Social Movements- Gay Rights Essays - Same-sex Sexuality

Social Movements- Gay Rights The history of the gay rights movement goes as far back as the late 19th century. More accurately, the quest by gays to search out others like themselves and foster a feeling of identity has been around since then. It is an innovative movement that seeks to change existing norms and gain acceptance within our culture. By 1915, one gay person said that the gay world was a community, distinctly organized (Milestones 1991), but kept mostly out of view because of social hostility. According to the Milestones article, after World War II, around 1940, many cities saw their first gay bars open as many homosexuals began to start a networking system. However, their newfound visibility only backfired on them, as in the 1950's president Eisenhower banned gays from holding federal jobs and many state institutions did the same. The lead taken by the federal government encouraged local police forces to harass gay citizens. Vice officers regularly raided gay bars, sometimes arresting dozens of men and women on a single night (Milestones). In spite of the adversity, out of the 1950s also came the first organized groups of gays, including leaders. The movement was small at first, but grew exponentially in short periods of time. Spurred on by the civil rights movement in the 1960s, the homophile (Milestones) movement took on more visibility, picketing government agencies and discriminatory policies. By 1969, around 50 gay organizations existed in the United States. The most crucial moment in blowing the gay rights movement wide open was on the evening of July 27, 1969, when a group of police raided a gay bar in New York City. This act prompted three days of rioting in the area called the Stonewall Riots, including the appearance of numerous gay power signs. Almost overnight, a massive movement had begun, with participants enthusiastically joining in. By 1973, there were almost eight hundred gay and lesbian organizations in the United States; by 1990, the number was several thousand. By 1970, 5,000 gay men and lesbians marched in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots; in October 1987, over 600,000 marched in Washington, to demand equality (Milestones) Over the next two decades, half the states decriminalized homosexual behavior, and police harassment grew less frequent and obvious to the public. Also in 1975, it became legal for gays to hold federal jobs. However all this headway also made room for more opposition. In 1977, Anita Bryant was so successful at obtaining a repeal of a recent gay ordinance in her home state of Florida that by 1980, a league of anti gay clubs had come together to make a force, led in part by Jesse Helms. The AIDS scare that began in the eighties did not help the gay image either, but more citizens joined their ranks in order to combat the oppression and fund a search for the cure, so in the end it actually made the movement stronger. According to the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia (2000), by 1999, the anti-sodomy laws of 32 states had been repealed, and in 1996 Vermont granted its gay citizens the right to same sex marriages. Gay rights has come a long way as a social movement, and though it still has a long way to go, it makes a good topic to analyze the process of the social movement. The establishment that the social movement fights against in this case is the predisposed beliefs of American people, and a way of life that has been unchanged for a long time. There are of course establishments with anti-gay agendas, but the real challenge for the gays in finding acceptance has always been convincing people that they are human too. The standard belief that most Americans have had throughout history is that being gay is not only immoral, but also not normal, and sac religious (Olinger). Many people believe that being gay is a disease and should be treated, while others believe it is just sin, and that they should be punished. There is no one establishment in this situation, but only a large group of American citizens who do not understand the issue they are being faced with. However, the goal of

Research Paper on Technology

Research Paper on Technology Over the past decade, new technologies have come about having astronomically powerful impact on the economy. The leaps and bounds that the technology industry has taken weren’t always for the better. The downsides to all of these victories in man vs. machine have come with their problems and a price. These downfalls are far from over and we can expect a global conflict at the hands of technology in the near future. Technology has been used as a theft device in many respects, from jobs to copyrighted property. With unrestricted sources such as the internet, the ways to slow down this moral massacre are few and far between. Many companies fear technology more than they embrace it. Taking the giant leap into the twenty-first century has frightened some veteran companies to enough to keep them from attempting anything as simple as a corporate website. In 1999, there were over 4,000 lawsuits against technologies. All of these claims were staked on the theory that these new technologies were a threat to the companies’ clients and profits (Economic Evaluation). Such technologies included handheld devices for stock market observation or software that stored passwords to important restricted files. Devices such as these were originally designed to simplify the process of purchasing and trading stocks. Like-wise, such programs were developed to quicken access to files that may be time-crucial in monetary factors (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission). Morality can also be weighed in as a large factor in the decision to integrate newer technologies into your personal corporate empire. Many business owners in their middle ages feel it down-right immoral to recruit machines as field workers (Atlas of U.S. Economy). A product still in beta-stage is one of a new breed of concepts. It is considered part of a new line of ‘smart technologies.’ This particular device has its user fill out a list of preferences and once completed, it acts as its user’s stock broker. It does all the bidding necessary according to its owner’s financial position and risk-taking preferences. However, this device may remain unreleased longer than originally anticipated due to strong protests by professional stock brokers and financial conservatives alike (Hugh Watson). White-collar jobs aren’t the only district of profession that have been and will continue to be greatly affected by new technologies. The music industry has grown by leaps and bounds, especially in the last two years, with the advancement of a technology known as pro-tools. Pro-tools allow you to digitally record, edit, and duplicate your own music into a professional sounding project. Digital cut and paste techniques have simplified the recording process by enabling audio enhancements that older recording engineers would salivate over (Kelin J. Kuhn). The use of pro tools can turn any aspiring garage musician into the next record chart topper by opening the doors to any within a middle-class budget. However, many feel that this is perhaps a door that should have remained closed to these new arrivals. These technologies make much of the talent once needed to create these aural masterpieces obsolete (Impact Fall). Even communication has been revolutionized time and time again by today’s advancements. The ever-growing fad of cell phones manages to multiply itself at an incredible rate year after year. With their introduction to society in the 1980’s, cell phones were rarely used. They were bulky and considerably expensive to maintain. Twenty years later, that same concept built off the idea of mobile communication can not only be found in the hands of corporate executives, but the children of part-time dishwashers. The resources needed to obtain and activate a cell phone have drastically decreased and continue to do so as the technology becomes more and more available (James M. ONeill). Headset devices and microphones simplify the already childishly easy protocol of talking on the cell phone by freeing up the speaker’s hands. Around the bend for this phenomenon is a headset and microphone much like the ones available now, difference being the lack of central device. The act ual phone part of this pocket communication network will but cut out all together. The receiver for the orbiting satellites will be in the earpiece of the device and dialing will be voice activated. The only thing keeping this advancement from release is a potential health risk that is still being investigated by health boards from possible radiation leaking from the receiver which would be located right next to the aural cavity (Kelin J. Kuhn). Perhaps in the most literal interpretation of theft, piracy is a fast-growing phenomenon among adults and children alike. A face the music industry would like to (but never will) soon forget is that of a man named Shawn Fanning. Shawn Fanning created a program named Napster named after a nickname given to him by his friends. Napster made it possible for users to ‘share’ music files on their computer with other people simply by putting it in a folder that could be browsed by another computer outside the LAN. This angered many artists including a man named Lars Ulrich. Ulrich best known as the drummer for Metallica, sued Fanning and several frequent Napster users for illegally downloading Metallica MP3 files. This spelled the end for Napster. This pioneer gnutella program would eventually release a subscription version of its originally free program. However this release went ignored by a public now hooked on the file sharing frenzy (The Arizona Office of Public Affairs). The main gravitation of people flowed to another program known as Morpheus for their file sharing needs. Two key differences between Morpheus and Napster were that Morpheus didn’t just offer music, but additionally offered videos, documents, and software to any of its non-paying members. Also, it delivered the ability to download these media files from multiple users simultaneously, thus increasing download speeds drastically. Morpheus was the merged product of two sponsor-supported companies known as Music City and Kazaa. In the midst 2001 and all of Morpheus’ success, Music City made the overall fatal decision to follow suit with Napster and become a pay service. After this, Kazaa divided from the Morpheus merge to form its own program. Since many users agreed with Kazaa’s decision, the file sharing was not slowed at all. Kazaa’s rise in popularity couldn’t have come at a better time for the frequent internet user, this being because the rise of broadband internet subscribers was flourishing. Broadband internet (which is now used by 65% of CT residents and 47% of the total U.S. residents) increases internet interaction speed by exponential amounts. The simple act of downloading the newest Hollywood hit which would have taken days on dial-up internet can now be completed in a time window as small as an hour or two (Bob Jacobson). The world leader in computer technologies, going by the name of Microsoft Inc. was subjected to an attack of piracy upon the release of their recent popular operating system Windows XP. The ‘Professional’ version of this software was pirated so massively that its product code had to be disabled from windows updates on the Microsoft site. Furthermore, one month before the scheduled legal release of this OS, it was already installed and running on 30,000 computers nationwide. This is a perfect example of one of the biggest known piracy problems. The ability to obtain and/or exploit a technology before it’s even supposed to be available to the general public. There’s a trial scheduled to commence on the piracy issue as a whole in early 2004 (Hugh Watson). These issues cannot be solved with one simple solution. They come with many consequences attached no matter what is decided. Advancement is inevitable and can be very beneficial to any business. However, many developers of newer technologies see it fit to design their product for stealing or destroying. Regulation is most likely one of the best possible solutions to this problem. Many businesses could flourish if only they’d give into the obstacle of technology and accept it. Perhaps they wouldn’t be so apprehensive to do so if so many people weren’t developing their ideas only to hurt others morally and financially.

International Baccalaureate vs Advanced Placement

International Baccalaureate vs Advanced Placement Most people are familiar with AP, or Advanced Placement courses, but more and more families are learning about the International Baccalaureate, and wondering, whats the difference between the two programs? Heres a review of each program, and an overview of how they differ.   The AP Program AP coursework and exams are developed and administered by  CollegeBoard.com  and include 35 courses and exams in 20 subject areas. AP  or Advanced Placement Program consists of a three-year sequence of course work in a specific subject. It is available to serious students in Grades 10 to 12. The course work culminates in rigorous examinations held in May of the graduating year. AP Grading The examinations are scored on a five-point scale, with 5 being the highest mark attainable. The course work in a given subject is generally equivalent to a first-year college course. As a result, a student who achieves a 4 or 5 is usually permitted to skip the corresponding course as a freshman in college. Administered by the College Board, the AP program is guided by a panel of expert educators from around the U.S.A. This great program prepares students for the rigors of college-level work. AP Subjects Subjects offered include: Art HistoryBiologyCalculus AB BCChemistryComputer Science AEconomicsEnglishEnvironmental ScienceEuropean HistoryFrenchGerman LanguageGovernment PoliticsHuman GeographyInternational English Language (APIEL)LatinMusic TheoryPhysicsPsychologySpanishStatisticsStudio ArtUS HistoryWorld History Each year, according to the College Board, more than half a million students take over a million  Advanced Placement exams! College Credits and AP Scholar Awards Each college or university sets its own admissions requirements. Good scores in AP coursework indicate  to admissions staff that a student has achieved a recognized standard in that subject area. Most schools will accept scores of 3 or above as the equivalent of their introductory or first-year courses in the same subject area. Consult university websites for details. The College Board offers a series of 8 Scholar Awards which recognize outstanding scores in AP examinations. Advanced Placement International Diploma In order to earn the Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID) students must earn a grade of 3 or higher in five specified subjects. One of these subjects must be chosen from the AP global course offerings: AP World History, AP Human Geography, or  AP Government and Politics: Comparative. The APID is the College Boards answer to the  IBs international cachet  and acceptance. It is aimed at students studying abroad and American students who wish to attend university in a foreign country. Its important to note, however, this is not a replacement for a high school diploma, it is only a certificate. Description of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program The  IB  is a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for liberal arts education at the tertiary level. It is directed by the  International Baccalaureate  Organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The mission of the IBO is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. In North America over 645 schools offer IB programs. IB Programmes The IBO offers three programmes: the  Diploma Programme  for juniors and seniorsthe  Middle Years Programme  for students aged 11 to 16the  Primary Years Programme  for students aged 3 to 12 The programmes form a sequence but can be offered independently according to the needs of individual schools. The IB Diploma Programme The IB Diploma is truly international in its philosophy and aims. The curriculum requires balance and research. For instance, a science student has to become familiar with a foreign language, and a humanities student must understand laboratory procedures. In addition, all candidates for the IB diploma must undertake some extensive research into one of over sixty subjects. The IB Diploma is accepted at universities in over 115 countries. Parents appreciate the rigorous training and education which the IB programs offer their children.   What do AP and IB have in common? The International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) are both  about excellence. A school doesnt commit to preparing students for these rigorous examinations lightly. Expert, well-trained faculty must implement and teach the courses which culminate in those examinations. They put a schools reputation squarely on the line. It boils down to two things: credibility and universal acceptance. These are key factors in a schools graduates gaining admission to the colleges and universities which they wish to attend. College admissions officers usually have a pretty good idea of a schools academic standards if the school has previously submitted applicants. The schools track record is more or less established by those prior candidates.  Grading policies  are understood. Curriculum taught has been examined. But what about a new school or a school from a foreign country or a school which is determined to upgrade its product? The AP and IB credentials immediately convey credibility. The standard is well-known and understood. Other things being equal, the college knows that a candidate with success in the AP or IB is ready for tertiary level work. The payoff for the student is exemption for many entry-level courses. This, in turn, means that the student gets his or her degree requirements completed more quickly. It also means fewer credits have to be paid for. How do APandIB differ? Reputation:  While the AP is widely accepted for course credit and recognized for its excellence at universities throughout the U.S., the IB Diploma Programmes reputation is even greater. Most international universities recognize and respect an IB diploma. Fewer U.S. schools offer the IB program than the AP- over 14,000 AP schools vs less than 1,000 IB schools according to  US News, but that number is on the rise for IB.  Style of Learning and  Courses:  The AP program has students focus deeply on one particular subject, and usually for a short period of time. The IB program takes a more holistic approach that focuses on a subject by not only delving in deep, but also applying it to other areas. Many IB courses are two-year continuous courses of study, vs. the APs one-year-only approach. IB courses related to each other in a coordinated cross-curricular approach with specific overlapping between the studies. AP courses are singular and not designed to be a part of an overla pping course of study between disciplines. AP courses are one level of study, while IB offers both a standard level and a higher level.   Requirements:  AP courses can be taken at will, in any manner at any time according to the schools discretion. While some schools do allow students to enroll in IB courses in a similar manner, if a student specifically wants to be a candidate for an IB diploma, they must take two years of exclusive IB courses in accordance with rules and regulations from the IBO. IB students aiming for the diploma must take at least 3 higher level courses.  Testing:  Educators have described the difference between the two testing methods as follows: AP tests to see what you dont know; IB tests to see what you do know. AP tests are designed to see what students know about a specific subject, pure and simple.  IB tests ask students to reflect on the knowledge they possess in order to test a students skills and abilities to analyze and present information, evaluate and make arguments, and creatively solve problems.  Diploma:  AP students who meet specific criteria receive a certificate that has an international reputation, but still only graduate with a traditional high school diploma. On the other hand, IB students who meet the required criteria and scores at schools in the US will receive two diplomas: the traditional high school diploma as well as the International Baccalaureate Diploma.   Rigor:  Many AP students will note that their studies are more demanding than non-AP peers, but they have the option to pick and choose courses at will. IB students, on the other hand, but take only IB courses if they wish to qualify for the IB diploma. IB students regularly express that their studies are extremely demanding. While they report high levels of stress during the program, most IB students report being incredibly prepared for college and appreciative of the rigor after they complete the program.   AP vs. IB: Which is Right for Me? Flexibility is a major factor in determining which program is right for you. AP courses provide more wiggle room when it comes to choosing courses, the order in which they are taken, and more. IB courses require a strict course of study for two solid years. If studying outside of the US is not a priority and youre unsure about the commitment to an IB program, then an AP program may be right for you. Both programs will prepare you for college, but where you plan to study may be a deciding factor in which program you choose. Article edited by Stacy Jagodowski

Anne Hutchinson versus Massachuetts byWellington Newcomb Essay

Anne Hutchinson versus Massachuetts byWellington Newcomb - Essay Example These meetings were even called the dissident meeting that aimed to criticize and maybe even overthrow the current religion. According to the prosecutor, whose speech is represented in the article, Anne was guilty of the most insolent crime of that time. She dared to doubt the church interpretation of the Bible and gave her own understanding of it. A very interesting fact is that Anne considered John Cotton, a local priest, to be her teacher. She valued his sermons and his understanding of religion greatly. He was the true teacher who lit the light of true God’s words to her. However, while she was waiting support from him, since she followed his way of teaching and spreading faith, he turned out to be just a coward and nothing else. She was accused of spreading information that only few priests truly understood God’s words, and among those was the name of father Cotton. After the first session of the trial Anne was put into prison to think over her decision and actions. In a month she stood before the court again. This time the committee was headed by father Cotton. He claimed that she was a sinner, since she dared to doubt the truthfulness of the Puritan church. The main idea of the article is to demonstrate that pioneers in any sphere are usually punished and misunderstood. She was the first woman who initiated the feminism school in religion. In those times a woman was considered to be unworthy of teaching Holly Bible, and what is even worse she was teaching men. A woman was demanded only to visit church and behave as a true puritans. Trying to defend herself, Anne explained that there are some obvious mistakes in the Bible. For example, she says that Puritanism gives wrong instructions to salvation. A person can behave not always right, but he will then get to Heaven. Vice a verse, being a good puritan does not guarantee being with God after death. She also maintained that she never spread the

Working Capital Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Working Capital - Assignment Example The ability of firms to manage short term debts and expenditures can be calculated with the formula in which value of current assets is deducted from the total value of current liabilities. If current assets are less than current liabilities we can say that entity has a working capital deficiency and if it assets are more than liabilities it shows entity is able to manage its debts and operational expenses. Working capital management helps companies to make short term decisions. The management involves different policies whose aim is to manage current assets and short term financing. Management of assets involves cash management, inventory and debtors management. Cash management refers to the availability of cash for business to meet day to day expense. Inventory Management which includes maintaining the level of inventory to meet daily production schedule without interruption. This will lower the reordering cost which subsequently increases the cash flows. Debtors management refers to the developing of credit policy for customers which will attract customers ,once customers are satisfied and willing to the credit policies of the entity this will increase revenue as well as Return on Capital. Short term financing involves devising appropriate source of financing as the inventory used by an entity is usually financed by suppliers or banks .Most firms find the need of short term financing because cash flow from operations may not be sufficient for the growth of firms financing needs. It is very important to manage the seasonal effects on working capital. Work capital of seasonal businesses show drastic changes during peak and off season. This fluctuation is dependent on the ability of the firm to manage its working capital. As explained by Rene Agredano in his article that to ensure efficient working capital a firm should keep track of its accounts receivables during peak season and avoid overspending in off season. IF we take an example of any seasonal business

Irony in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay -- Young Goodman Brown

Irony in â€Å"Young Goodman Brown†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tale â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† is replete, is saturated, with irony. This essay will amply illustrate the validity of this statement. At the outset of the story a young Puritan husband departs at sunset from his young Puritan wife, â€Å"And Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap, while she called to Goodman Brown.† The author says that Faith is â€Å"aptly named,† an ironic statement since she, later in the evening, is being received into the assembly of devil-worshippers as a new convert to the evil group. Not only is her name ironic, but also the description of her as â€Å"pretty,† and as wearing â€Å"pink ribbons† (an indication of youthful innocence and a cheerful outlook on life). In a futile attempt to persuade Goodman to remain home, Faith says: â€Å"A lone woman is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts, that she's afeard of herself, sometimes. Pray, tarry with me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year!" Her self-description as â€Å"afeard of herself† see ms ironic since she is not afraid later in the evening to venture into the darkest depth of the forest to indulge in satanic practices.    Goodman is just as ironic in his speech as his wife. He trys to assuage Faith’s troubled feelings by saying:    "My love and my Faith," replied young Goodman Brown, "of all nights in the year, this one night must I tarry away from thee. My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done 'twixt now and sunrise. What, my sweet, pretty wife, dost thou doubt me already, and we but three months married!"    Goodman’s affectionate appelation â€Å"my ... ...d a master of this literary device.    WORKS CITED       Benoit, Raymond.   "'Young Goodman Brown': The Second Time Around."   The Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 19 (Spring 1993): 18-21.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Complete Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc.,1959.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown.† 1835. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~daniel/amlit/goodman/goodmantext.html    The Holy Bible, King James Version-Old and New Testaments, with the Apocrypha http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/kjv.browse.html    James, Henry. Hawthorne. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997.    Martin, Terence. Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Twayne Publishers Inc., 1965.    Wagenknecht, Edward. Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Man, His Tales and Romances. New York: Continuum Publishing Co., 1989.

President Obama and American Civil Rights in the Twenty first Century

Civil rights liberties had been celebrated and established in the Untied States only in recent history. Barack Obama’s ascension to the presidency is the fruition of the long struggle of Black Americans for equal rights in all aspect of American society. From the days of Martin Luther King Jr. , however, civil rights in the USA have taken on various other issues, including the rights of homosexuals, women and the overall issue of racism, which is tangentially connected to the contentions in immigration. Pres.Obama’s leadership in guaranteeing and even expanding civil rights is done in the context of grave economic and political challenges to the United States. Voting Rights. The White House website (2010) states that â€Å"Civil Rights Division to ensure that voting rights are protected and Americans do not suffer from increased discrimination during a time of economic distress. President Obama†¦ believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expa nded to include sexual orientation and gender identity.He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage†¦. [and] that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. † The issue of equality is at the heart of civil rights. Equality, on the other hand, is at the heart of American democracy. While the United States’ practice of democracy may not be perfect, it is seen as one of the best working democratic systems in the world.Hence, if any citizen (regardless of class, gender preference or race) fails to vote, their voices shall have been curtailed and their representation may be at stake. Donna Brazile (2010) wrote that the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution was enacted to give voting rights to minorities. But due to Jim Crow laws, various States managed to circumvent the Constitutional amendment in favor of their own prejudices against B lacks and other minorities.Brazile (2010) went on to write that the voting rights of certain minorities are in danger in several states because of certain rules that make it difficult for these minorities to cast their votes. While the civil rights movement in the 1960s was mainly about the rights of Black Americans, the issue now includes other races, particularly Spanish-speaking peoples in the United States. Conservatives, Black Americans and Racism. The Tea Party is supposed to be an answer to the perceived failures of traditional parties in the United States.Ironically, in defense of the Tea Party, even Black conservatives consider the issue of â€Å"race† as a phony category. This tirade was in response to the accusation hurled by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) that the Tea Party is slow to discipline the racist elements in their party, among them are conservative Tom Tancredo, whose assertion implied that those without enough En glish literacy are responsible for electing America’s enemy—Barack Obama.Tancredo even criticized the â€Å"cult of multiculturalism† as the culprit for the problems of the United States (Travis, 2010, Berger, 2010). While some of elements from Tea Party may deny the category of race as an important issue in American politics, the historical record and events could not be denied. Race has been one of the most contentious issues in American politics and history. By bringing back the issue of literacy in voting, Tancredo is bringing back the Jim Crow laws days when literacy tests were used as a means to disenfranchise minorities and take away their right to vote.Subsequently, this rule became the source of violence in various states. Race and Gender Issues. Another civil rights issue that may appear to have arisen only recently is the issue of same-sex marriages. The most recent controversial matter was California’s Proposition 8, which was meant to re-esta blish the traditional definition of marriage as union between a man and a woman. But the battle for the rights of same-sex is not over. Judge Vaughn Walker, however, declared that this Proposition is unconstitutional.In his ruling, Walker said that â€Å"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples† (CNN, 2010). The issue of same-sex marriage is complicated by tradition and religion. Historically, however, race relations had also been complicated by tradition and religion.Hence, Judge Walker even stated that at some point, race restrictions on marriage were also implemented by many states in the past. Individual States and the Federal Government. There are a number of similarities in the civil rights issues of today and that previ ously faced by the United States. One such parallel that will resolve or further complicate the matter will be the relationship between and among the rules and policies of individual states and that of the federal government.While the federal government is faced with so many challenges from different areas—economy, politics, international relations and immigration among others, individual states will try to circumvent some constitutional rules if the leaders of these states feel that the Federal government is too busy to take notice. Already, some voting rights in Georgia are being threatened and minority votes are being undermined. The issue of same-sex marriage will also be decided upon by individual states, at least at first, before the United States Supreme Court step in to resolve it finally.The 1965 Voting Rights Act was enacted to guarantee equal voting rights. Failure to protect that will be tantamount to undermining America’s legacy of democracy. Reference Ber ger, J. (2010). Tea Party Launches Counter-Revolution. Fox News. Retrieved 8 August 2010 from http://liveshots. blogs. foxnews. com/2010/02/04/tea-party-launches-counter-revolution/. Brazile, D. (2010). Stay Vigilant to Protect Voting Rights. Cable News Network. Retrieved 8 August 2010 from http://edition. cnn. com/2010/OPINION/08/06/brazile. voting. rights. act/index. html. CNN (2010).Opponents of Same-sex Marriage to File Appeal in California Case. Cable News Network. Retrieved 8 August 2010 from http://edition. cnn. com/2010/US/08/05/california. same. sex. ruling/index. html. Travis, S. (2010). Black Conservatives Join Hands to Deny Racism within the Tea Party Movement. CNN Political Ticker. Retrieved 8 August 2010 from http://politicalticker. blogs. cnn. com/2010/08/04/black-conservatives-join-hands-to-deny-racism-within-the-tea-party-movement/? iref=allsearch White House Website (2010). Civil Rights. Retrieved 8 August 2010 from http://www. whitehouse. gov/issues/civil-rights.