Significance Of The Sermon Of The Mount Religion Essay

Significance Of The Sermon Of The Mount Religion Essay In this essay, I am going to explain the significance of the Sermon of the Mount and how it relates to the rest of the teachings of Jesus. I will start by defining the meaning of the term Sermon of the Mount, the significance of the sermon of the mount and the structure of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5:3 7; 27. Furthermore, I will discuss the key theological themes in the Sermon of the Mount. I will conclude by reflecting on the centrality of the Sermon of the Mount to the other teachings of Jesus in the gospels. WHAT IS THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT? The term The Sermon of the Mount originated from the title of Augustines commentary on Matthew 5 7, De Sermone Domini in Monte, which was published in 391 396 AD. Matthew 5 7 became well known as the Sermon on the Mount in the 16th Century. The modern term of Matthew 5 7 is Sermon on the plain. This term is used mainly to differentiate between Lukes shorter version of the sermon of the mount from Matthews version. There are two versions of the Sermon on the Mount: Matthews version Matthew 5: 3 7:27 which consists of 106 verses. Lukes version Sermon on the plain Luke 6:20-49.  [1]   THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ETHICAL TEACHING The gospel of Matthew provided the Jewish Christians with evidences to ascertain their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus in the gospel of Matthew introduced the kingdom of heaven. Hence, the sermon of the mount is of great significance because it expounds the ethics of the Kingdom of heaven which was introduced by Christ Jesus. Therefore, the sermon of the mount summarised the code of conduct in this new kingdom of heaven. Furthermore, the sermon of the mount set the standards of discipleship in the kingdom of heaven. In this sermon, Jesus showed his disciples how to live the life of the kingdom. This kingdom way of living lays great emphasis on the inner life which is in contrast to the outward workings of religious activities of the Sadducees and the Pharisees.  [2]  In addition, Jesus stated that, the ethical conduct of the disciples must exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees before they can enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). Henceforth, the disciples of Jes us are called to a superior ethical conduct which is by the Grace of God. This ideal character of Discipleship in the kingdom of heaven is achievable by the infusion of the gift of righteousness in the spirit of the New Testament believer. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT The Beatitudes forms the main introduction of the sermon of the mount. The central section of the sermon is from Matthew 5:17 to Matthew 7:12. This section opens and closes with Reference to The Law and The Prophets. The sermon ends by an epilog in Matthew 7:13 27.  [3]   THE KEY THEOLOGICAL THEMES OF THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT 1) The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3 12) The Beatitudes are named from the Latin word Beatus meaning blessed. These are the rewards from the blessings and responsibilities of discipleship. The Greek term means happy, fortunate  [4]  . In Matthew, there are nine beatitudes and four in Lukes version of the Sermon on the Mount. The word Makarios is at the beginning of the beatitudes. It means happiness which is as a result of God given salvation  [5]  . Jesus revealed in the beatitudes, the essential nature of true happiness. This happiness is achieved by relying and depending wholly on God.  [6]   Andrew Perriman points out that the beatitude described a marginalized group within Israel that will benefit from future turn of events. His view established the eschatological dimension of the rewards of true discipleship in the kingdom of heaven  [7]   Matthew 5:14 states You are the light of the world. A city that is set a hill can not be hidden. In John 8:12, Jesus said I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life This teaching in the Sermon of The mount has a direct comparison with Jesus teaching in the gospel of John. Jesus expects His disciples to shine in the midst of the darkness of this world. Hence, as Jesus is the light, the disciples will eventually become the light of the world. 2) The Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5: 17 20) The new ethical standards put forward by Christ deals with the motives behind the actions of men. In accordance with Christs Standard, sin begins in the mind and in the will of men  [8]   In addition, Jesus said he has come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets. His ethical instructions reveal how the Law of the Torah will operate under the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in the inner life of motives behind the actions of men. The kingdom of heaven is within the heart of the New Testament believer. This kingdom is expected to produce corresponding actions that reflects the inner life of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 3) The Antitheses (Matthew 5: 21 48) The structure of the sayings of Jesus within Matthew 5: 21 48, have the same pattern: You have heard that it was said (by God) to those of old à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ but I say to youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The style of Jesus words repeats itself in six paragraphs. Three of the six paragraphs have similar parallels with Lukes Sermon on the Plain. The phrase but I say to you seems to suggest that the sayings of Jesus is in opposition to the scripture of the Torah. Therefore, Matthew 5 : 21 48 is often referred to as the Antitheses. Matthew is known for the antithetical structure of his writings. However, this antithetical style of writing can also be found in Luke 6: 27 But I say to you who hear à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. According to Davies and Allison, the antithesis has two primary functions: It shows the kind of attitude and behaviour that is required by Jesus in the life of His disciples. The demands of the ethical standards of Jesus surpassed those of the Torah without contradicting the Torah. For example, one can abstain from committing adultery and still lusts in his heart  [9]   4) The Golden Rule and the Greatest commandment (Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:25 28, Matthew 22: 34 40). Whatever you wish that others do to you, do so to them. This statement has been known as the Golden Rule since the 18th century. There are various parallels to this statement in Greco Romans, oriental and Jewish writings. The Golden Rule in Matthew 7: 12 according to Jesus is Law and The Prophets. That is, it sums up the whole essence of the Law and The Prophets in the Torah. The teaching of Jesus on the two greatest commandments in Mark 12: 28-34 love God and love your neighbour as yourself. In Matthew 22:40, Jesus said on this two commandments hang all the Law and The Prophets. The Golden rule and the love commandments are the very essence of the scriptural teachings of Jesus. Furthermore, the Golden Rule in the sermon of the mount is the bedrock of all the teachings of Jesus as it is revealed in the gospel account of Luke, Mark, and John. In summary, the Golden rule in the sermon of the Mount has direct relationship to the major teachings of Christ in the gospels.  [10]   THE EPILOG: TWO WAYS The Epilog of the Sermon Of the Mount contains a series of contrasts. It starts with the contrast between the gate and the way which leads to death or life. There are other examples of contrast between two ways in Deuteronomy 11:26, 30:15, Jeremiah 21:8 and many Jewish and Christian writings. The Epilog summarizes the picture of the beauty in the life of anyone who makes the right decision in life.  [11]   CONCLUSION In this essay, I have attempted to show the significance of the Sermon Of the Mount and its relationship with the other teaching of Christ in the gospels. I approach this essay by exploring the theological themes in the Sermon on the Mount. The Golden Rule in the Sermon on the Mount is the foundation of the Law and the Prophets. This rule parallels with the two greatest commandments, which is Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. In conclusion, the Sermon on the Mount summarizes the totality of the ethical teachings of Christ in the gospel.

Auditing Stages

The aim of this discussion is to explain how an auditor goes about the process of auditing financial statements and presents the five basic stages that the auditor performed during the financial statement audit at Maryward Primary School in Kwekwe for the year ending 31 December 2012. In order to be in a position to fulfil auditing responsibility to report on the client’s annual financial statements, the auditor followed a series of procedures and activities as required by the auditing profession.The auditor applied the following audit stages: pre-engagement activities, planning, test of controls, substantive procedures, completion and reporting. Puttick et al (2012:102) defines an audit according to Section 1 of APA as †¦the examination of, in accordance with prescribed or applicable auditing standards: a) financial statements with the objective of expressing an opinion as to their fairness or compliance with the identified financial reporting framework and any statutory requirements.Pre-engagement activities There are five pre-engagement activities and considerations. The auditor at this stage performed a new client investigation in order to accept the new appointment as a way of managing conflicts and threats to the auditor. Assessments of any threats to the independence of the auditor was done as an audit engagement should not be accepted where the auditor‘s independence is compromised.The other assessment done was the business risk faced in order to avoid the risk of association with a client whose integrity is questionable and particularly where motivation exists to misstate disclosures in financial information or indulge in illegal business and fraudulent reporting practices as it likely to render the auditor’s business risk unacceptable. The factors considered during the investigation included business reputation of Maryward Primary School. An assessment of the complication of the audit assignment and the estimated time, require d to finish the work was done.An engagement letter was prepared to provide the clearest record of the terms of the engagement. ISA 210 provides the contents of an engagement letter to be sent to the client to help prevent misunderstandings with respect to the engagement. Also, SAS 140 requires that an auditor should agree with the client the terms of the engagement to be undertaken and the terms should be written therefore the letter of engagement will be required whenever a new auditor appointment is accepted.The main constituent features of a typical letter of engagement are: responsibility of directors and auditors, the scope of the audit, other services, fees, Applicable law (Zimbabwe) and agreement of terms. The auditor accepted the engagement for the audit of the financial statements after the conclusion that the reporting framework was acceptable. There was an agreement between the auditor and Maryward Primary School, both parties agreed to meet when changes arise and when th e auditor considers the appropriateness of the matter to do so.In preparation for the audit, the auditor had a tour to Maryward Primary School after the opening meeting with the client. Russell (2012:69) states that â€Å"a tour of the area to be audited is permissible and often times highly desirable. An auditor may tour this area as part of a pre-audit visit to review documents before or after the opening meeting. † Travel plans were made and a team of three people was identified and sent to the audit area. PlanningAccording to Puttick et al (2012) the auditor first considers materiality at the planning stage of the audit. The auditor made a judgement of materiality in order to plan the audit in such a way that sufficient evidence is gathered to draw up a conclusion. Planning materiality was based on the end of year financial statements and budgets. According to Millichamp (2002) materiality is material if its omission/misstatement could influence the economic decisions tak en on the basis of the financial statements.The auditor also considered inherent risk as it has a direct impact on the nature, timing and extent of procedures the auditor plans to perform to gather sufficient appropriate audit evidence in response to the assessed risk of material misstatement. â€Å"Inherent risk† as per ISA 400 is â€Å" the susceptibility of an account balance or class of transactions to misstatements that could be material, individually or when aggregated with misstatements in other balances or classes, assuming that there are no related internal controls†.The auditor assessed audit risk and inherent risk as it is an essential part of audit planning to help in determining the quality and quantity of evidence gathered and the staff that needed to be assigned to the particular audit. The auditor also obtained an understanding of the business and its environment in order to assess the risk of material misstatement. ISA 310 requires a reasonable underst anding of the client’s business and industry. The nature of the client’s business and industry affects the client business risk and the risk of material misstatements in the financial statements.The auditor used the knowledge of these risks to determine the appropriate amount of audit evidence gathered. The auditor through experience is aware of the exposure to problems resulting from the auditor’s failure to understand comprehensively the nature of transactions in the client’s business. The understanding helped the auditor to evaluate the design and implementation of specific controls that could stop or discover and rectify material misstatements at the assertions level. Control risk is the probability that the client’s internal control system will fail to notice material misstatements.Audit risk is the risk that the auditor will unknowingly express inappropriate opinion on the financial statements. Inherent and control risk are the businessâ€⠄¢s risks that exist independently of the audit of financial statements, whereas detection risk is a function of the effectiveness of an audit procedure and its application by the auditor. Puttick et al (2012) quotes the ISA 200 definition of detection risk: â€Å"detection risk is the risk that the auditor will not detect a misstatement that exists in an assertion that could be material, individually or when aggregated with misstatements†.The auditor inquired into the detailed working papers, inspected legal documents and minutes of meetings of the accounting system and its related controls from the management and personnel of the client. A description of the system was recorded and confirmed that the record is an accurate description of the system and a preliminary evaluation of the internal controls was made. Audit planning involves developing an overall strategy for performing the audit.ISA 300 â€Å"audit strategy† describes in simple terms how audit is to be carr ied out and the â€Å"audit plan† details the exact procedures to be carried out to implement the strategy and complete the audit. During planning the auditor established an understanding with the client as to the nature of services to be provided and the responsibilities of each party through the engagement letter. The auditor developed an overall audit strategy, an audit plan and audit program and documented in the working papers each significant business cycle that is, revenue, expenditure, fixed assets, payroll and accounting.Planning continued throughout the entire audit as the auditor accumulated sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support the audit opinion. Performing tests of control and Substantive procedures One of the most important of all the audit stages is the process of testing the internal controls. The aim of tests controls is to obtain evidence that controls on which audit reliance is intended, worked out throughout the period of the financial year unde r audit. The tests of controls indicated that internal controls are operating effectively; the planned audit approach was not to be changed.These processes and procedures were used to ensure that proper approvals are in place before payment is made or transactions entered in the system. The auditor used the primary method of internal control testing to randomly select transactions and checked the source documentation. The random selection from a representative sample revealed that controls are strong, so there was no point for increasing the sample size. A substantive procedure is the actual process of collecting physical evidence of transactions and verifying the value posted to a specific account is supported by actual documents.This aspect of the audit is the most time consuming and is very detailed work. Gray (2008) propounds that at this stage conclusion made by the auditor must be supported by in each case by carefully evaluated evidence that the transactions are completely an d accurately recorded. As auditors cannot rely completely on management assertion of completeness, the search for unrecorded expenses and liabilities was designed to yield audit evidence of liabilities that were not recorded in the reporting period. A material error or fraud in the inventory has a pervasive effect on the financial statement.Auditing standards requires that the auditor should observe the inventory taking and make test control. Physical inventory at year end was counted when the auditor was present to observe and perform the dual direction testing to gather evidence for the existence and completeness assertions. This involved the performance of substantive procedures the nature, timing and extent of which responded appropriately to the assessed risk of misstatement at the assertions level to achieve a level of detection risk that will result in an acceptable level of audit risk relating to assertions within financial statements.Evaluating and concluding The final stag e of auditing process involves evaluating and drawing conclusions on the fair presentation of the financial information and the drafting of the audit report. During this stage the auditor considers the sufficiency of the evidence gathered in support of financial statement assertions. Assertions are the representations of management that are represented in financial statements, for, example, that fixed assets reflected in financial statements exist and are owned by the entity and are fairly valued.ISA 500R: identifies assertions under three categories namely: assertions about classes of transactions and events for the period under audit, assertions about account balances at the period end and assertions about presentation and disclosure. The auditor decided on the fair presentation of assertions and evaluated the differences between amounts included in the financial information and amounts supported by audit evidence.The audit differences represent uncorrected material misstatements in the financial statements. The auditor evaluated the effect of uncorrected material misstatements on the audit and the effect of uncorrected misstatements on the financial statements and tested whether the financial statements as a whole are free of material misstatement. The auditor evaluated the effect of such misstatements on audit opinion. For this purpose, the auditor established a final estimate of materiality.After consideration of all evidence, the auditor concluded that financial statements were not significantly materially misstated and management was not requested to make appropriate adjustments. The completion stage of the audit is the final stage during which the engagement team and partner responsible for the audit perform finishing procedures, evaluate the sufficiency and appropriateness of audit evidence gathered during the audit and findings in respect of significant risks identified, including fraud risk, in order to form the audit opinion on financial statements .During completion procedures, the auditor reviewed the financial statements on an overall basis performing a final analytical review on period end financial information. The reading of supplementary and other relevant information and resolution of the impact of any significant matters arising were considered. Update inquiries on specific aspects for example, fraud, laws, regulations and evaluation of the results of audit procedures for all significant findings. Written representations from management acknowledging its esponsibility for the design and implementation of internal controls to prevent and detect error were obtained. Reporting The last stage of the audit is finalization. This is the creation of a report to management that summarizes all the procedures used to conduct the audit, the result of the various processes, and supporting documentation. Gray (2008) states that â€Å"at this stage the auditor summarizes evidence on systems and other aspects seen to be of interest to management and sends a formal report of comments and recommendations†.After completion of fieldwork and analysis the auditor presented the first draft of findings and recommendations to the client during the exit meeting. Paragraphs 27, 32, and 35b of ISA 700 indicate that the description in the auditor’s report can refer either to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements or the preparation of financial statements that give a true and fair view.True in the sense that the auditor’s information given was factual and conforms to reality and not false, in addition the information conforms to the required standards and law and that the accounts of Maryward Primary School had been correctly extracted from the books and records. Fair in the sense that information given is free from discrimination and bias and in compliance with the expected standards and rules and that the accounts of the client reflect the substance of the business’s underlying transactions.

Machiavelli And Castiglione Essay - 937 Words

The humanist movement brought about the inspiration of both Niccolà ² Machiavelli and Baldassare Castiglione during the Italian Renaissance of the fifteenth century. Machiavelli and Castiglione shared their beliefs about society in their published writings. The most notorious of Machiavelli’s works was The Prince, a take on the political structure and successes of western civilization. Castiglione’s most known publication, The Courtier, was heavily influenced by the works of Plato and Cicero and contributed heavy sections of dialogue. The writings of these two writers was truly visionary for the time and expressed the various opinions on how a specific faction of people should behave during the time. Machiavelli himself was a believer that†¦show more content†¦Putin enjoys going against the grain and fits Machiavelli’s words as someone who â€Å"must by as sly as the fox and as brutal as a lion.† Putin is never afraid to strike down groups with f orce, but his reputation in Syria is one of vicious swiftness. What makes Putin even more of a Machiavelli Leader is his ability to fly under the international radar, usually including the United Nations, with his motives. Another quality that Putin possesses is his manner of striving to be feared rather than revered by his people. For example, in his time in office, Vladimir Putin has struck fear into the hearts of countless Russians; with the ban of homosexuality. Not only is Putin feared by his people but he also has approval ratings of nearly eighty percent in the most recent years. This fits Machiavelli’s words in The Prince, â€Å"the wise prince makes himself feared in such a way that, if he does not gain love, he escapes hatred.† This in totality, makes Putin the ideal Machiavelli Leader because of his ability to properly blend fear and the ability to not be hated. While Machiavelli’s work focuses on the ideal qualities of a leader, Castiglione’s most important work, The Courtier, highlights his ideal version of a Renaissance woman. Castiglione describes a woman who is elegant, educated, and pleasing. With this he believes a women of the court should be of modestShow MoreRelatedMachiavelli vs. Castiglione Essay1533 Words   |  7 PagesIdeas on the same topic always seem to differ from person to person. This holds true to the ideas of Machiavelli and Castiglione. The Prince, written by Machiavelli, and The Courtier, written by Castiglione, are both somewhat how-to guides for nobility, royalty, and princes. However, there are many distinct differences among the ideas of Castiglione and Machiavelli. Castigliones philosophy leads down the path of a well-rounded person; a more peaceful manner. Machiavellis philosophy is more straightforwardRead More Don Quixote Essay about created reality529 Words   |  3 Pages Othello Essay The novel Don Quixote, by Miguel Cervantes, is an exploration into the idea of created reality. Cervantes, through the character of Don Quixote, illustrates to readers how we as human beings often make reality to be whatever we want it to be. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Don Quixote is a perfect example of â€Å"created reality.† The character Don Quixote is real, and he lives in a real world, but everything that he sees is exaggerated in his mind. It all begins with his name. Don QuixoteRead MoreHumanism: Renaissance and Merchant Class1743 Words   |  7 PagesEssay on Humanism The Renaissance is the label we put upon the emergence of a new perspective and set of ideals in Europe. This does not mean that it was sudden, neat and clean. It was gradual, inconsistent, and variable from place to place. The Renaissance had its origins in Italy because a powerful merchant class arose in its cities that replaced the landed aristocracy and clergy as the leaders of society. This new class, along with many aristocrats and clergy, embraced humanistRead More Humanism Essay example1241 Words   |  5 Pagesof the time were rhetoricians.   They held discussions in the same style used in the ancient Platonian academy.   They also sought more effective and eloquent methods of communication, both oral and written. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola wrote an essay entitled Oration on the Dignity of Man, in which he said that the reason for mans dignity is that he was created in Gods image.   He said that mans place in the universe is between the beasts and the angels, but because of his divine image, he canRead MoreEssay about Renaissance Figures2969 Words   |  12 Pagesto stop preaching, Savonarola was finally executed as a false prophet. ? Baldassare Castiglione, who lived from 1478--1529, was an Italian author and statesman. His Book of the Courtier (1528), a treatise on etiquette, social problems, and intellectual accomplishments, contributed to a Renaissance ideal of aristocracy embodied in the life of Sir Philip Sidney. The son of a noble family, Castiglione was educated at the humanist school of Giorgio Merula and Demetrius Chalcondyles, and

Should We Celebrate Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims

Thanksgiving has become synonymous with family, food, and football. But this uniquely American holiday is not without controversy. While schoolchildren still learn that Thanksgiving marks the day that Pilgrims met helpful Indians who gave them food and farming tips to survive the winter, a group called the United American Indians of New England established Thanksgiving as its National Day of Mourning in 1970. The fact that UAINE mourns on this day poses a question to socially conscious Americans: Should Thanksgiving be celebrated? Some Natives Celebrate The decision to celebrate Thanksgiving divides Native Americans. Jacqueline Keeler wrote a widely circulated editorial about why she, a member of the Dineh Nation and Yankton Dakota Sioux, celebrates the holiday. For one, Keeler views herself as â€Å"a very select group of survivors.† The fact that natives managed to survive mass murder, forced relocation, theft of land, and other injustices â€Å"with our ability to share and to give intact† gives Keeler hope that healing is possible. In her essay, Keeler takes issue with how one-dimensionally natives are portrayed in commercialized Thanksgiving celebrations. The Thanksgiving she recognizes is a revisionist one: These were not merely ‘friendly Indians.’ They had already experienced European slave traders raiding their villages for a hundred years or so, and they were wary—but it was their way to give freely to those who had nothing. Among many of our peoples, showing that you can give without holding back is the way to earn respect. Award-winning author Sherman Alexie, Jr., who is Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, also celebrates Thanksgiving by recognizing the contributions the Wampanoag people made to the Pilgrims. Asked in a Sadie Magazine interview if he celebrates the holiday, Alexie humorously answered: We live up to the spirit of Thanksgiving cuz we invite all of our most desperately lonely white [friends] to come eat with us. We always end up with the recently broken up, the recently divorced, the brokenhearted. From the very beginning, Indians have been taking care of brokenhearted white people.We just extend that tradition. Problematic Historical Accounts If we’re to follow Keelers and Alexie’s lead, Thanksgiving should be celebrated by highlighting the contributions of the Wampanoag. All too often Thanksgiving is celebrated from a Eurocentric point of view. Tavares Avant, former president of the Wampanoag tribal council, cited this as an annoyance about the holiday during an ABC interview: â€Å"It’s all glorified that we were the friendly Indians and that’s where it ends. I do not like that. It kind of disturbs me that we... celebrate Thanksgiving†¦ based on conquest.† Schoolchildren are particularly vulnerable to being taught to celebrate the holiday in this manner. Some schools, however, are teaching revisionist Thanksgiving lessons. Teachers and parents can influence the way children think about Thanksgiving. Celebrating in School An anti-racist organization called Understanding Prejudice recommends that schools send letters home to parents addressing efforts to teach children about Thanksgiving in a manner that neither demeans nor stereotypes Native Americans. Such lessons could include discussions about why not all families celebrate Thanksgiving and why the representation of Native Americans on Thanksgiving cards and decorations has hurt indigenous peoples. The organization’s goal is to give students accurate information about Native Americans of the past and present while dismantling stereotypes that could lead children to develop racist attitudes. â€Å"Furthermore,† the organization states, â€Å"we want to make sure students understand that being an Indian is not a role, but part of a person’s identity.† Understanding Prejudice advises parents to deconstruct stereotypes their children have about Native Americans by gauging what they already believe about indigenous peoples. Simple questions such as â€Å"What do you know about Native Americans?† and â€Å"Where do Native Americans live today?† can reveal a lot. Parents should be prepared to give children information about the questions raised by using Internet resources such as U.S. Census Bureau data on Native Americans or by reading literature about Native Americans. The fact that National American Indian Month and Alaskan Native Month are recognized in November means that information about indigenous peoples is plentiful around Thanksgiving. Some Natives Don’t Celebrate The National Day of Mourning kicked off unintentionally in 1970. That year a banquet was held by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival. The organizers invited Frank James, a Wampanoag man, to speak at the banquet. Upon reviewing James’ speech—which mentioned European settlers looting the graves of the Wampanoag, taking their wheat and bean supplies, and selling them as slaves—banquet organizers gave him another speech to read that left out the gritty details of the first Thanksgiving, according to UAINE. Rather than deliver a speech that left out the facts, James and his supporters gathered at Plymouth, where they observed the first National Day of Mourning. Since then, UAINE has returned to Plymouth each Thanksgiving to protest how the holiday has been mythologized. Giving Thanks Year-Round In addition to disliking misinformation on the Thanksgiving holiday that has spread about natives and Pilgrims, some indigenous peoples don’t recognize it because they give thanks year-round. During Thanksgiving 2008, Bobbi Webster of the Oneida Nation told the Wisconsin State Journal that the Oneida have 13 ceremonies of thanksgiving throughout the year. Anne Thundercloud of the Ho-Chunk Nation told the Journal that her people also give thanks continually, so a single day of the year for thanksgiving clashes with Ho-Chunk tradition. â€Å"We’re a very spiritual people who are always giving thanks,† she explained. â€Å"The concept of setting aside one day for giving thanks doesn’t fit. We think of every day as Thanksgiving.† Thundercloud and her family have incorporated the fourth Thursday of November into the other holidays observed by the Ho-Chunk, the Journal reports. They extend Thanksgiving observance until Friday when they celebrate Ho-Chunk Day, a large gathering for their community. Celebrate Inclusively If you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, ask yourself just what you’re celebrating. Whether you choose to rejoice or mourn on Thanksgiving, initiate discussions about the holiday’s origins by focusing not just on the Pilgrims’ point of view but also on what the day meant for the Wampanoag and what it continues to signify for American Indians today.

The Katrina And 9 / 11 - 1160 Words

There have been many comparisons in the images of the suffering and despair that came from Hurricane Katrina in comparison to the images of grief and destruction that occurred on September 11, 2001. Both Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 were national catastrophes and have given many lessons learned for natural and man-made/terrorism disasters in the way of preparations, during actions, responses from Federal down to local authorities, and recovery efforts. And in both cases, the government has reevaluated its reactions and its structure for preparing for and responding to extreme events. Usually disaster response was traditionally ran by State and local governments with the Federal government performing in a support role, but after such events as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, the application of the principles to the threats need to be better tailored to meet the demands of today’s society and needs. In other words, the federal government needs to continue to build upon the foundation of disaster relief and prepare for a more significant role in the response to a cataclysmic event. Federal Government responded to 9/11 by the almost immediate creation of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorist (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, which authorized â€Å"sneak and peak† searches of homes and businesses – the act applied mostly to drug cases rather than terrorists, but the government also made other changes to some of theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Presidential Leadership During Times Of Crisis And Disaster1645 Words   |  7 Pagesthat disaster is depended on the president’s leadership capabilities. 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina were catalysts for the analysis of presidential leadership and management within the Bush Administration. 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Commercialising from the bottom up Onions in central Tanzania Free Essays

Key points: †¢ With minimal assistance and direction, small farmers in central Tanzania have created thriving plots of irrigated onions, marketed in Dar, other parts of Tanzania and in the region. †¢ Lack of formal credit has not prevented many farmers fertilising their crops heavily. Two villages have been able to overcome poor road access. We will write a custom essay sample on Commercialising from the bottom up: Onions in central Tanzania or any similar topic only for you Order Now †¢ Informal marketing work well enough: traders make small margins on the onions they buy and sell. †¢ Farmers are reluctant to co-operate in production or marketing; yet the irrigation depends on local water associations and these function. Government and donor roles have largely been keeping the peace, a stable macro-economy and investing in physical infrastructure — the roads, and upgrading the irrigation intakes. Provision of schools and health posts have brought services to the villages. and outcomes. Surveys of 240 households have been complemented by interviews with groups of farmers, elders and key informants. The study Since 2009, researchers from Sokoine University of Agriculture have been studying four villages in central Tanzania — see Map, where onions are grown under irrigation for sale to domestic and regional markets. Two of the villages, Ruaha and Malolo, are located close to the main Dar-Iringa highway, while the other two, Lumuma and Moswero, have much poorer access down long and difficult dirt roads. The studies are designed to understand and explain the role of commercialisation in the villages, the processes involved FAC Research Update 004 www. future-agricultures. org Research Update Box A: How things began: village history Irrigation began at Ruaha-Mbuyuni when Mohamed Nganyali, a fisherman from Iringa, moved to the village. He showed others how to use traditional intakes to raise water level in the river so that it can flow into earth canals. During that time the rainfall was enough for a typical rainfed cropping of field crops such as maize, simsim and sorghum. This intake was upgraded by government in 1963, after which people started to grow onions with seeds from neighbouring villages. As word spread, the village saw incomers seeking irrigated plots. The valley of Malolo was settled by Wasagara, later joined by Wahehe who fled the German war against chief Mkwawa in Iringa in the late C19; attracted by the water. In-migration accelerated after 1961. The irrigation intakes were upgraded in 2002, with 24 km of main canals lined: funds for the work came from Japanese aid. The first settler in Lumuma was Byalumuma who gave his name to the place and its river. Subsequently settlers have come from all over Tanzania In 1975 onion farming was boosted by extension services demonstrating improved techniques. The irrigation intakes were upgraded in 2003, thanks to Danish funding through the Agricultural Sector Development Programme. A recent memorable date is September 2008, when the first mobile phone signals arrived after installation of a local mast. Msowero was first settled by two Wakaguru and two Wasagara families who came for the chance to irrigate. The numbers rose sharply after ujamaa villagisation in 1975 which saw a school built. Its irrigation was upgraded as part of the works for Lumuma in 2003, since they draw on the same stream. Sources: Interviews with elders and other key informants What can be seen in the villages? Commercial production of onions began when farmers, shown how to do it by an ncomer in the 1960s, diverted water from the streams that flow off surrounding hills to irrigate small plots on the flood plain. Box A tells more of the history of the villages. Later farmers soon realised that onions were a profitable crop on the irrigated land and began to specialise in their cultivation. Onions are sold to traders, mainly small-scale operators who lack their own transport, who buy and bag the onions, then hire trucks to take them to Dar and Mbeya, and sometimes beyond to Zanizibar, the Comoros, and south to Malawi and Zambia. Onions are sold on spot deals to whoever arrives and offers a good price. There are plenty of traders and although farmers complain of their lack of bargaining power, the marketing chains appears competitive. Some farmers are making use of the ubiquitous mobile phones to arrange times for traders to come and collect harvests, and to check prices in distant markets. The villages have few alternatives to farming, but the onion trade has given them a living that they could not aspire to from growing food crops — see Figure A, showing returns to crops. Figure A: Returns to land and labour in the four villages, median values in US$ One surprising finding is that many of the farmers who are most engaged in irrigated onions have few or no food crops. Instead they seem to be obtaining most of their maize and other staples from neighbours who grow a surplus on rainfed fields. Surveys in rural Africa usually find farmers preferring to grow their own staples on part of their land, even when they have more profitable cash crops. Research Update 003 www. future-agricultures. org What has made the difference? Most of what has happened has come from the initiative of local farmers, linked to traders who are mainly small operators from other rural areas. It was the farmers who built rustic offtakes, diverted the water, levelled the plots and learned how to grow onions. Almost all the capital invested is local: very few farmers obtain credit, yet they apply 135–175 kg/ha of manufactured fertiliser on their plots. Almost all of them finance this from their retained earnings. At first sight, government has played a minor role. But that would be unfair. Government has ensured a stable economy where farmers can invest, innovate and market their crops. It has also built roads, maintained them. The villages have schools and health posts. When disasters have struck in the past — major droughts and floods, government has provided some relief. In one case, onion producers benefited from extension. Most interesting of all, government guided two donors, Denmark and Japan, to the villages where they funded the modernisation of the intakes. Ideal aid: the donors just helped the farmers improve on what they were already doing, without trying to tell them what to do. The irrigation systems are maintained by the farmers, through water users associations. Marketing might be improved by farmers investing in storage allowing them to extend sales to the months when onion prices rise. Use of text messages to the mobile phones could supply them with regular price updates that would help them make better decisions on selling. There are threats. Population has been rising steadily in the area, as farmers from dryland areas come looking for irrigated plots. Rents correspondingly are rising. With a heavy concentration on onions, there is always the threat of disease or a new pest that could spell disaster. Moreover, the onions are so profitable, one wonders how long before more villages take up the crop and begin to compete in the market. For the two remote villages, there is the prospect that one day the road will be improved: at the moment they are less than 40 km from district headquarters at Kilosa, but cannot drive there directly and instead have to take a circuitous route where it takes five hours to reach the Dar to Dodoma tarmac highway. The road to Kilosa has been in development plans for some years, but it has yet to be built. What are we going to look at next? Current studies are looking at the water associations. These function well enough: they have to, water supply is vital. Yet farmers do not co-operate in production, marketing or almost anything else. The question then is, when people are reluctant to co-operate, how do the water bodies work and what is the secret of their success? Next year it is intended to go back and resurvey the farmers, so that changes can be tracked through time. What might the future hold? Some scope exists to improve onion cultivation through use of certified, improved varieties instead of relying on the sometimes variable quality of local seed. Research Update 003 www. future-agricultures. org This Research Update was written by Khamaldin Mutabazi, Ntengua Mdoe Steve Wiggins of the Future Agricultures Consortium. The series editor is Beatrice Ouma. Further information about this series of Research Updates at: www. future-agricultures. org The Future Agricultures Consortium aims to encourage critical debate and policy dialogue on the future of agriculture in Africa. The Consortium is a partnership between research-based organisations across Africa and in the UK. Future Agricultures Consortium Secretariat at the University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE UK T +44 (0) 1273 915670 E info@future-agricultures. org Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce material from Future Agricultures Briefings in their own publications. In return, the Future Agricultures Consortium requests due acknowledgement and a copy of the publication. FAC appreciates the support of the UK Department for International Development (DfID) How to cite Commercialising from the bottom up: Onions in central Tanzania, Papers

A very cheeky lesson learned free essay sample

Lily Allen is growing up. She’s traded in her neon trainers for designer pumps and drunken stumble for a more mature, almost elegant glide, and sure, she still Twitters like a fiend and picks fights with even the most established of celebrities, but now with a slightly wiser and more placid affectation. Where 2007’s Alright, Still was a cheeky (platinum in UK), in-your-face pop gem, Allen’s latest It’s Not me, It’s You is an equally cheeky, in-your-face pop gem in a slightly less smug tune and with even a few morals stuffed between acidic bouts of verbal abuse. That’s not to say it’s an after-school special, Allen is still very much a boisterous twenty-something with a rampaging attitude and this shows on blatantly boorish songs â€Å"Not Fair† and â€Å"Never Gonna Happen†, both of which reject prospective lovers with a less than tactful approach. But she throws anti-prejudiced ideas into songs and makes quips at her own growing celebrity status â€Å"I’ll take off my clothes and it will be shameless, ‘cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous† on â€Å"The Fear†. We will write a custom essay sample on A very cheeky lesson learned or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She chides the media, condemns her and the world’s nasty habits, and contemplates death in the name of religion, but never once forgets her audience, balancing ethics with rude banter and synth-heavy pop hooks. Allen also gets personal, reconciling with her mom over Chinese takeout on â€Å"Chinese† and revealing an equally strained and loving relationship with her dad on â€Å"He Wasn’t There†. Allen abandons her dance-rock sound of Alright, Still for an eclectic mix of synth-led tunes, but none of the hooks quite stick. The electro-western kitsch of â€Å"Not Fair† seems out of place for a pop-star whose persona is based entirely on witty British-ness. Other times, good attempts are misplaced, like the Eastern-European accordion ditty meets summery breakup song, â€Å"Never Gonna Happen†, which is a bit too disjointed. Most songs have just enough dance-beat bass to get stuck in one’s head, even without being completely welcome there. Even when Allen’s uncouth jesting gets a bit too crude for a traditional palate and her tunes almost miss the mark, she cannot be denied her rightful place as reigning pop princess. Her self-created image and hand-penned songs are a genre in themselves, a genre swarming with poor Allen facsimiles, like faux-lesbian Katy Perry. They have the look, but not many tongues are planted firmly enough in cheek to compete with Ms. Lily Allen, pop-star extraordinaire.