Sunday, January 26, 2020

Are Whistleblowers Heroes or Traitors?

Are Whistleblowers Heroes or Traitors? EDWARD SNOWDEN AND BRADLEY (CHELSEA) MANNING: HEROES OR TRAITORS? Author Note Introduction Paragraph First paragraph: Edward Snowden: Who is he and what has he done? Second paragraph: Edward Snowden: Issues in the law; Is he a hero or traitor? Third paragraph: Bradley (Chelsea) Manning: Who is he and what has he done? Fourth paragraph: Bradley (Chelsea) Manning: Issues in the law; Is he a hero or traitor? Conclusion Paragraph: Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, positive vs. natural law. ABSTRACT Edward Snowden and Bradley (Chelsea) Manning disclosures of secret National Security Agency (NSA) files raises an important question. Are Edward Snowden and Bradley (Chelsea) Manning heroes, or traitors? Ultimately, the author will show how Snowden revealed that the United States government had been mass surveilling the people of America without their permission or knowledge and how Manning revealed â€Å"The Cost of War† showing how United States is intervening in the Middle East (Abu Omar abduction, the Iraqi Civilian death toll, and the viral video collateral murder). Furthermore, the author will discuss how the United States Espionage act affects both Snowden and Manning in a way that makes it impossible to explain their reasoning for their actions. INTRODUCTION When is it just to break the law? Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning have faced this question head on. All three are known as whistleblowers. These whistleblowers have disclosed top secret Government intelligence documents to the public and have spareked a worldwide debate concerning the surrender of our privacy for security. Some say that these whistleblowers are traitors. Donald Trump, President of the United States says that whistleblowers like Snowden and Manning are traitors and implies that they should be executed. â€Å" Spies in the old days used to be executed†(Donald Trump). Others say that he is a â€Å"human rights hero (Amnesty International)†.This story is of particular interest as it raises the question of whether the reason behind breaking the law should help determine the outcome. The purpose of this article is to examine whether these whistleblowers made the right choice in deciding to leak top secret government information. Are these whistleblowers heroes for making the world aware of the grotesque acts that the United States government affiliated to both America and the rest of the world? In Paragraph I, the article will outline who Edward Snowden is, it will explain what information that he leaked and will mention. In Paragraph I part II, the article will define the legal issues that are brought up in respect to Snowden. In paragraph II, the article will outline who Manning is, it will explain the information that he leaked, and will mention the charges that were brought upon him. In Paragraph II part II it will define the legal issues that are brought up in respect to Manning. Lastly, in paragraph III the article will outline Assange and will explain how he is involved in the case. The article will also outline what Assange is charged under. In undertaking this analysis, this article suggest that Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and Julian Assange are heros, not traitors and should be treated accordingly. However, the article suggests that despite having the best intentions, they should be punished under a lesser sentence. EDWARD SNOWDEN Snowden is a 33 year old former CIA and NSA contractor born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Snowden derived from a family of patriots. His father worked for the military for 30 years, his grandfather retired as an admiral, and his mother to this day works for the federal courts. Snowden decided that he wanted to join the government during the Iraq war. Snowden’s desire to join the army is evident when he said in an interview that his motive of joining the army was to free people from oppression. Snowden said, â€Å"This is the kind of thing that led me to the army. When they said, â€Å"We’re going to free oppressed people from a dictator,† I felt that I had an obligation to do my part to see that happen†(Snowden). Snowden began training for the special forces in 2004 but ultimately failed as he suffered a fatal injury during a training exercise. Snowden was then discharged from the military. Snowden, still wanting to fight for his country, began his tr aining for the CIA in 2006. Graduating at the top of his class, Snowden was deployed with diplomatic cover to Geneva to maintain the CIA’s security network. While undercover, Snowden discovered a program that made him start questioning NSA’s power. The NSA program was called â€Å"XKeyscore†. Snowden revealed in an interview that this program filtered information that the NSA collected on a daily base and see everything that a particular person was posting. In an interview with Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Snowden explained the immense reach of XKeyscore. Snowden said, â€Å"Let’s say I saw you once and I thought what you were doing was interesting or you just have access that’s interesting to me, let’s say you work at a major German corporation and I want access to that network, I can track your username on a website on a form somewhere, I can track your real name, I can track associations with your friends and I can build what’s called a fingerprint which is network activity unique to you which means anywhere you go in the world anywhere you try to sort of hide your online presence hide your identity, the NSA can find you and anyone who’s allowed to use this or who the NSA shares their software with can do the same thing. Shortly after working for the CIA, Snowden began working for Dell in Japan to upgrade the NSA’s computer systems and protect from Chinese hackers(Forbes). After working in Japan for a couple of years, Snowden began to work for a company named â€Å" Booz Allen Hamilton†(BAH), an American consulting firm with ties to the NSA. This is where Snowden uncovered the Grotesque spying of the American people. So, Snowden then gathered all the data he could about the illicit activities the government was performing and leaked it to The Guardian. Snowden leaked thousands of top secret files Including that government had secret court orders to collect all telephone records and that he the government has a secret software named PRISM. According to The Guardian, PRISM is a software that grants full access to a companys servers and can access private emails, telephone calls etc; The companies are obliged by law to hand over this information. After revealing himself in an interview wit h The Guardian, the United States has charged him with â€Å"theft of government property unauthorized communication of National Defense information, and willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence Information to an Unauthorized Person (Caselaw). After evading an extradition from Hong Kong, Snowden claimed asylum in Russia and is presently living there. EDWARD SNOWDEN: RIGHT AND WRONG, LEGAL, AND ILLEGAL In order to analyse whether Snowden is a hero or a traitor we first have to understand the legal issues that his case raises. This article is not arguing whether Snowden broke the law or not but rather raising the question of whether it was a justifiable use of breaking the law. Snowden revealed that the United States forced Verizon to hand over its phone data in a classified court order (The Guardian). The classified court is named United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and was not known to the public until Snowden leaked the court order. The government responded and said that they are within their right to do because of a provision in the U.S patriot act. The U.S Patriot Act, an act signed by Bush just a month the 9/11 attacks, states, â€Å"Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or a designee of the Director (whose rank shall be no lower than Assistant Special Agent in Charge) may make an application for an order requiring the production of any tangible things (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) for an investigation to obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, provided that such investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely upon the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution†. The act also has a provision, stating that their needs to be reasonable grounds to request for this information (LII).In this case, the government had not even considered or stated why this information is relevant and does not even mention why they need the information now. In a unanimous decision the Federal Court of Appeals states why the governments reasoning for obtaining this information is not allowed nor is it constitutionalThe court states, â€Å"[T]he government takes the position that the metadata collected — a vast amount of which does not contain directly ‘relevant’ information, as the government concedes — are nevertheless ‘relevant’ because they may allow the NSA, at some unknown time in the future, utilizing its ability to sift through the trove of irrelevant data it has collected up to that point, to identify information that is relevant. We agree with appellants that such an expansive concept of ‘relevance’ is unprecedented and unwarranted†(AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION V. NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY). The U.S District Judge in his ruling described the NSA’s capabilities as â€Å"almost orwellian†.The NSA’s is violating the constitution by spying on it’s people. Without Snowden’s leak, the ACLU would have never been able to bring this to trial as we would have never knew of it. After the verdict, the government began to introduce. 20 bills all aimed at tackling surveillance in America including the most prominent one The U.S.A Freedom Act (Slate). This act prevents mass surveillance and puts an end to programs like PRISM. By bringing the governments illicit actions to light, Snowden has shown the people of America that the government is breaking the law and acting unconstitutionally and should be considered a patriot. However, despite acting in good intentions, the government is still trying to arrest him. Snowden has sparked debate worldwide. Some say that he is a patriot as he took on immense risk all for the good of the people while some say that he is a spy and should be executed (Donald Trump). Snowden explained in an interview with The Guardian that he’d be okay losing if he had a fair trial., â€Å" If I ended up in guantanamo, I can live with that†. This demonstrates his character, as he understands that he is fighting for the people, but if the people thing he is guilty then he deserves to go to prison. This is further demonstrated in an interview with NBC when Snowden revealed that he leaked the documents because of his love of his country and the people in it. (NBC). Instead, of thinking that Snowden committed an illegal act we should think he is a hero because he did the right thing. In Snowden’s own words, â€Å"We should always make a distinction that right and wrong, is a very different standard than legal and illegal. The law is no substitute for morality†. This is not the only time that there has been tension in the law in order for progression. Some examples are; Whether it was The abolition of slavery, and the increased rights of women. â€Å"Laws were broken because the laws were wrong. In Conclusion, the author suggests that he is a hero. The definition of a hero is someone who overcomes adversity often sacrificing their own personal concerns for the greater good. In this example, Snowden has put his country first. Snowden has risked his life and his freedom in order to inform the citizens of America about the U.S governments illegal activities and has still stayed true to the one thing that every American wants to uphold†¦ The Constitution. Often, hero’s have a code or moral principle that they want to protect. In this case, Snowden wants to uphold his code which is that the constitution should be upheld. Snowden even taken an oath to uphold something so precious to him. As every federal employee has to taken an Oath of Office. The Oath of Office is widely considered â€Å"The Cornerstone of America†(RYOC) and is essentially a vow to protect their country and uphold the constitution. The Oath states, â€Å"I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God†. Snowden protected the one thing he swore to protect. The NSA paints Snowden as a traitor, and says that he broke the oath he has taken by revealing the information but in reality he defended the constitution while the NSA was attacking by illegally spying on it’s people. CHELSEA MANNING Bradley Manning, know known as Chelsea Manning, is a United States Army soldier who served as an intelligence analyst. Manning had a troubled childhood says her sister, Casey. According to Casey, she took care of Manning when she 11 because both parents were alcoholics even to the extent of making her a bottle in the middle of the night(Washington Post).At a young age Manning was considered intelligent, winning top prize at local science fair and even in a state wide quiz bowl (Washington post). Manning became openly game in 2005 when he came back from Wales. When manning came back, Manning’s father reportedly spent weeks trying to convince her to join the military(Washington Post). Manning joined the military in 2007. According to BBC news, Manning’s friends said that she joined the military to pay for college but eventually Manning stated that she had joined in hopes to rid her desires for becoming a woman (BBC). In 2009, Manning was deployed to Iraq as an intelligence analyst. This is where she granted access to the classified information that she had leaked. Manning made contact with Julian Assange in 2009. She gave Assange almost 750,000 classified documents including the famous video Collateral Murder, where it shows the U.S military killing 12 civilians and killing the people who were trying to save the injured. The leaks also included 251,287 U.S diplomatic cables and 482,832 war logs. After leaking the information, she confided in a hacker named Adrian Lamo. Lamo later informed the Army and Manning was arrested in May of that same year. After Manning was arrested, he was charged with 22 offenses including the most serious charge Aiding the Enemy, which could have resulted in life in prison. Manning was sentenced 35 years in prison thus becoming the harshest sentence that a whistleblower has ever received. CHELSEA MANNING: THE COST OF WAR In order to analyze whether Manning is a hero or a traitor, we need to understand his criminal case and the arguments made. Then, like Edward Snowden said, â€Å"We should always make a distinction that right and wrong, is a very different standard than legal and illegal. The law is no substitute for morality†. This is true especially for Chelsea Manning as her case is a bit more drastic than Snowdens. Manning stole and released over 700,000 classified documents in order to show us â€Å"The Cost of war†. Manning has been charged with aiding the enemy for leaking this classified information to the media. The enemy is considered at this time to be Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula. Manning leaked names who’d had confidential discussions with US diplomats. He also released that the president of Yemen was lying to his own Congress about American drone strikes in his country (The Guardian). In his case, Manning pled to 10 offenses which would have landed him around 20 years in prison. However, the military insisted that he was charged with aiding the enemy and violating the espionage act which would have added a life sentence. Eugene Fidell, an expert in military justice at yale law school, said that even Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the suspected architect of the 9/11 attacks, had greater rights of appeal than Chelsea would. â€Å" If he’s convicted by a military commission in guantanamo, KSM will get a straight shot at the US Supreme Court, He said. â€Å"By contrast, if CAAF denies Manning a review as it does in most cases, he will be out in the cold†. This shows how cruel the U.S government is towards Manning. At the time manning was 22 years when released those documents. After being arrested, Manning was in solitary confinement and subjected to forced nudity during inspection (Huffington Post). This not only violated his eighth amendment right but also violated article 16 of the convention against torture. Juan Mendez, UN special rapporteur on torture, said that Mannings treatment while he was in prison cruel, inhuman, and degrading. Mendez said, â€Å" I conclude that the 11 months under conditions of solitary confinement(regardless of the name given to his regime by the prison authorities) constitutes at a minimum, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of article 16 of the convention against torture. If the effects in regards to pain and suffering inflicted on Manning were more severe, they could constitute torture†(The Guardian). Manning had not been to trial and had been psychologically been beaten by the government. This not only violated his right to physical and psychological integrity, but violated his presumption of innocence. So, what info did Manning give to the public that would warrant such inhumane treatment? Manning released documents that exposed the detainment of innocent people of guantanamo Bay, he revealed â€Å"The cost of war† in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and he helped fuel pro- democratic movements in the Arab world. After releasing the documents about the war crimes committed in Iraq. Iraq then refused to grant criminal and civil immunity to US troops if their stay was prolonged, thus promptly causing Obama to withdraw them from Iraq saving many American and Iraqi lives. Some of the documents that Manning released were shocking videos showing the war crimes that the US committed. The video â€Å"Collateral Murder†, released by Wikileaks, shows the disregard for human life and shows various war crimes committed by the U.S government. The video shows a US apache attack helicopter killing 12 civilians including 2 Reuters reporters and wounding two children on the ground in Baghdad in. Then, after they gruesomely killed the civilians, they murdered the people trying to rescue the wounded. Finally, to add insult to injury, a tank ran over one of the bodies cutting the man in half (Youtube). Not only did they murder innocent people but they got away with it until Manning leaked the video. this video depicted 3 war crimes. Section 499 of the Army Field Manual states, â€Å"Every violation of the law of war is a war crime.† According to Article 85 of the First Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, it defines that killing civilians is a war crime. (Huffington Post). In this video, it is clearly seen that not only did they shoot civilians, but they taunted them after their death. One of the gunners in the apache helicopter said, â€Å"Look at them dead bastards†(Youtube). They showed zero remorse and even laughed about it. Then, to make matters worse, they violated article 17 of the First protocol. This states that the civilian population â€Å" shall be permitted, even on their own initiative to collect and care for the wounded.† The article then says, â€Å"No one shall be harmed†¦ for such humanitarian acts†. In the video collateral murder, it is clearly seen that the gunners killed the good samaritans while they were picking up bodies. Lastly, they violated another section of the army field manual when the jeep drove over the dead body. Section 27-10 of the Army Field manual states that â€Å"maltreatment of dead bodies is a war crime. Not only did they run over the body, but they even laughed ab out it when one of the gunners mentioned it. According to Huffington post, they said that Manning had gone to his chain of command and asked them to investigate the video and other videos but ultimately refused. They also mention that he was obliged to do so. The Huffington Post states, â€Å"Enshrined in the US Army Subject Schedule No. 27-1 is â€Å"the obligation to report all violations of the law of war.† At his guilty plea hearing, Manning explained that he had gone to his chain of command and asked them to investigate the â€Å"Collateral Murder† video and other â€Å"war porn,† but his superiors refused. â€Å"I was disturbed by the response to injured children,† Manning stated. He was also bothered by the soldiers depicted in the video who â€Å"seemed to not value human life by referring to [their targets] as ‘dead bastards’† Huffington Post Manning went through the proper chain of command in order to fix the problem but ultimately was told to forget about it. Since Manning was ordered not to reveal classified information that contains the war crimes, it should also be noted that it works vice versa. Therefore, Manning had and performed his legal duty to reveal the war crimes (Huffington Post). In order for Manning to be found guilty under the Espionage act, the prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he maliciously release those files to harm the United States. In court, Manning stated that he released the documents to spark debate about foreign policy in general as it applied to Iraq and Afghanistan. Mannings goal was to inform the public about what are government-the people we elect to govern us- are doing. In this case, they are violating the military guidelines and Geneva conventions. The government also broke the law when they presumed that he was guilty before his trial had begun. President Obama commented on Manning saying that he broke the law before he was tried. Obama said, â€Å" We are a nation of laws†¦ He broke the law† (The Guardian)!. Not only did Obama prounounce him guilty before his trial, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, General Martin Dempsey, also said that he broke the law â€Å"(Stars and Stripes). This poiso ned the well and violated Article 37 of the Uniform code of Military Justice by â€Å"Unlawfully Influencing Action of Court†(Truth out). Manning’s lawyer tried to bring Obama to testify in this case, stating that it should be clear why he was needed as he influenced the courts decision. He said, â€Å"The relevancy of these witnesses should be obvious. Each of these witnesses has provided statements that contradict those given by the OCA [Original Classification Authority] witnesses regarding the alleged damage caused by the unauthorized disclosures. Additionally, each of these witnesses is relevant in order to inquire into the issues of unlawful command influence and unlawful pretrial punishment in violation of Articles 13 and 37 of the UCMJ.†Ã¢â‚¬  Huffington Post In Conclusion, the author believes that despite the fact Manning broke the rules, the people have to recognize that the rules are very contradictory. Manning has a duty to report all war crimes and tried to report it to his superiors but ultimately they refused. Should his moral obligation end there? It is the authors belief that he put morality over legality and thus should be noted. His obligation is report war crimes and not listen to unlawful orders. By not reporting the crime is to follow an unlawful order and should be recognized. Does this mean that Manning should serve no time? The author believes that regardless of Mannings intent, he still acted recklessly by releasing the files and how he released them. However, the time he served before the trial should have been his sentence after all the cruelty he had received. By definition Manning is a hero as thought through adversity by challenging the United States government and sacrificed himself so that the people could know th e True Cost of War CONCLUSION In conclusion, the author believes that both Snowden and Manning are innocent. Both Snowden and Manning put themselves through adversity for the greater good. In Snowden’s case he had to leave his home and was on the run from the American government because he leaked information about the mass surveillance going on in America. Similarly, Manning received 35 years in prison, torture from his government because she released information pertaining to â€Å"The Cost of War. The Stare Decisis in this case would be the nuremberg trials of WWII. The Nuremberg trials brought up that even if something is legal that it does not make it moral. This is a case of positive vs. natural law. Natural law says that there is a morality in which law is to reflect and if it morality does not reflect the law then it considered unjust. Positive law states that what is legal is moral. Mostly positive law was used throughout the 20th century until the Nazi regime happened. REFERENCES S. (n.d.). Bradley Manning Prosecution Incurably Infected by Government Misconduct. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/8039-bradley-manning-prosecution-incurably-infected-by-government-misconduct/news/item/#14973142023401&action=collapse_widget&id=0&data= W. (2010, April 03). Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0&t= 50 U.S. Code  § 1861 Access to certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/1861 Chumley, C. K. (2013, July 02). Donald Trump on Edward Snowden: Kill the ‘traitor’. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/2/donald-trump-edward-snowden-kill-traitor/ Cohn, M. (2013, June 05). Bradley Mannings Legal Duty to Expose War Crimes. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-cohn/bradley-mannings-legal-du_b_3390416.html Cohn, M. (2013, June 05). Bradley Mannings Legal Duty to Expose War Crimes. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-cohn/bradley-mannings-legal-du_b_3390416.html FindLaws United States Tenth Circuit case and opinions. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-10th-circuit/1719511.html Gallagher, R. (2013, October 29). U.S. Lawmakers Launch Assault on NSA Domestic Snooping. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/10/29/sensenbrenner_and_leahy_s_usa_freedom_act_seeks_to_curb_nsa_domestic_spying.html Greenberg, A. (2013, December 20). An NSA Coworker Remembers The Real Edward Snowden: A Genius Among Geniuses Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/12/16/an-nsa-coworker-remembers-the-real-edward-snowden-a-genius-among-geniuses/#791efdd9784e L. (2016, November 14). Lybio. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://lybio.net/amnesty-international-edward-snowden-write-for-rights/people/ Nakashima, E. (n.d.). Bradley Manning is at the center of the WikiLeaks controversy. But who is he? Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/who-is-wikileaks-suspect-bradley-manning/2011/04/16/AFMwBmrF_print.html Pilkington, E. (2012, March 12). Bradley Mannings treatment was cruel and inhuman, UN torture chief rules. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/12/bradley-manning-cruel-inhuman-treatment-un Pilkington, E. (2013, February 28). Manning plea statement: Americans had a right to know true cost of war Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/28/bradley-manning-trial-plea-statement N. (n.d.). Snowden-Interview: Transcript (Seite 3). Retrieved June 12, 2017, from http://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/netzwelt/snowden277_page-3.html Tate, J. (2013, August 14). Manning apologizes, says he hurt the United States by giving documents to WikiLeaks. Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/manning-apologizes-said-he-hurt-the-united-states/2013/08/14/e1de6cb4-0525-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html?utm_term=.3eb26ce44e5a

Friday, January 17, 2020

Kierkegaard vs Sartre: An Existentialist Approach Essay

â€Å"Is live worth living? That depends on the liver,† is quite an anonymous, but knowledgeable, quote. Though this may seem a more modern way of viewing life itself, this quote actually resembles that of a much older perspective: that of an existentialist. Existentialism, is, essentially, the philosophy that life is meaningless, unless one defines that life. Two philosophers actively involved in this position were Soren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre. While both can be considered existentialists, in that the quote above encompasses much of their beliefs, both of these men have significant differences in the way in which they view all fields of philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology). However, though I am not personally an existentialist, my life in terms of existentialism has been influenced by both Kierkegaard and Sartre, despite their discrepancies. One major difference between the two is that Sartre is an atheist. This metaphysical position is the basis for many of Sartre’s existentialist opinions on other aspects of philosophy. To further explain, the fact that there is no God, leads to the fact that there is no such thing as human nature, and no common ground on which we would all be able to relate. In other words, human nature cannot be defined in advance, because it has not been thought out in advance by some higher being who would have created mankind. The fact that human nature does not exist indicates that each person’s meaning in life is discovered on his/her own, and each person forges his/her own destiny. With this active role in life, each person retains an individual burden which affects all others. Sartre wrote, â€Å"Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does,† and â€Å"Our responsibility is much greater than we might have suppos ed, because it involves all mankind.† Both of these quotes reflect this aspect of liberty and consequence which one faces. In contrast to Sartre’s atheism, Kierkegaard believed in God, and believed that a person’s relationship with God helped reveal and determine his/her life. Kierkegaard’s belief contained a â€Å"leap of faith† in God, because of an â€Å"objective uncertainty.† This was from the lack of hard proof of a God, and a lack of knowing God in an objective sense. This led Kierkegaard to believe that faith must involve inwardness; thus, the â€Å"leap† one must take in order  to fully believe in, and live a relationship with, God. Another subdivision of Kierkegaard’s objective uncertainty dealt directly with his epistemology, in truth. He wrote â€Å"Truth is subjectivity,† meaning an individual has its own final determinant in what is really real. The process of reaching this final determinant, for him, was to Exist: â€Å"†¦ Do not think as a thinker†¦ think as a living, real being†¦ think as Existence.† This is meant for a person to be an actor in life, instead of a spectator, and to think personally, consciously, and subjectively, as aforementioned. This is similar to Sartre’s opinion of independence and liberty in life. However, the view of human nature is blurred, as being subjective focuses on differences in existence: â€Å"†¦The task of the subjective thinker is to transform himself into an instrument that clearly and definitely expresses in existence whatever is essentially human.† Note that â€Å"whatever is essentially human† is not defi ned; it is left open for interpretation. Sartre, though he is not quite as detailed as Kierkegaard, does have a similarity in the aspect of Existing. For him, there are three types of being: â€Å"L’à ªtre-en-soi  (‘being-in-itself’), â€Å"L’à ªtre-pour soi (‘being-for-itself†)†, and â€Å"L’à ªtre-pour-autrui (‘being-for-others’).† All things that are, have being, but that being is only in-itself, and the being is totally self-contained and static, or inanimate. Existing is the process of progression and change, whereas being is merely a static state. Sartre’s existence is the process in which something â€Å"becomes what it will be,† which is not unlike Kierkegaard’s Existence and actualization. Sartre and Kierkegaard do not have many differences, for they are both existentialists and share many of the same broad views. I, in turn, share some of these concepts, and try to apply them to my own life. In terms of Sartre, because I am not an atheist, I believe that there is such a thing as human nature; however, I believe that we are â€Å"condemned to freedom.† Although each person may have mutual attributes with the next, the fact that  we exist in completely separate lives with completely separate experiences gives us the liberty and responsibility that Sartre mentioned. Keeping this in mind, my individual responsibility grows, as I take into consideration the effect and consequences that my decisions may have. In addition, Sartre’s variance of existence, in â€Å"becoming,† makes sense to me, because I am of the opinion that existing requires changing, progressing, and living to one’s potential, and not being static and self-contained. In the sa me way, Kierkegaard’s actualization process of Existing is also in my favor, as I am determined to be an actor, in place of a spectator, in life. I agree with existentialism in a broader sense, in that the fact that I exist precedes who I am. I was not born with the characteristics which I have now, nor with the values and beliefs which I have acquired since birth. I differ, however, in opinion, in that I am not the sole determinant of my future, that there are some things which I will not be able to change in my life, such as human nature and my genetic makeup. Nonetheless, after examining existentialism, I have come to the conclusion that it is a valid view on life itself, and what life means. The meaning of life is determined by its own liver, and this idea encompasses much of the philosophy of existentialism. Jean-Paul Sartre and Soren Kierkegaard both partake in this approach. Significant differences exist in many of the details, but many of these conceptions correlate with one another, and embody that philosophy. After having a more in-depth perspective, I have both agreed and disagreed on some of the aspects. However, I acknowledge and praise both the similarities and differences in opinions in not only Sartre and Kierkegaard, but in all aspects of life. For they are an indication of uniqueness, by being able to have independence and responsibility, by being able to Exist, to be actualized, to have existence precede essence, and to determine the meaning of life on one’s own.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Why culture is important in doing international business

Introduction In the business world today, borders are blending and multi-national mergers are causing many company nationalities to become indistinct. As the globalization of markets rapidly increases, many companies are finding international expansion a necessity of competition. The world is greatly affected by this movement towards a global market, and many companies are finding it extremely important to adapt to other cultures. The most considerable obstructions to successful international marketing involve misinterpretations and contrary views resulting from cultural differences. Being both aware of some of these issues and prepared to make the necessary accommodations can save companies time, effort, and a considerable amount of†¦show more content†¦(http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=fArticleId=2337753). (2) Dragon, generally as a symbol of Chinese culture, and kung fu master, as a symbol of national pride, being defeat by American basketball, a symbol of American culture , are difficult to accept by most Chinese people. This is another typical failure sneaker giant suffered in foreign market due to ignorance of local society culture. Correspondingly, understanding importance of culture is a key factor if companies wish succeed in conducting international business. Generally speaking, understanding culture is able to benefit international business people in marketing products, managing workforces, and dealing with host country governments (Mahoney et al, 2001). (1) Source: Mahoney, D., Trigg, M.; Griffin, R. Pustay, M. (2001). International Business: A managerial perspective (2nd ed.). Australia: Prentice-Hall, Inc. p.372-3. (2) Source: Nike Walks A Fine Line As It Slays Chinas Dragon. Business Report, 8 Dec. 2004, from http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=fArticleId=2337753 Marketing products Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) almost always attempt to sell their products and services into foreign markets so as to reach business most productive. Successfully doing business with international clients not only requires mastering international business rules and regulations, but also being similar with localShow MoreRelatedChallenges Facing The Human Resource Department1314 Words   |  6 PagesIssue: As international businesses become more common and globalization continues to boom, many challenges face the Human Resource Department. With employees and business spanning over many countries, continents and hemispheres, businesses will face cultural diversity, technology reliance, and many other risks that go along with international businesses. Human Resource departments have been forced to become more knowledgeable in the hiring, training and retention of managers in international businessesRead MoreEssay on A Tale of Two Cultures783 Words   |  4 Pages------------------------------------------------- Case Study 1 ------------------------------------------------- 1. If your international firm were doing business in Asia, would you feel partly responsible for these social trends? Is there anything that your company could do to ease the tensions these cultures are experiencing? Be specific. ------------------------------------------------- Our company has no direct impact in the changing social trends happening in Asian countries. There areRead MoreHuman Management Practices At Japan, China, And South Korea1218 Words   |  5 Pagesobjectives. We have heard the English terms culture, management terms, and business culture, which are commonly used business terms in America. Nonetheless, we don’t have much knowledge about international business terms. International business terms such as â€Å"wa†, â€Å"quanxi†, and â€Å" inhwa†, which are essential management terms in Japan, China, and South Korea. In this paper I will be analyzing my findings on the words culture, management terms, business culture, â€Å"wa†, â€Å"quanxi†, â€Å"inhwa†, what would be similarRead MoreJapan, South Korean, And America Management Practices1194 Words   |  5 Pagesobjectives. We have heard the English terms culture, management terms, and business culture, which are commonly used busin ess terms in America. Nonetheless, we don’t have much knowledge about international business terms. International business terms such as â€Å"wa†, â€Å"quanxi†, and â€Å" inhwa†, which are essential management terms in Japan, China, and South Korea. In this paper I will be analyzing my findings on the words culture, management terms, business culture, â€Å"wa†, â€Å"quanxi†, â€Å"inhwa†, what would be similarRead MoreInternational Human Resource Management : Understanding The Cultural Environment1257 Words   |  6 Pagesmore critical for international Human Resource Management: understanding the cultural environment or understanding the political and legal environment? Why? Include key terms and concepts from the textbook. While there are many various global issues that affect the International Human Resource Management to run efficiently, there are two key concepts that play a major role in understanding how to approach them with cohesive and a well coherent strategy; they are the International Human RecourseRead MoreInternational Hrm Case Study By Fiona Robson936 Words   |  4 Pagesissues indicated in a case study for expatriate – ethnocentric staff solutions. A - International HRM Case Study by Fiona Robson Based on the information you have at the end of Part 1, what do you think the key priorities should be? The key priorities, in this case study, should be a creation of a small but capable team for re-branding and setting up the business in foreign countries. Since company’s business plan contains significant growth and expenditure through Europe it is essential thatRead MoreInternational Marketing Essay926 Words   |  4 PagesIDISCUSSION QUESTIONS Chapter 1: 1. To what extent is a global approach to international marketing appropriate to firms in the Asia-Pacific? Global approaches are not always relevant to firms in the Asia-Pacific apart from alerting them to the nature of the international competitive environment in which they are likely to operate. A global approach is not an operating strategy for Indigenous small and medium scale exporters (SMEs) and is only partially appropriate for local subsidiaries ofRead MoreLatin American Culture Essay examples1050 Words   |  5 PagesLatin American Culture Latin America represents 1/10 of the worlds population, and geographically can be located from the land extensions of Mexico, until the Patagonia at Argentina. Some of the most relevant elements of todays culture in Latin America are; Religion, Values, Attitudes, Social structure, Social stratification, Language and Gift-giving hospitality. The predominant religion throughout history in Latin America has been Catholicism. From big cities to small villages, churches, basilicasRead MoreEffect of Culture in International Business Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Culture is an important part of International Business. Culture is defining the collection of values, beliefs, behaviours, customs and attitudes of the member in the society. Culture is the behaviour that people act in the community. The characteristic of culture is also reflects learned behaviour that is transmitted from one member to another in society. There are also basic elements cultures such as social structure, language and religious. So the foreigner who wants to operateRead MoreCultural Environment Of International Business Essay1327 Words   |  6 Pages Cultural Environment of International Business Vanda Mallo Keiser University â€Æ' Abstract Understanding the management role relative to cultural influences is critical for today’s managers who want to interact proficiently across borders. One important concept which provides insight into the idea of intercultural aptitude is the notion of â€Å"mindfulness† or the ability to interact with others from different cultures. Managers must become more culturally sensitive since diversity in the workplace

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

I Have A Dream Speech Analysis - 1714 Words

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great inspiration to the nation. He helped to achieve racial equality. In order to convince the audience of creating racial equality, he uses words to provoke, calm, and inspire in his famous I Have a Dream speech. Using these words, he creates a connection with the audience, and he gained their trust. Cesar Chavez also gave a speech that provoked, calmed, and inspired the audience to come together and get rid of pesticides because it is causing many diseases among adults, as well as children. He also mentions King many times to gain the audience’s trust. â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that†¦show more content†¦King provokes the audience by using loaded language to show that they are still not free, and they are still getting hurt. However, King also uses phrases that inspire the audience. He concludes that â€Å"Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.† King, being the â€Å"moral leader of the nation,† tells the whole audience that there is always a chance to fix things. There is never an end, only a beginning. He makes an allusion to the Bible of the foolish man and the wise man. â€Å"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.† In the Bible, the foolish man built his house upon the sand, and the wise man built his house upon a rock. When the rains came down, the foolish man’s house gets washed away, but the wise man’s house stays put. This antithesis draws in the crowd. King wants everyone to move up to the â€Å"solid rock of brotherhood† and become a united nation instead of being â€Å"quicksands of racial injustice† and judging by races. King does not want African Americans to b e better than whites, but to be equal. He claims that this militancy â€Å"must not lead us to a distrust of all white people.† Malcom X thought that all white people areShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1152 Words   |  5 PagesThe major argument that is being portrayed in Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have A Dream† speech is all men and women should be treated equally, regardless of their skin color. Dr. King states, â€Å"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienableRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech758 Words   |  4 Pages delivered his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech in 1963 to a divided and unjust nation. King’s tactful writing reached the entire nation, a nd his words resonated with everyone who heard them. His speech addressed the injustices and inequalities blacks face in America. â€Å"I Have a Dream† has gone down in history as one of the best speeches in modern history, received at a time of turmoil and racial tension. Therefore, King’s words have rung in the hearts of innumerable people, and his dreams and aspirationsRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1419 Words   |  6 PagesKennedy have the first televised debate, Mohamed Ali wins a gold medal and the Civil Rights Movement at its climax in America. As the chaos of segregation was unfolding in the Southern states, Governor George C. Wallace and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, were at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. In the beginning of the year, Governor Wallace will address his constituents with his, â€Å"Segregation Now, Segregation Forever† speech and seven months later, Dr. King will deliver his famous, â€Å"I Have a Dream†Read MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1199 Words   |  5 Pagesthe forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. In the beginning of the year, Governor Wallace will be addressing his constituents with his well-known, â€Å"Segregation Now, Segregation Forever† speech. Nevertheless, it will be seven months later, that Dr. King will convey his message in his famous, â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. Individually, they deliver historical speeches concerning civil rights, however, the dialogue encompasses completely different messages. Comparatively, the two speeches will be presentedRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis1154 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr.s impact of pathos throughout his speech has the impact of exploit the audience, empowered, determined, and grateful. Throughout his speech, his audience responds to him by applauding with agreement. Impact of Pathos Martin Luther King, Jr. uses attribute within the starting of his known, I actually have a Dream Speech, to realize the audience to feel as theyre fighting with several alternative known Americans, like the beginning Fathers and Abe Lincoln. Since, several AmericansRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech937 Words   |  4 PagesMany people have different perspectives on hope. Some hope for a life full of happiness, being wealthy, or just being happy. Martin Luther King Jr. had hope, he had hope for equality and for everyone to be treated equal. In MLK’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech this is the most uplifting segment of it. King knows that his audience has suffered from injustice, so they must have faith that things will soon change. King also stresses in the speech about non-violent resistance, African American equality, actionRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1086 Words   |  5 PagesI am writing this letter to you in hopes of gaining insight on how to ha ndle the grave issues of racism and injustice that appear to be a curse upon our great country, the United States of America. Back then, you used your cogent words to penetrate into the minds of all those listening in hopes of uniting our nation, and erasing racial barriers along the way. You fought for peace and freedom using non-violence and preached equality to the people of this country. From your involvement in the firstRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis1441 Words   |  6 Pagesorder to procure its ultimate victory throughout the 1960s. From his civil rights-related endeavor, the â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the â€Å"March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom† in 1963 (â€Å"March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom) arose. In his speech, he spoke about the injustice of segregation and discrimination of African Americans. His speech had a prodigious impact as it succeeded to illustrate the issue of racism a t the time and instigated theRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis847 Words   |  4 Pagesget along, but that isn’t what life really is. If you want something to change you don’t sit back and hope it will change you have to make it change. In the story Cairo: My City, Our Revolution, Ahdaf Soueif goes and fights for her country. In the speech I Have a Dream, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was influencing people to go and protest to get their rights and in the speech A Eulogy for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy influences people to change and do as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. TheRead MoreAnalysis of I Have a Dream Speech1857 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"I Have A Dream† Martin Luther King Jr. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech that electrified a nation. In Washington D.C, King delivered his speech on the steps of the Lincoln memorial and as his powerful voice echoed out across an audience of 200,000 people, echoes of the Gettysburg address could be heard as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Bible. It has been called â€Å"masterfully delivered and improvised sermon, bursting with biblical language and imagery.†The