Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Problem Of Criminal Justice System - 882 Words

Since the dawn of man crime has been a problem. Even though most people have some basic sense of what is right and what is wrong, crime still occurs. All the way back to the ancient code of Hammurabi man has tried to understand, classify, and appropriately punish crime. The bible itself includes a detailed set of rules, or commandments, about what was legal and what wasn’t. There are many ideas and schools of thought that surround the idea of criminal justice. Initially the main goals of these schools of thought were to classify and punish crimes, however in the recent past we are seeing a shift toward the deterrence and prevention of crime. Early classical, biological, and psychological theories helped shape what is today’s criminal justice system. One of the earliest theories that attempted to explain the cause of crime is classical theory. In 1764, Cesare Beccaria published his Essay on Crimes and Punishments. The book, which contained Beccaria’s thoughts and observations about the criminal justice system, was important because it was the first of its time to contain thoughts about the philosophy of punishment. According to classical theory, individuals have the ability to exercise free will and due to this should be held responsible for their actions. Crime is a result of rational decision making where the criminal must decide if the possible punishment for the crime is worth the potential gain. Beccaria stated that crimes needed fitting punishments to act as aShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of The Criminal Justice System991 Words   |  4 PagesThe criminal justice system in the United States of America has major disparities that are negatively affecting our nation, specifically, those individuals who come from a low -socioeconomic status and who oftentimes end up involved in one way or another, with our correctional system. The reality many poverty-stricken individuals and prison inmates face today, along with the research that has been conducted by prominent scholars, show that there is dire need for systematic change, which in turn raisesRead MoreThe Problem Of The Criminal Justice System930 Words   |  4 PagesWhen considering our nations criminal justice system, it is vital that we focus more on providing mental health care, education, drug treatment, and counseling, rather than forcing all delinquents into jails and prisons. Imposing a life of loneliness, separation, and discrimination is harmful. These things do not promote change for the better. Optimism, effort and opportunity allow for change. This country has a broken criminal Justice System. Our criminal justice system benefit’s our country by allowingRead MoreProblems Facing The Criminal Justice System Essay2455 Words   |  10 Pages Problems And Solutions In Criminal Justice The problems surrounding the criminal justice system range from a variety of issues in different areas of the system. But i believe they are all connected back to a societal problem, that has to do with a outdated philosophical notion â€Å"redemptive violence†. I will break down each aspect, which i find most troubling. I will cover problems between policing and peacekeeping, corrections options, and the issue of redemptive violence which is a major issueRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System Is Viewed As A Black Problem993 Words   |  4 Pagestakes place within the criminal justice system, such as early release dates for drug charges and non-violent crimes (Mauer, 2011). The incarceration rates in the United States are â€Å"three to four times that of other industrialized nations,† and the punishment scale is viewed as â€Å"out of proportion to that of other industrialized nation† (Mauer, 2011). Mauer (2011) reported â€Å"in many respects the driving force of mass incarceration is the racial dynamic of criminal justice policy.† He points outRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System Is Not A Problem That The Us And Other Countries970 Words   |  4 PagesCorrectional Systems Wrongful conviction is a problem that the US and other countries. The individual are saved from death row when new evidence arrives or when evidence that was provided is proved to be false. Judges have always been expected to decipher and correctly judge every case, specifically pertaining to criminal acts. The expectations derive from the nature of individuals lives being in the hands of the judgment of the particular judge. Research on cases has revealed particular circumstancesRead MoreHow Criminal Justice System Works And How It Has Problems Essay2095 Words   |  9 PagesCrow. Before I read this book, I was not aware of how criminal justice system works or how does it has problems. This book presents the how criminal justice works and how it has problems, in any kind of criminal just system from law enforcement to jury system, Especially against minorities. The introduction of book starts with how she starts to write this book. When she started her job at ACLU, she realized that our criminal justice system has racial bias against minorities. Most importantly, sheRead MoreCriminal Justice System : A Social Problem Within The African American Community2025 Words   |  9 PagesAny criminal justice system reflects its society and its times. Currently, in my culture, the African American culture, people commit crimes for the number one reason being to feed their families. What is considered a crime? How does the Criminal Justice System work? How is the amount of time determined? Why do African American get more time than the white man? Why are more black men in prison than any other ethnicities? The Criminal Justice System is a social problem within the African AmericanRead MoreReactions and Reflections to Cyndi Banks Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice1060 Words   |  4 PagesReactions and Reflections on Readings in Cynd i Banks Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice Introduction No serious-minded individual over the age of twelve actually thinks that justice and ethical issues involved in criminality are purely black-and-white or clear-cut issues of good and bad. The first chapters of Cyndi Banks (2008) Criminal Justice Ethics, however, make it clear that the issues of right and wrong in the criminal justice system are far more complex, specific, and subtle thanRead MoreThe Worldwide Criminal Justice System1468 Words   |  6 Pagespaper, I will describe what worldwide criminal justice systems are doing to address the criminal issues I identified. I will talk about the terrorist group ISIS about the crimes they have committed. Then I will discuss how the worldwide criminal justice system handled the crime. The last thing I will discuss is the effectiveness of the systems response and include suggestions for future responses to combat or prevent these crimes. The Criminal justice system have begun to monitor the Arab communityRead MoreCriminal Justice1385 Words   |  6 PagesCriminal Justice Trends Criminal justice Criminal Justice Trends Criminal justice field is growing every day. It grows with the help of technology and society. When the technology evolves and society grows the criminal justice has to evolve and grow to fit the society needs. Whether it is an easy or hard change the criminal justice system never fails us. With any state the criminal justice system is to protect and serve the community so the more it evolves the more the system has to. The following

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Inefficiency Of Our War On Drugs Essay - 1383 Words

The Inefficiency of Our War on Drugs in America Every year in America we spend billions of taxpayer dollars to fight the war on drugs. With such a massive budget one would assume that the drug trade would be at the lowest point in history. After all, we are spending more than ever before. Unfortunately the opposite is actually true. The drug trade in America simply continues to rise. The problem is that we are not fighting the war on drugs the right way. We have created laws that do not help the drug users with their addiction, in fact many actually make it more difficult for the drug addicts to start a new life. When a drug user is arrested he or she is often sentenced to prison which in theory would give them time to overcome their addiction. Unfortunately however, while in prison they are surrounded by other drug users, and other more violent criminals. Which influences them to believe that there is nothing wrong with using illegal drugs, many even believe that using drugs is cool . What we need to be doing, is spend a portion of the money that we use to keep them in prison, and divert it to getting proper rehabilitation treatment. If we plan on lowering the drug abuse in America, we will have to dramatically change the way we go about fighting the war on drugs. In 2015 the US Department of Justice requested 8.5 billion dollars to be spent on staffing and maintaining the federal prison system. Of this money only 660 million was to be spent on reentry to society andShow MoreRelatedThe Rise And Fall Of Prohibition1188 Words   |  5 Pagesconsumption of alcohol was lowered as a result, there was a large increase in crime. In the book The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, results from a study were published, showing that after prohibition, crime in major US cities had risen by 24%, with drug addiction going up a staggering 44.6% (Hanson, 1923). While the intent of these programs is positive, in most cases it’s one step forward and two steps backwards. In Th e Federalist Papers No. 2, John Jay stated, â€Å"Nothing is more certain than the indispensableRead MoreEssay about The Colombian Conflict1608 Words   |  7 PagesColombian conflict is an internal armed war that has been going on for more than half a century, approximately originated in the early 1950’s. It is a war between the government, various parliamentary groups and left-wing guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), for the struggle of political power and economic/social rights. Since its origin, the war has involved multiple agendas of power, drugs, violence and greed. It is about timeRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Drug Prohibition1297 Words   |  6 Pagescontend that drug prohibition policies actually create more issues than are solved. The negative effects of drug restriction policies include: negative health effects, increased drug effects, crimes at home and abroad, increased violence, misu se of assets and resources, violation of civil rights and excess on criminal and government systems. Heavy emphasis on upholding criminal restrictions on drug creation and selling was also significantly influencing the productivity of illegal drug markets andRead More decriminalize drugs Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagesmany controversies in our country today, regards the prohibition of illegal narcotics. Deemed unhealthy, hazardous, and even fatal by the authorities that be; the U.S. government has declared to wage a â€Å"war on drugs.† It has been roughly fifteen years since this initiative has begun, and each year the government shuffles more money into the unjust cause of drug prohibition. Even after all of this, the problem of drugs that the government sees still exists. The prohibition of drugs is a constitutionalRead MoreDecriminalize Drugs Essay1192 Words   |  5 Pagesmany controversies in our country today, regards the prohibition of illegal narcotics. Deemed unhe althy, hazardous, and even fatal by the authorities that be; the U.S. government has declared to wage a war on drugs. It has been roughly fifteen years since this initiative has begun, and each year the government shuffles more money into the unjust cause of drug prohibition. Even after all of this, the problem of drugs that the government sees still exists. The prohibition of drugs is a constitutionalRead MoreThe Philippine Justice System1070 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to the Philippines-American War the Supreme Court never came to existence. During the American regime, the audencias were abolished and replaced by a judicial system patterned after the United States’. A Supreme Court was also established where in Cayetano Arellano was the appointed Chief Justice. On November 15, 1935, The Supreme Court was Filipinized upon the inauguration of the Commonwealth. The composition of the court was then lessened. During World War II, emergency powers were grantedRead MoreRehabilitation Over Incarceration : Persuasive Speech1736 Words   |  7 Pages Rehabilitation Over Incarceration Purpose: To Persuade Specific Purpose: To inform and persuade the public of the inefficiency of the justice and prison system, and to offer insight and methods to both reduce the finical burden of this institution on the state and inmate recidivism while simultaneously reviving our communities left ruined by this often racist and unfair institution. Central Idea: To rework the legal and economic infrastructure of the currently broken U.S prison system by providingRead MoreWhy America Withdrew from Vietnam Essay1612 Words   |  7 Pagessupport of the peasants that encouraged and helped the guerrilla tactics, as well as this the ARVN would have had a bigger incentive to fight with the support of the South Vietnamese peasants. The Americans lost a lot of support in the war by standing by the South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinah Diem, who was a devoted catholic which caused a major problem with the public in south Vietnam as most of the population was Buddhist, more importantly though, he broke the GenevaRead MoreThe Underlying Causes Of Sexual Behavior1404 Words   |  6 Pagesincluding psychological issues, comorbidity issues, and social issues were examined. While there are limited studies that indicate that the brain of those who participate in risky sexual behavior respond in much the same way as those who experience drug addiction, there is strong evidence that these behaviors are brought about by underlying causes such as child sexual abuse and psychological disorders such as bi-polar disorder. Careful examination of the patient’s history should be conducted to determineRead MorePolicy Paper : Choice Of Policy1452 Words   |  6 Pagesreadily available to all due to the relative cost and mostly lack of health insurance. In some situations, the health insurance may be available but coverage is limited and with tentacles of restrictive clauses. For years these have been the measure of our healthcare system and long overdue overhaul that became eminent via the Obama Care in 2010 also known as the affordable care act. The rapidly rising health care costs over the decades have prompted the application of business practices to medicine with

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Important Output Computer Devices in Accounting Free Essays

Considering the input devices required in setting up the office, The major computer gadgets that will be focused on are the Keyboard and Mouse. These input devices are going to play a major in the insertion of data into the office system. The keyboard is the computer input device that enables the user enter data into the computer . We will write a custom essay sample on Important Output Computer Devices in Accounting or any similar topic only for you Order Now The keys in a keyboard are classified into †¢Alphanumeric keys-consist of letters and number ,which helps in keying in and calculating data that are inserted into the system. Punctuation keys-consists of the period,comma,semicolon,etc †¢Special keys-this keys consist of the function keys, control keys, arrow keys, caps lock key etc. Looking at the account office, the accountants needs the type of keyboard that enables them work effectively with ease. As an accountant, normally when entering a data, you type all the data with your right hand and have always have to stop and use your left to hit the tab key which is completely inefficient and discomforting. In order words in providing a solution for the discomfort, the R-tab Keyboard will be used in the office setup. the R-tab keyboard has the tab key on the right of the number pad, which makes it easier and more efficient for an accountant to use. So instead of having to interrupt the left hand to hit the tab key, the right hand stride wont be breached while typing . This r-tab keyboard will improve the efficiency of the office by 25% higher than the usage of an ordinary keyboard. The longer the accountants use it. The longer their productivity will increase. Accountants that have used the r-tab keyboard found out that they were able to finish data and numeric entries much faster in a much quicker manner. The mouse is the computer input device to which controls the location of a cursor on a video display that is connected to a computer. Generally in categorizing the computer mouse it is of two types which is the mechanical and optical mouse. Being an input device that pinpoints and sends command into the system it is a major input device that will and always a major vital role in any computer system setup. In my analysis of the computer mouse, the best mouse that will be in tune to the satisfaction of the accountants is the Logitech Performance Mouse MX. The Logitech Performance Mouse has a general use functionality which is sculpted for the right hand only. It has a number of interesting features, which includes the darkfield tracking, which enables the mouse to work on any surface. It has a unifying technology which connects six devices to computer(this particular feature helps the members of the office access and gain control of a system from wherever they are within the office range). With the sophisticated features and performance of the mouse MX the user can easily spin into a document and scroll incrementally when navigating images and slides. These are the two major input devices that yield great productivity in an office, without these the employees productivity will become a major waste and any computer gadget that’s supposed to ignite greater yield should be considered carefully before choosen. So in order words the R-tab keyboard and the mouse MX are the best and suitable input devices required for the office setup. How to cite Important Output Computer Devices in Accounting, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 free essay sample

These new federal laws strived to end educational discrimination against children with disabilities, by guaranteeing all children have access to a free and appropriate education in the best environment possible. These laws made clear what schools and other public entities obligations were for the education of the disabled, and also proposed specific measures to be taken for their protection, thereby ensuring that all citizens had access to an education and the self-sufficiency and education provides. The Impact of Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004, on the Education of Children with Disabilities The notion that public education is essential for a well functioning republic has a long history in the United States. The chief goal of an education is to produce a measure of self-sufficiency in an individual (Hannon, 1997). An individual is expected to determine his or her own course and not to be dependant, but function independently, and an education is the means to achieve this goal. We will write a custom essay sample on Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Up until the 1970’s, education for those with disabilities did not foster independence, in fact the result was the exact opposite. People with disabilities weren’t expected to be self-sufficient, instead often ended up dependent on public funds and programs for support. (Stroman, 2003) In order to change this prevailing notion about disability, Congress first had to recognize that the rights of a section of the population were being denied, and second, they had to enact laws to safeguard the rights of these citizens. With Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P. L. 93-112) and the first Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975 (P. L. 94-142), the federal government took the first steps in making sure that all with disabilities were guaranteed a â€Å"free appropriate public education† that was to be provided in the â€Å"least restrictive environment. † (Switzer, 2003) These new guiding principles were to ensure that children with disabilities were to obtain the education they deserved. These two federal laws changed how children with disabilities were educated by 1) clearly defining disabilities, 2) making education meet the needs of an individual, instead of a one-size-fits-all solution, 3) clearly defining the school’s responsibilities, and 4) adding procedural safeguards to protect the rights of the children. Education as a fundamental right for all is based on the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. (Hurwitz, 2008) The amendment protects us from any state depriving us of life, liberty or property, without due course of law. Children with disabilities were being deprived of an appropriate education. In its landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court affirmed that educational opportunities fell under the protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and that state laws denying black children equal educational opportunities was unconstitutional. (Hannon, 1997) The language the court used made it clear that denying any group or classification of people educational opportunities was unconstitutional. (Stroman, 2003) Education had to be extended to all, on equal terms regardless of race or disability. Federal legislation was necessary to standardize all of the existing laws different states had regarding the education of children with disabilities. Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was designed to protect students with various educational handicaps, either physical or mental. (Hurwitz, 2008) Any entity that received funding from the federal government was now barred by law from discriminating against anyone with an educational handicap. This new law defined a â€Å"qualified handicapped person† as someone who had a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities. (Sattler, 2008) A major life activity is defined in terms of function. Does the impairment limit functions, like walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, or learning? With this broad definition of disability, a wide range of individuals are covered under this act. Children that require special education, as well as children with various medical conditions that prevent them from functioning adequately in the classroom, are all protected under Section 504. The language used in Section 504 reflects the time period in which it was written. Stroman, (2003) points out that what was once cutting edge scientific terminology may over time take on new meanings which could have negative connotations with the public. In the United States â€Å"handicap† has been replaced with the term â€Å"disabled. † Legislation subsequent to Section 504 has reflected this change. Section 504 requires schools to provide a free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities. It further mandates that children with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment. Sattler, 2008) This requirement forces schools to accommodate children with disabilities so that their education is comparable to those children without disabilities. While it’s not always possible to accommodate every condition, the schools must make an appropriate effort. Some examples of accommodation include, giving preferential seating to a child with difficulty walking, or providing a structured learning environment to child with a learning disability. Schools are also required to provide special education services to accommodate children with more severe types of disabilities. Under Section 504, schools are required to establish procedural safeguards to protect the rights of children with disabilities and also their parents or guardians. (Sattler, 2008) Parents are encouraged to work with the schools to ensure their children are receiving appropriate assessments, along with reasonable accommodations from the schools. There must also be periodic reviews of the child’s education plans. If the parents don’t agree with the schools’ assessments, they have the right to take the school districts to federal court. Section 504 was an important first step in providing a free and appropriate education for all children in this country. It has had a meaningful impact on the education of children with disabilities by first, defining who is protected, and the school’s responsibility in meeting the educational needs of those children, and second, setting up procedures to ensure the rights of these children and their parents are protected. Perhaps more importantly, Section 504 laid the groundwork for the disability legislation that followed it. Congress enacted the first Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. The law was originally called the Education for all Handicapped Children Act and has been subsequently updated, expanded, and amended several times. (Hurwitz, 2008) In 1990, President Bush signed into law the act that changed the name of the Education for all Handicapped Children to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (Jacob amp; Hartshorn, 2003) The law introduced several important concepts that have become hallmarks of special education today. In providing a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities, IDEA introduced the concept of an individual education plan for children in special education. Schools could no longer take a one-size-fits-all approach to special education. (Switzer, 2003) Each child with disabilities would be provided with a plan on how to receive an appropriate education. Another important concept introduced in IDEA was â€Å"zero reject† (Hurwitz, 2008). No child could be rejected from receiving services, no matter how severe the disability. Whereas Section 504 interpreted disability in a broad sense, IDEA defines disability very specifically. The law defines 13 distinct categories of disability, including impairments such as mental retardation, emotional disturbance, and autism. (Sattler, 2008) All of these disabilities require special education services from the schools. A child with a medical disability, such as diabetes, while eligible for accommodation under Section 504, would not be covered under IDEA, because its narrower definition of disability. IDEA deals specifically with children in special education. Even with narrowing its definition of disabilities, IDEA covers a wide range of disabilities. The education for a child with a disability such as deaf-blindness, would be very different from the education of a child with autism, both covered by IDEA (Hannon, 1997) In order to provide an appropriate education for children with diverse kinds of disabilities, IDEA has mandated that all children have an individualized educational program (IEP). An IEP is a written document that explains the child’s needs and how the school or public agency is going to meet those needs. Sattler, 2008) An IEP must include information like the child’s present level of performance, goals, services needed, and accommodations needed. The IEP must be renewed annually and it is transferable if the child moves. In this way IDEA attempts to provide unique solutions for children with specific educational needs. In addition to providing an IEP for children in special education IDEA also requires school s to provide a full and appropriate individual initial evaluation to determine the child’s disability and educational needs. (Sattler, 2008) Specific criteria must be applied to the evaluation. The evaluation must use multiple assessment tools and strategies. It must use multiple types of information, such as academic, developmental, and medical information. The evaluation must use technically sound instruments, administered by trained and knowledgeable personnel. The assessment procedures should be non-discriminatory in nature and comprehensive in scope. This type of comprehensive evaluation is hoped to identify the nature of the child’s disability and the measures necessary to provide and appropriate IEP. Schools are also required to provide an education in the least restrictive environment under IDEA. If possible, children with disabilities should be educated in a general education classroom with an appropriate accommodation. (Hurwitz, 2008) This practice is called â€Å"mainstreaming† or â€Å"inclusion. † The rationale behind inclusion is that it may increase children’s academic achievement and self-esteem, and decrease the stigma associated with disabilities. (Sattler, 2008) IDEA also includes many procedural safeguards to protect the rights of children with disabilities and their parents. Under Section 504, parents can go directly to federal court in order to resolve disputes with schools. IDEA requires parents to try and find an administrative solution before allowing them to go to court. (Sattler, 2008) However, IDEA stresses the importance of parents being involved in all of the decisions regarding their children’s education. Parents of children with disabilities are to be given the opportunity to be members of the groups that make placement decisions, such as the IEP team. Parents also have the right to have independent evaluations of their children, at no cost to the parents. Finally parents have the right to a due process complaint. The complaint can be regarding any matter relating to the identification, evaluation, or placement of the child. The complaint must be heard and resolved in a reasonable time frame. If the school and the parent cannot resolve the complaint, the next step is mediation, where an independent mediator attempts to resolve the issues. If mediation fails, a due process hearing is convened, where an impartial hearing officer hears evidence from both sides and makes a decision based on the evidence whether or not the child received a free and appropriate education. Finally, the parents have the right to appeal the decision of the due process hearing. Sattler, 2008) Under IDEA the procedural safeguards are clearly defined and designed to ensure a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Conclusion Although Section 504 and IDEA both require schools to provide a free and appropriate education to all children, IDEA strives to clarify just what exactly that phrase means and how to achieve that goal. The definition of disability is narrowly defined. A method for meeting the needs of each individual child with disabilities is provided in the form of the individualized education program. A school’s responsibilities are also more clearly defined under IDEA than Section 504. Finally, the procedural safeguards are also more specific. Implementation of IDEA has not been without problems. In fact, school districts lobbied against the bill because of the costs. (Switzer, 2003) In defining a free and appropriate education, IDEA makes it clear that school districts and public entities must provide an appropriate education free of charge if the child is covered under the law. (Hurwitz, 2008) Problems with assessment have also arisen. IDEA mandates the usage of technically sound instruments in the assessment of disability. Flanagan (1995) pointed out that a more reliable measure was needed for the assessment of emotional disturbance, one of the 13 disabilities defined by IDEA. Finally, arguments have been made against the least restrictive environment clause. McDonough (2008) argues that a relaxing of the mainstreaming requirement of IDEA would benefit students with autism spectrum disorders, allowing them to receive the specialized education they require, and reliving the burden on general education teachers from the classroom disruptions common to the disorder. Unfortunately there is a huge amount of litigation associated with these two federal laws. The vague language used in these laws is open to many different interpretations. Who is to say what is â€Å"appropriate† in a â€Å"free and appropriate education? † How can you quantify a â€Å"substantially† limited â€Å"major life activity? † And just what constitutes a â€Å"major life activity? † Parents and school districts, alike, aren’t sure how to interpret some of these phrases, and are quite willing to litigate in order to clarify the issue. (Switzer, 2003) This leaves some important educational decisions in the hands of the courts instead of educators. Controversies aside, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as well as Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, have had a profound impact on education in the United States. Both laws seek to identify individuals who had previously been denied access to education, and provide them with a means obtaining the self-determination that an education can provide. Finally, both laws try to hold those accountable for providing an education to all of the citizens of our country. Self-determination is a privilege most of us take for granted.