Ethnic group Essay Example for Free

Ethnic group Essay What do we mean by ethnicity and what are some of the most important types of ethnic identification? Discuss how a country’s transition to democracy might increase ethnic tensions in some cases and decrease it in others. According to Handelman, â€Å"ethnicity is a social construction with certain common qualities† (2001). What this means in my opinion is the ethnicity is identifying with a group based on what that group has similar or alike. According to that text the most identifying types of ethnicity groups are Nationality, tribes, race and religion. Nationality is almost self-explanatory; this identifier of ethnicity is based on what the commonalty of being from the same county or land. Nationality is the combination of having the same culture, speak the same language, and having the same genealogical background. An example of this ethnic group would be like native India to the Haitians or Japanese people. This leads way to the next group tribes. A tribe is, â€Å" sub-national groups, particularly in Africa, that share a collective identity which include language and common lineage† (Handelman, 2001). I believe that tribe is not limited to those in Africa but also reaches to the many various tribes in the rain forest to Austria. This group I feel is a sub group within nationality, tribes form the same land loses the connective to Nationality based on the separation of language, culture and linage. Next we have race, basically race is based on physical identifying characteristics such skin completion and so forth. Race can be a little more harder to identify correctly based on so many factors can cause the appearance of one race on another. Also with race, it can be a common factor with tribe and nationality but the two groups still have separation despite that common trait. Last but not least is religion, unlike the others this group can be a self-choice to join. This group at most times can be based on nationality, tribe or race but can change because one’s identifying with a particular religion. Ethnicity can play a role of hindrance and positive for movement towards democracy. As defined â€Å"democracy is measured by the transparency and fairness of the essential procedures governing the election and behavior of government officials† (Handelman, 2001). Based on the different groups of ethnicity, democracy can be hinders because of one’s strong connection to it group. For example, to have a full democracy both men and women should vote, some tribes and religions do not agree with women have voting rights. Some people are so proud of their nationality and some to their race that they feel that they are the better group and do not feel others should right. On the other end of the spectrum ethnicity can help with transition towards democracy based on it wanting to come together for a greater good. For instance two races or nationalities joining together against a common enemy fight towards a form of democracy. Handelman, H. (2011 ). Dependency, Modernization, and Ethnic Conflict. In The Challenge Of Third World Development (p. 113). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Free Essays: Comparison of Beowulf and The Seafarer :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of Beowulf and The Seafarer    Beowulf and The Seafarer  Ã‚   In a comparison between â€Å"Beowulf† and â€Å"The Seafarer† one finds two contrasting beliefs in fate and the sea from the story’s main characters. Beowulf is resigned to fate and is humble before the force of the sea, while The Seafarer is fearful of the powers of fate and the sea and is unwilling to accept them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though the actions and thoughts of Beowulf give him a god-like appearance in the story he believes that God and fate work together. He boasts of his encounters with devilish sea creatures saying, â€Å"I treated them politely,/ Offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword.† This strong statement reveals Beowulf’s divine and invulnerable self-confidence. To Beowulf, â€Å"Fate saves/ The living when they drive away death by themselves.† Beowulf is compelled to observe fate but does not feel it should completely rule him. He allows fate to direct his life, but not govern his actions. A display of Beowulf’s belief in fate is evident when he says, â€Å"Fate will unwind as it must.†Ã‚   Meaning, there is a master plan to the world with which he must live.   When Unferth taunts him, Beowulf replies by questioning Unferth’s manhood and makes a fool of him in front of everyone.   Boasting, â€Å"Neither he nor you can match me.† Though he tests fate, he has a more fearful respect for the sea.   He knows its power from his race with Brecca. The seas were dark and harsh, but he remained humble and ventured through the murky waters because of this respect.   As a contrast to Beowulf’s beliefs, the Seafarer feels that fate destroys all and takes everything away. Fate is an all mighty power to him and no man can control it, no matter what he does. â€Å"†Fate is stronger/ And God mightier than any man’s mind.† This shows the Seafarers fearful surrender to these unearthly powers. â€Å"Wondering what fate has willed and will do.† Yet with all this fear and sorrow he does not accept it, but rather wills it away. He is afraid of its power and ability to be stronger than any man. Though he fears fate he is ambivalent toward the sea. This indecisiveness is so overpowering it has taken over his life. While ashore, safe and secure visiting his favorite mead hall, he longs for the embrace of the sea.

Operation Anaconda

United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers saved the lives of many of the olders and the entire operation by call in close air support, strafe, and bombing runs. The air operations took out machine gun nest and bunker that were pinning down American troops in the valley. The were also mortar teams raining shells down on to United States and Coalition troops in the valley that were destroyed by United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers from there're observation points on each side of the valley.The Tactical Air Combat Controllers air strikes allowed the pinned down troops to make much needed headway to find better cover and state returning fire on the machine gun nest and mortar teams. The United States and Coalition troops finally took the valley after heavy fire and sustained losses, which were drastly lessened by the United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers. In totally the were only eight dead and eighty ingerd United States troops.To becom e a Combat Controller ricuers one of the most rigorous sets of training in the US military. The CCT pipeline has a wash out rate upwards of 80-85%, mostly due to washout and injuries sustained during training. The Air Force is working to lower the washout rate through proper education, testing and rigorous pre-pipeline training. Combat Controllers maintain air traffic controller qualification skills throughout their career in addition to other special operations skills.Many qualify and maintain proficiency as Joint terminal attack controllers. Their 35-week initial training and unique mission skills earn them the right to wear the scarlet beret and their 3 skill level. From that point they attend a 12-15-month advanced skill training course to obtain their 5 skill level. Once they complete AST their training pipeline is finished and they are mission-ready Combat Controllers. Operation Anaconda By Phillipcolburn

Jihad - A Holy War Essay - 6110 Words

Jihad It was once a word unfamiliar to American ears. But in recent years it has become all too familiar. The actions of Muslim militants and terrorists have seared the word into American consciousness. Yet even with thousands of innocent civilians killed on American soil by Islamic terrorists, the full significance of the Muslim concept of jihad has not been grasped by the American public. In the days after September 11, 2001, American leaders rushed to portray Islam as a peaceful religion that had been quot;hijackedquot; by a fanatical band of terrorists. One hopes that these assurances were merely tactical—that nobody was meant to believe them and that they were meant to assure the Muslim world that the inevitable American†¦show more content†¦They will have to face it in the future. The Muslim Worldview To understand the connection between Islam and violence, one must understand certain facets of the Muslim worldview. One of the most important is the fact that, according to the historic Muslim understanding, there is no separation between religion and government—what in Christianity would be called the separation of church and state. We are not speaking here of the secularist idea that the state should marginalize religion and discourage people from voting their consciences as Christians. We are talking about the idea that church and state are not the same thing and that they have different spheres of activity. This idea of a separation between religion and government is not characteristic of most peoples in world history. It is a contribution to the world of ideas that was made by Christians—indeed, by Christ himself. In his book Islam and the West, historian Bernard Lewis explains: quot;The notion that religion and political authority, church and state, are different and that they can or should be separated is, in a profound sense, Christian. Its origins may be traced to the teachings of Christ, notably in the famous passage in Matthew 22:21, in which Christ is quoted as saying: ‘Render therefore unto Caesar the things which areShow MoreRelatedChristian Holy War And Jihad1471 Words   |  6 Pagestook place in the 11th century that attempted to recapture the Holy Land of Jerusalem, called upon by Pope Urban II could be considered a Christian Holy similar to Muslim’s calling for Jihad. Jihad in Islamic practice is a Holy War fought by Muslims to guard and/or spread their belief as a civic duty. Through the effort to take back Jerusalem from the Muslims, the Pope was calling the Roman Catholics in Europe to militarily conquer the Holy Land and ultimately resulted in the Christians recapturing JerusalemRead MoreJihad : The World Is Mindful Of The Ter m `` Jihad ``1407 Words   |  6 Pagesgroup in the world yet controversial, the world is mindful of the term â€Å"Jihad†. The term has been coined and implemented negatively by the extremists in the name of Islam resulting in a shaken misbalance in the Islamic as well as in the rest of the world. In the light of recent events, the Arabic word â€Å"Jihad† has gained vital attention. The reason I chose this word is to make a little effort providing true and basic insight of jihad as described in Islam. Most people are aware of this term, use and criticizeRead MoreJihad Is A Symbol Of Destruction And Terrorism909 Words   |  4 PagesArguably the most misunderstood term in the religion of Islam, Jihad could mean one of two things: a struggle for or against something or a Holy War against a nation. The idea of Jihad came about when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), most praised and recognized Prophet of Islam, wanted to spread Islam. Today, Jihad is a symbol of de struction and terrorism. It is frequently seen in the headlines of Western media as a demeaning term meaning an all-out explosive battle has been ensuing betweenRead More The meaning and Concepts of Jihad Essay848 Words   |  4 PagesThe Holy of Holy Wars: Jihad In light of recent events in the global community, one word that is used frequently but rarely truly understood is the Islamic word Jihad. Jihad has become a very volatile word, so it is necessary that those who use it should understand exactly what it means, what it entails, and what significance it has in current global events. There are many interpretations of the word Jihad, but the most common literal translation from Arabic to English is struggle. ManyRead MoreThe Jihad is probably one of the most misunderstood and feared terms in modern day America. Ever1300 Words   |  6 PagesThe Jihad is probably one of the most misunderstood and feared terms in modern day America. Ever since the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11th, 2001, the Muslim religious duty of Jihad has had only negative connotations. Of course, seeing two trademark buildings collapsed and mangled on the groundwith thousands dead all in the name of religion would have anyone jump to a negative conclusion. But what most people don’t understand is that the meaning of the term â€Å"Jihad†Read MoreEssay on The Terrorists Attack on the World Trade Centre in New York1205 Words   |  5 Pages The terrorists attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 9, 2001 which changes the western concept about Islam and Muslims. Moreover, Islamic concept â€Å"Jihad† is criticized and it is questioned among Non-Muslims. 9/11 attack not only effects non-Muslims but also the Muslims who have no connections with the terrorist groups. As well as they do not support these terrorism. These Muslims face the hatred of the non-western people. They feel guilty about the Sin, they neitherRead MoreIslam and Jihad Essay1185 Words   |  5 Pagesword Jihad literally means holy struggle. It is not holy war. War is war. No war can be holy. The blood of humans is holy and sacred. The Quran says unjust killing of one man means the killing of the whole mankind. What is just killing and what is unjust killing. When some body kills a man without any reason or justification it is unjust killing. When the judge gives the capital punishment to this murderer and issue s the order of his death, it is a just killing. Similarly, when a war isRead MoreDoes Religion Cause Wars?1258 Words   |  6 PagesThere is a conventional belief among many individuals that religion is the main cause of the present and past wars inflicting torment within the world. However, many humans fail to see past that belief; they are unable to understand that religion is just a small factor amongst the many contributing to the cause of wars. In fact, religion is merely a tool and an excuse used to hide the need for power and sins of the human nature. Among these factors, it may be the misinterpretation of religious teachingsRead MoreMuslims Of The Third Crusade : Saint Or Saladin?1314 Words   |  6 Pagesthat â€Å"I have become so great as I am because I have won men’s hearts by gentleness and kindliness,† (Saladin). In a war that was preceded by the mess of the Second Crusade, it was necessary that each army would be of one accord with the teachings of t heir religion in their conquests and convictions. In the Third Crusade, the Muslim armies adhered consistently to the doctrine of jihad in the protection of their territory, their truce with the Franks, and their treatment of Jerusalem’s inhabitants.Read MoreA Short Note On Da And Its Attack On America On September 11, 2001 Essay824 Words   |  4 PagesPresident and any inaccuracies will be addressed in the memo. Background Al Qai’da began in the 1980’s due to the war between the Russians and Afghanistan. â€Å"Al- Qaeda â€Å"The Base† was developed by Usama Bin Laden and others in the early 1980’s to support the war effort in Afghanistan against the Soviets.† (FBI.gov). Bin Laden created the group based on Syyid Qutb’s teachings that Jihad should be waged in order for the Quran to be what is followed in society. It should be noted that after victory in