...Americans have fought for freedom many times in the past and still to this day fight to maintain freedom Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Many people take living in America for granted. Americans must always remember how fortunate they are to be able to live in such a great nation with so many freedoms. The flag represents everything America has fought for, therefore any type of desecration to the flag should be illegal. The first American flag was sown by a Philadelphia seamstress by the name of Betsy Ross in May 1776 just before the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence. The Continental Congress officially adopted it as the national flag one year later (1777) in order to increase patriotism at an important moment in the history of a young America. The original flag did not look the same as the present day American flag, it had 13 stripes alternating in color of red and white, along with a blue rhombus in the top left corner and white stars in the shape of a circle. Both stars and stripes represent the 13 original colonies. The red represents the courage and resilience of American soldiers, white represents purity and innocence, and the...
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...land of freedom. Kenneth Jost, a reporter for The CQ Researcher, observes that many Americans fear patriotism is declining in the nation (Jost, 545). Two individuals, retired Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady and Carole Shields, took to analyzing a related matter in an article of The CQ Researcher. Both parties responded to the question, “Should Congress approve a constitutional amendment to permit laws prohibiting the physical desecration of the flag?” (Jost, 561). Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady argued that the desecration of the flag produces terrible impacts and is not protected under the first amendment. On the other hand, Carole Shields wrote that the ability to burn a flag is...
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...Final Exam Questions 1. Q: Explain the historical relationship between Hutus and Tutsis. Before 1500s, there were mainly 2 tribes in Rwanda. Hutus and Tutsis. However, Tutsis had better agricultural and trade and combat skills. Very slowly over time, Tutsis took over the land ownership of Hutus and Hutus became part of Tutsis society. This was not a violent take over. This happened peacefully. Tutsi created an agreement that allowed Hutus to work on their land in exchange for payment and protection. As Tutsi became stronger, they saw no need to pay and protect Hutus. Hutus became Tutsis’ slaves. After World War II, Rwanda became Belgian colony. Belgian government tried to establish equal rights between Tutsis and Hutus. UN in 1962 gives independence to Rwanda. Election system allowed a Hutu to become a president. Tutsis tried to overthrow the government, but failed and almost all Tutsis fled from the country. Hutus killed almost 12,000 Tutsis in the process. The president signed a cease fire and in 1990, he promised to make many changes to Rwanda to try and allow Hutus and Tutsis to live together in peace. However, Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana was killed when his airplane was shot down by unknown group. Angry Hutu extremists started to massacre Tutsis in Rwanda. Almost 927,000 Tutsis were killed in 100 days. UN and all other countries in the world did nothing. 2. Q: It...
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...system, the individual rights of the people are greatly minimized, with the nation being glorified. Citizens are supposed to only work for the government and it is a system that promotes dictatorship. Below are key benefits of fascism. 1. Enhances security The military plays a vital role in a fascist system since it is required for protecting national security as well as fighting enemies. Most of the nation’s resources are given to the military in spite of domestic problems and policies. Fascism gives more significance to the state in contrast to the citizens’ rights and thus military productivity is a vital state interest. This leads to a better military, thereby increasing security. 2. Promotes patriotism Fascism is essential concerned with the protection of national agendas. Individual rights normally take second place, while national policies are provided first priority. Since patriotic symbols, flags and slogans can be seen everywhere, fascism encourages patriotism. The citizens will thereby be united so as to eliminate any perceived threat to the state. 3. Limits media Sometimes media are credited with reporting biased news that causes conflicts amongst the population. In the fascist system, the government has great control over mass media. There are very strict polices placed on media and the government typically does not desire to showcase its conflicts and problems on an international or national forum. This promotes peace in the society. 4. Economic growth ...
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...pathos, and logos. In addition, he created a certain compelling rhythm by including parallelism throughout his speech. Kennedy’s inaugural speech assured and convinced citizens, and in return made them realize that with a new president comes a new beginning. One of the devices Kennedy used that assisted in persuading citizens through his structure is parallelism. During his speech, he created a flowing tempo in which presented that each topic was extremely important. For example, to emphasize how significant pledging the country's loyalty is, Kennedy opened each concerning paragraph with “to those.” By doing this, he created a large scale, parallel structure. On a smaller stance, Kennedy states, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate” (3). Therefore, he produced an unforgettable quote by simply using...
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...THe words he used were antonymic such as “slavery” and “freedom,” Henry created fear and despair to scare whom he was talking to, but also provide a sense of hope for them to hold on to. He also calls to religion because of how significant and how sensitive it was. He said, “An act of disloyalty toward the majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” He criticises the King of Great Britain by saying that the “Majesty of Heaven” is always and always will be above him. Doing this, Henry effectively made it seem that the almighty God was on the colonist side for war and that not fighting the British would be treacherous and disloyalty towards God. He utilizes rhetoric devices of ethos and pathos to shift emotions with the colonist by bringing God into their earthly conflict. Also in his speech. he...
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...other movie. Both have their own stands and relate to situations in different times and conditions. The two have many common grounds and share themes that are portrayed in different scenes through different perspectives. The movies mostly revolve around the idea of standing up for oneself and not giving up, whoever the enemy might be. Patriotism is portrayed in Brave Heart when Mel Gibson's character William Wallas refers to the cavilary as "sons of Scotland." They agree to fight against an army almost double in size, armor and men. This battle is won. In Kings Speech the King, is coping with a stammer to deliver a speech which is his first wartime radio broadcast on Britain's declaration of war on Germany. The struggle required to overcome the fear of stammering and of rejection is calmed down by the support of his friends and family. In Brave Heart love is a key theme, the movie beautifully portrays that intense love can make you go lengths you never wanted to go, change decisions like William decides to fight and rebel once his love, wife is killed for abstaining the soldiers from raping her. He starts a revolt against the most powerful men and dies trying. Love, an emotion that can help you through any stage of life, as in Kings Speech, the character Queen Elizabeth is the reason that King George VI joins the therapist. She drives him to improve and believes in him that one day the speech delivered will have no stammer. She stands by him even when his brother is against...
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...attempted an unsuccessful coup against Gorbachev in August 1991 which resulted in his eventual resignation and the rise of Boris Yeltsin and democracy. The end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s were the moment of deepest crisis for the main institutions of the Soviet system. The public atmosphere in that period and for some time thereafter was dominated by a feeling of liberation from the pressure of the previous repressive institutions, by an upsurge of hope for rapid change and the miraculous advent of “a better life.” For some time, an incomparable experience opened up for the mass of people with various inclinations and life horizons: the possibilities of “a different life” for oneself. One of these possibilities was the new freedom of religion (Zorkaia). Ironically, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag lowered for the last time over the Kremlin on December 25, 1991; Christmas Day in Western...
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...citizens in the dystopian civilization of Oceania. Manipulated by propaganda, irrational enforcements of policies, infinite surveillance, and revision of the past leads civilians feeble to the oppression of their government. They are governed by a potentially fictional dictator, whom they address as “Big Brother.” The citizens fear him and adore him. Although, Orwell’s predictions for modern culture after World War Two may seem drastic and extreme, it has been evident that the inhabitants of our world currently mimic the ignorance of the party members in Orwell’s vision. In the patriotic nation of the United States of America, the rights and freedoms of their citizens are disregarded in ways that are undetected by majority of the population. If we are consistently warned about our future by thinkers such as George Orwell, how do governments remain in power and sustain this cycle? Presently, the American government Asube 2 exploits its citizens for the sake of power; and they do this in much the same way Orwell envisioned, through the invasion of privacy and the perpetuation of war hysteria. Governments control people by restricting their rights and freedoms....
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...It commemorates the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla. What was the reason behind the Battle of Puebla? Simply put, Mexico had trouble paying back war debts to European countries, and France had come to collect on this debt. To understand the significance of this victory, consider at the time of this battle, the French army was considered the premier army of the world. 6500 well armed French Troops went head to head against 4700 under equipped Mexican Soldiers. They battled fiercely for 2 hours, until the French were forced to retreat. The Mexican Soldiers thru sheer will and determination had defeated the most powerful army in the entire world. The reason Americans celebrate this holiday is that we appreciate the cultural signifigance of what this battle represents. (Victory in the face of great odds and the Patriotism it generated). A common misconception made with Cinco De Mayo is that it celebrates Mexicos Independence. According to Wikipedia,. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, because it was on that day in 1810 that Father Miguel Hidalgo[->0] took to his pulpit in the village church of the town of Dolores and invited his flock to take up arms and join him[->1] in overthrowing Spanish tyranny. Independence Day is a very important holiday in Mexico and not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo. Typical Cinco De Mayo celebrations include dancing, mariachi bands, Mexican food and drinks, festivals, and parades. A civic parade takes place...
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...CONSERVATISM Key concepts 1) Hierarchy and organic society * The term ‘organic society’ refers to a belief, which became entrenched in traditional conservative thought in the latter part of the 19th century. * It was a reaction against the rise of liberal individualism. * It proposes that society is more than merely a collection of individuals, but it is a single entity. * We are connected to each other through our humanity and common membership of community. * Organic society is seen as a reality, which is superior to our own, individual interests. * The ideal organic society – where goals and aspirations of individuals coincide with the goals of the whole society. 1980s – Margaret Thatcher famously challenged this remarking that there “is no such thing as society”, implying that the goals of individuals are superior to those of society as a whole. * Traditional conservatives believe that there is a ‘natural’ order into which each individual fits. * It is normal and natural that society should be divided by a number of strata. * The very rigid feudal system had long since disappeared, but there remained a belief that some kind of class system was inevitable. * Hierarchy like this supports organic society in that it creates an order and stability, which the individualistic society lacks. * Different parts of the hierarchy have different roles that complement each other. * This implies inequality, but an ordered inequality, and one in which...
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...Thucydides, an Athenian historian, political philosopher, and commander is more commonly known for his work surrounding the history of the Peloponnesian War. While serving his time as commander in the war he was exiled for his failure and wasn’t allowed to return to Athens until after the war had ended. While this may not have been ideal for him at the time, it gave him the opportunity to gather information from both opposing sides, Athens and Sparta, throughout the war. This then enabled him to write a direct and concise account of the war and to refrain from any personal opinion. He is commonly regarded as the father of philosophical history. His account of the Peloponnesian war is not only extremely accurate, but it chronicles a war that...
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...thoughtful American opened his morning paper without dreading to find that he had no longer a country to love and honor. Whatever the result of the convulsion whose first shocks were beginning to be felt, there would still be enough square miles of earth for elbow-room; but that ineffable sentiment made up of memory and hope, of instinct and tradition, which swells every man's heart and shapes his thought, though perhaps never present to his consciousness, would be gone from it, leaving it common earth and nothing more. Men might gather rich crops from it, but that ideal harvest of priceless associations would be reaped no longer; that fine virtue which sent up messages of courage and security from every sod of it would have evaporated beyond recall. We should be irrevocably cut off from our past, and be forced to splice the ragged ends of our lives upon whatever new conditions chance might leave dangling for us. We confess that we had our doubts at first whether the patriotism of our people were not too narrowly provincial to embrace the proportions of national peril. We felt an only too natural distrust of immense public meetings and enthusiastic cheers. That a reaction should follow the holiday enthusiasm with which the war was entered on, that it should follow soon, and that the slackening of public spirit should be proportionate to the previous over-tension, might well be foreseen by all who had studied human nature or history. Men acting gregariously are always in extremes; as...
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...this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this...
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...with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our plannet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met. On this day,...
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