Stalin`s Purges Essays - GermanySoviet Union Relations, Soviet Union

Stalin`s Purges Less than a month before Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II, he signed a non-aggression pact with Stalin. Less than two years later, he broke the pact and invaded the Soviet Union in the early morning hours of June 22, 1941. There were plenty of evidence for German aggression before the war broke out, yet Stalin nevertheless signed the pact which contained the secret protocol that divided Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union. The reason for signing the pact were complex, yet one of the most important ones were the domestic factors. Among them, the terrible effect of the purges during the 1930s on the population, economy and especially the army. The purges were set off on December 1, 1934 with the murder of Sergei Kirov. He was a member of the Politburo, leader of the Leningrad party apparatus and had considerable influence in the ruling elite. His concern for the workers in Leningrad and his skill as an orator earned him considerable popularity. Stalin used his murder as a pretext for launching a broad purge that would claim hundreds of thousands of victims and have lasting repercussion felt to this day. Stalin never visited Leningrad again and directed one of his most vicious post-War purges against the city -- Russia's historic window to the West. No segment of the society was left untouched by the purges. Anyone who caused the slightest suspicion was removed and numerous legislature was enacted to help enforce them. In 1935 a law was passed which lowered the age of criminal responsibility. That meant the death penalty could be applied to twelve-year-old children (McCauley, p.93). There was also a panic response in the primary party organizations to expel and "expose" people in order to protect oneself and to show "vigilance" (Getty, p.213) The slaughter of armed forces began on 12 June 1937 when Tukhachevsky and some top army men were executed, then spread to lower ranks and then to political comissars. The nave was completely decapitated, all eight admirals perishing. Here's a grave list of the top dead: " 3 out of 5 marshals, 14 out of 16 Army commanders Class I and II, 8 out of 8 Admirals, 60 out of 67 Corps Commanders, 136 out of 199 Divisional Commanders, 221 out of 397 Brigade Commanders" (McCauley, p.95) In November 1939, Stalin ordered an attack on Finland to move the frontier further away from Leningrad after the Finns did not agree to the concessions Soviets offered. This expedition was a complete fiasco. It cost the already decimated Red Army around 200,000 dead and more were wounded, while only 23,000 Finns died (McCauley, p.101). A peace treaty was signed on 12 March, 1940, but the incompetence and weakness of the Red Army was revealed to the rest of the world. This is something Hitler filed it away for future use. After that, and faced with increasing German aggression, Stalin could not risk being embroiled in a war. Hitler was in a great hurry. An attack on Poland was scheduled for late August. By the end of July the Nazis realized that they must reach agreement with the Soviets very soon if these plans were to be safely implemented. Hitler agreed to pay the Soviet price for a pact. The public text of the Nazi-Soviet Pact was simply an agreement of nonaggression and neutrality, referring as a precedent to the German-Soviet neutrality pact of 1926 (Berlin Treaty). The real agreement was in a secret protocol which in effect partitioned not only Poland (along the line of the Vistula), but much of Eastern Europe. To the Soviets were allotted Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Bessarabia; to the Nazis, everything to the West of these regions, including Lithuania. Each of the two signatories was to ask the other no questions about the disposition of its own ''sphere of interest." This nonaggression pact, coupled with the trade treaty and arrangements for large-scale exchange of raw materials and armaments, amounted to an alliance. Appeasement in Eastern Europe would deflect German aggression to the west. Taking into account the disastrous condition of Russian forces brought about from within and the severe problems of the economy, this was necessary for Stalin. In a way, by signing the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, he was buying as much time as possible to try prepare for the inevitable. The inevitable happened on June 22, 1941. Molotov broke to the Russian people the grim news about the German attack. Stalin, as if embarrassed by the disastrous collapse of his

RHO KAPPA LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONDavid Pham Tran Essays - Free Essays

RHO KAPPA LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONDavid Pham Tran Essays - Free Essays RHO KAPPA LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONDavid Pham Tran Somebody who can be organized, responsible, and committed should fill the Secretary position, I believe that I can be that person. Other than having the qualities listed above, I can be very direct and outspoken when I need to address important things, which can come in handy in the organization. I am best fit for this position because I have had a similar experience to a secretary's job in previous years. I have been the manager for Park View swim team since sophomore year and I have had to arrange schedules and make sure everyone does their job. Any officer of RHO KAPPA should definitely be able to balance their schoolwork, extracurricular activities, club activities, and personal life and still be able to complete their task as an officer. I can do that because I am, currently, involved in many school activities such as SCA, Student Power, NHS, NAHS and Global Ambassadors, as well as keeping up good grades in my classes and my job as a server at the same time. Being RHO KAPPA's Secretary is one of the opportunities that I have always wanted because it can give me the experience necessary for college. This position can also give me a chance to improve my teamwork because the Secretary is the main connection of the organization, therefore, I have to work well with both the officers and the members. I have had opportunities to experience leadership positions throughout my high school years, for instance, I was the Treasurer for National Art Honor Society. Being RHO KAPPA's Secretary would be a great addition. I am always open to new challenges and outlets.

Political Science Syria Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Political Science Syria Government - Essay Example However, this was not the case because in a rare show of unity between the Republicans and Democrats, there was widespread opposition to any strikes against the Syrian government, or any direct involvement of the United States in the conflict, hence ensuring that the government remains accountable to the American people. The fact that there was widespread opposition to United States involvement in Syria from both parties is a true statement of the sensitivity towards this issue that the American public feels (McDonnell). In a rare instance of unity, the representatives of both parties seem to have, almost unanimously, chosen to set an agenda that represents the true feelings of their constituents, who are for the most part weary of war. In fact, polls showed that the United States should stop concentrating on the solving of external conflicts and instead concentrate on solving the growing number of problems on the domestic scene. Despite the seeming unity of the two parties concernin g Syria, the fact has all along remained that the United States government does not have a clear policy concerning Syria and this is perhaps the reason why the conflict has continued for the last two years. This conflict has, however, also created a situation where it has become difficult for the United States to deal with the diverse consequences such as the development of the refugee problem (Sly). It is more likely than not that the continuation of the Syrian conflict will create a refugee problem, as Syrian refugees seek to settle in the United States. The fact that Syrian refugees will likely seek asylum in the United States has become a worrying subject in both parties and this is likely to be another issue which will unite the Democrats and the Republicans in a bipartisan way. In addition, the Syrian war has caused the allies of the United States in the region, such as Turkey and Jordan to have an influx of refugees which has created a sad situation in these countries (Araabi ). The fact that the Democrats and the Republicans, despite proving that they can work together, have yet to coordinate their efforts to come up with a clear policy concerning Syria, which should involve the ouster of the Syrian government and president, is most disturbing. The United States Congress should put pressure on the government to ensure that it creates a clear policy that will enable the bringing the Syrian conflict to a conclusive end that will provide lasting peace for the Syrian people. Both the Democrats and the Republicans believe that the Assad regime has lost its mandate to rule over the Syrian people and because of this, it must go. This has been a standing position of both of these parties since the beginning of the conflict, but despite this, there has yet to develop a clear means through which the Assad regime can be ousted (Kostyaev 54). In addition, both parties have found that the continued rule of the Assad regime will be detrimental to the refugee situatio n in the country. This is mainly because of the fact that there will be an increase, not

Modern Ethical Theory or Pragmatism ( choose one) Research Paper

Modern Ethical Theory or Pragmatism ( choose one) - Research Paper Example These theories have in turn been relied upon heavily in determining the parameters of ethical and moral conduct across different cultures and under different circumstances. These theories draw from the ideas of great moral philosophers like John Stuart Mill, Immanuel Kant, David Hume among others. Hume vs Kant vs Mill: Their different views on ethics and morality. By giving their views, all moral philosophers aim at describing the best standard of moral and ethical conduct. However, there normally arises a dilemma on which ethical theory should be applied because of the variations in how different philosophers view ethics and morality. These variations raise important questions in the approach to ethical problems and one of the key questions is the question of absolute good or relative good. Mill for example, takes a utilitarian view to ethics and morality. From such a view, the moral worth of human actions are determined by their resultant outcome (Shaw 32). Mill’s view of et hics and morality maximises overall pleasure by all available means. This means that the nature of an action is not a major issue of concern but its final outcome. This view therefore gives room for the breaking of some moral rules if this breaking increases happiness. Its main advantage is that it allows actions to be judged in a way that yields fairness to the greatest population. For example, it is unlawful, unethical and morally unjustifiable to kill another person. However, utilitarianism allows for the breaking of this rule in the case of self-defence either by civilians or police officers facing a dangerous criminal. Killing one dangerous criminal is less painful that one dangerous criminal killing many people. This action maximises happiness. In summary, this view of ethics and morality argues that the end justifies the means. Such a view of ethics and morality therefore considers the relative good of actions and not their absolute good. It avoids judgement of actions from e xtremists’ point of view which in many cases, leads to the suffering of many people. Its main disadvantage is that it does not consider the nature of human actions or the intentions behind them hence it can be used as a justification for wrong doings by some people. Kant holds to an opposing view to Mill in regard ethics and morality. According to Kant, the nature and not the result of human actions determine their moral worth. He argued that a good will is the only good thing and therefore, the will or the motive of the actor is the only factor that determines the moral worth of an action (Kant 97). This is a deontological view whereby ethical and moral actions are seen as the duty or obligations of every person towards other members of the society. The advantage of this view lies in its fairness. That is, human actions are judged depending on the extend to which they adhere to existing moral and ethical rules. It considers the absolute goodness of human actions hence it doe s not give room for the breaking of some rules. The main disadvantage to such a view is that it does not consider the role played by external pressures/factors in driving human actions. For example, no one can wait to be slaughtered like a sheep by another person holding a knife. The reaction will be to defend oneself by all means including hitting the attacker. If it happens that they die, the person who killed should be let free because they never intended to kill. The disadvantage of this

Effects of Honey as a Treatment for Acne

Effects of Honey as a Treatment for Acne Kanuka Randomised Controlled Trial Critical Appraisal Acne, a common inflammatory cutaneous disease, with a recent analysis reporting an 85% prevalence in those aged between 12 and 24 years of age in the USA. A new treatment option could prove successful if alongside being efficacious avoids the many shortcomings of current treatment options e.g. antibiotics, hormone-therapy etc. These treatment options are ineffective in some sufferers, thus are untenable in improving patient care outcomes. Methodology The papers objective: To investigate the efficacy of Honevo, a topical 90% medical-grade kanuka honey, and 10% glycerine (honey product) as a treatment for facial acne, is a strong foundation whereupon to run a trial. Establishing inclusion criteria prior to participant selection optimise the overall validity; the criteria comprises of a clinical diagnosis of acne and a score of two or more on a Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) scale. Conversely participant exclusion criteria was extensive, being clearly delineated, precluding sufferers with systemic illness, those currently or recently taking topical corticosteroids and antibiotics in the previous 4 weeks. There were 136 selected participants between the ages of 16 40, who were randomised to the honey product group arms using a concealed computer-generated sequence, this randomisation algorithm was used to eliminate bias, accidental or otherwise. Opaque envelopes were used to preserve participant allocation concealment, thus preventing researchers influencing outcomes through preceding knowledge of research outcomes. Furthermore, potential for bias was minimised by having a second investigator perform the IGA at each visit without knowledge of participant treatment allocation. In my opinion the sample size seems sufficient, the size allows for equal randomisation to both treatment arms. Furthermore, recruitment of 136 participants allows for a build-in quantity to account for a 10% dropout rate, accounting for up to 13.6 (14) withdrawals. The study has predetermined specific criteria that it will use to define success when considering the primary outcome aim, the researchers defines success as a à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥2 point decrease in IGA score from baseline at 12à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¦weeks. There were also several secondary outcomes, summarised as follows: the average IGA score at weeks 12 and 14;an overall change in acne using a visual analogue scale (VAS); overall VAS severity at week 4 when contrasted to baseline; applications per day; weekly-reported severity using a VAS scale; and withdrawing participation should acne worsen. RCTs have several points of interest when contrasted with other study types, commonly allowing for optimal assessment of efficacy, randomisation to abstain from confounding the results, and minimisation of bias by allocation disguise and blinding. The kanuka-based treatment has an intrinsic impediment in its appearance and smell; the innate restriction of this study prevented comprehensive blinding of members and researchers, which diminishes the studies adequacy when contrasted with comparable RCTs. This issue was tempered by blinding the researchers in charge of measuring the primary result variable. The blinding of the assessors producing the results considered allowed for the avoidance of assessment bias. By providing a thorough methodology section, this research is reproducible, this was done by providing the treatment regime, number of assessments conducted, and the interval between these assessments. It is stated by the author that the setting was Outpatient primary care from 3 New Zealand localities, albeit rather vague as New Zealand covers a wide area. The issue of adherence and compliance in this study was addressed, treatment constituted twice daily application to affected areas for 30 and 60 minutes. Participant adherence was important, this is supported via daily recording of applications with a check for diary completeness at each visit. Outcomes The researchers calculated 80% power at 5% significance to detect an absolute difference of 25% responders. It is therefore possible to infer that the study had an 80% chance of identifying any treatment effect, with less than a 5% risk that this was due to chance. The primary outcome of participants showing a à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥2 improvement in IGA assessment at week 12 reveals that only a very small proportion of participants showed an improvement. Compared with baseline only, or the Hodges-Lehmann estimator with 95% Confidence Limit showed a 4.2 (0.5 to 39.3), with a p=0.17; in the honey product group there were 4/53 (7.6%) participants and 1/53 (1.9%) participants in the control group who met the primary outcome. Participant withdrawal must be considered, with 15 and 14 participants who withdrew from the honey product group and control group, respectively. The outcomes at week 12 show marginal improvement in the honey product group compared to the control group. This is shown in the proportional odds logistic regression for the IGA score at week 12, which estimated the OR (95% Cl) for improvement of 1.4 (0.7 to 2.9), p=0.33, without adjustment for baseline, and 2.0 (CI 0.9 to 4.2), p=0.075, after adjustment. In regards to daily self-reported use of treatment, it was found that using the The Hodges-Lehmann estimate (95% Cl), between the two study groups was à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢7 (à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢13 to à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢1), p=0.01, with honey product users having less applications. When considering the IGA results, there is a prominent difference in the responses amongst the participants, some participant results would indicate a worsening of symptoms. When considering whether the secondary outcomes were efficacious there was no evidence found to support the use of the honey based product as a treatment option. Subject-rated improvement according to a VAS at both weeks 4 and 12 was better overall for the honey treatment. Bias is an issue with the VAS as it wasnt possible to mask which participants were using the honey based treatment. There may be a type 1 error rate inflation with this variable as it was also an outcome other secondary outcome variables. Conclusions This study has given a sound premise to methodological and factual contemplations that will be worthwhile for planning comparative studies, maybe helping in defeating the inadequacies inside this study. When contrasted with current treatment options, this study doesnt give much evidentiary support to the therapeutic utilization of kanuka honey with 10% glycerine in the treatment of acne. Advances within this field are fundamental for improving patient care, in my opinion I would recommend waiting until further research has been conducted contrasting kanuka as a treatment alternative against other treatment choices. Word Count: 1085 I am aware of the requirements of good academic practice and the potential penalties for any breaches.

National Honors Society Essay Essay

To me, National Honors Society’s four pillars are essential elements to being a member of this society. Scholarship and leadership are the two pillars that I feel complement each other because one should be a leader in the community and school without forgetting to be a good student and scholar. Service and character go well together because in order to provide services to students or members of the community, it is necessary to have a good character in order to help others. Leadership is one of the most important traits to have not only in school but outside too. In school, one can take up the position of being a leader by tutoring classmates. By helping a peer understand a topic they were confused about, a feeling of accomplishment and happiness comes along. One can also be a leader by being a part of a club and helping the club officers and other members reach their club goals. For example, I am part of the Environmental Club and I have been an active member since freshmen year. I have participated in many of the events put together by this club and have helped them in planning these events to ensure things run smoothly. At the moment, I am working with two friends on a marketing project for the tower gardens in school. If I am accepted into the National Honors Society, I will be able to gain more experience in being a leader and I will then be able to help the Environmental Club more in fulfilling more club goals. If accepted, I plan to take everythi ng I learn from being a part of this society and apply it to my life. Along with leadership comes the other pillar: scholarship. To me, this pillar is essential because one can be an outstanding leader with good but have bad grades. So although those two pillars are important, the scholarship pillar is equally as important. If someone is capable of having all those good traits while having good grades and being a scholar, they are perfect for joining NHS. I always try to make time for everything like doing homework and studying while also doing volunteer work and helping friends. It’s  difficult to do, but I try my best to make time to accomplish things I need to get done without feeling like I’m tipping the scale on one side more than the other. If I am selected to join this society, I will not forget about my schoolwork. Instead, it would motivate me to do better in my classes in order to keep my GPA in the right place so I would be able to continue participating in NHS without forgetting the importance of being a scholar. The next pillar, service, is one of great importance. I am aware that National Honors Society is a service organization. There will be many activities that will help not only our school but also members of the community and others who are in need of help. Personally, I feel that serving others should be done with a kind heart and not expecting anything in return. One should provide services to those in need because it is the right thing to do and it is truly helpful to those who need it. In the past, I have helped members of my church raise money to give to kids who cannot afford to go on field trips the church goes on. And I have helped raise money for the American Cancer Society each year since freshmen year because the money goes to a good cause and benefits many people. If I am inducted into NHS I will be happy to get the opportunity to participate in other events and activities that help people in need. This would help me give back to the community and our school and also show m e how I should be grateful to have what I have. The last pillar, character, is something we work on everyday to try to improve. Abraham Lincoln once said: â€Å"Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.† What I love about this quote is that he is stating that our character is not just what we show to others, but whom we are when no one is around. If one has a superb character, then it is likely that one also has the other three pillars as well. Having a good character helps you in becoming a great leader without forgetting to be a scholar. And in order to provide services to others, having a good character is a must. To me character includes being responsible, trustworthy, respectful, fair, and caring. If I were chosen to be part of the NHS, I would definitely try to improve my character in all of those areas because it is important. Character is what makes people believe in you and it also helps you succeed  in your personal life. I strongly believe that all four pillars: leadership, scholarship, service, and character, are crucial not only for National Honors Society but also crucial for life. If I were to join NHS, I would be given the opportunity to improve in all of these areas and learn from others who are doing the same. I would be able to get to know students that I’ve never seen before or talked to before, and I would get time to spend helping others which is truly gratifying. Joining NHS would be an honor and would help me become a better student, classmate, and friend.

Biography of William Wordsworth Essay

William Wordsworth was born April 7th, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland. He attended school at Saint John’s College, University of Cambridge. He was said to have loved nature. During school breaks he visited places known for their scenic beauty. While in France, he fell in love with Annette Vallon. They had a daughter in December of 1770, shortly before he moved back to England. Wordsworth had written poetry while he was still a schoolboy, but none of his poems were published until 1793.His first published poems were An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches. These poems exhibit the influence of the formal way of poetry in England throughout the 18th century. Wordsworth had met Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a fellow poet, and in 1797 Woodsworth moved to Alfoxden, Somersetshire, alongside his sister Dorthy. Their residence was near Coleridge’s home in Nether Stowey. This move created a sustained friendship between Wordsworth and Coleridge, and they both worked on a volume of poems entitled Lyrical Ballads, which was published 1798. Lyrical Ballads is said to have indicated the beginning of the Romantic Movement in English poetry. Wordsworth wrote the majority of the poems in the book, such as â€Å"Tintern Abbey†. Coleridge’s main contribution was Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Lyrical Ballads was met with hostility from most critics, as it represented an uprising against contemporary English poetry. In justification of his unconventional philosophy of poetry, Wordsworth wrote a â€Å"Preface† to the second edition of Ballads, which emerged in 1800. His idea was that the basis of poetic genuineness was the sincere occurrence of the sense. He said that poetry derives from â€Å"emotion recollected in tranquility.† He insisted that the scenes and actions of every-day life and the speech of common people were the basic material of which poetry should consist of. Prior to his publication of the â€Å"Preface†, Wordsworth went with Coleridge to Germany in 1798-99. During this time period, Wordsworth wrote a number of his best lyrical verses. Many critics consider theses verses as Wordsworth’s greatest work. William and his sister returned to England in 1799, and moved to Dove Cottage in Grasmere, Westmorland. This area is near the English Lake District. Robert Southey, another poet, and Coleridge, lived nearby. Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge became known as the Lake Poets. Wordsworth married Mary Hutchinson in 1802. She was a childhood friend, who was depicted in â€Å"She was a Phantom of Delight†. Poems in Two Volumes was published in 1807. Wordsworth’s poetic ability and insight became dull as he became older. His later poetry cannot measure up to the poetry written during his youth. Wordsworth was awarded a government pension in 1842. He died at Rydal Mount, on April 23rd in 1850. He was buried in the Grasmere cemetery.