Touching Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride -- Wedding Toasts

Touching Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride Ladies and Gentlemen, all of my guests, I cannot tell you how pleased I am today to see my daughter Anna looking so radiantly happy, as she begins her life with Steven. My wife and I do feel that we are losing Anna, but entrusting her to Steven?s good care. During the past few months as we have got to know him better, he has shown himself to be exactly the sort of person we had hoped Anna would marry ? charming, sincere, and reliable ? with a clear idea of what he wants from life and how to achieve it. At this time, I would like to take this opportunity to formally and wholeheartedly welcome Steven into our family. I am happy that you will be part of our family and I look forward to sharing more time with you in the coming year... Touching Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride -- Wedding Toasts Touching Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride Ladies and Gentlemen, all of my guests, I cannot tell you how pleased I am today to see my daughter Anna looking so radiantly happy, as she begins her life with Steven. My wife and I do feel that we are losing Anna, but entrusting her to Steven?s good care. During the past few months as we have got to know him better, he has shown himself to be exactly the sort of person we had hoped Anna would marry ? charming, sincere, and reliable ? with a clear idea of what he wants from life and how to achieve it. At this time, I would like to take this opportunity to formally and wholeheartedly welcome Steven into our family. I am happy that you will be part of our family and I look forward to sharing more time with you in the coming year...

Incarceration of African American Males Essay

Introduction The trend of African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 has seen a dramatic increase of incarceration. Attention has been focusing on areas of housing, education, and healthcare but the most prominent problem for African American males is the increase in the incarceration rate. African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 incarceration rate has been thought, by many, to be caused by economic factors such as under employment or unemployment, poor housing, lack of education, and lack of healthcare. Yet, others believe it is due to the imbalance of minorities within the criminal justice system, such as judges, lawyers, and lawmakers. This paper will explore two different outlooks; society has come up with so far, as to why African American Males between the ages of 25 and 29 are increasingly incarcerated. Finally, the information will give awareness to the problems that is faced by African American Males between the ages of 25 and 29. Prevalence – Problem 1 More than 40% of all American prisoners, men and women, are African American men, yet they make up just 13% of the U. S. male population (Roberts, 2004). This statistic does not include those African American men who are in local jails nor does it include those African American men under custodial supervision (Table 2). They enter the state and federal prison system, at the prime of their economic and reproductive lives and yet they exit prison behind both economically and socially. The high rate of incarceration among African Americans has been noted by the interconnection of poor economy, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, absence of a strong black male role model, lack of access to education, or some type of combination of these factors. Statistics don’t even give African American males a good chance to stay out of jail. They have a one in four chance of being incarcerated, while Hispanic American males have a one in six chance, and white males only have a one in twenty three chance of incarceration. The color of African Americans sets them apart and makes them targetable. Prevalence – Problem 2 There is evidence, in our American Justice System, of structural inequality as seen in the percentages of minorities to the percentage of majorities employed in high ranking positions, within the system. The percentage of United States judges by race are 79% Caucasian, 12% African American, and 2% Hispanics American (Federal Judicial Center, 2012), as for the thousands of lawyers in the United States it is approximate of 3% are African American (National Law Group, 2010-2011), and about 1 in 4 police officers are members of a racial or ethnic minority in 2007 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013). An investigation into racial profiling showed that African American and Hispanic American offenders, who often are young unemployed males, are more likely than their white counterparts (Spohn, C., 2000). Their prison sentences are also typically longer or they receive differential benefits from guideline departures than do similarly situated white offenders (Spohn, C. , 2000). We must acknowledge the problems of racial disparity within the criminal justice system, communicate racial disparity within the criminal justice system with those we who are not informed of the problem, and stay committed to changing racial disparity within our justice system for change to begin. Causes In researching the high rate of incarceration in America it is more likely than not that the increase in African American Males being incarcerated is due to the War on Drugs (Table 1). It is public knowledge that drug crime ranks high among the effects of poverty. These poor neighborhoods not only endure crime they have poor schools, poor food, cramped living areas, and shortage of jobs if any jobs at all. Drugs and drug crime has become regularity in low income communities, arrests of Hispanics made up 55% of cocaine powder offences and 52% of marijuana offenses and 49% involving opiates: African Americans were suspected in 75% of crack cocaine cases; White males were suspected in 41% all methamphetamine cases (Motivans, M. , 2011). Decades of failed public and private remedies for chronic disparities and disadvantages in communities of color invite us to reexamine systems and institutions that provide and restrict opportunity in new ways (Lawrence, K. , 2011). The causes seem to be intertwined being poor equals, equals a poor education, equals lack of employment, and ultimately equals an increased rate of crime. Consequences The causes seem to be intertwined being poor, equals lack of education, which equals lack of employment, which equals increased rate of crime which equals impossibility to join criminal justice system. Also, many of these men are incarcerated while all the other non-incarcerated American young men are finishing school, starting careers, earning seniority at work, marrying and having children thus gaining capital. Even when released from prison, these men return back to their communities with a felony record that will pose extreme problems for them. The incarceration leads the released convict into a lower social class even if they were considered lower class Americans prior to their incarceration; they now are lower in social class standing in most instances. This leads to a poor African American community, perhaps as many as 50% of the male population will have been in prison. These incarcerated African American Males, who are in their prime of life, also are leaving half the families in this community facing such things as poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, substance abuse, violence, absence of a strong black male role model, lack of access to education, or some type of combination of these factors. The community ultimately will become poverty stricken, struggling to survive, and ultimately vulnerable to the situation repeating. Solutions – How can this be changed? There are four key aspects to addressing racial disparity, in my opinion: 1. Acknowledge 2. Communication 3. Setback = Strength 4. Commitment Not only is the problem of racial disparity under recognized by society it is not being communicated effectively to make change. Majority groups needs to acknowledge racial disparity and minority groups need to communicate their knowledge regarding racial disparity. As each group majority and minority begins to become share their information with each other and work together for a common solution acknowledging there will be setbacks but with continued commitment systemic change will happen. Conclusion By refusing to tolerate disparate treatment of people of color or anyone within the criminal justice system we empower ourselves and our country. It is time that everyone including our legislators, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges work collectively and courageously to eradicate this negative stigma. Despite, America being known for its equal rights we are living proof that in this era inequality is a factor that cannot be taken lightly. The statistics that are surrounding African American males is astounding. We need to empower African American males with the knowledge that they have a one in four chance of becoming incarcerated. It is also important to know that Hispanic males have a one in six chance, and white males have a one in twenty three chance of incarceration. All of these statistics need to be addressed to empower each and every one us. Throughout history we have not seen a change in majority groups (White, Male) and minority groups (Women, anyone that is not White) although we have seen numbers of minorities increasing at a fast pace. Today, however, the election of Barack Obama, not once but twice, may set the new ideal of what an American actually is. As we embrace different cultures and their ethnic backgrounds society will prosper. As society increases their knowledge, in regards to each person’s differences, they will acquire greater strength and prosperity. The only issue, that can occur, will be in the short term empowering others to embrace diversity. When we look beyond short-term, focus will shift to diverse empowerment through embracing the knowledge of our differences thus making us stronger as a society. TABLE 1: BLACK PROPORTION OF DRUG ARRESTS, EXCLUDING MARIJUANA POSSESSION YEAR BLACK % 1999 40. 1 2000 39. 3 2001 39. 1 2002 35. 8 2003 33. 8 2004 33. 1 2005 33. 2 Data calculated from drug arrest figures by race provided by the Uniform Crime Reports division of the FBI TABLE 2: FBI CRIME REPORT Arrests By Race, 2006 [11,249 agencies; 2006 estimated population 216,685,152] Total White Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian or Pacific islander Total White Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian or Pacific Islander TOTAL 10,437,620. 7270214 2924724 130589 112093 100. 0 69. 7 28 1. 3 1. 1 Drug abuse violations 1376192 875101 483886 8198 9607 1000 63. 6 35. 1 0. 6 0. 7 DUI’S 1034651 914226 95260 13484 11681 100 88. 4 9. 2 1. 3 1. 1 Liquor laws 466323 398068 50035 12831 5389 100 85. 4 10. 7 2. 8 1. 2 Drunken-ness 408439 344155 54113 7884 2287 100 84. 3 13. 2 1. 9 0. 6 Dis-orderly conduct 5117264 325991 179733 7606 3934 100 63. 0 34. 7 1. 5 0. 8 (The FBI: Uniform Crime Report, 2010) References Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013, http://bjs. ojp. usdoj. gov/index. cfm? ty=tp&tid=71 The FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2010, Table 43, http://www. fbi. gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u. s/2010/crime-in-the-u. s. -2010/tables/table-43 Federal Judicial Center, 2012, Overview of the United States Court System, http://www. fjc. gov/public/pdf. nsf/lookup/FJC_Standard_PPT_English_June_2012. pdf/$file/FJC_Standard_PPT_English_June_2012. pdf Lawrence, K. , 2011, Race, Crime, and Punishment: Breaking the Connection in America. http://www. aspeninstitute. org/sites/default/files/content/docs/pubs/Race-Crime-Punishment.pdf Motivans, Mark, 2011, Washington, DC: US Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, http://bjs. ojp. usdoj. gov/content/pub/pdf/fjs09. pdf National Law Group 2010-2011, http://blacklawyers. net/ Roberts, D. , 2004, Measuring the Social and Moral Cost of Mass Incarceration, in African American Communities, http://www. law. fsu. edu/faculty/2003-2004workshops/roberts. pdf Spohn,C. ,2000, Thirty Years of Sentencing Reform: The Quest for a Racially Neutral Sentencing Process, http://www. justicestudies. com/pubs/livelink3-1. pdf.

Employment Law Brief

Employment Law Brief The Clapton Commercial Construction Company located in Detroit, Michigan, is planning to expand its business into the state of Arizona. It is a medium-sized company with 650 employees and possibly increasing an additional 20% in the new state. Prior to the move, the human resources (HR) department must be aware of applicable employment laws that may affect the business.Outlined below are brief summaries and consequences for noncompliance of the following employment laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), he American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (FLSA). Relevant Employment Laws Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the first employment law to consider. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in aspects of employment such as hiring, wages, assignment, promotions, benefits, and discipline. Titl e VII is the most important federal Equal Employment Opportunity law because it contains the broadest coverage, prohibitions, and remedies† (Cascio, 2013, p. 83). Under the law, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) exists o implement laws dealing with employment discrimination. According to Cascio (2013), the law was expanded in 1972 to cover almost all public and private employers with 1 5 or more employees; except private clubs, religious organizations, and Indian reservations. The EEOC has the authority to conduct investigations, create resolution programs, and file lawsuits.Failure to comply with Title VII exposes the employer to both civil and criminal lawsuits with possible outcomes of fines, compensatory and punitive damages, or even imprisonment. The company may also have to reinstate or promote the affected employee. In 1991, the Act amended several statues enforced by the EEOC. Parties were able to obtain Jury trials and recover compensatory and punitiv e damages with cases involving intentional discrimination. The Act also placed monetary caps for future cases based on size of the company.Another provision was enforcement of those American controlled companies abroad. The next employment law to consider is the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This law applies to employers regardless of size and every employee regardless of status: full-time, part time, or seasonal. The IRCA prohibits employers rom hiring or continuing to employ personnel which are not legally authorized to work in the United States. The Clapton Commercial Construction Company is expanding business to Arizona with the intent of increasing the number of employees by 20%.The company must consider the demographics of that area with regard to potential employees and take measures to ensure an employee has documents to work legally in the United States, such as a passport or resident alien card. Other examples are located on the Employment Eligibility Verific ation 1-9 form that potential employees are required to complete. Penalties for noncompliance may esult in fines for each violation and denial of federal contracts. According to the Department of Homeland Security (2013), in fiscal year 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed more than 392,000 illegal workers nationwide.The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is another law to consider. â€Å"Almost 13% of people ages 21 to 64 in the United States have at least one disability, a percentage that more than doubles to 30. 2% for people ages 65 to 74† (Cascio, 2013, p. 89). The ADA prohibits an employer from discriminating against a qualified person with a disability. A qualified person is someone who can perform the essential unctions of a Job with or without accommodation. The physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities is called a disability, such as seeing, walking, hearing, or talking.The ADA expanded protection of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and those individuals who have tested positive for HIWAIDS. The ADA applies to private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions. The Clapton Commercial Construction Company is not required to lower work standards or tolerate misconduct on the Job; however, reasonable accommodations must be made to assist ualified Job applicants. For example, the company can purchase a computer screen magnifying glass for the vision impaired. The EEOC enforces the provisions outlined in the ADA.

Free Essays on Everyman And Todays Morality

In the medieval morality play Everyman, the underlying theme is â€Å"all thing faileth, Save God alone.†(231, l. 841) This theme was meant to be a spiritual lesson to teach people a better way to live their lives. At the time the play was written, it applied very strongly, as clinging to other worldly goods and relationships was a trend of the time. However, things have really not changed much in our current society. The lessons learned in Everyman apply as strongly today as they did during medieval times. One common theme culture teaches us to cling to today is beauty. From the time we are born, we are presented with images of others (especially women) who are admired for nothing more than their looks. Examples of people like this would include models, many actresses, and singers. In many of these cases we are taught that their beauty is something we should strive for, forgetting all else along the way. What is often overlooked is the beauty cannot last forever - even if it does not disappear until death, it is not something we can keep with us forever. This is demonstrated in the play when the character Everyman calls upon Beauty, who comes with him to his grave. As he asks her to come with him, she answers â€Å"I cross out all this; adieu, by Saint John! I take my cap in my lap, and am gone.†(230, ll. 800-801) At this point, she abandons Everyman. Culture today also teaches us to rely heavily on material goods. In an age where technology is growing quickly, society has many new â€Å"toys† and trinkets being thrown at it constantly. Be it a new model car, a cellular phone or faster Internet access, it is being advertised as something every person absolutely must have. Of course, in order to buy all these things, there is yet another â€Å"must have† which is constantly stressed as being important - money. Money, today, is looked at as being the ultimate cure for any problems life may bring. This is not a new idea. After being ... Free Essays on Everyman And Today's Morality Free Essays on Everyman And Today's Morality In the medieval morality play Everyman, the underlying theme is â€Å"all thing faileth, Save God alone.†(231, l. 841) This theme was meant to be a spiritual lesson to teach people a better way to live their lives. At the time the play was written, it applied very strongly, as clinging to other worldly goods and relationships was a trend of the time. However, things have really not changed much in our current society. The lessons learned in Everyman apply as strongly today as they did during medieval times. One common theme culture teaches us to cling to today is beauty. From the time we are born, we are presented with images of others (especially women) who are admired for nothing more than their looks. Examples of people like this would include models, many actresses, and singers. In many of these cases we are taught that their beauty is something we should strive for, forgetting all else along the way. What is often overlooked is the beauty cannot last forever - even if it does not disappear until death, it is not something we can keep with us forever. This is demonstrated in the play when the character Everyman calls upon Beauty, who comes with him to his grave. As he asks her to come with him, she answers â€Å"I cross out all this; adieu, by Saint John! I take my cap in my lap, and am gone.†(230, ll. 800-801) At this point, she abandons Everyman. Culture today also teaches us to rely heavily on material goods. In an age where technology is growing quickly, society has many new â€Å"toys† and trinkets being thrown at it constantly. Be it a new model car, a cellular phone or faster Internet access, it is being advertised as something every person absolutely must have. Of course, in order to buy all these things, there is yet another â€Å"must have† which is constantly stressed as being important - money. Money, today, is looked at as being the ultimate cure for any problems life may bring. This is not a new idea. After being ...

Free Essays on Lessons Learned From Russia’s Battles With Ethnic Militants Chechnya To The Moscow Theater Incident

Lessons Learned from Russia’s Battles with Ethnic Militants Chechnya to the Moscow Theater Incident The Russian Empire began the effort to impose state power over Muslim enclaves in 1722, following its first military encounter with Chechen fighters. The Chechens engaged and chased out a cavalry force sent by Peter the Great. Two centuries later the Soviet Union continued the process, with elaborate plans to depopulate large areas being discussed at the highest levels of government; Evangelista writes, â€Å"The proposal to abolish the Cheno-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) and expel its population was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo on February 11, 1943.†1 Russian Tsars, dictators, and presidents did their best to distract, dilute, and destroy hegemonic Islam. With all its evil designs on global conquest, the USSR actually did something positive – it forestalled militant Islam. Through its intelligence agencies, Soviet Russian leadership was acutely aware of the growing problem with jihadi radicalism. The Soviets endured international criticism for clearing large areas of Muslims; but ethnic pogroms were really nothing new. As Matthew Evangelista wrote in The Chechen Wars, Will Russia Go the Way of the Soviet Union?, â€Å"The Russian government during the tsarist era carried out three major deportations, setting the precedent for Stalin’s genocidal actions against the Chechen people in the 1940s.†2 Russia’s spy agency, the KGB, informed Joseph Stalin that Islamic militants presented a looming problem. The policy of enforced atheism had evidently bounced off Muslims, who continued to practice the tenets of Islam in secret. Knowing that oppressed religious practice is the fertile soil of revolution, Stalin ordered entire Muslim areas depopulated, with the former inhabitants moved by train and then widely dispersed. Stalin took advantage of every excuse to round up and deport Muslims. In Chechnya,... Free Essays on Lessons Learned From Russia’s Battles With Ethnic Militants Chechnya To The Moscow Theater Incident Free Essays on Lessons Learned From Russia’s Battles With Ethnic Militants Chechnya To The Moscow Theater Incident Lessons Learned from Russia’s Battles with Ethnic Militants Chechnya to the Moscow Theater Incident The Russian Empire began the effort to impose state power over Muslim enclaves in 1722, following its first military encounter with Chechen fighters. The Chechens engaged and chased out a cavalry force sent by Peter the Great. Two centuries later the Soviet Union continued the process, with elaborate plans to depopulate large areas being discussed at the highest levels of government; Evangelista writes, â€Å"The proposal to abolish the Cheno-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) and expel its population was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo on February 11, 1943.†1 Russian Tsars, dictators, and presidents did their best to distract, dilute, and destroy hegemonic Islam. With all its evil designs on global conquest, the USSR actually did something positive – it forestalled militant Islam. Through its intelligence agencies, Soviet Russian leadership was acutely aware of the growing problem with jihadi radicalism. The Soviets endured international criticism for clearing large areas of Muslims; but ethnic pogroms were really nothing new. As Matthew Evangelista wrote in The Chechen Wars, Will Russia Go the Way of the Soviet Union?, â€Å"The Russian government during the tsarist era carried out three major deportations, setting the precedent for Stalin’s genocidal actions against the Chechen people in the 1940s.†2 Russia’s spy agency, the KGB, informed Joseph Stalin that Islamic militants presented a looming problem. The policy of enforced atheism had evidently bounced off Muslims, who continued to practice the tenets of Islam in secret. Knowing that oppressed religious practice is the fertile soil of revolution, Stalin ordered entire Muslim areas depopulated, with the former inhabitants moved by train and then widely dispersed. Stalin took advantage of every excuse to round up and deport Muslims. In Chechnya,...

PESTEL analysis of the automotive industry in United Kingdom Essay

PESTEL analysis of the automotive industry in United Kingdom - Essay Example It elaborates the macroeconomic factors that are used to scan the environment before taking any strategic decision in an organisation (Mercer, 2008). PESTEL stands for: P- Political; E- Economic; S- Social; T- Technological; E-Environmental; L- Legal. The few constituents of PESTEL of the automotive industry are as follows: The firms should be aware of the political factors like the trading policies, governmental changes in rules and regulations of the production of cars which includes safety standards and fuel emissions. Economic factors influencing business includes taxation policies, economies and trends, trade cycles and exchange rate and interest rate changes (Thompson, 2001). Cars are the polluting agents which pollute the environment to such an extent that it can be dangerous to the society and large emission of harmful gases can even lead to diseases. Cars manufactures are introducing Alternative Energy Vehicles that use only electricity and has rechargeable battery (Booz, 20 08). The challenges that are faced by the automotive industry are that it is very expensive and this will be the solution for lowering pollutants. Environmental pollutants have been the basic challenge for this industry which is threatening the automotive industry worldwide and thus they should pay attention to the alternative energy vehicle (Ferrel, 2012). The firm should always comply with all rules and regulations that are levied on car manufacturing , such as safety and standard issues, gas emission laws, vehicles regulations, etc (Mercer, 2008). 2. Trend forecast for 2016 Fords Motor Company, an automobile giant has it’s headquarter in United States. It has expanded its market in many countries like Japan, India etc. Ford has been suffering from many hurdles which are affecting the business. The challenges are coming from the macroeconomic environment and it has threatened their existence. PESTEL analysis has been done to identify the factors that are affecting the exist ence of the automotive company (Craik, 2013). The following are the challenges that are faced by Ford and their future planning till 2016 so that they can overcome the challenges: 1) The rising price of oil has made customers less automotive friendly (Ferrel, 2012). Ford has been doing technological adjustment which is helping them build a modern standard in the present outline. By 2016 it will reach its destination by creating such technologies which can even give the solution for using expensive oils. In many countries, the financer of the organisation has been playing a crucial role in the development and the progress of the organisation (Ferrel, 2012). 2) Accelerating growth in the developing countries is very difficult and thus attaining customers is near to impossible. But Ford has targeted a potential market to penetrate with its motors and thus give them a changed phase by the year 2016. 3) The sale of Ford was also affected by the types of motors that are being used by the people. But when the income of the mass is elevated to that position that they can pay attention to own a luxury car the sale of Ford has increased (Burrow, 2011). For the future development Ford concentrate on developing low priced cars so that it can be afforded by the mass (Sturgeon and Biesebroeck, 2010). 4) Consumer preferences changes from time to time (Miller, 2012). Their taste and likings are not stagnant for all time. They try to experience new brands and that affects the sales of the

Financial Statement Analysis. Financial Statements reformulation and Essay

Financial Statement Analysis. Financial Statements reformulation and equity valuation - Essay Example 1). The Corporate Reporting Users’ Forum is right with all their comments. In terms of accounting valuation models, a better picture would be presented if the United Kingdom companies listed in the stock exchanges would prepare financial performance reports classified under the areas of operating, financing and investing activities. The operating activities would pertain to the daily production of sales as well as services offered to their clients. Financing activities refers to those that are infused into the business by creditors and stockholders. Investing activities refers to the sale and purchase of property, plant and equipment accounts (Watkins 1998, p.51). One of the important tools in the hands of professional accountants for ascertaining changes in funds at the disposal of the company, during the course of every accounting year is the Cash Flow Statement. A cash flow statement is mainly categorized in to three heads like, cash flow from operating activities, cash flow from investing activities and cash flow from financing activities. Cash flow from operating activities is mainly dealing with the deduction of major operating expenditure from the revenues attained. Cash flow from financing activities dealing with major receipts and payments, and cash flow from investing activities alludes to the acquisition and disposal of assets or properties. Further, the CRUF group is right in affirming that financial statements should have coherent and cogent classifications that include the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows. The new accounting standards recommended by the IASB and FASB group led by Sir David Tweedie and Bob Herz respectively would definitely resolve perennial problems using the traditional financial reporting standards. The current reporting standards focus on the net income as the benchmark for every business endeavor. The new standards are better because the new