The Magna Carta Essay Example for Free

The Magna Carta Essay The Magna Carta is widely viewed as one if the most important documents in the history of democracy. The Magna Carta was written by a group of people in 13th century England to protect their rights and property against their oppressive king. The document provides specific laws and rules to keep the king from having too much power over the country; this very key document also inspired the American constitution and Bill of Rights. In the stories from the unit A Royal Mess it is easily identifiable why the people of England wanted a document to protect their freedoms and rights. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the character Macbeth is an honorable man who becomes a bloodthirsty, power hungry king; he kills for pleasure and without reason. This would be a big reason for the Magna Carta since in the document in article 29 states that â€Å"No freeman shall be taken, imprisoned, disseised, outlawed, banished, or in any way destroyed, nor will we proceed against or prosecute him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers and by the law of the land.† This principle would have eliminated the actions of Macbeth because he as king would not have been able to kill any people without just cause or without a trial for their actions. In the play Macbeth, the thane of Cawdor was killed in battle and King Duncan took his land to give to Macbeth. This would be unjust according to the Magna Carta. The solution to the problem is stated in article 2 where it states that â€Å"If any of our earls or barons, or anyone else holding from us in chief by military service should die, and should his heir be of full age and owe relief, the heir is to have his inheritance for the ancient relief, namely the heir or hairs of an earl for a whole county 100, the heir or heirs of a baron for a whole barony 100 marks, the heir or heirs of a knight for a whole knights fee 100 shillings at most, and he who owes less will give less, according to the ancient custom of (knights’) fees.† This article is basically saying that if a royal owner of land dies the land cannot be taken from his family it must be passed down to his children or given to his wife. In Beowulf, Wiglaf banishes the geats who refuses to help Beowulf fight the dragon. Those geats would have been protected by article 29 of the Magna Carta which says that no man can be exiled from the land without a trial of his actions by judgment of his peers. The Magna Carta is relevant to our culture in the fact that it was the model for the American Constitution. This was the mold for the document that guides our free country still today. We do not need a new Magna Carta because The American Constitution and Bill of Rights are our modern day Magna Carta. Those documents protect our rights as citizens and control our government to keep our president from having to much power. Without the Magna Carta we may have never gotten our American documenst to protect us, the people who live here.

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Can you reading this now†¦ Good. Well here I am again in the kitchen I just can’t seem to get out of it. But today I will be telling you about one of my favorite dishes Gumbo, along with this I’ll be giving you a little history of the Cajun or Creole culture. I’ve had the honor of working with a few true Creole chefs along with the honor of meting Emerald Lagassi. So before we get into going to the store to buy the ingredients lets look at the Creole culture a bit. The French introduced a soup called bouillabaisse that served as a major influence in the creation of gumbo, a New Orleans signature dish. Combining butter and flour over heat formed their thickening agent, the roux. This classic French technique was later modified and expanded by various cultures to create numerous colors and tastes. This is what Big John called the mother of the Gumbo universe. It’s the sun that heats all the other planets around it. The Spanish spiced everything up by adding tomatoes and peppers in sauces and meat dishes. For instance, Shrimp Creole derives from the combination of a roux with tomatoes. Spanish paella traditionally a seafood and rice dish evolved into the Creole staple jambalaya, simply by adding ham or other seasonal ingredients. The Germans brought the knowledge and skills of sausage making. They arrived with a wide assortment of meat and dairy products as well. The Germans provided access to delicacies previously unavailable in South Louisiana. Italians brought to the New World their famous red gravies, garlic and bread crumbs. These primary ingredients were assimilated into local cooking staples to create stuffed artichokes, eggplant and mirliton (a type of squash). The foods characteristic of Native Americans included corn-based breads and cereals, squash (particularly mirlitons), bay leaves, and dried beans. They used persimmons in syrups and chokecherries to season smoked meats. Their largest contribution, however, was powdered sassafras leaves. Now referred to as filà © powder, this spice acts as a thickening agent in stews and soups. The people from the West Indies introduced rare vegetables and cooking styles, which also transformed Creole cuisine. They favored a slow cooking technique called braising, which allowed the ingredients to co-mingle into a richly layered flavor. This method was later imitated for gumbo African Americans in New Orleans were farmers and sophisticated cooks that united regional crops such as rice, beans and green leafy vegetables with traditional African ingredients like okra, yams, onions and garlic.

Reagans War on Drugs Essay

The phrase â€Å"sex, drugs, and rock and roll† held true to its well-earned spot in 1970’s and 1980’s society. With a new, looser culture, explicit music, raunchy and rambunctious movies as well as a societal focus on many things immoral, it was an era of challenging social norms. As the use of recreational and psychoactive drugs, as well as alcohol, increased, a new problem arose; how does law enforcement and the government undo the damage being made by this new society? Laws were passed, bureaus and commissions were formed, and the President of the United States began what he called â€Å"The War on Drugs†. Over the years, some of these solutions have proven to make some impact. The initiation, tactics, and attempts at dealing a major blow to drug abuse have all affected the way America sees drugs today. A new type of warfare had made its way into the country, and after all these years, it has made its fair share of positive and negative effects. â€Å"Just say no. † (Reagan Declares War on Drugs, 1982). This was one of the many scare tactics used in America’s new war on drugs. The president needed to construct a plan to detract the public eye from drugs’ fame. Nancy Reagan was equally as adamant about keeping America safe and clean. She traveled to and spoke at many schools, enforcing the idea of simply refusing the temptation of drugs. Before the Reagan’s began their wartime, Richard Nixon introduced his own ‘war’ on drugs, stating, â€Å"America’s public enemy number one is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive. † (Remarks About an Intensified Program for Drug Abuse Prevention, 1971). This mindset was yet another strategy used to make America energized and willing to fight this war. Nixon passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act in the 1970’s as a way to keep a constant eye on the drug industry. This act required the pharmaceutical industry to maintain physical security and strict record keeping for certain types of drugs. When Reagan became president he gave a speech, announcing, â€Å"We are taking down the surrender flag that has flown over so many drug efforts; we’re running up a battle flag. † (Reagan’s ‘War on Drugs’ Speech, 1981). America’s first clear attack on the use of drugs was verbal – this strategy temporarily affected the country, but more had to be done to combat this enemy. The United States and its’ presidents had to take a fighting stance if they wanted to decrease drug abuse. One of the first instances of this was President Nixon’s Operation Intercept. Announced even before the official ‘war’ on drugs began – in September 1969 – this campaign focused on reducing the amount of cannabis entering the United States from Mexico. Following this effort, the United States government funded the controversial Methadone Maintenance Program. Methadone Maintenance treatment, a program in which addicted individuals receive daily doses of methadone, was developed as part of a broad, multicomponent treatment program. † (Center for Disease Control, 2002). After Nixon’s trials and failures, President Carter went at the fight with a different, looser approach. Carter called for the decriminalization of marijuana. With a less vicious outlook, Carter believed that the punishment of a crime should not be more brutal than that said crime. President Carter’s tactic proved unworthy, as while he was in office, use of cocaine increased dramatically. Finally, as Reagan took center stage and stepped into presidential office, he kept a strong belief against this criminal act. Reagan created the Office of National Drug Control Policy to eradicate illicit drug use, manufacturing and trafficking of drugs, as well as put an end to drug related violence and crimes. Reagan put policies in place to strengthen his deadly grasp on drug-ridden society. He required mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug dealers – a policy he initiated in hopes of making drugs seem less glamorous and infinitely more criminal. He began the South Florida Task Force, which dealt with the increase of drug trafficking in Southern Florida. This force worked hand in hand with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Operation Swordfish was put in place by the DEA to attack international drug organizations. â€Å"The operation was dubbed operation swordfish because it was intended to snare the ‘big fish’ in drug trade. † (Drug Enforcement Agency, Operation Swordfish, 1980). Vice President George H. W. Bush began insisting that the CIA and U. S. Military become involved in drug interdiction efforts. The Drug-Free Media Campaign Act of 1988 was passed in hopes to convince America’s youth and future generations to stray away from drugs. After all of these battles, did America finally win this war? â€Å"The U. S. Federal Government spent over $15 billion in 2010 on the War on Drugs, a rate of about $500 per second. † (The Budgetary Impact of Drug Prohibition, 2010). This is a sign that perhaps Reagan’s War on Drugs wasn’t quite as effective as he had so hoped. The United States today has the highest incarceration rate and prison population of any country in the world. This is provided in part by the amount of arrests and incarcerations due to drug sentencing guidelines and policies. â€Å"In the 1980’s, while the number of arrests for all crimes had risen by 28%, the number of arrests for drug offenses rose 126%. † (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010). This did not specifically mean that there were more drug-related crimes, but that law enforcement had simply cracked down on the arrests of said crimes. In comparison, Time Magazine’s study states, â€Å"Drug convictions went from 15 inmates per 100,000 adults in 1980 to 148 in 1996, an almost tenfold increase. More than half of America’s federal inmates today are in prison on drug convictions. In 2009 alone, 1. 66 million Americans were arrested on drug charges†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Time Magazine, 2012). While this war on drugs may still be in effect, it may have positive outcomes for further in the future. As for the time being, America has two main stances on the subject: some call for further reparations in the war on drugs, while others believe the war is unsuccessful, and the focus needs to be shifted to more important and dire issues. The War on Drugs has failed. † (19 Member Commission, June 2, 2011). In another instance, a poll was taken throughout the country, and its results, â€Å"three in four Americans believe that the War on Drugs is failing. † (October 2008 Poll). Suggestions of decriminalization have been made by many. The legalization of drugs is claimed to have many positive effects on the country as a whole, including positive economic effects. While this ‘war’ on drugs started off as a full-fledged attack on all users and distributors of illegal narcotics, it seems to have transformed into a war against itself: will continuing these attacks help the country, or will allowing certain, less harmful drugs to be legal prove to be a more reasonable solution? â€Å"Legalizing drugs would save taxpayers $76. 8 billion a year in the United States – $44. 1 billion from law enforcement savings, and at least $32. 7 billion in tax revenue†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Harvard Study by Jeffrey A. Miron, 2008). In addition, the policies put into effect by Nixon and Reagan may ave had a positive impact on crime in the United States, but it may not have been in the way they had wished. â€Å"Drugs got enormously cheaper so users didn’t have to hit as many old ladies over the head and steal their pocketbooks. † (Travis Wendel, â€Å"More Drugs, Less Crime†, 2010). Murders, robberies and other violent crimes seemed to decline as the price of drugs went down – could this happen if drugs were legalized as well? America in this day and age has a vast amount of governmental and international issues in desperate need of resolution – is drug control still one of them? The United States of America is a country known by many as ‘land of the free’, but does this mean that its citizens should be allowed to participate in activities such as drug use with such a negative connotation? Did Reagan’s War on Drugs really make an effective impact on the way America sees drugs today? The answer to that question is this – while his tactics may not have worked the way he had desired, America as a whole has indeed seen less drug related crime. This does not mean it does not exist, nor does it mean that by legalizing drugs will solve all of the country’s problems. What this does mean is that Reagan’s war on drugs did not put an end to drug use, but it just may have opened America’s eyes to more clear and present danger. While drugs are in no way going to solve America’s problems, the once War on Drugs may now need to be adjusted to a name more fitting. A War on Crime as a whole perhaps? A War on Drug Related Violence? Reagan had the correct idea, now the country can put it into proper use. His War was not an end all war, but it just may have been enough to enhance America as a whole.

Legalized Gambling Would Decrease The Crime Rate Essay

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many factors have influenced the rising crime rate, some being, increasing use of drugs, increasing population, and decreasing morals. America must find ways to decrease the crime rate legally. One question often going hand in hand with decreasing crime rate is would legalized gambling decrease the crime rate? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s slow economic growth, cuts in federal funding, and growing public needs forced state and local governments to seek additional sources of revenue. Most states turned to lotteries, horse and dog racing, and most recently a growing number of states have resorted to casino gambling as a painless way to raise money. Case studies show†¦show more content†¦The numbers game is a sideline game of the lotteries. Originally, lotteries were used to raise money for civic or charitable causes, while numbers was played to earn money for the Lottery Company. It is commonly believed that the â€Å"numbers’ game gave rise to gambling syndicates ( 132). Betting on horses or Horse books is run by a â€Å"bookie†. The racetrack-licensed bookies to accept bets at the tracks, for that privilege, bookies paid the racetrack operators a daily fee, usually around $100 a day. The most popular form of illegal g ambling is gambling on sporting events (133). There are four states that allow betting on sports, these are Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Oregon (PBS 1). Some estimate that professional football alone attracts $50 billion in wages per season (Begun et al. 133). Sports cards are very popular for the $1 to $10 sports bettor. Sports cards are also run by a â€Å"bookie†. A bettor selects a team that he or she thinks will win and tears off a card stub and submits the cards before the start of the game (134). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There has been an increase in the use of loopholes in the government, an example of this would be gambling on cruise ships. In 1992, Congress was forced to approve a general maritime law (PL-102-251). This law permitted gambling on American registered cruise ships once they were more than 3 miles offshore, on international voyages. This law possessed one flaw. Out of over 100 American docked ships, only 2 percentShow MoreRelatedLegalized Gambling Would Decrease the Crime Rate1796 Words   |  8 PagesMany factors have influenced the rising crime rate, some being, increasing use of drugs, increasing population, and decreasing morals. America must find ways to decrease the crime rate legally. One question often going hand in hand with decreasing crime rate is would legalized gambling decrease the crime rate? 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