Acceptance Is Freedom Essay

Freedom is a word that we use so often, but what does it truly mean? Everyone has a different definition of what freedom is. Some believe that freedom is saying whatever you want without consequences or doing what you want without consequences, while others believe that freedom is about equality. However, author Ambrose Flack presents a new and refreshing viewpoint. In his short story, The Strangers That Came to Town, Ambrose Flack is showing that true freedom is about being accepted. Through various situations within the short story, Flack shows how the Duvitch family, a new immigrant family who move to the town, have limits on their freedom because they are not accepted by their new community. When you are not accepted, life can be pretty miserable. You are feeling lonely, judged, and slightly offended, wondering what you did wrong. In the Strangers That Came to Town, this is the case of Mr. Duvitch. Mr. Duvitch is revealed to be a kind, humble, and generous man, but the town does not accept him for a variety of reasons. Syringa Street, the area in which the story is set, is described as a prosperous town, where most hold good jobs. However, in order to make money for his family, Mr. Duvitch works a less than desirable job, and is looked down upon by his peers for his occupation. He is â€Å"classified as an untouchable† (Flack) socially, because he is viewed as lesser and not worthy of the town’s attentions. This isolates him from the town. Additionally, he faces ridicule on the way to work, as â€Å"the Syringa Street young, meeting him on the street, sometimes stopped their noses as they passed him by† (Flack). In all these instances, Mr. Duvitch is deprived of acceptance, and because he is not accepted, he is not free. He cannot be free to have social interactions because he is socially untouchable, and he is not free to live without judgement. The effect of acceptance and freedom can be shown again in this passage of the story: â€Å"Overjoyed to have neighbors in his house, he was so full of himself that I was conscious of an invisible stature in him which made him seem quite as tall as Father.† Because Mr. Duvitch felt accepted in that situation, he was free to be himself and live without judgement. His real personality shines through, and he is truly free in the moment. Mr. Duvitch is impacted  strongly by acceptance and freedom throughout Flack’s short story, and his children and wife are impacted by this theme as well. Within The Strangers That Came to Town, the remainder of the Duvitch family experience situations in which they are not accepted or free. Because Mrs. Duvitch rarely leaves the house, the other women of the neighbourhood immediately judge her, going as far to start rumours that she has a skin disease. Mrs. Duvitch is judged before anyone has so much as said a word to her, and is not accepted. She is impacted by this lack of acceptance because she is not free to feel comfortable living in her town without people spreading false rumours about her personal life. Her children are also judged by other children in school, making them feel unaccepted and isolated. The story says that â€Å"some of their classmates scoffed at the leaf, lard and black bread sandwiches they ate for lunch, huddled in one corner of the recreation room, dressed in their boiled-out ragpickers’ clothes. After school they headed straight for home, never lingering on the playground† (Flack). It is important for children to be able to socialize and express themselves, and the Duvitch children are not free to do so without being ridiculed by the very same children who ridicule their father. They do not feel comfortable enough to play with the others, as any other child is free to feel. Because they are not accepted, they are not free to be themselves and make friends with other children, as other youth do. However, when the Duvitch children are accepted by Tom and Andy’s family, they express themselves openly. They feel free to showcase their talents, which are received greatly by their new guests. When they are accepted, they are free, and thanks to Andy’s father, the whole town now embraces this theme of acceptance and freedom. Andy’s father is a vital character to the theme of acceptance and freedom, because his character is instrumental to all the turning points in the freedom of the Duvitches. In the beginning of the story, he and his family are cordial with the Duvitches, but they do not greet the family or seek their company. At this point in the story, the Duvitches are being judged and ridiculed, and while Andy’s father does not participate in the offending activities, he does not help the Duvitches through this time, leaving them  unaccepted. At the pond, he greets Mr. Duvitch, who is happy to just be acknowledged. He shows acceptance for the Duvitches when he engages in conversation, moving the theme along. He furthers this acceptance when he harshly punishes his own children for wronging the immigrant family. In the end of the short story, Andy’s father helps the rest of the town accept the Duvitch family, and the theme of freedom and acceptance is shown when the Duvitches share their quirks and talents with the town. Because Andy’s father is a respected man, the town accepts the Duvitches because he does. By accepting the Duvitches, he has helped them become free, as shown when the story says that â€Å"People began to turn to the Duvitches in all kinds of trouble† (Flack). The Duvitches become truly free, and their journey to freedom is shown by the steps of Andy’s father’s acceptance. In conclusion, the theme of freedom and acceptance is shown through the characters of Mr. Duvitch, Mrs. Duvitch and the children and Andy’s father. They demonstrate that true freedom is about being accepted, through the scenarios that Ambrose Flack has written for them to endure. In The Strangers That Came to Town, the Duvitches become truly free at the finale of the story. In our own lives, we must ask: what can we do to help others become truly free? SOURCES: Flack, Ambrose. The Strangers That Came to Town. Web.

Organizational Behavior: Chapter 17, Notes

Institutionalization A condition that occurs when an organization takes ona life of its own, apart from any of its members, and acquires immortality. When an organization becomes institutionalized, it takes on a life of its own, apart from its founders or any of its members. When an organization becomes institutionalized, it becomes valued for itself, not merely for the goods or services it produces. It acquires immortality. If its original goals are no longer relevant, it doesn’t go out of business. Rather, it redefines itself. Institutionalization operates to produce common understandings among members about what is appropriate and, fundamentally, meaningful behavior. 3 So when an organization takes on institutional permanence, acceptable modes of behavior become largely self-evident to its members. As we’ll see, this is essentially the same thing that organizational culture does. So an understanding of what makes up an organization’s culture and how it is created, sustained, and learned will enhance our ability to explain and predict the behavior of people at work. rganizational culture A system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations. There are seven primary characteristics that, in aggregate, capture the essence of an organization’s culture: 1. Innovation and risk taking. The degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and take risks. 2. Attention to detail. The degree to which employees are expected to exhibit precision, analysis, and attention to detail. 3. Outcome orientation. The degree to which management focuses on results or outcomes rather than on the techniques and processes used to achieve those outcomes. 4. People orientation. The degree to which management decisions take into consideration the effect of outcomes on people within the organization. 5. Team orientation. The degree to which work activities are organized around teams rather than individuals. 6. Aggressiveness. The degree to which people are aggressive and competitive rather than easygoing. 7. Stability. The degree to which organizational activities emphasize maintaining the status quo in contrast to growth.

Manager and Leader Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Manager and Leader - Research Paper Example They are likable due to their genuine interest in others more than in outcomes (DuBrin, 2010). Managers like doing things right whereas leaders like doing the right things. Managers are competent in following company protocol, enforcing rules, and ensuring employee performance owing to their position in the company. In contrast, leaders lack formal authority. However, their power comes from the natural desire of people to follow them (Ruiz, Ruiz, & Martà ­nez, 2010). Being a good manager is not necessarily being a good leader and likewise, being a good leader is not necessarily being a good manager. Nevertheless, there exists an overlap between leadership and management skills. Best managers can decide to become more than administrators and become leaders. Similarly, best leaders can decide to become more than visionaries and become managers. Based on the characteristics of a good leader and manager outlined above, I consider myself a good leader and less of a manager. I have a strong conviction of realigning my thought and decisions along the needs and attributes of the people around me. I find my orientation towards paying keen attention to what is done other that how it is as a big feature distinguishing myself as a leader. Nevertheless, the leadership position cannot be complete without management roles. Therefore, it is not possible separate the two aspects since a leader must be good at management as well because appropriate decision affecting people must be founded on the right things as stipulated by established

Explain the arguments for and against the multiple forms of Essay

Explain the arguments for and against the multiple forms of acquisition (as stated in the article) which can be used as the basis for a company's strategy for entering emerging markets - Essay Example gh different stages preferably starting with the process of acquiring minimal equity stake of other company which can over the years be converted into complete acquisition. It allows a company to minimise the risk related to one time investment and opt for different growth strategies as per the requirement. Carlsberg began it journey in Poland through staged acquisition. The staged acquisition along with the advantage of minimising risk of large investment also has some flaws. One of the biggest flaws is that the process is time consuming and can take a company several years before it could actually start generating a good business. The company also gains limited access to the different local brands of the partially acquired company and thereby innovation factor takes a backstage. Multiple acquisitions can be defined as company’s aggressive form of expansion into the untapped markets. In this form of acquisition a company aggressively invests in acquiring multiple firms in the desired market and later integrating them under a single brand. This helps the company to gain faster access of the local market and the company can adopt the multi-tier strategy to think globally and act locally. Acquisitions of different firms and different brands not only increase the company’s brand value but also the market share. Carlsberg’s staged acquisition in Poland soon transformed into various multiple acquisitions. For any company multiple acquisitions along with advantage also highlight disadvantages in a big way. Multiple acquisitions features risk of high amount of investment which may affect a company’s future cash inflows. Secondly, opting for multiple acquisitions without prior knowledge of the local market can further add to the woes of company. Also if a company in the near futures decides to exit that market, the cost of exit will be very high. Indirect acquisition allows a company to acquire not only the desired firm or brand but also the equity stakes of

Balance-of-Power theory in World War I & II Research Paper

Balance-of-Power theory in World War I & II - Research Paper Example While WWI was more re suit of growing tension and competition, WWI was caused by direct aggression (Russel 130). The swelling of nationalist pride that began in the 19th century and endured into the 20th induced both wars at least partly. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the conflict between on Serbia and Austria, for example, was a result of Serbian nationalism and was fueled by a longing for self-determination. World War II was also begun by nationalism, especially that of the Germans. It was this German nationalism and desire for sell‘-determination that fueled Hitler's campaigns to take over Europe. Both wars were sparked by the upset of the delicate balance of power in Europe. In WWI, tension between the big powers of the time- Germany Britain Russia and France- upset this balance, likewise the balance was tipped ones again when Hitler’s campaign began and the German ‘Reich’ began to expand. While WWI began with a conflict between small countrie s, which then branched out through the tangled alliances of Europe to other larger countries. WWII began with the big powers. WWI can be traced back to the rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Over time, large powers such as Russia and Germany stepped in to defend their allies and this enraged oven more countries. The inception of WWI was therefore like a 'ripple' effect beginning quite small, and then expanding. WWII was quite the opposite, beginning with the brutal campaigns and expansion of revisionist powers Germany and Japan. If WWI began with a ripple, WWII began with explosion. Large European powers got involved in WW1 because they wanted to protect their allies, not because of direct acts of aggression against them. WWII was marked by such acts daggrassim as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the invasion of Poland, and the Rape of Hackling. While WWI began largely because of tension between countries that had been caused by competition over reign markets and colonies (Paul et al 112). Largely Fascism and a thirst for revenge began WWII. Hitler’s attacks on Europe and the transformation of Germany into a dictatorship was made possible because the German people were vulnerable and scarred by the previous war. These wars could be considered one continual conflict that was not properly resolved in the interim. The nationalism, alliances, and aggression that led to both wars points out that their roots were quite similar. The lesson learned is that the resolutions or lack of it has therefore shaped the way we make peace today. Both World War I and II were preceded by large armament buildups. In WWI, in Europe they were of a long-standing nature and in response to balance-of-power exigencies which usually placed a two to four times greater per capita burden on the populace than in the United States Germany‘s per capita burden was 7.65 times more than that of the US. There was no doubt that it was a nation poised for war. There was little suppo rt for a contrary opinion in both world wars; eminent expenses grew beyond the security needs of the nations. Rates immediately prior to both wars were of such a magnitude as to strongly suggest the imminence of war. In both these cases, inhibitory controls on armaments could have prevented wars of the sizes that occurred. For example, Treaty of versatile prohibitions on Germany and the League of Nations treaties vetoed by Great Britain in the 1923-25 period. What distinguished the occurrence of WWI and WWII entailed the dependence on the military, and the inhibitory controls. The choices made were military ones: balance of power and Maginot Lincoln neither ease did these methods perform, as intended, to prevent war. In terms of the present model in the WWI-WWII interim period, German DT was not

Health promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Health promotion - Essay Example Obesity in childhood, teenage and adults is considered an epidemic in the United States. The advancement in technology created rapid changes in the eating habits of individuals globally. However, as countries become more developed in terms of economic status, the greater the availability and affordability of innumerable choices of food that an individual can indulge in. The issue of addressing obesity has been specifically identified as a national agenda in Healthy People 2010. Obesity is defined as a chronic condition of excess fat accumulation in the body. (Medicine.Net, 2009, 1). Medically, obesity can be defined in relation to the body mass index (BMI). The body mass index â€Å"determines whether a person’s weight is appropriate for height by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared.† (Delaune & Ladner, 2006, 1394) Using this index, obesity is then defined as a BMI of 30 and above. (Medicine.Net. 2009, 1) The primary causes of obesity are overeating and lack of physical activity. When a person takes in calories much more than what one burns, that persons gains weight. Excess energy is therefore stored as fat. If that person has no initiative at all to engage in any physical activity which would help him or her burn those excess calories, then, obesity sets in. Aside from overeating and lack physical activity, there are enormous factors which contribute to an individual’s being vulnerable to obesity. These are: genetics, composition of the diet, frequency of eating, slow metabolism, lack of exercise or physical activity, medications, psychological factors, and even certain diseases. With different researches undertaken to explore on the factors contributing to obesity, it is revealed in MedicineNet that ethnicity, childhood weight and hormones all have an effect in being obese. As a person gains weight and either consciously or unconsciously neglect any measures to prevent the continuous weight increase, that person increases

Effective Classroom Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Effective Classroom Management - Research Paper Example However since effective classroom is a significant contributor to the learning and development of the students it is important to examine the issue in order to identify strategies that could make it easier for teachers. There are a multitude of strategies and approaches that have been put forward and tried over the years; but before going into the process of classroom management and strategies it is important to define what exactly the term means. Classroom management has been defined in various ways but it generally involves what the teacher practices to ensure order in the classroom. It addresses both the learning or academic environment in the classroom and also the behavioural aspects of the environment; so that it has a two-fold purpose and perhaps that is part of what makes it such a difficult task for the teacher. According to Beckles and Ellis (2003),classroom management is â€Å" a complex task consisting of planning lessons, providing a safe environment, teaching students and perhaps the most daunting task of all, appropriately responding to student behaviour problems† (p.23). Another definition states that â€Å"classroom management consists of a wide array of proactive, well-established and consistent techniques and practices† (Johnson et al, 2006). They posit that in order for teachers â€Å"to relate content effectively, the classroom must be well managed† (p.29). Additions to the definition of classroom management include that it â€Å"needs to encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation† (Burden 2003, cited in Reupert and Woodcock, 2010). ... (Reupert and Woodcock 2010). Many first- year teachers feel confident about their subject content and their instructional strategies; it is the classroom management that is of concern, according to Johnson et al (2006). They describe classroom management as involving classroom procedures and behaviour management. They explain that the classroom procedures are the practices that include academic, routine and special situations; for example academic routines include planning lessons and assessing students, routine situations involve organising the class especially the arrival and exit of students at beginning and end of day and for transitions during the day. Fire and disaster drills constitute special routines. The behaviour management should be proactive rather than reactive. They further point out that teachers need to be taught behavior management skills since they do not come naturally. Classroom management strategies. â€Å"Teachers’ actions in classrooms have twice the i mpact on student motivation as do school policies regarding curriculum, assessment, staff collegiality and community involvement† (Marzano and Marzano, 2003 p.6). These authors emphasise the important role teachers play in managing classroom effectively. As stated above, there exists a wide variety of strategies and suggestions for effective classroom management. On examining some of these a common thread is obvious. Marzano and Marzano (2003) outline the important components of classroom management as beginning the school year with a positive emphasis on management, arranging the room in a way that is conducive to effective management and identifying and implementing

The Luggers versus the Butchers Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The Luggers versus the Butchers - Case Study Example dy clearly perform entirely different types of tasks but this does not mean that they should also be treated in a contrasting or a conflicting manner by those armed with managerial responsibilities. The managers at FMC tended to behave very strictly with the butchers but had close affiliation with the luggers on the other hand. The butchers were overworked and the luggers were not in anyone’s control. Such negative workplace attitudes reflect issues of inequity and injustice and research stresses that â€Å"organizational peace, communication and justice perception are very important factors in order to be successful† (Ince & Gul, 2011, p. 106). When employees are not treated equally and their concerns are not heard, they start losing their confidence and develop low self-esteems (Katcher & Snyder, 2007, p. ix; Ganster & Schaubroeck, 1991). That is why the unhappy butchers developed deep feelings of hatred and resentment for the management. â€Å"Organizations can avoi d having unhappy employees by successfully addressing their concerns† (Katcher, 2006). Organizational commitment is a valuable tool to mention here for the managers as a way of addressing the issues at FMC. This refers to the â€Å"relative strength of an individual’s identiï ¬ cation and involvement in a particular organization† (Steers, cited in Paik, Parboteeah, & Shim, 2007, p. 1770; Mowday, Porter, & Steers, 1982, p. 27) and it is widely believed that the more organizational commitment an employee has, the less are the chances of him/her leaving the organization. â€Å"Organizational commitment is cognitive assessment that reflects characteristics of the work environment† (Gelade, Dobson, & Gilbert, 2006, p. 543) which implies that the butchers had low commitment because the work environment in itself was degrading, unfair, and discriminatory. An employee’s commitment to the organization also related to the factor of leadership behaviors (Mathieu & Zajac, 1990, p. 171) which were especially low

Subprime Mortgage Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Subprime Mortgage Crisis - Research Paper Example These numerous theories, which have come up to explain the root cause of the subprime crisis. Numerous experts and economists believe that a combination of factors resulted to the crisis (Lynnley 13). This study intends to examine the housing bubble as a major cause of the subprime crisis. Housing Bubble This study reveals that the present mortgage crisis started with the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble, which commenced in early 2001 and ascended to its peak in the year 2005. Essentially, a housing bubble can be defined as an economic bubble whose occurrence in both the local and international platforms in real markets id characterized by almost similar features. The housing bubble is defined by express rise in the valuations of real assets until untenable levels related to income and affiliated affordability indicators are reached (Lynnley 11). This situation leads to the decrease of home prices and debts related to mortgages, which are higher compared to the value of the assets . It is imperative to note that the housing bubble was discovered at the aftermath of the market correction that happened in the U.S in 2006. In 2007, Alan Greenspan, the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board indicated that, United States has been having a bubble in the housing sector (Muolo and Padilla 3-7). This came upon the realization that the house prices appeared to be overwhelmingly overvalued. The sentiments were echoed by the Richard Syron, the CEO Freddie Mac and concurred with the Yale University economist Robert Shiller who warned that the necessary correction of the bubble would be done in many years to come wit trillions of dollars being lost. This situation would lead to a double-digit decline in the home values. The housing bubble in relation to the historically low interest rates This study reveals that the majority of the experts and economists believe that the housing bubble in the United States of American was partially caused by the historical low intere st rates. It is imperative to note that the Federal Reserve Board had reduced the short-term interest rates by 5.5% (from 6.5% to as low as 1 %). This was a response of the collapse of the dot-com bubble (Muolo and Padilla 3-7). This happened in early the year 2000 and was followed by the ensuing recession in 2001; however, this response significantly endangered the housing bubble through the decrease in real long-term interest rates. It is essential to note that, the US mortgages rates are set in relation to Treasury bond yields of 10 years. These rates are influenced by the Federal funds rates. This study establishes that the Federal Reserve Board acknowledged the relevance of the connection amid lower interests’ rates, increased liquidity and the higher home values in relation to the general status of the economy. On the other hand, Greenspan disputes the claim that he engineered the housing bubble. Greenspan asserts that the Fed’s decline in rates contributed to th e inflation of the bubble. In 2007, Greenspan argued that, the housing bubble was not in any way related or linked to the Fed’s policy on interest rates, however, Greenspan pointed out on the international surplus in savings, which pushed down the interest rates

Readers response to The Last Library Essay Example for Free

Readers response to The Last Library Essay The narrative ‘The Last Library’, by A. K. Benedict is a collision between real life and fantasy where meaningful past treasures can often be forgotten and disregarded in a fast paced world. In a way it invokes thought about a current issue in North American society today, the progression of new technologies and how we have become dependent on these new technologies as a source of entertainment. Modern day culture has been immersed in a craze of technology allowing immediate access to information and entertainment. Smart phones, tablets, social media sites, and all the vast  information of the internet that is only clicks of a mouse away has caused people to forget the wonders that a library can hold. Much of Society has forgotten how to entertain itself through imagination by reading stories. The text is slightly ambiguous I feel, as though the author wants us to create our own meaningful interpretation of the story. ‘The Last Library’ is a narrative that critiques the idea of how modern day North American culture has seemed to have forgotten about the many wonders of past treasures. The story does this by focusing on the exaggerated view of a young girl, using fiction entwined with real life problems to help us as readers to reflect on the magic places your imagination can take you when reading a book. Interpretation of the written word is shaped by the reader’s own experiences and steers each reader, ambiguously at times, towards a meaning which will differ for each reader as his or her mind interprets specific moments. The author puts forth clues in helping the reader to determine the implied reader of this text; I would consider myself to be closer to the implied reader. The implied reader can be defined as the reader imagined by the text (Grinnell 21). I have lived in a time where libraries were the primary and often times the sole source for knowledge and entertainment, as am I part of modern society entrenched in our current time of modern technology. The Guide’s (Maggie) comment referring to the last library being â€Å"Old exhibit. It’s not interactive† (Benedict 217) makes me reflect on how libraries have become obsolete in our current technological age because they are not interactive in the way  smart phones and tablets allow a person to be. This quote demonstrates a specific feeling I can sympathize with where technology, because it is so interactive, has become the dominant source of information and entertainment. A reader’s own experiences shape the interpretation of the written word. In the story the young girl thinks to herself, â€Å"Her mind is always full of stories, and now there are more outside her† (Benedict 220). This makes me ponder my own childhood and all the wonderful books such as Harry Potter or  old favorite The Saggy Baggy Elephant and all the magical stories from childhood that are treasures I will always hold inside and have helped shape who I became. The meaning of this story can seem vague at moments as the story is more fable than real life, but it does incorporate real life issues. We live in a fast paced world where progress dominates. Simple treasures are often passed over or forgotten for the sake of progress and money, and libraries are an endangered treasure. The Guide’s comment â€Å"It’s a rare event for the museum but they have to  make way for other last things. That’s progress† (Benedict 221) when the books are to be destroyed enforces this thought of â€Å"Out with the old in with the new†, which is the meaning I would take from this story. This narrative â€Å"The Last Library† creates as sense of how North American culture tends to forget the past when seeking new and exciting things. The story focused on the library but also made mention of other past things such as the Dodo or Cuckoo clock; both things we now only see in a  museum or archival instances as their time and place in history have passed. â€Å"The last museum in itself† mentioned in this short story grips the imagination and conjures up wonder if one day â€Å"will anyone care about the past? † Works Cited Benedict, A. K. The Last Library. Paraxis 2011. Rpt. in Custom Course Materials: ENGL 153. Ed. George C. Grinnell. Kelowna: U of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 2014. 217-224. Print. Grinnell, George C. Critical Practice: Critical Approaches to Narratives English 153.

Reforms in the Constitutional Reform Bill

Reforms in the Constitutional Reform Bill Will the reforms in the Constitutional Reform Bill achieve the aims set out in Lord Falconer’s statement of 26th January 2004? The Constitutional Reform Bill is the illegitimate progeny of the botched Cabinet reshuffle of June 2003 which led to the hasty removal of Lord Irvine and the appointment of Lord Falconer as Lord Chancellor with a mandate to abolish himself! Its principle limbs are: The abolition of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords and its replacement by a new Supreme Court (separating Legislature and Executive); The establishment of a Judicial Appointments Commission to assume the functions of the Lord Chancellor in the appointment of judges (separating Judiciary and Executive) The abolition of the post of Lord Chancellor (separating Legislature, Executive and Judiciary). It is highly doubtful whether the proposed reforms will achieve Lord Falconer’s stated aims principally because the intended changes are susceptible to the colloquial criticism, â€Å"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!†. It has to be admitted that the current role of the House of Lords in the judicial process is an historical anomaly. The Judicial Committee is the ultimate appellate court in the UK and Commonwealth but it continues to sit in the Palace of Westminster. More controversially, its members remain an integral part of the second legislative chamber. This has led to the apparently plausible criticism that the arrangement represents a breach of the doctrine of separation of powers and gives rise to the populist criticism that the Law Lords are making laws which in their judicial capacity they will then have to interpret and enforce. In reality, their Lordships have proved to be scrupulous in refraining from debate where this is likely to generate a conflict of interest between their judicial and legislative roles. The Government’s stance is that complete separation between politicians and the judiciary is essential in order to maintain public trust and it is sought to emphasise this di vision by the relocation of the ultimate appeal court to a new and doubtless stratospherically expensive building. This is costly window dressing. Nowhere in the current debate is there any compelling evidence of public disquiet at a system that has endured without significant criticism of this type for centuries. Further, Lord Woolf, the most senior judge in England and Wales has condemned the proposal as exchanging a first class final appeals court for a second class supreme court. The Supreme Court of the USA is extolled as a role model but it is conveniently forgotten that the proposed UK Supreme Court would not possess the power of its transatlantic cousin to strike down legislation and will therefore be bereft of much of the influence of the latter. At best a great deal of money will be spent in replicating for all practical purposes the existing set-up. Far from endorsing the independence of the new court, Woolf fears that it will reduce the judiciary to â€Å"a department o f the Home Office† as a result of becoming answerable through the Department of Constitutional Affairs. This reform may be regarded as a product of the political dogma which dictates the dismantling at all costs of the ancient structure and operations of the House of Lords. The proposal to establish a Judicial Appointments Commission while not similarly politically motivated is equally flawed in its present form. Traditionally the Lord Chancellor is the head of the judiciary and responsible for the appointment and supervision of judges. Admittedly there has been criticism by the public and, in particular, members of the legal profession of the process of appointing High Court Judges with allegations of â€Å"secret files† and a lack of transparency in the recruitment process. It cannot be denied that the Lord Chancellor (at the very latest upon appointment) becomes a career politician with a seat in the Cabinet and thus at the very heart of the government of the day. While this is apparently unsatisfactory, criticisms of judicial appointments do not contain allegations that they are driven by party political considerations. This is in stark contrast to the position in the USA where appointments to the Supreme Court are in the gift of the Presiden t and there is intense interest in and scrutiny of the political composition of the court. In a lecture to the UCL Constitution Unit in November 2003, the Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales, Matthias Kelly, QC, expressed concern at the proposed operational structure of the Commission. He argued that it should be â€Å"a non-departmental public body with a supporting agency† accountable to Parliament for its activities but not specifically accountable for the selection of particular individuals. There is a danger that scrutiny of the activities of the Commission may become akin to unseemly American-style confirmation hearings. The DCA Consultation Paper, Constitutional reform: a new way of appointing judges, (July 2003) suggests that â€Å"the Commission should be a recommending Commission, putting up a short-list of candidates for appointment to the Secretary of State†. It is hard to understand how the involvement in this way of the Department of Constitutional A ffairs would assuage the supposed public concern at political involvement in the judicial appointment process. Every discussion of separation of powers in the UK constitution (Legislature, Judiciary and Executive) highlights the anomalous position of the Lord Chancellor who (with remarkable physiological ingenuity!) maintains a foot in all three camps. It has to be conceded that given the strict prohibition of judges holding party political affiliations, the sight of a member of the government of the day dispensing justice in the ultimate appellate court is incongruous. This is a major reason why it was proposed to replace the Lord Chancellor with a Secretary of State for Constitutional affairs and remove him from the House of Lords and, in particular, its judicial function. However, again the necessity for this is questionable. Even Lord Hailsham a thoroughly political animal appeared to manage appropriate detachment from the political imperatives of the day when giving judgment in the House of Lords. It now seems that we are to retain a Lord Chancellor but that he need not be a Law Lord o r even a lawyer. Enter a rehabilitated former Home Secretary perhaps? Bibliography BBC News, Lords Inflict Supreme Court Blow, 9 March 2004, www.news.bbc.co.uk BBC News, Q A: Supreme Court Row, 9 March 2004, www.news.bbc.co.uk Constitutional Reform Bill, www.publications.parliament.uk DCA, Constitutional Reform: a new way of appointing judges, July 2003 Elliott, C. Quinn, F., English Legal System, (4th Ed., 2002) Kelly, M., QC, Where are we heading with Constitutional Reform?, Lecture to UCL Constitution Unit, 18 November 2003 The Guardian, Q A: the constitutional reform bill, 8 March 2004 www.dca.gov.uk www.gnn.gov.uk 1