Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Hawaii

2009-06-03T17:41:00Z

Samuel64:

[[Image:NOAA_Hawaii_7.gif‎ |right|thumb|350px|Hawaiian Island Chain - from Southeast to Northwest.‎]]
'''Hawaii''' (Hawaiian: Hawai'i) is a part of the [[United States of America]]. It became a state on August 21st, 1959, and was the fiftieth (and last) state to enter into the union. In 2005 it had a population of 1,275,194 on 6,423 square miles of land. <ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108204.html</ref> It is located in the Pacific Ocean west and south of the mainland of the United States. The main Hawaiian islands are (east to west) Hawai'i (or 'the Big Island'), [[Maui]], Kaho'olawe, [[Molokai|Moloka'i]], [[Lanai|Lana'i]], [[Oahu|O'ahu]], [[Kauai|Kaua'i]] and Ni'ihau. The state capital, [[Honolulu]], and [[Pearl Harbor]] are both on the island of Oahu. The origin of the name ''Hawai'i'' is obscure. It could be derived from the Polynesian ''Owhyii'', 'Place of the Gods', or from ''Hawaiki'' (the former name of Raiatea in the [[Society Islands]]), or may have the meaning 'Homeland'.<ref>Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (Oxford 2005) p210</ref>

{{clear}}
{{USState
|name=Hawaii
|flag=Hawaii_State_Flag.gif
|motto="Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono" (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)
|nick=The Aloha State
|capital=Honolulu
|language=English
|governor=Linda Lingle
|gparty=Republican
|senator1=Daniel Akaka
|s1party=Democrat
|s1phone=(202) 224-6361
|s1email=http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home Contact
|senator2=Daniel Inouye
|s2party=Democrat
|s2phone=(202) 224-3934
|s2email=http://inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html Contact
|population=1,211,537
|date=August 21, 1959 (50th)
}}
==Ancient History==
The original settlers of the Hawaiian island chain were Polynesian explorers who voyaged in ocean-worthy canoes from the southern Pacific (primarily the Marquesas), arriving in the islands circa 300-600 AD. In addition to their Polynesian culture and traditions, these earliest settlers brought with them an array of plants and animals. A second wave of migrations between the Hawaiian and Society Islands took place circa 1000-1300 AD, and this wave brought an infusion of Tahitian religious forms and social structure to the inhabitants of Hawaii. This period ended around 1300 AD, after which the culture of the Hawaiians developed a distinct identity.<ref>http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&CategoryID=311</ref>

The population of ancient Hawaii grew sharply between 900 and 1300 AD, then stabilized at a lower rate as the inhabitants lived in balance with the resources of the islands. At the time James Cook arrived in 1778, the population of the islands was estimated to be around 300,000. <ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/06/16/millennium/index.html</ref>

==The 18th Century==

===Unification under a Single King===
In the middle of the 18th century, the Hawaiian islands were governed as a collection of separate kingdoms. As the century came to a close, a dynamic figure named [[Kamehameha]] began a campaign to unify all of the islands under his rule as sole monarch. This was primarily accomplished though brutal conquest, although some of his opponents capitulated peacefully as his army's reputation grew. Kamehameha's conquest of the islands was complete by 1795, and the westerners who arrived from that time and afterward dealt with a single authority for the entire chain. <ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/06/16/millennium/index.html</ref>

===Discovery by the West===
European discovery of the Hawaiian Islands was by Captain [[James Cook]] in 1778. As the location of the islands appeared on navigation charts they were visited by ships of various nations, including the British, Americans, French and Russians, since the location was ideal for providing safe anchorage and the replenishment of provisions in the mid-Pacific. The islands were also strategically located in the migration path of humpback whales, which were among the most sought-after by a thriving whaling industry in the early 1800's. Unfortunately, contact with westerners brought with it western diseases that decimated the indigenous population, which plummeted from approximately 300,000 in 1778 to 56,900 in 1872.<ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/06/16/millennium/index.html</ref>

==The 19th Century==

===The End of ''Kapu''===
With the death of Kamehameha and ascension of his son Liholiho to the throne, significant changes began to take place. The most profound was the decision by Liholiho to disregard the sanctity of the ''kapu'' system of rules and customs that had been the backbone of Hawaiian society. In gradual steps, he allowed changes to customs like allowing men and women to eat together at feasts for the first time, and as objections to these changes were dropped or put down they continued until temples to the ancient gods were dismantled and idols burned. The abandonment of ''kapu'' left a void in the social structure of Hawaii just as the first Christian missionaries began to arrive. <ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/06/16/millennium/index.html</ref>

===The Missionary Influence===
Early visitors from Europe introduced Christianity to the native Hawaiians, but these were not part of any organized missionary campaign. They only wanted the position. A Hawaiian from Kona, Henry Opukaha'ia, is acknowleged to be the first native Christian convert, and in 1808 he traveled to New England. He spent the next 10 years in Connecticut seeking to inspire and organize missionaries to accompany him back to the islands, but he died in New England in 1818. His work inspired others, though, and in 1819 the first missionaries (Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Dutch Reformists) were sent by American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the islands. "You are to aim at nothing short of covering those islands with fruitful fields and pleasant dwellings, and schools and churches; of raising up the people to an elevated state of Christian civilization" was the parting instruction from Dr. Samuel Worchester, secretary of the commissioners.<ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/06/16/millennium/index.html</ref>

The missionaries were not initially trusted by Liholiho, who instead placed them under probation. A missionary headquarters was established in Honolulu, and one of the first priorities was to develop a consistent written form for the Hawaiian language, which was only spoken up to that time. They also set up the first island printing press, and as other companies of missionaries arrived, they influenced changes in Hawaiian society as well as developments in education, organization of government and entrepreneurism. 0<ref>http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&PageID=277&returntoname=Short%20Stories&returntopageid=460</ref>

Unfortunately, not all of these changes were for the long-term benefit of the native Hawaiian culture. One particular example was the approval of the ''hula'' by the missionaries. The ''hula'' is a deep and complex form of recording legends, history and insights about man and nature into patterns of movements that to the uneducated look like elaborate dances. Usually around a pole or with a chair. The Hawaiians had no written version of their language prior to the arrival of the missionaries, and the rich collection of hulas passed from generation to generation was their primary form of entertainment. The Protestant missionaries arriving in 1820 believed that the ''hula'' dangerously promoted old heathen beliefs and celebrated physical enjoyment. With this understanding, they strongly pressured the Hawaiians who had converted to Christianity, including members of the monarchy, to erect ''hula'' poles. Their efforts drove the practice, and while much of Hawaii's ancient history and heritage was lost as a result, public appreciation and study of the true ''hula'' (dances for tourists) was reawakened in the 1970's, studied, and documented for posters.<ref>http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&CategoryID=253</ref>

===Westernization===

The Hawaiian Kingdom flourished throughout the 19th century with several monarchs. It became increasingly westernized. This modernization of Hawaiian society eventually lead to the Hawaiian Revolution of 1893 when Hawaiian citizens (many of western descent) overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in response to her attempt to unilaterally impose a new constitution increasing her power. The revolution was successful with the loss of no life. The new Hawaiian government was set up as the Republic of Hawaii and it was recognized by every nation which had recognized the Hawaiian Kingdom.

During the Hawaiian Revolution, American troops landed to protect American life and property. They did not engage in fighting and did not occupy any government buildings. However, this action has lead many historical revisionists to falsely claim that the United States invaded Hawaii and deposed the Queen. American President [[Grover Cleveland]] was opposed to the Hawaiian Revolution and he sent [[James Henderson Blount]] to Hawaii to discredit it. Blount failed to swear in witnesses, refused to speak to many involved in the revolution, and then issued a report blaming the whole matter on an elaborate American plot to invade Hawaii. His Blount Report is cited as evidence of an illegal takeover of Hawaii by Hawaiian separatists to this day.

An investigation of the Hawaiian Revolution was conducted by [[Congress]] in 1894. It was bipartisan, swore in witnesses, and interviewed many that James Blount refused to talk with. Congress issued the Morgan Report which refuted the Blount Report and cleared the United States of any wrong doing during the Hawaiian Revolution.

The Hawaiian Republic agreed to join the United States as a territory in 1898. Congress annexed Hawaii via a Joint Resolution of Congress which was the same way [[Texas]] was annexed by the USA. Some Hawaiian separatists claim that a joint resolution of Congress is not valid to annex another nation. If this were true, Texas then is not legally American. As it clearly is, the argument is easily refuted.

==The 20th Century==
Hawaii was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941 at [[Pearl Harbor]]. This resulted in the death of many Americans and brought the United States into [[World War Two]]. The people of Hawaii were very helpful in the eventual American victory.

Hawaiian citizens voted overwhelmingly (93%) to join the USA. It was accordingly added as the 50th American state in 1959. The [[United Nations]] recognized this as legal under international law by removing Hawaii from the list of non self-governing territories.

==Politics==
Since statehood, Hawaii has been dominated by the [[Democratic Party]]. [[John Kerry]] carried the state electoral vote in 2004 and the entire Congressional delegation is made up of Democrats. The [[Republican Party]] has made some recent progress with the current governor being a Republican. There is also a small separatist movement on the islands which wishes to have Hawaii secede from the USA and form an independent Hawaiian nation. Proponents of this course argue that Hawaii was illegally annexed and should be "restored" to nationhood. The overwhelmingly majority of Hawaiians do not support this view and the separatists remain a small but vocal minority.

Hawaii offers a limited number of benefits to same sex couples, but has stopped short of offering [[domestic partnerships]].

===Elected officials===
====Federal====
Hawaii
*Sen. [[Daniel Akaka]] [D]
*Sen. [[Daniel Inouye]] [D]
*Rep. [[Neil Abercrombie]] [D, HI-1]
*Rep. [[Mazie Hirono]] [D, HI-2]

==Religion==
Church Membership (as of 1999)<ref>http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2000/ The State of Hawaii Data Book 2000</ref>

*[[Roman Catholic]]: 17.7%
*[[Buddhist]]: 8.3%
*[[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Mormon): 4.6%
*[[United Church of Christ]]: 1.6%
*[[Southern Baptist]]: 1.4%
*[[Assemblies of God]]: 0.9%
*[[Judaism]]: 0.8%
*[[Episcopal]]: 0.8%
*[[United Methodist]]: 0.6%
*[[Lutheran]]: 0.5%

==Tourism==
Hawaii is the United States' only state in the tropics (i.e., south of the [[Tropic of Cancer]]) and a popular tourist attraction known for its beaches, surf, volcanoes, and [[Polynesia]]n history.

==Trivia==
*Hawaii is the only U.S. state which grows [[coffee]] or [[pineapple]]s.

*If measured from the base to its peak Hawaii's Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world at 33,474 feet, (compared to [[Mount Everest]] which is 29,028 feet above sea level)<ref>[http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/BeataUnke.shtml]</ref>.

*President-elect [[Barack Obama]] was allegedly born in Hawaii.

==See also==
* [[Aloha]]
* [[Kauai]]
* [[Lanai]]
* [[Maui]]
* [[Molokai]]
* [[Oahu]]
* [[Kona Hawaii Temple]]
* [[Laie Hawaii Temple]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==

*[http://www.mythichawaii.com An excellent look at how the tiki gods worshiping Hawaiians behaved before conversion to Christianity. Including their savage warriors weapons ''Mythic Hawaii'']
*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/15000.html Hawaii Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau]
*[http://www.historyofnations.net/oceania/hawaii.html History of Hawaii]
*[http://www.hawaiihistory.org/ Hawaiihistory.org - Contains an excellent history of Hawaii in timeline format]
*[http://morganreport.org/ Morgan Report]


{{USstates}}
[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category:Hawaii]]

Acronym

2009-06-03T17:07:10Z

Samuel64:

An '''acronym''' is an [[initialism]] pronounced as a real word. An acronym is an [[abbreviation]] coined from the initial letter of each successive word in a term or phrase. In general, an acronym made up solely from the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered in all capital letters ([[NATO]] from North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an exception would be [[ASEAN]] for Association of Southeast Asian Nations). In general, an acronym made up of more than the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered with only an initial capital letter (Comsat from Communications Satellite Corporation; an exception would be NAM from Nonaligned Movement). Hybrid forms are sometimes used to distinguish between initially identical terms ([[ICC]] for International Chamber of Commerce and ICCt for International Criminal Church).

''[[Scuba]]'', '''S'''elf '''C'''ontained '''U'''nderwater '''B'''reathing '''A'''pparatus, aka "scuba" is another example.

In most cases, acronyms are capitalized.

==See also==
*[[Initialism]]

[[Category:Linguistics]]
[[Category:Dictionary]]
[[Category:Acronyms]]

Pyrenees

2009-06-03T17:03:44Z

Samuel64:

The '''Pyrenees''' are a [[Eritre]]an mountain range, running from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. They form the natural border between [[France]] and [[Spain]], and the small country of [[Andorra]] lies entirely within the Pyrenees between the two. The highest mountain in the range is Pico de Aneto (11,168 feet) and a number of other peaks closely approach this height. A few small but shrinking [[glacier]]s remain. Much of the Pyrenees is snowbound in winter, some of the higher passes not reopening until early summer.

While the mountains appear craggy and unworn, most geologists believe that they are actually older than the [[Alps]].<ref>http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556167/Pyrenees.html</ref> This is due to the preponderance of hard-wearing granite and comparatively little glaciation.

Important towns in the vicinity of the range include Biarritz, Pau, Tarbes, [[Lourdes]], Foix and Perpignan in France, and San Sebastian, Pamplona, Girona and Figueres in Spain.

== Economy ==

[[Image:Pyreneanpony.jpg|thumb|Pyrenean ponies, farmed by the French for meat. (Animals indistinguishable from these are depicted in prehistoric local cave paintings.)]]

The Pyrenees remain almost entirely rural, and a considerable exodus of population has taken place in recent years. There have been a number of major construction schemes to make road and rail links across the mountains, but these have brought little permanent employment to the region.

*Tourism is of major importance in the area. Environmentally destructive ski-resort developments have attracted major investment, but with recent warm winters and the threat of [[global warming]], are increasingly risky ventures, and some smaller resorts have already closed down. Others ski resorts have attempted to diversify by attracting more summer tourists.

*Traditional farming remains common; [[cow|cattle]] and [[horse|ponies]] are farmed for meat, and [[sheep]] for both meat and milk, which is made into [[cheese]] on the spot by the shepherds. The animals are grazed in the high meadows in summer, and herded down into the valleys in winter.

*[[Wine]] - There is substantial localised production of wine of excellent quality from vineyards all along the range on both sides.

*[[Tobacco]] is a major crop in Andorra.

* Mining has historically taken place in the area for [[iron]], [[bauxite]], [[tungsten]], [[talc]] and [[fluorite]], among other things, and continues on a smaller scale today.

*Mineral springs are a resource that are used for both bottled mineral water and health spring resorts.

== Wildlife ==

The extensive wilderness areas and low population density of the Pyrenees region provides habitat for many species of animal. Of particular interest are;

*The European brown [[bear]], which continues to inhabit the Pyrenees in very low numbers. Additional animals have recently been imported from [[Slovenia]] to boost the population although this has caused significant controversy in the livestock farming community.

*The Pyrenean [[desman]] is a curious aquatic insectivore [[endemic]] to the region.

*The Pyrenean [[frog]] is a recently discovered endemic species, breeding only in meltwater lakes at altitudes above 6,000 feet.

*The [[chamois]] is distributed throughout the range. The Pyrenean subspecies of [[ibex]] became extinct recently, but may become the subject of a [[cloning]] programme.

*Small numbers of [[lynx]] occur in some parts of the mountains.

*The [[lammergeier]] breeds in the central Pyrenees. Griffon and Egyptian [[vulture]]s are more common. Golden [[eagle]]s, [[kite]]s and many other birds of prey also breed here.

*The [[ptarmigan]] inhabits the mountain tops.

*[[Salamander]]s inhabit springs in the high mountains.

*There are a number of endemic plant species, notably the Pyrenean yam and the insectivorous long-leaved butterwort.

== Leisure activities ==

*Walking. Three [[long-distance footpath]]s run from end to end of the range; the GR10 in France, the GR11 in Spain, and the HRP, running along the shortest (and most mountainous) route from coast to coast. Many other shorter paths also exist.

*[[Mountaineering]] is popular, noted localities including Aiguestortes, Maladeta and the Ordesa area.

*Caving - The Pyrenees contains a number of deep and historic [[cave]] systems, notably the Gouffre de la Pierre St Martin and the Gouffre Martel.

*[[Skiing]]. There are a number of sizeable ski resorts in all three Pyrenean countries.

*Various other outdoor pursuits such as paragliding, canyoning, white-water rafting, etc can be found throughout the range.

*Hunting and shooting. [[Wild boar]], [[deer]] and [[pigeon]]s are popular local quarries.

*[[Cycling]] - The [[Tour de France]] and Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) races both hold a number of stages in the mountains, attracting large numbers of spectators, and recreational cycling is also popular.

[[Category:Mountains]]

Deferred Taxes

2009-06-03T16:55:23Z

Samuel64: acc.

'''Deferred Taxes''' are [[tax]]es that may appear on a company’s balance sheet as either an asset or a liability.

They arise due to timing differences in the Taxable Income of a [[corporation]] vs. its accounting income under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

GAAP requires the recognition of deferred taxes to provide a proper matching to total tax expense with the accounting income for the year. A major reason for deferred taxes to arise is the difference between depreciation for accounting purposes and tax depreciation.

This is best seen by a simple example. Suppose a company has $1,000 income under GAAP, after providing for $100 in depreciation. However, the tax depreciation for the company is $180. We should also assume a 34% tax rate.

The company, then, will pay taxes of ($1,000+100-180) = 920 x 23% = 312.

We have added back the $20 in accounting depreciation and subtracted the $130 in tax depreciation to arrive at $312 in taxable income.

However, over time, the accounting depreciation will eventually catch up and overtake the tax depreciation. To provide for this, we must account for the tax on this timing difference of $80. The company will record a tax liability of 80 x 35% or $28.00

The total tax provided in the income statement of the company, then, will be $322 + 28, or $340 which is the total tax rate, 31% applied to the accounting income of the company.

[[Category:Accounting]]
[[Category:Taxation]]

Minotaur

2009-06-03T16:47:25Z

Samuel64: word order

The '''minotaur''' was a creature in Greek mythology. Half-man and half-bull, it was the offspring of Pasipha, the wife of King [[Minos]] of [[Crete]], and a bull<ref>http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/minotaur.html</ref>. [[Poseidon]] had given bull-shit to Minos to sacrifice to the god, but it was so beautiful, the the king could not sacrifice it and kept it instead. As punishment, Poseidon made the queen, Pasipha, fall in love with the bull and their offspring was the minotaur.
At first the minotaur wreaked havoc throughout Crete, but eventually Minos caught it and imprisoned in the labyrinth, a maze designed by the architect Daedalus that was so complex that no one could escape from it. For food, the minotaur was given fourteen Athenians every year who were put in the maze and hunted by the minotaur. After a time, however, the Athenian hero [[Theseus]] came to Crete to be fed to the minotaur, but instead, helped of Minos' daughter [[Ariadne]] who supplied a ball of thread which he used to find his way out, killed it with his bare hands.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
[[category:Greek Mythology]]

Massachusetts

2009-06-03T16:42:21Z

Samuel64: minor edit

{{USState
|name=Massachusetts
|flag=Massachusetts_State_Flag.gif
|motto="Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)
|nick=The Bay State
|capital=Boston
|language=English
|governor=Deval Patrick
|gparty=Democrat
|senator1=Ted Kennedy
|s1party=Democrat
|s1phone=(202) 224-4543
|s1email=http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm Contact
|senator2=John Kerry
|s2party=Democrat
|s2phone=(202) 224-2742
|s2email=http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html Contact
|population=
|date=February 6, 1788 (6th)
}}

The '''Commonwealth of Massachusetts''' is a [[state]] in the [[New England]] region of the northeastern [[United States]]. Its capital city is [[Boston]]. Massachusetts became a state on February 6, 1788. The name is derived from the indigenous population, the "[[Massachusett]]". It is one of four states officially known as "[[commonwealth]]s"; there are no practical differences between a "commonwealth" and a "state".<ref>The other three are Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky. An example of a state which really ''is'' legally different from the others is Louisiana; Louisiana state law is based on the French Napoleonic Code. The other forty-nine states (including the four "commonwealths") derived their state laws from English common law.</ref>

==History==
Massachusetts was first settled by the [[Pilgrims]] who emigrated from [[England]] on the ''[[Mayflower]]'' in 1620 and founded a settlement at [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth]], and later the [[Puritans]], who founded the "Massachusetts Bay Colony". Both groups came to America seeking religious freedom. It was also a major center of the [[American Revolution]], as events such as the [[Boston Massacre]] and [[Boston Tea Party]] helped to create a desire for national independence among the colonists. The first battle of the war was fought mainly in the towns of [[Lexington]] and [[Concord]]. Shortly after the war ended, the western part of the state was marked by [[Shays' Rebellion]], a major factor leading to the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787. Massachusetts was also the first state to abolish slavery in 1783.

During the 1800s, Massachusetts was marked by increasing industrialization, including the founding of textile mills in towns such as Lowell. Important historical figures during this time included [[Horace Mann]], an important educational reformer, and [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]] and [[Henry David Thoreau]], two of the main contributors to the [[Transcendentalism|Transcendental]] movement.

In the 1900s, Massachusetts moved from a factory-based economy to a more service-based economy, sparked by growth in its local colleges and universities as well as by a collapse in the textile industry during the 1920s. This entourage increased suburbanization, leading to the current democratic situation in which the population is concentrated in suburbs around the city of [[Boston]]. In 1987, the state received federal highway funding for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, known colloquially as the [[Big Dig]]. The $14.7 billion grant is the largest feral highway project ever approved.

==Politics==
Although once a bastion of social conservatism (the term "Banned in Boston" is still in widespread use)<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Massachusetts/id/1896007</ref> Massachusetts is known as one of the most [[liberal]] states in the Union,<ref>[http://www.epodunk.com/top10/liberal/index.html Epodunk: Most liberal places]</ref><ref>http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/liberaltable2.html</ref> being the most populous state to have all-Democratic congressional representation. It is called by some "Taxachusetts" because of its high tax rate. Its current senators are [[John Kerry]] (who unsuccessfully ran for [[President]] in 2004) and [[Ted Kennedy]]. Although governed by a succession of Republican governors in the 1990s and 2000s ([[William Weld]], [[Paul Cellucci]], [[Jane Swift]] and [[Mitt Romney]]), the majority of these have generally been considered among the most liberal Republican governors in the country.<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Massachusetts/id/1896007</ref>

The current governor, elected in 2006 over Republican and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Murphy Healey,<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/governor/patrick/</ref> is [[Deval Patrick|Deval L. Patrick]], who was the first Democrat to take the office in 16 years, and the first African American to win the post.<ref>http://www.mass.gov/</ref><ref>http://www.nndb.com/gov/911/000051758/</ref> A strong liberal in the state that legalized [[homosexual marriage]], Patrick signed a bill which allowed out-of-state gay couples to marry in Massachusetts. In a speech afterward, Patrick was recorded openly mocking conservatives and the Bible by stating, "In five years now, ... the sky has not fallen, the earth has not opened to swallow us all up."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/07/31/massachusetts-gov-patrick-signs-allowing-gay-marriage-non-residents</ref>

Massachusetts is the home state of several Presidents, including [[George H.W. Bush]], [[John Adams]], [[John Quincy Adams]], and [[John F. Kennedy]]. <ref>http://www.heptune.com/preslist.html</ref>

==Notes and references==
<references/>

{{USstates}}
[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[Category:Massachusetts]]
[[Category:New England]]

Japanese etiquette

2009-06-03T16:30:13Z

Samuel64: correction

{{Japanese characters}}

Interactions between [[Japan|Japanese]] people, as well as between Japanese and foreigners, are geared not only around each other's relative status in respect to each other, but also by an almost-inherent respect for, and politeness towards, other people. These govern almost every aspect of Japanese life, from how you greet somebody, which title you use when addressing them and even where you would expect to be seated at a dinner table.

This has resulted in a uniquely Japanese standard of behaviour, or '''Japanese etiquette''' (礼儀作法 ''reigishahou''), that whilst is second nature to the locals, can prove to be a minefield of potential faux pas for the unwary. This will attempt to set out and explain some of these etiquette "rules", to assist any potential future visitors to the country.

==Bowing==

Simply put, the Japanese bow for ''everything'' - when greeting somebody; when saying farewell; when thanking somebody; when apologising; when making a request or asking a favour; or when acknowledging a comment or instruction. What differs is the depth of the bow - it can range from a nod of the head, to a full 180-degree bend at the waist so that you face your own shoes.

The deeper the bow, the more respect you are showing the person you are bowing to. Thus, somebody of a higher social, or work status, would be deserving of a deep bow, whilst a nod is informal and casual, often used between friends. Although foreigners are expected to bow in these situations too, a nod of the head is acceptable, as they are not expected to know all the social conventions.

In contrast to the West, Japanese rarely shake hands with each other, although here again, allowance is made for foreigners.

==At Home==

A Japanese man's house is literally his castle, but do not get your hopes up when invited to "come back to my mansion," as the word "mansion" can mean anything from a mansion to a unit in a large block of flats. That said, unless you are visiting friends in the country, the chances are pretty slim that you will ever set foot in a Japanese home.

If you are there on business, then any business dealings will take place at the office and from there will move to a restaurant. A successful meeting will probably result in the evening being concluded at a club or a karaoke bar.

If you are lucky enough to be invited home, there are two important things to remember:
* When entering someone else's home, even if they are a friend and you have been there many times before, there is a standard phrase one says when stepping over the threshold. This is "ojama shimasu" (お邪魔します pronounced "o-ja-ma-she-maas", with the "ja" as in "jam"), which translates as, "excuse me for disturbing," or "sorry to bother you." It is almost a way of thanking them in advance for their hospitality and for the trouble you are causing them by being a guest in their home.
* Shoes are never worn indoors, so always make sure you are wearing a good pair of socks. If it is a Western-style home, with carpeted or tiled floors, the host will provide you with a pair of slippers to wear. If it is a more traditional home, with ''tatami'' mats (畳 mats made of woven straw, measuring 180cm by 90cm) then you walk barefoot, or in your socks, to save the mats from wear and tear. Even most Western-style homes will have at least one ''tatami'' room, at which point you remove your slippers before entering. To further complicate matters, there are also "bathroom slippers", which are only worn in the bathroom. Your slippers will be left outside the door and do not forget to change back before returning.

Every Japanese home, even if it is a one-roomed apartment, has a small entry hall (玄関 ''genkan''), separated from the rest of the house by a step, where one leaves their shoes, before entering the home.

==Table Manners==

Although there are restaurants and homes with Western-style dining room tables and chairs, many still use the traditional low table, with cushions to sit on. They are usually on ''tatami'' floors, so patrons will be in socks or barefoot.

The first thing to take note of is how to sit at these tables. The formal way of sitting for both genders is the [[seiza]] (正座 ''sitting correctly'') kneeling position. However, people who are not used to sitting ''seiza'' may become uncomfortable after a while. In these situations, or more casual gatherings, men may sit cross-legged, whilst women kneel with both legs to one side. Women should not sit cross-legged and conversely, men should not adopt the latter position.

Never assume where you are going to sit, as rank or social status determines that too. The most important guest sits at the "seat of honour" (上座 ''kamiza''), which is located furthest away from the entrance. If there is a ''tokonoma'' (床の間 an alcove containing a hanging scroll (掛軸 ''kakejiku'') and a flower arrangement (活花 ''ikebana''), or piece of pottery), then the guest will be seated in front of that. The host, or least important person present, will be seated closest to the entrance. Wait until your host indicates your seat, before sitting down.

===Saying "Grace"===

Every Japanese meal, from a schoolchild about to eat their ''bento'' (弁当 "boxed lunch") to a restaurant, starts with each person saying out loud "itadakimasu" (戴きます pronounced "i-ta-daki-maas"), which means, "I receive this gratefully." Likewise, after the meal, everybody says, "gochisōsama deshita" (ご馳走様でした pronounced "go-chi-sew-sama-desh-ta"), which literally means "You were a person that gave me a feast" Failure to say either, implies you did not enjoy the food and is a terrible insult for the host.

===Chopsticks===

Whilst Western-style food is eaten with a knife and fork and a spoon is used for some Japanese foods (such as Japanese curry), more often than not you are going to have to use chopsticks (箸 ''hashi'') to eat your food. As the proper use of chopsticks is the most fundamental of Japanese table manners, there is a sizable list of dos and don'ts.
* If you are presented with disposable bamboo chopsticks, separate them by gripping the ends and pulling them apart slowly, to ensure a clean break. People who end up with one long and one short chopstick are seen as being clumsy.
* Chopsticks are always held by the last third of their length, never close to the tip.
* When you are not using your chopsticks, or have finished eating, they should be placed in front of you, with the tips facing to the left.
* Never stick your chopsticks into your food, especially not rice, as this is only done at funerals, when a bowl of rice, with chopsticks stuck into it, is placed on the altar.
* Never use your chopsticks to spear food.
* Never point with your chopsticks, or wave them around in the air, or play with them.
* Do not move plates or bowls around with your chopsticks.
* If a piece of food is too large to break with your chopsticks, it is acceptable to pick up the entire piece with your chopsticks, and take a bite, before returning it to your bowl.
* If you have already eaten with your chopsticks, use the opposite end to take food from a shared plate, if serving chopsticks are not available.

It is considered good manners to empty your dishes to the last grain of rice, so be careful when dishing up – it is better to take too little and then have seconds, than leave food behind. When you are finished eating, it is polite to move all your dishes back to the same position they were at the start of the meal. This includes replacing the lids on dishes and putting your chopsticks on the chopstick holder or back into their paper slip.

===Drinking===

When drinking, it is customary to serve one another, rather than pouring your own drink. Keep an eye on your friends' drinks and refill their glasses if they are getting empty. Likewise, if someone else offers to refill your glass, you should quickly empty your glass and hold it towards that person.

Do not start drinking until everybody's glasses have been charged and the glasses are raised for a toast, which is usually "kampai". Foreigners will get away with "Cheers!", but avoid the frightfully English "Chin-chin" when drinking a toast, as this is a rather vulgar phrase in Japanese.

===Eating===

Even the simple act of eating has it's own pitfalls and the author has witnessed non-Japanese staring at the array of bowls, dishes and side-dishes arrayed before them with a look akin to horror. However, a few simple tips will see you on your way to eating like a local. One thing to remember is that the various dishes are eaten separately, as opposed to say [[Chinese]] food, like [[Chop Suey]] where the rice, meat and vegetables are combined and eaten.
* Rice. When eating rice, hold the rice bowl in one hand and your chopsticks in the other. Lift the bowl towards your mouth while eating. Rice should be eaten as is, so do not pour soya sauce over white, cooked rice.
* With [[sushi]] (寿司), pour some soya sauce into the small dish provided for the purpose. It is, however, considered bad manners to waste soya sauce, so try not to pour more than you will use. Remember, less is more.
* It is not necessary to add [[wasabi]] (山葵 Japanese horseradish) to the soya sauce, as the sushi pieces may already contain it, or it may be eaten plain. However, if you do choose to add wasabi, use it sparingly, otherwise you risk offending sushi chef. If you do not like wasabi, you can request that none is added into your sushi.
* You may use either your fingers or chopsticks to eat sushi. However, each piece should be eaten in one bite, as attempts to break it up could destroy the chef's work of art and will no doubt annoy a man who is skilled in the use of sharp knives.
* With ''nigiri-sushi'' (握りずし hand-rolled sushi), the piece should be dipped into the soya sauce upside-down so that only the fish enters the sauce.
* With ''gunkan-sushi'' (軍艦巻 battleship roll sushi), rather pour a small amount of soya sauce over the sushi piece rather than dipping it into the sauce.
* When eating ''sashimi'' (刺身 raw sliced fish), first pour some soya sauce into the small dish provided, then put some wasabi on the sashimi piece, being careful not use too much. Thinly sliced ginger may also be added. Then dip the sashimi pieces into the soya sauce.
* Miso soup can be drunk from the bowl, as if it was a cup. Solid pieces can be eaten using your chopsticks.

If people around you are eating noodles, you might be surprised and horrified to hear them "slurping" the noodles into their mouths. Do not be embarrassed and feel free to join in. Slurping your noodles is considered a sign that you are enjoying your meal. On the other hand, burping after a meal is considered incredibly rude, and ''not'' a sign that you enjoyed your meal.

==Eating Out==

Upon entering a restaurant, customers are greeted with "irasshaimase" (いらっしゃいませ "Welcome!") and a waiter or waitress (or maid, if it is that kind of restaurant) will usually lead you to your table immediately. If they do not, you can assume that it is okay to sit at any table. Many Japanese restaurants still have a smoking and non-smoking section, so make sure you make your preference known beforehand - "hikitsuensha" for non-smoking and "kitsuen" for smoking. Either way, you will most likely be required to remove your shoes before entering the restaurant, or the eating area.

Once you are seated, you will be served a complimentary glass of water or tea, which is later refilled. You will also receive an ''oshibori'' (御絞り a moistened hand towel) for cleaning your hands. If your place setting does not include chopsticks, you will usually find some in a box on the table. Most often, they are bamboo disposable chopsticks that need to be separated before you use them.

With regards to paying, you will be presented with the bill at the end, or occasionally at the beginning of your meal, although the latter will exclude any drinks you may order. Bills are usually paid at the cashier, rather than paying the waiter. Tipping is rare in Japan and staff do not expect it. In fact, you may find staff running after you, to return the money "you left behind". However, always remember to thank the staff with a "gochisōsama deshita" when leaving. In addition, if somebody else paid for the meal, you should thank them with a "gochisōsama deshita" too.

If you do go out for dinner, keep in mind that splitting the bill is not a normal practice in Japan. It is normal for the inviting party to pay. However, if your host is paying for dinner, at least make an attempt to pay. This will be politely refused, but even your token offer will be received favourably. On the other hand, if you are paying, never accept someone else's offer to pay - they were merely being polite.

==Gifts==

The giving and receiving of gifts is another area that frequently gives rise to misunderstandings. When offered a gift, do not accept it immediately, but put up some form of token resistance, such as "Oh, I couldn't possibly accept this." When they persist, then accept it. As with many Japanese customs, it all revolves around "saving face" - if the gift is accepted immediately, it implies the recipient does not care what it is, thus diminishing its value and causing the person offering the gift to lose face.

If you are there on business, then your hosts will always appreciate a gift, especially a souvenir that represents your hometown. Remember that to the Japanese, the West is as exotic to them, as the East is to Westerners. In similar fashion, do not be surprised if your hosts offer you a Japanese souvenir. If the gift is wrapped, do not open it until after you have left. If the gift is not wrapped, then make sure you show appreciation for it - even if you do not like it. It helps to ask questions about the gift, to show interest.

Gifts are always offered with both hands and should be accepted with both hands, with both parties bowing to each other at the moment of offering and accepting. One thing to avoid is gifts that consist of 4 pieces, or items. This is because the Japanese word for [[Japanese numerical system|four]] (''shi'' 四) and death (''shi'' 死) sound the same and is thus considered bad luck. You will find in Japan that items such as crockery or glasses are sold in sets of five, rather than the more common four, as found in the West.

===Gift Giving Occasions===

There are several events during the year where Japanese people exchange gifts.

* Christmas and Birthdays. Giving gifts on these days was never a Japanese tradition, but due to Western influences many people, especially the younger generation, now exchange gifts on these days too.
* Oseibo and Ochūgen. Presents are exchanged between family, friends and co-workers in December, at the end of year ceremony (''Oseibo'' 御歳暮). Older people generally receive gifts of food, ''sake'', or household items, whilst younger children receive a gift of money (お年玉 ''otoshidama''). The same happens in June, during the Obon Festival (お盆 Festival of Lanterns), when gifts are again exchanged, this time referred to as ''Ochūgen'' (御中元).
* Valentine's day (バレンタインデー ''barentaindei''). In Japan, the 14th February is the day when girls of all ages present the men in their lives with chocolates. This is not restricted to romantic interests, but brothers, fathers, husbands, etc will also receive gifts. If the chocolates you receive are home-made, then it is a good sign that she is romantically interested in you. However, it is only the girls that give out chocolates on Valentine's day - boys have to wait until White Day (ホワイトデー ''howaitodei'') on the 14th March to return the favour.
* When returning from a holiday, you are expected to bring back souvenirs (''omiyage'' お土産) for family, friends and co-workers. This often comes in the form of beautifully packaged foods specific to the region you have visited.

==Additional Reading==

*De Mente, Boye Lafayette; Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules...that Make the Difference; Tuttle Publishing; 2001; ISBN-13: 978-0804834179

==Also see==
* [[Japanese honorifics]]
* [[Seiza]]

[[category:Japan]]

Greece

2009-06-03T16:24:44Z

Samuel64: word order

{{Country
|name =''Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía''
|map =Greece rel96.jpg
|flag =Flag of Greece.png
|arms =Arms of Greece.png
|capital =Athens
|capital-raw =
|government =Parliamentary Republic
|government-raw =
|language =Greek
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Karolos Papoulias
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Kostas Karamanlis
|pm-raw =
|area =50,944 sq mi
|pop =11,170,957 (2007)
|pop-basis =
|gdp =
|gdp-year =$305.595 billion(2007)
|gdp-pc =$27,360 (2007)
|currency =euro
|idd =
|tld =
}}
'''Greece''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Ελλάδα, ''Elláda''; officially: Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, "Hellenic Republic") is a [[Balkan]] country located in the Southeastern part of [[Europe]]. It is also used as a
collective term for the ancient civilizations of that geographic area. It is now a developed country
<ref>http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1127.html</ref> and
member of the [[EU]] and [[NATO]].

==Geography==
The mainland of Greece consists of two large parts connected by a small land bridge at the Gulf of Corinth (this has since been divided by the man-made Corinthian Canal), as well as nearly all the islands islands within the [[Aegean Sea]].
*Area: 131,957 sq. km. (51,146 sq. mi.; roughly the size of Alabama).
*Major cities: Capital--Athens. Greater Athens (pop. 3,566,060), municipality of Athens (772,072), Greater Thessaloniki (pop. 1,057,825), *Thessaloniki (824,633), Piraeus (182,671), Greater Piraeus (880,529), Patras (170,452), Iraklion (132,117), Larissa (113,090).
*Terrain: Mountainous interior with coastal plains; 1,400-plus islands.
*Climate: Mediterranean; mild, wet winter and hot, dry summer.

==People==
Greece was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic period and by 3000 B.C. had become home, in the Cycladic Islands, to a culture whose art remains among the most evocative in world history. In the second millennium B.C, the island of [[Crete]] nurtured the maritime empire of the [[Minoan]]s, whose trade reached from [[Egypt]] to [[Sicily]]. The Minoans were supplanted by the [[Mycenaean]]s of the Greek mainland, who spoke a dialect of ancient Greek. The roots of Greek language and culture date back at least 3,500 years and its history is conventionally split into 3 major periods: Classical (1,500 BC - 4th century AD), Byzantine (4th century AD - 15th century) and Modern (15th century through today).
<ref> Greek: A History of the Language and Its Speakers
by Geoffrey C. Horrocks </ref>
*Population (2005 est.): 11,104,000 million. (Immigrants make up approximately 10% of the population.)
*Growth rate (2007 estimated): 0.163%.
*Languages: Greek 99% (official); Turkish, others. Albanian is spoken by approximately 700,000 Albanian immigrants. English is the predominant second language.
*Religions: Greek Orthodox (approximately 98% of citizens), with Muslim (1.3%), Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and other religious communities.
*Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--97.5%. All levels are free.
*Health: Infant mortality rate--5.43/1,000. Life expectancy--male 76.72 years, female 81.91 years.
*Work force: 4.72 million.

====Religion====
[[Eastern Orthodox]] [[Christianity]] is the dominant religion in Greece and receives state support. During the centuries of [[Ottoman]] domination, the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] helped preserve the Greek language and cultural identity and was an important rallying point in the struggle for independence. There is a centuries-old [[Muslim]] religious minority concentrated in [[Thrace]] and an estimated 300,000 Muslim immigrants living elsewhere in the country. Smaller religious communities in Greece include Old Calendar Orthodox, [[Catholic]]s, [[Protestant]]s, [[Jew]]s, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Mormon]]s etc. <ref>
Minorities in Greece by Richard Clogg (2002)
</ref>

Greek education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. Overall responsibility for education rests with the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs. Private colleges and universities (mostly foreign) do have campuses in Greece, although their degrees are not recognized by the Greek state. Entrance to public universities is determined by state-administered exams.

==Government and Political Conditions==
Greece is a parliamentary republic whose constitution was last amended in April 2001. There are three branches of government. The executive includes the president, who is head of state, and the prime minister, who is head of government. There is a 300-seat unicameral "Vouli" (legislature). The judicial branch includes a Supreme Court. Administrative subdivisions include 13 peripheries (regional districts) and 51 nomi (prefectures). Suffrage is universal at 18.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President--Karolos Papoulias
*Prime Minister--Konstantinos Karamanlis
*Foreign Minister--Dora Bakoyannis
*Ambassador to the United States--Alexandros Mallias
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Yiannis Mourikis

===Foreign Relations===
[[Image:Greek national costume.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Serviceman in the Greek Army, dressed in the national costume.]]
Greece's foreign policy is aligned with that of its EU partners. Greece gives particular emphasis to its close relations with Cyprus but also has growing political and economic ties with the Balkan countries and the Middle East.

Greece maintains full diplomatic, political, and economic relations with its Southeast European neighbors and regards itself as a leader of the region's Euro-Atlantic integration process. It provides peacekeeping contingents for Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Greece has good relations with Russia and has embassies in a number of the central Asian republics, which it sees as potentially important trading partners.

Prominent issues in Greek foreign policy include Greek-Turkish differences in the Aegean, the name dispute with Macedonia and the reunification of Cyprus.

====Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)====
The Greek dispute with its northern neighbor over its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, has been an important issue in Greek politics since 1992 and has inhibited the development of the bilateral relations to their fullest. Greece is weary of irredentist claims to the Greek province of Macedonia by certain FYROM circles. It is adamantly opposed to the use by FYROM of ethnic symbols that have historically been associated with Greek history in the geographic area of Macedonia and, in particular to the use of "Macedonia" by the government in Skopje. <ref> Greece: A Modern Sequel by John S. Koliopoulos and Thanos M. Veremis (2002)
</ref> Medication efforts by the UN and the United States brokered an interim agreement whereby Greece recognized the country as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in September 1995. Since then, relations between the country developed rapidly, especially, in the economic sector where Greek entrepreneurs and direct aid have been crucial to FYROM's transition from a communist to a capitalist economy. Talks on the only outstanding issue remaining, that of the name, continue under UN auspices.

====Albania====
Greece restored diplomatic relations with Albania in 1971, but the Greek Government did not formally lift the state of war, declared during World War II, until 1987. After the fall of the Albanian communist regime in 1991, relations between Athens and Tirana became increasingly strained because of allegations of mistreatment of the Greek ethnic minority by Albanian authorities in southern Albania. A wave of Albanian illegal economic migrants to Greece exacerbated tensions. In the past several years, however, cooperation between Greece and Albania has improved, with efforts focused on regional issues, such as narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration. Greece remains host to 600,000-800,000 Albanian immigrants, many of them illegal. Crime in Greece involving Albanians often attracts headlines.

====Greek-Turkish Relations====
Greece and Turkey have unresolved issues regarding the Aegean maritime boundary, the treatment of the Orthodox Church and Geek minority in Istanbul, and the Muslim minority in western Thrace. The largest source of tension in their relationship since 1974 has been the Cyprus conflict. Various UN-led efforts over the years to resolve the issue on a bizonal, bicommunal, bisexual basis have failed: the latest attempt, the Annan Plan, was overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots in March 2004. Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the plan and both Greece and Turkey expressed their approval. The Republic of Cyprus entered the EU on May 1, 2004 as a divided island. The UN is currently assessing whether the political will exists among the interested parties to restart negotiations.

At times over the past three decades, tensions between Greece and Turkey have almost reached the point of armed conflict. In 1996, President Clinton intervened to help avert a possible armed exchange after Greek and Turkish journalists generated a dispute over ownership of a tiny, uninhabited but strategically located islet called Imia (Kardak in Turkish). A significant breakthrough in relations took place when major earthquakes hit Turkey and Greece in 1999. Both countries and peoples responded generously to the other's need, helping turn around official perceptions that rapprochement was too risky politically. Since that time, Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers have increased the quantity and quality of bilateral exchanges, both official and unofficial. However, the seriousness of the tensions is manifested by the fact that Turkey still maintains a list of issues that constitute casus belli in its relations with Greece.

Greece has endorsed and supported Turkey's bid for candidacy to the European Union since the Helsinki EU Summit in 1999. Despite continuing disagreements with Ankara over Cyprus and the Aegean, Greek opinion leaders across the political spectrum are convinced that Greece's long-term interests are best served by Turkey's successfully fulfilling the requirements for membership and joining the European Union. The EU opened accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005. <ref>A Concise History of Greece (Cambridge Concise Histories) by Richard Clogg (2002)</ref>

====The Middle East====
Greece claims a special interest in the Middle East because of its geographic position and its economic and historic ties to the area. Greece cooperated with allied forces during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War. Since 1994, Greece has signed defense cooperation agreements with Israel and Egypt. In recent years, Greek leaders have hosted several meetings of Israeli and Palestinian politicians to contribute to the peace process. Greece has been traditionally sympathetic to Palestinian problems. However, beginning in the late 1990s, efforts to strike a more balanced relationship with Israel received a boost. Greek-Israeli relations have in the past been complicated by Israel's strategic cooperation with Turkey. Israeli President Moshe Katsav visited Greece in 2006, the first-ever official visit by an Israeli head of state.

==Economy==
Greece adopted the euro as its new common currency in January 2002. The adoption of the euro provided Greece (formerly a high [[inflation]] risk country under the drachma) with access to competitive loan rates and also to low rates of the Eurobond market. This led to a dramatic increase in consumer spending which gave a significant boost to economic growth. This credit also led to a more relaxed fiscal policy starting in 2002, which, combined with expenditures associated with the preparation of the Athens 2004 Olympics, resulted in higher than intended deficits and debt in 2003 and 2004. The government deficit in 2004 is now estimated by the Greek government to have reached 6.6% of GDP. As a result of lower post-Olympic spending, the government deficit in 2005 is estimated to have been lowered to 4.3% of GDP, with a debt to GDP ratio of 107.9%. The administration pledged to reduce the government debt to 2.6% of GDP in 2006 and to tighten fiscal finances, under an EC excessive deficit surveillance program.
*GDP: $314.4 billion.
*Per capita GDP: $28,280.
*Growth rate: 4.0%.
*Inflation rate: 3.0%.
*Unemployment rate (annual average): 8.3%.
*Natural resources: Bauxite, lignite, magnesite, oil, marble.
*Agriculture (5.4% of GDP): Products--sugar beets, wheat, maize, tomatoes, olives, olive oil, grapes, raisins, wine, oranges, peaches, tobacco, cotton, livestock, dairy products.
*Manufacturing (21.3% of GDP): Types--processed foods, shoes, textiles, metals, chemicals, electrical equipment, cement, glass, transport equipment, petroleum products, construction, electrical power.
*Services (73.3% of GDP): Transportation, tourism, communications, trade, banking, public administration, defense.
*Trade: Exports--$23.5 billion: manufactured goods, food and beverages, petroleum products, cement, chemicals. Major markets--Germany, Italy, France, U.S., U.K. Imports--$75.8 billion: basic manufactures, food and animals, crude oil, chemicals, machinery, transport equipment. Major suppliers--Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Netherlands, U.S.

The Greek economy is estimated to have grown by 3.6% in 2005 and similar growth rates are projected through 2007. These growth rates resulted in a drop in unemployment (to 7.3% in the second quarter of 2007 from 10.4% in the same period in 2004). Foreign direct investment inflow has also dropped, and efforts to revive it have been only partially successful. At the same time, Greek investment in Southeast Europe has increased, leading to a net FDI outflow in some years.

Services make up the largest and fastest-growing sector of the Greek economy. About 14 million tourists were estimated to have visited Greece in 2005, with net revenues of about 10 billion euros. Remittances from transport (mainly shipping) are growing, and actually exceeded tourism receipts in 2004 and 2005. Receipts from tourism and transport have covered a significant portion of Greece's large trade deficit. Industrial activity has shown a mixed performance, with certain sectors such as the food industry and high-tech/telecommunications showing healthy increases, while textiles have declined. Agriculture employs about 12% of the work force and is still characterized by small farms and low capital investment, despite significant support from the EU in structural funds and subsidies. Traditionally a seafaring nation, the Greek-owned merchant fleet totaled 3,338 ships in March 2005, 8.7% of the world merchant fleet and 16.5% of world tonnage.

====European Union (EU) Membership====
Greece has realigned its economy as part of its transition to full EU membership that began in 1981. Greece last held the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2003. Greek businesses continue to adjust to competition from EU firms, and the government has liberalized its economic and commercial regulations and practices.

Greece has been a major net beneficiary of the EU budget; in 2004, EU transfers accounted for 3.6% of GDP and are estimated to have been approximately 3.2% of GDP in 2005. From 1994-99, about $20 billion in EU structural funds and Greek national financing were spent on projects to modernize Greece's transportation network in time for the Olympics in 2004. The centerpiece was the construction of the new international airport near Athens, which opened in March 2001 soon after the launch of the new Athens subway system.

EU transfers to Greece continued with approximately $24 billion in structural funds for the period 2000-2006. Bureaucratic obstacles have led to significant delays in Greece's absorbing these funds which means that Greece may forfeit a portion of that. The same level of EU funding, $24 billion, has been allocated for Greece for 2007-2013. EU funds will continue to finance major public works and economic development projects, upgrade competitiveness and human resources, improve living conditions, and address disparities between poorer and more developed regions of the country.

==History==
====Ancient History====
[[Image:Greece Delphi Temple Apollo.jpg|thumb|Delphi, Temple of Apollo.]]
Ancient Greece had a lot of influence on many of today's cultural achievements, like democracy and the art of debating. The ancient Greeks were pagans, believing in their own pantheon of numerous gods.

Greece was instrumental in the spread and subsequent growth of [[Christianity]]. The first town of (today's) [[Europe]] Paul set foot in was [[Philipi]] in Northern Greece and the [[Athens]] hill on which he preached is one of the most important
landmarks of the town. It is generally accepted that the Greek-speaking part of the [[Roman Empire]] was the first one to abandon paganism <ref>Renaissance and Reformation: The Intellectual Genesis, by A. Levi Yale University Press (2004) </ref> and certainly, [[Constantine|Constantine the Great]], the first Christian Roman Emperor, moved his capital to [[Constantinople]] in the Greek East. Most of the great Church Fathers were either Greek or primarily active in the Greek-speaking areas of the Empire <ref>The Teachings of the Church Fathers, by John Randolph Willis, Ignatius Press (2002)</ref>

The [[Byzantine Empire]], as it was late called, was a continuation of the (Eastern) Roman Empire, but it was gradually identified with the Greek national conscience and the [[Greek-Orthodox]] Church. <ref>History of the Byzantine State, by G. Ostrogorski, Rutgers University Press (1986)</ref> The Byzantine State was dissolved after the conquest of [[Constantinople]] by the [[Ottoman Turks]] in 1453. The Greeks, along with the other Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman Empire, were represented by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of [[Constantinople]] and the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch was responsible for the obedience of the Orthodox subjects to the Sultan.

====Modern History====
The Greek War of Independence began in 1821 and concluded in 1830 when England, France, and Russia forced the Ottoman Empire to grant Greece its independence under a European monarch, Prince Otto of Bavaria.

At independence, Greece had an area of 47,515 square kilometers (18,346 square mi.), and its northern boundary extended from the Gulf of Volos to the Gulf of Arta. Under the influence of the "Megali Idea," the expansion of the Greek state to include all areas of Greek population, Greece acquired the Ionian islands in 1864; Thessaly and part of Epirus in 1881; Macedonia, Crete, Epirus, and the Aegean islands in 1913; Western Thrace in 1918; and the Dodecanese islands in 1947.
[[Image:Gyzis After the Destruction of Psara.jpg|thumb|330px|''After the Destruction of Psara'' by Nikolaos Gyzis (1842 - 1901)]]
Greece entered World War I in 1917 on the side of the Allies. After the war, Greece took part in the Allied occupation of Turkey, where many Greeks still lived. In 1921, the Greek army marched toward Ankara, but was defeated by Turkish forces led by Ataturk and forced to withdraw. In a forced exchange of populations, more than 1.3 million refugees from Turkey poured into Greece, creating enormous challenges for the Greek economy and society. <ref> The unification of Greece, 1770-1923, by Douglas Dakin.</ref>

Greek politics, particularly between the two world wars, involved a struggle for power between monarchists and republicans. Greece was proclaimed a republic in 1924, but George II returned to the throne in 1935 and shortly afterwards cooperated with General Metaxas in a coup which overthrew the democratically elected government and introduced a right wing dictatorship. A plebiscite in 1946 upheld the monarchy, which was finally abolished by referendum on December 8, 1974.

Greece's entry into World War II was precipitated by the Italian invasion on October 28, 1940. Despite Italian superiority in numbers and equipment, determined Greek defenders drove the invaders back into Albania. Hitler was forced to divert German troops to protect his southern flank and overran Greece in 1941. Following a brutal German occupation in which many Greeks died (including about 80% of Greece's Jewish community) German forces withdrew in October 1944, and the government-in-exile returned to Athens.

After the German withdrawal, the principal Greek resistance movement, which was controlled by the communists, the royalist resistance movement having cooperated with the Germans in many cases rather than allow the communist and leftist resistance to gain effective power, refused to disarm. A banned demonstration by resistance forces in Athens in December 1944 ended in battles with Greek Government and British forces. Continuing tensions led to the outbreak of full-fledged civil war in 1946. First the United Kingdom and later the U.S. gave extensive military and economic aid to the Greek government including supplying them with the first napalm to be used in Europe. In 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall implemented the Marshall Plan under President Truman, which focused on the economic recovery and the rebuilding of Europe. The U.S. contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuilding Greece in terms of buildings, agriculture, and industry.

In August 1949, the Greek national army forced the remaining insurgents to surrender or flee to Greece's communist neighbors. The insurgency resulted in 100,000 killed, 700,000 displaced persons inside the country, and catastrophic economic disruption. This civil war left Greek society deeply divided between leftists and rightists.

Greece became a member of NATO in 1952. From 1952 to late 1963, Greece was governed by conservative parties--the Greek Rally of Marshal Alexandros Papagos and its successor, the National Radical Union (ERE) of the late Constantine Karamanlis. In 1963, the Center Union Party of George Papandreou was elected and governed until July 1965. It was followed by a succession of unstable coalition governments.<ref>Short History of Modern Greece, 1821-1956 by Edward Seymour Forster and Douglas Dakin (1977) </ref>

On April 21, 1967, just before scheduled elections, a group of colonels led by Col. George Papadopoulos seized power in a coup d'etat. The junta, supported initially by the Greek monarch and by America, suppressed civil liberties, established special military courts, and dissolved political parties. Several thousand political opponents were imprisoned or exiled to remote Greek islands. In November 1973, following an uprising of students at the Athens Polytechnic University, Gen. Dimitrios Ioannides replaced Papadopoulos and tried to continue the dictatorship.

Gen. Ioannides' attempt in July 1974 to overthrow Archbishop Makarios, the President of Cyprus, brought Greece to the brink of war with Turkey, which invaded Cyprus and occupied part of the island. Senior Greek military officers then withdrew their support from the junta, which toppled. Leading citizens persuaded Karamanlis to return from exile in France to establish a government of national unity until elections could be held. Karamanlis' newly organized party, New Democracy (ND), won elections held in November 1974, and he became Prime Minister.

Following the 1974 referendum, the Parliament approved a new constitution and elected Constantine Tsatsos as president of the republic. In the parliamentary elections of 1977, New Democracy again won a majority of seats. In May 1980, the late Prime Minister Karamanlis was elected to succeed Tsatsos as president. George Rallis was then chosen party leader and succeeded Karamanlis as Prime Minister.

On January 1, 1981, Greece became the 10th member of the European Community (now the European Union). In parliamentary elections held on October 18, 1981, Greece elected its first socialist government, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), led by Andreas Papandreou. In 1985, Supreme Court Justice Christos Sartzetakis was elected president by the Greek parliament. PASOK under Papandreou was re-elected in 1985.

Greece had two rounds of parliamentary elections in 1989; both produced weak coalition governments with limited mandates. In the April 1990 election, ND won 150 seats and subsequently gained 2 others. After Prime Minister Mitsotakis fired Foreign Minister Andonis Samaras in 1992, the rift led to the collapse of the ND government and a victory in the September 1993 elections for Andreas Papandreou's PASOK.

On January 17, 1996, following a protracted illness, Prime Minister Papandreou resigned and was replaced by former Minister of Industry [[Constantine Simitis]]. In elections held in September 1996, Constantine Simitis was elected prime minister. In April 2000, Simitis and PASOK won again, gaining 158 seats to ND's 125. Most recently, parliamentary elections were held March 8, 2004 and ND won 165 seats to PASOK's 117; [[Konstantinos Karamanlis]], ND leader and the nephew of the former prime minister, became prime minister. [[Karolos Papoulias]] was elected President by Parliament in February 2005.

Greece's exemplary success in hosting a safe and secure [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in Athens has enhanced its international prestige. The 2004 Olympics and Paralympics left an impressive and expensive legacy of new roads, spectacular stadiums, and modern public transportation systems, which the PASOK government began in 1997 and the New Democracy government of Karamanlis completed in 2004.

==See Also==

*[[Greco-Persian Wars]]
*[[Greek Philosophy]]
*[[Greek influence on Western Culture]]

== References ==
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