Geography Final Anthropogenic -- Created

Geography Final

anthropogenic -- created by man and the activities of man, intentionally or otherwise. Relates to certain industrial wastes, fossil fuel emissions, other environmental impacts.

dollarization -- the use of a foreign currency, especially the U.S. dollar, instead of or in addition to local currency. Leads to increased economic dependence on a few currencies.

cultural assimilation -- the subsuming of one culture by or into another. Leads to a destruction of certain cultural practices, often to environmental and population detriment.

Green Revolution -- current trend among some sectors/regions/people for increased environmental consciousness. Not nearly as revolutionary in spread as hoped or hyped.

indentured labor -- one step removed from slavery; forced labor used to pay a debt or for some purpose other than earning wages. Perpetuates poverty and oppression.

Quran -- the holy text of the Islamic religion. Open to interpretation, which has led to fundamentalism/extremism in many countries, despite an ultimate message of peace.

Essay #1: American Pluralism

Though it has been contended that the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation, in reality the pluralist intent of the Founding Father's is highly visible in the Constitution. Many of the founders of this nation did practice one type of Christianity or another, but these were highly varied and this generalization is by no means absolute. It is likely true that the founders could not have imagined the extent of the eventual diversity of this nation, but they certainly planned for its possibility and attempted to ensure the equality of this eventuality (with some notable and acknowledged limitations). Though issues of equality in this nation are far from settled, but it is clear that that intellectually, practically, and ideologically, this nation is not a Christian nation, but a pluralist society.

The many different social movements establishing that worked to establish equal rights for various minorities and underprivileged groups are in one way evidence that the founders didn't get pluralism perfect in their first attempt, but on the other hand they show a definite ability for the government and society of this country to change through non-revolutionary means. Writing in USA Today, Llewellyn Howell notes that the right for every culture to exist and assert itself is a "mantra" of American intellectualism (par. 2). The concept of an equal say is part of our national ethic, and though who this equality extends to has required adjustment, the nation's greatest orators and writers have consistently defended this intellectual attitude.