ofpassionate people who are united bysome interest. 13. democratic pluralism- checking and balancing 14. lobbying- those activities...
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...throughout the U.S. so he announced the War on Drugs. That was four decades ago and today it still is a major issue in today’s society and does not seem to be taken control of. He also said that it is “public enemy number 1.” Even though in 1972 the prisoner rate had fallen dramatically throughout the U.S. In 1973 Nixon created the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) which was a statement to put an end to drug trafficking and to enforce all of the public safety departments to start cracking down on this particular subject. The budget in 1973 was 74.9 billion dollars (Drug Enforcement Administration). “By 1975 the Columbian police took 600 grams of cocaine, then the drug traffickers took action and killed 40 people to show they are not messing around” (DEA). “The DEA created a training class for agents to learn how to kill drug traffickers and such” (DEA). In 1976 Jimmy Carter runs for president and his main goal was to make marijuana legal and to go easy on the drug dealers’ penalty wise (NPR). Throughout the 70s it seems to be a huge situation that the U.S. and other countries...
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...Civil Rights The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was accompanied, or followed, by civil unrest and armed rebellion. The process was long and tenuous in many countries, and many of these movements did not fully achieve their goals although, the efforts of these movements did lead to improvements in the legal rights of previously oppressed groups of people. Table of Contents Malcolm X…………………………..pg. 3 - 5 Martin Luther King Jr. ……………pg. 6-7 Rosa Parks ………………………….pg. 8- 10 Stokely Carmichael…………………pg. 11-14 Marcus Garvey………………………pg. 15-17 Frederick Douglass…………………..pg. 18-20 John Brown…………………………pg. 21- 23 Medgar Evers ………………………pg. 24- 25 Nat Turner…………………………..pg. 26- 27 Homer Plessy……………………..pg. 28-30 Malcolm X [pic] Malcolm X May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965), born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz,was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of blacks, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. Detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, and violence. He has been called...
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...evidence and must convince the court that based on the evidence presented by both parties; it is more likely than not that the plaintiff’s allegation is true. * Criminal Case * The state must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has committed every essential element of the offense with which she or he is charged * Criminal Sanctions * Much harsher than civil * Involve fines, imprisonment, probation, and sometimes the death penalty * Civil Liability for Criminal Acts * Some torts, such as assault and battery, provide a basis for a criminal prosecution as well as a civil action in tort, * Classification of Crimes * Felonies * Serious crimes punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year * Misdemeanors * Less serious crimes punishable by a fine or by confinement for up to a year * Petty Offenses * Minor violations considered to be a subset of misdemeanors, for example jaywalking * Section 2: Criminal Liability * Two elements normally must exist simultaneously for a person to be convicted of a crime: 1. The performance of a prohibited act 2. A specified state of mind, or intent, on the part of the actor *...
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