Essay on Cameron Todd Willingham

Essay on Cameron Todd Willingham

This is a case about Cameron Todd Willingham who was proven guilty of committing arson in 1992 and died through death penalty in 2004. The Court found him guilty of setting his family’s Corsicana, Texas home which killed his two young children. Willingham was able to escape from the fire and his wife was not at home when the fire broke out. Prosecutors believed that Willingham committed arson so that his abusive acts on his children will not be revealed. 

However, this was not really proven in Court and his wife testified that Willingham was not an abusive father. However, an investigative report done by the David Grann of The New Yorker in 2004 revealed that shows that Willingham was actually innocent, and so Texas executed an innocent man (Grann, 2004). This investigative report basically supported the earlier findings of the Innocence Project wherein some of America’s best forensic experts also agree that the main evidence that made Willingham guilty of arson was invalid. It was revealed that the Texas officials did not really pay attention to this evidence that would have stopped the execution.

The main evidence that resulted to the conviction of Willingham was the outcome of the investigation of the police officers after the fire. It was discovered that the fire was caused by a type of liquid accelerant (Clarke, 2007). This evidence was supported by char patterns that can be seen on the floor and the fact that the fire spread quickly all over the house. Even if there was no obvious motive that was determined, and the wife of Willingham testified that she did not fight with her husband before the fire happened, it was the testimony from a fellow prisoner that sealed the doom of Willingham. This prisoner testified that Willingham mentioned to him that he was the one responsible for burning their house.

The evidence of liquid accelerant was controversial because it was never really proven to be the one that caused the fire. Willingham believed that the fire started because of electrical problems, and it was never established that Willingham was the one who sprayed the liquid accelerant all over the house for it to burn quickly. Aside from this, the acceptance of the testimony of a fellow prisoner was controversial because this was a confession that was not really proven to be true (Williams, 2012). It could have been possible that the prisoner simply made up a story where Willingham admitted his crime, but nonetheless this testimony was still admitted in Court and helped significantly towards the conviction of Willingham.

After the death of Willingham through capital punishment, there had always been questions regarding how reliable the evidence that was used in order to convict Willingham. This is because it was never determined that an accelerant was used to help burn the house. Gerald L. Hurst, and expert in arson cases, analyzed the case once again and he himself did not think that an accelerant was used to burn the house. In 2009 the State of Texas decided that it was necessary to conduct another examination of Willingham’s case. Dr. Craig Beyler was the person who conducted the re-examination and concluded that arson cannot be proven to have been really done by Willingham (Pollock, 2011). Many other fire experts also supported the conclusions of Dr. Craig Beyler and believed that the prosecutors did not really establish their arguments in solid and reliable facts. Even the Texas Forensic Science Commission has already admitted that because Willingham’s guilt in terms of committing arson could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt, it could be possible that the state of Texas may have executed an innocent person in 2004.

REFERENCES

Clarke, A. (2007). The Bitter Fruit of American Justice. Philadelphia, PA: UPNE

Grann, D. (2004). “Trial by Fire.” Retrieved January 11, 2013 at http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann

Pollock, J. (2011). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning

Williams, K. (2012). Most Deserving Death? New York, NY: Ashgate Publishing

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Compare and Contrast Essay: Persian Culture and the American Culture

Compare and Contrast Essay: Persian Culture and the American Culture

Moving to America from Persia has certainly become a huge challenge for me. I have realized that the culture of both countries is totally different from one another. Thus, the adjustments that I have to make to cope up to the American culture are really giving me a hard time. Nonetheless, I am optimistic that I will be able to enjoy the American culture as time goes by.

One thing that I noticed with regard to the differences between the Persian and America culture is that the Persian culture is more conservative while the American culture is more liberal. For example, in Persia if a couple goes out on a date, it is always the male who will have to pay for everything. Males have to be always prepared to spend so that the female partner can enjoy and have a good time. In America, it is quite different because the male and female often share the expenses in a date. The female do not really mind spending money on a date for as long as they are with somebody who they like. Aside from this, the familial traditions are also different in America and Persia. In Persia, the children remain under the guidance and custody of their parents until they get married. This tradition helps to ensure that families become well bonded and united. On the other hand, in America the children will usually want to live independently at age of 18 (Campbell, 1997). The young Americans want to prove to their parents that they can already decide for themselves and live their own lives without the support from their parents anymore. The American parents do not really worry about their children leaving their custody at the age of 18 because this has become the expectation or norm among young Americans.

 

I noticed that there are many fast food restaurants in America, something that are not very abundant in Persia. This clearly shows that life in America is very fast paced as people are working so hard trying to get rich and successful. Americans are always busy that they do not have even have time to prepare and cook their own food. Since they are always on the go, they will have to settle for foods that are prepared quickly so they can also eat quickly and go back to their work. This is totally different in Persia. The members of the family really make it a point to spend time to cook their food. Afterwards, they will also eat the food together as a whole family.  This helps to maintain the closeness and unity of the families in Persia which is not being valued in America that much.

However, I also discovered some similarities in the cultures of American and Persia. For example, I discovered that there is no racism in both cultures. In fact, the Persian and American cultures value cultural diversity and do not give unfair treatment to any particular cultural denomination. This part certainly made me feel good because as a person coming from Persia, I have not experienced any form of discrimination from black or white Americans. They have been very helpful in terms of enabling me to make the necessary adjustments and live a normal life in America. Aside from this, I also noticed that with regard to marriage, the guy prepares a marriage proposal to the girls whom he loves. After getting married, the females in Persia and America adopt the surname of their respective husbands. These similarities have helped me realize that even if I am a Persian who is already living in America, I can be able to appreciate the American culture without losing my Persian identity.

REFERENCE

Campbell, N. (1997). American Culture. New York, NY: Routledge

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Essay on Crisis Negotiation Team

TO: Interested Applicants

FROM: The City Mayor’s Office

DATE:  January 11, 2012

SUBJECT: Urgent Hiring for Crisis Negotiation Team

As a voice in a crisis negotiation, the negotiators communicate for the hostages and ensure that a serious situation is under control. Their job is to handle the situation with a clear head and put themselves on the line for the safety of others. They must be aware that crisis situations can life threatening and emotionally scarring (Terestre, 2005).

We are looking for brave and responsible people who will be part of our Crisis Negotiation Team. The positions and the corresponding functions and qualifications are as follows:

1. The Front-liner

1. Functions

·         Establish contact, initiate conversation, and earn the trust of the subject by showing that he/she is sincere with what he/she is saying.

·         Communicate consistently with the subject in order to understand his/her wants and needs. The lead negotiator always ensures the safety of the hostages and intelligently bargains for their release. He is vigilant of any information that may be useful in solving the situation.

·         Stay positive when the situation is becoming ugly and capable of turning things around when the hostage taker becomes agitated

2. Qualifications

• The Front-liner must possess excellent communication skills in order converse effectively with the suspect
• He must undergo and pass practical situations that are closely monitored while the he/she is under pressure
• Must be willing to lead, take on responsibilities and challenges, and offer directions as well as opinions and capable of dealing effectively and calmly with high stress situations

2. The Timekeeper

1. Functions

• Document the details of the negotiation and provide a chronological record that will be useful as court evidence and in training for future negotiations
• Accountable for getting all the necessary information from The Front-liner, like the suspect’s demands, which should be relayed to The Buffer

2. Qualifications

• The applicant for this position must have the ability to manage multiple tasks, such as taking notes and recording conversations
• He must also have a good communication skills in order to relay clearly and efficiently pass on important details and information
• He must undergo and pass practical situations that are closely monitored while the he/she is under pressure

3. The Buffer

1. Functions

• Act as the bridge between the negotiation team and the command personnel. In some cases, field commanders offer their advice and help in making the negotiation faster. The suggestions will be routed to the negotiation team via the buffer.
• Responsible in transmitting details and information from the negotiation team to the command personnel and vice versa

2. Qualifications

·         The Buffer must have the capability to deliver accurate details, profound ability to communicate verbally, and a reliable source of information

·         He must undergo and pass practical situations that are closely monitored while the he/she is under pressure

Reference

Terestre, D. (2005). How to Start a Crisis Negotiation Team. Retrieved January 11, 2013 from http://www.policemag.com/channel/swat/articles/2005/08/how-to-start-a-crisis-negotiation-team.aspx

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Essay on Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

Essay on Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

For Thoreau, a good leader is somebody is somebody who will not be corrupted even if he is part of the government. Thoreau expressed his disappointment and lack of trust in the government because it does not really address the needs of the people. He thought that the government was useless and the people holding positions on it were simply agents of corruption (Bingham 28). Thus, he wanted the government to be abolished because it gives people false hopes that their needs can be met and their lives can improve for as long as they trust it. The government simply breaks the hearts and hopes of the people.

A good leader for Thoreau is somebody who can resist the temptation of being corrupt. Thoreau already presumed that government leaders are all unethical because the very institution where they are working is corrupt already. However, if government leaders can hold on to their moral standards and ethical beliefs, they can avoid being corrupted. They will be able to do their important roles and responsibilities to the people and make them satisfied by fulfilling their needs. A good leader for Thoreau is somebody who knows what is right and wrong, somebody who will always do what is right regardless of the consequences or difficulties that could be encountered (Turner 61). A good leader is the epitome of how a public servant must be. This person must be emulated because even if there is massive corruption in the surroundings, the good leader does not get fazed and continues to pursue the right path. The good leader is willing to make important sacrifices so that the needs of the people can be met. Because of the massive corruption in the government, the good leader will surely stand out from the rest because he is not doing the illegal activities that most people in the government are doing.

When power is in the hands of the people, the injustices in society will finally end. This is because the government does not exist anymore which is very corrupt and self-serving. In a government setup, the people elect those who will represent for their needs and aspirations. However, because of corruption and lack of moral standards, they usually fail to deliver on the promises that they gave to the people who elected them. They only make themselves richer and more powerful while in government service, while the people in society struggle to make ends meet.

However, if the situation is reversed and the people are given the power to rule, they will experience freedom and satisfaction as they already have the power to act on their problems and improve their lives. They do not have to wait anymore for the people in the government to address their needs and concerns (Thoreau 39). The people themselves will find ways to resolve their problems and blame themselves if they are not able to get the job done. In this situation, the pressure is now on the people to help themselves as there is no government that they can rely on for support. The people will be prepared to work hard and achieve their goals so that their lives can be better in the long run. They will not experience disappointments anymore over failed hopes and expectations that the people whom they voted were not able to deliver on their promises. The only thing that can stop the people is themselves and their fears, so this is the best position or situation that a society can ever achieve. However, because people also have different wants and needs, Thoreau believes that there is also a possibility of chaos and disorderliness to happen as people become greedier and resource become scarce.

REFERENCES

Bingham, Shawn. 2008. Thoreau and the Sociological Imagination. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield

Thoreau, Henry. 2012. Civil Disobedience. Raleigh, NC: Hayes Barton Press

Turner, Jack. 2010. A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky

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