Friday, January 24, 2020

Essay --

The International Workers of the World, or the IWW is a leftist federation of unions which made major contributions to the American labor movement in the early twentieth century after its June 1905 founding form the amalgamation of several smaller unions. It has been the subject of historical, inquiries, discussions, and debates; but despite considerable attention, the historical understanding of the unique and radical brand of politics exercised by IWW members, or ‘Wobblies’, remains fluid. Controversies persist from the earliest attempts by scholars to define and understand the IWW agenda and the place it had in the progress of the labor movement. Current historical inquiry fails to examine the early ideological formation of Wobbly thought and how these underpinning influences affected the growth and activities of the union. Modern scholarship relating to the IWW relies overwhelmingly on the aspects of the union as an institution, despite the decentralised nature of th e Wobblies and American labor as a whole, and this stems from the work of earlier historians. While looking more deeply into the aspects of the organisation and what they accomplished, the focus remains upon the institution. The individual members and their sociocultural experiences have been lost and repeatedly overlooked by the emphasis on the structure and effects of the IWW. Scholarship which attempts to analyze and understand the formative days of the IWW and their radical ideology has been largely stymied due to the lack of primary sources available from the Union at its height in the 1917, and before. This dearth of firsthand material was left by the widespread governmental crackdown on ‘subversive’ organisations that came with America's entry into the First... ...hers’ at the beginning of the twentieth century through immigration restrictions the deportation of radicals. Most interestingly, it is argued the government crushed the IWW because of public demand, â€Å"to calm [the public] by fighting crime in whatever form they might imagine it† (192-193.) Similarly, Paul Murphy’s 1979, World War I and the Origin of Civil Liberties in the United States, examined the repression of free speech and assembly during the war as birthing the judicial enforcement of these rights by their decisions. For example the dissenting opinion of Justice Brandeis in Gilbert v Minnesota over the similarly anti world war Non Partisan Leagues actions had become the majority opinion by Gitlow v New York after repeated abuses, particularly aimed at labor and the IWW convinced the Federal Courts that it was their obligation to protect minority groups. (268.)

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Living in Sin Essay

In Adrienne Rich’s poem, â€Å"Living in Sin† a woman is looking back on her relationship. The title tells me, although unconventional, in the 1950’s the couple was living together unmarried. The first line â€Å"She had thought the studio would keep itself,† describes how she expected her relationship to be. The woman clearly had an image, not a realistic one, of the perfect relationship. Many men and women fall into this trap (I certainly did with my own failed marriage). It is clear the woman is not happy and does not want to do the daily up keep of the home. She no longer loves the man and dreams of an escape from the life in which she is in. This poem is free verse with no rhythm or rhyme scheme. Its meter consists of most lines having ten syllables. The poem uses metaphors throughout to describe the relationship. The relationship was described through the words studio, furniture, and grime. The metaphors help in creating the tone for this poem which is one of sadness and despair. Adrienne Rich use of these metaphors and meter is another way to describe the relationship. In line two, â€Å"no dust upon the furniture of love†, truly sells the idea that she believed the relationship would not need any work to keep it happy. There is no dust to clean in the perfect fairy tale relationship. The poem enters the present with line three as the woman begins to describe problems with the noisy pipes and grime on the windows. Again the pipes and windows are metaphors for the condition of the relationship. The poem goes on to describe the inside of a home â€Å"A plate of pears, a piano with a Persian shawl† immediately leads into the image of a perfect home. No different than when anyone enters a home for the first time and the decor gives the impression of perfection. We have all been to people’s homes and the decor always gave an impression of the solidarity within the home. Of course no home is as perfect as the decor leads you to believe, no different here. The first mention of the man enters within the line â€Å"a cat stalking the picturesque amusing mouse had risen at his urging. † That cat rises to perhaps receive some affection from the man, this shows that the man is not ithout love or affection. The next few lines a milkman appears. A personification is used in describing the sound from the stairs â€Å"Writhe†. I’m sure many who have read this poem are thinking the woman is either having an affair or fanaticizing about an affair but I don’t feel that is the case. There is no other reference to suggest this. In fact, at the time the milkman arrives, the man is clearly home, it is 5 A. M. I be lieve the sound of the milkman arriving â€Å"under the milkman’s tramp† woke the woman and reminded her of the day ahead. The words â€Å"writhe and tramp† are descriptions of sounds being made while the milk is being delivered. The man is shown for his true likeness while playing the piano. The picture perfect image of the piano is out of tune, another metaphor reflecting their relationship. He† yawns† (representing boredom) while he plays the few notes clearly shows a man who only puts in minimal effort into the relationship. If the piano represents their relationship then the few notes represents his effort. â€Å"He shrugged at the mirror† tells us he did not care the relationship was out of tune and left. I also was wondering; how many times had he played the out of tune piano before? Had he expected it to be repaired this time around? That idea left me with the impression that the man, who was self-absorbed, was aware the relationship was out of tune but expected the woman to fix it. The man was declaring any problem with the relationship not his fault. The poem does a good job of contrasting the difference of how the man and woman feel about the relationship. â€Å"While she, jeered by the minor demons† the man just shrugs it off. He leaves and she starts working on her daily chores. The sharp contrast of dusty table top in reality and â€Å"no dust upon the furniture of love† in fantasy is clear contrast as well. The woman’s feelings are further supported by â€Å"and let the coffee pot boil over†. Her disdain for maintaining the home can be interpreted with letting the coffee pot boil over. Furthermore the words boil over also represent her feeling regarding the relationship. The spilt coffee also represents a never ending routine where she cleans up one mess and another appears. It is a life she is very unhappy with. The last lines of the poem reflect back to her being in the fantasy again, forgetting the daily routine. She is not nearly in love as before â€Å"not so wholly† as it appears each day takes more and more out of her. Her nights were also not peaceful as she woke dreading the routine of the very next day. Adrienne Rich’s poem shows the misery of a woman through the images created within the writing. The images of fantasy and reality are a sharp contrast. She tries to maintain the fantasy with the decor of the home when in reality she is not happy at all. She realizes that her relationship will not have a fairytale ending. The real sin is not living together unmarried but staying together in a loveless relationship. I can relate to this poem on a personal level. I believed my marriage was forever, certainly a fairytale thought. In reality we were not as happy as the images we created through our home. This poem struck me, as it is probably how my ex-wife felt for years while I ignored the signs. This poem portrays a sad reality in many women’s lives. While the man just expects the problem to fix itself.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Whats the Difference Between Probation and Parole

Probation and parole are privileges—rather than rights—that allow convicted criminals to avoid going to prison or serve only a portion of their sentences. Both are conditional on good behavior, and both have the goal of  rehabilitating offenders in a way that prepares them for life in society, thus reducing the likelihood that they will recommit or commit new crimes.   Key Takeaways: Probation and Parole Probation and parole allow Americans convicted of crimes to avoid serving time in prison.The goal of probation and parole is the rehabilitation of offenders in a way that will reduce the likelihood that they will recommit or commit new crimes.Probation is granted as part of the court’s sentencing process. It affords convicted offenders the opportunity to avoid serving all or part of their sentences in jail.Parole is granted after offenders have been incarcerated for some time, amounting to early release from prison. It is granted or denied by a prison parole board.Both probation and parole are granted conditionally and may be revoked for failure to comply with those conditions.The Fourth Amendment protection from unlawful searches and seizures by law enforcement officers does not extend to persons on probation or parole. However, there are important similarities and differences between these two often-confused features of the United States correctional system. Since the concept of convicted criminal offenders living in the community can be controversial, it is important to understand the functional differences between probation and parole. How Probation Works Probation is granted by the court as part of the convicted offender’s initial sentence. Probation may be granted in lieu of any jail time or after a short period of time in jail. Restrictions on the offender’s activities during his or her period of probation are specified by the judge as part of the  sentencing stage  of the trial. During the probationary period, offenders remain under the supervision of a state-administered probation agency.   Conditions of Probation Depending on the severity and circumstances of their crimes, offenders may be placed under active or inactive supervision during their probationary period. Offenders under active supervision are required to regularly report to their assigned probation agencies in person, by mail, or by telephone. Probationers on inactive status are excluded from regular reporting requirements. While free on probation, offenders—known as â€Å"probationers†Ã¢â‚¬â€ may be required fulfill certain conditions of their supervision, such as payments of fines, fees, or court costs, and participation in rehabilitation programs. Regardless of their supervisor status, all probationers are required to adhere to specific rules of conduct and behavior while in the community. Courts have great latitude in imposing condition of probation, which can vary from person to person and case to case. Typical conditions of probation include: Place of residence (for example, not near schools)Reporting to probation officersSatisfactory performance of court-approved community servicePsychological or substance abuse counselingPayment of finesPayment of restitution to crime victimsRestrictions on the use of drugs and alcoholProhibition of possession of firearms and other weaponsRestrictions on personal acquaintances and relationships In addition, probationers may be required to make periodic reports to the court showing that they had complied with all conditions of their probation during the reporting period. How Parole Works Parole allows convicted offenders to be conditionally released from prison to serve the remaining time of their sentence in the community. The granting of parole may be either discretionary—by the vote of a state-appointed prison parole board, or mandatory—according to provisions established by  federal sentencing guidelines. Unlike probation, parole is not an alternative sentence. Instead, parole is a privilege granted to some prisoners after they have served a percentage of their sentences. Like probationers, parolees are required to comply with terms and conditions while living in the community or face being returned to prison. Conditions of Parole Like probationers, offenders released on parole—called â€Å"parolees†Ã¢â‚¬â€are supervised by state-appointed parole officers and may be placed under either active or inactive supervision. As determined by the parole board, some common conditions of parole include: Reporting to a state-appointed supervisory parole officerMaintaining a job and a place of residenceNot leaving a specified geographic area without permissionAvoiding criminal activity and contact with victimsPassing random drug and alcohol testsAttending drug and alcohol counseling classesAvoiding contact with known criminals Parolees are typically required to meet periodically with an assigned parole officer. In addition, parole officers often make unannounced visits to parolees’ homes in order to determine whether or not they are complying with their conditions of parole. Eligibility for Parole Not all prison inmates are likely to be granted parole. For example, offenders who have been convicted of  violent crimes  like murder, kidnapping, rape, arson, or aggravated drug trafficking are far more rarely granted parole. A common misconception about parole is that it can be granted solely as a result of an inmate’s â€Å"good behavior† while incarcerated. While behavior is certainly a factor, parole boards consider many other factors, such as the inmate’s age, marital and parental status, mental condition, and criminal history. In addition, the parole board will factor in the severity and circumstances of the crime, the length of time served, and the inmate’s willingness to express remorse for committing the crime. Inmates who are unable to show the ability or willingness to establish a permanent residence and get a job after release are seldom granted parole, regardless of other factors.   During the parole hearing, the inmate will be questioned by the board members. In addition, members of the public are typically allowed to speak for or against the granting of parole. Relatives of crime victims, for example, often speak at parole hearings. Most importantly, parole will be granted only if the board is satisfied that the inmate’s release will pose no threat to public safety and that the inmate is willing to comply with his or her conditions of parole and is able to reenter the community. Probation, Parole, and the Fourth  Amendment The  Fourth Amendment  to the United States Constitution protects the people from unlawful searches and seizures by law enforcement officers does not extend to persons on probation or parole. Police can search the residences, vehicles, and property of probationers and parolees at any time without a search warrant. Any weapons, drugs, or other items found that violate the conditions of probation or parole may be seized and used as evidence against the probationer or parolee. Along with having their probation or parole revoked, offenders may face additional criminal charges for possessing illegal drugs, guns, or stolen merchandise. Probation and Parole Statistics Overview At the end of 2016, some 4.5 million people were on probation or parole—twice the number of people incarcerated in federal prisons and local jails, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). This means that 1 in 55 U.S. adults (nearly 2% of all adults) were on probation or parole in 2016, a population increase of 239% since 1980. While the purpose of probation and parole is to prevent offenders from returning to jail, BJS has reported that roughly 2.3 million people on probation or parole annually fail to successfully complete their supervision. Failure to complete supervision typically results from the commission of new crimes, rules violations, and â€Å"absconding,† leaving hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for a crime. Each year almost 350,000 of those individuals return to jail or prison, often because of rule violations rather than new crimes. Sources Kaeble, Danielle Bonczar, Thomas P.,  Ã¢â‚¬Å",†Probation And Parole In The United States, 2015  Bureau of Justice Statistics, December 21, 2016Abidinsky, Howard.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Probation and Parole: Theory and Practice.†Ã‚  Englewood Cliffs, N.J.  Prentice Hall, 1991.Boland, Barbara; Mahanna, Paul; and Stones, Ronald.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Prosecution of Felony Arrests,†Ã‚  1988. Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992.Bureau of Justice Statistics.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Probation and Parole Population Reaches Almost 3.8 Million.†Ã‚  Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, 1996.