Machiavelli Vs Lao-Tzu

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a political philosopher as well as a  statesmen during the time of the Renaissance. He is most famous for writing his political  views in The Prince (1513), which has become an important part of modern political  philosophy. The Prince offers advice to the monarch in order to keep himself in power.  His recommendations are polices that discourage mass political activism by channeling  the people around him to use their energies for private pursuits. Machiavelli wanted to  influence the monarch by showing him that he can better keep his power by  judiciously using violence, understanding and respecting his subjects private property  and traditions, and by promoting materialistic prosperity. Machieavelli believed that a political life is not governed by a set of morals  or a religious absolute. The monarch can be excused sometimes for using acts of violence  or deception for a means, which would not be ethical if he were a civilian. The Prince  was written at the height of the Renaissance when intense political conflict between the  dominant cities and states of Florence, Milan, Venice, the Papacy, France, Spain as well  as the Holy Empire. This incendiary conflict ended in massive political intrigue, violence  and blackmail to which Machievelli concluded with a plea for unity in Italy as well as an  end to foreign involvement. The great differences between Niccolo Machieavelli and Chinese Taoist  Philosopher, Lao-Tzu, is their beliefs on how a government should be run. Machieavelli  refers to what a prince should have as he places a totalitarian government. He believed  governments should be very structured and controlled as well as powerful. Lao- Tz  belief is that one person cannot have total control and they should let everything run its  course. Machievelli argued in his book that, Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus  Livius that a republic would, be strengthened by their conflicts if they engage in open  political participations and debates. Machieavelli’s, pragmatic view of ethics and politics is a Prince should  be more practical than moral. A prince must learn to be cunning and deceitful to maintain  his power. He believed it is more important for a prince to be feared than loved by his  people. This is in direct contrast to Lao-Tzu’s belief in living life with goodness and  respect to others. He did not write a guide to his views like Machieavelli, because he  wanted his philosophy to be a natural way a human being should live. He believed a  person’s behavior in his or her life should be influenced by their instincts and conscience. Lao-Tzu believed that humans as well as the universe are governed by  unseen outside forces. The key to one’s truth and freedom is simplicity. He  encouraged followers to seek out and to understand the laws of nature, to build up power  among themselves, as well as to utilize that power to lead their life with love without  force. The differences are even clear as how these philosophers are remembered. Machieavelli’s views of ethics and politics, lead people to misinterpret these views as to  describe anyone who deceptively manipulates people in an opportunistic way. I.E.:  Machieavellian. Lao-Tzu is said to have went off on water buffalo to the desert, saddened  by the evils of man. It is said that when he arrived at the gate of the Great Wall of China,  where he was persuaded by the gatekeeper to record his principals of philosophy. This   recording became the ancient Chinese text â€Å"Eighty-one sayings of the Tao-Te-Ching.† -Works Cited- http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=oty2JfReC3cC&oi=fnd&pg=PR14&sig=XiQAr4hiJRUoIy5ZSvNRW_4fhXg&dq=%22Grint%22+%22Leadership:+Classical,+Contemporary,+and+Critical+Approaches%22+#PPR11,M1 Leadership: Classical, contemporary, and critical approaches By Keith Grint; Published 1997 Oxford University Press.                                                                                                                              

Industry Best Practices Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Industry Best Practices - Research Paper Example This essay intends to describe one of the best practices in retail industry in relation to remote connectivity solution. The objective of the essay is to describe the advantages and disadvantages of remote connectivity solution. Furthermore, the essay would also discuss about the opportunities of improvements in remote connectivity solution (SonicWall, Inc., 2007). Best Practice for Remote Connectivity Solution In Retail Industry Traditionally, remote access was enjoyed by only a certain number of people in a retail organization such as executives or sales force. However, intense progress of mobile devices along with introduction of high speed internet connectivity have increased the expectations of organizations in retail industry to ensure better and safe access to various networks and services. Retail industry nowadays demand accelerated information transmission and real time information processing in order to enjoy remote access of organizational information. In fact, there are s everal best practices for remote connectivity solution in retail industry. One such practice is introduction of ‘Virtual Private Network’ (VPN) technology (Kouroubali, Starren, Barrows, & Clayton, 1997). Advantages VPN technology is a rational solution for remote access in retail segment. This system provides secure access to the organizational resources in retail segment by establishing an encrypted channel in an online environment. VPN technology permits retail organizations to reach their internal network in cost effective and secure manner. VPN technology can provide great flexibility to the employees to access the organizational network from any place and at any time. In this way, this technology helps employees to perform their job effectively. By implementing VPN solution, employees can conduct the regular business activities such as communicating through e-mail or using customized network program rapidly. The VPN solution can also enhance the productivity of ret ail organization as they will be capable of providing suppliers or business associates to access the required information without compromising the security (Lee, Hwang, Kang & Jun, 2000). The major advantages for applying VPN practices for remote connectivity solution are: It can provide secure communication with access authority by customizing the network system according to the information requirement for each user such as employee, suppliers or business associates It can improve the productivity by improving inner organizational network and applications It can minimize the communication expenses and enhance the flexibility of employees to perform regular activities (Cisco Systems, Inc., 2008) Disadvantages Although VPN provide solution to remote connectivity in retail industry, it also has quite a few disadvantages. VPN technology helps to extend the organizational network which at times makes the organizational resources more accessible for network invaders. They can disclose se nsitive information of organization to the public network. VPN technology is quite vulnerable, because any sort of fault or error in the system can result in security breach of organizational network. Except encryption technology, VPN system does not use any kind of security layer as a primary defense. Hence, it poses a threat for retail organization as people can access organizational information by bypassing the outside

Raelianism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Raelianism - Research Paper Example Vorilhon, who now assumed the titular name of Rael (2006), described it as the religion of the infinite, â€Å"an atheist religion whose goals are the diffusion of the messages of demystification, given by the Elohim, to the Earth’s population, and to build an embassy where they will make official contact with the governments of the Earth† (p. 248). Based on its history, its development and its objectives, Raelianism can be considered a legitimate form of faith, regardless of the strangeness of its practices and rituals. It has persisted for decades and this alone makes the religion worth a closer look. History and Philosophy Unlike other groups, claiming to be a form of religion such as Scientology and even the Mormons, Raelianism is not overly secretive and is quite open with regards to its beliefs, rituals and history. Its beginnings, hence, is readily available to those who want to be initiated are interested to know. Its history began during that fateful day in 197 3 when Rael claimed to be driving in the middle of nowhere when the Elohim materialized. As per Rael’s account, these beings are extraterrestrials who came to the Earth and created life through scientific technologies. This was supposedly revealed to him and the responsibility to inform mankind and to prepare them to meet their makers rest on his hands. Thus, Raelianism was founded. The Raelian teachings, philosophies or what one would call catechism or dogma in the Christian religion are closely tied with existing religious texts such as the Bible. The idea is to view everything from their theoretical point of view. Here, the Christian God becomes the Elohim, a highly advanced extraterrestrial being. He was not an all too powerful omniscient or omnipresent mystical God but just an advanced race, with technological capability to design, manipulate and create life. For further insights, one could turn to the manner in which Raelian belief interpreted some parts of the biblical Genesis. Genesis 1:1 became: â€Å"In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and earth† (Rael, p. 11). The corresponding explanation revealed the framework further and to quote: Elohim, translated without justification in some Bibles by the word God means in Hebrew â€Å"those who came from the sky†, and furthermore the world is a plural. It means that the scientists from our world searched for a planet that was suitable to carry out their projects. They â€Å"created†, or in reality discovered the Earth, and realized it contained all the necessary elements for the creation of artificial life (p.11). The above example showed how Raelian belief tries to reconcile the religious texts that the world has with the concepts and artifacts of technology as we know or conceive of it today. It is not unlike rationalizing the mysteries of many religions, grounding it on scientific concepts. Eller (2007) summarized what the Raelianism stands for by saying that it is a â⠂¬Å"self-consciously atheistic religion† and that â€Å"the various world scriptures are attempts to communicate this reality but are garbled and confused† (p.268). The Elohim allegedly explained - and, therefore, such explanation became a core component of Raelian philosophy - that â€Å"the world’s existing religion were founded as a result of their direct communication with a series of human prophets for the purpose of implanting the idea of humanity’

David Smith and the cubi series sculpture Essay

David Smith and the cubi series sculpture - Essay Example David Smith, beginning off as an artist, emerged to be one of the most influential and imaginative twentieth century American sculptors, in the process bringing American sculpture, a relatively relegated art form, to the fore of American art. He was apparently inspired and influenced by the European modernism in art, and applied the principles of cubism and abstract expressionism in developing one of the most innovative, expressive forms in a series of sculpture titled the Cubi series. David Smith, considered one of the most influential and imaginative twentieth century American sculptors, apparently inspired and influenced by European modernism in paintings, has applied the principles of cubism and abstract expressionism in developing one of the most innovative, expressive forms in a series of sculpture titled the Cubi series. "It may not be possible to reach further as an artist than David Smith did, within and outside himself,"1 wrote art critic Donald Goddard reviewing an exhibition of his works at Gagosian Gallery, New York in 2004. An attempt to know and appreciate the life and development of the artist, who purportedly reached the heights of human artistic expression, and his art, would be valuable and perhaps imperative, and in all likelihood tempting to art enthusiasts and students. David Roland Smith was born on March 9, 1906, in Decatur, Indiana; his father Harvey Martin Smith was a telephone engineer and part-time inventor and mother, Golda Stoler Smith, a schoolteacher. His inborn talent in fine arts surfaced during his young age, as he joined for a correspondence course at the Cleveland Art School during his high school years. The family moved to Ohio in 1921. In 1924 Smith attended the Ohio University; in 1925, he left the university to work as an automobile factory welder in an assembly plant, where he learnt the first lessons of welded construction and assembling, which he later vastly applied in his metal sculpture. His academic interests in arts brought him back to college, joining the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in 1926; however, soon Smith moved to Washington D.C and then to New York, to enroll at the Art Students League, where he studied painting with many celebrated artists like Richard Lahey and John Sloan and privately with Jan Matulka.2 Smith married Dorothy Dehner, a young painter at the school, in 1927. Though he worked for sometime at a sports good store and on an oil tanker, Smith returned to New York to pursue his artistic aspirations. New York's cultural life seemed fascinating and promising to the artist; Smith bought a farm in Bolton Landing, near Lake George in upstate New York; the fields, remained his seasonal resort until 1940, when he made it his home, staying there permanently, developing his farm of outdoor metal sculptures.3 David Smith's association with artists John Graham and Jan Matulka introduced him to European modernism; Smith was much influenced by cubism in art, and the welded steel sculptures of Pablo Picasso and Julio Gonzlez, the experience leaving enduring impressions in his artistic perceptions. Smith's fascination with abstract expressionism and constructivism in art fuelled his friendship with modernists of the time including Willem de Kooning, Stuart Davis, Edgar Levy, Jackson Pollock, Arshile Gorky, and Jean Xceron. Smith was also captivated by the jazz and modern dance, the art forms influencing him in unique ways in his creations. 4 Smith's artistic expedition ventured into sculpting in

Applying Systems Thinking to a Public Health Issue Essay

Applying Systems Thinking to a Public Health Issue - Essay Example Communicable disease control and prevention comprises quarantine and isolation, preventive measures, immunization, early interventions, which include public health education, antimicrobial treatment, and other measures. Effective efforts in the control, and prevention of communicable diseases rely on the understanding of the agent causing the disease within the population. This includes the reservoirs, the characteristics, the method of departure of the agent from the sources, the transmission mode of the agent, the method of entry of the agent into the host and the vulnerability of the host to the agent. The use of systems thinking in this program would assist in breaking down barriers between different departments by providing effective ways of solving problems. In order to solve problems effectively, it is critical to identify the real cause of the problem along with the means of solving this problem. Systems thinking emphasizes on the need to focus on the large picture or the systems and structures that cause the occurrence of the problem rather than the behaviors and events related to the problem (Scott, 2006, p.404). This approach of systems thinking ensures effective solving of problems. Systems’ thinking also supports effective communication between the departments thereby integrating the roles between these departments and improves the functionality of the whole organization. It is also imperative that systems thinking provide a more effective leadership platform within the organization as well as the different departments. Effective leadership implies that authority within the organization and in extension; the different departments within the organization are well defined. This helps in providing directions to the individuals within departments and setting out clear departmental rules. Moreover, systems thinking support a more effective planning process that provides

Velocity and Flow Rate Measuring Instruments used in Pipes Essay

Velocity and Flow Rate Measuring Instruments used in Pipes - Essay Example Some relevant principles of fluid mechanics that are underlying principles of various flow velocity and flow rate measuring types of equipment are – â€Å"Pascal’s Law†, â€Å"Equation of Continuity† and Bernoulli's Equation†. These are briefly discussed below. The law states that pressure applied to any region of a liquid is transmitted to the entire liquid without any drop in the magnitude. This is the underlying principle for pressure measurement using the manometer. This law has several interesting applications like hydraulic lift and other hydraulic devices. This law can be mathematically stated as Where P1 and P2 are pressures at points 1 and 2 respectively, ‘ï  ²Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ is a density of the liquid, ‘g’ is the acceleration due to gravity and ‘h’ is the elevation of point 2 with respect to point 1.This is essentially a statement of the law of conservation of matter as applied in fluid mechanics. This law states that for an incompressible fluid the flow rate remains the same at any cross-section along the flow direction. This equation is essentially a statement of the law of conservation of energy as applied in fluid mechanics. This law states that for an incompressible and non-viscous fluid the total mechanical energy remains conserved along the flow line. This law can be mathematically expressed as This equation forms the backbone of most of the flow velocity and flow rate measuring instruments. Some of the important instruments measuring flow rate and flow velocity in a pipe are briefly discussed in the subsequent sections.While both the instruments work on the principle of Bernoulli’s equation and introduce in variation in the cross-sectional area of the flow path, there is the small difference in the two instruments. Venturi meter is much longer than an orifice plate, which is essentially a plate. Normally the reduction in cross-section is much larger in case of the orifice meter than that in case of Venturi Meter. Hence, measurements are more accurate in case of orifice plate than in case of venture meter.

Muslim Women In Today’s World Essay Example for Free

Muslim Women In Today’s World Essay It is true that Muslim women are now discovering freedom from their old traditions and today the veil, as it is often called by the Western population has adopted many meanings for the Muslim woman. Some Muslims think of the veil as a symbol of modesty, while others place a huge emphasis on the hijab as a religious statement by Muslims. Many Americans pull back from the image of the way Muslims dress and think of it as a sign of terrorism and aggression which targets people who aren‘t Muslims, while some feminists, who are mainly American, while many Muslims, view the hijab with other signs of significance, which is the oppression and control of Muslim women. Ideas about Muslim women have been born by television programs that display women in Afghanistan, who are shrouded in a burqa, while being beaten because they are showing an ankle or a portion of their skin. Many Muslim men also are expected to dress in a modest style, wearing a turban, and other flowing garments. The way women Muslims dress is seen as sign of the larger restrictions they have to abide by in many under Muslim countries. About 10 % of the Muslim women population wears the veil or hijab. We realize that these amounts may be increasing while more people change to the Islamic religion. Its not for certain how many Muslim women wear the hijab out of the 10,000 Muslim women. Almost every Muslim woman who is asked, say that wearing the hijab was a decision they reached on their own. The Quran which is the Muslim holy book doesnt mandate that all Muslim women wear coverings on their heads. We learn from the Quran 4:124 that, â€Å"Misinformation and misconception about Muslim women proliferate in the world today among non-Muslims and Muslims. I hope that instead of falling into the typical stereotypes and cultural innovation, the information here will pique your interest and help you to understand the true stance Islam takes on gender issues and the role of women. † The topics concerning of women Muslim in Islam is extremely controversial. Various offerings and opinions about women Muslims must be should dealt with using caution due of the alternate opinions. We realize that the rights of Muslim women in the Quran and by the prophet Muhammad have made vast improvements when you compare the laws pertaining to women who live in Arabia before the change of Islam which was only after the death of the Prophet, while the rules directed at the women in Islam started to decrease, then turn back to the pre-Islamic ways. While the womens movement of the West started to increase in strength, during the twentieth century we know that the exact event took place, in the lives of the Muslims. Feminists who fight for the rights of women in the Muslim world during the twentieth century, up until around the 1980’s, usually were women with money. These modern day Muslim women used their feminism that was molded after the feminists who were from the West. The modern Muslims world that was brought on prior to the colonial period which was in the twentieth century began to turn from the Western models that were evident in society. The feminism that was apparent in the Muslim world started adopt Islamic styles that mocked the Western feminist ideas. This pertains not only to Muslim women. It pertains to all women throughout the whole portion of the third world. After removing the restraints that were present during the colonial imperialism, Muslim females living in the third world are growing rapidly, resistant against the cultural imperialism sold by Westerners. Women who live in the third world are finally coming to the conclusion that even though they have many ideas that are similar, because of the hard fight of Euro-American feminists, we realize that what is best for Euro-American women isn’t, of course, going to be the best solution for Muslim women. Muslim women have lately started to develop a Islamic feminism that was molded from the growing concerns of the higher classed Euro American females. The variances between Western feminism and Islamic feminism deals with the topic of the veil. The veil is a scarf or head covering that is usually worn by female Muslims. Many people view this veil as oppressive to women; a sign of a female Muslims obedience. It is often a surprise to Western feminists when they see that the hijab has started to become common throughout the Muslim world. You can see the veil worn by college women who display the veil as an important symbol of their Islamic identity. We learn from Islamic scholar, Dr. Zeenat Ali, that, (Zeenat, 2007) â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. We also learn that â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. Giving support and helping each other strive hard in pleasing our Rabb (Lord). Knowledge is the cure for ignorance. The more we learn and grow in our understanding of Islam, the more we can Insha Allah (God Willing) increase in Emaan(Faith). † We understand from listening to Isobel Coleman, that (Coleman, 2006)â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. Giving support and helping each other strive hard in pleasing our Rabb(Lord). Knowledge is the cure for ignorance. The more we learn and grow in our understanding of Islam, the more we can InshaAllah (God Willing) increase in Emaan (Faith). † We also understand that, â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. Giving support and helping each other strive hard in pleasing our Rabb (Lord). Knowledge is the cure for ignorance. The more we learn and grow in our understanding of Islam, the more we can InshaAllah (God Willing) increase in Emaan (Faith). † These criticisms are not without merit, and the ambiguity of the new constitution is a cause for concern. The centrality of Islamic law in the document, however, does not necessarily mean trouble for Iraqi women. In fact, sharia is open to a wide range of understanding, and across the Islamic world today, progressive Muslims are seeking to reinterpret its rules to accommodate a modern role for women. Iraqs constitution does not specify who will decide which version of Islam will prevail in the countrys new legal system. But the battle has already begun. Victory by the progressives would have positive implications for all aspects of the future of Iraq, since womens rights are critical to democratic consolidation in transitional and war-torn societies. Allowing a full social, political, and economic role for women in Iraq would help ensure its transition to a stable democracy. Success for women in Iraq would also reverberate throughout the broader Muslim world. In every country where sharia is enforced, womens rights have become a divisive issue, and the balance struck between tradition and equality in Iraq will influence these other debates. Prime Minister Tony Blair and author Salman Rushdie praised a British official on Tuesday for raising the difficult issue of whether Muslim women visiting his office should remove their veils. The comment by Jack Straw, a former foreign secretary who now is leader of the House of Commons, has plunged Britain into a debate over Islamic integration. Its important these issues are raised and discussed, and I think its perfectly sensible if you raise it in a measured and considered way, which he did, Blair said of Straw during an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television outside his office. I think we can have these discussions without people becoming hysterical either way about it. Rushdie, (Rushdie, 1989) whose book The Satanic Verses, once led to death threats against him by Islamic clerics, told BBC radio that Straw was expressing an important opinion, which is that veils suck, which they do. I think the veil is a way of taking power away from women. Straw said in a newspaper column published Thursday that he believes the veils favored by some Muslim women inhibit communication and are a sign of division in society. At his constituency office, Straw said he asks that veiled women reveal their faces, adding that the women have always complied, and a female assistant is always present. On Friday, British media quoted Straw as going further, saying that he would prefer that Muslim women not wear veils at all. I just find it uncomfortable if Im trying to have a conversation with someone whose face I cant see, Straw told the BBC. Many Muslims in Straws parliamentary district of Blackburn, in northwestern England, reacted with outrage. The uproar also left many questioning whether Britains multicultural ideals can withstand the strains of a cultural divide that is increasingly tormenting much of Europe. The difficulty of the issue was obvious during the Blair interview when he was asked if he would prefer a Muslim woman he met took off her veil. Once led to death threats against him by Islamic clerics, he told BBC radio that Straw was expressing an important opinion, which is that veils suck, which they do. I think the veil is a way of taking power away from women. Straw said in a newspaper column published Thursday that he believes the veils favored by some Muslim women inhibit communication and are a sign of division in society. At his constituency office, Straw said he asks that veiled women reveal their faces, adding that the women have always complied, and a female assistant is always present. The difficulty of the issue was obvious during the Blair interview when he was asked if he would prefer a Muslim woman he met took off her veil. The veil represents a symbolic set of rules for the Muslim Woman and many choose to do away with the scarf, in order to voice their opinions about how they feel about wearing it, and the symbolic meaning behind the veil. We understand that, (Manarj, 1998)â€Å"There are some Muslims who make a big deal about trivial issues that border on ignorance. For example, we are told that the use of nail polish invalidates one’s ablution wudo hence, some women perform wudu before applying nail polish as a workaround. Also, we are told that perfume which may contain alcohol must not be applied to one’s skin, because it can get into the pores, and this is equivalent to drinking it (i. e. the alcohol); moreover, owning a TV or camera has also been deemed prohibited (haram) by some, and so on. In fact, there are those who do not tolerate anything that was not practiced or known to the inhabitants of seventh-century Arabia. These are strange ideas to associate with the most universal and rational religion in the world. Obviously, these alien notions fossilize Islam and constitute a serious misreading of the true Islamic messages. † There is a clear understanding that Muslim women think they must keep their bodies pure and by wearing nail polish and other feminine products, in some cases they feel that they are damaging their bodies by using harmful products. Modern Muslim women are changing their ideas about the way they live and dress as they adopt more western ideas and start to become modernized, in society. We learn that some of the most serious problems that we American Muslim women face include: domestic violence, abuse of divorce and child custody laws, abuse of the polygamy system, and isolation and exclusion from various aspects of Muslim life. We are going to provide a few anecdotal cases simply to illustrate the depth of the problems. We have given the women in the stories names to make it more personable, but their identities have been changed and their confidentiality is protected. The stories are shared simply to illustrate and give life to the specific suffering of American Muslim women today. These are true stories, these are real women who have suffered. These stories were compiled by speaking with Muslim community leaders, social workers, psychologists, lawyers, doctors, mostly in southern California, but throughout the United States. We also obtained information from a thing called Sistersnet, which is an E-mail network of Muslim women throughout the United States and other countries. But unfortunately, there is no database, there is no accurate information that exists as to the frequency of any of these abuses that occur. Further research of these issues is desperately needed Many Muslim are facing serious social changes as they mesh into society as a modern Muslim woman. They have came a long way from past traditions and have adopted a new way of thinking and style that reflects these changes. American Muslim women face many unique additional hurdles. We are discriminated against by both non-Muslims and Muslims in America. For instance, a woman who wears hijab, which is the traditional head-covering, is often taunted at work and on the street, and the careers of a lot of these women are actually jeopardizedthey are discriminated against at work and they are not given jobs. And, women who wear hijab in the United States are obvious targetsthey are obviously Muslims, and because of this they bear the brunt of the ignorance about Islam; they face sexual harassment, and often their actual physical safety is jeopardized. Muslims come from different backgrounds. In America, we have immigrant Muslims, who face a whole host of problems such as xenophobia. In the U. S. in recent times, there has been a growing hostility toward immigrants, and they are often erroneously blamed for all of the socio-economic problems that we face in the U. S. , and are harassed because of that. And we have a large African-American Muslim population, and they face additional hurdles, because being part of a racial minority in the United States, they have had to deal with the problems of racism, discrimination, segregation and the vestiges of slavery.