Britain's relationship with European Union Essay

Britain's relationship with European Union - Essay Example However as Schmidt suggests the problems of Britain in adapting to European policies are not related with the EU changes in government practice or EU related changes in the policies of the EU nations although these changes seem to have been significant for these countries and have affected politics, governance and decision making. However the fact that Britain has problems adjusting to EU changes could be related to the fact that the EU policy changes have never been justified or explained within the context of discourse on EU policies or EU law (Schmidt, 2006). Schmidt points out that France had greater changes in policies and practices and greater challenges to ideas than Britain although in cases of Germany and Italy there haven't been too many significant changes due to EU policies. Thus Britain's adjustment problems with EU policies should be comparatively less than France but more than certain other nations. Baker (2005) studied on the enlargement and expansion of the European Union to its membership of 25 as also the agreement on the EU constitution and elections of the EP. These events occurred in 2004. Baker focuses on the fact that the Blair government emphasises on helping to promote better relationships between the US and the EU and although this constrained the EU policy for Britain, the fact that Blair had some support for EU policy was a tool to influence the British public which is obviously more pro Europe rather than pro America. Within the British parliament, Britain's policies on the EU and its policies towards America seem to have contradictory implications and in certain cases spark intra party and inter party disputes (Schmidt, 2006; Baker 2005). Political analysts have argued that despite Britain's apparent closeness to the United States in recent times especially during the Iraq war; historically Britain has been much closer to Europe than to America. Although it was widely speculated that Britain's membership in the EEC could lead to a complete breakdown in its relationship with America, 30 years now, this may not have really happened. In fact the question of Britain's relationship with America is not so much under speculation or doubt as Britain's ambiguous relationship with the European Union. Britain unsuccessfully applied for membership within the EEC in 1961 but within the context of major controversies and the fact that the UK had a special relationship with the US in terms of sharing nuclear weapons. However despite Britain's reluctant approach to the concept of the European Union, Britain joined as a member of the EEC in the 1970s. The election of the Labour party in 1997 led to a more euro friendly approach of government although Blair also seems to emphasise on UK as acting as some sort of bridge between the EU and the US. The 1997 Amsterdam treaty helped Britain maintain its own border controls and despite its membership into the EEC, Britain seems to have stayed away from the crux of EU policies and approaches giving rise to speculations on whether Britain's relationship with EU will ever be resolved and whether Britain could ever be fully integrated within the European Union. The remark made by Ernest Bevin, who was the Labour Foreign secretary in 1949: "our

Planning personal finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Planning personal finance - Essay Example The traditional lifecycle investing theory that was authored by Modigliani and Miller, holds that every individual will pass through several lifecycle stages, within which then needs for investment are different (Brigham & Houston, 200, pp. 73-4).   The first stage is when younger, exists the ‘accumulation phase’ (between 20’s and 30’s age periods), when the person is capable of investing in greater risk assets as well as follow an aggressive strategy of investment, designed to attain maximum longer term growth.   The second stage of lifecycle, is known as the ‘consolidation phase’, a middle life stage (between 40’s and 50’s age periods), during which the person has stopped working and is depending on the income as well as capital accumulated during the first two stages of life. The third and final stage is the ‘gifting phase’, (between 80’s and 90’s age periods) within which persons who have already accumulated a greater amount of wealth than they require for their own lifetimes, make a decision to of passing on some of their assets to others – maybe as a charitable donation or an inheritance (Brigham & Houston, 2001, pp. 74-5).   According to this theory, individuals go through these phases of life, their investment objectives and needs change significantly and, even though they were capable of holding mostly risk carrying assets in their youthful years (the theory depends mostly on equities, for maximizing long-term growth), the person needs to eradicate most investment peril as they age up.

Crime fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Crime fiction - Essay Example Violence in the media is not confined only to fictional shows and does not serve only the purpose of shock value. Rather, as people face greater and greater exposure to the outside world at an earlier and earlier age and as they get more and more conditioned to learn through all five senses rather than just one, suddenly, being told about a murder isn’t enough. We need to see the murderer to be able to visualize it and have it feel real. If that fails to get the message through, we need to see the site of the crime and the people affected and the way it was done. It is less sadism as it is natural in us to want to grasp the full reality of something, and as the definition of that reality has changed over time, so have the depictions we are shown.News channels and television shows alike rely on graphic details to illustrate the full impact of a crime. Crime shows will often show gruesome depictions of these crimes through highly realistic make-up and body models, with these cri mes being described in highly intricate details. The problem however is that crime fiction isn’t classified as specifically for adults of a certain age and therefore these shows are shown in time slots where even children can have more or less unrestricted access to them. Violence on television isn’t as the same taboo as perhaps nudity or drug use might be, despite studies showing that it has negative effects just at par with them. Since property offences have no mass appeal, they are replaced by the more gory and exciting crimes of violence. Studies (Barker & Petley, 2001) have shown explained the popularity of crimes in these shows by the fact that it depicts life in a far more exciting light. Two men arguing are shown to resort to fist fights rather than drawing out legal orders through a long tedious process. Things happen faster and with exaggerated emotion and magnitude, exactly as we fantasize but never actually do. Television violence plays into these subconsci ous desires and fantasies and plays out for us in visual detail what fails to form into concrete thoughts in our minds.

Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism Essay

Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism - Essay Example Considering the traditional American view of heroism, as brought forth by the novel ‘The Big Sleep’ by Raymond Chandler and the film ‘The Maltese Falcon’ directed by John Huston, masculinity is a prerequisite. In the early way of thinking, male characters were seen to intervene on the behalf of the feminine ones (Cohen 1). This view has been portrayed in several early documented resources. Looking at Raymond Chandler’s novel, ‘The Big Sleep’, General Sternwood makes an intervention for her two daughters, Carmen and Vivian. Sternwood seeks the help of a private investigator, Philip Marlowe to intervene in an attempted blackmail against Carmen by Arthur Geiger, a bookseller (Chandler 10). He is further tasked with the responsibility of establishing about the whereabouts of Rusty Regan, Vivian’s husband who has since disappeared. The heroic characters in the entire incidence are masculine individuals. The case presents a situation whereby the feminine are not considered heroic. This presents a situation whereby the chances of having an ultimate masculine hero to be too high while their counterparts with very slim chances. The main role in the traditional setting of movies has shown a predictable pattern of masculine heroes. ‘The Maltese Falcon’, is a movie that reve als an iconic private investigator, Sam Spade dealing with three complicated individuals, all these people are working to obtain the Maltese falcon. The man is expressed as witty and capable of finding solutions. Despite losing his co-investigator, Spade gets to the length of conducting his independent investigations. Spade is systematic in his conduct and ends up unearthing several truths about the incidences surrounding the deaths of Arthur and Thursby. He successfully confronts law enforcers. The police question him concerning the murder of Archer and Thursby. These murders occur on the day when Miss Ruth Wonderly was meant to meet Thursby, while Archer had accepted to follow her in an effort to get her sister who had gone missing. The Falcon is a highly coveted treasure and attracts interests from different persons. Spade finds himself at the centre stage of all this despite the incidences surrounded by murder and suspicion. Spade was suspected by Archer’s wife to have ki lled him in order to inherit her, but he got out of the loop. Joel Cairo enticed him with $5,000 fee to find the falcon, he further pointed spade his gun as a threat so that he could look for it in the office. Spade was not cowed, he knocked Cairo down and when he was in his right mind he considered hiring Spade. His masculine power is shown when the movie shows him bringing Cairo down, this sends a message that the ultimate hero is a person with unmatched muscle power. Throughout the film, Spade appears bold, unshaken and cunning. He is a man whose heroism has been expressed by the treatment he gives to other characters and the prowess he depicts in handling every incidence. Masculine characters in the Chandler’s novel depict some higher level of accomplishment. Marlowe is a man capable of engaging in investigations reliably. He is able to track the behind the scenes pornographic activities in Geiger’s bookshop. In this scene, it appears the source of the blackmail is the involvement of Carmen in pornographic activities. This incidence shows a situation where feminine characters are used for the benefit of the masculine ones. In the bookstore, the role of a

Living Conditions During the life and times of William Shakespeare's Research Paper

Living Conditions During the life and times of William Shakespeare's era - Research Paper Example An author (playwright) sees reflection of one’s own experiences and surroundings while creating the characters. One cannot sweep it under the carpet and why should one? Authenticity about a character comes out of direct experience plus fertile imagination. This quote of Shakespeare is perfectly applicable to him. In Twelfth Night he writes, â€Å"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them". (Act II, Scene V). William Shakespeare born in 1564 into a middle-class family, whose father was a glove maker in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small market-town, achieved greatness. That greatness is matchless and the world has not produced another playwright of his name and fame! The multifarious characters one sees in his more than 37 plays reflect the tragedy, comedy and history of the era (1564-1616) to which he belonged. Shakespeare had deep understanding of human nature, social, economic and cultural conditions of his time. His characters come from many walks of life and he uses their language in his creative style. He had deep, intuitive knowledge of music, military science, politics, and hunting etc. His characters are as big as kings and generals, and as low as pick-pockets, drunkards and hired killers. He excelled dealing with philosophical topics. His characters spoke straight from the heart, as per their level of progression in the society. Elizabethan England and Shakespeare’s era are synonymous. What was the era like? There are many shades of opinions as for the living conditions prevailing then. Pritchard writes, â€Å"One would portray ‘merry England.’†¦.Another would present a typical third-world developing country, with gross disparities of wealth, with the powerful few plundering the Commonwealth, the numerous poor with low-life expectancy, traditional cultural patterns crumbling under the

The Dust Bowl Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Dust Bowl - Research Paper Example Egan describes it â€Å"as if a curtain were being drawn across a vast stage at world’s end.†1 Much of Egan’s prose has this biblical tinge to it, and it strikes the proper tone for a disaster that seemed like a foretaste of Doomsday. A catastrophic symbiosis occurred. The region’s residents suffered crippling economic and personal privation from which most never recovered; similarly, the region sustained a devastating physical transformation from which it has never fully recovered. And there is irony of biblical proportions at work here, in that the people who endured such abject misery were the same ones who were responsible for the most spectacular climactic shift in American history. The land that farmers so freely exploited was part of an exquisitely delicate eco-system. The pristine grasslands which massive herds of buffalo had kept in check created a root system that held fine, fertile soil in place. When the buffalo were exterminated, the plains Indians whose subsistence depended on them moved further west, leaving only white settlers concerned with profiting from the richness of the land. That meant clearing away the grasses. When the Depression hit and wheat prices fell, farmers were forced to increase their yields, clearing more and more grass in order to do so. Millions of tons of dust were picked up by the highest winds in the United States, rendering bare survival problematic. Farmers found themselves incapable of adjusting to the situation, and agricultural profitability in the region suffered. â€Å"During the Depression and through at least the 1950s, there was limited relative adjustment of farmland away from activities that became relatively less productive in more –eroded areas.†2 In the more-eroded counties, attempts at agricultural adjustment resulted in a recovery of less than 25 percent of initial losses.3 One of the most remarkable aspects of the Dust Bowl, and which speaks to the sheer

Global war on terrorism Essay Example for Free

Global war on terrorism Essay Serving my country is one of the bravest and greatest things I have done in my life. I was the first sergeant of Bravo 796 of the 14 military police brigade. Being the first sergeant was one of the most exciting jobs I have ever done, yet tough and hard, with a lot of personal responsibilities. The position is a bit challenging and demanding, so I had to be tough too. On a single day, the things that you I had to do were many, with many people complaining that they cannot get a hold of you. This might have been true, because of all the jobs that had to be done. My job was people. Dealing with people’s problems every day, starting from their health, welfare, discipline, and morale to mention but a few was the order of the day. From the time that I started my day, sometimes as early as one o’clock in the morning, having to deal with people’s problems and at the same time complete my duties at the end of the day, was so tiring. Most of the time, I had little or no time to do the paper work, as most of the duties involved outdoor activities. There was also no enough time spend with my family. The job requires that the needs of the country and the service be put before the personal needs. By doing this, I was able to enjoy the rewards of my military career. I also had to be skilled enough in matters concerning the army, because the position requires a person that is knowledgeable enough. Therefore, a lot of learning was necessary, for me to meet the demands of the position. I was mobilized for Global war on terrorism on the July of 2006 up to January 2009. Our mission was to train and to provide disciplined, physically fit, motivated, tactically and technically fit military police soldiers. The soldiers had to be familiar with the values of the army, and their character and conduct had to be pleasant, and reflecting the values of the military. In my experience as a first sergeant, one of my duties was to over see the smooth training of the soldiers in law enforcement duties. Some of the subjects that were taught were basic law enforcement tasks, reports and reforms, responding to incidents, unarmed self defense, maneuver and mobility support operations and enemy prisoner of war operations. I had to ensure that the soldiers were familiar to and fully understood the concepts that these subjects taught. Since the first sergeant’s position is the one at which all units merge, there are several key duties that are attached to this position, including holding formations, instructing the platoon sergeants, advising the commander and assisting in the training of the enlisted members. Relationship with the soldiers When the young soldiers to be first arrive at the training grounds, many of them are not aware of the reality of military training. They are not used to being shouted at and to obey orders, even when they do not feel like. They are also not used to being woken up so early in the morning by an officer shouting so loud at them. For many of them, it is their first time to leave home, or to be away from home alone for the first time to stay on their own. Despite these difficulties, they have to be treated in a manner that will harden them. As a sergeant, I had to treat the soldiers in such a way that they will able be to survive, even at the worst conditions. They have to live where they are asked to live, even when the situation is uncomfortable. However, these difficulties are imposed on purpose, to adjust the soldier’s attitude to the military way of thinking. Furthermore, it makes it easier to impose self discipline, obedience, loyalty, military rules, military policies, etiquette and sacrifice among other values and customs of the military to them. Some people say that the military officers gain pleasure in making the lives of the soldiers difficult. However, from my experience, I would not say that this is true. They only adhere to the rules of the military, to train the soldiers both physically and psychologically, in order to tear apart the civilians, and build from scratch a dedicated, physically fit and a proud member of the United States Armed Forces. Being in direct contact with the soldiers, and at the same time able to influence them for the better using your power is the key to earning their respect and to understand them. This is one of the most importance things that the first sergeant has to do. Your influence is so important that it determines whether a company will fail or deteriorate. As the first sergeant, I had to take all the knowledge I had and effectively pass it to the commanders of the units to teach it to the soldiers effectively, and at times training them myself. Being the first sergeant, you can only know if your efforts in training the soldiers have been effective through the behavior and the work of the soldiers. Normally, I had to make sure that my behavior, especially when around the soldiers is at its best. If a sergeant’s behavior is rotten, then the company will definitely copy that, and the results will be rotten soldiers. I also had to be completely involved and aware of every thing that goes on in the army, especially with the soldiers. This is why the position is so important, that most people refer to it as the livelihood or the blood of the army. A sergeant is required to act as an exhibitionist, to display his impressive character to all the other members. Sometimes, it may be said or thought that he is boasting; such a behavior is not egotistical, but it is required and can be viewed as a way of setting the example. Therefore, I had to ensure that my behavior is exceptional and outstanding. By doing this, it is assumed that the members of the unit will want to be exceptional too, putting aside their differences involved at a personal level, and work or live as brothers. As the duty of the first sergeant, I had to train the members of the units to the best of my interests, and be proud of them and their achievements. This entails praising the soldiers and talking proudly of all their success and positive attitudes to different people. In my experience, I learnt that a first sergeant’s role is important, in that he should act as the leader for the soldier’s success, and should he fail, the unit members may fail too. To attain the best of the soldiers, he needs to discipline them and be tough, to ensure their behavior is pleasant and acceptable in the military. He should also be a wise counselor, giving them advice whenever they need it. Being a provider is also a major duty of the first sergeant to ensure that they are comfortable. I also had to be a confidant to the soldiers of my company, listening to them and also being a friend in general. These are some of the aspects that bring the sergeant and the soldiers closer, to establish a close relationship comprising respect and concern to them. Relationship with the captain A unique relationship comprising of respect and confidence should exist between the sergeant and the commander. This relationship should not be the buddy to buddy kind of relationship, but one based on the work values. In most cases, such a relationship with the captain is not so common with officers of other ranks within the military. Being the first sergeant, I had to ensure that the will of the captain is carried out. When the first sergeant is given the title during his appointment, then he is automatically given authority to pass his ideas to the captain, to ensure the learning of the soldiers is as effective as it can be. While advising the captain, I sometimes found myself arguing or disagreeing with him on several matters. This is where there the authority, professional relationship, past experiences, and loyalty with the captain was required. At times, there are situations when the captain is not as experienced as the first sergeant. This may lead him to disregard the advice given to him by the sergeants. There can also be times when the sergeant’s reasoning has saved the captains reputation, which signifies the important role of the sergeant as the advisor to the captain; that failing to take the sergeant’s advice may lead them to making blunders that may cost them their jobs. In conclusion, I would say that the role of a sergeant is very important in the military training ground. Being a good leader, showing all the desirable characteristics, and above all things being able to interact with people of all kinds were some of the characters that guided me. Otherwise, I would not have been able to execute the position’s duties, and my job would have been a lot harder. Training the soldiers to the best of my knowledge for the sake of the countries safety was my priority, and today, I am proud of the service I gave my country. References 1) Military, Global security. org, 2009, retrieved on 2/9/2009 from http://www. globalsecurity. org/military/intro/enlist. htm