Greek Idiots - Democracy and Voting - Myth vs Fact

In ancient Greece, the inventors of democracy set up a law that required every person to vote, regardless of who they voted for. If anyone was found not voting, the person would be publicly marked and labeled an idiot, someone who thought their own personal needs trumped those of the society around them, and over time, the word idiot has evolved into todays usage. -Â   Isaac DeVille, Michigan State columnist It just isnt true that all Greeks or even all citizens of Athens were required to vote, and its not true on many levels. Only males (free and, originally, propertied; later, also born to two Athenian-born parents) could become citizens.Only citizens could vote.These potentially voting citizens were limited to those without a personal or inherited mark (atimia) against them.In addition, whats true about one period of democracy is not necessarily true of another. 1275a: 22-23: A citizen defined in simple terms is someone who can participate in judging [that is, serve as a juror in the court system] and in governing [that is, serve in public office, which here means not just magistracies but also serving in the assembly and on the council in systems of government that have these institutions]. Stoa Project Aristotle www.stoa.org/projects/demos/article_aristotle_democracy?page8greekEncodingUnicodeC Politics Male Athenian citizens actively participated, but voting was only a part of what was meant by democracy. Speaking well and being physically present in the communal life were crucial.The Athenian assembly, which held 6000 citizens, decided most of the issues.Citizen-orators persuaded their fellow citizen-voters.The voting itself could be conducted by a show of hands, as is seen Aristophanes comedy Ecclesiazousai, where Praxagora describes the voting in the Assembly:Its difficult; yet it must be done, and the arm shown naked to the shoulder in order to vote.Officials chose the winner based on a visual estimate of the majority of hands. They certainly werent counting exactly enough to make sure there were 6000 hands on 6000 discrete bodies. Sometimes more secretive ballots were used -- small, colored balls -- placed in urns. 6000 was not the entire citizen body, although it was a hefty portion.A body of 6000 citizens served as juries, meeting about half the days of the year, with each of the ten tribes providing its required share.A lottery selected the 400 or 500 men for the third governm ental group, called the boule. Steven Kreis The Athenian Origins of Direct Democracy explains the idiot reference in the student newspaper: At Athens, a citizen who held no official position or who was not a habitual orator in the Assembly was branded as idiotai. This is a far cry from calling the non-voter an idiot. Idiotai is also used to distinguish the common people from the poor (penetes) and the more powerful (dynatoi). Idiotai is also used for unskilled worker. While we dont know what the population figures are for ancient Athens, and it changed over time, if there were say, 30,000 male citizens, more than a third of them were actively involved in politics at times. If we followed the Athenian example, who would feed, house, clothe, educate, and medicate the families of the politicians? Pay for time spent fulfilling the civic obligation was at first non-existent. Aristotle has several passages in his Politics explaining why. Here is one: 1308b: 31-33: It is of the greatest importance in all systems of government to have laws and the rest of governmental administration so arranged that magistrates cannot profit financially from their offices. There is a passage from a work ascribed to Aristotle in a section about Solon that probably led to the columnists idea. It comes from Constitution section 8: Further, [Solon] saw the state often engaged in internal disputes, while many of the citizens from sheer indifference accepted whatever might turn up, he made a law with express reference to such persons, enacting that any one who, in a time civil factions, did not take up arms with either party, should lose his rights as a citizen and cease to have any part in the state. Although not the last word that could be said on the issue, modern Americans are not like classical Athenians. We neither live our lives in public nor do we all want to be politicians (although neither did Socrates, even though he sat on the Athenian Boule). Requiring us to be penalized for failing to go to the polling booths andmake choices on the ballot once every 4 years because thats what they did in the birthplace of democracy misses the point of the ancient Greek democratic process. Further Reading on Greek Voting and Idiots The Tradition of the Athenian Democracy A. D. 1750-1990, Mogens Herman Hansen Greece Rome, 2nd Ser., Vol. 39, No. 1. (Apr., 1992), pp. 14-30.The Athenian Assembly in the Age of Demosthenes, Mogens Herman Hansen. Review author: Phillip Harding Phoenix, Vol. 44, No. 2. (Summer, 1990), pp. 199-200.The Ten Archontes of 579/8 at Athens, Thomas J. Figueira Hesperia, Vol. 53, No. 4. (Oct. - Dec., 1984), pp. 447-473.The Duration of a Meeting of the Athenian Ecclesia, Mogens Herman Hansen. Classical Philology, Vol. 74, No. 1. (Jan., 1979), pp. 43-49.Christopher W. Blackwell, The Assembly, in C.W. Blackwell, ed., DÄ“mos: Classical Athenian Democracy (A. Mahoney and R. Scaife, edd., The Stoa: a consortium for electronic publication in the humanities [www.stoa.org]) edition of March 26, 2003. More of Democracy Then and Now Part 1: IntroductionPart 2: AristotlePart 3: ThucydidesPart 4: PlatoPart 5: AeschinesPart 6: IsocratesPart 7: HerodotusPart 8: Pseudo-XenophonPart 9: Q. Were All Ancient Greeks Required to Vote or Risk Being Labeled Idiots?

What Makes A Good Leader Essay - 929 Words

The Authentic Leadership is grounded in the principle found in the family adage â€Å"to thine own self be true† (Hughes, Ginnett, Curphy, page 166) those leaders showed all times their values, their beliefs and their actions as one element. Tony Hsieh put in place in the company his vision to lead Zappos to a new innovate role to how do business and the same time be happy in your workplace. He embrace the concept of Holacracy, this process provide business effectiveness with â€Å"flexible organization structure, with clear roles and accountabilities, new meeting format, geared toward action and eliminating over analysis, more autonomy to teams and individuals to solve issues themselves and unique decision-making process, to continuously evolve the organization structure† (Holacracy 2015) To get to this point, Mr. Hsieh create a new policies and procedures for Human Resource to who will be the next employee and what path those needs to follow in the company. Step One: after the regular skills and expertise assessment the interview are concentrate if that employee will fit the company’s values and culture. All prospective employees are asked questions from cultural to technics subject manners to perceive their reaction and make sure there are the correct candidate to that position. Even this person are the most qualification in expertise or skills, if they cannot pass this interview, he or she will not be hire because no meet the most important aspect on the interview which if thisShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes A Leader A Good Leader? Essay1528 Words   |  7 PagesWhat makes a leader a good leader? If being a leader was an easy task, then anyone would become a leader. In order for an individual to rise above others and become a good leader, they need to acquire a few personal skills and characteristics. A common belief is that a good leader must have high intellectual abilities and technical skills in order to be successful. 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Public Education System Free Essays

In the past few decades school has shifted its focus from education to fashion. Students are judged upon their shoes or jeans rather than their knowledge. Uniforms in the public education system is a great idea, not only is it cost effective, but also it gives the students a chance to concentrate on their studies and not have to worry about what to wear tomorrow. We will write a custom essay sample on Public Education System or any similar topic only for you Order Now Plus the crime or violence rate drops in schools that have a uniform policy, and those that do not belong on campus are spotted quicker and easier. Private schools ave already adopted this idea as well as some schools in England and Australia. Early morning or late evening fights over what is allowed to be worn to school could come to an end if uniforms are issued in the public The kids that come from lower class level backgrounds are the kids out there selling drugs and committing the crimes, but the money made goes to buy the latest designer jeans, just so that they are â€Å"cool† at school. A difference in the violence on school grounds has decreased in areas were school uniforms are mandatory. Gang activity is not as high because the students can not show their colors or signs at school. Sgt. Joe Battle, a Long Beach, California juvenilia officer states that, â€Å"uniforms take away the No. 1 reason that kids treat each other differently; how they look† (Ritter, 1A). Long Beach was the first public school in the nation to have mandatory school uniform policy. The crime rate there is down 76 percent, and assaults on school property is also down by 85 percent (Starr,1). One of the reasons behind the sudden change in school policy has to do with the recent school hootings. The most famous and talked about one was the Columbine High School. The two teens were able to bring in weapons to the school under trench coats. With uniforms this could have been prevented, because long coats are not to be worn in the school. Even the President of the United States is moving to the uniform policy. President Clinton has given speeches during his State of the Union address including that uniforms keep kids, † from killing each other over designer jackets† (Ritter, 1A). The way that the kids are dressed is more important than the grades they make. The students are able to focus on the education rather than someone else’s new clothes. Parents that were not too sure of the idea agree that there are more positives than negatives to wearing uniforms. The students are less distracted and can concentrate on the teacher. Students admit that having everyone wear the same thing is easier on them. No one worries about whether or not they wore something last week or that they don’t have the name brand labels to flash around. Kids that can’t afford the name brands are the ones with the lower test scores and poorer attendance. The cost of uniforms in comparison to the latest fashion is ridiculous. For what it would cost to buy a major household appliance, two or three of the latest designer outfits can be bought. The students who don’t have the money to buy all the newest clothes tend not to go to class as much because they feel they don’t fit in. It used to be that the kids that wore the K-Mart or Wal-Mart brand of clothes were thought of as uncool. Uniforms don’t only bring down the cost of clothes for the parents, but the school spirit is higher and the students feel a sense of unity. The line between the poor and rich kids is brought down, the students can no longer tease on another because of their clothes as they are all dressed the same. Administrators can spot a person who does not belong on campus faster and easier if they a don’t have a school uniform on. Uniforms can be bought at almost any clothing store. Prices range from $5-$7 for shirts, $10 for shorts and pants and $7 for a jumper. Now compare that to $30-$80 for jeans and$15-$30 for a shirt. Majority of parents only buy two or three uniforms a school year Students all dressed the same that is the whole idea. But there some negative aspects of this area. Psychologist Ruth Rubinstein at the Fashion Institute of New York argues that having students dress alike decreases their sense of expression or creativity. Although students can express themselves in the classroom or even wear different socks. Some days are specified for the optional dress down, where the children can wear what ever they would like. If the students have to wear uniforms then so should the teachers and staff. How can the students be expected t follow the teachers lead if they are not in uniforms as well? This makes the whole school equal and the principles’ job easier for enforcing the dress code. Some schools do have strict dress codes if a not a uniform policy. Students must wear clothing that is appropriate for a learning environment. No sleeveless shirts or offense slang or short, shorts are not allowed. Students that do not follow the rules could be suspended. Schools could go as far as to not allow skirts to be worn. Some schools have an optional uniform policy. Most parents and students choose to wear uniforms because of At the moment many public schools are only using uniforms under a voluntary basis. With this system they hope to increase awareness of the benefits that these uniforms hold. These uniforms will help to lower budgets, school violence and help students become more accepted among their peers. Fatal accidents could be avoided with the use of uniforms in the public school system. It is not just a fast growing trend to make the school look better, but also a way to increase the chances of a more secure learning environment. How to cite Public Education System, Papers

Walter Mitty and the Poor Relations Story Essay Example For Students

Walter Mitty and the Poor Relations Story Essay The stories Walter Mitty and the Poor Relations Story are two stories that show people that everyone wants a better life. Whether it is in reality or in fantasy.  Walter Mitty is a story about a man of the same name who fantasises about a better and more powerful existence, as his wife is dominant. Mitty is in retirement and obviously doesnt like his new life.  In the Poor Relations Story it is about a man called Michael who also wants a better life. But he lies and says he already has a fantastic life. Both men live in a make-believe world of their own. Walter Mitty is an elderly man who has just retired and is now forced to spend the rest of his life driving his wife around. He is a very shy man who hasnt go the confidence to stand up to his wife and has a weak character. Therefore is used as a doormat for his wife to wipe her feet on. He is constantly searching his imagination to find the man inside him, using his ideas of what he would have preferred to be. He seems to always drift off to scenes of him in command in the army or in a tense situation. He seems to want power because his wife restricts his. The Poor relation, Michael, is basically a very subconscious man who doesnt feel happy at all with his life. He then tends to lie to people about his life and habitat. He is a poor man who is single and has no job. He seems a very sad person who doesnt have a social life. He lives in run down accommodation that is close to living in squalor. So he feels he has to tell his family and relations lies; about his fantasy life. For example he tells them that he lived in a castle when he actually lives in his bad accommodation. He also told them that he is a shrewd businessman when he is actually a hopeless businessman. Both men are social failures and have weak characters. They also feel the need to use fantasy as a sort of escape from the harsh reality of their own lives and into a nice life that they seem happy with. Mitty only has to start daydreaming and he will be in his other life. He seems to switch into a military dream. He wants power due to the lack of power he has over his wife and his life. Whereas in The Poor Relations Story, Michael is living a constant lie. He is always lying about his life and his existence. This is because his life is so bad and he wants a new life but cant be bothered to change it and expects things to change so he makes things up to make him seem more interesting. Walter Mitty only has one day of his life written about. He has a regular visit to town with his wife, which shows his wifes dominance. He is bossed about and told what to do by his wife. He does a series of errands for his wife and during all the errands he switches back and forth between his fantasy and real lives. He cant keep his head in one world he has to venture off to his fantasy life. He also seems to have a craving for power. The poor relation, Michael, has a few days of his life described. It tells us about his cheap life in bad lodgings. He is always telling lies about his life and how he lives. He also hangs round city offices to make it seem as if he has a good job in one of the big city companies. He is a sad character who you cant help but feel sorry for. He lies about having friends too. He is a loner but hates to let himself know that so he makes up his friends. Both men lead miserable lives that neither can stand. So rather than taking drastic measures they spice up their own life using the realms of fantasy. .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e , .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .postImageUrl , .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e , .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:hover , .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:visited , .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:active { border:0!important; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:active , .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9d208b5e01f554a8fbd915c9ec088a5e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Red Room by HG Wells with The Signalman by Charles Dickens EssayMichael is a more sad case because he has to live his fantasy life all the time and live two lives; whereas Walter lives an impossible life. He lets his mind wander into his fantasy life. But it isnt just one thing. He lives different situations depending on where he is. For example when he is against a wall he s in front of the firing squad and is about to be killed for a serious crime and also he goes to a scene where he is in the stand in court and is being questioned. He makes out he is a fine marksman with any gun. He wants to be more exciting. He wants to be an adventure hero. Both men want greatness and a status. They seem to be so run down and put down by themselves and everyone else that they want to regain their manhood and self-respect.  In both lives they experience a much better a prosperous life where they have a good social standing and power. Walter Mitty his desired power in command. And Michael his business status and social life that has been lacking in his life for so long. Walter Mitty seems to use his fantasy life to make his day more interesting and enjoyable. Michael uses his fantasy life to escape from his sad life and into a new life where he is socially accepted and wanted. He wants to be a shrewd businessman and doesnt want to be seen as a failure in front of his relatives, so he makes up this make-believe life that makes his family think he has done something good with his life.