The Weather Underground Review

The Weather Underground Review During the Vietnam War, a radical protest group rose up on the campus of the University of Michigan. Weathermen, as they became called in everyday vernacular, were actually nothing like weathermen at all – they protested, rioted, bombed, and broke people out of jail, to mention a few of their actions. The name was formally changed to Weather Underground Organization a year after the founding, and their acts of terror followed shortly after.Earlier in the semester, a documentary about the Environmental Liberation Front was viewed. In this documentary, titled If a Tree Falls, a radical protest organization rises up to confront environmental issues. In this essay I will compare and contrast the two. The Weather underground Organization was formed in order to protest the United State Government's intervention in Vietnam, although it expanded to an array of other issues as time passed. The Civil Rights Movement became another catalyst for protest, as the notion of â€Å"black power† was not something very appealing to the members.Bill Areas, a prominent leader of the group, owned because he was upset with the war in Vietnam and wanted to do something about it. The group was nonviolent towards people and to this day says that they never killed an innocent person. Three of their members died when a bomb they were making exploded, but that was all. They bombed mostly government buildings and some banks, with notable attacks being done on the United States Capitol building, The Pentagon, and the New York Police Department.These attacks were all done to send a message of fear to the people in power in an effort to make them change their ways. To justify the actions of the group, Bill Areas was quoted saying, â€Å"Large numbers of people are broken from the notion that the system is working for people, that the system is just or humane or peaceful. † The United States government reaching peace with Vietnam toward the mi ddle of the sass was the reason for the organization going out of style, as they had no Issue left to protest.The Environmental Liberation Front was formed after a group of people became upset with how government policies were favorable for businesses looking to expand and remove forestry. Within the group, which only served o protest, there was a small cell that turned to arson in order to perpetuate their views. The leader, Daniel McGowan, organized various attacks on businesses and corporations that were cutting down trees. One of the better- known attacks was at a Colorado ski resort that resulted in hundreds Of thousands of dollars in destruction.The group was also nonviolent toward people, having never claimed a life. The Environmental Liberation Front leaders that were purporting the violent attacks were captured and arrested by United States Federal officials and tried in court in the last couple of years. Both of these organizations have many things in common; beginning wit h them being categorized as terrorist organizations. The terrorist organizations were founded in response to a public issue that they felt was not receiving enough attention and quickly turned to violence to get their message sent to the people in power.Both Bill Areas and Daniel McGowan were strong leaders with a substantial following of people, too. The attacks carried out by the organizations were also very meticulously planned out as to not kill any civilians, which would have seen the reaction from the government and police be much more significant. Their targets were similar then, in that regard, as it was entirely buildings that were bombed. The Weather Underground Organization's reason for formation and action was due to the Vietnam War, which they strongly opposed.The reason that the Environmental Liberation Front's formation was entirely different; it was completely related to the destruction Of trees by businesses. Therefore, their targets differed in scope. The Weather u nderground Organization almost exclusively bombed government buildings, with some banks added in. To the contrary, The Environmental Liberation Front targeted businesses that cutting own forests for their personal benefit. The organizations both differed in how they faded out.The end of the Vietnam War saw the Weather underground Organization lose it's relevance while the arrests of leaders in the Environmental Liberation Front caused it to cease its violent attacks. The class defines a terrorist act as something that has political motives, involves violence or the threat of violence against noncombatants, intends to have far-reaching psychological repercussions, and is perpetrated by people who believe they are altruists. The Weather Underground Organization had al the makings of a terrorist organization based on this four-part definition.The motives of the group were entirely political; it was created in response to the United States Government authorizing involvement in the Vietn am War and also grew in scope during the Civil Rights Movement. Without the political catalysts to get the organization started, it would not have been formed in the first place. Violence was found throughout the organization, as their attacks involved bombs on buildings, as well as freeing a person from prison. The threat of violence continued in the wake of attacks, as people ere constantly worried that their building was next.Moreover, the victims were noncombatants, as they were simply working for the government. The psychological repercussions were intended to be far reaching -? to the executive branch of the United States Government. They intended to influence the government at all levels to change their ways. Finally, the perpetrators were acting as if they were altruists. Clearly they felt that the Vietnam War was wrong and that, by their actions, they were going to make things right. During the Vietnam War, a radical protest group rose up on the amass of the University of M ichigan.

Examine The Advantages Some Sociologists May Finds When Using Participant Observation

Participant observation is where the researcher joins the group or community they are studying, the researcher will participate in the activities over a period of time, to do this, the researcher attempts to become accepted in order to collect more valid research and to try and see the world in the way the group does. There are two types of participant observation, Covert and Overt.Covert participant observation is where the researcher will take an undercover role in order to do research into the group they wish to study, there is normally a ‘gate keeper’ within this group that knows the researcher is there to do research, the gate keeper helps get them into the group to do this research. Overt participant observation is where the researcher takes a more open role; they openly ask the group if they will allow the researcher to study them.Interpretivists prefer participant observations as they argue that it’s the most effective way to understand the meanings people give on certain things, they also prefer it as there is a greater chance of developing their understanding further by verstehen. An advantage of covert participant observation could be that more valid research will be gained as they study is true to life when compared to overt research. With overt participant observation there can be a risk of less valid data due to the Hawthorne Effect; this is where the presence of the researcher can affect the way the participants behave.With both covert and overt participant observations rapports can be made which may lead to more valid data and data that is normally hard to reach as the group that the researcher is studying will begin to trust them. However, this can take time and can be less practical. An example of this is Eileen Barker’s study on the Unification Church, she studied the ‘Moonie’s’ over 7 years, gaining the trust of the participants, who soon saw her as a friend, thus enabling her to gain more valid and truthful research.By doing this, Barker gained verstehen meaning she could understand the feelings of the people she was studying, empathising with them; as a result she developed a further understanding of their way of life. Other practical issues with covert participant observation are that it can be hard to find a gate keeper to let the researcher into the group. Both covert and overt research are very time consuming and cost a lot, so the study must be worth the time of studying.Both covert and overt observations can be low in reliability as they are hard to replicate and get consistent results. Researchers may remember and interpret things differently thus reducing the reliability of the research even further. This tends to be more of a disadvantage with covert research as they are unable to write down everything the group being studied says as it will risk their cover and could ruin the research.With an overt role, this can be avoided as they are able to take notes in the open, and can use different types of methods such as interviews or questionnaires. Covert participant observation tends to be more unethical than overt participant observation as the researcher doesn’t ask the group for consent thus deceiving the group, the researcher may take part in illegal acts in order to maintain cover, an example of this is Patrick, he studied a gang in Glasgow over four months, during his time in the gang he was required to partake in burglaries to keep the trust of the gang.To prevent this, researchers may want to take more of an overt role, which means they have an honest and open role within the group, meaning there is no deception and they won’t have to take part in illegal acts. Positivists don’t like participant observation as it’s hard for them to gather quantitative data, so they aren’t able to generalise or see patterns or trends.

Asian American women before 1950 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Asian American women before 1950 - Essay Example Prior to this the community endured a century of hardships that mitigated their integration into mainstream American socio-culture. If racial prejudice was a sizeable challenge on its own, the issues were compounded for womenfolk. The rest of this essay is an overview of the Asian American experience prior to 1950. Sociological theories on ‘gender’ and ‘intersectionality’ were perused as were classic literary works and essays pertaining to the subject. It is instructive to look at theoretical perspectives that make lucid the Asian American women’s experience before 1950. During much of the evolution of sociology, studying history and society through the axis of gender was not common practice. Race, ethnicity, age, class and nation were the common definitive parameters for groups that were studied. Understanding socio-history from the perspective of gender was mainly an offshoot of feminist movements of mid-twentieth century. The second wave feminist m ovement was especially instrumental in introducing this approach. The relational identities of women of 19th century as either someone’s daughter, husband or mother is fully applicable to Asian American women. ... .the goal is to discover the range in sex roles and in sexual symbolism in different societies and periods, to find out what meaning they had and how they functioned to maintain the social order or to promote its change†. (Scott, 1986) Seen in the backdrop of this theoretical framework, it is fair to claim that Asian American women had a decidedly more arduous century prior to 1950 than their male counterparts. This is evident in the literary works of the time, especially that of Jade Snow Wong’s ‘Fifth Chinese Daughter’. The short novel is filled with real life events of the author as she lived through the transition from a native Chinese culture steeped in tradition and the more liberal outlook afforded in America. The book shows the patriarchal familial set up among the Chinese and how this can be a hindrance for immigrant women looking to avail of opportunities for personal and professional growth in the New World. ‘Intersectionality’ is ano ther useful theoretical basis for studying Asian American women’s experience, for it brings the core problems from different domains to the analysis. It helps the studied group to â€Å"invent and inhabit identities that register the effects of differentiated and uneven power, permitting them to envision and enact new social relations grounded in multiple axes of intersecting, situated knowledge.† (Chun, Lipsitz, and Shin, 2013) The theory is seen in action in Jew Law Ying’s ‘Coaching Book’ - a touching historical document that brings out the extent of Asian American women’s struggle for citizenship in the USA. The work is a translation of the ‘coaching book’ which the author’s father sent to her mother prior to the latter’s long voyage to America. The book

Good Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Good Writing - Essay Example It’s hard to tell whether a piece of writing is good or bad by simply looking at it. You have to read and analyze the piece writing and finally, explain why the writing is good or bad. Good writers organize their work in a logical and effective manner. The ideas will be clear, interesting and concise (Murphy 2009). Ideas help a writer to communicate through writing to other people. The sentences will be fluent and be flowing from one idea to another. A piece of good writing will be communicative and correct. This means that good writing will be free from spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes. Good writing demands a person to recognize the owner if the writer borrows ideas form that piece of writing (Murphy 2009). Good writing is always a result of hard work and a lot of practicing. The ability to write well is not something that is inborn (Murphy 2009). A good writer always puts in a lot of time and effort to improve his writing. I would say I am a good writer. I always t ry my best to make sure that my work is free from grammatical, punctuation and spelling mistakes. I also ensure that my ideas are concise and are related to the topic. My ideas will flow fluently from one idea to another. Information connects thought my writing eventually responding to the needs of the reader. I also cite my work whenever I use any secondary or primary sources. I also read a lot and do a lot of practice to perfect my weak areas. This has helped me gain confidence and improve my attitude towards writing.

Forum Post Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Forum Post - Assignment Example Recently, there has been increased use of drones for air strikes on enemy territory. Currently, the use of real-time information has facilitated tracking, supplying acquisitions and for improved ability in sensing danger and responding to the altercations immediately. In addition, the establishment of military bases in foreign countries is another warfare strategy adopted to enhance military response time. World War II presented a unique opportunity for the application of cutting edge technological advancements in modern warfare. This was in order to gain a competitive advantage over an enemy. The war (1939-1945), was unique in that it marked the beginning of many changes and challenges that not only affected logical support and weaponry, but also medicine, intelligence and communication. In terms of military grade weaponry advancement, there were many advancements in terms of small arms and aircraft machinery. During the war, there were significant changes made in terms of ballistic missiles, the use of jet aircrafts and other military grade weapons utilized today. In terms of the small arms, new weapons with better recoil and bullet capacity began to be produced. In addition, the war marked the first time that nuclear weapons were used to defeat an enemy and it led to the development of warfare logistics aimed at countering the effects of a nuclear explosion. Head argues that during WW2, there was greater need for the supply of ammunitions, logistics and food to combat soldiers who were very far from their home bases. There was also need for faster deployment of logistical support to ensure the soldiers’ survival and sustainability. There was a slight shift from predominantly relying on railways to using aircrafts and sea vessels for replenishing the armed forces in combat. The adoption of large scale motorized transport aided in tactical replenishment of supplies to soldiers in order to maintain

Ethics in Small Groups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics in Small Groups - Essay Example Every member provided his best and worked hard to produce a quality assignment. In the spirit of collective ideas, every member worked hard on their specific parts of the presentation thus making work easier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Group members extensively used technology including WhatsApp, emails, and phone calls to connect. The approach helped to save time and facilitated the progress updates. In addition, the group members met in the library and Alexander Hall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I learned that teamwork and division of roles according to individuals’ strengths significantly improves output level. Besides, a team should help one another to enhance their skills. I also learned that that working with a small group is fun and easy. Small groups enjoy privileges of efficient communication, problem-solving, and natural decision-making. Fallen leaders and ethical deterioration Based on the theme of Fallen leaders and ethical deterioration, I gained significant insights about visionary and strategic leadership. I intend to utilize the knowledge to guide my future decision-making process to minimize failures caused by the unsound decision. Furthermore, the teachings shall help me to navigate through leadership platforms keeping in mind that integrity, sound judgment, and right public image are earned based on good leadership skills (Mendonca & Kanungo 2006).

Ritz Carlton Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ritz Carlton - Case Study Example According to the hotels motto employees are considered as valuable and important as the customers they serve, "We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen" (McDonald, 2004). The company believes that their employees are its greatest assets and should be treated as such. The hotel is very selective in hiring employees that they believe will be suitable for the job. They take in consideration the perspective employees personality and attitude rather than just hiring based on experience. This method allows the hotel to select employees that not only will provide excellent customer service but will also be happy with the job they are doing. According to a director of training at one the hotels locations, "If you want to achieve service excellence, you must select people who want to go with you" (Lampton, 2003). After they are hired, the hotel provides all employees with extensive training that prepares them to face any difficulties that they may encounter on the job. It is estimated that the Ritz-Carlton spends an average of $5000 training each new hire (McDonald, 2004). The secret to Ritz-Carlton's high employee retention rate is not high wages or perks. In fact, wages and benefits are equivalent to any other luxury hotel. The key to company's high retention rate is creating an environment in which employees feel that they are valued members of a dedicated team and are treated with respect. Employee birthdays are celebrated along with employment anniversaries (McDonald, 2004). Hotel leaders have high expectations from each staff member but do not expect them to perform tasks that they themselves cannot accomplish. Obviously, these methods are proving to be very effective since the annual employee turnover rate in Ritz-Carlton hotels is 25% while other luxury hotels have a rate of 44% (Lampton, 2003). Employees are involved in the process of change rather than having it forced upon them from hotel management. For example, at some hotel locations employees are videotaped performing everyday duties such as setting tables. Later, participating employees watch the videotape with management and discuss ways in which their service can be improved (Lampton, 2003). In addition, every employee has the power to spend up to $2,000 to resolve a guest's problem without having to ask management for approval. This hands on method results in a high employee satisfaction rate by giving employees more control over their profession and motivates them to do a better job by involving them directly in the change process (McDonald, 2004). The hotel has an open door policy when it comes to accessibility. Dissatisfied employees can easily talk to hotel managers about any problems that they may encounter on the job and ask for guidance. On a routine basis, employees are involved in 15-minute daily talks in which they discuss the core values of the hotel such as excellent customer service. This method enforces enthusiasm among the employees because they have a chance to share their work experiences with each other. The Ritz-Carlton is one of very few large companies that focuses attention on core values on a daily basis (McDonald, 2004). Although the hotel does an excellent job at making employees, feel valued and provides excellent training at times its methods can be a little