The Army Publishing Directorate (APD) is at the center of the U.S. military knowledge ecosystem. It publishes works that are of immense benefit to the diverse military personnel and a broad audience of readers beyond the military field. The importance of the APD’s website to the target audience is so vast that this paper aims only to sketch the main ways through which the website impacts cadets and future army leaders. In this context, the term “cadet” implies to students as cadets are not required to have prior experience, however, “future army leaders” imply professionals as they often are required to have a practical background before being assigned a leadership position.
A website is an essential tool for both cadets and future army leaders as it can be used for both research and potential employment positions. When it comes to research, it enhances growth in knowledge of the field among cadets as it exposes them to basic and most important topics in the military sphere. Cadets must prosper in not only the physical aspect of military training but also the academic aspect. On the other hand, in relation to future army leaders, the publications provide critical resources in getting a handle on the most important topics and questions being pursued in the military field.
According to the Army Publishing Directorate, publications covering the administrative, technical and equipment, doctrine and training, engineering, and medical departments are presented. All this technical and tactical knowledge is essential to any individual aspiring to lead and direct others. Army leaders are expected to provide direction to accomplish missions through the fulfillment of the organization’s standards. Therefore, through reading the publications on the website, they become well-versed with the criteria for various activities pertaining to their department.
Work Cited
Army Publishing Directorate. Army Publishing Directorate, 2019. Web.
Know Thyself: Sophocles’ “Oedipus The King”
The famous saying “Know Thyself,” which is written on the temple at Delphi, is one of the main messages of the Sophocles’ play “Oedipus the King.” Taking into account the historical context, it is easy to explain the problem that appeared at the end of the fifth century. “Know Thyself” becomes not a trivial motto, but real folk wisdom of that time. The whole life and activity of Oedipus are aimed at knowing himself.
The main character does not care about the challenges, tribulations, and other problems the acknowledgment may bring, he is ready to accept any truth and follow the destiny. “And yet I know this much – no disease no any other suffering can kill me…But whether my fate leads, just let it go” (Sophocles “Oedipus the King,” 1700). The first desire of the protagonist is not only to learn whose son, husband, or father you are, but to learn your abilities and willingness to follow your purpose.
On the other hand, Oedipus’ desire to know himself also leads to despair. He realizes the vanity of human efforts, limited knowledge we have, and inability to shape the future: “O generations of mortal men…What man is there, what human being, who attains greater happiness than mere appearances, a joy which seems to fade away to nothing?” (Sophocles “Oedipus the King,” 1423). The theme of knowing yourself and following your destiny is revealed from different points in the play. However, the conclusion remains the same: perfect knowledge leads to great suffering.
The Indian Removal Act Analysis
The Indian Removal Act that was enforced by the President of the United States Andrew Jackson imposed a controversial policy to relocate Native Americans from their lands to the territory west of the Mississippi River, where they have never been. Some tribes decided to leave the area, but some were outraged by the law and were compelled to abandon their homes. This paper will discuss the rationale behind the introduction of this law, its consequences, and the principles of the Declaration of Independence that the Act might have violated.
The rationale that the President of the U.S. presented to Congress in his message about the Act was clear and seemed to be benevolent to Indians. He justified the resettlement by highlighting the desire of Indian tribes to save their old way of life. Migration was intended to be voluntary for those who wished to “exchange lands” (“Transcript of President,” 1830). The U.S. government pledged to perpetuate the new lands for immigrants and their descendants. The removal was intended to “strengthen the southwestern frontier … to repel future invasions” (“Transcript of President,” 1830).
However, the impact of the replacement did not have a planned effect. Instead of giving Indians new territories and good living conditions, Jackson gave them the destiny to die. The implementation of the law resulted in one-third of 15,000 Indians that died on the “Trail of Tears” (“Trail of Tears,” 2019). Even among those Indian tribes that agreed to deportation in a voluntary-compulsory manner, the losses were substantial.
Jackson got broad responsibilities under the Removal Act to deal with Indians, whom he despised. He negotiated with Native Americans for their relocation to the area west of the Mississippi River in return for white people’s settlement of their ancestral territories. Southeastern nations, who rebelled against the law, were obliged to leave under different pretenses, including illegitimate treaties (Carbaugh 2017). Overall, the Act allowed the government and the President to force any Indian to move out of the current land.
In the inaugural address to Congress, Andrew Jackson made it clear that he will not infringe on the principles of the Declaration of Independence and will preserve the sovereignty of citizens. During the speech, he emphasized that it would be ruthless to violate the rights of people and not pay attention to Indian tribes’ wants (“First Inaugural Address,” 1829). In contrast to what Jackson said, he made tribes feel that they are not independent and condemned to disintegration.
They had a choice to agree with the enforced law and leave territories or to fight against it and be forced to go. Either way was not taking into account the opinion of Native Americans. The Trail of Tears showed that the words Jackson said were far away from the actions he executed because thousands of people had died, got severe diseases, or had not reached the destination.
Jefferson claimed in the Declaration of Independence that Native Americans, highlighting the Cherokee tribe, are human beings that have the same rights as any other men on the Earth. They lived on the land that was given to them in ownership peacefully. Their ancestors lived in the same territory for many years. Thus, there should not be any power that can take away the area of Native Americans and force them to abandon homes. Evaluating this statement in the Declaration of Independence, one can state that The Indian Act Removal violated the rights of people who were granted the land amicably and cultivated territories without invasion and occupation of other areas.
To conclude, one can say that the Indian Removal Act was cruel and infringed on the natural rights of Indian tribes that were doomed to die in the path to their new home or to build a new home from scratch. The law acted as permission for violence to authorities that did not pay attention to the current development of Native Americans and their intention to integrate into the community of local people. This situation resulted in numerous deaths that could not be forgotten by Indians.
References
Carbaugh, J. (2017). The Indian Removal Act: A Legal Deception. Web.
First Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson. (1829).
Trail of Tears. (2019).
Transcript of President Andrew Jackson’s Message to Congress “On Indian Removal”. (1830).