The American Flag And Its Growing Controversy Essays -

The American Flag And Its Growing Controversy The American Flag and its Growing Controversy Step 1: Details The American flag, to many, is the symbol of life and liberty. Freedom from oppression and the ability to run one's own life with minimal government intervention is what our country fought for all those years ago. The day after the SpanishAmerican War was declared, schools mandated the worship of the flag (Kaminer). So, when the issue of burning our great flag arises, everyone should be against it, right? Well, not exactly. The first amendment of the Constitution states that American citizens have the right to express themselves through free speech. Essentially, burning the American flag is speech without dialogue. Therefore, according to the Constitution, flag desecration is legal. However, flag protectionists are not going to give up that easy. The main controversy surrounding this issue is whether an amendment forbidding flag burning would infringe on our first amendment rights. In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that flag desecration was protected under our first amendment rights. In 1995, a constitutional amendment that would have given Congress the power to ban flag desecration was introduced to the Senate and the House of Representatives (Kaminer). The amendment passed through the House but failed in the Senate by a mere three votes. In February 1997, a similar amendment was again introduced to the Senate and the House Sell 2 Of Representatives (Kaminer). It also failed, but it does show the growing concern about the issue of flag burning. Protectors of the flag argue that burning an American flag is like spitting in the face of America and its democracy. On the other hand, flag burners argue that under America's democracy, they were given the right to express themselves freely. Obviously, this issue may never be settled with a positive outcome. Some arguments that flag burners have raised in their own defense include such things as having a flag bumper sticker on a car. They believe that if they cannot burn a flag because it is considered desecration, then an old, faded bumper sticker should be considered desecration as well (Apel). This brings up a valid point. Who decides where the line should be drawn between desecration and patriotism? Step 2: Obligations, Ideals, and Consequences As this issue continues to be brought up in our government, the obligations for everyone involved will continue to rise. Congress has the most important obligation of all. They are not only obligated to resolve the issue, but they are also obligated to American citizens in a way that is supposed to be unbiased. On the other hand, citizens are also obligated to understand and respect the government's decision. Not everyone is going to be happy no matter what decision is made, so we as a society are obligated to respect each other's views and morals. Ideals play a very important role in the issue of flag desecration. Ideals serve as the basis for actions. Obviously, social responsibility is an ideal that needs to surface when an issue is dealing with the Constitution. If an amendment is ever added to the Sell 3 Constitution making desecration of the flag illegal, the public has to be ready to deal with it, and follow it. Our government, however, needs to practice the ideal of fairness and integrity when such an issue is brought up. They need to listen to all sides and decide which course of action will contribute to the greater good of the country. After this issue is finally settled, it will be interesting to learn what consequences are adopted for flag burning (considering it becomes illegal). It will also be interesting to find out where the line would be drawn for flag desecration. Who knows? I might be arrested for wearing my flag swimming trunks to the beach. Again, our government has to be prepared to back up their decision, and that includes such consequences as dealing with protestors. Step 3: Possible Courses of Action Coming to a decision on this issue is going to take time. There will be a group, or groups that will feel like they have been cheated. Nevertheless, they need to realize that the government is taking what they feel is the best possible course

Interracial Relationships essays

Interracial Relationships essays Interracial relationships in America trace all the way back to when this country began. For many years, European settlers would usually marry Indian woman because there were not very many European women in America at that time. Even more today, there are many different types of interracial relationships. They come in many different varieties such as African-American and Caucasian, Latino and Asian, Chinese and Mexican, etcetera. Today, in our American society, there are so many different types of interracial relationships that the racial make-up of a couple could be of any combination. The facts on interracial relationships in America today are overwhelming. In a recent census taken on children who are born in America, one out of every twenty children born is a product of an interracial relationship. This means that out of every one million children born daily in America, ten thousand of them are a product of an interracial relationship. This poses a problem to people who are raciest. Usually, when a person is a raciest, they can easily find something wrong with anything and everything. After many years of hating people because of race, religion, sexuality, etcetera, it is almost impossible for that person to change. Today, however, people usually do not shout in front of large groups of people about their hatred. Usually, they only talk about their racism when they are around other people who are also racist. People who are racist usually try to be around other people who are racist. Then, they try to get people who are not racist to believe what they do. It all stems from them wanting to be accepted, and trying to find a way for others to accept them, no matter what the cost. I believe that when a person is making a decision on whether to be in an interracial relationship or not, there are several things that they must think about, as in any relationship. The main problem that can arise in an i...

Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Inaugural Address of Barack Obama - Essay Example The most successful use of addressing the emotional needs of the American audience was the clever interplay of words. The way he also appealed to the audience’s emotion and logic was a combination of arguments, evidence, and language. The use of such emotion-generating phrases like â€Å"gathering clouds and raging storms†, â€Å"noble ideas†, â€Å"the greatness of our nation†, and â€Å"bitter swill of civil war and segregation† (Obama, We Seek A New Way Forward) in his speech are consistent, effectively, and cleverly infused throughout the various subjects that he was discussing that his attempt to persuade his audience by tapping into their emotions was prevalent throughout the speech that it blended so well it sounded natural. Moreover, the prudent usages of such phrases are not abused in the sense that Obama relies solely on them. Rather he used it as a way to simplify the concepts he was trying to address in a manner that the average American could understand. Obama’s emotional appeal was an appeal for solidarity, acceptance, loyalty, and most of all patriotism in spite of the diversity of the American people by reiterating the commonalities and shared experiences. Shared social struggles throughout history of Americans as a people of migrants and how these struggles are continuing today for current migrants who â€Å"toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth† (Obama, We Seek A New Way Forward)   and shared economic burden that Americans are experiencing across all walks of life in almost all business sectors. These commonalities are highlighted in an attempt to forge cooperation through shared experiences, shared history, shared sentiments, shared values, and a common vision.  Ã‚  

An Assessment and Critique of Crisis Management in the Oil and Gas Dissertation

An Assessment and Critique of Crisis Management in the Oil and Gas Industry in Ensuring Company Continuity - Dissertation Example Note: Delete this text, but do not remove the section break that follows—if you can’t see it, click on the  ¶Show/Hide button on the formatting toolbar. Dedication The dedication, if desired, is a numbered page, but â€Å"Dedication† does not appear in the Table of Contents. Note that if the Abstract is two pages long, the page number of the Dedication must be changed to iv. Acknowledgments The â€Å"Acknowledgments† entry does appear in the Table of Contents. Table of Contents Acknowledgments 2 List of Tables 5 List of Figures 6 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 7 Introduction to the Problem 7 Background of the Study 8 Statement of the Problem 9 Purpose of the Study 9 Rationale 10 Research Question 10 Significance of the Study 11 Definition of Terms 11 Assumptions and Limitations 13 Nature of the Study (or Theoretical/Conceptual Framework) 14 Organization of the Remainder of the Study 18 Overview 19 Crisis Management 19 Business continuity 25 The concept of crisi s distinguished from issue 26 The issue and crisis management relational model 27 Crisis Communication Theory 29 Crisis Leadership 41 Structural implications of crisis management on the organization 42 Low Probability, High Consequence Events 45 Assessment of the Crisis Prevention and Management System: The Exxon Valdez 46 Assessment of the Crisis Prevention and Management System: The BP Gulf Oil Spill 58 Synthesis of literature review 66 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY 69 Research Design 69 Sample 70 Setting 72 Instrumentation/Measures 72 Data Collection 73 Data Analysis 74 Validity and Reliability 75 Ethical Considerations 76 List of Tables Table 1. Crisis Response Strategies by Postures 31 Table 2. SCCT Match for Crisis situation with Recommended Crisis Response 32 Table 3: Example of Risk Management Structure 43 List of Figures Figure 1. Issue and Crisis Management Relational Model 16 Figure 2. Disaster Management Cycle 29 Figure 3: Nine Steps of Crisis Response 35 Figure 4: Crisis Leade rship Continuum 42 Figures 5 & 6: Pictures from the Exxon oil spill site 52 Figure 7: Comparison of Exxon and CNN responses in the Exxon Valdez crisis 54 Figure 8: Picture from the BP Deep-water Horizon oil rig and spill site 61 Figure 9: Picture of fish washed upon in Galveston, Texas 65 Figure 10: Process Flowchart for Data Collection 74 (Note: Do not remove the section break that follows this paragraph.) CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Ranked among the most disastrous man-made crises attributable to commercial operations are the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and more recently, the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Damage from these incidents affected the lives and livelihoods of people distributed over a broad geographical area, and experts expect the repercussions to extend to subsequent generations because of their effect on the environment and wildlife. The oil industry, unfortunately, did not see the Exxon Valdez as sufficient precedent to have prompted the development of a standard crisis prevention and mitigation protocol to apply in the future. Taken together, oil and natural gas pipeline accidents have occurred over decades, often resulting in a significant number of fatalities. In 2011, a pipeline fire killed 100 people and seriously injured 120 in Nairobi. In 2010, a Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos) pumping station in Central Mexico exploded, killing 27 and injuring 50 (Ellingwood, 2010). In 2006, a pipeline explosion in Nigeria killed up to 500 people (BBC News, 2006), but the

Supply and Demand in substitute products (cell phones) in our current Research Paper

Supply and Demand in substitute products (cell phones) in our current time - Research Paper Example To illustrate, as Luo (2006) points out, if government imposes higher tax rates on cell phones, consumer demand for cell phones would decline whereas demand and supply would increase when the government sets favorable tax rates. Government policies regarding imports can also significantly affect the demand and supply in the cell phone industry. Similarly, as Pierskalla and Hollenbach (2013) point out, technology also plays an inevitable role determining the demand and supply of cell phone products. The industry analysts say that technological innovations can reduce the production costs of products like cell phones and this situation in turn would increase their demand and supply. In addition, advancements in technology would assist cell phone manufacturers to offer technologically improved products to customers and consequently the demand and supply would be improved. Evidently, cost of production is inversely related to demand and supply (Hortman, n.d.). When the cost of production increases, manufactures will be compelled to charge higher prices for their products and this in turn would lead to a decline in demand and supply. In emerging countries like China and India, labor costs are relatively low and therefore production costs can be notably reduced. According to Sugden (2022, P. 42), nature of the industry can influence the demand and supply to some extent. Today cell phones have become increasingly popular and therefore people consider it as a necessity product. As a result, the supply and demand of cell phones would remain to be stable regardless of small variations in price. Degree of Competitiveness Degree of competitiveness is very high in the cell phone industry because there are numerous potential players like Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Sony operating in this sector (see Figure 1). Price competition is very common in the cell phone indus try because every marketer tries to improve the demand and supply of his products in order to obtain an edge over competitors by taking advantages of price sensitivity of modern customers. Therefore, a cell phone marketer cannot sustain in the industry if he fixes prices above the par industry prices. In addition, cell phone companies compete based on technology also. To illustrate, today cell phone marketers integrate technological features like video facility, high MP cameras, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, dual sim, external memory into their products with intent to retain customer interests. In order to address the intense market competition, the firm’s managers should particularly try to keep their labor costs and material costs low and thereby minimize costs of production. For this, managers need to establish their production plants in countries where cost of raw materials and labor is relatively low. Effects of Macroeconomic Events A decline in the relative value of the US do llar can have a significant impact on the demand and supply of cell phones. Evidently a declining value of the US dollar would directly lead to an increase in US import prices (Effects of a Falling Dollar). It is clear that the US cell phone market is dominated by foreign companies and hence a fall in the relative v

The Role Of Civil Society In Maintaining Democracy

The Role Of Civil Society In Maintaining Democracy The role of civil society and the media in modern day democratic governance is of utmost importance since they ensure the proper functioning of government while respecting the main pillars of democracy. This contribution is demonstrated best when one compares democratic governance in European countries with the situation in authoritarian regimes. It is very often the case that although there is a struggle towards the implementation and respect of democratic principles, they are still very far away from their proper application. Introduction First, I will define what civil society is since this will help us understand better its role in democratic governance. Then, I will outline how the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and political participation aid and strengthen democratic governance. In examining these areas, I will demonstrate how the media and civil society play a crucial role in doing so. All of this will be established through the comparison between democratic countries, and less democratic or authoritarian regimes. Before one delves into outlining the role of civil society and the media in democratic governance, one must define civil society. According to Els van Enckevort  [1]  , Civil society is made up by very different organisations, networks and associations. From football clubs to debate groups, from womens networks to labour unions, from book clubs to political parties) and from environmental lobby groups to religious groups. Although some organisations will have a much clearer influence on political processes and democratisation than others, all are included in the civil society and all do have some influence on democratisation. Furthermore, according to Jo Leinen, a German Member of the European Parliament, stated in Civil Society and Conflict Resolution  [2]  , a contribution by the speakers of the conference held on 20th September 2007, that If you want to secure democracy, rule of law, human rights and peace you cannot rely only on governmental institutions or political part ies. You need a citizens movement. You need a strong debate between state institutions and civil society. One must also point out that the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force in December 2009, mentions that The institutions (of the EU) shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society. Thus, one can argue that democratic governance rests on several pillars. In this essay I will focus on the respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; the embracing of a pluralistic system; the integration of minorities in all levels of government and society and the promotion of a wide scope of political participation. As will be demonstrated, the achievement of these pillars can be facilitated by the working of an active civil society and effective media. Respect and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Human rights can be referred to as those basic rights and freedoms to which every human being is entitled to. Very often it is left in the hands of the organs of the state to ensure the protection of such rights. However, civil society and the media too play a role in demonstrating the importance of the protection of these rights. The latter are sometimes considered to be watch-dogs and struggle to ensure the adherence to these rights. The constant violation of human rights can be blamed on the facts that such actions remain undisclosed. This is where the media comes in. Its role is to expose such violations and make the public aware of such violations. It is only after the public is shown what is the outcome of such violations that awareness can be created. Furthermore, civil society must emphasise that education about human rights is increased as much as possible. In Malta, for instance, the People for Change Foundation, an NGO, works towards the achievement of a just, fair and inc lusive society all members of which may reach their full potential unhindered by factors such as age, race, sex, religion etc. Furthermore, it promotes social cohesion, and respect for Human Rights. One of the main reasons why civil society is of utmost importance is because it upholds certain values which strengthens the same civil society, and hence the democratic governance. It should thus work towards the upholding of human rights standards, and such value will permeate all levels of society. Since civil society organisation tend to focus on particular minor groups, voice their interests and work towards the clearing up of misconceptions and misunderstandings, and overcoming mistrust and fear. Such organisations are to aid governments to promote, as much as possible, dialogue between people hailing from various backgrounds and ethnicities. According to the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI)  [3]  project, a comprehensive study on civil society in Turkey, it can be argued that civil society is a crucial agent towards positive social change. Turkish civil society groups are not only providing services to disadvantaged and minority groups, but they also take active positions on several matters. The most remarkable efforts are in the alia of human rights where civil society organisations are making a lot of effort on expanding civic liberties. It is believed that when a particular government closes a geographical region to journalists there is the violation of human rights in that region. Chechnya, North Korea and Eritrea, amongst others, have all been closed in the past. In 2007, Human Rights Watch, an INGO, issued a report stating that the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua were closed to outside human rights observers, and that there was the commission of violations of human rights. The Human Rights Watch stated that there was little understanding of what was taking places in these regions since there wasnt much independent reporting on the area. The INGO went on to call the Indonesian government to open this region to independent observers so as to increase the amount and quality of information about the conditions there, and to allow independent and transparent reporting. Furthermore, the Russian NGO, Memorial, winner of the 2009 Sakharov Prize  [4]  also strives to promote the truth about violations of human rights in Russia, and former USSR states in order to ensure their democratic future. Freedom of Speech and Expression One of the most important functions of democratic governance is that decision-making at all levels is preceded by discussion and consideration of a range of views. A decision made after adequate consultation is likely to be a better decision than that which is taken after little or no consultation since the former mirrors the opinions, interests and needs of those concerned. This expression of opinions can be represented in the form of freedom of speech, and it is important in all levels of society. Without free speech, no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice or oppression is possible, and elections would have no meaning at all. Policies of political contestants become known to the public and become responsive to public opinion only if transmitted by the media by virtue of free speech. Furthermore, by virtue of Article 119 of the Constitution of Malta, the Broadcasting Authority is to ensure that broadcasting and television services preserve due impartiality in respect of matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to public policy, and that persons belonging to the different political parties are allocated a fair proportion of broadcasting time. Thus freedom of speech can be deemed to be the sine qua non of a democratic society. I believe that freedom of expression is designed to develop personal self-fulfilment; it is an essential process for the advancement of knowledge and discovery of truth; and it can be deemed to be a method of achieving necessary social change without resorting to violence. The importance of freedom of expression is outlined in Article 41 of the Constitution of Malta which states that: Except with his own consent or by way of parental discipline, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence. Similarly, the Constitution of Jordan guarantees freedom of opinion and speech, in addition to freedom of the press and media, but all within the limits of the law. However, in practice there are significant restrictions in place restricting the free operation of the media. Any criticism of the king or the royal family is prohibited, as well as anything which is deemed to harm the states reputation and dignity. The government has used tactics such as fines, prosecution, and detention to intimidate journalist. Furthermore, while press freedom has progressed quite a lot in Jordan in recent years, the very complex legislation of the state, and the lack of awareness of the law very often means that journalist fall foul of the system. Nidal Mansor, president of the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ), stated that The media is the cornerstone of reform and democracy, and so in 2002, with the help of the EU, the CDFJ set up a media legal aid unit which not only offers fre e legal representation for journalists, but also carries out advocacy work in Jordan and neighbouring countries to try to improve the existing laws concerning the press. While increased media freedom has been praised in Egyptian political life over the past decade, in last Novembers elections several negative factors surfaced. Pre-election time was characterised by the restriction of the liberty to discuss politics and this, as a result, slowed down the spreading of political information. They did not allow the opposition from using the media and made sure that critics are silenced. Freedom of Association and Assembly Article 42 of the Constitution of Malta states that no person is to be hindered in his enjoyment of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, thus they are to be able to hold demonstrations and meetings. The right to form associations with others comprises the right to join band clubs, political parties and trade unions amongst others. Thus, this can be seen as the basis of the formation of civil society. One must point out that the Maltese Constitution lays down that it shall be unlawful, to establish, maintain or belong to any association of persons who are organised and trained or equipped for the purpose of enabling them to be used for the display of physical force for a political object. It is recognized as one of the foundations of a functioning democracy, and its protection is crucial for creating a tolerant society in which groups holding different beliefs, practices, or policies can coexist peacefully. The Human Rights House Foundation, an INGO, deplored the fact that in Belarus people are deprived of expressing their dissent peacefully, and further condemned the use of force and violence against the peaceful demonstrators carried out on February 14th and 16th in 2009 in Minsk. Although the organisers applied for permission to hold these demonstrations, their application was turned down. In the latter peaceful rally held in solidarity with political prisoners, was also brutally disbanded. Ten minutes after people had gathered, dozens of riot policemen attacked the participants of the rally. Freedom of Press In more than half the worlds countries, banning, confiscation and censorship of publications are everyday occurrences. Even today, millions of men and women live under governments which restrict their right to know and express their opinions. The number of journalists, who go to jail for criticizing governments, or for simply expressing concern of any kind, is still high. As democracy is founded on an informed and active citizenry, citizens have the right and responsibility to participate in public affairs. Effective participation requires knowledge and wisdom. Citizens get their knowledge through media, and through discussions with others. The media provide forums through which individuals and groups express their opinions. As governmental watchdogs, the press and civil society organisations keep citizens informed of governmental events and actions. It is also important that people are not subjected to just one perspective of thing, but they are to be enabled to make comparisons, re ach conclusions and form opinions. The job of a free press is to keep an eye on the government, to make sure it stays honest and responsive to the people of the country. A free press also has an important role in government since it has an increasingly influential impact on public policy, governmental decisions and popular attitudes. Section 2 of the Spanish constitution provides, amongst other, for freedom of speech and of the press. Together, the Spanish independent press, the judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system ensure freedom of speech and of the press. Individuals are allowed to criticize the government publicly or privately, without fear of punishment, and the government does not hinder such criticism. The independent media in this country is very active and generally expresses a myriad of views without restriction. On the other hand, there is no current independent media in Eritrea, and all forms of media are Government sources. Eritrea has among the highest number of jailed journalists in the world. In 2001, in an effort to suppress increasing opposition about the future of the Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice, the government closed down eight independent newspapers and arrested a number of journalists. Eritreas press freedom is deemed to be the lowest in the world. Similarly, Jordanian radio and television are considered to be more restricted in their freedoms than the press. In general, people are allowed to access the internet freely, and such access in unrestricted; however, there were reports that the government investigated some website which were highly critical. Political participation and Elections David Friedrick  [5]  states that the participation of an organised civil society in governance arrangements at European and international level is enhancing democratic qualities, and goes further into saying that having a regulated model of participation would strengthen the democratic quality of civil society participation. It can be said that anything which restricts the scope of public participation not only weakens a countrys democratic foundations but also has the immediate effect of limiting debate over its development priorities. Furthermore, political participation is essential for realizing the basic values and objectives that minorities have. Elections constitute an essential feature of democratic governance. Through elections, people choose their representatives. Furthermore, political parties occupy a central place in the political process in modern democracies since these parties are deemed to be intermediaries between society and state. In order to guarantee the involvement of minorities in political parties, it is important to ascertain that the basic human right of freedom of association is fully respected. Recently, a Bosnian Jew and an ethnic Roma have challenged discriminatory provisions within Bosnias Constitution and electoral laws. In a case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on 22 December 2009, the Court found certain provisions of the Bosnian Constitution and electoral laws to discriminate against minorities in failing to allow its citizens who are not Constituent Peoples to stand for election to the Presidency. The UN-INSTRAW/CAWTAR  [6]  project Womens Political Participation in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, demonstrates how the media can play a crucial role in the promotion of women ´s political participation in this region. In these countries, womens political participation has been increased during the last years, mainly due to increased access to education and the integration of women in the labour market. However, women are still highly underrepresented in the political field, as well as in the legal and institutional areas. Even during the elections in Algeria and Morocco in recent years, female candidates were only given limited coverage. This is to be distinguished from the situation in Spain, where in 2004, there were 125 women in the 350 seat Congress of Deputies, and 61 women in the 259 seat Senate; and the 64 women in the 169-seat parliament, and seven women among the nineteen in the Supreme Court in Norway. In these two countries, one can see how womens political partici pation is much higher when compared to Arab countries. Conclusion Thus one can conclude that the basic roles of civil society and the media in democratic systems of governance are of utmost importance, and one can say that their main scope is to limit and control the power of the state, to raise public concern, to promote political participation, to develop values of democratic life, and to express diverse interests. It is only when the media and civil society, work hand in hand with the government that democratic governance is strengthened.

The City of Thessaloniki (Salonika) Essay example -- History Thessalon

The City of Thessaloniki (Salonika): Cultural, Political, and Religious History (315 BC- 1912) There was once a great city, a cosmopolitan center of commerce and culture. Its' port welcomed immigrants fleeing terror and want; its dense, bustling streets presented a kaleidoscopic variety of native dress and hummed with the sound of the world's languages.? Built on the twin pillars of tolerance and trade, the city was a beacon of pluralism and ethnic hatred. This great city is not New York but Salonika, "the Pearl of the Mediterranean" (1). Salonika, officially known today by the Greek name Thessaloniki, is a magnificent city with a rich heritage.? It was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedonia, who named this land Thessaloniki after his wife, Thessalonica, daughter of Phillip II and half-sister of Alexander the Great.? Story has it that Phillip received news of his daughter?s birth on the day he conquered Thessaly (2).? He named his daughter ?Thessaloniki?, meaning ?Victory in Thessaly? (3). Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, is also one of oldest European cities.? Over time, Thessaloniki grew to become the industrial and artistic center of Macedonia and one of the few Greek cities to have constantly developed culturally. Early History; Roman Era: During the Roman era, Thessaloniki was a free city and was considered the capital of Roman Macedonia and of the Southern Balkans (4).? In 130 BC the famous Via Egnatia, an important Roman road that linked the East and the West, and the city?s harbor were constructed, both which contributed to the growth and prosperity of the city (5).? In 50 AD, Saint Paul founded the second Christian church, to which he addressed two letters?Thessalonians, the... ...8302&destID=1678&p_id=28302&tn=attraction&search_type= > 12. ?Frommers.com:? Thessaloniki:? Museum or Other Attraction:? Church and Crypt of Ayios Demetrios.?? Frommers.com? 15 Dec, 2003.? Wiley Publishing, Inc.? <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/moreattract.cfm?a_id=28303&destID=1678&directory=thessaloniki&p_id=28303&tn=attraction&leftnav=1678022088 > 13. ?White Tower of Thessaloniki.?? Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Dec, 2003? <http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tower_of_Thessaloniki> 14. ?Frommers.com:? Thessaloniki:? Museum or Other Attraction:? The White Tower.?? Frommers.com? 15 Dec, 2003.? Wiley Publishing, Inc.? <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/moreattract> 15. ?Frommers.com:? Overview of Thessaloniki.?? Frommers.com? 8 Jan 2004 Wiley Publishing, Inc.? <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/thessaloniki/1678010001.html>