Florida
Though today Florida is a diverse mix of races, cultures, and religions that generally get along, Florida has a bloody, intolerant past that saw the virtual extinction and/or expulsion of its Native Americans, enslavement of African Americans before the Civil War, and segregation of and discrimination against non-whites since then. This pattern lasted until the civil rights movement of the 1960s and federal legislation forced change.
Florida is a state of contrasts, home to St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement on the continent, as well as of Kennedy Space Center, home to the U.S. space program. While it is home to the world's largest vacation resort (Walt Disney World Resort) and its climate and beaches attract 60 million visitors every year, poverty is still widespread, especially among the state's African Americans. Growing congestion, a high crime rate, and pressures on the environment from the needs of the growing population are also issues confronting Florida today.
The need for land and water for its growing population is pitted against the need to preserve the environment. A multimillion-dollar effort is under way to undo the mistakes of the past and restore the ecosystem of the Everglades.
Florida's leaders are challenged not only to bring balance among its citizens (co-prosperity) but also between man and the environment. Good governance translates to human flourishing, which involves both of the above.
teachers and researchers who wish to further pursue these topics from a unification perspective.
