Few aspects of American military history have been as vigorously debated as Harry Truman's decision to use atomic bombs against Japan. In this carefully crafted volume, Michael Kort describes the wartime circumstances and thinking that form the context for the decision to use these weapons, surveys the major debates related to that decision, and provides a comprehensive collection of key primary source documents that illuminate the behavior of the United States and Japan during the closing days of World War II. Kort opens with a summary of the debate over Hiroshima as it has evolved since 1945. He then provides a historical overview of thye events in question, beginning with the decision and program to build the atomic bomb. Detailing the sequence of events leading to Japan's surrender, he revisits the decisive battles of the Pacific War and the motivations of American and Japanese leaders. Finally, Kort examines ten key issues in the discussion of Hiroshima and guides readers to relevant primary source documents, scholarly books, and articles.
The expectations of European planners for the gradual disappearance of national borders, and the corresponding prognoses of social scientists, have turned out to be over-optimistic. Borders have not disappeared – not even in a unified and predominantly peaceful Europe – but rather they have changed, become more varied and, in a certain sense, mobile, taking on an important role in the everyday lives of more people than ever before. Furthermore, it is now widely accepted that borders do not just hinder communication and the formation of relationships, but also channel and prefigure them in a positive way. Presenting a number of studies of everyday life in European borderlands, this book addresses the multifarious and complex ways in which borders function as both barriers and bridges. Focusing on ‘established’ Western European borderlands – with the exception of three contrasting cases – the book attempts a turn from conflict to harmony in the study of borderlands and thus examines the more mundane manifestations of border life and the complex, often unconscious motives of everyday cross-border practices. The collection of chapters demonstrates that even in the case of ‘open’ political borders, the border remains an enduring factor that is not adequately described as either a problematic barrier or a desirable bridge. The studies look at bordering processes, not only approaching them from different disciplinary angles – sociology, anthropology, geography, history, political science and literary studies – but also choosing different scales and making comparisons that range from different borders of one country to the reactions and attitudes of different individuals in a single borderland village.
The people of the world are becoming increasingly conscious of their growing interdependence. They share an emerging dream of a world community founded on cooperation and justice. This dream, like all dreams, is imperfect and subject to contextual, cultural, and historical biases, yet it opens the road for a future that yields a process in which the peoples of the world can move away from chaos; take steps towards the alleviation of famine, disease, and misery; reduce the burden of the world arms race; and decrease the burden of repression on millions. We are discovering that our fates and futures increasingly depend on one another, making mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation essential. It is up to us, at this crucial time in our shared history, to ask three vital questions. How will we know and relate with each other? How will we define and benefit from our relationship? How will we cope together with the teeming diversity of our global community? Modernization, when understood holistically, is directed by the goal of spiritual realization. This goal anticipates that a nation will attain community and prosperity as byproducts, but such things are viewed as incidental to the larger issue of spiritual identity. More or less consciously, all real social development is driven by this same goal. A nation in the process of development is like a person on a spiritual path. As such, spirituality has a vital role to play in efforts to fashion a new compass capable of guiding humanity toward a culture of peace. The visions offered by reductionist science to explain humanity's place in the universe have failed because they could not bridge the tremendous material and cultural divides that define the world today, nor could they provide impetus for an ecologically sustainable future. Therefore, we must look to the world's great contemplative traditions for the untapped spiritual resources and enduring wisdom necessary to construct new visions. The reorientation of international relations to a moral framework derived from a spiritual perspective is the world's best (and perhaps only) hope for transcending separateness and encouraging universal solidarity. Leadership that does not inspire such noble responses and trust of others ultimately will not last. This active concept of peace is not an abstract, static goal that lies ahead at some indeterminate point, but consists instead of a dynamic process of doing and being that can be started immediately. This generation marks a turning point in the affairs of humanity. America and other nations need to take every action necessary to ensure that the world's lasting legacy will be founded upon human solidarity and the holistic nature of life. —Abdul Aziz Said, from Bridges Not Barriers: The American Dream and the Global Community The Fetzer Institute's project on Deepening the American Dream began in 1999 to explore the relationship between the inner life of spirit and the outer life of service. Through commissioned essays and in dialogue with such writers as Huston Smith, Jacob Needleman, Gerald May, Charles Gibbs, Robert Inchausti, Carolyn Brown, Elaine Pagels, and others, the project is beginning to sow the seeds of a national conversation. With the publication of these essays, the thinking and writing coming from these gatherings is being offered in a series of publications sponsored by The Fetzer Institute in partnership with Jossey-Bass. In an effort to surface the psychological and spiritual roots at the heart of the critical issues that face the world today, we are extending this inquiry by creating a parallel series focused on Exploring a Global Dream. The essays and individual volumes and anthologies published in both series will explore and describe the many ways, as individuals and communities and nations, that we can illuminate and inhabit the essential qualities of the global citizen who seeks to live with the authenticity and grace demanded by our times.
Through engaging personal stories, Bridging Barriers tells of the trials, tribulations and successes of the engineers and community members who gave new hope to La Garrucha in the Guatemalan Highlands by building a water project and constructing a bridge to defeat The Assassin, a raging river in the area.
Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Discipleship and Christianity are bound together in God's Word. In order to be the Christian God wants us to be, we must be the disciple God wants us to be. Author Heath Rogers uses God's illustrations to guide us through a study of the qualities of discipleship. From soldier to servant, from clay in the Potter's hand to apologist, these God-defined aspects of discipleship are discussed with the idea in mind that we can each become a stronger Christian.
In Titus 2:14 God calls every Christian to become “...a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” But how can Christians develop the kind of zeal that really lasts? It’s not by following contemporary trends or focusing only on positive topics. The real key is putting God’s plan into action. Lifelong Zeal is a workbook to help Christians ignite a lasting passion for God based on the step-by step process Jesus used with Peter and His other disciples. In 22 lessons, students learn how to: Identify the three elements every spiritual fire MUST have to keep burning. Enhance their zeal with greater wisdom, courage and diligence. Recover from burnout, even when surrounded by discouragement. Pursue good deeds that align with their personality and talents. Keep their hope anchored in God's grace. Lifelong Zeal includes over 400 scripture references, as well as discussion questions, making it perfect for personal or public Bible studies. Christian zeal does not have to fizzle out over time, it can grow deeper and more mature. So get started in this inspiring study and enjoy a renewed spark in your walk with God!
An informed argument for an economic policy based on bridges of preparation and adaptation rather than walls of protection and exclusion "When technological change and globalization in recent decades brought frustration over the resulting losses to jobs and communities, there were no guardrails to get these workers back on track. As this compelling book shows, our nation is going to need bridges to help people get through the unavoidable transformations."--Edmund Phelps, 2006 Nobel Laureate in Economics and author of Mass Flourishing Free-market economists often have noted that there are winners and losers in a competitive capitalist world. The question of how to deal with the difficult real-life consequences faced by the losers, however, has largely been ignored. Populist politicians have tried repeatedly to address the issue by creating walls--of both the physical and economic kinds--to insulate communities and keep competition at bay. While recognizing the broad emotional appeal of walls, economist Glenn Hubbard argues that because they delay needed adaptations to the ever-changing world, walls are essentially backward-looking and ultimately destined to fail. Taking Adam Smith's logic to Youngstown, Ohio, as a case study in economic disruption, Hubbard promotes the benefits of an open economy and creating bridges to support people in turbulent times so that they remain engaged and prepared to participate in, and reap the rewards of, a new economic landscape.
Interdisciplinary research is a cooperative effort by a team of investigators, each an expert in the use of different methods and concepts, who have joined in an organized program to attack a challenging problem. Each investigator is responsible for the research in their area of discipline that applies to the problem, but together the investigators are responsible for the final product. The need for interdisciplinary training activities has been detailed over the last 25 years in both public and private reports. The history of science and technology has even shown the important advances that arose from interdisciplinary research, including plate tectonics which brought together geologists, oceanographers, paleomagnetists, seismologists, and geophysicists to advance the ability to forecast earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In recognition of this, the need to train scientists who can address the highly complex problems that challenge us today and fully use new knowledge and technology, and the fact that cooperative efforts have proved difficult, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), the National Institute on Nursing Research (NINR), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) requested that an Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee be created to complete several tasks including: examining the needs and strategies for interdisciplinary training in the brain, behavioral, social, and clinical sciences, defining necessary components of true interdisciplinary training in these areas, and reviewing current educational and training programs to identify elements of model programs that best facilitate interdisciplinary training. Bridging Disciplines in the Brain, Behavioral, and Clinical Sciences provides the conclusions and recommendations of this committee. Due to evaluations of the success of interdisciplinary training programs are scarce, the committee could not specify the "necessary components" or identify the elements that "best facilitate" interdisciplinary training. However, after reviewing existing programs and consulting with experts, the committee identified approaches likely to be successful in providing direction for interdisciplinary endeavors at various career stages. This report also includes interviews, training programs, and workshop agendas used.
Nominated for ten UK book awards, Theresa Breslin's hit novel tells of how two young boys - one Rangers fan, one Celtic fan - are drawn into a secret pact to help a young asylum seeker in a city divided by prejudice. Now adapted for the stage by Martin Travers, the play has already been produced to great acclaim at Glasgow's Citizens Theatre. Graham and Joe just want to play football and be selected for the new city team, but a violent attack on Kyoul, an asylum seeker, changes everything when they find themselves drawn into a secret pact to help the victim and his girlfriend Leanne. Set in Glasgow at the time of the Orange Order walks, Divided City is a gripping tale about two boys and how they must find their own way forward in a world divided by difference. This educational edition has been prepared by national Drama in Secondary English experts Ruth Moore and Paul Bunyan. Published in Methuen Drama's Critical Scripts series the book: - meets the curriculum requirements for English at KS3, GCSE and Scottish CfE. - features detailed, structured schemes of work utilising drama approaches to improve literary and language analysis - places pupils' understanding of the learning process at the heart of the activities - will help pupils to boost English GCSE success and develop high-level skills at KS3 - will save teachers considerable time devising their own resources.
