ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Very many definitions cloud a universal application to understanding politics. There are those who argue that the search for a legal understanding of politics is practical. Given this scenario, it becomes necessary to place more emphasis on the characteristics of politics to arrive at a clear understanding and a better analysis of what actually constitutes politics. Politics has been defined differently with the likes of Davideaston explaining politics as the authoritative allocation of resources and values within society. Thus, politics is mainly about the distribution of resources within society (Guy, 2010). The people who control the distributive aspect occupy the top hierarchy within society. The group determines how scarce resources are allocated. The understanding of politics is about power relations with one class being inferior to the other. The inferior class is subjugated if not sidelined. According to Laswell & Kaplan (1950), politics simply defined is who gets what, when and how. The scholars were mainly concerned with allocation of scarce resources in the society. It is therefore not surprising that we may have two groups of people who are not equal because only one group of people determines the distribution of resources. Darh Robert who conceived politics in terms of power, power being the ability to influence the minds of men, perpetuated the same line of thinking. It emerges again that power is a relational concept (Darh, 1990). Politics has been inherently viewed in man with Aristotle stating that man is a social as well as a political animal. He viewed politics as responsible for making a man happy. African political scientists have a different definition of politics. Nwabuzor & Mueller (1985) observe that politics is found at all levels of society, be it vertical or horizontal. To these scholars, politics is ubiquitous since it is found in trade unions, market places in offices and even in homes. Role of Opinion Polls in Democracy Opinion polls are normally designed to present the thoughts of a particular population by carrying out a number of investigations with a standardized data collection tool referred to as questionnaire. The generalized results are then interpreted and concluded to predict the voter behavior. Opinion polls are a threat to democracy since leaders always manipulate them to favor their interests and wishes. The polls are subject to sampling errors that mirrors in the consequences of probability and vagueness of the data sampling procedures. Opinion polls have a skewed wording of questions that aim at intimidating some candidates, which further result to interference of democracy. The problem lies with the way questions are asked and the type of possible answers, which may perhaps end up affecting the outcome of polls. The public has a
In 1861, not long before the abolition of slavery, Harriet Jacobs told the world about her life in bondage. Her book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl , written under a pseudonym Linda Brent, was supposed to reveal the truth about the circumstances in which enslaved black people lived in America. Perhaps, the publication of this literary work was not accidental. The author was sure to be aware of the abolition movement that was gaining momentum at that time and wanted to contribute to convincing U.S. citizens of the necessity of ending slavery. By depicting the terrors experienced by slaves, sorrows of enslaved mothers, and moral degradation of white people, Jacobs wanted to make free residents of Northern states realize how vile slavery was. The book can be considered a political text designed to persuade readers that abolition is necessary. In this regard, the author clearly defined her audience in the preface. She wrote that she wanted the women living in the North to understand the conditions in which slaves lived in the Souths, and the sufferings that enslaved women had to undergo (Brent 6). Jacobs believed that the atrocities of slavery could be realized only through experience, which is why she published her account (Brent 6). Thus, her book appealed to free women to evoke their sympathy and motivate them to take action toward abolishment. The first argument presented in the work concerns the miserable position of a slave. Jacobs wrote that slaves were completely subject to the will of their master, and there was no law that would protect them (Brent 86). In fact, laws applied only to white people, while enslaved black humans were legally treated as property (Brent 86). Slaves worked on plantations from dawn to dusk and were whipped until they bled (Brent 114). Slaveholders seduced young girls and took away children from desperate mothers (Brent 114). They trained dogs to tear flesh and could set them on slaves (Brent 114). The author argued that enslaved people were prohibited from telling the truth to Northern visitors (Brent 114). Probably, for this reason, the Southern planters succeeded in convincing the rest of the country that slavery was beneficial, and slaves were happy. While telling about the atrocities that enslaved humans experienced, Jacobs tried to figure out how it was possible that one race became superior to another one. She came to the conclusion that it was white people who imposed their vision of the world on the entire population (Brent 68). The author argued that white men prevented black people from being educated and whipped them to deprive them of any sense of dignity (Brent 68). She also blamed “human bloodhounds of the north, who enforce the Fugitive Slave Law” (Brent 68). Jacobs could not understand why free people from the North did not do anything about slavery and why they helped slaveholders to return fugitive slaves (Brent 48). To tell the Northern population about the real living conditions of enslaved humans was an effective argument because free peopl
Introduction Background of the study The 21st century has presented a variety of opportunities to individuals in comparison with the 16th century. This has mainly been attributed to advancements in science and technology. In addition, the present generations have also had the opportunity to select from a variety of options available to them. For instance, the availability of different careers gives one a chance to switch from one career to another and at the same time, learn to adapt to new ideas. In addition, we have the opportunity to live longer, choose experiences, values, and social networks. These opportunities are mainly attributed to advances in scientific and technological development. Additionally, there are more opportunities in the form of global business and social development in the 21st century in comparison with the 16th century. On the other hand, the current generation is faced with numerous challenges that they have to overcome if at all they are to remain competitive. These include corruption, crime, unemployment, human rights violations, global insecurity, climate changes, environmental degradation, and poverty, among others. These problems are common to both the developing and the developed countries as well. Interestingly, the countries, which have historically been considered less affected, are still trapped in it. For individuals to enjoy the benefits associated with scientific and technological development, they need to develop unique personal values. This will enable one to advance in the ever-changing scientific, technological, political, business, and social environments. Therefore, individuals should ask themselves if they are ready to face an extraordinary future mired by both challenges and opportunities (Accelerated Studies Foundation, 2010, par. 4-7). This paper seeks to assess and discuss personal foresight as one of the most important personal values. It will also investigate its importance to an individual, and the world around him/her. Personal Foresight Definition Personal foresight is the act of foretelling the future. It is also the human capability and capacity employed in changing the prevailing situation (Georghiou, Harper, Keenan, Miles & Popper, 2008, pp.6-7). Costanzo and Mackay argue that personal foresight is a dynamic and proactive learning process in which an individual is engaged in discovering a variety of experiences upon which he/she can make inferences that will encourage behavioral changes. Therefore, personal foresight is a process that allows an individual to learn more about the personal, business, and other global activities that provide opportunities to manage their fate (Costanzo & Mackay, 2009, p.280). Development of personal foresight One major challenge facing anyone who wishes to predict, explain, understand, or change a situation involves understanding the underlying mechanisms of a situation. Understanding such a situation involves a tedious process of looking for information from all the related areas (either directly or indirectly) to the situation at hand. This also inc
Peaceful warrior The name of Martin Luther King Junior is associated in the whole world with release of African Americans from the limits, which they were put in by white Americans. However, this personality was neither revolutionist, nor warrior. He managed to achieve an enormous success in protesting without weapon, deterrence or violence. What was so influential about such a peaceful protestor? In order to know this, it is worth analyzing Martin Luther King Junior’s philosophy of non-violent protest. Philosophy of non-violent protest Martin Luther King Junior presented a structured system of notions and values, which were to serve as a basis for the non-violent protest. Specifically, the key points of his philosophy were: Respect Martin Luther King Junior encouraged his followers not to be disgraceful towards their opponents, but to show respect to them. “Not to humiliate, but to win over” – proclaimed the protestor (King, 1). Thus, the leader was convinced that there is no need to offend anyone in order to in them over. Agape love Explaining different kinds of love described in various cultures, Martin Luther King Junior names agape love as the one that is the most effective. He calls it “understanding, creative, redemptive good will for all men” (King, 1). Thus, mentioning the principles of Christianity, the protestor shows that even a rebellion can be benevolent. Belief The leader of civil rights movement also mentions existence of something “unfolding in the universe” (King, 1). Whether it is God, or another universal power, it helps the repressed to feel support and believe in justice, which is not realized by humans. Inadaptability One of the main points about non-violent resistance philosophy is not getting used to the horrible conditions, which people are put in. Martin Luther King Junior asked people not to adjust to bad attitude towards them, as in other case their fight will have no purpose. History of philosophy development While talking about Martin Luther King Junior’s philosophy, it is worth mentioning, that he was not its only originator. Obviously, some elements of the philosophy, such as its values, were borrowed from other philosophies. What is more, it should be noted, that the initial mood of African American leader was far not peaceful. Indeed, at the beginning of the movement Martin Luther King Junior considered the Christian philosophy of love and its rejection of violence totally ineffective. He argued that the main principles of this religion were only valid for personal relations, but not for wars between different social groups. However, as far as the leader had a chance to study various religious philosophies at a theological seminary, he later got acquainted with a philosophy, which changed his vision of protest forever (Beck, 172). The work, which influenced the protestor’s attitude to resistance, was a description of Mahatma Gandhi and his success in a non-violent protest. This served as a real life example of peaceful resistance effectiveness, which inspired Martin Luther King Junior to apply it in civil rights movement. This was a start of his scholarly and political progress. Martin Luther King Junio
The New York Police Department is one of the most progressive police departments throughout the world. It is the largest police department in the United States and is responsible for the policing of over 8 million citizens. Policing proves to be very vital for this city especially in light of the fact that it is the 13 th largest city in the world and the single largest city in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007). In light of this, policing is extremely complicated, involves the coordinated efforts of many different factions within the department and requires a clear and concise policing strategy which relies heavily on the use of technology. One of the most poignant aspects of the policing of the NYPD involves the ability to gather crime related information, disseminate this information and act on it in an expeditious manner. Much of the policing strategy within the NYPD is one that is driven by fear (Silverman and Della-Giustina 2001). At the heart of the NYPD’s policing strategy is its dedication to publicizing its efforts in fighting crime. In so doing, each initiative undertaken has garnered media publicity. Mayor Giuliani who was the Mayor of New York between the years of 1994 and 2001 along with his hand-picked police commissioner, William Bratton instituted a zero tolerance policy on crime and were assured that this effort was well publicized. This initiative involved enforcing crime utilizing stringent prison sentences for offenders and was responsible for a 12% decrease in crime rates within New York City as compared to a 2% decrease within the rest of the nation (Grogan, and Proscio 149). An integral part of the policing strategy is one which involves what many individuals feel constitutes an egregious practice—the practice of profiling in order to apprehend suspects. Profiling is a crime reduction initiative utilized by police departments throughout the United States. This initiative allows police to stop motorists and search their vehicles if there is a “reasonable” suspicion of illegal drugs and/or weapon trafficking. It also allows the police to “stop and frisk” pedestrians if there is a “reasonable” suspicion of illegal activities. This is a perfectly legal practice but it is one that infringes on the civil rights of the individuals in question. This practice is one that proved effective and is currently practiced within the police department (Center for Constitutional Rights 2007). In an attempt to manage the technological needs of this very large police department, the NYPD has established a strategic partnership with International Business Machines (IBM). The scope of this partnership as delineated by IBM is one which involves the implementation of a real-time Crime Information Warehouse that makes NYPD more proactive in fighting crime (IBM 2006). This was accomplished through a partnership between IBM and its strategic partner, Cognos. This software offers the NYPD the ability to manage the resources within the police force in response to real-time crime data. This system is able to analyze the trends and crime patte
Introduction The role of water resources is of great importance to both humans and nature. The consumption of clean water is necessary for human health. Also, people use water for such purposes as energy production, treatment, industry, cultivation of vegetables and fruits, and navigation (the United States Environmental Protection Agency par.1). To understand the importance of the issues of drinking water quality and availability in the Southwestern United States, factors such as local climate, population changes, consumption of local and imported water, wastewater treatment, and recycling attitude have to be considered. Local Climate Today, many regions of the U.S. are having issues with water shortages. Mostly, it is caused by climate change. In the Southwestern United States, increased water evaporation may disrupt the water cycle. Today’s changes in precipitation show that the water cycle is already changing (the United States Environmental Protection Agency par. 5). According to the United States, Environmental Protection Agency “The Colorado River system is a major source of water supply for the Southwest” (par. 7). San Diego mostly uses imported water which is brought from Northern California. Today, water supplies in Colorado River are decreasing due to droughts, fewer winter precipitation, and dry springs (Taylor et al. 324). The temperature rises and people need larger amounts of water for their health and economic activities. Population Changes California is the most densely populated state in the country, and San Diego County has the second-largest population in the state (Sanchez par. 1). The current population of the region counts about 3.3 million people which is nearly 16 times as much as the population before World War II. Rapidly growing population in the Southwestern United States puts great pressure on the limited water supply of the region (Thiros et al. 21). Consumption of Local and Imported Water The lack of water in the Southwestern United States causes the region to import water from far away. It has to be mentioned that importing water is very expensive and irrational in some way. Although tap water is considered to be dangerous for health due to the chlorine concentrations in it, today’s municipal tap water quality is very high. It is tested and monitored. Despite these facts, a lot of people continue to buy imported bottled water which superiority is questionable. The biggest problem connected with bottled water consumption is its harm to the environment. Karlstrom states that “The U.S. public goes through about 50 billion water bottles a year, and most of those plastic containers are not recycled” (par. 1). Bottled water harms not only the environment. Plastic containers should be used only once. However, most of the people neglect this. Those who continue to use the containers are at risk of leaching carcinogens and hormone disruptors (Karlstrom par. 9). Wastewater Treatment Because of the lack of water in the Southwestern United States, most of the water in the region is imported. Despite the costs of the import, wastewaters are just t
The modern human society is undoubtedly influenced by the mass media, by the ideas they promote and the values they stand for. However, mass media can be divided into several types, according to which the reliability of the information they present can be considered. There are factual mass media that base their data on the checked and specific facts from the primary sources. There are also yellow journalism media that appeal to people’s emotion and interest by reporting rumors and gossip. Campaigning journalism is the type of media that combines the features of the above media types as it presents factual information but appeals to emotion and covers the actual reasons for an organization or a person to commit an action. This paper focuses on the research of the campaigning journalism piece dealing with the protection of Dubai against terrorism. To obtain the clear focus of the topic, it is necessary to consider the basic notions that include campaigning journalism and critical writing (Kettle, 2006). The former is the type of media that tries to reflect the views of the bulk of the readers but at the same time pursue the goals of certain people or organizations: “Campaigning journalism was one way in which the aims of the New Journalism and its successors were able to phrase their solidarity with the worldview of their readers. This was a combination of rhetoric and strategy” (Conboy , 2002). Thus, campaigning journalism appeared in the late 19 th century as an attempt of the media owners to show their readers that they stand for the same ideas and represent readers’ interests in the society (Kettle, 2006). However, the actual essence of campaigning journalism is much deeper, and finding it out is the task of critical writing. Accordingly, critical writing is the material embodiment of the ability of a person to think critically. In other words, a critically thinking person is able to find out the underlying reasons for this or that phenomenon, to find the causes of certain events and to see what motivations, behind the officially claimed ones, make people or organizations do something. In journalism, the ability to critically think and write is especially important (Conboy , 2002). On the one hand, any writer is supposed to have this ability to provide the readers not with mere facts but with reasonable considerations that might provoke the readers to think on the issue further. On the other hand, considering the pieces of campaigning journalism every person should think critically to extract the facts and avoid paying attention to the propagandist or promotional appeals to the reader. Having considered the definitions campaigning journalism and critical writing and importance of the latter for understanding of the former, it is possible to consider the article by Schaps (2008) singling out the elements of campaigning journalism and reliable informa
Choi, Brandon, and Aaron Pak. “A catalog of biases in questionnaires”. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2.1 (2005): 1-13. Print. In this article, Choi and Pak present an argument on the importance of avoiding bias while designing questionnaires for patients. The authors acquire data through investigations conducted within different medical establishments with the purpose of identifying all the possible forms of bias in questionnaires including bias in the way of designing questions, designing the questionnaire itself, and in the way of administrating the questionnaire. Their research focuses on such significant problems found in medical questionnaires as ambiguous questions, complex and lengthy questions, sensitive questions, technical jargon, uncommon and difficult words, and vague words. The findings of the article are of great value for my research topic which is “Preventing Chronicle Diseases” because, in my essay, I plan to address a few fields that are important in designing new strategies by the government medical institutions for improving the state of people’s health. The first field I plan to address is the administration of the results of research studies aiming to help prevent chronicle diseases. I will use the article as the basis for my conclusions regarding this field. To support my argument, I will make use of the quotation: “Bias in questionnaires is an important issue in public health research. To collect the most accurate data from respondents, investigators must understand and be able to prevent or at least minimize bias in the design of their questionnaires” (Choi and Pak 9); and will offer my conclusions based on this central statement. Then, I will make my proposal regarding particular issues that need to be addressed. Dunet, David, Butterfoss, Fredric, Hamre, Robert, and Stephen Kuester. “Using the state plan index to evaluate the quality of state plans to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases”. Preventing Chronic Disease 2.2 (2005): 1-10. Print. Dunet’s et al article presents an argument on the importance of planning in developing strategies for preventing chronicle diseases. This article seeks to define the measures which can be implemented in order to combat the spread of chronic diseases. The article dis