Christianity and Democracy in America Term Paper

Christianity and Democracy in America - Term Paper Example In democratic countries, society is controlled in a lesser degree than the government. Consequently, democracy leads to the creation of opinions, sentiments, suggests ordinary practices of life, and modifies what it does not produce (Tocqueville 5). â€Å"The more I advanced in the study of American society, the more I perceived that the equality of conditions was the fundamental fact from which all others seemed to be derived, and the central point at which all my observations constantly terminated. I then turned my thoughts to our own hemisphere, and imagined that I discerned there also something analogous to the spectacle which the new world presented to me. I observed that the equality of conditions, though it has not yet reached, as in the United States, its extreme limits, is daily progressing towards them; and that the democracy which governs the American communities appears to be rapidly rising into power in Europe. From that moment I conceived the idea of the book which is now before the reader.† (Tocqueville 6). According to Tocqueville, American democracy is the best example that should be followed by other countries. He considers democracy to be the greatest and the most important issue of his time. However, America was seen by both democrats and aristocrats as a force that tries to divide Europe. Democrats argued that democratic principles should be exercised in the society while aristocrats tried to withstand the democratic spirit. Jacques Maritain Maritain, who was a Frenchman, majorly reflected on the church and the state. The state, according to Maritain, is political and is concerned with the common welfare of the people, the public order, and administration of public affairs. Further, he states that the state is a part of a society that protects and promotes the interests of the people. The state is not a person or a group of persons but rather an institution or institutions working together (Dougherty 13). Maritain further explains th e importance of a spirituality or Christianity in the state. From a religious point of view, the common good of the politics in the state is in direct ordination of something which transcends it. The state is controlled and is under the order of a supreme being. From a secular perspective, the church is an organization or a set of instructions concerned with the spiritual well being of an individual or of a believer. In political perspective, the good activities done by the citizens have an impact on the lives of the members of a community. Therefore, the church is necessary for the common good of the state and to the society. He further states that the church and the state cannot work in isolation or the ignorance of one another. In the body of a person, there is a part which is a member of the church and another part which is political. An absolute division of the church and the state cannot occur. The state and the church must cooperate (Maritain 15). Further, Maritain says that the state owes its political authority to the people. Citizens must be given a right to self government. The right of self governance is foreseen in the constitution, whether written or not written. The citizens are the group of persons who unite under just laws to achieve their common goal. However, the citizens are concerned not only with politics. Every individual has a spiritual soul; therefore, the people are above the state, the sate works for them not the citizens working for

Terminal Operations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Terminal Operations - Assignment Example The harbour has existed since the Roman times and has a number of extensive wharves and docks, on top of a cruise liner terminal. The harbour also has a terminal that serves ferries to connect Malta to Catania and Pozzallo in Sicily. The Marsamxett harbour is located west of Valletta and mainly hosts several yacht marinas. The harbour at Marsaxlokk which is the site upon which the Malta Freeport stands is on the south-east of Malta, and is the main cargo terminal in the republic (Bill, 2004). Also, there are two man-made harbours that are used to provide car and passenger ferry service connecting Marr Harbour on Gozo and irkewwa Harbour on Malta. Malta Freeport is among the most sophisticated terminal hubs in the world. The port has a well established feeder network connecting it to over 100 ports in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean ocean. The port has experienced remarkable growth since it was established and has attracted some of the most renowned international maritime players in the world courtesy of state-of-the-art facilities, proven track record and enviable geographical location (Bill, 2004). Port Authorities in Malta have increasingly appreciated the need for the construction of modern one million TEU container terminals in Malta in response to the need to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and capacity, and globalise terminal operations. The highly automated terminal is expected to use gantry cranes. The construction of the modern terminal will have great consequences for the strategic position of port as well as to its potential clients. Standard-sized containers are commonly used to cargo between different transportation modes such as trains, trucks and ships (Bill, 2004). A commonly used unit of cargo capacity used for describing container terminals and container ships is the teu or TEU, but is an inexact measure. One TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) represents a cargo capacity of a shipping container 8 feet wide and 20 feet long without a standardized height. The container height can range from 4.25feet to 9.5feet but more commonly is 8.5feet The construction which is anticipated to offer world-class maritime services will be capable of handling one million teu annually with a potential for future expansion. Several Safety and security issues must be well addressed during the construction of the facility which must also be environmentally friendly (Felix, 2008). The high-level technological gantry equipment used at the terminal must be able to keep drivers, visitors and workers safe while expediting cargo movement using the newest and technologically advanced handling machines. The automated container handling system will make it possible for the management function to closely monitor activities taking place in the terminal through a central monitoring office. CONTAINER TERMINALS In the recent past, methodological approaches in container terminal operations have considerably changed with modern techniques of material handling being adopted (Hans, 2004). Yet another area where significant changes have been witnessed in information and communication as well as the security functions of the organization. Constructing of quay walls, fairways, and terminal areas must therefore be carefully done in line with the master plan which has several security and safety measures on top of complying with current regulations and providing room for future development (Felix, 2008). In