Category: American politics

The essay Industrial Education for the Negro by Booker T. Washington today constitutes a historical document which provides the reader with an insight into the life of the 19^th century United States. In the article, the author insists on the introduction of industrial education to the curriculums of all black students to ensure that they understand the value of labor. The essay exposes a conflict between Washingtons vision for the black people and the reality, the solution would be to train the younger generation in various industries, but it could harm their intellectual development.

As mentioned above, Washington promoted the idea of providing black students with industrial education, which was not widely practiced. Such a situation conflicted with Washingtons idea of the black peoples education since he was certain that it was necessary for the race to lay a foundation by engaging in various industries (Washington 17). Du Bois (42) held an opposite opinion and believed that the success of African Americans depended on the most educated representatives who could lead the mass. Nevertheless, Washingtons conflict solution was to introduce black students to trades, which could give them useful skills and thus establish the foundation for the advancement of all African Americans. Similarly, T. Thomas Fortune (220) stated that the hard work of black individuals would guarantee equality to the entire race. At the same time, Washington (20) stressed that industrial education should not restrict the intellectual development of students and instead had to be only an addition to the existing curriculum. Yet, it is still possible to consider the adoption of industrial education as capable of negatively impacting students ability to learn traditional subjects such as mathematics effectively.

Thus, Industrial Education for the Negro by Booker T. Washington contains a conflict between the authors vision and the real world. Washington believes that the situation with a lack of African Americans with trades harms the black peoples advancement in society. Nevertheless, the solution to the conflict through the provision of industrial education to students can limit their capacity to learn sciences and other disciplines requiring considerable intellectual effort.

Work Cited

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt. The Talented Tenth. The Negro Problem: A Series of Articles by Representative American Negroes of Today, edited by Booker T. Washington, J. Pott, 1903, pp. 211234.

Fortune, T. Thomas. The Negros Place in American Life at the Present Day. The Negro Problem: A Series of Articles by Representative American Negroes of Today, edited by Booker T. Washington, J. Pott, 1903, pp. 1217.

Washington, Booker T. Industrial Education for the Negro. The Negro Problem: A Series of Articles by Representative American Negroes of Today, edited by Booker T. Washington, J. Pott, 1903, pp. 730.

The main event, which made Theodore Roosevelt the president of the United States of America is the murder of President McKinley. No one expected such shock for the governmental body for that difficult period for the whole country. Roosevelt describes this event as the following: On three previous occasions the Vice-President had succeeded to the Presidency on the death of the President. In each case, there had been a reversal of party policy, and a nearly immediate and nearly complete change in the personnel of the higher offices, especially the Cabinet. I at once announced that I would continue unchanged McKinleys policies for the honor and prosperity of the country, and I asked all the members of the Cabinet to stay. There were no changes made among them save as changes were made among their successors whom I myself appointed. (Roosevelt, 1913) This emphasizes that he was a courageous man, as he continued the politics which were the reason for the murder.

His service in the American army made him a disciplined man. Surely, such a high duty as presidency requires the strict following of the rules and powerful will. Being a warrior (During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rider Regiment, which he led on a charge at the battle of San Juan. He was one of the most conspicuous heroes of the war) made him courageous, disciplined, and strong-willed.

His nature as a hunter and farmer helped him to become a successful president. Thus, he instinctively felt what America needed in order to become the dominant State of the world. Successful landowner and the master of life he managed to become the leader of the USA and head the team of Republicans and Progressive Party members. However, In spite of strong will and domineering, living in Badlands character he was the perfect diplomat, as he had to deal with other farmers, traders and sheriff.

The announcement of the policies and the proclamation of The Big Stick helped him to gain popularity among the progressive population, however, increased the dissatisfaction among those who did not support the course of his politics. Originally, the big stick was headed against those who killed McKinley, and, it is emphasized that this decision helped him to be listed as one of the most progressive presidents of the USA.

An assassination attempt is a universal tool for gaining popularity. That shot had broken his speech; however, it did not stop his heart. Sympathy towards him increased essentially, as the crowd was shocked:

He spoke for ninety minutes. His opening comments to the gathered crowd were, Ladies and gentlemen, I dont know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot, but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose (Lessoff, 2005).

His presidency is regarded as the beginning of the modern presidential use of the power of the office because of the fact that he was the first who used the power of the office for achieving the aims and the goals of the whole nation but not separate classes of the population.

References

1. Lessoff, Alan. Roosevelt the Reformer: Theodore Roosevelt as Civil Service Commissioner, 1889-1895. Presidential Studies Quarterly 35.1 (2005): 204
2. Roosevelt, Theodore. Theodore Roosevelt, an Autobiography. New York: Macmillan, 1913.

Introduction

While every age is said to have had its own impact on society, the 1960s are immortalized in the memories of many, even though they were not yet alive then. A decade filled with love-loving hippies, The Beatles are conquering the hearts of Americans from across the Atlantic and the roaring popularity of the civil rights movement. With activism on the rise and the atmosphere of hope and change in the air, it is easy to disregard the negative parts of the 60s, which were all too real. The Vietnam War, the inner-city riots, and assassinations played an important role in shaping the decade and becoming a turning point in American politics and society. In 1968, the US entered the Sixth Party System, with the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. 1968 becoming a turning point in American politics and society.

Background

American Politics Pre-1960s

Over the years of existence in the modern United States, there have been numerous iterations of the party systems and political structures in the attempts to address the differences between Democrats and Conservatives. The previous party system, the Fifth, was established in 1932 under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Under such a structure, the opposing factions, New Deal Coalition and Conservative Coalition consisted of the members of each of the original parties, namely Democrats and Conservatives. However, the intra-party ideological groups did not prevail for long, and after the events of the 1960s, including the Civil Rights movement and Cold War, the decade gave birth to the Sixth Party System. As a result, Republicans and conservative ideals became more prominent in the US political scene, gaining dominance over the Democrats for decades to come.

Key Events of the 1960s

As mentioned, the 60s are famous for their tremendous effect on the events of the time and the decades to come. The key events leading up to the 1968 political changes in the party system included both national and international affairs. The decade was packed with the Cold War and the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the landing on the moon. While these events might seem disconnected from each other, together, they brought together the societal and political change that allowed the decrease in government intervention in the economy and laissez-faire capitalism. Furthermore, the rise of Christianity in the US facilitates the mass appeal of conservative ideals. Americans were no longer content with compromising their ideals, combining the opposing views, which led to the separation of conservatism from the democratic ideology and the creation of two distinct parties.

The events of the 1960s showed American society the need for the limitation of governmental power in the decisions that are made on behalf of the citizens. Millions protested military action and the complacency of the American people, such as can be seen in the Port Huron Statement by the Students for a Democratic Society, 1962 (The American Yawp Reader, 2022). This bold statement proposed by young activists emphasizes the need for action to be taken to rescue American society from destruction by excessive militarism and cultural alienation.

Not only were the activist movements of the times loud and obnoxious, but they were often heard by authorities and even referred to, such as in Lyndon Johnsons speech on Voting Rights in 1965 (The American Yawp Reader, 2022). Using the language of the activists and the promises that were made to Americans in the past years, he gave authority and validity to the societal changes. At the same time, Americans were fighting for the preservation of their identity and individual freedoms. There is no surprise that, as a result, government intervention in the economy decreased, and the general popular ideology returned to the traditional values, especially after the liberal years that preceded it.

Aftermath

Who Triumphed?

As a result of the political changes, as mentioned above, the Republican party came out on top. Unlike in the previous decades, the parties were no longer mixed in their composition, and instead, the majority of the power lay solely in the hands of the conservatives. While the Democrat party retained its power over some states, the majority of the population became or remained affiliated with the Republicans. This new era first became known as the Raegan era and had since then endured a number of events and occasions.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, the parties separated once again, with the conservatives and the democrats gaining their own seats at the table. While originally, the changes led to the spike in the popularity of conservatives, over the past few years, the Democrats have begun to regain their popularity. The differences in the ideologies remain as high as ever, and the extreme nature of the opposition between the two parties does not allow for effective cooperation between them. Nevertheless, it might be the case that the new party system will be established soon, whatever it might be. All that is clear is that history shows that the changes in society drive political and structural changes and vice versa.

Work Cited

The American Yawp. Stanford University Press Edition, 2022. Web.

Introduction

President Bidens student loan forgiveness and relief program addresses student loan interest capitalization, payment pause, and repayment. The changes essentially affect the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that allows federal student loan borrowers to receive payment credits (Aid, 2018). PSLF covers individuals with Perkins or Federal Family Education Program (FFEL) loans, those who have failed to make timely or full payments, and borrowers on the wrong repayment plan (Curtis & White, 2019). Government organizations at the local, state, and federal levels, including the U.S. military, and not-for-profit institutions that are tax-exempt, are eligible for PSLF. However, one must be employed by a recognized institution or qualified employer to qualify for PSLF credit. Bidens student loan forgiveness plan aims at making repayment more affordable, fair, and with minimal effect on American taxpayers.

The Effectiveness of the Plan

President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Education announced a plan to help federal student loan borrowers transition to regular payment. The plan is three-fold, with loan forgiveness of up to $20,000. As part of the plan, Biden paused the extension of loan repayment (Congressional Research Service, 2022). The COVID-19 pandemic ushered social and economic challenges, affecting the flow of money. Given that the Biden-Harris Administration extended loan repayment several times, those without federally held loans have yet to have to make loan payments. The pause has since been extended through December 31, 2022, and will resume in January 2023. In addition, the plan provided targeted debt relief to middle- and low-income families. In doing so, Biden-Harris Administration targets to increase the efficiency of the student loan system, as demonstrated in Figure 1. The Department of Education has not student loans under Bidens policy. Thus, borrowers can benefit from the policy, and thus, Bidens policy might work.

The U.S. Department of Education proposals present competing visions from the Republicans and Democrats on the future of student loan repayment and forgiveness. Republicans propose loan relief, while the Democrats offer proposals for forgiveness. Given that Congress will less likely consider the Republican plan, Biden has actively incorporated elements of the proposed legislation into the PSLF program. Borrowers student loan balances will not grow if they make monthly payments. Friedman (2022) mentioned that the PSLF plan recommends a relief of 10,000 dollars for federal student loan borrowers, including Parent PLUS Loans, Direct Loans, Perkins Loans, and FFEL Loans. In contrast, Democrats want the cancellation of 50,000 in student loans, but the Republicans prefer a small-scale cancellation (Friedman, 2022). Broad loan cancellations offered by other financial services are unfair since they disproportionately benefit high-income earners. The PSLF simplifies student loan repayment by limiting waivers and eliminating bureaucracy within the U.S. Department of Education.

Loan Repayment

For example, limiting waivers enables borrowers previously ineligible for a student loan to count toward the student loan forgiveness plan. The policy has increased the number of eligible borrowers for some relief. Approximately 27 million people will be eligible to receive cancellations benefits of up to 20,000 dollars, out of which 20 million borrowers will have their loan balances fully canceled (Congressional Research Service, 2022). Since taking office, Biden has canceled public servants student loans of approximately 8 billion dollars (Friedman, 2022). Currently, the United States uses four repayment plans: ICR, REPAYE, income-based repayment (IBR), and PAYE (Friedman, 2022). The Biden-Harris Administration supports replacing of income-driven repayment plans with a single framework like IBR. Furthermore, capitalizing on student loans that accrue interest on student loan balances has raised concern from policymakers and the public. Interest capitalization typically exacerbates the growth of loan balances, forcing borrowers to pay interest balances on their principal. Therefore, it would be fair to pay others back pay within the last ten years that would have qualified for it.

Impact on American Tax Payers

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has developed an order that allows borrowers who qualify for multiple loans to apply for the cancellation benefit. In essence, the benefits are applied to defaulted loans and then take into consideration non-defaulted loans under specific programs. However, for individuals with remaining student loan balances upon benefit cancellation, ED recalculates their monthly payments, which might gradually reduce (Congressional Research Service, 2022). However, changes made to borrowers accounts based on such adjustments might count toward their PSLF forgiveness or IDR. Consequently, borrowers will be restricted to counting the same service period toward PSLF and Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) and have to be employed by a certified contractor.

Conclusion

The Biden-Harris Administration proposes changes to student loan programs and to make loans more affordable. Bidens student loan relief program would potentially alleviate debt burdens for student loan borrowers, including public service workers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Additionally, the plan includes measures to address interest capitalization by lowering the overall cost of loans in areas not required by statute. While the plan has not fully taken effect, there are noticeable changes, making it fair to pay people back within the last ten years that would have qualified for a student loan. While the costs of the student loan forgiveness plan will pass on to the American taxpayers, they will be minimal.

References

Aid, F. S. (2018). If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Federal Student Aid: An Office of the U.S. Department of Education. Web.

Congressional Research Service. (2022). The Biden Administrations one-time student loan debt relief policy. Web.

Curtis, T., & White, A. M. (2019). Whats wrong with Public Service Loan Forgiveness and how to fix it. Available at SSRN 3478855. Web.

Friedman, Z. (2022). Student loan forgiveness: How major proposals compare. Forbes. Web.

Fay, M. (2022). Income-based repayment of student loans. Department Consolidation. Web.

Cyber security is one of the most imperative components of national security, as many individuals spend much of their time online. Recently, many people have transitioned from traditional services such as visiting the banks to get money or financial aid. The internet has provided websites where people can log into their accounts, contact the government, or even apply for financial assistance from the government almost effortlessly. The internet provides a space for economic analysis to the government, simplifying various ordinary online negotiations, allowing savings and a greater generation of revenues. As the internet application increases daily, the need to establish a safe space rises proportionately. In 2016, the Russian meddling incident during the presidential election reflected the greater impact that a compromise in cybersecurity could have on a nation. During these elections, Russians applied the disinformation strategy that aimed to yield a fake presidential leadup. Nevertheless, after the elections concluded successfully, President Trump enacted an aggressive approach, the Madman Theory offense-oriented strategy, to combat any future cyber-attacks. However, the success of this approach is questionable, and it is from it where we extract the hypothesis that the presidents more aggressive approach to fighting against cyberattacks resulted in a higher than the lower prevalence of cyberattacks.

The following research uses a systemic literature review divided into three sections to source data related to the research question. Evidence has been gathered from recent books and scholarly publications because they offer expert viewpoints on the chosen issue. Secondly, Internet resources are useful because online research, news articles, and reports from professional organizations give readers an overview of pressing concerns and interpretations of these events. The third component of the literature study is dedicated to a secondary analysis of federal laws and executive orders. Because primary analysis of these documents would be time-consuming, the research article does not seek to provide a thorough summary of legislation parts, this technique was chosen.

The security risks experienced while someone is online are equally dangerous as those encountered in traditional settings. According to most virus protection services such as Webroot, the chances of being exposed while online are similar to those risks such as theft, financial damage, or harm that one experiences while being offline. Based on rules, the regulations that govern internet usage mainly focus on promoting the safety of the users data. Conversely, the legislation enacted to govern offline or the traditional environment mostly concentrates on the individuals safety (Galaitsi et al., 2022). While the two domains have a significant role in a persons life, they have varying legislative approaches. The traditional environment has its well-set rules that govern peoples behavior, ensuring everyone is safe. However, very few laws have been established to control the internet life, mainly due to the volatility and evolution of technology (Galaitsi et al., 2022). This liquidity of the internet has allowed legislatures to hold divergent views, with some certain viewing positions concerned with cybersecurity in the government necessary while others see them unnecessary.

Articles provide evidence that Trumps move to combat the Russian attack was the genesis of higher cyber-attacks. According to The Washingtons Post provides sufficient proof that Trumps initiative only led to devastating results rather than alleviating the attacks that the Russian government had imposed. According to this newspapers claims, Trump took the nation in the wrong direction by following the Madman Theory, which failed to hold the adversaries such as Russia accountable. Additionally, the article claims that this move removed expert cyber-defendants from their positions for trivial reasons and undermined the federal governments excellent work conducted in cybersecurity. The newspaper gives examples of people like Christopher Krebs, who was the governments cybersecurity expert that ensured the federal governments cyberspace was safe. According to Trump, these experts were fired since they failed to maintain election security efforts. Unequivocally, Washington Post shows the weaknesses of Trumps decision to fire experts in cybersecurity while leaving the enemies free concurrently.

The thinning of the governments top ranks during the Trump administration contributed to the cyber security failures during his reign. Devanny points out that Trumps decision only narrowed the governments maximum levels of cybersecurity experts. Some of the top positions, such as the White House Cyber-Coordinator role, are being abolished (2021. According to Devanny, this position had been occupied by Rob Joyce, an NSA official, until Trump eliminated her after the Russian cyberattacks (2021). Linkov et al. describe the removal of the White House Cyber-Coordinator as one of the biggest mistakes that Trumps administration made in the cybersecurity sector (2019). According to Linkov et al., Rob Joyce and Chris Krebs, who Trump sucked, had the most promising skills in the fight against cyberattacks, making them the best match for these positions (2019). These authors also point out that the US senate identified the potential of some of the withdrawn seats, such as the White House Cyber-Coordinator; thus, they embarked on a motion to re-establish the center to strengthen the countrys defense systems. Converse to the senate movement, and Trump tried threatening the veto as he considered the post weak and ineffective in maintaining cybersecurity. Ideally, the opposition portrayed by Trump against establishing some strong position to combat cyberattacks points out the priorities that most the executives towards the country.

Trumps administration ignored cybersecurity in the top ranks and left major roles to the low-level government personnel. Williams et al. claims that Trump failed to acknowledge the importance of cohesion with the governments key components, which resulted in the atrophy of the central coordination mechanisms of cybersecurity (Galaitsi et al., 2022). According to Williams et al., Trump only entrusted his allies with the most critical roles in cyberspace security, wherein, in a real sense, the whole group was headed in the wrong direction (Galaitsi et al., 2022). On the other hand, Trump tasked government agencies such as DHS and FMI to ensure that the election security is maintained and critical infrastructure security would curtail any possible infringement of the US elections (Galaitsi et al., 2022). Cordesman also supports Williamss et al. claims by stating that Trump only focused on the lower ranks of government, neglecting the key top levels, mainly to prevent any possible collapse in his relations with Russia (2018). Cordesman adds that Trump had his defects, such as his unwillingness to criticize Putin for causing cyberattacks by his country (2018). Based on Cordesmans remarks, the conservative behavior of Trump towards Russia made him fire important persons in the hierarchy of cybersecurity maintenance.

Trumps Madman Approach theory only resulted in a lack of leadership and coordination between the White House and the individual agencies. The approach that Trump took after the 2016 elections almost cut off the coordination between the state and the local election officials. Goldsmith and Mercer claim Trumps move in combating the Russian cyberattacks was the genesis of the discontinued cooperation between the local and the state governments (2019). This new approach made the Certified Information Systems Audit officials avoid working with the election officials due to the Trump organizations strict rules on the local cybersecurity agencies (Woodward, 2018). Additionally, other agencies such as the FBI and the Pentagon could not correlate in cybersecurity issues, sending worries about the countrys state in cyberspace (Seng, 2021). Nevertheless, Trumps approach seems to have cut out the interaction between the locals and the federal organization mainly due to these organizations differential treatment during his administration.

Trumps decision to avoid criticizing Russian pave was for the continued decline of internet freedom. After the cyberattack, Trump failed to face Russian and blame it for the incident and vested on calming any accusations placed on Russia. Corallo et al. claims that this was the inception of cyberspace insecurity as the era of digital authoritarianism continued to rise (2021). Based on Corallos et al. claims, Russia is one of the countries ruled under an authoritarian government. Through cyber sovereignty, it wasnt to spread its influence to other western nations such as the US (2021). Corallo et al. epitomizes this with Russias disinformation strategy to impose an attack on the US electoral systems (2021). As a result of the spread of digital authoritarianism, the democracies of most countries end up being comprised, and people lack the power to choose who they like (Jin et al., 2021). Though not proven, it is believed that Trump allied with Putin to propagate digital authoritarianism. Unequivocally, Trumps decision to impose the Madman Theory can be attributed to the need to join other countries in limiting internet freedom, which could have provided leeway for authoritarianism.

While some may oppose Trumps decision, claiming that it deteriorated the state of US cybersecurity, some believe that his administration took the nation in the right direction on cybersecurity. Gagnon and Rapin point out that many people focus on the Trump-Putin relations, blurring the effectiveness of the established policy to fight cybersecurity (2021). According to Gagnon and Rapin, Trump made important advancements in cybersecurity, such as setting up the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency (CISA), which was tasked with implementing user access controls and monitoring applications and networks (2021). Kott and other authors also claim that the relaxation of the restrictions on US Cyber Command, which has the responsibility to direct, synchronize and monitor cyberspace planning, made Trumps administration fight cybersecurity effectively. Kott et al. add that the government employees during Trumps reign indicated good progress in several cybersecurity issues (Galaitsi et al., 2022). For instance, CISA offered support to the voting committees by providing election security. Generally, Gagnon, Rapin, and Kott ert al. that Trump himself may deserve little credit, but many good things happened during his reign.

Inconclusively, there has been a continuous use of the internet in various fields, including the execution of both financial and governmental functions. This application has predisposed people and countries to cyberattacks like the one experienced by the US during the 2016 elections. According to the hypothesis, these attacks motivated Trump to formulate an aggressive approach that resulted in higher than lower rates of cyberattacks. Several claims have supported the assumption, such as the approach failing to hold the offender responsible for the attack, thinning the governments top ranks, overtasking the lower levels, and resulting in poor coordination between the local, state, and the federal organizations. Nevertheless, the claim on how Trump established CISA and how he strengthened the US Cyber Command negates the hypothesis as it indicates his approach resulted in lower cyberattacks. The view is true based on several claims supporting and rejecting the research question. Many premises explain why the Madman Theory approach was ineffective in combating the issue of cyberattacks in the US.

References

Corallo, A., Lazoi, M., & Lezzi, M. (2020). Cybersecurity in the context of industry 4.0: A structured classification of critical assets and business impacts. Computers in industry, 114, 103165.

Cordesman, A. H. (2018). Trump on Russia: His Strategy Documents vs. His Meeting with Putin. Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Devanny, J. (2021). Madman Theoryor Persistent Engagement? The Coherence of US Cyber Strategy under Trump. Journal of Applied Security Research, 1-28.

Gagnon, F., & Rapin, A. (2021). Cybersecurity in America: The US National Security Apparatus and Cyber Conflict Management. Conflicts, Crimes and Regulations in Cyberspace, 2, 43-62.

Galaitsi, S., Trump, B. D., Keisler, J. M., Linkov, I., & Kott, A. (2022). Cybertrust: From Explainable to Actionable and Interpretable AI (AI2). arXiv preprint arXiv:2201.11117.

Goldsmith, J., & Mercer, S. (2019). International law and institutions in the Trump era. German Yearbook of International Law, 28.

Jin, A. S., Trump, B. D., Golan, M., Hynes, W., Young, M., & Linkov, I. (2021). Building resilience will require compromise on efficiency. Nature Energy, 6(11), 997-999.

Kott, A., Golan, M. S., Trump, B. D., & Linkov, I. (2021). Cyber resilience: by design or by intervention?. Computer, 54(8), 112-117.

Linkov, I., Roslycky, L., & Trump, B. D. (Eds.). (2019). Resilience and hybrid threats: Security and integrity for the digital world (Vol. 55). IOS Press.

Seng, T. S. (2021). Southeast Asias Struggle for Autonomy Amid US-China Rivalry. In Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2021 (pp. 77-89). Routledge.

Williams, C. M., Chaturvedi, R., & Chakravarthy, K. (2020). Cybersecurity risks in a pandemic. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(9), e23692.

Woodward, B. (2018). Fear: Trump in the white house. Simon and Schuster.

For a significant period in history, men have held the most potent ranks in leadership. The past governmental construction was hugely archetypical with male political leaders, in both powerful and lesser positions. Until the last few decades, females in legal administrative offices were significantly lacking (Rhode 35). Womens prejudice was dominant, and society had stereotypical perspectives of female leadership within a legislative position. In 1937, for instance, when Gallup asked electorates if they would vote for a qualified woman as president, only one-third gave an affirmative response (Rhode 36). Up to the late 1970s, this genders federal representation was under one percent, and, during this time, only two women served in the government  one as a governor and the other as senator (Rhode 36). Over the decades, however, social dynamisms have led to some landmark shifts in hierarchal positions, especially in the gender contextualization.

Womens political leadership in the US has undergone slight but considerable metamorphoses in the last few decades. Albeit, evidence point that America is still lagging in the maturation of the aforementioned issue. Although females are arguably the dominant electorates  accounting for over 50 percent of the registered voters as of 2017  only nineteen percent of the Congress, twelve percent of the governors, and nineteen percent of the mayors were female. This representation ranks the US at 78 globally in womens presentations in governmental offices (Rhode 35). As of 2019, Nevada was the first state with females holding most of its legislative seats. Furthermore, the New Hampshire Senate became the first legislative chamber among the forty-eight states to transcend gender parity during 2009; however, its overall percentage in both parliaments was still below 50.

From these data, it is evident that, despite the milestone made towards female governmental leadership, the US is still a relatively political infant in this realm compared to other nations like Slovakia, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia, which ranked above it. However, the recent numbers are also critically positive indicators of the paradigm shifts of the political leadership-gender characteristics. Albeit, some quarters still perceive it otherwise, compared to the old American political space, recent numbers are indicative of a positive attitude towards female involvement in governmental administration.

Work Cited

Rhode, Deborah L. Women and Leadership. Oxford University Press, 2017.

Introduction

Racism has always been a pressing issue in the United States, which is still prevalent. The beginning of the 20th century bore witness to the re-emergence of ideas of white supremacy. Its most infamous manifestation took place in Charlottesville in 2017. Representatives of far-right ideologies marched, shouting anti-Semitic cries, with one person being killed during the protests. Numerous anti-Trump activists put the blame on him for this rally. In essence, Trumps actions encouraged the neo-Nazi sentiment, but he is not the reason behind it.

Rise of Internal Extremism

Far-right groups had a strong presence in America even before Trumps presidential campaign. Despite the prohibition on racist ideology, the Internet allows for the practically unlimited spread of such messages and ideas. The Charlottesville episode itself was broadcast online, thus, raising public awareness of neo-Nazi slogans. Moreover, the Muslim paranoia fueled the white supremacy sentiments, especially after 9/11. HBOs movie Charlottesville: Race and Terror showed a nationalist activist warning that their power is stronger than what is implied by the number of protesters (VICE, 2017). It is evident that racist ideas gathered support on their own since none of these developments were directly influenced by Trump.

Legality of Weapons

One of the reasons why the Charlottesville episode became violent is the governments permission to buy and carry weapons. According to Johnston (2018), the NRA and other absolutists say any restrictions on guns violate the Constitution (p. 234). The legal framework that sets the stage for gun violence had been established long before Trump ran for president. Trump may oppose the views of those who wish to increase guns control, but his opinion is a sentiment that is held by many Americans. The right to keep and bear arms is considered a prerequisite for freedom by both liberals and conservatives. As a result, the permission to carry weapons also means that Charlottesvilles neo-Nazis had legal access to them as well.

Trumps Personal Attitude

Donald Trump is well-known for his controversial stance on numerous issues, including other nationalities. Part of the reason why he had so much support lies in his capitalizing on public fears of Muslims and immigrants. When the Charlottesville stand-off occurred, he refrained from assigning labels of extremism to the perpetrator. According to Johnston (2018) Trump made no mention of neo-Nazis, skinheads, and racists (p. 235). Moreover, Johnston (2018) argues that the president attributed the violence to both sides of the conflict, including the antifascists. Combined with Trumps alleged likeness for Hitlers speeches, it is viable to suggest that Trump indirectly motivated the neo-Nazis to act openly.

Conclusion

Altogether, the events in Charlottesville underpinned the rising racist attitude in the United States. It is easy to use Donald Trumps demeanor and words to blame him for the unprecedented rise of neo-Nazi sentiment. However, American racism is rooted much deeper, with far-right ideologies becoming prominent without any influence from Trump. The Internet created a platform for spreading extremist beliefs that cannot be controlled by the government. The United States laws on possession of weapons lead to aggressive groups being armed and capable of using firearms. Finally, Trumps choice of words caused the neo-Nazis to interpret it as the presidents encouragement of their actions. Overall, Charlottesville happened because of racism issues in society, with Trump slightly precipitating, but not causing it.

References

Johnston, D. C. (2018). Its even worse than you think: What the Trump administration is doing to America. Simon & Schuster.

VICE. (2017). Charlottesville: Race and Terror  VICE News Tonight on HBO [Video]. YouTube. Web.

Due to the press and Internet people get to know a lot of interesting information and the latest news. Numerous newspapers and magazines provide us with the first-hand information. This paper deals with the events and news of Latin America, great and interesting country. Political and social life of this country provides the grounds for numerous discussions and these events are always on the first lines of all local and international newspapers.

The article Monterrey hotel attacked in Mexico kidnappings deals with the latest events happening in Monterrey. Recently, the citizens of Monterrey (Mexico) became the witnesses of the hotel attack, as a result of which three people were kidnapped.

Law enforcement officials, offering only scant details by late afternoon, said it was not immediately clear whether a fourth person was seized or how many gunmen took part in the 3 a.m. attack. Authorities offered no motive for the kidnappings, but the attack bore the hallmarks of Mexicos drug gang violence (Ellingwood paragraph 3)

Violence connected with the drug bands has spiked during several months in northeastern part of Mexico and broadened over the territories around Monterrey. The choice of the territory is understandable, as Monterrey is the business center of Mexico, it is the biggest metropolitan area of the country. The members of the strile killes the officers and other people, who oposed them. The disorder happening in the country may be explained by the lack of governmental control over the social life. It is the essential and the main problem in Latin America from the times of the Cold War (Skidmore & Smith 35).

There are a lot of different points of view concerning the social and political problems in Latin America. Their solution depends not only upon the government but upon citizens as well. But the main reason of a great number of problems is drug violence and its prevalence in the country.

Works Cited

Ellingwood, Ken. Monterrey hotel attacked in Mexico kidnappings. New York Times. 2010. Web.

Skidmore, Thomas E. and Smith, Peter H. Modern Latin America, Sixth Edition. USA: Oxford University Press, 2005

Since the days of Martin Luther King Jr., the world was yet to experience the magic power of speech. Few celebrities and politician had given a moving speech that could send the crowd into frenzy. This was until the run off to the US presidential elections of 2008 where another orator came up.

This was Barrack Obama. Not only did his words posses power but also his tone and general body language helped him establish himself as one of the most outstanding speakers that the world has ever known. Having been interested in this great orator, I decided to understand what made him tick where I failed.

Furthermore, I tried to see whether there were any strength that I possessed that Obama could have lacked. This essay has, as a principle aim, the task of comparing the body language exhibited by Barrack Obama and those I exhibit.

I have always believed that I am good at languages. My mastery of the English language is undoubtedly exemplary. I could say that writing a speech that is grammatically and syntactically correct as Obamas is an easy task but then where does the difference between Obama and I crop from? Howtoguides (par. 4) outlines how the different components of speech contribute to the ultimate interpretation and understanding of the message.

Contrary to what is popularly believed, the words we speak contribute to a mere 7% of the total communication process. This means that the rest of the percentage is dedicated to body language which includes gestures, facial expressions, body posture, tone, etc

The most outstanding part of any communication is therefore body language which accounts for as much as 93% of the communication process. My low score in public appeal during speeches could be attributed to this. When speaking to a crowd, I rarely more an inch from the microphone stand. I always remain rooted to the spot and deliver my speech.

This is contrary to Barrack obamas position when it comes to speech giving. He paces around therefore attracting and retaining attention of the listeners (howtoguides par 5). In most of his speeches, Obama can be spotted pacing around and saying this is the time, or as I stand before you. When using these words and pacing around, the proximity between the people speaking and the listeners are completely reduced.

Subconsciously, the listener feels that the speaker is standing right before him even when the speech is being heard from a TV. In addition, Obama can be seen as a person who walks briskly with an erect body stature. This combined with his strong, lean and athletic body gives him an aura of confidence. This is one thing that a listener looks for in his speaker.

When speaking, I sometimes use my hands to drive in points through gesticulation. I do this through waving of the hand, relaxing my palm to pose with an open hand. This brings out to the audience a feeling that I am being sincere, open and innocent. In some occasions, especially when meeting a person of authority, I tend to interlock my fingers.

This usually sends a message of a tensed person to my audience. Of all my habits, chewing of my finger nails has been my worst. I always chew my finger nails every time I feel a sense of nervousness or insecurity.

On his part, Obama is a good user of gestures. He uses his hands in many occasions to emphasize on a point. Thompson (pg. 25) in his research on obamas use of Hypnosis techniques points out that one of the strongest speech delivery techniques of Obama is his use of the forefinger and thump to emphasize on a message.

As Thompson puts it, Obama uses his forefinger and thumb, &essentially uniquely, differently than all other speakers. (Thompson pg. 25) the use of forefinger pressed together with the thumb is gesture that helps to portray emphasis. He seems to use the gesture at specific points especially when using words like, Believe, or choose.

Apart from pressing the forefinger and thumb together, Obama also uses his fore finger to point to the audience and sometimes uses his two fingers to stress a point. By doing this, he simply strengthens his connection with the audience.

Obamas main issue during campaign was to stop what he termed as the Bush administration which was driving the American economy into tatters and revive an American dream. The only way he could do this was through showing the audience that he was ready for work.

Through body language Obama was able to portray an image of ready for work. Through appearing before audiences with his shirt sleeves pulled up. He did not have to say that it was time to start reconstructing America but his dressing was enough to portray all this.

During most of the one on one interviews, the body language of Obama shouted loud through the way he sat and the way he positioned his hands and feet. In most of these events, Obama avoided certain body postures that could make the audiences which were watching him on TV read more than what he said. He always made sure that he sat with his legs apart portraying a feeling of openness and relaxed nature (howtoguides par. 5).

He avoided some situations of sitting with legs crossed or one foot kicking slightly. This could send a message of boredom that would equally translate to the audience therefore losing their attention. His hands were not only open and emphasizing through gesticulation but also they avoided touching or gently rubbing on the nose because this could send a message of lying or doubt.

Obama has had one trend that he exhibited during interviews that he never did during his speeches. Notably, he has been tilting his head to his right, an activity that most critics said he did deliberately. According to Thompson (pg. 51), Obama had his head tilted towards the right during his interview at Fox News with Chris Wallace on April 27, 2008, his interview with the ABC Nightline, his meeting with Rev.

Rick Warren on August 16, 2008, etc. this is a form of body language, either intentional or unintentional, that is meant to unarm your opponent. According to Thompson, tilting the head to the right usually exposes the jugular vein which is the weak point of any animal. (This is based on the animal instinct of humans). Doing this is like submitting to your opponent.

Consequently, he is likely to lower his guard as he expects less attack from you. Therefore, the stance, according to the critics, was meant to make the audience judge Obama sympathetically. This is also a body language that contributed to obamas acceptance to many people.

Another very important body language is the use of facial expression. Many features in our face can be really important during communication. Almost every form of emotional information during communication can be transmitted through the eyes. These include anger, happiness, doubt, enthusiasm, energy, boredom etc. these emotions play an important role in the way the message is delivered to the listener (Windle & Warren).

I am a person who cannot fail to express my internal feelings through the face. In all my communications, I would be spotted with my eyes burning bright showing desire, sometimes I would be spotted with eyes dull and wondering around the room expressing disinterest and boredom.

Consequently, this will lead to the same behavior to my audience. Unlike me, Obama has mastered the art of engaging with the audience. At no point will he be spotted with his eyes wandering around aimlessly.

He keeps his eyes focused to his audience and bright despite his busy schedule. Maintaining bright and sharp eyes sustains the audiences concentration and thus sustaining the conversation.

Finally, one person gave a beautiful quote. He said, Smile at the world and it will smile back at you. Obama has successfully managed to make the world smile back at him with his ever apart lips. Popularly, parted lips show that someone is happy.

Lips that are wide open signify that the person is very happy. Obama has had people smiling widely in most of his campaign tours. he has infected people with happiness when he himself maintained a happy nature.

In some occasions, he had to maintain closed lips which portrayed a concerned nature. This was mostly when he was dealing with questions that need concentration and utmost insight.

In conclusion, the role of body language in message transmission is quite indispensable in day to day activities. Simple activities like the position of the arms or shoulders, the tilt of the head, movements on the podium, finger pointing, dullness or luster in the eyes etc. can be extremely important in the whole process of communication.

This is the greatest reason why Obama has come out as an extra ordinary orator compared to me. To match him, I will be forced to ensure that I put more effort in the improvement of my body language which controls more than 90% of the total process of communication.

References

HowtoGuides. Confident Body Language., 2009.

Thompson, Fred. An Examination of Obamas Use of Hidden Hypnosis Techniques in His Speeches. Penny Press. 2008. Web.

Windle, Rod and Warren Suzanne. Communication Skills. Direction service.

If youre about to write A More Perfect Union rhetorical analysis, make sure to check out our sample essay! Here, youll find A More Perfect Union Speech Summary and learn more about the speechs purpose and tone.

In 2008, Barack Obama gave a speech, The Perfect Union. It provoked arguments among individuals. Some people criticized it for containing provocative statements and delicate topics. No one would ever dare to speak about them before. This essay provides Barack Obamas A More Perfect Union speech analysis.

The senator spoke about the complicated race relations between Americans and racism. It has deep roots in the history of the country. The analysis itself is going to provide some insight into Barack Obamas speech strategy.

A More Perfect Union: Analysis Introduction

A More Perfect Union is the slogan of a speech by then-senator Barack Obama. He gave it during the 2008 Democratic Party primary contest for the presidential nomination on March 18, 2008. His audience was at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In essence, the address as a response to controversial statements. They were made by his former pastor and presidential campaign supporter Jeremiah Wright.

The speech played a considerable role in Barack Obamas success in the 2008 presidential campaign. Such topics as the racial division in the US, white supremacy, and institutional racism were discussed. The speech also addressed black anger, white resentment, and other topics. Barack Obama sought to clarify and contextualize the controversial remarks of Wright. His speech concluded with a plea to push past the racial stalemate in America. People should unite to resolve common issues. The following A More Perfect Union speech analysis aims to discuss that.

A More Perfect Union Speech Analysis: Race Relations

Barack Obama is very conscious of his audience and mindful of it in his message. His target group is the Americans and voters in particular. He goes further. After confronting the entire American population, he splits his audience into several groups.

The second group he mentions is White Americans. He talks about the racial scars which have continued to affect them through many generations. Barack Obama approaches the issue of racial inequality with patience. He ensures that he does not inflict more suffering or further divide based on race. Nevertheless, he does not hesitate to make his point clear.

Thirdly, Barack Obama talks to the African American population. He understands that they also see him as a black American. The people are, therefore, curious to see how he approaches racism issues.

His message to them shows no race favoritism. He states that a similar anger exists within the segments of the white community (Obama, par. 35). While addressing them, he explains that this feeling is present among the whites every time the blacks get better services. They feel like they are paying for mistakes they did not make.

The presidential candidate is demonstrating his vast knowledge on the subject. He cautiously selects his words while addressing racism. The problem has affected American people for too many decades to be unattentive. His masterful approach to such a painful issue brings comfort to his listeners. The public seems calm and shows no hostile emotions. This is clear proof that he knows his crowd well enough to meet their needs.

After that, President Barack Obama made his message clear. Seeking solutions to the issues the American people faced is the primary goal. He warns them that silence on racism would not solve anything.

His speech includes the idea of tolerance and solidarity. He needs people to try to live with each other and to understand racial differences. Barack Obama makes sure he has addressed both groups equally. This way, he can unite them as one people and one audience. He also outlines the importance of speaking in one voice. Working together in cooperation is the best future for American citizens.

A More Perfect Union: Rhetorical Analysis

Barack Obamas opening statements of A More Perfect Union reveal the purpose of the speech. He takes his first phrase from the Constitution of the United States, We the people, in order to create a perfect union. The statement captures the basis of the Constitutional Convention.

Throughout his address, Barack Obama uses three rhetorical strategies. His argument is based on the following: emotional, ethical, and logical fallacies. He describes himself through his reasoning regarding the audience. The famous quotes he extracts from the Constitution make those unfamiliar with it feel the value of his message (Stoner & Perkins 93). Barack Obamas rhetorical analysis is aimed to deconstruct these fallacies.

Emotional Fallacies:

Barack Obama, in his speech, criticizes the old legacy of slavery in America. He acknowledges the Constitution, though deems it unfinished. He tells his audience that the answers to their problems remain in the Constitution. According to the senator, it has flaws attributable to slavery in the country.

The senator is frustrated with the unfinished document. He is using a tone of deep disappointment to oppose slavery. He applies an ironic tone to describe how a continued slave trade left a burden on future generations. Thus, using various linguistic techniques helps to pass on his intended knowledge.

Barack Obama believes the Constitution offered the answer to the slavery question. He goes on to add that the assurances made on the paper have not been fulfilled. Barack Obama tells a great story about Ashley toward the end of his discourse. I am here for Ashley,, he says.

Ethical Fallacies:

His public is aware of racism. Barack Obama is thinking about what has traditionally been untold. Through discussing his biological, mental, and cultural existence, he completes his philosophies. The senator speaks of his background and does not ignore his own identity. However, it does not appear in the speech. The senator carries out his address through body language, tone variation, and gestures.

He says, But race is an issue I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now (Obama, par. 26). He assures the audience that race relations can become better in the USA.

Barack Obama also uses pathos to explain the evils which racism causes. He expresses his disapproval of racism in America. To resolve the challenges that racial prejudice creates, he encourages people to live and work together.

Logical Fallacies:

Barack Obama also makes use of repetition as a rhetorical approach to convince his voters. In Paragraph 45 of his speech, he pleads with his audience not to accept being divided by their weaknesses. There is a repetition of the word race in his speech. He recognizes race as a problem in American society in paragraph 26.

Moreover, the senator uses a variety of tactics to communicate with the target audience. His convincing appeal demonstrates that he is a successful author and presenter. Using compelling and adequate evidence shows his incontestable ability to move and convince his audience. He exemplifies the Constitution, his pastor, and his family, leaving everyone deeply impressed.

Barack Obama is shifting his tone to a more direct one. He says. I deeply believe that we can not solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together (Obama, par. 6). The genuineness in his speech lasts to the end, making a constant residue in the remainder of the address.

So, in his talk, Barack Obama gives his supporters assurance and hope. He uses motivational terms such as we can do that (Obama, par. 46), we can only tackle race as a spectacle&. (Obama, par. 45) and we can come together and say: Not this time (Obama, par. 48). It becomes clear from where he derives his campaign slogan, Yes we can and what it means for all Americans.

A More Perfect Union: Speech Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

Barack Obamas A More Perfect Union speech rhetorical analysis has shown that the senator used numerous rhetorical devices. He implemented them to talk deliberately on the issue of race others would hesitate to address. Indeed, Barack Obamas ability to deliver a complicated and convincing speech is evident. We can conclude from the analysis that he is a successful writer and knows his audience well.

He employed various figures of speech and narrative techniques. They helped him to deliver his key ideas to the people smoothly. During the Democratic National Convention, A More Perfect Union speech left an impression on his supporters and opponents. He was elected the President of the United States of America shortly after.

References

1. Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. 199, Berkeley: University of California Press. Print.
2. Ifill, Gwen. The breakthrough: Politics and race in the age of Obama. 2009, New York: Doubleday. Print.
3. Obama, Barack. Transcript of Obama Speech. 2010. Web.
4. Stoner, Mark, & Perkins, Sally. Making Sense of Messages: A Critical Apprenticeship in Rhetorical Criticism. 2005, Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Print.

FAQ

What is the theme of A More Perfect Union?

Soon-to-be President Obama talks on the theme of racism in his brilliant A More Perfect Union speech. He addressed the issue of ethnic division in the United States. It is deeply rooted in the countrys history of slavery and could not leave his audience unimpressed.

What is the purpose of Barack Obamas speech?

Barack Obama decided to give the speech as a response to controversial statements. His former pastor and election campaign supporter Jeremiah Wright made them not long before. He also genuinely wanted to address the serious issue of racism. It was never reviewed so thoroughly previously.

How to start a rhetorical analysis of Obamas speech?

Start Barack Obamas speech analysis essay with a short preface and an introduction. Explain the contextual background for that address. Do not forget to mention what exactly your analysis is going to research.

Who wrote Obamas State of the Union speech?

A More Perfect Union was written and edited by Barack Obama and his chief speechwriter Jon Favreau. He dictated a long draft to Favreau on March 15, who then revised the speech. Throughout the next two days, Barack Obama kept working on it. The final draft was ready on March 17.

What does a more perfect union mean?

In his speech, Barack Obama expressed his thoughts about the many racial struggles the American people were going through. For the senator, the idea of a more perfect union symbolized the cross-ethnic solidarity. It represented compassion that would make people work together on the common issue.