Colonel (Col) Michael Steele’s Toxic Principles - 934 Words

Colonel (Col) Michael Steele’s resolute beliefs regarding how to prepare his unit for combat and his bravado demeanor commanded respect from other bemused military officers. While serving as Commanding Officer (CO), 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Col Steele aggressively cultivated a command climate focused on three core principles: personal protection, precision, and lethality. Although these three core principles narrowly aligned with the Armys Soldiers Creed, Col Steele’s principles did not reinforce the Army’s individual and organizational core values. 3rd Brigade’s disassociated ethical subculture fostered a toxic environment which compromised both subordinate commanders and individual soldiers moral standards to various extents. Col Steele’s vague guidance concerning proper ethical behavior during the execution of high stress Counter-Insurgency (COIN) missions resulted in subordinates failing to conduct kinetic operations in accordan ce with established Army ethical standards. The military establishment shall remember May 09, 2006 as the day the revered Rakkasans failed to personify the units motto of Ne Desit Virtus, meaning Let Valor Not Fail. For on this day, four soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, known to the â€Å"Rakkasans† as the Kill Company, murdered eight unarmed Iraqi citizens during Operation Iron Triangle. These four soldiers failed to understand the nature and consequences of their iniquities as they could no longer distinguish

The Last Day Of Elizabeth - 1379 Words

The next day Elizabeth received an invitation to Duke of Stratford’s Ball. No doubt Blair had secured it for her – she’d never run in his set before. She appreciated Blair’s efforts but wondered how on earth she’d manage a new gown suitable for such an occasion. The Duke’s spring ball was considered the event of the season. The Regent might even put in an appearance. London’s finest would be out in their most impressive jewels and costly gowns. This was not a playing field Elizabeth was prepared for. She went to her room to survey her paltry evening gowns and dwindling jewellery case. What she found further underscored her plight. â€Å"Marie, what am I to do? The only gown remotely sufficient is two seasons old and at least a size too†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Can you believe it Madame? The boy said it was a gift from a friendly admirer!† Fear and trepidation were all Elizabeth felt. She had no admirers and any who might send such a gift had only thing they wanted in payment and she was no merry widow. â€Å"Marie, let me see the card so I know where to send it back†. â€Å"No Madame! You can’t! You’ve nothing to wear to the ball†. â€Å"Then I’ll have to stay home and risk Blair’s wrath. Give me the card Marie†. Marie half-heartedly handed it over her face a mask of disappointment. A mistress with neither youth nor funds was not worthy of her talents. The note read â€Å"Once in while a woman should have exactly what she wants exactly when she needs it, B†. Tears formed in Elizabeth’s eyes. The gratitude and appreciat ion of her friend’s perceptive kindness overwhelmed her. â€Å"It’s from Blair. She would brook no refusal and daren’t try to return it. Let’s withdraw to my bedroom and see how it looks. I do hope it fits!† It was too much. She was trembling with each parcel she opened. Marie was beside herself. One treasure was more glorious than the next. Blair had managed to even include some scandalous silk drawers and stockings with a note saying enclosed saying â€Å"Never under estimate the effect of silk on a woman’s body†. There wasn’t one item forgotten in her ensemble right down to a beautiful pale, pink French fan with a silver handle. Now Elizabeth had no excuse to offer nor did she want to.

The Matter Of Gun Control - 1816 Words

The matter of gun control has become an increasingly controversial issue. Whenever, a nationalized tragedy ensues that involves gun violence, the question on what to accomplish regarding America’s gun control takes center stage. While exploring this topic, this essay will attempt to discuss the circumstances that prohibit a person from possessing firearms, also regulations to prevent these persons from possessing firearms. Upon reflecting on the personal side of the gun control debate, stricter gun control begins to infringe upon our rights, as citizens and they should concentrate on enforcing the current laws in the books, instead of making additional laws. Furthermore, gun control indisputably is a concern that subjectively has effected†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, Federal Firearms Act of 1938 brought about congress directing a law involving the selling and shipping of firearms within interstate or foreign retail networks. Nonetheless, after the assassination of President Kennedy the 1968 Gun Control Act was enacted, which tightens legislation on the sales of mail order guns. Moreover, beginning in 1972 was the establishment of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Facilitating restrictions on gun sellers and the selling of some guns, was the 1986 Firearms Owners Protection Act. Eventually, establishing a policy for drug-free school zones was the 1990 Crime Control Act, which was inclusive on criminal penalization for possessing or discharging a firearm in a school zone. Next, implementing a five-day waiting period and background check, 1993 brought about the Brady Bill, which was modified in 1998 to sanction check s to be performed over the phone or electronically with the findings returned instantly in the majority of circumstances. Commonly discussed as the Assault Weapons Ban starting in 1994 was the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Consequently, Colorado voters recall pro-gun control state senators, Democrats John Morse and Angela Giron for their sponsorship of freshly enacted gun-control laws that require background checks on private gun sales and limit magazine clips of 15 rounds, what a reaction from the people tired of the establishment stepping on their

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin free essay sample

In The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin, the author uses his life events to scribe values and ways of life that every man should believe and follow. In part one, Franklin examines his adolescent years. During this time, he apprenticed underneath his older brother. This shows his desire to succeed, a popular quality of his time period. This part of The Autobiography describes his rags-to-riches story, a chronicle of one mans rise from painlessness to power (Moss and Wilson 26). HIS story supports the belief that people of that time period were clever and strong-willed.Franklin wrote part one In 1771, and It Is the cost personal out of the four parts. It talks about his motivations for writing an autobiography and his mistakes and accomplishments. For example, Franklin wrote part one to provide a model life for his son, William, and future generations. This portion creates an Image of a hard working, Independent young man for Franklin. We will write a custom essay sample on The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This image reinforces the period in which he lived, the Enlightenment period. During the eighteenth century, many men were similar to Franklin; therefore, they had a deep desire for success. Part one focuses mainly on Franklins character and its formation. Through his adolescence and growing Into a young adult, he matured greatly. He began his successful career and The Autobiography describes, briefly, his venture into founding the public library in Philadelphia. Overall, Franklins first part of his autobiography describes his young life and formation of character (Moss and Wilson 29). In 1784, Franklin wrote the second part of his autobiography. Part two discusses Franklins library work and home life briefly but mainly dives into his virtues and moral beliefs.Compared to many other people of his time period, Franklin had a DOD home life. This was mostly because he and his wife, Deborah Reed, loved one another. This was uncommon. At the time, marriage was not as focused on the love between two people as it is now. It was more of a contract. His relationship is briefly described in his autobiography. However, part two mainly focuses on his virtues, morals, and values. Franklin describes the Importance of each of his virtues Individually. He Includes a picture of a checklist he used to keep track of his progress to moral Perfection (Moss and Wilson 26).Most of his virtues trace back to he teachings of Socrates. They focus in on morals, religion, honor, and status (Santa- Maria). Even though his virtues focused on religion, Franklin was not very religious. Rather, he valued Puritan values, such as moderation, Industry, and humility. He believed that people should focus on doing good works. This is reflected in his autobiography (Moss and Wilson 23). Another one of his strong beliefs is that in order they may become poor (Santa-Maria). This is why he believed that poverty is completely the persons fault. These beliefs all trace back to the period ofEnlightenment and the Age of Reason. Franklin created a model of the bourgeois American self: someone who is born into poverty and obscurity but who manages through hard work and moral virtue to rise to a position of wealth (Pancreases). Many people looked up to him, and this is one of the reasons he wrote his autobiography. Part two specifically shows how Franklin was an enlightened man and dives into major detail about his morals and his path to moral perfection. Parts three and four are the business portions of The Autobiography. Part three, he longest of the four sections, began in 1788.This portion marks a gradual change in focus from personal anecdotes and advice on virtue to a comparatively dry rendering of his public activities and Philadelphia political concerns (Moss and Wilson 26). His change in topic, however, is not all boring. He describes his success in his everyday life. For example, Franklin discusses his Jobs and, more in depth, the part he played in the French and Indian War. He also briefly talks about his inventions and experiments with electricity. All of his involvements back up the belief f his being a man of the Enlightenment period. He strives to succeed and never settled for less. This is evident in part four of The Autobiography. Franklin discusses his travels to England, where he acts as a financial advisor (Moss and Wilson 26). Benjamin Franklins work The Autobiography uses his life experiences to show the model life and beliefs every man should live by. Franklin wrote his autobiography to give a model to live by for his son and future generations. Broken into four parts, The Autobiography describes specific life events of Franklins life. Part one breaks down is childhood and character.