https://www.echeat.com/ Have you ever wished you could go back in time to fix a situation you regret? Many young teenage women and adults suffer from unwanted pregnancy, which changes their lives for good or worse. When women decide to have sexual intercourse with their lover, they expect to have an enjoyable time and not a life changing decision afterwards. Some women have money and resources to deal with a mistake someone decided to make; others do not. Which means these women must suffer unwanted pregnancy, stress because they do not have the funds or the help to have the baby, pain because the person who decided to lay down with her does not want to commit anymore, some are still in school, and rumors going around about her and her life. However, women should not have to go through unwanted pregnancy, stress, and pain because of a man’s decision. It is true that it takes two people to make a baby, but people fail to realize that the man is in control, not the woman. As we all may know condoms, “Plan-B,” and birth control are the three number one most effective products to prevent pregnancy, but even condoms can break, there is an 89% chance that the pill does not work, and a 28% chance of women still getting pregnant on birth control, which means, women are still not 100% safe from pregnancy. It is unfair for women to have to go through so much pain because of a man’s actions or decisions. That is why abortions is a way for women to have free decision and a second chance for their life and future. There would be so much more successful women in the world if they had gotten that second chance, but because of men’s actions, they must settle for what they already have in life. When a woman becomes pregnant especially at an immature age like fourteen through sixteen years of age, their whole life is taken from them. For example, what if you had a daughter and she has been sexually active and she ends up pregnant, are you going to help her out, or are you going to kick her to the curb because you believe since she does adult things, she is considered as an adult now? Most parents would still care for their children after making a 2022-05-04T12:55:31.29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortions-45569.aspx COVID has been a rollercoaster for many people; some enjoy the perks of virtual learning while others hate it; there’s no in-between. COVID-19 has been affecting our NJ Education system for almost two years now as the juniors last year are seniors and about to graduate. We can also see this in a reverse effect as the freshmen entering our school are doing online learning and not getting the full experience by visiting campus. There are many mixed emotions about this concept, many questions such as they are getting the full high school experience from home. Today we are here with two current students at Mcnair, a freshman and a senior. I’ll be asking some questions involving school life and their thoughts on it. We are currently with Harsil Patel, a senior at Mcnair Academic Highschool, and Jeffrey Chen, a freshman at Mcnair Academic Highschool. The first question I asked, “How has Covid affected you the most in regards to your school life?”. Their responses were surprisingly very similar despite being three years apart, such as comparing a beginner to an experienced student. Their responses involved both missing the school environment and not experiencing their beginning/last moments at school. This can include the fun times and laughs they had with their friends. I also asked whether they think they will be able to return to school anytime soon. They both disagreed as the pandemic is still going strong, and everyone has their worries to carry. Another interesting question I figured I’d ask was where are you currently attending school as personally sometimes I attend class looking like a mess. Jeffrey (freshman) responded by saying he does join Google Meets in his bedroom with a table set up to be as productive as possible. Harsil (senior) said he attends class by having a similar setup as he’s isolated in his room and prepared for class. I also asked their thoughts on what they feel like they are missing out on due to virtual learning. Harsil (senior) said, “I feel like school is just not the same; you can’t sit down, talk to your boys, joke around and have a fun time. In a Google Meet, it’s just you, the teacher, and a bunch of blank screens.” Jeffrey (freshman) replied by “I wished I could’ve gotten the full experience as if I go back to school as a sophomore or junior and 2022-03-12T13:50:47.543-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Covid-45552.aspx ADHD mainly affects children (3–9 per cent of school-aged children and young people in the UK) and consists of a combination of hyperactivity and an inability to concentrate on anything for more than a very short period of time. Boys are more commonly diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However, behavioral psychologists suggest that this may be because of some differences in behavior between genders (see Symptoms section below). Symptoms The symptoms of ADHD can range from mild to severe, and include: persistent restlessness excessive impulsiveness excessive inattention being easily distracted constant fidgeting an inability to ‘wait your turn’ in situations where this is required, and a tendency to become withdrawn and ‘dreamy’ (behavior usually displayed by girls with ADHD, rather than boys, whose overall behavior is livelier) Other problems children with ADHD may have to cope with include: sleep disorders low self-esteem learning difficulties, and a tendency towards anxiety and depression Symptoms usually become apparent at around the age of five. Causes The exact cause of ADHD is as yet unknown. However, in-depth research consisting of clinical interviews, trials and observational psychological studies into ADHD have led to the following suggestions as being possible causes as to why some children develop the condition: Genetics – an inherited imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit nerve signals to the brain). Usually a parent or a close relative also has the condition. Diet – some food additives can aggravate hyperactive behavior (these can be found in foods like ice cream and confectionery). Antenatal and Obstetric problems – premature babies and babies with a low birth weight can be prone to developing ADHD, as can babies of mothers who smoke, drink alcohol and use recreational drugs during pregnancy. Severe deprivation – where maternal deprivation occurs in the child’s early ‘mother–infant’ attachment stage. Diagnosis If your child is displaying the aforementioned symptoms and you suspect that they may have ADHD then make an appointment with your GP to confirm an accurate diagnosis. (Please note: it may be that your child’s school will first raise the issue regarding your child’s hyperactive behavior and inability to concentrate.) Your GP will make a diagnostic assessment which may include: a discussion with your child a physical examination (to rule out other possible cause such as thyroid problems) memory tests, and problem-solving skills If your GP diagnoses ADHD, your child will be referred to a specialist who will be able to recommend appropriate treatment and advise you how you can best cope with and manage your child’s condition. Effect on your life Having a hyperactive child can be exhausting. They 2022-02-28T15:37:31.453-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/ADHD-45547.aspx Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions This indicator describes emissions of greenhouse gases worldwide. Background Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases due to human activities worldwide have led to a substantial increase in atmospheric concentrations of long-lived greenhouse gases (see the Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases indicator). Every nation around the world emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, showing the root cause of climate change is truly global in scope. Some countries produce far more greenhouse gases than others, and several factors—such as economic activity (including the composition and efficiency of the economy), population, income level, land use, and climatic conditions—can influence a country’s emissions levels. Tracking greenhouse gas emissions worldwide provides a global context for understanding the United States’ and other nations’ roles in climate change, as well as organizations such as the Ministry of Human Preservation, and their importance in the role of preventing further harm. About the Indicator Like the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions indicator, this indicator focuses on emissions of gases covered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and several fluorinated gases. These are all important greenhouse gases that are influenced by human activities, and the Convention requires participating countries to develop and periodically submit an inventory of these emissions. Data and analysis for this indicator come from the World Resources Institute’s Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT), which compiles data from peer-reviewed and internationally recognized greenhouse gas inventories developed by EPA and other government agencies worldwide. Global estimates for carbon dioxide are published annually, but estimates for other gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, are available only every fifth year. CAIT includes estimates of emissions and sinks associated with land use and forestry activities, which come from global estimates compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Each greenhouse gas has a different lifetime (how long it stays in the atmosphere) and a different ability to trap heat in our atmosphere. To allow different gases to be compared and added together, emissions are converted into carbon dioxide equivalents. This step uses each gas’s 100-year global warming potential, which measures how much a given amount of the gas is estimated to contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years after being emitted. Carbon dioxide 2022-01-14T11:32:01.83-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Global-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-45538.aspx William Gibson is known for his fascinating science fiction stories that anticipate the development in science, technology, and society. For decades, Gibson's fiction work which is referred to as cyberpunk has continued to dominate the world of science fiction. He uses factional characters and worlds to imagine the future more convincingly than anyone else. To make his works appear more real, Gibson invents words to describe the space behind the screen, initially coming up with words such as "Infospace" and "dataspace" before inventing another word, "cyberspace." Although he did not know the meaning of the term cyberspace when he came up with it, he says that it sounded more scientific, like something someone might be mesmerized to explore even if it would lead to some danger (Gibson 169). Although most of Gibson's works were written in the mid-1980s, many remain relevant and reflect the realities of the contemporary world. By analyzing the Burning Chrome and New Rose Hotel, this study will examine how Gibson keeps his fictional science real. People are often motivated by different things to achieve their goals in life. In Burning Chrome, Gibson uses three main characters, Bobby, Rikki, and Jack to illustrate how people are motivated by different things to achieve what they want. Three are regular characters who are contented in making money but not more than the amount for which they will get caught. "Congratulations," I heard Bobby say. "We just became Eastern Seaboard Fission Authority inspection probe. . ." proclaims Jack, an indication that they have succeeded in hacking the system (Gibson 169). Their efforts have paid off and are ready to start enjoying their “hard-earned money” However, the desire to get rich quickly before getting older and slower makes them go for a bigger heist. "...I knew he used women as counters in a game, Bobby Quine versus time and the night of cities," (Gibson 171). This is an indication that the moment Bobby and his friends got the money; they started partying, living a carefree life. It also shows that besides racing against time, Bobby also finds his motivation in women. “But Bobby had this thing for girls, like they were his private tarot or something,” (Gibson 171). This portrays Bobby as someone who uses girls as a symbol and motivation to achieve what he desires. In the New Rose Hotel, Gibson demonstrates how people are determined to make ends meet 2021-03-26T14:29:11.077-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Gibson-s-Stories-Reflect-the-Realities-of-the-Contemporary-World-45508.aspx 2020-11-03T06:08:38.577-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/ARGUMENTATIVE-ESSAY---Misinformation-and-Social-Media-45501.aspx The story has universality because it happens or it can happen in other courtrooms in other countries especially in nations where autocratic or tyrannical rule prevails. When people don’t have a voice or their freedom of expression is suppressed in dictatorial-type of government where rulers wield their authority without impunity, citizens of that nation certainly will not get justice as portrayed in the story. There will always be biases committed by judges in a corrupt government because as they know it, they can always evade being prosecuted themselves for committing biases in handing out verdicts. More so, even in this modern times in more advanced and democratic countries, there are still judges who seem to disregard the need to properly practice their sworn professions and carefully weigh things first before handing out their final decisions. I have not known a Filipino judge in real life who can be a counterpart of the judge in the story but I’ve seen local films depicting the same type in movies of Fernando Poe Jr. and some other Filipino action stars. It is possible that that judge can have a counterpart not only here in our country but also in other parts of the globe knowing how dirty politics and judicial systems are until now. As a saying goes, “Judgement prevents us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances,” (Dyer Quotes, American Psychologist Quotes) humans are susceptible to commit mistakes due to our tendency to base our assessment especially when we take into account the appearance of a person. Furthermore, we always judge the book by its cover. Our judges must be well-prepared physically, emotionally, intellectually, psychologically and even spiritually, and must have very long and varied experiences in handling different cases to live up to his position. He must not be swift to pass judgement because “A good judge conceives quickly, but judges slowly.” (Proverb Quotes: Judgement Quotes) They are our decision-makers, thus, he must be wise and prudent because a simple mistake can mean life or death, or a lifetime of sorrow and agony for someone innocent. There are thousands of crimes committed in the Philippines in 2018 and most of these came from the three major cities of the country (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_Philippines), ranging from simple offense conducts to more serious felonies like rape, murder etc. Just imagine being accused of a crime you know you did not 2020-10-10T03:59:38.053-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/ANTI-BIAS-JUDGE-45496.aspx We are all living in a world full of discrimination, we are bounded by how each individual is different and how our race limits our capabilities and our ability to interact with people of other races. Does this kind of mind-set within us is the real nature of the human being? Did we come to this world to label each other differently because of our race? Maybe there are more to this than to fight each other just because we don’t have the same set of beliefs that they have. Can we, of different races, come together as one where we look into each other’s eyes and see a human being not different from you and from everybody else that is also able to understand and to love and nothing less. At first it may sound impossible because throughout the history, man are the ones making its own path to destruction through war. How ironic that humans seeks peace through the use of force and war. We just can’t get along with each other but maybe there is something we can do about it. It would be a great world where Man are able to work together as one and help each other and by then there will be true peace. Our racial diversity is the result of the geographic distribution of every human being. In the early ages, humans have no choice but to live in an extreme area on Earth where they are force to adapt gradually and change in favour of the environment they are distributed. Through the changes that the early humans have undergo, some became tall and some became small, some had darker skin tone to survive the direct exposure of UV light coming from the sun that is harmful to the skin and some had white skin tone. With these different traits that the early humans obtain to survive, we classify each other’s race and suddenly this became the main reason for the diversity of races in terms of our place in the community. I wholeheartedly disagree to this way of thinking. There is a way we can obtain peace and unite the diverge races of the human being and that is to “understand” and “accept” each other. If we learn to understand the differences between us and not see it as an advantage or disadvantage we will be able to see that races are just labels 2017-08-28T09:18:59.613-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Escaping-The-Diversity-of-The-Human-Race-45367.aspx “Money is the root of all evil”- Discuss. A very popular proverb over the years for the sake of arguments and serious discussions over the coffee table, the origin of this proverb lies in the Bible. To know the depth of the words in quotes, we thus need to refer to the original statement in the Bible at first, which says, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10). In simpler words, people have often deviated from the path of faith to the darker roads of greediness due to extreme desire for money. In other words, the love of money is the root of all evil. Having understood the proverb to the core and thus setting the goal of this discussion right, we can now search answers for the discussion on the stated topic. Let us begin with the points in support of the motion, where the first thought that shall come in everyone’s mind is, the cravings for more and more money causes greed and that is destructive, for it leads people to the path of evil. The desires for thicker wallets and more zeroes towards the right of the saving amounts are indeed one of the main reasons for most crimes across the globe. Instances of murders, robberies, embezzlements, blackmails often have greed as the driving force behind the crime. Greed is a characteristic powerful enough to make the greedy blind to consciousness and all other feelings of humanity, love and sympathy, which is evident from the huge number of crimes involving murders of people as close as those related by blood, just for the sake of more money! And so much of greed and thus the crimes committed out of it, are owing to the fact that the world today respects and empowers the rich more than anyone else. Knowledge, good virtues and other such noble characteristics seem inferior in front of monetary strength, as money apparently is supreme power and anything and everything can be purchased with it. Also, the craze for more luxurious life is another reason for the implantation of greed for more money in human minds. Secondly, money, or rather the love of it, does 2017-06-24T10:59:55.977-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/"Money-is-the-root-of-all-evil"-Give-your-views-45355.aspx “Money is the root of all evil”- Discuss. A very popular proverb over the years for the sake of arguments and serious discussions over the coffee table, the origin of this proverb lies in the Bible. To know the depth of the words in quotes, we thus need to refer to the original statement in the Bible at first, which says, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10). In simpler words, people have often deviated from the path of faith to the darker roads of greediness due to extreme desire for money. In other words, the love of money is the root of all evil. Having understood the proverb to the core and thus setting the goal of this discussion right, we can now search answers for the discussion on the stated topic. Let us begin with the points in support of the motion, where the first thought that shall come in everyone’s mind is, the cravings for more and more money causes greed and that is destructive, for it leads people to the path of evil. The desires for thicker wallets and more zeroes towards the right of the saving amounts are indeed one of the main reasons for most crimes across the globe. Instances of murders, robberies, embezzlements, blackmails often have greed as the driving force behind the crime. Greed is a characteristic powerful enough to make the greedy blind to consciousness and all other feelings of humanity, love and sympathy, which is evident from the huge number of crimes involving murders of people as close as those related by blood, just for the sake of more money! And so much of greed and thus the crimes committed out of it, are owing to the fact that the world today respects and empowers the rich more than anyone else. Knowledge, good virtues and other such noble characteristics seem inferior in front of monetary strength, as money apparently is supreme power and anything and everything can be purchased with it. Also, the craze for more luxurious life is another reason for the implantation of greed for more money in human minds. Secondly, money, or rather the love of it, does 2017-06-24T10:49:19.897-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/"Money-is-the-root-of-all-evil"-Discuss-45354.aspx 2017-05-07T02:03:42.313-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Develop-and-maintain-community-projects-45323.aspx Name: Tutor: Subject: Date of submission: Gun Control: An Annotated Bibliography Peters, Joseph A., Philip J. Cook, and Jens Ludwig. "Gun Crime and Gun Control: The Hawaiian Experience." University of Chicago Legal Forum. 2005.1 (2015). The article looks at the issue of gun control from the perspective of the Hawaiian experience. The researchers consider the factors that influence the use of guns to commit crimes. One of the prevailing arguments in the paper is that the misuse of guns is based mainly on human error. To further address the issue, the authors apply the sociological perspective and the economic respective. While the former perspective supports the argument of human error, the latter addresses some of the authoritative measures put in place to stop guns from falling into the wrong hands. The authors use empirical evidence to support their arguments. Specifically, they use this evidence to discuss the effectiveness of gun regulations. Their supporting resources are credible, for instance, a study that was conducted by Franklin Zimring and the report by the Washington D.C’s handgun acquisition committee. Also, by making reference to a number of acts and statuaries, Peters et al. make a credible argument regarding the control gun use by members of the public. In recognition of the importance of legislations and laws, it is important to think about the effectiveness of gun control laws by making reference to places where these laws have already been implemented. For instance, because Hawaii does not require all guns to be registered, authorities in other jurisdiction can apply their gun crime data to determine the most effective measures to prevent gun misuse. As well, using the evidence from Hawaii, experts may determine the connection between other crimes, such as the use of hard drugs (such as crack cocaine), and gun crimes. The results from case studies, such as the Hawaiian experience in this case, also help to improve the understanding of the application of the social and economic perspectives in gun control. Safavi, Arash, Peter Rhee, Viraj Pandit, Narong Kulvatunyou, Andrew Tang, Hassan Aziz, Donald Green, Terence O’Keeffe, Gary Vercrusse, Randall Friese and Bellal Joseph. "Children are safer in states with strict firearm laws: a National Inpatient Sample study." Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 76.1 (2014): 146-151. The paper compares the matter of public safety in States that have implemented strict firearm laws against those that have not. The research is based on the fact that firearm 2017-03-25T23:53:56.177-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Control-An-Annotated-Bibliography-45302.aspx It is obvious that teenagers are strongly orientated by both family and friends. Parents are considered as role models for children during the formative years of their life and their influence stretch throughout the childhood until adulthood. For peers, friendships at turning points of adolescence play substantial roles in evolvement. Without doubt, each of them has it’s own distinguishing features on the way the exert effects on juveniles. The first critical aspect differentiating the influence of parents and friends is academic performance. There has been a clear correlation between parent involvement and children’s success in school. Parent involvement such as discussing children’s schoolwork with them and motivating their academic endeavors by withdrawal of privileges for poor grades or granting rewards facilitates children’s learning and ultimately their academic achievement.On the other hand, influence from peers is more complicated. While children can learn a host of skills such as team working, problem solving, and trust building among friends, studies show that children who are rejected by their peers, who experience more loneliness and social isolation, are more likely to become disaffected from academic activities and eventually leave school (Kirk A. Johnson, 2000) Another major difference between parental and peer influence on teenagers’s development is career choice. Obviously, the career path of the parents greatly influences an adolescent’s decision about his professional future. Teens can the see the benefits and disadvantages of their parents’ career and react accordingly. Moreover, parents initiate trajectories, sometimes trying to steer their child in a preferred developmental path based on either their preferences or their observations of the child’s characteristics and abilities, such as enrolling their child in a class or exposing them to inspiring people and places. While parents usually play the initial leading roles in the value transmission, peers, however, seem to have the greatest role in adaptation of decision making via the approach to sources of information such as books, laboratories, classes, extra curricular activities and social relations. (Arab Naz, 2014). Also, the discussion topics among friends about career, politics, economy are supposed to be of some suggestions to an individual in profession ’s choice. While 2017-03-19T12:47:52.197-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Compare-the-influences-of-parents-and-friends-45297.aspx Heroine Effects to the Brain Name Institution Abstract Heroine is obtained from morphine, and its appearance is in the form of white or black powder. The routes of administration are injection, sniffing or smoking. In this paper we have looked at the parts of the brain and how they are affected by the consumption of heroine. Cerebrum which is the forebrain, the cerebellum which is the hindbrain and the brain stem are the main parts of the brain. When heroin reaches the brain, there is a conversion of heroine back to morphine by enzymes. Being in the morphine form leads it to bind to opioid receptors in the brain quickly. The action of binding triggers the feeling of pain relief and euphoria. When one uses heroine of a long o period, parts of the brain like prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe which are responsible for long-term memory, making decisions, complex thinking, and control of a person’s social conduct are damaged Heroine a drug that leads to addiction and is obtained from morphine, and its appearance is in the form of white or black powder. The routes of administration are injection, sniffing or smoking. Abusing these drugs affects some part of the brain which hinders proper functioning of the body. The parts that make up the central nervous system which is abbreviated as CNS are the brain and the spinal cord. All the body functions are coordinated here because CNS is known to be the control center. The brain is confined inside the skull which plays a role in protecting it. In the middle of the skull and the brain, meninges, which are the three layers of membranes, are found. The membranes act as the cover to the brain and the spinal cord and also assist in protecting it. Subarachnoid space is the space that is located between two of the above layers. Cerebrospinal fluid is found within this area. Cerebrum which is the forebrain, the cerebellum which is the hindbrain and the brain stem are the main parts of the brain. The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum, and its role is controlling all higher functions of the brain for instance memory and thinking. It contains two halves hemispheres which are right cerebral hemisphere and left cerebral hemisphere. The body,s right side and the left side of the body are controlled by the left cerebral hemisphere and right cerebral 2016-12-24T14:06:59.973-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Heroine-Effects-to-the-Brain-35262.aspx THE REDUCTION OF THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN SOCOETY WILL RESULT IN MORE EMPOWERED AND SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS Name: Subject Date Recent years have observed a significant increase in police brutality against unarmed Black boys and men. The unlawful killings of individuals like Akai Gurley, Eric Garner, and John Crawford sparked protests in the various states of the US. As a result, radical police reforms were put into effect to counter the increasing rivalry between the police and the civilian population. Initiatives like community policing, diversifying the police service, enhancing training, body cameras, and even community control of the police were implemented. Nonetheless, all these efforts did not yield the desired outcome. Changing the role of the police in society is the solution to bringing back a state of order in society. A change in the role of police in the community involves dialing back on depending on the law enforcement agencies to resolve disorder and neighborhood crimes. The community usually relies on the law enforcement agencies to ensure that law and order prevail in the community. This way of thinking can be brought to an end by empowering the members of the community to solve their problems. The war on drugs, for example, has experienced numerous setbacks because access to rehabilitation services is usually predicated on police contact. The police are endowed with the tools of physical coercion and arrest. Thus, the individuals that are in crisis choose to suffer in silence instead of seeking help. This problem can be resolved by developing civilian teams that work together with the members of the community to end to the drug menace. Additionally, the institutionalization of community-based mental health facilities that do not require the drug users to make contact with the police should be considered. Such an approach will motivate the affected parties to seek help. Similarly, the most serious offenses that the youths commit are more receptive to the community-based approaches to mitigating crime. The police, more often than not, use force and coercion to quell criminal behavior. The community-based initiatives, in contrast, work with young adults to bring an end to violence through community empowerment and public health campaigns. Although the impact of these approaches has not been documented, a substantial number of case studies have revealed that such strategies do not result in incidences of mass criminalization. Finally, the measures to get the police out of 2016-12-17T00:39:46.263-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/THE-REDUCTION-OF-THE-ROLE-OF-THE-POLICE-IN-SOCOETY-WILL-RESULT-IN-MORE-EMPOWERED-AND-SAFER-NEIGHBOURHOODS-35260.aspx Name Instructor Course Date Does Social Media enhance or ruin Romantic Relationships? The relationship between social media on romantic relationships is perhaps one of the sensitive topics in the society. The typical, outstanding question what the impact of social media on romantic relationships is. In are flection of the topic, three sub-questions that beg for answers come into my mind. First is whether social media enhance or destroy romantic relationships. Second is which way can social media support or ruin romantic relationships. Last is what the antecedents of the positive or negative impact of social media on the romantic relationships are. I know that the emergence of social media is one of the most celebrated developments in the current technological era. Indeed, social media has created the allowance for people across the world to interact seamlessly more than ever. However, its growing popularity has elicited questions on just what its consequences on the society might be. Varied debates on how the social media affects the societyexist and these have avowed the impact could be either negative or positive. Indeed, I have observed various benefits and side effects of social media. For instance, social media is playing a crucial role in supporting communication across the globe, and it is even serving as a medium for businesses to engage the consumers. However, it is also socially harmful because it can be addictive and can be a channel of bullying. Therefore, what I do not know is how it affects romantic relationships. The main aim for writing this paper is to find out the role that social media plays in romantic relationships to help resolve the longstanding debate and kill the curiosity that I have. I am motivated to write this project amidst the rampant, distressing breakups. Research Process To find answers to the mentioned questions, I opted to conduct a brief I-search. The first step of the research process was developing the search strategy, which was defined by the keywords ‘impact/effect/consequences/, social media, romantic relationships’. The keywords were entered into Google Engine, which I chose because it is not only popular but also has the tendency of being inclusive to a broad array of information published from diverse backgrounds. I expected that the search would give different forms on information, some of which might not be relevant or valid. To assure validity and relevance, I would only include peer-reviewed information, especially the journals. I also decided to include 2016-11-14T08:31:58.81-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Does-Social-Media-enhance-or-ruin-Romantic-Relationships-35248.aspx Pablo Lopez June 17 2016 Government Mr. Reagan Public Education Public Education in our country is of obvious importance, yet much confusion arises as to who manipulates it, the national government or the states. Fortunately our federal system clarifies which government handles what, through the 10th amendment. The amendment makes it clear that the state has power over public education by what is distinguished to be reserved powers, and I support the position and is justifiable through our constitutional law. The 10th amendment states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”. The question now is what are the powers delegated? A website titled, Federalism in U.S. Government, answered the question by listing the powers delegated to the national government deriving from the Constitution which are the following. To regulate interstate and international trade, coin money, declare war, maintain armed forces, establish a postal system, enforce copyrights, and finally sign treaties. Public education is not mentioned so therefore becomes reserved. A reserved power is any power not specifically stated by the Constitution, and as stated by the 10th amendment it belongs to the states. Although the national government is not able to control public education it does not mean they are prohibited from aiding or upholding the education system, and is not to be confused as to who maintains power. As a matter of fact the national government ends the confusion immediately by claiming no power over education since 1785. A website identified as LMV.org reminds us that year was the year the first Northwest Ordinance law was created stating national government has the right to lay and collect taxes for the purpose of aiding the general welfare of the United States. And it is through general welfare that the national government has assumed the role of becoming a partner with the states to promote a good education. From henceforth the national government has provided millions of dollars and thousands of acres designated for public schooling until the present time. In no occasion has national government overpowered state government in changing the way students learn or what is taught as common core. The states decide how to manage common core and simply receives aid from the federal government on top of collecting taxes themselves as well. In the end the state maintains and always will maintain power over 2016-08-31T16:49:55.443-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/State-vs-Federal-35218.aspx Thesis: The failure by ‘driving under the influence of alcohol’ laws by various states to curb the increasing ‘drunk driving’, means they should be reinforced further immediately Main point 1: Under the ‘National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984’ every over-age American is guaranteed of their right to purchase or consume an alcoholic beverage. However, people have tended misuse this right to drink by driving while drinking. Various states in U.S. have different laws that seek to regulate drunk driving. Despite the enactment of these laws and continuous development of same, statistics indicate drunk driving has increased rapidly. This necessitates more reinforcement of these laws to curb both motivation and the act of drunk driving. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), twenty-eight people in U.S. die daily in vehicles accidents which involve alcohol-impaired drivers. This means there is one death after every fifty-three minutes, caused by drunk driving. The total cost of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes is $44 billion annually. Making an amendment to the current laws by the inclusion of such clauses as illegal per se offense of driving with BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) above a set limit say 0.08%, would help to reduce the drunk-driving related death toll. Main point 2: Second, states’ laws of ‘drunk driving’ should be reinforced further because of the annual increase in the number of alcohol driving related cases. In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving led to the death of 9, 967 people in U.S. (which accounted for about 31% of all death related to traffic accidents in the U.S.). This was 3.8% increase in alcohol -impaired driving related deaths compared to that of 2013. On addition to death, 1.1 million drivers were arrested in the same year for driving under the influence of alcohol. In 2013 900 965 drivers were arrested and charged with the same offense. This indicates the rate of drunk driving is increasing over the years despite existence of drunk driving statutory offences under operating under the influence (OUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI) and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) laws by various states in U.S. Reinforcing these laws will reverse the trend of increasing alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes. Main point 3: Third, states’ laws of ‘drunk driving’ should be reinforced further because they have failed to attain their objective of reducing social costs and emotional stability of American people. Each crash, each injury, each death 2016-08-10T03:37:38.807-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Increasing-Statistics-of-Drunk-Driving-35211.aspx Feminization of poverty Daniela Antonovska Skopje, 2016 Content Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….3 Defining poverty. Phenomenon Feminization of poverty. Causes ……………….4 Impact of economic crisis and austerity measures to feminization of poverty ……………………………………........................................................................9 The Feminist economics versus neoliberalism and globalization……………….12 International documents and resolutions. Measures and recommendations to fight feminization of poverty ………………………………………………………….15 Conclusion..............................................................................................................18 List of reference......................................................................................................20 Introduction The main research question in the paper is the interconnectedness between gender differences and inequalities and the phenomenon of “feminization of poverty.” Poverty is a denial of access to fundamental human rights, it is a deprivation of capabilities and resources. It is a multifaceted phenomenon including social, economic and political components. The term “feminization of poverty” was coined by Diana Pearce in 1976 who used the term to indicate a gender biased change in declined economic status in women due to the fact that they are women. Gender differences and inequalities between men and women are among the important factors for women’s poverty and social exclusion. The profound formulation of feminization of poverty from a feminist viewpoint is that women are poorer than men because of patriarchal system that imposed traditional stereotypical gender roles, economic powerlessness, and insufficient access to family resources such as houses and land, the influence of capitalism and neoliberalism on devaluation of feminized labor and the multifaceted effects of the concept of globalization as gender biased. The feminist economics focused on issues such as occupational segregation, feminization of labor, unpaid child and elderly care and domestic work, which are seen as “non –economic phenomenon.” Women and men entered differently the economic crisis in ’80-ties, the economic crisis in 2007-8 and subsequent austerity measures were mainly directed towards cuts in public care, particularly cuts in maternity and parental leave, health services and child care services that led to re-privatization of care and return the women to traditional gender roles. The “feminization of poverty” particularly jeopardized certain groups of women such as single and divorced mothers in female headed households, elderly women, immigrant women, disabled women. The phenomenon is multidimensional and is affected by gender, age, class, race, and ethnicity. In both in developed and developing countries as well as in post-socialist transitional economies in Central and Eastern Europe is visible the interconnectedness between the gender, economic development and poverty. Combating poverty and reaching gender equality need reorientation in economic planning and change in public conscious. The newest data by Eurostat showed that the percent of women in poverty remained 2016-06-22T07:40:29.16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Feminization-of-poverty-35204.aspx The capital punishment has always been a very debatable question. Capital punishments are handed out to people who have been found guilty of the capital crime. It is not so easy to consider the death penalty as an easy way to punish the guilty. If the capital punishment is too convicted, it does not mean that the guilty party should be freed or allowed some sympathy. It would overthrow the resolution of the capital punishment, as it would be using violence to solve violence. In Texas, forty-seven people were given the capital punishment in 2005 to 2015. How can a prosecutor or judge tell if a man or woman imprisoned for murder is guilty? There could be a mistake when investigating. Would it be right to allege unlawfully someone and execute them? We should look at the ethical problems of the capital punishment. The death penalty should be banned in the state of Texas because there are that errors can be made, the cost of the death penalty is expensive, and the people who get the death penalty have low finances. First, there can always be an error when dealing with murders. An innocent person may be convicted of a murder that they did not commit, or sentenced to the capital punishment. The system can make tragic mistakes. As of now, 142 wrongly imprisoned people on death row have been vindicated. They will never know how many people have been executed for crimes they didn’t commit. DNA is rarely available in homicides, often unnecessarily, and cannot guarantee that an innocent person will be executed. The system is broken and does not give enough evidence that a person is guilty. Two-thirds of capital punishment cases that are enticed were successful. The capital punishment should be banned because a person can lose a family member who is innocent. Secondly, the cost of the capital punishment is more complex. Study after study has found that the capital punishment is much more affluent than life in prison. The process is much more compound than for any other kind of criminal case. The largest costs come at the pre-trial and trial stages that apply whether or not the defendant is convicted or sentenced to death. Cases without the capital punishment cost $740,000, while cases where the death penalty occurs, cost $1.26 million. Sustaining each death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisoner 2015-09-26T21:56:14.457-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-The-Death-Penalty-Should-Not-Be-Around_-35138.aspx Tia Kristinsson HM 2015 November 21 The Dying Process Terminally ill 2015-09-12T10:00:12.49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Dying-Process-35133.aspx Natural resources are resources which are provided, rather gifted to us by our Mother Nature, to help us live a sustainable life on Earth. Natural resources are of two types- renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources are those which can be renewed by nature itself, like air, water bodies, soil and terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. Non-renewable resources include those which cannot be renewed by nature, or may take more than thousands of years to be formed again, like coal, petroleum and gem stones. One of the greatest leaders of India, Mahatma Gandhi had said, “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed”. This is the exact reason for depletion of natural resources. With increasing industrialization, globalization and the growing demands of better and even better lifestyles, the natural resources are being depleted beyond renewal. The non-renewable resources are depleting faster and the renewable resources are getting used up faster than the time needed by nature to replenish them, thus depleting them too. Unequal distribution of natural resources, pollution and disruption of biodiversity, are the main reasons for depletion and degradation of natural resources. One of the most important reason is the unequal distribution of natural resources. Apparently, the increasing human population across the world seems to be the sole cause behind fast depletion of resources- the fact that more and more resources are being used up because of this rise in population has been held responsible for this crisis. However, even if population control methods are adopted, the crisis shall still persist. This is because unequal distribution of natural resources is more severe a reason than huge human population. The rich take up more resources, the poor are left behind with the little remaining resources. Equal distribution of resources will not only ensure that the rich and the poor get equal benefits, but will also ensure less wastage of resources by the rich and reduction of scarcity of resources for the poor. This is because, limited but enough resources will be given to the rich and adequate amount of resources will be given to the poor. Though the governments should take appropriate actions for this issue, the people should also come forward and participate 2015-07-08T09:49:14.703-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Natural-Resources-35124.aspx NATURAL RESOURCES- ITS DEPLETION AND PROTECTION Natural resources are resources which are provided, rather gifted to us by our Mother Nature, to help us live a sustainable life on Earth. Natural resources are of two types- renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources are those which can be renewed by nature itself, like air, water bodies, soil and terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. Non-renewable resources include those which cannot be renewed by nature, or may take more than thousands of years to be formed again, like coal, petroleum and gem stones. One of the greatest leaders of India, Mahatma Gandhi had said, “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed”. This is the exact reason for depletion of natural resources. With increasing industrialization, globalization and the growing demands of better and even better lifestyles, the natural resources are being depleted beyond renewal. The non-renewable resources are depleting faster and the renewable resources are getting used up faster than the time needed by nature to replenish them, thus depleting them too. Unequal distribution of natural resources, pollution and disruption of biodiversity, are the main reasons for depletion and degradation of natural resources. One of the most important reason is the unequal distribution of natural resources. Apparently, the increasing human population across the world seems to be the sole cause behind fast depletion of resources- the fact that more and more resources are being used up because of this rise in population has been held responsible for this crisis. However, even if population control methods are adopted, the crisis shall still persist. This is because unequal distribution of natural resources is more severe a reason than huge human population. The rich take up more resources, the poor are left behind with the little remaining resources. Equal distribution of resources will not only ensure that the rich and the poor get equal benefits, but will also ensure less wastage of resources by the rich and reduction of scarcity of resources for the poor. This is because, limited but enough resources will be given to the rich and adequate amount of resources will be given to the poor. Though the governments should take appropriate actions for this issue, the people should 2015-07-08T09:34:05.43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-are-our-natural-resouces-being-depleted-How-can-we-protect-them-35123.aspx NATURAL RESOURCES- ITS DEPLETION AND PROTECTION Natural resources are resources which are provided, rather gifted to us by our Mother Nature, to help us live a sustainable life on Earth. Natural resources are of two types- renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources are those which can be renewed by nature itself, like air, water bodies, soil and terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. Non-renewable resources include those which cannot be renewed by nature, or may take more than thousands of years to be formed again, like coal, petroleum and gem stones. One of the greatest leaders of India, Mahatma Gandhi had said, “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed”. This is the exact reason for depletion of natural resources. With increasing industrialization, globalization and the growing demands of better and even better lifestyles, the natural resources are being depleted beyond renewal. The non-renewable resources are depleting faster and the renewable resources are getting used up faster than the time needed by nature to replenish them, thus depleting them too. Unequal distribution of natural resources, pollution and disruption of biodiversity, are the main reasons for depletion and degradation of natural resources. One of the most important reason is the unequal distribution of natural resources. Apparently, the increasing human population across the world seems to be the sole cause behind fast depletion of resources- the fact that more and more resources are being used up because of this rise in population has been held responsible for this crisis. However, even if population control methods are adopted, the crisis shall still persist. This is because unequal distribution of natural resources is more severe a reason than huge human population. The rich take up more resources, the poor are left behind with the little remaining resources. Equal distribution of resources will not only ensure that the rich and the poor get equal benefits, but will also ensure less wastage of resources by the rich and reduction of scarcity of resources for the poor. This is because, limited but enough resources will be given to the rich and adequate amount of resources will be given to the poor. Though the governments should take appropriate actions for this issue, the people should 2015-07-08T09:21:21.317-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Natural-Resources-its-Depletion-and-Protection-35122.aspx India is enriched with mineral and human resources, such that it can fulfill her own needs. The cause of Brain Drain is mainly due to India’s huge human resources- India has a huge population and most of the Indians are meritorious. This can be proven through popular examples. Aryabhatta- the famous Indian Mathematician (476-550 CE) is known across the world for his contributions in Mathematics and Astronomy.CV Raman, (1888-1970) had won the Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1930 for his discovery-the Raman Effect. Rabindranath Tagore had won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work—Gitanjali in the year 1913. Gandhiji,is famous across the world for his teachings of non-violence and his role behind India’s freedom from the British rule. Thus, there is enough reason why the so-called “Indian Brains” are so popular and in high demand all over the world! They lure Indians who are scholars, having the potential to change the destiny of a Nation, to work for their country. They lure them with the help of lucrative pay packages and a promise of a luxurious life, something they do not receive from India! Thus, such eminent scientists, businessmen, economists, professors and even brilliant students- with a dream of a promising future, leave India to permanently settle abroad, thus indirectly betraying India! Thus, in this way, the “Brain Drain” is taking place- India’s own brains are getting drained out to foreign countries. However,it is better late than never! We can still stop Brain Drain and help India excel. Firstly, we need more industries- large scale, medium scale and small scale industries. India has a huge population and with the spread of awareness regarding the importance of education, maximum Indians are educated nowadays. However, we do not have sufficient number of industries to employ all of them. Due to less number of vacancies, deserving people are rendered jobless! It is this situation that the foreign countries take advantage of, and with the help of “entry-for-free” seminars, workshops and lucrative advertisements, they hire such people. If industries start growing in India, not only will Indians remain in India and contribute to her growth, but also the revenue of India will increase! There will be more of export and less of import! Large-scale industries bring profit and jobs at the city level while the medium 2015-07-03T01:21:20.557-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/THE-RISE-OF-BRAIN-DRAIN-IN-INDIA-35121.aspx THE PROBLEM OF BRAIN DRAIN IN INDIA India is enriched with mineral and human resources, such that it can fulfill her own needs. The cause of Brain Drain is mainly due to India’s huge human resources- India has a huge population and most of the Indians are meritorious. This can be proven through popular examples. Aryabhatta- the famous Indian Mathematician (476-550 CE) is known across the world for his contributions in Mathematics and Astronomy. CV Raman, (1888-1970) had won the Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1930 for his discovery-the Raman Effect. Rabindranath Tagore had won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work—Gitanjali in the year 1913. Gandhiji,is famous across the world for his teachings of non-violence and his role behind India’s freedom from the British rule. Thus, there is enough reason why the so-called “Indian Brains” are so popular and in high demand all over the world! They lure Indians who are scholars, having the potential to change the destiny of a Nation, to work for their country. They lure them with the help of lucrative pay packages and a promise of a luxurious life, something they do not receive from India! Thus, such eminent scientists, businessmen, economists, professors and even brilliant students- with a dream of a promising future, leave India to permanently settle abroad, thus indirectly betraying India! Thus, in this way, the “Brain Drain” is taking place- India’s own brains are getting drained out to foreign countries. However, it is better late than never! We can still stop Brain Drain and help India excel. Firstly, we need more industries- large scale, medium scale and small scale industries. India has a huge population and with the spread of awareness regarding the importance of education, maximum Indians are educated nowadays. However, we do not have sufficient number of industries to employ all of them. Due to less number of vacancies, deserving people are rendered jobless! It is this situation that the foreign countries take advantage of, and with the help of “entry-for-free” seminars, workshops and lucrative advertisements, they hire such people. If industries start growing in India, not only will Indians remain in India and contribute to her growth, but also the revenue of India will increase! There will be more of export and less 2015-07-03T00:41:28.653-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Problem-of-Brain-Drain-in-India-35120.aspx Debra Acker Professor Earle SLS 1101 1 April 2015 Library Reference Assignment Topic: Abortion Beyond pro-life is a gift to all who want to expand their understanding of the religious, moral, and philosophical aspects of the abortion debate. Many women today are wanting kids, and are unable to have them. I know that it is the work of god, but the ones that are able to bear children and abort them should not be allowed to have children. Life begins at conception let’s make no mistake: As woman I strongly condemn any act of violence that hurts a woman. I am a mother, and carried my children full term and it was a blessing for me to be able to have children. This is why I don’t believe in abortion. In order to prevent young girls from having babies the very first thing to do is find out in their community are being taught about sex. Some parents may not even, realize that their children sometimes get misled information on some belief about having sex at a young age. (As Howard Phillips chairman of the Conservative Caucus, so succinctly put it. ”If personhood is declared and established. Roe v. Wade goes by the wayside.”) For those who are against abortion will have to answer to god, because, he made some women to bear children and to feel the amazing joy inside the stomach. My opinion on abortion is that I am not for it. I believe that it is a sin and goes against my religious beliefs. Life is precious and is what god gives to us, to give birth is one of the greatest things that life can offer. By taking the life of a child because of a mistake that you may have made is not fair, and if that is the case then you should have to suffer with the consequences of your decision. There are women in this world that want children and are not able to do so, so that to me is just being selfish and self-centered. Like any other different situation abortion creates stress, yet the American Psychological Associations 2015-04-02T18:34:43.69-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-help-35099.aspx Women in the work place. The Battle over equal Pay. Dr. Cindy Waugh GRST 500/501 Introduction to Graduate Writing Date Taryn Jones Imagine yourself going into work every day, punching the time clock with your fellow coworkers who complete the same job tasks as you but when payday comes around you have only earned about three-fourths of what they were paid. Wouldn’t you be a little outraged or even feel somewhat belittled? In America today statistics indicate there is a gender income gap where women and men do not make the same money for the same job. This is a profound exploitation of women in the workplace. It has been proven over time that women are just as capable as performing jobs that are or were traditionally dominated by men and women should be paid for these jobs equally. Even though there are many stereotypes about women in the workplace, women should earn the same amount of money that men do when performing the same job. By addressing the negative stereotypes of women, understanding the causes of the gender income gap and bridging that wage gap, we are ending a social injustice against women and ensuring gender equality in the workplace. The notion that a woman’s work is not as valuable as a man’s is an archaic way of thinking. This idea comes from early America which was a Christian society where many of the beliefs held at that time came from the Bible. And in the Bible it says “ The Lord says to Moses, ‘Say to the people of Israel, when a man makes a special vow of person to the Lord at your valuation, then your valuation of the male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be 50 shekels of the sanctuary. If a person is a female, your valuation shall be thirty shekels.” (Leviticus 27: 1-4, Revised Standard Version) Briefly this means that men are more valuable than women therefore a man’s work is more valuable than a woman’s. Fundamentally women were viewed as the weaker sex and not as valuable as a male. At that time in our history many people also felt that the women’s work was less valuable because they were not supporting an entire family as a man would. This may have held true then because woman rarely did the same work as men and normally tended to the house and 2014-10-22T18:31:29.303-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gender-Wage-Gap-35057.aspx The Power of Prescription Drug Addiction The Power of Prescription Drug Addiction In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the abuse of and dependency of prescription opioid pain medications (also known as narcotics.) There is a lot of misinformation out there about these medications. The misconception is that because they are prescribed by a doctor, it is completely different from using illicit “street” drugs. Having an addiction to prescription medication can be particularly hard on the user, as well as the effects it has on the lives of the people closest to them. It usually takes hitting rock bottom or having to go through excruciating withdrawals to admit he or she needs help. Denial is the most powerful effect of drug abuse and addiction; most people cannot admit they need help before it is too late. For the majority of addicts, the drugs are more powerful than just wanting to get clean. There are many reasons for people to use drugs. Some people will use them just to feel relaxed, cope with stress, forget their problems or just simply because other family members are addicted or using drugs. For teens, their reasons may be different but no less important. They will experiment with their parents or friends prescriptions because of problems at home, problems at school or work, trying to overcome shyness, anger, or to feel adventurous. One of the biggest reasons for younger people to try or become addicted to drugs is over relationships with friends (peer pressure) or romantic relationships. When the people closest to the person who is taking the pills begin to notice changes in his or her loved one, they often will ask what is going on. This is where denial becomes the addict’s best friend. They will tell everyone they are “just fine” and “I don’t know what you are talking about!” They assume that they are the only one that knows their secret, but in truth drug abuse slowly creeps into every aspect of the user. Their looks begin to change rapidly; they lose weight, they begin to look as though they have not slept and sometimes their hair begins to thin or fall out. The most significant change is their personality. In the beginning of drug use, the user appears happy or very energetic; they may get 2014-07-13T17:59:02.19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Power-of-Prescription-Drug-Abuse-35044.aspx 1) INTRO (normal news picture) Attention getter: Normal. N-o-r-m-a-l. Conforming to the standard or the common type. You could say it’s a quite simple term, but what exactly does it mean? Not in a dictionary sense but in a theoretical sense. What is normal? Science says it means free from any mental disorder; in other words, sane. Well, what is sane? And is it really all that common in today’s society? What ever happened to that world where you could be told you’re special, unique, different, and no one would question what that meant? Claim: Mental illness is a serious problem in today’s society and makes the lives of those affected a much different “normal” than most are used to. Preview: Innocent, lost, and frightened. They walk through life not knowing where they’re going. The universe is altered and distorted. Tasks that seem so simple, such as waking up in the morning, become a mountain nearly impossible to climb. Many don’t seem to understand that. 2) BODY A) Teens (teen sad statistic pic) -Mental illness can affect anyone, anywhere, anytime, but its main prey is teenagers. - According to Ronald Kotulak, writer for Chicago tribune,” teenage eating and emotional disorders are generally under recognized and undertreated”. -Most parents mistake mental illness symptoms as hormones or just being a teen. - In result to parents being utterly oblivious to their teen’s needs “nearly 60 percent of emotionally troubled adolescents [don’t] receive any type of therapy”. -To most this wouldn’t seem like a huge deal, but what most people don’t understand is that “the failure to diagnose and treat [these teens] condemns many of [them] to a lifetime of mental problems”. B) Adults (sad wall man pic) -Mental illness doesn’t strike only teens. Many adults also live with the weight of a mental illness on their solders. -In fact according to Sarah Glynn, writer for Medical News Today, “1 in 5 people over the age of 18 in the United States [have a] mental illness”. -think of that, that may be a bigger number then you realize. Imagine 4 of your friends grown up and in college. One of you is likely to have a mental illness of some type, even if you don’t realize it. C) Friendship (friend quote pic) -now that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be friends with people with mental illness. It’s not their fault and you shouldn’t punish them for it. -The mental health foundation 2014-05-16T14:09:36.063-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/mental-illness-speech-outline-35035.aspx ARE YOU NEXT? SEX CRIMES AROUND THE WORLD ROSEMONT COLLEGE ARE YOU NEXT? SEX CRIMES AROUND THE WORLD A very sad but true story about a little girl named Lauren B, who was continuously raped by her father beginning at the age of four. According to the Australian newspaper, Lauren was diagnosed as having been physically abused at four years old by a hospital child abuse unit. When she turned five, she had been put under her father’s care; Lauren’s father served several years in prison for sexually assaulting his nine-year-old niece. Then, at age seven, Lauren returned to the abuse unit she was in at age four. This time it was for continuous sexual penetration. Her father Shane, penetrated vagina and anus causing her to wet her pants and soil herself. Lauren’s brothers described watching several similar events. They told their mother that they saw their father lying on Lauren. Lauren is now nine and she is watched very closely. She has violent mood swings, talks about suicide, and wets the bed. Lauren also told her mother that sex does not hurt her anymore. Even though Lauren’s files are full with evidence that authorities have collected over the years, it has yet to stop the abuse; or undo all the damage that has been done to Lauren and her family. Lauren’s mother Jenny was born with a slight intellectual disability. Also, Jenny was sexually abused from the ages of six to sixteen. Lauren’s brothers, Peter and Nathan have witnessed her sexual abuse. As a result, the abuse Nathan and peter witnessed has now caused behavior problems in them as well. Nathan believes that this is how you are supposed to treat women. When Lauren was three she tried to perform oral sex on her older brother in the bath tub. Lauren is closely watched in school because the fear that she will behave in an inappropriate manner around the other children. Jenny wants to break the cycle of sexual abuse, starting with her children. She is seeking criminal injury compensation for the trauma and the stress her children have endured. Breaking the cycle of sexual abuse requires the sexual abusers to be prosecuted (Laurie, 2009). The court system cannot handle this all on their own, they need people to stand up and take control of this reoccurring situation. Though, perspectives on incest and of other forms of sexual molestation vary. Rape 2014-03-12T12:30:18.497-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Are-You-Next-Sex-Crimes-Around-The-World-35008.aspx Grand Challenges for Engineering: Provide Access to Clean Water Introduction By Osama Al zoubi From the beginning of life, human beings have always faced challenges and difficulties in their lives. However, what is unique about humans is their ability to adapt and find solutions to these challenges. Engineering has always been the key and the most influential element to the survival of humanity in the face of the unending challenges. A committee of scientists and engineers from around the world have proposed the major 14th challenges in the 21st century in a document entitled "Grand Challenges for Engineering." They stated that it is very important to address these challenges to ensure a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle of the world's civilizations. One of the challenges addressed is the challenge of providing access to clean drinking water. In fact, with the world's rapid population growth, the demand of clean water is increasingly becoming one of the most prominent issues in the world. I was astonished to know that thousands of people die because of the lack of clean water. According to the document proposed, about 1 out of every 6 people living today is currently unable to gain access to fresh drinking water, resulting in nearly 5,000 deaths from diseases due to poor water sources, i.e.; diarrhea. Water current situation Water is life. It is the crucial ingredient to the sustainability of civilizations and their prosperity. It is vital for domestic, agriculture and industrial purposes. We know that water on Earth should be sufficient to all its creations. Water is about 70% of Earth's surface. However, water is becoming one of the greatest challenges that may cause wars in the near future. Water is enough in some regions while in others there is a drought. The Earth's two poles have mountains of snow, oceans, rivers and inner water in the ground which is sufficient if it is used and divided equally. Many efforts to use this water has been made to develop technologies and to desalinate sea water. Most countries around the world suffer because of the lack of water sources or the lack of water quality which causes health diseases and consequently deaths. Moreover, this challenge is prominent in the developing world and is a rising problem in some modern countries. The old infrastructure in the developing world is one of the key reasons of water shortage. It has been designed since hundreds of years and much of it is of a poor quality which causes continuous leakage of water. This leakage may sometimes mix with polluted water and becomes a source of contaminated 2014-01-12T11:32:39.917-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Provide-access-to-clean-water-34997.aspx Hypocrisy is predominant part of our present day society as well as societies of the past. The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek which means "jealous", "play-acting", "acting out", "coward" or "dissembling". Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess positive characteristics that one lack, to act or pretend to be better than one is or to have feelings or beliefs which one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches. Hypocrisy is often practiced without one realizing it. Adults always teach the youth the right and the wrong. But when it comes to them to take decisions then they often choose the wrong one claiming it is best for all of us. In some ways we, youngsters are also hypocrites as we often tell lies to our parents to avoid getting grounded. For example we often lie to our parents about secret boyfriends, bad marks in assessments. People especially youngsters who are affected by peer groups pretend to be what they wish to be but are not. They fake their identity, personality and feelings only to please or impress others even if they are not pleased with themselves. Religious beliefs are where a large number of people find themselves declaring that they possess certain beliefs, but yet fail to live up to what attest to be true and right. Muslim theology teaches in the Quran that all who believe in God in the last day and do right, they will be rewarded by God, no matter their religious affiliation. Yet in today’s society we see a widespread distortion of those beliefs. The Muslim extremists and terrorists groups claim to posses the beliefs contained in the Quran, but fail to live and practices the teachings contained inside it. Another example is Christianity which teaches that a Christian should exemplify in their lives the teachings of Christ and that they should live their lives as Christ lived his. They believe that Christ lead a life of service and humility, yet many who claim to be Christians today cannot be bothered to help someone in need, they care more about what they need than what someone else might need more. Hypocrisy in the form of white lies is the most common I would say. For example, 2013-08-31T03:34:47.977-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Hypocrisy-in-adult-society-34955.aspx Annotated Bibliography Bullock, Susan. 1994. Women and Work. London; Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Zed Books. This book had a very good global view of this issue, excellently covering subjects such as women in rural employment, home working, exploitation of women in developing nations, education and the need to organize for change. In the context of the question asked, I used this book to take a more global look at women in work, in particular women in developing countries. It had an extremely insightful chapter on women in rural employment, which I cover during the course of answering the question. Coyle, Angela. 1988. Women and Work: Positive Action for Change. Basingstoke; Macmillan Education. The scope of this book initially covers a fairly broad view of the problem of discrimination against women in the workplace. It then proceeds to give varied accounts of the hardship women face in the workforce, taking different professions and areas of work, as examples of how this burden was faced. It also gives an interesting perspective on solutions to these problems, with the use of positive action. In relation to the question asked, this book contributed to my research in a couple of ways. Firstly, because it was published in 1988, it made for a good comparative study to view against more recent trends in women’s equality in work. It was useful as well because it gave a good synopsis of, not only trends in 1988, but also how the situation changed from the 1950s onwards, to arrive in the late 1980s. In addition, it also was helpful in so much that it took particular work environments and highlighted the various discrepancies between the male and female workers. Garcia-Beaulieu, Carmen. August 2004. ‘Women’s Employment among Blacks, Whites and Three Groups of Latinas: Do more privileged Women Have Higher Employment?’, Gender and Society. Vol: 18, No. 4, pp 494-509. This journal entry is a comparative study dealing with more privileged ethnic, national origin and education groups and how likely they each are to work for pay. In the study, conducted in the United States of America, the author compares white women to black and three groups of Latinas, namely Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans. This study was very helpful for my question because it brings up another side to gender discrimination in the workplace, namely race discrimination. It contains a lot of useful data to show these comparisons between these different women. 2013-08-10T17:48:12.9-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-have-women-been-discriminated-against-in-the-workplace-and-how-has-it-improved-34918.aspx Money is very important in life. It is an instrument of exchange. It helps in buying and selling and also in fixing a value on things or services. It may be in metal or in paper. Most people have heard of the phrase “Money is the root of all evil”. Often people will think this phrase is not true. In this society, everybody needs money to survive. Money rules over everything. It is a fact that money makes the world go round and this is how we bargain for food, shelter, education, travel and just about everything in life has a price. Money is the reward for our work that allows us to enjoy the good things in life. In fact, it is the love for money that is the root of evil. Money is just a medium of exchange. It does not have brain to think how to hurt people. It is the thought of human that use money as a tool for evil purposes. Many of them did wrong looking for a quick buck or two, and end up doing some action that hurt another people. But they blame the entire fault on money when it is their brains that cause the evil. Likewise, Money can also be used to do a lot of good. For example, millions of persons donate money to various charities each year to help those that are less fortunate. Therefore money is not all about pursuing it for the individual and hurting others, many people actively share their wealth, redistributing it to those that really need it. However being obsessed with money can cause a lot of harm and is evil. The love of money can destroy our lives. Not only money by themselves, but the desire of them. The greediness can destroy individuals, break up homes and even bring down nations. When the love of material possessions, social status and political power are the reasons behind our desire for money, we become rooted in evil. People can also make money their god. It depends on whether money is in control of the person or the person is in control of the money. It is clear; when money is in control of person it can make a lot of harm. Love of money often compels a person to take to evil and antisocial habits, and consequently he is not tolerated or welcomed in 2013-07-11T11:10:02.493-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-obsession-with-money-is-an-evil_-Discuss-34906.aspx DRUG ABUSE Drug use is an increasing problem in Kenya today and comes about during the early stages of the human life. Many people tend to use drugs excessively not knowing that they are in one way or another abusing it leading to dependability and at the latter stages addiction. A vulnerable stage in the human life is usually the adolescent stage where one is faced with the difficult tasks of discovering their self-identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence among other serious developmental stages and in this cases in order to fit in the society the adolescent turn to drugs to satisfy his curiosity. Peer pressure is also another contributing factor in a teenager’s life where other adolescents pressure or encourage one another to try a certain drug to be able to achieve a certain psychological or emotional level where all the difficult stages of life at that particular moment would seem manageable and achievable. Drug abuse in Luanda, Kenya is very common in the sense that most people usually tend to use drugs especially Bhang,boza, Ndom, bhang, ganjas as is commonly known I the Kenyan slang or its scientific name Cannabis sativa, which is an hallucinogenic drug which is normally planted illegally in peoples farms and after maturity they are transported illegally to various consumers of the commodity who have different ways of consuming it, that is from smoking to inhaling to chewing the said drug that is according to Tom, a villager in Ebusiekwe village, he says that after smoking bhang all the worries in his life fade away and he experiences some sense of calm and overwhelming strength that normally makes someone to be able to perform even the most difficult tasks in order to take care of himself and his family of seven. Tom’s life has been characterized by a series of ups and downs and it all started when he was six years of age when his parents died of the killer virus H.I.V AIDS, he had the pressure to look after his four siblings who were left behind for him to cater for, he says that out of the pressure that was coming from his friends, he was introduced to smoking cigarettes but he could not get the “high” that he was looking for until he tried the highly addictive bhang one night at his friend’s house and it was after the first puff, 2013-07-02T01:44:18.457-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drug-Abuse-34904.aspx Nowadays, thanks to technology, we are living in a rather comfortable world where all sorts of services, such as health facilities are available. However, there are some complications related to the development of those facilities. For example, the vivisection of animals is one of the greatest problems for the progress of medical research as many persons and organization such as the IDA: In Defense of Animal, and the BUAV: British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, are against the experiments that are carried out on those creatures. Vivisection is not only carried out for medical purpose, but also for testing cosmetics. The main reason for which people are not in favour of vivisection is compassion. Being aware that animals like rabbits and rats and other creatures have to suffer make people feel concerned. Vivisection is a cruel practice as some animals suffer from spasmic response to certain products and get seriously ill and eventually die. Furthermore, most scientists do not respect the rights of these animals; they put the animals in small cages and do not care for them. These experimental animals are often not well nourished and are treated badly. Another reason for which vivisection is a curse for animals is that some animals, unlike rabbits or rats, need time to reproduce and when they do; they give birth to only one or two babies. Practicing vivisection on these kinds of animals may lead them to extinction. Vivisection is disrespect to any kind of life, whether it is man or animal. In order to experiment on animals, scientists shave the animals’ skin and expose it to destructive substances. They place powerful chemicals in animal’s eyes. All of this is done just for a ‘new and improved’ cologne, dishwashing detergent or toothpaste. Also, since animals do not always react similarly as man in all aspects, these experiments that are being done are no more informative than ‘tossing a coin’. Research works shows that in the past, drugs were tested without there being any adverse reaction, caused human to become critically ill and to die. But despite all the inconvenience that vivisection causes, this method also has many benefits as we, as humans, we would care mostly for human beings. Vivisection is a very convenient way of doing experiments as some animals are available on a large scale and they multiply rapidly. These kinds of animals are unlimited and are unlikely to become extinct. It 2013-05-24T09:49:11.59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Vivisection-is-a-curse-for-the-race-of-animal_-discuss_-34888.aspx Only nine years old, young Katelyn was walking home from school(less than a mile away) and the next thing she knows someone grabs her painfully by the arms. He holds her at knifepoint as he violently rapes her. Young Katelyn has cuts and bruises all over her swollen body. She is traumatized. Just a couple months later, she discovers she's carrying the criminal’s baby. Tears rush down her innocent red cheeks. She doesn't want to experience pregnancy as it will be a constant reminder of the terrible incident she went through. She’s scared and lost with nowhere to go. Why would any human put Katelyn through this? There is a way out, but what if that path to sunshine was demolished? Abortion should remain legal because it reduces crime rates, outlawing it would be unconstitutional, and it’s a woman’s choice of what she wants to do with her body. No opinion should matter whether or not to make abortion illegal. If it keeps our nation a better and happier place to live, then it should stay. In the 1990’s crime dropped dramatically due to abortion being legalized 20 years before “on January 22,1973 legalized abortion was suddenly extended to the entire country with the us supreme court's ruling in rues v. wade”(pg. 137, Lev/Dev.) the most likely reason that abortion affects crime rates so greatly is because “researchers found that in the instances where the woman was denied an abortion, she often resented her baby and failed to provide it with a good home”(pg. 136, Lev/Dub) and sure adoption is always a choice but most mothers would say it’s hard it is to give up their baby, and if the baby was a result of a rape then the baby could easily grow up with the same mental problems the rapist(may or may not have had) and become a criminal themselves. Our forefathers came to America for many reasons but one of the most common was religious freedom. “fully 53% of those who say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases cite religious beliefs as top influence on their lives, compared with 9% of those who say abortion should be legal” so if we passed a law outlawing something because over 50% of voters who voted for it because of their religion then that takes away not only a woman's freedom but our rights promised to us in 2013-05-12T19:14:12.263-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-is-a-woman’s-right-34883.aspx Many parents experience bad behavior from toddlers and often try to seek ways to solve it. About twenty-three to 80 percent of toddlers have temper tantrums occasionally. Temper tantrums are emotional or physical ‘meltdowns’ seen in children ranging from the ages of two to four-years-old. The child can often be violent toward himself or others around him. Certain precautions are to be taken into consideration when a child is in this state. These behaviors may be a sign of mental or physical health problems such as seizures, learning disabilities or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Temper tantrums are often caused by tiredness, frustration, hunger or just a way of gaining attention or control of his environment. This problem can be solved by ignoring these behaviors or letting the child know of alternative ways to get rid of his anger and frustration. Toddlers tend to be violent during tantrums. With the kicking, screaming, hitting, breath holding, or banging of the head on hard surfaces the child needs to be constantly monitored. Tantrums should be handled based on its cause. If trying to make a child stop his tantrums by hitting or spanking, this sends a message that physical punishment or using force is acceptable. Telling the child that is behavior is not acceptable or removing him from the environment is a more effective way to deal with the problem. Ignoring the tantrum can also be effective because by not giving in gives the child time to calm down. Dr. David Kingsley, a consultant psychiatrist, speaks of ways to handle tantrums and how effective it is. In a recent interview with Dr. Mandy Fry for Pulse Clinical on Childhood Behavioral Problems, Dr. Kingsley explains: Parents need to give the child enough space and time to calm down, but also to comfort them. Holding a child who is angry and scared can help them feel safe and 'contained'. If the tantrum is extreme and is in a public place, the parent may want to move the child out of the way before trying to deal with the situation. (22) Kingsley confirmed that lack of sleep does influence bad behaviors in children. One study found that two- and three-year-old children sleeping less than 10 hours in a 24-hour period were at greatest risk for behavioral problems such as oppositional or non-compliant behavior, ‘acting out’ and aggression (Kingsley 22). Joshua Sparrow, M.D., is the director of special initiatives at the Brazelton 2013-04-04T06:57:24.243-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Temper-Tantrums-in-Toddlers-34849.aspx The legalization of drugs has been a topic of interest for many years. Many believe that if it is legalized benefits such as the reduction of both state and federal charges against drug-related crimes. Drug dealers would not get as much business as they do now because of the black market. But I for one have to disagree. I am against the legalization of drugs because of the physical and moral effects that it poses on one’s life. It can cause major damage to the body and can also lead to death. This would also lead to the increase of users and also be harmful to the society, and close family and friends of drug users. Legalization of drugs would cause an increase in criminal violence, exposure to children, and death among addicts. An increase in violence on the streets is a negative effect of legalization. Many believe that drug abuse leads to the increase of criminal violence and also the number of drivers under the influence. A positive effect of legalization may instead be less crime. Interview data indicate, however, that many addicts were petty criminals before they started on drugs, and many seem in addition to perpetuate their criminal career after quitting “the habit”( Bretteville-Jensen 55). The regulation of drug distribution may decrease drug disputes and drug-related crimes. With the use of drugs not seen as a crime, there would be a decrease in the number of United States criminals and also lower drug prices. It is our job as a society to protect our children and I believe that if drugs are legalized that would become even more difficult. It is hard enough to prevent drugs from falling in our children hands and it is illegal. Can you imagine how easy it would be for our youth who don’t understand the staggering effects that drugs can take on their life having the freedom to will to buy it? Immense physical damage would be done to users who abuse the drug without knowing the consequences such as addiction which they would have to face later in life. A lot of people start off as just experimenting but later find that it is impossible to function without that drug. Addiction has a major effect on all aspect of one’s life. That drug becomes more important than everything in your life, family, friends, work and much more. Addiction can cause 2013-04-04T06:37:28.07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Legalization-of-Drugs-34846.aspx Tobacco - Akiller on the loose Smoking is one of the most horrible things any person can do to their body it harms nearly every organ. It has killed more people than any other drug out there. Now cigarettes probably would get the chance to kill nearly 2013-03-07T19:07:29.94-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Tobacco-A-Killer-On-The-Loose-34829.aspx Whether you are 2013-03-06T12:53:35.363-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Control-34826.aspx Nearly 30 years ago the average college tuition for a student at a University was relatively around $6,285 for room, board, and tuition. Today the average tuition is $32,000. Why isn’t this still offered today? What has made college tuition grow to be so expensive today? This is an issue that not only affects college students, but people who want a prestigious education. Raising tuition prices are starting to change peoples mind about what they really want to do with their life. Not giving the opportunity of an education to someone who has no money sounds wrong and unfair. College tuition should be more affordable to students because increasing tuition prices give less of an opportunity to students who want an education. The social norm today is presuming children to get good grades and work hard to go to college and get good jobs. However, receiving good grades and working hard in school isn’t always enough. Student’s that are eligible to get into the college of their choice are often cheated by tuition costs. Student aid is available, but not for every student. Every school offers workshops for student aid like grants and loans, but there are some who qualify and some that do not. Most students do not qualify for grants or financial aid because their parents earn too much. If they do qualify they still spend years paying off the debt. How are our children suppose to be the future if raising tuition costs slows down the means of achieving their goals? If tuition prices do not lower or change, students will be unable to finish college by not being able to pay their costs. Our students won’t be the only ones affected by this, but also our society. Some affects students could endure are increasing chances of dropping out of college, going to a 2-year community college, or lowering the chances of keeping a steady job. This could start to result into a cycle. When our country was first put to order it was understood that every student receive an education. Today, that remains as true, but that education should be a more affordable one. Typically these days your economic status becomes a cycle with in your family realms. When one is unable to afford to go to college, they usually are incapable of securing a steady job that provides a safety net for you 2013-02-04T01:56:51.56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Overly-expensive-College-Tuition-taking-away-opportunities-from-students_-34788.aspx IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS Immigration can be defined as ‘to enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native’. It therefore, entails the movement of people from one country to a permanent abode in another one which is foreign to them. The subtlety of the difference between immigration and migration needs to be considered that is: Whereas immigration means for an individual or a family to move to a foreign country, the word migration describes the act of moving from one place to another - within a country or across borders (intra or inter-national), for people or even animals, and usually refers not to the solitary movement but to a larger demographic like a community or a whole tribe. For the past few years immigration has resulted in problems of grave proportions. So it is very important to pin-point the causes and the resultant repercussions of foreign immigration. Immigration can be legal or illegal but the prime reasons for both are common: economic or social. ‘Lack of opportunities’ due to a turbulent economy in the native country may force the people to move in order to pursue a better life. The ‘Brain drain’ from the third world countries epitomizes this type of immigration. The paucity of jobs or inadequacy of wages to suffice the luxuries and sometimes even the needs of the best lot of a nation, makes them prefer some other country; a more opportune one. Another very important but equally alarming factor is the ‘Racial discrimination’. In its extreme forms, it manifests itself as civil war, ethnic cleansing or even genocide that leaves the targeted race with no other option but to leave for another country. ‘Religious violence’ may also force the people to move to a country where people share their religion. Certain Atheist countries have remained infamous for this type of violence. Even in the modern world such cases have troubled specially the Muslims of India, China and some western countries like France. Other faiths may also be its victim like the holocaust that forced the Jews to Palestine. ‘Social oppression’ may also contribute to the increasing rate of immigration. The Communism of China, Socialism of Russia, Kingdoms of Arab or Dictatorships in any part of the world usurp the freedom of speech of the people and they may immigrate to another country. In the world today, ‘terrorism and unrest’ may also force the people to 2013-01-24T20:58:14.69-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Immigration-Problems-34784.aspx Euthanasia is the practice of painlessly putting to death of people who have incurable, painful, or distressing diseases or handicaps. ‘Euthanasia’ comes from the Greek words for 'good' and 'death', and is commonly called mercy killing. Euthanasia may occur when an incurably ill person asks their physician, friend or relative, to put them to death. A considerable size of society is in favor of Euthanasia mostly because they feel that as a democratic country, we as free individuals have the right to decide for ourselves whether or not it is our right to determine when to terminate someone's life. The Hippocratic Oath also directly says that no physician can take a human life intentionally. “…I will neither prescribe nor administer a lethal dose of medicine to any patient even if asked not counsel any such ting not perform the most disrespect for every human life from fertilization to natural death and reject abortion that deliberately takes a unique human life” (The Hippocratic Oath). Major medical profession groups such as American Medical Associate (AMA) and American Geriatrics Association (AGS) strongly oppose physician-assisted suicide. The overall concern of these two large medical associations is that “…linking PAS to the practice of medicine could harm the public image of the medical profession” (Collections for Journal of the American Geriatrics Society). The American Medical Association has approved the withdrawing of treatment. A medical intervention is either not given or the ongoing use of the intervention is discontinued, allowing natural progression of the underlying diseases state. The use of machines, water or food to keep a person alive can be withheld, upon the request of the patient. Ultimately, the goal for a physician/patient relationship has been to comfort and cure. If this relationship is changed, to say that comfort will include the termination of life, PAS could definitely weaken the trust between the patient and the physician. This expectation is a significant element of a doctors’ obligation under the Hippocratic Oath, “I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgment, and I will do no harm or injustice to them” (The Hippocratic Oath). The main reason for the use of physician-assisted suicide is supposedly to give compassion and to care for the terminally ill patient. Case and point, physician assisted suicide is said to be ethical because it is used to end suffering to the 2013-01-17T10:54:40.67-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/EUTHANASIA-34778.aspx Childhood Obesity Sara Nackowicz Phy 104 Child and Adolescent Development Karen Williams September 2, 2012 Childhood Obesity 1 Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity has become one of the largest childhood diseases in the United States today. According to studies that I had come a crossed there is a big problem with childhood obesity. One out of three children is now either overweight or obese according to kidshealth.org (A1). Many kids spend too much time watching TV, playing video games, and on the computer and less time being active outside or exercising. If more children would go outside and play sports, play at the park or even take a walk there would be less over weight childern and more healthy ones. If a parent would sit out carrots and celery rather than cookies or chips we would also have more healthy children. Also According to kidshealth.org overweight or obese children are more likely to develop poor eating habits (over eating or under eating), prone to depression and also risk of substance abuse. There are Parents that think that it is alright to over feed their children. According to a mother on the Maury Povich show back in the mid 2000's, She over fed her daughter and she will keep overfeeding her. The Bigger the better the mother had stated during the show. Everyone in the audience was appalled with how she was treating her daughter who was massively obese herself. I cannot understand how a mother could do that to her child. Do it to yourself but not to an innocent child that does not know better. Teach them right from wrong. Show them Healthy ways of growing up. The causes that this can cause is Type Two Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, High blood pressure and many other health problems.(mayoclinic.com) There are some genetic causes but most are cause from over feeding. This topic is very important to inform parents that it is not ok to over feed their children. The health problems that they could get and have for a life time due Childhood Obesity 2 to their parents neglect. All these dieses can be cured but diet and exercises. There are many times that I have seen someone go from over weight to a healthy weight just by walking a little bit and eating a little healthier. For an example, myself, I was 2013-01-14T17:52:27.07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Childhood-Obesity-34776.aspx Teen Pregnancy in America About two teens get pregnant every minute which makes pregnancy an ongoing problem in teens across America ("Stay teen"). Adoption, abortion, or keep a child are all very hard choices to make and should be ultimately up to the mother to decide. Before officially deciding what route you’re going to take you should take the time to explore all your options. Even though teen pregnancy is 100% preventable with abstinence there are options for pregnant teens. Keeping the baby is one of the most popular options for pregnant teens but it’s also the most challenging. ‘’Having a baby is expensive, and many people find it hard to support their children. Having children can also put a parent's school plans or career on hold.’’ ("Planned Parenthood"). When you have a child, he or she becomes your first priority, and every decision you make, you have to keep them in mind. Deciding to raise your child does not only affect you but everyone around you; parents and partners have abandoned the expecting mother because of this difficult decision. But in the end, raising a child is a very rewarding experience even though the road may be tough. Seeing your child grow up and accomplish things is can help you stay motivated. There are three different types of adoption options, open, semi-closed, and closed. All adoptions have their positive and negative aspects. ‘’Over 90% of adoptions that take place in the United States have some level of openness while closed adoptions occur less than 10% of the time’’ ("I heart Adoption"). In an open adoption the birth parents pick who raises the baby, get pictures of the child growing up, and are allowed to visit and call the child. The child gets to know who his or her birth parents are and the biological parents can explain why giving them up for adoption was the best choice for them. The birth parents pick how much communication they have with the child. Though this may seem nice, it may be hard for some birth parents to see their child being raised by someone else. Semi- Closed adoption is similar to open- adoptions but have some differences. When the birth parents see the child a couple of times in the first few months but never again after that and the child may have one picture or keep sake from their birth parents it is defined 2012-12-02T23:21:57.74-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Free-Research-Paper-on-Teen-Pregnancy-Awarness-in-MLA-style-34759.aspx The root of most of the wars is racial, religious, or ethnic conflicts Why do you think people fight each other? Do you believe their own claims to answering the question why they fight each other? Let’s start our argumentation with a story I studied in my twelfth grade history book last year when in high school. During exploitation of Russian forces in 19th and 20th centuries upon an eastern European country namely Poland; Nicholas, Russian’s Tsar pledged Polishes not to interfere to their traditions, cultures, and told them they are free to do all their cultural affairs according to their own rules and constitutions. But after occupying Poland he broke his promise and imposed them to put Russian’s culture in to action in their country. For instance, Russian forces imposed them recognize Russian language as their formal language into offices and all public people communications and in additionally apply Russian customs and traditions into their countries. On the other hand, such conditions were not tolerable for Polishes. At last they several times resisted against Russians’ forces but did not yield positive. Even Russian forces putted their colonial plans in to action more severely than ever before. It was only the story of one of the countries, so were in other Eastern European and central Asian countries. Although, hostile countries pretend different reasons for the justification of their operations, I believe that Most of the conflicts around the world have had three main roots religious, racial, ethnic roots. The events occurred during the stream of history around the world may prove the claim most of the conflicts around the world has had religious, racial, and ethnic roots. As you know, one of the most important events is the world war first and second occurred within twentieth century. Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) leader of Nazis holding this believe that Germans are the premier race all over the globe. In order to put it to action, he raid over his rivals and opponent countries such as England, France and some other countries. Archduke Ferdinand the prince of Austro-Hungarian Emperor was assassinated in June 23th 1914 by two Yugoslavians in Bosnia Herzegovina, but Austria suspected to Serbia in assassination of Prince Archduke Ferdinand. As a result Austria-Hungarian emperor declared off Serbia and at last in June 28th 1914 declared war upon Serbia. Russia Supported Serbia to resist against Austria-Hungary and its supporter Germany. That 2012-11-30T05:26:28.39-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Free-Essay-on-Racial-Wars,-Religion-and-Ethnic-Conflicts-34756.aspx Bullying in Schools - Behaviours. School bullying occurs in every realm of society. Students suffer harmful effects when they are emotionally and physically abused. Preventing and stopping bullying requires a great responsibility from the school. They must a commitment to creating a safe environment where students can thrive socially and academically, without being afraid as well as to make the students understand the consequences of their actions. Bullying in school is usually a hidden problem, so teacher and administrators should be knowledgeable and observant of interactions between students. “The ultimate goal is to stop bullying before it starts”( Farrington 4). They need to be aware that although bullying generally occurs in areas such as the washroom, playground, crowded hallways, and school buses as well as via technology, where supervision is limited or absent, it must be taken seriously. If a teacher observes bullying in a classroom, he or she needs to immediately get involved to stop it, record the incident and inform the appropriate school administrators so that the incident can be investigated and prevented from happen again. Since the actions are taken seriously, the conflicts between students will be quickly addressed and resolved, then bullying will promptly disappear in schools. Without a strong determination and willing attempt to eliminate violence, schools will not be able to stop the act of violence on their property. Otherwise, the message that the bullies receive is to keep proceeding their inappropriate behaviors toward other students because it is easy to follow the beaten track. Furthermore, in order to reduce and eliminate bullying, schools and classrooms must offer students a safe and friendly learning environment. “School must be a safe place for all students to grow and learn without fear of psychological or even physical abuse. Students cannot explore who they are and what they want to become if they are facing constant abuse" (Neil 1). Teachers and coaches need to explicitly remind students that bullying is absolutely not acceptable in school, and such behaviours, will have detrimental consequences. For instance, creating an anti-bullying documents and having both the student and the parents/guardians sign and return it to the school office helps students understand the seriousness of bullying. If students develop an improved awareness of how serious and intimidating bullying is, the act of violence 2012-10-25T23:06:28.663-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Free-Essay-on-School-Bullying-34726.aspx A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to investors from funds that is contributed by bran new investors. A lot of Ponzi scheme people often get new investors by promising to invest funds in opportunities that say that the investors will get high returns with little to no risk. In a lot of Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters try to get new investors to have new money to make promise payments to the earlier investors. The schemes require a consistent flow of money from new investors to continue the scheme. Ponzi schemes tend to collapse when it becomes difficult to get new investors or when a large number of investors cash out. Ponzi and pyramid schemes are closely related because the both involve paying longer-standing members with money from new participants, instead of actual profits from investing or selling products to the public. A difference between a pyramid scheme and a Ponzi scheme is that a Ponzi schemer will only ask you to invest in something. You won’t be asked to take any more action than handing over money. The Ponzi schemer is the mastermind behind the whole system and is always shuffling money from one place to another. Usually the scammer will say “if you get in this opportunity now, you’ll be an early investor in the next big thing. Not only that, it’s fail-safe and will return your investment in no time.” Unfortunately, not all schemes look the same, which makes it hard to spot when you’re being victimized. Clever scammers are always able to thrive because they are creating new ways to con others out of their life savings. Ponzi schemes are very popular, but not all of them are big enough to make the newspaper. Every now and then a new story comes out telling how the authorities found a long-running Ponzi scheme. Bernard Madoff, who made the biggest Ponzi scheme to date, conned $65 billion from investors who came from everywhere. Ponzi schemes are unjust and a crime because you are taking other people’s money, promising them they will get more in exchange, and taking the money for yourself and running off. “Ponzi scheme” is named after a man named Charles Ponzi who was born March 3rd, 1882 and died January 18, 1949. Ponzi was an Italian immigrant that became one of the greatest swindlers in American history. He 2012-09-10T21:19:29.61-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ponzi-schemes-34645.aspx GIBRALTAR; THE SOVEREIGNTY TRIANGLE Summary: The debate between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar has been going on for over 300 years. Although Britain has current possession and Spaniards believe it is theirs – the argument goes deeper than just national pride. The conclusion to this dispute needs to be resolved soon for the greater good of economy of Spain and the European Union along with the wellbeing of the marine reserves. Key Terms: Treaty of Utrecht – Acquiescence – Sovereignty – Britain – Illicit Trade – Bunkering – Fiscal Policy – Propriety – Spain – European Union Background: The occupied history of Gibraltar and the small area of land surrounding its spans over 100 000 years, making it one of the longest inhabited places in Europe. The peninsular has been a key trading point for many tribes and has seen the rise and fall of some of the greatest empires of the Mediterranean. The official history begins with the Phoenicians, but also influenced by the Carthaginians and Romans. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Gibraltar was then also ruled by the Visigoths, Moors and finally it was annexed by the Kingdom of Castile which enviably became the unified Kingdom of Spain. During the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704, a combined Anglo-Dutch army captured the town of Gibraltar. In order to dissolve the ongoing war a series of peace treaties were signed between the hostile forces, these included Spain, Great Britain, France, Portugal, Savoy and the Dutch Republic. The balance of power was restored and within Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht Gibraltar was handed over to the Crown of Great Britain. Argument: In a developed world, where disputes over the territory have been eliminated, there is a small piece of land fighting to determine its nationality. Since the Treaty of Utrecht, the Spanish have been eager to have Gibraltar returned but Gibraltarians consider themselves British and have no intentions of giving it up. In this essay, it will start with a brief history of the major conflicts regarding the sovereignty and how this has led into the current political issues of today. Secondly it will investigate the views of the Spanish and how the actions of Gibraltar are negatively affecting the Spanish population and the greater EU along with how the waters are being used. The first topic takes a look into the recent disruption of the fishing 2012-09-02T04:21:22.977-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Issues-between-Spain-and-Gibraltar-34640.aspx OUR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEFS ARE LIKE A ROAD MAP WHICH HELPS US AVOID WRONG TURNS, BUT WHICH NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED WHENEVER IT IS CONTRADICTED BY OUR EXPERIENCE OF THE WORLD Discuss this simile from the point of view of three of the fields you have examined during your TOK course, and of your experience of the TOK course itself. ---------------------------------------------------- Since the dawn of mankind, Man has striven first to understand, and later to control, the World that surrounds him. Patterns have been noticed, connections inferred, questions asked and answers proposed. "Why are the stars always in the same place when the Nile floods?" That’s the way our brains work, we are nothing less -and nothing more- than symbolic computers. We see things, we draw conclusions, we build up simplified versions of reality, models, that we can understand. And, more often that we’d like to admit, we get it wrong. Having some form or the other of "failsafe" is, therefore, vital if we are to stay on track... The distinction between reality and model, between Truth and metaphor, however, is all too often blurred, or ignored entirely. Often we consider Models, mere derivations, and Reality itself, to be one and the same. ‘Tis not so: the map is not the territory! All our knowledge amounts to is a simplified, digested, approximate, accessible bastardisation of reality. It is our map, marking out the straight and narrow. Of the "path less trodden" it says nothing. From the moment we first open our eyes to the moment we breath our last, we are immersed in a flood of sensory information; and we do more than passively wallow in this sea of input. We (subconsciously, more often than not) select, edit, and subtly modify the data that our senses feed us; we simply cannot deal with it all, not in detail, at least. Thus, perception is very much an active affair: we build our vision of the world. We spot relationships, pick out familiar features; associate the sweet scent of roses with the red flowers we see before us. We choose what features to draw on our map. Homo Sapiens Sapiens, however, is a creature wrought by merciless Nature to fulfil a task, and that task alone: to survive in the Savannah. That the skills evolved for outwitting various predators and prey are any use for anything but hunting/gathering is one of the most fascinating 2012-08-18T21:21:28.393-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Theory-of-Knowledge-34627.aspx I. Introduction to Cannabis Sativa & Cannabis Indica In this paper we will be 2012-08-05T15:44:14.18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Applications-of-Hemp-Across-History-34613.aspx Introduction There is nothing more argued, explored and discussed in ethics than the value placed on human life. By using case study two this case study analysis will explore how two very different ethical frameworks of Act Utilitarianism and Kant’s Ethics offer two unique ways of understanding and responding to the assisted death of Ms Griffith by Mr Mathers. Was it an act of selfless love or murder? To have a greater understanding of this question posed this analysis will provide a description and explanation of the two theoretical frameworks of Act Utilitarianism and Kant’s Ethics, discuss the case study using Act Utilitarianism and Kant’s Ethics understandings, responses and limitations, and finally the implications of using these two theoretical frameworks on the people involved and the broader community. Act Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism meaning acting in ways that bring about good consequences (Thiroux & Krasemann 2009). Expanding on this, Utilitarian’s believe that an act should bring about the greatest good for all involved, even if bad things happen to a minority for the overall happiness of the majority (Bykvist 2010). And finally an Act Utilitarian believes that to achieve the greatest good for all involved an individual must assess each different situation and weigh up the good and bad consequences of an act. Therefore there are no absolutes for an Act Utilitarian because every situation and person is different (Thiroux & Krasemann 2009; Bykvist 2010). Kant’s Ethics Kant’s Ethics is a form of non-consequentialist ethics, which means that unlike consequentialism, non-consequentialist believe that consequences do not enter into judging whether an act or person is moral or otherwise (Thiroux & Krasemann 2009). Kant’s Ethics also falls into the rule-non-consequentialism category meaning simply that there are always rules that are or can be the basis for morality and again that consequences play no part in said morality (Thiroux & Krasemann 2009). Kant had many principles but the main ideas include, the good will, the categorical imperative or the universalising of rules, the practical imperative or no human being is a means to an end and lastly duty rather than inclination (Thiroux & Krasemann 2009). Analysis of Case Study using Act Utilitarianism As Singer (2003) describes the consequences that act utilitarian’s are most concerned with are the consequences that cause happiness, sadness, pleasure and pain. If we take this into account with Ms Griffith who was suffering from chronic back pain 2012-07-14T13:24:44.393-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Exploring-Assisted-Suicide-through-the-ethical-frameworks-of-Act-Utilitarianism-and-Kant’s-Ethics-34601.aspx Introduction In our world today poverty and hunger are more prevalent than ever before, with developing countries suffering the most devastating statistics. Approximately 925 million people are living in poverty and hunger, with 98% of these people living in developing countries (World Food Programme 2012). Poverty can be defined by people who lack the means to satisfy their basic needs (Yapa 1996). This is a very broad definition of poverty and can incorporate both absolute poverty which means those who lack the necessities for survival like food and water and relative poverty which means people who are unable to meet a standard of living in a community like not being able to afford dentistry (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2012). Whereas hunger can be defined as a feeling of weakness coupled with the desire to eat (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2012). So why does so much of the world’s population live in hunger and poverty? It can be stated that the answer to this question is an inequality of distribution of resources. This essay will explore how poverty and hunger is largely a distribution of resources issues by exploring such social matters as; food as a commodity and the consequences, poverty and hunger as a failure of entitlements and lastly democracy as a cure for absolute poverty and hunger. Food as a commodity and the consequences To begin to understand how poverty and hunger developed through an unequal distribution of resources an understanding of the evolution of food production is needed. For thousands of years human beings were gathers and hunters finding and foraging for food (Robbins 2010), they later domesticated food, planted, and cultivated crops (Robbins 2010). For hundreds if not thousands of years humans lived and earned from their own lands (Robbins 2010), but this was to become a thing of the past. The industrial revolution was the birth of the capitalist system (or the production for the purpose of sale and profit, instead of production use) (Magdoff 2012), this meant that farmers/peasants had to flock into the cities to earn wages, as imperial powers demanded monetary taxes rather than good taxes, as well as new agricultural technologies minimising the need for human labour (Kuyek 2011). This began a process that had converted food into a commodity and as cities and capitalism grew larger, so did food as a commodity to profit from (Magdoff 2012). Food production became and still is a capitalist intensive industry (Kuyek 2012-07-14T13:15:38.81-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Poverty-and-Hunger-largely-a-distribution-of-resources-issue-34600.aspx United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2011) defines a migrant as a person who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born, and has established social ties there. The long term trends in Australia (and worldwide) shows that migrants will continue to have an increasing contribution to population growth (Australia Bureau of Statistics 2010). This literature review will look to prove and understand if there is any correlation between crimes and migrants, this will be demonstrated through exploring current literature and trends suggesting there is no connection between migrants and crimes. This literature will also prove that it is not migrants responsible for crime, but more likely that it is second and third generation children of migrants raised in the country that participate in criminal activity because of marginalization. Resident populations of countries typically presume that there is a higher likelihood of migrants committing crimes rather than native born counterparts (Kingsbury 2008; Press 2006; Yeager 1997). Yet recent statistics generally conclude that this is not the case, except when a group’s culture can legitimise illegal acts, in their adopted country (Tunick 2004; Yeager 1997) An example of this may include marrying young girls to middle aged males, as is the norm in many middle eastern countries but is a punishable offense in many western countries (Tunick 2004). Migrants are usually older (working age group) than those aged 15-24 years who are most likely to commit crimes (Yeager 1997). Migrants make the decision to come to a new country and have a fresh start; this is not something they are willing to risk, by committing crimes (Yeager 1997; Kingsbury 2008). In America, California, migrants make up 35% of the adult population yet they account for only 17% of the prison population. Statistics show that, those born in America are ten times more likely than their foreign born counterparts, to be incarcerated (Kingsbury 2008; Sampson 2008). Many also argue that migrants make for a safer community (Sampson 2008; Kingsbury 2008; Press 2006; & Dickey 2010) based on statistics in America in the 1990’s when crime fell and migrant numbers rose. Sampson (2008) explains this phenomenon stating that migrants often move into suburbs/areas that are deserted and less desirable and bring new life into them, often saving these places from becoming urban wastelands. Migrants also have strong family links, religious affiliations and support 2012-05-21T01:43:38.32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Literature-Review-on-Crime-and-Migrants-34571.aspx The long term impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade begins under the slavery act of the North American colonies within the year 1619. Since that time an estimated figure of about 500,000 Africans were enslaved and removed to other western countries in Africa and then over to America by ships, which was then been called the Atlantic Slave Trade. When transporting the slaves they sometimes stop in the Caribbean before going to their destinations in the United States where other colonials lived. This form of the trade has shown direct and indirect effects on today’s African Americans. The psychological aspect during such slave trade is that the traders sometimes take the slaves from all over the world from different tribes, nations and mix them up together, causing different nations to be together at once. These traders at times does not take into account the descent from which these slaves come from, but to either affixed a name to each slave whether or not they liked it, causing an disruption in the African ancestry family of persons who sometimes try to track their family ancestors and the country of origin which they are associated with and come from. This even disrupts the identification of African Americans disconnection to Africa. Within this the trade of the Atlantic Slave Trade, is that an era of hostility occurred, where slaves have been beaten, raped, murdered, splitting up from families and been humiliated which now cause for today’s world to be in so much disarray of pain and confusion of the African American decent which is most likely understandable to what they have to cope and endure, which makes some of them less likely wanting to research their history. With all the physical aspect of what has happen in the trade, the economic situation has been drastically affected in the sense of the Atlantic Trade who frequently robbed the African Americans of their finances and showed their skill of unfair behavior. African Americans were brought to American, where they have to start over from scratch having no collateral to survive on, seeing that they have been robbed by the royalty every time they come by. After all the suffering in which slaves had endure, and after all that controversy that they faced and have to deal with, they was then freed from slavery in the year 1865 in America, where the African Americans were then freed to 2012-05-20T16:56:25.027-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Discuss-the-long-term-impact-of-the-Atlantic-Slave-Trade-on-social-divisions-in-the-Americas_-34569.aspx Over 30 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. In this article: What is HIV & AIDS? Suggested origins of the virus Diagnosis Treatment Advice & Support What is HIV & AIDS? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a powerful virus that replicates itself and multiplies, despite attempts by the body’s immune system to destroy it. HIV causes infections that can lead to a range of symptoms. Over time, HIV destroys the white cells in the body which are there to fight viruses and bacteria. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) then develops. People can be infected with HIV through: Unprotected sex (vaginal/anal/oral) Blood transfusions Donated organs Sharing needles Mother-to-baby – passing the infection on, breastfeeding, etc. Symptoms of HIV include: Swollen glands Fever Muscular and skeletal pain Tiredness and sometimes overwhelming fatigue Sore throat Headache Nausea Mouth ulcers and sores Cold sores Genital ulcers Problems with the oesophagus (swelling, ulcers, difficulty swallowing) Body and face rash AIDS is the latter stage of HIV. It is a life-threatening condition because the immune system has now stopped working. Symptoms and associated conditions of AIDS include: Pneumonia Vaginal thrush Thrush in the mouth Tuberculosis Fever Heavy cough Diarrhoea Weight loss Sweating and shivering Sight problems Dementia Note: AIDS can also lead to various cancers. Suggested origins of the virus In the late 1970s there was a sudden rise in demand for chimpanzee meat in Asia. As a result, African hunters hunted down chimpanzees en masse. The HIV virus is thought to have developed as a result of human blood mixing with chimpanzee blood during and after the killings. In the 1980s, as the first few cases of HIV became apparent in Africa, healthcare professionals struggled to understand the disease. In fact, the symptoms of HIV can be so similar to conditions such as heavy flu or glandular fever, that treatment for these was administered instead. Within a few years, HIV and AIDS had become a global pandemic as the virus spread across Africa and beyond. Diagnosis If you think you may have been at risk of HIV infection (or if you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms of HIV), go to your local genitourinary medicine clinic (GUM) immediately. They will take a blood test in order to establish a confirmed diagnosis. The test results usually take about 6 weeks to come through. Treatment There is no cure for HIV and AIDS. Treatment is intended to slow the progress of the disease. After being diagnosed with HIV, you will be referred to an HIV clinic. There, treatment options will be explained to you. These can include: A combination of anti-HIV drugs Advice regarding adopting a healthy lifestyle – to try 2012-04-02T09:26:00.053-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/HIV-and-AIDS-34528.aspx “One too many or not enough?” Have 2012-03-22T10:29:12.45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcohol-Is-Good-34519.aspx CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN GENDER STUDIES QUAID-I-AZAM UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD Table of Contents Chapter No. 1 2 Introduction: 2 Research Question: 3 Chapter No.2 5 Literature Review: 5 Chapter No.3 6 Legal provisions for divorce in Pakistan: 6 Chapter No. 4 9 Research Methodology: 9 Research topic: 9 Hypothesis: 9 Justification of the problem: 9 Objectives: 9 Research paradigm: 9 Research approach: 10 Methodology: 10 Sampling technique: 10 Sample: 10 Locale: 10 Samples size: 11 Research Question: 11 Ethics: 11 Chapter No. 5 12 Main Findings and Analysis: 12 Chapter No. 6 16 Conclusion: 16 Recommendations: 16 Chapter No. 7 16 Bibliography and References: 17 Chapter No. 1 Introduction: Over the years, there is seen the rise in number of divorce cases in Islamabad. According to Islamabad Arbitration Council, in 2005, there were 314 divorce cases reported in the press. In 2010, the number rose to 625 and in 2011, the number increased by 40 percent respectively. Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan; demographically it is comprised of heterogeneous people. Mostly the inhabitants in Islamabad are not local rather some of them have migrated while others are living on temporary basis. People here are educated enough and much aware of their fundamental rights. Tangibly it is modern city in outlook. The way of life in Islamabad seems to be inspired by outer world. Furthermore, they are more liberal in their thoughts. As for as the people of the city are concerned they are totally different in respect of their behavior, attitude and life style as compare to the people of other cities like, Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. Owing to the aforementioned demography of Islamabad, the causes in hold behind the divorce cases are quite different from those in other parts of the country (mostly rural). The more liberal overlook, higher education, heterogeneous society with people having different social background, financial status and to some extent the joint family system are some of the major causes in hole behind the rise of divorce cases in Islamabad. Chapter No.2 Literature Review: “Karney and Bradbury, emphasize that before going to the dissolution of marriage it is important to look into how marriages develop. It is important to understand the individuals understanding, their marriages and marital outcomes. They further emphasize that marital stability and quality are influenced by the differing stressful events that couples encounter and their adaptive processes”. (Karney & Bradbury 1995:22) “Arguing that the pathways to divorce cannot be conceptualized as an orderly and sequential process, Amato and Rogers offer the view that: The motives people used to explain their divorces can only be understood as historical devices that imposed a sense of order onto situations that were otherwise fraught with ambiguous and contradictory events, emotions, and inclinations towards behavior. They also, asserted that 2012-02-12T17:12:16.227-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Rise-of-Divorce-Cases-in-Islamabad-34473.aspx Ever wondered the reason behind racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, children committing crime or violence? The main reason is that censorship is not properly imposed or there is a need of censorship in the society. Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain people, an individual, groups or government officials find to be objectionable, offensive or dangerous on others. There are varieties of other definitions but all have in common the concept of withholding information and/or resources from those who seek it. To start, censorship is essential in society to eliminate discrimination on basis of race and sex, to protect children, and to maintain stability and restore what censor sees as lost moral values. Moreover, Censorship occurs when expressive materials like books, magazines, movies, videos, music or work of art are restricted to particular audiences based on their age or other characteristics. Censorship is not a recent development. It wasn’t imposed properly or there weren’t strict regulations before. In the article “Hate Radio” by Patricia J. Williams, she states that “radio was a powerful source of media. It had influenced a lot of people. The power of media can change the course of history.” The host on the radio such as Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern were also influencing a lot of people. The theme was not merely the specific intolerance on hot topics as race and gender, but a much more general derision for the world, a verbal stoning of anything different. Most of the audience on this radio shows were white and male. Most of the callers have spent their lives confining themselves off from any real experience with blacks, feminists, lesbians or gays. Rush Limbaugh tells his audience “what you believe inside, you can talk about it in the marketplace.” Unfortunately what’s inside is then mistaken for what’s outside, and as a result, he or she is treated experientially which is also known as political reality. Most of the talks on the radio were being racist against the blacks. “This had influenced so much that a statistic showed that 53 percent of people in America agree that blacks and Latinos are less intelligent than whites, and a majority believed that blacks are lazy, violent, welfare-dependent and unpatriotic. Hence, this stereotype among the people was due to the lack of censorship”(Williams, 502). 2012-01-18T19:47:26.82-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Censorship-Essay-34438.aspx The Untied States of America has a rather large drug trafficking problem but compared to Columbia it is fairly small. To help Columbia solve their problem the U.S. senate has decided to send troops over there and take control. This new involvement will have many consequences in and what can you make for instance the cost of a war, the loss and gain of jobs, and physical side effects. Perhaps Americans take what they have for granted and forget that there are other countries with problems. Why does America care about what is happening in other countries like Columbia, when they have their own problems with drugs? Now war is a very serious subject to study for sociologists, this gives them a chance to study people and how they react to certain environment. Sociologists have three main paradigms that they can coincide with people to learn they function under certain circumstances. The paradigms used are the Structural-Functional, Social-Conflict and Symbolic-Interaction. Here is a brief description to help make the sociologist perspective more understandable. The Structural-Functional paradigm has multiple interrelated parts; morally desirable functional consequences and conflict is often destructive. How is society integrated? What consequences are there for these various parts? The Social-Conflict paradigm is what you have when a society is a competitive situation. Some groups have power and others that want it, some win and some lose. Last the Symbolic-Interaction paradigm is that society is like a stage where people define and redefine meaning as they interact with one another. This brief description should help make this writing about the sociologist view of the war on drugs a little easier to understand. In the events of war people usually tend to suffer great losses financially, the reason for this is because prices go up to cover for the loss of other things. Money becomes very scarce in war because there is a cost for machinery such as guns, tanks, shelter for the troops and so on. Unfortunately this war is going to cost 1.7 billion dollars. Patrick Simms a radio announcer for national public radio has decided that he is going to name a magazine series based on this war and that series is going to be called "Putting the war into the war on drugs." This label is pretty precise because Americans are actually paying to fight these drug lords and eliminate drugs all together and what better place to 2012-01-15T21:16:12.27-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-War-on-Drugs-34433.aspx There are many definitions of gender in society today, and there are many reasons for these different definitions. To every person gender may have a different meaning depending on personal experiences or depending on how they choose to view it. I tend to lean towards the more typical definition of gender. I see gender as a way of categorizing people by their actions and or physical appearance. Gender is an issue brought up a lot in today’s society, and has been an issue for many years. Issues such as whether or not women can do the same jobs as well as men, or whether or not women are as smart as men comes up a lot in discussions about gender. In my opinion anyone can do anything they set their minds to whether they be male or female. It is obvious that men and women are different physically, but there is no scientific evidence that says that men are smarter or more superior than women in anyway. This image of women being inferior is slowly disappearing and will hopefully someday be non-existent. I am a very sensitive person and people may attribute that to me being of the female gender, but in reality it doesn’t have to be that way. People are branded as feminine or masculine by their actions, their emotions, and their physical traits. I find myself defining gender along with society. I myself have stated many times how for instance, women body builders have very masculine builds. I have also made many other similar comments conforming to the way society stereotypes femininity and masculinity. I have never sat back and tried to think of what it would be like if women typically were very muscular like a bodybuilder. Would the bodybuilding men be considered “very feminine looking”? Society stereotypes people in this way because it is a way to categorize and define people. By saying a woman is masculine it is insinuating that their physical build is not that of the “typical” female. Society’s typical female is definitely evolving, and has come along way but has a long way to go still. Femininity to me is a way to state that a female is very old fashioned. If someone said to me, “she looks so girlie” my first thought would be the girl in question is wearing some little pink dress with lace or something frilly. I 2012-01-14T19:11:05.233-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Personal-Essay-on-Hate-Crimes-34432.aspx Police work can we very dangerous and often police officers are put into situations that cause them to use excessive force. Because some officers opt to use these extreme measures in situations when it is not necessary, police brutality needs to be addressed. Although excessive force demonstrated by police officers may or may not be a large problem, it does need to be discussed by both police agencies and the public. For those people who feel racism is not a factor in causing the use of excessive force, here is a startling fact. In Tampa Bay, Florida, five men died while in the custody of the Tampa Bay police Department (C.C. 27). The thing is, the Tampa Bay Police Department is made up of mostly white officers, but of the five men who died, none where white. Four of the five men that died where African Americans, and the other man was a Mexican National. If the incident in Tampa Bay does not show a person racism, this event might. In New York City, an average of seven Latin Americans were killed a year between 1986 to 1989, but in 1990, that number increased greatly. In that year,twenty-three Latin Americans were killed by police gunfire. When asked how he felt about racism being involved in police brutality,Yussuf Naimkly of the University of Regina commented: "Excessive police force against blacks has always been tolerated, because as a formally enslaved minority African Americans are trapped in a cultural context specifically designed to inhibit their development and thus minimize their threat to white hegemony" (C.C. 72) Executive Director of Police Misconduct Lawyers Referral Service Karol Heppe commented, “Brutality against minorities is a daily occurrence in Los Angeles,” she says. “The difference this time is someone videotaped it (C.C. 36). Another shocking incident of police brutality occurred in Reynoldsberg, Ohio. A group of offices named themselves “S.N.A.T.” squad. This acronym stood for “Special Nigger Arrest Team” and they made it a point to harass African Americans whenever. 2012-01-13T18:37:28.367-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Excessive-Force-Police-Brutaity-34427.aspx How many times have you heard about the consequences of alcoholism? Have you taken them into account? Alcoholism is one of the major problems in society. The effects of this disease are really serious. Many people get used to drink alcohol 2012-01-10T13:32:16.613-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Causes-of-Alcoholism-34416.aspx An under-active thyroid can be the underlying cause of a multitude of health conditions and associated symptoms. In this article: What is an under-active thyroid? Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment How Chemist Online can help Advice & Support What 2011-12-29T05:51:58.02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Under-Active-Thyroid-34409.aspx Genital herpes can be a chronic (long term) condition and can affect both men and women. In this article: What is genital herpes? Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment How Chemist Online can help Advice & Support What is Herpes? Genital herpes is a common and contagious sexually transmitted infection. You can still be infected with the genital herpes virus even though you do not have any visible symptoms. The genital herpes virus enters the body through the vagina, rectum, urethra and mouth. Symptoms Symptoms of genital herpes include: Fluid-filled blisters on the genitals and around the anus area which can become painful and sore after bursting and becoming ulcerous Itching and sometimes a stinging sensation in the genital area and around the rectum Pain when urinating Fever (and sometimes fatigue) A feeling of being run down and unwell Headaches Swollen glands Muscular pain Lower back pain Vaginal discharge Causes Herpes is caused by the contagious herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus spreads from one person to another through close skin-on-skin contact – usually sexual contact which can be vaginal, anal or oral sex. Genital herpes can also be passed on through the sharing of sex toys. Diagnosis If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms, or if you have had sexual intercourse with someone who you suspect may have the genital herpes (or even the genital herpes simplex virus which may be lying dormant) it is important to make an appointment to see your GP immediately. Alternatively, you can also go to your local Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic or Family Planning Clinic for tests. Your visit can be confidential if you wish, and you may not have to give your real name. After taking your medical history and asking you some questions about your symptoms, your GP will make a further assessment by carrying out a general examination of your affected area(s). Tests which may be used in order to establish a confirmed diagnosis can include a swab of your infected area(s) and/or a blood test. Note: As we have seen, it is possible to have genital herpes without experiencing any symptoms. This is why it is very important that your partner (and previous partners) also arranges to see their GP or to go to their local Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic or Family Planning Clinic for tests. Treatment Treatment for genital herpes is generally a course of prescribed antiviral tablets. The best way to avoid catching genital herpes is to take preventive measures. Always use condoms for sex and try to limit your number of sexual partners. Also, remember 2011-12-28T05:48:57.66-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Genital-Herpes-34408.aspx Regularly drinking too much alcohol can lead to an increased risk of developing medical conditions, such as liver damage, heart problems and even cancer. In this article: What is problem drinking? Causes of problem drinking Treatment for problem drinking Symptoms of problem drinking Effect of problem drinking on your life Advice & Support What is problem drinking? Most of us enjoy a social drink from time to time. Alcohol makes us feel relaxed and helps us to lose our inhibitions. The pressure of work or simply keeping on top of things at home can seem easier if we know we can enjoy a couple of pints of beer or a glass of wine at the end of the day. However, if you drink to excess this can become a problem which can impact upon all areas of your life, and also that of your partner, family, friends, work colleagues, and even people you do not know (through injuring them after losing control of your car, or when operating machinery, due to the alcohol in your bloodstream affecting your concentration, for example). Symptoms of problem drinking Symptoms of problem drinking can include: A strong desire for alcohol that becomes harder to satisfy the more you drink – leaving you seemingly trapped in a vicious circle Being unable to get through each day without having an alcoholic drink (this can be a small amount, and does not necessarily mean that you would become drunk or out of control) The neglect of your family, friends, work and also social activities (that do not involve drinking) that you would normally enjoy Withdrawal symptoms (trembling, breaking into a sweat, nausea and convulsions), that only taking an alcohol drink can prevent or control Causes of problem drinking Each individual’s capacity for alcohol is different. But when enough alcohol has been imbibed that your physical coordination is affected, and the judgment part of your brain has been slowed down – this is where drinking becomes, well, a problem. Of course, there could be a whole multitude of reasons and factors behind why you drink to excess. For example: Enjoyment of the actual taste of alcoholic drinks (this can lead to addiction) Peer pressure To reduce inner tension and lessen stress and anxiety To boost confidence in social situations To stave off loneliness To find the courage to face difficult situations To forget problems at home or at work for while (drinking to escape) Also, you may have a genetic predisposition to developing a problem with alcohol – a history of 2011-12-15T05:23:36.647-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cause-and-Effect-of-Alcohol-and-Drinking-Too-Much-34392.aspx Condoms are one of the most popular forms of contraception. In this article: What is barrier method contraception? Background to condoms Male condoms How to use male condoms Female condoms Emergency contraception How Chemist Online can help Advice & Support What is barrier method contraception? Contraception is designed with the intention to prevent pregnancy. However, some methods are known as barrier methods. As well as preventing pregnancy, barrier methods are also designed to help prevent the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases. Background to condoms Condoms originated in Ancient Egypt, where a linen sheath was used. This was carried on through Roman times until over the centuries linen was replaced by rubber. At different points in British history the syphilis and gonorrhoea epidemics engendered a heightened focus upon condoms being used not only to prevent pregnancy, but also as a barrier method against sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, condoms being publicly perceived primarily as a preventative measure against pregnancy did not come until much later in Britain. Now available in pubs, retail outlets and even 24-hour petrol stations, condoms come in a whole range of different colours, textures and flavours. They also come in different sizes and shapes. Male condoms What are they? Male condoms fall into the category of barrier method contraception. They are designed to prevent sperm meeting the egg and also to protect both sexual partners from transmitting or catching a sexual infection, such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis. How do they work? Condoms are made of latex or polyurethane. They are designed to slide over the penis, but to grip tightly so that they do not come off or break during penetration. As the man ejaculates, his sperm collects in the tip area of the condom – thus preventing his sperm from meeting the egg. Who can use them? Men. How reliable are they? They are reliable if used properly and also with a water-based lubricant, such as KY jelly. However, for some men (and women), certain lubricants can cause allergies. Advantages? Male condoms are affordable, widely available and also extremely effective. In fact, male condoms are free on the NHS. How to use male condoms Although most men have used a condom at some time or other, or are aware of them and how to use them in general, it is important that condoms are used properly if they are going to be relied upon as an effective barrier method contraceptive. Some condom usage rules: Never use a condom more than once. Always dispose of a condom carefully 2011-12-13T06:17:15.84-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Contraception-Barrier-Methods-34386.aspx Although there are no guarantees, there are treatments that can help a number of people with female infertility. In this article: What is female infertility? Effect on your life Advice & Support Causes Treatments Diagnosis How Chemist Online can help What is female infertility? Female infertility is where a woman experiences difficulty in getting pregnant despite regularly having sex without contraception with her partner over a period of about a year. The good news is that, although there may be fertility problems, it is still possible to get pregnant with medical help. Causes Lots of things can affect female fertility, but the most common cause is ovulation problems that can occur as a result of things like early menopause, hormone problems, damage to the fallopian tubes or the urinary system, sexually transmitted diseases and genetic issues. Diagnosis If you are experiencing fertility problems, then arrange an appointment with your GP. As well as carrying out a general physical examination, he or she will ask you various questions (how long you have been trying to conceive; how often you have sex; if there are any sexual difficulties, etc). You will also be asked about your periods, contraception, diseases and illnesses, what medicines you are taking, your lifestyle and so on. Your GP may also run some blood tests and then send you for further tests to check if you are ovulating regularly. Effect on your life Female infertility can be extremely stressful and may put your relationship under enormous strain. Many women find that counselling and joining a support group helps. Treatments Female infertility treatment options include: Fertility drugs – these work like your body’s hormones and tell the ovaries to make or release eggs; Egg and sperm donation – help from women aged 18 to 35 who donate eggs, and men aged 18 to 45 who donate sperm; intrauterine insemination (IUI) – some of your partner’s sperm is put into your womb at the same time as ovulation takes place in order to make conception more likely; In vitro fertilisation (IVF) – your eggs are removed from your ovaries, fertilised with sperm in a laboratory dish, and then put back inside you to develop into a foetus. You can increase your chances of being able to conceive by not delaying parenthood, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and treating or preventing existing diseases. Also try to keep fit (but do not engage in excessive exercise as this can actually lead to decreased fertility), stop smoking, avoid over-consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and eat 2011-12-07T05:28:18.08-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Female-Infertility-34377.aspx When corporal punishment is brought up in the school system it is described as "a student discipline issue that encompasses both legal and tort. This brings the use of corporal punishment into two issues, which include cruel and unusual punishment and the use of due process. The only possible hope for parents in the use of corporal punishment on their children is the due-process argument. The guidelines contain the following rules " refraining from using corporal punishment as a first line of discipline, informing students ahead of time about which violation will result in paddling, having a second school official present as a witness during paddling, and informing parents of the witness's identity on request" .When surveyed 56 percent of teachers still favor the use of corporal punishment on students that fail to follow the rules. Many teachers that were surveyed have said that they do "not plan to spank their charges; they want the right to do so as an extra means of classroom control". When one sits down and thinks about the use of corporal punishment in schools they can see that a “teacher use force on children in the name of discipline; when children hit teachers, however, it quickly becomes assault and battery. People who are trying corporal punishment in schools do not mean banning discipline. Banning discipline would cause the schools to become a place where children could not learn valuable education, because "without orderliness, learning cannot occur. There are a few recommendations for the use of corporal punishment. The first is to remember that the risk of legal action is very real if you decide to use corporal punishment. The use of corporal punishment "should be limited to paddling. Corporal punishment is the use of physical punishment and the people tend to frown on other forms that are possibly used. The third recommendation is to limit the number of swats used. This is because the more swats you given a child the harder it is for you to defend yourself. When paddling a student you should inform the parents of the paddling as soon as possible. The fifth recommendation is to "allow parents to request alternate forms of punishment for their children and to place these in writing. The use of corporal punishment on any child should be properly documented. The final recommendations is that teachers and principals make all effects 2011-11-30T16:11:39.54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Coporal-Punishment-34370.aspx Anime is a style of animation in Japan, heavily influenced by the manga (Japan comic) style and typically featuring characters with large eyes, big hair, exaggerated facial expression, and it is classified according to its genre. Anime are animation that are unrestrained in artistic expression, serious drama, violence and vulgarity (there is even pornographic anime). Nowadays, anime addiction is very rampant especially among students. People with obsessive interest in anime are called, Otaku (a Japanese term). There are many factors that urge students to watch anime that leads to addiction. Anime itself serves as a great factor that let the students to watch, because anime became the latest trend for all teenagers. Next is that having a good storyline that makes the students hook up. If students missed one episode, they will surely get lost and never get the drift of the entire series. Another one is due to cool animation, which has a vibrant color that tickles their eyes everytime they watched a single episode. Next is peer pressure, which influences a person to watch anime. When your group are expose to anime it will surely influences you. Last is boredom buster. As an expert say, boredom is not the lack of sensory stimulation: It is just a lack of imagination or creative thinking, so students tend to watch anime more often and surf the internet to read online manga. Students who are too much expose to anime became addicted and anime addiction can have positive or negative effects to the viewer. The positive effect is that, it gives happiness to students which satisfy them and instead of engaging into drugs they spend their time on watching anime. Aside from the entertainment perspective, students learn to reach to others and make friends who share the same passion through joining Cosplay or Costume play. Through watching anime, they learn to draw and improve their English grammar. The negative effect is that, students are expose to sexual activity through watching sex type of anime or commonly called Hentai. Hentai is a Japanese word that is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics or animation. It could also affect the students behavior. They became lazy. Students start getting too much influenced by every kind of fashion. They lose the sense of reality, since they expose to the world of anime and sometimes students shows a 2011-11-26T17:51:47.227-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anime-Addiction-Its-Causes-and-Effects-on-Students-34360.aspx “No need girl’s education, they are born only for taking care of their families”- this idea was stereotype in the early past of Bangladesh. The birth of a boy child was a blessing for the parents and a girl child was like a curse. It is a surprising matter that a girl child also comes like a boy child from mother’s womb and father’s blood but still that child is unexpected to her parents. In reality, a father and mother can never hate their children. Actually, the society made the rule to neglect the girl children. As Bangladesh is considers as a Muslim country, most of its population are Muslim. The Bangladeshi people thought that their religion had ordered them to keep their women and female children inside the house and keep them in safe. As a result, the parents always wanted a male child to earn for the family and protect their old age. From a theological research, it has found that the beliefs which were followed by our ancestors were based on wrong concepts. The holy books actually suggested keeping women in safe, not to confine them into four walls where they do not have any liberty. These books also suggested that a woman can even participate in the warfare if she is able to protect herself. Very slowly but the people started to change their mentality when they were becoming educated and started realizing that it was useless to achieve success without women as a mother is the first teacher of a child. If a mother is illiterate there is much possibility that the child will be uneducated. To cure this problem, Begum Rokeya, the pioneer of giving the light of education to the Muslim Bengali girls. This social movement of educating girls was very slow and at that time people were against of this blessed work. She kept patience and opened a girls’ school. She made people to understand about the benefit of the girl’s education by giving the religious points. Though it took time to convince people, it worked. People understood the necessity of the girls’ education and started sending their daughters into the school. This idea was so effective because a nation can have more achievements if the entire nation works together for success, not the half of the nation. The government also realized that this is an innovative idea and so the 2011-11-23T12:12:39.963-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Women-s-Education-in-Bangladesh-34354.aspx Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called venereal diseases, are caused by germs that travel from person to person through sexual contact. Common STDs include syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and AIDS. Because the germs that cause STDs die quickly outside the human body, these sicknesses are not spread through coughing, sneezing, or contact with infected objects such as toilet seats or eating utensils. Most STDs, however, can be transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her baby, often causing serious and life-threatening complications for the infant. Some viral diseases, including AIDS and hepatitis B, are spread through direct exposure to infected blood and can be transmitted through sexual contact or through nonsexual means such as the sharing of needles for drug use. Young people are especially at risk for many sexually transmitted diseases. Teenagers account for three million cases of STDs annually. One out of every four sexually active teenagers acquires a new STD each year. One quarter of new infections of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) are found in people under 22. Young women are at greater risk than older women for reproductive and health complications caused by STDs. The medical options for the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases are somewhat limited. Some bacterial STDs, including chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, can be treated with antibiotics if detected early enough (although the evolution of new germs resistant to antibiotics is a growing problem). Antibiotics are useless against viral STDs, however. Public health measures have therefore focused primarily on preventing the spread of STDs. Because vaccinations for STDs are still in the research stage, efforts to prevent STDs have centered on reducing risky sexual activities. Yet while most people agree that healthy and re- sponsible sexual behaviors should be promoted in the media, in clinics, and in sex education classes, profound disagreements exist as to what constitutes responsible behaviors. Most people agree that abstinence is the most effective way of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and that people should be made aware that certain activities—including sex at an early age and sex with multiple partners or prostitutes—greatly increase the risks of contracting STDs. But many sex education authorities, such as Debra W. Haffner of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S., contend that abstinence should not be the sole emphasis of STD prevention and sex education programs. People should acknowledge that many teenagers are engaging in sexual activity. 2011-11-17T18:39:04.937-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Sexually-Transmitted-Diseases-STD-34348.aspx 2011-11-09T06:21:09.73-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/qwewqe-34327.aspx This essay will discuss some of the current sociological theories on the causes of truancy and school drop-outs among teenagers, as well as present a case study of one such dropout. Introduction: Throughout history, education was considered to be one of the criteria of social upgrading. Males tended to be the ones sent to school, and then mainly the males from the upper classes. Education has always been something desirable, and therefore, it is almost inconceivable that in a time when free quality education is available to one and all, that there would be those who would not only not avail themselves of the opportunity, but actually drop out of school. As these rates significantly continue to rise, it is important that the causes of truancy and dropout be understood so that steps may be implemented to prevent such occurrences in the future. Causes of Truancy/Dropout: For the past quarter century, there have been numerous longitudinal and cross-sectional studies that have repeatedly demonstrated that family background, school experience, antisocial behavior, and personal traits are reliable predictors of school drop-out (Bachman et al. 1971; Cairns et al. 1989; Ekstrom et al. 1986; Elliot and Voss, 1974; Ensminger and Slusarcik, 1992; Fagan and Opabon 1990; Rumberger 1983; Wehlage and Rutter 1986). According to the majority of these studies, dropouts are more likely to come from families of low socioeconomic status (SES), with structural disadvantage (for example, single parent family, parents with low level of education, large family size, other dropouts in the family, etc; Astone and Mclanahan 1991; Bachman et al. 1971; Cairns et al. 1989; Ekstrom et al. 1986; Elliot and Voss 1974; Fagan and Pabon 1990; Rumberger 1983; Steinberg et al. 1984). Boys drop out more frequently than do girls, and tend to be ethnic minorities (Rumberger 1987). However, data based on ethnicity are not entirely consistent. For instance, some researchers found that African or Hispanic Americans are more likely to drop out of school (Chavez et al. 1989; Ensminger and Sluarcik 1992) while other studies have indicated that there is no particular tendency for any ethnic minority to drop-out when socioeconomic variables are controlled (Cairns et al. 1989; Rumberger 1983). There have also been studies which have focused on family processes that have indicated that dropouts come more frequently from families characterized by a lack of supervision, a permissive parenting style, poor aspirations regarding the schooling of the children, and negative reactions to 2011-11-03T01:31:09.32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Sociological-Theories-of-Truancy-34299.aspx This essay will discuss the recent trend amount public schools of requiring their students to wear uniforms, and whether or not it serves as a deterrent to crime. It will critique each article and discuss the author’s assumptions, compare and contrast the authors’ points of view, explain the methods used for data collection, and evaluate the data. Introduction: For generations, private schools have required students to wear uniforms, according to the theory that such uniformity of dress inspired order, equality, and pride. In recent years, public schools across the nation have joined in, and recently President Clinton gave his support of the movement. Attorney General Janet Reno, speaking in Long Beach, California, whose school district adopted a dress code for elementary and middle schools in 1995, said that Clinton believes that uniforms help reduce crime and gives his support to schools that try them. The Long Beach school district saw a 36% decrease in crime within a year of the dress code implementation. The main reason for the switch to uniforms is to protect students from clothing-conscious gangs and criminals, who have reportedly gunned down children for jackets or shoes. However, there is less than total support for the measure. The Long Beach district has been sued by two legal-rights groups, requiring that parents be allowed waivers for the uniform code, and that the district provide help for parents with the purchase of uniforms if they so require. Additionally, the director of Public Schools for the American Civil Liberties Union has made a statement that contends that uniforms at the elementary and middle school level do not address the areas where most offenses occur, which is in high school. The three studies which shall be discussed here are the survey done by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (1998), “Uniforms in the Schools: Proponents Say It Cuts Competition, Others Are Not So Sure” by Susan Thomas, published in Black Issues in Higher Education (1994), and a counterpoint argument against uniforms from Loren Siegel, Director of the Public Education Department, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (1996). Extent and Impact of Uniform Trend; the NAESP Survey: According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), more than one-quarter of elementary and middle school students in ten states attend public school with a mandatory uniform code (11%) or where one is being considered (15%) (NAESP 1). Nearly two-thirds of the present dress codes 2011-11-03T01:30:24.397-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mandatory-School-Uniforms-in-the-Public-Schools-34298.aspx The Sepik region of Papua, New Guinea, the community of Stinking Creek, Kentucky, and the general society in which we live are all culturally diverse societies, but they all share some variation of the male as traditional leader. In New Guinea, license for that position of leadership arises from their believe in the male being the first to emerge from the primordial aqueous environment. Stinking Creek is located in an isolated region of the southern Appalachians and operates under traditional values that are prevented from changing at all because of local economic conditions, but both the Sepik populations and that of Stinking Creek are focused more on survival than on equitable division of labor and leadership opportunities. Survival is not the issue in our general society that it is in theirs, and so we are afforded more opportunity to examine why leadership tends to settle on the shoulders of the male. Introduction That gender roles vary among societies is well established. All societies maintain variations of generalities that can apply to many, if not most, other societies, one of which is that males are traditional leaders. Though there are some cultures where this is not the standard organization, those cultures are rare. Here, the role of gender as it affects leadership, and to a lesser extent, social organization is examined in and compared among three societies: the Sepik region of Papua, New Guinea; the community of Stinking Creek, Kentucky; and the general society in which we live. Papua, New Guinea In the Sepik region of Papua, New Guinea, there are various accounts of specific events of cultural history in which “historians” agree on the basic concepts of the stories, but in which details are often contested for the sake of preserving the roles ancestors played in those happenings. One story that is not contested, however, is of the creation of the society: “the original state of the world was aquatic (Swadling 1989). At an undeterminable moment, the water was stirred by wind, and land surfaced. There was a totemic pit (tsagi wangu) that is often envisioned as the center of the world; it is said to be located in the Sepik Plains, near the Sawos-speaking village of Gaikarobi. Male ancestors emerged from the pit, separated the sky from the earth with forked branches, and created the perceptible world through toponymy or naming” 2011-11-03T01:28:30.337-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gender-Roles-in-Organization-and-Leadership-34296.aspx Slavery is, to this day, an issue that most people in the United States grapple with. It seems to enter into any discussion about race relations. Some want to forget it, others want it remembered and claim that its wounds still exist. In order to understand this complex issue more, the best thing would be to go back to the beginning of slavery’s roots in this country in an attempt to answer the following question: Why did the enslavement of Africans begin in the American colonies? Slavery in some form had played a part in the world's experience for centuries before America was discovered. But, early on, in the developing British North America, did slavery start on a basis of race or was it just plain old economics? Over time, something changed dramatically in the American colonies. What was it? African slavery had not been part of early colonial life. What made attitudes change and what became the rationalization for people to accept the enslaving of Africans in a world that was started by those looking for a promising new life? The question of slavery and its beginning in British North America will be delved into in this article by examining various sources that deal with the topic. Edmund Morgan's American Slavery American Freedom, Peter Kolchin's American Slavery, Basil Davidson's The African Slave Trade and, Mechal Sobel's The World They Made Together will all be analyzed in order to consider theories on the topic of American slavery. American Slavery's beginnings and its basis will be examined as well as how convincing each author is in persuading the reader to believe their arguments. For Morgan, the move toward slavery can be traced back to and stems from the resentment that existed between classes in colonial Virginia. Bacon's Rebellion had occurred because of the disillusionment and discontentment that indentured servants and small planters felt living in Virginia. The land of promise had turned into a no win situation for these servants with an upper class of gentlemen controlling things. The rebels took their anger out on the Indians and according to Morgan: for those with eyes to see, there was an obvious lesson in the rebellion. Resentment of an alien race might be more powerful than resentment of an upper class. For men bent on the maximum exploitation 2011-11-03T01:27:27.673-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Slavery-34295.aspx This essay will discuss the theory of social exchange, how it is applied to real-life situations, and criticism of the theory. Section I – Discussion The theory of social exchange developed from applying the economic concept of exchange to social relationships. In such, actors trade one commodity for another desired commodity. In the workplace, this exchange may entail reward exchanged for a costly act. An example would be the granting of prestige in return for giving expert assistance (Lovaglia et al 1995). Once sensitized to it, social exchange can be witnessed everywhere, not restricted to economic relationships, but in friendship and love relationships as well. Children trade toys, neighbors exchange recipes, politicians offer concessions, and so on. The very commonness of social exchanges would make it simple to look at all social conduct in the regard of exchange, but to do so would rob it of its uniqueness. Mankind is mainly motivated by fear: fear of God, fear of other people, or fear of his own conscience, and it is pointless to attempt to force an action into a theoretical framework of social exchange (Blau 1964). The social exchange context in less advanced societies is actually more ritualized and necessary. According to Mauss, “What they exchange is not exclusively goods and wealth, real and personal property, and things of economic value. They exchange rather courtesies, entertainments, ritual, military assistance, women, children, dances and feasts; and fairs in which the market is but one element and the circulation of wealth but one part of a wide and enduring contact (1954). The basis of the concept of social exchange is this: anyone who gives a rewarding service to anther puts him under an obligation. In order to get rid of the obligation, the second individual must provide something of worth to the first individual. If both parties are content with what they receive, they tend to increase their own service in order to encourage the other to increase his response reciprocally, and to stay out of indebtedness. However, as the received assistance escalates, the need for more typically declines. For example, when technical help is needed in the workplace, five minutes of an expert’s time are very valuable, and five minutes more probably just as valuable, but when the expert has been helping for an hour, another five minutes are less helpful than were the first five. Finally, the decreasing value of additional assistance 2011-11-03T01:25:47.71-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Exchange-Theory-34294.aspx This essay discusses and defines both eating disorders and social learning theory, and how SLT might be used to help those who suffer with these diseases. I Introduction Eating disorders afflict millions of Americans, and they are serious, even life-threatening. They are classified as psychiatric disorders, and actually have little to do with food, but rather with underlying issues of self-esteem and other emotional states. They are a significant health concern. This paper explores eating disorders, social learning theory, and how we might use the theory to help a sufferer develop a more positive body image. II Eating Disorders Eating disorders are most common in adolescents; they are found 10 times more often in girls than in boys; and though they are found in all ethnic groups, they are most common in whites who live in industrialized nations. The most common forms of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and nonspecified eating disorder. Anorexia occurs in two forms: restricting type and binge/purge type. Bulimia two is found in two forms: purging and nonpurging. (Pritts, PG). These are very serious conditions: the risk of young women developing anorexia is 0.5 to 1 percent, but of those who develop the condition, death results in an estimated 4 to 10 percent of sufferers. (Pritts, PG). This is a considerable number of young women dying because they despise their appearance. Statistics reveal how widespread weight concerns are in young people: “In 1999, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (7) reported that 58 percent of students in the United States had exercised to lose weight, and 40 percent of students had restricted caloric intake in an attempt to lose weight. … The distinction between normal dieting and disordered eating is based on whether the patient has a distorted body image.” (Pritts, PG). The last three words of that sentence, “distorted body image,” give us a clue as to one of the basic concerns of those who treat this disease: the fact that sufferers are overly concerned with their appearance, which they see as undesirable, even grotesque or obese, even when their weight is within normal limits, or even too low. We can examine the influences on our young people that make them susceptible to these beliefs, and we can also see how social learning theory might be both a partial cause, and potential 2011-10-31T01:17:22.717-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Eating-Disorders-and-Social-Learning-Theory-34250.aspx This essay discusses the incidence of suicide among young people in New Jersey, with reference to the Healthy People 2010 federal guidelines. I Introduction Suicide is a difficult topic to consider; yet it must be faced because it is a major health concern. It is particularly puzzling among young people, presumably with much to live for. This paper discusses suicide among young people ages 18-25 in New Jersey. It describes the prevalence of the issue in the state and the cost to society. It touches on disparities in rates among various target groups (culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) and also discusses biophysical, psychological, environmental, and other risk factors. Finally, it relates these findings to the Healthy People documents now available on-line. II Healthy People 2010 Healthy People 2010 is a series of U.S. government documents that outline a series of objectives that the government hopes to achieve with regard to improving the health of Americans. The documents were published in 2000 with a target date of 2010 to fulfill the tasks. The documents are extensive and somewhat difficult to navigate, since it appears that they have tried to devise strategies to meet every health care problem extant; a monumental task. Objectives 18-1 and 18-2 are the ones that concern us, since they deal with suicide, though neither one directly discusses the age range 18-25. However, Objective 18-1 is: “Reduce the Suicide Rate,” and Objective 18-2 is: “Reduce the Rate of Suicide Attempts by Adolescents.” (Healthy People 2010 Objectives, 2000, PG). (Incidentally, these documents are extremely lengthy, and anything I quote is likely to be found in the same URL. It’s necessary to look at the table of contents or do a search to find the appropriate section.) The documents reveal that for every 100,000 people, the suicide rate is 11.3. Broken down by race, the figures are: American Indian or Alaska Native, 12.6; Asian or Pacific Islander, 6.6; Black or African American; 5.8; White 12.2; Hispanic or Latino, 6.3. (They did not split off the data between Asians and Hawaiians/Other Pacific islanders.) By race, the figures are: not Hispanic or Latino 11.8; Black or African American, 6.0; White 12.8. Gender: female 4.3, male 19.2. Education level (people aged 25-64): less than high school, 17.9; high school graduate; 19.2; some college, 10. Age: 2011-10-31T00:32:17.29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Suicide-Among-Young-New-Jersey-Adults-34232.aspx This essay discusses many aspects of the issue of suicide in the State of New Jersey. I Introduction Suicide is a difficult topic to consider; yet it must be faced because it is a major health concern. It is particularly puzzling among young people, presumably with much to live for. This paper discusses many different issues with regard to suicide among young people ages 18-25 in New Jersey. It touches on such things as disparities in rates of suicide among various groups; the cost to society; agencies in New Jersey that are helping to prevent suicide; suggestions for improving those agencies and many other topics. It also discusses the Healthy People documents with regard to suicide; there are both federal and state Healthy People initiatives under consideration. II Healthy People 2010 Healthy People 2010 is a series of U.S. government documents that outlines the objectives the government hopes to achieve with regard to improving the health of Americans. The documents were published in 2000 with a target date of 2010 to fulfill the tasks. The documents are extensive and somewhat difficult to navigate, since it appears that they have tried to devise strategies to meet every health care problem extant; a monumental task. Objectives 18-1 and 18-2 are the ones that concern us, since they deal with suicide, though neither one directly discusses the age range 18-25. However, Objective 18-1 is: “Reduce the Suicide Rate,” and Objective 18-2 is: “Reduce the Rate of Suicide Attempts by Adolescents.” (Healthy People 2010 Objectives, 2000, PG). The documents reveal that for every 100,000 people, the suicide rate is 11.3, as revealed by this table: Data source: National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), CDC, NCHS. Total Population, 1998 Suicides Rate per 100,000 TOTAL 11.3 Race and ethnicity American Indian or Alaska Native 12.6 Asian or Pacific Islander 6.6 Asian DNC Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander DNC Black or African American 5.8 White 12.2 Hispanic or Latino 6.3 Not Hispanic or Latino 11.8 Black or African American 6.0 White 12.8 Gender Female 4.3 Male 19.2 Education level (aged 25 to 64 years) Less than high school 17.9 High school graduate 19.2 At least some college 10.0 Age (not age adjusted) 10 to 14 years 1.6 15 to 19 years 8.9 20 to 24 years 13.6 DNA = Data have not been analyzed. DNC = Data are not collected. DSU = Data are statistically unreliable. Note: Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population. (Objective 18-1, 2000, PG). In the last group (20-24, which is part of the age we want to discuss) we begin to see the magnitude of the problem, as the rate nearly triples 2011-10-30T21:10:37.163-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Suicide-in-New-Jersey-34223.aspx This essay argues that prison does not deter crime, and that non-violent offenders should receive punishment other than prison sentences. I Introduction American jails are overcrowded; in fact, America has a disproportionate number of its citizens behind bars. And the prison population keeps growing. Does prison deter crime, or merely teach young people how to be better criminals? Supporters of harsh jail sentences often cite several arguments as the basis for their belief. These include the idea that jail terms serve as a deterrent to crime; that wrongdoing must be punished, and that a decent society has the right to ensure the safety of its members by incarcerating those who break its laws. This paper supports the following argument: Nonviolent criminals should receive punishments other than jail sentences, and in doing so refutes the beliefs stated above. (The conclusions in the paper are based on life experience and reasoning, not formal references.) II Supporting Points Considering the condition of American jails and whether they function as they should, the following points come to mind. First, the jails are overcrowded, and that in itself leads to problems for inmates and correction officials. Tempers fray, violence erupts, and there is no way in which lesser offenders can stay away from more hardened types. Second, there is no evidence to show that jail sentence deter crime. Third, I believe the recidivism rate is high. Fourth, I think there is truth to the contention that jails are “schools for crime.” Finally, I don’t believe there is a “one-size-fits-all” punishment system, and the “get tough on crime” campaigns that have resulted in so-called “three strikes” laws in states around the country have gone too far in the wrong direction. III Further Discussion Let’s examine three of these points: deterrence, the idea of jails being “schools for crime,” and the “three strikes” concept. Do jails deter crime? I would argue that they have little effect on the overall crime rate. The crime rate is lower in some places than it is been for years, and officials tend to crow about their success in lowering crime, only to have it skyrocket again. It seems to me that crime is a result of many different factors, and possibly the least important of them is the likelihood of receiving a jail sentence for breaking the law. I suggest that a desperate 2011-10-30T21:01:34.543-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Jail-Overcrowding-34219.aspx This essay examines five theses with respect to the attempt to delineate the nature of truth. I Introduction What is truth? Is it an objective reality that’s the same for everyone? Does it exist only in relation to other factors, or is it an absolute? Men have struggled for centuries to try to answer what seems to be a simple question, but which is actually one of the most complex in history. This paper examines five theses with regard to truth, and then compares them with other theories. II Considering the Theses The theses we’ll consider are: 1) that truth is utility; 2) that truth is that which ultimately everybody has to agree to; 3) that truth is that which withstands all criticisms; 4) that truth is that which best brings all our beliefs into agreement; and 5) that truth is warranted assertability. Then we’ll compare what we discover with one of these two additional ideas: that truth is correspondence to reality or that the truth of a claim consists in its describing a fact. We’ll begin by summing up (or trying to) the reasons for each of the theses, and what has to happen for them to function. Let’s start with the idea that truth is utility. First, obviously, we have to define ‘utility” in this context. The idea of utility is the concept that something is true if it works. This thesis then is based on the idea of usefulness (“utility”): if it works or gives a satisfactory outcome it must be true. (James says that the “true” is expedient.) (PG). But this thesis is narrow, since it does not apparently cover everyone; that is, it doesn’t say for how many people the outcome must be true. One? A dozen? A thousand? Everyone? If we are searching for universal truths, this thesis works if we suppose that a “satisfactory outcome” means the same thing to everyone; thus the truth of this belief is dependent upon everyone agreeing to one certain outcome being better than any other. The strong claim for this thesis would be that the truth of the claim is determined by universal agreement; the weak claim would be that we would get universal agreement by which we could determine the truth of the claim. Contrasting positions that are true in one instance and not in another, and are still not 2011-10-30T20:34:33.283-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Nature-of-Truth-34215.aspx This paper discusses Affirmative Action and why it should not have been curtailed. I Introduction Rarely has a public policy caused the outcry associated with Affirmative Action. By wrong labeling Affirmative Action a “quota system,” opponents have succeeded in overturning or curtailing the program in many areas. This paper looks at the reasons why Affirmative Action was designed, what it is meant to do, and why it’s important to restore it. II What Is Affirmative Action? Affirmative Action is a program designed to provide equal access to various opportunities (education, employment) that would otherwise not be available to women, people of color, and other minorities. It was meant only to provide such access; it was never a quota system: nowhere has it ever been suggested that companies should hire lesser-qualified applicants because they’re women or minorities. What Affirmative Action does is to allow these disadvantaged people an equal opportunity to apply for the positions they might not otherwise have. And it also suggests that when all other factors are completely equal, it is advantageous to employ a woman, black, or minority rather than yet another white man. (White men, the last I heard, own and/or operate 98% of all businesses in the United States. They don’t really have much to worry about.) There are many myths about Affirmative Action, and they were clearly discussed in a very insightful article published in 1996 in the “Journal of Social Issues.” But before going to that source, I would like to make one observation about Affirmative Action, and other social programs. There is a persistent undercurrent of ill-will in the United States to blacks, immigrants, and others. In the case of blacks, for example, one sometimes hears something like “They got their freedom in 1863; how long does it take before we don’t have to give them special treatment? Isn’t 150 years enough?” This observation (aside from being boorish and racist) ignores basic facts of American history: the Emancipation Proclamation did in fact free the slaves, but it was hardly embraced whole-heartedly by the South, or indeed by the nation as a whole. Though technically free from slavery, blacks still faced discrimination, and in the years following the Civil War, they were lynched in increasing numbers. Jim Crow laws codified the despicable “separate but equal” doctrine of the deep South, and if we take all these 2011-10-30T20:33:17.25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Affirmative-Action-and-Why-it-Should-be-Reinstated-34214.aspx This essay discusses the types of gender inequality that persist in our society, and several ways to combat it. I Introduction People working for civil rights are often asked why blacks don’t just move on; isn’t 140 years long enough to get over slavery? Women face the same argument: isn’t 50 years of progress enough to make the feminists happy? The answer in both cases is no, it’s not enough. Blacks may have been freed, but freedom without opportunity is useless, and whites did not accept them. Even today, many blacks are still very far from being considered equals. Women have made strides, but equality continues to elude them as well. And in both cases, racism and sexism have gone underground, where they continue to thrive. This paper looks at the persistence of gender inequality, and the trends being implemented towards equality. II Inequalities In their article entitled “Subtle and Covert Forms of Discrimination,” Nijole Benokraitis and Joe Feagin describe examples of the types of gender inequality and discrimination we find throughout our contemporary culture. Some of the discrimination—much of it, in fact—is unconscious, so deeply ingrained in us that it requires a true effort to change our thinking. But other examples show that there are those who deliberately set out to “sabotage” women; a disheartening and depressing commentary on today’s society. Subtle discrimination manifests itself as “condescending chivalry” and “benevolent exploitation.” The first is the type of action that is usually seen as protective and paternalistic, but in reality makes women seem weak and helpless, and in need of close supervision. Such chivalrous actions as opening doors, carrying packages, and ordering for the woman in a restaurant are examples of this kind of subtle but damaging discrimination. Other examples include using pet names for women—all women. The use of terms such as the “little lady” is common (along with “babe,” “honey” etc.), as are remarks such as “don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” They are so ingrained in our culture that we hardly even react to them any longer, but we should, because they are demeaning and ugly. Calling a woman by anything other than her name, in the form she prefers to have it used (Mrs., Ms., Dr., Sue) is a subtle form of discrimination. First, it diminishes her; when a term like “little lady” is used, it 2011-10-27T13:04:12.29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Persistence-of-Gender-Inequality-34175.aspx This essay discusses whether events or the media shaped the Baby Boom generation. I Introduction What shapes the outlook of an entire generation? Is it even possible to say with certainty that everyone in one specific group is influenced by the same thing as everyone else in that group? Probably not. However, we’ll look for commonalities that help us answer the question, Were the Boomers influenced more by events in their lives, or by the mass media? II The Baby Boomers I’ve chosen the Baby Boomers (hereafter BBs) because, frankly, I’m one of them. (I won’t tell you which end of the age range I’m in, though!) BBs are generally thought to be those people born at the end of the Second World War, up to about 1960-1965; most sources give the Baby Boom years as 1946-1964. These people are too young to remember the war, though they were born during the conflict, or just as it ended. They grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, years generally thought to be peaceful and prosperous. They are also generally viewed as egocentrics who demand the spotlight at all times, who refuse to age gracefully, and who need individual recognition of their efforts. (“Motivation Differs Between Generations,” PG). This generation, in general, is doing very well, though they have paid for their success by working long hours and sacrificing family and friends. These values are not embraced by Generation X or Y, who want to enjoy their lives and are less committed to the “nose to the grindstone” work ethic. (“Motivation Differs Between Generations,” PG). The BBs learned this viewpoint from their parents, who came through the Depression and fought in WWII. I think we must take into account the fact that the people who most strongly influence a child are his/her parents. We all start out by accepting what our parents tell us, and why not? They are the foremost authority figures in our world, and we expect them to tell the truth. Until we get into school and meet people from other backgrounds, we usually repeat what our elders say. But the BBs were also growing up in times that were vastly different from those in which their parents matured: “Their formative years were shaped by tremendous economic expansion after World War II, the popularity of rock-n-roll music, the 2011-10-27T12:49:28.65-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Baby-Boomers-Shaping-a-Generation-34170.aspx This paper argues that children’s manners are worse today than in the past, and explains why. It also discusses why good manners are necessary in a well functioning society. (4+ pages; 1 source; MLA citation style) I Introduction We hear a lot today about the fact that people seem ruder and more obnoxious than ever before, and observation seems to bear this out. We cut each other off on the roads and then make obscene gestures; we talk over each other; we don’t even bother to say “please” and “thank you.” The rudeness of adults is also apparent in their children. Teachers complain of having to spend most of their time “civilizing” little savages, rather than teaching them. Is there really a difference in manners today? And if so, why should we care? II Discussion There’s no question that manners are not much in evidence any longer, either among adults or children. The reason why is mainly because of our lifestyle. Our culture has accelerated dramatically and costs have escalated along with it. The result is that in most families both parents work, leaving little time for the children. Single-parent families are now much more common than they were in the past; in addition, the casual nature of American culture, with its insistence upon individual expression, means that “there are few cultural norms and expectations.” (Walsh, PG). In other words, nobody expects much of the children, and so they don’t give much in return. Part of this, of course, is that young people, even young children, are immersed in a culture in which they want to be “cool” and “hip”, and such youngsters – often with rock or raps stars to guide them – not only don’t bother with manners, they find in their environment, it’s expected that they be rude, offensive, sexist and violent, at least in their speech. Was it always like this, or has there really been a change? It’s axiomatic that each generation “rebels” against the one preceding it. Every young person has to distinguish himself or herself from their elders; it’s part of becoming a complete individual and forming one’s own identity. And each generation of parents thinks that its children are absolutely dreadful, and wonders where they came from. “Did the fairies come in the night and take away our little angel and replace her 2011-10-26T14:53:23.87-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Children’s-Manners,-Past-and-Present-34150.aspx This paper examines NATO’s Partnership for Peace initiative; what it is, the background of the concept, and successes and failures. (10.5 pages; 8 sources; APA citation style) I Introduction The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created, in part, to support the Charter of the United Nations with regard to mutual defense in case of armed aggression against any of the signatories to the North Atlantic Treaty. Article 1 of the Treaty, signed on April 4, 1949, states: “The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.” (“The North Atlantic Treaty”, Undated, PG). Both the UN and NATO were formed very shortly after the Second World War, and are expressly designed to deter such horrors from ever happening again. The Partnership for Peace, which is a part of NATO, was created in 1994. II Partnership for Peace Although the Partnership for Peace (PfP) has significantly expanded its role since its inception in 1994, the basic premise of the organization is one of military cooperation; i.e., a partnership among and between nations that “aims at enhancing respective peacekeeping abilities and capabilities through joint planning, training and exercises…” (“Partnership for Peace”, undated, PG). The PfP initiative was introduced at the North Atlantic Council Summit Meeting in Brussels in January 1994 with the aim of increasing security and stability throughout Europe. The invitation to join the PfP was extended to “all states participating in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) and other states participating in the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) able and willing to contribute to the programme.” (“Partnership for Peace”, undated, PG). The NACC was established in December 1991 against the background of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the tumultuous events surrounding its collapse. At the time, diplomatic contacts between NATO and Eastern and Central European countries had been intensifying, and the formation of the NACC was simply a formalization of the ongoing contacts. The membership of NACC was initially comprised of the members of NATO and nine Central and Eastern European countries. In March 1992, “participation 2011-10-26T14:08:04.923-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/NATO’S-Partnership-for-Peace-34138.aspx This paper discusses whether or not there are efforts underway to preserve Spanish in the United States, as opposed to Spanglish. (11 pages; 5 sources; MLA citation style) I Introduction “Spanglish” is the name given to a language that is currently developing: a blend of Spanish and English that is not truly one or the other, but consists of using English words and phrases in conversation that is otherwise conducted in Spanish. This paper asks “is there any effort underway to preserve Spanish against Spanglish in USA?” I’m quoting directly because the phrasing of the question is pejorative: it implies that preserving “pure” Spanish is preferable to using Spanglish; this means that part of our investigation should focus on whether the pure language is preferable to the hybrid. We’ll also consider efforts (if such exist) to “preserve” Spanish; and what the effect of the development of Spanglish is having on Latino culture in the United States. II Spanglish Oddly enough, just yesterday I ran across an advertisement in my neighborhood paper that appears to be printed in Spanglish. It’s for a room for rent, and says: “Cuarto extra largo. Incluye utilidades, area tranquila. $440/mes. +100 deposito.” The translation is obvious: “Extra large room. Utilities included, quiet area. $440/month plus $100 deposit.” I’m not a Spanish speaker, but a quick check with an on-line Spanish-English dictionary reveals that the word for “large” is not “largo” but “grande”; and the word for “include” is not “incluye” but “contener.” The other words (“cuarto”, “extra”, and “tranquila”) are all correct Spanish, but “largo” and “incluye” are Spanglish. Spanglish speakers, according to most sources, are usually people who know some Spanish but are not fluent speakers of the language. They may be second-generation immigrants, whose parents speak pure Spanish but who are themselves not experts. Such people are often found in homes where the older generation wanted to “assimilate” into American culture quickly and didn’t speak Spanish to the children. The result is that the younger people use Spanish vocabulary until they cannot think of the word they need, then they use an English word. The result: Spanglish. My research reveals that there is no general consensus yet as to whether or not Spanglish is good or bad, in the sense that speaking it somehow “degrades” or “harms” Spanish itself; but battle 2011-10-26T13:56:59.203-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Spanglish-34131.aspx This paper discusses Affirmative Action and why it should not have been curtailed. (5 pages; 2 sources; MLA citation style) I Introduction Rarely has a public policy caused the outcry associated with Affirmative Action. By wrong labeling Affirmative Action a “quota system,” opponents have succeeded in overturning or curtailing the program in many areas. This paper looks at the reasons why Affirmative Action was designed, what it is meant to do, and why it’s important to restore it. II What Is Affirmative Action? Affirmative Action is a program designed to provide equal access to various opportunities (education, employment) that would otherwise not be available to women, people of color, and other minorities. It was meant only to provide such access; it was never a quota system: nowhere has it ever been suggested that companies should hire lesser-qualified applicants because they’re women or minorities. What Affirmative Action does is to allow these disadvantaged people an equal opportunity to apply for the positions they might not otherwise have. And it also suggests that when all other factors are completely equal, it is advantageous to employ a woman, black, or minority rather than yet another white man. (White men, the last I heard, own and/or operate 98% of all businesses in the United States. They don’t really have much to worry about.) There are many myths about Affirmative Action, and they were clearly discussed in a very insightful article published in 1996 in the “Journal of Social Issues.” But before going to that source, I would like to make one observation about Affirmative Action, and other social programs. There is a persistent undercurrent of ill-will in the United States to blacks, immigrants, and others. In the case of blacks, for example, one sometimes hears something like “They got their freedom in 1863; how long does it take before we don’t have to give them special treatment? Isn’t 150 years enough?” This observation (aside from being boorish and racist) ignores basic facts of American history: the Emancipation Proclamation did in fact free the slaves, but it was hardly embraced whole-heartedly by the South, or indeed by the nation as a whole. Though technically free from slavery, blacks still faced discrimination, and in the years following the Civil War, they were lynched in increasing numbers. Jim Crow laws codified the despicable “separate but equal” doctrine of the 2011-10-26T13:53:45.86-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Affirmative-Action-–-Why-It-Should-Be-Reinstated-34128.aspx This paper discusses whether or not there are efforts underway to preserve Spanish in the United States, as opposed to Spanglish. (11 pages; 5 sources; MLA citation style) I Introduction “Spanglish” is the name given to a language that is currently developing: a blend of Spanish and English that is not truly one or the other, but consists of using English words and phrases in conversation that is otherwise conducted in Spanish. This paper asks “is there any effort underway to preserve Spanish against Spanglish in USA?” I’m quoting directly because the phrasing of the question is pejorative: it implies that preserving “pure” Spanish is preferable to using Spanglish; this means that part of our investigation should focus on whether the pure language is preferable to the hybrid. We’ll also consider efforts (if such exist) to “preserve” Spanish; and what the effect of the development of Spanglish is having on Latino culture in the United States. II Spanglish Oddly enough, just yesterday I ran across an advertisement in my neighborhood paper that appears to be printed in Spanglish. It’s for a room for rent, and says: “Cuarto extra largo. Incluye utilidades, area tranquila. $440/mes. +100 deposito.” The translation is obvious: “Extra large room. Utilities included, quiet area. $440/month plus $100 deposit.” I’m not a Spanish speaker, but a quick check with an on-line Spanish-English dictionary reveals that the word for “large” is not “largo” but “grande”; and the word for “include” is not “incluye” but “contener.” The other words (“cuarto”, “extra”, and “tranquila”) are all correct Spanish, but “largo” and “incluye” are Spanglish. Spanglish speakers, according to most sources, are usually people who know some Spanish but are not fluent speakers of the language. They may be second-generation immigrants, whose parents speak pure Spanish but who are themselves not experts. Such people are often found in homes where the older generation wanted to “assimilate” into American culture quickly and didn’t speak Spanish to the children. The result is that the younger people use Spanish vocabulary until they cannot think of the word they need, then they use an English word. The result: Spanglish. My research reveals that there is no general consensus yet as to whether or not Spanglish is good or bad, in the sense that speaking it somehow “degrades” or “harms” Spanish itself; but battle 2011-10-26T13:52:22.307-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Spanglish-II-34127.aspx This paper briefly discusses aspects of single parent families. (5+ pages; 6 sources; APA citation style) I Introduction Single parent families are now fairly common in the United States, but debate continues about many aspects of this structure. This brief paper discusses various aspects of single parenting. II Discussion According to Zhan, “As compared with children from two-parent families, children raised in single-parent families have lower test scores, less frequent school attendance, fewer years of schooling, and higher high school dropout rates…” (2003, PG). In this paper, Zhan was concentrating on families headed by mothers, and found that there appears to be a connection between the mother’s assets (not income, but accumulated wealth) and the child’s performance. Women who had more than $3,000 in a savings account, and who stressed savings programs and investments in general had children who did better in school. Their performance seems to be related to the fact that their mothers had higher expectations for them, based upon the fact that they were more secure financially than single mothers living in poverty. Although a savings account of $3,000 is well beyond most single mothers, the principles used in accumulating wealth are not, and that is Zhan’s point: women who teach their children to save (even if it’s only pennies) and who expect them to do their best, tend to raise children who function at high levels. At the other end of the spectrum, we find a distressing article that states: “Welfare mothers experience more psychological distress and psychiatric disturbances than other groups … This is important because disruptions brought about by mental health disorders have been associated with lower rates of labor force participation and a drop in income…” (Rosen, 2003, PG). This would mean that these mothers would not be able to set a “high mark” for their children to meet as the higher-income women do. And although the article does not specifically discuss the impact of their mothers’ poverty and illness on the children in these families, it seems logical to assume that children of such mothers would do poorly in school, and in life generally. I wanted to look at single fathers as well, and found an interesting article that suggests fathers who sought custody of their children, for whatever reason, did so for substantially different reasons than single women: “In the choice to parent, the availability of 2011-10-26T13:28:27.98-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Single-Parenting-34120.aspx This paper discusses school violence and programs that may help to prevent it. (9+ pages; 4 sources; MLA citation style. I Introduction The growing violence in U.S. schools causes many problems. Certainly there is the fact that students and teacher feel unsafe, and may face the threat of actual injury; in addition, the violent climate in many schools makes it impossible for them to fulfill their mission of educating their students. This paper discusses ways in which school personnel can reach out to all students to make them feel welcome and safe in school. It touches on the influence that peers and cliques have on students, and factors that should be considered in helping students accept one another. Finally, it briefly mentions a long-neglected aspect of school safety, the physical plant. II Outreach Programs School violence has become a widely recognized problem, thanks (if ‘thanks’ is the word) to high-profile cases such as the Columbine school shootings. If nothing else, such horrific incidents served to bring the problem of school violence into specific relief, and programs evolved to meet it. Any program dealing with behavior in school has to be flexible. First, it must provide appropriate intervention in cases of extreme behavior; second, it must provide support to those students who are not causing problems. In short, it has to function on several different levels simultaneously. (O’Neill, PG). O’Neill’s article discusses one such program, the comprehensive behavioral specialist (CBS) program. This course has evolved because studies found that teachers in general feel unqualified (1.71 out of 5.0) to handle disruptive students, particularly when that disruption includes a significant component of violence. In addition, the teachers felt that the support available to help them deal with disruptive students was very poor (1.27 out of 5.0). (O’Neill, PG). The answer is the CBS program, a two-year Master of Science course based in the Special Education Department. (O’Neill, PG). “The first year of the program involves a two-semester sequence of on-campus coursework and related field experiences. 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Dalla pagina “Aste Aperte”, s’individua l’oggetto preferito e si punta una somma di 2009-03-23T03:52:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Su-www_fantabid_com-si-punta-con-l-asta-al-ribasso_-34036.aspx Who’s who? By Ayesha Shahid Fame, glitz and glamour are the buzzwords in today’s world. An average person’s mind is so conditioned and sensitized to these notions that he/she almost aspires to be a part of this world. Money talks, as the saying goes, I have observed that one in seven people, aged between 18 and 35 , in my surroundings are more likely to boast about their latest purchases, flashy cars, exotic holidays or designer goods to illustrate how well they're doing rather than telling people directly about their property and financial status. Our print and electronic media reinforce this preoccupation with glamour as it is the elite class, politicians, celebrities and stars who adorn most of the content of both newspapers’ and TV programs and this is what we term as page 3 culture. The term originates from colourful daily newspaper supplements appearing usually on the third page that features cocktail parties of celebrities and the nouveau riche. Today the attractive supplements are like a collage of celebrity news, gossip, party pictures, movie chit chat and stories on subjects such as life styles. Page 3 has taken the form of a phenomena because of the elemnt of sensationalism in it. It gives a superficial view of the ‘ hunky dory’ lives of these people, exxagertaing the trifles and frivolities . An average person fails to realize the hypocrisy, superficiality and shallowness that often lies underneath it. It reminds me of the mock epic poem ‘ Rape of the Lock’ by Alexander Pope that underscores the ridiculousness of a society in which values have lost all proportion, and where the trivial is handled with the gravity. The society on display is one that fails to distinguish between things that matter and things that do not. If we try to look a little deeper, we’ll observe that the characters who appear on these pages are mostly businessmen and their resentful wives, social workers with dysfunctional families, politicians and their lofty talks, friends that backbite each other, desensitized celebrities, drug addicts, homosexuals whose facial features are reduced to telegraphic dots and so on. This comprises of a glittery group for whom a party is not a party unless champagne shows up and the cameras start flashing. For the page 3 audience, the only news is who is who, who is wearing what and who is kissing who. During my quest 2009-03-09T13:49:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Who’s-who-By-Ayesha-Shahid-34005.aspx <IMG>http://www.motoritalia.it/welcome/landing/logo_motoritalia.jpg</IMG> <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>Motoritalia </a> è una <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>community motociclisti </a>Web 2.0 dedicato ai motociclisti e alle loro <B><a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>moto</a> ,<a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>moto raduni</a> , <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motoritalia</a> , <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>ricambi moto</a> , <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>itinerari moto</a> . </B> L' obiettivo di Motoritalia è quello di creare una rete sociale tra <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it><B>motociclisti </B> </a> per facilitare lo scambio di informazioni su manifestazioni, iniziative, moto passeggiate e per rendere immediata e semplice la possibilità di conoscere altre persone appassionate di motociclismo.. <font COLOR=red> <SIZE>3] <B>UNISCI ANCHE TU A <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>MOTORITALIA </a> </B> </SIZE> </font> <IMG>http://www.motoritalia.it/welcome/landing/ita.gif</IMG> <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>Motoritalia</a> è una <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>community motociclisti </a> Web 2.0 dedicato ai motociclisti e alle loro <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>moto</a>,moto raduni,<a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motor italia</a> , <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motoritalia</a>, <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>ricambi moto</a>, <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>itinerari moto</a> . E' un progetto tutto italiano, aperto anche ai motociclisti del mondo intero, <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motor italia</a> . <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>Motoritalia </a> è una community con iscrizione gratuita che consentirà a tutti i <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motociclisti </a> di condividere la propria passione per le moto e di conoscere migliaia di motociclisti appassionate di <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motociclette</a> e <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motociclismo </a> per <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>moto raduni </a> e puoi cercare <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>ricambi moto</a>, <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>itinerari moto</a> . 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Crea il tuo Blog, Creare la tua galleria fotografica dei <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>moto raduni</a> , Creare il tuo video su <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motor italia</a> , Creare il tuo Gruppo inserisci Eventi e <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>Motoraduni </a> Vendi, scambia su <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motoritalia</a> , cerca, acessori e <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>moto itinerari </a> hotel bede brekfast che aspetti allora,Vieni su <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>motor italia</a> ed espandi la tua Rete di conoscenze invita o cerca un amici già iscritto su <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>Motoritalia</a> <IMG>http://www.motoritalia.it/welcome/landing/motor_italia.jpg</IMG> <IMG>http://www.motoritalia.it/welcome/landing/ingl.gif</IMG> <a href=http://www.motoritalia.it>Motoritalia </a> is 2009-02-23T22:01:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/MOTOR-ITALIA-E-IL-SOCIAL-NETWORK-DEI-MOTOCICLISTI-33989.aspx È <B>www.fantabid.com</B> , qui si gioca con le <a href=http://www.fantabid.com><B>aste al ribasso</B> </a> , il nuovo portale delle vendite all’incanto sulla rete Su eBay si gioca al rialzo, su <B>www.fantabid.com</B> si punta con l'<a href=http://www.fantabid.com><B>asta al ribasso</B> </a> . <IMG>http://www.fantabid.com/img/logo.jpg</IMG> Funziona così: vince chi fa l'offerta più bassa, a patto che sia l'unico ad aver proposto tale cifra.L’<a href=http://www.fantabid.com><B>asta al ribasso</B> </a> è a tempo. Dalla pagina “Aste Aperte”, s’individua l’oggetto preferito e si punta una somma di 2009-02-14T12:10:46-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Su-www_fantabid_com-si-punta-con-l-asta-al-ribasso_-33972.aspx Teen Pregnancy by Adeel Salman Many people believe that the lack of sex education and the high intensity of sexual perversion in the rural areas especially are the major causes for the country's high rate of teen pregnancies. Children who are reared by teenage mothers have to face almost insurmountable obstacles in life. The incidents of depression and mental health problems, the lack of father figures, and the high rate of poverty often connected to children in homes run by teenage mothers put them at serious disadvantages when compared to children raised in nuclear families. Most of the pregnancies occurring among teen girls leave them destitute, alone and for most part unaccepted by anyone else. Are children who grow-up in a single parent household more likely to struggle in school, get into trouble with the law, and develop serious social problems such as low self-esteem and unhealthy relationships in the future? The absence of a father figure in the home brings about a chain reaction of dilemmas. The emotional problems that children suffer because there is no father in their life can be potentially hazardous to their future. Many children tend to be effected mentally because these powerful emotions have the potential to do permanent damage in a child's life. Children may experience sadness and depression, aggressive behavior, frequent illness, difficulty in school, eating problems, and sleeping disorders. Many children also suffer from various social difficulties and self-esteem problems that come along with living in a one-parent household. The pressure that children raised by teenage parents go through is tremendous. Children who don't have fathers present in the home often feel unloved. There is no trauma as excruciatingly painful as parental rejection and there is probably no worse of a way to wreck a person's life. Males are affected differently by the absence of a father than females are. A boy needs a male role model in his life. Children who don't have good role models often choose negative, unsavory characters to mold themselves after. These children become susceptible to many of the dangerous risks associated with children who are raised by teenage parents. Males that grow up in one-parent homes may gain negative personality traits like immaturity, laziness, and disrespect for women. Females who grow up without fathers in the home usually end up having pre-marital sex. They subconsciously want to make up for the affection that they didn't receive 2009-02-11T09:52:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teen-Pregnancy-by-Adeel-Salman-33965.aspx In 1979 Congress enacted the Prison Industry Enactment which allowed for pilot projects into the use of private sectors to house criminal inmates in private penitentiaries. This piece of legislation placed the government-run prisons across the U.S into an industry that revolutionized the way in which prisons are now run. However, issues involving the private sector in a government-based institution do come to light upon care consideration. When the 1979 legislation was passed through Congress, it opened the gate for the private sector to come into “the business of prisons.” However, Dr. Jill McCorkel worded one of the primary issues perfectly when she addressed the agendas of the prison industry, “the goals of private enterprise and of running an efficient and safe prison are by no means complementary.” (McCorkel 1) Also, an episode of Boston Legal aired not too long ago addressing the privatization of the prison industry. In the episode a 15 year old girl had been adjudicated to serve time in a privately run juvenile detention facility. During her incarceration, she was raped by the guard assigned to her area and sued the company in response. The CEO of the company that owned the facility on direct examination during the trial provided the following responses to his attorney’s questions: Attorney: But just to be clear, you’re in this for profit, right? CEO: Yes. We’re for profit. We’re a business. There’s nothing wrong with capitalism. Just the opposite: public prisons are weighed down with bureaucracy. They have archaic civil service rules that they have to go by. We don’t. We’ve streamlined the entire process, right from construction, all the way to human resources. We’ve even eliminated all the red tape. Simply put: We can build a better prison for less money, and we do. ( This is a prime example of how the private industry feels as though they are assisting the American system of corrections. However, the archaic rules and the bureaucracy the CEO refers to are all emplaced for a reason; safety and care. Furthermore, an episode of an educational classroom series called Our Constitution: A Conversation. In the episode Justice Breyer and O’Connor were sitting with a class full of juniors who were asking questions regarding the government and the Constitution. One student asked the following question: Do you think that if today we made a new Constitution, or the founders wrote the Constitution today, considering 2009-02-10T00:20:30-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Private-Sector-Prisons-33961.aspx gfnb fgnh fdgn nghmnDo u Believe??? \_ _-/\/\ \_\** / /_/** \ If U Got Love 4 JESUS \_\/\**\ CHRIST Copy This & ~~~\**/Put it on ur page ---[]--- on your ---[]--- bebo page [][][][] if your ---[]--- not embarrased ---[]--- to tell ---[]--- others that ---[]--- your a ---[]--- CHRISTIAN ===================put =======00000=======this =======00000=======on =======00000=======your =0000000000000000000=bebo =0000000000000000000=homepage =0000000000000000000=if =======00000=======your =======00000=======willing =======00000=======to =======00000=======stand =======00000=======for =======00000=======Jesus ===================Christ (\*** /) Put this on your site if ( \(_)/ ) you are a believer that (_ /|\ _) Jesus is coming back _/___\_ *****THELORD'S PRAYER***** The Lords Prayer Our Father, who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen. Sports SOCCER!!!!!!!!!, Basketball, BASEBALL!!!!!!!!! IMMA JESUS FREAK im a jesus freak! i dont deal with foolish people. its a waste of my time dealing with people like that. i like to deal with positive people. i like to keep positive thoughts. im nice ! i can be mean at times but i be mean for a reason. i always look out for my friends and family THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A spiritual phenomenon is currently sweeping the churches. It is demolishing doctrinal barriers between denominations and apparently uniting believers of all persuasions in an amazing fervour of religious excitement. Catholic priests, Protestant ministers, evangelical clergymen and lay-members from almost every denomination - who only a few decades ago would have tenaciously contended for their church's interpretation of Scripture - now unite in apparent harmony seemingly oblivious of their doctrinal differences. It is no longer important they claim where, how or when you worship, whether you pray before an image using a rosary or not, whether you are sprinkled as an infant or immersed as an adult, whether you confess your sins to a priest or to God alone, whether you look upon the Bible as the final authority in spiritual matters or as just another inspired book having equal weight with the age-old traditions of the church: U Cant handle this! im startin over...this time with bigger and better thing.z. 2009-01-12T02:14:13-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/fdxb--33938.aspx “In the past two hundred years, over one million Americans have died for their country. Monuments have been built and speeches have been delivered, honoring these American heroes. America is now engaged in a war where there are no heroes, no monuments or accolades - only victims. Our society has declared war on its most helpless members - our unborn children. Since the war declared on January 22, 1973, there have been over 45 million deaths.” (National Right to Life) Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by various means, including (brutal) medical surgery before the fetus is able to sustain independent life. Abortion has also been very popular and debatable topic but I personally feel that abortions are wrong and I intend to defend the innocent human beings who are unable to defend themselves. I support women who give life not take it away, who despite the odds give birth and decide not to abort. My purpose today is to persuade you to support my cause because everyone should have the opportunity to live. The most significant case in the history of abortion in America was the Roe vs. Wade case. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all laws in every state that in any way had protected the lives of developing unborn children. It legalized abortion in all 50 states, for the full nine months of pregnancy, for health reasons. Abortion was legalized because of the following three reasons: 1. For health reasons? Or should we say mental reasons. What we have granted to one citizen is the absolute legal right to have another human being killed in order to solve their own personal, social or economic problems. Are these health reasons? I believe not. Health reasons are defined by when the mother is in a life and death situation as a result of her pregnancy. 2. Abortion was introduced because ignorance. The court ruled once and for all that unborn humans were not legal persons saying that “It isn't human until it looks human.” This was ignorance of the time but we cannot continue to live by these rules. Dr. Ancona, an embryologist specialist states that “Technology has evolved so much and has proved to us that conception marks the beginning of human life. 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Methods There are five methods of execution: Lethal Injection, Electrocution, Lethal Gas, Firing Squad and Hanging. Lethal Injection: When this method is used, the condemned person is usually bound to a gurney and a member of the execution team positions several heart monitors on this skin. Two needles (one is a back-up) are then inserted into usable veins, usually in the inmates arms. Long tubes connect the needle through a hole in a cement block wall to several intravenous drips. The first is a harmless saline solution that is started immediately. Then, at the warden's signal, a curtain is raised exposing the inmate to the witnesses in an adjoining room. Then, the inmate is injected with sodium thiopental - an anesthetic, which puts the inmate to sleep. Next flows pavulon or pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes the entire muscle system and stops the inmate's breathing. Finally, the flow of potassium chloride stops the heart. Death results from anesthetic overdose and respiratory and cardiac arrest while the condemned person is unconscious. Medical ethics preclude doctors from participating in executions. However, a doctor will certify the inmate is dead. This lack of medical participation can be problematic because often injections are performed by inexperienced technicians or orderlies. If a member of the execution team injects the drugs into a muscle instead of a vein, or if the needle becomes clogged, extreme pain can result. Many prisoners have damaged veins resulting from intravenous drug use and it is sometimes difficult to find a usable vein, resulting in long delays while the inmate remains strapped to the gurney. Today, 37 of the 38 states that have the death penalty use this method. Electrocution: For execution by the electric chair, the person is usually shaved and strapped to a chair with belts that cross his chest, groin, legs, and arms. A metal skullcap-shaped electrode is attached to the scalp and forehead over a sponge moistened with saline. The sponge must not be too wet or the saline short-circuits the electric current, and not too dry, as it would then have a very high resistance. An additional electrode is moistened with conductive jelly (Electro-Creme) and attached to a portion of the prisoner's leg that has been shaved to reduce resistance to 2008-10-06T04:37:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment--33754.aspx ASIAN AMERICAN DISCRIMINATION Discrimination of itself is not a bad thing. Discrimination can be justified in many cases - such as discriminating against homosexuals country singers - but in general discrimination is unacceptable. Perhaps the heinous form of discrimination is that which takes place between white Americans, and people of any other race, in particular Asian-Americans. The total reasons entailed in making Asian-American Discrimination (AAD) so atrocious are innumerable, but there are a few that bear mentioning, and I will do so forthwith. The first reason to avoid and defend against AAD is the nature of birth. That is, people cannot control where, in what manner, or of what ethnicity they have been born. An Asian male will fornicate with its wife or sister and an Asian spawn will happen. Nowhere in that process does the spawn have any power . Obviously, if it was left up to this creature, it would have chosen to be born American. The Asian spawn are thus blameless. We cannot punish them for their inferior stature, or for their natural desire to master the violin, or even yet for their obsession with cats as main courses, as all of these defects are genetic, inherited by the parents. Which brings us to the next point, that being; any Asian who has not had an offspring is blameless, however, once an Asian participates in the breeding process and thus spreading The Asian-American Condition (TAAC), it should be persecuted ruthlessly. The very idea of an Asian actually conceiving is totally hypocritical. Every Asian is born with a loathing for its parents for making it an Asian. But lo and behold, twelve years down the line that same Asian which was disgusted and hateful - and rightfully so - with its father/uncle and mother/aunt, will turn right around and have sex with a sibling - nearly half the time of the opposite sex - and make an Asian of its own, and thus continuing the cycle and supplying the world with a new host of TAAC. But for the sake of simplicity, we shall talk from here on in of Asians that have not contributed to TAAC in any form, which is another way of saying that I will only be defending virgin Asian-Americans from AAD. This will essentially limit us to Asians without siblings under the age of sixteen, and Asians with siblings under the age of eleven 2008-09-02T14:47:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Asian-Americans-33674.aspx Race and Your Community Race and Your Community Axia College of University of Phoenix Cultural Diversity ETH/125 Judith Vandenberg The racial issues can very from community to community; In Hampshire, where I lived there are very few issues, because we have very few minorities that live here. The issues that we hold are between groups of people that are of the same race, just different in who we are. Just imagine coming to a place where you could have a wonderful life just to find out that people tend to look at you differently when you walk by, or go into a restaurant; you feel out of place. Then you find out there are very few people like you. So what makes this community different then other communities? Is it because in this small community almost all the people are the 2008-08-31T21:31:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Race-And-You-Community--33671.aspx Thank you for providing such an intelligent and insightful service. I orders last week and followed your instructions. It helped me discover concrete evidence of my husband's year long 2008-08-14T11:21:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-to-catch-your-spouse-partner-cheating-with-you-33660.aspx Most American teenagers have spent an evening dabbling around with a Ouija board. They sit in a dimly lit basement surrounded by tea lights and attempt to “communicate” with spirits. Whenever a bizarre answer is given, the users assume it stemmed from a ghost trying to tell them something or wishing them harm. As stated in Mad Magazine, “If there really is an afterlife, I’ll bet the best way to contact it is through a plastic, mass-produced board game from Milton Bradley!” In all reality, any understandable responses are caused by the ideomotor effect (the effect based on the unconscious due to influence or expectations). However, many Ouija board users still believe that they are communicating with the deceased instead of just playing a game. People are just disillusioning themselves into thinking they are doing something surreal and terrific. It’s a lie. They are playing a game. Similarly, privacy is another issue that people believe exists. Privacy is just a game people play with themselves; it doesn’t exist. According to Webster, privacy is defined as “the quality or condition of being secluded from the presence or view of others.” Obviously, unless a person is “a technophobe hermit who pays for everything in cash,” (Plotz 58) that definition does not suffice. People surround each other; they are a natural and principle extension to man’s environment. One cannot walk out his front door towards work without seeing someone. Another definition states it as “the state of being free from unsanctioned intrusion.” How does one actively define unsanctioned? Who determines what warrants a search? If there is no uniform standard on what can remain private, then privacy (simply stated) does not exist. For years now, objects and possessions that were thought to be private have become more public. For instance, a standard Google search for “Paris Hilton” yields 17,400,000 results. After Wikipedia and IMDB (including the page specializing on the film One Night in Paris), the third option is to the risqué site www.parishiltonzone.com. The site brags of the best pictures, wallpaper, sex tapes, lyrics, audio, video, and daily news featuring Paris Hilton. A deeper delve into the options prove that many sites contain such content. Perhaps instances like Paris Hilton’s occur because the heiress desires it; however, little situations like that happen 2008-07-25T20:57:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Privacy-is-Dead--33644.aspx Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the toughest form of punishment enforced today in the United States. It is a controversial issue that continues to be debated by the American public. One of the biggest issues being debated is whether or not the death penalty is immoral, excessively cruel or inhumane. I support capital punishment and do not believe that it is cruel or inhumane but that it delivers a small sense of closure to the public. The death penalty is an issue that divides our country. Currently, 65% of Americans support the death penalty for those convicted of murder. This number drops to 50% when a mandatory life in prison sentence is also offered. With an infinite number of variables in cases and in sentencing options, it is easy to see why there are so many different opinions. The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) is the only fully staffed, national organization committed to removing capital punishment from the nation. Some of the main points that the NCADP brings up are that the death penalty is racially biased, the death penalty cost more to implement than life without parole, the death penalty does not deter capital crime, and that innocent people may be executed. There are also a number of groups that support the death penalty. These groups use the same statistics as the anti-death penalty groups to shine a different light on the same key issues surrounding the death penalty. Racial Bias The NCADP states that “In North Carolina, the odds of receiving a death sentence are 3.5 times higher among defendants whose victims were white,” and “The odds of receiving a death sentence in Philadelphia are 38% higher in cases in which the defendant is black.” However, pro death penalty groups share these facts, “…found that white murderers received the death penalty slightly more often (32%) than non-white murderers (27%). And while the study found murderers of white victims received the death penalty more often (32%) than murderers of non-white victims (23%), when controlled for variables such as severity and number of crimes committed, there is no disparity between those sentenced to death for killing white or black victims.” The deciding factor on this issue is the official inmate population numbers from the United States Department of Justice. Since 1976, whites have outnumbered 2008-07-14T18:15:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-aka-Death-Penalty-33635.aspx So 2008-06-06T18:56:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/black-tits-gaping-anal-thai-porn-nude-black-girls-33608.aspx Research on the Legalization of Marijuana People of America have been viciously trying to legalize marijuana for many years now. I found out that all of their ideas, opinions, and sides basically divide into three basic groups. Many think that it is not worth legalizing marijuana, many seem to think it should be legalized, and a group of people say it should only be legalized for medicinal purposes. In the following paragraphs I will try to show you reason for all three opinions. My hopes of doing this research project were to determine what effects marijuana has along with different substances in the body. I also decided to determine the differences between marijuana and tobacco, due to people misunderstanding about both of them in society today. First of all I started my research specifically on the subject Is marijuana more dangerous than tobacco, but after searching online there wasnt enough information, I had to not be so specific. I understand which one is more dangerous between tobacco and marijuana as well as the long term affects. Both animal and human testings have been done, they've proven that marijuana impairs lung functions to greater extents than tobacco cigarettes do. But, this does not necessarily mean that marijuana users are putting themselves at more risk nessicarily. A typical marijuana user will smoke maybe two joints a day, where a typical tobacco-user will smoke between forty and sixty cigarettes in the same period. Now the effects vary. Marijuana may have more tar in it, but as a typical smoker in america, the rate that tobacco-users put themselves at is a much larger scale and so they are at higher risk. Also, there is a chemical called benzopyrene that is 70% more abundant in marijuana than tobacco. This chemical is believed to cause cancer. Tobacco has the same dangerous chemicals in it, but doesnt have THC which marijuana has. THC, which is known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical that produces the "high" feeling that people get when consuming marijuana. Marijuana usually does not contain more than 1 percent of THC. There are stronger drugs related to THC, such as "hash oil", which can contain up to a 28 percent THC level. There have been some cases where "street" marijuana has been found to contain up to 5 percent THC. 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Kids bring in guns and other weapons into schools. They also are just entirely impolite bullies. These bullies are no help to the school they are just another problem that teachers, students and parents have to worry about. School violence isn’t a pleasant thing and I everyone wants it to stop. School violence causes corruption in young children minds, makes children feel insecure while at school, and also causes parents to be enraged. School violence causes corruption in teen minds in numerous ways. For instance a person that is relentlessly nagging at your shoulder about how you look or what you wear. Anyone would consider them a bully. Bullies are ridiculous for picking on people just because they have a chip on their own shoulder or feel insecure about them selves. Bullies consider them self funny but no one else does. Dealing with a bully or being in the middle of school violence can really cause damage. Nagging at someone for so long can really drive someone insane and it has! Kids that have been involved with school violence including bullying act different. They don’t like being around people and they are quiet and only speak when they have to. If you have been getting bullied all your life you really don’t like people you may take people in a different point of view and remember the bad times that you have had when you were in contact with the bully. Being bullied or being influenced with school violence and cause corruption in teen minds. When kids and teens are being bullied and being a part of school violence 76% of them turn to drugs! Drugs can get to the kids and make them feel like they are calm and they get addicted. Being bullied can lead to even death, craziness, and or mishaps. This makes adults think why there is so many bullies and weapons in school? Kids have been bullied so much that they have brought guns to school and have killed multiple kids. We don’t want this to 2008-05-01T04:29:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/school-violence--33581.aspx Soccer was first brought to Brazil by the English, and at first was passed on to the Brazilian elites. As time went on every class began to play this new sport. Soccer became immensely popular and widely played. Many blacks (lower/working-class) found soccer as a way to improve their oppressed lives. On the other hand the whites (upper-class) found it as a way control the threatening lower-class energy. This view of the upper-class led them to create a commercialized soccer, in order to get the masses to play, in a way that ensured social tranquility. (This was both Liberating and Restricting.) Soccer seemed to serve the interests of every type of person. Soccer clubs were eventually formed to represent the “barrio” or district that people came from. These established teams played with a rubber ball, and made their own uniforms. For the poor these soccer clubs became a way of life, people made close friends during work and made the friendship stronger on the soccer field. The game of soccer to these people represented their lives and the hardships that they faced. This is exemplified in the idea of a “Picardia” or person who is quick witted and doesn’t get kicked or hit. It showed that a lower-class person opposed to power had to weaken it or wear it out. There was a huge progression in the sport of soccer; in the beginning it represented “a material sacrifice, not a material reward.” Poor players could feel things that they had never experienced before. They were still poor, but soccer made them feel valuable, like Gods. The crowd loved the players and cheered for them. In the 1920s more tangible rewards were given to these skilled soccer players. The rich factory owners who watched the games and saw the players skills, decided to form their own teams. Soccer allowed the lower-class to obtain jobs, as long as they played for the factory team. Here they got to play a sport that they loved, have a job and earned money. These factory teams also formed bonds between the workers, managers and owners. The only downside was that it created a division among the working-class, because these people used the sport and the players to benefit themselves. Soccer became a way of escaping the burden of everyday life, as well as escaping the oppression by the upper-class. In the 2008-04-19T04:47:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Soccer-Brazil-Race--33560.aspx Have you ever wished to have a sexy body like a supermodel? I am probably asking an odd question: who does not? However, the fact that nowadays people are getting fatter and fatter makes that dream seem to be unrealizable. How can a fatty person with plump cheeks and a big belly like a pregnant look standardly beautiful or handsome? Fortunately, there are still some ways to make you slimmer and more attractive. That is losing weight. All you have to do is following three steps below. The first step to slim down is doing more exercises. You may be afraid as taking this step, but physical exercises work very well in decreasing pounds, especially three sports: swimming, cycling and weight-lifting. Firstly, swimming is a good sport for those who not only want to have weight loss but also need to improve their challenged height. Swimming about one to two hours at weekends is enough. Remember to divide the exercise into small parts for the first few times because your body may not be familiar with long practice yet. Secondly, if you can add cycling to your exercise schedule, it will help a lot. By going cycling, you can both easily spend your energy, contemplate beautiful scenes and enjoy fresh air on the very cool mornings. Cycling about five to ten kilometers a day is very helpful. Finally, if you can, you should do weight-lifting because this sport is the best and fastest way to burn fat. However, it may be dangerous if you do it the wrong way or so seriously. Therefore, you need to consider your health status and do the sport carefully. As you see, physical exercises are a very effective way to lose weight and, according to many scientists, to have a beautiful skin. Doing exercises only is not enough because you only lose weight when the energy you take in is lower than the one you spend. Thus, going on a diet is the second step. What you should do first is avoid food with fat and sugar. For example, instead of having an afternoon coke, drink a glass of water, or instead of eating a hamburger, try rice with a small amount of meat. Next, because you do exercises everyday, you need energy to work out. So try to eat protein food and drink a lot of water. Remember not to eat too much, even 2008-03-18T15:28:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/HOW-TO-LOSE-WEIGHT--33547.aspx “Monkey see, monkey do” has become a well-known saying in today’s society, but is it correct? Just sixty years ago the invention of the television was viewed as a technological curiosity with black and white ghost-like figures on a screen so small hardly anyone could see them. Today that curiosity has become a constant companion to many, mainly youngsters. From reporting the news and persuading us to buy certain products, to providing programs that depict violence, television has all but replaced written material. Unfortunately, it is these violent programs that are endangering our present-day society. Violent images on television, as well as in the movies, have inspired people to set spouses on fire in their beds, lie down in the middle of highways, extort money by placing bombs in airplanes, rape, steal, murder, and commit numerous other shootings and assaults. Over 1,000 case studies have proven that media violence can have negative affects on youngsters as well. It increases aggressiveness and anti-social behavior, makes them less sensitive to violence and to victims of violence, and it increases their appetite for more violence in entertainment and in real life. Media violence is especially damaging to young children, because they cannot tell the difference between real life and fantasy. Violent images on television and in movies may seem real to these children and sometimes viewing these images can even traumatize them. Despite the negative effects media violence has been known to generate, no drastic changes have been made to deal with this problem that seems to be getting worse. We, as a whole, have glorified this violence so much that movies such as “Natural Born Killers” and television shows such as “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” (one of my all-time favorites) are viewed as normal, everyday entertainment. It’s even rare now to find a children’s cartoon that does not depict some type of violence or comedic aggression. What we do not realize though, is that it is the children that are ending up with problems. Unlike most rational, educated adults, many children are gradually beginning to accept violence as a way to solve problems and are imitating what they observe on television. These children do not understand that the violence is shown strictly because the public wants to see it. They cannot grasp the meaning of “ratings” and “entertainment” 2008-03-07T21:52:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Media-Violence-and-its-Effects-on-Youngsters-33527.aspx “Monkey see, monkey do” has become a well-known saying in today’s society, but is it correct? Just sixty years ago the invention of the television was viewed as a technological curiosity with black and white ghost-like figures on a screen so small hardly anyone could see them. Today that curiosity has become a constant companion to many, mainly children. From reporting the news and persuading us to buy certain products, to providing programs that depict violence, television has all but replaced written material. Unfortunately, it is these violent programs that are endangering our present-day society. Violent images on television, as well as in the movies, have inspired people to set spouses on fire in their beds, lie down in the middle of highways, extort money by placing bombs in airplanes, rape, steal, murder, and commit numerous other shootings and assaults. Over 1,000 case studies have proven that media violence can have negative affects on children as well. It increases aggressiveness and anti-social behavior, makes them less sensitive to violence and to victims of violence, and it increases their appetite for more violence in entertainment and in real life. Media violence is especially damaging to young children, age 8 and under1, because they cannot tell the difference between real life and fantasy. Violent images on television and in movies may seem real to these children and sometimes viewing these images can even traumatize them. Despite the negative effects media violence has been known to generate, no drastic changes have been made to deal with this problem that seems to be getting worse. We, as a whole, have glorified this violence so much that movies such as “Natural Born Killers” and television shows such as “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” are viewed as normal, everyday entertainment. It’s even rare now to find a children’s cartoon that does not depict some type of violence or comedic aggression. What we do not realize though, is that it is the children that are ending up with problems. Unlike most rational, educated adults, many children are gradually beginning to accept violence as a way to solve problems and are imitating what they observe on television. These children do not understand that the violence is shown strictly because the public wants to see it. They cannot grasp the meaning of “ratings” and “entertainment” as well as adults can. All they know is, “if the TV portrays violence as cool, then 2008-03-04T23:16:22-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Impact-of-Media-Violence-33526.aspx Capital Punishment The use of capital punishment in the U.S. is a growing concern for most American citizens. Controversy of whether to abolish it or not creates moral confusion. On one hand it brings justice, yet on the other its taking a life. According to statistics seventy percent of Americans are in support of the death penalty, while only thirty percent are against it. This clearly shows that a majority of people want to continue using this type of punishment ("Fact" 1). Digging deeper within the debate, one would find that there are two sides to every party’s opinion; whether it be religious, governmental, or other. After examining expenditures, morality, deterrent compensations, and retributions, one will likely conclude that the benefits of Capital punishment outweigh the harm. Nearly all civilizations historically have used execution to punish offenders and criminals alike; though customs are different today. Since WWII people routinely try to abolish the death penalty. Today ninety countries have abolished capital punishment for all offences, eleven for all offences except under special circumstances, and thirty-two others have not used it for at least ten years. A total of sixty-four countries still retain it. This includes the People's Republic of China who performed more than 3,400 executions in 2004, amounting to more than 90% of executions worldwide. Within 12 states, the US executed 59 prisoners the same year (Penketh). To abolish the death penalty, people would have to prove points in every aspect of its existence. The economical argument that people must always consider is the cost of the death penalty opposed to life imprisonment. According to California state records, the operating expense to finance the penalty costs tax payers more than $114 million annually (Tempest). A 2005 report from Newsday concluded that New Jersey tax payers have spent a total of $253 million since 1983, which is an incomparably greater cost than if capital punishment was idle (Newsday). "A 1991 study of the Texas criminal justice system estimated the cost of appealing capital murder at $2,316,655. In contrast, the cost of housing a prisoner in a Texas maximum security prison single cell for 40 years is estimated at $750,000" (Punishment). People have raised the question, “Why keep the death penalty if it is so costly?” and have also stated, “It is a 2007-12-16T20:05:32-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Capital-Punishment-33469.aspx Toy safety in infants, toddlers and little children is an ongoing problem in today’s society. As of December 13, 2007, seventy-one toys have been recalled; the majority of them for either too much lead in the toy’s paint or it could create a potential choking hazard. Over half of the toys that have been recalled this year are because of lead paint. Many problems in today’s society is threatened by lead, not only in toys but wildlife too. According to several toy safety recall sites, the first thing on big toy company’s mind is whether or not the toy is safe. If your child’s toy is recalled you should go to www.cpsc.gov. there will always be more recalls on toys and parents should always pay attention to what is going on with toy recalls and parents should also, as my mother stated, watch for, age appropriateness, possible hazards the toy poses to your child and of course educational value every parent wants their child to grow up, have a high paying job and for their child to be incredibly intelligent and toys that teach and sing will definitely help with learning to count and know their ABCs. Another problem that’s rate of occurrence has gone down is a possible strangulation hazard. Lead paint is a popular reason that toys are recalled, but the point is, dead is dead, if one child dies from a toy, it should be recalled. One fatal toy is not more fatal than the other, dead is dead. If a product you are considering to buy for your child has the products xylene, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate in it, avoid buying it, try to find a similar alternative. Also avoid toys that use PVC. Use painted wood or cloth toys instead. If you have mobiles in the crib, keep them out of reach and remove them from the crib before the child is five months old, because by that time most toddlers can push themselves up. If a child has beads or strings hanging from his or her crib and they are longer than 8 inches, remove thm or it could pose a possible strangulation hazard. Young children also have very sensitive ears and if a toy seems a little too loud for your ears it’s probably too loud for their ears too. If you have already bought toys that are loud take the batteries 2007-12-14T03:49:54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Toy-Safety-for-Children--33468.aspx We are all involved in the process of education from beginning of our lives. Mr. Thoreau is comparing education to the simple life experience as straight-cut ditch to mentoring brook. Straight-cut ditch is man made trash, and brook is natural crick. But they both has similarities as they help water to reach a bigger reservoir. We all have desires to succeed in that world. And we perceive an education as a straight-cut to the knowledge which will give us a power. Education is incorporated in every child life, and perceived as something mandatory. Most of us have negative attitude toward kids who skip the school and who do not maintain good grades. But it well-known fact that not always the people who were good students in school become successful in their lives. Most of the people will agree, that much more pleasurable to have a deal with educated and intelligent people then with ignorant and uneducated. But not all educated people can reach the goal in their life. Without other important features, as dedication and hard working, it is not possible to make the dream come true. I started to think about continued education when it was time to pick a profession in my life. Education serves as an elevator to reach a goal to become either a teacher, engineer or accountant. To continue my education beyond the school wasn’t even a question, because both of my parents went through this process, and they were working as an engineers. They wanted me to be not only healthy, but independent, and intelligent person. I perceived an education mostly as a pleasant and useful experience which gives us a tool for long life learning. It teaches us not only the particular things, but also how to think. While some of the facts and figures we learn today may not apply to the world of tomorrow, our ability to think will be useful always, in everything we do. It widens our understanding about what is possible in the world. Education increases our awareness and appreciation of areas that affect and enrich human lives, such as music, art, literature, science, politics, and economics. Education teaches us to make things more efficient in human being understanding. But in some cases it 2007-11-07T00:59:01-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Education-on-Gun-Control-33396.aspx Capital Punishment Long past Expiration Date Capital punishment is a very divisive topic in the United States and also in our home state Ohio. This is a topic that sparks passion within people about the equality and effectiveness of the American Judicial system. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion about this topic but the throbbing question that lingers in the air is that is it morally right? Capital punishment also known as the death penalty is the brutal ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime which might be murder or treason. The amounts of problems associated with capital punishment are massive, ranging from the innocent dying for a crime he/she never committed to racism, and the only way to resolve these problems is to eliminate capital punishment. According to the online Webster dictionary capital punishment is defined as the judicially ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime, often called a capital offence or a capital crime. In those jurisdictions that practice capital punishment, its use is usually restricted to a small number of criminal offences, principally, treason and premeditated murder. This method of punishment is practiced differently among the fifty states in the U.S. In the 38 states and federal government that currently have death penalty statutes, five different methods of execution are prescribed: Lethal Injection, Electrocution, Lethal Gas, Firing Squad, and Hanging. The vast majority of jurisdictions provide for execution by lethal injection. 20 jurisdictions provide for alternative methods of execution, contingent upon the choice of the inmate, the date of the execution or sentence, or the possibility of the method being held unconstitutional. Only one state does not have lethal injection as a primary or optional method of execution. Nebraska is the only state that provides for electrocution as the sole method of execution. No states provide for Lethal Gas, Hanging, or Firing Squad as the sole method of execution (Kuttner 19). This brutal method of punishment has for a long time stay past its expiration date and needs to be put to an end immediately, just like the famous saying “Out with the old and in with the new.” Whatever the style of punishment might be maybe by shooting, electrocution, gassing, hanging or lethal injection it has accomplished nothing but terrorize not only the criminal, but the family and friends 2007-11-05T19:18:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Persuasive-Essay-on-Capital-Punishment-33395.aspx ENG-1140 September 10, 2007 Blessed Oppression The Niger Delta is a region located in the southern part of Nigeria. This community is a lush of mangrove, rainforest and swamp land that has been blessed with abundant amounts of natural resources. It’s the backbone to the whole country’s financial stability. One of the most important natural resources that come out of this region is oil. It accounts for more than 80 percent of the government export and 90 percent of its revenue, which is estimated in the billions of dollars a year and a lot more when converted to the country currency. Anybody would expect this region which is abundant in natural gas and oil and generates so much income to be modernized and well taken care of but that’s far from reality. What seemed liked a blessing fifty years ago due to the discovery of oil in the Niger delta has turned into oppression. The northern area of Nigeria is mostly rugged and mountainous which doesn’t contribute much to the country’s income, however this area is a lot more modernized, beautiful and well taken care off than the delta region in the south. This is because there are oil pipelines that run underground from the delta region to northern states to be refined and sold abroad. The northerners are people of a different ethnic group; they hold power in the federal government and don’t care about people from a different region or ethnic group. The income that comes from the natural resource is used to update and modernize the northern states while the delta region is left to deteriorate with unsafe drilling practicing and exploitation of the environment both by the oil companies and the federal government. Despite the enormous wealth that the Nigerian government makes every year from the Niger delta land, the citizens continue to live in post-modern conditions with unreliable electricity, a lot of unpaved roads and unfurnished school buildings without up to date technology. I have also witnessed the exploitation of my community land first hand. As I was being driven to school everyday I see the unsafe practice of gas flaring and the oil pipelines that run through the farmland, people’s gardens and the oil spillages into 2007-09-26T18:27:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Community-Issue--33335.aspx Essay Question: Do you think euthanasia should be legal in Canada? Why/why not. One biggest controversy of this decade is euthanasia. Euthanasia is inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful. Countries had banned euthanasia today, but many people agreed with euthanasia. However, I insist euthanasia should not be introduced to Canada. Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is intentionally making someone die without pain, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. It sometimes ends someone¡¯s life, who is suffering incurable pain. Euthanasia is mostly illegal in the world today; it can consider as a kind of suicide, in other cases, it can be a form of murder. Euthanasia is nothing but cold-blooded killing. It shortens life, and it is morally and ethically wrong; here are two reasons why it should not be in Canada. First, I believe life has only once; there are many other people who care about you, why wouldn¡¯t you live and see those people again. Furthermore the doctors can abuse their authorities and murder a fine patient by using euthanasia. Last, it gives disadvantage to medicine making. The strongest point is that Euthanasia should not be in Canada¡¯s legal because it is doctors are there to cure patients, and not trying to end someone¡¯s life. Doctors are here to save someone¡¯s life, but if a doctor practice euthanasia, it should be consider as a homicide crime. From reports said, there are doctors who accept money from other people who want to kill one of the doctor¡¯s patients; the doctor can practice euthanasia on that patient. Here is an example: on June 4, 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian¡ªa retired Michigan pathologist¡ªhad helped Janet Adkins, a 54 years-old Alzheimer¡¯s patient, kill herself. Dr. Kevorkian later revealed that he had not taken the medical history of Ms. Atkins, conducted a physical or mental examination, or consulted Ms. Adkins¡¯s primary care physician. Dr. Kevorkian had simply agreed to meet Ms. Adkins in his Volkswagen van, which he had outfitted with a ¡°suicide machine¡± consisting of three chemical solutions fed into an intravenous line needle. Dr. Kevorkian tried five times to insert the needle before eventually succeeding. Dr. Murray Raskind, one physician who cared for Ms. Adkins in the early stages of her disease, later testified that she was physically fit but probably not mentally competent at the time of her death. After that incident, 2007-07-25T02:23:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Euthanasia--33302.aspx Capital punishment still performs in some countries today like China and states in U.S.A. But some countries have abandoned capital punishment such as Canada, UK and France early. In fact 2007-07-23T18:53:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-capital-punishment--33300.aspx Drugs-The White Death Drug dependence is psychological and sometimes physical need to use a drug in order to experience psychological or physical effects. Psychological addiction is more difficult to treat than the physical one and often continues after the physical addiction has been dealt with. Each day there are a lot of new drug addicts, but also there are a lot of those who die because of using this evil, white pleasure. Drug addiction has several forms in expressing the dependency. Also there are a lot of different types of drugs which affect the user in many physical and psychological ways. The reasons for taking drugs are different and individual. They depend on everything that surrounds us. There are as many reasons for drug abuse as there are people with different problems. Some of these people see their only way out of the problems, depression, anxiety or stress in using drugs. Even though, in many countries as Holland, Cuba and others, “soft” drugs are legalized, this doesn’t mean that people over there are not drug-dependants. Also, legalization doesn’t make the effects of the drugs smaller. Drug dependence takes several forms: tolerance, habituation and addiction. Tolerance, a form of physical dependence, occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a drug and requires increasing amounts of it to achieve the same effects. This condition gets worse when certain drugs are used in high doses for long periods. When the use of the drug is stopped and starts a period of drug withdrawal, the results are headaches, restlessness, sweating, and difficulty in sleeping. Habituation, a form of psychological dependence, is characterized by the continued desire for a drug, even after physical dependence is gone. A drug often produces feelings of happiness and joy, and a person taking drugs soon believes the drug is needed to function at work or home. Addiction is a desire for the substance and it is involved in a person’s ability to function normally. It may also involve physical dependence. The drugs that are most abused, except alcohol and tobacco, can be grouped into six classes: opioids, sedative-hypnotics, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabis, and inhalants. OPIOIDS This class includes drugs derived from opium, such as morphine and heroin, and synthetic substitutes such as methadone. Opioids produce different 2007-07-08T10:35:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drugs-The-White-Death-33271.aspx Walk down the hall of any high school in America and one will hear the ignorant shouts of slander; the primitive screams of slurs; the evil calls of hate. What is happening? Why is this occurring? The truth is: we, as a society, are blind. We judge all people by their appearance and never stop to think of who they really are-despite the old adage, “Never judge a book by its cover.” If we can teach ourselves exhausted clichés, then we must teach how to enact them-see the book-or rather, the individual. Therefore, cultural diversity needs incorporation into required high school curriculum. Actually, cultural diversity is offered at my high school-as a “blow-off course.” No one takes it seriously. Even I once assumed that attitude, and took the class for an easy ‘A’, but surprised myself with the insight I gained. This class does not so much teach tired facts, as it guides through life, opening eyes and making people aware. Everybody knows the stereotypes: the ditzy blond, the tree-hugging hippy, the jerk football player, the intelligent Asian, the lesbian softball player, the terrorism-involved Muslim; the list continues for pages. Notice that not all stereotypes create negative pictures, but all foster abhorrent aftermath. They are wrong! By breaking the barriers of stereotypes, the class expands even the simplest mind so they receive the ability to ‘see the individual.’ What is this ‘see the individual’? It composes the core concept of the class. Using this, people delve past outer appearances (a thing we are taught to ignore anyway, for fear of being shallow) and seeing the person-his or her heart. Rebecca*, a girl I met in my German class, was in my cultural diversity class. Many thought her an evil Goth, and she knew it, but also knew it not true. In any normal situation, I would have never spoken to her, but through class discussions, I realized how unique and amazing a person she is. I grew to admire her outspoken passion for issues she believes in. That never happened in my German class. By discussing with each other, we discover that while everyone is individually unique and different, everyone is adherently the same in some way. Everyone carries something to teach, something to give, something to share, and everyone has something to learn. 2007-05-25T21:53:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/No-Longer-Blind--33235.aspx War has been going on for centuries. Philosophers pondered whether war is ever justified. Different views and theories have developed throughout the centuries and attempted to solve this dilemma. The first theory to be considered is the Just War Theory, also known as the Just War Tradition. Components of such a tradition are the use of [i:5d72985836]prima facie [/i:5d72985836]obligations. The obligation not to injure others is an example of a [i:5d72985836]prima facie [/i:5d72985836]obligation. When two [i:5d72985836]prima facie [/i:5d72985836]obligations are in conflict, then one has to consider the whole context. If an obligation is [i:5d72985836]absolute[/i:5d72985836], then it can never be overridden. Having analysed the [i:5d72985836]prima facie [/i:5d72985836]obligations, one must keep in mind that there are several other conditions that must be fulfilled before a war is said to be just (Jus ad Bellum). First and foremost, the war has to be commenced for a just cause. A war can only be justified if it has been attacked, that is by an aggressor, or if it will enter war in the aid of another nation which has been attacked. A nation cannot enter war if it aids the aggressor. The Just War Tradition believes that war is commenced only if the nation has attempted all other resorts and failed. If other strategies and alternatives where not attempted before entering war, then such a war is not justified. Therefore, having tried all possible means and still leaving the nation up to no choice but to engage in war as a last resort then, war is then justified. The intention of war cannot be simply to fight. There is also, in the Just War Theory, the right intention, that is fighting only to repel the other nation from its country. Killing should never be the purpose of war, in fact killing of innocents or inflicting suffering cannot justifiably be done if it is avoidable. Since the Just War Theory makes a distinction between combatants and non-combatants, it excludes direct unnecessarily cruelty on innocents. It claims that killing civilians purposely or as a part of policy is different then civilians being killed due to side-effects of war. War must be declared by someone invested with legal authority or legitimate authority. Another criterion justifies war if and only if there is a reasonable hope of benefit. That is, if the nation is not certain of its success then, such a war cannot be considered as a justifiable war. The 2007-05-16T08:21:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Can-War-Ever-Be-Justified-33212.aspx Humankind today has enormous power that it will affect the future generations, be it better off as well as worse off. There are three main documents which outline our responsibility towards future generations. These are Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Convention of Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Two factors bring about modern ethical awareness for future generations. Firstly, it is obvious that technological power has altered the nature of human activity. It has influenced the lives of those that are living today, and will influence even more the generations to come. Secondly, interrelatedness has always existed, but it is only now that we are experiencing it with its complexities. This discovery of interrelation nudges and urges us to find a way to unite. Not everyone agrees to sacrifice something for the comfort of generations to come. Instead they say ‘’What have future generations ever done for me?’’ and they have a point. Future generations can never give anything back to them and therefore it does not seem to be worth it. Some also claim that since unborn generations are distant in time we might not be able to know exactly what their primary needs are. Example, saving a forest now might not be worth it in the future as jobs are needed to provide a better life. It is also uncertain whether there will be any future generations. Therefore, giving rise to serious doubts, they conclude that we ought to do nothing for them. Being ‘’downstream’’ to us unborn generations are disadvantaged. Their choices have to be taken by their past generations. Another disadvantage is that they have no voice since they do not exist. Therefore, whatever the present generation says goes, as there is no one to argue with, they have no representatives. Yet since society helps the handicapped or the weaker members, future generations are also classified as disadvantaged, therefore, they must be considered as an equal to us, in spite of their disability. Since all resources belong to all generations, these resources were handed down to us, and so we too have to hand them down to the next generation. We have the responsibility to share common heritage with the unborn generations. Moral theories portray present generation’s responsibility towards future ones. The Deontological approach is supported by Hans Jonas who recommends that the Kantian Categorical Imperative should be broadened. He believes that ‘’In your present choices, include 2007-05-15T13:03:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-should-we-care-about-future-generations-33209.aspx Man developed throughout the centuries and has always tried to facilitate life in the best possible way. Technology was always looked through from a positive point of view but nowadays we are forced to think otherwise. Things that we should use are being abused. Inappropriate way of life has lead to extensive environmental damage. This crisis produced hot issues such as global warming, ozone depletion, ocean pollution and the destruction of forests. The impairment that is being done is not only giving dreadful effects now, but it will increase in the future. These major problems imply that policies were not having their desired effect and therefore, a new set of policies which sustain human progress and the entire planet in a sustainable way, were needed. This new set of policies is known as the concept of sustainable development. In two main documents there lies the principal guideline of sustainable development. These known documents are, Our Common Future and Earth Summit’s Agenda 21. Six major concepts try to steer our way of life so as to unite the present with the past and future and make us collaborate with one another. Solidarity is in fact the key to start this new way of life. Past generations and generations to come need to respect each other and the planet, and care for the community of life. One should never benefit from something now, which will eventually have a downbeat effect on future generations. A practical example is that of genetic engineering. This technology opens up a new dimension for the world. It makes alternation of DNA possible. The immediate effects are very positive as they, for example, can make a plant breed more seeds and furthermore no pests will feed on them. Yet the downhill to all this will only be seen in the future. Once the structure of DNA is altered it would be impossible to change. Another negative impact that the future beings will face is the fracture of the feeding cycle. Therefore, it is essential for all to protect one another, as all generations are interrelated, which means that whatever happens today speaks about the relationship of the present with past and future generations. High quality of life is essential nowadays. Yet, to improve the quality of human life one must have education, health, decent standard of living, freedom from violence, political freedom, guaranteed human rights and access of 2007-05-14T08:24:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Sustainable-Development--33208.aspx Previously to the scientific breakthrough, fertilization, that is the fusion of the male and female gametes, was always known to be carried out inside the human body. But nowadays, our findings prove otherwise. This technique is called InVitro Fertilization with Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET). This type of fertilization takes place inside a petri dish in a laboratory. Ova are removed by means of surgical intervention and then are combined with sperm in a petri dish. This zygote then is transferred to the woman’s womb, yet unfortunately it is more likely not to be a success. Due to this, more than one ovum are taken and fertilized but only five or four get to be inserted inside the woman. The others are either disposed of or frozen for later use. But we ask, is this morally permissible to be done? Various argue that, from the moment of fertilization, zygotes already contain unique genetic individuality. The information inside the cells, which distinguishes a person from another, control the development of the zygote, yet its growth also depends on the right environment to develop. Given this co-ordination, it will continue to grow without interruption and therefore this continuity helps the zygote in gradually developing to its full potential, that of being a full grown adult. With this one can conclude that the zygote is in fact a new person and therefore has the same rights as a person. Empiricists in the tradition of John Locke say that to be a person one must possess self-conscious. Believing in such an idea one can understand that the new fertilized zygote does not own such a condition. Therefore, according to the Empiricists zygotes can be used for experimentation, or be frozen, as they are in stage of life where they are developing into a person with potential. Others disagree on such ideas, and state that what a person is now is only the product of what gave yesterday. Therefore, killing someone today would be as if he was killed yesterday. Since zygotes are going through the development of becoming a person with potential one cannot kill a zygote, as it deprives it of its future value. It is a continuing process and no one is entitled to stop this process. This potentiality argument is sometimes misleading and makes others present another argument which in actual fact does not have to do with the potentiality argument. They dispute that, if one should take 2007-05-13T14:27:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Identity-and-Moral-Status-of-the-Human-Embryo-33206.aspx Destroyed beyond repair, your body, mind and soul. You cannot see, walk, talk, eat, and mentally operate. The torturous suffering because of the disease your body contains, and the immense pain coming out with each moans and groans. What is the use of ones body that is deteriorating right before your 2007-05-11T05:27:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Physician-Assistant-Rights--33202.aspx One of the most complicated issues in this world, and issue that seems straightforward yet, its not. What shall you do when someone murders someone else? Should the criminal justice system execute him, or imprison him for the rest of their life? What if he is mentally sick? What if he is a minor? Everyone has a different point of view on the death penalty, based on his or her upbringing, race, and religion. I believe all these factors contribute to the various points of view towards the death penalty. I believe that murderers deserve to die, when they commit a serious crime, unless they are mentally ill. I grew up learning that the death penalty was given to awful people who have committed hideous crimes. Through religion I learned that capital punishment is a last resort to a serious crime. In Islam, Capital punishment applies in the case of a person who meets any of the following conditions: The apostate, the apostate is one who disbelieves after being a Muslim. A married adulterer, whose punishment is to be stoned to death, a murderer who kills someone deliberately, he is to be killed in retaliation (qisaas) unless the victim's next of kin let him off or agree to accept the diyah (blood money), the Bandits, who wage a war against Allah and His Messengers, and spies. Based on my beliefs, I was fine with the death penalty. It only makes sense because it is fair. Its karma, you deserve what you get, and what goes around, comes around. Murderers deserve to die if they take someone else life away. They have no right to take anyone’s life away, because they did not give them that life in the first place. I believe minor should be trailed as adults, and therefore, if they get the death penalty, then that is fair. They committed a serious crime, and therefore their consequences should be equal to that. Since the time we learn what is right and what is wrong, we also know that to kill someone is wrong too. Every little kid in this world knows killing is wrong, and furthermore the basics god given rules like, not to steal or lie etc. On the other hand, if a person is mentally ill, then they don’t deserve to die. Their illness should 2007-05-11T05:05:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Death-Penalty-33199.aspx "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." - Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) This is a dissertation on the Evolving Standards of Decency in America’s judicial system in relation to capital punishment. The first of three arguments in this abstract show how, when, and why America will come to embrace a complete moratorium on capital punishments. Evolving Standards of Decency demonstrates that through the history of America (and the world) people have come to understand, appreciate and the value of human life. Even when considering the lives of convicted criminals justice does not always mean an eye-for-an-eye. State sanctioned executions go back to the reign of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, in the Eighteenth Century B.C. Hammaurabi’s Code allowed for the death sentence for twenty-five different crimes. In Fourteenth Century B.C. the Hittite and, the Seventh Century Draconian Code of Athens, made the death penalty law for any crime committed. Also, written on the Twelve Tablets, Fifth Century B.C. Romans decreed that the death sentence could be carried out by such means as impalement, burning, beatings, drowning and notoriously, crucifixion. America however, gets the majority of its ideology about state executions from England. England is home to some of the world’s most famous proponents’ of the death penalty. Possibly the most notorious was King Henry VIII. During his reign he sought the execution of some twenty-five thousand Englishmen for crimes as menial as hunting on the kings land, delinquent taxes, insanity, witchcraft, hunting of game out of season, adultery, and Judaism. America’s first encounter with the death penalty occurred when Captain George Kendall was hung for being a spy for Spain, in Virginia during 1608. Four years later Virginia Governor Sir Thomas Dale enacted the Divine, Moral and Martial Laws which could get you a rope neck tie for the offense of grape stealing, killing chickens, or trading with Indians. It took until 1794 for Pennsylvania to repeal the death penalty for all cases except first-degree murders. Until then Americans were, by court order, being executed for crimes such as adultery, theft, and Indian trading for almost two hundred years. It took until 1846 when Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes with the exception of treason. Following Michigan’s lead, shortly there after, Rhode Island 2007-05-01T03:11:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Standards-of-Decency-in-America-33172.aspx Youth Drug Abuse Recently, the case of drug abuses reported among youngsters has increased dramatically owing to the growing popularity of rave parties. More surprising, taking ecstasy, a rave drug, has become a habit for party-goers as young as 12. The trend is so serious that it sparks the concerns of our society. Actions should be taken immediately to highlight the dangers of taking drugs. However, are the government’s actions adequate? Personally, I don’ t think so. Simply searching and putting warnings on the entry tickets for rave parties are not enough. Further actions and other measures must be taken to prevent the use of drugs among the youth. Instead of putting warnings on the entry tickets, the government should pose a ban on rave parties. In rave parties, there are many drug couriers. Drugs are flooded in the parties. Teenagers, who are ignorant and immature, are easily misled and transmitted wrong values. They are attracted and depraved to resort to drugs. They then become physically and psychologically dependent on drugs. Nowadays, rave parties even become subcultures and all the craze among the young people. Banning the rave parties can stop young people getting the drugs. Isn’t it the most clear-cut method to prevent the widespread drug abuses? Advocates may argue that rave parties can provide them a valuable mean of entertainment. Nevertheless, indeed there is a great variety of activities, such as, ball games, social services, for them to choose from. Why do the teenagers still desire to take the risk of going to the rave parties where they are easily attracted to drug abuses? Furthermore, regular inspections by the Custom at the cross-border checkpoints are to be made to prevent the flow of rave drugs from the mainland China to the SAR. Besides, mainland authorities and the SAR police should joint hands to curb cross-border drug trafficking. In fact, most of the drugs used in the rave parties come mainly from the mainland China. There is also a trend of young people going to the mainland China for rave parties. Certainly, the SAR government is not doing enough to prevent the spread of rave parties from Hong Kong to China or even turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to this situation. Although not all the rave parties are bad, there are too many bad sheep. Rave parties certainly do more harm than good. 2007-04-25T21:10:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Youth-Drug-Abuse-33161.aspx Women's Rights in the Workplace Women still face job discrimination in the business world of today. From fashion accessories, to social expectations. From family needs, to a professional ambition. Women face difference challenges in the work place everyday. However is the work place really level? Are women treated equally to men? Some women are discriminated in the business world of today. This is called Sex discrimination. Sex discrimination means being treated unfairly because of your sex or because you are pregnant. Some women who are faced with job discrimination are doing nothing about it. We should all (employers and employees) be well informed about our rights and responsibilities. During the 1990’s women have progresses so rapidly and are know as the worlds fastest growing market. Women now have more money and power than ever before. Although women are increasing their number in managerial and executive positions, those positions are still generally dominated by men. A lot of high class businessmen find it frustrating and to their disadvantage to employ female employees due to maternity leave and family issues getting in the way of business. However this issues shouldn’t be a problem. It is not a women’s fault that her and her partner decide to have a baby. Why should she be not accepted or even dismissed due to her personal life? It is not privilege to work while pregnant. It is now law, under the sex discrimination act (1984). Another reason why some businessmen don’t hire “family” women is because a mother’s time is more limited compared to a “non mother's” time. Mothers find it harder to work over time or weekends, while single people find it a lot easier due to not having to find a babysitter ect. Also a mother is more likely to take more time of due to a sick child, than obviously a woman with no children. In the tradition times (1800-1970’s) men were always known as the provider for the family and women as the home and children careers. Attitudes are changing but have not all gone away. Some men still feel as if they have to be the provider and only provider of the family. As we progress we realize that women can do, as good, and maybe a better job in many cases. It is now socially expectable for a man to stay at home and 2007-04-25T21:05:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Women-s-Rights-in-the-Workplace-33158.aspx Social Values and the Issue of Euthanasia The word "euthanasia" comes from two Greek roots meaning "good death" or "mercy killing." If you're like most Americans, you've probably heard that the purpose of euthanasia is to "relieve the suffering of the terminally ill." Although this is the modern connotation of the word fostered by pro-euthanasia, there is actually a much deeper meaning. Euthanasia isn't meant to put an end to useless suffering, it's a way of putting an end to useless people. Euthanasia as "mercy killing" isn't a new concept, but it wasn't long ago that mercy had nothing to do with euthanasia in the minds of the majority of its proponents, who saw it as a method to "improve the human race" by eliminating its weakest elements. This theory, called social Darwinism, states "it is the duty of the strong not to help the weak, but to destroy them". Setting aside the concept of "easy death" for a moment, the problem with euthanasia is this--where do you draw the line? Once you've convinced yourself that it's "okay" to terminate the life of a person suffering from a debilitating illness, it becomes much easier to accept euthanasia as a general "solution" to the world's problems of overcrowding, hunger, and poverty. The argument that voluntary euthanasia is a "personal choice" that only affects one person is a sham. In the first place, the majority of people who say they want to commit suicide are generally seeking some sort of help for a problem they're experiencing, either mental or physical; when offered true assistance the desire to terminate their own life diminishes rapidly. In the second place, very few people lead lives in complete isolation from everyone else--someone is always adversely affected when a friend or family member takes his or her own life. A few years back, my family went through the same turmoil of Accepting a relative’s desire to take his own life. In this case it was my grandfather who was very ill at that time. My grandmother had died and grandpa was living on His own away from us. We went visit him occasionally. Frankly we had no time to be with him to give him company. He was old, isolated, and lonely. Looking Back I can see how he felt for not being useful and wanted. So 2007-04-23T04:30:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Values-and-the-Issue-of-Euthanasia-33111.aspx A Woman's Choice for Abortion Since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that did away with all laws regulating abortion, it has become one of our nation’s most controversial issues. Outlawing abortion would have the effect of imposing one person’s moral values upon another. Can I prevent someone from drinking because I think it’s wrong? Can I insist that two people stay married because I’m against divorce? The answer to these questions is no. Not only is it unconstitutional, but it’s unrealistic to believe that we can control the lives of others simply because their beliefs differ from ours. Abortion is a personal issue and should be dealt with by the individual, not the courts. To more clearly understand this debate, consider a hypothetical situation. An 18-year-old single female is struggling to get her education so that one day she can be financially secure. She’s working to put herself through school, but there is no extra money and no extra time. One day, she hopes to marry and have children, but neither one of these events fit into her short -term plans. In fact, pregnancy right now could knock her totally off course and potentially ruin her life, as she now has it planned. So she takes the necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. But let’s assume Mother Nature pulls a fast one on her. No type of birth control is 100% effective, and she happens to fall into that small percentage that isn’t so lucky. She’s got quite a dilemma. She wants children, but not right now. To choose to have a child is a commitment and carries all sorts of responsibilities that she’s not ready to fulfill. Her chances of achieving her goals are significantly reduced with a child. She wants to provide her children with all the advantages she didn’t have, but that doesn’t look possible now. Not only does the quality of her own life seem bleak, but so does the life of the child. She struggles with her situation, carefully weighing all the factors, and in the end, she decides not to continue the pregnancy. But now she’s faced with a new problem. People she doesn’t even know are trying to override her decision. Who are they, and why should they have 2007-04-23T03:44:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Woman-s-Choice-for-Abortion-33088.aspx Affirmative Action in College Admissions Affirmative action is the practice, usually by institutions, of giving preference to racial minorities or women when hiring employees, giving awards, or deciding whom to admit. Affirmative action arose out of a desire to bring minority groups into institutions and professions that had traditionally been dominated by white males. It first appeared after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. One of the largest groups that uses affirmative action today are universities during the admissions process. Racial quotas for public colleges were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the case of Bakke v. California. Since then, colleges that wanted to increase diversity have used other types of affirmative action. While private universities have usually had more freedom in their admissions decisions, they have found that other affirmative action policies are a better way of achieving diversity than quotas because they allow for greater flexibility and more fairness. Affirmative action in the college admissions process has been primarily an ethical rather than a legal issue. As long as the decision process did not use racial quotas, colleges were allowed to choose to accept whomever they wanted. This is changing however. California's Proposition 209 prohibits any use of racial preferences in government hiring and public school admissions. More than a dozen states are considering similar legislation. Even though the question is an ethical one, most of the disagreement is over whether or not affirmative action increases fairness in the admissions process. In addition, the debate over affirmative action is about what role diversity in student body play in both the academic mission of a university and in the quality of life on campus. Those against affirmative action often say that it makes it easier for members of some groups to get into college and harder for others. However, the purpose of affirmative action is to increase the admissions rates of minorities that are under-represented in colleges. This under-representation is caused by various social factors. One social factor is that students from families where few people have pursued higher education are less likely to excel in high school. Another factor is that children who come from communities where English is not regularly spoken face a large disadvantage in reading and writing. Lastly, students from school districts with lower funding tend to perform 2007-04-23T03:42:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Affirmative-Action-in-College-Admissions-33086.aspx Negatives to the Death Penalty The death penalty is one of the most emotionally charged and controversial issues in the United States today. The death penalty has been continuously debated, not only as a legal issue, but as a religious and ethical one, historically as well as in present day. People have used a number of arguments to support their position regarding the death penalty. Among these arguments have been deterrence, cost, moral beliefs, and the possibility of mistake. I feel that the death penalty must be abolished because it is morally and ethically wrong and serves no true purpose. From it’s beginning, America included the death penalty in the legal punishments as part of it’s criminal justice system. Over the course of history, governments have been extremely inventive in devising ways to execute people. At one time or another people were flayed, their skins cut from their bodies, strip by strip, sawed into pieces, or beaten to death. Others were shot with arrows, thrown from a high place onto rocks or stakes, boiled alive in water or oil, eaten by insects, bitten by poisonous snakes, buried alive or walled up in cement. Others still were drowned, suffocated in a bog, quicksand or a soft pit of ashes, whipped to death, left in a cell to die of starvation or thirst, or left outdoors to die of exposure to the elements. The gas chamber was the first new means of execution developed. The condemned prisoner is strapped into a chair in a small, airtight chamber. Below the death chamber is a container of sulfuric acid. At the appointed moment, a white cloth bag containing cyanide pellets is dropped into the acid. A chemical reaction takes place filling the room with gas. The cyanide interferes with the victim’s respiratory system and eventually the brain loses consciousness. Soon the other vital organs give out. One expert compares the experience of being asphyxiated by cyanide gas to the pain felt during a massive heart attack. Constitutional? The electric chair, first used in the U.S. in 1890, is currently the second most commonly used method of execution here. The victim is strapped into a wooden chair, and copper electrodes are attached to his or her head and legs. At the appropriate time, a massive electrical charge is passed 2007-04-23T03:11:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Negatives-to-the-Death-Penalty-33074.aspx Against Affirmative Action Equality is one of the basic principles the United States is found on. In the Declaration of Independence it states “All Men are Created Equal.” Through out history you would not figure that that statement was held to be true. The United States has a very ugly past when it comes to the topic of equality. The most notable act of inequality was definitely slavery and the segregation laws passed by government. Black people faced discrimination from the start and are still facing it today. Other incidents were the use of Asians to build railroads, and the Japanese we imprisoned during World War Two. In the United States minorities have had a harder time than white males. In counter action for these hardships Affirmative action laws were passed. Affirmative action laws are set in place to increase opportunities for minorities by favoring them in hiring and promotion, college admissions, and the awarding of government contracts. Affirmative action is a very controversial topic and is plagued with many problems. The support for Affirmative action is weak and filled with many contradictions. Affirmative action is an unfair policy and should be ruled unconstitutional. Affirmative action is believed to create diversity in the many institution which it is applied to, especially institutions of higher education. Diversity is important in an institution. It creates better people due to the fact that the miss beliefs of other cultures can be fixed through interaction between the cultures. It also helps in classrooms because the range of beliefs will be broader giving the student a broader mind. It is also believed that students in a diverse institution have the most engagement in college civic activities and also have stronger racial interactions years after attending such an institution. Diversity creates better people because of the broad spectrum to which they learn from and interact. An example of this would be a student who comes from an all white community. This student has no idea of the Black culture or any people with in it. When he goes to college and is put in a classroom with several Black students he has time to learn and better understand what he has not known before. For this reason and many other situations like 2007-04-19T21:23:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Against-Affirmative-Action--33055.aspx The Euthanasia Debate In recent years, Euthanasia has become a very heated debate. It is a Greek word that means "easy death" but the controversy surrounding it is just the opposite. Whether the issue is refusing prolonged life mechanically, assisting suicide, or active euthanasia, we eventually confront our society’s fears toward death itself. Above others, our culture breeds fear and dread of aging and dying. It is not easy for most of the western world to see death as an inevitable part of life. However, the issues that surround euthanasia are not only about death, they are about ones liberty, right to privacy and control over his or her own body. So, the question remains: Who has the right? Under current U.S. law, there are clear distinctions between the two types of euthanasia. One group of actions taken to bring about the death of a dying patient -withdrawal of life support, referred to by some as passive euthanasia- has been specifically upheld by the courts as a legal right of a patient to request and a legal act for a doctor to perform. A second group of actions taken to bring about the death of a dying patient -physician-assisted death, referred to by some as active euthanasia- is specifically prohibited by laws in most states banning "mercy killing" and is condemned by the American Medical Association. Although it is not a crime to be present when a person takes his or her life, it is a crime to take direct action intentionally designed to help facilitate death--no matter how justifiable and compassionate the circumstances may be. With active euthanasia, it is the doctor who administers the lethal drug dose. Since it is a tantamount to homicide, the few U.S doctors who perform it have been brought to trial but none of them have been convicted or imprisoned. Modern interest in euthanasia in the United States began in 1870, when a commentator, Samuel Williams, proposed to the Birmingham Speculative Club that euthanasia be permitted "in all cases of hopeless and painful illness" to bring about "a quick and painless death." The word "painless" is important: the idea of euthanasia began gaining ground in modern times not because of new technologies for agonizingly prolonging life but because of the discovery of new drugs, such as morphine and various anesthetics for the relief of pain, that could also painlessly induce death. 2007-04-19T21:13:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Euthanasia-Debate-33049.aspx Domestic Abuse Problems in America “It’s a dark, stormy night. In the house next door, a woman screams and there is the loud crash of a chair smashing against the floor.” As much as this sounds like a horror movie, it is non-fiction; these are the sounds of domestic violence, and this sort of thing takes place everyday. Between eight and twelve million women are abused each year in the United States (Evan Stark). Victims of domestic violence have trouble leaving abusers but when they do, there are many programs available to help them recover. Domestic abuse has been around for many centuries. In the past, women were considered the properties of their husbands, and men were allowed to beat their wives with a stick as long as the stick was no bigger around than his thumb (Evan Stark). Putting the shoe on the other foot, men that were abused were thought of as “jokes. In France, for instance, battered men were made to wear an outlandish outfit and ride backwards on a horse around the village (Lisa Wolff). Even though domestic violence wasn’t taken seriously in the past, it was still a serious issue, though not as widespread. Even though a man riding around town backwards on a horse may sound comical, it is just an example of the appalling things victims go through. For a long time, no one tried to stop these heinous crimes from being committed. It was not until 1871 that a man was denied the right to even moderately physically punish his wife. Even after that, violence still was not a big issue. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that women began fighting against this violation of their rights. Many times, abuse can be confused with things such as discipline, but there is a big difference. Abuse is defined as: physical maltreatment (Merriam-Webster). When abuse occurs, it generally means that the abuser is confused or angry with their spouses, someone else, or a situation they are involved in, and they are not respecting their spouse’s rights. Discipline is only used to correct your behavior, and fighting is being confused or angry with your spouse, someone else, or a situation, but still respecting their spouse’s rights. Domestic Violence plays a big part in the number of homicides each 2007-04-18T23:26:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Domestic-Abuse-Problems-in-America-33034.aspx African Americans And Law Enforcement It was late one mourning, and the well- dressed young African American male was driving his Ford Explorer on I-85, sees the blue lights of the Georgia State patrol car behind him. The officer pulls behind the sport utility vehicle. The young man’s heart is beating like thunder. He is on his way to Norcross for a job interview. The stop, obviously for speeding, should not take long, he reasons, as the highway patrol officer walks cautiously toward the Ford Explorer. But instead of simply asking for a driver’s license and writing a speeding ticket, the trooper calls for backup. Another trooper arrives speeding, his blue lights flashing as well. The young man is told to exit the vehicle and sit in the back of the patrol car, as they announce their intention to search it. “Hey, where did you get the money for something like this?” referring to a palm pilot as one trooper asks mockingly while he starts the process of going through every inch of the Explorer. Only minutes later, an officer pulls off an inside panel door. More dismantling of the vehicle follows. The driver had an idea about what was going on. Eventually, they say they are looking for drugs. But in the end, they find nothing. After ticketing the driver for speeding, the officer casually drive off with a look on his face that said ‘you may have gotten away this time, I’ll remember who you are and I will catch you the next time. Sitting in his now trashed sports utility vehicle, my brother murmurs in his anger and humiliation. Unmotivated searches like this are daily occurrences on our nation’s highways and there is more contacts between African Americans and law enforcement than there are between police and whites when officers initiated contact. Many conservatives, on the other hand, feel such complaints as the exaggerations of overly sensitive minorities. Or they say if traffic cops do in fact pull over and search vehicles of African Americans disproportionately, then such racial profiling is an unfortunate but necessary component of modern crime fighting. The incident above should give pause to those who think that racial proofing is simply a bogus issue cooked up by black leaders such as Al Sharpton and Rev. 2007-04-18T22:53:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/African-Americans-And-Law-Enforcement-33028.aspx Issues Surrounding Women in Comabat The notion that women should be able to participate in ground warfare has been a long disputed argument for decades. Many argue that it is in every individual’s right to be able to defend their own country with honor and integrity. But certain issues arise when this defense is analyzed. Should women be able to engage in hand-to-hand combat? The answer is no. Throughout history, women have played an important role in defending our country successfully. During World War II, “Women performed a variety of jobs, including telephone operators, clerks, supply clerks, machinists, mechanics, drivers, intelligence gatherers, carpenters, cooks-virtually any job that was not classified as combat.”(Lunardini 151) The roles of women in the military have changed considerably since World War II. “In 1993 women aviators were given permission to fly fighter jets.” (Lunardini 151) These advancements in military warfare of women have helped the gender as a whole, but does it qualify them to participate in ground combat? “Today the nearly 200,000 women in the nation’s armed forces serve as everything from Air Force fighter pilots to military police officers to captains of Navy ships. But the direct combat arms of the Army and Marines- including infantry, armor and field artillery-are closed to them.” (Aspy 140) Sure, many women may possess that “patriotic” determination that it takes to be in close combat, but combat is not only about having strong will and courage; those are secondary. Combat is about “..... war- fighting capacity and the morale of the unit. Here physical strength can be a life-and-death issue.” (Aspy 140) In this situation, the physical differences between male and female cannot be overlooked. Studies have shown that women lack the same degree of strength as men. “A U.S. Navy study of dynamic upper- torso strength in 38 men and women found that the women possessed about half the lifting power of the men.” (Aspy 142) In addition, the1992 Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces stated, “ Women have a smaller heart mass, heart volume and cardiac output than men.” (Aspy 143) This in turn, hindering their overall performance as a cadet. So, this brings up the next question; should women be held up to the same standards as men when training? “Under mixed-gender basic training instituted 2007-04-18T19:57:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Surrounding-Women-in-Comabat-33011.aspx Understanding the Issues of Cloning The new breakthrough of cloning is a great advance in biotechnology. The use of cloning can be both beneficial and harmful to society. There are many reasonable ways to use the methods of cloning. For instance, the use for medical purposes can be helpful in cases such as producing animals with human body systems that could be used for transplanting organs. It can be a valuable asset to our society in that way. It can be harmful if it is opened for use in the general public because it could cause many problems if the wrong people become involved with it. As stated in Times Magazine, this is a breakthrough in technology and it is impossible for the government to forbid anyone to not use cloning. It is a new law of nature that is being defied and the government cannot take that away. In the field of medicine, cloning can be a very useful technique. It is not only just being able to reproduce the genes, but to be able to transfer them and to study them. It would be possible to study organs of the human body to learn how they can alter them to cause them to regenerate after injury. Also, the ways of reproducing genes and copying DNA could help in finding cures for certain diseases and disorders. Scientists can take DNA from healthy cells and copy it then inject it into an unhealthy cell to cancel out the “bad” genes. I do not agree with the use of cloning for human purpose in order for parents to “choose” their child. First, by reproducing characteristics that parents desire would foul up the diversity of society. If everyone was able to choose what characteristics his or her child would have, most people would opt for the characteristics of famous people who are either extremely smart or who are incredibly good looking. The generation of the “clone people” would be so similar in ways of thinking and in personality and the world would become a very boring place, if that were the case. Besides the world becoming very boring, there are other factors to consider. The replication and copying of DNA can sometimes cause damage to the genetic code. In this case, it is possible for genetic disorders 2007-04-18T15:25:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Understanding-the-Issues-of-Cloning-32999.aspx Moral Opposition to Abortion Abortion is the ending of pregnancy before birth and is morally wrong. An abortion results in the death of an embryo or a fetus. Abortion destroys the lives of helpless, innocent children and illegal in many countries. By aborting these unborn infants, humans are hurting themselves; they are not allowing themselves to meet these new identities and unique personalities. Abortion is very simply wrong. Everyone is raised knowing the difference between right and wrong. Murder is wrong so why isn’t abortion? People argue that it is not murder since the fetus being destroyed is living, breathing and moving. Why is it that if an infant is destroyed a month before the birth, there is no problem, but if killed a month after birth, this is inhumane murder? The main purpose abortions are immoral is how they are so viciously done. Everyday, innocent, harmless fetuses that could soon be laughing children are being brutally destroyed. One form of abortion is to cut the fetus into pieces with serrated forceps before being removed, piece by piece from the uterus by suction with a vacuum aspirator. Another form consists of bringing the fetus feet first into the birth canal, puncturing its skull with a sharp instrument and sucking out the brain tissue. The body parts, such as the head, are given letters, rather than refer to the parts as what they are. In my opinion this is for the doctors who cannot face the reality of what they are doing. The remains of the fetus or embryo, as the case may be, are put into everyday, plastic buckets and then sent to a dumpster where these precious bones and limbs are disposed. However, how and when an abortion takes place are matters of little importance to pro- abortionists and other defenders. Even former abortion practitioners from varying backgrounds and religions have a new view on abortion. These changes of heart were caused by psychological, religious and scientific reasons. One doctor, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, performed 60,000 abortions and supervised 10,000, before scientific evidence and the use of an ultrasound, convinced him he was promoting and participating what he now calls "the most atrocious holocaust in the history of the United States." Other doctors refuse to perform legal abortions, saying they should save lives rather than destroy them. Others have different opinions. Abortion clinics are not a "butcher’s place" where young babies 2007-04-18T15:14:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-Opposition-to-Abortion-32993.aspx Spouce Abuse Marriage and Romance are everywhere in our society. Almost everywhere you look there are signs of them. Magazines, movies, books, most bare stories of this nature reflecting the wonderful perfect relationship between a man and a woman, or at lest how to be in one. Children’s stories of the Prince that saves and marries the Princess are just as common. We grow up hearing about this perfect and wonderful thing, where the prince who is strong and handsome loves and cares for the princess who is beautiful and skinny. But today things like divorce, affairs, and abuse break our ideal relationship with our spouse. These things are common to us today. They do not shock us to hear about them. But they should, especially the last one. Spouse abuse is probably the most harmful to more people than the first two mentioned. This kind of abuse affects the abused, the abuser, the workplace, the children, the family as a whole, and your relationship with friends. To people who have never been in a violent situation it may seem unreal. I offer this excerpt as a look at what spouse abuse is like. This is how it happens: Inside a quiet room, behind a closed door, a man calls a woman a “slut” and a “whore.” He tells her that she is too fat or too sexy or too frumpy, that she is “a poor excuse for a mother,” a worthless piece of dirt that only he could love. In public, when she smiles at the grocery clerk, he flies into a jealous rage. When she comes home minutes late, he grills her about where she’s been. One day, he slaps her face. The next time, he slams her head against the wall, or chokes her, or burns her with cigarettes, or drags her across the rug by her hair, his children pleading, “Daddy, please don’t hurt her.” Then when it’s over, he gets down on his knees. “I’m so sorry baby,” he says. “You are the only one I can talk to. I’ll kill myself if you leave.” Quivering with shame and fear, she relents. And one day, perhaps after she had finally tried to break off the relationship, she ends up dead. “Every year in the United States, thousands of men assault their wives and girlfriends, raising both physical and emotional bruises from which some 2007-04-18T02:07:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Spouce-Abuse--32954.aspx Opinion Essay on Animal Testing Annually, millions of animals suffer and die in painful tests in order to determine the safety of cosmetics. Substances like eye shadow and soap are tested on rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, dogs, and many other animals, despite the fact that the test results do not help prevent or treat human illness or injury. Cosmetics are not required to be experimented on animals, and since non-animal alternatives exist, it's difficult to understand why some companies still choose to conduct these brutal and unnecessary tests. Cosmetic companies murder millions of animals every year just to put a few more dollars into their pockets. The companies who perform these tests claim that they establish the safety of both the products and their components. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates cosmetic products, does not require animal testing in any way, shape, or form. Some of the tests used on animals are eye, toxicity, and skin irritant tests. In eye irritant tests, a liquid, flake, granule, or powdered material is placed directly into the eyes of rabbits. The animals are often immobilized in cages from which only their heads may show. They do not receive anesthesia during the tests. After placing the irritants into the rabbits' eyes, scientists record the damage to the eye tissue at specific intervals over a period of seventy-two hours. The tests sometimes can last anywhere from seven, up to eighteen days. Side effects from these experiments include swollen eyelids, ulceration, bleeding, swollen irises, massive deterioration, and blindness. During the tests, rabbits' eyelids are usually held open with clips. Many animals break their necks while restrained, attempting to escape. Toxicity tests, otherwise known as lethal dose or poisoning tests, record the amount of a material that will kill a percentage, sometimes even up to one-hundred percent, of a group of lab animals. In these tests, a liquid is forced into the animals stomach linings, and through holes slit in their throats. Scientists observe the animals' reactions which may be convulsions, severe asthma attacks, malnutrition, rashes, boils, and bleeding from facial features. This test was developed in 1927 and the testing continues until at least fifty percent of the animals die. Like eye irritant tests, lethal dose tests are unreliable and have too many variables to have an accurate result. Alternatives to cosmetic testing are far less expensive and more accurate. 2007-04-18T00:45:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Opinion-Essay-on-Animal-Testing-32938.aspx Essay on the Legalization of Drugs in America Drug laws help to ensure that all drugs used in Canada are safe, effective and wisely administered. The Food and drugs Act and the Narcotic Control Act govern the manufacture, distribution advertising and sale of drugs in Canada. These two acts evolved from earlier pieces of legislation known respectively as the Inland Revenue Act and the Opium Act. The Inland Revenue Act of 1876, which dealt primarily with the use of alcohol, did not define drugs. This legislation was the forerunner of the more effective Adulteration Act of 1884, which defined the terms drug and adulteration, and the conditions under which adulteration of a drug might take place. This act was repealed and replaced by the Food and Drugs Act of 1920 in which drugs are defined as any substance used in diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of a disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state and in restoring, correcting or modifying organic functions in humans or animals. In 1953 this act was amended to control the manufacture, distribution and sale of all drugs except narcotics. The Opium Act of 1908 prohibited the unauthorized importation and possession of gum or smoking opium. In 1911 the act was expanded and became the Opium and Dug Act, which included other problem drugs such as cocaine and morphine. Amendments were made in 1919 to accommodate import and export licenses. As illicit trade in narcotics increased and more control became necessary, the act was changed again in 1920, becoming the Opium and Narcotic Control Act. Controlled drugs and restricted drugs are included under the Food and Drugs Act and narcotic drugs are listed in respect to the Narcotic Control Act. These drugs have habit-forming properties (addictions) and are subject to abuse for various reasons. It is an offence to possess controlled, restricted and narcotic drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Simply possessing these drugs for reasons other than those permitted in the two acts is an offence chargeable by fines, community service and even imprisonment. In addition to controls placed on drugs there are a number of additional controls for manufacturing, distributing and selling controlled, restricted and narcotic drugs. This is to prevent their flow from legal to illegal sources. First the Health protection branch must license dealers and each month the dealers must report the sale of specific narcotic and controlled drugs. A licensed dealer may 2007-04-18T00:34:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-the-Legalization-of-Drugs-in-America-32935.aspx Child Abuse Laws Child abuse is a social problem that affects millions of children each year. Not only does child abuse have multiple societal repercussions, but also individual repercussions that produce lifelong scars. There are many forms of child abuse; sexual, physical, verbal, and emotional. Some of the facts presented in this paper will be painful to absorb. That does not change the fact that these problems must be addressed. It has been reported that one out of three girls, and one out of seven boys are sexually abused by the time they reach the age of 18. The most prevalent form of child sexual abuse is now recognized to be, incest. A study that showed approximately 27% of the women in every state of the union, and 16% of the men said they had been sexually abused as children. Child Abuse Laws Child abuse. Two words that should never have to be seen side by side. Yet, child abuse is very much a reality in this world. Unfortunately, to wish otherwise would be the same as to wish for a perfect world. We must do the best that we can as a society with the power of laws on our side to help the innocent young victims of child abuse. We have a responsibility as human beings to do all that we can for these children. Some of us fulfill this responsibility by promoting awareness, some by donating time, money, or services, some by getting laws passed, and some by enforcing laws that protect children from all kinds of abuse. The purpose of this study was to research child abuse from all angles to try to understand what we as a society may be doing wrong & also what we may be doing right to help the young victims of child abuse. To look at all types of studies & compare them & try to break them down to better understand them. The first things that should be understood are; the characteristics of the offenders, the types of offenses, & some of the societal issues that are listed as possible causes of child abuse. Studies show that the characteristics of sexual abuse offenders are; dependent, inadequate individuals with early family histories characterized by conflict, disruption, abandonment, abuse, and exploitation. In 1997, over 3 million children were reported for child abuse and neglect to child protective service agencies in the 2007-04-18T00:29:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Abuse-Laws-32933.aspx A recent parody religion, The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was created in 2005 to protest a decision made by the Kansas State Board of Education to allow intelligent design to be taught in school classrooms 2007-04-03T21:26:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/FSM-Movement--32885.aspx The Value of Multicultural Education When a child opens his (or her) first puzzle and the pieces fall to the ground, it may seem very confusing. What are they to do with this pile of shapes in front of them? It often takes a parent to explain to them that all the different pieces fit together into one whole picture. Although every piece is different and unique, when they are all put into their place they form one whole picture. In the same way, teachers can teach multiculturalism in the classroom. Although every member of our society is unique, with different cultural backgrounds, we all fit together to form one unit. As stated by Noel (1995), “Understanding our own identity and the culture of our community requires knowledge and recognition of our cultures and communities and how they have shaped us” (p. 267). By adding a multicultural component to their curriculums, teachers can help students see how each individual fits into the big picture. There are, however, arguments against multicultural education (Banks, 1995). For example, some critics believe that multicultural education is directed toward only minority groups, thus discriminating against middle class, white, heterosexual males. Others believe that multiculturalism is against Western and democratic ideals. A final argument is the claim that multiculturalism will divide our presumably united nation. Although critics of multicultural education may feel they have valid arguments against the issue, I feel that the goals of multicultural education make it an important part of the curriculum that every student should experience. I agree with Wurzel (1988) and Noel (1995) when they stress awareness as a key component to multiculturalism. Students must become aware of their own culture and how they are similar and different from others. Awareness also involves an understanding of issues involving differences in culture and a knowledge of which of these issues are present in their community. After becoming aware of these issues, students often react emotionally. With an awareness of the richness and variety of cultures in their community and a personal emotional reaction, students can take social action, another goal of multicultural education (Noel, 1995). Noel says that students would take “action aimed at positive multicultural change”(p. 272). I feel that these goals are proof that the arguments against multicultural education are invalid (Banks, 1995). Multiculturalism promotes positive change for persons 2007-03-20T03:45:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Value-of-Multicultural-Education-32846.aspx Issues Surrounding the Legalization of Marijuana It is safe to say that at some point in the not- too- distant future, United States will confront the question of whether or not to legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana, also well know as: pot, weed, grass, hashish…etc. This topic has baffled the United States lawmakers reformist and citizens for so long that many people probably consider it rhetorical question. We could categorize marijuana somewhere between alcohol and tobacco on the one hand and caffeine on other, but no doubt it is an addictive drug. With this in mind the only solution would be to do to the research and see what studies would say about the dilemma. What legalization really means? It is very imprecise term for regulating and controlling things that are considered prohibited. Also its meanings is to regulate and control such things as alcohol is licensed by the various states, sold only to adults and subject to tight controls. Legalization of any drug is not positive way to fight crime. The issue of legalizing marijuana is truthfully a controversial one, and unquestionably one that requires a plethora of considerations at the top levels of the legislative branch. When considering the possibility of legalizing marijuana as a recreational drug, there are number of concerns that come to mind. Is marijuana physically harmful to the consumer or is it an addictive drug? Does the notion of legalizing marijuana send an immoral wrong message to the youth of America? One of the concerns based on legalization of marijuana is “increase prostitutions in elementary and high school levels”('legalization'). According to these studies it is much easier for school children to get illegal drug than alcohol. Another concern of legalizing this drug leads to increase the spread of AIDS and other disease. The sharing of dirty syringes has become the major cause of these disease, but hopefully if this process of legalization comes through the sale and purchasing of syringes without prescription would be legalized (‘legalization’). The nation’s drug czar said he opposes a California referendum proposal to legalize marijuana for medical use, calling the idea wrong and dangerous. Basically, this would make marijuana available to public without following the scientific processes, approvals and regulation. On the other hand the supporters of the proposition said smoking marijuana relives a pain for patients who suffer form cancer and HIV. Also, the 2007-03-20T03:39:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Surrounding-the-Legalization-of-Marijuana-32844.aspx Affirmative Action Policies “Any governmental classification or preference based on racial or ethnic criteria must be justified by a compelling governmental interest, and the means chosen by the government to effectuate its purpose must be narrowly tailored to the achievement of that goal.” “A public employer must have convincing evidence of prior discrimination in its employment practices before it embarks on an affirmative action program.” Should current laws and regulations concerning affirmative action polices be continued? Affirmative action is designed to stop discrimination in the work place and even out the opportunities for each race but is it really stopping discrimination or are the results of affirmative action helping discrimination exist? Affirmative action is unfair and unjust to well qualified individuals. Defenders of affirmative action feel that minority groups are at a disadvantage from hundreds of years of discrimination that benefited whites, and that affirmative action levels the playing field in the work force for minority groups. But in no way do these minor arguments for Affirmative action make it right or just to take equal opportunity rights away from a more qualified nonminority individual. What Affirmative action is doing is rekindling the fire between an almost settled hatred among different races. This is too high of a price to pay just to allow some less qualified minority individuals to hold a particular job or position. At a time when campuses nationwide are struggling with issues of diversity, an Orlando Florida school board created two new law schools at universities with high minority enrollment in an effort to bring more blacks and Hispanics into legal careers without using affirmative action. This fall, the new College of Law will hold its first classes in an old downtown building here as part of Florida A&M University, a historically black university. At the same time, a public law school will open at Florida International University, a Miami institution where half the students are Hispanic. "I don't think of this as a Hispanic law school, I think of it as a diverse law school," said Leonard Strickman, dean of Florida International's College of Law. "The ideal is diversity that happens without having to distort either how people are brought in or how they're trained. And at this campus, in this city, that kind of diversity is implicit." This appears to 2007-03-20T03:22:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Affirmative-Action-Policies-32838.aspx The power and responsibility of the press By: Aleem Yousaf The medium of the press is most strong source of communication with the masses. It is a need of every country to maintain a free press for the purpose of keeping its people aware of their surroundings. Newspapers provide national and international news at people’s doorstep. It is an effective channel for informing to people about government policies and the changes taking place at social, economic, political as well as religious spheres. The press can influence the opinion of people to great extent through its news. It can mould people’s thinking. It is a power that speaks in words about the surroundings of people. To provide the right news in the right time, it is imperative that the press of a country be free. People whether singly or in groups should not be given a chance by the government to influence the press through their power. But on the other hand, a good press should use this freedom of the press in a manner that is in the interest and benefit of the overall country. It should not use its power for the personal benefit of an individual or one segment of the society. Until such power and freedom of the press is used within restraint and balance it is useful for the overall good of society. But when some kinds of news which are not properly investigated into and not fully followed up or only provide individual point of view, the power of the press is wrongly used. Such kind of news becomes the cause of agitation in the minds of people. They become confused. Now people are in a state of mind in which they are not sure of what really is happening in their surroundings. Consequently, if such confusion takes birth it is for sure that some people will get misled. In underdevelopment countries of the world, where majority of the people cannot read, those people who are misled will mislead their illiterate fellowmen because of the very confusing news. Hence, it is the responsibility of the press to publish only those news that are from reliable and proper sources. It must be ensured that the news that is of great importance to the people should not be from an individual pint of view. It must be based on the viewpoints of all those people to whom the news belongs. 2007-03-19T15:11:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Power-and-Responsibilty-of-the-Press-32837.aspx The Ethics of Human Cloning The news about the successful cloning of an adult sheep, in which the sheep’s DNA was inserted into a fertilized sheep egg to produce a lamb with identical DNA, has generated an outpouring of ethical concerns. These concerns are not about Dolly, the first cloned mammal, nor even about the considerable impact cloning may have on the animal breeding industry. They’re about the possibility of cloning humans. For the most part, however, the ethical concerns being raised are exaggerated and misplaced. This is because people have erroneous views of what cloning is. The danger, therefore, lies not in the power of the technology, but in the managing of its techniques and the problems this may arise. Cloning is the production of one or more individual plants or animals that are genetically identical to another plant or animal. There exist two very different types pf procedures that have been referred to as cloning: Embryo cloning and adult DNA cloning. Embryo cloning has been successfully carried out for many years on many species of animals. The first ones on being cloned were frogs in the 1970’s (Cloning processes despite controversy). Although they have progressed significantly. This procedure involves the removal of one or more cells from embryo, and encouraging the cell to develop into a separate embryo with the same DNA as the original. Some limited experimentation has been done on human embryos. On human conceptions, in one out of 75, the fertilized ovum splits for some unknown reason and produces monzygotic (identical) twins. Each has a genetic makeup identical to he other. In cloning this same operation is done intentionally in a laboratory (Dr. Patrick Nixon). Producing a clone of a human being would not be like creating a “carbon copy”. It would be more like producing an identical twin. Moreover, just as identical twins are two separate people, biologically, psychologically, morally and legally, though not genetically, so a clone is, a separate person from his or her contemporaneous twin. To think otherwise is to embrace a belief in genetic determinism the view that, genes determine everything about us, and that environment factors or the random events in human development are utterly insignificant. The overwhelming consensus among geneticists is that, genetic determinism is false. Furthermore, because of the extra steps involved, cloning will probably always be riskier-than is, less likely to result in a live 2007-03-19T14:14:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Ethics-of-Human-Cloning-32834.aspx Violence and Pornography in America In the late Seventies, America became shocked and outraged by the rape, mutilation, and murder of over a dozen young, beautiful girls. The man who committed these murders, Ted Bundy, was later apprehended and executed. During his detention in various penitentiaries, he was mentally probed and prodded by psychologist and psychoanalysts hoping to discover the root of his violent actions and sexual frustrations. Many theories arose in attempts to explain the motivational factors behind his murderous escapades. However, the strongest and most feasible of these theories came not from the psychologists, but from the man himself, "as a teenager, my buddies and I would all sneak around and watch porn. As I grew older, I became more and more interested and involved in it, [pornography] became an obsession. I got so involved in it, I wanted to incorporate [porn] into my life, but I couldn’t behave like that and maintain the success I had worked so hard for. I generated an alter-ego to fulfill my fantasies under-cover. Pornography was a means of unlocking the evil I had buried inside myself" (Leidholdt 47). Is it possible that pornography is acting as the key to unlocking the evil in more unstable minds? According to Edward Donnerstein, a leading researcher in the pornography field, "the relationship between sexually violent images in the media and subsequent aggression and . . . callous attitudes towards women is much stronger statistically than the relationship between smoking and cancer" (Itzin 22). After considering the increase in rape and molestation, sexual harassment, and other sex crimes over the last few decades, and also the corresponding increase of business in the pornography industry, the link between violence and pornography needs considerable study and examination. Once the evidence you will encounter in this paper is evaluated and quantified, it will be hard not come away with the realization that habitual use of pornographic material promotes unrealistic and unattainable desires in men that can lead to violent behavior toward women. In order to properly discuss pornography, and be able to link it to violence, we must first come to a basic and agreeable understanding of what the word pornography means. The term pornography originates from two greek words, porne, which means harlot, and graphein, which means to write (Webster’s 2007-03-19T14:05:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-and-Pornography-in-America-32829.aspx History of Interracial Relationships in America Interracial relationships in America go back to the beginning of this country. For many years, settlers settled down with Indian woman because there was a lack of European women. In addition, Indian women proved to be a valued resource in race relations in the earlier Frontier. Indian Chiefs used their beautiful women as ambassadors of goodwill. In today's society, there are many different types of interracial relationships. They come in many different forms such as black and white, red and yellow, black and yellow, and white and red. Society is so diverse that the racial make-up of a couple could be any combination. Antimiscegenation Laws In the beginning little social distinction was made in America on the base of race. However, as the racial reason for slavery developed, there began to creep into the mores a distinction between blacks and whites. One of its first sign was the passage of laws against intermarriage. When black servants were reduced to slavery, the colonial governing classes redoubled their efforts to exclude racial mixing. Miscegenation in this time was not only a serious violation of Puritan morality, but also a serious threat to slavery and the stability of the servile labor force. The earliest record available against the cohabitation of black-white servants was the case of Hugh Davis, a white servant in Virginia who was sentenced to a public beating on Sept. 17, 1630, before a group of Negroes and others for ruin himself with a Negro. It was required that he confesses as much the following Sabbath. The first law to deter racial intermarriage was enacted in the early colonial period. The General Assembly of the Colony of Maryland in 1661 deplored the fact that there were many cases of intermarriage between white female servants and Negro slaves. It legislated that if any free born white woman intermarried with a Negro slave; she would have to serve her husband’s master as long as the slave lived. In 1681, a new Maryland law decreed that any freeborn white woman who married a Negro slave with the permission of the slave’s master could retain her freedom. However, the master or mistress of the intermarried slave and the clergyman performing the ceremony were to be penalized by a fine. This law was an attempt to prevent racial intermarriage by changing the penalty to those allegedly 2007-03-19T14:03:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Interracial-Relationships-in-America-32828.aspx Violence in Video Games and Entertainment Video games and children video games were first introduced in the 1970s. By the end of that decade they had become a preferred childhood leisure activity, and adults responded with concern about the possible ill effects of the games on children. Early research on these effects was inconclusive. However, a resurgence in video game sales that began in the late 1980s after the introduction of the Nintendo system has renewed interest in examining the effects of video games. Some research suggests that playing video games may affect some children's physical functioning. Effects range from triggering epileptic seizures to causing heart rate and blood pressure changes. Serious adverse physical effects, however, are transient or limited to a small number of players. Research has also identified benefits associated with creative and prosocial uses of video games, as in physical rehabilitation and oncology. Proponents of video games suggest that they may be a friendly way of introducing children to computers, and may increase children's hand-eye coordination and attention to detail. Video Game Use by Children Recent studies of television watching by children have included measures of the time children spend playing video games. In 1967, the average sixth-grader watched 2.8 hours of television per day. Data from 1983 indicated that sixth-graders watched 4.7 hours of television per day, and spent some additional time playing video games. A recent study examined video game playing among 357 seventh and eighth grade students. The adolescents were asked to identify their preference among five categories of video games. The two most preferred categories were games that involved fantasy violence, preferred by almost 32% of subjects; and sports games, some of which contained violent subthemes, which were preferred by more than 29%. Nearly 20% of the students expressed a preference for games with a general entertainment theme, while another 17% favored games that involved human violence. Fewer than 2% of the adolescents preferred games with educational content. The study found that approximately 36% of male students played video games at home for 1 to 2 hours per week; 29% played 3 to 6 hours; and 12 percent did not play at all. Among female students who played video games at home, approximately 42% played 1 to 2 hours and 15% played 3 to 6 hours per week. Nearly 37% of females did not play any video games. The balance of subjects played more 2007-03-19T13:55:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-in-Video-Games-and-Entertainment-32824.aspx Reasons Abortion should be Illegal Abortion should be made illegal for the following reasons. At the very first minute of conception the baby is alive. Although it might not have a pulse or heartbeat is a living thing. Another reason is that no human being has the right to take another human being’s life. Murder is murder. One more reason is that the baby who is inside can not make any decisions and is being killed for something it can not prevent or help. These are some of the reasons why abortion should become illegal. The first point that will be discussed is that at the first minute of conception the baby is alive. It becomes a living organism as soon as the sperm has penetrated the wall of the egg. [Abortion, Encyclopedia Britainnica, pg.15] This means that even if an abortion happens very early in the first trimester it would still be killing a living thing. A common belief is that if you have an abortion before a certain amount of weeks then it is okay because the child is not alive yet, but this is not true. This is one reason why abortion should be illegal. Another reason why abortion should be illegal is that no human being has the right to take another human being’s life. Essentially this is what is happening when an abortion takes place. A human being (the mother) is taking another human being’s life (the child.) Why is it that in any other situation but this that would be called first degree murder? [http//:www.abortion.com, “Abortion is Murder “ pg.2] The mother should not be allowed to choose whether or not another person should die just because she wasn’t prepared. This is another reason why abortion should be made illegal. The final reason why abortion should be made illegal is that the child has no choice or voice in the matter at all. The child who is in the womb of the mother has not done anything wrong or deserving of death, but because of the situation that the mother is in the child has to die. The child is paying for what the mother has done and this is not fair. The child is at the complete mercy of the parents and should not have to be. In any case it is wrong to kill and abortion is murder. In 2007-03-19T13:45:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-Abortion-should-be-Illegal-32820.aspx Teenage Parents in Society Teen parenting these days is a startling epidemic. In fact, the U.S. leads all other developed nations in incidences of pregnancy among adolescents’ age 15-19 (Robinson). With all of the problems that we are currently facing as a nation one would not think that this would be one of the worst, but it is. The rates that contribute to the high averages of teen pregnancies are appalling. For every five girls you see, three of them are having babies (Moorer). These rates have done nothing but escalate alarmingly over the past few years. The rates of teen fathers with children are some of the most appalling. According to Maureen Pirog-good, writer and researcher, “roughly 7 percent of young men become fathers in their teens”. With the growing lack of responsibility in today’s youth these rates are only to be expected. By researching the lives and facts of teen fathers, one finds risk factors that contribute to this spreading epidemic. There are many factors that contribute to the growing number of teen fathers. Some these rates are often affected by demographic factors such as race and age. Fathers between the age of 14 and 21 are of the following racial backgrounds: 2% white, 5% black, and 2% Hispanic (Thornberry). Some of the higher rates of teen fathers are those for teen males of the younger age group. Fourteen year olds are getting 17-18 year old girls pregnant (Moorer). There are many other factors that contribute to higher rates of teen fathers these days. One of the most obvious factors is the delinquency rate among today’s male youth. The numbers of males that are getting in trouble with the law directly affect the number of teen fathers in today’s society. Along with delinquency, disruptive behavior, and high arrest rates prove to be “helpful” to teenage fatherhood (Thornberry). Our younger generation is getting in criminal situations more and more often. Over the past four years alone delinquency rates have nearly tripled in proportion. Directly affecting this rate, is the rates of males under twenty-five that are, or have been involved in some kind of gang activity. Young males that are involved in gangs are also more 2007-03-08T00:38:45-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teenage-Parents-in-Society--32782.aspx Television Negatively Attacks The Human Mind In the novel Brave New World, writer Aldous Huxley warns that society will be conditioned to accept a new way of living and to blindly adapt to certain dysfunctional behaviors. Neil Postman, writer of Amusing Ourselves To Death, sees Aldous Huxley’s vision quite possibly coming true in today’s world. The process of conditioning people’s minds and thoughts to behave in a certain way is a major theme that Aldous Huxley illustrates in his novel. Similar to the people in the Brave New World society, we as humans are being conditioned by the effect of television’s portrayal of world issues and current events. The desensitizing and dehumanizing effect of television negatively attacks the minds of humans, allowing large business corporations and political parties to control all of society's thoughts and actions. Television harmfully affects the minds of humans, eliminating their feelings towards others. In the novel Brave New World, students are conditioned to hate other cultures and believe that their society is “normal”. An example of conditioning students is when John visits geography class filled with Beta-Minus students. It is here that one can clearly see the conditioning being conducted on the children when John illustrates what is happening. “A click; the room was darkened; and suddenly, on the screen above the master’s head, there were the Penitentes of Acoma prostrating themselves before Our Lady, and wailing as John heard them wail, confessing their sins before Jesus on the cross, before the eagles image of Pookong. The young Etonians fairly shouted with laughter.” (Huxley 146) John wonders why the children laugh. What John does not know is that the television program the children are watching desensitizes them and, as a result, they are conditioned to respond in a cruel manner. Another example of conditioning in the novel Brave New World is hypnopaedia. Children are desensitized by listening to sounds containing repeated words while they are sleeping. A similar method of hypnopaedia is watching your television at home. In today’s society children’s eyes are constantly glued to their television screen. Like hypnopaedia they are taught what is “in” and “out”, through advertisements and television programs. Similar to the novel Brave New World, Neil Postman’s novel, Amusing Ourselves To Death illustrates that television is conditioning the minds of humans and that our society is unaware of this rising problem. Mr. Postman states, “No matter 2007-03-08T00:19:26-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Television-Negatively-Attacks-The-Human-Mind-32771.aspx Oppose Same Sex Marriages because it is not a right A same sex marriage is not a right. While the proponents of same sex marriages usually site Section I of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution (US Constitution, 1868), there isn’t a clear description of the fundamental liberty so this amendment does not apply. The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applies strict-scrutiny only to fundamental rights, so it must be decided what right is at issue and it must be specific. In the case of same-sex marriage, the right that is being questioned is specifically the right to same-sex marriage, not marriage in general. To define the same sex marriage issue as “the right to marriage” would be too general, and is not a strict-scrutiny or specific analysis of the correct fundamental right. After reading several Supreme Court cases (Supreme Court Collection, 2004) it is understood that this is the second piece of the puzzle that must be clear before rendering a decision. What is the specific right, is it a fundamental right, and does the Fourteenth Amendment apply? Therefore it is noted that the same sex marriage proponents have not satisfied this second requirement and to present the narrowly defined right of same-sex marriage to the Supreme Court would require a different argument than the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. As for the first requirement in a Supreme Court decision, the Supreme Court has upheld in many cases that “emphasiz[ing] the importance of examining our nation’s history and tradition in determining fundamental rights.” (Washington v Glucksberg, January 8, 1997). Not only does marriage have a long history and tradition, it has always had importance in our nation’s history. Where would John F. Kennedy have been without Jackie? How about Ronald Reagan without Nancy? Bill Clinton may not have become President without Hillary. I have spoken with some people that voted for him solely because of his wife. How many same-sex partnerships have created tradition for our country? Until recently, when taken in the context of our country’s time line, homosexual behavior was a problem not a lifestyle. Homosexuals were not open about their preferences or behavior for whatever reason. These two items alone bear out the fact that same sex partnerships do not have history or tradition in our country. 2007-03-06T23:32:49-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Oppose-Same-Sex-Marriage-32764.aspx The Social Controversy of Cloning Cloning is the process of taking cells from a donor, placing them in a culture dish where the nutrients are minimal, so the cells stop dividing and switch their "active genes". The cells are then put next to an unfertilized egg. The nucleus is sucked out of the egg leaving an empty egg cell containing all the cellular machinery necessary to produce an embryo. An electric shock is used to fuse the egg and cell together. A second shock is then used to mimic the act of fertilization and help begin cell division. After the egg has successfully moved to the stage of an embryo it is then placed in to the uterus of a surrogate mother. When born, all the genes are the same as the donor of the cell. In 1997 Dr. Ian Wilmut, a British scientist successfully cloned a sheep named Dolly. This turned the scientific world upside-down. The success of the experiment is considered by all as an amazing achievement in science. However, ethics and morals must surface to regulate cloning. It is understood that individuality is the most important part of life. Individuality is given to a person at birth and considered a right they will have for rest of their life. There is also a fear that the clone may only be produced to live the life of the clone, thus causing severe emotional damage as well pain and suffering for the clone. The progression of the clone may be limited, the advance in idea development will slowly die off. Evolution could come to a halt, because with clones, diversity will be limited and there will not be as many advances in society. The cells, in all humans, will all be the same and there will not be a process of natural selection and diversity. Another controversial question facing the cloning process is: How will the clones be treated? The emotions of the clones need to be taken in to consideration, after all they are humans too. "What is common to these various views, however, is a shared understanding that being a 'person' is different from being the manipulated 'object' of other peoples desires and expectations"(Biomedical Ethics). People, as clones, will be studied, prodded, and poked which in turn will cause much unwanted anxiety and emotional distress. There will also be problems with relationships between parents and 2007-03-06T22:34:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Social-Controversy-of-Cloning-32754.aspx Gun Control Essay Since disarming the citizens of this country is the objective of the federal government, and since the federal government proclaims this to be a democratic country based upon equality, then any gun control measures adopted by the government should be democratically applied. If law abiding citizens are to have their guns taken from them then let the law abiding police agencies of the state be disarmed also. (Those in law enforcement who are crooked can keep their guns just as the drug pushers and criminal elements in the civilian population at large will keep theirs.) Democracy based on equality requires that, so far as possible all are to be democratically equal. Why should the police, FBI, and federal marshals remain armed while citizens are not? Let us look at this issue in an intelligent, reasonable manner and examine the arguments. It will be said of those in favor of non-democratic gun control that the police come into contact with dangerous criminal elements and need guns to defend themselves as well as to enforce the laws. This is, of course, quite true, but is it not equally true for the citizens of this country? Are they not the chief victims of crime? Do they not need to protect themselves? In most cases, the policeman or FBI agent is much more able to defend himself as a result of training, physical conditioning, and experience than, say, a woman at a shopping mall who is dragged into an attacker's van and raped while her child is beaten unconscious by the assailant. Why, in a equal democratic society, would laws be passed that would provide a pistol for the police officer and not for the woman? Does not the woman as a citizen enjoy the same right to self defense as a police officer? Do not citizens have the same right to defend themselves as FBI agents? For every law enforcement officer that comes into contact with a criminal there are 7,653 citizens that are victimized by criminals. A citizen is 800 times more likely to be the victim of crime than a law enforcement officer, yet those who control the Federal government in Washington wish to make it illegal for any citizens to defend himself! The best place to stop crime is at the time of it's occurrence; in other words, were the 2007-03-05T14:10:00-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Control-Essay--32737.aspx Animal Rights Extremists An extremist is one who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm. So an animal rights extremist is a person that would go beyond acceptable measures to fight for the rights of animals. Animal rights activists and animal rights extremist differs in the main reason that animal rights activist do not resort to violent acts, although extremist groups such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) claim to be non-violent. These extremists for animal rights are classified in society as deviant. They are deviant because they do not conform to society’s norms. These animal rights extremists do not share the same ideas and standards as most of the people in our society. Animal rights extremists are infamous for striking at universities or medical labs where animals are used as test subjects. On April 28, 1999, a scientist that works at UCSF and his family were terrorized outside of his house where nine extremists broke windows and burnt an effigy of the scientist on to the lawn. At the Yerkes Regional Primate Center at Emory University police were forced to tear gas, mace, and arrest 60 violent demonstrators that were attempting to force there way into the center. This happened April 26, 1997. December 22, 1991, a fire was set by an animal rights organization that destroyed the Malecky Mink Ranch and everything inside of it, including the minks. The Ranch was working in collaboration with Oregon University concerning mink breeding and nutrition in the wild. On April 23, 1999, three laboratories were broke into and vandalized by demonstrators. A researcher was also violently confronted and equipment and windows were smashed. A few mice were also “rescued.” Some of the equipment that was damaged by the demonstrators was ironically cell cultures that were in the process of being developed to be used as a method of testing rather than animal test subjects. These incidents were commited by smaller individual groups of animal rights extremists and are not isolated events. The ALF takes direct action against all forms of animal abuse. This action falls basically into two groups: 1) The rescue or liberation of animals from premises or establishments in order to save them from persecution. Such animals are usually taken to good homes where they will be properly cared for. 2007-03-04T18:41:45-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Rights-Extremists-32714.aspx Issues of Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty Twenty-six years ago, on July 2, 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 7-2 in Gregg v. Georgia to reinstate the death penalty after a brief official break. Implicit in the Gregg decision was the optimistic belief that the many problems identified by a previous Supreme Court decision, Furman v. Georgia, could be fixed. In 1972, the Furman Court had struck down hundreds of state laws that the justices deemed illogical. But the majority in Gregg argued that objective standards would minimize impulsive decisions of the jurors and reduce discrimination. A quarter-century and more than 700 executions later, the promise of Gregg seems ridiculously naive. Gregg's ambition was to rationalize sentencing and ensure that death sentences would be applied more equitably and only to the most appalling offenders. It hasn't worked out that way. Today in the United States, more than 3,700 men and women await execution on death row. The overwhelming number of those put to death will be poor, members of a minority, uneducated, or of questionable sanity, and they will have been represented by some of the worst lawyers available. Clearly, it was absurd to assume that the state legislatures that had crafted the unconstitutional laws criticized by the Furman decision would suddenly fix them. The death penalty should be abolished if it can not be administered fairly and impartially. Obvious racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty remains routine. Nearly 90 percent of the federal inmates on death row are minorities. Also, more than 76 percent of the cases, in which federal prosecutors had sought the death penalty during the previous five years, involved a defendant who belonged to a minority group. In the same study, U.S. attorneys were nearly twice as likely to recommend death for an African-American defendant than a Caucasian defendant (Clay 118-122). Under the beliefs established by Gregg, you might conclude that this would be unconstitutional. You would be wrong. In the Gregg decision, the Supreme Court said that a constitutional violation was established if a plaintiff demonstrated a "pattern of arbitrary and capricious sentencing." Since then, however, the Court appears to have abandoned this logic. In 1987, for example, it ruled that racial disparities are "an inevitable part of our criminal justice system." (Jackson 21-23). Growing numbers of Americans have begun to question the rationality of the system that executes people. 2007-03-04T18:40:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-of-Capital-Punishment-and-the-Death-Penalty-32713.aspx Alcoholism: Symptoms, Causes, and Effects Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects. Alcoholism is defined as a pattern of drinking in which harmful consequences result for the drinker, yet, they continue to drink. There are two types of drinkers. The first type, the casual or social drinker, drinks because they want to. They drink with a friend or with a group for pleasure and only on occasion. The other type, the compulsive drinker, drinks because they have to, despite the adverse effects that drinking has on their lives. The symptoms of alcoholism vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms seen are changes in emotional state or stability, behavior, and personality. "Alcoholics may become angry and argumentive, or quiet and withdrawn or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more" (Gitlow 175). "Because time and amount of drinking are uncontrollable, the alcoholics is likely to engage in such behaviors as [1] breaking family commitments, both major and minor; [2] spending more money than planned; [3] drinking while intoxicated and getting arrested; [4] making inappropriate remarks to friends, family, and co-workers; [5] arguing, fighting and other anti-social actions. The alcoholic would probably neither do such things, nor approve of them in others unless he was drinking" (Johnson 203). The cause of alcoholism is a combination of biological, psychological, and cultural factors that may contribute to the development of alcoholism in an individual. Alcoholism seems to run in families. "Although there is no conclusive indication of how the alcoholism of families members is associated, studies show that 50 to 80 percent of all alcoholics have had a close alcoholic relative" (Caplan 266). Some researchers have suggested that in several cases, alcoholics have an inherited, predisposition to alcohol addiction. Studies of animals and human twins have lent support to this theory. Alcoholism can also be related to emotional instabilities. For example, alcoholism is often associated with a family history of manic-depressive illness. Additionally, like many other drug abusers, alcoholics often drink hoping to "drown' anxious or depressed feelings. Some alcoholics drink to reduce strong inhibitions or guilt about expressing negative feelings. Social and cultural factors play roles in to 2007-03-04T17:27:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcoholism-Symptoms,-Causes,-and-Effects-32706.aspx The Dangers of Heroin Abuse Heroin, the narcotic derivative of the opium poppy plant, poses grave threat to our society. It is a highly addictive drug, and its presence and use is a serious problem in America. Heroin addiction causes crime as its result as well as danger to users, families, and others. As evidenced by crime and health reports, heroin is a clear and present danger to society due to its devastating health consequences, increasing abuse, and continuing expanded availability. The by-product of this opiate drug is derived naturally and extracted from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant. It usually appears as a white or dark brown powder. Pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste. Most heroin is distributed in powder form and may vary in color because of impurities left from the manufacturing process or the presence of additives. It is packaged for distribution in small, postage stamp sized plastic bags. They are sold individually for 10 dollars or 180 dollars for a "bundle" of 20. Street names include smack, H, junk, horse, and tar. Most users dissolve it in water, and then use a needle to inject it directly into a vein. The effect of the powerful narcotic properties of heroin appears soon after a single dose and disappears in a few hours. After injecting heroin, the user reports feeling a surge of euphoria or "rush" accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin and heavy extremities. Following this initial euphoria, the user goes "on the nod", an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Mental functioning becomes clouded due to its effects on the central nervous system. Resulting long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use. Chronic users develop collapsed veins, abscesses, bacterial infections, heart complications, including various types of blood and airborne infectious diseases. It follows that many heroin addicts are HIV positive or have AIDS. In addition, heroin may have additives that do not readily dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in these vital organs. Heroin is very addictive. Consider as an illustration that with regular use, tolerance develops. This means the abuser must use more, to achieve the same intensity or effect. As higher doses are used over time, physical dependence and addiction develop. With physical dependence, the 2007-03-04T17:13:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Dangers-of-Heroin-Abuse-32701.aspx Teens and Smoking Tobacco The differences between subjective feelings of those who smoke and those who don’t are shown in behavioral changes that are more apparent in teens than adults. Teens seem to be more abrasive when smoking or they feel like they are older and wiser when they smoke. Why do they smoke when we have seen billions of dollars spent on antismoking campaigns? The American Lung Association estimates that every minute four thousand eight hundred teens will take their first drag off a cigarette. Of those four thousand eight hundred, about two thousand will go on to be chain smokers. The fact that teen smoking rates are steadily increasing is disturbing. We are finding out that about 80% of adult smokers started smoking as teenagers. We now see a lot of smokers giving each other rewards in social aspects such as conversations, companionships, and other common social contacts. Research has proven the fact that nicotine has the ability to suppress feelings, suppress appetite for food, is used as stimulation after sex, and is a good way to relax from troubles and feelings of insecurities. People that smoke go to designated areas and congregate around the one that has the light, even when the weather is sub-zero. There they are huddled up against each other in an area, taking in the last drag before the break is over, or they find some kind of shelter to smoke their cigarettes. Teens like to act as if they are someone special or dangerous. By smoking they can act on those feelings. Because it is so forbidden it becomes more alluring to teens. The problem is that when they take that first puff, they can become addicted. The idea that they are breaking the law or going against their parents and schools is an addiction within itself. Kids like to get attention; it does not matter if it’s good attention or bad attention. They crave attention and by smoking they get big attention. The other teens look at them in all kinds of ways and the adults get upset and don’t know what to do. Nicotine is considered the number one entrance drug into other substance abuse problems. Research shows that teens between 13 and 17 years of age who smoke daily are more likely 2007-02-17T05:40:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teen-Smoking--32632.aspx “In the past two hundred years, over one million Americans have died for their country. Monuments have been built and speeches have been delivered, honoring these American heroes. America is now engaged in a war where there are no heroes, no monuments or accolades - only victims. Our society has declared war on its most helpless members - our unborn children. Since the war declared on January 22, 1973, there has been over 45 million deaths.” (National Right to Life) I intend to defend innocent human beings who are unable to defend themselves and whose lives are being threatened. I support women who give life not take it away, who despite the odds give birth and decide not to abort. My purpose today is to persuade you to support my cause. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by various means, including (brutal) medical surgery, before the fetus is able to sustain independent life. Roe vs. Wade was the most significant case in the history of abortion in America. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all laws in every state that in any way had protected the lives of developing unborn children. It legalized abortion in all 50 states, for the full nine months of pregnancy, for health reasons. Abortion was legalized because of the following three reasons: 1. For health reasons? Or should we say mental reasons. What we have granted to one citizen is the absolute legal right to have another human being killed in order to solve their own personal, social or economic problems. Are these health reasons? I believe not. Health reasons are defined by when the mother is in a life and death situation as a result of her pregnancy. 2. Abortion was introduced because ignorance. The court ruled once and for all that unborn humans were not legal persons saying that “It isn't human until it looks human.” This was ignorance of the time but we can not continue to live by these rules. Dr. Ancona, an embryologist specialist states that “Technology has evolved so much and has proved to us that conception marks the beginning of human life. Microscopes, ultrasonic movies, stethoscopes and genetic knowledge enables us to see the reality, all of which go far beyond the limited knowledge obtained by sight alone.” If we have such facts before us, how is it that we continue to deny the reality? We have 2007-02-05T04:55:38-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/My-Stand-on-Abortion--32591.aspx Flag Burning in America We live in a culture where people are supposed to be able to express their thoughts and opinions without the fear of punishment. Since our society is developing more individualistic values as time passes, there is a prominent need for people to be able to convey their opinions otherwise our nation would not be able to keep developing into the prevalent country it has become. Throughout society there is a need for social acceptance and conformity. But one can always be seen resisting cultural norms and refusing the opinions of the majority. When one looks from the global perspective, they can observe resistant actions such as violent protests for government issues and murders for religious reasons. On our campus, one may observe a student protesting about tuition rates, or even a minister discouraging students from immoral activities. This idea of free expression has been available to the American public for over two hundred years. When reflecting on our own country’s foundation, the founding fathers considered many issues when forming the Bill of Rights. But as one would expect, there were modifications that needed to be implemented as time progressed. The Constitution contains amendments that Thomas Jefferson felt the country needed to better define what the Bill of Rights was trying to express. One amendment that is widely debated even today is the First Amendment. It states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” When referring to the freedom of speech, many in our country feel that one should be allowed to say whatever he or she wants. But there are others who consider this rule to apply to other acts such as freedom of any expression, whether it is spoken, written, or acted out in public. This idea of expression can challenge the public’s view of what is acceptable such as the ongoing debate over the burning of the American flag. The history of flag burning can be observed throughout our nation’s beginnings. First, the American flag desecration came into issue around the Civil War era. Next, the problem is again addressed in 2007-02-02T18:55:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Flag-Burning-in-America--32577.aspx Justifying Euthanasia “Life becomes transparent against the background of death.” THE RIGHT TO DIE Some say that that society has reached some sort of point where dying, and the right to it, has become a form of consumer conflict where one common theme underlying these contemporary developments is the failure of a truly modern death ritual for both the dying and their loved ones. When someone goes through the dying process, many surrounding people cling blindly to traditions and funerary practices that they have been told where the right thing to do, for hundreds of years. The merciless loss of control experienced by many terminally ill patients is often the modus operandi for most forms of euthanasia, as well as its research. The basic human rights of dying patients can easily be violated when they enter a state in which they lack the knowledge and ability to make there own decisions. This diminishes their dignity. How can a person have dignity if they can’t even leave their bed to go to the bathroom, or even inform someone that they need to? Several forms of physical pain can be controlled with a complex use of certain drugs. However, if one's body has been so badly damaged by an illness that life is not worth living, should an individual’s desire to die be thwarted on a blind principal? Later in this paper, I will further this question by touching on the quality of life perspective. In accepted civilized society, patients have the right to know their medical condition, to choose or to reject procedures, to reject attempts to prolong life, and decide the nature of the disposal for their remains. They also have the right to vent their fears and frustrations in more emotional forms of treatment. Studies on people with cancer have shown that those who belong to a psychotherapy group have a tendency to survive almost twice as long as those who did not participate in a support group. These group members also often report less depression, anxiety and pain. However, in the final stages of such a merciless illness, such kindly measures are often simply not enough. A CASE FOR EUTHANASIA There are at least two forms of suicide. One is emotional suicide, or irrational self-murder, in which, for all of its difficulties and sadness should ideally 2007-02-02T18:36:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Justifying-Euthanasia-32565.aspx The Effects Of Television On Our Society How many would believe the common television is a major building block of our present society? Yes, the very T.V. in your bedroom is one of the many influences that built and is building our society at this very moment. Through its' many commercials, sitcoms, and movies, they lay thick layers of influences on the average individual. The introduction of the television into the America forever effected the society, and still effects the society at our present time. The television reached laboratory perfection in the 1930's, but it did not reach the market until 1945, just after WWII. The introduction of television made an enormous impact, some even claimed it was " The Birth of the Information Age.". It opened the doors for the many branches of marketing, news and entertainment. Thousands of advertisement agencies saw the potential and envisioned the T.V. being the ultimate tool in raking in the capital. The media imagined a nationwide network being able to reach into the homes of every individual in the U.S., bringing ground-breaking news and events to every television across the nation simultaneously. The entertainment industry would take off and soar to incomparable heights. Entertainment would be revolutionized through huge strides, with endless movies, sitcoms, and talk shows. The television quickly began to alter the hard working and ever so changing America into a mindless society completely devoid to the sense of right and wrong. Soon after the television made its way in to the homes of America, things began to change. The past nights spent with the family, gathered around the radio listening to the next installment of your favorite series quickly became accompanied with visions. Thus television - with its' gifts of paralysis along with the symbiant creature, the notorious couch potato became the newest thing, causing anti-social behaviors. That one assumes a 'vegetable' state in a trance-like manner, pushing their responsibilities aside. From the television, viewers are exposed to the ideas and influences proposed and applied by the endless commercials, movies, and shows, and when ended, leaving their mind's imagination shocked and wondering the possibilities. The influences give all sorts of ideas and plots, bringing to light new problems and inefficiencies, such as eating to much, envying the celebrated, coveting merchandise, lusting after images, angry at the news and then being perversely proud of what distance we may enjoy between the couch 2007-02-02T17:30:55-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Effects-Of-Television-On-Our-Society-32528.aspx On Legalizing Marijuana Many have experienced the negatives of marijuana in their lives and witnessed the problems of others. Marijuana is a harmful drug and should not be legalized! It is a gateway drug or also known as a stepping stone drug. “Theory, suggest that the progression to more dangerous substances is inevitable.”(Hanson) Many reasons have surfaced about why it should be legalized, government regulation, taxing purposes, and long and harsh sentences given to marijuana offenders. In addition, of all the reasons why they should legalize it, only one is credible, medical. Now, would any loving parent want their children having that much more of a fight with saying no to drugs? Has there not been enough proof that drugs should not be legalized. Legalized drugs in the form of alcohol have proven to be a harmful drug, both to the user and to society. The similarities between both marijuana and alcohol are endless, so the realizations of possible problems that can arise are also endless. In America we do not need to compound are huge problems with drugs, especially since nearly all crime committed in America is drug related. A major problem with marijuana being legalized and is its misuse. Since marijuana has a major effect on the minds ability to react fast or as fast as it normally should, people that have been using marijuana can pose a danger to themselves and to many others. Common sense would lead a person who can identify a drunk driver to beware that driver. Now, who would want the added danger of now having to share the road with both drinkers and marijuana users? Obviously, no one wants to be run down by an intoxicated driver. Another problem in American society is the one of crime and its relation to drugs. Nearly all crime committed in America is in some way connected to drugs. So is the need really there to legalize marijuana, and by doing so flood, the streets with legalized drugs? This accessibility will then most likely make marijuana more readily available and draw more people to trying marijuana especially the young and under aged. Will it be as simple as finding the right of age person to purchase it for them? Legal or not marijuana has proven to 2007-02-02T16:54:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/On-Legalizing-Marijuana--32517.aspx Weight and Appearance Problems in American Culture How do I look? Millions of people ask that same question everyday! Some people even think that surgery is the answer to all of their cosmetic problems. People think that surgery is the cure because doctors and surgeons can fix anything; They can make noses smaller, thighs slimmer, or parts of the body larger. For to many, the choice of having cosmetic surgery is done by the signing of a check, but for others cosmetic surgery is a very uncertain process. The out come could be rewarding or it could leave long term damaging affects to ones body emotionally and physically. I believe that while cosmetic surgery may be able to fix a few problems that people think they have, it has chronic health effects that make it a very weary decision for reasonable people. Liposuction, nose and breast correction, and face lifts are all common cosmetic procedures that are practiced widely. Many people look at cosmetic surgery is an open process that everyone can do and that is beneficial. Cosmetic surgery can be a good experience for most, but others with unrealistic expectations are not good candidates for plastic surgery. Experts say that while it is possible to have this procedure done, many people obsess about their flaws , and to “throw away you scale, because weight doesn’t really matter”(health). Potential clients should throw away the mirror too! When someone does decide to get any type of surgery done they should consider that there is not one specialist that is qualified to perform all types of cosmetic surgery, so it is highly recommended that people interested in surgery should uses all of their resources to pick a surgeon who is qualified(cosmetic). For people that think they are over weight Health Magazine has news for them. Health says that you can have low body fat and still not be in good shape, for that reason you will need surgery after surgery to keep your figure if you don’t exercise, and having many surgeries puts a person at greater risk of dying from a procedure gone wrong. Since patients have different degrees of risk with every surgical procedure, no surgeon can guarantee a complication-free out come for any procedure. It is possible to have liposuction one day, and a funeral the 2007-01-29T05:21:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Weight-and-Appearance-Problems-in-American-Culture-32481.aspx Beneficial Uses of Marijuana Marijuana has been used for many things in the past, including medicine, hemp rope, crude cloth and enjoyment. Now it is mainly used as a narcotic. Marijuana is an illegal weed that grows up to eighteen feet tall with little or no cultivation. The plant has many branches that extend with large, hairy, pointed leaves with saw tooth edges. Marijuana grows wild all over the world and in some states and countries it's legal. Cloth and rope are made from the stem which contains a tough fiber called "hence." The mind-altering drug in marijuana is called "Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol," or THC. The mildest form of marijuana contains between zero to three percent of THC. Most of the THC is contained in the resign, which is secreted around the flowers, seeds, and topmast leaves. Until recently it was thought that only the female plant contained the drug. But it is now known that both the female and the male plants contain THC. THC stays in the body for about 28 days. Marijuana can be prepared many different ways therefore it has many different ways of entering the body. When smoked the THC goes into the lungs, directly into the bloodstream and to every cell in your body. The effects depend upon the level of potency and how much is consumed. The main effects of smoking are: the heart rate may increase from 80 beats to 150 beats a minute, the bronchial tubes enlarge and become relaxed allowing extra oxygen to enter the body, giving a "High" like feeling. There are no immediate physiological effects. The feeling usually lasts from one to three hours. Marijuana can also be ingested as a drink, cakes, brownies or many other foods. When consumed in foods the effects start after one half-hour and last from three to four hours. The potency of Marijuana has increased at least ten times or 275% since the 1960's. Marijuana can be measured by it's "therapeutic ratio," (the difference between the size of the dose needed for the desired effect and the! size that produces poisoning). The therapeutic ratio in marijuana has yet to be found. The negative long term effects of heavy marijuana use are, possible lung cancer, heart attacks in juveniles, strokes in people under forty, and it depletes the brain of serotonin and the user may lose his sense of well being or may become depressed. The user 2007-01-29T05:17:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Beneficial-Uses-of-Marijuana-32479.aspx [b]Issues on Interracial Marriages[/b] Genetically speaking, there are no physical impediments to interracial marriage. Therefore factors that help or hinder the success of mixed marriages as compared to within-group-marriages are not genetic, but are taught and learned by individuals living in a community. Groups and individuals "speak" through implied and usually unwritten statements that become cultural pressures--"shoulds" and "should nots"--that can affect the potential partners' decisions before marriage and the quality of marriage afterwards. When people arrive at a stage where they choose life partners, a number of other developmental tasks are also in process. Usually they are completing their education and preparing for a career. They are moving toward independence and adulthood, even though different cultures may attach varying meanings to such terms. They are discovering their individual roles, in terms of both gender and individual responsibility--a process that can be complicated by crossing ethnic boundaries, since different cultures have different ways of defining such roles, particularly as they interface with gender. Each marriage partner brings to marital union a list (unwritten, of course)) of what to do or not do, what to say or not say, in a marriage. These individual lists learned in different cultural or racial environments can differ so much that misunderstandings and conflicts become unavoidable. When racial or cultural differences are added to familial, regional, and class differences, the potential for problems increases. Minor cultural differences can cause major misunderstandings. Here are a few common examples: Disclosure. Culture often dictates what kind of, and how much, personal information should be disclosed between partners and to those outside of marriage. Display of affection. How much affection, and what forms of affection are permissible between marriage partners in private or in public? What display of affection is appropriate between a marital partner and a friend outside of the marriage? Gender roles. How rigid is the division between "masculine" and "feminine" activities within and outside of the home? Leisure activities. How do partners share leisure time? How much leisure should be enjoyed apart from the spouse? Ethnocentrism. This refers to the tendency to look at everything from one's own point of view, which of course is conditioned by one's cultural background. For example, when an American speaks of the "normal" height of a person, it could mean about 5 feet 10 inches. But for a Japanese, "normal" may mean something else. Normal number of meals a day may refer to three 2007-01-29T04:57:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-on-Interracial-Marriages-32472.aspx Who should and should not be able to Adopt Children Is it right to tell a person or couple (who is a perfect candidate to be a parent) that they are not aloud to adopt because they have different sexual preferences than a majority of the world? Gay and lesbian couples should be aloud to adopt children; they are just as capable of being good parents as a heterosexual couple is. Thousands of children in this country are without permanent homes. These children suffer for months, to years, within state foster care systems that lack qualified foster parents and are frequently challenged with other problems. Is it right to let these children suffer when there are suitable homes out there for them? ‘We’ decided, as a society, that these homes are not suitable because ‘we’ think it is wrong to be gay. A majority of the world believes that gay parents would hurt the future and growing of a child; these are only ‘beliefs’ and ‘assumptions’ that our society makes. Most states deny joint custody to gay and lesbian couples. Currently Florida is the only state in the nation with a statute prohibiting gays and lesbians from adopting children (although two states, Mississippi and Utah, recently barred same sex couples from adopting.) Yet, twenty-one states have granted second-parent adoptions to lesbian and gay couples and twenty-two states allow single gay and lesbians to adopt. Even the Department of Children and Families recognizes that gay and lesbians can make fine guardians for children and routinely places foster children in homosexual households. (Times p.1) So, what really would be the difference if we let gay or lesbian couples adopt a child jointly? Right now, there is a critical shortage of adoptive parents in the US; resulting in leaving many children without homes, while others are forced to stay in and out of a series of substandard foster homes. It is estimated that there are currently 500,000 children in foster care nationally. 100,000 of those children have to be adopted (Petit p.72), where in reality only about 20% of them actually get adopted. (Rivers p.1) Many of these children have traditionally been viewed as “unadoptable” because they are either not healthy, too old, or have another ethnic backgrounds than being Caucasian. In order to find more and well-suited parents, adoption and foster care policies have become more and more inclusive over the past two 2007-01-29T04:55:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Who-should-and-should-not-be-able-to-Adopt-Children-32471.aspx Illegal Immigration One of the most controversial political issues of today is that of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Illegal immigration into the United States is a problem that should be stopped, as it is unfair to both Americans and to the people of the country from which they illegally immigrated. It is thought that the majority of illegal aliens residing in the U.S. are Mexicans (Anderson 55). Roy Beck clarifies the situation by stating, "The national consensus is that the United States should be a post-mass immigration country has included most leaders of business, religion, labor, academia, and social work." Illegal immigration from Mexico must be stopped by means of different policies and other methods of prevention, because the effects on both Mexico and the United States are predominately unfavorable. There are multiple policies and means of preventing illegal immigrants from entering the United States. Immigration laws are the catalysts of illegal immigration prevention. Proposition 187 is a tough immigration law clamping down on illegal aliens, used in California, the state with the most illegal immigrants. It doubled the number of boarder guards, made it harder for legal immigrants to bring their families over, not permitting as much political asylum and was harder on illegal aliens already here (DiConsiglio 3). NAFTA, officially, hasn’t reduced as much illegal immigration as had been hoped, but, it helped Mexico recover faster from it’s economic crisis in ‘94-’95, which has stopped a larger flood of people, since most immigrants tend to come to the U.S. in times of Mexican economic depression ("Mexico" 2). The major reason Mexicans tend to illegally immigrate is to find jobs. Therefore, elimination of the chance of them getting a job would be a deterrent. A bill shown to the House, by California would let the employer enter a job applicant’s social security number over the phone to receive confirmation, of a person’s official citizenship (DeMott 31). That would work in conjunction with the need for proper documentation to be shown to employer for current verification of legal citizenship, limiting their job opportunities and thus discouraging them from ever illegally immigrating. The Border Patrol is the most effective and widely used form of prevention. It is an agency of Immigration and Naturalization, that is charged with detecting and preventing illegal passage to the U.S. between Mexico and America (Anderson 59). U.S. vigilance on "the line" causes more delays, higher risks 2007-01-29T04:42:52-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Illegal-Immigration-Toll-on-America-32470.aspx Environmental Study of the Green Revolution With the rapid growth of our global population pouring into the next millennium, we will witness an ever-growing hunger rate around the world. The Green Revolution which already sprouted in the early part of the century, only needs to add a bit more momentum and we will see a bright future for the human race, a future without hunger and starvation- hopefully. Citizens believe that the miracle seeds of the Green Revolution will enhance grain yields and therefore are a key to ending world hunger. Higher yields mean more income for unfortunate farmers, helping them to get out of poverty and more food means less hunger. Although the new seeds helped tens of millions of extra tons of grain a year harvest, the Green Revolution has not actually proven to be a successful strategy for ending the world’s food supply issue. With these fertilizers our world economy and small farmers do much better and they provide us with good nutrition, although they do cause sicknesses and diseases. Our own health is also being threatened by the use of chemicals and pesticides. Genetically engineered food is not the answer to the world’s food supply problem and it will not end world hunger. The Green Revolution of the 60’s and 70’s goal was to increase the number of crop production so that more food would be supplied for hungry people of the developed Countries. A majority of the food produced was exported as cash crops, so that local diet did not always improve. In terms of production, the green revolution was initially successful in South East Asia. India doubled its wheat yield in fifteen years and the rice yield in the Philippines rose by 75%. This issue tended to benefit primarily those landowners who could afford the investment necessary for such intensive agriculture. With out a dosage of 70- 0 kg/ 154- 198 lb of expensive nitrogen fertilizers per hectare, the high yields will not grow properly. Hence, rich farmers tended to obtain bigger yields while small holders were unable to benefit from the new methods. The World Watch Institute argues that if one tried to calculate the “hidden costs” associated with intensive agriculture, they would sum to numbers like $112 per hectare in the United States, $337 per hectare in the United Kingdom, and $274 per 2007-01-12T03:40:27-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Environmental-Study-of-the-Green-Revolution-32398.aspx Civil Rights and Gays in the Military I am a 7th grader at Manhattan Country School. There are many issues that I am very concerned about. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is one of the most serious. I would like to see changes in this policy. Is discrimination fair? Have we worked all those years in the Civil Rights Movement for discrimination to still exist? The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prevents homosexuals from being in the Armed Forces if they are open about their sexual orientation. This means that people who want to help fight for our country do not have the legal means to do this because there is a wall of hatred blocking them. This wall of hatred is discrimination. Is it fair that the only way for them to serve is to lie or to be someone they’re not? Why would you reject so many people who would be able to help the country? Is being homosexual a crime? Is it fair that being homosexual prevents people from doing their jobs and performing their duties? The “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy became a law in 1993. It was meant as a compromise between those for and against homosexuals in the military. The ultimate result of this compromise, however, has been anti-homosexual. Almost each year since the policy was implemented the number of discharges for being open about being homosexual has risen. In total over 7,500 homosexuals were discharged from the military. Does this mean anything to you? Well it certainly does to me. To me it means that thousands of people are being denied the right to do what they want to do. Our country is losing the services of so many because of discrimination. Furthermore this policy has given anti-homosexuals a sense of legitimacy. In addition to discharges the level of harassment against homosexuals is on the rise. I grew up in a school that’s main focus is equality, creating a community of many different races, ethnicities, and cultures. The school brings together a community of teachers, teachers of different sexual preferences. My school’s atmosphere is warm and friendly. Whenever we cluster together in a small room for assemblies we always sing in unison and you get a great feeling of equality. Differences melt and we are all human beings. Each one has a unique to gift to offer to the Manhattan Country School community. 2007-01-12T03:34:30-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Civil-Rights-and-Gays-in-the-Military-32395.aspx Utilitarianism And Death Penalty The debate over capital punishment has been continous for many years now. It is a very controversial issue that revolves around several theories of punishment and social justice such as utilitarianism, retribution, and the right to live. These arguments come from different types of schools and reasoning, but they can all be evaluated within a utilitarian view. It views society as one organism. Its goal is to improve the state of society for all citizens in the future. Utilitarianism does not view punishment as hurting or correcting an individual but helping to cure a sociological problem. There are three methods used to carry out the utilitarian form of punishment: deterrence, reform and incapacitation. Utilitarianism gives a definition or a criterion for right actions such as: a person is morally obligated to the action with the best consequences, a person does the action that she’s morally obligated to do if, and only if, that action maximizes happiness for all affected by the action, a person is morally obligated to do the action that maximizes the overall happiness of all who are affected by her action, and a person has done what she’s morally obligated to do if, and only if, only if there’s no other action (besides the one she did) that would bring about more happiness. If there’s another alternative action that she could have done that would have brought about more happiness and she didn’t do that one, she’s not performed the right action. Utilitarianism is not by itself an argument for or against capital punishment. It is a framework in which most ethical and practical considerations will fit to produce a balanced view of the whole capital punishment debate. “A utilitarian outlook also separates the few morally absolute arguments from all other arguments that are based, at some level, on a utilitarian approach” (Mcnabb 3). The theory of utility, Utilitarianism, is commonly understood as “being a hypothesis that assesses and promotes moral actions on the basis of their outcome using the maxim, 'the greatest happiness for the greatest number” (Pojman 544). It finds it most famous expression in the work of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) but is also mentioned in the work of David Hume (1711-1776) and can trace its origins back to Epicurus (341-270 BCE). Both Bentham and Mill wanted to secure reasonable grounds for ethics based 2007-01-11T20:26:23-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Utilitarianism-and-the-Death-Penalty-32388.aspx Scientific, Religious and Emotional Arguments on Cloning Limited genetic diversity. If a pop. of organisms has the same genetic information, then a disease could wipe out the population. This can be done b/c not one organism has the advantage of fighting the disease over the other. This decline in the gene pool is a major problem. Think about it, if everyone has the same genetic material, what happens if we lose the ability to clone? We would have to resort to natural reproduction, causing us to inbreed, which will cause many problems. Nuclear Transfer is early in its developmental stages and errors occur when scientists carry out the procedure. The success rate is low, particularly using adult donor cells. Even when successful with the cells, only 5% of the embryos transferred lead to live birth. The technique can also lead to large offspring syndrome, characterized by prolonged gestation, increased birth weight, and greater prenatal mortality. Genetic Defects are also very common in cloning. Negative long-term effects, such as the high incidence of spontaneous abortion and abnormal birth of cloned animals, give concern about cloning humans for reproductive purposes. Cloning is extremely risky and an abnormal baby would be a nightmare come true. One major concern is the possibility that the genetic material used from the adult will continue to age so that the genes in a newborn baby clone could be, for example, 30 years old or more on the day of birth. Many attempts at animal cloning produced disfigured monsters with severe abnormalities. So that would mean creating cloned embryos, implanting them and destroying those that look imperfect as they grow in the womb. However some abnormalities may not appear till after birth. For example, a cloned cow recently died several weeks after birth w/ a huge abnormality of blood cell production. Early Death. Obesity, immune system problems, and genetic defects have been seen in many animal clones, but now there is a link between cloning and early death. Researchers at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo found that 10 of their 12 mice clones died young. The rodents were found to be suffering from severe pneumonia, liver failure, and tumors. In this case, the risk of creating children who were likely to have much shorter life spans, and problems with immune 2007-01-11T20:08:37-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Scientific,-Religious-and-Emotional-Arguments-on-Cloning-32381.aspx The Issue of Human Cloning Human cloning is a big issue in the science world. When people think of human cloning they think of the positive aspects of the issue. Having a cloned superstar around, being able to have a person reborn after a tragic death and even as far as using a cloned person for spare parts. Cloning could affect the human race. Although there are good reasons why cloning should remain legal, there are just as many reasons why this procedure could have negative affects. Health risks can be very serious when attempting to clone a human being. Disasterous mutations and abnormalities could occur in the cloning process. Emotional effects may also be a consequence to cloning that could lead to negative family problems. One example is the possibility of family separation. On the other hand there could be positive benefits to cloning humans. In my opinion a strong ban should be put on human cloning. Science has advanced so far that tampering with human lives is now a concern. Doctor Patrick Dixon stated that he was e-mailed by a young lady that asked if it was possible to have her dead father cloned(17). The answer to that question is “yes“. A dead person can be cloned. This is an example of why there are people that would like to see human beings cloned. According to author Philip Cohen, “all that is needed to clone a person is a few living cells left behind on a drinking cup, or exchanged in a handshake”(2). If an individual had enough money and a few live cells they could re-create any person they wanted to. According to Dr. Aaron Hawley, “a clone is an organism that has the same genetic information as another” (26). There are some positive aspects to cloning human beings. At this time only six percent of Americans think it would be a good idea to clone humans. Some of their reasons are very strong. Examples of a few of the reasons included by Dr.Dixon are recovering someone that has passed on, attempts to improve the human race, assisting medical research, and just plain curiosity (21). These reasons would have a strong impact on human beings as a whole. From a positive point of view, yes, we would benefit from most of these examples. The fact is that only wealthy people would be able to provide the money to have a 2007-01-11T03:41:43-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Issue-of-Human-Cloning--32336.aspx Analysis of Teenage Alcoholism Teenagers today have no idea what alcoholism really is. They think that they can never become alcoholics. They think that it could never happen to them, but they are wrong. Stress, Family problems and the desire to be popular are wrong the cause of teenage alcoholism. Signs that a teenager has a drinking problem and steps that parents can take to help their child are what I will discuss in this paper. The critical ingredient common to all alcoholic beverages is ethyl alcohol or ethanol ( Lang 21). It is a clear, tasteless liquid formed through the fermentation of sugars by yeast spores ( Lang 21). The amount of alcohol produced depends on the type and amount of sugar in the original mixture, the type of yeast used, the temperature maintained during the fermentation process. American beers, which contain about 3% to 6% alcohol, are made from malted barley and hops (he ripened and dried cones of the hop plant). Most wines are made by fermenting grapes or berries, and normally reach a maximum of about 15% alcohol. Though they are sometimes fortifies with additional ethanol alcohol and thus may reach 20% alcohol in cherry or port wines. Teenage years are filled with unsure time. Intense pressure to perform and succeed are felt by many youths, according to Alliant Health Systems, Louisville, Ky. Perceived failure at home and or school can lead to the need for escape. Teenagers often see their parents react to stress by drinking. This providing and example for them. They also see their favorite movie actors or actresses getting drunk when they go to a movie so they think that it's OK for them to o it but what they don't know it really hurts them in the long run. With their parents, the might being having marital problems and that can usually drive a teenager to drink. The desire to be accepted and popular among their friends encourages many to begin drinking as well. The ability to consume a lot of alcohol is associated with being a "real man or woman" ( Lang 23). When teens see adults drink heavily and movie stars on screen getting drunk, the message that gets through is that "it's cool to drink" which is the wrong one to be sending. Almost one half (47.9 %) of seniors drink alcohol at least once a month 19.8 % drink 2007-01-09T04:17:49-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Teenage-Alcoholism-32325.aspx Abortion and Cultural Relativism Using the ethical theory of cultural relativism I will demonstrate why physician assisted suicide, or PAS, should not become legalized in the United States. One of the key principles stated in the theory of cultural relativism is that what is deemed right and wrong by a particular culture at a particular period in time is what is ethical for that culture at that time. In the case of PAS we need merely look at the current law concerning the matter to determine it’s ethical nature. The United States Supreme Court in the case of Washington v. Glucksberg stated, “In almost every state- indeed, in almost every western democracy- it is a crime to assist a suicide”(243). In our democratic society we elect officials whom we entrust to act and govern on our behalf, more or less they represent the beliefs and values for at least the majority of citizens in our culture. Taking that in mind, the Supreme Court states, ”Indeed, opposition to and condemnation of suicide- and, therefore, of assisting suicide- are consistent and enduring themes of our philosophical, legal, and cultural heritages”(243). The very fact that PAS is currently outlawed in our society means that it is not ethical in nature with respect to cultural relativism. Another argument, which supports not legalizing physician assisted suicide, is given in an article written by Paul Chamberlin. He claims that by legalizing PAS you are giving people a choice that creates an unneeded and potentially harmful burden. Having to make this choice forces people to make a drastic decision effecting not only their life, but also the lives of their family, at a time when they are feeling practically worthless. Chamberlin states it best when he says, “By giving them the choice to die, we will have also unwittingly placed upon these vulnerable people the added burden of having to justify their own continued existence, if not to others, at least to themselves, and this at a time when they feel useless, discouraged, and a burden to others”(271). Another controversial topic affecting the lives of many people is that of abortion. I will show that, according to cultural relativism, a women should have the right to an abortion at any time during the pregnancy prior to viability, that being the time when the fetus has the capacity of 2007-01-09T03:04:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-and-Cultural-Relativism-32320.aspx The Death Penalty in Canada In Canada the penalty for taking another human beings life is a measly 25 years in prison without parole. The only sentence that should be given to a person that took the life of another human being is a sentence of death. This may seem a little harsh in the eyes of some but the truth is that at the end of the day it all goes back to an eye for an eye. The death penalty is good because it cost less for Canadians, Justice would be served and you know that the murderer will not have freedom to walk the streets in a few years. The Canadian government would rather let its citizens pay out their hard earned money and allow a murder to eat three hardy meals and watch pay-TV on big screen TV’s. This to most Canadians is a privilege and should be given to those that can obey simple law’s that are easily followed . The average inmate costs $150.00 per day or $4500.00 to $4650.00 dollars a month. Who might you ask is paying for this outrageous expense, you are through your hard earned money the money you pay in taxes is allowing a murderer to live better then the average Canadian that respects law’s and statues set forth by the Government. The families that become victim to such a malicious crime would know that the murderer would never have a chance to do this again. A families that loses a relative through natural causes has a hard enough time trying to deal with the lose, if you knew that the person was murdered and the worst that the killer would get is 25 years without parole. The sentence in itself is unjust the simple fact that the killer could go back into society, and have a chance to do such a heinous crime again. There can be no relief for the victims families and may put an uneasy feeling in most Canadians. The only way that the family could see and feel justice truly works is if that person was to lose their life. In some cases the killer should not only be granted the death penalty but should have no chance to appeal their case, the person should receive the penalty the day the court finds them guilty. The family would truly feel relieved the day 2007-01-08T22:31:08-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Death-Penalty-in-Canada-32300.aspx Dangers of Child Abuse One million children become victims of child abuse each year. A major component of this physical abuse; harm to a child for which there is no reasonable explanation. Children exhibit multiple signs and symptoms of abuse. This paper illustrates how to accurately diagnose child abuse through obtaining an accurate history accompanied with a physical and radiological examination. Currently, prevention measures are being taken to increase awareness and educate the public in hopes of solving this problem. Child abuse is the number one leading cause of death of a child. The National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA) defines child abuse as a non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child, including physical abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. The statistics, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of physical abuse will show that child abuse is a major problem and help promote awareness in society today. Statistics Child abuse has become a national epidemic-more than one million children are confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect each year by state departments. A study conducted for the Federal Government, breaks abuse down to 300,000 children physically abused, 140,000 sexually abused and another 700,000 neglected and maltreated each year. These numbers represent a 41% increase between 1988 and 1997. Many cases of physical abuse eventually result in death to the child. With the number of deaths increasing by 34% in the past decade, 1,200 children die each year as victims of abuse. This equates to at least three children a day. One half of abuse fatalities result form the physical form of abuse, generally from the parents in the home. Nearly all Fatalities occur at a very young age, with children remaining at high risk for loss of life until the age of five. The incidence of physical abuse generally decreases during early school years and increases again during adolescent years. Physical abuse can be recognized nationally as well as internationally. It affects children of all ethnic groups and scoioeconomics status. There is not a dominant gender when discussing physical abuse. Many of those who are abused as children will later go on to abuse their own children. Being poor, sick or on drugs, also increases the risk of abuse. Signs and Symptoms A disturbance in behavior is a strong signal that the child is living in an 2007-01-08T21:56:58-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dangers-of-Child-Abuse-32291.aspx Reasons to Legalize Marijuana What Is Marijuana Marijuana, a drug obtained from dried and crumpled parts of the ubiquitous hemp plant Canabis sativa (or Cannabis indica). Smoked by rolling in tobacco paper or placing in a pipe. It is also otherwise consumed worldwide by an estimated 200,000,000 persons for pleasure, an escape from reality, or relaxation. Marijuana is known by a variety of names such as kif (Morocco), dagga (South Africa), and bhang (India). Common in the United States, marijuana is called pot, grass, weed, Mary Jane, bones, etc. The main active principle of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol. The potency of its various forms ranges from a weak drink consumed in India to the highly potent hashish. The following consists of pure cannabis resin. Marijuana is not a narcotic and is not mentally or physically addicting drug. One can use mild cannabis preparations such as marijuana in small amounts for years without physical or mental deterioration. Marijuana serves to diminish inhibitions and acts as an euphoriant. Only once in a while will it produce actual hallucinations. More potent preparations of cannabis such as hashish can induce psychedelic experiences identical to those observed after ingestion of potent hallucinogens such as LSD. Some who smoke marijuana feel no effects; others feel relaxed and sociable, tend to laugh a great deal, and have a profound loss of the sense of time. Characteristically, those under the influence of marijuana show incoordination and impaired ability to perform skilled acts. Still others experience a wide range of emotions including feelings of perception, fear, insanity, happiness, love and anger. Although marijuana is not addicting, it may be habituating. The individual may become psychologically rather than physically dependent on the drug. Legalization Of Marijuana Those who urge the legalization of marijuana maintain the drug is entirely safe. The available data suggested, this is not so, Marijuana occasionally produces acute panic reactions or even transient psychoses. Furthermore, a person driving under the influence of marijuana is a danger to themselves and others. If smoked heavily and a great deal of consistency, its use has been clearly associated with mental breakdown. In many persons who smoke chronically, the drug reinforces passivity and reduces goal-directed, constructive activity. The chronic use of pure resin (hashish) has been associated both with mental deterioration and criminality. One of the major complications of marijuana use is the tendency on the part of some users to progress to 2007-01-08T21:29:16-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-to-Legalize-Marijuana-32290.aspx Social Opinion on Feminism In this essay I shell refer to the politics as a power-structure relationship which is arranged so that one group of persons is controlled by another; arrangement of human life on agreeable and rational principles from where the entire nation of power over others should be banished, and we must confess that this is not what constitutes the political as we know it, and it is this that we – women – must address ourselves. Sex is a status category with political implications. It is opportune, perhaps today, even mandatory, that we develop a more relevant psychology and philosophy of power relationships beyond the simple conceptual framework provided by our traditional formal politics. We can say, and it will not be a surprise, that our society, like all other historical civilizations, is unfortunately, a patriarchy. The fact is evident at once if one recalls that the military, industry, technology, universities, science, political offices, and finance – in short, every avenue of power within the society, including the coercive force of police – is almost entirely in male hands. If we take “patriarchal” government to be the institution, whereby that half of the population is female and is controlled by that half which is male, the principle of patriarchy is a social constant so deeply ingrained as to run through all other political, social, or economic forms, whether of caste or class feudality or bureaucracy, just as it pervades all major religions, it also exhibits great variety in history on locale. Even in democratic system, for example, females have often held no office or do so nowadays in such minuscule numbers as to be below even token representation (Millett, Sexual Politics). As the essence of politics is power, such realization cannot fail to carry impact. The impact was the rise of the feminism and series – waves, as we call them – of women’s movement. In the United States the first wave started to grow in the mid 19th century. As with the liberation of any group long oppressed, the first priority was education. The sexual revolution would have little impetus, the women’s movement still less, without the growth of higher education for women, one of the major achievements of the period. An equal education is yet to come, but even the fact of knowledge was sufficiently revolutionary to spark an enormous unset and provide the movement with its leaders, 2007-01-08T21:25:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Opinion-on-Feminism--32289.aspx Homosexual Life in American Society If you look up "homophobia" in the dictionary, it will probably tell you that it is the fear of homosexuals. While many would take issue with that definition, it is nevertheless true that in many ways, it really is a fear of homosexuality or at least homosexuals, as we will see in this essay. Homophobia is widespread in America, far more widespread than most heterosexuals realize, and it is far more subtle, too. The discrimination it inspires touches the lives of many Americans, not just gay Americans, but all Americans. And America pays a very dear price for it as we shall see. The Effects of Homophobia On American Society In 1994, during the campaign of Oliver North for the U.S. Senate, there were several of his supporters seen carrying signs along a Virginia freeway that read, "Homophobia Doesn't Kill." By announcing that belief, they were exposing their ignorance to the world, because homophobia does kill, and it kills with surprising frequency. There are the obvious murders inspired by hatred. In the U.S., they number in the dozens every year. Abroad, the numbers run to the hundreds to thousands, no one knows the precise number for sure, as in many countries, the deaths of homosexuals are not considered worth recording as a separate category. But there are other ways in which homophobia kills. There are countless suicides every year by gay men and lesbians, particularly youth, which mental health professionals tell us1 are not the direct result of the victim's homosexuality, but is actually the result of how the homosexual is treated by society. When one lives with rejection day after day, and society discounts one's value constantly, it is difficult to maintain perspective and realize that the problem is others' perceptions, not one's own, which is why suicide is several times as common among gay men as it is among straight men. Perhaps the highest price is paid by youth. The young person just emerging into adulthood who has begun to realize that he is different, and the difference is not approved of, finds acceptance of self particularly difficult. This is especially true when others perceive the young person as different, and persecute him as a result, with little effort made by authority figures to stop the torment. This is why gay youth commit suicide at a rate of about seven times that of straight youth. Yet it is surprising how 2007-01-06T21:13:14-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Homosexual-Life-in-American-Society-32258.aspx Female Equality in American Society Women have long fought the battle of equality and rights. Persevering through times of turmoil and incomprehensible obstacles in the working, social, and political world, they dared to break the constraints, which for so long kept them shackled. Up till now, women had showed the world that they are as every bit capable of anything the men can do. They deserve every victory and praise they get for it as well. The only question is: are they really up to par with the conditions men receive? Is it really safe to say that women are no longer discriminated against? Or have the tables turned: are the men nowadays up to par with the fairness women receive? All these depend on many factors. The battle of impartiality and rights is still up in the air. “Freedom to” and “freedom from”, to my understanding, coexist to form a yin and yang uniformity or a weighting balance behaviour. Expanding ‘freedom from’ rights will limit ‘freedom to’ rights and vice versa. For example, strict enforcement of freedom from violence will result in a decrease of the freedom to practice martial arts, self-defense, or anything of the sort. Though this may not be the best of examples, it’s clear enough. Many men and women are considered ‘free’ today. Women are still in danger of so many things, though. They still have to take precautionary actions to ensure they are safe when walking home at night through a park. Current safety systems such as the “Stop Request” on bus transits for women only are being implemented to ensure the safety of women. Although, with some complaints, newer policies required the same treatment for men. Even in our current society, women still face harsher conditions when compared to men. They are more vulnerable to dangers not present to the male population. Once again, the aspect of the weighting balance behaviour takes effect. Our society is more oriented on ‘freedom to’ neglecting the ‘freedom from’ aspect. Many of the rights women were fighting for are focused on their freedom to be able to do something. This increases their danger in the ‘freedom from’ category; freedom from harassment, impartiality, and being violated as an individual. Depending on global locations, the conditions women face seem to differ from place to place. North Americans have developed a more sophisticated system that provides a safer and more tolerable environment for 2007-01-06T21:04:36-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Female-Equality-in-American-Society-32256.aspx On Affirmative Action in America Affirmative action applies to employers in hiring and promoting minorities and women, governments in reserving a portion of their contracts for businesses owned by minorities and women, and colleges and universities in admitting minorities and women (Welch, 504). The history of affirmative action has its roots in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which stemmed from the 1954 United States Supreme Court Case of Brown vs. Board of Education. In this case, the Court ruled unanimously that school segregation violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order #11246 at Howard University that required federal contractors to undertake affirmative action to increase the number of minorities that they employ. He wanted to ensure that minorities were recruited to have real opportunities to be hired and then eventually get a promotion. In 1969, the Department of Labor exposed widespread racial discrimination of the Construction Department so President Richard M. Nixon decided to incorporate a system of "goals and timetables" to evaluate federal construction companies according to affirmative action. This idea of "goals and timetables" provided guidelines for companies to follow and comply with affirmative action regulations. During the presidency of Gerald R. Ford, he extended affirmative action to people with disabilities and Vietnam veterans but there were no goals or timetables for these two groups. This type of affirmative action required recruitment efforts, accessibility, accommodation and reviews of physical and mental job qualifications. President Jimmy Carter consolidated all federal agencies that were required by law to follow the affirmative action play into the Department of Labor. Before Carter did this, each agency handled affirmative action in its own individual way, some were not as consistent as other agencies were. He created the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) in 1978 to ensure compliance with the affirmative action policies. Affirmative action began to go downhill when Ronald Reagan and later George Bush came into office. Affirmative action lost some gains it had made and was more or less ignored by the Republicans in the White House and in Congress. Affirmative action was being neglected by our federal administrators. But during this time of neglect there was one positive aspect, the passage of Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The ADA bans discrimination against workers with disabilities and requires employers to make ‘reasonable accommodations’ so 2007-01-06T18:12:42-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/On-Affirmative-Action-in-America-32244.aspx Violence on Television and in the Media Is society’s violence the media’s fault? There are many controversial issues connected to the media, but recently a great deal of attention has been given to the question of whether or not violence in the media influences one’s behavior. Violence is the use of one's powers to inflict mental or physical injury upon another. Violence in entertainment reaches the public by way of television, movies, plays, and novels, but I believe that television is the most influential. I chose to do this topic because I think that people do get somewhat influenced upon watching television. I myself have also been influenced and therefore want to give my opinions about this topic. Reminiscing about my childhood, I could remember watching all the shows from the teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Kids are always being exposed to the heroes of television or the brainless violence of Beavis and Butthead. I think the main issues that contribute to why violence on television is a controversy is how it influences children, what is being done about it, and the matter of people’s right to chose what they want to watch. What is the effect of violence in media with children compared to with adults? Children model behavior they see in the media. The way television influences children in today’s society causes a major concern. If they don’t see the consequences of violence, it will teach them that violence doesn’t cause serious harm. Adults see more violence in the media than actually exists in real life. I think that they have to include extraordinary violence to keep the viewer. When heroes use violence, children think that violence is an appropriate way to respond to problems. Children are younger, so they see things and apply that to their lives, because they are learning everything at that age. There is also the fact that violence on TV does not having any affect at all. People may have seen so much, that they don’t really think about the actual act occurring on screen. To me, it’s a new generation where kids and adults are apt to see these types of things happen. If it were 20 years ago then it would be a shock. In this generation, its apparent to me that we know that this is a violent society. When we read about violence, it only 2007-01-06T18:08:10-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-on-Television-and-in-the-Media-32242.aspx Dangerous Issues Arising from Anorexia and Bulimia Anorexia and Bulimia are the two main dietary disorders which have swept other dietary disorders aside. They mostly effect girls aged 14-17. The causes vary between culture, family pressures, chemical imbalance, emotional & personality disorder. Also genetics might play a small role in contributing to this disorder. In this era, we are constantly bombarded with the images of extremely thin, anorexic models. We are constantly told, if we want people to like us we must get thin. It has crossed ever women’s mind, to be thin and to be popular. These images draw in many girls at tender ages (14-17). First they start dieting, consuming less and less food as the weeks progress. Eventually it gets to a point where they will not place a single piece of food in their mouth because of the fear of getting fat. This would be called anorexic behaviors. Anorexia is a severe revulsion towards food, making him/her malnourished and thin, leading to a possible death if not helped. The other alternative would be to be bulimic, meaning to binge, to eat till your hearts content, and then spend time in the washroom or wherever and throw it up either by yourself or with the aid of laxatives, diuretics, vomit-pills, etc. You may not realize it, but a simple suggestion can lead to one of these disorders. Statistically, around 40% of 9-10 year-old girls try to lose weight because their mothers’ might have mentioned they should try to eat a little less. Mothers or other family members of bulimic girls are usually very critical about outer appearance and are detached from their children. Now it’s not only the mother, but the mother is usually closer to her children when they are at the age of 9-10. These disorders might be the results of having parents who abuse drugs, alcohol or other substances. The genetic linkage is that when some people have anorexia there were problems when the mother was pregnant or after the birth like: infections, physical trauma, seizures, etc. It’s eight times more common when you have a relative with this disorder. Earlier I mention how families of bulimic girls are usually very critical etc., I put family in brackets because a family could be the blood family, or another type of family, like a sports family. Take gymnastics for example, the coaches (family) keep urging the gymnasts 2007-01-04T23:37:33-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dangerous-Issues-Arising-from-Anorexia-and-Bulimia-32234.aspx Feminist Theory Studies in America Why do people pursue an education? Many people would answer this question by stating they pursue an education to attain personal growth, to obtain a career of their choosing, and to earn an income that will meet their needs. The aspirations, dedication, and effort made toward receiving an education are the same for men and women. So why is the outcome for women less fruitful than for men? I believe it is because de facto discrimination has not been discouraged by legislation. If the Civil Rights Act and the 19th Amendment to the Constitution had not been created would the rights they have provided been achieved otherwise? I don’t believe so. The effort by the government to create and pass legislation and procedures for enforcing pay equity are being addressed but the results are not significant and have left most women unable to earn a fair income. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women earn, on average, only 73 cents for every dollar that men earn. Women of color experience even greater inequities-African American women earn 64 cents, while Hispanic women earn 52 cents for every dollar men earn. (Business and Professional Women/USA) Each year the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) organizes the national observance of Equal Pay Day to raise awareness about unfair pay in America. This year it was observed on Tuesday, April 16, 2002. Tuesday is symbolic of the point into the new week that a woman must work in order to earn the wages paid to a man in the previous week. (National Committee on Pay Equity) The statistical data in the Table 1-4 below reflects the harsh reality of the unfairness of earned income for women. The tables also reflect the fact that the more education a woman has the greater the wage gap will likely be. Table I. Occupations with estimated earnings of under $20,000 2 Occupation Percent Women Men's Wages Women's Wages Earnings Gap Earnings Ratio (%) Waiter/Waitress 69% $346 $301 $45 87% Cleaning & Building Services 40% $382 $307 $75 80% Cashiers 76% $313 $276 $37 88% Food Preparation and Service 50% $325 $294 $31 90% Table II. Occupations with estimated earnings between $20,000 and $34,000 Occupation Percent Women Men's Wages Women's Wages Earnings Gap Earnings Ratio (%) Bus Driver 45% $506 $401 $105 79% Sales Worker; Retail & Personal 56% $470 $301 $169 64% Mechanics & Repairers 5% $649 $627 $22 97% Construction Trades 2% $599 $475 $124 79% Truck Drivers 4% $573 $407 $166 71% Table III. Occupations with estimated earnings above $34,000 Occupation Percent Women Men's Wages Women's Wages Earnings Gap Earnings Ratio (%) Accountants & Auditors 60% $953 $690 $263 72% Securities & Financial Services Sales 33% $1,118 $641 $477 57% Physicians 31% $1,553 $899 $654 58% Teachers, College & Univ 38% $1,020 $805 $215 79% Lawyers & Judges 29% $1,448 $1,054 $394 73% Economists 48% $1,148 $785 $363 68% Table IV. Occupations in Which the Majority of Workers are Women Occupation Percent Women Men's Wages Women's Wages Earnings Gap Earnings Ratio (%) Registered Nurse 91% $890 $782 $108 88% Social Worker 71% $637 $589 $48 92% Admin Support including clerical 77% $563 $449 $114 80% teachers, except college & universities 74% $827 $673 $154 81% 1 Data were 2007-01-04T18:31:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Feminist-Theory-Studies-in-America-32225.aspx Benefits of Fulfilling Community Service There are many reasons why people are involved in community service. There are hungry people in the world, who need someone to feed them. There are handicapped people in the world, who need someone to encourage them. There are elderly people in the world, who need someone to comfort them. There are lonely people in the world, who need someone to befriend them. There are young people in the world, who need someone to give them guidance. Such a list could go on and on, of course. The need is out there, almost everywhere you look in our communities. Some have always asserted that it's the government's job to take care of people in need; other claim that private charitable organizations and individuals can shoulder the whole burden of helping those in need. These viewpoints have even entered American political debate. I think both extremes are wrong. Both government and private assistance have their place. Government assistance will continue only if voters loudly and firmly express their desires to see the continuance of particular programs. Private assistance will continue only if enough of us ask ourselves, in our hearts, whether we can afford to give of ourselves. Certainly, different people choose to give in different ways. There's a public service ad campaign I've seen which I haven't been particularly impressed with --- "Give 5%", both of one's time and of one's income --- but which is one of the few I've seen that links those two types of giving. Over the last 6-7 years, I've personally mostly given time. Perhaps in the future, I'll shift toward giving money, once I have money to give, that is. But, there's definitely something very satisfying about giving one's time and getting one's hands dirty (whether literally or figuratively speaking) and I can't imagine that signing a check, no matter large, could give the same *KIND* of satisfaction. In the acknowledgements section of my masters thesis, I credit my participation in community service (via APO) as having a positive effect, noting that "it is healthy to be reminded that there are more important things out there in the real world than passing classes or finishing thesis". It's easy to get caught up in the details and travails of one's own life. While I don't wish to trivialize my own troubles or anyone else's, 2007-01-04T18:10:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Benefits-of-Fulfilling-Community-Service-32219.aspx Solutions to Children Smoking in School Although many things that kids do can be seen as unwise or unhealthy, there are few things worse than when a teenager smokes. However, many teens smoke regularly, despite the risks and dangers of smoking. This has been an ongoing problem for many years now, and effects many people, even kids in our own school. Many kids will go into the restroom and smoke cigarettes, then exit, leaving the nauseating stench of cigarette smoke in the air for anybody that comes into the bathroom afterwards. This activity has continued despite the installation of smoke detectors. I feel that stronger steps need to be taken to ensure that kids who smoke receive a stronger understanding of the risks involved with smoking, programs should be set up to help teenagers quit smoking, and more effort should be put into keeping the school bathrooms clean and smoke-free. Even though many kids do smoke, few understand the real risks and dangers of their actions. Sure, we’ve all been through elementary school D.A.R.E programs and health class, but these are just facts and numbers telling you about what smoking might do to you. What is needed is a much deeper, more real experience in which the student learns about the great possibilities that they will get sick, and hear from survivors of these diseases, and hear about those who did not survive. This kind of curriculum would send a deeper message in which kids would actually feel what these people went through, and realize that they do not want the same thing to happen to them. After the students recognize that their actions do not do them any good, they will want to quit, but will not be able to because they have become addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes. To help these teens, programs should be set up in the school in which students can anonymously get help in dropping their habits. The program should offer information with tips to help people quit smoking, and if necessary, additional aids such as nicotine gums or patches. If these programs do not work, then obviously the student has a very serious problem, and should anonymously be admitted to a doctor for further treatment. If students have the will to quit, and the school helps to provide a way, 2007-01-04T18:04:20-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Solutions-to-Children-Smoking-in-School-32216.aspx Abortion Case Study Paper The case that I chose to discuss is an article which assesses the argument of whether it is ethically right or wrong to have a prenatal diagnosis of the sex of a child, in order for parents to decide if they want to keep the child or not. Some questions are raised as to whether sex selection through abortion is moral or immoral, and if it were immoral, in what circumstances, if any, would it be justified. Prenatal gender selection through abortion is a legal practice in any country where abortion is legal and the technology is available to determine the sex of the fetus. When parents ask for prenatal diagnosis they are not breaking any laws. Even though it is not against the law, data suggests that physicians may or may not comply with prenatal sex selection. This shows that there is a moral decision being made here by both the parents of the child, and the physician performing the procedure. Skeptics see sex selection as a precedent for other genetic "tinkering" which could possibly arise with advances in genetics. There is also the possibility that pre-conceptual methods of determining your child’s sex will be available in the future. These two future possibilities also have to be evaluated when the decision is being made to perform the prenatal diagnosis. If the demand for this procedure becomes high, then it may give doctors more of a reason to try and take prenatal choice of characteristics to new levels. These are all relevant facts that both physicians and parents have to take into account when they are making their decision. There are ethical issues that arise from the possibility of prenatal diagnosis of a fetus. The one obvious ethical issue is whether it is right or wrong to abort a child simply because it is not of the sex that is desired. The parents and the physician performing the procedure have to decide whether or not it is ethical to abort a fetus in order for them to have a child of the sex they desire. This is the issue for them to decide on, assuming that the child is healthy and has no complications. If complications are present, a whole new set of ethical issues is opened up. One can make a case that it is not unethical to have an abortion in cases of 2006-12-29T18:20:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Case-Study-Paper-32170.aspx Essay On Religion in Public Schools Everyone knows that something needs to be done about safety in public schools. Whether it’s metal detectors at the doors, or policemen in the halls, something needs to be done. I think that we could solve all of the hate and anger problems quite easily by adding a “Religion Class”. This “Religion Class” could be and extracurricular reminder of what is right and what is wrong. Not only would it unite our schools and districts, but also it would bring more peace to the classrooms. These are just a few things that bringing religion into our schools would do for us. It’s a pretty easy and simple change for all the benefits it would bring, don’t you think? First of all, this minor step wouldn’t even need to change how the schools operate. The ‘Religion Classes’, could be extracurricular. This means that the classes would be either before or after school. The teachers would need no new training because these classes could be student lead. We currently have a weekly lunchtime religion/prayer group called First Priority, but having a daily class would allow us to learn and study religion more deeply. Neither moving nor shuffling of classes would need to take place this way (Swomly P. 38). Sure, some people may not want to have these types of classes due to the differences in beliefs; however, there would be a variety of classes taught on a variety of different religions. This would be done to insure no group would be left out. Also these classes would be optional. No one would be required to attend any of them. Next, for those that have a belief in god, or any other religion base, these classes would give them a chance to evaluate themselves, and for those that don’t, this could help them to not only find one, but to see what other kids their age are doing with theirs. Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, we too could also understand that we are no better than anyone. Everyone needs to learn that at some point in their life. Daily classes on religion would help to humble us, as well as to keep us on the right path. It would be a great daily reminder for everyone. The dictionary defines evangelism as the winning or reveal of personal commitments to Christ. As 2006-12-29T15:18:48-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-On-Religion-in-Public-Schools-32150.aspx An in Depth Look at Homelessness in Society Homelessness is a serious problem in our society. Every night in our nation thousands of people are on the streets. This type of behavior is considered deviant because it does not reflect the norms and values of our society. In many cases the homeless people in our country are treated as total outcasts. Many of these people have severe mental disorders. Some are victims of an economy that has failed them. One may ask how such harsh situations exist in such an advanced society. With all the money and programs created to help people it seems ridiculous that this behavior exists. In a society where people have so much how is it possible that there are still people that have so little. The homeless are humans, no different than anyone else. They have rights and privileges just as any other citizen. As fellow humans we are obligated to help those in need. The homeless are in need. They are not only in need of money, but they are also in need of our attention and our support. Homelessness is something that we as a society need to address and eliminate completely. In the past few years the number of homeless people has increased tremendously gaining the attention of the public eye. While there is debate over how many homeless people are in the United States, few disagree that the numbers are overwhelmingly high and they are growing. In the past the homeless population mainly consisted of white men who were alcoholics. Now the homeless consists of many different types of people ranging in ethical background. They have also become a younger group of people and have a variety of different reasons for their homelessness (Farr, 1986). One of the most common reasons for homelessness is mental illness. The movement which released many of the mentally ill from psychiatric hospitals and did not place them in a place in the city that they would be cared for, have made these people regulars in the urban communities. Many citizens are scared of these people. Other people find it outrageous that our society has failed in taking care of those who do not have the ability to take care 2006-12-29T15:10:52-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/An-in-Depth-Look-at-Homelessness-in-Society-32145.aspx An In Depth Look at Homosexuality in Society Homosexuality is behavior of choosing a partner of the same sexual interaction. The term homosexual is used to characterize individuals who prefer romantic attachments and sexual interaction with the same sex and typically are maximally aroused by same sex erotic imagery. The word is used to describe both males and females. There are many terms that are used to describe homosexuals. First, “Homo” is short for homosexual and the first part of the word means “same”. The term queer is used to denote something different or odd. The term lesbian is referred to females and originally referred to the people from the Greek Island of Lesbos, where the poet Sappho lived. Sappho wrote poems about love between women, which led to gay women to be called lesbians. Some derogatory or insulting terms for homosexuals are faggot, fag, queer, dyke, and lesbo. The term faggot came from the word fagot, which is a stick of wood used to start a fire. During the Middle Ages, gay people were considered dangerous and sometimes burned at the stake. Homosexuality has always been apart of society. Until the High Middle Ages, though, the subject was never brought up. They appeared to have been widely tolerated or ignored by the Christian church throughout Europe. Beginning in the 12th century, however, hostility towards homosexuality began to show. Homosexuality began to be viewed as “unnatural”. By the end of the 19th century, medicine and psychiatry were competing with religion and law over sexuality. It started to be seen as a crime and a sin. Today homosexuality is look as both right and wrong. There are ongoing debates on the highly controversial issue. There has also been a lot of activity for the last forty years with what has been called the “Gay Revolution”. It has been going on since 1960’s to sustain drive for gay rights, and seek to end discrimination against homosexuality originated in employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and other areas of life. This led to the start of Gay Pride Week that takes place in late June. Gay Pride Week is an annual Celebration of the “Stone Wall” or “Christopher Street” riots. These celebrations and demonstrations began in an atmosphere created by young people especially 2006-12-29T15:06:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/An-In-Depth-Look-at-Homosexuality-in-Society-32144.aspx Violence in the Media and its Effects on Society Violence is a growing problem that affects everyone. It has become worse over the last decade, and I believe that the cause of this is a growing acceptance of violence in society. This acceptance is becoming more and more apparent, in school and at home, but especially in the media today. I believe that one reason this increase is occurring is because people have grown accustomed to it being a form of entertainment and people are generally more likely to watch something involving violence than something without it. Violence, in essence, is part of the human nature and will most likely always be considered entertainment to some, and it is this fascination with violence and the fact that many believe that violence solves everything that I believe is keeping the human race back from reaching a new step towards true peace. Violence has been portrayed by the media in many ways and it is the shows that have a lot of violence that usually have the highest ratings. One of the best examples of this is Wrestling. Although the people responsible for these responsible for these wrestling matches do attempt to add an interesting story to how the events unfold, in essence, wrestling popularity derives from people wanting to see the violence in these wrestling matches. Even though most people know that everything that happens during these matches are fake, and that these moves are done in a way as to not significantly injure the other person, the felling of wanting to see someone get beaten up by another person drives them to want to see it again and again and again, sometimes completely refusing to believe that it is staged because of their need for the violence. One of the main problems with wrestling is that little kids see this on TV and start to believe that this is the normal way of acting. These kids believe that when something is not going right or they are mad at someone, that other person should be slammed through a table or beaten senseless. These kids do not realize that the wrestlers they see on TV are acting and are not truly beating each other senseless. All these kids see are two grown men , or women, doing this a believing that this is okay. Then these kids attempt these wrestling moves that 2006-12-29T15:03:47-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-in-the-Media-and-its-Effects-on-Society-32143.aspx The Decline of College Institutions in America In his article, ”The Decline of the Knowledge Factory: Why our colleges must change”, the author, John Tagg, is explaining how colleges in today’s society are neglecting the undergraduate education. Tagg claims that people are sending their children to college to learn and prepare for their future careers; however, the amount of learning is astonishingly low. Tagg feels that American colleges are failing because they have become more interested in the number of credits students have than in what they learn. The mission of the colleges in current system is to offer more classes to more students. In any college in American society today, the essential meaning of “being a student” is accumulating the total credit hours. And I completely agree with Tagg’s arguments. Tagg is right to say that “the ‘atom’ of the educational universe is the one-hour block of lecture and the ‘molecule’ is the three-unit course”, and that therefore “the essential meaning of ‘being a student’ is accumulating credit hours” (Tagg 624). Today’s colleges have developed as a part of a nation wide system of higher education, and hence they have become nearly interchangeable. The essential mission of today’s colleges has come to be just to offer classes instead of learning. Nowadays, students are more interested in “finishing up the credit hours” instead of actually learning the course material. “What the student does in the class room, what the teacher does in the room, what they think after they leave the room – these things are irrelevant to the academic credit…” (Tagg 625). The interest student has in the subject does not count towards his final grade. The only thing that counts at the end is if the student attended the class and the grades he scored on the tests. Another reason why education is lacking at the college level is because of the fact that senior professors are becoming increasingly involved in various researches funded by the university. This involvement in research takes the senior professors away from the classrooms and replaces them with people less qualified to teach the undergraduate students. “Academic departments have achieved the ‘best’ of both worlds by hiring large number of graduate students or part time instructors, at low salaries and often with no benefits, to teach undergraduate courses, while freeing up senior faculty for research activities” (Tagg 626). This is fairly 2006-12-20T01:39:23-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Decline-of-College-Institutions-in-America-32098.aspx Issues with Teenagers and Alcohol Abuse People have been drinking alcohol for thousands of years, and attitudes about alcohol have fluctuated greatly over the centuries. It has gone from being an accepted form of relaxation to being a tool of the devil and recently it has risen to the number one drug of choice among North American teenagers. Alcohol is classified as a drug because of its effects on the body. It is not digested like a food; instead it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and travels to the brain. Alcohol first acts as a stimulant by making the drinker feel happy and less inhibited because alcohol affects the part of the brain responsible for learned behaviors, like self-control. As more alcohol enters the bloodstream and saturates the brain, it starts to act as a depressant on the central nervous system. This results in slurred speech, loss of co-ordination and possibly a drop in level of consciousness. On Friday and Saturday nights, drinking is the recreational activity of choice for many teenagers, some of them being underage, making this an illegal pastime. However it is not the fact that there are many underage drinkers that is so dangerous, it is the general abuse of alcohol that is causing problems. Whether they are underage or legal seems to not make much of a difference since “38% of young drinkers reported getting drunk for the first time before grade 10.” (Grosshandler 31) But it makes sense to think that drinkers who start young and continue to abuse alcohol will more likely be problem drinkers when they get older. Many kids have their first drink because they are curious and they want to fit in, possibly with an older crowd. If their first experience turns out to be a pleasurable one, they will continue to drink to get high, this being where a problem develops. Drinking to get drunk becomes a habit, so that every Friday, Saturday, and often other nights as well turn into competitions about who can get wasted first and who the last person left standing will be. A recent trend has been to “front-load” that is to arrive at a party or event already intoxicated. It is hard to imagine how a party could go anywhere but downhill when everybody staggers in. Our society’s 2006-12-19T03:32:24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-with-Teenagers-and-Alcohol-Abuse-32061.aspx Abstract Human cloning is often viewed from a negative standpoint and very rarely noted for its positive capabilities. Many people are against cloning due their own personal or religious morals but there are actually many beneficial features to it. Such possible features include: cloning of body appendages and organs, and harvesting stem cells from embryos for medical solutions; reproduction for infertile couples, and single females and males. The most important outcome of cloning is possibility of saving millions of lives. Possible benefits of human cloning will be discussed throughout this paper. Human Cloning: Should It Be Permitted? Introduction Cloning is the general term for research activity that creates a copy of some biological entity. A gene, cell, or organism is an example of an entity. There are two types of cloning; therapeutic and reproductive. Therapeutic cloning is for medical purposes only. The difference between therapeutic and reproductive is in the treatment of the embryo once nuclear transfusion has occurred. Nuclear transfusion is when the nucleus of a cell is drawn and inserted into an egg, in hope of creating an embryo (2004 http://humancloning.org/index.php). Therapeutic cloning focuses mainly on stem cells, which in the future could prevent and possibly cure many life-threatening diseases. Stem cells are found inside embryos during the first two weeks of their development and have the potential to develop into any kind of cell in the human body. After two weeks stem cells change into more specialized tissues. They can be kept in culture and replenished continuously. Stem cells act by binding and making vital body parts stronger to withstand an illness or disease, while eliminating the weaker cells. Reproductive cloning aims on developing a new individual from nuclear transfusion. This method of cloning focuses more on the benefit of infertile couples and a terminally ill person having his or her clone live a better life, with better odds of the possibility of living. The first attempts at artificial cloning were started as early as the beginning of this century. The first implantation of a nucleus into an egg cell occurred in 1952 by Robert Briggs and Thomas J. King in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Briggs and King transferred the nuclei of a Leopard Frog's eggs. Unfortunately, the cloning attempt was unsuccessful and the egg cells did not develop. Nuclear transfer of the embryo cells was not 2006-12-18T23:07:13-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Human-Cloning-Should-it-be-permitted-32040.aspx Hate and Racism in Society Living overseas for the majority of my life, racism was never a subject that I had to deal with. I was raised in a multi-cultural household; therefore, I was taught to appreciate people for who they are, not for the color of there skin. In relation to the story of “Boyhood with Gurdjieff”, my attitude had to be reevaluated when I encountered a situation dealing with racism. One night, a couple of friends and I gathered together to watch a boxing match between a Mexican-American fighter and a Puerto Rican fighter. With the massive adrenaline rushing throughout the room, arguments began to flare up about who was the superior warrior. This type of arguing is expected; however, one senseless soul (whose name is insignificant; nevertheless, I will refer to him as “D”) decided to yell out that, “Puerto Ricans are generally better then Mexicans!” I was outraged! I could not believe that “D” had the dignity to blurt out such a racial statement over a boxing match. To make matters worse, “D” tried to convince me (a Mexican-American) how literal his statement was. My manner towards “D” changed immediately from friendly acquaintance to enemy. How do I overcome such stupidity and immaturity? Does my hate put me in the same category as this racist? These questions and more run through my mind constantly as I think back to this unforgettable moment. Hate is a word that I rarely use in my vocabulary; however, hate is the feeling that I had throughout that entire night. As I arrived home all I thought about was, “Why I didn’t knock this guy silly?” I called my father and I asked him how people are supposed to deal with situations like this? He calmly said to me, “Son, there will be horrible people where ever you go. Your job is to exclude yourself from that category.” I said, “Dad, don’t you feel any sort of hate or disgust?” He said to me again, “Exclude yourself son.” I felt betrayed. I thought my father would rebel with me and stick up for our culture; instead, he advises me to turn the other cheek. In frustration I said to him, “Where is your sense of nobility and self-respect!” The hate 2006-12-18T22:12:21-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Hate-and-Racism-in-Society--32033.aspx In Support of Legalizing Marijuana For many years the use of marijuana for medical purposes has been an issue of controversial discussion. Many claim that marijuana is a drug that has proven itself to be of no medical value in the treatment of terminal illnesses. Those who feel this way, usually ignore the long history of marijuana’s medical uses; a history that goes back thousands of years ago. The drug has aided many people with the coping of terminal diseases. The use of marijuana as a medicinal herb has allowed many with no hope, to enjoy life more fully and lead rather decent life-styles. Marijuana has been erroneously classified as an addictive drug that causes unfixable psychological side effects. This may be true if marijuana is taken in heavy doses and for recreational purposes. The real fact however, is that this condition could occur with the abuse of any drug, whether it is legalized by the Medical Board or not. If marijuana is abused, it is being used in an abnormal manner, therefore possibly leading to severe emotional reactions and personality changes. Marijuana should be classified as a non-addictive drug thereby being legalized for medical purposes. The use of marijuana, under medical observation and through proper doses, in fact will not create a drug-addict, but rather it will enhance and increase the chances of a better life style. All throughout the different epochs of this world’s history, cannibis sativa and cannibis indica, more commonly known as marijuana, has verified to its users its medicinal powers. Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most active ingredient out of the already known 460 compounds found in cannibis. It is present in large amounts and is extremely psychoactive (Grinspoon and Bakalar). The first known record of marijuana use for medical purposes was in 2737 B.C. by a Chinese emperor by the name of Chen-nung. He recommended it for the treatment of malaria, constipation, rheumatic pains, absent-mindedness, and female disorders. After Chen-nung discoveries, many cultures acquired the emperor’s knowledge and accepted the the therapeutic benefits of the medicinal plant. For example, in India, "Cannabis has been recommended to quicken the mind, lower fevers, induce sleep, cure dysentery, stimulate appetite, improve digestion, relive headaches, and cure veneral disesases" (Grinspoon and Bakalar). Other places where marijuana began to make a big impact was Persia, Assayria, Greece, Africa, South America, Turkey, and Egypt. Within the realms of Western medicine, 2006-12-18T18:22:12-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/In-Support-of-Legalizing-Marijuana-32016.aspx Gun Control and Linkage Mechanisms There are several institutions or people that influence the government, but are not directly apart of it. These people or groups help influence who is elected, what issues are discussed, and what becomes public policy. These groups or people are known as linkage mechanisms. Four that are extremely important linkage mechanisms to our democracy are public opinion, organized interest groups, political parties, and elections. Each of these influences the government in different ways, including negatively. Although linkage mechanisms are not part of the government, they affect it in countless ways. One controversial subject in American society today concerns gun control. The second amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms, but with amount of gun related violence today many feel the government needs to step up and enact more gun control. It is a tricky situation since about fifty percent of Americans own firearms, while the others believe that gun regulation is needed. Public opinion is an extremely important linkage mechanism when related to gun control. Public opinion is, “the political attitudes and beliefs expressed by ordinary citizens” (Greenberg & Page 101). Since the United States is a representative democracy, the government should do exactly what the citizens want. Of course this does not always happen, but public opinion still is the most beneficial to a democracy. Listening to public opinion is the easiest way for the government to give the people what they want. In fact the best way to see if it is a true democracy is to see whether or not the citizens feel the government policies correspond to what the public wants. In the case of gun control it is difficult because public opinion is split. Recently many have been pro-gun control due the amount of deaths from guns. This is especially the case after the deadly school shooting at Columbine high school in Littleton, Colorado, as well as several others including two recent ones in San Diego, California. Many citizens question how these kids had guns in the first place, and if they were stricter laws maybe lives could have been saved. On the other hand, many anti-gun control citizens have voiced their opinion in retaliation to cries for more gun control. Many of these people own guns for sport or self-defense 2006-12-18T17:45:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Control-and-Linkage-Mechanisms-32005.aspx Child Pornography Press Release I am Nancy Cohen, wife of Ivan Cohen, who was charged and convicted of possession and distribution of Child Pornography. Last week, Radio, TV and the newspapers stated the court of Appeal decision to uphold the conviction, but, to reduce the sentence from 14 months in jail, to 14 months of house arrest. After 4 years of silence, I, my husband and our children want our side of the story told. This won’t change what has happened, but, as a family, we want the community to know the facts that were never told. In July of 1997, and during the raid of our house, over 1,200 floppy diskettes were seized, along with all our computer equipment, hard drives, CDs, printers, right down to power bars, as well as our VCR, video tapes, and the like. Not one image of child pornography was found in our home, or in any of the seized material. The computer hard drives were sent to the RCMP forensic labs in Ottawa, where they were dissected in minute detail, and we have since learned, they can find material on a hard drive long after it’s been deleted by a user. They reported no images found. What was shown in court was images received by an undercover police officer, and they say they can prove the sender to be Ivan. They said it was Ivan, because the ISP address, the information the computer uses as an electronic street address, was the same. As an analogy, this would be like sending a letter through the mail, but, putting someone else’s return address on the back. So, where did we go wrong? Our original Defense council could never persuade the fact that anyone, anywhere, can send anything through someone else’s computer and make it appear to be you. Our original Defense council never used the services of a computer expert, since we were told it would be too much trouble to gather the necessary background papers on the expert to present to the court to validate the expert status. Our second lawyer, handling our appeal, Lawrence Greenspon, stated as he read the transcripts that this trial was a witch hunt, and Ivan never had a chance. It was only during the appeal hearing that we realized how wrong this had gone. Since the original lawyer handling our 2006-12-08T03:09:42-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Pornography-Press-Release-31948.aspx Essay Against Capital Punishment In this country, The Death Penalty is used to punish some of the worst criminals. The country decides to take their lives for the crimes they have committed, The Death Penalty, also 2006-12-07T15:27:20-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-Against-Capital-Punishment-31922.aspx A Murderer in Jail When a murderer goes to jail and he is already sentenced a life-time in jail what exactly goes through his mind? Do they regret things they have done in the past, or maybe they would never have done anything differently and just wish they never got caught. Since they have a life-time in jail maybe they think that they have nothing to lose so they might kill another in prison. What exactly goes through the minds of these twisted murderers? Whatever goes through their head, we can only wonder when the next time they are going to take away a innocent life. The main problems with keeping a killer alive in prison is they have nothing to lose if they have a lifetime in jail, their mental state is not stable, and the prison guard to prisoner ratio is significantly different. In the minds of these murderers, in most cases than not, they are thinking about the next victim that will fall into their trap. Maybe they want to get back at the officers for catching them in the first place and will kill a prison guard. The guards never know what the prisoners will do next. Maybe they think they have nothing to lose but to kill another cellmate, or maybe their mental state is never going to change. They think that it is alright to kill five people then they are most definitely sick in the mind. The prison guard to prisoner ratio is a big difference and prisoners could take on the prison guards if they had others join with them. In the summer of 1999, New York opened a state-of-the-art jail which made seventy jails that were in New York. This prison was built for the aggressive prisoners who rebelled everywhere else. They would leave the prisoners in their cell alone for 23 hours out of the day never seeing a classroom or the cafeteria. Sometimes the guards switched it up and put two cell mates together in a cell for 23 hours. Well this had made Donnell Brunson go to the extent he had gone. It was May 12, 1999 at 2:45 a.m. and Brunson was reading in his cell with his bunkmate, Jose Quintana who was charged for killing another man. Quintana asked for Brunson to turn off his light but Brunson did not and kept the light 2006-12-07T09:08:13-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cause-and-Effect-of-Capital-Punishment-31917.aspx Obesity in America Obesity is an epidemic that is sweeping over the United States today affecting adults and children alike. In fact, the World Health organization now considers obesity to be a global epidemic and public health problem as more and more nations become “Westernized”(WebMD.com). With studies indicating that nearly 55% of American adults are either overweight or obese, it is clear that obesity is now justifiably emerging as a disease attracting much interest in the clinical research field in order to both identify and resolve the causes/symptoms of this disease. Obesity is defined as “when a person’s caloric intake exceeds his or her energy expenditure. At this point, the body stores the extra calories in the fat cells present in adipose tissue. These adipose cells function as energy reservoirs, and they enlarge or contract depending upon how people use this energy”(WebMD.com). When a person does not have a healthy balance between their energy input and output by means or a healthy diet and regular exercise, they will experience excess fat storage and thus possibly become overweight. Obesity can be clinically diagnosed by many factors including the following: 1.) BMI- Body Mass Index, or BMI, is the best method of determining a persons body fat. By calculations involving a persons height and weight, the BMI is determined. A BMI of 30 or above is defined by federal guidelines to be obesity. 2.) Waist Circumference- The most unhealthy form of fat is fat that is deposited in the abdominal region. Obesity can be implied is a person has a high wasit measurement in proportion to the rest of their body. 3.) Anthropometry- Anthropometry is the measurement of skin fold thickness in various regions of the body. This technique is useful in determining if weight is the product of muscle mass or of fat mass.(WebMd.com) Any person who indulges in an unhealthy diet including an excessive intake of fat and/or calories and does not have any form of excise regimen implemented into their daily lives is at risk for obesity. Of course there are several other factors that could contribute to a persons chance of becoming afflicted with obesity such as binge-digesting, depression, physical ailments which prevent exercise, etc. However, the main factors leading to obesity in the United States, however, are social and cultural issues. With the increase in fast food availability and the decrease of the time most Americans have to 2006-12-05T16:18:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Obesity-in-America--31903.aspx Argument in Favor of Marijuana Legalization The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 started the prohibition of marijuana in America. At the time many tabloids ran untrue stories of Immigrants committing violent crimes while intoxicated with marijuana, so Congress decided to start prohibition of marijuana . This was a huge blow to many Americans since marijuana was and still is the third most popular recreational drug behind nicotine and alcohol. Also marijuana was a huge cash crop, so many farmers lost a lot of money by the prohibition. However the most dire consequence has been the massive amount of marijuana users arrested, which causes prison overcrowding. According to government surveys over 70 million people in America have smoked marijuana, and a marijuana user gets arrested every 45 seconds . With numbers like theses its no surprise the prison systems can’t handle the huge influx of non violent marijuana smokers die to the war on drugs. There has been a 60% increase in marijuana arrests since Clinton started the war on drugs and over 10,000,000 Americans have been incarcerated for marijuana usage since 1972. The war on drugs also targets minorities unfairly, Blacks and Hispanics make up only 20% of marijuana users, but they are 58% of the arrested users . This has caused a lot of criticism and accusations of racism which tarnish the reputation of law enforcement officers everywhere. Marijuana users receive ridiculously long sentences, for example in Oregon a person who sold one half gram of marijuana would receive up to 20 years in prison and a $300,000 fine , that is a lot more then many violent criminals would receive. Prisons can only hold a certain amount of prisoners at once, and are now severely overcrowded. To make room for the rapid increase in marijuana users incarcerated many prisons are releasing violent criminals early. People often approve of sending drug users to prison, to get them off the streets but they don’t realize that violent criminals are put out on the streets instead. Fighting marijuana use costs the government $7.5 billion a year, that is money that could be spent on education or public housing. Prohibition of marijuana like with alcohol has only led to more crime, and excessive government spending with no results. The government should take the same approach they do with 2006-12-05T15:46:33-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-in-Favor-of-Marijuana-Legalization-31889.aspx The War on Drugs Drug prohibition is expensive, does not work, and causes more harms than the behavior it is intended to suppress, therefore the war on drugs should end and the legalization should begin. In 1999 alone, the government issued a whopping $17.1 billion towards the war on drugs. That’s roughly $600 per second. According to the United Nations, profits in illegal drugs are so inflated, that three-quarters of all drug shipments would have to be intercepted to seriously reduce the profitability of the business. Current efforts only intercept 13% of heroin shipments and 28%-40% of cocaine shipments. Obviously international drug businesses aren’t getting very hurt by our $17.1 billion war on drugs project, so why even waste the money? That money must have been obtained from our tax dollars considering that 60 percent of all U.S. inmates are drug offenders. Obviously the $17.1 billion didn’t help very much, because the percent of imprisoned drug offenders still remains steady. In federal court today, low-level crack dealers and first-time offenders sentenced for trafficking of crack cocaine receive an average sentence of 10 years and six months. This is only 18% less than the average prison sentence received by those who committed murder or manslaughter, 59% longer than the average prison sentence received by rapists, 38% longer than the average prison sentence received by those guilty of weapons offenses. A person is arrested every 20 seconds for drug violations in America. The number of female inmates has tripled since last year, and the majority of them are low-level drug offenders. 80 percent of all female prisoners are mothers, and 70 percent are single parents and drug offender. I wonder why so many children are neglected? All this can change if we are willing to experiment and break away from an orthodox style of thinking and governing. Obviously the war on drugs isn’t working, so it’s now time for a new solution, but first we must be willing to agree as a society to accept the fact that drugs do exist, and that they will continue to exist until the end of time. Drugs that are currently legal and socially accepted in our society such as tobacco and alcohol are the leading causes of all deaths in America. Annually tobacco kills 430,700, alcohol 110,640, adverse reactions to prescription drugs 2006-12-05T15:33:47-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-War-on-Drugs-31882.aspx Aims of the World Wildlife Organization The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is an environmental organization dedicated to protecting the world’s wildlife and wetlands. It is one of the largest private supported conservation organizations in the world, with support from 1 million members in just the United States. Since 1961 the WWF has invested in over 13,100 projects in 157 countries. I picked this organization to write to, and to write about, because they seem very involved in helping the wildlife and the wetlands. With so many members, and so many projects going on, the organization seems very dedicated. Not only has it been around so long, but also the organization exists in various countries around the world. It got my attention when researching it, and gives many great tips on how to get involved. World Wildlife Fund US is part of the international WWF network, which has national organizations or representatives in more than 50 countries across five continents. It is positioned to act quickly when conservation emergencies arise, such as the need to save a highly endangered species or habitat, or to acquire valuable land for a park or protected area. The three goals the WWF focuses on are: protecting endangered spaces, saving endangered species, and addressing global threats. The WWF has been a conservation leader for over 40 years, helping save the rhino, tiger, and giant panda, and helping establish and manage parks and reserves worldwide. Specifically, to help save endangered animals, the WWF saves the animals through varieties of programs, including education, habitat conservation and increasing the capacity of local governments and people within the endangered animals’ home. As for conserving and reconstructing the animals habitats, the WWF created a campaign called "Forests for Life Campaign," which helps save the animals by creating and keeping a safe environment. First, the WWF works with governments, lending agencies, and local communities to establish effective management of a representative network of protected areas with a minimum of 10 percent coverage for each forest type found in each country. Second, WWF works with companies to transform the destructive and wasteful habits of the timber trade into conservation efforts. As for the ways people can help, the WWF recommends three steps; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The WWF says that if the average American reduced his/her consumption of wood and paper to the level of the average European, there would be a 2006-12-04T21:01:06-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Aims-of-the-World-Wildlife-Organization-31864.aspx Aims of the World Wildlife Organization The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is an environmental organization dedicated to protecting the world’s wildlife and wetlands. It is one of the largest private supported conservation organizations in the world, with support from 1 million members in just the United States. Since 1961 the WWF has invested in over 13,100 projects in 157 countries. I picked this organization to write to, and to write about, because they seem very involved in helping the wildlife and the wetlands. With so many members, and so many projects going on, the organization seems very dedicated. Not only has it been around so long, but also the organization exists in various countries around the world. It got my attention when researching it, and gives many great tips on how to get involved. World Wildlife Fund US is part of the international WWF network, which has national organizations or representatives in more than 50 countries across five continents. It is positioned to act quickly when conservation emergencies arise, such as the need to save a highly endangered species or habitat, or to acquire valuable land for a park or protected area. The three goals the WWF focuses on are: protecting endangered spaces, saving endangered species, and addressing global threats. The WWF has been a conservation leader for over 40 years, helping save the rhino, tiger, and giant panda, and helping establish and manage parks and reserves worldwide. Specifically, to help save endangered animals, the WWF saves the animals through varieties of programs, including education, habitat conservation and increasing the capacity of local governments and people within the endangered animals’ home. As for conserving and reconstructing the animals habitats, the WWF created a campaign called "Forests for Life Campaign," which helps save the animals by creating and keeping a safe environment. First, the WWF works with governments, lending agencies, and local communities to establish effective management of a representative network of protected areas with a minimum of 10 percent coverage for each forest type found in each country. Second, WWF works with companies to transform the destructive and wasteful habits of the timber trade into conservation efforts. As for the ways people can help, the WWF recommends three steps; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The WWF says that if the average American reduced his/her consumption of wood and paper to the level of the average European, there would be a 2006-12-04T20:58:18-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Aims-of-the-World-Wildlife-Organization-31863.aspx Cultural Diversity The first reason why we are enthusiastic about cultural respect is because any white person in Australia is not Australian. The only people who are truly Australians are the Aboriginals, but even they are believed to have migrated here about 40 000 years ago. So who can really say, ‘I’m Australian’ when the reasons we got here were because we did something wrong and were sent here by boat so serve our time. Caring and Sharing The second reason why we overly enthuse caring and sharing in cultural respect in Australia is because of the way we treated the Aboriginal people when the first European settlement by British convicts came here in the 1700’s. They treated the Aboriginals terribly and so now in Australia we have to be a multicultural nation so that people will forget what we did. Aboriginal people still get treated badly in Australia due to some people who are prejudice, but not many people are prejudice anymore. Australian citizenship is mainly all about equality. The main reasons that it is about equality are 1. We are not truly Australian and 2. How we treated Aboriginals (as explained in paragraphs1 and 2). Attitudes in Australia The citizenship facts sheet (refer to text book pg 31) does not sound very Australian. In Australia it is all about the ‘She’ll be right mate’ attitude. We are very laid back and nice we don’t prejudice other people (we are to comfortable), although some people wreck that reputation. Some people in Australia deserve to be kicked out, the people who prejudice and the people who burn our national symbol - our flag. These things are offending to the nation. Society in conflict As previously explained some features of our society are in conflict with the Australian citizenship facts sheet. We have prejudice, some people even commit hate crimes, discrimination, some people discriminate against Aboriginals and people from other countries and last of all the law, people brake the law all the time. The Citizenship Pledge The citizenship pledge contains four main values they are: Loyalty to Australia and its people - so cultural respect is not lost we must be loyal by not braking the laws or committing hate crimes against Australian citizens, the sharing of democratic beliefs - believing in our democracy, the respect of rights and liberties - not abusing the rights and liberties we are given 2006-11-23T10:38:14-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cultural-Diversity-in-Australia-31829.aspx Capital Punishment Under the Knife Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. Since every person has there own opinion on this topic, either for or against, the question always raised is "Is it morally right." The number of problems with the death penalty are enormous, ranging from innocence to racism, and these problems will never be resolved unless the death penalty is abolished. Capital Punishment also referred to as the death penalty, is the foolishly ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime, often called a ''capital offense'' or a ''capital crime''. Some authorities that practice capital punishment limit its use to a small number of criminal offences, mainly treason and murder (Stem 49). Prisoners who have been sentenced to death are usually kept set aside from other prisoners in a special part of the prison until their execution. In some places this segregated area is known as "Death Row." Historically and still today, under certain systems of law, the death penalty was applied to a wider range of crimes, including robbery or theft (Stem 50). It has also been frequently used by the military for crimes including looting, disobedience, and uprising (Stem 52). This way of punishment has long past its expiration date and needs an immediate change. Like we say in America “in with the new, and out with the old.” This punishment has only one purpose; to terrorize not only the criminal, but the family and friends of them as well. There are many negative impacts on this controversial subject, but the main one is that innocent people will be executed instead of the real criminal. Thus, the criminal is still alive and the family has to go through misery finding out that their loved one is innocent. Even before finding out this the time leading to the execution and during the execution can build up so much stress, often resulting in strokes or heart attacks. Also, it must be remembered that criminals are real people too that have feelings just like the rest of the innocent people. Capital punishment needs to go and preferably fast. The first issue that should be observed is that of innocence. Are there really innocent people on death row? At least twenty-three people have been executed who did not commit the crime they were accused of (Kuttner 2006-11-17T03:00:09-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-to-Be-Abolished-31812.aspx Arguments on Gun Control With the Second Amendment giving American citizens the right to bear arms, and approximately fifty percent of Americans owning some form of a firearm, issues involving the ownership and possession of guns have led to heated debates in American society. Most notably is the issue of gun control. Many feel that the some form of gun regulation is necessary in order to lower the level of gun related violence in the country. On the other hand, the opponents of gun control feel that it would be an infringement on their second amendment rights. The outcome and extent of gun control has strong political implications because it basically determines the present day meaning of the Second Amendment. While each side has strong points to their arguments, one quote by writer Michael Warfel basically sums up the need for gun control. He writes, “ an individual’s right to own and bear arms must be balanced by the greater social needs of a society” (18). Today, based on the number of crimes and violent acts committed with guns, society needs more gun control. Issues and policies relating to gun control in the United States date back to the late 1800s where the supreme court made the decision that the “right of bearing arms for a lawful purpose is not a right granted by the Constitution” followed up with a decision that states are “free to regulate the rights of citizens to bear arms” (Maguire 60). Later in the 1930’s president Roosevelt tried to pass legislation on gun regulations, but they were defeated in congress. Calls for gun control have usually followed major and highly publicized crimes and attacks involving guns, such as the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960’s. Also, the shooting of John Lennon and the attempt on President Reagen, as well as the recent string of shootings in American schools. Following the assassinations, the Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed, with its central aim being a national standard on how and to whom guns were sold. This was added on to in 1994 with the Brady Act, which required gun dealers to run background checks on gun buyers before selling them (Rosen 61). While there is obviously some gun regulation currently in affect in the United States, 2006-11-17T02:45:27-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Arguments-on-Gun-Control-31805.aspx Feelings on Hate Crimes Hate crimes are toxic in our community and everywhere. There are numerous instances of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse each year. The consequences of the hate crimes have been and are horrible for both the abuser and victims. As Andrew Sullivan once said in The New York Times Magazine, “ A free country will always mean a hateful country. It is reality, and while we need not endorse it, we should not delude ourselves into thinking we can prevent it”. Although this quote is true we should very much try and prevent hate and always remember that discrimination kills. On June 7, 1998 James Byrd Jr. was chained to the back of a pick-up truck and dragged three miles to his death. James was killed by William King who was 24 and a white supremacist, anti black and anti Semitic. King and two friends killed James because it was part of a bonding ritual in their fledging supremacists group. There are many instances of hate crimes each year. In 1993 William L. Childs was killed by a group of teenagers in Blue Valley Park, Kansas City. He was beaten, shoved, stabbed, and his head was smashed into a rock just because he was gay. Five years ago a gay man named Reed started receiving harassing phone calls. During those phone calls someone once said, “I know where you live” and another caller said, “Were going to kill you”. not much later Reed was struck by a full beer bottle. Buford Furrow Jr. calmly walked up to a Filipino American, casually asked him to mail a letter, and shot him on the spot. That was right after he had just walked into a Jewish Community Center and shot at kindergartners. Not only the people that are being abused are the victims but so are they’re family, friends, and relatives. For example, when William King had an opportunity to say something to James Byrd JR’s family he smirked and uttered an obscenity. King bragged to an accomplice that “I have made history”. There are numerous consequences for victims of hatred. Reed had to move three times in five years to avoid the harassing phone calls and physical abuse. The consequences of hate can go from that to death. Studies show that in 1985 there were eleven mentions of hate crimes. In 1990 there were more then a thousand and 2006-11-17T02:34:09-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Feelings-on-Hate-Crimes--31799.aspx The Truth about Drunk Driving Drinking and driving is one of the poorest choices an individual can make. Unfortunately, too many kids, adults, women and men are making this unwise choice. Drunk Drivers endanger themselves and others on the road. In fact, one-third of the deaths for people from fifteen to twenty years of age are caused by alcohol, either by the victim or the killer. In 1998, 32% of all American high school students were regular drinkers. Most drinkers enjoy drinking heavily at parties at night, and usually, they or their friend drives to the party. A lot of the time, nobody is worried about the designated driver and must understand that designated driver is always necessary. Even if drinkers think they have “only had a little” to drink they also have 2006-11-17T02:30:54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Truth-about-Drunk-Driving-31797.aspx Teenagers and Drug Abuse Many teenagers today use illegal drugs and substances. There are many factors that influence drug use. Whether people say it is parents that influence the most or peers that influence the most, each one has a role in it. Some surveys say drug use is going down and some say it is going up. Whichever the case may be it is still a problem to our society. The presence of a parent is no as important as people think when talking about drug use. Research shows that the “presence or absence of parents is less crucial… than the quality of the parent child relationship”(Whitman 22). Also there are many things that can happen in a family. When there is a drastic change in the family structure, for example, a parent is replaced by another person it could have an impact on drug use later in life. As research shows, “changes in the family structures should be considered when investigation relationships and drug use”(McCullum 22). Relationships with parents have always been very important to teenagers, whether it influences them in a positive way or a negative way. For example, “if parents can remain warm, firm and supportive throughout the often troublesome time of adolescence” they “will still feel secure and loved”(McCallum 26). Therefore better communication between parents and children about the dangers of drug use has helped the decline in teenage drug use (Vise 1). When teenagers have a good communication between their parents and them, they tend to be more open with their parents about drugs. Parents will, in most cases, communicate with their children their disapproval of illegal drug abuse. If this happens, teenagers will be more apt to listen to their parents. In studies shown “teens who have a close relationship with their parents report low alcohol and drug use”(McCullum 22). Many people think it is only the behavior of the parent that counts the most, but actually it is the “parental attitudes towards a behavior that influences an adolescents’ behavior more than the actual behavior of the parent”(McCallum 22). One of the main reasons for developing a drug abuse problem is a poor relationship with the parent or parents. These adolescents run a greater risk than all the other, of having a drug problem(McCallum 25). Also 2006-11-17T01:17:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teenagers-and-Drug-Abuse-31768.aspx STOP THE WHINING It is pathetic the attitude the American press and the American people take for the deployment of the military personnel to engage in battle. Americans are constantly whining about the length of time troops spend defending the nation. As a taxpayer and a veteran, I have not heard any complaints about the salaries the soldiers receive or have received for years of inactivity. How have they earned the cost for America to maintain a military force? They receive room and board, and are given a salary; they shop at discount supply centers, which do not meet the market prices that the everyday citizen has to pay. There has not been any complaining about these benefits for non-work. Now, when it is time to earn your keep and get to work for your wages and stop the gravy train, the families of soldiers are not as proud of the choice their children have made. How can people be so proud of their family members being in the military when there is nothing for them to do and then suddenly think the work is wrong and dirty? A lot of this attitude is being related to religious value, but scripture is filled with the wars of the world and during those wars at the respective time it is written that the battles lasted for years even decades or longer. The armies of Alexander the Great, Hannibal, King Arthur, World War I, conquering the American West and the American Civil War all had family members serving long, long periods in battle away from home on lengthy tours to accomplish the mission. These soldiers worked for far less pay than the present soldier without the current family perks. When the public realizes that the modern soldier volunteered to do this work then they will realize that the nature of the job has Death associated with it. The soldier is taught this, the history books acknowledges the effects of war on a nation and the individual. How can this nation be secure if the personnel are lying up on the shores, making babies? Prior to engaging in war, the military has the largest Welfare payroll in the nation. People doing nothing getting paid from the public fund. While the rest of the population is struggling to make ends meet. When the ordinary citizen has to lobby to get medical 2006-11-15T05:18:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Military-Families-and-Soldiers-31741.aspx Facts that Most People Don't Know About Marijuana Marijuana is the most popular and used illegal drug in the United States today. It is used from the ages as early as 13 to as late as unknown. Marijuana is ranked number two in terms of the most popular drugs legal and illegal next to alcohol. There are a lot of things that people don’t know about marijuana and it’s effects, and here is the truth. What is Marijuana? Half of the people smoking it don’t even know where it came from in general. When you buy it from someone else however you will never really know where it came from or what is in it. Marijuana is a mixture of leaves, stems and flowering tops of the Indian hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. The psychoactive ingredient of marijuana is THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol), and is concentrated in the flowering tops of the plant. Hashish is a drug prepared from the plant resin, and has about eight times more THC then the average marijuana. Marijuana has been around for hundreds of years. In Central Asia and China as early as 3000 B.C., Marijuana was used as a folk medicine. It was not until about the 1900’s that it was used as a pleasure-inducing drug, and by the 1960’s and 1970’s it was used wide spread. Now in the year 2001 the use of marijuana is so wide spread that it is a really uncommon drug. Studies show that marijuana is about five times stronger then it was in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Marijuana grows throughout temperate regions, with more potent varieties produced in dry, hot, upland climates. With green houses marijuana can be grown just about anywhere. There are a numerous amounts names for marijuana. They are: Weed, Pot, Mary Jane, Greens, Grass, Dank, Ganja, Blunts, and Trees. The most common names though are weed, greens, trees, and blunts. The regular use of marijuana is illegal in all parts of the United States. However in 1996 voters in both California and Arizona approved ballot measures exempting physicians and patients from criminal prosecution when marijuana is prescribed for medical purposes in the relief of pain or other symptoms caused by cancer, Aids, glaucoma, arthritis, and other illnesses and chronic conditions. The Massachusetts and Ohio legislatures enacted similar medical necessity laws in 1996 also. As an alternative to smoking marijuana in these cases the 2006-11-15T02:58:43-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Facts-that-Most-People-Don-t-Know-About-Marijuana-31738.aspx The topic of genetics has always been a controversial one. Although it offers the enormous possibility of removing birth defects and genetic illness, it has risks, and some people argue that the risks outweigh the benefits. They say that checking a baby’s genetic code before birth will lead to unhealthy birth selection: resorting to abortions at the slightest possibility of a defect, even if it is not a major one and it is an insignificant one, like slight tendency towards Attention Deficit Disorder. An other main problem with genetic engineering is that since we do not know the outcome of an experiment, we must to try it first, this will lead to many failures, and since we are experimenting with live cells and organisms it will lead to many deaths. From an employer’s point of view, genetics is very good because they will be able to tell which candidate is best simply by a test; this will lead to discrimination of the lesser people because they are not as advanced as the others. Health insurance agencies will be able to tell if there is a risk in ensuring an individual or not; this will again result in discrimination because the people that need the healthcare the most will not receive it. The scientific and medical institutions will thrive, in attempts to speed-up evolution, trying to create this “perfect” individual, but what is perfection? Is it the ability to compete as an athlete? Or is it one’s artistic capabilities? Or is it one’s academic and intellectual capabilities? This induced unnatural evolution will have to reach a point in which humans can no longer develop further and they will all be alike. Is it at this point that they will have achieved perfection? Then the offspring of these “perfect” individuals will have to be equally perfect, but no better, they will be exactly the same as their parents. The gene pool will no longer exist and then these perfect being will be highly susceptible to new diseases; no matter how good ones immunity system is there is still a chance that it can be over taken by a new virus or bacteria that adapts. Also in the search for perfection, the sense of individualism will be lost; nobody will have any tics or quirk because those are signs of imper-fection, flaws. There will be no need for sport because any team 2006-11-13T00:26:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pros-and-Cons-of-Genetics-31729.aspx Problems with Drinking and Driving Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense. Over the years, consequences have become more severe especially for young driver. Groups like MADD, have pushed legislation to make drinking and driving laws tougher. MADD stands for Mothers Against Drunk Driving started by a group in California after a 13 year old girl was killed by a hit and run driver. The driver had been out of jail for 2 days after another hit and run collision. The driver had three previous convictions of drinking and driving and was arrested on two. The driver got a very light sentence which most of it he did not serve. The mission statement of MADD is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. There are many groups like MADD such as SADD (students against drunk driving), RAADD(recording artist against drunk driving), and BADD(boaters against drunk driving). Driving While intoxicated means a person is operating a motor vehicle while legally drunk. All states consider .10% BAC(blood alcohol content) to be legally intoxicated. Many people feel they are very capable to drive after drinking and they think their judgment is fine. Alcohol affects your reflexes, reaction time, judgment of speed and distance, and makes you less alert. You may actually feel more confident about driving when you should not be driving at all. Alcohol makes YOU make bad decisions. Never drink alcohol while taking certain drugs. It often multiples the effect of alcohol and the certain drug. Just after one drink a driver begin to lose their ability to perform the tasks necessary to drive a car. One drink is equal to 1oz. Liquor, 4-5oz. Of wine, and 12oz. Of beer (one can). Your liver breaks down about one drink per hour. Alcohol will affect you until it is out of your system. While your weight plays a small role of your BAC, no one is immune to the effects of alcohol. Coffee, exercise, and cold showers do very little to reduce your BAC. Eating before or while you drink helps slow down alcohol absorption, but it cannot prevent you from becoming impaired or intoxicated if you drink too much. In New York State like many others you are breaking the law driving with 2006-11-11T18:58:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Problems-with-Drinking-and-Driving-31721.aspx Study on the Use of the Abortion Pill Thursday, September 28, 2000, the Federal Drug and Food Administration approved the use of mifepristone, the abortion pill known as RU-486. This pill makes it dramatically easier for a woman to have an abortion. If pregnancy is detected within seven weeks of conception, this simple pill can abort the baby, making it unnecessary to go through with abortion surgery. I believe that the FDA’s approval of RU-486 was wrong and the pill should be banned. This pill is one of the worst things to come out of modern technology in recent years. This pill contributes to the lessening of the value of life. Pro-choice activists claim that removing a fetus is not wrong because it is not a living, breathing human being. While some women that just discovered they were pregnant might shy away from having abortion surgery because of the procedure, this pill is a new way to destroy a life. It is also far easier to just swallow a few pills than it is to have the fetus removed through a tube. The process is simple. First, three Mifeprex (mifepristone) pills are taken which go directly into the system. They block receptors of progesterone, a hormone needed to maintain pregnancy. It then softens and opens up the cervix. As a result, the fertilized egg is prevented from clinging to the wall. Then the fetus is expelled from the mother. Two days after the first three tablets are taken, the woman takes two misoprostol tables unless the doctor can confirm that the pregnancy has been completely terminated through ultrasound or a clinical exam. This procedure is incredibly easy compared to the inhumane process of a surgery which removes the brain of the fetus. It takes away from life’s value because now any woman who wishes to have it done and falls within the correct time frame can walk into a clinic, swallow three pills and be done within a week. This is a simple, carefree process of destroying a human life. The pill should also be banned because it has a very high risk of serious side effects. Some of these side effects include excessive bleeding, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and fainting. It may also include back pain, fatigue, 2006-11-02T15:44:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Study-on-the-Use-of-the-Abortion-Pill-31671.aspx The Importance of Having Good 2006-11-02T15:30:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Having-Good-Parents-31665.aspx Historical Discrimination in America The events in Birmingham, Alabama is evidence that the unfair treatment of African Americans led the call of direct-action. Suffering humiliating court rulings, police brutality, unsolved bombings, and broken promises by city officials are the reasons for the actions taken by the black community. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a non-violent movement that opened the eyes of millions of Americans witnessing the protest on the streets of Birmingham. Dr. Kings actions of bringing justice for his people where just, his evidence regarding non-violent action comes from four basic steps; “the collection of facts to determine whether injustice exists; negotiations; self-purifications; and direct actions; are his reasons for the out roar and fight for equality by African Americans(66)”. King first researched the problems before taking any steps toward protest. Merchants had made promises of removing the racial signs from stores if demonstrations were to be stopped but that came out as an broken promise, within weeks the signs were back up again. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling, desegregate all schools in the nation, yet in Birmingham, that law was never enforced and segregated schools still exist(71). Birmingham is also a city known for the most unsolved bombings of black houses and churches(66). Police brutality was also known throughout. Beatings, hosings with enough pressure to take the bark off a big tree, police dogs attacking people of all ages, are all factors to the non-violent movement taking place in 1963(66). Bringing the African American community together, to prepare and organize was a task. Dr. King made workshops directed towards non-violence. He questioned his people, “Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?”(67) “Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?”(67) The community in turn sacrificed themselves and made headlines in Birmingham. Boycotting stores during Easter, putting pressure on the new Mayor and getting the media involved, opened the eyes of America. Dr. King’s critiques criticize his demonstrations for being untimely and unwise. Eight clergymen during the south wrote a letter condemning Dr. King for his actions said, “…we are now confronted by a series of demonstrations by some of our Negro citizens, directed and led in part by outsiders.” which is written toward Dr. King to stay out of Birmingham’s political 2006-11-02T15:24:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Historical-Discrimination-in-America-31663.aspx Issues Regarding Ethnic Discrimination Ethnic discrimination in our schools is a growing concern. Ethnic discrimination in schools can be defined as not giving a person an equal education on account of their race. I believe that this is a big problem because that if we discriminate against our students we will ultimately lower our college attendance rates. There are classes that stress anti-racism for not only the students, but the teachers as well. Students of all races lose when they are not given the chance to learn from teachers of all races. Teachers also lose out when they are not given the chance to learn how to teach to students of different races. We students and faculty at Washington Union might think that this “ethnic discrimination” is a long way away. However, how many African-American students do we have in our honors or AP classes? How many times have you heard students complaining that members of a different racial class receive “special privileges”? As you can see there is discrimination right here at home. Ethnic discrimination in our schools has been going on since the emancipation proclamation, but in the last thirty years it has been making a drastic comeback (www.harvardstudies.com). Ever since the governor of Arkansas had to call soldiers to try and stop the “Little Rock 9” from attending Central high school there have been a barrage of other discriminatory acts committed in our schools. One of those acts that set the standards for the others was the class action suit “regents of the University of California v. Bakke”. This case was filed by a young black man that claimed he was not admitted to college on the account of him being black. The Supreme Court ruled that quotas would be prohibited and that colleges could use ethnicity as a factor of admission (www.blkhismonth.com). After this case, another case in the seventies was brought into the court system that was on the account of a white man not being excepted to UCDavis on the account of his being white. This was after a later Supreme Court had named the University v. Bakke decision unconstitutional (www.chicagotrib.com). One might think that these cases weren’t that big of a deal, or that they would not affect them. Au Contraire, when a certain bunch of people are 2006-11-02T14:57:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Regarding-Ethnic-Discrimination-31660.aspx Is Violence a Viable Source of Change in Society? Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. These days things that need change result in violence and people who want change become violent because that’s what they think they have to do in order to get what they want. Violence doesn’t only bring change but it also prevents change. Change is to reverse a previously held opinion or an earlier decision. Not everyone would agree with the decision made, that’s why wars, riots and strikes take place. Does Violence bring change, or does change bring violence? War begins because of the difference in opinions of nations, states or parties. I do not think that anything will be resolved from wars except hurting innocent people and causing more problems among countries. War is an act of violence did make some drastic changes to our society. After war power was distributed differently from the results of the war. War from my point of view does not solve anything. I don’t think in any way, shape or form violence could solve anything. When parents hit there kids because they did not obey the rules or they did something wrong it doesn’t change anything. By teaching them and talking to them about what they did wrong is what’s going to make them change. Africa is known as a continent of conflict. Entire regions have been caught up in violent conflicts that have sometimes resulted in state collapse. Yet during it’s nearly four decades of independence, West Africa has known comparatively little violent conflict and has had diverse experiences in managing there conflicts. Governance is conflict management. Governments are needed to handle the conflicting demands posed by groups in society and to reduce the conflicts that arise among the groups themselves. Unmanaged, these conflicts can escalate into violence. It is clear that violence can affect behavior, but does this mean it also affects our thinking, our values, our morals as well? Our society does not like it when the government does something that everyone is not satisfied with and when that happens violence occurs because of anger. Anger is a strong 2006-10-31T22:16:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Violence-a-Viable-Source-of-Change-in-Society-31637.aspx Modern Forms of Discrimination Who says discrimination doesn’t exist in present day? Newspapers, television, and people all around us are methods of seeing that discrimination occurs everyday of our lives. There might be those people who say that it is extinct, but then again, do they come in contact with people outside their own race? Discrimination is something that is here with is for as long as we live. It’s an issue 2006-10-29T22:31:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Modern-Forms-of-Discrimination-31625.aspx Domestic Violence It’s another quiet night outside the house. Not a sound can be heard throughout the darkened street. But, inside the house, a slamming door shatters the silence, the force causing the house to rock as John storms into the bedroom in the search of his wife, Miriam. The walls are still quivering as a new tremor shoots through them. This time it’s John’s voice as he bellows for his wife. He finds her cowering behind a chair. He grabs the chair and beats her with it, hitting her again and again while she screams in pain. The neighbors all wince involuntarily as the dull thuds of the chair pounding her body and the terrified shrieks pierce through the walls of their houses and they silently thank the Lord that they aren’t going through the same thing. Yet, no one tries to stop anything. It’s been labeled an “inside affair” so it continues to be just an “average night” at the Johnson house. But you have to wonder: what went wrong? What is the difference in this man and woman that causes this to be a normal occurrence at their house? Probably the most asked question ever from people about this situation is what went wrong? Sometimes it comes from the batterer, wondering what turned him into this monster. Or it could come from the victim, wondering what he/she is doing to deserve the pummeling fists that constantly rain down on them. Even the people that aren’t involved so closely, the ones that can’t understand why the couple is always fighting but leave it to their business, even they want to know what happened to loving couple they used to see. Everyone tries to analyze what went wrong. Unfortunately, the answers to their questions aren’t simple. This abuse could have come from anywhere. Maybe John started out as a jealous boyfriend that wanted to make sure his girlfriend didn’t look at anyone but him or that wanted to feel like he was in control, that he held the power. It could have come from the men in his life that he had always looked up to. If they showed him this physical and mental thrashing of others was okay, then he would be in the mindset to think they were 2006-10-29T21:41:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Domestic-Violence--31615.aspx Affirmative Action Essay Affirmative action was originally designed to help minorities, but women especially white women have made the greatest gains as a result of these program. Affirmative action is a growing argument among our society. It is multifaceted and very often defined vaguely. Many people define affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness. Others might see it as a quote based system for different minority groups. In 1974, a woman named Rose was turned down for a supervisory job in favor of a male. She was told that she was the most qualified person, but the position was going to be filled by a man because he had a family to support. Five years before that, when Rose was about to fill an entry level position in banking a personnel officer outlined the woman’s pay scale which was $25 to $50 month less than what men were being paid for the same position. Rose was furious because she felt this was discriminating to her. She confronted the personnel officer and he saw nothing wrong with it. Thanks to affirmative action today things like these situations are becoming more rare and corrected more quickly. Affirmative action has definitely helped women and minorities in their careers, but it has yet to succeed in the goal of equality to the fullest for the business world to women and minorities. Some observers argue that women have made huge strides with the help of affirmative action. They now hold 40 percent of all corporate middle management jobs and the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 57 percent since 1982. Affirmative action was designed to give qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with whites. Equal opportunities for the blacks has remained more wishful thinking than fact. Black students are continuing to struggle to seek an education and black business owners are still competing against their White counterparts. Black workers are experiencing an unemployment rate twice that of Whites and hold dead end labor intensive low paying jobs. The employment outlook for minorities is grim, but not hopeless. We definitely need affirmative action to overcome the disparities of employment that exist in his country. A recent Urban Benchmarks study found that of 71 metro areas surveyed nationwide. Pittsburgh had the highest rate of employment related problems among non Hispanic whites between the ages of 25 2006-10-29T21:30:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Affirmative-Action-Essay-31611.aspx The Importance of Medicinal Marijuana He was my colleague and friend. He was also creative, sensitive, caring and an inspiring teacher of medicine. He was admired, respected and loved by his family, friends, students and patients. In addition to this, he was dying of a cancer which was slowly growing and expanding in his chest despite aggressive chemotherapy treatment. My colleague and friend knew he was dying and accepted his fate with his usual grace and dignity. What he was not accepting or tolerating well was the terrible side effects his chemotherapy was creating within his body. Unable to tolerate foods because of unrelenting and severe nausea and vomiting, my friend was slowly losing weight and wasting away, his strength taken from him by the very medication he was taking to fight for his life. Nothing seemed to work. Every possible treatment for nausea and vomiting failed to bring him some relief and comfort or his appetite back. If something did not happen soon, we all knew the chemotherapy would have to be stopped and any chance for an extended period of remission or comfort would end. But something did happen and my friend told me about it one beautiful fall day while I sat with him on his porch overlooking the green hills of Tennessee. He told me how a month earlier, someone had brought him marijuana. Having never smoked and certainly never having used illegal substances, my friend was at first reluctant to try the carefully rolled cigarette handed to him. However, he was desperate and sick of being sick, and so he agreed to give it a try. What he found out amazed him. Marijuana curbed his nausea, stimulated his appetite and generally elevated his mood. In addition, some of the dull pain in his chest was diminished. That afternoon he told he was hoping to be able to continue his new found illegal treatment. He knew it would not be easy. Today, the controversy of whether to legalize marijuana for certain medical conditions continues to be debated by the medical community and society. While the debate rages on, many sufferers of AIDS and cancer are going to “clubs” where they can buy marijuana in the form of banana bread, magic brownies and “merry pills”. In order to buy these products, an individual must have a note from his or her 2006-10-28T19:51:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Medicinal-Marijuana-31597.aspx Examination of Teenage Lifestyles Many adults say that teens live a frivolous life of friends and parties. Times have changed since these adults were teens themselves and the constant pressures from parents, other adults, school, and friends have changed also. The time era, changes in lifestyle, and emotional pressures have been drastically altered to almost unbearable for today’s teens. The changes in time are very important when talking about the difference in teen stress. In the years of the twentieth century, back in ancient times, when adults today were once teenagers there were fewer things to worry about. In the fifties it was the “Leave It to Beaver” era where most mothers stayed at home to clean, fathers came home happy everyday, and the kids always had a good day at school. They seemed to have no stress. In the sixties peace and war changed the lives of kids to parties and drugs. And in the seventies disco, platforms, and paten leather suits ruled it all. It was as though the responsibilities of getting good grades and family and friend obligations were last on the priority list. Life before hitting twenty was fun and “party time” for those teens. Today teens have stress put on them twenty-four hours a day. The new and improved pressures are very different from those times. In the fifties it was very uncommon for adults to get divorced. Teens didn’t have to worry about with which parent they would have to live. In the sixties and seventies it became a little more popular. But now half the population is either divorced or remarried. The thought of parents getting divorced or remarried can seriously damage a child’s emotional well-being by having the child in the court or by having to choose which parent to live with. With this stress on their shoulders grades go down and so does the effort that goes into the sports. Another factor is the plagues of the 21st century that weren’t around in the fifties, sixties, and seventies. Some of these include AIDS and HIV. These diseases did not appear as wide spread until the seventies. All teens worry about the spread of these deadly diseases. Some of these teens already have to live with these diseases every day and 2006-10-28T19:00:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examination-of-Teenage-Lifestyles-31579.aspx Some parents have an idea of their child before they can even walk. What that child will look like, what sports they will play, even down to what they’re going to be when they grow up. But is this a fair thing to do to America’s youth? I have found every kid raised around me has a weight they carry on their shoulders. The baggage they must carry with them everywhere, which gets heavier and heavier with each passing year. The pressure placed on all kids not just to do well but also to do great, to at some point exceed the expectations rather than meet them. In America there are many pressures for young people to face. Whether or not to drink or do drugs, make friends and do well in school and sports are just a few. But where do these pressures come from? The most obvious answer is their parents. The first time I remember feeling this pressure was in the third grade. I had just brought home my first official report card and my parents were not happy. According to them a C minus was not a good grade. I was confused, up until then everything I did was greeted with applause. So is this when the pressure starts? At the first report card, or does it happen much earlier? My mom recalls day dreaming about me becoming president or a doctor even a lawyer before I was even born. Is this when it starts, in the womb? Many parents expect their child to continue with the family business. My friend Joshua’s parents own a small dry cleaners and he can recall practically growing up in this store. Grades and sports never were a priority for his parents; they had decided his destiny before he could speak. He even remembers as a small child hearing his parents argue about what he was to become. As an amazing basketball player Josh had received a scholarship to a big ten school, he remembers fighting with his father about taking the opportunity instead of continuing in the family business. His father had decided that he was to carry on for him without even asking. As soon as he heard the words “it’s a boy!” he began planning Josh’s future, something that would ultimately shatter their relationship and Josh’s spirit years to come. There was a girl in my high school 2006-09-27T11:43:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/pressure-on-kids-from-parents-31470.aspx Supporting Abortion as a Moral Act In order to fully understand the abortion issue, we must learn the information and inform ourselves what happens when one decides to have an abortion. In order to do this, we must ask ourselves simple questions. We will start with everyone’s favorite question, is it alive? Yes it is. Pro-Choice supporters who claim it isn't are lying to themselves. Of course it's alive. It's a biological mechanism that converts nutrients and oxygen into energy that causes its cells to divide, multiply, and grow. It's alive. Anti-abortion activists often mistakenly use this fact to support their cause. "Life begins at conception" they claim. And they would be right. The genesis of a new human life begins when the egg with 23 chromosomes joins with a sperm with 23 chromosomes and creates a fertilized cell, called a zygote, with 46 chromosomes. The single-cell zygote contains all the DNA necessary to grow into an independent, conscious human being. It is a potential person. But being alive does not give the zygote full human rights - including the right not to be aborted during its gestation. A single-cell ameba also coverts nutrients and oxygen into biological energy that causes its cells to divide, multiply and grow. It also contains a full set of its own DNA. It shares everything in common with a human zygote except that it is not a potential person. Left to grow, it will always be an ameba - never a human person. It is just as alive as the zygote, but we would never defend its human rights based solely on that fact. And neither can the anti-abortionist, which is why we must answer the following questions as well. The next question to be dealt with, is it human? Yes. Again, Pro-Choice defenders stick their feet into their mouths when they defend abortion by claiming the zygote-embryo-fetus isn't human. It is human. Its DNA is that of a human. Left to grow, it will become a full human person. And again, anti-abortion activists often mistakenly use this fact to support their cause. They are fond of saying, "an acorn is an oak tree in an early stage of development; likewise, the zygote is a human being in an early stage of development." And they would be right. But having a full set of human DNA does not give the zygote full human rights 2006-09-20T03:36:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Supporting-Abortion-as-a-Moral-Act-31452.aspx During the austral summer a giant selection of phytoplankton blooms bringing billions upon billions of krill to the Southern Ocean, which also attracts many whales. Whalers in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s relished this season, coming and catching as many whales as they could find. Today’s whalers hunt the whales in moderation and hunt the whales for research as well as the bones, oil/blubber and meat they were hunter for when whaling first began. When whaling first began all whaling was done from land, so in 1868 when Svend Foyn of Norway invented the first exploding harpoon, which made it easier to hunt whales. They were hunted for their bones, oil and meat. Whale bones were used in the way we use plastic today, the oil for use in oil lamps and for heating and the meat was eaten. From the 1900’s onwards the prime target was the Blue Whale for its oil (a single 90-foot whale could contain 120 barrels of it!), bone and meat. When Blue Whales seemed to be dying out, whalers targeted smaller species like the Fin, followed by the Sei and finally the Minke in the 1980’s. Today, Japan is one of the biggest whaling countries, each year they kill at least 300 whales for research, and the meat from these whales is often sold to Japanese Eateries to fund further research. Whale meat is a highly prized meat in Japanese eateries. In 1966, Blue Whales almost went extinct, and they were given worldwide protection. Just before Blue Whales began to be a prime target there were around 200,000 – 300,000 of them, but in 1966 numbers had plummeted right down to around 1200. For around ten years after this protection was introduced, Blue Whales were still hunted widely because apparently a large Blue Whale was ‘too tempting to ignore’. There are many nature conservation groups trying to put a stop to whaling, one of the main ones is Greenpeace. Unlike myself, Greenpeace are against all whaling, including whaling for scientific research. Many fish food companies including Gorton’s, Sealord and Nissui once supported the Japanese scientific whaling, but now due to Greenpeace they have withdrawn their support for the whaling. From the Greenpeace.org Website: Update April, 2006: “After months of pressure from Ocean Defenders everywhere, our friends at seafood suppliers Gorton's, Sealord and parent company Nissui have withdrawn their active support for Japanese whaling. This does not 2006-09-03T23:51:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Whaling-in-Antarctica-31426.aspx Social Effects of Bringing a Strip Club to a Community Changing Up Our Act A boy and his father were stopped at a red light. The boy out his window and notices a bright neon sign, ands asks his father “What dose XXX mean?” The father quickly changes the subject and drives away. This is just one of the questions and controversy that a strip club could bring to a community. It seems that in the past decade strip clubs have been sprouting up all across the country, sometimes in small communities. Strip clubs are detrimental in that they show that sexual acts are acceptable in today’s society, they only provide enjoyable entertainment to a particular audience, and problems that occur in the club can lead to problems in the community. One major concern that strip clubs bring to a community is that they show the younger generation that sexual acts are acceptable in today’s society. This can be proven in a number of ways. One way that they show unacceptable behavior is by placing advertisements in newspapers with coupons attached or over the radio and television announcing a wet T-shirt contest or amateur night to name a few. Another way that strip clubs show sexual acceptance is by how well it pays. Since you don’t need a degree to get up on stage and dance to music while removing articles of clothing many young adults think of this as an easy way to make money with out having to get an education. Even some movies and television shows present the idea that strip clubs are acceptable. For instance, Porkeys, a movie made in the seventies which portrays a group of high school kids from a small town sneaking into a strip club and having the time of their lives until being throw out. This alone gives young viewers the belief the sexual acts like stripping are a good thing. It is now at the point where television shows are also encouraging it. One show that makes strip clubs seem acceptable is Married With Children. In this show Al Bundy makes strip clubs out to be the greatest place on earth, an example to support this is, when he takes his son Bud on his eighteenth birthday. His wife Peggy also helps make strip clubs acceptable when she 2006-08-31T17:57:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Effects-of-Bringing-a-Strip-Club-to-a-Community-31405.aspx Getting Rid of Government Involvement with Euthanasia Euthanasia is spurring a political and moral debate of unprecedented intensity in American society. Physician-assisted suicide has been an issue of court disputes for a long time; it has suddenly been the issue of debate in Congress, White House, and both political parties. The fact that such a private issue has come to be a public affair is despicable. Euthanasia is a beacon of light for some people in their private time of need. Euthanasia should be kept a private affair for people to practice without government interference. Incurable diseases may lead to doctor-assisted suicide. Cancer, AIDS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are just a few of the terminal illnesses that cause pain and suffering too many people in the world today. These diseases go on with out a cure and the only way to ease the patient’s pain is with medicines that sometimes have little effect. Euthanasia gleams a sign of hope for those who have none, in a desperate time of need. Additionally, Chemotherapy is one of the only medical devices that prevent cancer from spreading through out the body. After chemo a patient will experience excess vomiting, lack of movement and communication, loss of hair, and even skin tone. Patients will do this sometimes twice a month and have to go through all of these effects over and over again. It seems as though it would just be better to not have to go through this painful ordeal. The use of doctor-assisted suicide is an option that will relieve the persons suffering, indefinitely. Euthanasia may be the only alternative when afflicted persons can not even communicate to the one’s they love. Euthanasia is a moral standard that should be kept. Mercy killing has long been apart of our history, books, and religions. To end one’s life in a fashion that shows compassion to a victim of misfortune – is a mercy killing. Doctors have done this for patients in their last moments of life, to ease the agony that death brings on the body. That is not any different than doing the exact same action at an earlier date in their prolonged suffering. Moreover, mercy killing not only benefits the afflicted patient, but the close friends and family, too. It aids in emotional and 2006-08-31T17:16:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Getting-Rid-of-Government-Involvement-with-Euthanasia-31390.aspx Against the Death Penalty The Death Penalty is, undeniably, one of the most controversial issues of our day. Emotional tensions are high between those who hold human life above justice and those who hold justice above all human life. The Death Penalty, along with all other forms of criminal punishment, is barbaric. This form of punishment, indeed all forms of criminal justice, truly shows the level to which society has sunk. When people stand outside prisons and cheer as prisoners are murdered, there is a problem. When personal bloodlust is held above moral ideologies, there is a problem. When human life is assigned a value and weighed against other alternatives, there is a problem. The state speaks of Justice, but this word is only a reflection of the confusion, anger, and hatred that has fermented within this country, indeed within the very foundations of human society itself. Truly there is no purpose to the Death Penalty other than vengeance, yet it seems that our society has sunk to such a level that even vengeance is acceptable to most. The state, though, mimics every abhorrent quality of a punishable act of murder; a murder committed in anger is punished with an execution committed in anger; a cold, calculated, murder committed with pleasure is met with the same form of execution. The end result is the same and the feeling with which it is carried out is the same. There are, even, many qualities of the death penalty that surpass the moral obscenity of a criminal act of murder. Where then is the difference between a murder and an execution? How can one form of murder be right and another be wrong? How can the same deed, carried out by two different people, be one time evil and another time divine? How, furthermore, can a morally adverse action promote the morality, let alone the continued existence, of human society? If we feel bad about explaining the Death Penalty to our children then we should not have to explain it at all. There is a large majority of Christians in this country, yet such a small number of them actually come up in opposition to the Death Penalty; oftentimes, in fact, they are its most avid supporters. How can this be? All the teachings of Christ, save for those which have been horribly twisted by his followers, are opposed to any form of criminal 2006-08-29T15:22:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Against-the-Death-Penalty-31367.aspx Pros and Cons to Legalizing Illegal Drugs In today’s world, illegal drugs seem to be everywhere. Illegal drugs are prominent among adults, youth, the poor, and the rich. The United States spends billions of dollars each year trying to keep drugs from entering the country, but with limited success. Several politicians and other individuals question the way in which our country handles the problem of illegal drugs. Some believe that we should keep fighting the drug war by keeping drugs illegal which includes sending people to prison for buying, selling, transporting and being in possession of drugs. Others believe that we should legalize drugs, or decriminalize the charges brought about by drugs in some way. The legalization of drugs will only create new problems, and create more chaos among the criminals who buy, sell, transport, and use drugs. Cases such as this come up often in our country, and it is important to look at all of the effects of each opinion before making the correct decision or law. Yes to legalization What have we done about the increasing drug problem? The government has enlarged its funding and resources and has tried to declare war, but it has not helped much. Many people ignore the law that says drugs are illegal. In the previous year, about thirty million people in America have had something to do with illegal drugs and have violated drug laws. I have seen the effects personally, in which drugs have torn relationships apart between my friends and their families. Many have fought their own war with drugs, and others continue to use drugs. Few are able to afford the expense of treatment centers. Today places that used to treat people for drug problems with open arms are now over crowded and are sending people elsewhere, or just simply giving them no service at all. The same problem of over crowding is happening in our prisons. Drug law violators make up about 1/3 of the population in federal prisons. Drug violators rather than more serious offenders such as robbers and sex offenders are using more of our prison space. The number of drug law violators in prisons is going to continue to increase. The cost of maintaining and building as many prisons as needed for the enormous increase in population can amount to large sums of money for taxpayers, and this idea is not very appealing to 2006-08-27T23:51:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pros-and-Cons-to-Legalizing-Illegal-Drugs-31349.aspx Allowing Abortions in Certain Situations When having unprotected sex you are taking a risk, a risk to conceive a child. Every action taken has a consequence, and when a couple has unprotected sex, they must deal with the consequences. A woman who is old enough to conceive a child should take the responsibility to raise the child: abortion should not be an option since she took the risk. A woman should not have an abortion because she wants to; she needs a solid reason to do it. A reasonable instance for a women to get an abortion would be if she were raped; the baby was conceived out of incest; or that the baby or mother was in danger. There are some other reasons that would make an abortion a reasonable decision. One of those reasons is that severe anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities with the fetus. Which can only be identified through amniocentesis. This is the test most commonly used to determine whether the child is abnormal or not. In a few cases the embryo lodges in one of the woman's fallopian tubes, and has to be quickly surgically removed in order to prevent an almost certain death from blood loss (Cook 63-68). Seventy-five to eighty percent of rape victims that become pregnant choose to let the baby live and do not get an abortion. They believe an abortion would be just another act of violence perpetrated against their bodies and their children(www.prolifeinfo.org). Some of the other pregnant rape victims believe that their child's life may have some meaning or purpose which they do not yet understand. The child was brought into their lives by a horrible, repulsive act. But perhaps God, or fate, will use the child for some greater purpose. They believe that good can come from evil. In the case of Roe vs. Wade (1973), the US Supreme Court held that the US Constitution protects a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy. Through the end of the first trimester, her decision, made in consultation with her physician, must be free from government interference (Cook 56). "We should overturn Roe vs. Wade and pass a Human Life Amendment to the constitution protecting the constitutional right of our posterity," said Presidential candidate Alan Keyes (www.yahoonews.com). Starting at the end of the first trimester, however, the states 2006-08-27T23:43:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Allowing-Abortions-in-Certain-Situations-31345.aspx Children and Television Talk Shows Children today are gaining too much information from television talk shows. Are talk shows setting a bad example for children of the future? Just take a moment to think of all the bad language, violence, and abuse that is portrayed through television programs such as Jerry Springer. The majority of parents would prefer to have their children rushing home from school to see the latest episode of the Flintstones or what is going on in Pokemon’s world. The big issue is that children are now racing to the television set to see what prostitute is sleeping with whose brother’s sister and how many women are pregnant and do not know who the daddy of their baby is. That is a good way for a young child to develop bad moral habits and interpret the wrong views on how to live their life. Children cannot be monitored at every possible second, but it is possible to be aware of what your child is doing and watching on TV. Think before you act, and realize that children’s futures are in the hands of an adult, and the things we say and do affect their everyday lives. Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!……not a nice tune to hear your child chanting. What children see on television talk shows like Jerry Springer can make a huge impact on how children decipher what is correct and incorrect. Children might see things on television such as women kissing women, men punching other men, or even exposure to women’s body parts and think that is a cool way to act. This could lead an innocent child to follow in the footsteps of a loser, a prostitute, or a jail bird. Children do not understand the effects of television today. Children are at a very fragile stage in their early years of life, and the environment that they grow up in impacts their future. Although, television is a main part of their environment, and parents cannot keep this away from a child. There is probably a television in almost every room in a normal house in today’s world, and children watch them. This is a source of entertainment, because playing outside has almost died out due to all the new video devices that are now made. Television is almost 2006-08-27T22:45:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Children-and-Television-Talk-Shows-31331.aspx Political and Moral Debate on Euthanasia Euthanasia is spurring a political and moral debate of unprecedented intensity in American society. Physician-assisted suicide has been an issue of court disputes for a long time; it has suddenly been the issue of debate in Congress, White House, and both political parties. The fact that such a private issue has come to be a public affair is despicable. Euthanasia is a beacon of light for some people in their private time of need. Euthanasia should be kept a private affair for people to practice without government interference. Incurable diseases may lead to doctor-assisted suicide. Cancer, AIDS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are just a few of the terminal illnesses that cause pain and suffering too many people in the world today. These diseases go on with out a cure and the only way to ease the patient’s pain is with medicines that sometimes have little effect. Euthanasia gleams a sign of hope for those who have none, in a desperate time of need. Additionally, Chemotherapy is one of the only medical devices that prevent cancer from spreading through out the body. After chemo a patient will experience excess vomiting, lack of movement and communication, loss of hair, and even skin tone. Patients will do this sometimes twice a month and have to go through all of these effects over and over again. It seems as though it would just be better to not have to go through this painful ordeal. The use of doctor-assisted suicide is an option that will relieve the persons suffering, indefinitely. Euthanasia may be the only alternative when afflicted persons can not even communicate to the one’s they love. Euthanasia is a moral standard that should be kept. Mercy killing has long been apart of our history, books, and religions. To end one’s life in a fashion that shows compassion to a victim of misfortune – is a mercy killing. Doctors have done this for patients in their last moments of life, to ease the agony that death brings on the body. That is not any different than doing the exact same action at an earlier date in their prolonged suffering. Moreover, mercy killing not only benefits the afflicted patient, but the close friends and family, too. It aids in emotional and financial 2006-08-27T22:07:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-and-Moral-Debate-on-Euthanasia-31329.aspx Alcoholism in American Society Alcoholism is a large, strongly growing problem in America today. It’s pretty sad when a man gets inebriated to the point that he forgets he’s supposed to be watching his own child. Dr. Laura was correct in telling the man that he needs to get help for his alcohol problem. Just getting help for his alcoholism isn’t the only thing he has to do, however. He also needs to apologize to his wife. This man needs to tell her that he was wrong in what he did and that nothing like that will ever happen again. He needs to prove to her that he can be a good father as well as a good husband. Improving his actions is a great first step that may help him earn a little of his wife’s trust back. If he doesn’t get any trust from her, then their marriage simply just won’t work. Neither will his duty as a father. Supervision definitely is needed in this case. I definitely don’t think he should be allowed to be alone with his child. Obviously he can’t be trusted to watch her alone if he got drunk while watching her and ended up completely oblivious as to what he was supposed to be doing. If he’s with the child around other people- his wife, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle- that’s fine. But does he honestly think that someone’s going to trust him alone with the child after this past experience? I know I wouldn’t. I, personally, don’t see how this guy can feel sorry for himself. He screwed up big time and he shouldn’t even get a second chance. He is getting off incredibly easy by only needing someone there when he’s with the child. In most cases Social Services would be so involved that the guy wouldn’t even be able to see his kid for a certain period of time. Even in that situation, after that grace period was up, he’d still have to have to have a social worker with him when he wanted to see the kid. In most states, what he did would be considered a form of child abuse. That’s how it should be looked at here, but apparently he’s getting some major lenience. This man needs to realize how lucky he is to have a wife that will still want him around. If I were him, I would suck it 2006-08-27T17:43:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcoholism-in-American-Society-31321.aspx Religious Implications on Euthanasia When is it ok to kill another human being? Is it right to end someone else’s life under any circumstances just because another term is used? Some people say that it’s ok if that human being is suffering unbearably. If we really think about that statement we are all suffering, life itself is unbearable pain but its all about how one perceives the misfortunes that life has to offer. There isn't anyone I know that has not suffered from heartbreak, the loss of a loved one, a bad family life, persistent anxiety attacks, depression, rape, or even a terminally ill disease. The list goes on, but some of these people have also had a better outlook on life because they think that the worst has happened and they look at life in a new light. They can also relate to others better because more than likely the majority of the population has been through at least one of these same traumas. Therefore, the question is not euthanasia; the question is what one believes humans are to accomplish on earth? I believe that we are put here to redeem ourselves from our past sins, whether it is ones skeletons kept in the closet or ones past life. Furthermore, if one is in agonizing pain then who is to say that is not punishment for ones sins? When we let our doctors, our families, and even ourselves decide the fate of ones life it compromises with the master plan of redemption. We have little detail about doctors' practices outside the law, but what we do know makes it unlikely that they are either ethical or necessary. It is not necessary for doctors to kill patients to relieve pain, though sometimes the assistance or advice of an expert in palliative care will be required. They took an oath to take care of the sick and heal the wounded. Doctors are obliged by law to know how to treat the patients under their care, and if they do not know, they are obliged to find out or get assistance. Suffering is not a medical matter alone; it has many social causes also, some of which are unable to be remedied by doctors, or perhaps by anyone. It would surely not be wanted that doctors should 2006-08-27T16:35:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Religious-Implications-on-Euthanasia-31318.aspx Ethical Issues Surrounding Pro-Choice Abortion is one of the most controversial issues discussed in today’s society. Some people believe that abortion is a woman’s right, and that it is acceptable. These people fall into the category of pro-choice. The other group of people that believe abortion is completely wrong are people that are in favor of pro-life. Abortion is the act of destroying an un-born fetus in a woman’s womb. This issue has caused a great deal of turmoil in the world. Some protesters have even killed other people over this issue, which is ironic because killing human beings is exactly what those people are protesting. It is wrong for a woman to get an abortion, with the exceptions in cases of incest, rape, and when the mother’s life is in danger. It is wrong because women choose to have sex. They know the consequences of having sex could result in becoming pregnant. The women that have an abortion when they become pregnant, by their own choice, are using it as a method of birth control, which is wrong. Allowing a woman to have an abortion is immoral. The fact that a woman has a right to her own body is an idea that more women are starting to realize. Never has a state granted a citizen the right to have another person killed in order to solve a personal, social, or financial dilemmas. Pro-choice advocates argue that having an abortion is safer that the actual childbirth itself. It is true that childbirth can sometimes cause damage to a woman’s body. However, there is a great deal more problems and complications that can arise after a woman has an abortion. Doctors have reported that the occurrence of genital tract infection is a common complication. Infection of the womb and tube can cause the woman to have permanent damage. Another likely problem is the pelvic inflammatory disease. Even if treated promptly it is difficult to manage and can also lead to infertility. Bleeding can also easily become a dangerous factor, which result in 10% of woman having to receive a blood transfusion. There are several other problems that can show up due to having an abortion. The most severe of these problems, but less likely is death. After their abortions, many women have 2006-08-25T17:15:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ethical-Issues-Surrounding-Pro-Choice-31270.aspx Eating disorders: Anorexia And Bulimia Essay I was going to write this exercise as a study or a list of facts about the problems caused by eating disorders, and how they effect people of my age. However, I have to decide to give the real facts and feeling that the glossy magazines exclude. For about a year I have had an obsession with my weight and appearances, in many ways it has gradually over take my life, controlling what I do and how I think. Just after the school Christmas holidays I started treading on the “day deciders”. These small objects would decided whether my day would go well or not, to a person with an eating disorder this block of metal and plastic that tell your weight, controls their day, week and even their month. The text book definition of anorexia is “A persons who intentionally stave themselves to loss weight”. The text book definition of bulimia is “A person that removes food from their body with out letting it be thoroughly digested this can be by making themselves sick, using laxatives and over exercising (this can be seen in anorexics as well). They may be the texts books version but they are not anywhere near the truth of the problem. This is my story it is full of the fact and experiences that the books will not tell you. Do not judge me before you have read this. I used to that to people with an eating disorder before, I only hope people will not do that to me. In the beginning, it started with missing the odd breakfast. I had always hated the smell of a cooked breakfast and I stopped touching then at the age of twelve. It was the whole idea of eating the droplets of fat on the plate and what they might do to me when I ate them. Eventually I in had stopped eating anything up to eleven o’clock by the age of fourteen. I used to pretend to have eaten something by swishing a bit of milk and cereal around the bowl – this would fool my mum and it still does. After Christmas 2000 I went on the scales, I notice that my weight had reason to ten stone! The day before we had been talking about our weights at school, my friends were only eight to seven and a half 2006-08-12T16:46:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Eating-disorders-Anorexia-And-Bulimia-Essay-31242.aspx In Favor of Euthanasia Euthanasia. The word is originated from the Greek language Eu meaning good and Thanatos means death. Good death. The meaning of this word is “the intentional termination of life by another at the request of the person who dies. Everyone thinks of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a Michigan physician. In 1998 Dr. Kevorkian assisted a patient who was suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease. His patient was frightened and afraid and knew the advancing disease would cause him to die a horrible death in the future. He simply wanted to end his life quick and painless. Dr. Kevorkian injected a controlled substance into the patient, thus causing his death. Dr. Kevorkian was latter charged with 1st degree murder. Do you feel he should have been? Have you ever given it any thought? What if? You were the patient and you have been sick and in so much pain, the doctors tell you they can not do anymore for you. They tell you will eventually die but it is going to be slow and painful death when you die. Your physician tells you when you feel you can not tolerate it any more; he will help you speed the process. What would you do? Lie in bed in so much pain which could last as long as five years or would you ask the doctor to speed up death? Do you think the government has the right to deny terminally ill patients who prefer to end their life rather than to continue until their body finally gives up? Public polls have been taken have shown euthanasia choice is favored for terminally ill patients. Sometimes people get depressed and need medication so they will feel better. I do not believe in the right to die if you are not terminally ill or you can not get better ever. People who are apposed to this often say what would God think? God did give us life; does God want us to live in pain? Euthanasia should be available to us if: 1.You are terminally ill 2. Feel you life is not worth living because of Intractable Pain, Loss of Dignity, and the Loss of Capability 3. Someone who repeatedly asks for help in committing suicide because of their health 2006-08-09T15:38:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/In-Favor-of-Euthanasia-31203.aspx Issues Regarding Assisted Suicide In the event that assisted suicide be legalize it would bring devastating consequences to our society. We would be giving doctors the license to kill or making them accomplished of a murder if not giving the role of god to decide who has the right to live. The Supreme Court rendered its decision that the average American has no constitutional rights to physician-assisted suicide, however they indicated that should decide for them weather to implement it or not. Many families have had to ask themselves that same question when having a decisive situation with a loved one that is terminally ill, brain damaged, or with a birth defect child. My grandfather was terminally ill of esophagus cancer. He was in a state where he could not eat or drink. The doctors said that with a surgery he would be able to swallow but still he would only live a maximum two months after that. It would cost the family their lands and lifetime savings to pay for the hospital expenses and the surgery. Although the pain was unbearable, he decided not to have the surgery, as he would die anyway. The family went against his will and sold every possession they had to give him a peaceful death for cancer, instead of starvation and dehydration. He died in his bed two months later. He left in peace with the love of his family and with god in his heart. There is no question that nobody wants to be in that situation, but it is a reality that all of us most be prepared for. Some doctors call it “Mercy killing” and actually convince the patients and their families that they are doing them a favor. Others call themselves “angels of death” and go on the hunt for moribund patients in the hospitals. "protocols that grant doctors the right to say no to wanted life-extending medical treatment to patients whose lives they consider lacking in sufficient quality to justify the cost of care. In order to alleviate the pain, the suffering and to have a peaceful death, some terminally patient request to their doctors or. What is most disturbing is that these policies, if enforced, would prevent profoundly brain-damaged and dementia patients from receiving tube-supplied food and water because such care is considered medical treatment. That means futile-care protocols that prohibit doctors from treating the 2006-08-09T12:35:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Regarding-Assisted-Suicide-31193.aspx Negative Social Aspects of Pornography The topic of pornography is widely controversial, and is deeply rooted into our cultural beliefs and trends. Although pornography has become readily available nowadays, it is an early sexual expression, that appears in almost every culture. The complexity of the subject develops from the individuality of human nature, and therefore the difficulty to withhold a clear definition of what should and what should not be considered pornographic. In general terms, pornography will be defined as any material that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement. It can take the form of written, graphic, or oral representations of erotic subjects and is usually divided into two categories: soft-core, in which the erotic material is less explicit; and hard-core, in which the erotic content is more intense. Although in common usage pornography is often associated with obscenity, the latter is a legal term covering anything offensive to public morals, whereas the former refers specifically and exclusively to the erotic content. Although pornography is a longstanding phenomenon, it has become more readily available throughout the last decade. The effect of pornography on society is not yet understood, but to a certain extent, pornography works as a behavioral conditioner and stimulates violence, sexual discrimination, etc. According to recent reports, pornography appeared to be a significant factor in the chain of events leading to abnormal sexual behaviors in 25% of the cases studied. Apparently, it leads to an association between sex and violence which provokes unhealthy attitudes towards the opposite sex and their sexual identities. The fact is, pornography has and is determined to remain as a widely controversial issue over which most people would rather turn a blind eye, in order to avoid the crude reality. Sex, throughout history has been more than merely a method of procreation. Indeed, the human body is a natural part of life in all of its forms, so why do we regard the naked body as being obscene. We should understand that sex is not the real concern in pornography, but obscenity is. Pornography seems to be a mixture of sex which is completely natural and nearly every person enjoys at one time or another and obscenity which is the element that provokes perversion. Yet one of the greatest attributes of sex, and one of the things that make it sacred are the feelings involved between the two people. Therefore we could 2006-08-07T22:05:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Negative-Social-Aspects-of-Pornography-31151.aspx Argument in Favor of Legalizing Prostitution Prostitution is defined as the engaging in, or agreeing to engage in, sexual conduct for a fee. Women are pushed into entering prostitution for many reasons including lack of education, poverty, and personal choice. Prostitution is currently illegal, but there is much controversy surrounding this issue. There are approximately 1.3 million prostitutes in the United States today. However, there is only an arrest figure of about 100,000 prostitutes in 1995, and the number of arrests has been fairly consistent since then. The General consensus has shown that law enforcement has been generally ineffective in the removal of prostitution from our society. There are many people involved in prostitution, seventy percent of which are female, twenty percent male, and ten percent customers. Quite a large amount of citizens are actively fighting against prostitution. On the opposed side, many are fighting to legalize it. Picture in your mind this scenario: Jane is a 26 year old single woman who makes her living working the streets as a prostitute. She is clean, and is tested regularly for diseases. Jane is standing on the street, dressed promiscuously. Within minutes she is picked up by John, a lonely single man looking for a quick fix. She rides with him to a nearby hotel and they engage in sexual activity. When they finish, John hands Jane one hundred dollars and he takes her back to the corner where she had been picked up a few hours earlier. Immoral as some may see it, this was a victimless crime. No one was injured, hurt or put in danger, not until she is walking back to her car and is stopped once again. This time, however, she is stopped by police who arrest her for prostitution, a crime in most areas of the United States. Jane was simply trying to make money the way she chose. Prostitution is a person's own choice. As many see it wrong because they think women are forced into it and that it gives people with a lack of education a ‘way out' this is not always true. There are many ways to make money taking the easy way out. They could be dealing illegal substances, working at McDonald's, at a strip 2006-08-07T16:39:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-in-Favor-of-Legalizing-Prostitution-31137.aspx Drug Use and Abuse of Ecstacy Drugs are a ridiculous way to handle all kinds of things. A recent Teen Magazine survey noted that: 86% of respondents had tried drugs before, 77% of whom are under 16. 63% have tried marijuana, 16% have taken a trip, and 32% have no worries about drugs. That is pretty heavy. The top 3 reasons for taking drugs were: Enjoyment, Dealing with pressure, and Peer Pressure. Do you want to end up in hospital, severely injured or DEAD? Anna Wood was a happy 15-year-old girl who was popular, on top of the world, nearly perfect…until one Saturday night, when her friends decided to take her out to a rave party. She told her parents she was going go-kart racing and left to an Ultimo nightclub, where she snuck in with a 19-year-old friend, and bought a full ecstasy tablet for $60. She took the entire pill and started to party. After about 2 hours Anna was “rolling” under the effects of ecstasy. She was sitting on a boys' lap, constantly repeating to her friends "I'm having the best night of my life." Soon she smiled and said, "I think I'm going to throw up." She spewed and ran to the restroom. Her friends took her home, saying her drink had been spiked, too scared to tell the truth. One friend went to get Anna's mother, who phoned an ambulance. Anna was feeling awful, continuing to throw up. She eventually passed out. The paramedics arrived, and took her to hospital. Three days later she was declared brain dead, after on ecstasy tablet. If just one drug can KILL you, imagine the effects of a whole lot. The purpose of this speech is to help inform naive people about the dangers of a new drug sweeping the country: a compound called MDMA, also known as Ecstasy. Law enforcement officials say the drug worries them more than any other. It may also be spreading more quickly than any other illegal drug in America. Despite a reputation among many users for being "safe," it is also dangerous: in Florida alone, one of the few states tracking the phenomenon, there have been at least 40 deaths involving Ecstasy in the last three years. MDMA was outlawed 15 years ago, but since then its use has been skyrocketing. According to one government study, one out of 12 high school seniors has 2006-08-07T08:21:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drug-Use-and-Abuse-of-Ecstacy-31109.aspx Abortion From the Perspective of Judaism The issue of abortion has been debated for centuries and will surely continue to be a major topic of debate. Some see abortion as murder of an innocent child, others believe that the fetus is not yet a human and therefore can be aborted. Most of the world religions have a view of abortion, some religious laws allow it while others condemn the act. Abortion in the eyes of religion is a major conflict that is closely related to God and his sole ability to create and destroy life. Judaism is one of the religions that does not see abortion as murder, rather they see it as a necessity if the mother’s life becomes endangered by the pregnancy. The Jewish law, although approving of abortion, does not let it happen freely. If abortion were to be murder then it would be prohibited in the Jewish community states Feldman.1 But according to the Talmud, Jewish law does not equate it with murder, and there are circumstances under which Jewish law would permit, or even mandate, an abortion.1 The welfare of the mother is the most important thing It is her welfare, avoidance of her pain, that comes first.1 Jewish law indicates that if abortion was murder then one could not have an abortion because it would then be considered a cardinal sin.1 Hence if abortion were declared murder, a mother would not be allowed to have an abortion even to save her life, which is obviously not the case.1 In Jewish law the fetus is not considered a person, in this, if the fetus is removed through abortion it is not killing a person. The fetus is a “part of its mother”1 and not separate. This further asks, “whether feticide is or is not homocide.”1 To answer this we look to the Torah where the law of homicide states “he who smites a man”, or “any human person” is punishable by martyrdom. The fetus on the other hand is not a person until it comes into the world. The nefesh adam, or any human person, is thought to exclude the fetus.1 The author uses Rashi, a known Bible and Talmud commentator, who states the fetus “is lav nefesh hu, not a person, until he comes into the world.” Therefore feticide is not homocide.1 The fetus is thought to be a rodef, an aggressor, one 2006-08-07T08:13:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-From-the-Perspective-of-Judaism-31105.aspx What Can Be Done To Help Save The Earth's Environment Our planet is in great danger. For the last one hundred or so years, the people of earth have wasted and misused the natural recourses of earth. Several plans have been developed to stop the abuse of earth. Some of these plans I will discuss in this essay, many of which can be executed by any one. Environmental problems have become so complex that many individuals feel they can have no effect on them. Problems like oil spills, hazardous waste, loss of rain forests, endangered species, acid rain, the ozone layer, the municipal waste crisis can feel out of our control. At the very least, these problems require group and corporate action or government intervention. However, there are some things the individual can control. Our waste reduction and recycling activities can make a difference. That's why so many communities began voluntary recycling programs. There are some household items that are dangerous if they are just thrown away with the regular garbage these items can damage the environment and injure plant and animal life some of these may include moth balls, spot removers, aerosol cans, fluorescent light tubes and shoe polish. Your local waste management agency has information on how to properly dispose of these items. A compost bin may be set up in your yard. Compost bins return plant and some food materials to the soil through decomposition so it can be used as a natural soil additive, called compost. Compost improves soil texture, increases the ability of soil to absorb oxygen and water. Compost also suppresses weed growth and reduces the need to add chemicals and pesticides to plants, which may be harmful to the environment. Keeping recycle bens in the kitchen may help to stop people from accidentally throwing into the trash an item that could have been recycled. Some recyclable items include glass, paper, and most types of mettle. You want to be sure that glass, paper and mettle are all separated into different bins. Once these bins are full of recyclable materials they can be given to your local recycle center. Solar panels are a series of mirrors that transform sunlight into solar energy. Solar energy can help heat water and power home appliances. Solar energy is a great source of clean, non-polluting energy. The home is not the only place wear people can pitch in and help the 2006-08-06T21:48:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-Can-Be-Done-To-Help-Save-The-Earth-s-Environment-31083.aspx Informational Study on Child Abuse Sources of information vary, but it is estimated that one in five children are physically, emotionally or sexually abused in our country. There are many who believe, most abuse is nothing more than parents exerting their “right” to discipline their children and letting it get a little out of hand. People are tragically missed informed thinking beating children is a moral choice, which then makes it their decision. If one thinks it’s morally right to hit a child, then when the day comes where they beat their children to death…what is it then? Where does one draw the line on moral choice for child abuse? Each year, millions of dollars are poured into child protection agencies in our country. This money would go to local facilities such as, foster homes and juvenile halls. There are also dollar grants that go to thousands of private organizations whose missions include basic child abuse preventions, and the counseling of abusive parents and victims. Each year the number of children being abused increases dramatically, estimate being about 3 million this year. Why? Why cause the tragedy of child abuse? Why makes this a moral choice when in reality everyone knows it’s wrong. There are people out there who know, beating their children is wrong, but yet still don’t hesitate one bit when deciding whether to hit their child or not. A lot of child abusers were once victims of child abuse. On any given day, some adult who was once a victim of a dark past of child abuse may vent his or her locked up frustrations on the society or the ones they love. We can stop this if we just say that the moral choice in this situation is, it’s morally wrong. No matter what the child has done, it’s never bad enough for a beating. The public is well informed about the most common cases of child abuse. Unusual “accidents “ attract the media, which then raises the ratings. We hear stories of fathers hitting their children to an unconscious state, then going to bed and leaving them lying on the floor. We hear case were parents’ beat there children to death and then hide their bodies for a period of time. There then are the more common cases, were the media has little to with because the abuse isn’t “intense” enough. These common cases include, 2006-08-06T20:31:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Informational-Study-on-Child-Abuse-31073.aspx The Benefits of Abstinence Picture this you are 21 years old, you live in a ruinous apartment, the electricity has been turned off, there is a starving baby crying in the background, and you just got finished telling your best friend you can not go to the club because you cant afford a babysitter, and you need to apply the ointment to your genital herpes. You hang up the phone and look around for someone to help you with this mess. There is nobody there. You sit and ponder how you got here, how all this happened. Well, you had sex before you were marred that is how it happened. Sure it felt great when you did it, and you trusted the person you did it with, that does not always mean that it is the right thing to do. Well everyone is doing it! Like Mom always says, “If everyone jumped off a cliff would you do it to?” In this essay I will discuss the importance of abstinence and the consequences of sex before marriage. Ever seen or had a cold sore? Just imagine how it would feel to have several of those red itchy blisters in your pubic area? A lot of people who have sex before they are married say they trust that person and no way would they ever get any kind of sexually transmitted disease. In fact, that is what Allen thought. “I thought she had sex with me right away because she liked me. But she just wanted to tell people she’d done it with me. Even though I’d like to forget her I never will. Why? Because, for the rest of my life, every time I’m involved in a relationship, I’m gong to have to tell the person that I have one of the worst kind of STD’s, Herpes Simplex 2. It has no cure, I get rashes and blisters on my private areas and everything itches. I need to rest a lot—when I get stressed out, the blisters appear more often. I wonder if someone will ever want to be with me knowing that I have this and could pass it on to them. I am so angry at the girl who gave me this disease and didn’t warn me. Having sex was 2006-08-06T09:59:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Benefits-of-Abstinence--31063.aspx Women Who Deal with Domestic Abuse When most women think of falling in love, they think of pure bliss. They think of the long walks along the beach, those intimate nights, and a lifetime of happiness with their significant other. What they do not think of are the black eyes, the bruised bodies, the sleepless and tearful nights, and the fear of wondering if they will live to see the next day. It is not an easy concept to understand why a woman would want to subject herself to that type of lifestyle, but in some cases such as fear, the misconception of love, and the lives of children, women tend to forget that they are important as well. No matter what the reason, abuse is unacceptable and no woman or anyone else should have to put up with it. The fear of being killed is one of the main reasons that a woman permits herself to stay in an abusive relationship. “Even though in most cases the threats of death are not carried out, -- sometimes they are, -- and there is no way to guarantee the outcome (Faulkner, “Why Women Stay”)(http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/domviol.htm#top). The man often uses threats as an effective technique to keep the woman in the relationship. He may even tell her that he will commit suicide if she ever tries to leave him. No one wants the death of someone else on his or her conscience so the woman naturally feels that she has no other choice but to stay with him. There is also the fear of the man threatening to hurt someone close to the woman and that also persuades the woman to stay. Fear, as defined by Random House Webster’s School & Office Dictionary, is said to be a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, or pain. By definition alone, one can clearly understand why fear plays a major role in abuse. To many women, children are the most import things in their lives. For this reason, a woman will do anything to make sure her child (ren) have a relationship with his/her father: Even if it means staying in an unhealthy relationship with his/her father. She does not want to feel guilty about “breaking up” the family, so she decides to stay, for the children. He 2006-08-05T18:04:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Women-Who-Deal-with-Domestic-Abuse-31054.aspx The System that Created Affirmative Action Affirmative action is a subject of increasing debate and tension in American society. The debate seems to be more emotional than intellectual, and it has probably generated more tension than anything else. People tend to over examine the ethical and moral issues that affirmative action raises while forgetting to analyze the system that has created it. Often, affirmative action is looked upon as the cure-all for a nation once ill with the disease of racial discrimination, which some people feel, is now cured. More people say Affirmative action should be seen as, a temporary, partial, and perhaps even flawed remedy for past and continuing discrimination against minority groups in American society. Affirmative action working as it should, affords minority groups greater equality of opportunity. Some claim that these programs distort what is now a level playing field and bestow partisan treatment on minorities because of the color of their skin. While this view may seem very logical on the surface, many contend that it lacks any historical support and is aimed more at preserving existing white privilege than establishing equality of opportunity for all. Some critics attack affirmative action and say that affirmative action corrupts the purity of the process. And that extreme care must be taken in determining who receives affirmative action program benefits and how long and at what rate they receive them. I must, also, agree in that affirmative action may tear down a "color-blind" society. And while the policies of affirmative action are not perfect and do raise some legitimate ethical concerns, some people still believe that they take us away from a system that is inherently unfair to some groups. Affirmative action seems to contradict several of the characteristics our society is known for. One is that we are governed by our abilities and just as some have the characteristic of leadership others have the gift of working with their hands. Some would say we are sending a mixed message. And that the belief that was taught to many people while growing up is contradicted by affirmative action; as it judges not what a person works for, but who they are. And others say affirmative action abolishes this factor. Most people would not want to be rewarded with a good job or admission into a certain graduate program, based on something other than work ethic 2006-08-05T11:33:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-System-that-Created-Affirmative-Action-31038.aspx In Support of the Death Penalty The idea of putting another human to death is hard to completely fathom. The physical mechanics involved in the act of execution are easy to grasp, but the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another person, regardless of how much they deserve it, is beyond my understanding. I know it must be painful, dehumanizing, and sickening. The Eight Amendment says” Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted” (Morgan 184). However, this act is sometimes necessary, and it is our responsibility as a society to see that it is done. One of the first oppositions to the death penalty is error. However, the chance that there might be an error is separate from the issue of whether the death penalty can be justified or not. If an error does occur, and an innocent person is executed, then the problem lies in the court system, not in the death penalty. Daily tasks performed by the average person always have a risk of death as do other dangerous acts and situations we put ourselves in on a daily basis. Examples of this are: flying in a airplane, driving a car, crossing the street and even more dangerous acts such as, parachuting, auto racing, and other extreme sports. These activities continue to take place, and occasionally take human lives, but we have all decided that the advantages outweigh the unintended loss, and we continue with our daily activities. We have also decided that the advantages of having dangerous murderers removed from our society outweigh the losses of the offender. Another opposition is the length of stay on death row, with its endless appeals, delays, technicalities, and retrials keep a person waiting for death for years on end, and it is both cruel and costly. The main cause of such inefficiencies are the appeal process, which is also an argument more against the court system then the death penalty itself. It is costly, but I do not believe it to be anymore costly then supporting a hard criminal in the prison system for their whole life sentence. This could be as long as seventy-five years or more. When it is said that making a prisoner wait for years to be executed is cruel, then would it not be just as cruel to keep the criminal imprisoned for 2006-08-05T11:18:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/In-Support-of-the-Death-Penalty-31030.aspx Downsides to Cloning Cloning can be defined as the production of a group of genetically identical cells or organisms, derived from a single individual. Those who support this procedure of making humans contend that it will help people who are finding it difficult to conceive. Others charge that cloning is good and sound science that will lead to many scientific discoveries - some of which might help in the cure of diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes. Cloning sounds like a great idea with many promising results. While those supporting the procedure are people with good intentions, cloning takes away from us as human beings what makes us unique – our diversity. Moreover, it challenges God’s authority, will hinder future scientific research, and reduces genetic diversity. Creating another human being from cells is like playing God. God is the creator of the world and mankind. The job of creating a person should be completely left to Him. The Christian Bible in Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 says, “And God made man in His own image and likeness and He put the breath of life in him.” Creating a human life in the laboratory equates mankind and God. In addition to playing God, cloning will also hinder future developments to biotechnology and research. Many advances in the treatment of diseases like breast cancer can be credited to scientific research and advancements in biotechnology. Successes in these fields depend largely upon government funding. Unfortunately, bills from lawmakers and groups that are against human cloning may now hinder these funding. On July 31, the House approved a bill that will not allow the federal government to support cloning or any research related to it. When first looking at the bill, I praised the lawmakers for taking a stand against cloning. A closer look at the bill, however, reveals that because of the bill’s broad language, important research would be stymied. This can become a set back for good scientific research and advancement in biotechnology. Cloning’s most negative effect is it’s potential to reduce genetic diversity. For example, supporters of cloning claim that cloning the best milk producer in a dairy herd will result in the production of the best animals and would eventually lead to an increase in the production of better quality milk. These argument, however, does not hold because traditional breeding of animals produce better animals through mixing genes 2006-08-05T10:38:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Downsides-to-Cloning--31018.aspx Examining “Police Discretion” in America Philosopher, Ronald Dworkin and H.L.A. Hart refers to discretion as "the hole in the doughnut" (doughnut theory of discretion). In this standpoint, discretion is the vacant area in the middle of a ring consisting of policies and procedures. To be able to make choices freely is called a strong sense of discretion. Discretion lies within the hole of the doughnut. Individualized judgments are often made by police officials, everyday. However, the loose definition often seems to be a bit of a challenge. According to the researched website, the definition of police discretion is broken down into five categories: discretion as judgment, discretion as choice, discretion as discernment, discretion as liberty and lastly, discretion as a license. Discretion is not doing how you please. Police put to good use their power of discretion everyday and different issues involve different discretionary actions and some, none at all. It is the responsibility and the privilege of police officers to render or implement discretion upon their will. Authors Senna and Siegal, agree with this website’s definition of discretion and the information the website offers. The authors describe discretion as the use of personal decision making and choices in carrying out operations in the criminal justice system. Police discretion can involve the decision to make an arrest and prosecutorial discretion involves acceptance of a plea bargain or lack thereof. The textbook provides factors that influence the power of discretion that police officials hold. Factors contributing to police discretion are legal factors, environmental factors, departmental factors, situational factors, and extralegal factors. Legal factors of police discretion involve the seriousness of certain crimes. Less personal discretion is available when police confront a suspect in a case involving murder or rape than there is with an assault, domestic issue or trespass. Research suggests that police are less likely to act quickly on a complaint of domestic violence in hopes that the problem will be solved before they get there or shortly after. Environmental factors of discretion include working or dwelling in a community that either tolerates eccentricities and personal freedoms or expects conservative, professional, no-nonsense behavior on the part of the civilians living in that area as well as social climate, alternatives, attitudes of the community, and treatment facilities. Discretion plays a role in that an officer holding personal values in opposition to members of the community has the ability to 2006-08-01T20:34:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examining-“Police-Discretion”-in-America-30995.aspx The Purpose of Drug Policy Drugs are anything chemically based which alter your perceptions in life and give you a high that sometimes you would like to have forever. Sometimes people don’t need this high in their life all the time but for others they always want that ultimate feeling. The feeling of no worries, pain, or sorrow. Some people take drugs for the fun of it, while others seriously have a problem and are addicted to the drugs. For some it is easy to just take drugs such as LSD, snort a line of coke, or smoke a joint once but for others it may be difficult. Some people become dependent upon drugs for reasons that are their own. Some are depressed and need to get away from the “Real” reality in which they live so they continuously take a drug to escape and enter a world they like. They in turn become dependent on these drugs. Other people just want nothing to do with reality I feel that these people may have developed an idea that they need the drug just to face reality. This is a psychological dependency to me. Whether or not, to me if a person needs to take drugs to cope with reality or they feel they can only function if they take drugs are dependent upon them. This is what I feel is addiction. During this section of the course we have discussed drug policies such as the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Harrison Narcotics Act. These two policies stuck out at me and made me wonder about a few things. About what would have happened if they never got passed or even thought of. Although these were harsh laws when they were passed I don’t agree with both of them. The one decreased the use of narcotics while the other contradicted itself and made people worse because they couldn’t get the drugs they needed. Since the Pure food and drug Act was passed people stopped purchasing products that were made with certain things so they could become addicted to drugs, The Harrison Narcotics Act stated that all doctors had to buy a license to prescribe medications. This was not good for the addicts that the doctors provided the drugs for because the addicts couldn’t 2006-08-01T19:58:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Purpose-of-Drug-Policy--30978.aspx Violence in American Schools Violence has always in been schools for as long as anyone can remember. However, the days of small skirmishes in the hallway between two students are of the least of problems. Today students are much more hostile in schools, and every time the news hits the TV talking about another school shooting it makes everyone involved with schools paranoid, prejudice, and frightened. But what is even more frightening then the acts themselves is the question “WHY?”. Why did two teenage boys one day decide to go to Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado and murder 15 people, while strapping down the school building with homemade explosives? What was going through those two teenage boy’s head? Why did they do it? Did they do for attention? Did they do it for the “NAZI” cause (As the press made it sound like.)? Or did they do it because they felt that they were never perceived as an individual (an equal), and all they wanted to do was “matter”. Sadly schools cannot make students not gasp for attention or disapprove of such things as the NAZI belief, however schools can make each and every student feel as though they matter. I believe that this is the problem that state and local governments should be focusing on. I also believe that by focusing on this problem school violence will decrease substantially. Finally I believe that if a teacher a day before the Columbine shooting had pulled one of the young men off to the side and had said “I’m listening, tell me what is on your mind.”, then the incident would have never occurred. Research on this topic will not necessarily be easy to find. I will spend a lot of time researching the Columbine shooting as well as going into greater depth the understanding of “Savage Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol. Because in this book Kozol points out that in order for all students to succeed they must first feel as though they “matter”. If a student is surrounded with an atmosphere of poor clothing, poor heating/cooling, and poor facilities than that student feels as though the quality of their character is poor as well. Bibliography Bower, Bruce. “Incriminating Developments: Scientists Want to Reform the 2006-08-01T10:22:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-in-American-Schools-30933.aspx Morality and Euthanasia Two hundred years ago, to question the absolute worth of human life was an unforgivable offense. Individuals who attempted to suicide were often punished in courts, and even sent to work camps. Those who were successful were often buried with stakes in their hearts, and the state confiscated their property rather than dispersing it to their relatives. If taking one’s own life were so serious, asking a doctor to help one commit suicide would have been unthinkable. Although our society is certainly more liberal today, physician assisted suicide remains a perplexing question, both legally and morally. In this paper, I will argue for the moral permissibility of euthanasia. First, I will deal with the moral permissibility of assisted suicide as a principle, and then I shall explore the distinction between active and passive euthanasia. Finally, I will conclude with a short discussion of the legality of assisted suicide. In the interests of brevity, I shall consider voluntary euthanasia only for individuals who are terminally ill and suffering from unmanageable pain. All arguments will be evaluated from a utilitarian and deontological perspective. The first argument for euthanasia is a utilitarian one. “Actions,” according to the utilitarian John Stuart Mill, “are right as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce pain or the reverse of happiness.” If we were to apply a hedonistic calculus to the case of a terminally ill patient suffering from severe, untreatable pain, we would see that the happiness is maximized and pain minimized by euthanasia. The sort of pain caused by an advanced, terminal illness would clearly score a negative value, perhaps a negative seven. The level of pain and the progression of the disease would also render the person unable to enjoy the activities that made his life pleasurable, so there could be no higher intellectual or emotional pleasures to balance the physical pain. At best, the person continues to suffer at the negative seven; if his illness has not reached its climax, his suffering may increase. In contrast, his death will create a value of zero, and thus misery is reduced. Moreover, his family and friends will be spared the pain of watching him suffer through a prolonged illness. Hospital space and resources will be free for patients with more treatable conditions. (Lest such concerns sound callous, it is important to recognize 2006-08-01T10:17:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Morality-and-Euthanasia--30931.aspx The Myth of Gun Control in Crime Prevention America has a long tradition of gun ownership and for many Americans it is a fundamental part of life. The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. However, in recent years, there were many controversial discussions about the Second Amendment because there were a high number of gun-related deaths, wounding, accidents, and suicides in the US. School shootings and massacres shocked the whole country. Now more and more people ask themselves how such incidents could be prevented and if stricter gun control laws might reduce violent crime. There are different opinions about the Second Amendment. The pro-gun lobby, and especially the National Rifle Association (NRA), thinks that gun control should be opposed because it would harm the Constitution and a fundamental right of the individual: the right to keep and bear arms. This right is guaranteed by the Second Amendment and therefore they are of the opinion that restricting this Amendment would mean that the door is open to restrict others. Advocates of gun control think that, in the 21st century, the Second Amendment is not appropriate anymore and that the individual simply does not need the gun the way he needed it three hundred years ago. They also say that guns are not only used for self-protection, but they are often used to kill people, especially young people. In 1996, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found out that 50 people die violently in American schools every year, and today the number is probably higher. It cannot be denied that guns are often a big danger. One of the numerous examples for that is the shooting at the Columbine High School in Littleton, and that is only one of the many appalling incidents that happened in recent years. Such incidents also show that guns are often too easily accessible for children and teenagers. The gun sellers are not the only ones to blame. In most households guns are not locked away properly and children can get them easily. Stricter gun control laws or the outlawing of private gun ownership would reduce the number of firearms in American households, and therefore it would reduce the number of gun-related deaths. The government and the lawmakers have realized the problem of growing gun violence and they do not ignore the problem. Some 2006-07-31T19:22:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Myth-of-Gun-Control-in-Crime-Prevention-30909.aspx Alcoholism in Today’s World In present day society, illness runs rampant among cities. Some individuals recognize their disease and seek help, while others continue to walk the streets unaware that they are infected. The disease does not cure itself and only continually increase in severity as an individual ages; however, thousands of people die each year not knowing they even had a problem. This problem which affects our society each day is alcoholism. There are three main aspects which deal with alcoholism and what effects alcoholism has on the human body, and what can be done to cure alcoholism. The first point being addressed is what exactly alcoholism is. According to The Reader’s Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, alcoholism “is a diseased condition resulting from the excessive use or persistent use of alcoholic beverages.” Alcoholism has divided into two major forms--alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence (Goodwin 1998). Alcohol abuse is the excessive consumption of alcohol which has detrimental effects on the people and situations surrounding an individual; whereas, alcohol dependence is a physical attachment to the alcohol. Alcohol abuse leads to hazardous behavior, such as drunken driving and continued drinking despite negative consequences on family, work, or social functioning. Alcohol dependence involves withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is not used, and lack of control over drinking despite serious social and medical problems (Goodwin 1998). Various studies have been performed to show the relationship between alcoholism and genetics. New research on male twins show that genes play a critical role in the development of milder forms of alcoholism, such as, occasional abuse that can land the drinker in dangerous circumstances, particularly while driving (Goodwin 1998). The genetic similarity between twins makes them the perfect subjects on which to perform testing. Previous research has shown that people with an alcoholic family member have a two to four times higher risk of becoming alcoholic than members of the general population (Goodwin 1998). Many people believe adolescence and development affects alcoholism. The study noted that the way children are raised influences whether they will drink as adolescents and adults (Goodwin 1998). Parental influence on a child is fundamental in determining the child’s outlook on alcohol consumption. Psychologically, both environment and genetics play important roles in whether a person will develop alcoholism or not. A study regarding alcohol has recently 2006-07-31T19:08:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcoholism-in-Today’s-World-30906.aspx Benefits of Traditional Education Versus Online or Televised From the good old day until now, there are about 90% of the students around the world study at a place called school. We got no choice to choose where we really want to study but school. However, school is a place offer knowledge and information to students, also is a place that most of the people grown up in here. However, study at school is not a bad thing, but somehow people think school is a jail for kids. As we all know, 21st century means future is coming, there are a lot of things are going to change in this world. Study at home is not just a dream anymore. But as I am still a student, I prefer to study at school because study at school can meet people from different places in your society, easy to communicate, and let teachers take care of students easily. However, study at school is not really a bad thing, but it depends on how you look at it. First of all, school is a place which we can meet people from different places in your society. Friends are important in everyone’s life, somehow we can’t live without friends. School is the most important place for people get together and study together. At the first nobody knows each other, but after a period, they start to get alone with others and help each other. School is a really good place for people who want to make friends, and also is a place to learn a lot of information. Secondly, study at school is easy for people to communicate each other. All of the people have experience of school; we all know classroom is the place where we study at school most of the time. In a classroom, which is not very big, but enough for about 40 students, students study together and help each other. We can ask questions whenever we deal with difficulties; moreover, we can discuss with friends and teacher easily because we can see each other in live. Third, study at school is easy for teacher to take care of the students. Whenever we have questions or difficulties, we can ask teacher right away, also it’s convenient for students because students don’t need to wait for a long time just for a question. And 2006-07-31T12:53:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Benefits-of-Traditional-Education-Versus-Online-or-Televised-30889.aspx Seven Reasons Why Euthanasia Should Not Be Legalized 1. The 'justification' of voluntary euthanasia involves rejection of a tenet fundamental to a just framework of laws in society Voluntary euthanasia is the killing of a patient at his or her request in the belief that death would be a benefit to the patient and that the killing is for that reason justified. The mere fact that someone says, in an un-coerced fashion, that he or she wants to be killed does not in itself provide a doctor with a reason for thinking death would be a benefit to that patient. No doctor would accede to an apparently naked request to be killed, however seemingly un-coerced, if he thought the patient had prospects of a worthwhile life. A request to be killed appears to be a ground for euthanasia killing only if the doctor believes that the patient does not have a worthwhile life. Now, to say that the ongoing life of a person lacks value amounts to denying value or worth to that person, since the reality of a person is not something distinct from his or her ongoing life. What underpins euthanasia killing are judgments on the overall worth of certain human lives. It would be contrary to any legal system which purports to protect and enforce a just social order to legalize killing which rests for its justification on the belief that certain lives lack worth. Why? Because justice in society itself requires a non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory way of identifying who are the subjects of justice. But the only way of avoiding arbitrariness in identifying the subjects of justice is to assume that all human beings, simply in virtue of being human, are entitled to be treated justly and are the subjects of certain basic human rights. In other words the basic human dignity and worth which are recognized in respecting human rights must be seen as attaching to our humanity. Basic dignity and worth would not, however, be a title to just treatment if human beings were thought capable of losing them. They are, so to speak, in eliminable features of our humanity. Euthanasia killing, even when it is voluntary, involves denial of the ongoing worth of the lives of those reckoned to be candidates for euthanasia. It is a type of killing, therefore, which cannot be accommodated in a legal 2006-07-31T12:48:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Seven-Reasons-Why-Euthanasia-Should-Not-Be-Legalized-30886.aspx Euthanasia Defined Euthanasia's definition has changed many times over the years. The basic definition means, painlessly putting to death or failing to prevent death from natural causes in cases of terminal illness or irreversible coma. It came to be used first, as a term descriptive of an easy death. Now it describes the actual medical deed necessary to make death easier. Today is it most commonly known as mercy killing. Passive Euthanasia is the action of withdrawing or withholding the means of maintaining or prolonging life; for example, removing a respirator from a patient who cannot breathe without assistance. By the end of the 20th century passive euthanasia was said to be a common practice among America’s hospitals and physicians. There are 2006-07-30T21:27:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Defined--30848.aspx Dangers and Statistics on Date Rape Generally speaking, rape is defined as forced sexual intercourse with any person without consent. Force may involve physical violence, coercion, or threat of harm. This includes situations where the victim is drunk, drugged, asleep, unconscious, or for any reason unable to give consent. Basically, not saying yes." Rape can be committed by a stranger, an acquaintance, a friend, a date... by anyone. "Nothing Bad Will Ever Happen to Me" So, Why Talk About It? Rape is the most prevalent, serious violent crime committed on college campuses. In 1985 a survey of over 6,000 students on 32 college campuses was conducted by Ms. magazine, psychologist Mary P. Koss, and the National Institute for Mental Health. According to this nationwide survey: 53% of the women surveyed reported some form of sexual assault 1 in 4 women surveyed reported being victims of rape or attempted rape 84% of the women who reported being raped knew their attackers 57% of the rapes happened on dates According to these statistics, date and acquaintance rape is more common than: -Alcoholism -Heart Attacks -Left-handedness Thus, there is a high probability that YOU will, in some way, be affected by issues of RAPE before you leave college Rape Victims Rarely Report: 42% of the victims Told No One about their assaults. Only 5% reported their rapes to the Police. Only 5% sought help at Rape Crisis Centers. Without reporting, many sexual assault victims will not receive the assistance they need, assailants will not be brought to justice, and the number of campus rapes will continue to escalate. Many Rapes follow a Similar Pattern... College students are more vulnerable to rape than any other age group. The developmental tasks associated with entering college tend to put college students at risk. Alcohol consumption only serves to accentuate these risks... Acquaintance rapes are likely to occur in off-campus apartments, fraternity houses and residence hall rooms. Frequently, the students involved have been drinking heavily or using other drugs... According to the Ms. report: About 75% of the men and at least 55% of the women involved in acquaintance rapes had been drinking or using illegal drugs just before the attack. At SUNY Oswego... A random sample of 865 students were 2006-07-30T21:10:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dangers-and-Statistics-on-Date-Rape-30842.aspx Essay on Legalizing Marijuana In society today, many people look for a feeling of freedom. Many people go on vacation and spend money. The most common gateway for people is drugs. Our American society is facing a tremendous drug problem. It has become a highly controversial issue whether drugs such as marijuana should be legalized or not. Some people advocate this issue and believe that legalization is the only solution left for the nation while others oppose because it will increase the number of drug users and drug related crimes. Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in the United States. This drug as you know is bad and causes severe side effects to your brain and body. Marijuana has both short term and long term effects. However, according to scientific experiments, marijuana is known to be beneficial in medicine. The question is should marijuana be legalized? One of the consequences of legalization will be a tremendous increase in drug users. Right now, drug users have fear of law enforcement agents, but if drugs were to be legalized, they no longer will have fear and will feel that it will be okay to use drugs. Over twenty years ago, estimates of drug use among Americans went as high as 24 million, but we now estimate that the number of Americans who use illegal drugs is down to about 11 million. And a recent study done by my office shows that Americans are spending less on illegal drugs, not more. In 1993, Americans spent $49 billion on illegal drugs, down from $64 billion in 1988 (Brown 629). This decline is due to more officers on the streets and drug awareness programs. An increase in drug use will result in an increase in drug related crimes if drugs are legalized. Supporters of drug legalization believe that crime and violence would decrease if drug use was legal. Statistics tell us that almost half of those arrested for committing a crime test positive for the use of drugs at the time of their arrest. Making drugs more readily available could only propel more individuals into a life of crime and violence (Brown 629). Also drug users turn to crime to pay for their habits because they are stimulated by drugs and therefore act violently. If drug is sold legally, it will become easy for users to buy it around the 2006-07-30T20:47:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Legalizing-Marijuana-30833.aspx Self-Defeating Nature of Affirmative Action In the year 2002, all minorities have come along way with affirmative action. Some people are saying that affirmative action is slavery, that were are putting ourselves through it all over again. In stating that Ward Connerly tells us that slavery has not ended. It’s still around and we call it affirmative action. Affirmative Action draws its life from the proposition that black Americans cannot succeed in this nation without special consideration. That is “dependency.” Affirmative Action is like an old car that has 2006-07-30T11:45:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Self-Defeating-Nature-of-Affirmative-Action-30804.aspx Comparing the Issues of "Active" and "Passive" Euthanasia "Passive euthanasia" is usually defined as withdrawing medical treatment with the deliberate intention of causing the patient's death. For example, if a patient requires kidney dialysis to survive, and the doctors disconnect the dialysis machine, the patient will presumably die fairly soon. Perhaps the classic example of passive euthanasia is a "do not resuscitate order". Normally if a patient has a heart attack or similar sudden interruption in life functions, medical staff will attempt to revive them. If they make no such effort but simply stand and watch as the patient dies, this is passive euthanasia. "Active euthanasia" is taking specific steps to cause the patient's death, such as injecting the patient with poison. In practice, this is usually an overdose of pain-killers or sleeping pills. In other words, the difference between "active" and "passive" is that in active euthanasia, something is done to end the patient's life; in passive euthanasia, something is not done that would have preserved the patient's life. An important idea behind this distinction is that in "passive euthanasia" the doctors are not actively killing anyone, they are simply not saving him. While we would usually applaud someone who saves another person's life, we do not normally condemn someone for failing to do so. If you rush into a burning building and carry someone out to safety, you will probably be called a hero. But if you see a burning building and people screaming for help, and you stand on the sidelines -- whether out of fear for your own safety, the belief that an inexperienced and ill-equipped person like yourself would only get in the way of the professional firefighters, or whatever -- if you do nothing, few would judge you for your inaction. You would surely not be prosecuted for homicide. (At least, not unless you started the fire in the first place.) Thus, proponents of euthanasia say that while we can debate whether active euthanasia should be legal, there can be no debate about passive euthanasia: You cannot prosecute someone for failing to save a life. Even if you think it would be good for people to do X, you cannot make it illegal for people to not do X, or everyone in the country who did not do X today would have to be arrested. In practice, though, the distinction can get 2006-07-29T16:47:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-the-Issues-of-quot-Active-quot-and-quot-Passive-30801.aspx A Study of Physical Child Abuse through History Parents considered their children property, they could discipline them any way they wanted to, and this even meant that they could take their life. Many times parents would sell their children into slavery, and sometimes disfigured them so they could send them out on the street as beggars. In 1875 the first child abuse prevention group was founded called the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Child labor parents had lots of kids and work on farms. when industrialization kids were used for labor to create? In America, the first child labor law was passed in Massachusetts in 1836, which made the employment age 15 and older. During the late 18th century the increasing population and the Industrial Revolution created many new jobs, and children were used and forced by parents to work in factories. Children were treated very poorly in the factories, days with few breaks, and they were paid less than adults. many states began to create new child labor laws. This group was brought up by a case in 1873, were a child was being severely abused by her care takers. the woman who discovered the abuse turned to the American society for the prevention of the cruelty of animals (Aspca) for the help in convicting the abusers in this case. This was the model for the beginning of ASPCC. In 1912 the U.S. government recognized the need for a children’s bureau that would oversee the health and welfare of children. Even after this recognition new laws prevention child abuse weren’t enforced, the states didn’t have the resources to enforce new laws and abusive parents still didn’t see the need for prevention, children still were being abused. In the next sixty years, they were gradually, working towards prevention. On January 31,1974 congress passed a new law called Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment act, it was to help the states and community to better identify, prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. Even though laws are passed about child abuse, children are still being abused today. Children can be abused while the mother is still pregnant until 18 years of age regardless of their age, race, religious background, their economic status, or gender. It is very difficult to tell abusive families from non-abusive families, however there are some 2006-07-29T16:41:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Study-of-Physical-Child-Abuse-through-History-30799.aspx Should Society Possess the License to Kill? Society approves the death penalty by dehumanization through the objectification of the people on death row. This dehumanization allows for society to step back and objectify the people, thereby ‘giving the thumbs up’ to execute them...approving it. Thus, calling it as a tool of justice or rather calls it ‘justice is served’. However, the victims and society knowingly acknowledges the illogical fallacy of capital punishment: the person severing on death row killed another person to end up there, but they are to receive the same action they committed by the state and call it justice. To understand notion of this thought of dehumanization resulting in the approval of the death penalty, one must understand the history of the death penalty, what is it in society, their company, how society influences the individual to approve the death penalty and its actual execution, how dehumanization is dangerous to use to justify goals, and finally the illogical fallacy to capital punishment. During colonial times of America, the Europeans brought with them their notions of justice with them including the idea of capital punishment. However, many more crimes were punishable in Early America such as in New York, hitting one’s parent was punishable by death. People recognize the nature of capital punishment and as a result wanted reforms to take place. In 1794, the state of Pennsylvania stopped imposing the death penalty for all offenses except first degree murder. This was the first of reforms that resulted in today’s modern death penalty. In modern times, one is able to gain the death punishment through first degree murder, treason, and espionage. The federal court is able to execute someone if that person so happens to commit a federal crime such as treason. Other then federal crimes, the state have the power to execute a person. Also the actual execution is now declared as ‘humane’ because it is not cruel or unusual punishment. For example Colonial times executed through public hanging or public burning on the stake. Today America executes through lethal injection, the electric chair and the rare fire assault team. Now it can be seen that society has incorporated the death penalty due to tradition and history, resulting in one of the reasons of approval of the death penalty. But one must see that reforms are taking place to achieve a goal, hopefully like many other societies, 2006-07-28T18:41:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Society-Possess-the-License-to-Kill-30775.aspx Comprehensive Argument on Euthanasia The movement for choice in dying is dedicated to the view that there are at least two forms of suicide. One is 'emotional suicide', or irrational self-murder, in all of it complexities and sadness. Let me emphasize at once that my view of this tragic form of self-destruction is the same as that of the suicide intervention movement and the rest of society, which is to prevent it wherever possible. I do not encourage any form of suicide for mental health or emotional reasons. Nevertheless, life is a personal responsibility and we know some people are so tormented that they cannot bear to live. In such circumstances, understanding is called for. I believe that there is a second form of suicide -- justifiable suicide, which is rational and planned deliverance from a painful and hopeless disease. I don't think the word 'suicide' sits too well in this context but we are stuck with it. I have struggled for twenty years to popularize the term 'self-deliverance' but it is an uphill battle with a news media which is in love with the words 'assisted suicide' and 'suicide.' They are headline grabbers. Also, we have to face the fact that the law calls all forms of self-destruction 'suicide.' Additionally, all medical journals today refer to 'assisted suicide' in their papers.* Let me point out here for those who might not know it that suicide is no longer a crime anywhere in the English-speaking world. (It used to be in many places, punishable by giving all the dead person's money and goods to the government.) Attempted suicide, which hundreds of years ago in Europe was punishable by execution, is no longer a crime. Do not confuse this decriminalization with health laws where a suicidal person can in most states be forcibly placed in a psychiatric wing of a hospital for three days for evaluation. But giving assistance in suicide remains a crime, except in the Netherlands in recent times under certain conditions, and it has never been a crime in Switzerland and Germany, although the taboos there are strong. The rest of the world punishes assistance in suicide even for the terminally ill; although the American State of Oregon recently (l994) passed by citizens' ballot measure a limited physician-assisted suicide law. After court battles initiated by the pro-life movement, the Oregon law took effect at the beginning 2006-07-28T18:40:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comprehensive-Argument-on-Euthanasia-30774.aspx United States' Law and History on Euthanasia In recent years, Euthanasia has become a very heated debate. It is a Greek word that means "easy death" but the controversy surrounding it is just the opposite. Whether the issue is refusing prolonged life mechanically, assisting suicide, or active euthanasia, we eventually confront our society’s fears toward death itself. Above others, our culture breeds fear and dread of aging and dying. It is not easy for most of the western world to see death as an inevitable part of life. However, the issues that surround euthanasia are not only about death, they are about ones liberty, right to privacy and control over his or her own body. So, the question remains: Who has the right? Under current U.S. law, there are clear distinctions between the two types of euthanasia. One group of actions taken to bring about the death of a dying patient -withdrawal of life support, referred to by some as passive euthanasia- has been specifically upheld by the courts as a legal right of a patient to request and a legal act for a doctor to perform. A second group of actions taken to bring about the death of a dying patient -physician-assisted death, referred to by some as active euthanasia- is specifically prohibited by laws in most states banning "mercy killing" and is condemned by the American Medical Association. Although it is not a crime to be present when a person takes his or her life, it is a crime to take direct action intentionally designed to help facilitate death--no matter how justifiable and compassionate the circumstances may be. With active euthanasia, it is the doctor who administers the lethal drug dose. Since it is tantamount to homicide, the few U.S. doctors who perform it have been brought to trial but none of them have ever been convicted and imprisoned. Modern interest in euthanasia in the United States began in 1870, when a commentator, Samuel Williams, proposed to the Birmingham Speculative Club that euthanasia be permitted "in all cases of hopeless and painful illness" to bring about "a quick and painless death." The word "painless" is important: the idea of euthanasia began gaining ground in modern times not because of new technologies for agonizingly prolonging life but because of the discovery of new drugs, such as morphine and various anesthetics for the relief of pain, which could 2006-07-27T15:40:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/United-States-Law-and-History-on-Euthanasia-30747.aspx Knowing the Dangers of Eating Disorders Imagine a thirteen-year-old girl who weighs 60 pounds because she is starving herself. Every time she looks in the mirror, she sees herself as fat. Picture her parents watching their daughter literally disintegrating into thin air. This is the life of a family dealing with an eating disorder. Eating disorders are a major problem with the young people of today's society. While anorexia and bulimia are sociological problems plaguing the world's youth, there are also other eating disorders. This "fat phobia", or fear of being over-weight, disturbs people to the point where they are in a way, committing suicide. It is not surprising that eating disorders are on the increase due to the value society places on being thin. In modern Western culture, women are given the message at a very young age that in order to be happy and successful, they must be thin. Every time you walk into a store you are surrounded by the images of withered models that appear on the front cover of fashion magazines. Women are constantly bombarded with advertisements catering to what is considered desirable. Thousands of women and girls are starving themselves this very minute trying to attain what the fashion industry considers to be the ideal waif-like figure. During this paper I will mainly be discussing the effects on females, though males are afflicted with eating disorders, the causes are different than those in the opposite sex. The average model weighs 23% less than the average woman. Maintaining a weight that is 15% below your expected body weight fits the criteria for anorexia, so most models, according to medical standards, fit into the category of being anorexic (Brumberg 205). Women must realize that society's ideal body image may in fact be achievable, but at a detrimental price to one’s body. The photos we see in magazines are not a clear image of reality. Adolescents and women striving to attain society's unattainable ideal more often than not, increase their feelings of inadequacy. In contemporary society young women easily cling to dieting precisely because it is widely practiced and an admired form of cultural expression. In the twentieth century, the body—not the face—became the focus of female beauty. As a consequence of this media portrayal of beauty, dieting has moved from the periphery to the center of women’s lives and culture. Dieting has manifested 2006-07-27T15:31:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Knowing-the-Dangers-of-Eating-Disorders-30742.aspx Anti Abortion Opinion Abortion is the ending of pregnancy before birth and is morally wrong. An abortion results in the death of an embryo or a fetus. Abortion destroys the lives of helpless, innocent children and illegal in many countries. By aborting these unborn infants, humans are hurting themselves; they are not allowing themselves to meet these new identities and unique personalities. Abortion is very simply wrong. Everyone is raised knowing the difference between right and wrong. Murder is wrong, so why is not abortion? People argue that it is not murder if the child is unborn. Abortion is murder since the fetus being destroyed is living, breathing and moving. Why is it that if an infant is destroyed a month before the birth, there is no problem, but if killed a month after birth, this is inhumane murder? The main purpose abortion is immoral; they are viciously done. Everyday, innocent, harmless fetuses that could soon be laughing children are being brutally destroyed. One form of abortion is to cut the fetus into pieces with jagged forceps before being removed, piece-by-piece from the uterus by suction with a vacuum aspirator. Another form consists of bringing the fetus feet first into the birth canal, puncturing its skull with a sharp instrument and sucking out the brain tissue. The body parts, such as the head, are given letters, rather than refer to the parts as what they are. The remains of the fetus or embryo, as the case may be, are put into everyday, plastic buckets and then sent to a dumpster where these precious bones and limbs are disposed. Abortion should not be allowed because it is morally wrong. "There is no morally relevant difference between deliberately killing a human being who has been born and deliberately killing a human being who is still inside his mother" (Foster 32). Abortion has become morally acceptable to some simply because it is currently legal. Legality does not necessarily imply morality. The taking of an innocent, defenseless human life is unacceptable and morally wrong. Killing innocent people is immoral and illegal in the United States; therefore, to be consistent, abortion should also be illegal. The moral aspects of abortion are clear. It is time for society to truly consider what it is doing to other humans. Abortion is a horrible atrocity that should be illegal unless the mother's life is endangered by the 2006-07-27T15:17:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Abortion-Opinion-30734.aspx Implications and Ramification of Pornography in Society The legitimacy of pornography is becoming a major topic in today’s media. This essay will explain the implications and ramifications of the topic, what makes it a moral issue, the church’s teaching and position and it’s development over time, as well as a personal response to the issue. Porn, like the poor, has always been with us. Evidence of graphic pornography can be found among the relics of many ancient civilizations. In Roman culture, for instance, erotic paintings dating from the 1st century A.D. cover walls in the ruins of volcano-engulfed Pompeii. Pornography was widespread in medieval Europe but found expression mainly in doggerel and satirical verses. The advent of printing in the 15th century prompted a flood of pornographic literature; many of the texts were filled with the same graphic language, which litters modern-day skin magazines. Still, pornography remained largely limited to "an educated elite," according to The Invention of Pornography (Zone Books, New York, 1993, edited by Lynn Hunt). (Smut Through the…, pg. 27) One of the major problems that many people have with pornography is the accessibility of it. In our age of mass media and the Internet, pornography is becoming increasingly easy to access. Even with government controls and regulations, pornography is still very accessible to children, using the Internet alone. Pornography takes human sexuality, including love, fidelity, family, and fulfillment, and turns it into a meaningless means for providing pleasure. Pornography displaces love with lust. The fundamental reason that lust is listed as one of the Seven Deadly Sins is precisely that it gives pleasure over the person. This kind of inversion of proper values is at once unjust to the object who is regarded primarily as an instrument of pleasure.(DeMarco, 2001) Several psychologists, after spending two subsequent decades of research based on the increased production of more explicit and violent forms of pornography, have concluded that brief exposure to violent pornography can lead to anti-social attitudes and behaviour. They have showed that continued exposure to pornography had serious adverse effects on beliefs about sexuality in general and on attitudes towards women in particular. They also found that pornography desensitizes people to rape as a criminal offence.(The Documented Effects…, net) With the immense amount of pornographic material that there is available today, it is only inevitable 2006-07-27T12:57:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Implications-and-Ramification-of-Pornography-in-Society-30732.aspx Effects of the AIDS Virus in the 20th Century Imagine what it would be like to contract a virus that causes the immune system to fail and slowly kill. Try to think what it would be like to have to live each day knowing this disease, which has no cure, is slowly and painfully taking over. It’s almost impossible to imagine, but for millions of people in the United States that is the reality they are forced to live with everyday for the rest of their lives. Anyone who has had unprotected sex, a blood transfusion, or has used I.V. drugs is at risk of contracting this disease. A large percentage of people who have been infected with this were not educated enough about the virus and its seriousness. The rapid spreading of the virus is also related to youth’s sexual behavior. Even though this deadly virus does exist, there are still ways to prevent it from being spread. This deadly disease is called Acquired Immunodificiency Syndrome, also know as AIDS. This terrible disease has effected millions of people’s lives in America during the Twentieth century. The AIDS epidemic has become a huge problem within the United States. AIDS was believed to have originated in monkeys and chimpanzees in Africa, and then they were transported to the United States. Now there are almost 4.5 million people in the U.S. that are infected with the AIDS virus, and since the 1970s there has been 19.5 million people who have been infected with HIV (Moore 13). For persons between the ages of 15 and 24 in the United States, AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death (Moore 13). Between the years 1990 and 1992, the number of teenagers infected with the HIV virus increased by 70 percent (Moore 13-14). Doctors have still not found a cure for AIDS, but they are coming up with treatments and medications to help slow down the virus’s effects. One thing that has had a lot to do with the spread of the virus is that a person can not tell if another person is infected with AIDS just by looking at them. Most people think that a person with AIDS would show signs of the illness, but there are none. AIDS has changed the way people live and think in the twentieth century for many reasons. At first AIDS was found only in homosexual 2006-07-27T12:38:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Effects-of-the-AIDS-Virus-in-the-20th-Century-30722.aspx Facing the Reality of Teens with Access to Handguns Handguns and teens do not go together. Why then is the number of young people being killed by handguns increasing each year. It is against the law for anyone under the age of twenty-one to handle a gun, but it seems that this law is not being followed by the world today. Many people have guns in their homes, for “protection” they say, but one can not honestly say that the weapon killing young people is a good means of protection. As a nation, a society, the people of today should stand up for what is right. Do not give teens the opportunity to handle a gun. Handguns should be illegal to the people under any circumstances. There have been numerous occasions on the news when a young child or teenager has been killed by a gun in his or her own house. This scene is so very sad. People today are not even safe in their own homes anymore. This situation, though it has happened many times, can be prevented. If people did not have the right to own handguns things of this sort would never happen. It is like a child with a piece of candy. If the child does not see the candy, he will not want it, but the moment he lays his eyes on it, it has to be his. Do not give people the chance to own a gun and no one will see the need to have one. Guns are a threat to the world today. No one goes into a convenience store and says, “Give me all the money or else,” without some form of a weapon, and nine times out of ten, that weapon it a gun. Think of how much better this world would be without guns. Teens would not be getting into the kind of trouble they are getting into today. Without the driving force of a handgun, young people would never think of robbing a bank, breaking into a house, or worst, killing someone. The violence of today’s teens would drastically decrease if guns were not in the picture. The most devastating thing about today’s teens handling guns, are the many times teens kill other teens. In schools around the world, young people have been bringing in guns and shooting their own classmates as a means of releasing anger. 2006-07-27T12:34:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Facing-the-Reality-of-Teens-with-Access-to-Handguns-30720.aspx In Support of the Legalization of Marijuana I think that marijuana should be legal because it is no more harmful to you than cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine, which are legal right now. Marijuana, also known as pot, reefer, weed, bud, herb, ganja, grass, wacky tabacci, funky bhudda, green, indo, Mary Jane, hemp, kif, bones, etc. is a substance obtained from the dried leaves and flowering tops of the pistillate hemp plant. It is technically known as cannabis sativa and is a tall, widely cultivated Asian herb of the mulberry family. Here are some statistics for you to ponder over: ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS TOBACCO 400,000 ALCOHOL 100,000 ALL LEGAL DRUGS 20,000 ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS 15,000 CAFFEINE 2,000 ASPIRIN 500 MARIJUANA 0 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: United States government National Institute on Drug Abuse Bureau of Mortality Statistics I really find it funny that over 400,000 people have died from the use of tobacco products (be it smoking, or chewing), and over 100,000 people have died from drinking alcoholic beverages. Yet in 10,000 years of usage, no one has ever died from marijuana directly. Like any substance, marijuana can be abused. The most widespread problem attributed to marijuana is frequent overuse, which can induce lethargic behavior, but does not cause serious health problems. Marijuana can cause short-term memory loss, but only while under the influence. Marijuana does not impair long-term memory. Marijuana does not lead to harder drugs, if you get addicted; you have an addictive personality, so it’s your fault. Marijuana does not cause brain damage, genetic damage, or damage the immune system. Unlike alcohol, marijuana does not kill brain cells or induce violent behavior. Incessant long-term smoking of marijuana can cause bronchitis, but the chance of contracting bronchitis from casual marijuana smoking is small. Respiratory health hazards can be totally eliminated by consuming marijuana via non-smoking methods, such as: ingesting marijuana via baked foods, tincture, or through a vaporizer. Marijuana was first harvested around 4000 B.C., George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp, 5 years after the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act of 1937 was passed The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the film “Hemp for Victory” to encourage farmers to grow it for World War II. How about this: One acre of Hemp can make as much paper as 4 acres of tree. The hemp plant can be used to make clothing and rope. Sterilized hemp seeds are found in birdseed. Marijuana can 2006-07-27T08:38:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/In-Support-of-the-Legalization-of-Marijuana-30715.aspx Combating the Cult of Thinness Why would a frightening percent of American women gladly trade five years off their lives for 10 pounds off their bodies -- or prefer to be perceived as thin rather than as kind or intelligent? In our society, the thin message is relentless, and is rapidly spreading among women of all ages. The American standard of physical perfection promotes both eating disorders and an obsession with thinness among women, and consequences of this obsession can often be tragic. Women need to devise a way to empower themselves against a society obsessed with beauty and thinness. In order to combat the Cult of Thinness, society must remove the emphasis placed on the ideal figure. It is no wonder that American women are obsessed with thinness. From a very young age, it is emphasized to women how important it is to be pretty-- and to be pretty by society’s standards means being thin. This message is blatantly seen everywhere. Women’s magazines, with their glossy pages of cosmetic advertisements and beauty advice columns, hold up an especially devious mirror. These magazines that claim to offer help to women, in fact do them an injustice by presenting a standard nearly impossible to attain. Computer-enhanced photography employs techniques such as airbrushing blemishes and slenderizing the bodies of models. This adds to the creation of an ideal model, that women strive to mimic. Many women believe that in order to lose weight, they need to buy something, whether it be a pill, a food plan, or membership in a self-help group. As a result, an entire industry has been created for the American dieter. There are currently more than 17,000 different diet plans, products, and programs from which to choose (Hesse-Biber 39). The diet plans, typically geared toward the female market, often promise fast and permanent weight reduction. Jenny Craig has annual revenues of over $400 million, due to the fact that as a culture, we associate beauty and thinness with the good, and ugliness and obesity with the bad. The greatest dissatisfaction with body weight and shape is seen among female college students. Recently, colleges and universities across the country are reporting dramatic increases in eating disorders among their students. There are several reasons why the college environment may be a breeding ground for weight obsession and eating disorders. Women who live in close quarters such 2006-07-27T08:16:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Combating-the-Cult-of-Thinness-30703.aspx Issues Surrounding Abortion Abortion means expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is able to survive. It is generally illegal. It is an issue that evokes, on all sides, very strong feelings and judgments and very heated recriminations. The most radical formulation of the anti-abortion or "pro-life" side of the debate views abortion as the murder of unborn children, and so as the equivalent of out and out infanticide, making the legal use of abortion. Legal abortion is an abortion that allowed by the law. Some country contended that the right to life generally accrues earlier than birth and irrespective of whether the baby is strong enough to survive after birth. This broad standard leaves plenty of room for special rules and exceptions in order to allow some late abortions for the life of the mother, rape, incest, grave fetal deformity, maiming of the mother, et cetera. A doctor who was performing a legal abortion on a woman five months pregnant notice that the ‘aborted fetus’ actually was alive. If this happens, he or she is generally left to die. So, he held the fetus’s head inside the woman’s vagina canal until the fetus suffocated. The doctor’s thinking was that the fetus was intended to killed or born during the abortion, and that it’s being born alive was an error that could result in an unwanted child. Therefore, he felt that he had performed an act of mercy. That means to say he had taken a direct action to terminate one’s life without his or her permission. When abortions are carried out, no precautions are taken to prevent the unborn baby from feeling this pain. There are three main ways that abortions are performed, depending on the age of the unborn baby. If the baby is under thirteen weeks of age, a method known as Suction Curettage is used. First, a suction tube with a knife-like edge is inserted into the womb. Then the baby is literally drawn and quartered as the spine, the legs, the arms, and all other parts are sliced off and sucked through the tube. Lastly, the head is crushed with forceps, so it too can be sucked up into the tube. If the baby is over thirteen weeks of age, the "Salting Out! " method is used. A strong, sterile saltwater solution is injected 2006-07-26T23:21:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Surrounding-Abortion-30689.aspx Essay on Whether or Not Marijuana Should be Legalized Should Marijuana Be Legalized? In society today, many people look for a feeling of freedom. Many people go on vacation and spend money. The most common gateway for people is drugs. Our American society is facing a tremendous drug problem. It has become a highly controversial issue whether drugs such as marijuana should be legalized or not. Some people advocate this issue and believe that legalization is the only solution left for the nation while others oppose because it will increase the number of drug users and drug related crimes. Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in the United States. This drug as you know is bad and causes severe side effects to your brain and body. Marijuana has both short term and long term effects. However, according to scientific experiments, marijuana is known to be beneficial in medicine. The question is should marijuana be legalized? One of the consequences of legalization will be a tremendous increase in drug users. Right now, drug users have fear of law enforcement agents, but if drugs were to be legalized, they no longer will have fear and will feel that it will be okay to use drugs. Over twenty years ago, estimates of drug use among Americans went as high as 24 million, but we now estimate that the number of Americans who use illegal drugs is down to about 11 million. And a recent study done by my office shows that Americans are spending less on illegal drugs, not more. In 1993, Americans spent $49 billion on illegal drugs, down from $64 billion in 1988 (Brown 629). This decline is due to more officers on the streets and drug awareness programs. An increase in drug use will result in an increase in drug related crimes if drugs are legalized. Supporters of drug legalization believe that crime and violence would decrease if drug use was legal. Statistics tell us that almost half of those arrested for committing a crime test positive for the use of drugs at the time of their arrest. Making drugs more readily available could only propel more individuals into a life of crime and violence (Brown 629). Also drug users turn to crime to pay for their habits because they are stimulated by drugs and therefore act violently. If drug is sold legally, it will 2006-07-25T15:34:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Whether-or-Not-Marijuana-Should-be-Legalized-30638.aspx Detailed Argument on Abortion being Legal The topic of abortion is one of the most controversial of our times. It has caused countless deaths and several violent confrontations between the two separate parties of opinion. The fight between pro-life and pro-choice supporters has been long and brutal. This is because, despite what several people may believe, abortion is neither right nor wrong. It is a matter of personal opinion. In this way, each side can say with certainty that the other is wrong. Therefore the question remains; should abortion be legal? Though some may disagree on this point, the fact is that legalized abortion is the only option that will protect the lives of American citizens. One only needs to look into American history to see the results of prohibiting abortions to women. The violence which occurs today because the of pro-choice/pro-life conflicts is minimal in comparison to the thousands of hopeless women who turn to the illegal abortions --either self-inflicted or preformed by the backroom "professionals"-- which result in infection, massive blood loss, and death. It is better now that they have a place to go where abortions can be performed cleanly and with minimal risk. Legalization of abortion is the only choice no matter what side one takes in the debate. Women will try to do what they think is necessary to live as they wish, no matter what the risk. In order to live as she chooses a woman may give up her freedom, her morals, her beliefs, her family, or even her life. Abortion has been around for thousands of years in every inhabited corner of the globe. It has always been accepted as a means to prevent the suffering of both woman and potential child. It has been practiced widely in every society for many reasons including famine, war, poverty, overpopulation, or simply because a woman felt she was not ready for a child (Whitney 40). No one ever questioned a woman's right to this procedure. After all, who but God has the right to judge what a woman does with her own body? This thought process lasted till the 1800's. During this era of change people began to turn their attention in a new direction, the fetus. They began to protest abortion as cruel, inhumane, and murderous. Filled with a new sense of purpose and the glory of a fresh, righteous cause to uphold 2006-07-25T13:03:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Detailed-Argument-on-Abortion-being-Legal-30636.aspx Causes of Homelessness in America Homelessness is an ongoing problem for our society. Everyday we come to terms with the effects of it, but what about the causes? By definition, a person who is homeless lives in public. The lack and destruction of federal housing programs and increasing rents forced those who are homeless to do in public what everyone prefers to do in private. According to the website, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, the Low Income Housing Information Service estimates that “there are twice as many low-income families searching for housing as there are units available”, many of which are waiting on Section 8 housing, a list that could take up to six years or more. The H.U.D Report, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, states that the lack of affordable housing is so tight that officials in the twenty-six cities surveyed estimate that low-income households spend almost half their income on rent. The rates for vacancies in this country run between two percent and about ten percent, and the rates of homelessness run under one percent (O’Flaherty 97). So the interesting question is why vacant housing units don’t get matched with those of low income households? (O’Flaherty 98). “After a protracted last-minute budget fight with Congress in December, President Clinton signed legislation containing $1.7 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the federal government's primary source of energy assistance for the poor. The amount represents a cut of $300 million from the $2 billion appropriated for FY 2000, the previous fiscal year,”(Energy Assistance/LIHEAP). The energy advocates are now worried that with the increased energy prices, the need for assistance will increase and there will not be enough money to help. The Department of Energy estimates that home heating oil prices could be 30 percent higher this winter than last, and that natural gas prices could be 40 percent higher (Energy Assistance/LIHEAP). The LIHEAP Coalition, an alliance of organizations that support LIHEAP funding, estimates that only about 13 percent of eligible families actually receive LIHEAP assistance now, and that this number would be expected to drop further under the amount Congress appropriated. Recent surveys indicate that in 1999, when heating bills were unaffordable, roughly 21-25 percent of LIHEAP recipients went without medical care and 12-13 percent went without food so they could cover their energy costs (Why are People 2006-07-24T19:51:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-Homelessness-in-America-30617.aspx The Value of Multicultural Education in America Multicultural education emerged in the 1990’s to address the educational needs of our modern society, a society that is a blend of diverse cultures. Carrying the legacy of the 1960’s and 1970’s, a period of profound social change when the people of our nation reexamined their cultural heritage, multicultural education presents and examines the values and practices of other cultures objectively and critically. Although founded on Western culture, American culture has always been diverse, both religious and ethnic. Multicultural education views such diversity as subcultures to America’s majority culture, rather than separate from it. Controversy surrounds whether or not multicultural education should be implemented in our public school system. While proponents believe multicultural education will begin to unite a divided nation, opponents of this idea believe it will cause racial schisms fragmenting our nation. "The reason for the controversy over multicultural education is that in practice it offers a specific paradigm for understanding both Western and non-Western cultures (Schmidt ix)." Western Traditionalists prefer the "melting pot" ideology that America is a culture based on the pursuit of personal freedom and economic opportunities regardless of ethnicity. It is the coming together of separate cultures into one common culture, American. People from non-Western cultures choose to immigrate to America, and should therefore be taught by a public school system based on Western culture. A look at a 1990 census shows that the American population has changed more noticeable in the last ten years than in any other time in the twentieth century, with one out of every four Americans identifying themselves as African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or American Indian (U.S. Census). A variety of people, from educators to philosophers, agree that an important first step in successfully joining multiple cultures is to develop an understanding of each other’s background. By exposing children to the ideas and customs of other cultures, they can better understand and appreciate the differences that coexist in our society. "If we teach children to identify only with members of their own race or ethnic culture, we run the risk of promoting and sanctioning ethnocentrism and prejudice (Ravitch 10)." Through multicultural education, America’s youth are exposed to the ethnic diversity of our society and are taught tolerance, a respect for differing opinions, and the cooperation of working towards a 2006-07-24T19:40:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Value-of-Multicultural-Education-in-America-30613.aspx Argument on the Legal Drinking Age in America High and College student are faced with a ever pressing issue each year. The legal drinking is one of the few responsibilities that American society feel they are not worthy for. We feel the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. In Our studies we found the majority of states in the United States (31 of 50 states) have laws that prohibit or limit the consumption of beverage alcohol for those individuals under 21, in all 50 states it is illegal to posses alcohol. "Three have a national minimum drinking age of 21 (Malaysia, South Korea, and Ukraine)", (March, 1998). In countries where no exceptions are made, "26 countries have minimum drinking ages of 18", (March,1998). "Five have a minimum drinking age of 16 (Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain)", (March, 1998). 2 countries (Japan and Iceland) have a minimum drinking age of 20. Out of all this information however the most useful fact is our two neighboring countries serve alcohol to 18 year olds. Travel agencies has noticed this fact and have packages specially aimed at getting high and college student into Mexico and Canada. With the lowering of age high and college student would skip these awkward and sometimes dangerous trips and spend there spring breaks here in the states. Furthermore I feel the legal drinking age should be lower is lessen the image of alcohol as the "Forbidden fruit", "badge of rebellion against authority" and "adulthood"(1998). Alcohol abuse did however "decrease" In America when this law was implemented. This is a major fallacy however "32% of under age" college students "binge drink (consume over 5 drinks at least once a week)" (1998).No matter what age limit teenagers, much like adults during the probation will get alcohol by whatever means possible. I (Brian Hunt) was big into the party scene in high school. The number one reason why all my peers drank was cause it was wrong. Most did not like the flavor, or the effects of the drinking. They just did it for the thrill that they might get caught, or to be seen as mature. Which is quite counter-productive to the original reason for raising the drinking age in the United States. It would allow for a greater legal sales of alcohol. This combined with a 1 dollar charge on every purchase of alcohol would allow 2006-07-24T14:00:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-on-the-Legal-Drinking-Age-in-America-30585.aspx Social Benefits of Allowing Gun Ownership Gun control has always been a splitting issue with activists and politicians. The question that is frequently asked is, “How far is too far when it comes to controlling guns?” Gun control has boiled down to three essential points, which are continually being debated within the United States government. The most common point that is made is that the American people have a “right to bear arms” according to The Constitution. The second issue is that guns are not what kill people; People kill people. There are some responsible uses for guns and if people use them irresponsibly, then that is when people will injure others. The last point that is made is that there are questions to gun control and how it effects crime. Having the right to guns teaches people self-defense and responsibility, which can assist in reducing crime. If you take the right to bear arms away, people will not be as secure in their communities. In order to understand the laws for gun control, one must first examine the law and how it is written. The 2nd Amendment for the United States Constitution states “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The Founding Fathers of the United States included this in the Constitution because they were in fear that the Government might oppress the people if they did not have the means to defend themselves as a nation and as individuals. This law was written with the concept in mind to keep the people safe and ease their minds during times of struggle and war. The militia mentioned in the constitution is meant as a group of defenders to the country that is made up of free men of every creed and every background. In times of war, the “free people” will be called into the fight and will need to have some sort of prior experience with guns and firearms. If we take away this right of the people, then there will be less training and experience with guns by the populace. There are however practical uses for guns that need to be kept in mind when considering gun control. Hunting is a popular sport to thousands of Americans across the country. Many activists claim that hunting is bad 2006-07-23T19:48:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Benefits-of-Allowing-Gun-Ownership-30556.aspx Opinions on Flag Desecration I am writing to you to express my views on the issue of the Flag Desecration Amendment. Let me begin by discharging from the outset that I am not writing to defend those who would desecrate the flag of the United States. In fact, my contempt for such action is equal to that of any member of the free speech movement. The flag is not simply the symbol of America; more deeply, it is the symbol of the ideals on which this nation rests. Those who would desecrate the flag are thus guilty of desecrating our principles, which is why I find their acts so offensive. Ironically, however, it is those very principles that protect such acts and restrain the society in the process. In a word, I am writing not to defend flag desecration but to defend the right to desecrate the flag. This position may strike some as paradoxical. It is not. In fact, there is a very distinct difference between defending the right to desecrate the flag and defending flag desecration itself. It is the difference between a free and an oppressive society. This amendment, as it tries to shield us from offensive behavior, gives rise to even greater offense. By offending our very principles, it undermines its essential purpose, making us all less free. Let me address this issue a bit further by pointing out that this amendment would authorize Congress to prohibit political expression and that political expression is precisely what the Founding Fathers wanted to protect the most when they drafted the First Amendment. In a pair of cases decided in 1989 and 1990 (Texas v. Johnson and U.S. v. Eichman), the United States Supreme Court ruled that flag desecration was protected under the parameters of the First Amendment and that an amendment to prohibit it would be the first attempt in over 200 years to amend the First Amendment. However, it is not the First Amendment alone that protects the rights of political expression. Even before the Bill of Rights was ratified citizens were protected against overweening federal power by a simple yet profound method in the doctrine of enumerated powers. In a word, there was simply no power enumerated in the Constitution through which the federal government might abridge political expression. The Flag Desecration Amendment would expand federal power in a way the Founding Fathers 2006-07-23T17:14:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Opinions-on-Flag-Desecration-30528.aspx Growing Problem of Street Gangs in Canada It is a scenario of nightmarish quality. An unsuspecting innocent individual has taken a short cut to get home late at night and is confronted by a group of individuals on a back street. However, this is no ordinary group of young men and women. This group is what is commonly called a street gang. Usually associated with poorer urban areas of the United States, street gangs have made a huge impact in Canadian Cities. Known for criminal acts such as robbery, assault and even murder, street gangs in Canadian cities have become phenomenon with many varied definitions and potential causes. In the pages to follow many theories for the presence Canadian street gangs will be discussed, and many systems and organizations that are trying to solve this growing problem will be looked at. Street gangs are a problem that have infiltrated the streets of Canadian cities and are wreaking havoc on our nation. Through the help and cooperation of the government, and citizen and interest groups, this problem can perhaps one day be driven from our streets. On October 24th 2000, a news article headline read, “Gang wars Leave 6 Dead”. However, this was not a U.S. newspaper, and these crimes did not occur south of the border. The article was in the Toronto Star and the crimes in question had taken place in North Etobicoke. The article contains sentences like “Six victims in Six months” and “calculated executions”. It also contains terms like “Bloods” and “Crips”. These terms and sentences have officially crossed the border and have become all too familiar in major Canadian urban centers. In Metropolitan Toronto there are over 30 documented street gang organizations including gangs like The L.A. Boys, The Latin Locos, and the Parkside Crips. However, street gang presence is not only found in a city as large as Toronto. In smaller areas like Brampton, Ontario, there are over 5 documented organizations, like the No Loves, The Crips, and the Punjabi Mafia. There are many theories as to why gangs begin and how they have flourished in Canadian cities. The most reasonable of the theories is that gangs stem from greater socio-economic factors present in many Canadian cities. Youths join gangs for reasons of security and belonging. Many gang members come from families where these characteristics are not present, and so the youths 2006-07-23T16:23:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Growing-Problem-of-Street-Gangs-in-Canada-30515.aspx Legal Issues and Arguments regarding Abortion Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about adultery in The Scarlet Letter, but the "A" word these days is abortion. People often break off friendships, ostracize each other, and are intolerant of others having different opinions on this subject. This is sad, because we can all learn from each other. The rest of this abortion essay is divided into two parts. First is a general discussion mentioning some legal issues. Then the legal issues will be discussed in more detail. Be aware that some of the following material is personal opinion, although you will also find a lot of information (including links). General Discussion For thousands of years of western civilization, abortion was generally illegal after "quickening" (the point at about four months into pregnancy when a baby kicks). This tradition can be traced back at least to the Ancient Greeks. In his book "Politics," Aristotle said that "the line between lawful and unlawful abortion will be marked by the fact of having sensation and being alive." [1] Aristotle thus contended that the right to life generally accrues earlier than birth and irrespective of whether the baby is strong enough to survive after birth (i.e. viability). This broad standard of Aristotle leaves plenty of room for special rules and exceptions in order to allow some late abortions for the life of the mother, rape, incest, grave fetal deformity, maiming of the mother, et cetera. [2] Quickening usually occurs at least two months before viability. Many people, including myself, advocate drawing a line between lawful and unlawful abortion no later than four months after conception but no earlier than the end of the embryonic stage. This happens to be what the vast majority of people generally believes. [3] Because the abortion pill RU486 is only effective on an embryo up until the ninth week of pregnancy, I have loudly supported its legalization for many years. If we are to face facts, we must acknowledge that the human experience does not suddenly begin the moment each of us is born. All medical experience shows that a fetus has sensation (e.g. taste, hearing, touch, smell, and sight). More importantly, a fetus can think, and has been proven to remember things (like the voice of its mother) after it is born. We are all human beings, 2006-07-23T13:14:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Legal-Issues-and-Arguments-regarding-Abortion-30500.aspx The Position of Affirmative Action in Universities Today After about thirty years of implementation, affirmative action is losing the foothold that it has in our society. Many debates have arisen with the passing of proposition 209, a ban on affirmative action in California. Washington has even passed an initiative modeled from proposition 209, and more states are now starting to debate the issue. The ban has become a reality in major universities in California and Texas. The results show a significant decrease in the enrollment of minorities. Thus the question arises, what should we do with affirmative action? Specifically, should public universities follow affirmative action in the enrollment of students? The University of Georgia was ordered by federal courts to admit its first black students on January 6, 1961. Since then, segregation has been abolished in all areas of the United States. The ending of affirmative action brings many new fears as to whether this desegregation will continue. There are fears that schools will decide to not admit minority students at all. Then the community will regress to where it was back in 1961. There is no doubt that affirmative action has helped minority students to be accepted into college. The question arises though, is it the best program? Many anti-affirmative action proponents are crying "reverse discrimination." They are saying that color should have absolutely no part in the enrollment of students at all. Many white students are angry at the notion of any preferential treatment based on color towards the enrollment of students. I was angry at this notion at first, but then I realized that colleges have always been using preferential treatment for many other things other than race. Athletes, musicians, children of alumni, and veterans are all given preferential treatment for enrollment, and for valid reasons too. Then, is it fair to enroll people based on their ethnicity? Well, it depends on how much people value diversification in the classroom. Diversification is a value I appreciate in a school. I would love to have more diverse classrooms here at school. From the few experiences I have had, diverse people have greatly broadened my mind. While living in my cultural nutshell, I had the opinion that all foreigners look at America as the best country in the 2006-07-22T17:55:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Position-of-Affirmative-Action-in-Universities-Today-30475.aspx Is Society Against Interracial Relationships and Marriage Interracial relationships have long been a key issue in societies since the beginning of time. Many people find the mixing of races disgusting and immoral. The question is, should they? In my opinion the answer is no, however, this paper is not about my opinions, but about how others, who are supposed Christians view this very same topic. America was founded to be a nation where everyone would have the freedom to do what he or she believed was right. However, it has notably been one of the countries in the world that has the biggest problems with race mixing. Fortunately, today this controversy over interracial relationships in general has seemed to die down. Unfortunately, these seemingly racists beliefs have not disappeared from our society altogether. It would be my opinion that the majority of people who have problems with multicultural people, as well as the mixing of the races, are opposed because of ignorance. They do not understand other cultures and nationalities and therefore, in part, fear them. Either way, the goal of this paper is to find out how a small sample of today’s Christian society will view interracial relationships, dating, as well as marriage. Literature Review “As Americans struggle with racially charged issues from affirmative action to record-breaking immigration, high school students have started a quiet revolution that could signal a shift in the way the nation will come to look at race.” According to a new USA Today/Gallup poll of teen-agers across the country, fifty-seven percent of teens who go out on dates say they've been out with someone of another race or ethnic group. Not just interracial dating has seen a rise, but also interracial marriages. There were nearly 1.3 million married interracial couples in 1994, the Census Bureau reported, four times the numbers in 1970. In most cases, many of the teens polled in this survey said that their parents were not a major obstacle in this issue. Sixty-four percent of teens say their parents don't mind that they date interracially, or wouldn't mind if they did. Almost three/fourths of black, white or Hispanic students polled agreed that interracial dating was not a big issue at their schools (Peterson). Unfortunately, the majority of society still has problems with interracial dating. People 2006-07-22T17:47:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Society-Against-Interracial-Relationships-and-Marriage-30471.aspx Funding Faith-Based Charities with Taxpayer's Money There is much controversy over the recent initiative to have the government fund faith-based charities. The proposal is to allocate about $10 billion of taxpayers’ money to religious charities in the hope that they will efficiently distribute aid to the needy .(Miga). The people who want to pass this bill claim that the aid will reach more people with more efficiency than through federal charities. However, most experts, both religious and secular, disagree. Federal funding of faith-based charities will deprive people of rightful government aid. If this initiative is passed, then the federal money may not all go to its intended use –– aiding the poor and needy –– but may sponsor religious discrimination by both the church and the federal government. Religious charities could discriminate against some of those in need; they might give aid mostly to people of the same faith. On a general basis, people who agree with each other have more in common. With this bond come more trust and sympathy between the people who agree than an outsider with a different ideology. This also applies to religion. Nothing is stopping the government funded charity workers from taking more of a liking to people of the same faith than to an atheist or a person of another religion. With trust comes friendship. With friendship comes favoritism. When favoritism enters the process, aid gets distributed unfairly, with people of the same faith as the charity getting more help than people of a different faith. The non-believers may either be converted or ignored if the charity workers have strong beliefs in their own religion. “Teen Challenge achieves a remarkable eighty-percent (80%) cure rate for teenage drug addicts because they lead the young people to faith in Jesus Christ and then painstakingly instruct them in biblical principals of Christian living,” said Pat Robertson, a popular Christian televangelist (Robertson). This approach to charity could also force change in people’s lifestyles. In Iowa, a program exists called the InnerChange Freedom Initiative for prison inmates. Every inmate is allowed in as long as they are approved by the prison, but once in the course, they are required to continue to change their lifestyle into one that is more Christian, and their rights to all television and sexually explicit materials are waived (Goodstein). This proves that if this program were funded by the government, at least some religious 2006-07-22T12:48:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Funding-Faith-Based-Charities-with-Taxpayer-s-Money-30446.aspx A History of Gun Control in America In the 1960s after the assassinations of President John F. Kenedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Senator Robert F. Kenedy, gun control became a major subject of public passion and controversy. To some people gun control is a crime issue, to others it is a rights issue. Gun control is a safety issue, an education issue, a racial issue, and a political issue, among others. Within each of these issues there are those who want more gun control legislation and those who want less. On both sides of this issue opinions range from moderate to extreme. Guns are not for everyone. Certain individuals cannot handle a firearm safely, and some individuals choose to use firearms inappropriately. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and more legislation is being considered. Most of this legislation restricts, to some degree, the rights of individuals to possess or use firearms. Some restrictions may be necessary, but some recent legislation has gone too far. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. Attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens do more harm than good. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” The Founding Fathers included this in our bill of Rights because they feared the Federal Government might oppress the population if the people did not have the means to defend themselves as a nation and as individuals (Halbrook 65-84). This idea was not new. The Founding Fathers’ thoughts on the right to keep and bear arms were influenced by Aristotle, Cicero, John Locke, and Algernon Sidney (Halbrook 7). The militia referred to cannot be construed as meaning the Army or National Guard, in the words of Sanmuel Adams: “The Militia is composed of free citizens” (qtd. In Halbrook 62). Additionally, George Mason considered a “well regulated Militia” to be one “ composed of … Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Freemen” (qtd. In Halbrook 61). The Revolutionary War was won with the help of “ armed populace composed of partisans, militias, independent companies, and the continental army…..”( Halbrook 63). It is obvious from this that the Founding Fathers 2006-07-22T12:34:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-History-of-Gun-Control-in-America-30441.aspx Sexism in the Twenty First Century One of the most important skills to learn if you want to be a successful writer is to know your audience. Know your audience and speak to it. If you're writing for the usual mix of civilization, your audience will be roughly half male and half female. With this in mind, the successful writer is not likely to ignore half of that audience by writing exclusively to one gender or the other. Nonsexist writing is an issue that used to be hotly debated and is now being widely accepted. Most of the resistance to nonsexist writing was based in the idea that "everyone knows that he means he or she." Well, he does not mean she and it never has. Using the male gender entirely in writing now seems less an issue of the writer being sexist as the writer being lazy. The continued use of gender specific language is not only old fashioned and obsolete, but also tells the writer you are not considering your entire audience. In the piece entitled “ The Great Person-Hole Cover Debate”, the author argues that there is no justification for the continued use of gender specific language. She cites that during the civil rights movements of the nineteen fifties and nineteen sixties, the manufacturer band-aid had to abandon the “skin color” band-aids as they were only the color of Caucasian skin. Since a band-aid had to be re-named for racial reasons, the writer sees no reason why use of gender specific language should be continued. I agree with the work of this writer that gender specific language should be kept to a minimum. There are two main problems that need to be solved when considering a move to gender-neutral language. First, the sentence structure must be changed to accommodate both men and women equally. For example, “When a student writes a paper, he must proofread carefully.” Becomes “When we students write our papers, we must proofread carefully.” Simply switching he with we and re-wording the sentence achieves the desirable form. The second problem is with male-oriented words such as businessman, chairman, congressman, and mailman. These can be modified to business executive, chair, member of congress, and mail carrier. These new ways of writing are every bit as professional as the traditional ways, but include both 2006-07-22T10:52:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Sexism-in-the-Twenty-First-Century-30421.aspx Fighting the Drug War in America Why do these three statements sound contradictory? There is no reason all drugs have to be legalized to end the Drug War. The Drug War is destroying our cities and our Constitutional rights and must be ended. But across-the-board legalization is just as extreme as the Drug War and besides, it will never happen in America. Keeping drugs illegal is fundamental to solving the drug problem. Legalizing drugs would lead to a substantial increase in drug use and, even worse, an increase in drug abuse and addiction. Eighty percent of the drug problem's cost to society stems from drug use itself, the adverse health effects, loss of productivity and need for eventual treatment. When compared to the remaining twenty percent of the cost from law enforcement and drug-related crime, it is obvious that legalization makes as little sense financially for society as it does morally. Most Americans do not realize how extreme the Drug War actually is. Last year there were over 400,000 arrests for marijuana. The average time served in prison for selling marijuana is four years, compared with just one year for rape or manslaughter. The Government can search through garbage without probable cause, confiscate property without a trial and force you to prove your innocence to get it back, drug test your children and jeopardize their future, all in the name of the Drug War. The Drug War treats drug crime as more important than violent crime. It treats drug crime as more important than our God-given Constitutionally protected rights. Ending the Drug War is not about legalization. It is about ending extremism while maintaining a real commitment to solving America's drug problem. Maintaining this commitment provides an important argument that appeals to exactly the group that has the most to fear from marijuana legalization, parents. The fact is that legalizing marijuana will help protect America's children from LSD, ecstasy, mushrooms, cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs. Conservatives are absolutely correct in identifying marijuana as a steppingstone drug. Marijuana is a soft, illegal drug that bridges the gap between soft, legal drugs and hard, illegal drugs. Government propaganda and zero-tolerance policies cannot change the reality that marijuana is a soft drug. The only way to remove marijuana as a steppingstone is to legalize it. An increase in juvenile marijuana use is inevitable; the real 2006-07-22T10:42:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fighting-the-Drug-War-in-America-30417.aspx Article Summary about Abusive Fathers and Child Abuse This article entitled Do Homes With Absent Or Abusive fathers Breed Violence? (http://www.io.com/~eoc/html/internallinks_statistics.html) is about families with absent and abusive fathers. It shows interesting and shocking statistics on these kinds of families. The statistics seem to show that violence is bred in homes with absent and abusive fathers. For example, 63% of youth suicides are from homes with absent or abusive fathers (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census) and 90% of all homeless and runaway children are also from abusive fathers. These are some of the shocking statistics These statistics are shocking because I could have been part of these statistics. I come from one of these homes with an absent or abusive father. I’ve experienced both an absence and abuse. I was first abused and then I was left behind. But it was for the better. The abuse would have continued. That would have been worse for me. For me, my abusive father did not breed violence into the family but created some bad. When my dad left I started to steal. He was financially important to us. He was an architect making at least $70,000 a year. I basically was able to get many things I wanted. When he left and lost his job, I started stealing the things I wanted. That was a mistake. I never got caught but I got someone into stealing also and I got him caught. I felt so horrible. I watched my friend get arrested when it should have been me. This was a bad way to cope with my problem. But, there are worse ways to cope with this problem and the statistics in this article shows it. For example, running away. The article says that 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from homes with absent or abusive fathers I didn’t inherit any violence from my dad’s abuse but I’ve noticed that I inherited his temper. Sometimes it feels like I can get violent. Little problems will set my temper off at home and I will take it out on my brother by screaming and yelling and almost hitting him. One time I actually did. I got so scared because it was like I 2006-07-18T19:26:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Article-Summary-about-Abusive-Fathers-and-Child-Abuse-30377.aspx Why the Death Penalty is Unrealistic in Today's Society The death penalty ultimate goal is to stop crime. What is the difference in the state killing someone and a man killing another man? Either way someone is being murdered and murder is a crime. People think that if you execute a person that you are freeing up more tax dollars for the state. Then you have the issue of dealing with people's moral and religious beliefs. When a person is given the death penalty, you are in essence giving them the easy way out of the situation. The death penalty has failed totally because it was a seriously flawed and unnecessary law. The death penalty should have never been considered, much less implemented and I feel that it should be abolished. The key part of the death penalty is that it involves death, something, which is rather permanent for humans. This creates a major problem when "there continue to be many instances of innocent people being sentence to death."(Hanks 142) In our legal system, there exist lots of ways in which justices might be poorly served for a recipient of the death sentence. One way is the handling of ones own defense counsel. If a defendant is without counsel, a lawyer will provide. But a lot of the attorney's given to defendant lack the qualities necessary to provide competent defense. With payment caps or court-determined sums of, for example $5 an hour, there is not much incentive for a lawyer to spend a great deal of time representing defendants. When you compare this to prosecution, "aided by police, other law enforcement agencies, crime labs, state mental hospitals, various other scientific resources, experienced prosecutors in these type cases, and grand juries"(Hank 144), the defense that the court provide is little no help. What if a defendant has a valid case to offer, but does not show it because he or she was represented wrong? Why should they be punish for a injustice that is created by the court itself when it appointed the incapable lawyer? The most frequent argument for capital punishment is that of deterrence. Society makes you think if you use the death penalty it will dissuade other criminals from committing violent acts. Numerous studies nave been created attempting to prove this belief, "but the evidence taken together makes it hard to be confident that capital punishment deters more 2006-07-18T19:14:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-the-Death-Penalty-is-Unrealistic-in-Today-s-Society-30372.aspx Essay on Euthanasia in America In America today many arguments are centered on the right to choose: the right for women to have an abortion, the right for gays to be allowed to raise children or be legally married, and the right to physician-assisted suicide. These arguments all have something to do with the individual having the right to make this choice or if society should be able to decide for them, thus removing this choice. Euthanasia is a choice everyone should have, but like all rights, it should not be taken advantage of. By legalizing euthanasia the practice of assisted suicide would be an available choice as well as regulated to see that it does not get abused and used for the wrong reasons. Today, more than ever, the push is on to "change the rules." Dr. Kevorkian, a leading doctor in the fight in legalizing Euthanasia, while deplored by most medical professionals for his methods, is heralded as a hero on many fronts for bringing this issue into the public square. By all accounts, a time of decision is upon us. When a fully conscious person requests death, should a doctor assist the person in dying? It is the purpose of this paper to present a concise overview of the primary arguments for the legalization of doctor-assisted suicide and also attempt to identify and clarify the active/passive distinction inherent in the debate on euthanasia, before concluding, through an analysis of writers such as Rachel’s, that the distinction is in itself morally important. My four primary arguments for legalizing euthanasia are as follows: The mercy argument, which states that the immense pain and indignity of prolonged suffering, cannot be ignored. We are being inhumane to force people to continue suffering this way. The patients right to self-determination. Patient empowerment has been a trend for more than twenty-five years. "It's my life, my pain. Why can't I get the treatment I want"? The economics argument, which notes the cost of keeping people alive, is exceedingly high. Who's footing the bill for the ten thousand people being sustained in a persistent vegetative state? Aren't we wasting precious resources when an already used up life is prolonged unnecessarily? The reality argument. "Let's face it people are already doing it". Lying in bed, alone in inconceivable pain. For many people the process of dying includes weeks, months 2006-07-18T13:21:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Euthanasia-in-America-30364.aspx How Censorship can Hinder Progress Censoring is like keeping a wild animal in a cage. You isolate it from its natural environment trying to protect it in some way but actually you imprison it, reducing its freedom and ignoring its personal will and right to be free. Censoring is limiting freedom and avoiding or ignoring the unpleasant part of our every day life and the social problems we encounter. But the animal in the cage can never develop its habits as its wild brothers and when let out into nature it can not survive. In the same way society can not thrive and progress if censorship exists. Censoring makes difficult the process of constant change and evolution of society by preventing new ideas from being presented to people, thus adopted and replacing the old ones. But in order for a society to thrive, it should be continuously developing. While this happens, many contradictions and crisis are experienced. New ideas are at first rejected and the old ones are refusing to “free space” for them. People like to feel secure and stick to their view about how things should be. It takes some time for the prejudices and the shock of the new to be slowly overcome. Society’s principles change and it reaches a new level of its development. This won’ t be possible if censorship exists. Since it is determined by the prejudiced and established principles of society, it will reject the new as shocking and bad. Thus, society will stay at one and the same level of its development or will develop only in the direction that a few people with power choose. All of the branches but one branch of the vulnerable stem of change and novelty will be broken before it can grow and turn into a flourishing tree of progress and improvement. Also society should not have the illusion, which censorship creates, that the world is perfect and that there aren’t any problems. The first step towards solving a problem is the realization of its existence. It has to be faced and not hidden behind the heavy curtain of ignorance. Bad is inseparable part of good. You have to experience both in order to make distinction between them. Society should be given the chance to know the real situation and decide what to do based on reality and not on its beautiful mask. 2006-07-18T13:04:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Censorship-can-Hinder-Progress-30354.aspx How Censorship can Hinder Progress Censoring is like keeping a wild animal in a cage. You isolate it from its natural environment trying to protect it in some way but actually you imprison it, reducing its freedom and ignoring its personal will and right to be free. Censoring is limiting freedom and avoiding or ignoring the unpleasant part of our every day life and the social problems we encounter. But the animal in the cage can never develop its habits as its wild brothers and when let out into nature it can not survive. In the same way society can not thrive and progress if censorship exists. Censoring makes difficult the process of constant change and evolution of society by preventing new ideas from being presented to people, thus adopted and replacing the old ones. But in order for a society to thrive, it should be continuously developing. While this happens, many contradictions and crisis are experienced. New ideas are at first rejected and the old ones are refusing to “free space” for them. People like to feel secure and stick to their view about how things should be. It takes some time for the prejudices and the shock of the new to be slowly overcome. Society’s principles change and it reaches a new level of its development. This won’ t be possible if censorship exists. Since it is determined by the prejudiced and established principles of society, it will reject the new as shocking and bad. Thus, society will stay at one and the same level of its development or will develop only in the direction that a few people with power choose. All of the branches but one branch of the vulnerable stem of change and novelty will be broken before it can grow and turn into a flourishing tree of progress and improvement. Also society should not have the illusion, which censorship creates, that the world is perfect and that there aren’t any problems. The first step towards solving a problem is the realization of its existence. It has to be faced and not hidden behind the heavy curtain of ignorance. Bad is inseparable part of good. You have to experience both in order to make distinction between them. Society should be given the chance to know the real situation and decide what to do based on reality and not on its beautiful mask. 2006-07-18T13:03:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Censorship-can-Hinder-Progress-30353.aspx Problems of an Aging Death Penalty The death penalty has become archaic. As a society, we have become more civilized. The death penalty is only carried out in an erratic fashion. It has not been shown to be a deterrent to murder. As our society evolves in science, health and social awareness, it is only right that we should reject the death penalty as the cruel, barbaric, and outmoded vehicle it has become. We, as a society, are becoming more civilized. But we are currently the only nation in the western democratic world that has not abolished capital punishment. According to Amnesty International USA, we are the only country in the western world, since 1977, to execute inmates, who were under 18 years old, when they committed their crime. The United States has not actually executed any child, under the age of 18, because these inmates are actually in their twenties or thirties before all of their appeals have been heard. So we are actually executing them for something they did as a teen, even though the actual execution takes place years later. As awful as this sounds, there are countries in this world who execute teenagers. Yemen executed a thirteen-year-old child, who was found guilty of robber and murder. The former governor of California, Pete Wilson, has suggested that fourteen-year-olds should be eligible for the death penalty. He said that gangs use younger members to kill because they know that they will not be given the death penalty if caught. He believes that this would be a deterrent. Luckily this has not become a law in California, or the rest of the country. Pope John Paul II has criticized the United States for embracing the culture of death. Vatican II came out against the death penalty. The council stated that the death penalty may be the “only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor,” but also goes on the say the such circumstances are “practically nonexistent” in today’s world, in view of the resources available to governments to restrain convicted criminals from committing violent acts. The United Nations Human Rights Commission has adopted a resolution urging a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. We, as a country, have reviled China and other countries for human rights violations. Many 2006-07-17T22:52:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Problems-of-an-Aging-Death-Penalty-30323.aspx Long Term Damage of Child Abuse In this paper I intend to explain child abuse in intimate detail. I hope to inform you of the exact definition of abuse and its various types. I hope to enlighten you on pertinent facts and information on the causes and effects of this cruel act. I will also show you statistical information showing that continued abuse against a child may cause long-term mental damage. I will also show improvements being made over the years to improve and prevent child abuse. Child Abuse is defined as intentional use of physical force or intentional omission of care by a parent or caregiver that causes a child to be hurt, maimed, or killed. Child abuse covers a wide range of harmful actions, which generally vary with the age of the child. The term child abuse covers a wide range of behavior, from actual physical assault to simple neglect of a child’s basic needs. Child abuse is also sometimes called child maltreatment. Infants and preschool children are most likely to suffer deliberately inflicted fractures, burns, and bruises. This is known as the battered-child syndrome. Although the extent of child abuse is difficult to measure, it is recognized a s a major social problem, especially in industrialized nations. It occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and in urban and rural communities. It is, however, more common in some groups, especially those below the poverty line. There are several different types of child abuse, and some children experience more than one form: Physical abuse includes deliberate acts of violence that injure or even kill a child. Unexplained bruises, broken bones, or burn marks on a child may be signs of physical abuse. Other signs include: Physical Indicators • Unexplained bruises or welts • Unexplained burns • Unexplained fractures and sprains • Unexplained head injuries • Unexplained lacerations or abrasions • Poisoning, inappropriate drugs, food or drink • Confinement Behavioral Indicators • School absence correlates with appearance of injury • Behavioral extremes, i.e. overly compliant, passive or undemanding, aggressive, withdrawn • Easily frightened, fearful • Wary of physical contact or touch • Poor social relations • Afraid to go home • Destructive to self and/or others • Chronic runaway • Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably • Wears clothing inappropriate to weather to cover 2006-07-17T12:51:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Long-Term-Damage-of-Child-Abuse-30283.aspx Essay on a Woman's Right to Choose Abortion The topic of abortion is a hot subject among the people of America today. Some say yes, women should be able to have abortions no matter if the fetus is in the first trimester or well in to the second trimester of gestation. On the other hand the other people say that it is murder of a child no matter the stage of development. Many of the people that believe that the fertilized ovum is a human and has a soul at the conception are the pro-life people. They believe this because of their religious beliefs. The pro-lifers have been taught through their religion that as soon as the sperm connects with the egg, the soul enters the body and the egg is then a human, even though is has no ability to move, think, speak, listen, or smell. The concept of the soul entering the body at conception is a religious belief. It has no way of being detected through scientific means. Pro-life individuals are generally conservative people who are against the idea of abortion. Morals teach us that an individual conceived is alive and to endanger an individual in a mother’s womb is against the moral teachings that they have been taught. They usually believe in Christian principles. They believe that the government does not have the right to allow a person to abort a fetus. Famous conservatives and activists for pro life include Jesse Helms, George W. Bush, and Pat Buchanan. There have been many debates and even some television shows that refute this topic. One specific person that always goes against it is Pat Robertson. He has donated a whole television program to anti-abortion and anti-liberalism. As in all debates there has to be a pro side, unfortunately these close-minded people have made a wrong decision. Pro choice is anyone who feels women have the individual right to choose abortion as an option. We live in a democracy, where we have the right to choose how we live. It is a woman’s right to choose to have a child or to abort it. It is not as if women get pregnant for the specific reason to have an abortion. Some people feel there is always a legitimate reason behind her actions. Who is to say that if all children ever conceived were born they would 2006-07-17T12:49:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-a-Woman-s-Right-to-Choose-Abortion-30282.aspx Gays Vs. Blacks in the American Armed Forces For some veterans of the civil-rights era, it's a matter of stolen prestige. "It is a misappropriation for members of the gay leadership to identify the April 25 march on Washington with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 mobilization," one such veteran, the Reverend Dennis G. Kuby, wrote in a letter to the editor that appeared in the Times on the day of the march. Four days later, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee's hearings on the issues of gays in the military, Lieutenant General Calvin Waller, United States Army (retired), was more vociferous. General Waller, who, as General Norman Schwarzkopf's second-in-command, was the highest-ranking black officer in the Gulf War's theatre of operations, contemptuously dismissed any linkage between the gay-rights and civil-rights movements. "I had no choice regarding my race when I was delivered from my mother's womb," General Waller said. "To compare my service in America's armed forces with the integration of avowed homosexuals is personally offensive to me." This sentiment -- that gays are pretenders to the throne of disadvantage that properly belongs to black Americans, that their relation to the rhetoric of civil rights is one of unearned opportunism -- is surprisingly widespread. "The backlash is on the streets among blacks and black pastors who do not want to be aligned with homosexuals," the Reverend Lou Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, crowed to the Times in the aftermath of the march. That the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People endorsed the April 25th march made the insult all the deeper for those who disparage the gay-rights movement as the politics of imposture -- Liberace in Rosa Parks drag. "Gays are not subject to water hoses or police dogs, denied access to lunch counters or prevented from voting," the Reverend Mr. Kuby asserted. On the contrary, "most gays are perceived as well educated, socially mobile and financially comfortable." Even some of those sympathetic to gay rights are unhappy with the models of oppression and victim hood which they take to be enshrined in the civil-rights discourse that many gay advocates have adopted. For those blacks and whites who viewed last month's march on Washington with skepticism, to be gay is merely an inconvenience; to be black is to inherit a legacy of hardship and inequity. For them, there's no comparison. But the 2006-07-17T12:45:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gays-Vs_-Blacks-in-the-American-Armed-Forces-30279.aspx The Realities of School Choice in Public Education With the increasing demand for better schools, states and communities are providing more options to families. By doing so, they are not only improving educational opportunities for children, but also having a dramatic impact on how schools operate. School choice options are: publicly funded school choice program, charter schools, magnet school and private scholarship programs. Armed with the evidence of the success that these programs can generate, particularly for disadvantaged children, state lawmakers are addressing education reform with new vigor. Why school choice? Two reasons: excellence and accountability. Parents want academic excellence for their children. They also want to know that there is someone in their child’s school who is accountable for achieving those high academic standards. Under a school choice plan, a parent would have options. There would be consequences for a school’s poor performance. Parents could pull their children out of poorly performing schools and enroll them someplace else. If exercising this option leads to a mass exodus from certain underachieving schools, schools will learn this painful lesson: schools will either improve, or close due to declining enrollments. The term “school choice” covers a multitude of student assignment places that vary significantly in their underlying assumptions and operational procedures. Although there is a great variety of school choice plans, a few major types can be identified. They are Intradistrict, Interdistrict, Magnet Schools, Postsecondary options, Second-Chance Schools, Charter Schools, Voucher Plans and Tuition tax credits. Intradistrict choice is a plan which allows students to choose schools within one public school district. Depending on the specific plan, the range of choice may include a few to all schools in a district. Interdistrict choice is a plan which permits students to cross district lines to attend school. Tuition funds from the state follow the student and transportation costs are usually provided. Unlimited Interdistrict choice is equivalent to statewide open enrollment. Magnet schools are public schools which offer specialized programs. They are generally designed and located so as to attract students to otherwise unpopular areas or schools, and are often created to promote racial balance. Postsecondary options are programs which enable high school students to enroll in college courses at government expense. Program courses may contribute to high school graduation requirements as well as to their college programs. 2006-07-16T21:56:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Realities-of-School-Choice-in-Public-Education-30266.aspx Research on Capital Punishment Effectiveness The death penalty is the consequence that one human being must face for murdering another human being. The issue of the death penalty has long been debated. Some people believe it is the necessary sentence used for stopping crime. Others believe that it has no effect on crime. With the implementation of the death penalty, a lesser amount of crimes will be committed. Today such executions as electrocution, the gas chamber, and lethal injection are the main punishments for the crimes. All of these are contributing factors as deterrents of crime. Violence dominates the very streets that we walk in. Now more than ever, our society does not have normalcy. The world is not getting any safer. In order to ensure somewhat of a safe world, the death penalty must be enforced. In doing so, we will force the people who commit crimes to think twice about their actions. They must know that they will suffer the most extreme of consequences for their actions Americans value the death penalty, not only for its utility as a crime reduction tool, but also as a way of doing justice. Some crimes that occur are so vicious that they cause an abundance of outrage amongst people everywhere. For crimes such as these, society believes that it is necessary to express its outrage by seeking retribution, by punishing the offender in the most severe way possible. The only way they see it by killing him or her. If life is the most precious thing, then why is it that there are murderers that are still breathing the very air that the person that they killed once breathed. The death penalty also deters potential murderers from committing criminal acts. By having the death penalty, the message that severe crimes are unacceptable and that it is punishable by the ultimate sanction will get through to at least one person while saving another person’s life. The nation has the right to protect the innocent and punish the guilty by means of the death penalty. If the death penalty has continuous use throughout the United States, the crime rate should decrease and this will reduce the number of violent murders and other crimes, by eliminating the repeat offenders. Catholics have argued against the death penalty by saying that the church believes in forgiveness and therefore these people should not be given execution as 2006-07-13T19:22:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Research-on-Capital-Punishment-Effectiveness-30244.aspx Racism in American History Slavery originated in Africa. It was a punishment for those who broke the law. It also was part of the wars in Africa. However, slavery in Africa was more like indentured slavery. Those enslaved had a certain amount of time to serve. It was a way of putting back what was wronged. Slavery was never at the magnitude, until it got to America. When slavery first entered into America, it was more so indentured slavery. This is when people would work for their transportation over to the colonies and would be free after serving five to seven years in servitude. The colonists tried to enslave Indians also, but were unable to due to the fact when they escaped they were able to find refuge in the outskirts. Takaki, also wrote about how the Irish were indentured servants, but they had problems with them running away with black slaves and also sleeping with them. The colonist of Virginia thought that white slaves were too costly and were a high risk for flight. They decided that white indentured servants would serve their terms and receive fifty acres of land and some other attributes like a gun for their service. This was the beginning of the “peculiar institution”. Once the white slaves where on their way out the colonists saw fit to enslave the blacks for life. They began to make laws that hindered slaves from all freedoms. They were considered the property of plantation owners and could be bought and sold at any time. The blacks that happened to be free were not allowed to hold office, bear arms, testify in court, or vote. Colonists put more restrictions on mixed children and whether or not they were considered black or white for the purpose of having more slaves. In my opinion, and in Takaki and Hackers, slavery was an institution. Cornell West and Hacker, gave the best descriptions of what is like to be black and in America after slavery. With the ideas, of D’Souza, I was able to see exactly what blacks were working against. D’Souza believed that blacks are due nothing. He believed that blacks benefited from being slaves. He thought that without it blacks would have never gotten the chance to be in America in 2006-07-13T19:02:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Racism-in-American-History--30234.aspx Educational System is not Strict Enough Schools are failing to provide the kind of educational experience we want for our children,. In too many of these schools, expectations of students are low, teachers and parents are frustrated, and academic performance is poor. This is part by the schools not being strict enough. The teachers of today can not correct a kid like they should unless they get slapped with a lawsuit. You can’t take a kid into the hall and paddle them with out someone calling for abuse. Also when kids get into fights they suspend them instead of trying to make the kid understand. If you ruin a child’s grades once then they will always make bad grades. Particularly in the highest-poverty schools, where many students fail to meet even minimum standards of achievement, the need for change is urgent. They need more financial aid from the government and make sure that the kids do not miss behave. Also these schools should be more worried about the students welfare than there own finances. They should make fundamental changes-changes that will create a safe, orderly environment that focuses on high standards of teaching and learning for all students. When the schools improve they should get extra benefits for there accomplishments, instead of being pushed aside because they are in a low income area. Kids these days are getting less and less education. The reason for this is schools not be strict enough. The schools are to lenient, and the children get away with to much. If an administrator paddles a kid the school gets suede and the administrator. That is completely wrong, that should never happen. When a teacher can get in trouble for anything they don’t want to do anything anymore. Last year the rate schools and teachers being suede for correcting a kid to child abuse in homes was five to one. Although child abuse is bad, there not be more lawsuits for correcting child note more. The ineffectiveness of corporal punishment can be understood in the context of its being a very simplistic and indiscriminate remedy for a variety of differing kinds of problems. At the expense of the child, the teacher or parent can in this way drain off his or her own frustrations while being relieved of the burden of exercising patience and emotional restraint, and of attempting to understand the reasons for the child's 2006-07-13T19:01:21-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Educational-System-is-not-Strict-Enough-30233.aspx Issues over Gun Control in America The right to bear arms is a constitutional guarantee, and is not open for discussion; however the United States Government has used its power to limit and regulate this guarantee. Our government has been attacking this right for years, and like a covert terrorist organization, it denies its action. Pretending that they just want to limit the right to bear arms is their blanket of protection. They will slowly move from under that protection only when the nation is ready to accept the loss of this right and when it doesn't appear to be huge a movement to give up that right. At some point in the future, the right to bear arms will be so limited that it will just be a natural move to ban firearms altogether. Warren E. Burger defends this movement in his article. Although Burger may appear to be a reputable source on this subject, I question the entire warrant for his article. His entire article is pure speculation, and is it speculation from the common man who would be most affected by the loss or restriction of his right to bear arms? No, it was speculation from a pillar of the United States Government, the Chief Justice. The warrant, or underlying assumption brought forth in Burger's article is that banning or restricting the right to keep and bear arms will decrease violence. This has been the warrant for the Government movement against gun rights for years. If you really think about it though, this notion is simply absurd. To demonstrate you must first separate Americans into two general categories. First there are the upstanding citizens who work to support themselves and/or a family. These people may experience some trouble with the law only because nobody's perfect. The next category is the criminal. Many categories could be made out of this one, but to keep it simple, we'll just use one. These people generally have little respect for the law, and this is why many of them are in our jails and prisons. These are the people responsible for the murders, rapes, robberies, and other violent crimes in our society today. Now, if you present gun restrictions or a ban on guns to both of these categories, what will be the outcome. The outcome is the entire basis for why gun restriction has a reverse effect. What happens is that 2006-07-13T15:30:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-over-Gun-Control-in-America-30222.aspx Argument to Lower the Legal Drinking Age in America Throughout history, people have always wanted what they can’t have. Since the 1970’s, this is the attitude most lawmakers in America have taken with respect to underage drinking. It was at this time that many states changed the legal drinking age form 18 to 21. The theory behind this was, essentially, if you raise the drinking age, people will drink more responsibly, because with age comes responsibility. Unfortunately, the people who made these laws did not consider that responsibility is something that comes from experience and teaching – not just age. Currently, there are many anti-alcohol groups (most concerned with the problem of drunk driving) trying to stop people from drinking illegally before the age of 21. However, I feel that the solution lies not in abstinence, but in teaching young people how to drink responsibly, and by doing so at a younger age. The United States is one of the only western nations on the planet in which the drinking age is over 18. In most cultures, drinking is perceived as a social activity. In Europe, many children (and I do not use the word "children" loosely) begin drinking in a social context with their parents by the early to mid-teens. In France, many families include wine as a part of the daily dinner, and in England, it is legal for a person to have an alcoholic beverage, in a public restaurant, with a parent, at the age of 16. So why is it that in America, we consider people who have wine every night to be alcoholics, and associate 16-year-olds who drink with stomach pumps? It seems to me that Americans have created an artificial problem with drinking, which precludes us from imbibing in the same fashion as Europeans. The fundamental difference lies in learned responsibility. Europeans teach their children to drink responsibly, whereas in America, children grow up being told that alcohol is as deadly as cancer. I am no developmental psychologist, but I am almost certain that the best way to get a child to do something is to tell them not to do it. So what happens? Kids are drilled for years about the harmful effects of alcohol, yet often see adults drink. The result is that when these children grow into teenagers, their curiosity heightens, and they raise their glasses without knowing quite what they 2006-07-13T15:21:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-to-Lower-the-Legal-Drinking-Age-in-America-30217.aspx Negative Effects Caused by Immigration Immigration should be restricted in the United States in almost every form. The government is in enough chaos trying to handle merely the Americans there are now, without having to deal with the influx of thousands of aliens each year. Along with the myriad of immigrants to the U.S. comes an equal number of problems. The U.S. has some of the most lenient laws governing immigration in the world, and as a result our government supports 2006-07-10T13:44:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Negative-Effects-Caused-by-Immigration-30164.aspx Reasons why we do Not have the Right to Capital Punishment Capital Punishment - Against Looking out for the state of the public's satisfaction in the scheme of capital sentencing does not constitute serving justice. Today's system of capital punishment is filled with inequalities and injustices. The commonly offered arguments for the death penalty are filled with holes. “It was a deterrent. It removed killers. It was the ultimate punishment. It is biblical. It satisfied the public's need for retribution. It relieved the anguish of the victim's family.”(Grisham 120) Realistically, imposing the death penalty is expensive and time consuming. Retroactively, it has yet to be proven as a deterrent. Morally, it is a continuation of the cycle of violence and “...degrades all who are involved in its enforcement, as well as its victim.”(Stewart 1) Perhaps the most frequent argument for capital punishment is that of deterrence. The prevailing thought is that imposition of the death penalty will act to dissuade other criminals from committing violent acts. Numerous studies have been created attempting to prove this belief; however, “all the evidence taken together makes it hard to be confident that capital punishment deters more than long prison terms do.”(Cavanagh 4) The more we resort to killing as a legitimate response to our frustration and anger with violence, the more violent our society becomes. “We could execute all three thousand people on death row, and most people would not feel any safer tomorrow.”(Frame 51) In addition, with the growing humanitarianism of modern society, the number of inmates actually put to death is substantially lower than 50 years ago. This decline creates a situation in which the death penalty ceases to be a deterrent when the populace begins to think that one can get away with a crime and go unpunished. The key part of the death penalty is that it involves death-something which is rather permanent for humans, due to the concept of mortality. This creates a major problem when “there continue to be many instances of innocent people being sentenced to death.”(Tabak 38) In our legal system, there exist numerous ways in which justice might be poorly served for a recipient of the death sentence. Foremost is in the handling of his own defense counsel. In the event that a defendant is without counsel, a lawyer will be provided. “Attorney's appointed to represent indigent capital defendants frequently lack the qualities necessary to 2006-07-09T15:09:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-why-we-do-Not-have-the-Right-to-Capital-Punishment-30148.aspx Reasons why Marijuana Should be Legalized in the US Every year without fail, millions of people in North America light up and smoke marijuana. Correspondingly, every year, billions of tax dollars are wasted on fighting a futile war against an inevitable activity that is much less detrimental to our society than the war itself. The legalization and careful government regulation of marijuana would be beneficial to our society, saving taxpayers money and eliminating the few risks that accompany marijuana use. This is because the health and social dangers to society are very minimal, and the economic advantages of legalization would reach into the billions of dollars given proper government regulation. Marijuana is very different from harder drugs. That is, marijuana use comes largely without the ill effects of such drugs as cocaine, heroin, and to an extent, tobacco. Unlike tobacco, heroin, and cocaine, marijuana is not physically addictive, and there is no possibility of an overdose. The primary effects of marijuana are an increased sense of well being, relaxation and euphoria. Contrary to common belief, marijuana does not kill brain cells, and the study that originally indicated this has since been discredited by numerous and more wide-ranging studies. British, Canadian, and American commissions have all concluded that the individual and social risks associated with marijuana use are small. It is true, however, that marijuana smoke inhaled through a 'joint' or marijuana cigarette contains as much as four times more 'tar' than smoke from a regular cigarette. Some may argue that this fact alone should be enough to sustain the laws as they are. On the contrary, the vast majority of the estimated twenty million Americans who smoke marijuana every year smoke less than once a week. (According to www.norml.org) In addition to this, all of the 'tar' in marijuana smoke can be removed if it is smoked in a hookah or vaporized as it is in many of the coffee shops or hash bars in Amsterdam. The research of S. Szara author of The Pharmacology of Marijuana concludes, "[occasional use] does not lead to detectable physical or mental health consequences." Those opposed to legalization may also argue that allowing what they deem as a 'step up drug' will only cause the numbers of heavy drug users to skyrocket. However, research has failed to show that marijuana is any more of a 'step 2006-07-09T14:46:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-why-Marijuana-Should-be-Legalized-in-the-US-30136.aspx Anit Capital Punishment Essay Some people might agree with the death penalty. Families get devastated when someone they love and care about has died. Its different when that person they care so much about has been murdered or killed. People tend to hate that person and have the urge to do just about anything to them in order for them to suffer, which causes us to take, revenge on them. This matter has lead to the death penalty. This is a punishment that slowly kills the man or woman that has committed the crime. Why should we have pity on those who choose to kill? If they felt powerful enough to kill, then we should be able to do the same to them. Whatever their reason is that they choose to kill they should be punished someway, somehow. However, a strong case can be made against the death penalty. We have no right to take someone’s life away from them even though they have committed a tragic crime. I believe the federal government should realize they are not preventing anything by their doing this. Reasons why people are sentenced to the Death Penalty Most of the people that have been sentenced to the death penalty have committed murder. The race and the gender has been a big problem. People think it unfair and unequal. Which I personally agree. There has been many more males sentenced to death row then there have been females. There have been 4 white females and 153 white males. Three black females and 185 black males. There were no Hispanic females and there were 100 Hispanic males. For other there was 0 females and 5 males due to The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice. (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/racial.htm) Texas Department Of Criminal Justice) Trying To Forgive And Forget I know that it’s hard to forgive someone that has killed your loved one but it’s even harder to try to forget about it. We have to remember that we are just human and we do make big mistakes. I just think it’s easier to live your life looking forward then looking back at the bad things in your life. If someone spends there time thinking about this matter, then we will forever be cold hearted and live 2006-07-09T14:05:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Capital-Punishment-Essay-30120.aspx Why Foucault Described Modern Society as Disciplinary It was in his book Discipline and Punishment that Foucault outlines his theory that modern society was a disciplinary society. Here he described the disappearance of punishment as a public and violent spectacle which emphasized the infliction of pain to the body, to the emergence of surveillance of the soul which grew up around the development of the modern prison system. During the years 1760 to 1840, public executions gradually disappeared, and punishment instead became hidden, and concealed. The torture of the body was replaced by the surveillance of the soul (pp.32-47). The "great reformers" proposed leniency in punishment, but only at the cost of greater intervention (pp. 82-103). A more efficient economy and technology of punishment was proposed that would allow for a discreet but calculable exercise of power over the soul. Foucault believes that this form of social control is disciplinary and pervades all elements of life in modern society and that there is no escape from this type of control. Foucault's work deals mostly with "power" which he sees not as a fixed quantity of physical force, but instead as a stream of energy flowing through all aspects of society. Its power harnesses itself in regulating the behavior of individuals, the systems of knowledge, a societies institutions, and every interaction between people and this is why he described modern society as a disciplinary society. In "Discipline and Punish", he applies this notion of power in tracing the rise of the prison system in France and the rise of other coercive institutions such as monasteries, the army, mental asylums, and other technologies. In his work Foucault exposes how seemingly benign or even reformist institutions such as the modern prison system (versus the stocks, and scaffolds) are technologies that are typical of the modern, painless, friendly, and impersonal coercive tools of the modern world. In fact the success of these technologies stems from their ability to appear unobtrusive and humane. Foucault asks "is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons?" (Foucault 1977, p228). First he proposes that these institutions are similar and then he explains the proposed similarity of these diverse institutions on the basis that the internal disciplines of each are founded upon similar techniques. They are similar because each functions to divide the abnormal from the normal, which, 2006-07-09T13:58:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-Foucault-Described-Modern-Society-as-Disciplinary-30117.aspx Multiple Beneficiaries 2006-07-09T13:42:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Multiple-Beneficiaries-of-Community-Service-30111.aspx A Need for Management Supervision in Education Systems The issue of accountability within the educational field has been brought to the forefront in the State of California with the passage of the Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. Passed in March of 1999, SB 1X provides a comprehensive method of measuring growth of a school’s performance over time as well as a way to rank schools on an annual basis. The major component of this bill is a ranking index called the API or Academic Performance Index. This index gives each school a ranking on a scale from 200 to 1000, with the average goal (or “performance target”) for each school being 800. Along with the API, there are incentives for growth (a 5% “growth target”) for those schools who scored below the 800 goal. The positive incentive which is given to those schools who have met the growth target is an allotment of up to $150.00 per student in discretionary funds. The negative incentive is to have an external evaluator come and conduct a needs assessment and improvement plan for the school. Overall, the API has been met with mixed results. The California Teacher’s Association (CTA) is extremely cautious at this point, whereas polls indicate a positive response by the average California voter. I first got involved in this process as a response to a phone call from a concerned parent. As a private school, North Hills Christian Schools is not required to participate in this ranking procedure. The parent, however, asked me where North Hills ranked among public schools in our area. This started me on a search as to what was the nature of API, how the process of ranking was calculated, and comparing our scores to the schools in our immediate area so we could come up with a comparative score. After doing much research, I found out that the scale used (API, 200 - 1000) was loosely related to how each school scored on their SAT 9 tests. (Mean Scaled Score) More interestingly though, was that the vast majority of people at my school really wanted to know the “Rank” score (1-10) which was also given to each school. This score placed a school basically in a percentile ranking, with a “1" being in the bottom 10% and a “10" being in the top 10%. (Obviously, this was a lot easier for 2006-07-07T13:01:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Need-for-Management-Supervision-in-Education-Systems-30080.aspx Damaging Effects of Child Abuse on Children Leaving Home Child abuse has a devastating effect on the victims of the crime. The abuser may be parents, a teacher, a co-worker, a neighbor or a total stranger. The law provides for criminal prosecution of the abuser since 1960s. However, before this time period, children have no protection from getting abuse, and it even seems the right for men to do so. Leaving Home is a good example of how not to treat the children. Inside the play, there are two particular examples illustrating what not to treat the children: the relationship between Jacob and Ben and the relationship between Minnie and Kathy. One of the good examples in the play is the relationship between Jacob and Ben. First, this relationship illustrates verbal abuse of Ben by Jacob and its effect on Ben. During the play, Jacob always attacks Ben verbally. Once Jacob is home, he doesn’t let Ben to get his suit, which has left in the truck. Even though Ben tries to be a good boy Jacob still puts him down. After Ben has come back in the house from outside, Jacob starts to look for a fight with him for the reason of not inviting to his graduation the night before. Then, Jacob starts the argue by trying to make his son, Ben, drinks alcohol with him and showing how much more he is a man than Ben, and insults Ben when he turns away from Jacob. Finally, Ben can’t stand it anymore and starts to fight back for himself. “The same shit over and over, and it never stops.” (French 30) However, the more he says for himself, the more he is into his dad’s trap. While Ben is defending for himself, Jacob either says how tough he is and how Ben is a mother’s boy, or emphasizes how much tougher Jacob is than his own son. “Dad, you don’t want me to be a man, you just want to impress me with how much less of a man I am than you. (French 30) It is because Jacob’s altitude towards Ben is such offensive, it forces Ben to leave home only not to fight with Jacob anymore. “I need to…you know that. Either Dad goes, or I do.” (French 2006-07-07T12:52:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Damaging-Effects-of-Child-Abuse-on-Children-Leaving-Home-30076.aspx Moral Misconduct of Capital Punishment Each year, 250 people are added to death row and 35 are executed. Capital punishment is the harshest form or condemnation. It is a highly controversial issue and is therefore not practiced in all parts of the world. Putting and end to someone’s life is a cruel and unusual form of punishment. One can clearly see the barbaric ritual as a violation of human dignity. The fear of death has proven not to deter criminals from committing crimes. When executing the alleged, there is always a slight chance that he/she is innocent. That alone should be reason enough to discontinue with the practice. Capital punishment is morally wrong and allows humans to play God. This Barbaric ritual should be banned in all parts of the world. Capital punishment is a relic of barbarism. The act is morally wrong. The methods though which executions are made involve physical, emotional and mental torture. Who was it that gave humans the authority to play God? If the state in which the punishment is being condemned claims that taking a life is wrong, how can the state in effect do the same thing? To punish the taking of a life, should the state not also be punished for the same thing? Capital punishment does something almost worse than lowering the government to the moral level of the criminal. The government should have better sense of morality than the criminal. For the believers of Lex Talionis (a life for a life), - one question. If you take a criminal’s life for taking someone else’s life, should your life not be taken away also because you have taken the life of someone? We as a society should attempt to set examples for the criminals, not battle them. Can society place an unequal weight on the tragically lost lives of murder victims and the criminal? Where do we go off giving ourselves the authority of God? Contrary to popular belief, Capital Punishment does not act as a deterrent to crime. A study performed on the effect of capital punishment by Isaac Ehrlich shows that in the United States in 1957, there were 8,060 murders committed and 65 executions. In 1982, there were 2,520 murders committed and only 1 execution. The absence of deterrence is clearly shown. Countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not practice Capital Punishment but they 2006-07-05T17:38:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-Misconduct-of-Capital-Punishment-30028.aspx Pursuing Justice, Peace and Unity Where do we go from here? Many have asked this question, but few have the answer. During Dr. Martin Luther King’s time he was one of the few with the answer. Dr. King preached of the pursuit of justice, peace, and unity. own eye and can’t see or feel the justice, peace, and unity. At the sight of September 11th the whole world froze not knowing what to do or where to turn, we were in total mayhem. We felt that an unjust act had plagued our world. At that moment we were that nation that we pledge our selves to be each day. We found peace in the hands of people we may have never come in contact with. This one event united our nation that way it was suppose to be. Witch is very sad to say when their were men and women white and black such as Dr. King that had been there all along to try to unite us to be that people. Now as the months past and the guard of the people continue to stand, we fond our selves pursuing the justice that is ample in our eyes. For that seconds that we were blind to the world we allowed our neighbors over seas to be brought into a state of bondage were they had no freedoms of life. Now we see our selves sending our closes love one over seas to help not only break the bondage of our neighbors but to pursue justice for the thousands of lives that were took that day. When may ask the question. Did it have to come to this? We still don’t know what to say as we continue to prepare for what the future might bring. We find ourselves looking back to those leaders as Dr. King to inspire us to look forward to the future. And as we see the future manifesting itself we find more leaders like Dr. King that encourage the people of today to be better that the people of yesterday. Now we find ourselves fighting for the future fighting for tomorrow with yesterday behind us to strengthen us and prepare us for today. We as a people have come together for this moment in time but it may not always be that way. So do we now look to the hills or 2006-07-05T17:35:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pursuing-Justice,-Peace-and-Unity-30026.aspx Possible Benefits Cloning May Offer We shall now explore the possible benefits that cloning could bring to all of us. There are many ways in which in which human cloning is expected to benefit mankind. This new technology could be the beginning of a new medical era where organs can be produced in mass quantity leaving the suffering of many that are awaiting an organ transplant of some kind or have suffered sever burns causing disfigurement. In these cases new organs or skin could be produced that could be used to replace the damaged organ or skin. Why should another child die from leukemia when if the technology is allowed we should be able to cure it in a few years time? There are so many opportunities that could be taken to make so many people’s lives a more enjoyable, longer and happier experience. I will now go on to talking about the possibilities of cloning and also give a couple of scenarios for you to think about that should open your mind and views on such a delicate and often strongly opposed subject. Dr. Richard Seed, one of the leading researchers of human cloning technology has said that it may someday be possible to reverse the ageing process due to what we have learned from human cloning. While it sounds nice that someday it maybe possible to live forever there is a problem with it, the world is already getting over populated so maybe this isn’t such a benefit, but none the less some would believe this is. For example world leaders could be preserved as a living person and carry on doing their job that they excel in so much. Reversing heart attacks This is something that has already been tried out in living humans today, basically cloned heart cells are injected into the damaged areas inside the heart. Once done the theory is that the new cells will repair or take the place of the damaged cells regenerating the tissue and muscle and thus making the risk of heart failure much lower. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States and is also a large killer here in the UK. Plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery If we are able to clone human cells for the heart it could and will eventually be 2006-07-05T16:00:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Possible-Benefits-Cloning-May-Offer-30020.aspx The Effect Media has on Teen Violence "For the first time in human history, most of the stories about people, life, and values are told not by parents, schools, churches, or others in the community who have something to tell but by a group of distant conglomerates who have something to sell" (Osborn). This quote, which comes from "The Violence Formula: How to Analyze for Violence in TV, Movies, and Video," written by Barbara Osborn, is a frightening comment about the state of affairs of our culture. The conglomerate storytellers are less concerned with imparting positive cultural values than they are with making money. They know violence sells and they use it indiscriminately to make a profit. Among the consumers of this gratuitous violence are young children and teenagers who observe and absorb its content. Over time, the violent images depicted in music and film media have a detrimental effect on the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of our youth. The negative messages kids receive via the media have a damaging affect on their psyche and can create serious societal problems. In truth "[t]he violence to which American children are exposed in the name of entertainment is affecting their values and behavior, according to a recent statement from four of the nation's top medical associations?(Davis). What are the examples of this fact? We have witnessed a plethora of shootings by high school students over the past few years. Just two weeks ago in Glendale, Arizona, a middle-school student held his teacher and several of his classmates hostage, using a gun as his weapon. More than likely, the portrayal of violent behavior in the media has given him the message that the way to resolve a conflict is through aggression. In fact "?the link between violent media and violent behavior is stronger than that between ingesting lead and having a lower IQ, than that between passive smoking and lung cancer, than that between failing to use condoms and getting HIV (Davis). What a powerful analogy! This comparison clearly illustrates that violent media can lead to an epidemic health problem. Skeptics would like to believe that there is no validity to the correlation between media violence and youth violence. The truth is that the correlation has been documented dating back to 1960. In 1999, Senator Orrin Hatch, Utah, reported that "[m]ore than 1000 studies on the effects of television and film violence 2006-07-03T23:14:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Effect-Media-has-on-Teen-Violence-29954.aspx The Problem of Vandalism in the form of Graffiti Surrey’s latest crime statistics have shown a rise in vandalism, of which graffiti is the most concerning one. Graffiti has started to appear more regularly in the last 15 years, but only recently it has started to spread more widely around the Guildford area and Waverly Borough council. This crime is connected with teenage vandals who purposely mark writings on the street walls which contains swear words or scribbled pictures and are on display until cleaned off. These have been spotted in many different places in and around towns and villages. The most common ones tend to be train stations, public footpaths, subways and sometimes even private properties. Past records have shown that graffiti offenders are not declining, and now more commonly then ever before, organized groups are more responsible for these crimes then the individuals. Some of these have been recorded around Farncombe and Guildford where similar tag writings have been made. Words such as “SPEC” have been seen in several different places. This could indicate that the same group of people were behind these. It has cost time and money for the council to clean these off, a rough estimate would be just under 50, 000 alone this year went towards cleaning off graffiti. Officer Smith from the British transport police said “ Graffiti has been one of our greatest problems that we have been trying to deal with for quite a while now” Then he went on to say “ Our biggest challenge is to stop it happening, before it has happened. It doesn’t take long to scribble on some writing and then they are off. Usually it tends to happen late at night and are chances are low, so far our success rate has been virtually zero” Guildford is suffering the most, but recent evidence suggests that it is spreading more widely in Godalming and Farncombe especially around train stations. When I asked local resident Mr. Andrews 35 about his view on graffiti he said “ I cycle to work every day and I see these drawings on the walls all the time, I think it is just filthy and dirty, this area is nice and peacefull, but these youngsters are just giving off a bad message”. Both Surrey police and the Borough council are keen to stop or reduce this problem. Surrey 2006-07-03T13:24:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Problem-of-Vandalism-in-the-form-of-Graffiti-29921.aspx Technological Developments Advocating Cloning Sam looked at his clone and realized that everything was over. This insufferable clone he’d created was now controlling his whole life. His whole world was crumbling down in front of his eyes while he stood there feeling helpless. His clone was now in charge. This is the type of ending that science fiction movies about cloning usually end with. Human cloning is usually looked at in a very adverse manner in spite of the huge advantages that it has. This negative attitude that cloning encounters is probably due to the novelty of this discovery. For, people usually become anxious when introduced to new things that can have drastic effects on their lives. Human cloning is a hot topic that is ensuing great controversy. The sensationalized news and media reports play a significant role in surrounding the issue of cloning with a disagreeable aura. Like in any other case Human Cloning has its supporters, who realize its huge benefits, and its opponents, who argue that it has dire negative consequences. Thus, it’s important to discuss both the advantages and the disadvantages of Human Cloning before passing a judgment. To begin with, it’s essential to define Human Cloning and clarify what it really means. Human cloning involves taking a cell culture form a certain person. The cell then gets nurtured and manipulated into reproducing the individual’s physical make-up. Once the cells begin to grow they’re placed in the womb of a surrogate mother and the clone begins to grow. A human clone can be defined as a delayed identical twin of the original person. The clone would be carried and delivered after nine months by a human mother just like any other person. Moreover, the clone would require eighteen years to reach adulthood like everyone else. It is vital to note that the clone would be decades younger than the original person. Therefore, there is no danger of people confusing the clone twin and the original person. Moreover, as with identical twins, the clone and DNA donor would have different fingerprints. A clone will not inherit any of the memories of the original person. So, a human clone isn’t an exact copy of the original person, but rather a delayed, younger twin. The advantages of cloning are many and of great significance. One of these is that cloning might be a treatment for 2006-07-02T23:03:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Technological-Developments-Advocating-Cloning-29918.aspx Better Understanding Youth and Crime Merely being youths have never been so exasperating until now, at the close of the twentieth century – almost reaching an impasse when it comes to separating them and the crime predicament. The latter situation however, is mostly socially or culturally produced, gradually turning into a massive obsession of society at large. Brown attempts to draw attention to other feasible methods of seeing the ‘youth crime problem’ in this book, amidst the fixation with the youthful wrongdoer and his punishment. She does this by addressing different spheres of influence, starting with the concept of age, or rather the expectations attached to it being largely social, culturally produced elements. Brown also makes it a point to stress on the fact that the notion of childhood innocence and dependency is a projection of an image constructed by ‘adult nostalgia and fears’ as opposed to children’s real lives. When children actually deviate from the conventional, adults are left in a state of incredulity and horror – Brown cites Douglas (1994) on her discussion of how this particular disorder symbolizes both power and danger. The latter poses a threat to society, hence resulting in the marginalization of young people—this being the concept of constructing the ‘other’, which Brown so strongly reiterates in her book. Brown also seeks to contrast Douglas’ structuralist perspective with the psychoanalytic tradition of advocating social exclusion to the maintenance of individuality, aiming to present a more equalized argument on the issue. Brown’s empathetic stand for young people in trouble is evident throughout her book – the domains explored ranging from academia, media representation, policies adopted by the government, children and youth as sheer victims of oppression in ‘care’ and ‘control’ of social workers and gender were argued in such a way, advocating a more humanitarian youth justice system which safeguards both children’s rights and interests fully. Brown however, failed to appear impartial due to her overemphasis on the subjugation of the young, her pre-occupation perhaps a little too obvious – there were almost no arguments against youth in general. In this sense, she lacks the objectivity that most criminologists strive to achieve –though of course, objectivity is still questioned of its desirability in the field of social sciences. Where typical books on criminology might dwell on the inexhaustible theories and studies of crime by respective sociologists/criminologists and such, Brown explores the evolvement of the study of 2006-07-02T22:58:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Better-Understanding-Youth-and-Crime-29916.aspx Argument in Favor of Making Abortion Illegal Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continually argued over for years the past few years and probably many years to come. Abortion as defined in the Webster Dictionary is the premature expulsion of a fetus. Abortion stops the beating of an innocent child's heart. There are two sides to the controversial subject, abortion. PRO-LIFE who are the people that are against abortion and the PRO-CHOICE or the people who believe that a woman has every right to do anything she wants with her body. It is her body and she can do anything with it. If she chooses to have an abortion, it’s her decision and as a woman, everyone should respect it. These two groups offer different solutions to the problem. The pro-life solution is what it sounds like. The pro-life is for life and the only solution is to have the baby and to live with it. Abortion is not an option to the pro-life activists. The pro-choice solution is abortion because they strongly believe in freedom and if they feel that abortion is the way to solve the problem, then so be it. Although abortion is morally and ethically wrong should it be legal for victims of rape or incest who have no other alternative? People must no longer have sex, you should be ready to take care of the responsibilities. Abortion could be a good thing to some extent but the main point is, we are killing innocent children if we keep on going through with it. Abortion is very common to people, it’s trivial. Abortion happens very often and people see it as a way to escape the responsibility of taking care of a child they had consumed. The people can no longer ignore the medical and emotional problems an abortion causes women. People must stop denying the facts about the procedure and start hearing the silent screams of unborn children. I believe that killing unborn babies is unacceptable. If you are ready to have sex, you should be ready to have children. Taking care of children are the responsibilities we have to face when we have sex. Sex and conception of a baby are two very connectable terms. All human beings are given some 2006-07-02T17:18:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-in-Favor-of-Making-Abortion-Illegal-29891.aspx Example of Problems Caused by Eating Disorders Lara, who is 16 years old, lives with her parents and her little brother in Nashville. She is a very beautiful young woman and very popular at high school. She has taken part at Beauty competitions since she was little and she is Beauty pageant winner. Lara is together with the most gorgeous and popular at school. Prom is getting nearer and Lara tries to get even more prefect to become homecoming queen. Lara has a good heart not as her friends who are mean to people who are not as perfect as them. They tease 2006-06-27T02:41:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Example-of-Problems-Caused-by-Eating-Disorders-29871.aspx Interesting Cloning Proposal In 1997, researchers led by embryologist Ian Wilmut, found a way to do the seemingly impossible they produced Dolly, the first clone of adult mammal. Since then, scientists around the world have been trying to duplicate and advance the work in a variety of species from mice to monkeys. Some have succeeded, but many more have been thwarted in their efforts. A few researchers had even set out to clone human, without success. But very recently, scientists at Advanced Cell Technology, a small biotech start-up company in Worcester, Mass., announced that they have successfully engineered the world's first cloned human embryo. The scientists described their laboratory success the transfer of human DNA into human eggs and the growth of those eggs into six-cell embryos in a highly technical paper in the Journal of Regenerative Medicine. However, the accomplishment presents huge challenges to every premise of scientific, religious, and legal thought. It will be condemned as an ethical abomination akin to playing God and described as the creation of embryos for spare parts. It will also be hailed as the hugest medical breakthrough of the past half-century an accomplishment that could cure many diseases of aging and provides hopes for many people. Scientist working towards the goal of cloning human cells face many oppositions and even threats from the public since it is undoubtedly the most controversial area in medicine today. But most of the hysteria came from misunderstandings in many aspects of the project, for example, what a human embryo is. The furthest any of the cloned human embryos developed to was to 6 cells. During the first 14 days after an egg is fertilized, the group of cells is known as a pre-implantation embryo. In nature, the majority of these pass from the body without ever attaching to a woman's uterus and developing further. They are a few reproductive cells, not much different than eggs or sperm. They are the raw materials of life, but they are not a person. There are two major types of cloning according to ACT reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning is essentially an extension of the idea of asexual reproduction. ACT considers cloning for reproductive purposes as completely unethical because the risk to both children and mother is too great. ACT vice president Dr. Robert Lanza claimed, our intention is not to create cloned human 2006-06-26T15:54:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Interesting-Cloning-Proposal-29828.aspx Why Capital Punishment is an Appropriate Sentence Capital Punishment deters murder, and is just Retribution Capital punishment, is the execution of criminals by the state, for committing crimes, regarded so heinous, that this is the only acceptable punishment. Capital punishment does not only lower the murder rate, but it's value as retribution alone is a good reason for handing out death sentences. Support for the death penalty in the U.S. has risen to an average of 80% according to an article written by Richard Worsnop, entitled "Death penalty debate centers on Retribution", this figure is slightly lower in Canada where support for the death penalty is at 72% of the population over 18 years of age, as stated in article by Kirk Makir, in the March 26, 1987 edition of the Globe and Mail, titled "B.C. MPs split on Death Penalty". The death penalty deters murder by putting the fear of death into would be killers. A person is less likely to do something, if he or she thinks that harm will come to him. Another way the death penalty deters murder, is the fact that if the killer is dead, he will not be able to kill again. Most supporters of the death penalty feel that offenders should be punished for their crimes, and that it does not matter whether it will deter the crime rate. Supporters of the death penalty are in favor of making examples out of offenders, and that the threat of death will be enough to deter the crime rate, but the crime rate is irrelevant. According to Isaac Ehrlich's study, published on April 16, 1976, eight murders are deterred for each execution that is carried out in the U.S.A. He goes on to say, "If one execution of a guilty capital murderer deters the murder of one innocent life, the execution is justified." To most supporters of the death penalty, like Ehrlich, if even 1 life is saved, for countless executions of the guilty, it is a good reason for the death penalty. Most supporters, including Ehrlich, consider the theory that society engages in murder when executing the guilty, invalid. He feels that execution of convicted offenders expresses the great value society places on innocent life. Isaac Ehrlich goes on to state that racism is also a point used by death penalty advocates. We will use the U.S. as examples, since we can not look 2006-06-26T15:15:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-Capital-Punishment-is-an-Appropriate-Sentence-29819.aspx Seeing Racism in Every-Day Society I was very confused about the topic I was going to choose when I got to know about the project. At the beginning we decided to meet with some friends and make a play or something similar. At first I thought it was a great idea, but then I realized I wasn’t so interest in doing that. I wanted to do something that really concerned me and was at the same time of my interest, a topic I would learn of. I had chosen Mr.McGough as a tutor so I decided to make of my Personal Project an art project. I found the idea very interesting and we started working on my Project immediately. I started by doing a list of topics which I wanted to know about. I specially focused on topics that had to do with problems that the world is suffering, problems our society, the world community have to face. I found out about some topics that seemed really attractive, like homeless people, Racism and discrimination, destruction of the environment, women role in society and children of the street. I saw all this different subjects very interesting. But there was one, that by reading about it, I found out it was a big problem which a almost didn’t know anything about. This was racism or racial discrimination. I didn’t know what this really meant. I only knew it was when somebody discriminates another because or their skin colour, black or white mainly, because of their language, culture, etc. I saw this as a very far away problem, but I realized this happens around us every day. I had to focus on one little part of racism because there are many things related to it and it would have been very difficult to cover the whole theme. I decided to focus on racial discrimination because of skin colour, focusing mainly on black and white skin colour people. I started researching and reading about racism and I started concerning more and more about this problem. I found many interesting ways of researching for my project. First of all I made two surveys. Were people from all ages, mainly teenagers, were given a couple of situations and they had a number of options to choose from for each situation. I was very surprised by these surveys, I noticed most teenagers prefer to act as they 2006-06-21T16:58:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Racism-in-Everyday-Society-29785.aspx Reasons Why Marijuana Should not be Legalized There currently exists controversy concerning smoking marijuana as a medicine. Many well-intentioned leaders and members of the public have been misled, by the well financed and organized pro-drug legalization lobby, into believing there is merit to their argument that smoking marijuana is a safe and effective medicine. A review of the scientific research, expert medical testimony and government agency findings shows this to be erroneous. There is no justification for using marijuana as medicine. The California Narcotics Officers' Association consists of over 7,000 criminal justice professionals who are dedicated to protecting the public from the devastating effects of substance abuse, whether cocaine, methamphetamine or marijuana. We have seen firsthand the debilitating and often tragic results, both psychologically aand physically, for those who choose intoxication as part of their lifestyles. We have studied the medicinal use of marijuana issue, compiling information from medical experts to present to those we are sworn to protect. It is our firm belief that any movement that liberalizes or legalizes substance abuse laws would set us back to the days of the '70s, when we experienced this country's worst drug problem and the subsequent consequences. In the '80s, through the combined and concerted efforts of law enforcement and prevention and treatment professionals, illicit drug use was reduced by 50 percent. Teenagers graduating from the class of 1992 had a 50 percent lesser chance of using drugs than did those who graduated in the class of 1979. Substance abuse rises whenever public attitude is more tolerant towards drugs, such as when people say that they are safe and harmless. Other factors that contribute to a rise in use include increased availability, reduced risk with using or selling and lower prices. In 1993, for the first time in 12 years of steady decline, illicit drug use rose and continues to climb. A major contributing factor is a message that drugs "aren't so bad." To counter this "just say yes" campaign, some feel compelled to provide the facts on the use of marijuana as medicine. These well-documented facts will prove beyond a doubt that marijuana is not a medicine. The movement to legitimize marijuana as medicine is not encouraged by the pharmaceutical companies, Federal Food and Drug Administration, health and medical associations of medical experts; but instead by groups such as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Drug Policy 2006-06-21T16:38:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-Why-Marijuana-Should-not-be-Legalized-29777.aspx Moral Grounds for Cloning In the near future, we will have to face the fact that the course of science will always win and inevitability cloning of human or at least the cloning of organs will be performed. The question is “is cloning human beings acceptable and where do we draw the line?” Cloning has sparked controversies over the past few years. With the race to map the DNA and its completion, it has steered up the imagination of our society of what to come. In this paper, we will discus how the mass media has influenced our views and values associated with a human life and the possibility of it being cloned. We will also look at the religious point of view as well as the science on this issue. We will take a quick look on how cloning has and will affect society along with what it is to be human. This technology is still new and a lot the following will be opinions, ideas and reflections on this issue. One must take them into consideration. If one simply jumps to a conclusion, then one is fool hearted and naive since it is still too early to make such a decision whether it is permissible to clone to clone human beings. There is simply no right or wrong answer, just a matter of moral, ethics and what you believe in. For decades, cloning has been a novelty of science fiction movies but with the resent development in biotechnology and the arrival of Dolly the cloned sheep, the possibility of cloning a human being came ever so close to reality." "Only four years after scientists cloned a sheep in Scotland, the ability to clone human beings is about to make the transition from science fiction to science fact. In recent news, announcements have been made regarding both the advancement of technology to clone and the interests expressed by some to utilize this technology. One such case is of an American couple who lost their 10-month old child to complications during a minor operation. Instead of having another child, they wanted this child. The couple felt that "their little son's genotype deserved another chance" (Talbot 40). The couple, well financed with money from a malpractice settlement, enlisted a "science-loving religious sect" called the Raelians to take frozen cells from their deceased child and make every attempt to clone him (Talbot 2006-06-21T16:21:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-Grounds-for-Cloning-29774.aspx The Importance of the Role a Father Plays Fifty-two babies will never meet their dads because of the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001. This horrible event shattered the lives of many people. What would have been families, no longer exist. The challenge of raising a baby is now in the hands of the wives who lost their husbands. Women are faced with the task of raising children with out the partners they assumed would always be there. How will these children grow up without a father? How can the mothers assure their babies a normal childhood? I believe these questions can be answered with the use of three family strengths; Communication, Shift in Responsibility, and Support from family and friends. The first challenge in any family is to establish communication. This is especially true for families with a deceased parent. According to Benokraitis (2000) children around the ages of eleven and twelve start withholding private thoughts and feelings from their parents because they fear rejection. It is important for the parent not to react with any putdowns or sarcasm. Having an absentee father is a difficult situation for any child to be born into; therefore communication is essential in maintaining family structure. Children are going to have questions about their fathers and why they aren’t around anymore. According to Peoples Magazine (February 2002), mothers don’t want their children to feel or see their sadness. Women now have to learn small and large chores. The same chores their husbands took care of on a regular basis. Things like applying for charity reliefs, making mortgage payments, finding a job, and arranging for childcare, are jobs the mother is now faced with. One family strength that helps out is shifting some of the responsibility to an older child. According to People Magazine (February 2002), Jeannine McIntyre, wife of Donald McIntyre, says her children are eager to comfort the newly born baby. Gigi Nelson, wife of Peter Nelson, says that her thirteen and ten year old children have promised to teach their baby sister everything their father taught them-especially soccer (People’s Magazine, February 2002, p. 52). Shifting some of the responsibility to the older children and taking some of the stress form the mother is an ideal situation for 2006-06-21T15:21:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-the-Role-a-Father-Plays-29760.aspx The Importance of Human Rights Today The highest aspiration of the common man is to lead a life where he can enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of belief and have no fear of suppression. Disregard and contempt for "Human Rights" have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind. "Human Rights" is a much used and abused term today, and is used extencivly for political gain. The term is is used to defend Human freedom as well as destroy it. People tend to attach importance to particular human rights issue according to ideology and political convenience. if a man is not to have recourse or rebellion against tyranny and oppression, taking law into their own hands,"Human Rights" should be built into the society as a natural rule. As a last resort only, law should be applied as a protection. Todd Gitlin in his eassy on Human rights states- "Human rights: the literal words deserve a moment's scrutiny. Human: member of the species, the single race homo sapiens. Whatever persons are called, or call themselves, wherever they live, they are human. Therefore human rights: benefits to which people are entitled simply by virtue of being human. Just after the world war II, it was realized that citizens of many countries lived under the control of tyrants, having no recourse other than war to relieve inhuman treatment given to them. Unless some way was found to to provde justice to these people, they could revolt and become the catalyst for another wide-scale war including the Nuclear war. This concern, led to the majority of governments in the world to come to the conclusion that basic human rights must be protected. This is not only for the sake of the individuals and countries involved, but to preserve the human race. The United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and UN Human Rights convenants were written and implemented in the aftermath of : The Holocaust Revelations coming from the Nuremberg war crimes trials The Bataan Death March The atomic bomb and other horrors smaller in magnitude but not in impact on the individuals they affected. A whole lot of people in a number of countries had a crisis of conscience and found they could no longer be a silent spectator, While tyrants jailed,tortured, and killed their dear ones and neighbours. "Liberty does not consist in mere declarations of the rights of 2006-06-21T15:06:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Human-Rights-Today-29754.aspx The Importance of Education to the American Youth of Today Education is a very important to Americans. The reason is because; an educated society is greater than the riches of the Arab oil fields. Just like the Southern Africans were being taught by the whites Southern Africans. That the whites were teaching the natives that the ways that were brought in were the only. Since the whites controlled everything, it was against the law to revolt or teach anything bad about the white people. The oppressor sought fit to teach the oppressed the ways that it has been taught because, if the oppressed was well educated, there might be a little revolt on the ways everything was going. Now if the more powerful person was teaching a bunch of lies, 2006-06-20T18:04:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Education-to-the-American-Youth-of-Today-29736.aspx Problems with Creationism in the Classroom All across the country millions of teenagers are taught evolution as a necessary part of their biology curriculum. Evolution is a scientific theory of how the world and life as we know it came to be but some students feel that since this theory is taught so should the beliefs of many Americans. That belief is Creationism. Creationism is a set of beliefs based on the idea that a Supreme Being created the earth and all its life through a direct act of creation. But is it legal to teach creationism inside the classroom? According to the Supreme Court in 1982 the teaching of Creationism in schools was labeled unconstitutional because it violated the separation of church and state. Some creationists were so set on including as part of the curriculum they tried to have a law passed making evolution a belief, therefore a religion, so that it too be disband from public education. A large number of science teachers across America feel it is unethical to bring religion into a science environment. "I do not teach creationism because this is not a religion class. Creationism is a religious explanation for things and therefore better left to a religion class or a church," biology teacher Mr. Steve Dally explained. Though the teaching of creationism is against the law, letting students know there is another theory of the beginning of life is not. "If one is teaching in America, I think it is important to teach the historical controversy between evolution and creationism and if possible, suggest ways so both theories blend," Mrs. Ellen Atkinson said. Creationists are not happy with just hinting towards creationism so to avoid constitutional limits on teaching a specific religion, they call for schools to teach theories that do not refer to God, but they do state that species appeared suddenly rather than evolving from earlier forms. Creationists have successfully used this approach to persuade a number of school districts to include discussion of creationism in science curriculums. Many classrooms have embarked in these heated discussions but what does the school board recommend? "The school board expects me to teach the curriculum they have approved, which includes evolution and excludes creationism. The state expects me to prepare students for the WASL, which also includes evolution and excludes creationism," Dally said. Sure creationists and scientists of evolution want their way when 2006-06-20T17:56:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Problems-with-Creationism-in-the-Classroom-29732.aspx Importance of Tough Gun Control Regulations Gun control is an issue that has been used in electoral campaigns for decades, but in the last 20 years, has become a very heated debate. I chose the topic of gun control honestly, because I am interested in the money that is involved. I know money has to be in the middle of all of the controversy. How else can one explain the easy accessibility to guns and the limited legislation to prevent the sale of guns? I feel it is important to cover all of the aspects of the issue of gun control, from the history, to the effects of gun control, to the effects on families. The definition of gun control is self-explanatory, but the actual measures that should be taken to control the sale and use of guns are the issue at hand. Gun control laws were passed forbidding the sale of firearms to Native Americans, ignoring the Second Amendment. These laws were often passed when the government reacted to a hysterical public demanding action after reading gruesome newspaper accounts of atrocities allegedly committed by rouge bands of Indians. Native tribes were forced to trade with smugglers and criminals who demanded outrageous prices for old and new barely functioning firearms. Tribe members took to raiding white settlements in efforts to obtain firearms to protect themselves from a government and a white citizenry bent on genocide. (Masters, 1999). After the civil war, the white people in the South (and in many cases in the North) passed several different gun control laws designed to keep firearms out of the hands of the recently freed African Americans. Klan type raids on African American communities were frequent and the “brave” white knights of the order just could not tolerate the thought of anyone resisting a lynching. (Masters, 1999). In the mid 1970’s, the Federal government was trying to was trying to implement different gun control measures as a result of a series of mass by a lone gunmen. Charles Whitman had killed 18 people, chiefly using a hunting rifle, and wounded 30 people in Austin, Texas. Jimmy Essex killed 10 people and wounded 17 people in New Orleans. At the same 2006-06-20T17:42:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Importance-of-Tough-Gun-Control-Regulations-29726.aspx Dealing with Times of Crisis in Society In Times of Terror, Teens Talk the Talk Boys Are 'Firefighter Cute,' Messy Room Is 'Ground Zero' in Sept. 11 Slang Their bedrooms are "ground zero." Translation? A total mess. A mean teacher? He's "such a terrorist." A student is disciplined? "It was total jihad." Petty concerns? "That's so Sept. 10." And out-of-style clothes? "Is that a burqa?" It's just six months since Sept. 11, but that's enough time for the vocabulary of one of the country's most frightening days to become slang for teenagers of all backgrounds, comic relief in school hallways and hangouts. "It's like 'Osama Yo Mama' as an insult," offered Morgan Hubbard, 17, a senior at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, where students have picked up on the phrase from an Internet game. "If you're weird, people might call you 'Taliban' or ask if you have anthrax," said Najwa Awad, a Palestinian American student at J.E.B. Stuart High School in Fairfax County. "Sept. 11 has been such a stressful thing that it's okay to joke a little bit. It's funny." Language has always been as malleable and erratic as the day's headlines, and young people have always been some of the most innovative and playful in linking world events to their daily vernacular. But it's more than what it seems on the surface. "When you have adolescent bravado and nothing can hurt you, underneath that is really a tremendous fear that everything can hurt you," said Alan Lipman, executive director of the Center at Georgetown for the Study of Violence. "What better way than humor to take these horrific ideas and make them go away?" The center is doing an in-depth study of college-age and teenage students and how they got through the first such attack of their lives. "My friends call me 'terrorist' or 'fundamentalist,' sometimes as a nickname," said Nabeel Babaa, 17, who came to this country from Kuwait when he was 3 years old and is now a senior at Sherwood High School in Olney. "It's not hurtful in the way we say it, 'cause we are kidding around with each other." When Muslim students call themselves "Osama," Lipman said, they are trying to take back the power of being called such things, just like members of other minority groups who take negative words and use them on one another. "They are trying to joke around, 2006-06-20T17:35:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dealing-with-Times-of-Crisis-in-Society-29725.aspx Controversies with Prayer in Today's Schools “Our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.” About thirty-nine years ago children in the public schools prayed this prayer every morning and read Scripture aloud before the start of class. Why are students not allowed to do this today? On June 17, 1963, the Supreme Court of the United States “kicked reverential Bible reading and prayer recitation out of schools” (“School Prayer Decision”). A woman by the name of Madalyn Murray O’Hair began legal proceedings in 1959 (Murray vs. Curlett) to obtain justice for her son who was enrolled in a public school that participated in Bible reading and unison prayers. The removal of prayer from the public school system has raised a lot of controversy in the past thirty or so years, especially in the last decade. This issue has not just caused an argument among Christians and Atheists; it has sparked attention throughout all religious groups in the United States. There are many more arguments against school prayer than there are for it. However, even though the anti-prayer group has a greater quantity of arguments, the pro-prayer group has better quality arguments. Therefore, pro-prayer has a stronger claim but it has yet to influence the Supreme Court justices. Advocating school prayer can be done in a variety of ways including first amendment rights, the nation’s history, and supporting a new amendment. This country was built on the foundation of a Supreme Being by its Founding Fathers. However, over the years, specifically in the 1990’s, it has become unpopular to advocate traditional Christian values. Some school districts in some states are trying to defend these values while the Supreme Court is infringing on people’s rights as citizens issued to them by the First Amendment. A court case that exhibits the Supreme Court’s violation of religious rights is the Santa Fe Independent School District vs. Jane Doe in Texas. In the summer of 2000, the 2006-06-20T17:25:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Controversies-with-Prayer-in-Today-s-Schools-29720.aspx Abortion Objection Essay In the midst of many different positions on abortion encompassing the world today Don Marquis in his paper “Why Abortion Is Immoral,” hits sound reasons why he believes that abortion is morally wrong. He starts with an assumption that he believes that everyone will in fact agree with, stating that it is morally wrong to kill us. Marquis explains that the reason that murder is wrong is not because of the effect that will placed on the family and friends of the person that is killed, but because the person will be deprived of a viable future. They are then deprived of the experiences that life has to offer, activities and the enjoyments that life could have brought them. Under the same circumstances it would be morally wrong to kill a child because they are identically capable of having a fulfilling future, and killing them would deprive them of any such activities. Murder is also said to be wrong if the person is biologically human. However, Marquis does not disagree with active euthanasia because any person who will be subjected to a life of unbearable pain will not be losing anything if in fact they are killed. So if killing them would help them to avoid further suffering and pain, and they have nothing to live for in life, then euthanasia should be acceptable. When this all comes together towards the end of the second section of Marquis’ paper he explains that if a fetus were to be killed, then that fetus would be deprived of a valuable future. “The future of a standard fetus includes a set of experiences, projects, activities, and such which are identical with the futures of adult human beings and are identical with the futures of young children (Marquis, 192).” In clear words he explains that the fetus has a right to life and a right to the possibilities of it’s future, therefore abortion, the massacre of this fetus, would be morally wrong. Marquis does not only say that because it would be wrong to kill us it would be wrong to kill the fetus, in fact he infers that it is based on the fact that any human with a viable future like ours deserves the chance at that future. Marquis believes that to conclude that abortion is prima facie seriously 2006-06-20T17:04:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Objection-Essay-29709.aspx Problems with Capital Punishment "Dead Man Walking!" This sound rings through each and every death row inmate a thousand times a day; But should it? Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. Since every person has there own opinion on this topic, either for or against, the question always raised is "Is it morally right." The number of problems with the death penalty are enormous, ranging from innocence to racism, and these problems will never be resolved unless the death penalty is abolished. The problems with capital punishment stem as far back as the ritual itself. The number of occurrence on why the death penalty is racist is uncountable. A 1990 report released by the federal government's General Accounting Office found a "pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the charging, sentencing and imposition of the death penalty after the Furman decision." Professor David Baldus examined sentencing patterns in Georgia in the 1970's. After reviewing over 2,500 homicide cases in that state, controlling for 230 non-racial factors, he concluded that a person accused of killing a white was 4.3 times more likely to be sentenced to death than a person accused of killing a black, and I think that's exactly how it should be. The Stanford Law Review published a study that found similar patterns of racial dispair, based on the race of the victim, in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Virginia. For example, in Arkansas findings showed that defendants in a case involving a white victim are three-and-a-half times more likely to be sentenced to death; in Illinois, four times; in North Carolina, 4.4 times, and in Mississippi five times more likely to be sentenced to death than defendants convicted of murdering blacks. There is also the issue of Capital Punishment being a deterrent. But does the death penalty really deter crime? The death lobby wants you to believe the answer to that question is "yes." But, in fact, it is a resounding "NO." Consider this...the US is the only Western nation that still allows the death penalty, and we also have one of the highest crime rates. During the 1980s, death penalty states averaged an annual rate of 7.5 criminal homicides per 100,000, while abolition states averaged a rate of 7.4 per 100,000. That means murder was actually more common in states that use the death penalty. Also consider this...in 2006-06-20T15:55:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Problems-with-Capital-Punishment-29698.aspx Decrease of Marijuana Use with Legalization Teenagers use drugs like marihuana because it’s illegal which makes them think that their cool when they smoke marihuana. Fewer teenagers would smoke marihuana when it was legal, therefore the government should make smoking of marihuana legal. Not only less teenager would smoke marihuana but also the government could control the use of marihuana, and making marihuana legal could decrease the amount of crime, which has to do with drugs gangs. A lot of teenagers smoke marihuana because they think that they’re cool because you’re not allowed to smoke marihuana. Doing something what is not allowed gives teenager some kind of a kick, and makes them feel tough. Legalization of marihuana would increase the use of marihuana by teenager, because when marihuana is legal, teenager who are smoking marihuana are doing something that is bad for their own health, which is legal. Which doesn’t make sense, teenager only do bad stuff because it’s illegal, which makes them feel cool and tough. Smoking legal marihuana would make a teenager look stupid because it’s legal and bad for their own health. Legalization of marihuana would give the government the control over the use of marihuana; the government could make laws for places were addicted people can buy marihuana or what age teenager have to be, to be allowed to buy marihuana. Also the government could translate areas with high drug use and help addicted people to get of drugs and make the world a better place to be. Decrease of crimes which have to do with drugs gangs would be a result of legalization of marihuana because marihuana is the drugs that is most sold of all drugs. Not only an decrease of crimes would be the result of legalization of marihuana but also drugs gangs would make any more money out of marihuana. The most money drugs gangs make goes to terrorists which by weapons from the money. This would give terrorist less money to spent on weapons which make them less powerful. The government should make the use of marihuana legal because fewer teenager would smoke marihuana, the government could control the use of drugs and help addicted people. The legalization of marihuana will cause less crimes that have to do with drugs gangs, and terrorist won’t get any more “drugs” money, this 2006-06-20T15:48:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Decrease-of-Marijuana-Use-with-Legalization-29697.aspx Euthanasia Issues Many people in North America die what may be called a bad death, a death in which a person endures unnecessary pain to live a few extra days. More often than not patients die in pain, their desires concerning treatment ignored, after having spent ten or more days in the intensive care unit. Why should these patients be forced to live in pain? Why should they not be given the option to die? This option is called euthanasia, which in Greek means good death. People should not be obligated to live if they believe that death would be preferable to their suffering; they should be given the choice of euthanasia. Most people who claim to be against euthanasia do not understand what it is. It used to be called mercy killing and perhaps that is easier to understand. It is mercifully giving a person who is terminally ill, and feels his or her life in not worth living because of intractable pain, loss of dignity or loss of capability, the option of being assisted in dying. It is not whether a physician or another person should be able to take the initiative to kill a patient because the patient must take the initiative. It is not whether a person should be allowed to commit suicide, because in most courts suicide is legal. It is not whether death squads should periodically visit hospitals in order to kill off patients not contributing anything to society, because this image is only used to scare people. Euthanasia is the act or practice of painlessly putting to death a person who is suffering from a painful and incurable disease or an incapacitating physical disorder. There are two methods of euthanasia, active and passive. Passive euthanasia is the cessation of treatment designed to sustain life that can no longer sustain itself. Examples of passive euthanasia are taking a person off of a ventilator or removing feeding tubes. Active euthanasia is causing the death of a person through a direct action. An example of this would be administering an injection to kill a patient. Both active and passive euthanasia help a person to end their suffering. Our current laws allow 2006-06-20T15:32:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Issues--29691.aspx Common Misperceptions about Cloning Like the title suggests, Lee M. Silver’s essay “Cloning Misperceptions,” touches on a very controversial topic. In very recent history the process of cloning has been in the back of many of our minds. Setbacks such as politics, religion, and the uncertainty of our own morals have hindered the process of cloning from becoming an everyday reality. In “Cloning Misperceptions,” Silver discusses the possible outcomes of clones in different societies by exploring previously posed scenarios from books, movies, and factual events, as well as some of his own. Silver’s overall effort is to get people away from the common stereotypes of cloning and educate them on the reality of cloning and the effects it would have on us. One of the first stereotypes Silver tries to get us away from is the definition of cloning and the way people perceive it. “It’s a horrendous crime to make a Xerox (copy) of someone.” (Rottenberg, p.224) The quote refers to the belief that cloning will result in a society consisting of endless copies of the same person. Although this would be a valid point if it were true, it is not the case. To support his argument, Silver uses a popular movie as a reference to show why people might have this notion. To further advocate his point, he gives an accurate but understandable explanation of what cloning is. Silver sums up his idea by stating his own opinion. “Once again, it is the inability of many people to appreciate the difference between the two meanings of “life” that is the cause of confusion.” (Rottenberg, p.224) He uses this to reinforce the fact that cloning is more than just making a copy of something (a fact he uses throughout the essay). It is also a notion to think that if a person is cloned, then they will not be as good as the original (much like an audiotape). Along with this comes the question of weather or not the clone would have a soul. In his next argument, Silver tries to get people away from these. Again Silver gives references to a couple of movies and a book where clones play the role of exact copies of their original. To add to the list he brings in the religious view of cloning by quoting 2006-06-20T14:27:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Common-Misperceptions-about-Cloning-29670.aspx Problems with Physical Abuse in America Physical abuse is one of the biggest problems in America Today. Many different people abuse children because of a lot of different reasons. There are many different types of physical abuse, which will be discussed later. The cause of abuse is different in most all cases. Education can be the most effective way to prevent abuse. If parents took a class before they had children on how to deal with pressure and frustration the number of children being abused will drop dramatically. If abuse is caught early and stops, the effect on the child won’t be as much as if it happens for a long period of time. The warning signs of abuse are important to know so you can report to the authorities if a child you know is being abused. There are also many ways to help families that abuse occurs in like family therapy or hotlines which people can call when they are having trouble. I choose to do my paper on physical abuse to educate people and to help prevent it from happening. Some types of physical abuse are really visible and some are hard to point out. Some physical indicators are a high incidence of frequent injuries like when a child is always bruised or has broken bones frequently. Bite marks, unusual bruises, lacerations, and burns are more indicators that a child is being abused. Severe swelling of the face and extremities should be reported to Human Services and the police so they can investigate and find out what really happened. If a child has fractures in unusual places that is a good sign that abuse is going on. A rare form of physical abuse is Munchausen syndrome by proxy; it is where a caretaker seeks attention by making the child sick or appears to be sick. Some of the causes of abuse are having a parent with a history of alcohol or drug abuse. These parents sometimes abuse their children and don’t even think about it. Drug abusers who have just gotten off drugs are especially vulnerable to abuse their children. If a couple are having many personal and marital problems they might be inclined to abuse their children. Also if parents do not agree and are always yelling at 2006-06-16T18:47:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Problems-with-Physical-Abuse-in-America-29644.aspx A Woman's Right to Abortion A woman’s right or murder? The topic I chose was abortion a woman’s right or murder? I set out to interview a various range of citizens and professionals about this topic and to listen to their views. Abortion is a very personal and controversial topic especially in today’s society. I did not expect to get an accurate answer to my topic, but rather two or even more very different sides to this study. I do not have a particular view on this issue, so I did aim to see if my mind could be made clearer from my interviews. I was expecting the communication to be very formal and hard to find people who knew exactly what their views are and able to comment on them easily. I did a lot of research regarding my topic before I set out to interview people and I learnt a lot more about abortion because of this. I discovered that there is a lot of risk before and after abortion. There could be infections, retained products of contraception, continued pregnancy, cervical or uterine trauma and bleeding, which are all short term post - abortion complications. The procedure also puts a lot of emotional and mental stress and trauma on the mother which is something she has to live with for the rest of her life. This occurs in 90% of all abortion cases. The woman is harmed after the abortion because it increases her chance of miscarriage and breast cancer, and may cause her to have painful menstrual cycles for the rest of her life. 25% of abortion cases report serious medical problems after their abortion and over 75% lose the relationship they were trying to save. From the interviews I got a different perspective on a woman’s right and that was that the unborn child is fully alive just not yet ‘birthed’ ad God has a unique plan for that unique life that can not be filled by another. The law which was passed in 1972 to make abortion legal, was based upon perjury and the gaining of a ‘legal’ right that did not exist before and was due to the bending of the constitution and legal system. The justices made their decision because the pre-abortion crowd used false statistics, faked crisis situations and scenarios that never existed, rather than the fact of the law. I asked interviewees 2006-06-16T15:43:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Woman-s-Right-to-Abortion-29636.aspx Gun Regulation in America A gun, defined as a weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is discharged by the force of an explosive, was the object used by thousands of men as they fought from the freedom of the United States. The gun is the object in which 62% of murders are committed , but the gun is also the most effective form of self-defense . Guns have played a very important role in America’s government, and our country has arrived to its current stage with the use of guns. Several organizations such as the NRA promote gun control, and likewise there are several groups opposing the use firearms such as Hand Gun Control Incorporated. However, before one can argue gun control they must be familiar with the Second Amendment, the article allowing the people of the United States to bear arms. The English Bill of Rights states: “That the subjects which are Protestants, may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law.” This statement is what initially gave Americans the idea of creating the Second Amendment to be what it currently is.” “On June 8, 1789, James Madison proposed the amendment: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of beating arms shall be compelled to render military service in person. Madison’s proposition and the English Bill of Rights were the basis on which the Second Amendment was formed. Although, the Boston Massacre was “the fuse that lit the powder keg of debate over the right of the people to be armed.” Madison’s amendment was modified through a select committee, the House of Representatives, and the Senate before it stated: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The Second Amendment clearly states that the people of the United States have the right to have guns, but many people continue to debate the issue of guns in our modern society. The constitution was constructed over two centuries ago, and the founding fathers of the United States surely did not expect America to become 2006-06-16T15:28:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Regulation-in-America-29627.aspx Surviving Child Abuse Dave Pelzer, the author of A Child Called “It” is a surviving victim of child abuse. Written from his viewpoint, this inspirational story takes readers into the horrifying reality of his childhood. The rage, loneliness, and pain felt by child abuse victims becomes obvious. The author’s goal in writing this book is to educate and inform readers about child abuse and the possible extent of it. From the ages of five to twelve, Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his mentally disturbed alcoholic mother. At first, he lived a healthy and normal life with his parents and brothers. However, his mother unexpectedly transformed into a monster, venting her anger and rage on her helpless child. To satisfy her sick needs, she devised cruel punishments and tortures to make David suffer. He was fed mouthfuls of ammonia, submerged in freezing cold water for hours, forced to eat his own vomit, stabbed in the stomach, and burnt by fire. These are just a few “games” his mother used to play. However, all this was not enough to break the young child’s spirit. He never gave his mother the satisfaction of defeating him mentally. With the help of his caring teachers, David was able to conquer and escape from the mother’s control. His willpower, courage, and determination allowed him to survive and triumph. His mental strength helped him turn shame into pride and rejection into acceptance. It is wonderful that he has found peace and forgiveness. This is the ultimate motivational story with many themes involved. Even at rock bottom, David never let his faith and hope die. He found the courage and willpower to survive through the most agonizing moments knowing that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. He never let his mother break his spirit and in the end, he became a triumphant survivor. This story also lets readers reflect on their own life and discover a new appreciation for their own family and childhood. Never take things for granted because millions of people are starving for food, affection, love, or care each and every day. It is said that if you have 2006-06-16T14:23:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Surviving-Child-Abuse-29589.aspx Negative Stance on Capital Punishment Each year there are about 250 people added to the death row and 35 executed. The death penalty is one of the harshest forms of punishment enforced in the United States today. Once a jury has convicted a criminal, of an offense they go to the second part of the trail, the punishment phase. If the jury recommends the death penalty and the judge agrees then the criminal will face some form of execution. Lethal injection is the most common form of execution used today. There was a period from 1972 to 1976 that capital punishment was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Their reason for this decision was that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment under the eighth amendment. The decision was reversed when new methods of execution were introduced. I am opposed to capital punishment because I don’t think that it is right to execute someone for making one or two wrong decisions. Capital Punishment is a cruel and unusual punishment. There also is a possibility of innocent death and it doesn’t deter crime. The strongest argument against capital punishment is the argument capital punishment is a cruel and unusual punishment. The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, condemning cruel and unusual punishment, is used to protest Capital Punishment. The fallacy of this argument is that it appears to be a red herring augment, one that takes attention away from the facts of the case. When the Constitution was drafted, capital punishment was practiced widely in this country, yet it was not specified as wrong. Many of the framers of the constitution endorsed capital punishment, as did the philosophers that which the constitution draws from. John Lock went to say that murder is not wrong. So how can murder be immoral? Citizens under social contract agree not to kill only because others also agree not to kill. It is the function of penal laws to prevent murder by demonstrating to everyone that it is not in their best interest to murder. Contrary to popular belief, the death penalty does not act as a deterrent to crime. Expert after expert and study after study show that the lack of correlation between the threat of the death penalty and the occurrence of crime. 2006-06-16T14:18:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Negative-Stance-on-Capital-Punishment-29586.aspx Gambling Culture in the United States Many Americans have mixed feelings about the growth of legalized gambling. Some see it as a harmless recreational activity. Others are concerned about some of the more serious consequences related to gambling. One of the most serious consequences related to gambling is addiction. When a person is addicted to gambling some very real and unfortunate consequences can occur. So the question is should gambling be allowed to stay the way it is, should it be strictly regulated, or should gambling be outlawed? Some may argue that gambling has evolved into an American pastime and should stay that way. In this view gambling is not a problem, but a solution. Gambling creates jobs, provides recreation, helps local economies, and raises revenue for a variety of public programs. A portion of gambling taxes also goes toward expanding treatment programs for people who have addictions toward gambling and other unhealthy activities. Gambling is a recreational activity and most Americans have no problem with it. This side also argues that sick people need treatment, not restrictions and regulations. The second option is to regulate gambling to make it safer. Although gambling can be a fun recreational activity, it can also be very dangerous to those who abuse it. One way to regulate gambling is to force states to stop promoting their lotteries. They can also outlaw casinos that encourage excessive gambling by serving free alcohol. Since many states are somewhat dependant on gambling revenue they need to free states from depending on gambling in order to regulate it with less prejudice. Overall gambling can be dangerous to some citizens and the government has a duty to protect them from such risks. The third option is to completely outlaw gambling. This option would stop any further growth in gambling. This side argues that legalizing gambling makes it legitimate by turning an anti social activity into an acceptable form of behavior for everyone. Gambling helps make people believe that they can get something for nothing and success is achieved by luck and chance rather than by hard work and intelligence. Gambling is a predatory industry that produces nothing more than empty hopes, empty dreams, and empty wallets. Gambling has been an important national issue for decades. It is hard to say exactly who is 2006-06-16T14:16:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gambling-Culture-in-the-United-States-29585.aspx Persuasive Death Penalty Essay When turning on the television, radio, or simply opening the local newspaper, one is bombarded with news of arrests, murders, homicides, and other such tragedies. There are many things that I don’t agree with in today’s society but, out of all the wrongdoing that takes place, I believe murder including the death penalty is the worst of them. I am strongly against the death penalty because it violates God’s rules, costs the tax payers too much money, the possible “wrongly accused,” and it is cruel and unusual punishment. How often do these concepts creep into the public’s mind when it hears of our ‘fair, trusty’ government taking away someone’s breathing rights? I do not support having the death penalty because it violates religious beliefs. Many religions, such as my own, Catholicism, follow the rules that God sent to use through the Ten Commandments. One of the most important of those ten states, “Thou shall not kill.” If you are executing an individual, that clearly violates this commandment. Murdering any person, no matter what the individual has been convicted of, is a mortal sin. Therefore, God will punish anyone who aids in executing people. I believe that religious beliefs, such as the Ten Commandments, are the corner stone for our law system. Executing someone should not be made an exception to God’s rule. My next reason against the death penalty is that taxpayers waste too much of their money with the death penalty. The average death penalty case is appealed three times. This means that the taxpayers must pay for the same trial to be heard three times. This is a very expensive practice. Also, the average convicted murder spends 12 years on death row. If supporters of the death penalty are positive enough to kill the person for committing the crime, shouldn’t the supporters be confident enough to execute them in a timely manner? Why spend the taxpayer’s money keeping these inmates in jail for so long? Taxpayer’s money should go to better society, not to accommodate the prisoners that are going to end up dead. There’s always the chance of the innocent being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A handful of evidence from a strong lawyer could sentence someone to life in prison, and even the death penalty. One could be spending and ending his life in captivity for simply walking down the 2006-06-15T22:56:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Persuasive-Death-Penalty-Essay-29582.aspx A Look at the Most Recent Concerns of Global Warming Threats The latest data confirm what a growing number of scientists have been saying for several years. The Earth’s climate is rapidly changing. According to a report from the Smithsonian Institution and several other U.S. agencies, global temperatures increased by about one degree Fahrenheit over the course of the last century, and will likely rise even more during this one. Scientists predict that unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced greatly, temperatures in the United States will rise by about 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit on average in the next 100 years, an increase even larger than what's predicted globally. Such drastic temperature changes will cause a broad range of impacts. Sea levels will rise and it will flood coastal areas. Glaciers and polar ice packs will melt. Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense. 2006-06-15T22:44:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Look-at-the-Most-Recent-Concerns-of-Global-Warming-Threats-29574.aspx Capital Punishment is a Just Action A strong case can be made in principle for and against capital punishment. The argument in favor of capital punishment should be based on justice and the nature of a moral community; this is the definition of a just action. People who commit the act of first-degree murder should be brought to justice. Being brought to justice requires that each person respect the life and liberty of others. Respecting the life and liberty of others means that we as United Sates citizens have freedom of thought and expression and equality before others. Those who commit vicious crimes can destroy the basis on which a moral community rests, and should have the fear of forfeiting their rights to citizenship and even life itself. Capital punishment in the United Sates is a just action in our criminal justice system. Many people who support capital punishment believe that the general public should be urged for capital punishment to be used more frequently. Michael Tonry explains a brief history of capital punishment in the United States of America. Approximately 20,000 executions have taken place since the settlement of the Europeans in the United States and Americans colonies, and more than 7,000 people have been executed in the United States since the year 1900. Between the years of 1967 and 1976 capital punishment was used not only for first-degree murder, but also rape. It was modified in 1976 that a criminal who committed rape would not receive capital punishment. At this time there are more than three thousand people on death row in the United States (Tonry 744). First-degree murder is the killing of an individual without lawful justification, in which the person intends to do great bodily harm to the individual, knows that such acts will cause death, or is committing a felony at the time of murder. The other types of murders are second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless homicide. These types of murder may have been performed by an accident or under sudden or intense passion. This is the reason why the death penalty is only issued for first-degree murder. There are several different methods or ideas behind the use of capital punishment. One of Tonry’s excellent examples of why capital punishment is a just action is the deterrence factor. A major purpose of criminal punishment is to conclude future criminal conduct. The deterrence 2006-06-15T15:49:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-is-a-Just-Action-29536.aspx The Importance of Contraceptives in American Relationships There are so many new types of contraceptives today in the United States. Males are turning to contraceptives in their life even though it is not showing. Women are more likely to use birth control than any other form of contraceptive. There are many forms of contraceptives in today’s society also. In this paper, I will examine the different forms of contraceptives and how they are important in today’s society as well as the history of their existence. In marriage realtionships it is expected that the couple will learn various things about each other and continue on in life by means of a career or job. In order for a couple to stay married and not get divorced, certain things have to give. Pre-marital sex is a big and important thing in today’s society. It covers the use of contraceptives while a couple is not married. This helps a couple have sex without producing children before they get married. Couples stress the importance of having the use of contraceptives because it is the only way to protect pregnancy. Others may use contraceptives because it protects against sexually transmitted disease. In my research, I found various means of contraceptives and will explain how each of them work. Couples should talk about what each of their opinions voice. A couple that is about to get married should have no question about each other’s opinions and everything should work out. But with the use of contraceptives, or the non-use of contraceptives, a marital relationship can be screwed up. People should not get involved in a relationship if they do not know what is expected of the other person. A couple should engage themselves in a long-lasting relationship with the use of contraceptives. Here are some contraceptives that could possibly be used. Condoms are the main thing that protects a man/woman from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The correct and consistent use of a condom by a male and a female can reduce a person’s risk of getting AIDS, herpes, or other diseases acquired by sex. Prevention is the most effective strategy for controlling the spread of infectious diseases. And to prevent diseases, and pregnancy, people look towards condoms. A new condom is being produced, entitled the “unisex condom.” 2006-06-14T23:47:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Contraceptives-in-American-Relationships-29511.aspx The Use of Contraveptives against Global Overpopluation Contraceptives have been used for over a thousand years to allow people to have safe sex. The purpose for these products is to either prevent pregnancy, protect against sexually transmitted diseases, or both. The biggest problem surrounding this issue is the number of people who have no access to proper contraceptives. For a long time this hasn’t been that much of an issue because the world population was not as large or increasing as quickly as it is now. However, overpopulation is becoming a pressing issue that must be addressed and corrected. Every sexually active person should always use condoms unless in a mutually monogamous relationship. An estimated 24 billion condoms should be used each year, but actual use is much less, at an estimated 6 to 9 billion each year. To avoid AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted diseases, more and more unmarried people are changing their sexual behavior. Some are avoiding sex entirely, while others have started using condoms. In surveyed countries 5% to 33% of never-married men say they have started using condoms to avoid AIDS. But many others have not adopted safe sexual behavior. Rates of condom use are lower within marriage than among the sexually active unmarried. Yet many married couples need condoms, too, both for family planning and for protection against STDs. Narrowing the gap between condom need and use is a major public health challenge. Worldwide, at least 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and another 14 million have died. An estimated 16,000 new infections occur every day. About 6 of every 10 new HIV infections are to women, and many newborns contract the virus from infected mothers. Efforts to increase condom use are a good social, economic, and health investment. More condom use would reduce rates of HIV infection and slow the spread of AIDS so that emphasis could shift from dealing with the consequences of AIDS to meeting other health needs. Despite the AIDS epidemic, many people practice risky sexual behavior—even when they know that condoms prevent infections. It is unlikely that all sexually active people will always use condoms when needed. Powerful social norms encourage men to take sexual risks, such as visiting commercial sex workers, and at the same time discourage condom use. Traditional gender roles keep women from talking about sex or asking for condoms. Wives may know that 2006-06-14T23:34:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Use-of-Contraveptives-against-Global-Overpopluation-29503.aspx Common Occurences of Racial Profiling in America Driving eastbound on highway 18 around 12:00 a.m., me and four other friends were targeted by the Iowa State Patrol. As they were enroute to my house, a state patrol car whipped around and followed us with the lights flashing brightly. Five teenagers early in the morning were prime targets. All of us fell victim to a police bust practiced throughout the nation by police officers. This nasty police procedure is called racial profiling. With this tactic, everyone behind the wheel can be considered guilty. Racial profiling shows its ugly head today in America. Despite the civil rights victory 30 years ago, racial prejudice is still reflected throughout the criminal justice system. Any one person can fall victim to racial profiling. Many states nation wide have made this procedure illegal. The color of skin can be the most common area of racial profile to attack, but any race, ethnic group, religious followers, or age group can be subjected to racial profiling. Tens of thousands of innocent motorists on highways across the country are victims of racial profiling. And these discriminatory police stops have reached epidemic proportions in recent years - fueled by the "War on Drugs" that has given police a pretext to target people who they think fit a "drug courier" or "gang member" profile. We must put an end to the practice of racial profiling (ACLU). When concerning the African American race, many people think that all they boil down to are a bunch of “gang bangers”, drug dealers, rappers, and athletes. Not all black people follow this suit. Just like any other race, there are always those bad seeds. There have been many successful black people who helped shape this country into what it has become. Countless role models have emerged from the dark shadows of the negative stereotypes that the blacks have portrayed over the years. Take Michael Jordan into consideration, his athletic ability took basketball to all new heights. He will go down in history as one of the best basketball players to dribble a basketball. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the way that people will look at his race. He led his people through the cicil rights movement. He influenced people to get past skin color and he 2006-06-14T23:29:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Common-Occurences-of-Racial-Profiling-in-America-29500.aspx Class, Race and Gender in American History “The United States government’s support of slavery was based on an overpowering practicality.” (Zinn 171) Before America even had a history it was busy creating a lower ethnic class for it to look down on. To work the fields and other low wage high risk jobs. To be there when a scapegoat was needed but to be as separate as could be maintained at all times. The history of black people in the United States begins with slavery. African Americans were seen not just as a lower class of people, but simply as property, creating a struggle for equality that may never end. Slaves were subjected to the poorest of living conditions, whippings not uncommon, and often having tight knit families, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons split when sold apart from each other. Early slave resistance was often to the effect of stealing property, sabotage, running away or just working slowly but sometimes went as far as killing masters or overseers and burning down buildings. In some instances masters were fast to try and remove themselves from this by making lower class whites overseers hoping they would bare the brunt of the slave’s anger (Zinn 177). The United States would eventually give into the great pressure placed on it to abolish slavery, but not without a war. With slavery ended black and white people were able to live together as equals. Some would say that this is still not fact. After slavery oppression of black people did not end. While slavery remained in the memories of African Americans discrimination was constant and as accepted in the society as much as slavery had been in years previous. Black people still lived in fear from race related violence and lynching like a slave owner relationship. In the 1930’s some African Americans began to align themselves with the Communist party. The communist party had long pointed out the inequalities of race even if they were accused of doing it for their own purposes. Those black people aligning themselves with the Communist party did not do so simply because they obviously needed the help and admired the parties ability in organizing rallies and protests (Zinn 447). Of course the union of the black men at the time to communism put a new even more frightening idea of the young militant black in everyone’s mind more than ever 2006-06-14T23:19:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Class,-Race-and-Gender-in-American-History-29494.aspx Ethical Implications of Human Cloning Cloning has been going on in the natural world for thousands of years. A clone is simply one living thing made from another, leading to two organisms with the same set of genes. In that sense, identical twins are clones, because they have identical DNA. Sometimes, plants are self-pollinated, producing seeds and eventually more plants with the same genetic code. When earthworms are cut in half, they regenerate the missing parts of their bodies, leading to two worms with the same set of genes. Any organism that reproduces asexually; produces a clone. However, the ability to intentionally create a clone in the animal kingdom by working on the cellular level is a very recent development. From sheep to monkeys, scientist have made great strides in the past few years in cloning mammals. The birth of these transgenered animals provides a major stepping stone for the cloning of humans. Now groups say they are ready to clone a human being. Controversy over their plan runs high, but scientists believe the technology for human cloning, at least a limited type of cloning for now, is available. A revolution in reproductive biology is now taking place, that provides technical means for cloning humans. Many scientists who work with cloned animals say that the procedure is difficult and dangerous and too ethical to try on humans. Therefore it is my purpose in this paper to chronicle some events that have led to the still emerging technologies that can be directly applicable to the of potential human cloning. In order to make a fully justified decision on whether human cloning is ethical or not, one must be exposed to the background of the subject. To start, a clone is an exact replica of an organism, cell, or gene. The process itself is done asexually with the use of a cell from the original human. It is then placed inside a female capable of bearing a child and is then born as a clone. Along with this comes questions of whether or not it is right to clone a human being based on different facts and opinions of small groups or communities(Dudley 11). The technology of cloning is not quite developed enough for a doctor to be certain that an experiment will be successful. In Scotland, the first sheep was cloned and was named Dolly. It took over 250 tries before they 2006-06-13T19:27:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ethical-Implications-of-Human-Cloning-29476.aspx The Importance of Nutrition and Health As the rate of obesity and related deaths sky rocket in the United States, Americans need to be more conscious regarding their health, daily exercise, and nutritional habits. Although a small number have begun to incorporate some sort of diet and exercise into their daily schedule the majority still do not see this as a priority. With the studies surrounding this epidemic comes a huge debate over how much actually is obtained through heredity vs. environment, and how it can be managed. Although, there are many new and fast acting diet and exercise regimens advertised to help these over weight individuals, not many work, “The ultimate cure for obesity is exercise” (“Fit or Fat“ 30). In addition, many diuretics (specifically ephedrine) have swept the Nation, all of them claiming to be the miracle cure for weight problems. However, most of these new drugs have been reported to have severe side affects. Many of which are being ignored because of the extreme pressure to be thin. The reality is that Americans need to accept that the only way to stay healthy is by eating properly, and leading an active lifestyle. Regular exercise is a primary element in achieving this goal. As individuals gain weight and become obese even everyday activities are more difficult. Overweight people tend to be much less active than someone who is fit is, they are happiest expending the least amount of energy as possible. “They’d rather lie down than sit, and they’d rather sit than stand,” (Mirkin 201). This becomes a never-ending cycle, until a conscious decision is made to change. When at least thirty minutes of exercise is incorporated into their day the energy level is jolted and that is when the weight will start to come off. Exercise controls weight, increases energy, and elevates and improves a persons mood. It is a natural appetite suppressant, and alters many chemicals in the body that merely alleviates the feeling of hunger. The more regularly someone exercises the less they crave food and the less they gain weight. (Mirkin 202) Working out also alters the person’s metabolism, and helps them burn calories. It is being used for more than just weight loss; psychiatrists have successfully been treating individuals with mood disorders, by 2006-06-13T19:17:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Nutrition-and-Health-29470.aspx Abortion as a form of Ethnomethodology Ethnomethodology is a technique for studying human interaction by deliberately disrupting social norms and observing how individuals respond, the idea is that the disruption of social norms helps one discover the normal social order. To my beliefs abortion is murder and that is disrupting social norm. A norm is a specific cultural expectation for how to behave in a given situation. Abortions many people believe abortion is a moral issue, but it is also a constitutional issue. Do you consider something with a beating heart a living creature? If you didn’t know a babies heart forms and starts beating in the fifth week of pregnancy, therefore that would make abortion murder. Abortion debate is raging in America. Different sides argue are “pro-choice” there theory would say that abortion is up to the women, “pro-life” theory is abortion is murder no matter what the situation. The opposing sides argue about abortion. Also that say it’s a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body, and it should not be altered or influenced by anyone else. The right is guaranteed by the ninth amendment, which contains the right to privacy. The ninth amendment states: “ The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The “pro-choice” also say woman has the right to privacy and choice to abort her fetus. A fetus is not yet a baby but it does not possess the criteria derived from our understand of living human beings. The “pro-life” people argue that a woman who has an abortion is killing a child. They also argue that abortion is the taking of innocent human life, which is wrong under virtually any circumstances. An unborn baby is more that potential life, an unborn baby is a meaningful human that should not be considered. Human life begins with conception. A middle-aged person, a teenager, and an unborn baby are all in stages of human life. Killing the unborn is no more justifiable than killing the two other people. Abortion is a practice that should be prohibited by law because it basically amounts to murder. An unborn baby’s right to life should have priority over a woman’s right to choose. No woman or man should have the power to decide if a baby is allowed to live. A woman’s right over her 2006-06-13T19:00:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-as-a-form-of-Ethnomethodology-29459.aspx Child Abuse Ruins Lives A seven-year old boy had been admitted into the intensive unit over a dozen times since the age of three. The child had suffered various internal injuries from his stepfather’s punches and kicks to his stomach. One time the boy’s unstable mother slashed his cheek with a butcher knife and cut a portion of the child’s left ear. Child abuse that results in death is unfortunate, not as uncommon as most people would like to believe. There are many different types of abuse; they include sexual, mental, verbal, physical and emotional. Children often are referred to as being our greatest natural resource. One of the 2006-06-13T18:41:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Abuse-Ruins-Lives--29447.aspx Using Language Reform to Change Gender Attitudes If language mirrors the world, the generic use of masculine pronouns and other male-biased use of language in English would reflect a traditionally male-orientated view of the world, in which case it is interpreted as reinforcing the low status of women in the society (Crystal 368:1997). To please prescriptivists and feminists, Cheshire and Prentice endeavoured to argue that language reforms could change people¡¦s attitude towards sexual, and social equality. This is based upon an axiom that if languages influence human thoughts, the eradication of masculine bias in English language can alter people¡¦s attitude towards the social equality of females. A language reform, therefore, is suggested to be implemented so as to achieve sexual equality. Language reform is the belief that changing people¡¦s way of speaking would change their way of thinking, that eliminating status distinctions in language would help to promote a more egalitarian society (Prentice 3:1994). Cheshire (19:1985) suggests there should be a conscious reform in the language to eliminate some masculine-biased words. She claimed that a galaxy of English words are semantically masculine-biased, for instances, master and mistress. Master carries many positive meanings with a sense of competence, authority and skills while its counterpart mistress accompanies a lot of negative meanings which reflects the subordinate position of females to males. The society has tolerated men for bias but not women. Prentice (3:1994) thereby propounds that the elimination of sexist terms such as generic ¡§her¡¨ and ¡§man¡¨ would achieve social equality. The first step is to achieve linguistic equality. Then since languages influence thought, changes in language can contribute to ideological change (Prentice 4:1994). Some feminist scholars further claims that the use of masculine generic terms perpetuates an androcentric view of the world, in which man is the norm and the female is deviant (Prentice 3:1994). Flaws may embed this claim as the use of generic masculine pronouns does not necessarily lead to an androcentic world: it may perpetuate an androcentric view but it does not perpetuate this view. Under no circumstances can anyone be sure that this view directly contributes to a patriarchal world which longer holds valid in a lot of modern cosmopolitans. Reformists claimed that masculine generic terms are not in fact interpreted generically: when people encounter ¡§he¡¨ and ¡§man¡¨ in generic contexts, they do not think of sex-indefinite beings, nor even of males and females in equal number; rather 2006-06-13T18:40:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Using-Language-Reform-to-Change-Gender-Attitudes-29446.aspx Why Animal Testing Lowers our Standard of Living Why do people test on animals? They test on animals so they can be beautifuland healthy without getting hurt. But now a breakthrough has occurred! Some people are now testing makeup on living human tissue. With this breakthrough, we can save millions of animals. Just a small amount of human tissue could save oner 100 animals.Animals suffer everyday for us. Why? Our lives would be better if we didn’t kill all of these animals. Just because today almost 250,000 animals die a year does’nt mean we should keep killing. Some die being shipped to the labs, or some die slowly and painfully because of the labs. They even had one cow that wouldn’t come out of the truck so they broke her legs and dragged her out. They tied her to a stake and came back 3 hours later. Dogs were attacking her. She was so injured and in so much pain that they put her down. See the cruelty we do? Some people live to make others “pretty”, and they also kill animals in the process. So much cruelty. Many animals are dead because of our cruelty. They test makeup and medicines on cows, sheep, rabbits, rats, and mice. We may think they are just small things but they are big in our food line. We will slowly make these animals die and finally become exticnt. Even students in school test different things on mice of frogs to see how they react. ”I abhor vivisection. It shoud at least be curbed! Better, it should be abolished. I know of no acheivement from vivisection, no scientific discovery that could not have been obtained without such barbarianism and cruelty. The whole thing is evil!”, says Dr. Mayo, Feb. 2001. Yes it is cruel how we treat animals. God made animals to rome the earth. Let them be in peace. God made them for a purpose. Let us let them live for that purpose. It is such a cruel world. We always think of ourselves first. We should think about others. Try to strengthen our world in peace and happiness. Why are we so cruel to our companions? Testing makeup and medicines on them is not a friendly way of making friends. Just to look good we kill other life forms. We should care what is on the inside anyways.When we treat animals this way it 2006-06-13T18:31:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-Animal-Testing-Lowers-our-Standard-of-Living-29442.aspx Understand a Patients choice for Euthanasia The movement for choice in dying is dedicated to the view that there are at least two forms of suicide. One is 'emotional suicide', or irrational self-murder, in all of it complexities and sadness. Let me emphasize at once that my view of this tragic form of self-destruction is the same as that of the suicide intervention movement and the rest of society, which is to prevent it wherever possible. I do not encourage any form of suicide for mental health or emotional reasons. Nevertheless, life is a personal responsibility and we know some people are so tormented that they cannot bear to live. In such circumstances, understanding is called for. I believe that there is a second form of suicide -- justifiable suicide, which is rational and planned deliverance from a painful and hopeless disease. I don't think the word 'suicide' sits too well in this context but we are stuck with it. I have struggled for twenty years to popularize the term 'self-deliverance' but it is an uphill battle with a news media which is in love with the words 'assisted suicide' and 'suicide.' They are headline grabbers. Also, we have to face the fact that the law calls all forms of self-destruction 'suicide.' Additionally, all medical journals today refer to 'assisted suicide' in their papers.* Let me point out here for those who might not know it that suicide is no longer a crime anywhere in the English-speaking world. (It used to be in many places, punishable by giving all the dead person's money and goods to the government.) Attempted suicide, which hundreds of years ago in Europe was punishable by execution, is no longer a crime. Do not confuse this decriminalization with health laws where a suicidal person can in most states be forcibly placed in a psychiatric wing of a hospital for three days for evaluation. But giving assistance in suicide remains a crime, except in the Netherlands in recent times under certain conditions, and it has never been a crime in Switzerland and Germany, although the taboos there are strong. The rest of the world punishes assistance in suicide even for the terminally ill; although the American State of Oregon recently (l994) passed by citizens' ballot measure a limited physician-assisted suicide law. After court battles initiated by the pro-life movement, the Oregon law took effect at the beginning of 2006-06-13T18:13:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Understand-a-Patients-choice-for-Euthanasia-29430.aspx Defending a Woman's Right to Abortion In an essay entitled “A Defense of Abortion” author Judith Jarvis Thomson offers a number of considerations that would justify abortion in almost all cases without denying the personhood of an unborn child. Thomson’s argument is not based on the distinguishing comparison between human beings classified as members of a species, namely homosapiens, who possess the human genetic code and the actual human person who possesses cognitive consciousness or the ability to know what is going on around him/her. Instead, her argument is based on the assumption that every person has a right to life. Although Thomson herself does not believe that the life of a human person begins at conception, for arguments sake, she is willing to admit this. Thus it is granted that every fetus is a person, and every person has a right to right to life. In Thomson’s view, abortion remains justifiable. Thompson begins by giving an example of a violinist with a fatal kidney disease. Suppose you wake up one morning, in a hospital bed, and find yourself attached at the back to a famous violinist. Upon talking to the doctors, you learn that you were kidnapped by “The Society of Music Lovers”, who in a desperate attempt to save this violinist, have plugged in his circulatory system with yours, turning you into a human dialysis machine. The doctors later inform you that they are sorry that this has happened to you, but it will only take nine months for the violinist to recover, at which point he can be “unplugged” from you, but to unplug him from you now would cause him to die. Since violinists are people too, and since every person has the right to live, Thomson uses this to point out that no matter how long the violinist needs to get better, even if it takes him nine years you are expected to lie there because he has a right to life, and thus you have no right to take his life from him by “unplugging” him from you. The violinist example is merely a strategy that Thomson uses to point out the major flaw in the pro-lifer’s view. Since Thomson previously establishes the pro-lifer’s view to be: “…a person’s life is stronger and more stringent than the mother’s right to decide what happens in and to her body…” (740). In using the situation described 2006-06-13T17:58:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Defending-a-Woman-s-Right-to-Abortion-29424.aspx Regarding Censorship in America Censorship is a word with many meanings. In a broadcast sense the word censor, according to the Pocket Oxford Dictionary (seventh edition 1984), means “an official with power to suppress whole or parts of books, plays, films, letters, news, etc… on the grounds of obscenity, or threat to security.” “Suppress” and “obscenity” are the key words in that definition. Censorship occurs when we watch television or a movie, listen to the radio or buy music, or even read a book or magazine. Censorship also occurs in places such as public beaches because one can only remove so much clothing without being considered indecent. There are regulations for what the public can and can’t see or hear. So who decides what the public can and can’t see? Who ultimately decides what is “obscene” and what should therefore be “suppressed”? Aren’t we as a society capable of making that decision for ourselves, and, if we are parents, for our children? Apparently not, and perhaps for good reason too, because what is not obscene to one person may be objectionable to another. Furthermore, much of the censorship in our society is mainly geared towards children. Age is used as the criteria for rating systems regulating what is proper for children to see at certain stages of their lives. Censorship is one way to regulate what children in a society should and shouldn’t experience at a young age. It serves to reinforce the morals a society hopes to instill in its children. But censorship is not solely aimed at children. Censorship is also a way of regulating ourselves, which might also be determined by the community in which we choose to live. From movies to television, from radio to CD’s, from good old-fashioned reading books to the Internet, censorship will always play a role in today’s society. Movie censorship is regulated by a rating system determined by age groups. Three main issues are scaled to decide how movies are rated: violence, sexual content, and adult language. These issues can be considered obscene in society today. The movie rating system according to the Motion Picture Association of America is broken down into five main categories. The lowest of the movie ratings is Rated-G, which stands for General Audiences and indicates all ages can 2006-06-13T17:50:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Regarding-Censorship-in-America-29419.aspx Effects of Education on the Community Many people would think of pollution, gang violence, and/or preparing for disasters when they think of community safety. However, I am more concerned with our community members enhancing themselves through education. I feel that we need to start teaching children the importance of education when they are at a young age so that they would grow up understanding the value of being able to go to school. As for myself, even at a young age, academics has always been a top priority in my life. Coming from a financially disadvantaged background and struggling with the loss of a mother, I realized at a very young age that I needed to pursue a high education if I were to be the one in my family to bring them honor. Because of my strong feelings on this matter, I have taken action in encouraging people to continue learning. People would be able to make wiser decisions because education instills knowledge in them. One of the events that I have engaged my time in is the Diamond Elementary Conference. I had the opportunity to teach the Planning/Goal Setting Workshop. I gave the children information regarding their future and encouraged them to start developing the right habits that would make them successful in their schoolwork. It was an amazing experience as I had the chance to interact with so many talented young kids. Also, I told the children how beneficial education could be to them. I told them that they had such promising futures ahead of them and to not let that go to waste. I was very content that day as I got the chance to make a difference in some of their lives. I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to lead our younger generation into the right direction. I also take action to promote education through the continual encouragement I give to my peers. Sometimes my classmates feel that they would not make it to college because of financial needs or whatever their circumstances may be. I respond with their doubt by telling them about myself. I tell them that my dream is to attend UC Berkeley and despite my struggles, by working hard, I know I will be able to get there. Also, I try to make 2006-06-13T17:38:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Effects-of-Education-on-the-Community-29415.aspx Debate over Cloning Controversy A clone is the name given for a group of organisms or other living matter with exactly the same genetic material. Genetic material consists of genes, which are the parts of cells that determine all characteristics of living things. It is not until recently that scientists have developed an experimental process for cloning higher animals, such as humans. This is a very technical process which involves first destroying the nucleus of an egg cell from the species to be cloned. Then a nucleus is removed from the cell of an animal of the same species and injected into the egg cell. The egg now has a new nucleus, and will develop into an animal with the same genetic makeup as the original donor. This process was successfully done as early as the 1950’s on amphibians, such as frogs. However it was not until 1996, that it was successfully completed on a mammal, a sheep, named Dolly. The question now is weather or not it is right to perform this same procedure on human stem cells. The cloning of humans or any other animal for that matter has several positive and practical applications. One such application would be the cloning of transgenic animals (animals engineered to carry genes from other organisms, usually a species other than their own), which would allow us to produce a wide variety of proteins that could be sold as drugs. It would also allow the production of other proteins, called enzymes that could be used to speed up industrial chemical reactions. This one application could even be taken a step further. Envision the creation of genetically modified animals that could provide organs for human organ transplants. Or the mass production of faster growing and leaner livestock. Even the perpetuation of endangered species, it is all-possible with cloning. Another possible use for cloning would be to clone humans. This has many foreseeable benefits such as infertile couples who do not wish to adopt, could use cloning to have children who are biologically related to them. Cloning could also be used to create children free from certain disorders, some known disorders that could be bypassed include ones that affect the eyes, brain, and muscles, these are at least partially caused by flawed genes located in the mitochondria. For a 2006-06-13T17:37:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Debate-over-Cloning-Controversy-29414.aspx Information on Capital Punishment and Drug Policy For most crimes committed in the United States a fine, sentence of time in jail or execution is the punishment. However, the death penalty is the most questionable punishment. Is it morally right? Is it effective in deterring crime, primarily murders? Weather or not you agree if it is moral or not, one issue remains. The death penalty is not an effective way to deter crime. The death penalty has existed as long as humans have existed. The quote "an eye for an eye" is found in the Bible. In the middle ages fines, public humiliation and imprisonment were appropriate punishments for all crimes, and death penalty for all murders. Today, Federal law states that the death penalty is to be enforced with convicted criminals for: treason; deserting armed forces during wartime; murder committed by a soldier; kidnapping and murder that involves crossing state lines; murder committed during an airplane hijacking; and of course, homicide. The death penalty is also called for punishment of for: attempting to kill anyone investigating or prosecuting his or her activities; advising, directing, authorizing or assisting in the murder of someone. Also, The Anti-Drug abuse act of 1988 calls for the death penalty for all drug related killings. Along with that, The bill amending sec. 848 to controlled substances act calls for the death penalty or life imprisonment for certain drug offences possession of 10 or more kg of heroin, cocaine, phencyclidine or analogue. Added to that, The drug kingpin act sates the use of death penalty for convicted major drug dealers caught with huge quantities of drugs, over 66 lbs. of heroin and 330 lbs. of cocaine. Even though there are these federal laws requiring the use of the death penalty for the crimes, State laws only consider one crime, murder, to be a capital offense. In the United States alone there have been 4047 executions since 1930, and 188 were from 1977-1996. In 1996, there were a total of 15,168,100 arrests; 33,050 for forcible rape; 1,506,200 involving drug violations and 19,020 for murder and non-negligent manslaughter. The death penalty was enforced 45 times. The death penalty is an expensive punishment, since 1976 the united states have spent 700 million dollars in it. Methods of the death penalty include lethal injection, gas chamber, electric chair, hanging and fire squad. In a 1986 poll 70% of Americans favored the 2006-06-13T17:36:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Information-on-Capital-Punishment-and-Drug-Policy-29413.aspx History Surrounding Capital Punishment The earliest historical records contain evidence of capital punishment. It was mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi. The bible prescribed death as the penalty for more than 30 different crimes, ranging from murder to fornication. The Draconian code of ancient Greece imposed capital punishment for every offense. Efforts to abolish the death penalty did not gather momentum until the end of the 18th century; in England and America this reform was led by the Quakers. In Europe, a short treatise, On Crimes and Punishments (1764), by the Italian jurist Cesare Beccaria, inspired influential thinkers such as the French philosopher Voltaire to oppose torture, flogging, and the death penalty. Encouraged by the writings of the philosopher Jeremy Bentham, England repealed all but a few of its capital statutes during the 19th century. Several states in the United States and a few countries abolished the death penalty entirely. The death penalty has been inflicted in many ways now regarded as barbaric and forbidden by law almost everywhere: Crucifixion, boiling in oil, drawing and quartering, impalement, beheading, burning alive, crushing, tearing asunder, stoning, and drowning are examples. In the U.S., the death penalty is currently authorized in one of five ways: hanging, electrocution, the gas chamber, firing squad, or lethal injection. In most nations that still retain the death penalty for some crimes, hanging or the firing squads are the preferred methods of execution. In some countries that adhere strictly to the traditional practices of Islam, beheading or stoning are still occasionally employed as punishment. The fundamental questions raised by the death penalty are whether it is an effective deterrent to violent crime, and whether it is more effective than the alternative of long-term imprisonment. Defenders of the death penalty insist that because taking an offender's life is a more severe punishment than any prison term, it must be the better deterrent. Public opinion, which in the U.S. currently supports the death penalty for murder by a more than two-to-one margin, rests largely on this conviction. Supporters also argue that no adequate deterrent in life imprisonment is effective for those already serving a life term who commit murder while incarcerated; those who have not yet been caught but who would be liable to a life term if arrested; and revolutionaries, terrorists, traitors, and spies. Those who argue against the death penalty as a deterrent to crime cite the 2006-06-13T03:27:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-Surrounding-Capital-Punishment-29406.aspx The Benefits Of Free Post Secondary Education Poverty, homelessness, unemployment; these are some of the worst aspects that plague our society. How can we combat these problems? One possibility is through the increased education of our youth. To ensure that today’s youth is better educated, we need to be certain that everyone has equal opportunities and options. Post secondary education needs to be free to those who are qualified to receive it. Through free post secondary education, our society could provide a level of impartiality in its educational system that would benefit those who are constrained by the current system and its expensive bias. For the disadvantaged, obtaining full scholarships is an extremely difficult possibility. Where scholarships have failed because they only aided a handful of people, free post secondary education will succeed. The prospect of free post secondary education would mean that students would be able to concentrate and focus more upon their educations. Instead of struggling to pay tuition, students can work towards learning and achieving more through their education. As Francis Bacon put it, “Knowledge is power” (Francis Bacon). By empowering our youth with greater knowledge, they gain the power to create an increasingly intellectual society. Free post secondary education would of course still require students to qualify to receive it they would be judged solely upon their academic performance. Of course the government would be required to make a large contribution. Will all this funding turn out to be too big of a financial burden? When the government considers the advantages of such a proposition, they will realize that it is an excellent investment. An increase in the number of well-educated citizens within the populace will have a very positive impact on the overall quality of our society. Such enrichment in our nation would be well worth the money spent. It is a proven fact that the majority (if not the entirety) of homeless and poor people are uneducated. Therefore, as more people receive opportunities for better educations, the rate of homeless and poor people will decrease. By rendering post secondary education free, the government will create equal opportunities for aspiring students regardless of their financial situation. Imagine a child with great academic potential but handicapped by his family’s poor financial state. How will he be able to afford the tuition required by universities when he barely has enough to eat? His intelligence should hold the promise of a 2006-06-12T21:14:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Benefits-Of-Free-Post-Secondary-Education-29386.aspx Analysis of American Pop-Culture Many different things form the American pop culture. TV commercials, movies, magazine advertisements and music all play a role in forming this pop culture. In “Is sex all that matters?” by Garity, the author points out that all these factors help our society create irresponsible sexuality. Irresponsible sex and sexuality are the last things the young adults of my generation need, considering the fact that we sexuality rebel as it is we really do not need any help. In my opinion the biggest culprit in all of this are magazine ads. The pictures used in these ads depict the “perfect” people. The flawless female with the flawless body, skin, hair and smile. Of course to be fair she is accompanied the perfect male as well. He has to be shirtless or at least have muscles exploding of his shirt. The carefree attitudes that these pictures depict send mixed messages to all children including teenagers. These ads pose a problem for the people that see them, a majority feel that they have to emulate these scenes of perfection. This could be a problem to difficult to overcome. It is impossible for the everyday person to be perfect, each and every one of us has our own specific flaws. To try to emulate every CK1 or Guess ad is to try to do the impossible. The people in the ads are not perfect. Just like you and me they have flaws. The difference in gender might also have adverse effects on the way you feel about the ads that you see. Men react differently then women. Men take these ads for what they are, a computer enhanced, airbrushed piece of propaganda. We let these ads role off our back and live our lives without the cares of trying to be perfect. This carefree attitude may be our best asset. Women on the other hand seem to take the ads more seriously. They try to live up to the ad and transform themselves into what they think society, as a whole wants them to be. Although men can be blamed for a small part of this attitude by women it seems more likely that women come down harder on themselves then men come down on them. It would probably be the best thing for them to realize that what they are seeing in these ads are far from reality. The chances of 2006-06-12T21:12:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-American-Pop-Culture-29384.aspx The Institution of Marriage in America The father has just come home there is a warm meal in the oven. His wife and kids greet him with much enthusiasm and delight to see the man of the house come home from a long days work. They say grace eat dinner together as a family. At the table they joke around talk about how their day went with details. Then the family goes out for a family drive. When returning home the family sits down and watches television until they are tiered and one by one they go to bed. This is an example of what people now view as a family that you only see on the television on an old sitcom. This means that it only happens on TV and not real life. In the 21st century a family life is a lot different nowhere near the bond as the families back in the early nineteen eighties. “A Secret Sorrow” gives a great description of how society vied marriage back in 1981. In the 80’s marriage and kids was expected for every women. In this story there is a woman who is scared to tell her husband that she cannot get pregnant because she is afraid of him leaving her. Because of the idea of children was an idea that was spread throughout all the people in the 1980’s. Marriages and having children were encouraged in this story written in the 80’s. The story accomplishes the encouragement by at the ending showing the family together watching all the adopted kids. “A Secret Sorrow,” shows a man who is truly in love because although he wanted to have kids and his wife couldn’t give him any of his own he still stayed with her. Women and men used to have unequal roles in life. They were treated quite differently and had different economic and social status. If you go into some cultures a lot of marriages were arranged with the woman usually not having a say in who she wants to marry. The part of a woman in marriages in the 1980’s was usually to stay home cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids, and any other household chores. The male was the one who worked and had to pay 2006-06-12T21:02:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Institution-of-Marriage-in-America-29379.aspx What you need to know about Euthanasia One of the most controversial debates is whether or not Euthanasia should be legalized and whether or not it is humane. In my opinion, I believe that Euthanasia is definitely inhumane. A lot of people think that euthanasia or assisted suicide is needed so patients won’t be forced to remain alive by being "hooked up" to machines. But the law already permits patients or their family to withhold or withdraw unwanted medical treatment even if that increases the likelihood that the patient will die. Therefore, no one needs to be hooked up to machines against their will. Neither the law nor medical ethics requires that "everything be done" to keep a person alive. To insist, against the patient’s wishes, that death be postponed by every means available is contrary to law and practice. It is also cruel and inhumane. There comes a time when continued attempts to cure are not compassionate, wise, or medically right. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not private acts. Rather, they involve one person facilitating the death of another. This is a matter of very public concern since it can lead to tremendous abuse, exploitation and erosion of care for the most vulnerable people among us. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not about giving rights to the person who dies but, instead, they are about changing public policy so that doctors or others can directly and intentionally end or participate in ending another person’s life. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not about the right to die. They are about the right to kill. It is simply murder. The definition of the word kill is to take away someone’s life. Are these doctors not in fact “killing” their patients? It is completely unethical. In some circumstances, I understand why Euthanasia might be considered. If the illness is terminal, and the person is suffering a great deal, and it would ease the person’s suffering if they were to just die, then yes, I understand how Euthanasia can be put into play. That’s why this debate is so extremely controversial. There are too many ifs,ands,and buts in the answer. There is no way that someone can fully be Anti or Pro Euthanasia. Euthanasia can also be abused. For example, people might look at Euthanasia as a medical way of committing suicide. (That is, if Euthanasia was publicly legalized.) The patient might say to 2006-06-12T20:34:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-you-need-to-know-about-Euthanasia-29367.aspx The Effects Terrorism has had on Homeland Security Due to the aftermath of the September 11th attacks on the U.S., efforts to fortify homeland economic security is being discussed. The terrorist attacks have affected cities everywhere, including their budgets, economies, and security. U.S. mayors from all over the U.S. are coming together now calling for financial aid for the increasing budget for public safety. The nation's Mayors and Governors are faced with unprecedented, permanent responsibilities and challenges in providing more homeland security for all Americans. The magnitude and urgent nature of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, anthrax crisis, and national alerts have caused mayors nationwide to initiate their own efforts to coordinate and implement a comprehensive state-based strategy to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within their own borders. In light of these efforts, the federal government must properly reimburse states for security related spending, including the defense of critical infrastructure, communication networks, the food supply, and emergency preparedness. The release of the 10 point plan, made up by more than 150 national mayors, is asking to be repaid for the billions of dollars they spent defending their cities from future terrorist attacks. The mayors are asking for block grants they can spend whenever and wherever they see fit, rather than targeted assisted, and reimbursement payment for had already been spent. The proposal includes large grants for the police, fire and other emergency service personnel nationwide. This would help safeguard the cities and the people from any future attacks. President Bush recognizing the significant need has also proposed in almost doubling the budget on homeland security to protect the U.S. from any terrorism. Their main objective is to secure homeland security and strengthen our nation. The issue that is worrying everyone is how the Administration’s plans for distributing these funds will work. At a time when state budgets are under pressure from the recession, the new resource demands of the war on terrorism mean less money coming from Washington, which is leading to many disagreements between federal and state and local governments. The disagreement over the grants and funds are arising from each state mayor. They are disagreeing over the distribution and the money, whether it would reimburse them for the money already spent, and whether or not the grants would be 2006-06-12T19:15:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Effects-Terrorism-has-had-on-Homeland-Security-29362.aspx Health Concerns Posed by Increases in Global Warming I remember the first time I ever saw and heard about global warming. I was probably in the first or second grade at the time. I was watching the TV and a commercial came on, it was a cartoon with two kids and an adult. They were in the park enjoying the day, when the guy started talking about global warming. The kids didn’t know what he was talking about so he fast forwards time and shows them what the earth is going to be like when they are his age. The future earth is barren and desert like. This was my first encounter with global warming. But after a while the topic got dropped and not until recently have I heard much about global warming. I figured it just wasn’t a big deal anymore, until I looked at this website. After visiting this website and reading about how global warming can kill so many people and bring so much disease also bugs such as the mosquito can give someone a deadly disease or disease such as malaria, cholera, encephalitis, and dengue fever is something I never knew. To me this is intimidating because to know that the mosquito can kill someone or make him or her extremely sick is very unsettling. All I used to think of mosquitoes were pests that made you itch. As a kid I used to catch the mosquitoes sucking on my blood and I would pinch the skin around the thing and it wouldn’t be able to get away. I used to try to make them blow up by sucking my blood. Now this thoughtless thing I did was for enjoyment; Now that I know it could kill me made me quiver when I read it. It made me quiver because most people think they are harmless little insects that don’t cause any problems besides being an annoying pest. Now they are able to kill a person, all because of diseases that have been introduced by global warming. The warm climate we have is the reason why the infectious diseases are being spread. Just knowing that we have signs of west Nile virus around New Hampshire is bad enough, but with the continuing spreading of this and all these diseases means its closer to my back yard. It just makes me wonder when the other diseases 2006-06-12T19:02:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Health-Concerns-Posed-by-Increases-in-Global-Warming-29355.aspx The Power of Drugs and their Influence on a Weak Country “ The international drug trade poisons people, breeds violence, tears at the moral fabric or our society. We must intensify action against the cartels and the destruction of drug crops. And we, in consumer nations like the United States must decrease demand for drugs”. (Bill Clinton address to the United Nations general assembly on the occasion of the UN’s 50th anniversary/ Oct 1995) The traffic of drugs is a very complex subject which some of us do not understand. In order for us to understand this business and why and how Colombia became the world’s most famous country known for the empire created around the drug trading industry; we must look back at the origins of drug trafficking to understand how it grew in a poor country and a corrupt society in which money controlled almost everything and everyone. Those on whom money had no effect were probably killed. It was the socio-economic conditions of the country, the poverty and the desire for easy-money which turned Colombia into an excellent location for the narco industry to develop and rule. The purpose of this report is no other than to analyze how? and specially why? Colombia was drowned into the narco world and how the drug lords almost ruled the country. We must look at Colombian history to understand what the country was going through and how the illegal business evolved in a country in which money became the most important thing. This report will try to prove that it was the conditions- both social and economic- of Colombia such as poverty due to unemployment and inflation and social inequalities; which led to the appearance and flourishing of drug traffic. I’ve used as sources two books about the subject, a review by a university professor, articles from magazines and information found on the internet. Throughout the report quotations from a recent interview with Jorge Ochoa, who is a former member of the Medellin cartel, who quit the business after 5 years in jail, will be used. Despite the fact that since ancient times cocaine and marijuana had been grown on Colombian soil, its use was limited to Indian communities, small marginal groups and certain hand-crafting jobs such as wood-work. When peace organizations entered the nation with clear ideological orientations with the objective of deviating the youth from the ideas of the 2006-06-12T18:54:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Power-of-Drugs-and-their-Influence-on-a-Weak-Country-29350.aspx Society and culture!!! CHAPTER 1- WHAT IS SOCIETY AND CULTURE? 1.1 Intro to society and culture:  The concepts: o The central concern of Society and Culture in stage 6 is the interaction of persons, societies, cultures, environments and time. o Through understanding the interaction, you will begin to understand yourself, the society and culture around you, and the societies and cultures of others around them. o We also recognise four other concepts that are vital to society and culture. These are power, authority, gender and technology. SOCIETY: o This concept refers to the way people organise themselves. For example, the people who make up Australian society are linked through institutions, media networks and sporting organisations. CULTURE: o Culture generally refers to the values, arts, technology, laws and beliefs that bind a society together. o It may include examples as diverse as artwork, language, literature, tattoos and religions. PERSONS: o This refers to individuals who are shaped by their society and culture. o They develop a social and cultural identity, and learn to communicate and interact with other persons in a society. o We are all examples of persons interacting in some way with our society. ENVIRONMENT: o This can refer to the physical setting of the society, but there are other types of environments such as the social and psychological environment. o As persons, our attitude to and interaction with our environment can be critical. The development of individual attitudes in the environment can reflect society’s shared values. TIME: o Time is a constant in all societies and cultures. We choose to measure it in terms of past, present and future. POWER: o The easiest way to understand power is to think about what is that allows people to bring others to do the things they may not normally do. o It involves a capacity to influence others to follow a course of action or point of view they would not otherwise follow. o A clear example was the policy of Australian Governments to displace and break up indigenous families. AUTHORITY: o This is often confused for power, and can actually be thought of as a subtype of power. It is difficult to imagine authority without some degree of power. o Authority implies a legitimate use of influence and/or persuasion. o Someone in authority has the accepted right to make decisions, someone in power would make decisions regardless of what those affected by the decisions think. o Police, for e.g. have authority to act in a particular way in specified situations, such as confronting a rioting crowd or a criminal suspect. GENDER: o This concept refers to the socially constructed differences 2006-06-12T11:09:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Society-and-culture-29314.aspx The Pandemic Outbreak of Aids in Africa On 18 October 1983, the first case of AIDS in Africa was documented. Peter Piat, a Belgian microbiologist, had been investigating the first outbreak of the Ebola fever. While carefully examining a patient, Pait made a remarkable discovery. He had found the first case of AIDS in Africa. When researchers started looking for the newly identified virus, it turned up almost everywhere - in eighty percent of Nairobi prostitutes, thirty-two percent of Ugandan truck drivers, forty-five percent of hospitalized Rwandan children. (Malan, Rian - Rolling Stone, 22 November 2001, Issue 882, p70) Experts immediately plotted graphs and concluded that scores of millions - maybe more would die unless something was done. (Malan, Rian p70) AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency, is a deadly virus that kills and damages cells of the body's immune system. When the immune system is attacked, the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers becomes considerably weaker. (Malan, Rian p70) AIDS is caused by the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and both can be transmitted through sex, contact with contaminated blood, sharing or syringes or needles, and through birth. Africa, unfortunately, is home to the world’s largest number of victims suffering from the AIDS virus. (Malan, Rian p70) Those experts who immediately began plotting graphs have seen their conclusion come true. Since 1983, when Pait accidentally discovered that AIDS had spread around the globe, AIDS in Africa has grown at a rapid pace year by year. As the epidemic continues to spread, it has had a severe impact on Africa. The virus affects people of all ages throughout the entire continent. It is at the point where AIDS in considered no longer a public health crisis, but rather a mass murderer. (Time Magazine - Death Stalks A Continent - 12 Feb 2001 - Vol, 157 No. 6) Since that first case back in 1983, twenty-five million people have died from the horrific virus, three and a half million of them children under fifteen. (Time Magazine) Currently, it is estimated that twenty-eight million people are currently living with AIDS in Africa. More than half of them will die. The twenty-eight million people who live with AIDS in Africa are three-fourths of the AIDS cases reported globally. In 2001 alone, the virus infected an estimated three and a half million people. (AIDSandAfrica.com) That is roughly 9340 people infected a day or one person every 2006-06-12T03:04:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Pandemic-Outbreak-of-Aids-in-Africa-29294.aspx Advocating Gun Control and Background Checks on Gun Owners Bang! Death can happen just like that. That is exactly how guns work. As deadly as they can be, almost every house holds some kind of in their possession. Guns are used for a number of things. People use them for hunting, competitions, self-defense, and even collection items. It is when in the wrong hands when guns become fatal. Guns can be harmless if handled in the proper fashion. Guns are able to get in the wrong hands because the Bill of Rights gives every American citizen the right to bear arms. Because of guns, people are getting hurt, killed, or even worse. They are also being used to provide force on the side of criminals. These things are happening because the guns are being used to purposely hurt someone. Also, kids are getting a hold of them and in some cases people don’t know how to operate them properly or are not taking the proper safety precautions. Ever since guns were invented they have been a weapon and an aid in acts of violence. With the United States the way it is now, it seems as if violence will be around for quite a long time. There is no way violence can be stopped for good all of a sudden. If it were even to be slowed down it would take a lot of time and energy. Things can be done though to help keep guns from being involved in forms of violence. Gunlocks, which are already in stores and on the shelves, may help keep accidents from happing and somewhat keep guns from the wrong hands. They keep children and all others but the key’s owner from getting a hold of the gun and even from firing it. This way only the owner of the gun can use it or allow anyone else to use it. Clinics that teach people how to operate guns properly would help make owners safer. Not only could they teach the proper way to operate the gun but also, they could demonstrate the proper safety precautions that need to be taken into consideration when handling any sort of fire arm. The Bill of Rights would have to be changed to have control over who should have 2006-06-12T02:59:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Advocating-Gun-Control-and-Background-Checks-on-Gun-Owners-29291.aspx Abortion Alternative: The Abortion Pill What is abortion? The Webster’s Dictionary defines abortion as the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus, or an induced expulsion of a human fetus. Some people think abortion is murder. Others do not see anything wrong with it. Abortion has been around for many years, and until recently women would always have to have a surgical procedure to end a pregnancy. Now women can end a pregnancy with the new FDA approved abortion pill. What is the abortion pill? The abortion pill is called Mifeprex or RU-486. Mifeprex followed by the drug misoprostal is approximately 92-95% effective. The FDA has only approved this drug to be used up to forty-nine days from the beginning of a womans last menstrual period. They determine the age of the fetus using ultrasoumd. (Mifeprex) How does Mifeprex and misoprostal work? Mifeprex blocks the naturally produced hormone progesterone. Women produce this hormone, when they are pregnant, to help maintain the pregnancy. Without this hormone the lining of the uterus softens and breaks down. Misoprostal causes the uterus to contract to help complete the abortion. (Mifeprex) What is the process of ending a pregnancy with the pill? The woman makes three visits to the doctor’s office. On her first visit she is provided information on how the pill works, she is counseled, and she signs a statement saying she has decided to end her pregnancy. She also has an ultrasound to determine the fetus is under seven weeks old. She takes three Mifeprex pills and goes home. She comes back two days later and takes two misoprostal pills. (Mifeprex) About two weeks after her first visit she comes back for a follow-up exam and an ultrasound to be sure the pregnancy has ended. (Abortion Pill:…) What are the advantages? When one ends a pregnancy with Mifeprex, they can avoid surgery. They can also take Mifeprex as soon as they know they are pregnant. Mifeprex also provides women with a more private option. (Mifeprex) What are the disadvantages or side effects? Women will experience bleeding and cramping. That is a normal part of the process. 2006-06-12T02:55:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Alternative-The-Abortion-Pill-29288.aspx Argument Against Lowering the Legal Drinking Age It is estimated that underage drinking costs the US $58 billion each year in accidents, crime and hospitalizations. An estimated one-third of Americans abstain from drinking alcohol or liquor. The number of college binge drinkers in the 1999 Harvard study (44 percent) was the same as in the 1993 study. In the Harvard study, 0.6 percent of respondents required medical attention for alcohol overdoses. This could equal 30,000 such instances a year when applying the number to the nation's entire collegiate population. On September 13, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reached a $4.75 million legal settlement with the parents of a student who died from an alcohol overdose in 1997. Scott Krueger, an 18-year-old freshman, fell into an alcohol-induced coma after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol at a university fraternity pledge function, and died three days later. The settlement comes at a time when underage drinking on college campuses appears to be spiraling out of control, with an increasing number of drinking-related incidents and fatalities. For instance a recent study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health College on the drinking habits and trends of college students found that 44 percent of students in 1999 were binge drinkers. The study defined a binge drinker as a male who consumes five drinks or a female who consumes four drinks in a row at least once in a two-week period. The study involved over 14,000 students from 119 universities. It also found that 19 percent of college students refrained from drinking alcohol last year -- an increase from 13 percent in 1993 -- but that nearly 24 percent of college students consumed enough alcohol to be classified as frequent binge drinkers. As staggering as these numbers are, new findings indicate that the use and abuse of alcohol starts years before youths enter college. According to the American Medical Association, over 10 million individuals under the legal drinking age of 21 regularly consume alcohol, and that the average male tries alcohol at age 11. Demanding that parents, as legal guardians, must stop their underage children from drinking alcoholic beverages, numerous states have passed "social host" and "adult responsibility" laws, which hold parents and adults responsible for the actions of supervised minors. Still other states and jurisdictions have gone farther. If convicted under Minnesota's Zero Adult Providers law, adults and parents can be fined, jailed and sued 2006-06-12T02:52:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-Against-Lowering-the-Legal-Drinking-Age-29286.aspx Issues Regarding Euthanasia and Assisted Suicides The issue of whether or not to legalize physician-assisted suicide has been front and center as a public policy issue around the world. Many proponents and opponents are largely operating on assumptions as to why people participate in physician-assisted suicide with only a limited amount of support for their attitudes. Not only do those that support physician-assisted suicide often assume that people participate in it for primarily rational and medical reasons from usually physical illnesses. Opponents of physician-assisted suicide often assume that the participants are motivated primarily by typical suicidal behavior, and push for suicide prevention intervention. Clearly one's outlook toward this topic depends a great deal on the lenses through which one views it. The present essay has two purposes. First, we will summarize some of the data emerging from the PAS sample we have been studying in Michigan. These data are striking in a number of important ways and are important in themselves in an attempt to characterize motivations of people who seek PAS. These data have been presented in detail in several recent articles published both by our research team (Kaplan, Lachenmeier et. al., 2000; Kaplan, O'Dell et. al., 2000) and others (Canetto and Hollenshead, 2000). Here we summarize these data around gender in a particular way to meet the second purpose of our paper: to place these particular data set in a more general model of PAS world-wide, focusing on differences in gender-ratios across these samples. This model will introduce the conception of the degree of physician control as an ordering principle and will examine its relationship to the gender ratio of the PAS participants. In other words, degree of physician control will be treated as an independent variable, ranging across various data sets from unassisted suicide (no doctor involvement) on the one-hand to full euthanasia (full doctor control) on the other. The proportion of women versus men participating in hastened death will be treated as a dependent variable. Generally, researchers agree that the relationship between physical illness and psychiatric symptamotology is complicated (Fawcett, 1972; Murphy, 1977; Conwell et. al., 1990). The present research report presents data to determine the relative roles of psychosocial versus biomedical factors in the PAS cases in Michigan performed by Dr. Kevorkian and his team. Specifically, we focus on the question of gender differences in this regard. Sample. The Michigan data derives 2006-06-12T02:37:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Regarding-Euthanasia-and-Assisted-Suicides-29278.aspx How the Media Presents the Contemporary Family Each and every person was born in a family. "The family is an arena in which virtually the entire range of human experience can take place. Warfare, love, violence, tenderness, honesty, deceit, private property, communal sharing, power manipulation, egalitarian decision making- all can be found within the setting of a family." (www.media-awareness.ca/eng/…s/support) In society every place people turn the issue of family life is always being portrayed. Most movies and television shows try to represent the ideal perfect family. But in reality we all know that the media family life is nothing like are own. In this essay the focus point is the way children, parents, and family life are presented within a televised family, and if they are being portrayed accurately, if social issues which affect them dealt with, and if media represents the changing face of the three. Firstly, the way children are viewed in the media is the first issue that is being presented. It is a known fact that by the time a child graduates from high school they have spent more time in front of a television set than in a classroom. During this time in front of a television one of the things children often see is a reflection of themselves. How children see people their age is important, because it helps shape how young people view themselves and their place in the world around them. Most television shows do not portray children accurately. Most children shown on television are motivated most often by peer relationships and romance, and least often by school related or religious issues. Statistics say, " 85% of children shows are about peer relationships, and 15% are about school-related issues." (www.childrennow.org/media/content.html) Yes, issues on romance are more entertaining then school-related issues, but romance is not the only issue that real children have to deal with in there live. Many children have a dream of becoming successful when they get older. For example, becoming such jobs as a doctor, or a lawyer. Television makes it seem that those types of jobs just come to people over night, and also without having any hard work and dedication involved. Television shows tend to miss that fact, and only display the things they think that children really care about. Personally, more family sitcoms should have more episodes on children 2006-06-12T02:19:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-the-Media-Presents-the-Contemporary-Family-29271.aspx Study of the Spreading of Youth Gangs in North America Structural Characterisitics • Members are typically young teenage males of similar ethnic or racial backgrounds (usually from disorganized families in the inner-city). Loyalty and adherence to a strict gang code (i.e., the gang is more important than anything) is mandatory. Cohesiveness among members increases as recognition from society increases. Loyalty and camaraderie are solidified by participation in group activities that are often antisocial, illegal, violent, and criminal. Goals, identified roles, and responsibilities are clearly established and defined (they are often unspoken but are understood by all members). The chain of command is hierarchical. Identification with a local territory. Recruitment is an ongoing process, especially at school. Younger active members (some as young as eight- or nine-years-old). Evidence of ethnic and racial crossover in multiethnic neighborhoods. An insurgence of female gangs. Established cliques or sets in suburban communities. Acquisition of large sums of money from illegal drug markets and prostitution. Rampant use of drugs and alcohol. Violent membership. • Use of sophisticated communications devices and automatic weapons. • Employment of guerrilla warfare-like tactics. Total disregard for human life as evinced by the senseless deaths of innocent victims. Induction into the Gang Members proceed through four developmental stages in the evolutionary process: the wannabe (one who wants to be a member) or the gonnabe (one who is probably destined to be a member), which is a more recent term for wannabe; the peripheral (one who hangs around the gang, and may or may not engage in activities); the affiliate (an actual member also known as a "gang banger"); and the hard-core (one who lives only for the gang, is "down for the hood”. The activities of gang members determine their position in the evolutionary process. For example, members engage in minor gang activities, such as hanging around, flashing gang signs, graffiti writing and claiming territory, before they become involved in serious hard-core illegal infractions, such as assaults, drug trafficking, and murder. Some recruiting practices bypass these simple activities; in such cases, hard-core members emerge overnight. It is no secret that gangs and their criminal activities have been increasing at alarming rates in communities and on school campuses nationwide. A comparison of data collected in two studies demonstrates the increase in gang membership in the U. S. over a ten-year period. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice ( Needle & Stapleton, 1983), there 2006-06-12T02:13:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Study-of-the-Spreading-of-Youth-Gangs-in-North-America-29269.aspx Study of Euthanasia and Mercy Killings In Britain, in 1981, a respected paediatrician was charged with the murder of an infant with Down Syndrome. The trial revealed that the parents had not wanted their child to live. The paediatrician had therefore prescribed a narcotic painkiller. Due to this evidence, the doctor was acquitted of all charges. Were the intentions of these parents in the best interest of their child, or was it so that it could suit their lifestyle? I believe that the child had become too much of a hassle for them, than what they had bargained for. These parents were given the gift of being responsible for a life. The moment the child turned out in a way that they didn’t expect, they didn’t want that responsibility anymore. For all they knew, their child could have become one of the greatest minds in the world. If only the child was given the chance to live. This fact has been proven through and through. The same goes for someone who has a terminal illness and wants to die. A cure for that particular illness could have been discovered hours or even minutes after they decided to end their life. We have no right as to decide who should live and who should die. Life is sacrosanct and is therefore worthy of protection-no matter in what circumstance it should present itself. I was taught that all living things have the right to a full life. By taking another life, even though permission was given, is still murder! If someone takes their own life, then it is regarded as suicide. It is as simple as that. We are always making acceptions, and allowing emotions to take the upper hand of us when beloved ones ask to die. This is a mistake that we continuously make and never learn from. By thinking that we are helping them to ease their pain by following their wishes, is quite ironic. For the rest of our lives we will have to carry the burden and heartache, of knowing that we took a beloved one’s life. That terminally ill person should have known that by asking such a request, they were in turn spiritually handing over their pain to someone else. How can people do this to each other! Nature has set out the cycle for when life should begin as well as end. Since man has created advanced 2006-06-12T02:08:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Study-of-Euthanasia-and-Mercy-Killings-29267.aspx Keeping Drugs Illegal until the Costs are Lowered It’s all about usage of illegal drugs and how many are dying because of these drugs the author is focusing on legal usage of alcohol and illegal usage of drugs. What he’s trying to say is if we make all the illegal drugs legal and just put some restriction just like we have on our alcohol usage maybe that would lower the percentage of using illegal drugs such as marijana, coke etc. and if drugs ever are legalized they will be dispensed as alcohol So it seems 2006-06-12T02:00:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Keeping-Drugs-Illegal-until-the-Costs-are-Lowered-29263.aspx Dangerous and Drug-Like Effects of Alcohol When people hear the word “drug,” they usually think of an illegal substance such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other drug that can be found on the street. Most people never consider the fact that consuming alcohol can be just as harmful as illegal drugs, not only on the body, but on the mind and spirit as well (#1). If constantly abused, alcohol can be even worse for one than taking illegal drugs (#5) Irresponsible drinking can destroy a person’s life as well as the lives of those around them. When people become both physically and psychologically addicted to alcohol, they become an alcoholic and suffer from a disease called alcoholism. One denotation of this term is “a diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors” (Webster’s Dictionary, 37). Another definition of this term, given to me by my English professor, Janet Gould who is in fact, a recovering alcoholic, is that alcoholism is a mental dependence and a physical allergy (#3). Alcoholism somehow affects us all through a parent, sibling, friend, or even personal encounters with a stranger. In fact "alcoholics may become angry and argumentative, quiet and withdrawn, or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more" (Gitlow 175). Alcohol and Alcoholism is a big part in our society, which should be recognized and dealt with. In addition “about 7%” of all adults who consume alcohol in the United States today are considered alcoholics, or have suffered from some sort of drinking problem in their lives (Secretary of health viii). "Although there is no indication of how the alcoholism of families members is linked ... [through genetics], studies show that about 50 to 80 percent of all alcoholics have had a close relative that was an alcoholic" (Caplan 266). Many times alcoholism starts during a person’s high school and college years; however some teenagers and young adults frequently abuse alcohol and never think about the physical, mental, and emotional toll that alcohol can have on a person’s life (#3). Alcoholism usually begins with social drinking then a person will find excuses to drink more often (Burgess 13). When alcohol is made more readily available to an individual, such as in a college environment, it increases the risk that person will drink excessively (Ewing 173) (#5). The 2006-06-12T01:52:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dangerous-and-Drug-Like-Effects-of-Alcohol-29259.aspx Analysis of the Benefits of Cloning All over the world, people are searching for ways to improve themselves and their lives. Cloning can help the lives of millions of people in the United States. It offers a variety of options that can help almost everyone. People will be very happy with the cloning technology. Cloning is good for our world because it can get rid of infertility, it can give people the appearance they want, and it can cure health problems and diseases. Because of infertility, many couples go through physically and emotionally painful procedures for a small chance of having children. Infertility happens when a woman's ovaries have failed, her eggs are not easily fertilized, or because the man's sperm is not conceivable (Kolata 5). Many couples run out of time or money without successfully having children. Couples go to infertility doctors and try over and over to conceive a child if they cannot get one the first time. Once couples know that they have a chance of having a baby, they will keep trying until it happens. Sometimes they are not so lucky and are never able to have a baby through regular infertility procedures. With cloning, a child could be created and placed into a woman's womb. To do this, they would clone the genes desired by the parents. Infertility clinics expect to be able to add or delete genes to human embryos to create a perfect child (Kolata 13). They can delete genes that could cause disease or disability and add genes that they want in their child. . If an infertile couple was given a choice of a child who is a clone or no child at all, they would most likely choose a cloned child (Kolata 19). This feature in cloning will let everyone have the child of their choice. Even if couples do not have fertility problems, they can choose different genes they would like in their child. This would make everyone happy with their child. Almost every person is self conscious about his or her looks. People usually have plastic or cosmetic surgery to alter themselves to their liking. Although many people have chosen to have plastic surgery, there are many risks. The silicone used for plastic surgery could leak and cause 2006-06-12T01:32:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Benefits-of-Cloning-29249.aspx Examination of Modern Terrorism through a Historic Lens Why do people resort to such violent acts as bombing, assassinations, and hi-jacking? How do individuals and organizations justify these acts of terror. These acts can be described as terrorist actions. Terrorism is an growing international problem. During the last twenty years, new terrorist groups have sprung up al lover the world. Governments have had little success in their attempts to resolve issues in which terrorism is used. A major problem in discussing terrorism is establishing a generally accepted definition. Terrorism can be described as the unlawful use of fear or force to achieve certain political, economical, or social aims. Because it is so hard to define, organizations like the United Nations have had great difficulty drawing up policies against terrorism. Terrorist actions may be committed by a single individual, a certain group, or even governments. Most terrorists, unlike criminals, claim to be dedicated to higher causes, and do not believe in personal gain. The methods used in terrorism include threats, bombings, the destruction of property, kidnapping, the taking of hostages, executions, and assassinations. There are many reasons why political groups attempt to bring about radical change through terrorism. People are often frustrated with their position in society. They may in some way feel persecuted or oppressed because or their race, religion, or they feel exploited by a government. Any group that uses terrorist actions have very complex and powerful reasons to engage in those activities. The use of terror to achieve goals is not a new idea in history. One early terrorist group, the assassins, flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. The assassins used murder to dispose of their enemies, and their name has come to be used for one who kills for political or religious reasons. Government terrorism dates at least from immediately after the French Revolution, in 1789. During this period, known as the "Reign of Terror," the French Revolutionary executed thousands of its citizens who were considered enemies of its rule. Acts of terrorism have been committed by individuals, or groups who seek national independence. One such act was the assassination of the Arch Duke of France in 1914. The assassination had sought to win Bosnia form Austrian rule, but failed and led to the outbreak of World War I. Kings and government officials are often the targets of terrorism. Czar Alexander of Russia was assassinated in 1881 by 2006-06-11T20:22:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examination-of-Modern-Terrorism-through-a-Historic-Lens-29245.aspx Pro and Con Arguments for Abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Abortion has been an intensely debated issue in the United States today. It is very difficult to find someone who doesn't have an opinion about abortion, and probably a strong opinion at that. Our country remains divided over what many consider the most conflict-ridden American issue since slavery. There are usually two sides. The pro-life side and the pro-choice side. Both sides make a good case. An agreement exists among pro-lifers and pro-choicers that when human personhood starts the person must be protected. The endless debates on the topic usually go nowhere, leaving the rivals even more committed to their positions and the open-minded observers confused. One reason the debate goes nowhere is that each side focuses on a different topic. They make no progress because they are not talking about the same thing. The pro-abortionist prefers to discuss choice, and to stay on all of the social problems important in an unwanted child. The anti-abortionist is interested mainly in protecting the life of the fetus. In simple terms, the pro-abortionist focuses on a woman's rights and the anti-abortionist focuses on a fetus' rights. Though interconnected , these are basically different topics. Though neither side realizes it, there is actually much more agreement than disagreement between the opposing views. The majority on both sides would agree that social problems like child neglect and urban overcrowding are serious issues. Most would also agree that the life of a child is a precious thing that deserves the full protection of the law. There would be general agreement that it is a woman's exclusive right to make decisions concerning her body. The disagreement is if the fetus is a human being. If you believe it is not a person, then it is simply part of the woman's body and subject to her complete control. From this point of view, any attempt to belittle that control is a malicious infringement upon a woman's rights. If, however, you believe the fetus is a person, then you are obligated to protect it, even to the point of restricting the actions of the woman carrying it. The objectives of both groups are the same, it is to reduce the number of abortions, and to make any needed abortions safe. However, they have very 2006-06-11T20:19:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-and-Con-Arguments-for-Abortion-29243.aspx Social and Psychological Lessons from Teen Abortions For teenagers facing abortion, it is a psychological, social, and philosophical dilemma that must be encountered. After the Roe v Wade case in which the court decided that a woman should have the right to choose, limited abortion rights were granted to minors. As a result, numerous states enacted various forms of parental notification and consent laws. “In most states, the law requires that parents of teenagers provide written approval of the minor's decision to terminate her pregnancy, or that they be notified by a physician” (McDonagh 21). An on going debate has continued regarding the notification of parents on abortion. Even though many psychologists believe that parental notification can have a long-lasting impact on the teenager's physical and psychological well being, decision making capability, and family relationships, opponents believe that such notification laws are unnecessary because a significant portion of teenagers confide in their parents about pregnancy and would seek their advice on pregnancy options and alternatives. Therefore, parents are already involved in providing emotional and psychological support and assisting her in the decision making process. Also, a small percentage of teens are living in abusive and unstable situations at home and the laws would cause them to delay seeking termination of their pregnancy because of the fear of the parental reaction. On the other side, those who believe that parents should be notified argue that if parents are notified, they will be there to provide support in dealing with the psychological impact of abortion. They also argue that teenagers are not experienced at making decisions for them and therefore will not make the decision that is best for themselves and for their family. “Information must be obtained on the psychological effects of abortion on teenage mothers before any federal law goes into existence on teen abortions” (Schwarz 43). Statistics show that in the United States abortion is committed by many teenage mothers. A bill was passed requiring a teenage girl to notify her parents before having an abortion. The problem the bill faces is that there is a Privacy Amendment in the Constitution that protects women's rights to choose abortion. Sponsors of the bill argue the fact that in any other surgical procedure, other than an emergency, doctors are required to notify the parents before they do surgery. However, in many economically and education deprived sections of the US, many teenagers are living 2006-06-11T19:53:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-and-Psychological-Lessons-from-Teen-Abortions-29231.aspx Arguments Against Playing God in Terms of Cloning A clone refers to one or more offspring derived from a single ancestor, whose genetic composition is identical to that of the ancestor. Clones have no choice but to have the same genes as their single parent. A clone of cells refers simply to the descendants of a single parental cell. Members of a clone are genetically identical and genetic identity has given cloning an additional more technical meaning: namely the procedures used to create a new organism whose genetic constitution is a replica of another existing individual. Such a feat can be achieved by substituting the nucleus, which contains the genes, from one of the cells making up that individual's body, for the nucleus of a fertilised egg. Since our genes dictate to a large extent what we look like, how we behave and what we can and cannot do, having identical genes, as identical twins do, ensures something more than mere similarity. Clones traverse the cinema screen as crowds of dehumanised humans destined for monotonous drudgery, as invincible armies of lookalikes from outer space, as replicas of living megalomaniacs and, in the ultimate fantasy, as the resurrected dead - troupes of little Hitlers and herds of rampaging dinosaurs. Of course, this is science fiction. Nonetheless there is just a whiff of plausibility, a whisker of scientific credibility; enough to plant an indelible vision of what might be, or even what could be the future of cloning. The word 'clone' comes from the Greek klwn, meaning twig, and there is a very good reason for this. For example, every chrysanthemum plant you buy at a Garden Centre is a clone of some distant and probably long dead chrysanthemum which once supplied a side-shoot for rooting. Likewise, whenever you divide an overgrown shrub or successfully cultivate a houseplant cutting you are cloning. In each case you are deliberately propagating a copy of the parent, and eventually over successive years and many hours in the greenhouse, producing a multitude of plants (clones) all genetically identical to the prized parent. So it is easy to understand why the arrival earlier this year of Dolly, the sheep developed from an egg whose own genes had been replaced by those from an adult udder cell, was seen as the first incarnation of a sinister future. Dolly was a clone of the sheep (her genetic mother) who provided the 2006-06-11T19:35:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Arguments-Against-Playing-God-in-Terms-of-Cloning-29221.aspx Evaluations of Racism in Society It is possible to maintain dignity in the face of racism and bigotry. I think Cassie would agree with this theme statement. During the book she did many things that showed this. When they were shopping at the Barnett’s store was one incident. The people working at the store did not wait on Cassie and her family because they were black. This made them very upset. Cassie asked Mr. Barnett politely to wait on her. Mr. Barnett used bad language and still did not wait on Cassie. Cassie stood up for herself and did not let Mr. Barnett call her names. She did what was right and did not believe that blacks should be treated different than whites. Another example of this theme is the relationship between Lillian Jean and Cassie. Lillian Jean was very racist, mean, and disrespectful to Cassie. Cassie befriends Lillian Jean and then while they are alone Cassie gets revenge on her for all the mean and embarrassing things she had done to Cassie. Cassie maintained her dignity in this situation. She beat up and punished Lillian Jean for all the evil she had done Cassie. I agree with the statement “It is possible to maintain dignity in the face of racism and bigotry.” I think this theme means you don’t have to use violence and other bad things during racism. It is better to use other tactics such as boycotting or making powerful speeches than to use violence. This is important because if you use violence you can get hurt or killed. I think this theme has a lot of meaning. It is each person’s responsibility to correct injustices in society. I think Pa would agree with me on this theme. Pa did a good job correcting injustices in society. An example of how he does this is he saves TJ. When TJ is being beaten and hanged Pa sets a fire on his own property to distract the people from killing TJ. TJ really didn’t steal or do anything wrong to be beaten but because he was black they accused him of doing it without truly knowing what happened. So Pa went as far as lighting his own property on fire to do what was right. Another 2006-06-11T19:14:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Evaluations-of-Racism-in-Society-29209.aspx Examination of Sexism in Society Don’t you think it’s about time women are treated equally to men? Women are treated unjustly all over the world, even in the United States, but isn’t the U.S. looked upon as the epitome of freedom and equality? The constitution states that all people are treated equal and it is against the law to be discriminative. Even so, women in the United States are looked upon as inferior to men. Everyone has heard million of times that women are equal to men and sexism isn’t a part of our society anymore, but it is. Women are harassed and discriminated everyday and we just deal with it. Isn’t it time for women to demand the same respect and opportunities as men? Sexism is everywhere, but the most common place is at work. Have you ever noticed that women don’t have as high job positions that men do? We aren’t given as many chances in jobs, raises, and wages like men are. An example of this is our government. There aren’t half as many female representatives as there are males. Even if a woman is as able or skilled as a man is, chances are the man will get picked and paid better. Wages and job positions aren’t the only acts of sexism and discrimination committed in the workplace; harassment is also a problem. Females are verbally and sexually harassed by fellow male workers and rarely is anything done about it. School is another place where sexism and discrimination is an issue. The administration usually isn’t very sexist, but the males attending that school are. There is verbal abuse and sexual harassment, but everyone thinks it’s all in fun. Most teenagers go along with it, without even knowing its discrimination. Even if anything is reported to the administration, nothing is done about it. Whoever did it might get yelled at, but most of the time that is the worst that will be done to discipline them. Other than school and the workplace, sexism even occurs in the media, it is on television, movies, and music. Rap music is mainly focused on sex, drugs, and has many vulgar names referring to women. Since all age groups listen to this freely, they think it’s acceptable to do and 2006-06-11T02:49:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examination-of-Sexism-in-Society-29188.aspx The Dangerous Reality of the Greenhouse Effect Air pollution is a very big problem in the United States. A large part of air pollution comes from cars. The Environmental Protection Agency says, "The most polluting activity an average person does everyday is drive their car"(1 fact sheet OMS-5). Most people probably aren't aware that they are polluting the environment. Maybe if everyone knew how serious this pollution problem is, they would find ways to reduce the pollution. Most pollution that is released by cars comes from the exhaust, mainly in the form of hydrocarbons (1 fact sheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are organic compounds, a combination of two or more elements, that contain only carbon and hydrogen (2 fact sheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are released when fuel in the engine burns partially. When hydrocarbons come in contact with sunlight they form ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is a major ingredient in the formation of smog. Ground level ozone is responsible for irritating eyes, damaging lungs, and it complicating respiratory problems. Hydrocarbons aren't the only pollutants released through car exhaust. Two more pollutants released through car exhaust are carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. The first reduces the flow of oxygen to the bloodstream, and could harm people with heart disease. Nitrogen oxide is formed when a car engine gets hot. It contains chemicals that aid in the formation of ground level ozone as well as acid rain (2 fact sheet, OMS-5). Acid rain destroys the outsides of buildings, statues, etc. Acid rain can also contaminate drinking water, damage vegetation, and destroy sea life. These two pollutants are two of the most dangerous pollutants released through car exhaust. If these two pollutants were cut down just a little bit our planet would be a safer place to live. Carbon dioxide is another gas released through exhaust emissions. It isn't dangerous directly to humans, but it is considered to be a "green house gas." A "greenhouse gas" is a gas that is associated with global warming. Global warming is the gradual increase of temperature due to human activity. Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone allow radiation from the sun to break through the atmosphere and go to the earth's surface. Global warming affects all living things on the entire planet (4 fact sheet OMS-5). Another type of hydrocarbon pollutant occurs through fuel evaporation. These hydrocarbon pollutants are produced four different ways. The 2006-06-11T02:23:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Dangerous-Reality-of-the-Greenhouse-Effect-29175.aspx Argument Against Sexual Content on Networks like MTV As I, the television program producers know, there are many sinful electronic devices today that have turned our once peaceful and naïve world into one that consists of hate, crime, and deep obscenity. Such examples fits directly into the world of technology, like computers, the Internet, and last, but not least, what I think is the most destructive; the television. All of these technological devices were invented for our convenience, enjoyment, and most of all, profit. Nevertheless, I shall say that no other electronic human entertainment center has had more profit motives than the television industry. Over the years, television has grown increasingly profitable, popular, and entertaining with a variety of amusing shows. However, not all shows are as delightful, and informative as others. Instead, many shows are vulgar and unmoral. Your channel, MTV, is a music giant and a television colossal. Teenagers and young adults worship the ground you step on, advertisers pinpoint you everywhere, and parents despise you whole-heartedly. Almost all of your shows feature explicitly sexual images that I must say are inappropriate for adolescents that are growing through a time of very important change. Your indecent shows have created more problems like the promotion of sexual harassment. The increase of rapes and sexual assaults, and last but not least, the ongoing spread of AIDs, HIVs and other sexually transmitted diseases. These are only some of the reasons why I urge you immediately to start airing less sexually repulsive television programs. It is one of my strongest beliefs that the common sexual harassment actions are definitely portrayed upon by the media. When people and especially teens are exposed to sexual content in the media everyday, they tend to think its okay to sexually harass or to intimidate the opposite sex. As one thing leads to another, soon, the harasser will have less respect for the opposite gender. Then continuing on to the final stage, the very basis for why many professional and personal relationships and marriages fail is due to the exposure to sexual intimidation. Further more as to why I reject the explicit shows of MTV, I think there is no doubt that ever since there has been images of sexual contents, the rate of sexual assaults and rapes have gone up nationally 2006-06-11T02:10:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-Against-Sexual-Content-on-Networks-like-MTV-29169.aspx In Defense of Elitism in our Educational Institutions Throughout this article the author says that if one school district tries to inform people that if one is not one of the few elitist than one should not go to college. He thinks that there are too many people that are going to college than there are jobs for. He says himself that "yet our colleges blithely go on "educating" many more prospective manager and professional than we likely need. In my own field, there are typically more students majoring in journalism at any giving moment than there are journalist employed all in the US " This is true with many other jobs; he calls them "periodic over supplied M.B.A.-wielding graduates." In such jobs as financial annalist, teachers, computers programmers and engineers he calls overpopulated. Some of those are the people we look up to are now unemployed only because there are not enough jobs for them in our society. He many points telling why many students waste money on a college education" The U.S. Labor Departments Bureau of Statistics reports that about twenty percent of all college graduates toil in fields not requiring a degree, and is projected to exceed thirty percent by the year 2005" He even talks about the lower level of students so the teacher are forced to lower the curriculum. This article gives readers many facts and statistics on why not go to college. It gives them a good objective point of view on not wasting their time on educating themselves, but to go to training schools for jobs that are more practical for them. There may be a lot of people that won't agree with Henery and there may be a lot of people that do agree with him. Some of the people that I have discussed this article with thought that he had some good ideas. They liked the Ideas about having training schools for blue collar jobs but they also think that people should have the choice of going to college. Instead of being chosen at an early age they should have the choice around high school or be recommended to go to a training school. My point is about as alternative as you are going to get. That is for people considering going to college should read this article or one like it before applying. I am a person who doesn't get the best grades, but 2006-06-11T02:01:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/In-Defense-of-Elitism-in-our-Educational-Institutions-29165.aspx The Importance of Patriotism since September 11th Nothing exciting was happening. School was already boring by now. I had just arrived in homeroom when I heard a sound that was frightening. Was it sirens? No, it was just the TV. I didn’t pay much attention at first but after I got settled I looked to see a plane flying into a building. I was shocked. A thousand questions began to run through my head-where was this located?, was it ORNL where my Dad works?, or was it an accident? - while at the same time trying to focus on what the reporters were saying. We all know what was unfolding in the next few minutes, the United States of America was attacked by cowards in hopes of destroying the security of our country. Looking back on the morning, how was I supposed to know that these events would change our lives and that of our country? I mean we have all seen pictures of wars on TV but it was always in another country. I never expected for war to be within the United States and for our lives to be in danger. Patriotism is a word I have heard all my life but to me it always meant getting a cute red, white and blue shirt for the fourth of July celebrations or going to the Veterans Day Parade or hearing the old war stories my Granddaddy often tells. To be patriotic had always been to stand respectful during the playing of our national anthem before sporting events or saying the pledge. How differently would I look on what being truly patriotic really meant as the days and weeks began to unfold. Webster defines patriotism as love and loyal support devoted to one’s country. These are only words until you see first hand men and women that are willing to risk their lives to save a stranger. It is an emotion that causes you to act upon a feeling or a thought without considering the danger to yourself in a certain situation. The examples of this have been many from the four planes that were hijacked to the men and women who have left their families to go overseas to fight this war and maintain our safety from terrorism to the millions of 2006-06-11T01:58:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Patriotism-since-September-11th-29164.aspx Making the Death Penalty a More Effective Crime Deterent Over the past many years, people have argued over the effectiveness of the death penalty. The majority of executions have come from convictions of homicides (murder), though execution has been a choice in punishment for rape, treason, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Many people consider the death penalty as immoral and ineffective to deter crime. These people are half right; it is an ineffective means to deter crime. With this understood, it is time that we need to make a reform in the death penalty to make criminals, or future criminals, stop from murdering, raping, kidnapping, or robbing. Back in Ancient Rome, under the reign of Justinian I, around 533 AD, many crimes fit the description for the death penalty. These reasons included, but were not limited to, rape, treason, embezzlement, forgery, and kidnapping. Murder, however, was punished by banishment, a worse punishment than death itself in those days. In England during the Middle Ages, any serious crime, listed as arson, burglary, counterfeiting, murder, rape, and treason, was punishable by the death penalty. Currently, the death penalty is used mainly in cases of treason and murder. Most of the other listed offenses are punished with lengthy jail terms. Through these ages, technology has helped advance the uses of the death penalty. In the days before Justinian I, most criminals were put into the Coliseum and made to fight either trained gladiators or half-starved lions. Later, after many centuries, executions became a popular public affair. Customs of those days were to pay the executioner some money for a clean swipe; using an axe was not very accurate, and most executioners took two or three hacks before cutting through the neck, as most executions were beheadings. Hanging, of course, was still an option, but if the rope did not snap your neck, then you would slowly choke to death on the rope. In those days, public executions was a very useful deterrent for crime; many people feared the execution for the possible ‘mishap’ that might occur. The advent of the guillotine quickened the rate of executions to as many as 12 a day, rather than 3-4. Many other forms of execution existed during the Middle Ages. Drawing and quartering, where a person is basically de-limbed by various 2006-06-11T01:45:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Making-the-Death-Penalty-a-More-Effective-Crime-Deterent-29157.aspx Analysis of Semiotics: Propoganda and Psychological Warfare Rationale In this report I am going to explain how propaganda and psychological warfare influences and manipulates people to make them support a country. I am going to show how does the media works as the medium through which the governments spread their propaganda. The government manipulate masses using pamphlets, speeches, morality and priorities. This manipulation is done through the media. Media and subjects like censure and impartiality of it are going to be discuss in this report. I will show how the Persian Gulf War can be set on as an example of the media spreading government propaganda and psychological warfare. This report also includes a semiotic analysis on propaganda and it’s denotative and connotative meanings. This report is going to show us it’s effect and importance in our community and society. PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR AND PROPAGANDA All of us, know about the horrors and the devastation that are a result of wars .Despite these horrors, we act indifferent towards war and it’s effect on the world community. Countries’ governments manage to manipulate us and make us think that their war actions against another nation, race or culture are well justified. Nations make the members of the society belief, that they are doing the right thing and that this military action against a declared enemy is the most desirable thing to do in order to keep “the world’s stability and peace”. For this reason people say we are “meant” to help and serve our country, in it’s war against their enemy which automatically changes into being our enemy too. Propaganda and psychological warfare are elements which are used by the government to accomplish their war objectives and win the war. Propaganda is when a one side statement is shown to a mass audience. This means that propaganda is meant to show a statement from only one side, for it to manipulate and influence a mass audience. In order to reach a mass audience, government rely upon mediums of communication, the media. Psychological warfare is specific propaganda which intends to influence and manipulate people by the use of morality, patriotism and priorities. It is an indirect form of propaganda which is often use to convince people without making them feel being influenced by someone. War Wars are conflicts and confrontations between groups of people that are defending their own interests. They kill 2006-06-10T19:25:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Semiotics-Propoganda-and-Psychological-Warfare-29133.aspx Responses on the Ethics of Abortion #1) "Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!" Susan B. Anthony, 1 The Revolution 4, 4 (July 8, 1869). #2) "[T]here were certain crimes where requests for leniency merely made me angry. Such crimes were, for instance, rape, or the circulation of indecent literature, or anything connected with what would now be called the "white slave" traffic, or wife murder, or gross cruelty to women and children, or seduction and abandonment, or the action of some man in getting a girl whom he had seduced to commit abortion. I am speaking in each instance of cases that actually came before me, either while I was Governor or while I was President. In an astonishing number of these cases men of high standing signed petitions or wrote letters asking me to show leniency to the criminal. In two or three of the cases, one where some young roughs had committed rape on a helpless immigrant girl, and another in which a physician of wealth and high standing had seduced a girl and then induced her to commit abortion - I rather lost my temper, and wrote to the individuals who had asked for the pardon, saying that I extremely regretted that it was not in my power to increase the sentence. I then let the facts be made public, for I thought that my petitioners deserved public censure. Whether they received this public censure or not I did not know, but that my action made them very angry I do know, and their anger gave me real satisfaction. The list of these petitioners was a fairly long one, and included two United States Senators, a Governor of a State, two judges, an editor, and some eminent lawyers and business men." THEODORE ROOSEVELT, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 305 (1913) (emphasis added). #3) "[I]t seems to me as clear as daylight that abortion would be a crime." M. GANDHI, ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS: THE LIFE AND THOUGHTS OF MAHATMA GANDHI AS TOLD IN HIS OWN WORDS 165 (1958). #4) "It is to be deeply regretted that the American people 2006-06-07T19:01:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Responses-on-the-Ethics-of-Abortion-29127.aspx Is Capital Punishment Effective in Discouraging Crime Capital punishment is punishment by death for committing a crime. Since the early 1800's, most executions have resulted from convictions for murder. The death penalty has also been imposed for such serious crimes as armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and treason. People disagree about whether capital punishment is moral or is effective in discouraging crime. Capital punishment in the United States In the late 1990's, 38 states of the United States had laws that allowed the death penalty. These laws were influenced by a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision. The court had banned the death penalty as it was then imposed. It ruled that "the imposition and carrying out of the death penalty" was cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the 8th and 14th amendments to the Constitution. But the court left open the possibility that the death penalty might be constitutional-if imposed for certain crimes and applied according to clear standards. After the 1972 decision, many state legislatures passed new capital punishment laws designed to satisfy the Supreme Court's requirements. These laws limit the death penalty to murder and to other specified crimes that result in a person's death. Such crimes include armed robbery, hijacking, and kidnapping. The laws of several states specify the circumstances under which a judge or jury may impose the death penalty. In 1976, the court upheld death sentences for three men convicted of murder under new laws in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. It ruled that capital punishment for murder was "not unconstitutionally severe." But the court struck down laws that made the death penalty mandatory (required) for certain crimes. In addition to state laws on capital punishment, the death penalty may be imposed under federal laws or military laws. Capital punishment was widely used during the Middle Ages, especially for crimes against the state and church. In the 1700's, England had more than 200 capital offenses. Most were abolished in the 1800's. The United Kingdom abolished capital punishment in 1969. Canada did so in 1976. The United States is the only Western industrialized nation where executions still take place. According to the organization Amnesty International, about 100 nations either have formally abolished capital punishment or have done so in effect. These countries include most European and Latin American nations. About 90 countries still permit capital punishment, including most developing nations. Many people oppose the death penalty, chiefly because they 2006-06-07T18:50:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Capital-Punishment-Effective-in-Discouraging-Crime-29123.aspx Misrepresentations as a Result of Standardized Testing Tests always make me nervous. The night before a test I can not sleep. Waiting for a professor to pass out a test is like waiting for a jail sentence. When the test is returned and I am expecting a B or better, I see an F, waving back and forth in red ink like an American Flag. With this in mind, I feel like tests are an inaccurate indication of what has been learned. Trying to get through in time, I hurriedly rush through the test. Time is a big problem. When put on a time limit, it takes my mind off the test. I focus mostly on finishing the test in time, not concentrating on essential elements such as punctuation, grammar, mechanics, and content. In most cases I remember concepts only for the test; they are never to be thought about again. Many tests are accurate in testing short-term memorization skills. They do not give an accurate measurement of what has been learned. I have passed tests without learning anything, and I have failed tests when I studied extra- hard. ";"80";"202";"1019870636";"40504";"8" "lingchun";"Danone Is In Talks With Coke, Cadbury To Distribute Evian";"The U.S. bottled-water market is growing fast recent years, while Danone is confronting the volume decline of Evian. The main competition of Danone’s Evian comes from three market leaders --- Nestlé’s Poland Spring, PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coke’s Dasani. Both of the leaders provide less-expensive bottled-waters compared to the premium-priced Evian. It might be a good way to make use of rivals’ strength to grab sales. In the bottled-water industry, the key success factors are low price and a strong network of distributor. Water is just water; it is a less out of the ordinary product and no switching costs for buyers. Besides, there are many substitute products, such as juice, milk or soft drinks. Therefore, Buyers have very strong power and are price sensitive. Who provides low-priced products will be the winner in the market. Danone is facing three diversified multinational companies with strong economies of scale and scope. With the backup of strategic fits, those market leaders are able to take competitive advantages. It is easy for them to transfer competitively valuable resources from other beverages to bottled waters. They capitalize on cross-business economies of scope and build low-cost advantage to outcompete rivals. They also capture 2006-06-07T18:40:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Misrepresentations-as-a-Result-of-Standardized-Testing-29119.aspx Communicatinig the problems we create in nature Of all the things a student needs to make it through a typical day, probably the most important, yet least appreciated, is paper. Paper is used for academic, social, and personal purposes by nearly all students every day. The most obvious use is for the academic or classroom assignment, whether it comes in the form of a test, an essay, or a summary of plant life on Easter Island. The social uses of paper center around the "note," which any student can tell you is s important a part of a student’s social life as Friday night ball games or the Junior Prom. As for the personal applications, there is doodling for the nervous mind, and there is scrunching for the nervous hand. The traditional paper airplanes and spit wads are still around, but they seem less popular than in days gone by-probably because it is easier for a student to move freely about the classroom today than it used to be. In any case, there can be no doubt that paper is just as important as ever to the stude! nt whose days would be a waste without it. Not only students, but everyone needs paper. Just as students use the paper, so does everyone else. The social purpose surrounds the mail, which we receive everyday. For personal use, there’s the diary and the note pads to remind us the things we need to remember. There are many examples that I can give for instance, paper plates, paper bags, cardboard boxes, etc… Anyhow, the point that I am deriving at is that paper and cardboard boxes are all made from trees. Millions of trees are being destroyed every year to produce paper. Not only for paper, but for housing projects as well. New programs are being set up to plant trees in replace of the destroyed ones. Little do people realize how much damage could be done when dealing with nature. These housing projects are built, where beautiful trees use to sit letting cool breeze pass through their leaves. Now, the Recycling foundation has set up a program for young kids to plant trees in their neighborhood to save "Mother Earth." These trees are being planted at almost every street corner. The kids don’t know what’s 2006-06-07T18:28:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Communicatinig-the-problems-we-create-in-nature-29114.aspx Paulo Freire and Solutions to Educational Problems Paulo Freire has clearly shown that he feels the only way to help education is to begin using problem-posing. He completely dismisses the banking concept of having any good qualities and also shows problem-posing as flawless. In my own experiences, I have found that the banking concept does have good qualities and problem-posing is far from flawless. I better solution for education at the high school level would be to find a median between these two concepts. Before a solution can be made, we first need to see what parts of Freire’s concepts do not work in high schools. With the banking concept, the teacher seems to be far superior and more intellectual than his students. He intimidates students with his pious attitude, sometimes making the students seem unworthy of his knowledge. The intimidated students may then refrain from asking questions, therefore, causing them to not fully understand the subject matter. Students have absolutely no say in what they learn and how they receive the information that is taught. Since the topic isn’t chosen by the students, they are more likely to be uninterested and their creativeness would suffer. As Freire states, “The “humanism” of the banking approach masks the effort to turn women and men into automatons-the very negation of their ontological vocation to be more fully human.” (351). This is saying that the students will become robot-like and are forced to adapt to the teacher’s style. The students aren’t able to personally relate to what the teacher teaches and the information seems separated from reality. The teacher teaches only so that receive positive recognition, which causes the students to only get enough information to just survive in the real world. I have had a lot of experience with the banking concept. These teachers had a very cocky attitude and seemed as if coming to that class was a waste of their time. For example, my pre-calculus teacher was always looking down at us and would say we wasted his time with dumb questions. He didn’t like explaining things more than once and got very impatient with us. All the teachers like this had similar styles of teaching. Class was mostly just notes on the board, homework, and lots of quizzes and tests. We were forced to take in 2006-06-07T18:25:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Paulo-Freire-and-Solutions-to-Educational-Problems-29112.aspx Interesting Statistics about Physical Abuse in the US Physical abuse is a widespread problem in the United States and its incidence appears to be increasing according to figures from the Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, or NIS-3 (Sedlak & Broadhurst, 1996). The NIS-3 is the most recent of a series of congressionally mandated studies on the current incidence of child abuse and neglect in the United States. It is based on data collected in 1993 and compiles statistics for child maltreatment using both harm and an endangerment standard. The NIS-3 revealed that physical abuse as defined under its endangerment standard nearly doubled between 1986 and 1993, with the number of children being affected increasing from 311,500 to 614,100. Under its harm standard, the number of physically abused children increased during this period by 42%. Even under this more restrictive standard, the number of children 2006-06-07T16:09:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Interesting-Statistics-about-Physical-Abuse-in-the-US-29094.aspx Support of Legalization of the Institution of Gambling The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution in the Bill of Rights respectfully states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”. (Gerald Murphy, Cleveland Free-Net). This Amendment states the individual’s choice about how to spend ones money. There are a few reasons that the Government should not involve themselves in this situation. First and foremost the constitution does not authorize the federal government to obligate itself in the gambling and the gaming industry. Second citizens who live in a free society and under democracy and the constitution should be able to spend their money in any democratic way they want. (Will Congress Nationalize Gambling). Gambling involves only willing participants. Unlike taxes, the citizens living in this democracy are given the equal opportunity to purse any means of happiness they wish. People who gamble may win hefty amounts of cash and be content, or on the other hand they can take the chance to lose ample amounts of money and be miserable. But that is the responsibility of the people and the Government should trust and respect that. Spending money in a casino is no different from spending money in a tavern or a sports arena or even at a political fundraiser. The government should not engage themselves in this type of situation. The gambling industry has supported many different types of organizations and involves themselves financially in numerous associations. To support the Goverment the Republican and Democratic Party’s receive hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the gaming industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics the total number of money contributed from the gambling industry to politics in the last presidential election was 6.7 million dollars (Metrobeat). Much of the gambling industry’s rapid expansion in recent years can be attributed to its effective of allowing local businesses and political leaders to be tantalized by promises of increased tourism and economic development (Metrobeat). The gambling industry supports education and donates millions of dollars to colleges across the United States. For example in Georgia the Hope Scholarship is a program created by the gambling lottery industry and gives full scholarships to well deserved Georgia students. This plan has raised the educational standers at the University of Georgia by giving the students 2006-06-06T15:36:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Support-of-Legalization-of-the-Institution-of-Gambling-29088.aspx Evaluating Criminals' Actions as Being Evil as well as unjust Does being a criminal necessarily mean a person is “evil”? This is an interesting question, in which there are many different opinions. This is not a straight yes or no answer. To have a debate on an issue like this we should first define the word “evil”. The dictionary defines “evil” as being: Morally reprehensible, sinful, wicked (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). People who say that a criminal isn’t necessarily evil might be thinking like this: If a poor person went into a store and stole food for his family that was starving on the streets, and got caught, he would be considered a criminal. But, not many people would consider this person to be evil. After all, he was just trying to help his family survive by any means necessary. Other examples of things that would make a person a criminal are such things as swimming in a “no swimming area”, or not paying taxes or doing drugs. Most of these people would never be considered to be evil. On the other hand, is someone who kills another person considered evil? The person who said that a criminal is not always evil, might say that a murderer is always evil. The other side of this argument is the opinion that all criminals are evil. If I happened to go up to someone and ask them if all criminals are evil, and the person answered yes, I would then have to ask the person what he/she considers a criminal to be. This persons mind most likely will automatically think along the lines of murderer, rapist, etc. So, I don’t think that there is much of an argument to the question: Does being a criminal necessarily mean a person is evil? I do think, however, that there is definitely a debate as to whether or not a murderer is always evil, and whether or not murder is always wrong. I do not believe that all murderers are evil. If a woman had been getting beaten and battered by her husband, and one day just couldn’t take it anymore, and killed her husband, I wouldn’t consider her to be evil. Does that make the fact that she killed her husband right? No, of course not. But, I don’t think that she is an evil person. In the book that we just completed “In Cold 2006-06-06T15:22:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Evaluating-Criminal-Actions-as-Being-Evil-as-well-as-Unjust-29082.aspx Moral Ambiguity and Implications of Children's Fairytales A fairytale as we know it is meant to be an entertaining story of incredible and supernatural happenings. Its purpose is to stimulate the depths of a young mind in such a way as to make us a part of the environment, bound only by the limits of our own imaginations. However, it is this very wild fantasy land that yields a very real threat to its intended audience. Both traditional and contemporary fairytales experienced by children can have harmful effects on a child’s psyche. This is especially true when children are exposed to these fairytales during the early stages of psychological development. Why do expose children to fairytales? Most often we use these tales to comfort young children or perhaps to calm them down, in the form of bedtime stories. However a closer analysis reveals some startling realities regarding the messages delivered to a child through the words of these fairytales. If one really examines Snow White for example, we could conclude that this fairytale advocates divorce and black magic. There are also overtones of homicide and cannibalism in Hansel & Gretel, rape in the original Sleeping Beauty(Grimm’s Briar Rose), as well as betrayal and pre-meditated murder in the ‘Lion King’. Is it any wonder, then, that a child comes to be afraid to be baked in an oven - or learn to fear villains in made-for-child movies. For centuries, fairytales have long been criticized and praised by those at both ends of the psychological spectrum. Dr. Karl Oppel and Dr. Bruno Bettelheim, both considered experts in child psychology each have presented opposite views about fairytales. Dr. Oppel presented his findings in the early 1900’s in his book, The Parent’s Book: Practical Guidance for the Education at Home, Oppel made his strong argument against telling fairytales to children. He stated that we should “shelter children from the ugly, illogical, overly violent, and frightening nature of fairytales” (Oppel). In the text, Oppel goes on to recount a childhood story in which a young man is passing the time away under the gallows, and is amusing himself with several hanged corpses. Later, he takes the corpses from their coffins and lays them with him in bed. Surely this is not the type of image that we want to share with children. Nor is that of the evil step-mom portrayed as being a blackened 2006-06-06T15:04:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-Ambiguity-and-Implications-of-Children-s-Fairytales-29076.aspx Prolonged Emotional Effects of Pregnancy Miscarriages To an outsider a miscarriage may appear as a bit of bad luck soon to be got over, but to the couple involved the loss of the pregnancy, even at a very early stage, may be utterly devastating and the miscarriage may have profound and prolonged emotional effects on them as the following comments illustrate: “In the days that followed (the miscarriage) I grew to feel such failure, having let down my husband and my family who could have enjoyed a child or grandchild if I had been able to carry him/her properly—if my body had functioned the way it was supposed to.“ (www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk) Many people are unaware how frequently miscarriages occur. Approximately one in four women who become pregnant will have one or more miscarriages. (Lachelin, V) The terms ‘miscarriage’ and ‘abortion’ are used interchangeably by doctors to mean the loss of a pregnancy from the uterus before 20 weeks’ gestation. Pregnancy loss after 20 weeks’ gestation is referred to as a stillbirth. Spontaneous abortion indicates that the abortion occurred naturally and that it was not induced. Legally and medically, spontaneous abortion is distinguished from stillbirth by the size and/or age of the abortus. Although the exact definition of “abortus” varies from state to state, the term is generally applied to a fetus of less than 20 weeks’ gestation and/or weighing less than 500 grams (1 lb., 1 oz.). (McBride, 1-2) It is estimated that between 25-50% of conceptions spontaneously abort. The true incidence of spontaneous miscarriage is very difficult to determine for a variety of reasons. It is clear that many miscarriages will occur before a menstrual period has been missed and thus without the woman ever knowing that she had conceived. Many other women have a suspicion that they were pregnant and aborted, but are not certain. A late, heavy, painful “period” is often what is experienced in a mid-first trimester spontaneous abortion. (Lachelin, 33) The major symptoms of a spontaneous abortion are abdominal cramps and bleeding from the vagina, sometimes with clots and/or bits of tissue. Early warning signs can also include pain in the lower back. It is important to realize that approximately 20% of pregnant women experience some vaginal bleeding during the first trimester. Less than half of these women experience a spontaneous abortion. (www.webmd.com) To be 2006-06-06T14:44:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Prolonged-Emotional-Effects-of-Pregnancy-Miscarriages-29067.aspx Mandatory Military Service to Recieve Federal Student Aid I personally would have to agree with changing the federal financial aid for education policy from everyone can apply and receive this to allow only the people who have done military service be eligible for federal student aid. And the reasoning for this is to help discipline our youth, become a larger, stronger military and it may help our economy through the discipline people have endured. The way I see it, if you can rough out the time your in the military, there won’t be a job you wouldn’t be able to handle. In this argument I will try to cover most of the areas involving mandatory military to receive federal student aid for both able-bodied and challenged people and some of the benefits involved. Also some examples of countries and they’re governments that have been using mandatory service and some points on how it could affect us as Americans if we were to implement mandatory military service. People with disabilities not being able to enter the military would not be effect in the aspect of being eligible for federal student aid or they’re financial situations while in school. There are already federal aids offered to them through the government. In order for mentally or physically challenged people to receive student aid being not that they are able to enter the military already have certain student aid implemented already for them. The NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship for Students with Disabilities will provide up to five years of support for research training leading to the Ph.D. (or equivalent research degree), or the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree (or other combined professional research doctoral degrees) in the biomedical or behavioral sciences. The intent of this Predoctoral Fellowship Program is to encourage students with disabilities to seek graduate degrees and thus further the goal of increasing the number of scientists with disabilities who are prepared to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral research. Some people think that the Selective Service system is propaganda intended to brainwash America's youth. On the contrary, everyone born it the USA is an American. And all Americans have a dream of preserving the freedom that was once fought to get, so in order to keep this dream the nation needs people to help. I think the youth that are raised today have forgotten those dreams. There could be a couple different ways to fix 2006-06-06T14:19:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mandatory-Military-Service-to-Recieve-Federal-Student-Aid-29060.aspx Dangerous Elements of Child Abuse in Today's Families Child abuse in the United States has become a growing problem in recent years. Generation after generation, child abuse continues to occur down the family tree. The problem has not shown much sign of positive progression lately. As population has grown, there have been more reported cases of child abuse. It has been observed that families with history of violent child abuse have continued down the family line. Many people feel that these problems will eventually work out for the better, but the fact of the matter is that it will only get worse. Generation after generation, child abuse occurs down the family tree. It will become a never-ending process of abuse down the family line, unless something is done to prevent this from happening. Throughout time, there has always been a history of child abuse down a family tree. American children have had a bad history of abusive families, although it is much worse in other countries around the world. Generation after generation, parents have believed that physical discipline is in the best interest of the kids, so they continue to do what they feel is right, even if it means hurting their children (Jones 87). Although most people abused as children grow up to be abusive parents, there are those who can overcome the obstacle and not be abusive grownups (Fox 30). Most child abusers are survivors of abuse from their parents when they were younger children (Gates 107). Most parents believe abusing children comes back to when they were abused as a child. The idea, "He got to beat me, so now I get to beat you-it's my turn," basically tells the whole reason behind family child abuse. Most parents feel that when they were children, they got resented and were treated horribly. They usually feel like they have to take their own pain and suffering out on their children. Parents abused as children grow up feeling helpless because the people they depended on most treated them badly (Gates 110). They come to the conclusion that they need to take their anger and frustration out on their children. Many parents are involved with abusing their own children believing that their parents were right when they abused them. By hitting their own children, they feel 2006-06-06T14:17:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dangerous-Elements-of-Child-Abuse-in-Today-s-Families-29059.aspx Constitutional Argument in Support of Capital Punishment In my opinion, one of the most controversial topics in the Supreme Court is the idea of capital punishment. The Eighth Amendment of the United States constitution guarantees freedom from cruel and unusual punishment but the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in today’s society. Thirty-eight states and the federal government authorize capital punishment and the number of people on death row has risen to more than 3,500 (Clear and Cole). Of the yearly 22,000 arrests each year for murder only about 300 will receive the death penalty (Clear and Cole). There are several different views on the death penalty that some people accept or reject based on their political or moral views. In the 1930s, there were about 150 executions per year but then it was on a steady decline until the case of Furman v. Georgia in 1972. This case ruled that the death penalty was constituted as cruel and unusual punishment. So the death penalty was banned until 1976 in the case of Gregg v. Georgia in which the court decided to have two different trials: 1-to prove if the defendant was guilty or innocent, 2- to decide what the punishment should be. This second trial takes in concern the criminal’s prior record, youthfulness, mental issues, or the lack of a criminal record. “The purpose of the two-stage decision-making process is to ensure thorough deliberation before someone is given the ultimate punishment (Clear and Cole).” So after this case the number of executions have increased but since this case the most amount of executions was 74 in 1997(ACLU). Today 38 states use the death penalty in several different ways: lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging, or a firing squad. There are many people that oppose the death penalty and even states like Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and District of Columbia (Cleveland State Law Review 5). People say state there rejection of the death penalty by saying “ We simply do not believe that premeditated, state-sanctioned killing is justifiable under any circumstances. The death penalty brutalizes us. It is an indication of how little our government values human life (Christian Science Monitor).” Opponents of the death penalty argue that it is not applied 2006-06-02T16:10:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Constitutional-Argument-in-Support-of-Capital-Punishment-29038.aspx Issues Regarding Juvenile Offenders and Juvenile Justice The Misconceptions -Although there is a widespread perception that teen violence in the United States is out of control, the truth is that our overall perceptions are fueled by dramatic occurrences that do not quite reflect reality. For example, fewer than 20 children 2006-06-02T15:59:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Regarding-Juvenile-Offenders-and-Juvenile-Justice-29034.aspx The Qualities of Successful Individuals in Today's Society Homework assigned for a weekend can be a high school students worst nightmare. A major assignment may take an entire weekend to accomplish. While the average high school student already spends thirty hours a week in the classroom, a major paper may make for over a forty hour work schedule. If an employee works over a forty hour week then he or she is entitled to an overtime wage. A high school student gets nothing but stress added to their already hectic lives. Weekend assigned schoolwork is not beneficial to a high school students wellbeing. After a long school week most student look forward to a little rest and relaxation. The last thing they want to think about is a big paper or project due on Monday. But if a student wants to maintain a decent grade then they don’t really have a choice. Illness is often associated with sleep deprivation. Most teens require at least nine hours of sleep and with a big paper on top of a Saturday sporting event, getting nine hours of sleep can be impossible. Debra Lucey Parker said.” her 17-year-old son, Sean, a senior in Mt. Desert Island, Maine, struggles to complete three to four hours of homework each night on top of an after school job. She feels overwhelmed, because she has so much to do" . School work, sports, jobs, and other interests often suffer when the recommended nine hours of sleep isn’t attained. Social and family time is usually designated for the weekend because weekly schedules are often hectic and conflicting. Today many Americans find it incredibly difficult to set aside time to eat dinner or even just sit down and chat. It is not uncommon these days for parents to work fifty hour weeks. This leaves very little time to raise a family. The weekend in the only time a high school student and a working parents might be able to spend time with each other. When a student is cramming for a test they may 2006-06-02T15:51:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Qualities-of-Successful-Individuals-in-Today-s-Society-29032.aspx Economic and Ethical Problems with Capital Punishment Capital Punishment has been one of the most controversial topics in the past decade, and for that I will only be addressing certain aspects of the argument, due to its broadness. What is cruel and unusual punishment? Is having a man shot in the head or hung by a rope until he dies cruel and unusual? Also, why is it that the unknowing American tax payer has to blow there hard earned money on non human like criminals who feel no remorse for what they have done. The answer is elementary, Capital Punishment is unconstitutional and not cost effective. According to the 8th Amendment of the Constitution, the people of the United States shall in no way receive any cruel or unusual punishment. That being the case, then what is cruel and unusual punishment? It is safe to say that Capital Punishment is highly unused and therefore unusual punishment. According to the Death Penalty Information Center nearly a fourth of the United States does not have an acting death penalty and of those that do nine have executed 3 or less inmates since 1976. Knowing these facts you can only conclude that the death penalty is highly unused and therefor is unusual punishment. Cruelty is even a more obvious when you examine the current methods of capital punishment. Electrocution, hanging, and a firing squad all of which are barbaric in origin to begin with. As stated by one of the Florida State Supreme Court Justices “execution by electrocution is a spectacle whose time has passed... Florida’s electric chair, by it’s own track record, has proven itself to be a dinosaur more benefiting the laboratory of the Baron Frankenstein than the death chamber of Florida State Prison” (the Death Penalty Information Center). The Webster’s Dictionary defines justice as a “principle of moral or ideal rightness.” No where does he describe justice as a non forgiving force in which the punishment for a crime is death. Webster states that justice is an act conducted in a moral and reasonable fashion. The Supreme Court of the United States agreed with Webster in their search for justice in 1976 when the voted the death penalty was unconstitutional in Woodson v. North Carolina. The Supreme Court and Webster do not solely share this opinion about 2006-06-02T02:38:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Economic-and-Ethical-Problems-with-Capital-Punishment-29010.aspx Societal Benefits of Legalizing the Use of Drugs I have always been told to fight the fight that I can win. I was taught to pray for the strength to change the things I can and for the strength to live with the things I cannot. As I look at the United States today, I see America fighting a fight it cannot win and not attempting to gain the strength needed to live with the things it cannot change. In 1981, America declared war on drugs. Since then, billions of dollars have been spent in an unsuccessful attempt to banish drugs from its borders. Illegal drugs are more available now than they have ever been. Common sense would make one believe that if you are continually eaten by the sharks in the moat while trying to get into the castle, then perhaps one should look for an alternative route into the castle or make friends with the sharks. I do not deny that the use of illegal drugs has an adverse affect on the user nor do I condone the use of them, but many of the wide range of negative results thought to be occurring from drug use can in all actuality be attributed to the current legal treatment of drugs brought on by prohibition. John Lawn, former director of the US Drug Enforcement Administration upon addressing a Senate Committee investigating drug legalization said, “drugs are not bad because they are illegal, they are illegal because they are bad”. If this is a sound argument, then the question is why aren’t cigarettes and alcohol that are medically proven to be harmful, illegal? The answer of course is because prohibition doesn’t work. America is not learning from her mistakes. On January 16, 1920 prohibition of alcohol was put into effect. Though it seemed like a good idea at the time, nothing could have been more detrimental to control the use of alcohol. The chief beneficiary of prohibition was not that of the welfare of the American people, rather it was organized crime. Organized crime was producing and distributing the black market alcohol and because of the low volume and high demand, they made a fortune off of it. Because the alcohol business was so lucrative, there 2006-06-01T19:57:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Societal-Benefits-of-Legalizing-the-Use-of-Drugs-29003.aspx Violence in Schools Becoming a New National Epidemic School Violence In the past several years, there have been many instances of violent acts (including murder) occurring throughout the United States. Littleton, Colorado; Springfield, Oregon; Edinboro, Pennsylvania; and West Paducah, Kentucky are just a few of the small towns that have been hit by such a tragic event. Due to the fact that all of these are small towns, students, parents, and communities alike are realizing that no town is really safe. An outbreak of school violence can happen anywhere. Were any of these children showing warning signs? Are there any factors that parents and teachers should consider when dealing with a “problem child”? What measures should communities take in order to prevent a shooting from happening in the future? In the wake of an increased awareness in school violence, it is essential to determine some factors that can contribute to violent behavior. Why it occurs and how to prevent violence in schools are also factors to consider. There has been a lot of discussion on what the typical “child murderer” is like. There are many stereotypes of kids that would have violent tendencies. In the most recent school shootings, the killers weren’t all drug addicts or loners. Some of them were intelligent, young people. One of the kids was a “straight A” student, yet another had a lot of friends and was active in school activities. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two students who opened fire at Columbine High School were the most discussed throughout the press. Both Harris and Klebold had been involved in a group called the “Trench Coat Mafia.” They were noted as being outcasts, with a lot of other kids in school making fun of them. When interviewed after the violence occurred, many of the students admitted that they didn’t know what drove them to this act of bloodshed. In cases, like several others, the kids try to say that they were insane at the time. The way the this trend is going, it seems that the children that are responsible for these terrible acts, are the ones who aren’t very popular and are made fun of or teased. It is important to realize that there are some children who simply don’t know how to channel their anger in a positive way. 2006-06-01T19:35:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-in-Schools-Becoming-a-New-National-Epidemic-28995.aspx Moral and Ethical Grounds on Topics of Abortion Legality The topic of abortion is one of the most controversial of our times. It has caused countless deaths and several violent confrontations between the two separate parties of opinion. The fight between pro-life and pro-choice supporters has been long and brutal. This is because, despite what several people may believe, abortion is neither right nor wrong. It is a matter of personal opinion. In this way, each side can say with certainty that the other is wrong. Therefore the question remains; should abortion be legal? Though some may disagree on this point, the fact is that legalized abortion is the only option that will protect the lives of American citizens. One only needs to look into American history to see the results of prohibiting abortions to women. The violence which occurs today because the of pro-choice/pro-life conflicts is minimal in comparison to the thousands of hopeless women who turn to the illegal abortions --either self-inflicted or preformed by the backroom "professionals"-- which result in infection, massive blood loss, and death. It is better now that they have a place to go where abortions can e performed cleanly and with minimal risk. Legalization of abortion is the only choice no matter what side one takes in the debate. Women will try to do what they think is necessary to live as they wish, no matter what the risk. In order to live as she chooses a woman may give up her freedom, her morals, her beliefs, her family, or even her life. Abortion has been around for thousands of years in every inhabited corner of the globe. It has always been accepted as a means to prevent the suffering of both woman and potential child. It has been practiced widely in every society for many reasons including famine, war, poverty, overpopulation, or simply because a woman felt she was not ready for a child (Whitney 40). No one ever questioned a woman's right to this procedure. After all, who but God has the right to judge what a woman does with her own body? This thought process lasted till the 1800's. During this era of change people began to turn their attention in a new direction, the fetus. They began to protest abortion as cruel, inhumane, and murderous. Filled with a new sense of purpose and the glory of a fresh, righteous cause to uphold 2006-06-01T19:17:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-and-Ethical-Grounds-on-Topics-of-Abortion-Legality-28990.aspx Drug Abuses in America Growing at Alarming Rates Drug abuse in America used to be a very bad thing, but now its pretty common. Drug users inhabit almost every city or town in America. Drug abuse or use doesn’t necessarily mean using illegal drugs. It can mean abusing the use of prescription medicines or using household chemicals to get high. There are different types of drugs and different street names. For instance, if I want to buy a hit of ecstasy I would ask for ‘E’ or ‘X’. Heroin would be ‘smack’, ‘H’, or ‘junk’. Methamphetamine would be ‘crystal’ or ‘speed’. LSD is called ‘acid’ for its scientific name lysergic acid. The different types of drugs are stimulants or ‘uppers’ and depressants or ‘downers’. Two examples of ‘uppers’ are crystal methamphetamine and MDMA or ecstasy. Two examples of ‘downers’ are alcohol and marijuana. ‘Uppers’ are called ‘uppers’ because they stimulate you and can keep you awake a few days if you are a frequent user. They also speed up your heart rate, make you hallucinate, and can lead to death if mixed with other drugs. The high they produce gives you a euphoric feeling or lead to violence depending on what type of mood you are in before using them. The high lasts for anywhere from 2 hours to days at a time depending on how much of the drug you use. It starts to hit you from around 5 minutes to around 30 minutes after you use. Some people take a hit then when the high starts to wear off take 2 hits to keep high because the body tends to build a quick tolerance to ‘uppers’. There are effects called ‘bad trips’ that cause scary hallucinations, blackouts, dehydration, and death from your heart rate getting so fast that you sweat your liquids all off and start withdrawing. It affects you main organs, especially your liver. Some people prefer to ‘speed ball’ which means mixing crystal methamphetamine and another ‘upper’ heroin. It speeds your heart rate up faster than any drug can and can kill you easily. ‘Downers’ are called ‘downers’ because they slow you down and calm your nerves. They also slow your heart rate down. Tobacco is the most used downer. It can calm your nerves. It is also the leading cause of lung and mouth cancer in the world. It can be smoked in cigarettes 2006-06-01T19:12:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drug-Abuses-in-America-Growing-at-Alarming-Rates-28988.aspx Marijuana's Effects on Human Physiology and the Brain Marijuana is a mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. There are many street names for marijuana including weed, hashish, pot, reefer, boo, ace, grass, Mary-Jane, MJ, bud, the happy plant, as well as many local slang terms. All forms of marijuana have hallucinogenic properties, which come from the leaves and stems, and more importantly, from the buds or flowers of the plant. The most potent form of marijuana, hashish, comes from the resin found on the surface of the female plant. The hallucinogenic substance in Cannabis is the chemical known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana has many different effects on the human body. Areas effected include the brain, heart, lungs, stomach, reproductive system, immune system, and the circulatory system. Each part of the body affected has multiple ways of reacting. Cannabis use effects the user in some ways not noticeable to himself. These effects include denial, immaturity, memory loss, and delay of adolescent brain development. Marijuana effects the brain in many different ways. Marijuana inhibits short-term memory by disrupting the nerve cells the hippocampus, the area of the brain where memories are formed. THC binding to receptors in the cerebellum slows reactions and visual tracking, impairing ability to drive or operate machinery. Long term use brings on the inability to extract and understand concepts. Deeper in the brain the psychological effects come into play. Frequent usage changes one’s perceptions, resulting in more intense physical feelings and less intense emotional feelings. Continued stimulation of THC receptors creates the need for more, resulting in addiction. Depending on individual physiological reactions, the use of marijuana can lead to the use of harder drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines. A delay in adolescent brain development is common when marijuana usage begins at a young age. Basically, the teenage brain stops developing. “Some frequent users feel a lack of initiative and concern about the future, find it hard to become or stay motivated, and think things will take care of them selves.” (Wapner, Roger, 1995) As a result, the normal maturation process is interrupted. Development of coping skills, a code of ethics, acceptance of responsibility, and other signs of maturity frequently cease or regress. As a result, many milestones of life, such as graduation, may be 2006-06-01T02:20:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marijuana-s-Effects-on-Human-Physiology-and-the-Brain-28967.aspx Media and Its Effects on Teenagers Today Before 1936 when television launched life would have 2006-05-31T18:55:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Media-and-Its-Effects-on-Teenagers-Today-28935.aspx A Decline of Ethics in Modern American Society Growing up, children are guided by what their parents teach them to be moral or ethical. According to Webster's Dictionary online, ethics is defined as "a set of moral principle or values." It is also correct to say then, that these children are the future of America. However it is apparent that our society is faced with many moral issues that make it difficult to raise a well-rounded child. For quite some time there has been “gradual slippage” of society’s integrity as shown in Stephen L.Carter’s “Rules about the Rules.” Mark Clayton expands on this idea about integrity with society’s cheating problem in “A Whole Lot of Cheating Going On.” In addition to these issues, Anthony Brandt discusses the importance of raising a child with religion in his essay, “Do Kids Need Religion?” Another pressing issue today deals with dating. In “The Future of Modesty,” author Wendy Shalit discusses the changes in modesty over time and its effect on gender roles. With the stake of the country's future at hand, it is important that these issues are addressed because it is obvious American culture is decling fast in ethics, especially in education, dating, and religion. The first example deals with the decline in today’s educational system. There is so much pressure for a student to be the best, get the highest grades, receive the most awards, and get accepted into the best college. Although these things are very important and are placed high in the sense that it is one’s opportunity for a career and future, one shouldn’t have to cheat to get them at that level. Carter tells in his essay, “Browsing recently in my local bookstore, I came across a book that boldly proclaimed, on it’s cover, that it contained instructions how to cheat…..” (158) This is an excellent example how basic moral values and ethics are being lost in the daily shuffle of life and society’s new fascination with being the best. However, it is not only the students. Teachers are allowing students to cheat. They fully know what is going on but ignore it because it’s easier to pretend like they don’t know anything. “….Teachers have debased this essential part of job and professional school applications because they are unwilling to deal with students honestly.” (J.R. 157) 2006-05-31T18:50:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Decline-of-Ethics-in-Modern-American-Society-28933.aspx The War on Terrorism and Importance of Correctional Facilities Corrections plays a big role in the war on terrorism, to the effect that corrections has done and is doing all that can be done to stop terrorist attacks. They have taken extreme measures and precautions to try and make sure something like this does not happen again. Correctional agencies can do something to control/combat terrorism, for instance they can receive or get special training to get prepared for something like this or they can or should always protect themselves. I think that correctional agencies who work in this area of work such as terrorism and those who don’t I think that they should join forces 2006-05-31T18:10:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/War-on-Terrorism-and-Importance-of-Correctional-Facilities-28920.aspx Facts and Statistics on Affirmative Action in America The writer Mary Anne Warren is focusing on describing the current practices in many organizations today in regards to the implementing a goal vs. a quota system for the purposes of affirmative action. She defines a quota as "Those who use the term "quotas" pejoratively tend to assume that the numerical standards will be set so high or enforced so rigidly that strong reverse discrimination-that is, the deliberate hiring of demonstrably less well qualified candidates-will be necessary to implement them." (Warren, 370). Warren then describes goal as "The term "goal", on the other hand, suggests that this will not be the case, and that good faith efforts to comply with the standards by means short of strong reverse discrimination will be acceptable." (Warren, 370). The critical thing that must be understood when exploring the subject is that the writer is describing how affirmative action is being applied in American organizations today in other words the current reality. However, she fails to speak to us about how the law designs this program to function. This is the critical component that American organizations must be educated to understand. Affirmative action as defined by law is most definitively not based on a quota system. In fact, what is not widely known is that this program can be equally used by all individuals provided that an inequality exists in the group that they belong to as not being reflected in the work force. So what is affirmative action? What is it designed to do? It is not designed to provide an opportunity to an unqualified candidate. It is designed as "a way of compensating individuals or groups for past injustices or for present disadvantages stemming form past injustices" (Warren, 373). It is further designed "as a means about bringing about further future goods-for example, raising the status of downtrodden groups." (Warren, 373). The keyword in these quotes is the word "group". Who are these groups? The law has identified them. Some of the groups identified are: race, religious beliefs, blood trait, gender, disability (whether physical or mental), veteran status, national origin, and the list continues. In no way does this require that you have to hire an unqualified person for a position because they fall into one or more of these groups. What it does mean is that you can not discriminate and exclude a person from getting a job, 2006-05-31T17:34:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Facts-and-Statistics-on-Affirmative-Action-in-America-28912.aspx Analyzing Racism in US News, Journalism and Media Racism in the Mass Media Mass media have played and will continue to play a crucial role in the way white Americans perceive African-Americans. As a result of the overwhelming media focus on crime, drug use, gang violence, and other forms of anti-social behaviour among African-Americans, the media have fostered a distorted and pernicious public perception of African-Americans. The history of African-Americans is a centuries old struggle against oppression and discrimination. The media have played a key role in perpetuating the effects of this historical oppression and in contributing to African-Americans' continuing status as second-class citizens. Before attempting to understand racism and mass media, one must understand the history of racism. Race has become an institutional part of American society. From the Founding on, race has played an integral part in shaping the American consciousness. David Goldberg's Racist Culture argues that racial discourse may be interpreted as aversive, academic, scientific, legalistic, bureaucratic, economic, cultural, linguistic, religion, mythical, or ideological. 3 He also stresses that radicalised discourse and racist expressions towards African-American have been widespread. Race matters exist in different places and at different times under widely varying conditions. American race relations provides a case study in Marxist class theory. Marx argued that society has two classes: the exploited or working class, and the exploiters or owners of the means of production. He further stressed that one class will ultimately overpower the other using any necessary means. Looking at American society we can clearly see the development of the two class system. There were slave owners and slaves, and racism served as a means to overpower the exploited class. In the 1980's, Michael Reich developed the Segmentation Theory or the Divide and Rule, which attempted to explain racism from an economic point of view. In this theory, Reich proposes that the ultimate goal in society is to maximize profits. As a result, the exploiters will attempt to use any means to: (1) suppress higher wages among the exploited class, (2) weaken the bargaining power of the working class, often by attempting to split it along racial lines, (3) promote prejudices, (4) segregate the black community, (5) ensure that the elite benefit from the creation of stereotypes and racial prejudices against the black community. Reich argues that the major corporations in the U.S. (e.g. Time Warner, 2006-05-31T02:34:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analyzing-Racism-in-US-News,-Journalism-and-Media-28902.aspx What are arranged marriages? Marriage; a legal union of man and wife. In this day and age there are two different ideas of marriage. The first being a marriage based on love, and the second; a marriage arranged by a third party (usually the parents). Although an arranged marriage differs from a marriage based on love in the after marriage life and husband-wife relationship, the principal differences lie in mate selection and social implications. The arranged marriage is a contract between families, but not between individuals. Before the talks of marriage between the parents occur, each side’s parents investigate the others family background. They want to ascertain that the girl's family is of the same class, is of comparable financial situation, is of good reputation, and has no hereditary diseases. If the parents are satisfied, a family friend acts as a liaison between the families and reveals the interest of one family’s child to the other. This go-between absorbs any criticism from the family, and also absorbs the praise, and gives the information back to the proposing family. Then the parents of both families begin to communicate and a meeting is set up for the prospective bride and groom to actually meet. They meet in an atmosphere that they are accustomed to, or that they want to be in. The husband is generally chivalrous and courtship begins after the marriage. If the communication between the couple is lacking, the love match will result in unstable relationships. Caste divisions that plague Hindu societies are only promoted by such a marriage proposal. In an absolute love marriage the couples do not necessarily get introduced by their parents. When the love is strong enough, these proposals move toward a formal engagement even if the parents of both or either side do not approve. In cultures where arranged marriages are commonplace, the role of the female is a subordinate to the male. The arranged marriage tends to be patriarchal in power structure: the wife is vested with the responsibilities of children and home, for the husband is responsible for providing and protecting. A match made out of love does not need necessarily need to involve a man and a woman from the same caste or class. They meet locally as childhood playmates, adult neighbors, and roomates; and by chance in public places such as libraries, malls, bars. It surprises them because they thought they knew their 2006-05-29T16:35:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-are-arranged-marriages-28895.aspx Expectancies As A Predictor Of Adolescent Alcohol Use INTRODUCTION This paper examines the use of an idea referred to as expectancy as a predictor of teen alcohol use. Expectancies are concepts that a society reinforces which go on to influence a person's behavior. Current clinical and field studies show that alcohol expectancies are reasonably accurate tools in estimating future drinking patterns. This paper sets out to determine the practical applications of this knowledge in the real classroom. HISTORY Prior to the early 1960s, virtually no clinical studies were available on the topic of teen drinking, as literature mostly focused on negative social and moral implications of the activity (Maddox and McCall, 1964). Contrary to somewhat popular notion, however, adolescent drinking is not unique on to the last few decades. In fact, the best indicators show that "drinking among youth has been a longstanding phenomenon" that has shown no significant change over the course of the last 120 years (Barnes, 1982). In the sixties, the issue grew in prominence probably due to the rise of the counterculture and an increase in teen drinking and driving accidents. A number of pioneering social scientists set out to determine basic information about the commonalty and frequency of alcohol use in this age group. Though specific data varied from study to study due to methodology and demographics, a striking picture emerged that "alcohol use is very prevalent among teenagers and young adults." In fact, Barnes (1982) co n Once research findings established the basic foundations, further questions soon arose on the psychological reasons behind the increase in consumption. Though the answers are still not definitive by any means, a few commonly accepted theories arose. Teens almost consistently report one of three reasons for drinking: partying, self-expression, and anxiety (Maddox and McCall, 1964). None of this information, however, is of particular alarm. Regardless of the reason, most adolescent drinkers consume only occasionally and generally responsibly (Barnes, 1982; Finn, 1979). In fact, a few authors contend that teenage drinking can be a fairly normal step in the process of identity development (Finn, 1979). "Drinking," claims Maddox and McCall (1964), "is important for validating their self-conceptions as adults or their claims to adult status." A great deal of controversy exists on whether time spent with peers in reckless activities such as drinking is a positive aspect of the socialization process as well. E PROBLEM DRINKING In the late 1970s 2006-05-10T04:06:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Expectancies-As-A-Predictor-Of-Adolescent-Alcohol-Use-28827.aspx America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to accept that we achieved our greatness as a result of being "a nation of immigrants." A common argument among those opposing further immigration is that foreigners take U.S. jobs and cause unemployment among the displaced American workers. In the July 13, 1992 edition of Business Week , a poll states that sixty-two percent of non-blacks and sixty-three percent of blacks agree that "new immigrants take jobs away from American workers." This is a widely held, if erroneous belief, among Americans. However, Julian L. Simon, author of The Economic Consequences of Immigration, states: immigration does not exacerbate unemployment...Immigrants not only take jobs, but also create them. Their purchases increase the demand for labor, leading to new hires roughly equal in number to the immigrant workers. In the same Business Week poll, eighty-three percent of non-blacks and eighty-seven percent of blacks agree that "many new immigrants are very hard-working." The results of the poll may seem somewhat contradictory, but not necessarily negative. Those polled seem to be at least a little open-minded in their view of the quality of new immigrants. However, in order to overcome their distrust of foreigners, Americans must abandon their suspicions and recognize, as Simon has, that our lives are enhanced by immigrants creating, not taking, U.S. jobs. A widely held belief among Americans against immigration is that foreigners "strain social service budgets." According to the same poll, sixty-two percent of non-blacks and fifty-nine percent of blacks agree "immigrants use more than their fair share of government services, such as welfare, 2006-05-04T16:48:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Nation-of-Immigrants-Pro-Immigration-28790.aspx Where I come from a low SES community, phrases like “your mom is a crack head,” or “shut up crack baby” are said jokingly to make fun of someone during what we call a “rip session.” Although said as a joke, some are very offended by the comments. Why? Because for some, crack addiction hits too close to home for comfort. Seeing as how it is easily obtainable in low SES areas, many find themselves falling victim to the powerful substance, crack cocaine. Low SES is just one of the many factors that can lead to the use, and addiction of crack cocaine, others include movies, music, peer pressure, and alcohol and cigarette ads. In this report I will discuss the effects, consequences, and possible treatment for crack cocaine addiction. “The first time cocaine is used it may make the heart beat faster leading to a feeling of excitement and fear” (qtd. in Carroll, 1994, p.24). Followed by euphoria, these feelings can peak within five seconds. The user then begins to feel more energetic and becomes more sociable (Carroll, 1994). “Psychological effects include feelings of well-being and a grandiose sense of power and ability mixed with anxiety and restlessness” (qtd. in Narconon, 2001). One inhalation will produce a high usually lasting 10-15 minutes. After this zenith of intense sensation, “…the drug wears off, these temporary sensations of mastery are replaced by an intense depression, and the drug abuser will then "crash", becoming lethargic and typically sleeping for several days” (qtd. in Narconon, 2001). There are several different ways to use crack. It can be snorted, smoked, or taken intravenously. It can also be taken orally (chewed), but this method is not preferred because of the low intensity of the high. The two most popular ways of using crack are smoking and IV usage. These two methods are most favored because they give the most intense sensations. There are three different stages to addiction, the first being the adaptive stage. In this stage, the user is on top of his/her game. They feel as if they can function better while on the drug and are able to handle larger amounts. This is the person that can smoke crack before they go to work and will probably be more productive then most. “Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling the extent 2006-04-26T05:37:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Crack-Addiction-Why-it-Must-be-Banned-28753.aspx Date rape is not a rare incident that only happens in isolated situations. In fact, surveys indicate that in 84% of rape cases, the victim knew the attacker, and 57% of rapes occurred on dates (Warshaw 11). However, what is even more surprising than these high statistics is that most incidents of date rape go unreported. Several theories exist that try to explain this phenomenon. For example, many women may refuse to believe that their “friend” raped them. In fact, they could eventually convince themselves that it never happened. Additionally, there is confusion following the attack in which memory and emotions become mixed up. When alcohol or drugs are involved, the women may have no memory of the attack whatsoever. Even if the victim does remember the attack, they could be left with a sense that they let themselves be taken advantage of. In cases such as this, the victim may blame them self instead of the attacker. The shame involved in either being battered by or hurting someone we care for makes it hard to tell anyone, even those closest to us. People in abusive relationships often work hard at making it seem as if nothing is wrong. They try to convince themselves and others that “it’s not really that bad,” or that “it doesn’t happen all the time.” (Hicks 18) Additionally, societal perceptions dictate that a woman should know how to set limits, and that they are responsible for their own actions. Many women, thinking back on their sexual experiences, will respond affirmatively when asked the question “Have you ever had sex with a man when you didn’t want to, because he used physical force against you?” but at the same time offer a firm “no” when asked “Have you ever been raped?” (Bender 10-11) While victims of date rape rarely report the crime, the psychological effects are just as bad as if a stranger raped them. Since fewer women seek counseling or treatment for date rape than for rape by a stranger, the effects can be even more severe. In recent years, public attention has been drawn to the prevalence of date rape through the media and researchers. However, many believe that date rape is still the most widely underreported crime. (Warshaw 11-14) Date rape has existed for as long as recorded history. In fact a date rape is described in the Old Testament (2 Sam. 13: 2006-04-19T04:12:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Commoness-of-Date-Rape-28729.aspx Contemporary liberal and anarchist philosophy are both two very different ways of trying to see what would be the best way to run society. While discussing these two ideologies I will try to show how both, in their purist sense, are not able work in today's society effectively. Contemporary liberals are involved in every day politics but through over regulation and dependence on government they loose their chances of running a reliable democracy. Anarchist have very good ideas of how a natural society could function without government or modern institutions but the biggest problem they have is how to get to that point. Both theories look good on paper but once they hit the real world they change due to alternating conceptions and individual influences. The root of the word anarchism comes from the Greek word "anarchos," which means "without ruler." The main philosophy behind anarchism is that people can reside in an unregulated community with no real authority and maintain a sustainable life. Anarchists see government and capitalism as an institution that creates liberty for the rich and enslavement of the masses. Emma Goldman best describes anarchism as: "The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary." With anarchism there is a belief that once all government is abolished by the people that everyone will come together in a community of mutual aid and understanding without laws or authority to direct. Their philosophy can be considered opposite of most other ideologies, especially that of contemporary liberalism. Contemporary liberalism strives to hold on to the classic liberal's ideals pertaining to political, economic, and social liberties but it tends to look at democratic government as a tool rather than a hindrance. John Stuart Mill, John Dewey, and Franklin D. Roosevelt are established ideologues of contemporary liberalism. Just opposite of anarchism, modern liberalism puts its' faith in government to change and adapt to the failures of capitalism. The emergence of this political philosophy started around the end of the nineteenth century with John Stuart Mill's ideas in his book Principles of Political Economy. The philosophy became an ideology in the twentieth century with the main points of enhanced democracy, widening the role of the government, and rethinking capitalism. The original liberals were reacting to the aristocracy, their 2006-04-15T04:50:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anarchy-VS_-Liberalism-28703.aspx Abstract This paper will introduce the \"neonuclear\" family, homosexual couples with children and attempt to present a brief overview of the unit. First the nature/nurture theories will be presented to explain the origins of sexuality; then discussing the formation of gay and lesbian families including the reasoning for legalization of marriage and the introduction of children to these lifestyles; including scaffolding and barriers to achieving stability within the family. This paper will then discredit some of the stereotypes associated with alternative families while listing repercussions of such stereotypes; then moving onto the issue of AIDS, harassment, and behavioral effects, ending with a discussion of societal acceptance and educational affects. Alternative Families: A Look at The Same-Sex Nest Introduction As times have changed, there is a noticeable decrease in the traditional family structure of mom, dad, two point five kids and the family dog. This forces society to the realization that the modern family develops over the years into varying forms and that the \"nuclear family\" is degenerately less of the norm. Diversity of this structure is often the result of divorce, chosen single motherhood and other factors. However, in the more recent years, yet another family pattern is emerging: gay and lesbian couples with children. Gay and lesbian families are often viewed as deviant, immoral, and even dangerous to the development of children by some people. Such beliefs in society will create more than just moral controversy; it will surface issues of legality, decisions of custody, and basic human rights. The Nature Nurture Debate: Biological vs. Cultural-based Sexuality Before one examines the issues of same-sex families, the reader should understand the two arguments behind the origin of sexuality. It is debated if sexuality is an innate biological process that takes place as a result of one\'s genetic make-up or if it is a result of one\'s cultural background and the environment in which one is raised. These two differing theories are known as the nature/nurture debate, nature representing the biological theory for one\'s sexuality and nurture representing environmental influences for one\'s behavior. The Biological Argument From the point of conception, human beings are made up of 46 chromosomes, 23 male and 23 female. After insemination, paternal and maternal chromosomes fuse, this fusion determines the sex of the child. The amalgamation of two X chromosomes creates a female child, while the combination of X and Y chromosomes, leads to the development 2006-04-15T04:22:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alternative-Families-A-Look-at-The-Same-Sex-Nest-28696.aspx Dating, courting, and other pre-marriage arrangements are practices that are influenced by the time period, social conditions and constructs, biology, cultural norms, and institutional structures that surround people. Dating has changed a lot in the past century. In the 1920's to 1940’s, dating involved a more informal dating. For the first time there were no chaperones on dates between males and females. The dates required no formal commitment to each other and there was more freedom. Previously the community and church established the dating rules, but now peers institute the rules. Instead of the man coming to the women's house, They went "out" where it required money. It is said that there was a control issue surrounding the change in dating. Previously dating was somewhat in the women's control because the man was coming into her house. However, now couples were going out and the man paid for the date, giving up a little of the woman’s control. The most popular pastimes on dates were dancing and movies. Before the 1920's going dancing was a group activity but now it became couple oriented. Cars also had a huge impact on dating practices. Having a car now enabled couples to have more privacy and intimacy. The practice of "petting" spread over all the dating couples now more than ever and there were even "petting" parties. This new kind of dating allowed each person to get to know each other better before they settled in an exclusive relationship. The focus was now on success and popularity with out involving emotions. Before, this type of dating, formal courting was for the purpose of finding the "ideal" mate. During the 1930's, "steady" relationships had developed as a stage between casualness of dating and marriage. When a "steady" stage had formed, they dated only each other, which could last for months or maybe just a week. This bond was marked with meaningful rituals, for instance the sharing class rings or letter jackets. Romantic love was the only basis for marriage, and you definitely knew when you found "the right one". Some of the same practices of the twenties and thirties were carried to the years between 1945 and 1960. However, there was a drop in age of the couples marrying and there was an increase of marriage in the 40's and early 60's. In the year 1950, the average age 2006-03-19T10:14:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dating-Courting--28589.aspx Ecstasy is one of the street names for MDMA (the chemical name is N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine). MDMA is an amphetaminelike drug with hallucinogenic properties. People taking the drug get a sense of increased energy, euphoria and a curious feeling of empathy. While we know something about the short-term effects of ecstasy use, we do not have a very good understanding of the long-term effects. The short-term effects of the drug are related to the amount taken. If the dose used is relatively high, there is a danger in the short-term of seizures and heart-rhythm abnormalities. Ecstasy also can cause an increase in body temperature (called hyperthermia). This can cause difficulties if the drug is taken during strenuous exercise (such as dancing). The common practice of drinking large amounts of bottled water can lead to a reduced amount of sodium in the blood. This is called hyponatremia and, if severe, can cause neurological problems. There have been a number of deaths reported in people taking the drug. The long-term effects of ecstasy are less clear. Ecstasy alters the parts of the brain that are governed by a neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin is a very important "messenger" in the brain and is involved in learning, emotion and memory. The results of studies done in animals given multiple doses of ecstasy show damage to specific parts of the brain related to memory, learning and emotion. We don't really have a good understanding of the long-term effects in people because much of the "ecstasy" sold isn't really ecstasy. So when side effects are seen in users, we don't know if it is from ecstasy or another drug. The studies in animals, however, suggest that long-term use has the potential for causing learning and memory problems and psychiatric illnesses later in life. Ecstasy also appears to have an effect on the immune system. No drug is free of unwanted side effects. No drug is completely safe. This is true of ecstasy, alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, over-the-counter and prescription drugs. We have learned a great deal about the long-term effects of cigarettes and alcohol by doing animal experiments and looking to see what happens to people taking the drugs over a long period. We will learn more about the ecstasy and its long-term effects from the experiences of the users. What is ecstasy? MDMA or ecstasy is a Schedule I synthetic, psychoactive drug possessing stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. MDMA possesses 2006-03-19T10:06:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ecstasy-a-Street-Drug-28587.aspx Does True Love Exist? “I love you.” These three little words might possibly be the most powerful statement one can make to another person. In life, most yearn for the intimate affection that a certain someone can provide them. Women dream of their Prince Charming to come and sweep them off their feet, while men search for the love of their life that sets their heart on fire. But what happens when love is thrown around without a second thought? Has this four letter word become an overused cliché? Has love been replaced with lust? Is there such a thing as true love? This last question has been asked throughout history, while many have argued and debated over the final answer. We, as a society, have become a loveless, sex crazed group of people with no concern for any emotion or attachment in our lives. So does this mean that true love does not exist? No. This only shows that achieving the deepest of feelings takes work that our fast-food eating, TV watching generation is not prepared to handle. I believe that true love does exist, but has merely been pushed aside by convenience, superficiality, and apathy. It seems that over the years, true love is expressed less and less. We are bombarded with holiday cards filled with someone else’s words, and are practically forced to send our love in an email. How often do we actually sit down and write out our feelings to the one we love? “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” however, is the quintessential love letter. Anne Bradstreet shares her feelings to her husband in such a loving way that could make anyone’s heart melt. According to BellaOnline, Bradstreet was, “married to governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and had eight children.” Even though her marriage might have become filled with routines and lost a little passion, the poet never loses the love for her husband. She states that the power of her “…love is such that rivers cannot quench”(Bradstreet, 7). Bradstreet expresses her emotions to be so strong that not even a roaring river can possibly satisfy them. She prizes her husband’s “…love more than whole mines of gold/ Or all the riches that the East doth hold,” (Bradstreet, 5-6) meaning she values his affection more than any amount of money she could obtain. The sonnet goes on to prove how everlasting true love 2006-03-19T09:59:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Love--28585.aspx Love Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties, as an attraction based on sexual desires: affection and tenderness felt by lovers and as an affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest. Do you know what word this is the definition for? Love. Love has several different meanings in the English language, from something that gives little pleasure to something that one would die for. It can describe an intense feeling of affection, an emotion, or an emotional state. Just as there are many types of lovers, there are many types of love. Love is inherent in all human cultures. It is precisely these cultural differences that make any universal definition of love difficult to establish. Expressions of love may include the love for a soul or mind, love of laws, love for a body, love for nature, love of food, love of money, love for learning, love of power and fame, love for respect, and many more. Different cultures and people place varying degrees of importance on the kinds of love they receive. Love is essentially an abstract concept, easier to experience than to explain. In this paper I will talk about the many different forms and beliefs of love through different scientific, cultural, and religious beliefs. There have been many different scientific views taken up for love. Each views represents solid aspects of love and none can be written off. All biological models of love seem to see love as an animal drive, just like hunger and thirst. Psychology sees love as more of social and cultural creation. There are elements of truth in each view, as love is certainly influenced by hormones, pheromones, and how people think and behave in love is influenced by the conceptions of love. The conventional view of biology, attraction and attachment, says that there are two major drives in love, sexual attraction and attachment. The traditional view of psychology see love as being a combination of compassionate love and passionate love. It describes passionate love as intense longing, and it is often accompanied by physiological arousal. These physiological arousals would include, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, sweaty palms, and more. This theory describes compassionate love as an affection and a feeling of intimacy not accompanied by the physiological arousals. The next theory, designed by Robert Sternberg characterizes love in an interpersonal relationship on 2006-03-19T09:58:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Defining-Love-28584.aspx The role of the orgasm in heterosexual relationships is significant in having a satisfying malefemale relationship according to society’s expectations. By using the malefemale binary, as well as exploring the social construction of sex, we can see just how significant the role the orgasm plays in heterosexual relationships. First off, we must understand that orgasms are achieved differently for both males and females. Male orgasms are achieved through the male sex organ, being the penis. It has many nerve endings that are very sensitive. The female orgasm contains just as many of these nerve ending, but is a much smaller size. The penis is on average 5.5 inches, where the clitoris is about 1 inch. What is interesting is the actual act of sexual penetration in regards to orgasms. This act is perfectly constructed for the male to achieve orgasms, but poorly constructed for the female. The vagina is inches away from the clitoris, and is the primary body part involved in sex. Since the penis is penetrating the vagina, we see how it is easy for it to be fully stimulated and to reach climax. However, the female sex organ receives little if any stimulation depending on the position, which in fact makes it extremely hard for females to reach climax. It is also interesting to note that the act of intercourse itself ends not with the female orgasm, but with the male. Due to the biological make-up of males and females, the actual act of sex (penetration) is constructed around the male orgasm. When exploring the role of the orgasm, we have to take into consideration complexity of the female orgasm. Society makes up certain stereotypes for males and females in terms of sexual relationships. Here we take into consideration the malefemale binary in terms of sex and emotion. Males are able to separate sex from emotion, where females combine the two. Therefore, the female orgasm is both physical and metal. Some females even go further and say that without both components involved, the female orgasm is extremely hard to achieve unless they are both physically and mentally involved with their male counterpart. This also requires most females to be completely comfortable with their male partner. Society on the other hand finds it acceptable for men to be sexually promiscuous, and this is a key factor for men to be able to achieve orgasm with a female partner, 2006-03-19T09:46:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Defining-orgasm--28578.aspx Proper Prophylactic Prevention 12%-21% of all condom use results in a failure (www.latex.com). This astounding number is very serious and needs to be lowered; the only way to lower these statistics is by proper use. The male condom more commonly known as a rubber has a failure rate of 12% as the female condom has a drastically higher rate of failure at 21%. The failure rate is based on a year of sex, (if the rate is 12/100 it means that 12 out of 100 couples has the contraceptive fail them in that year). In addition to the failure rate of condoms this paper will discuss sexually transmitted diseases, the proper way to use a condom and explain differences between male and female condoms. There are dozens of sexually transmitted diseases some of the most common include herpes, AIDS and gonorrhea. AIDS is one of the deadliest plagues known to man; this epidemic became a big problem in the early 80’s. AIDS is an onset of the virus HIV. There are also other viruses transmitted sexually; a very popular virus in the United States is herpes. Herpes is forever; the not so bad news is new treatments help people live comfortably with this condition (latex.com). One of the main reasons that sexually transmitted diseases pose such a problem is because of embarrassment. Many sexually active teens develop these diseases, but would rather that their parents not know so they tell no one, spreading the disease to their next partner. When noticing a problem in the genital area one should speak to a doctor immediately. If it is too embarrassing to speak to a parent or an adult, than they could go to the local planned parent-hood clinic. There is also a doctor that comes to Stoner health center at Heidelberg Campus, Mon.-Fri. at 8 a.m. One should never be too embarrassed to consult a doctor; they are there to help. Although there are many diseases that are sexually transmitted the best protection is a latex condom. There are many benefits of latex condoms one site that can aide you in the search for positives is (http://sexuality.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tigergirl.com%2Fsafer%2Fsexier%2Fknowledge.html). Some of the advantages are protection from HIV, they are cheap readily available and there is no need for a doctors prescription. They can also be purchased with or without 2006-03-19T09:32:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Safe-Sex--28575.aspx your paper is amazing and i love it!!! I agree 2006-03-08T02:21:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion--28535.aspx Societal Debate on Cloning 1. Introduction When the birth of the cloned sheep Dolly became headline news in February 1997, cloning instantly turned into a heated topic for debate all over the world. Almost three years on, it seemed the right moment to collect and share the experiences gained within various countries with this debate on cloning. For this aim the Rathenau Institute, the Dutch parliamentary technology assessment organization, set up a one-day international symposium on November 19, 1999 in Amsterdam, with speakers from three continents and seven different countries: Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United States, and South Korea. All speakers were actively involved in organizing the policymaking process and public debate on cloning. This article provides a summary of the presentations given at the symposium and an analysis of the results. In particular, the relationship between the political and public debate is discussed. It is concluded that in Italy, South Korea and the United States that relationship was weak. The political system in the other four European countries - Great Britain, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands - did pay attention to the public debate. The way in which this was done differed from country to country. 2. The morning session: Switzerland, Denmark, United States and Italy During the morning session experiences of four countries - Switzerland, the US, Denmark and Italy - with the debate on cloning were compared, in conjunction with the political aspects of the debate. Switzerland At the time the birth of Dolly was reported in the media, Switzerland was in the grip of a referendum on biotechnology, which was initiated by environmental activists and animal welfare organizations. The initiative asked for a ban on the creation of transgenic animals, including medical laboratory mice, a ban on releasing genetically manipulated plant species to be planted in the open, and a ban on the patenting of living material. According to Richard Braun, Vice-Chairman of the Task Group on Public Perceptions of the European Federation of Biotechnology and Professor Emeritus General Microbiology, Switzerland experienced a small "Dolly dip" as the number of people that thought favorably about genetic modification suddenly decreased around April 1997. The effect was temporary though, and the horror stories in the media rapidly disappeared from the front pages and from the minds of the public. Two main reasons can be found. First, the Swiss constitution already prohibited the reproductive cloning of humans. 2006-01-21T06:45:29-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Societal-Debate-on-Cloning--28444.aspx Imagine a loved one was tortured and brutally murdered. Imagine them screaming out for help and no one coming for them. Imagine, their last moments on Earth as the most horrific and terrible anyone has ever known. What should the punishment be for the murderer? After seriously weighing my initial feelings that capital punishment is murder against what I would feel if this happened in my family, I still believe that taking another life is wrong. There is no action that can ever justify the murder of another person. Capital punishment is wrong because the taking of another person’s life against their will is murder. Imagine again that a murderer has taken the life of a family member. The first feelings would be intense emotions driven by revenge and retribution. Yet these emotions are what fuel the need for violence. And capital punishment is the most violent response to the crime. This is an emotional response, not a rational one. Violence begets more violence. Statistics show that in the thirty-eight states that have the death penalty, violent crime punishable by the death penalty is not lower then in the states that do not have the death penalty. Nor has it reduced the amount of violent crime in that state. In the world, eighty-six other countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Countries who have not executed a single person in the last ten years are abolitionist-in-practice countries. Twenty-five countries are abolitionist-in-practice. Of the seventy-four countries that retain the death penalty, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States account for over 80% of the executions in the world. In the United Kingdom, there is no death penalty, no armed police, and yet, the crime rates are five times lower then they are in the United States. Is this a coincidence? Parallels can be drawn that the use of force and violent begets more force and violence. One explanation of the lack of crime in the UK without violent punishment, and the huge amount of crime in the US with the promise of violent punishment is “rising to meet expectations”. Imagine a child in a school that sets high expectations for learning, behavior and social interaction. Instead of being reinforced by punishment if not met, the child was rewarded when the expectations are met. 2006-01-17T08:09:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-is-Wrong-28440.aspx Social Issues Essay - Animal Testing, Abortion, Racism, Aids, Gas This world definitely has problems. What country wouldn’t? Issues keep popping up everywhere we go. A lot of people have a hard time determining what is important and what isn’t. What should be solved, and why are there differing views on different issues? The only way that we can solve these problems is to work together. We must come up with ways to solve our problems and make everyone happy, but how? Animal Testing Companies or people should not have the right to test their products on animals, because it can be harmful to them and to the land if taken out of hand. Animals are part of God’s creation, and just as environmentalists are worried about the way we take care of our environment, so should be the concerns of animals in our world. Most animal testing kills, and with these killings we are ruining the lives of many animals. This is a controversial issue because companies that are using these animals for testing are making sure that their products are suitable for sale. Without these, companies would not be able to be sure that their products are safe and usable for humans. On the other hand, animals may eventually become extinct and this would cause an even larger problem for the rest of the world. For example, some animals make the environment the way it is now, and without the animals, it will eventually ruin our world. People could not agree on this issue because it will affect the business but also the animals and people cannot come to an agreement. Abortion The act of intentionally killing a fetus from the woman’s womb in order to not bear child or the criminal act of deliberate miscarriage, defines abortion. This issue has been under controversy for many years. Many people believe that the act of abortion is actually killing the child inside the womb. The others believe that the fetus is actually not a human at that stage of development, so really, you aren’t killing anything. People cannot agree on a positive solution because without these abortions, some women feel that their lives could be destroyed, maybe because of their reputation, or losing someone that they love. The abortion doctors can possibly lose their jobs if abortions become outlawed. The issue of abortion is an extremely hard issue to deal with. 2006-01-15T19:32:48-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Issues-Animal-Testing,-Abortion,-Racism,-Aids,-Gas-28433.aspx Birth Control - Major Research Paper Topic: Birth Control Description of Topic The controversy of birth control evolves around an issue that has puzzled our morality for years passed. Through countless instances man has tried to separate the sexual act from that of procreation and subsequent childbearing. However, the essence of choosing acceptably lies not only within our morality, but additionally in our power to surmount through the pressure that exists in today’s world. Hence our morality, coupled with society’s constraints, blind us from competently electing the appropriate path towards guiding us in living a morally and reasoned out Christian life. Yet, birth control continues to strive during a period where people of the world neglect to analyze there own actions and accepting the fact that personal dealings seem to reflect their true inner beliefs. Nonetheless, the issue of birth control initiates various psychoanalytical feelings and opinions about life that bring a negative connotation towards the overall perception of vitality. Thesis/Scope Statement The use of birth control emphasizes decisions and interpretations of events that arise sometimes without warning which are governed by our desires. Through this our human nature must comprehend the problem, act upon it, and therefore take a stand that might occasionally conflict with our personal beliefs. Yet, while this might deepen the guilt that purges onto us through these times of hardship, choosing the Christian course of actions furthers our deepest desires in pleasing God, the people around us, and eventually ourselves. This essay will encompass a variety of viewpoints concerning the topic of birth control, the legitimacy of particular birth controls, and the controversial topic it brings regarding the Roman Catholic Church. Order of Points to be Discussed • Biology – sets up facts for the Church’s argument of Natural Family Planning • Natural Family Planning – How it works, the process, the basis for the Church’s teaching • Types of Birth Control – factual stats, Explain why there is birth control e.g. pregnancy. • Beauty of Life – Nothing should intervene with the process • Abstinence – definition, talk about sex-drive, Arguments pro/con, having intercourse only when both partners are ready • Philosopher’s Viewpoints – Show arguments for and against birth control • Humanae Vitae – use to prove the sacredness of life • Birth Control’s fallbacks • Conclusion – agreement with the Churches teaching regarding the sacredness of the process of conception. Act Christian-like. Resources: 1) The Birth Control Book- By: Samuel A. Pasquale & Jennifer 2006-01-06T07:01:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Birth-Control-Major-Research-Paper-28406.aspx What is child abuse? Child abuse means the physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment of children. There are two sorts of child abuse, sexual and physical abuse, it is a universally known fact that sexual abuse is completely wrong, and there is no other prospect to view the matter, it was is and will always be considered a “SIN”. However, do people share the same prospect on physical abuse on children? When the issue of physical abuse is mentioned I lean towards Corporal Punishments. Corporal punishment takes many form, including spanking, shaking, choking. Parents/Guardians believe that punishing there child severely is the only method of correcting them. I would like to tell people the truth of the story, which is that corporal punishment, is not an appropriate method of correcting children. Child abuse is a worldwide issue we are forced to face. Abusers don’t seem to realize that punishment such as starvation; brutal force or even verbal abuses have a great impact on the child’s physical and mental state. Young children desire our affection and require a bit of our time. It is agreed that children do commit mistakes, sometimes mistakes that even lead to severe consequences; nevertheless corporal punishment is not the best method to correct them. Parents/ Guardians should use alternative manners such as, a “10 minute time-out system” for young children or “reduction of allowance” for the grown-up ones. This helps children feel a sense of responsibility towards their wrongful acts. Corporal punishment could just cause permanent damage both mentally and physically, leading the child into a phase of depression. Children feel humiliated and degraded; they become angry and resentful towards those who punish them. Such a scenario is the autobiography of Dave Pelzer, a child called “it”. It is the perfect illustration of the physical and mental disturbance the child faces. The mother had less patience and less mature personalities than other parents. These behaviors make it difficult to cope with the demands of the child and increase the likelihood of physical or emotional abuse. There are three common characteristics of potential abusers, firstly parents/guardian who experience abuse and violence from their own parents. They tend to believe that corporal punishment is appropriate as they have been undergoing it too. Secondly, parents/guardian who face social stress such as unemployment, illness, poor housing conditions, a larger-than-average family size, the presence of a new baby or a disabled person in 2006-01-03T10:06:58-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Abuse-Corporal-Punishment-28396.aspx Possible Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana is a psychoactive drug made from the dried leaves and flowering parts of the hemp plant. It is one of the most strictly classified illegal drugs in the United States. Under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug, which defines it as having “a high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use. Marijuana is thus classified more severely than morphine and cocaine, which as Schedule II drugs are also banned for general use but can be prescribed by doctors. It is illegal to buy, sell, grow, or possess marijuana in the United States. Marijuana probation comprises a large part of the federal government’s War on Drugs. Police made 600,000 marijuana-related arrests in 1995. Four out of five arrests being for possession alone. Under federal and state laws, many of which were strengthened in the 1980’s, people convicted of marijuana offenses face penalties ranging from probation to life imprisonment, plus fines and forfeiture of property. Also, criminal justice efforts, the federal government, state governments, and local communities spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on preventative programs. Programs such as, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), in which local police officers visit schools to teach young people to abstain from trying marijuana and other drugs. Public controversy has been growing over the two assumptions, high abuse potential and no legitimate medical use, that underline marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug. In turn, disputes over the abuse and medical potential of marijuana have shaped differences of opinion over public policy. Many of those who question one or both of these assumptions about marijuana have advocated a full or partial relaxation of the government’s blanket prohibition of the drug, while those who accept these assumption generally are opposed to any full or partial legalization of marijuana. Supporters of marijuana’s continued prohibition argue that the drug is easily abused and can lead to numerous physical and psychological harms. Short-term health effects of the drug listed in Marijuana: Facts for Teens, a publication of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), include memory loss, distorted perception, problems with learning and coordination, an increased heart rate, and anxiety attacks. Long term effects, according to NIDA, include increased risk of lung cancer for chronic marijuana smokers and possible damage to the 2006-01-03T05:00:36-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Possible-Legalization-of-Marijuana-28383.aspx Should Children Be Punished With Physical Punishment It is generally believed that children are punished because adults want to teach them something. 2006-01-01T01:28:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Children-Be-Punished-With-Physical-Punishment-28358.aspx Should capital punishment be abolished? In my opinion, yes it should. I assume this for many reasons. One is the fact that if the person being executed is not the one who is guilty. Another is that it is more expensive to be executed rather than life imprisonment. I also feel that it is an easy way out for the one being executed. I would much rather die than be in prison for the rest on my life. I also think the issue of sympathy plays a big role in why it should be abolished. The jury in a court case has the power to convict or to free a person. When they convict someone, they are ultimately putting that person’s life at stake. If the death penalty is carried out then they will have to live with that for the rest of their life. Whether or not they were right when they gave their verdict. The first piece of evidence I found was at…………………………….. I believe that execution is morally wrong. This article also agrees with me. Found in the article, it states “it is the cruel and inhumane taking of a human life”. So basically it is murder. Also in the article, “no one, not even the state, has the right to play God”. In my opinion, execution is just like murdering someone. Taking a life is taking a life, no matter what the circumstances. No one should be able to kill someone. The second piece of evidence came from the same article. It also brought up the issue of innocent executions. “The death penalty is irrevocable, the executed cannot be given another chance.” Within the last one hundred years there have been more than 75 documented cases of wrongful conviction. In 8 of these cases, the death penalty was carried out. Even though that does not sound like a lot, it is still more than none. “A prisoner discovered innocent can be freed; the same does not apply to a corpse.” The words in quotes all came from the article. It is bringing up a good fact. In my opinion, executing an innocent person is the same as taking a gun and shooting your neighbor (as 2005-12-31T03:29:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Yes-Capital-Punishment-should-be-Abolished-28335.aspx Causes of Second Hand Smoke Second-hand smoke is made up of exhaled smoke from smokers. It also comes from cigarettes, cigars or pipes. There are many effects of second-hand smoke. One is since the organic material in tobacco doesn't burn completely, cigarette smoke contains chemical compounds, including carbon monoxide, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene and arsenic. Most of these, are known to cause cancer. Nonsmokers who live with smokers have a greater risk of dying from heart disease than do other nonsmokers. Another effect is 2005-12-26T03:17:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-Second-Hand-Smoke-28257.aspx We Should be Allowed to Listen to CD players at School One of America’s favorite pastimes is listening to music. For many, riding in a car, means listening to the radio. People want to listen to music everywhere, so why should their free time at school be different? Sometimes, it helps people concentrate and shuts out the distractions of the people around them when they’re working However, this is not an opinion held by many school administrators, who ban music devices. We should be able to bring CD, tape, or MP3 players to listen to at school. Many schools would disallow this activity because it is “disruptive.” For example, if a student brings portable speakers so everybody can listen, it could make a lot of noise, and many might not like the style of music. On the contrary, it is does not have to be disruptive at all. If one uses the music player to just play music during free time, such as recess, there should be no problem. Also, when one uses earphones, no sound will issue out, therefore it would disturb no one. Listening to music this way provides enjoyment, and will offend nobody. Another reason music devices are banned is because the school would be blamed if a student lost his or her music device. To avoid this liability, for many schools it is easier to just ban music devices. However, by being careful, this problem could easily be avoided. The student could keep his CD player or MP3 player in a locked locker, and then take it home at the end of the day. This would be no problem at the school, and even if a music device was lost, surely no parents would complain to the school because it is the child’s responsibility to take care of it. Listening to music devices at school has positive elements as well. For example, when doing math homework, writing papers, or doing anything that does not involve working with others, listening to music will shut out all the distractions of the other students. Most of the time, in classrooms, there is always one class clown that will make tons of noise and disrupt others. When listening to music, the sound will block out distractions, and consequently, will make the student work more efficiently. Imagine a classroom where every 2005-12-25T06:07:22-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/We-Should-be-Allowed-to-Listen-to-CD-players-at-School-28250.aspx Views on Capital Punishment Death penalty has always been a punishment for serious crime in the United States system of justice. From Americas early years to the present the death penalty has always been a controversial issue. It has evolved from a punishment for witchcraft to primarily first-degree murders. Colonial abolitionist to present day death penalty supporters, have fought to no resolution on this conflict on morality and justice. Capital punishment was a sanction perfectly familiar to America’s early settlers. Since the first European settlers arrived in America, the death penalty has been accepted as punishment for crimes. All British colonies followed the English penal code but actual practice varied from colony to colony. In colonial Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Puritans left England to build a model society for Christians to emulate. Although Puritans felt that criminal justice needed amending, they never considered doing without it. They screened settlers who resided in their towns but future offenders who would fall to sin would still sneak through. Sin threatened not only the social tranquility of the colony but also divine wrath, for the Puritans conceived that they had covenanted with God to live according to his spiritual commands.(Hirsch 3). The Puritans felt 12 crimes fell under this category of stirring up their social tranquility. The 12 crimes which warranted this punishment were idolatry, witchcraft, blasphemy, rape, statutory rape, kidnapping, perjury in a trial involving a possible death sentence, rebellion, murder, assault in sudden anger, adultery, and buggery (sodomy). This capital list remained consistent with Puritan beliefs. The Puritan belief also held true in convictions of capital offenses. They believed that no sentence of death could pass without a warrant from God’s word. As the eighteenth century drew near most moral capital offenses were brought down to lower charges of criminal offenses. Judges and juries demonstrated an extreme reluctance to execute moral offenders they tended to downgrade capital convictions. Biblical reference took precedent as authorizations of the death penalty. Puritan criminal justice system mirrored Old World law by treating property offenses mildly and moral offenses with relative severity. The Quakers whom also had in place a form of capital punishment contrasted with their colonial counterparts the Puritans. The Quakers of South Jersey Royal Charter did not permit capital punishment for any crime. Their first execution took place in 1691. The Quakers believed that all human beings are born with an inner light that could 2005-12-25T00:53:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Views-on-Capital-Punishment-28236.aspx Is Bullying as Ingrained into our society as apple pie? Bullying is a worldwide problem that occurs around us everyday and everywhere. People experience some sort of bullying at some point in their lives, whether they are the victim or the bully. In this essay, I will focus on the causes and effects of bullying in the school environment. But what exactly is bullying? There are multiple ways to define bullying. It can be described as repeated negative events, which occur over time; directed at a special individual and carried out by one or several people. Bullying is an act of aggression causing embarrassment, pain, or discomfort to another person. It’s an abuse of power that can either be planned or unintentional. In bullying, there’s a clear imbalance of power. Bullying is basically anything that makes a person feel hurt, whether it is physical or psychological. No matter if it is physical or psychological, bullying is wrong. There are two types of bullying. The first type is indirect bullying, which includes intentionally rejecting or freezing someone out of a group. The second type is direct bullying. There are three categories of direct bullying--physical bullying, verbal bullying, and bullying yourself. Physical bullying includes pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking, stealing, etc. Verbal bullying includes mockery, taunting, name-calling, verbal threats of violence, and so on. When you bully yourself, it usually includes emotional abuse. Telling yourself that you’re fat or ugly is an example of bullying yourself. These types of bullying occur everywhere, but the most common place where bullying occurs is at school. Why is the school environment so vulnerable to bullying? I will discuss where and why it occurs in the school environment, as well as the effects it has and how society can prevent bullying. Also, I will describe the common characteristics of bullies and victims. Bullies are people who need to hurt, threaten, frighten, or control other people. They are often angry, upset, jealous, aggressive, mean, insensitive, and cruel. They usually lack self-confidence and gain confidence and feel powerful by controlling others. Bullies think that being hurtful, aggressive, and frightening is okay. Bullies are often thought of as stupid, although, they are very clever. They have little empathy for their victims and derive satisfaction from inflicting injury and suffering on others. They defend their actions by saying that their victim provoked them in some way. Other characteristics of a bully include being defiant 2005-12-24T19:20:09-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Bullying-as-Ingrained-into-our-Society-as-Apple-Pie-28232.aspx Legalization Of Weed The concept of marijuana legalization has gone in and out of vogue over the past 20 years, as several states, either de jure or de facto, have decriminalized its possession and use. Some describe the cause of decriminalization in the 1970s as a wave of permissive liberalism. This is hardly the case, however. In the early 1970s, a presidential commission chaired by the former Republican governor of Pennsylvania, Raymond P. Schafer, called for federal decriminalization and eventual legalization, regulation, and control of marijuana (National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, 1972). The commission concluded that marijuana should be decriminalized. This was not interpreted as a license to abuse substances. In fact, the Shafer Commission's overriding concern was reducing substance abuse. According to the report, "On the basis of our findings, discussed in previous Chapters, we have concluded that society should seek to discourage use, while concentrating its attention on the prevention and treatment of heavy and very heavy use. The Commission feels that the criminalization of possession of marihuana for personal use is socially self-defeating as a means of achieving this objective" (National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, 1972). In 1977, Senator Jacob Javits and Representative Edward Koch introduced a bill to federally decriminalize marijuana. Although both congressmen were Democrats, their motivation for this bill had as much to do with the economics of pursuing marijuana users, then estimated at 13 million, as the undesirability of seeking to imprison such a large portion of the national population (Koch, 1977). Today, government surveys estimate the number of regular marijuana users at about 11.8 million (NIDA, 1988). The cost of pursuing and punishing 11.8 million marijuana users, if that is all there are, would be enormous, both financially and societally. NORML and others are skeptical of the government's ability to take an accurate survey of any criminal behavior. Such estimates inevitably underreport the actual number of users for several reasons, including agency bias and respondents' fear of disclosure. This will present problems when marijuana is legalized. The number of reported users will appear to skyrocket. The number of users may in fact increase slightly; however, the biggest increase will come from those who failed to report their use while it was illegal. The difference between truly new users and users 2005-12-24T18:59:24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Complete-Debate-on-the-Possible-Outcomes-of-Legal-Weed-28225.aspx APPLICATION OF THE THEORY TO THE ISSUE: ALBERT K. COHEN'S THEORY OF GANGS AND THE DELINQUENT SUBCULTURE Albert K.Cohen was the first person that attempted to find out the process of beginning of a delinquent subculture. His perspective has been referred to an integrating theory of several sociological theories such as the Chicago School¡¯s sociologist¡¯s work, Merton¡¯s strain theory, cultural conflict theory and Sutherland¡¯s differential association theory. In Cohen's book ¡°Delinquent Boys: The Culture of the Gangs,(1955) it was quite apparent that his work was a product of the 1950's. Having won World War 2 and with the country gradually returning to normalcy, Americans were once again obsessed with the ¡°American Dream.¡± People believed that a prosperous future could be attained by education and employment. Middle-class values that emphasized ambition and material success became dominate, anything otherwise was not accepted as ¡°normal.¡± However, behind this promising climate, the great fear of delinquency was lurking and rising. During the period of World War 2, juvenile delinquency became one of the most important ¡°home front¡± public issues. This label ¡°juvenile delinquency¡± applied to youthful misbehavior, mostly to lower class and immigrant children. The separation of the ¡°we-they¡± led the middle class to see itself as a far more superior class. Cohen¡¯s subculture theory was one of the post war studies of delinquency. He believed that the history of a deviant act is the history of an interaction process, of which the problem of delinquency is mainly a male phenomenon. Cohen assumed that the subculture was found in the lower class where social control was not strong enough to constrain the delinquency and that lower class boys in particular have not been equipped to deal with the competitive struggle that takes place in middle class institutions. Crime culture existed in certain social groups and the individual learned the values of deviance through participation in gangs. Since delinquent boys rejected all middle class standards, some acts considered to be ¡°wrong¡± by the middle class may not be wrong by the delinquent boy¡¯s standards. For example, a child fostered in the subculture that did not respect the law was prone to temptation of deviance. This theory explains why crime rate is so high in inner city and rural areas. In a democratic society, children are not evaluated against others of their own group but against ¡°all corners¡± and measured by ¡°the middle-class measuring rod,¡± whereby all children are 2005-12-24T06:48:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Albert-K-Cohen-s-Theory-of-Gangs-amp-Deliquent-Subculture-28215.aspx Thomas Robert Malthus:The Statistics of Population Control In Malthus' Essay on Population he discussed the importance of birth control, and also discussed the future problem, as he saw it, of the fast growing population outgrowing it's supply of food and resources. Malthus lived during the enlightenment period of human history. William Godwin and the marquis di Condorcet also wrote theories on population. Their theories said that humans would progress eternally and that there would be no end to humanity. When Malthus released his essay, which he did not put his name on, he said that human population grows arithmetically (2,4,8,16,32...) while the food supply grows arithmetically (2,3,4,5...). Taking a look at the numbers that were used as examples, it is easy to see that the population could very easily run out of resources. Malthus' essay discussed the problem of disease, war and famine. He said that the population, obviously, would not increase at such a rate if one of the listed disasters happened. This theory has proven true because the current world does not currently have a huge problem feeding all of its people and we have had two world wars, and many armed conflicts are taking place in the world even though the everyday person may not know about the war. Disease is also taking it's toll on the human population. Diseases such as the deadly Ebola virus, and the fairly new AIDS virus, with no cure for either, are starting to come out of basically nowhere and is killing people at an alarming rate. The AIDS virus is making people use protection during sex and this protection also stops pregnancy, which in turn slows down the growth of the population. What Malthus did not seem to take into consideration is urbanization and economic situations that tell the modern world if they can have children. In an urban situation it is more costly to have a large family because property, food, and clothing are more expensive so there are generally smaller families. Money is what drives the world today and when economic times get tough people do not have as many children in order to keep the current family alive. The future of the world is becoming more uncertain every day. Pollution, war, violence, and disease are killing people, or just making them very sick, to the point that it looks like there might not be a world in the future. Malthus' 2005-12-22T11:00:28-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Thomas-Robert-Malthus-on-Populartion-Control-28197.aspx [color=orange:fe18dbf0ef]Protestant Minister [/color:fe18dbf0ef] Have you ever wondered about what it would be like to be a Protestant Minister? Well, I have also. I’m not sure what I want to be when I get older but being Minister sounds like a very rewarding and challenging job. To become a Protestant Minister many denominations require a bachelor’s degree followed by a study at a Theological school. Some denominations however, require no formal education. A few evangelical churches may hire ministers with only a high school education. Men and women first entering into a church usually begin their careers as assistant 2005-11-23T21:25:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Protestant-Minister-28125.aspx Today in America those supporting and opposing abortion engage in very heated debates. I am for abortion for many reasons that I strongly believe in. Without legal abortion many women in this country would be killing or mutilating themselves. We would also have unwanted children, which leads to huge problems for families and society. Also I believe that the outlawing of abortion violates the separation of church and state. The choice to have an abortion or not, should be left up to the woman bearing the child instead of the government. Most women who want to have abortions will not be stopped by a law. Pro-lifers say that the women that desire abortions should opt for adoption instead. These women are usually young girls who are uneducated, frightened, vulnerable, and embarrassed of their situation. They are not ready to publicly recognize their pregnancy to their parents or families to go through their entire term and then give the child up for adoption. 74% of girls who had sex before age fourteen, and 60% who had sex before age fifteen, report that it occurred involuntarily . A probability sample of women at least eighteen years old showed 84% of rape victims did not report the offense to the police. Although in both of these incidences the young woman is not consensual, they feel that they are responsible for these acts of sexual abuse. Therefore they are reluctant and ashamed to continue their pregnancy. If laws exist prohibiting abortion, many of these young girls will secretly find other ways to rid themselves of this child. These other options are either performing the abortions on one or going to an unlicensed, unregulated, abortionist. Often this leads to death or mutilation of the woman's body. If a woman decides to have the child and become a mother many problems may result. If the mother is a teen, she is 50% more likely to deliver a baby with a low birth weight than non-teens. If the baby survives birth that may not be the end of the dilemmas. Many times when a teen mother does not have an abortion, she will feel as though the child is a burden to her resulting in child abuse or throwing the child into the care of someone who is irresponsible or untrained. Every day in the U.S. between three and five children are murdered by a parent 2005-11-08T05:47:05-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-The-Right-to-Choose-28091.aspx Abortion Abortion, in its most common ways of usage, refers to the voluntary termination of pregnancy, generally through the use of surgical procedures or drugs. There are many points of view on this subject, some religious, and some more scientific. In Approximately three-fourths of America, abortion is legal, and there has been a few cases attempting to outlaw abortion, one of which is the Roe verses Wade case. Roe argued that making a woman carry a baby against her will is a govermental intrusion of a person’s rights and will not be made a law that abortions are illegal. In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from trained medical surgeons, that then led to large decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death. Now there is a new idea to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics, the government would be not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing the women who want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman by giving them no other choice but to have an abortion (if they want an abortion) in an unsafe and unsanitary enviroment that horribly threatens the woman’s health. By closing Abortion Clinics anywhere you are creating obstacles and enlarging the barriers of getting an abortion. By creating too many obstacles, you are lessening the chances a woman will have an abortion, therefore violating her right to privacy. In 1973 the American Supreme Court stated that Americans’ right to privacy included: "the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference". The Constitution states we are obligated to be able to express a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chances to make decisions about her body violates that right. “Every day, children’s lives are being terminated. The culprit; unwanted pregnancies. The main reason people are getting abortions is because they’re too irresponsible to make sure that they won’t get pregnant. Say a woman’s at a party, she gets drunk and then pregnant. Why blame the baby by killing it.” I have one answer to this; the mothers shouldn’t also be punished because she made a mistake. Who has the more pain and suffering? This is just like the Euthanasia 2005-10-12T03:57:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-the-Pro-Choice-Point-of-View-28044.aspx Boys Don't Cry: Gay Violence in America New Year's Eve 1993, in the dead-end town of Falls City, Nebraska, two men shot and stabbed Teena Brandon, a 21-year-old who, in defiance of the laws of biology, wanted desperately to live her life as a man. On October 6, 1998, two men smashed the head of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man, and left him tied to a deer fence outside Laramie, Wyoming. Both killings have become national causes célèbres. Teena Brandon's tale, already the subject of the harrowing documentary The Teena Brandon Story, has now been made into the remarkable film Boys Don't Cry, and a cinematic retelling of the short life of Matthew Shepard cannot be far behind. With pollsters reporting that most Americans oppose discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, a sea change in just a generation, it is tempting to conclude that intolerance, let alone hate, is waning. But the ugly murders of Teena Brandon and Matthew Shepard reveal another territory—the psychological Wild West, its volatile landscape formed by impulse and passion, fearfulness, and rage. In the year since Matthew Shepard's death, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs has documented 31 gay-bashing murders, and the fact that these murders are often much more violent than the typical homicide is suggestive of the psychological stakes. As the language of sexual deviance is replaced in public conversation by a rhetoric of rights, these brutal acts become the stuff of martyrdom and the wellspring of political action. Teena Brandon is literally the poster child for this movement: As the ad campaign for Boys Don't Cry contends, she was killed because she "dared to be herself." She and Matthew Shepard are exhibits A and B in the campaign, spearheaded by Shepard's mother and already successful in 21 states, to make a victim's sexual orientation, like race and religion, a reason for prosecution in hate crimes. Yet real lives are always more complicated and cluttered with inconvenient truths than are morality plays, in which innocence and guilt are distinctly separate. To acknowledge such complexity is not to explain away the terrible deed, but to begin to make sense of it. Boys Don't Cry delivers just such a layered narrative. Its achievement is to pull us deep inside the lives of both victim and victimizer. In doing so, it gives us a political education that no morality play ever could. 2005-09-25T05:27:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Boys-Don-t-Cry-Gay-Violence-in-America-28029.aspx China’s Controversial One Child Policy May Cause Population Change China’s One Child Policy is a very controversial one. It involves only one child per married couple. This has led to high abortion figures (sometimes forced or selective), forced sterilisation and even infanticide. However China had no choice but to adopt such a harsh policy, China’s population in the 1970s was 900 million and rising. China didn’t have enough resources to support this growing population, and had strong regional variations. The government realised something had to change and in the early 1970s strongly driven family planning methods were adopted and in 1979 the one child policy was introduced. China is a huge country (9,600,000 squared kilometres) and has a large number of resources however there is an extreme imbalance between population size and resources available. 1,192 million people live in China that’s 21.4% of the world’s population. This is a lot of people to feed, clothe and house. The population has put a huge amount of tension on the countries limited resources. 25% of China’s land is infertile or desert so no crops can be grown on this land and not many will want to live on it because they wouldn’t be able to support themselves due to the poor soils. China can be split down the middle from the north east to the south, dividing china into 2 parts, 57% to 43%, the smaller eastern part contains 94% of Chinas population. This is a very densely populated area. Eastern China gets summer rain on the fertile valley and river deltas whereas the further west you go the drier it gets. Eastern China makes up Chinas core, with the most densely populated cities such as Shanghai where there are 2,118 people per square kilometre. The one-child policy is not a law, as most people think it is it’s a policy enforced by the system of punishments. However there is a Marriage Law introduced in 1980, insisting the practice of family planning. The marriage Law encourages late marriages, late childbirth’s, one child per couple. Having one child is really encouraged, use of propaganda such as posters help this, also the state controls the media so they get to chose what the public see and hear so can make sure it supports and encourages their policies. The policy is encouraged more so in urban areas rather than in the countryside. 2005-09-25T03:43:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/China’s-Controversial-One-Child-Policy-May-Cause-Population-28021.aspx Let's Drink -- Responsibly Introduction I. It is legal for each one of us, as adults, to drive cars, fly planes, vote, marry, pay taxes, take out loans, and risk our lives in the armed forces. Yet, it is illegal for us to sit down to have a drink in a controlled, supervised atmosphere, or even sip champagne at your own wedding. II. Remorseless drinking has long been a ritual of university life. Whatever the legal drinking age limit, it seems people are beginning to drink at younger and younger ages. After all, over 90% of you consume alcohol on an average of more than once a week. Efforts to decrease excessive alcohol consumption like stricter rules on campus only push the parties off campus and raise of the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 in the 80’s merely increased the business of creating fake ID’s. It is time to take action and resolve many of the underage and irresponsible drinking problems our nation endures. III. Because of my interest and desire to help eliminate irresponsible drinking, alcoholism, and underage problems, I have done a large amount of research to provide sufficient evidence of why to support my argument. Also, I am in the age group that our nations minimum drinking age directly affects, and I feel that I have the knowledge that our nations authority will never see first hand. IV. Because the minimum drinking age is set too high, many problems with the law, binge drinking, and irresponsibility arise, therefore we need to lower the drinking age, as well as become more proactive with today’s youth. (Signpost: Many people are in agreement with the restriction to consume alcohol until 21, others say that it should be raised, however, the legal drinking age causes more problems than it prevents.) Body I. The minimum drinking age causes many avoidable problems, such as binge drinking, which lead to further complications with drinking. A. The high drinking age creates an artificial desire among minors to abuse alcohol. 1. Ruth C. Engs, Professor of Applied Health Science at Indiana University explained how this is the “Forbidden Fruit” effect that was seen during National prohibition in the 1920s and state prohibition during the 1850s. a) These laws actually increase consumption and binge drinking; as the high legal drinking age does now. b) They were repealed because they were unenforceable and because the backlash 2005-09-18T00:25:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Let-s-Drink-Responsibly--27988.aspx Should Creationism Be Tuaght In Schools Despite the scientific and legal support for teaching evolution and against teaching creation science, an uninformed public can still be swayed by what seem to be "scientific" and logical arguments. By making "evolution" synonymous with "anti-religious" or disbelief in a creator, creationists have successfully intimidated citizens and public figures into silence or reluctance to take a stand on this issue. The Supreme Court of the United States says that legislature, ”cannot require that teaching and learning must be tailored to the principles or prohibitions of any particular religious sect or doctrine.” (Epperson v. Arkansas, 1968) Pro-Creationists turn this around by arguing that equal time ought to be given to Evolution and Creationism in public science curriculum because by only teaching evolution, the government is giving precedent to a particular doctrine. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment does not permit any regulations that respect the establishment of and principles or prohibitions of a particular religious sect. Therefore, Pro-Creationists argue that to bring forth Evolutionism without giving equal time to Creationism would violate the values of voluntarism and pluralism that are central to the establishment clause. In order to address the argument of giving equal time, I must bring up that Evolutionism is most certainly not the theory of a particular dogma. Rather it is a fallible conjecture that has overwhelming evidence. In addition, it is not possible to bring forth all creation theories given by all sects and give them all the equal time they deserve. One cannot solely bring forth the account of origin from the Christian book of Genesis for the reason that it conflicts with evolution theory. Still others argue that if equal time cannot be given, then rid the science curriculum of Evolutionism all together. There would be no conflicts and the problem would be neutralized. The United States Supreme Court expresses “that a comprehensive science education is undermined when it is forbidden to teach evolution except when creation science is also taught.” (Edwards v. Aguillard, 1987) Darwin’s theory of evolution that animals and plants have their origins in others and that their distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations is a keystone in modern biological theory. Evolutionism revolutionized biology, especially the divisions of genetic and molecular biology. Modern science sits on the theories of Darwin. There would be little to teach without it’s foundation in the classroom. 2005-09-14T01:23:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Creationism-Be-Tuaght-In-Schools-27983.aspx 1. (b) ‘Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into action.’ Many Christians have strong views on the topic of abortion. Many of these will feel strongly about the issue whether they are pro abortion or against abortion. In discussions about abortion, Christians against abortion may clearly show their views about abortion. They may use the bible reference ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations’ (Jeremiah 1:5). They may use this passage to show others the Christian belief in abortion. Those pro abortion may also make their views widely own and support it saying that God gave everyone free will to live their lives. They may join an organisation which campaigns for their belief. A Christian with a strong opinion against abortion may dedicate their time for an organisation such as ‘Life’ or ‘Spuc’ to help make the issue of abortion publicised. A Christians in favour may join a campaign such as ‘Pro- choice’ to encourage people to see the turmoil involved in abortion for the woman. Their view may affect the way they vote in an election. An opposing Christian may vote for somebody with a strong view against abortion also to help change the law to make abortion illegal. Similarly, A Christian campaigning for choice may vote for somebody trying to make abortion more readily available. Christians in support of abortion may join a counselling group such as ‘Open Door’ which offers counselling to women who have had an abortion. Christians who not back abortion may volunteer in local schools educating children on safer sex and the reality of abortion to ensure fewer pregnancies originally occur. They make donations to charities that offer this advice. Christians with a no clear view on abortion may pray to God asking for help in the direction they should follow pro or against abortion. Those opposing abortion may pray to God to save the foetuses. Those enforcing choice may pray to God that people will understand and not condemn women who have an abortion. Christians believing in the importance of choice in abortion may organise protests to make the issue and reality of the hardship of abortion on the women more widely known. They may organise demonstrations and carry signs displaying their views. Those opposing abortion may also hold protests 2005-09-06T11:24:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Christian-Beliefs-on-Abortion-in-Action-27926.aspx ii. What biblical and church teachings might be used in a discussion about abortion? The bible is used as the center of the Christian faith because it is the primary source of information about the life of Jesus and the world we live in. For Christians the bible is an important text for teaching about their faith. Many Christians believe it is the word of God and should be treated with the up most respect. Christians follow the bible and use it to solve any problems in their everyday lives. Discussions surrounding abortion faces many different issues as the topic of abortion is so widely based. The bible does not have any direct teaching on abortion because abortion is only a recent scientific discovery. Christians have to form their own view on abortion using quotes from the bible and church teachings and relating these to abortion. Christians believe in the Sanctity of life and may use this to approach the topic of abortion. The sanctity of life is the belief that life is special and holy. Christians believe that human life is set apart from other kinds of life. Christians may use this belief to say abortion is killing of life and life is ultimately sacred. A question to be considered is ‘Is Abortion murder?’ In the bible it quotes ‘You shall not commit murder’ (Exodus 20). Many Christians believe abortion is the murder of an innocent life so use this quote to support their argument to say abortion is wrong. They support this with ‘Anyone who kills a human being shall be put to death’ (Lev 24:17) They use this quote to say anybody that practises abortion is committing a sin. They also use this to say that the Mother’s are committing a mortal sin and killing an innocent human being. Many Christians feel that it cannot be called murder because the baby is not yet a living person. This proposes the question, Is it a potential human baby or a baby with potential? In 1974 the Roman Catholic Church released a document on Procured Abortion, The quote "From the time that the ovum is fertilised a new life is begun which is neither that of the father or the mother. It is the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already" has provoked many Catholics to 2005-09-06T11:23:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Biblical-and-Church-Teachings-on-Abortion-27925.aspx I chose to do my research on the discipline of child psychology because it is very interesting to me and I would really like to learn more about how parents should go about disciplining a child. My first research was from the ““Canadian Health Network””, Health Information You Can Trust. It is an article/journal on Child Psychology. Positive discipline will help your child become a healthy, caring, responsible adult. It takes and effort, but it is well worth it. Positive discipline is about teaching and guiding your child. ““It helps if you start setting the rules at an early age,”” says the Canadian Health Network. Personally, I think that if you discipline your child to do as I say, not as I do, it would really help the child. There are a lot of parents out there that tell their kids not to drink and do drugs, but when the child comes homes, that is all the childs sees. How can you tell a child don’’t do this or that if you are doing the same thing? Parents are the childs number one role model and that’’s who the child looks up to. So if the child sees mommy and daddy doing it, then it must be okay. That is how children think. I think a lot of parents’’ wait until the child is a teenager to try and teach the child right from wrong. People say that when a child is one or two years old, that the child doesn’’t know right from wrong because they are babies. Wrong, children know and they have an instinct on certain things. ““You should be a good example to your child no matter how old they are, if you start from the beginning, you will have less problems in the end,”” says the Canadian Health Network. Another topic in these articles and journals is how you praise your child. It really upsets me when I’’m in a store and a child is acting up and to get the child to shut up, the parent buys that child a toy or something. That is just so annoying to me. My motto is, ““Don’’t start nothing you can’’t finish!”” If you are constantly buying a child things everytime he or she is acting up, then that child will constantly act up on purpose because they know that it will get them what they 2005-09-06T04:36:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Child-Spanking-Acceptable-27917.aspx List of Key Euthanasia Points  We believe everybody has the right to live or die  We believe everybody has the right to a decent quality of life (which is destroyed by pain)  5% of terminal pain cannot be controlled- sickness, incontinence, breathlessness  Passive Euthanasia has the same moral and practical effects as Active Euthanasia  We believe we have to control euthanasia by having a court to decide on cases but competent patients who can think and communicate by themselves should be allowed to die.  It is happening behind closed doors regardless- we should be able to regulate this  1 in 5 doctors in the UK have been approached by someone asking for euthanasia  Euthanasia is an act of 2005-09-05T23:19:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/List-of-Key-Debate-points-on-Euthanasia-Pro-27915.aspx Abortion as a result of Rape Only 1% of abortions take place as a result of rape. This is still 460 000 abortions each year. The decision of whether to allow an abortion to take place on the grounds of ‘rape’ has been one that has been debated over for many years. A rape of a young girl in 1938 by British soldiers led to one of the first well known abortions by a doctor (Mr Aleck Bourne) on the grounds of mental health. At the trial he was acquitted and established the grounds for rape to be one of the fundamental grounds on the 1967 abortion act. The grounds of rape which the abortion act takes into consideration: 1. The act takes into consideration whether the unwanted pregnancy will continue the TRAUMA for the MOTHER but also for the existing FAMILY. 2. It may be argued that any CHILD born of rape may suffer extreme TRAUMA of learning their origins. The aim of this act was to exonerate the doctor from prosecution if two doctors could give their assent on at least one of the six grounds for abortion outlined in the act. Judith Javis Thomson’s (great name) argument (1971) justified ‘a woman who is pregnant through rape having an abortion primarily on the grounds of ownership rights over her body. This view was subject of much controversy and strongly followed the common feminist view at that time Thomson outlined the following justifications for having an abortion:  Self-defence – the strain on her body justifies the killing of the child e.g if the woman is old or has already had many children.  Ownership - the body belongs to the woman so she can remove the child whenever she wants to. This follows the view that the child is part of the woman because she is inside her and that a woman wouldn’t have a problem removing a toenail if it was causing her emotional pain thus, she can remove the child if it is also causing her distress.  Order of Rights – The possible rights of the foetus are acknowledged but these are seen to be of less importance than the Mother during pregnancy. This view is of much controversy by Christians and Roman Catholics- we are all important in God’s eyes so how can one person be more important than another regardless of age.  Consent – The child has no rights 2005-09-05T23:11:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-as-a-Result-of-Rape-Factual-27910.aspx To Teach Abstinence Or To Teach Contraception The act of abstinence is taught by many teachers in American high schools nowadays as the correct and only way to educate teenagers on pre-marital sex, but does this education method actually benefit students or is it sending them a bad message? To me, I believe that schools, which are teaching abstinence as the only way to approach pre-marital sex send the wrong message to teenagers because contraception is also a vital part of the education because not everybody will want to take part in abstinence. Nowadays, teenagers are more exposed to sex on mass media such as the radio, television, the Internet and many other sources. There are myriads of advertisements that contain sexual innuendos and subliminal sexual messages and this has led to teenagers participating in more sexual intercourse in the 90’s more than any other decade. Abstinence should not be the only method that schools use to educate teenagers on pre-marital sex, they should be taught the alternatives to abstinence, which includes safe sex, and the potentially fatal effects of sexually transmitted diseases. This paper will analyze the use of abstinence from a functionalist perspective, which argues everything in society is done for a cause and serves as a part of the whole, with the whole being society itself. The newspaper article used was titled “One in three schools skip talk of birth control, promote sexual abstinence”. Written by a member of the associate press in Washington, This article as the title suggests, discusses how one out of three American schools do not even bother to teach anything about contraception and the prevention of pregnancy, whereas they are taught that abstinence is the only way to prevent pregnancy. Talks of birth control, pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases are left out except to talk about its shortcomings. The people who promote abstinence teachings are mainly the conservative and religious groups. The abstinence only programs seem to be most prevalent in the southern states and seem to be not very common in the northeast and there is a mandate by the American government saying that fifteen states require schools to teach abstinence until marriage while thirteen states require lessons about contraception and abstinence combined. These groups say that if abstinence is taught, a message saying that pre-marital sex is acceptable in society and wouldn’t be 2005-09-05T20:28:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/To-Teach-Abstinence-Or-To-Teach-Contraception-27893.aspx Benefits of Marijuana “According to a 1988 government survey, marijuana is the third most widely used drug used in the United States, after alcohol and cigarettes. An estimated 66 million people - or one-third of all Americans - have tried marijuana; and roughly 12 million of them are current users.”# Marijuana is an illegal drug that is grown throughout the world. It is used for medical treatments, pleasure, and things we use and see today. It also has many side effects, health hazards, and health issues. Marijuana is the term generally used to describe the flowering tops and leaves of the Indian hemp plant. “Richard Shultes, a Harvard-based botanist has identified three distinct varieties of the plant. The first of the three is cannabis sativa which is loosely branched that can reach a height of 18 feet. The second one is Cannabis indica which is smaller, more densely branched plant, often cone-shaped, and usually no more than four feet in height. The last kind is cannabis ruderalis which is a small dense plant with few or no branches that grows to between one and three feet in height and is indigenous in part of Asia.”# These three types are crossbred freely, allowing hemp growers over the years to develop certain characteristics in their crop. There are two types of hemp, a female and a male. The female usually produces more potent marijuana then the male. The higher the potency, the higher the price. Marijuana grows all over the world naturally and by farmers. Many doctors use marijuana as a drug for patients. “It is used for cancer chemotherapy , AIDS wasting , multiply sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, and many more. In cancer chemotherapy the THC in marijuana reduces vomiting and nausea and alleviates pretreatment anxiety. If you have AIDS-related wasting marijuana improves your appetite and forestalls the loss of lean muscle mass. Some of the advantages marijuana has on multiple sclerosis is it reduces muscle pain and plasticity cause by the disease, and may also help some patients with bladder control and relieve tremor. It can also prevent epileptic seizures for epilepsy patients. When marijuana is smoked it reduces pressure within the eye, but may also reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, exacerbating the loss of vision for people with glaucoma.”# Marijuana is also a help to people with chronic pains.# medical marijuana is taken 2005-09-04T20:09:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Benefits-of-Marijuana-27882.aspx Euthanasia - Key Points and Elements AGAINST As far as I am aware, all countries outlaw the sale and use of heroin. There is NO RIGHT to sell heroin. There is NO RIGHT to take heroin. These are just a couple of things for which no legal right exists. To people who say that physician-assisted suicide is a "right", as if that should be the end of all discussion and debate, I say there are many things that are not rights. Many of these are ones that would hurt the individual for whom you claim these "rights". Yes, there ARE cases where society must protect people from themselves- whether from addiction to harmful drugs or from compulsive gambling or from a depression or other mental ailment that dictates that they destroy their own lives. FOR Life is a precious gift that should be cherished, preserved, and enhanced in every way possible. But when the potential for meaningful, joyful, desirable life has been exhausted and every effort made to prevent the inevitable, we should make it legally possible for the merciful to show mercy to those who request intervention to end their intolerable suffering. Those who oppose the legalizing of physician-assisted death make arguments and voice fears that are formidable indeed. Nevertheless, I conclude that the stronger case rests with those who advocate the legalizing of assisted death under carefully regulated conditions. FOR We must allow all mature, competent persons the freedom to choose the time and manner of their dying. AGAINST Criminal Code; Section 241: Everyone who either consents a person to commit suicide or aids a person to commit suicide whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years. FOR Hope is a wonderful thing. Hope provides a purpose for life. Hope also keeps patients trapped in their mortal coils as they wither away to nothingness. FOR To take a person's life without their consent is understood as murder. However, many people with incurable diseases, or those with painful illnesses would say that they would rather die than to spend the rest of their days suffering. GENERAL INFO Active Euthanasia: An active intervention by a doctor to end life (i.e. giving a lethal injection or increasing the dosage of medication to speed up (or induce) death). Passive Euthanasia: Deliberately withholding 2005-09-04T19:10:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Key-Points-and-Elements-27876.aspx Human Cloning - Medical Breakthrough or have Scientists lost their Minds? A woman, at the rightful age of 24, has decided to have a hysterectomy. She lives alone by herself, has no kids or a boyfriend. One year after she has the surgery, which strips her of the ability to have children, she meets the perfect man for her and they get married. Now since she had the surgery she is unable to have children with her husband. Human cloning can give that ability back to her! Along with relieving infertility, human cloning will hold the potential for immortality, and be able to cure many “incurable” diseases. That’s why Human Cloning and its research and technologies are necessary and should be continued. Cloning could make it possible for many more infertile couples to have children than ever before by increasing efficiency through nuclear transfer (Cohen 6), sperm from the father could be transferred into the mother’s egg, thus creating a child. This is the same procedure used to create “Dolly” the first cloned animal, a ewe, in recorded history back in 1997. Artificial insemination, embryo manipulation, and more were once strongly opposed by the world but we have grown accustomed to them and have accepted them as forms of reproduction. “Cloning is but one of many high-tech methods of reproduction” (Nussbaum 271). Right now infertility treatments are about 10 percent Graves 2 effective(272) and the couples go through an intense amount of physical and emotional pain and suffering just for a slim chance that hopefully they will be able to produce a child. And in most cases they run out of time and money with little or no success. Infertile men are made to feel like they are not “holding up their part of the deal," while women are made to feel as if they are useless. Banning human cloning is just like banning life. It would be depriving those couples who wish to raise a child of their own genetic traits. This kid could be the next great President of our country or he could develop the cure for cancer and if we banned human cloning we would never know what could have happened. As far as curing cancer, human cloning technologies could hold the key to that question as well as developing a cure for many other “incurable 2005-08-31T22:00:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Human-Cloning-Medical-Breakthrough-or-Mad-Science-27850.aspx Drug Use And Abuse Mtf otherwise known as monitoring the future, is a survey where professional researchers got the classroom of High School students, college aged people to take surveys on drug use. The State of Michigan University, under a contract with the federal government, instituted this survey. Dawn is a drug abuse-warning network. It operates differently from MTF and the other organizations because it focuses 2005-08-31T21:58:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drug-Use-And-Abuse--27849.aspx Legalization for America’s Future When you think of someone who drinks alcohol once in a while, do you think of a criminal? Probably not. What about someone who smokes marijuana? It’s probably more likely, even though most marijuana user’s only crime is solely the use of marijuana. This is because current U.S. laws make possession of marijuana illegal and I believe these laws are in great need of reform. Let me start off with a brief history of the cannabis plant from which marijuana is derived. Marijuana (then known only as hemp) has been grown in America since 1611. Farmers have been using the fibers to make clothing, paper, rope, lamp oil, and canvas. The first American flag was made from hemp, as well as the first Gutenberg bible. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and advocated a hemp-based economy. It was not until the 1920s that the practice of smoking marijuana became widespread, primarily among Mexican immigrants and African-Americans. It was common belief that they were inhumane and violent, and that marijuana was the cause of this behavior. This provoked “Reefer Madness” which was a political campaign designed to scare potential marijuana users with grossly exaggerated stories and public hysteria. The American Journal of Medicine went along with it and wrote, “Marijuana users will suddenly turn with a murderous violence upon whoever is nearest to them. They will run amuck with a knife, axe, gun, or anything else that is close at hand, and will kill or maim without reason.” Though not as exaggerated today, people are still misinformed about marijuana. First of all, most marijuana users are not criminals. They are otherwise law-abiding citizens who work hard and contribute to their communities. They are not dangerous people who need to be locked up. Incarcerating these people actually builds to the problem instead of helping it. Federal anti-marijuana efforts cost taxpayers $30 billion with no change in usage patterns. $2 billion worth of cannabis is being seized and destroyed, 4 million people being arrested and 250,000 being jailed for more than a year. What is this all for? People with no other criminal record are going to jail; money is being wasted for nothing. Marijuana is still readily available and used by a large number of Americans. If the purpose 2005-08-29T02:38:21-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Legalization-for-America’s-Future-27817.aspx Euthanasia - Challenging Rules of Society The issue of euthanasia is tearing at the social fabric of the United States, as proponents and opponents attempt to answer a myriad of questions about an individual's right to die and society's responsibility in either permitting, assisting, or denying that act. The word "euthanasia" is of Greek origin, and literally is translated as "a good death." According to the American Heritage Dictionary, euthanasia is "the act of killing a person for reasons of mercy" (AHD 670). But the issue is far more complex and controversial than what a simple dictionary's explanation can possibly encompass. There are profound issues surrounding the act of mercy killing that are yet to be resolved in the United States, and internationally. The only way that resolution of the issue will occur is if a measured, objective and careful scrutiny is employed of the legal and ethical issues surrounding all sides of this controversial debate Numerous questions confound the legalities of euthanasia in the United States and in other countries. For example, how does one define what is merciful death? If legalized, how should such so-called "merciful deaths" be performed? Should active means such as lethal injections be administered at patients' request, or only more passive means allowed, such as the withholding of food and water? Should criteria be established as to what types of cases are legally sanctioned as mercy killings and what types are not? Does not allowing voluntary euthanasia violate an individual's constitutional rights? To date, US government agencies, legislators and leaders have not been able to agree on their answers to those questions. Still, records indicate that mercy killing is not largely embraced in the US or internationally, from a legal point of view. The Netherlands is the only international region today permitting voluntary euthanasia. Suicides there have risen three percent since legalization. Not only have suicides increased, but also controversy is brewing regarding whether the mercy killings are voluntary or involuntary. Opponents in the Netherlands are launching an initiative to repeal the law, claiming one in five cases of euthanasia are occurring without explicit patient consent. A survey released in the Journal of Medical Ethics looked at Netherlands' figures for 1995 alone, and found that while there were 3,500 authorized cases of physician-assisted suicide, there were 900 other cases in which doctors had acted without clear approval from the patient. In a follow-up report it 2005-08-29T02:18:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Challenging-Rules-of-Society-27809.aspx Teenagers and Sex: Should 2005-08-28T08:49:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teenagers-and-Sex-Should-Birth-Control-Be-Readily-Available-27801.aspx Fact Based Opinion on Capital Punishment The Debate over the merits of capital punishment has endured for years, and continues to be an extremely indecisive and complicated issue. Adversaries of capital punishment point to the Marshalls and the Millgards, while proponents point to the Dahmers and Gacys. Society must be kept safe from the monstrous barbaric acts of these individuals and other killers, by taking away their lives to function and perform in our society. At the same time, we must insure that innocent people such as Marshall and Millgard are never convicted or sentenced to death for a crime that they did not commit. Many contend that the use of capital punishment as a form of deterrence does not work, as there are no fewer murders on a per- capita basis in countries or states that do have it, then those that do not. In order for capital punishment to work as a deterrence, certain events must be present in the criminal's mind prior to committing the offence. The criminal must be aware that others have been punished in the past for the offence that he or she is planning, and that what happened to another individual who committed this offence, can also happen to me. But individuals who commit any types of crime ranging from auto theft to 1st-Degree Murder, never take into account the consequences of their actions. Deterrence to crime, is rooted in the individuals themselves. Every human has a personal set of conduct. How much they will and will not tolerate. How far they will and will not go. This personal set of conduct can be made or be broken by friends, influences, family, home, life, etc. An individual who is never taught some sort of restraint as a child, will probably never understand any limit as to what they can do, until they have learned it themselves. Therefore, capital punishment will never truly work as a deterrent, because of human nature to ignore practised advice and to self learn. There are those who claim that capital punishment is in itself a form of vengeance on the killer. But isn't locking up a human being behind steel bars for many years, vengeance itself? And is it "humane" that an individual who took the life of another, should receive heating, clothing, indoor plumbing, 3 meals a day, while a homeless person who has harmed no one receives nothing? Adversaries of 2005-08-26T09:55:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fact-Based-Opinion-on-Capital-Punishment-27789.aspx Violence and Pornography It started by way of messengers and scribes, evolved through the presentation of newspapers and radio, brought us together with television, and now serves us world-wide via the ever-popular Internet. It is the mass media, and even from the earliest days of its existence, it has contributed greatly in ways that both enlighten and enrich society, and ways that deteriorate and perplex it. It is not a surprise to learn, then, that the mass media is the most powerful source of information we have, and nothing else in today's world influences public perception quite as heavily. Unfortunately, however, most of what is broadcast or transmitted in the news today is with reference to the chaotic condition of our planet, or something else that society as a whole sees as detrimental or damaging. But the news on television is not the only type of media taking the criticism of society. Other forms of mass media, specifically movies and television programs containing pornography and violence have been heavily criticized. The underlining concept to be debated here is that society is negatively influenced, specifically, by these images of pornography and the result is increased violence against women. This assumption, and it is indeed only an assumption, is completely fallacious, however, as no concrete and completely conclusive evidence has ever been formulated in support of the theory. The key premise here is that the mass media does not cause undesirable social behaviour and in actuality, the media people should not be dubbed as the "bad guys". They simply use their power in the most constructive ways possible in order to promote their ratings and popularity. One way to do that is to concentrate on what sells: sex, violence and disaster. Having said this, why is it then, that many in society still believe otherwise; why do they continue to believe that pornography is "evil" and is a major cause for violence against women, specifically rape? There are many reasons for this misinterpretation and through the following few points, an attempt will be made to show that pornography has very little to almost no correlation with violence against women (of course nothing is "absolute" in society). In order to demonstrate this, it must be made evident that pornography is not "evil" and does not cause undesirable social behaviour by displaying nude women in sexually explicit circumstances. Thus, it is important to indicate that women 2005-08-26T09:53:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-and-Pornography-27788.aspx Animal Experimentation All the Way! An Animal Experimentation uses living animals to find out answers to scientific questions. People in medical research use animals for two main reasons: to make sure that medicines are as safe and effective as possible before doctors give them to people and to find out more about how the body works. Without animal experimentation, many of the most important advances in modern medicine would never have occurred. But for researchers’ painstaking work with animal subjects, deadly viruses like rabies and yellow fever could have become modern versions of the Black Death, and our knowledge about human health and physiology would have been drastically limited. Yet the overwhelming benefits of animal experimentation have failed to persuade one group of extremists. Animal rights activists, motivated by abstract concerns about animal welfare and well-being, have zealously asserted that the use of animals in medical research is morally evil and should be severely curtailed, or even eliminated altogether. Due to the proponents on both sides bringing strong emotions into the issue of animal experimentation, there have been fires and break-ins as well as the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on new alarms and electric locks. However, despite what opponents’ incorrectly claim, studies prove that animal experimentation is the best way to insure the well being of humans, since medical studies can be advanced in accurate manner. Opponents of animal experimentation are correct in saying that the psychological testing is inhumane, but are incorrect when preaching about the other methods of research that are available. It is true that the past psychological experiments on animals were unnecessarily cruel, since there was no immediate benefit for humans. Such as the experiment in which scientists designed mechanical surrogate mothers who would eject sharp spikes as the youngsters hugged them, in order “to gauge the effects of child abuse on young monkey”(qtd in Cowley 53-54). However, these types of experiments no longer occur for the most part, because of the recent law passed, governing animal care in laboratories. Nowadays, facilities housing dogs must let them exercise and those housing primates must provide for their psychological well-being. To ensure that this is being done all laboratories are required to set up animal-care committees and submit to annual inspections. Opponents to animal experimentation mistakenly believe that substitute methods such as cell culture and 2005-08-19T07:50:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Experimentation-All-the-Way-27738.aspx Our Starving Children, Persuasive Essay on Donation Many children of the world today are dying from malnutrition. The majority of these children are located in underdeveloped countries with inadequate food supplies. These children die from many types of diseases related to undernourishment and malnutrition. One of these diseases is beri beri. The children also die due to problems with the land, like famine. We need to help these children. There are the simple things you can do to make a difference. Beri beri is the inflammatory or degenerative changes of the nerves, digestive system and heart. This disease is caused by lack of thiamin or vitamin B. People who are generally healthy and border on nutritional deficiency will probably not show signs of nutritional deficiency. However, if a person is of bad health he/she is more likely to develop beri beri or other diseases. Illness increases the chance of nutritional deficiency, therefore third world countries, with many illness, are at higher risks. Even more so, children of these countries are at higher risks. Famine is one of the major causes of deaths in third world countries. It is not unusual for a famine to wipe-out millions of people. The majority of deaths during a famine occur among the children. The children are normally given small portions of food, if any, even though they need it the most. During a famine, a countries' food supply decreases drastically, normally due to lack of rain during dry spells. During a famine many of the people die of hunger, but most die from diseases, such as beri beri, scurvy and anemia. All of this sounds horrible, and it is, but there are actions you can take. First of all we can prevent all of this from happening. We need to get adequate food supplies to these countries. If everyone donates some money, many people can be saved. There are a lot of organizations with caring programs for sponsoring a child. The cost is normally only a few cents a day. You learn the child's name, something about them, and how they are getting healthier. The organizations save many children's lives. The children are given adequate nutrition, and sometimes even schooling. The children are also given shots and medicine to prevent diseases like beri beri. In order to make things better in the future we need to help our children. There are many innocent children dying 2005-08-18T09:26:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Our-Starving-Children,-Persuasive-Essay-on-Donating-Money-27723.aspx Should Illicit Drugs Be Legalized? When many people hear this question, they think that it means to make them available to everyone. That is not the case. I believe that through limited legalizations of illegal drugs, medicinal marijuana can be used to its potential, money can be saved, and the crime rate will decrease. . These are just a few things that will happen if legalization occurs. The costs for research and setting up bills for legalization may be costly but the rewards would be great. The use of these now illegal drugs goes way back in history. Marijuana’s first recorded medical use was in 2737 B.C. by a Chinese emperor by the name of Shen Nung. This emperor was the one of the first to use the drug to kill pain in his body. Marijuana was also used in A.D. 200 when a Chinese physician mixed cannabis resin with white wine to make a surgical anesthetic. Reports in the 1860s suggest that the use of opium was successful in numbing amputee patients. These drugs were early painkillers that work just as good and sometimes better than modern drugs. Only a few illicit drugs have medical benefits when used. For instance, the drug, Marijuana, has been known to be an excellent painkiller. As stated in the June 1994 edition of The World and I, Lester Grinspoon argues that “18 months of scientific evidence on medical marijuana and hearing testimony from doctors and patients has revealed that the active components of marijuana appear to be helpful in treating pain, nausea, AIDS related weight loss, muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis and other problems.” But these reports aren’t decent enough evidence for legalization. Further steps need to be taken. Everyone needs to be aware of the effects of drugs and the feelings that happen when used. When smoked, marijuana causes the user to feel less pain and have a higher appetite. Feeling less pain is useful when it comes to victims of arthritis. Patients that are infected with HIV also can turn to marijuana for help. When a person is infected with HIV, they lose appetite and therefore lose weight. This is called “wasting” and can be eliminated by the smoking of marijuana. Smoking this drug can be harmful in its natural illicit state. It contains three times more tars and five times more carbon monoxide than tobacco. These chemicals are what hold back the 2005-08-18T07:41:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Illicit-Drugs-Be-Legalized-27717.aspx Underage Drinking is a Serious Issue Nowadays When you let your 16 year old go to a party, what do you really think they will be doing? Playing board games and watching movies are not things that go on at teen parties anymore. The main purpose of going to these parties is not to beat so and so in a board game, or to see Brad Pitt in a movie. The reason why the majority of these adolescents go to parties is to get DRUNK!! This has been a major problem for many decades now, since young adolescents are more and more involved with alcohol everyday. Underage drinking has been a problem in society for a lengthy time now. Unfortunately underage drinking has been a major cause of death. Although many people consume alcohol for a number of reasons it is very harmful. One of the most common problems associated with underage drinking is, driving under the influence of alcohol. It was stated that, “ Although the degree of magnitude varied among the states and provinces studied the majority of research concluded that lowering the minimum legal- purchase age led to significant increases in alcohol- related automobile accidents among young drivers (Wagenaar, 1983). ” If lowering the legal drinking age increases accidents why would we even think to do such a thing. Previously when the legal drinking age was reduced, immediately the number of alcohol related automobile accidents relating to adolescents escalated tremendously. After reviewing this information an individual will easily see that alcohol related accidents are very common; and something must be done to guarantee that they do not continue. In addition to drinking and driving, there are many other issues, which linked alcohol to death. Intoxication is a major cause of death, which unfortunately many young adults have experience. Intoxication includes a number of stages. The first stage is “Happy”, the second “Excited, the third “Confused”, the forth “In a Stupor”, and lastly the fifth “In a comma.” The first few stages are not severe, however the last two stages are death taking. The fourth stage is describe as, “ Unable to stand or walk—approaching paralysis. Barely conscious—apathetic and inert. Vomiting, incontinence.” This step is crucial; however, the last is more severe it may be as bad as death taking. The final step is clarified by, “Completely unconscious—few or no reflexes. May die from respiratory paralysis.” 2005-08-16T09:23:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Underage-Drinking-is-a-Serious-Issue-Nowadays-27705.aspx What is abortion? Abortion is a way to end pregnancy. Sometimes, an embryo or fetus stops developing and the body expels it. This is called spontaneous abortion or "miscarriage." A woman can also choose to end a pregnancy. This is called induced abortion. There are two ways it can be done ¡X surgical and medical. Who chooses abortion? The chances are high that a woman will have more than one unplanned pregnancy in the course of her lifetime. Nearly half of all women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old (NAF, p.26). About five million women in the U.S. become pregnant every year. Half of those pregnancies are unintended. And 1.2 million end in abortion. The most common reasons a woman chooses abortion are - She is not ready to become a parent. - She cannot afford a baby. - She doesn't want to be a single parent. - She doesn't want anyone to know she has had sex or is pregnant. - She is too young or too immature to have a child. - She has all the children she wants. - Her husband, partner, or parent wants her to have an abortion. - She or the fetus has a health problem. - She was a victim of rape or incest. Can anyone help me decide if abortion is right for me? Most women look to their husbands, partners, families, health care providers, clergy or someone else they trust for support as they make their decision. Specially trained counselors at women's health clinics can talk to you in private. You may bring someone with you. You will discuss your options ¡X adoption, parenting, and abortion. Your counselor will try to make sure that no one is pressuring you to have an abortion. Does my partner or a parent need to know? Many women go to the clinic with their partners. However, you don't have to tell your partner. Either way, the clinic ensures complete privacy. If there are complications during the procedure, however, parents may be notified. More than half of the teenagers who choose abortion talk about it with at least one parent. But telling a parent is only required in states with mandatory parental involvement laws. Such laws force a woman under 18 to tell a parent or get permission before having an abortion. In most of these states, if she cannot talk with her parents ¡X or chooses not to ¡X she can appear before 2005-08-15T08:57:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-is-Abortion-27688.aspx Capital Punishment - Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right A man stabs a stranger in the back leaving his victim to suffer a slow, painful death. Should this man be killed for his crime? or should he be locked up in a cell for the rest of his life? I believe capital punishment should not be reintroduced in Britain because, in ending the life of the convicted person, we become murderers, and there is always the risk of killing someone who is later proved innocent. Furthermorethere is no evidence to suggest capital punishment reduces the crime rate any more than a harsh prison sentence. Firstly, if a criminal is convicted and given the death penalty, we are carrying out an act that is as bad as the one we are punishing them for. By stooping to their level we become accomplices to murder. In addition, somebody has to push the button or pull the lever. how would we choose that person? and what effect would it have on their life and the lives of those around them? It is hard to imagine how anyone could live with the fact that they kill people to earn a living. It must also be taken into account, that there have been cases when new evidence has been produced after sentencing, which proves the person has been wrongly convicted. No legal system is totally infallible and the risk of killing an innocent person is not acceptable. Secondly, punishment should have a purpose other than revenge. in civilised society the idea of "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is outdated. Moreover, as well as punishing the criminal, their sentece should deter others from a life of crime and make society a safer place to live in. In some countries the death sentece is still carried out, such as in some stated of America and Malasia, and their crime rate is no lower than that in Britain. Hence it can be seen to be innefective and demonstrates the need for other forms of punishment. Finally, the victims of crime and those around them suffer for a lifetime, so why should the criminal only suffer for a few seconds in paying for their crime? It is surely more of a punishment to be jailed for life, but life must mean until they die, not a sentence where they can expect to be released for good behaviour. Prisons should be 2005-08-15T08:40:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-Two-Wrongs-Don-t-Make-a-Right-27674.aspx Violence in Pornography Pornography - Just Sex, or Subordination? In the late Seventies, America became shocked and outraged by the rape, mutilation, and murder of over a dozen young, beautiful girls. The man who committed these murders, Ted Bundy, was later apprehended and executed. During his detention in various penitentiaries, he was mentally probed and prodded by psychologist and psychoanalysts hoping to discover the root of his violent actions and sexual frustrations. Many theories arose in attempts to explain the motivational factors behind his murderous escapades. However, the strongest and most feasible of these theories came not from the psychologists, but from the man himself, "as a teenager, my buddies and I would all sneak around and watch porn. As I grew older, I became more and more interested and involved in it, [pornography] became an obsession. I got so involved in it, I wanted to incorporate [porn] into my life, but I couldn't behave like that and maintain the success I had worked so hard for. I generated an alter-ego to fulfill my fantasies under-cover. Pornography was a means of unlocking the evil I had burried inside myself" (Leidholdt 47). Is it possible that pornography is acting as the key to unlocking the evil in more unstable minds? According to Edward Donnerstein, a leading researcher in the pornography field, "the relationship between sexually violent images in the media and subsequent aggression and . . . callous attitudes towards women is much stonger statistically than the relationship between smoking and cancer" (Itzin 22). After considering the increase in rape and molestation, sexual harassment, and other sex crimes over the last few decades, and also the corresponding increase of business in the pornography industry, the link between violence and pornogrpahy needs considerable study and examination. Once the evidence you will encounter in this paper is evaluated and quantified, it will be hard not come away with the realization that habitual use of pornographic material promotes unrealistic and unattainable desires in men that can leac to violent behavior toward women. In order to properly discuss pornography, and be able to link it to violence, we must first come to a basic and agreeable understanding of what the word pornography means. The term pornogrpahy originates from two greek words, porne, which means harlot, and graphein, which means to write (Webster's 286). My belief is that the combination of the two words was originally meant to describe, 2005-08-15T08:21:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-in-Pornography-Just-Sex,-or-Subordination-27665.aspx Marijuana Drug Profile Research Paper Cannabis Sativa (marijuana) has been thought to be an illegal and very harmful drug for many years. But as you read this report you will learn that marijuana has been around for many years (most years legal) and isn't as harmful as some people may think. Marijuana has been used for many things in the past, including medicine, hemp rope, crude cloth and enjoyment. Now it is mainly used as a narcotic. Marijuana is an illegal weed that grows up to eighteen feet tall with little or no cultivation. The plant has many branches that extend with large, hairy, pointed leaves with saw tooth edges. Marijuana grows wild all over the world and in some states and countries it's legal. Cloth and rope are made from the stem which contains a tough fiber called "hence." The mind-altering drug in marijuana is called "Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol," or THC. The mildest form of marijuana contains between zero to three percent of THC. Most of the THC is contained in the resign, which is secreted around the flowers, seeds, and topmast leaves. Until recently it was thought that only the female plant contained the drug. But it is now known that both the female and the male plants contain THC. THC stays in the body for about 28 days. Marijuana can be prepared many different ways therefore it has many different ways of entering the body. When smoked the THC goes into the lungs, directly into the bloodstream and to every cell in your body. The effects depend upon the level of potency and how much is consumed. The main effects of smoking are: the heart rate may increase from 80 beats to 150 beats a minute, the bronchial tubes enlarge and become relaxed allowing extra oxygen to enter the body, giving a "High" like feeling. There are no immediate physiological effects. The feeling usually lasts from one to three hours. Marijuana can also be ingested as a drink, cakes, brownies or many other foods. When consumed in foods the effects start after one half-hour and last from three to four hours. The potency of Marijuana has increased at least ten times or 275% since the 1960's. Marijuana can be measured by it's "therapeutic ratio," (the difference between the size of the dose needed for the desired effect and the size that produces poisoning). The therapeutic ratio in marijuana has yet to be 2005-08-15T01:21:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marijuana-Drug-Profile-Research-Paper-27655.aspx Both Sides Of The Abortion Issue During the past quarter century, abortion has joined race and war as one of the most debatable subject of controversy in the United States. It discusses human interaction where ethics, emotions and law come together. Abortion poses a moral, social and medical dilemma that faces many individuals to create a emotional and violent atmosphere. There are many points of view toward abortion but the only two fine distinctions are "pro-choice" and "pro-life". A pro-choicer would feel that the decision to abort a pregnancy is that of the mothers and the state has no right to interfere. A pro-lifer would hold that from the moment of conception, the embryo or fetus is alive. This life imposes on us a moral obligation to preserve it and that abortion is tantamount to murder (Kolner 5). In the United States about 1.6 million pregnancies end in abortion. Women with incomes under eleven thousand are over three times more likely to abort than those with incomes above twenty-five thousand. Unmarried women are four to five times more likely to abort than married and the abortion rate has doubled for 18 and 19 year olds. Recently the U.S. rate dropped 6 percent overall but the rate of abortion among girls younger than 15 jumped 18 percent. The rate among minority teens climbed from 186 per 1,000 to 189 per 1,000. The most popular procedure involved in abortions is the vacuum aspiration which is done during the first trimester (three months or less since the women has become pregnant). A tube is simply inserted through the cervix and the contents of the uterus are vacuumed out. The most commonly used type of second trimester abortion is called dilation and evacuation. Since the fetus has bones, bulk and can move, second trimester is not as simple. When as much of the fetus and placenta are vacuumed out then tweezers are used to remove larger parts. After this, or the beginning of the fifth month abortion is serious and actually induced as childbirth. That is, the mother is given substances which puts her into labor and delivers the fetus as she would a full-term baby. About 40 percent of Americans believe that abortion should remain legal and 40 percent believe it should be banned except when the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother or is the result of rape or incest. Also 15 percent b eveit should be illegal in all cases. Although abortion is regarded as a women's right, it should be banned with 2005-08-15T00:30:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Both-Sides-Of-The-Abortion-Issue-27637.aspx Americans Should Be Allowed To Carry Guns As president Bush unveiled a plan to tighten airline security, ranging from employing the National Guard at airports to placing more marshals on flights. Those are important steps, but they won’t be enough, especially since no one knows where the terrorists will strike next. The only 2005-08-14T00:59:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Americans-Should-Be-Allowed-To-Carry-Guns-27621.aspx 91 percent of Australian respondents said there were too many abortions. The Health Minister Tony Abbott has claimed that heath insurance statistics show there are 100,000 abortions performed in Australia each year- about one for every three live births. But this figure is misleading as it includes tens of thousands of dilatation and curettage procedures, commonly known as D and C, carried out after women spontaneously abort- that is miscarry. Obstetricians say the real abortion figure could be as low as 25,000. This is because the same Medicare item number is used for all abortions and medical procedures undertaken as a result of miscarriage or foetal death. As the uncertainty about matter as fundamental as whether termination rates have risen or fallen in the past decade suggests the abortion debate is factually undernourished. There are those who say we need to normalise the level of abortion in Australia but what needs to be normalised is the distribution of non-corrupted statistics. Late-term abortions represent less than one percent of all terminations, according to the Health Department, The majority of these are performed either because the mothers life is at risk or the baby is likely to be severely impaired- or still born. A number of late-term abortions occur after women have an amniocentesis, which is usually performed at 16-20 weeks. In Abbott’s tidy world of wishful thinking, contraception works perfectly. That way, those who fail to use it can be written off as reckless, narcissistic or plain stupid. Suzanne Dvorsk, managing director of reproductive healthcare provider Marie Stopes international states “Politicians should ensure that women have access to unbiased information, support and the highest medical care when making this decision” In February of this year it was revealed that right-to-life pregnancy counselling services run by the Catholic Church received nearly $1 million in federal funding this year – as apposed, for example, to the secular immigrant women’s health counselling service who receive an eighth of that sum. Some agencies provide information that is misleading. Women are told often that abortion causes breast cancer, where there is absolutely no evidence of that. The commonwealth government needs to increase resources into improving sex education for teens, collecting move accurate abortion statistics, increasing access to sexual health services and addressing the issue of contraceptive failure. In Victoria, the crimes act prohibits any person from wilfully destroying a child, who otherwise be born alive, of a woman who is greater than 28 weeks pregnant. Common 2005-08-12T10:05:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-The-True-Statistics-27598.aspx Unbiased Views on Euthanasia There is a lot of disagreement in the world about euthanasia, and whether it is morally permissible or not. As you read through this paper, you will see opinions on euthanasia from two different points of view. There will be arguments for, and against both of them. Next, I will continue the paper by letting you know how I feel about these two points of view. At the end, I will bring you to a conclusion by letting you know exactly where I stand when it comes to people asking other people to kill them, to bring an end to their misery. An Ethical Egoist believes that whatever act brings an individual the most net intrinsic good is the act that they are morally obligated to carry out. They feel that whatever is going to benefit their self-interest the most is the right thing to do. That is the question we are all trying to answer. When it comes to euthanasia, there isn’t just one person involved in doing an act, there are two, the one who chooses that he or she wants to die, and the one who chooses to help carry out this person’s wishes. First off, an Ethical Egoistic person who wants to die has to decide whether prolonging their life in pain or having someone else end it will bring them the most net intrinsic good. If they decide that ending their life will be better for their self, then and only then can the next step begin. The next step is to find someone who is willing to kill them. This person has to ask their self something too. They have to decide if it is in their best self-interest to end the person’s life. Will they feel guilt the rest of their life for doing it, or do they think it will make them happy to know they put this person out of their unbearable misery. Once they truly believe it will make them more happy to see this person’s misery end than to let them go on suffering, then and only then does the Ethical Egoist say that the euthanasia of that person should be carried out. Another moral point of view we will look at is the Rule Utilitarianism’s point of view. Rule Utilitarianistic 2005-08-10T04:37:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Unbiased-Views-on-Euthanasia-27586.aspx O.K. So you’re finally eighteen. You’re a legal adult! Suddenly you can smoke, vote, join the army, fornicate, or even die for your country.{Increasing legal drinking age} But wait! STOP! Put down that beer! You are still not old enough to buy or consume alcoholic beverages. No, you will have to wait three more years for that, until your twenty-one. Well I for one believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen. If we are considered an adult and expected to act like one at age 18 it isn’t right to restrict us to a drinking age of 21. At eighteen you can drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, take out loans and risk our lives as members of the U.S. armed forces.(crossfire) But laws in all 50 states say that no alcoholic beverages may be sold to anyone until that magic "21" birthday. Who says that twenty-one is the magical age that makes one intelligent and mature enough to consume alcohol? [CrossFire] Surely some adults abuse alcohol and some teenagers would be perfectly able to drink responsibly. While 21 may be the legal drinking age in the U.S., no scientific evidence exists proving this is the age at which young people can safely begin drinking alcohol. (Bryan Knowles) At 18, they're considered adults. Yet when they want to enjoy a drink like other adults, they are, as they put it, "disenfranchised."(Rally) By lowering the drinking age it would take away some of the temptation. Its not as much fun when its allowed! The most common reason for underage drinking is because alcohol is seen as “the forbidden fruit” or” a badge of rebellion against Authority” and as a symbol of “adulthood”.[Dr. Engs] In a study by Dr. Ruth Engs, Professor of applied health and science, found that by increasing the legal drinking age, young people tend to abuse alcohol more. In actuality raising the drinking age was much worse than doing nothing.{Dr. Engs, B} Drinking is more exciting when it is illegal. So many people go out and get more drunk simply because they know they should not be drinking at all. Leaving prohibitions on alcohol largely to the family is the best tactic if the aim is to reduce binge drinking by minors. We should also focus on safe drinking instead of age restrictions. Other countries like France, Spain, and 2005-08-07T07:18:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Lowering-The-Drinking-Age-27579.aspx Abortion is Morally and Ethically Wrong Abortion is the ending of a life whether the unborn child is one week old or three months old. Many activist have stated that is wrong for a women to have an abortion because the rights of the child are not taken into consideration. But is it wrong for people to decide what one women can or can not do with her body? It is a very hard topic to decide what is right or wrong. Is it wrong for people to consider the rights of an unborn child, or is it wrong to allow a woman to decide what she should do with her body? I personally could never have an abortion unless there was a problem with my health or the baby's, or if the baby was the result of a rape. To me there should be no other reason. However, that is what I believe and I feel that it wouldn't be fair of me to push what I believe on to any one else. It's a women right to chose; not hundreds of strangers to choose for her. If people want to decide for a woman they should just take away the right to think to, whether or not a women should have an abortion is a belief. If you take away a person beliefs if it's a man or a woman, you take away part of their rights. Even though I think a woman should have the right to choose, I think that she should also consider adoption. There are so many people in the country today that are unable to have children, and who are on waiting list to adopt. I know that giving a baby up after carrying it for nine months is very hard for a woman to do, but at least the baby would have a chance. I know that having an abortion is not an easy decision for a women to make, I also know that some people think of it as an easy way out. I would hope that these people would understand that this is a decision that a woman must live with for the rest of her life. Knowing that she got rid of something that was a part of her, and wondering what it would have been like to have the baby are things she must think about every day of her life. I will never 2005-08-07T07:13:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-is-Morally-and-Ethically-Wrong-27578.aspx Communication and the Media In western society, stereotype is commonly placed onto what Anglo-Saxons believe that they are not normal to their culture. Fundamentally, the media also play a part in how people "think" and generalise a group of individuals, based on the other's gender, race, religion, hair colour and so forth. This essay will discuss the stereotype that is reinforced in specific print and broadcast media representations, concentrating on three examples of gender-roles, blondes, and African-Americans, and what it tells about dominant ideologies. Firstly, we have fixed beliefs, opinions and attitudes that individuals hold about typical characteristics of female and male gender roles. These may relate to personality, where males are tough and intensive, while on the other hand, the females are usually the weak and sensitive (Williams, La Rose & Frost, 1981). A popular example of this is in the television series of "The Simpsons", an American cartoon series. In "The Simpsons", the man (i.e. Homer Simpson) is portrayed as a drunken, obese ogre who is stupid and doesn't know how to behave appropriately, or be a proper father figure to his children. The woman (Marge Simpson, the wife and mother of three children) however, is portrayed as a sensible, musically orientated, and fun-loving person (Jorian, 1997). Furthermore, Gunter argues that there are two major traits to female stereotyping; firstly, there is a severe under-representation of women in action-drama films in terms of actual numbers relative to the males. Secondly, even when women do appear, they tend to be portrayed only in a very selected range of roles. An example of this the James Bond movie "The World Is Not Enough", where he is the witty, handsome hero, while the female actress is portrayed as the helpless victim, even though she plays the role of a professional nuclear scientist. Moreover, women were more likely than men to be presented as product users in commercials. Women were shown more often than men in the home, as housewives. The nature of the differences in the sex-role portrayal was common and in accordance with traditional sex roles. Men were typically portrayed as having and knowledgeable about reasons for buying particular products, as occupying roles with the practical consequences of product purchases (Gunter, 1986). For instance, the commercial for 'Demtel', where a man tells the viewers about how reliable the product is. Where for the 'Continental Pasta' commercial, a mother prepares dinner instantly for her family, 2005-08-05T05:21:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Stereotyping-in-the-Media-27565.aspx Fannie Mae and Loan Discrimination The stock market crash of 1929 served a devastating blow to the national economy. Many people suddenly found themselves out of work as the nation spiraled into The Great Depression of the 1930's. Many Americans were forced to default on their mortgage loans. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a wholly owned government corporation, was established under the National Housing Act of 1934. Its primary goals were to provide an adequate home financing system through insurance of mortgages and to stabilize the mortgage market. In 1938 Congress created Fannie Mae to refinance FHA insured mortgages. (http://www.fhatoday.com/fha.htm) Fannie Mae has developed into a dominating force in the home finance market since its introduction in 1938, undergoing some major transformations along the way. The organization was privatized in 1968, while at the same time retaining a number of connections to the government, converting it into somewhat of a governmental - private organization hybrid. Examples of what make Fannie Mae unique to most other "private" organizations include being exempt from state and local income taxes. Furthermore, the organization is not required to register their securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to invest up to $2.25 billion in their securities, and to approve their issuance of debt. (Wallison, Nationalizing Mortgage Risk, p.6) Since the company's "privatization" in 1968, Fannie Mae has provided $4.0 trillion in financing to millions of American families. Homeownership is considered to be one of the major components of "The American Dream." Not coincidentally, Fannie Mae's slogan is "Our business is the American Dream." The company claims responsibility for increasing the country's homeowner rates by reducing the cost of buying a home. The company has generated a great deal of capital from investors as well as government subsidies to become America's second largest corporation asset-wise. "Keeping low-cost funds flowing to mortgage lenders to lend to home buyers in all communities, at all times, under all economic conditions" (Fannie Mae, Annual Report) is what the company states is their primary objective. Whether or not this is Fannie Mae's focus at all times is debatable. Aside from the stockholders, middle to low income loan applicants are the primary stakeholders of the company. Making housing affordable for working families is what Fannie Mae prides itself in doing. Most of these stakeholders' primary concern is the availability and affordability of mortgage loans. Fannie Mae claims 2005-08-05T03:32:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fannie-Mae-and-Loan-Discrimination-27562.aspx Abortion: A Life or Death Decision In life, everybody makes choices, choices whose effects can be temporary or choices that may make waves in one’s life permanently. In my opinion, abortion should be a choice that one is able to make. It may make permanent or temporary changes, but if one is ultimately ready to deal with these changes and can make the adult decision to abort, it the right given to us as American women. Many people believe that this issue of abortion rights is moral, but it is also a Constitutional issue. By the grace of the 9th amendment, women have had the right to legal abortions since 1789. This amendment not only gave these women a needed right, but also made life safer for the practitioners of abortion. Before this amendment was passed, doctors feared for their lives. They practiced in hiding for fear of “pro-lifers” coming to kill or harm their families. If these people are so “pro-life” how can they kill these doctors or hurt their families? It’s all a big hypocrisy. A hypocrisy also seen in many religions. Many of these religions disapprove of abortions as well. I have never been one with the church. A baptized Catholic, I have never really agreed with the teachings of the Catholic church either, their teachings on abortion, being one of the main issues that I disagree with. The church teaches that abortion is a sin and a moral evil. One who commits this “sin” will be excommunicated and could never have been a “true Catholic” if they have even considered abortion. This religion is truly merciless with their accusals and judgments. I completely disagree with this as well as many other points brought about by the Catholic church, but that is another paper altogether. The bottom line is that one’s views on abortion should not be based on how much one has been brainwashed by their church, but by the thoughts concocted in their very own mind. I do not believe that abortion is murder in it’s true sense. Murder, as defined by Merriam Webster’s dictionary is: [i:d9c23d0d35]murder: (n) the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought [/i:d9c23d0d35] Abortion is not a crime and it is not usually done with malicious intentions. Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe 2005-08-04T07:02:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-A-Life-or-Death-Decision-27548.aspx Abortion Laws in the UK Why we need reform - Whose Choice? It is a popular misconception that the current law allows for abortion at the request of the women concerned. In fact, abortion is legal only if two doctors certify that it is necessary under the terms of the 1967 Act; unwanted pregnancy is not one of these terms. Some doctors accept that an unwanted pregnancy is potentially harmful and will support her request for this reason They are legally permitted to do this Other doctors may be judgemental, obstructive and unhelpful, delaying women or turning them away in circumstances where another doctor would consider an abortion to be warranted They are legally permitted to do this By allowing doctors to exercise wide discretion and make personal judgements over women, the 1967 Abortion Act creates a climate of uncertainty and potential for unfair and arbitary discrimination. It places and additional, unjust emotioanl burden on women who may already be facing one of the most difficult and traumatic decisions of their lives The law must be amended to recognise that the only person capable of deciding whether or not a pregnancy should continue is the person most affected by that decision - the woman herself Why we need reform - Barriers to access Recent studies in the United Kingdom have demonstrated the wide disparity in the provision of NHS abortion services in various parts of the country; the level of NHS provision ranges from more than 90% of local demand to less than 60% in some health authority areas. And, of course, in Northern Ireland, where the 1967 Abortion Act does not apply, both NHS and private sector provision is non-existent. Some health authorities do not consider abortion services to be particularly important and accord them low priority for funding, which means they fail to meet the needs of local women. A woman with an unwanted pregnancy cannot expect to be referred for an NHS abortion in the way that a woman with a wanted pregnancy can expect NHS ante-natal and maternity care. Lack of provision may have grave implications for women's health, since inadequate local NHS funding tends to result in long waiting lists, or arbitary restrictions, such as refusing women who have previously had NHS abortions or are beyond a certain number of weeks of pregnancy. Women in low income groups are particularly vulnerable, as they cannot resort to the private sector in the event that local NHS providers 2005-08-01T01:56:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Laws-in-the-UK--27470.aspx Is Cloning Right or Wrong? Cloning can be defined as a group of individuals produced asexually from a sexually produced ancestor. The genetics, a branch of biology concerned with natural development and the study of hereditary genes, is used to develop one biotic individual from another. Although this method is not yet developed, it has been considered for usage in the future. Cloning has many distinct advantages and disadvantages, which need to be explored further. There are many advantages that come from this complex technology. Possibly, cloning will be able to advance the medical field in the near future. The medical field can become stronger throughout the use of genetic engineering; which someday could create amazing possibilities for our world. Another extremely useful application of cloning technology would be the cloning of tissues or organs for the body. With this we would not only be able to cure suffering and dieing humans but also expand their lifetime. The medical and scientific communities are currently researching the development of genetically engineered organs in animals for transplanting them into humans. This would eliminate the rejection factor normally associated with the transplant. Scientists have grown replacement bladders and implanted them into dogs. The researchers grew bladder cells and seeded then onto a bladder shaped mold, which formed an organ, within six months the bladders were fully functioning. Even though the tests were not essential, they showed the possibilities for humans who have lost their bladders due to an illness such as cancer. Cloning also shows that cells can be used to repair organs. Scientists at the American Company, say that human cardiac patients could have their hearts repaired with patches cloned from their own cells. This technique draws cloning another step towards creating human clones. As our population grows larger it seems inevitable that we destroy more natural habitats therefore creating more endangered species. “ Cloning populations of these endangered species has an important place in plans to manage species that are in the danger of being wiped out,” Says scientific American company. By using cloning we could avoid this problem and build a large enough population so that the animals do not have to become scarce. Another benefit of cloning is that it can give couples who cannot reproduce a chance to have a biologically child related to them. Also if a couple were at high risk for having a child because 2005-07-31T06:51:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Cloning-Right-or-Wrong-27467.aspx Will the use of a National DNA Database decrease crime or increase government intrusion into the population of the United States? DNA Conference So far Britain has taken full advantage of this latest scientific detective, but some are skeptical as to whether the United States will be able to handle such a controversial database. The FBI, confident in their decisions say that the DNA database, which holds the DNA of past criminals, will significantly lower the crimes committed by rape criminals and repeat offenders. The debatable section of this DNA method is that many feel it gives the government too much control of very personal information, possibly getting into the wrong hands and resulting in massive destruction. Britain seems to have completely gained from the database, and advocates the use of this system. Of course, if any advancement scientific or not could help reduce crimes from happening, the government should be behind it. However the privacy issue and safety standards are still there and must be recognized. On one hand, think about how greatly the crime rate will drop. On the other hand, if somehow exposed, what would some people do with this private information. This is databatable of course, but I feel that if it will help reduce crimes, making the streets safer, than I am all for it, consequences and all. More lives will be saved this way, and the government has control. Testing in Britain so far seem to be successful. “...if you could get them on the database early, you may prevent serious crime.” David Warrett, manager for the DNA Database in England, feels that the database is necessary in the advancement over crime. England seems to have leaped over their hurdles, and so far no negativity has come back from this program. What is to say that the government can’t try this out. Either way, the government from what I understand already has DNA samples, Rhode Island being the last state to set up the database. A lower crime rate is obviously what the US is striving for. This DNA program if successful could eventually increase the power over criminals, pushing the crime rate to an all time low. Of course there will be issues and problems that will arise with this practice, but hopefully nothing to severe that will escalate. 2005-07-31T06:26:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Will-a-National-DNA-Database-Decrease-Crime-in-the-U_S_-27463.aspx Should it be legal for women to have abortions in the state of Georgia? This has been a controversial question for many years now. Some people don’t even think twice about having an abortion. Others have a lot to say about the subject. For instance, not only is abortion murder, but it is also a sin despite the current law in Georgia. One reason why abortion should be illegal in Georgia is that the Bible says that it is wrong. Abortion is killing a human being. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex. 20:13 KJV). This is one of the Ten Commandments. The Bible also explains, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb. I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jer. 1:5 KJV). This statements shows that a baby inside of a womb is a human being. This contradicts what some doctors have said about a baby in a womb being just a fetus. Altogether the Bible clearly states that killing a human being is morally wrong. Abortion is killing a human being. So, indirectly the Bible says that abortion is wrong. Some things change over time. For example, the stock market changes just about everyday. Morals do not change over time. For instance, killing a human being is wrong. Abortion is morally wrong. It is like killing someone. Abortion used to be considered a felony and people were hung for this crime. It is no different today. Roberts 2 Like the Roe vs. Wade case, abortion has become a part of our society. The Roe vs. Wade case made abortion a constitutional right. In fact, this constitutional right is not even based in the constitution. The Court’s decision is riddled with contradictions. After hearing all this, Roe stated to change her mind. Roe used to be pro-choice-for abortion-she is now pro-life-against abortion. Even she, who used to be for abortions, has now changed her mind after hearing many people’s stories and seeing numerous horrifying pictures. Many women state that they have an abortion because they have been raped. The state funds abortions for women who have been raped. This could be a point that a woman would 2005-07-31T06:20:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-it-be-Legal-for-Women-to-have-Abortions-in-Georgia-27460.aspx Just when really serious things like war, disease and a bummer economy threaten to make the media business a rather dreary realm, enter the downfall by drugs of Rush Limbaugh. The drama has spawned comparisons (he's the "new Elmer Gantry"), compassion (he's an addict and we should show mercy even if he didn't show it to others) and vengeful rebuke (talk about hypocrisy!). Yet the truth about Limbaugh's fall may be more mundane than anyone wants to admit, Limbaugh included. Beyond the cultural politics swirling outside his detox room door, one truth is clear: What you don't know can hurt you, especially when it comes to a little pill called Vicodin, one of the painkillers Limbaugh is said to have used. Anyone who's had a tennis injury, root canal or — at least on the Westside — a bad hangnail knows Vicodin is good stuff. Not only does it kill pain but it also, as "Permanent Midnight" author Jerry Stahl said about heroin, "makes you feel so good, you feel like calling the phone company and telling them what a good job they're doing." Between 1988 and 1998, the number of prescriptions written per year for first-time users — most of them middle- and upper-middle-class — of Vicodin and similar powerful painkillers grew from 500,000 to 1.6 million. Some of the people who got those prescriptions have undoubtedly become addicted to the euphoria they produce. And yet this aspect of Vicodin is little appreciated by the prescription-writing medical community. That is because critical, objective information about the drug — the kind we are accustomed to in these days of long FDA reviews and dramatic advisory committee meetings — is thin at best. Hydrocodone (the chemical name of Vicodin's primary ingredient along with acetaminophen) is one of hundreds of older drugs that were introduced before 1962, when Congress passed a landmark amendment to the Food and Drug Act that gave the FDA much more power to oversee safety and efficacy testing. But buried in a series of tests done in the 1930s are a number of troubling facts. First, a primer: Hydrocodone was first manufactured in the early 1920s by the German pharmaceutical company Knoll. As its name denotes, hydrocodone is the codeine molecule with a hydrogen atom attached. At the time, Knoll believed hydrogenizing codeine might make it less toxic and easier on the stomach. At about the same time, the U.S. 2005-07-30T09:31:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/LA-Times-Essay-on-Vicodin-Pain-Pills-by-Greg-Critser-27448.aspx Euthanasia is often called “mercy killing”. It is intentionally making someone die, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. It is sometimes the act of ending someone’s life, who is terminally ill, or is suffering in severe pain. Euthanasia is mostly illegal in the world today. Euthanasia can be considered a form of suicide, if the person afflicted with the problem actively does it. The person volunteering to commit the act to that person can also consider it a form of murder. The positive side of Euthanasia is that it ends a person’s suffering in this world. Many physicians and psychiatrists believe that it may a humane act. From a virtue ethics point of view, it may be appropriate. What we seek in human existence is to be happy, and find happiness. Suffering from a terminal illness, or affliction, could inhibit one’s happiness in life. If the goal is to be happy, then Euthanasia would be an answer for this person. Euthanasia may even bring about happiness in that it is what the person desires and wants, in order to no longer to be a burden to his/her family. Also, Euthanasia would stop the pain and not prolong the dying process. In the utilitarian point of view we all have a duty to our happiness, and a duty to the society. Euthanizing a person based on the society aspect makes sense. With greater and greater emphasis put on managed care today, many doctors are at a financial risk when they provide treatments to patients who are in the dying process. These patients may also feel like not becoming a burden to the society at large, and choose to fulfill a duty – Euthanasia. If the person is in a coma or is brain dead, that person is no use to himself or herself, or society anymore. Euthanasia is a viable method to end an otherwise futile attempt at recovery. The family of the person being euthanized may not want their family members in pain – to suffer. It can be a family duty to do the right thing for the person and society. Depression, family conflict, feelings of abandonment, and hopelessness, are emotional burdens on family members seeing a person suffer. Committing euthanasia may be the humane act to do for the afflicted family member in this case. The euthanized person may even be of use to society in 2005-07-29T06:58:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia,-quot-Mercy-Killing-quot-27442.aspx Are The Threatened and Extinction Of Frogs An Indicator Of A Declining planet? Outline I. Introduction Thesis Statement: Is the amphibian disappearances or deformities an early warning of serious environmental problems? II. Origins a. Early b. Evidence III. Habitat a. Ecosystem IV. Indicator a. Detection V. Disappearance a. Arizona VI. Why? a. Diseases b. Pollution VII. Frogs a. Endangered b. Threatened VIII. Conclusion Disappearance of Frogs Amphibian populations are declining or are disappearing around the world. Scientists are impetuously searching for clues as to why there is a decline in our frog species. In existence for over 350 million years, frogs have survived through the age of the dinosaurs and through the mass extinction of those dinosaurs. Why now, are the populations of a unique, colorful species declining in rapid numbers? Some scientists believe that ultraviolet radiation is the cause. Others are blaming the toxic substances so easily discarded every day by large companies. Scientists have found that many deadly virus infections and a chytrid fungus’ are the cause of die offs. Amphibians have been in existence for over 350 million years. They were once fish, aquatic dwelling animals, and were the first vertebrates to evolve from water to land. Amphibians survived both the dinosaur age and the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. According to Neil Shubin of the University of Pennsylvania, there is evidence of frogs living in the Jurassic period around 200 million years ago. A fossilized skeleton dug up in 1982 in Arizona, was found in a layer of rock known to be from the Jurassic period. Wetlands are their primary breeding habitat, but forests are where they spend most of their non-breeding season. Amphibians have an ecological importance in both fresh water and terrestrial habitats. They are both predators and prey, and constitute great biomass. The role of the amphibians on wetlands or terrestrial ecosystems is not clearly defined; however, ecologists are investigating their significance in the environment. Since frogs breathe either partially or wholly through their skin, they are considered an indicator that the ecological balance is changing. They are exposed to the environment completely all the time and are more vulnerable than a human, detecting changes in the environment before any human has any indication of what is happening. Other factors making them a prime indicator is the fact that they dwell both in water and on land and they store contaminates, causing a high concentration of toxins to be found in their fatty tissues. This concentration can be 2005-07-24T03:46:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Extinction-of-Frogs-an-Indicator-of-a-Declining-Planet-27352.aspx Essay on the Profound Effects of Child Sexual Abuse For all intensive purposes, my paper considers the use of the masculine pronoun with offenders, and the feminine pronoun with victims, though I recognize that it happens either way. Imagine Think back to third grade. Think of the classroom you sat in at school, and think of the clothes you were wearing, the teacher at the front of the room. Think of every detail you can remember. Now try and fathom that same teacher, who you have grown to trust and admire touching you or other children in inappropriate ways. ItÕs disturbing, but it is entirely possible. It is a fact, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation that one in four females, and one in five males between the ages of 7 and 12 will become victims of sexual abuse. More disturbing is that the abuse will more likely than not, be perpetrated by someone close to that child (Reinert, 17). Defined Child sexual abuse is defined as sexual exploitation or sexual activities with a child under circumstances which indicate that the childÕs health or welfare is harmed or threatened. Intrafamilial sexual abuse includes incest and refers to any type of exploitative sexual contact occurring between relatives. Extrafamilial sexual abuse refers to exploitative sexual contact with perpetrators who may be known to the child (neighbors, babysitters, live-in partners) or unknown to the child (Wallace, 64). The problem generally with identifying abuse is the standard by which abuse is considered. Davis Finkelhor, author and researcher describes three standards to determine if a particular action a person takes is abusive. The first standard is Consent. A consent standard says that a act or a series of acts is abusive if a child or adolescent does not give his or her consent, which is permission while understanding the potential consequences of making a choice. Second is the age of the victim standard. Obviously the older and more mature the child, the more capable they are of giving consent. The third standard is that of community, for example, what are the state and local laws where the abuse occurred? Clearly not legal definitions, It is actually impossible legally, for any child has the right to consent to an adult for sexual activities. Legally, there are several varying degrees of sexual assault; first degree, which is sexual contact or intercourse with anyone younger than thirteen. Second degree is intercourse 2005-07-19T00:34:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-the-Profound-Effects-of-Child-Sexual-Abuse-27327.aspx Are gender rolls rightfully accepted by society? Most people understand that there are strict behavioral rolls that guide individuals how to act appropriately as males and females. These gender rolls dictating appropriate gender behavior seem to be predicting in how society sees the relation between sex and gender. Males and females have very different statuses. Often times ones gender is inconsistent with what society deems appropriate. In the book, The Last Time I Wore a Dress,by Steve Ottero and in the movie, Boys Don't Cry, by Janis Thomas imposed social control, "an attempt by society to regulate people's thought and behavior" (Ross,485), to discourage inappropriate behavior and to encourage appropriate behavior. When we think about sex and gender we often think of sex or gender rolls, which is "an attitude or activity that links society to each sex" (Ross,495). When boys play rough and get into fights, light their farts on fire, and roll around in the mud we often think of such behavior to be natural. When girls play house, see the need for a Barbie doll, and wear dresses, society thinks it makes sense. This is a prime example of gender roll in our society. Regardless of the differences in sex and gender most people see a relation between the two that enables them to develop strict behavioral rolls that dictate appropriate behavior for males and females. For example, it seemed natural for people 200 years ago that women should stay home and nourish the children while the men exposed themselves to harsh manual labor, labor which was then requiring endurance and strength, something females were not considered to have. Now these barriers are being broken. The idea of more men staying at home with the children and women working to support the family is more acceptable than ever before. Because men and women are perceived to have different functions, we set up markers to distinguish the functions and solidify them through gender role socialization. Research suggests that gender role socialization begins at an early age. Parents often sex type babies at birth and describe males and females in different ways. Fathers for example are more likely to engage in rough types of play with their young sons than their daughters. Females are often stereotyped as needing more help than boys. Young males get toy guns and females get dolls. Further research suggest that males and females already have a 2005-07-18T06:34:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Are-gender-rolls-rightfully-accepted-by-society-27326.aspx Abortion equals Murder It is my belief that abortion is in no way protected by the constitution. Back when the constitution was written, the issue of abortion was not a problem. Since then, there have been no specific amendments protecting the rights of those who wish to kill their unborn baby. Every year in Canada, over 100 000 murders never reach the courtroom. They never reach the courtroom because they are completely legal. Although abortion continues to grow, it is immoral, harmful, and actions must be taken to stop it. When a woman aborts, she is not only killing her child but is also harming herself. Legal abortion is the fifth leading cause of maternal death. Ten percent of women undergoing abortion suffer immediate complications, and one fifth of those are considered life threatening. By having an abortion, a woman doubles her chances of getting breast or cervical cancer. Aborted mothers will also suffer many psychological effects as well. These include nightmares, hysterical outbreaks, feelings of immense guilt, and fear of punishment from God. Abortion may seem like a quick fix at the time, but there can be many and harsh consequences. Even if a mother is willing to accept the consequences, she is taking away a human life. It is undeniable that a fetus is a human, and an individual. at the moment of conception, the fetus has a DNA that is different from his or her mother. By three weeks, the baby's heart is pumping its own circulatory system with a blood type different from its mother. Doctors measure the end of life by brain death. It is then reasonable to say that the beginning of life should be at least measured by the beginning of brain life. By six weeks, an unborn baby's brain waves can be recorded by an electroencephalogram (EEG). Between six and seven weeks, the unborn baby will respond to external stimuli, such as touching his or her face. While many people believe that a fetus is merely a mass of flesh, and is not nearly as complex as a human, this is completely untrue. By eight weeks, all of the body systems are present, and by eleven weeks, still in the first trimester, all of those body systems are functional. In fact, the body of an unborn baby is more complex than ours. He or she has extra parts, such as an amniotic sac, his 2005-07-18T06:28:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Equals-Murder-27325.aspx Euthanasia Whose Life is it Anyway? The issue of euthanasia has become progressively known about in America as well as in many other countries. There are many different questions that are asked about the legalization of euthanasia. One specific question frequently asked about euthanasia is whose decision should it be to end a life? People's judgments about euthanasia are based on misunderstanding of information, history, and misinterpretation of data that is presented (Emanuel 1). Definitions of specific terms should be clarified in order to understand and argue the issue. Euthanasia is the decision by the patient that his or her life will come to an end even when the life could be prolonged (Emanuel 1). According to Emanuel, this decision may include direct interventions, active euthanasia, or withholding life prolonging measures, passive euthanasia (1). People tend to make incorrect assumptions such as: euthanasia is the refusal of a respirator or artificial nutrition, the administration of drugs to a patient by a doctor who is aware that the patient will die but the patient is not, or when a doctor provides lethal medicine to a patient so they can perform the life ending process on their own (Emanuel 1). Historically euthanasia is rare because those who wanted to die simply committed suicide on their own and those who were seriously ill Smith 2 died anyway because of lack of technological advance (Heifetz 102). Therefore people cannot depend on history or information they hear because the correct information on euthanasia is not always given. I believe it is sometimes acceptable for doctors to stop a life sustaining treatment when there are grounds for assuming that it is in the best interest of a severely incompetent patient or one who is terminally ill. Of course there should be some guidelines to prevent the matter from going out of control. Otherwise people would be using doctors to end their lives for no real reason and then the issue would become unethical in the eyes of many. One thing one must worry about when deciding to legalize euthanasia is what criteria should the patient fit into before the process can be considered. According to Doyal, treatment must be said to be no medical benefit or too burdensome, but that may not be linked to the claim that the patients life is no longer worth living (1). We must ask ourselves what makes a life sustaining treatment no benefit to 2005-07-17T20:23:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Whose-Life-is-it-Anyway-27314.aspx Treatment on women in the Middle East Rationality has often been a valued attribute in Western culture, with the result that people may claim to be rational simply as a way of enhancing the value of their presentation. One of the central themes to be explored in this paper is the idea that what is rational and, therefore, what is irrational has received (and continues to receive) different answers at different times and from different people. The paper will focus on why and how women are treated in the Middle East. I will emphasize the examination of real examples of irrational behavior, but at the same time will show why the Middle Eastern men consider it rational. Human action is necessarily always rational. The term "rational action" is therefore redundant and must be rejected as such. When applied to the ultimate ends of action, the terms rational and irrational are inappropriate and meaningless. The ultimate end of action is always the satisfaction of some desires of the acting man. Since nobody is in a position to substitute his own value judgments for those of the acting individual, it is vain to pass judgment on other people's aims and violations. No man is qualified to declare what would make another man happier or less discontented. The critic either tells us what he believes he would aim at if he were in the place of his fellow; or, in dictorial arrogance blithely disposing of his fellow's will and aspirations, declares what condition of this other man would better suit himself, the critic. It is usual to call an action irrational if it aims, at the well being of another human being. In this sense people say, for instance, sometimes with approval and sometimes with disapproval, that a man who sacrifices his morality, goodness, and moral instinct to the attainment of higher goods such as: religious convictions, honor, and political convictions, is motivated by irrational convictions. Given the status of women in society and the socio-economic structure, the prevalence of violence in the Egyptian community is not surprising, and by far exceeds previous expectations. Perhaps it is too far fetched to suggest that in order to redress the problem of violence, the entire social structure, laws and manner of thinking must be changed. The role of women in society must be reviewed within the family and the community at large, enforced through the media, education and through 2005-07-14T18:51:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Treatment-of-Women-in-the-Middle-East-27304.aspx Judith Thomson's take on Abortion, It is the Woman's Choice Abortion is an extremely complex and highly debated public issue that has consumed much of the American social and political arena in the late twentieth century. People on both sides of the debate present strong arguments that establish valid points. Society clearly states that child abuse and the murder of one's child is illegal, but does allow abortion. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, the fine line that exists between abortion and murder will be discussed and debated for decades to come. In Judith Thomson's article, "A Defense of Abortion," she argues that abortion can be morally justified in some instances, but not all cases. Clearly, in her article, Thomson argues, "…while I do argue that abortion is not impermissible, I do not argue that is always permissible" (163). Thomson feels that when a woman has been impregnated due to rape, and when a pregnancy threatens the life of a mother, abortion is morally justifiable. In order to help readers understand some of the moral dilemmas raised by abortion, Thomson creates numerous stories that possess many of the same problems. Thomson begins her argument by questioning the validity of the argument proposed by anti-abortion activists. Thomson explains that "most opposition to abortion relies on the premise that the fetus is a human being….from the moment of conception" (153). Thomson thinks this is a premise that is strongly argued for, although she also feels it is argued for "not well" (153). According to Thomson, anti-abortion proponents argue that fetuses are persons, and since all persons have a right to life, fetuses also posses a right to life. Regardless, Thomson argues that one can grant that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception, with a right to life, and still prove that abortion can be morally justified. In order to prove this argument Thomson proposes the example of "the sick violinist." According to this story, Thomson explains, imagine that one morning you wake up and find yourself in bed surgically attached to a famous unconscious violinist. The violinist has a fatal kidney ailment, and your blood type is the only kind that matches that of the violinist. You have been kidnapped by music lovers and surgically attached to the violinist. If you remove yourself from the violinist, he will die, but the good news is that he only 2005-07-11T06:30:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Judith-Thomson-s-take-on-Abortion-It-is-the-Woman-s-Choice-27294.aspx Alcoholism Growing up in a household with an alcoholic parent results in one of the most strenuous relationships that a child can face. Not only do the children have to deal with their own problems as they grow up, they feel the added responsibility of helping their parents function on a daily basis. There are steps that children can take to help their parents achieve sobriety while learning about alcoholism themselves. First and foremost is helping parents face the fact that they do have a problem. Secondly, children can encourage their parents to consider Alcoholics Anonymous, and finally help keep them focused on the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Unfortunately alcoholics say over and over that they can control their drinking. They say they only drink because they are under pressure, they had a rough day at work, they are going through a rough relationship, or one of a million other excuses. In reality, none of these excuses are true; they drink because they cannot face their problems without the alcohol. "A frequent component of the disease is the alcoholic's belief that drinking is necessary to cope with life. In an alcoholic's confused mind, the need to drink may literally seem like a matter of life or death"(www.alcoholics-anonymous.com). The child in a relationship with an alcoholic parent must realize that alcoholism is a disease, and not a question of willpower. This realization not only helps the alcoholic parent, but the child as well because the child realizes that the parent is not drinking to hurt them, but because they just cannot control themselves. Another pivotal point in the relationship between the child and alcoholic parent is getting the parent to attend AA Meetings. The parent may have tried many, many times to control their drinking on their own without success. This often leads them to frustration which they see as another excuse to drink. The child may at times find it difficult to admit that their parent is an alcoholic and go along with their excuses to drink. This only makes the child an "enabler" which means they enable them by believing their excuses. After a child sees so many binges, so many broken promises, so many lost jobs, relationships and so much instability, they realize they must get the parent to see that they need help. They need the structure that AA Meetings can provide. Where other people with the same 2005-07-11T05:48:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Growing-Up-in-a-Household-wit-han-Alcoholic-Parent-27286.aspx Should Native American tribes be allowed to use peyote as part of their religious practices? Peyote is one type of cactus grown in southwestern U.S. and in neighboring parts of Mexico. The active ingredient in peyote is mescaline, a somewhat potent hallucinogenic chemical. It has the capability of being a psychoactive drug causing the user to change what he/she sees, thinks, and feels. Down through the centuries, it has been used as a painkiller, a stimulant, and a spiritual tool in religious ceremonies. As a controlled substance, not unlike marijuana and LSD, its use is illegal except by the Native American Churches (NAC)- only for the purposes of their religious ceremonies. All other users could be fined and imprisoned. The use of peyote is rich in tradition, dating back 7,000 to 10,000 years ago according to some experts. Spiritually, it's been linked with deer and corn as gifts from the gods. Peyote is so deeply rooted in the Native American culture that modern pragmatists see it as virtually impossible to wean the Indian user away from its use; thus ceding the legality of its use, specifically for religious purposes. The addiction effect of mind-altering drugs is one of the reasons why societies and their political and religious leaders discourage its use. Some of the side effects are thought to be devastating to reason and will. Scientists have studied the psychological and physiological effects for many years. Yet, the use of peyote has been, and remains to this day, so ingrained in the Native American lore and culture that even though many Indians were converted to Christianity years ago, they'll tie in patron saints with its use. However, not all Native Americans use peyote though they understand its use by specific tribes. Interestingly enough, when the attempt to teach the young Native American the ways of the white man in an effort to have them forget their own traditions, it didn't always work. In the contrary, oftentimes intertribal friendships were formed in schools, paving the way for the spread of peyote use. Incidentally, there's no medical evidence that peyote is additive, in fact, it is seen as a cure to alcoholism in many tribes. Superstition ran in both directions in by gone times. Though the users of peyote praised its values in their religious rites, there were others who looked upon its use as evil and misguided at best. Those were the ones 2005-07-11T05:34:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Native-American-tribes-be-allowed-to-use-Peyote-27284.aspx Beyond Comprehension "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."(United States Declaration of Independence) Roe V. Wade, January 22, 1973. A split 5-4 decision forever changed and prevented many lives. Now, because of this monumental decision, abortion is legal, on demand, whenever the woman wants one. Did the court make an educated and reasonable decision? Or did they overstep their bounds? On July 9, 1968, the 14th Amendment was passed into law to protect freed slaves in their quest for "liberty." In his opinion in Roe v. Wade, Justice Blackbum stated, "This right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or, as the District Court determined, in the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy." In the 14th Amendment, section 1, it states, "...nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The 9th Amendment states, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." In the dissenting opinion of Roe v. Wade, Justice White wrote, "With all due respect, I dissent. I find nothing in the language or history of the Constitution to support the Court's judgment. The Court simply fashions and announces a new constitutional right for pregnant mothers and, with scarcely any reason or authority for its action, invests that right with sufficient substance to override most existing state abortion statutes." He continued, "The Court apparently values the convenience of the pregnant mother more than the continued existence and development of the life or potential life that she carries." Upon reading this paper, you have reviewed the exact wording of the portion of the United States Constitution pertaining to the abortion issue. You have now also read portions of both opinions of the court. So how do you decide which side is right? Consider the Pro Abortion stance. As Justice White also included, "At the heart of the controversy in these cases are those recurring pregnancies that pose no danger whatsoever to 2005-07-10T04:57:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Beyond-Comprehension-27278.aspx Euthanasia: Who has the Right to Decide? [i:d77656f8d3] The fear not merely of death but of vegetating encrust- ed with tubes, respirator, and pacemaker drugged into stupor or mindlessness and nevertheless alive, some- times agonizingly so - in short, the fear of ending in a 'living death' - has made many converts to the cause of euthanasia. Their position can be summed up in a single cry: Death with dignity. (Kluge, 42)[/i:d77656f8d3] In December of 1979, on a lonely two-lane road, Gary Fickler, a 23-year-old Kewaskum, Wisconsin man, lost control of his vehicle after hitting a patch of ice. The car flipped over trapping Gary inside. When medical help arrived approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, Gary was pulled from his car and his breathing was restored with the help of a respirator; his brain had been without oxygen during this time. Gary was admitted to the hospital listed as brain dead, meaning there was a cessation of activity of the brain. Gary never thought about something like this happening to him. He never planned ahead for his death. He never thought about power of attorney or a living will. After the doctors confirmed to Mr. & Mrs. Fickler that Gary would not survive without life-support machinery, the Ficklers discussed the removing of all tubes that would prolong their son's life. They wanted their son to be able to die with dignity. Soon after Gary was disconnected from his life support he died. This story is from a personal interview with Stephan Bradford, Gary'' brother-in-law, is not an uncommon story. Incompetent patients such as Gary, with no hope of recovery, cannot relay their desire to end their own lives; to make certain these wishes will be carried out family members need to be given the right to act on behalf of the incompetent patient. Patients also need to be informed of their rights and options for future medical care. In an article in Modern Healthcare by Lynn Wagner, nation- wide estimates show that between ten and fifteen thousand patients are existing in a "vegetation state." The approximate cost to keep these patients alive is $1.3 billion dollars annually. Rough estimates show that this could break down to almost $1,000 per day for a room and artificial feeding with additional costs of $24 per hour ventilator usage (36). Patients kept alive with the help of machinery and tubes might consider death a relief. Some believe that 2005-07-10T01:01:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Who-has-the-Right-to-Decide-27272.aspx A New Age of Discrimination Many upcoming high school graduates have aspirations of continuing his or her education at a major university. In order to become accepted into a college of one’s choice, he or she must dedicate time and efforts to obtain the grades required. People have been taught that through hard work and dedication comes the reward of a better future. Although this seems to be the ideal and just situation, our nation has made the effort to give more equality to the minority groups through affirmative action. At the time when affirmative action was first introduced, it may have been the most plausible reparation; however, many Americans in both majority and minority groups are feeling the repercussions of the act. Affirmative action has evolved into a road block for hard-working students who strive for a good education more than it has helped the minority groups (“Negative”). Affirmative action was adopted to create opportunities for minority groups but, in turn, has created reverse discrimination and preferential treatment in college admissions. There is evidence to show affirmative action has not met its expectation, but first, its history will help to give a better understanding. Affirmative action by definition, according to WordNet 2.0, is a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and education opportunities. The United States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit segregation in public accommodations and discrimination in education and employment. Afterward, on “September 25, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the Executive Order #11246, which required federal contractors to take ‘affirmative action’ to remedy past discrimination against African Americans” (“United”). Without realizing it, President Johnson took part in a very discriminating act. The Civil Rights Act passed during a time when minorities felt as though they deserved retribution for the many years of suffering they endured. America’s effort to rectify this led to affirmative action, which allows women and minorities not to be overlooked in college admissions. Many see this as a step toward the end of racism; however, many Americans, including those of minorities, view affirmative action as an “. . . attempt to end discrimination with discrimination” (“Affirmative”). Furthermore, it somewhat indicates minorities are incapable of accomplishing such goals on their own. History tells the purpose behind 2005-06-25T19:33:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Affirmative-Action--27131.aspx Television and Violence in Children Thesis Statement: Television plays a major role in the lives of Americans, but affects children the most. Introduction I. Violence A. Murder B. Sex C. Vulgarity D. Suiside II. Viewed by A. Children B. Teens III. Used as babysitter A. Hours B. Reason Conclusion Today's society is heavily influenced by television. The violence disrupts a child's learning process and can alter the moral beliefs that an older person has. Children view more violence on Saturday mornings than any other time. The cartoons aimed at little children influence youngsters to mimic violent acts because their parents do not fully explain the effects of the stunts. It is pathetic that in such a technology based society, such a simple thing as television can have a negative effect on people. Before Television, Americans followed simple laws, believed heavily in God, were honest, and never locked their doors because they felt safe and were happy to help someone in need. TV gradually turned us into the society we have today. We break laws as if there are no consequences, many people don't believe in God, or even attend a religious service. We lock our houses, cars, and anything worth money, because we are scared of theft. We leave people in trouble to fend for themselves, we do not have the common courtesy to help anyone. (Wheeler 84) Liquor, drugs, sex, and suicide prematurely dazzle millions of people as they see it on TV. (Wheeler 23) Violence has been entering Prime Time TV. John Grisham's "The Client" as shown on CBS shows two corpses and two murders in on the first 15 minutes. (Silver 2) This goes to show that the average American child will have watched 8000 depictions of murder by the time they finish 6th grade. (Abelard 1) Abelard goes on to say, If you think wall to wall violence on TV has no effect, then why would manufacturers purchase 30 second blocks to advertise their products? (2) Mark Silver says "Raunchy family fare is nothing new."(2) He also reports that sex is gingerly mentioned in the media. There is soap-opera sex, talk-show sex subjects, and many more sex 2005-06-21T23:08:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Television-and-Violence-in-Children-27121.aspx Capital Punishment Many positions can be defended when debating the issue of capital punishment. In Jonathan Glover's essay "Executions," he maintains that there are three views that a person may have in regard to capital punishment: the retributivist, the absolutist, and the utilitarian. Although Glover recognizes that both statistical and intuitive evidence cannot validate the benefits of capital punishment, he can be considered a utilitarian because he believes that social usefulness is the only way to justify it. Martin Perlmutter on the other hand, maintains the retributivist view of capital punishment, which states that a murderer deserves to be punished because of a conscious decision to break the law with knowledge of the consequences. He even goes as far to claim that just as a winner of a contest has a right to a prize, a murderer has a right to be executed. Despite the fact that retributivism is not a position that I maintain, I agree with Perlmutter in his claim that social utility cannot be used to settle the debate about capital punishment. At the same time, I do not believe that retributivism justifies the death penalty either. In Martin Perlmutter's essay "Desert and Capital Punishment," he attempts to illustrate that social utility is a poor method of evaluating the legitimacy of it. Perlmutter claims that a punishment must be "backward looking," meaning that it is based on a past wrongdoing. A utilitarian justification of capital punishment strays from the definition of the term "punishment" because it is "forward looking." An argument for social utility maintains that the death penalty should result in a greater good and the consequences must outweigh the harm, thereby increasing overall happiness in the world. Perlmutter recognizes the three potential benefits of a punishment as the rehabilitation of an offender, protection for other possible victims, and deterring other people from committing the same crime. The death penalty however, obviously does not rehabilitate a victim nor does it do a better job at protecting other potential victims than life imprisonment. Since a punishment must inflict harm on an individual, deterrence is the only argument that utilitarians can use to defend the death penalty. The question then arises as to whether capital punishment actually deters people from committing the same crime. Jonathan Glover attempts to answer this question in his essay titled "Executions." According 2005-06-21T22:35:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Captial-Punishment-Absolutism-Denounces-It-27118.aspx Too Old to Drive With the aging of the baby boomers, a large segment of the American population is reaching senior citizen status. Modern technology, combined with the large numbers of the post WW II babies, has led us to expect that the number of Americans over the age of 65 will steadily increase in the next few years. These citizens will be functioning in communities all over America. Senior Americans will be driving to visit friends, shop, and dine out, and even running car pools. Our highways will have an increased number of senior drivers. It is a fact that as we age our mental and physical abilities decrease. Due to a depreciation of mental and physical abilities associated with aging, senior citizens should be forced to annually show competency in the safe operation a motor vehicle in order to retain their license. One of the physical limitations of older citizens is a limited range of motion. In most situations, it is necessary to have a full range of motion to operate a motor vehicle safely. When driving, it is important to be able to turn the steering wheel accurately. Precise steering is necessary to navigate through traffic. It is a necessity for the driver to be able to turn his head when backing a motor vehicle. The Tennessee Driving Manual suggests that when backing a vehicle, the driver should turn and look over his right shoulder. Because senior citizens have decreased mobility, proving their competency in this area will ensure that they are physically able to operate a vehicle safely. If someone is unable to perform these aforementioned functions, then this person need not have a driver's license. Driving is a skill that relies heavily on the sense of sight. If an individual's eyesight has diminished, he is a hazard to himself and every other driver on the road with him. An annual eye exam should definitely be a part of the driver license exam and a requirement for senior citizens to retain their driver's license. Mental alertness is a must to be able to operate a car safely. Almost any driver could give testimony to being in a situation that could have been a collision, only to be avoided by the quick speed with which they were able to recognize and avoid danger. If 2005-06-21T22:20:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-Constitutes-Being-too-Old-to-Drive-27109.aspx Drugs and Nightclubs Drugs are illegal in most countries and the extermination of drugs has always been one of our most important worldwide issues. Ending the existence of drugs is one of the toughest and most complicated goal we face. With all the effort we put into the issue, why is there little success? Lack of effort is not a major reason the attempts are failing. It is the lack of understanding that leads to the misdirection and failure of the attempts. As long as a strong desire to use drugs exists, drugs wonft exterminate. Why people take drugs? Drugs symbolize power, states, freedom, and the ultimate ‘high’ in our world. Drugs can help people achieve higher states, more power and their success. We are not easily deterred from using drugs because we refuse to give up our dreams and goals, and often are willing to do whatever it takes along the path to success. The desire for the drugs is worth the risk of being caught. In reality, the risk of getting caught is extremely few. Therefore, many people are willing to risk getting caught because the benefits of drugs outweigh the risks. ‘Drugs are always been closely linked to the entertainment industry. Nightclubs have become the ideal place to administer drugs. In this essay I would discuss ‘Club drugs’ which are used popular in nightclubs. GHB (gemma hydroxybutyrate) is surfacing on the street, in private nightclub and on the body builder scene. A central nerveous system depressant, GHB has been leagally used as and anesthetic, and for treatment of majour. The main date rape drug is Rohypnol, it is also known as ‘Roofies’. It is similar to Valium, but then times more powerful. Rohypnnol is illegal in the United States, but it is used in other countries prescribed for sleeping disorders. It is usually found in a small odorless, tasteless white pill that can be crushed up and easily dropped into a drink. it dissolves fast making hard to detect. It can also be found in a liquid form, which are rare, but can make it harder to detect. Effects of Rohypnol usually occur within twenty to thirty minutes. The effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and being disoriented. It also affects motor skills such as walking, talking and balance. It makes one feel like very drunk. This is why it is becoming known as a club drug. 2005-06-21T22:19:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-s-the-deal-with-Drugs-and-Nightclubs-27108.aspx Human Cloning: Controversial Issues Paper In the article that I chose there are two opposing viewpoints on the issue of "Should Human Cloning Ever Be Permitted?" John A. Robertson is an attorney who argues that there are many potential benefits of cloning and that a ban on privately funded cloning research is unjustified and that this type of research should only be regulated. On the flip side of this issue Attorney and medical ethicist George J. Annas argues that cloning devalues people by depriving them of their uniqueness and that a ban should be implemented upon it. Both express valid points and I will critique the articles to better understand their points. John A. Robertson's article "Human Cloning and the Challenge of Regulation" raises three important reasons on why there shouldn't be a ban on Human Cloning but that it should be regulated. Couples who are infertile might choose to clone one of the partners instead of using sperm, eggs, or embryo's from anonymous donors. In conventional in vitro fertilization, doctors attempt to start with many ova, fertilize each with sperm and implant all of them in the woman's womb in the hope that one will result in pregnancy. (Robertson) But some women can only supply a single egg. Through the use of embryo cloning, that egg might be divisible into, say 8 zygotes for implanting. The chance of those women becoming pregnant would be much greater. (Kassirer) Secondly, it would benefit a couple at high risk of having offspring with a genetic disease choose weather to risk the birth of an affected child. (Robertson) Parents who are known to be at risk of passing a genetic defect to a child could make use of cloning. A fertilized ovum could be cloned, and the duplicate tested for the disease or disorder. If the clone were free of genetic defects, then the other clone would be as well. Then this could be implanted in the woman and allowed to mature to term. (Heyd) Thirdly, it would be used to obtain tissue or organs for transplantation. (Robertson) Cloning could produce a reservoir of "spare parts". Fertilized ova could be cloned into multiple zygotes; one could be implanted in the woman and allowed to develop into a normal baby; the other zygotes could be frozen for future use. In the event that the child required a bone 2005-06-21T22:18:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/-Just-another-Human-Cloning-Controversial-Issues-Paper-27107.aspx MP3 PIRACY The trading of MP3's or digital music over the Internet is always going to be prevalent in music, and it is an unrealistic goal to try to control. The cost of controlling the piracy issues over the Internet would cost record companies more money than what they are losing due to MP3 trading. The record industry is trying to fight the major sites and companies in court with copyright suits. Although downloading music over the Internet and playing it back on computer or portable digital music players has become increasingly popular, major record labels have been slow to embrace distribution over the Web because of the difficultly in preventing unauthorized - and unpaid - copying of songs. (Quinlan 3). MP3 is a file format, which compresses audio files to efficiently store the audio data in files that can be easily downloaded on the Internet. (MPEG Audio Layer 3) An audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 specifications. Developed in Germany in 1991 by the Fraunhofer Institute, MP3 music files are played via software or a handheld device. MP3 files are identified by the file extension MP3 and require specialized players, which decompress the files and then play the audio files like a regular CD. For all practical purposes, mp3 files can be exact, near-perfect digital copies of the original recorded material. In other words, a mp3 file is a near-perfect copy of a CD and can be stored on a computer or other data storage media. MP3 shrinks audio files in such a way that sound quality is preserved, but the file size is significantly smaller than it would be as a regular CD song file. This means you are able, to download an entire song in only a few minutes. After that, you can play the song instantly. You are able to play the song as many times as you want regardless of your modem speed. Quite simply, the technology behind the MP3 audio format allows for high compression ratio and CD- quality sound. A Mp3 file compresses a sound file to one-twelfth its original size. (Kimmel 1). The main legal controversy involved with MP3 file's is that they are being traded around the Internet without the artist consent of the artist or record companies. It seems obvious that the use of MP3 technology does 2005-06-21T22:17:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/MP3-Piracy-out-of-Control-27106.aspx Food Irradiation Food irradiation has the longest history, more than 40 years, of scientific research and testing of any food technology before approval. Research has been comprehensive, and has included wholesomeness, toxicological, and microbiological evaluation. Worldwide, 38 countries permit irradiation of food, and more than 28 billion lb of food is irradiated annually in Europe. It is important to note that food irradiation has a pretty remarkable list of national and international endorsements: ADA, American Council on Science and Health, American Medical Association, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, International Atomic Energy Agency, Institute of Food Technologists, Scientific Committee of the European Union, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Although the US food supply has achieved a high level of safety, microbiological hazards exist. Because foods may contain pathogens, mishandling, including improper cooking, can result in food-born illness. Irradiation has been identified as one solution that enhances food safety through the reduction of potential pathogens and has been recommended as part of a comprehensive program to enhance food safety. However, food irradiation does not replace proper food handling. So the handling of foods processed by irradiation should be governed by the same food safety precautions as all other foods. Food irradiation cannot enhance the quality of a food that is not fresh, or prevent contamination that occurs after irradiation during storage or preparation. But, treating foods with the irradiation of gamma rays offers benefits to consumers, retailers, and food manufacturers such as improved microbiological quality, replacement of chemical treatments, and extended shelf life. The spices and fumigant sprays used on fruits can be limited and eliminated through the use of irradiation. This improves the quality of the fruit. Pathogens in raw poultry or meat can be reduced by a dose of radiation. Also, smaller doses can disinfest grain and produce and can slow down the natural aging of fruit and vegetables. This all results in the reduced use or elimination of chemical treatments and proves that irradiated foods closely resemble foods in their fresh state. Irradiation has been compared with pasteurization because it destroys pathogenic bacteria. Because irradiation does not greatly raise the temperature of the food being processed, nutrient losses are small and are often much less than nutrient losses associated with other methods of preservation, such as canning, drying, and heat pasteurization and sterilization. Proteins, fats 2005-06-21T22:11:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Food-Irradiation-27101.aspx Cloning Someone once said that if you give someone an inch they would take a foot. Biotechnologist would like to receive an inch of allowance from the government to start the cloning process here in the United States. The fear, however, that cloning may become too advanced is a relevant response. Cloning is the copying of genes, or DNA, of one organism to be used in the creation of an identical one. It is similar to genetic engineering, which is the manipulation of the genes. HOW IS CLONING DONE Cloning is said to be used for many positive reasons, but the fact remains that it has an equal, if not greater amount of negative side effects. Cloning is a field of science that is being taken too far and without strict regulations; it can lead to detrimental outcomes. Many people state that if cloning were available then the medical field be more productive and successful than it is now. The reason is that cloning can produce human beings as well as animals that can be used for testing. Testing that can lead to the discovery of the causes of damaging diseases and defects in humans and animals alike. The testing would be performed on the cloned humans and animals. PUT IN INFO ABOUT HOW THEY FIND OUT ABOUT DISEASES! Another supposed benefit of cloning would be the reinstatement of animals that have once thought to be extinct or are currently listed as endangered. These animals through DNA that has been preserved or discovered can be recreated. For example, like in the Steven Spielberg's movie Jurassic Park, dinosaurs were recreated through DNA found in a preserved mosquito, which had extracted blood from the dinosaur millions of years ago. Likewise, animals such as the Dodo bird that are extinct or the giant panda that is on the verge of being extinct can be recreated and brought back to life in the world. Finally, another popular reason that people are pushing to allow cloning is to aid in the production of organs. It has been said that human torsos can be recreated to allow for the use of the organs from the "body." These torsos could be created to match up with all blood types. In turn, the organs and tissue from the "body" could be used for people who wait years for 2005-06-21T22:08:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cloning-is-WRONG-27098.aspx Therapeutic Cloning and Stem Cell Therapy in relation to the South Korean Breakthrough of February 2004 Introduction Politicians, philosophers, lawyers and scientists have been arguing about it for years, but most recent headlines have reignited the simmering debate about therapeutic cloning. Having sent ripples through the scientific and political communities, this issue presents at once radical advantages to medical evolution, and highly controversial moral issues. It seems that the new prospect - using cloned human embryos for medical therapy - will take some time before breaking political and moral barriers to become an accessible reality. What are stem cells? Uses? The exclusive particularity of stem cells, is the aspect attracting scientists to put them to many uses for sufferers. Stem cells are cells from which all other tissue types spring. They are present in an embryo only days after conception, and their nature predisposes them as capable of developing into cell types that basically make up the body. Stem cells could then be grown into custom-made and perfectly adjusted organ tissue transplants, offering scientists the best hope for curing diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer and spinal cord injuries. How is it done? The process involved to reach this point is rather complex, and its final step involves the destruction of the egg. Human ovums are obtained by donation or abortion; DNA is inserted from other cells; the eggs are grown into embryos; and finally, the stem cells are extracted from the embryo, destroying it in the process. The stem cells would then be spurred to become specialised cells, and transplanted into the donor to replace faulty tissue. Actuality in the news But what is in the news that has made stem cells such a focal point in the last couple of days? Why are we revisiting the issue? South Korean scientists, led by veterinary professor Hwang Woo-suk, have created 30 human embryos through cloning, and have succeeded in extracting human stem cells for the first time in history, as reported in newspapers all over the world [...]. As to be expected, the debate is recharged. Morally While on the one hand sufferers and scientists are pushing for favourable legislation for further research, religious groups and certain senators are opposed to the final stage of stem cell cultivation - the destruction of the embryo. The vice-president of the Vatican's Political Academy for Life, Monsignor Elio Sgrecia, said "You can't kill human life in the hopes of finding medicines to save other lives. "[Stem-cell extrusion] 2005-06-21T21:58:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Therapeutic-Cloning-and-Stem-Cell-Therapy-in-South-Korea-27092.aspx When turning on the television, radio, or simply opening the local newspaper, one is bombarded with news of arrests, murders, homicides, serial killers, and other such tragedies. It is a rare occasion to go throughout a day in this world and not hear of these things. So what should be done about this crime rate? Not only is it committing a crime, but today, it is signing your life over to the government. This is a risk one is taking when he decides to pull a trigger or plunge a knife, but is it really up to our justice system to decide one's fate? There are many issues that address this question of capital punishment such as religion, the effect on society, restitution being denied, the possible "wrongly accused", and the rights of the convicted. But how often do these concepts creep into the public's mind when it hears of our 'fair, trusty' government taking away someone's breathing rights? The Bible states "Thou shalt not kill," and this being a sin should have to be amended within oneself. However, the Bible also states "Don't judge others' personal convictions." It is the government's responsibility to punish people that disobey the law to keep our world in tact but is it their right to take away their lives? It is a Christian's responsibility to point out to those who sin that they do so and this country, trusting in God as it says it does, should do just that. So if the government stands strongly by this statement that's on the dollar bill, may they line up all the liars, adulterers, Buddhists, thieves, covetous and murderers at the chair. If they shall look into this one sin as so evil may they see all ten commandments so holy. The society is so confused as to what is "right." More and more children are becoming murderers themselves. The reason is obvious: they see that if they kill someone they go to jail, get the death penalty, and the government, who they know as the "good guy" kills them for punishment. Lesson learned: the finger is pointing to its own actions. Learning morals is only as hard as people make it. Why complicate things? Some people think that restitution is granted when one is sentenced to the death penalty. However, if a loved one is murdered and his family feels justice in having the murderer done 2005-06-21T03:29:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-An-Action-of-the-Past-27056.aspx By way of background, we all know that corporal punishment (the physical beating of a student) in one form or another has not only been in the Bahamian schools system, but around teaching for centuries. It certainly is not a new issue but now the ever controversial topic is receiving more attention as incidences of escalating magnitude continue to arise in our schools, the question is now being asked, “is corporal punishment the correct approach to combat this problem”. This disciplinary method is strongly supported by the teaching society and the Ministry of education, but it is to be used as a tool of last resort. It is a saying that “if you spare the rod you spoil the child”, now more than ever there are not only psychologists concerned but many people are asking if corporal punishment is really the answer to the problems developing. The general idea is that more effective methods may be implemented in order to produce more desirable results without the use of physical force. In our schools today there seems to be more incidences where students have to be punished by teachers for offences varying in severity, corporal punishment use to be the correctional method of choice as it was found that this form of punishment ensured that even the most unruly of students were obedient, however alternatives are now being sought as no real results are being produced from this practice. There once was a time when corporal punishment was seen as a last resort and was only administered in extreme cases. An adult on their recollection of schooling experiences gave this comment, “As I recall, the only person who administered the strap was the principal or the vice-principal of the school. It was pretty much a punishment of last resort. In other words, you had to have done something pretty dreadful to get a strapping. Persistent rudeness and insolence come to mind as reasons for a strapping. Other forms of ‘abuse’ administered by teachers in those days included cuffing a student across the back of the head, rapping his knuckles with a meter stick or ruler and so on. All of that made quite an impression on me as I remember it quite vividly some forty-five years later. Presently this form of punishment is freely administered in schools, in some cases for the slightest of offences leaving no real alternative available for major 2005-06-21T03:15:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Corporal-Punishment,-Physical-Abuse-of-Students-27051.aspx So only one drink can't hurt at all. Right? Wrong. That one drink of alcohol and the decision you make to get in a car and drive, can lead you to killing someone, your own death, jail, financial loss, and much more. The most frequently committed violent crime in our nation is driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug (DUI). There are two choices that you make when you drink and drive: to drink (or use other drugs) and then to drive afterwards. Drinking and driving, among young adults, can lead to major damages, socially, financially, health-wise and statistically. Many people wonder why young adults like us, drink and drive, when they know it's illegal. There are three main factors to why young adults drink. The most major and common reason is peer influence. This includes unwanted pressure more generally and involves a social expectation that certain kinds of events involve drinking (Simpson). Secondly, there are socially-based reasons ­ these are more common, and relate to the ways alcohol and drinking are used to facilitate social relations. Some examples of these are developing trust with friends and exploring sexual relationships. Alcohol is seen to serve both relaxing and bonding functions within the peer group, as well as providing an excuse for bad behavior. The third reason depends on the person individually. For example, drinking alcohol helps with changing moods, coping with stress and feeling happy. (Institute of Alcohol Studies) What are the results of drinking and driving? Besides the most common reasons like accidents and death, there are two results. The first result is more of the punishment. You have four convictions if you are caught with a DUI. The 1st conviction is minimum fine of $300 and a mandatory 48 consecutive hours in jail. The 2nd through 4th convictions (within seven years) is a minimum of $300 and more than year in jail. Fines can go up to as high as $5,000 and jail time can be up to two years. Then again, if you refuse to take the DUI test or driving while license is suspended, you can carry a fine of $1,000, at least 90 days in jail, and one additional year of license suspension. (Torrance Police Department) Many states now have amended their criminal drunk statues to enhance the penalty if a minor child is the car at the time of the 2005-06-21T03:05:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/You-Booze,-You-Cruise,-You-Lose-27047.aspx Facts About Media Violence and Effects on the American Family In 1950, only 10% of American homes had a television and by 1960 the percentage had grown to 90%. Today 99% of homes have a television. In fact, more families own a television than a phone. Children spend more time learning about life through media than in any other manner. The average child spends approximately 28 hours a week watching television, which is twice as much time as they spend in school. The average American child will witness over 200,000 acts of violence on television including 16,000 murders before age 18. Longitudinal studies tracking viewing habits and behavior patterns of a single individual found that 8-year-old boys, who viewed the most violent programs growing up, were the most likely to engage in aggressive and delinquent behavior by age 18 and serious criminal behavior by age 30. Studies suggest that higher rates of television viewing are correlated with increased tobacco usage, increased alcohol intake and younger onset of sexual activity. (9,10,11) Potential adverse effects of excessive exposure to media include: increased violent behavior; obesity, decreased physical activity and fitness, increased cholesterol levels and sodium intake; repetitive strain injury (video computer games); insomnia; photic seizures; impaired school performance; increased sexual activity and use of tobacco and alcohol; decreased attention span; decreased family communication; desensitization; excess consumer focus. (9,21) According to the National Television Violence Study, the context in which violence is portrayed is as important to its impact as the amount of violence. The study concluded that 66% of children's programming had violence. Of the shows with violent content three-quarters demonstrated unpunished violence and when violence occurred 58% of the time, victims were not shown experiencing pain. (14) Forty-six percent of all television violence identified by the study took place in children's cartoons. Children's programs were least likely to depict the long-term consequences of violence (5%) and they portray violence in a humorous fashion 67% of the time. The Internet, a global "network of networks" is not governed by a government or private entity. This vacuum leaves no checks or limits on the information maintained or made accessible to users. No person or entity owns the Internet, leaving no one accountable for the accidents which occur on its highways. (15) The incidence of violence on the Internet is difficult to quantify because the technology has moved faster than our capability to monitor it. 2005-06-20T01:28:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Facts-About-Media-Violence-and-Effects-on-the-Family-27026.aspx SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MILITARY Over the past few years the military has experienced numerous complaints dealing with sexual harassment. The military has made it a priority to define sexual harassment, share some past experiences and to provide educational awareness classes on sexual harassment. In society today, men and women are becoming more enlisting into a variety of occupations within each branch of service. This being a new era in military history, I am going to provide you with some information about sexual harassment by defining sexual harassment, sharing some noted case studies and past experiences and lastly how and where to obtain more material to better educate our service members on sexual harassment. Have you ever been sexually harassed? This question requires a yes or no answer. Do you know what sexual harassment is? Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that makes someone fill uncomfortable or unwelcome in the work place by focusing on their gender instead of on their professional qualifications (Wyatt). It is very important to speak up and clearly say “NO!” Believe it or not, it is a fact that the harasser may not realize that their behavior is offensive. I will briefly discuss some case studies dealing with the military. In the public eye for over period of years, the Commander and Chief President Bill Clinton was the nations top story dealing with sexual harassment. In May 1998, Former Sergeant Major of the Army Gene McKinney was accused of 18 counts of sexual harassment. He was acquitted of all counts and charged with one count of obstruction of justice. In another story Brigadier General Daniel Porr was accused of trying to kiss, make sexual advances toward, stroke, or talk suggestively to his subordinate. He was later accused of conspiring against her to strip her of her professional power (Feminist News). In July 1999, two Air Force Sergeants were charged with “unprofessional relationships” with female students. The incidents that occurred were, both men having sex, sexual relationships, groping and harassing the female students (Feminist News). United States Marines in Bogota, Columbia, January 1998, were charged with attacking a woman in an U.S. Embassy garage demanding that she 2005-06-20T00:50:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/SEXUAL-HARASSMENT-IN-THE-MILITARY-27021.aspx Lysergic acid diethlyamide (LSD) more commonly known in our culture as “acid,” belongs to a group of illicit drugs classified as hallucinogens. Hallucinogens, when ingested, can cause severe hallucinations that may last anywhere from six to twelve hours depending on purity. Hallucinations are by definition “profound distortions in a person’s perceptions of reality.” The use of hallucinogens is not a new phenomenon. Psilocybin, peyote, and mescaline (derived from the peyote cactus) have been dated back thousands of years to ancient Indian religious ceremonies. An archeological dig in Mexico uncovered ancient writings, preserved by lava, that indicate the use of hallucinogens as long as four thousand years ago. Hallucinogens, especially LSD, were prominent in the hippie culture of the 1960s and 1970s, but their popularity declined during the 1980s, giving rise to harder substances such as cocaine. In 1972 it was reported that five percent of the nation, primarily under the age of eighteen, had experimented at least once with LSD. In 1974 that number had leapt to seventeen percent, and by 1979 the numbers were up to twenty-five percent. These numbers dropped steadily as heroine and cocaine gained popularity in the 1980’s, but with the 1990’s came another rise in the mainstream use of LSD. In 1992 nine percent of high school seniors had tried LSD. By 1996 that number had risen to thirteen percent and in 2000 declined to eleven percent. Acceptance of the drug has clearly risen as well. In 1991 ninety percent of high school students disapproved of even a single experimentation. By 1996 that number had dropped to eighty percent. As was the case in the sixties and seventies, the primary users were young white men and women, upper to middle class, who typically chose psychotropic substances as opposed to harder drugs. Although use of LSD was primarily white, young adults, use was also found in a small percentage of young Blacks and Hispanics. Albert Hofmann, a chemist working at the Sandoz Corporation pharmaceutical laboratory in Switzerland, first synthesized LSD in 1938. Hofmann was researching medical uses of lysergic acid, a derivative or ergot (fungus that develops on rye grass). Hofmann developed many lysergic acid compounds, the one that made him famous though was the 25th called, in German, Lyserg-Säure-Diäthylamid 25, or LSD-25. Five years after creating LSD-25 Hofmann ingested a small amount, unaware of it’s psychotropic effects, and opened up a new world. In his book LSD- 2005-06-19T16:53:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/LSD-The-Hallucinating-Drug-26986.aspx Facts: All Defendants were held in police custody and interrogated while being allowed no contact with anyone outside of the rooms in which the interrogations took place. None of the Defendants were fully and effectively warned of their rights in the beginning of the interrogations. All four Defendants gave oral confessions and three signed statements. This evidence was admitted at trial. All convictions, except in Stewart were upheld on appeal. Issue: Are statements of confession made by suspects to the police during the course of police interrogation admissible into evidence, or are there too many factors that may affect how “voluntary” such confessions are as to deem said confessions inadmissible? Answer: Yes Reasoning: The Court holds that the Prosecution may not use any statements of confession arising from police officers’ questioning while a suspect is in custody and not fully aware of his Fifth Amendment rights. Only those confessions obtained when the would-be confessor is aware of his Fifth Amendment rights and is fully aware of all of the implications of said rights may a confession be admitted into evidence. Such confessions must be made voluntarily and the confession must not be the direct or indirect result of pressure from the police or other authorities. “Incommunicado interrogation”creates an atmosphere that aids in undermining the Defendants’ self-incrimination privilege and prevents a confession that is entirely the product of free choice. The right to remain silent has historical significance and is a mainstay of the adversary system. There is a need to ensure that police interrogation “conforms to the dictates of privilege.” Prior to interrogation, each suspect must be informed of his right to refrain from speaking and the possibility that any statement he chooses to make may be used against him in Court. Suspects must also be told of their right to counsel both prior to and during investigation and that they are entitled to counsel without regard to their ability to afford such services. Lastly, a suspect who complies with the interrogation has not revoked his right to silence and may invoke such right at any time. Prosecution argues that such mandates for interrogation are necessary to ensure that suspects are not subjected to police misconduct and that suspects are afforded all Constitutional rights. Prosecution also argues that such limits interfere with police investigations and do not change the suspect’s access to all privileges afforded him in the Fifth Amendment. Defendants argue that police and other investigators 2005-06-19T16:47:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Law-Brief--26984.aspx “The Clone Rangers” television documentary broadcast with much advance publicity and promotion Sunday night, July 11th, 1999 by CNN offered a keen insight into the low level of the American public’s awareness about today’s most crucial scientific debate. This year old report failed to mention the late 1998 isolation and cultivation of stem cells outside the human body. The creation and study of such cells through “differentiation” research promises to cure many diseases and revolutionize the practice of medicine. The funding of creation and research on stem cells by the U.S. Federal Government is at the core of the current battle over “fetal tissue research’ raging in the U.S. Congress. Cloning and stem cell research is intertwined because there is only one way to create compatible tissue to treat a diseased individual. That would require inserting a cell taken from the patient being treated and inserting it into a denucleated human egg. That process is called nuclear transfer. Nuclear transfer is the basic technique used in cloning. So, in July, 1999, while the future of science and medical research hangs in the balance in a debate among a bunch of uninformed, public-opinion-poll-worshipping Washington politicians, CNN dusts off an outdated debate and offers it up as “it’s” perspective. In this historical flashback of the “cloning controversy” the viewing public is left believing that the “1 in 300” attempts which resulted in the birth of Dolly is the current measure of success. No mention was made of the enormous strides made recently in cloning goats in Massachusetts, which begins to rival the IVF success rates at human fertility clinics. Dr. Richard Seed was the reigning political villain, “The Clone Ranger”, who was determined to clone a human being even if he had to go to Mexico to do it. The “innocent” and “decent” Seed supporters were an infertile couple who saw renewed hope for having their own children through cloning. “If we used an egg donor,” the wife explained,”then I’d just be a surrogate mother bearing the child my husband was having with another woman!” No understanding or sympathy at the BBC andor Independent production Company 2020 for infertile couples who do not want to spend the rest of their lives raising a child half of who’s genes are those of a stranger--or, at least, someone from outside their marital bond. Then we have the great opponent to conception of a 2005-06-19T16:45:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-s-your-take-on-Cloning-26983.aspx What would you say if I told you that scientists had just developed a new procedure that could lead not only to the cure for cancer, but would provide an unlimited source of organ donors and could lead to the first effective treatment of nerve damage? Now adding on to this scenario lets say that our government was taking action to ban this new procedure because of a few myths and some loud mouthed conservatives. This scenario is true and is taking place with human cloning at this very moment. If you don't act fast this crowning achievement of medical science could be lost forever. "This procedure will be both a contribution to science and a betterment of the human race." Human cloning will provide unlimited benefits to our species and should be legal. This paper is intended to educate you to the many benefits of human cloning before it is banned due to ignorance. Now before you read any further I would like to ask you to forget any myth, legend or science fiction that you might have heard about cloning. The cloning of humans could be the greatest achievement of medical science, it could lead the way to the solution to some of humanity's greatest problems. Every year hundreds of thousands of Americans die from cancer making it the second most common cause of death in the united states. However, through cloning and other forms of genetic research scientists are all ready learning all kinds of important information about the genetic make up of cancer and before long we may have the cure for cancer. Though the cure for cancer is reason enough not to ban cloning it is by no means the only benefit this new technology could create for the medical field. With human cloning scientists are working on ways to perfect methods to clone individual organs. This could finally be a permanent solution to the ever growing demand for organ donors. It also could lead to a way to repair damaged nerves by cloning the nerve cells from the injured person. Millions of Americans suffer from a terrible neurological disorder known as Parkinson disease. This disease affects the control of the muscles. Through the valuable information about genetics that we will learn through cloning scientists could learn what causes Parkinson disease and learn how to treat it better. Nature has a cruel 2005-06-19T16:36:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cloning--26981.aspx Proving Discrimination in the Workplace "Although many women feel they have blossomed in middle or old age, there are some people in our society who believe that a woman's value declines as she ages. Some employers require women workers to meet youthfulness or physical attractiveness standards. If these requirements exclude women 40 or over or are not equally applied to men, they may be illegal" (Williams). Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, employers who have at least 20 workers are not allowed to: Recruit, or ask an employment agency to send, only younger applicants; withhold training opportunities from older workers; fire or force a worker to retire because they are older (some occupations are exempt); or allow younger workers benefits such as flex time that are not given to older workers. If an employee believes they have been discriminated against on the job or while applying for a job on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability, they may file a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If the employee feels that they have been discriminated against due to age they must show that they are a member of a protected class, show adverse employment action, show that he or she was qualified for the position and show that there was dissimilar treatment (Bennett-Alexander 414). In Parrish v. Immanuel Medical Center, Mary Parrish, "a 66-year old employee resigned after being summarily transferred to a new position and after her supervisor made age-based remarks. She sued for age discrimination" (418). Parrish is over 40, which satisfied the requirement that she is a member of a protected class. The adverse employment action, which lead Parrish to resign, was assigning her to a new position without giving her a choice. Her employer claimed that she was transferred because of her inefficiencies. Parrish was able to show that she was qualified for the position. She was capable of performing the required duties and had received above average ratings on her yearly performance evaluations. The jury found for Parrish. Immanuel Medical Center appealed and the judgment was upheld. An employee can bring a claim of disparate treatment or disparate impact against an employer. A claim of disparate treatment by an employee would be a claim that the employee is treated differently than other employees because of her age. A claim of disparate impact would be a 2005-06-19T08:27:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Proving-Discrimination-in-the-Workplace-26964.aspx Drugs Should Be Legalized Our societies are decaying due to an incessant war against drugs. Effects of this war like assault, property crime, racial and economic decriminalization, murder, corruption, and many other undesirable things are developing and burning through societies fueled by the lack of determination between whether or not drugs should be legalized. This polemic is allowing war’s effects to keep growing to the point where societies’ harmony, peace, and stability are being lost. The time has gotten to make a decision, to find a solution. Legalization is an option that should be heavily considered. It would be way to control use and abuse of drugs. Legalization of drugs will stop an enormous number of deaths and crimes. In addition, it will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement and it will increase our country’s revenue. On their web page the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states, “the costs of crime attributed to illicit drug abuse were estimated at 59.1 billion. These costs include reduced earnings due to incarceration, crime careers, and criminal victimization; and the costs of criminal justice and drug interdiction”. It also estimates that the drug-related visits to the hospital emergency rooms have increased. “In 2000, 531,800 drug-related visits occurred, up slightly from 1999. More of these visits were due to drug overdoses”. Based on this information it is not hard to realize that prohibition costs money, and lives. Far from decreasing, quantities are going up throughout the years. Legalizing Drugs would increase our economy's revenue. During Prohibition alcohol, use was continuing sold and used, but people were doing it illegally. The 21st amendment repealed prohibition and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with drugs. Drugs can be taxed heavily to increase our revenue. The same people who make aspirin so the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants, which often are causes of many deaths, would make drugs. Sterile hypodermic needles will be readily available at corner drug stores. These could be taxed heavily because the users will be assured of "clean drugs." Meanwhile, the black market would disappear overnight. Some arrangement can be made to license the production of drugs. Thousands of dealers would be put out of business, and a secret part of the economy would come into the open. This would have an impact on the amount of money flowing through criminal channels, and this 2005-06-17T09:18:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Essay-for-Legalization-of-Drugs-26897.aspx Abortion: A Position Paper The controversy of abortion in the United States is unique because there seems to be no grounds of compromise between two completely polar sides. That is mostly because either a living human is or isn’t being killed. This is a case between life and liberty, but the ambivalence of the complexities of abortion make it hard to settle the two sides. There is much debate whether this is an action of life or death, and the difference is rather large. Yet both sides to the abortion dispute share a common goal: that abortions should become safer, and the number of abortions should decrease. Abortion is defined as the inducing of premature delivery in order to destroy offspring. It is a chosen miscarriage. Within abortion there are many different questions. Does the constitution defend an individual’s right to abortion? Does this include confidentiality? Is a developing fetus a being? Should the law allow abortions for rape or incest cases? The constitution does allow abortion. The right to privacy and reproductive rights, although not directly mentioned in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, is an enumerated right. The Supreme Court Decision in 1973, Roe vs. Wade, legalized abortion in the first trimester. Since then, over 35 Million women have had legal abortions (Cozic/Tipp 53). In America, 24% of pregnancies end in abortion, and 41% of that is on teenagers. 88% of abortions are performed during the first trimester. When a fetus is actually living is hard to define. Factually, the heart begins to beat after 18-25 days, but the brain function after 40 days. Some people claim you are a person directly after conception, while others believe that a grouping of 46 chromosomes does not make you a human, but a potential life. Whether or not they are a living human being depends on whether they are protected by the right to life. Abortions for rape or incest victims is another controversial topic. Babies born of these acts are not intended at all, as the sexual act was forced and no contraception or precaution could be taken. Killing the babies from these actions is penalizing them for something they had no choice in the matter of. This dispute is the link between two groups; Pro-Choice and Pro-Life. Naturally, each side is the absolute reversal 2005-06-17T09:04:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Position-Paper-on-Abortion-26894.aspx Should Parents Be Able to Choose Their Children's Genes? Imagine a world where parents can choose their children’s intelligence, personality, or eye color. This world may not be too far away. The same technology that is being used for gene therapy, where healthy genes are inserted into DNA to correct a hereditary disease, will soon be used for the enhancement of human beings. Parents are already able to choose the sex of their child, and, in the near future, parents will have the capabilities to choose much more than that. The idea of choosing genes is not new at all. For thousands of years, people have practiced eugenics, the process of selective breeding to produce people with good traits (Macer, pp.214-235). This form of tampering with humans was as controversial then as it is now. Positive eugenics is when people try to control the marriage or mating of people with desirable traits in order to produce children with these same traits (Macer, pp.214-235). In negative eugenics, people attempt to prevent or decrease the occurrence of certain hereditary diseases (Macer, pp.214-235). From ancient times up until a few centuries ago, unhealthy babies or babies born with deformities were often killed at birth (Macer, pp.214-235). Plato recommended that only “the best of both the sexes” be allowed to reproduce, and only the best offspring should be kept (Macer, pp.214-235). The Bible also supports certain principles of eugenics. Jews are told to be careful when choosing a marriage partner and are not allowed to marry an insane person, someone from a family of lepers or epilectics, or someone that is too closely related (Macer, pp.214-235). All of these would help prevent the likelihood of offspring inheriting a genetic disease (Macer, pp.214-235). The Human Genome Project, which is working to create a map of all the human genes, is helping to make both genetic therapy and genetic enhancement possible. Much controversy surrounds all of these topics. With a map of the human genome, it will soon be possible to determine which part of the gene is responsible for any disease or trait. This knowledge will allow people to be screened for a gene to determine whether or not they have a specific disease. Gene therapy, in which a few cells in the body are changed to cure 2005-06-16T08:10:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ethical-Questions-about-Gene-Selection-26879.aspx Nation of Immigrants America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to accept that we achieved our greatness as a result of being "a nation of immigrants." A common argument among those opposing further immigration is that foreigners take U.S. jobs and cause unemployment among the displaced American workers. In the July 13, 1992 edition of Business Week , a poll states that sixty-two percent of non-blacks and sixty-three percent of blacks agree that "new immigrants take jobs away from American workers." This is a widely held, if erroneous belief, among Americans. However, Julian L. Simon, author of The Economic Consequences of Immigration, states: immigration does not exacerbate unemployment...Immigrants not only take jobs, but also create them. Their purchases increase the demand for labor, leading to new hires roughly equal in number to the immigrant workers. In the same Business Week poll, eighty-three percent of non-blacks and eighty-seven percent of blacks agree that "many new immigrants are very hard-working." The results of the poll may seem somewhat contradictory, but not necessarily negative. Those polled seem to be at least a little open-minded in their view of the quality of new immigrants. However, in order to overcome their distrust of foreigners, Americans must abandon their suspicions and recognize, as Simon has, that our lives are enhanced by immigrants creating, not taking, U.S. jobs. A widely held belief among Americans against 2005-06-16T03:20:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Immigration-Essay-26866.aspx Gay Marriage: Off With Its Head What we are puzzled on are the fundamental questions of what marriage is, and its purpose. It was the answers to these questions that allowed the western civilization to place their authority over the status of marriage and its monogamous heterosexual identity from the very beginning, and though these ancient answers may have been recently forgotten, or have fallen reprobate, they remain as sound and as compelling as ever. To understand what is at the other edge of that outcome—that is, what stands to be undone by gay marriage—we also have to distinguish marriage in its essence from an assortment of other goods and values with which it is usually grouped (Schulman). Those values—love, monogamous sex, establishing a home, fidelity, childbearing and childrearing, stability, inheritance, tax breaks, and all the rest—are not the same as marriage (Schulman, Orthodox Today). True, a decent marriage generally has these values; a failing marriage is often deficient in them, and in religion, custom, and law. To understand why it is necessary to oppose legal recognition of homosexual unions, ethical considerations of different orders need to be taken into account. Among the most likely effects of the recognition of such unions is to take us down a “slippery slope” to legalized polygamy and “polyamory” (group marriage). Marriage will be radically changed into a variety of relationships of male and female adding up to three or more people (Kurtz). A scare scenario? Barely. The bottom of this slope is clearly visible from where we stand on this issue. Homosexual unions are also totally lacking in the conjugal dimension, which represents the human and ordered form of sexuality; sexual relations are human when and insofar as they express and promote the mutual assistance of the sexes in marriage and are open to the transmission of new life (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). Furthermore, lifestyles of homosexuals and the core premise civil laws express not only on the surface, shape the life of society, but also tend to alter the children’s discernment and assessment of forms of behavior. Legal recognition of homosexual unions would confound certain basic moral values and cause a depreciation of the establishment of marriage. Civil laws “play very important and sometimes decisive roles in the influencing patterns of thought and behavior” (Pope John Paul II). In restricting marriage to one man and one woman, aren’t you imposing your 2005-06-09T03:20:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Controversy-and-Arguments-Against-Gay-Marriage-26844.aspx Death Penalty: Essay Against the Use of Capital Punishment The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It denies criminals their natural born right to life. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. In the Tenth Century A.D., hanging became the usual method of execution in Britain. The number of capital crimes in Britain continued to rise throughout the next two centuries. By the 1700s, 222 crimes were punishable by death in Britain. Britain influenced America's use of the death penalty more than any other country. When European settlers came to the new world, they brought the practice of capital punishment. The plague of our current society. The death penalty should be abolished because it has never been shown to deter crimes more effectively than other punishments, there are serious economic consequences, and it involves a heightened risk of error. First, the death penalty has never been shown to deter crimes more effectively than other punishments. Recent studies in Oklahoma and California failed to find that capital punishment had a deterrent effect on violent crime and, in fact, found a significant increase in stranger killings and homicide rates after the death penalty had been reinstated. Most people who commit murders either do not expect to be caught or do not carefully weigh the differences between a possible execution and life in prison before they commit the act. These murders are most often committed in moments of blinding anger or passion. Furthermore, there are serious economic consequences. Various state governments estimate that a single death penalty case, from the point of arrest to execution, ranges from $1 million to $3 million per case. Other studies have estimated the cost to be as high as $7 million. The millions of dollars spent on capital punishment cuts into resources for other community interests, such as schools, hospitals, public safety, and jobs. For example, Taxpayers in Florida are spending an average of $2.3 million on each execution which is over six times what it would cost for life without parole. In addition, New York brought back the death penalty in 1995, even though the department of corrections estimated that it would cost over $2 million per case and approximately $118 million annually. That same year, state leaders 2005-06-09T03:10:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Death-Penalty-Essay-Against-the-Use-of-Capital-Punishment-26842.aspx Pros and Cons to Capital Punishment For many years the death penalty has been the sentence for murders, rapists, and other serial criminals. But, in recent months it has been an issue in whether the death penalty should or should not be legal. There are many people that think that capital punishment should be used and there are others that feel that it should not be used. Also there are some in the middle that think that it doesn't really matter because they feel that whatever happens will be right because it was brought up and decided in a court of law. Capital punishment is the only way to be sure the killing will at least end with that criminal. Prisons are not hard enough on there inmates. For example, citizens feel that capital punishment is only fair to those that have committed the crime such as murder. This shows that you have to find and prove that the criminal is truly guilty. This could take days, months, even years and in that time they are treated nice and not like prisoners. For example the inmates are allowed to attend school and watch TV in case that they are released. But then, are the guards even thinking? These are men that committed series crimes, capital crimes. They killed people, and if there not going to be killed they sure better not be released to do it again. It seems like they don’t remember that the inmate had no mercy when they were raping, or killing that innocent person, yet we feel sorry for them. There are lots of issues that arise with the death penalty, such as moral issues and innocent lives being taken, when may be they shouldn’t. For example there is a lot that needs to be done before the initial action is taken place. This shows that their needs to be clear and correct evident on the suspect in custody. There fore the new technology that has been presented to society, such as DNA testing, many mistakes shouldn’t be made in these life-threatening decisions. New Technology should be used as a sure way that the judgement to death is correct. There are people that believe that the death penalty is morally wrong because they feel that only god should have the final authority in death. This shows that the death penalty is just a form of cruel and 2005-06-03T05:58:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pros-and-Cons-to-Capital-Punishment-26820.aspx Social Consciousness about the Environment Something akin to panic is communicated onto my sterile computer screen, then my furrowed brow and soon my troubled mind when I sit alone, in the dark of my room and explore ideas and possibilities. Turning the light on and the computer off doesn’t dissolve my disturbed mood; nothing does until the outside can creep in and warm me. It’s usually a human voice; something more real than the essays and articles I read on global warming and remote ice caps that melt slowly every year. The fear settles until someone with a weaker sense of reality can convince me that “something is being done” by environmental scientists and none of it will affect me when I am dust. In just the last fifty years, humans, namely Americans have virtually remodeled the Earth and everything on it. We have changed its landscapes, wind patterns, migration routes, and weather; diminished its greenery and killed its animals. Nature did not seem a force that could be controlled and yet it has been. We are conducting an inadvertent global experiment by changing the face of the entire planet. We are destroying the ozone layer, which allows life to exist on the Earth's surface, clearing the majority of the earth’s forests, and disrupting countless ecosystems. The result has been an unfavorable alteration of the composition of the biosphere and the Earth's heat balance. If we do not slow down our use of fossil fuels and stop destroying the forests, the world will become hotter than it has been in the past million years. This warming will rearrange entire biological communities and cause many species to become extinct. The desperate plight of the environment should by all means be the first priority for every single government and person on this planet. With today’s common knowledge of what might happen in the near future if significant changes aren’t made in the lifestyle of most people it’s hard to understand why 70 million cars continue to vomit their poison into the air everyday. All around the world environmental activists fight to preserve our patches of rain forests and wetlands, as well as protect a variety of fragile but important ecosystems. In all major cities, advocates of environmental conservation annually propose plans with alternative modes of transportation and energy-efficient appliances that will every citizen would be mandated to use. Even if instituted gradually, these 2005-06-01T02:57:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Consciousness-about-the-Environment-26814.aspx Gender Roles in Modern Society Today we live in a world that continually stresses to us that, "All men are created equal." While this sounds great at face value, further inspection tells us that this is far from realistic and sadly may never be. One can examine any aspect of society whether it be race, religion, language, level of education, sexual orientation or economic status and notice that there are numerous characteristics and factors of identity that enable others to treat others differently. This truth may not be pleasant or make one feel all warm and fuzzy inside, however it is our society’s reality, however dismal it may be. Even if the statement above as to the equality of all men were true, how about women? Clearly women have made tremendous strides towards equality in recent decades however; we still live in a society in which the worth of women is measured in their physical appearance and not their intellectual contribution or talents. It is not an unknown secret that many women are paid considerably less than men for doing the same type of work. What effect does this obvious gap between men and women have on our nation’s female population? The effect of this is the unconscious perpetuation of the understanding that women are inferior to men in our society. This also stands in direct contradiction to the claim that we are all created equal. This gap between men and women can be seen in countless social arenas, such as, the workplace, the average household, educational institutions, the Catholic Church and even in our nation’s government. This inequality between men and women is not something new to our country or even the world for that matter. However, it is a phenomenon that is rarely discussed and is in dire need of investigation and scholarship. Through study and discussion, this will create an awareness of the situation that will undoubtedly assist in closing the gap between men and women. One of the topics that falls under the umbrella term of "female persecution" is how society views and understands both men and women in regards to sexual relations. As we grow up we learn from our parents and also through various forms of media that sex occurs between two people who share a deep love for one another and in most cases marriage as well. As we 2005-06-01T02:17:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gender-Roles-in-Modern-Society-26810.aspx Medical Testing on Animals Every year, nearly 100 million animals die in research laboratories at the hands of curious scientists who perform outdated and inaccurate tests that prove no benefit to humans or animals. Before these animals die, they are routinely burned, scalded, poisoned, starved, given electric shocks, addicted to drugs, subjected to near freezing temperatures, dosed with radioactive elements, driven insane, deliberately inflicted with diseases such as cancer, diabetes, oral infections, stomach ulcers, Syphilis, herpes, and AIDS. Their eyes are surgically removed; their brains and spinal cords damaged, and their bones broken. The usage of anesthesia is not mandated by law, and consequently, thus is rarely administered. Despite all of this cruelty, not a single disease has been cured through vivisection in this century. The overall adult cancer rate has risen in the past 40 years and a fatal heart attack strikes a person every 45 seconds. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 70-80% of the common diseases killing Americans are preventable given a responsible diet and lifestyle. Drug testing on animals is inaccurate and does not benefit humans or animals at all. Animals including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rhesus monkeys, imported primates, owls, deer, sheep, llama, and cattle are commonly used for vivisection. Vivisection is the medical term for the practice of experimenting on animals. Charles River Breeding Laboratories, a company owned by Bausch and Lomb, provides 40-50% of the animals used in experiments of laboratories. The other remainig misfortunate animals come from places a little closer to you and me. Some of them come from animal shelters, some come from the "free to good home" ads in the classified section of the newspaper, some from unsuspecting people who allow their companion animals to become pregnant, or even worse, some have been stolen directly from their own front yard. Imagine your pet one day being crammed into a cage with ten other animals waiting to die like approximately 20-100 million other animals do each year in numerous unreliable tests. More than 205,000 new drugs are marketed worldwide every year, most after undergoing the most common unreliable test method still in use: animal vivisection. The current system of drug testing places consumers in a dangerous predicament. According to the General Accounting Office, more than half of the prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1976 and 1985 caused serious 2005-05-27T04:51:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Medical-Testing-on-Animals,-Animal-Testing-Speech-or-Paper-26751.aspx Non violent civil disobedience Non violent civil disobedience is the most powerful way to avoid violence while fighting for some major goal. Back in 1957's Congress made a decision to apply the constitutional rights of equality to the black population of USA. At that time the US had a lot of segregation and racism. Black and white population of USA were separated. The relationship between the two races was combative. One of aspects of difference was the education that children were receiving in black schools. It was much worse than in the white schools . So, after Congress passed the verdict that allowed black children to study in white schools, a couple of black children transferred to a white district school in Arkansas Little Rock. The story of Ernst green as African American took place in Central High School ,Little Rock Arkansas in 1957. Ernst Green and a couple more black children transferred from their school to Central High School . The white population in the face of most of white parents and children who were studying in this High School. Some teachers and school officials who worked in the school. General white public and finally government of the state . Were not willing to let these black children study with white children. The situation took almost combative form when the governor ordered the state troops to block the high school and not let black children enter the school. This process was accompanied with demonstrations around the school. As the governor was not willing to follow the orders of national government the President of the USA ordered the national troops to go to Little Rock to maintain order. Only after the "invasion" of national troops were black children let into the school and were being guarded. There were all kinds of unpleasant behaviors performed by the teachers and students. Who were trying to get rid of these black children. They were butting glass on the bathroom floor so black children were getting cut etc. Eventually order was maintained without anybody being seriously injured. If the federal government hadn't sent troops the situation would have escalated and flown into a war between the white and black populations of the country and God knows how many people would have been injured in this war. There are a lot of examples of applying nonviolent civil disobedience in human history. For example : Mahatma Gandy used 2005-05-26T09:34:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Non-Violent-Civil-Disobedience-as-a-Means-of-Protest-26729.aspx Alcoholism Research Paper One out of thirteen adults are considered to be an alcoholic or suffer from a drinking problem. Today, fourteen million Americans suffer from a disease that is caused by a combination of physiological, psychological, social, and genetic factors. Alcoholism is a developmental disease that progresses slowly over a number of years and is based on both the physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. In many cases it leads to brain damage and/or early death. Early symptoms include putting excessive importance on the availability of alcohol, which influences a person's choice pastimes and friends. Alcoholics use alcohol more as a personality changing drug rather than a beverage served with food or as a social custom. An alcoholic usually has a high tolerance to alcohol, which means being able to drink more and show fewer side effects than others. The person begins to drink even though it may not be in her/his best interest. Alcohol comes to be more important than personal relationships, family, work, or even health. People are unable to predict how much an alcoholic will drink at a certain occasion or if the alcoholic is practicing abstaining from alcohol, when the drinking will resume again. Physical addiction will lead to drinking around the clock to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Ethyl alcohol, the alcohol used in alcoholic beverages, consists of C2H5OH. It is a clear liquid with a burning taste and a pleasant smell. It has toxic and sedative effects on the body. Alcohol can have major effects on major organ systems. For example, it can cause ulcers, inflammation or the pancreas, and cirrohosis of the liver. It can permanently damage the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Withdrawal from alcohol, in severe cases, can cause shaking limbs, hallucinations, and blackouts: which can be fatal if not properly treated. Even withdrawal from hard drugs such as heroin rarely results in death. The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. In a healthy adult, it weighs about 3 pounds and holds about thirteen percent of the body's blood supply. Blood flowing from the stomach and intestines goes into the liver where it extracts nutrients and toxins. The blood is then pumped back to the heart. The liver performs over 500 vital functions. It processes all of 2005-05-19T03:12:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcoholism-Research-Paper-26668.aspx Death Penalty Death by execution has existed as a punishment since the dawn of time. Yet although this has existed seemingly forever, the question of its morality has also existed for that same amount of time. Killers kill innocent people, there is no question about that, but does that give us the right to kill these killers? I do not think so. Racism is often the driving force behind crime. Yet in a justice system that preaches equality, it too is led by racism. There is "a pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the charging, sentencing, and imposition of the death penalty" according to a 1990 U.S. Government report. An overwhelming majority of death row defendants since 1977 were executed for killing whites despite the fact that whites and blacks are victims of murder in approximately equal numbers. In Texas, for example, blacks found guilty of killing whites were found to be six times more likely to receive the death penalty that whites convicted of killing whites. Of the 3,061 inmates on death row 1,246 of them are black, making 40% of death row inmates black. Compare this to the fact that blacks make up 12% of the U.S. population. Furthermore, many black prisoners on death row were sentenced to death by all-white juries after prosecutors had deliberately excluded black people from the jury pool. Racism alone is not the only problem with Capital Punishment. Many inmates on death row suffer from mental retardation. The 1984 ECOSOC safeguards state that the death penalty must not be carried out on persons who have become insane, while the ECOSOC resolution 1989/64 on the execution of the 1984 safeguards recommends that UN member states eliminate the death penalty for persons suffering from mental retardation or extremely limited competence. Amnesty International has documented the cases of more than 50 prisoners suffering from mental illness or mental retardation who have been executed in the U.S. in the past decade. Humanitarian standards maintain that mentally impaired people should not be held criminally responsible for their acts. The prohibition against executing insane recognizes that killing people who cannot comprehend the nature or purpose of their punishment is not a deterrent or retribution. Despite all this the mentally ill 2005-05-19T03:11:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Esasy-on-Anti-Death-Penalty-26667.aspx The Glass Ceiling The glass ceiling starts to form itself very early on. From the moment a woman enters the work force after college, she is faced with much discrimination and unjust belief that she will not be able to do as well of a job than a man. A man and a woman, who both have the same education and training for a job, will have a considerable gap in their yearly income. In a first year job, a man will make approximately $14,619 compared to a woman who will make only $12,201. That is a pay gap of 17%(Gender Pay 1). There is no reason why there should be any gap in their incomes during the first year of their jobs. They have both had the same formal education and both have the same qualifications necessary for the job, yet they are being treated unequally. The woman has not shown herself to be incapable of accomplishing her job and has given her employer no reason to doubt her commitment to her career other than the simple fact that she is a woman. And this discrimination does not go away. After five years of constant working, at the same rate and level as each other, the pay gap actually increases. A male will get paid an average of $28,119 while a female only receives $22,851 (Gender Pay 1). This is how things have been done for years. The man typically gets paid more money and holds more executive jobs than women do, simply because they are males. A man will be paid an average of 47% more than females in the course of their lives (Gender Pay 1). Although this is wrong, this has been tradition for so long, both men and women have accepted this way of thinking as right and have just gone along with it. There have been changes in regards to women in top positions within the last few years. However, although those advances are positive, they are still no where equal. A certain statistic may say that there has been a 14% increase in the number of women in executive jobs for a certain company. However, although that increase is no doubt positive, it fails to tell the true story. That increase is only increases from a very 2005-05-17T07:01:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Glass-Ceiling-and-Discrimination-26655.aspx Should it be Legal? Marijuana Legislation in America In 1978 the state legislator of New Mexico made a law allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients suffering from nausea caused by chemotherapy, much of this due to the efforts of a cancer patient by the name of Lynn Pierson. The Federal government modified the law to make it comply with IND regulations requiring a research program. The FDA also demanded many studies and required the doctors to fill out many pages of forms for every patient and documenting their progress, slowing the process to a stand still. This process of getting marijuana to the patients was taking so long that New Mexico officials considered using confiscated marijuana from the state highway patrol. In August of 1978 Lynn Pierson, who worked so hard for the legalization of marijuana, died of cancer without ever receiving legal marijuana. A few weeks later the Federal Government suspended the marijuana program. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics reasons for making marijuana illegal were that it was highly addictive and caused violent crimes. Today neither of those reasons has been backed by much data and many experts believe the opposite. According to the National Household Survey on drug abuse, more than 76 million Americans admit to trying marijuana. Along with those who value marijuana: for recreational reasons, many doctors say that it has medicinal uses as well. The government should look at these facts and consider the legalization of marijuana. There are many arguments against the legalization of marijuana. One commonly held view is marijuana is "gateway drug" or a drug that opens the door for harder drug use such as cocaine or heroin. The Institute of Medicine disagrees, and in their 1999 report they explained that marijuana has been mistaken for a "gateway drug" in the past because patterns in adolescence drug use is strikingly regular. Because it is the most commonly used illicit drug, it is likely that it is the first illegal drug that people try. Most drug users begin with alcohol and nicotine, before they use marijuana (Joy 32). Another complaint about marijuana is that it is a dangerous drug that causes permanent brain damage. Dr. Iversen of Oxford University says, "Cannabis does not cause structural damage to the brains of animals as some reports had claimed, nor is there evidence of 2005-05-16T06:26:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Marijuana-be-Legal-26639.aspx Marijuana: A Horticultural Revolution, A Medical and Legal Battle For years there has been a wonder drug, which has befriended countless sick patients in a number of countries. A relatively inexpensive drug that is not covered by health care plans, which has aided the ill both mentally and physically--marijuana. Significant scientific and medical studies have demonstrated that marijuana is safe for use under medical supervision and that the cannabis plant, in its natural form, has important therapeutic benefits that are often of critical medical importance to persons afflicted with a variety of Life-threatening illnesses. Courts have recognized marijuana's medical value in treatment and have ruled that marijuana can be a drug of "necessity" in the treatment of glaucoma, cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. From the collection of information we now have on marijuana's health benefits for the ill, there is no longer any reason to keep it illegal. It should therefore be legal for licensed physicians to prescribe marijuana for terminal patients for whom it Offers the only reasonable opportunity for living without unbearable pain. Marijuana has been used many times to help ease pain and suffering. It often eases nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, reduces the pain of AIDS patients and lowers eye pressure in glaucoma sufferers. Cancer and AIDS patients often lose a lot of weight, either due directly to their illness or indirectly to the treatment of the illness. Dramatic weight loss puts there Lives in even more danger. Marijuana stimulates the appetite, thus enabling patients to eat more and gain weight, which in turn strengthens the immune system. So if there are so many benefits, then why is marijuana not legal? Many states contend that the ban on medical marijuana is necessary to prevent drug abuse and the availability of illicit drugs and to control the purity of medicinal drug products. These states have no compelling interest in intervening to needlessly prolong terminal patients' suffering. States should allow the medical use of marijuana under strict regulations, rather than uphold an outdated drug classification scheme. While federal agencies adamantly maintain marijuana has "no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States," the medical prohibition has come under strong legal challenge from seriously ill Americans who have been arrested on marijuana-related charges. 2005-05-16T06:07:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marijuana-Horticultural-Revolution-Medical-and-Legal-Battle-26634.aspx Child Molestation in Sports Child molestation is a problem that is highly evident in youth sport leagues. Molesters are often found in these leagues because of the many targets for molestation present in the leagues. People involved in the youth sport leagues do not detect this problem because the type of molestation that occurs in these leagues is not the typical type that everyone thinks occurs. Not all molestation is the violent and forceful type that most everybody imagines. Most of the sexual abuse that occurs is called the "seductor" type. This type of molester gets in good with the families of the kids and also pays special attention to the kids. They take advantage of weaknesses in the family. If the father of the child is often away on business, the offender sees this as an opportunity to fill in the father's shoes. He is destined to give the child the father figure that he or she needs. The phrase used often in the article in SI was that the kids are "trading sex for attention." The kids are getting attention from the coach in exchange for sexual acts. These kids don't realize what is happening to them because "...they don't understand the seduction process." Although this problem is such a terrible one, there are not many ways to prevent this. Among the ways of prevention are background checks, a better understanding of the problem, not as close relationships with the coaches, and education and communication with the children. In some states background checks for coaches are mandatory and free, in others they are not mandatory and if wanted they cost the person who wants to check forty dollars. Although this seems like a small price to pay, with all the positive remarks said about the coaches, parents might not want to go spend forty dollars on a long shot. If this situation came up when I was the commissioner or person in charge of the league, I would make these checks mandatory for every coach and every volunteer working with children and I would petition for this to be a nation wide rule. I know from experience that in Massachusetts it is mandatory for all people working or volunteering with children a background check must be done and papers must be filled out that 2005-05-16T05:29:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Molestation-in-Sports-26630.aspx Forest Dilemma Can you picture our earth without forests? Many of us can't. Forests cover approximately one fifth of the worlds land surface and play an important role in our everyday lives (Dudley 4). Forests provide us with many products and services from helping maintain erosion to providing jobs for our citizens. Humanity depends on the survival of a healthy ecosystem and deforestation is causing many social, economic and ecological problems. One ecological problem is Global warming witch is caused when carbon is released into the air after the burning of forests. Governments and industries must become more aware of these consequences of their activities and change accordingly. They need to cooperate with forest management and work towards a future that benefits all. Humans need to be educated about the current issues of the forests in order for us to save, preserve or sustain these places that provide us with so much. Humans depend tremendously on the world's forests, but yet were the ones destroying them. For humans, the forests have many aesthetic, recreational, economic, and cultural values. Timber and other products of the forests are important economically both locally and as exports. They provide employment for those who harvest the wood or for those who make products from the living forest. Forests also provide us with medical drugs, dyes and fabrics. There are many people who are dependent on forestland for their livelihoods. One third of the world's people depend on wood for fuel as a significant energy source (Dudley). Not only do the forests provide some people with homes, but also provides a popular setting for ecotourism, which includes hiking, camping, bird watching and other outdoor adventure or nature study activities. All these activities and products the forests provide us are at great risk from deforestation. Not only do forests provide us with all this but also protect soil from erosion and reduces the risks of landslides and avalanches. Trees help sustain freshwater supplies therefore are an important factor in the availability of one of life's basic needs. Forests affect the climate and are also a very important source of oxygen. One major factor that the forests carry is that they are the home to over one half of the world's total species (Dudley). Currently we are discovering 20 new 2005-05-16T05:07:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Forest-Dilemma-Protecting-the-World-s-Forests-26627.aspx Violent Crime Research Paper Nothing does more to tear our families apart than violent crime, guns, gangs, drugs, and the fear that walks alongside those terrors. Violent crime and victim rights have become a major concern for most citizens in the United States of America. Statistics indicate a decline in violent crimes in our country and an increase in our national prison population. Released prisoners commit most violent crimes. Gun control legislation, reform programs, victim rights awareness, and other programs are abundant in our country, but do little to alleviate violent crime. In this paper I will try to present the liberal and conservative views on this issue as well as my own views. Violent crime is a complex problem and can only be responded to in complex ways. "Quick fix" solutions to the problem are likely to be misguided. There was a decline in crime during the 1990s. Our country enjoyed seven years of declining crime for the period 1991-98, the most recent data available. During this period crime declined by 22% and violent crime by 25%. These are welcome developments, particularly following the surge of crime and violence of the late 1980s. This decline occurred during a time when the national prison population has increased substantially, rising from 789,60 in 1991 to 1,252,830, a 59% rise in just seven years and a 47% increase in the rate of incarceration, taking into account changes in the national population (Mauer 21-24). Many observers have drawn a simple correlation between these two trends. Putting more offenders in prison caused the reduction in crime. The Sentencing project has just completed a study that examines this issue in great detail and concludes that any such correlation is ambiguous at best. In examining the relationship between incarceration and crime in the 1990s the picture is complicated by the seven year period just prior to this, 1984-91. In this period, incarceration also rose substantially, at a rate of 65%. Yet crime rates increased during this time as well, by 17% nationally. Thus we see a continuous rise in incarceration for fourteen years, during which crime rose for seven years, then declined for seven years. This does not suggest that incarceration had no impact on crime, but any such connection is clearly influenced by other factors. A comparison with other nations is instructive in this regard. The 2005-05-16T05:04:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violent-Crime-Research-Paper-26625.aspx Abortion Kills Children Do you consider something with a beating heart a living creature? A baby heart forms and starts beating in the fifth week of pregnancy; therefore, that would make abortion murder. The baby that is growing inside of the woman is depending on her, so when she makes the choice to end that baby's life, they are making the choice to murder another person. Someone that believes in the pro-choice theory would say that the decision is up to the woman, but the person with the pro-life theory would say that it is murder no matter what the situation. Most people consider it murder to kill a baby the day after it is born. Then why would it not be murder to kill it before it is born? There are many abortions performed each year in the United States. Seventy-five percent of all abortions in the U.S. are performed on women over twenty years of age, but the lawmakers try to concentrate on the 186,000 teens that have an abortion each year. In 1990, there were nearly 400 abortion bills were that were introduced to forty-one legislatures. So far, as many as twenty states have passed laws that requires a teenager to have a parents consent before having an abortion. This may help reduce the number of abortions each year. The people that passed these bills feel that maybe the parents will feel differently about the situation and be able to talk their child out of it. Twenty percent of teens that are sexually active do not use any form of birth control. These are the teens that end up getting pregnant and getting an abortion. If these girls would use some kind of contraceptive it could stop a lot of the abortions performed each year. If people think about it, it is so much easier to take a pill then it is to be pregnant and have to decide on the life of another person. When someone feels that they are responsible enough to participate in sexual activity, they should also feel that they are responsible enough to deal with the consequences that follow. Abortions are often considered "the easy was out." I feel that abortions are just selfish. There is no easy way out. I could not imagine living with the guilt of taking another's life, especially the life of something that I created, and that is 2005-05-15T08:05:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Abortion-Essay-26617.aspx School Vouchers There has been a lot of debate recently over the use of school vouchers. Voucher programs offer students attending both public and private schools tuition vouchers. It gives taxpayers the freedom to pick where their tax dollars go. In theory, good schools will thrive with money and bad schools will lose students and close its doors. Most people feel that taking taxpayer money from public schools and using this money as vouchers for private schools is a violation of the constitution. Most private schools in America right now are run by religious organizations. There has been a lot of controversy over this issue mainly because of the importance of an education in a modern society. School choice initiatives are based on the premise that allowing parents to choose what schools their children attend is not only the right thing to do, but is also an important way for improving education. Instead of a one-size-fits-all model, School choice programs offer parents various options from which to pick the educational settings they believe will work best for their child. However, there is Supporters of school vouchers claim that it levels the educational playing field for lower income families who would have the option to send their kids away from an "ineffective" poorly funded public schools. Some lower class families feel that their kids would have a better chance with a tuition voucher to go to a private school where more money is spent on education. Many feel that vouchers would undermine public schools, by taking away public money for smaller class sizes, teacher training and innovative curriculum. Also, many feel that vouchers would erode the support for public education. In Milwaukee, voucher schools say they do not give special services to students with disabilities. Most of the voucher schools refused to sign a letter that they will honor constitutional rights such as free speech and due process. The letter stated that the schools would not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, pregnancy, or marital status. Despite the controversy surrounding vouchers, the private school choice movement may be gaining support. In June of 1999, The Florida legislature approved a plan to give children in the state's worst schools taxpayer-funded tuition payments to attend qualified public, private, or religious schools. While state-accepted programs that provide public money for students to attend private and religious schools are already in place 2005-05-15T07:58:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/School-Voucher-Controversy--26612.aspx Anti Abortion Essay Since the Darwinian Revolution of the 19th century our society has turned upside down. Everything under the sun had become questionable, the origin of life, how we came to be, where are we headed and what to do in the here all became questions in life. But one of the greatest impacts of this new age thinking is its effect on our Old World values. Western societies values, morals and ethics became debatable, with some people striving for change and others clinging for stability. Battle lines had been drawn and the Liberals and Conservatives were ready to duke it out on a number of issues. One of these debates centers on a woman's right to have and abortion. According to the Webster's dictionary and abortion is defined as a miscarry, something misshapen or unnatural. An abortion is a procedure in which an embryo or fetus is prohibited from developing by artificial means. One could argue that this is next to murder. How can we as a society sanction the murdering of developing babies? Also it can equally be stated that abortion is unnatural and a health hazard to women who have undergone the procedure. Whatever the case, abortion should be outlawed because it is immoral and mothers should face the responsibilities of their actions. Many arguments can be used in order to put an end to abortion or at least in order to establish dialogue. One of the oldest arguments against abortion is the religious standpoint. Western society (Canada & U.S.A.) is historically a Judeo-Christian culture with Judeo-Christian values. Although in recent times we have become an increasingly pluristic society the Old World thinking is still at the heart of our social relations and laws. The Bible says "Thou shalt not kill" thus prohibiting people from harming others or themselves. Abortion and its advocates violate this law. They seek to change one of the most fundamental values of our society. Pro-choice under this stance is equated with murder and "playing God". One may raise the question, how can a minority inflict its views of the majority? According to Francis X. Meenan, this is a false assumption. He goes on to claim that those who favor abortion on demand are the real minority (Bender & Leone, 97). He also 2005-05-15T02:01:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Abortion-Argument-Paper-26607.aspx Capital Punishment The use of capital punishment in the U.S. is a growing concern for most American citizens. According to statistics seventy percent of Americans are in support of the death penalty, while only thirty percent are against it. These statistics show that few people are against capital punishment ("Fact" 1). With the use of the death penalty growing the controversy is becoming more heated. With only twelve states left not enforcing it the resistance is becoming futile ("Fact" 4). Many debates have been made and even clauses have been invoked, such as, the "Cruel and Unusual Clause" that was invoked by the Supreme Court in 1962 (Meltsner 179). The use of death as a punishment has been viewed as "cruel and unusual," but in further research the view of what is considered "cruel and unusual" has been reduced drastically (Berns 31). America's method of punishments has been reduced from several extremely painful execution methods, to four quick and less painful punishments. They consist of line of execution, gas chamber, electric chair, and the most popular lethal injection ("Ways" 1-4). The debate about the death penalty consists in both ethical and religious viewpoints. Some think that the death penalty should be legalized in all fifty states, to deter from crime, keep repeat offenders off the streets, and alleviate prison costs from the taxpayers. On the other hand, there have been some men and women that have been wrongfully accused and executed for murder. Since the 1900's at least 416 people have been wrongfully executed causing great concern for the accuracy of the death penalty ("Death" 4). According to an examination of the "Death Penalty and Legislature," Henry Schwarzchild calculated that if the courts were to "carry out the death penalty for every murder, then we would be executing 400 persons per week (Bedau 366). At the same time this small number of mistakes is nothing compared to the problems society would face without the death penalty. The concern of the death penalty not only pertains to social problems, but also to biblical aspects as well. Walter Berns states many passages from the Bible that support the death penalty, but after careful research he determines that the passages can be interpreted in many different ways. To read this passage from Genesis someone might think that the death penalty is supported "who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood 2005-05-15T01:50:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-Research-Paper-and-Argument-Analysis-26601.aspx Question: How would you like to die? Allow me to draw a scenario for you- a beautiful cabin in an unpopulated countryside which you and your significant other have been sharing for the most beautiful last years of your life. You spent the morning taking a memorable walk by the lake. Your children have decided to visit you, and you played with your grandchildren, letting their rolling laughter soothe you. You're self-sufficient, your life has been successful, and your children are grown and loving. You can ask for nothing more. Bathed in perfect happiness, you will peacefully slip away into the afterlife gently during your sleep. If only. According to studies, 80% of chronically-ill seniors (aged 65+) die institutionalized in hospitals or long-term care facilities (Valente). Fully two-thirds of that population suffering from both age-related and unnatural disorders is not referred to palliative care soon enough to receive proper care in their last days. As a result, approximately 82% of them suffer unnecessary pain in their last 24 hours, and severely suffering patients typically spend their last eight days in the Intensive Care Unit, plugged with countless tubes, and in extreme cases, either comatose or on ventilators (Valente). Not quite the picturesque end many people picture for themselves. However horrible the information above sounds, there is something still worse than dying in excruciating pain, hospitalized and surrounded by unfamiliar hospital personnel when you want to live: dying under the same circumstances when you want to die. When a person is terminally ill (medically diagnosed to die within six months), and will inevitably deteriorate in mental and physical health to a state where the quality of their lives will seem to be worse than death, it makes no sense for the law to force them to live through unnecessary and excruciating pain: they should be given the option of active euthanasia. Euthanasia is "the intentional termination of a life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies,"- the aided suicide of a terminally ill patient by qualified physicians under carefully supervised circumstances (Robinson). The world "euthanasia" comes from the Greek words "eu" meaning "good", and "thanatos" meaning "death". As the origins of the word itself suggests, euthanasia gives terminally ill people the chance to die a good death, surrounded by loved ones who can remember the patient in his/her best health before slipping peacefully into death as opposed to the unexpected, sudden death in 2005-04-28T16:06:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Death-with-Dignity-26577.aspx Analysis of Various Articles on Abortion, Pro vs. Con Abortion has been a vastly debated topic. There are many things to consider and two sides to choose from. Does a woman have the right to abortion? The stage at which a fetus becomes a person would justify when abortion is morally accepted. But where do we draw the line? What factors come into play to determine such a time? Judith Jarvis Thomson, the author of the article “A Defense of Abortion,” argues that even though a fetus is a person from the moment of conception a woman still has the right to abortion (1.Thomson, CC2005, p 0046). She gives a hypothetical situation in order to help rethink the morality of abortion. She uses this hypothetical situation to conclude that aborting a fetus is not murder and it does not follow that it should be in any way be considered murder. Where to draw the line is also a highly debated topic and she states the most people would draw the line at the moment of conception but this conclusion does not follow. She continues on about how the same thing could be said about an acorn turning into an oak tree and that the two things are nothing alike just as an embryo is not a person (2.Thomson, CC2005, p 0046). Suppose a normal person was suddenly kidnapped one day and put in a hospital bed where she has been linked to a stranger. She is the only person with right blood type to help. The stranger is a famous violinist who is having kidney failure and needs the kidneys of this innocent woman. If she chooses to save the life of this violinist she must stay in the hospital next to him for nine months. (3.Thomson, CC2005, p 0048) Thomson relates this situation to the case of rape. The innocent woman would be the victim of rape and the violinist is the fetus from the result of rape. This puts the woman in the situation of deciding whether or not she should stay in bed for nine months to save this violinist. Pro-life argues that she should stay in bed and save this man’s life because she can and it would murder is she unplugged herself from him. Thomson 2005-04-24T08:35:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Discussion-of-Various-Articles-on-Abortion,-Pro-vs_-Con-26568.aspx We Don’t Juana Give Everyone Power to Decide [i:219a1fc06c]Decriminalization of Marijuana vs. Local Regulatory Control[/i:219a1fc06c] Marijuana, a Schedule I mild hallucinogen is illegal to purchase, cultivate and posses in all fifty states of the union . In recent years, states have taken steps to harness the medical benefits of this drug and some have even gone so far as to decriminalize it altogether. States such as California and Oregon led the charge for decriminalization with several others following in step1. Marijuana, used alone cannot be abused to the point of an overdose and there are no documented cases of a marijuana related death. Given this trend many local and town governments have tried to use this as grounds for decriminalizing marijuana as well as many other more potent and fatal ‘recreational’ drugs. The decriminalization of marijuana by local government has been utilized by certain individuals in attempt to amend the current laws on drug use. Their arguments are invalid due to the fact that municipal governments do not, and should not, have the power to take such action. Therefore using these state decriminalization cases as examples to call for a nationwide decriminalization of “recreational drugs” cannot prove to be effective. Article I and article IV of the Constitution grant states the power to a legislative body unto themselves with a code of law for each member of the Union. The Federalists purposely gave these specific rights to the States, not towns or municipalities, to ensure that a majority faction could never be established enabling an area to fall victim to politics of self-interest. In Federalist Ten Madison points out that; “There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction. The one: destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions and the same interests.” (Fed. 10, pg. 72) While it may seem more democratic to give equal say to every town and city, and force states to recognize this power, it is this concept which will deconstruct the careful equilibrium of power this nation strove so hard to achieve. If this were the case every single vote in our elections would count, but instead that power is granted to the Electoral College. Instead it is recognized that if every town is granted a legislative body unto itself, power is taken from the state level as well as the nation 2005-04-24T08:30:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Decriminalization-of-Marijuana-vs_-Local-Regulatory-Control-26566.aspx What is Equality? Equality in John Locke's Second Treatise What is equality? Equality is a loaded term that can be used many different ways. It could be utilized to describe the same political rights that people may have, including males and females. Or it can be applied to describing the identical opportunity for one to accrue wealth. With a myriad of different uses and interpretations, equality is a confusing concept that can be hard to grasp. However, John Locke in the Second Treatise of Government outlines his theory of equality and how it works in his political society, known as the common-wealth. This political community, as will be discussed in greater detail, is constituted of all people because they are inherently born with the natural right to be free from subjugation. This natural equality is the foundation for civilization as it leads people out of an isolated existence into a political community. The aforementioned is envisioned through the passage of humans traveling from the state of nature into family organizations that gain properties and then ultimately towards a political society. Prior to substantiating the argument of Locke’s theory of equality as the foundation for his common-wealth state, it must first be understood. The natural equality of all people, as written by Locke in the Second Treatise emphasizes that all men are born in an equal state. No one is greater or lesser than another and therefore subject to no one, unless one willfully permits. “A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another…that creatures of the same race and rank …should also be equal one amongst each other without subordination or subjection.” This type of equality stresses that all people are free from being ruled or dominated by another person or group. However, Locke writes later in the same paragraph that they are equal and free “unless the lord and master of them all should, by any manifest declaration of his will, set one above another, and confer on him, by an evident and clear appointment, and undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.” In this passage, Locke directly refers to the monarchy. During his lifetime, it is still widely believed that the kings and queens of the world are selected by God to rule over that 2005-04-20T04:38:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-is-Equality-Equality-in-John-Locke-s-Second-Treatise-26522.aspx Marijuana: Decriminalization or Legalization In high school when I first learned about the alluring world of illegal pharmaceuticals, I was scared. My fear was based on all my prior knowledge of drugs was from government propaganda and popular beliefs. Now I’m older, and more experienced about drugs. When did the America first begin to be wildly afraid of a plant that has been on this continent since our forfathers ()? America’s fear of illicit drugs can be as far traced back as the prohibition era of the early 20th century. Pot, a nickname for the plant, is still illegal due in part to the bias government drug enforcement forces of the nineteen thirties and forties. Past propaganda and seeds of ignorance about marijuana still grow today in American. Marijuana has been used responsibly by cultures dated as far back as 3000 BC China (Jones, 2003). So how have Americans been brainwashed to believe marijuana is different than any other smokable plant? The earliest harvesting of marijuana specifically for smoking, or “getting stoned,” was by the Scythians from Siberia around 700BC. Surely Marijuana has had a long history of medical used by the human race (Jones, 2003). Rastafarians base most of their key beliefs around the herb. The divinity of marijuana is central to their religious beliefs. Indian cultures have been smoking marijuana for a varieties of ways for thousands of years. Hinduism has a long tradition with marijuana use, having ancient prayers claiming that pot is a sacred herb. Of major world religions only Christianity has been a party pooper by consistently denying the divinity of weed (Jones, 2003). The Spanish Inquisition of the 12th century banned marijuana labeling it the work of the devil. Since that ancient papal decree, Christians have looked upon marijuana as a demon herb, with no medical use. This may have been one of the earliest attempts at marijuana prohibition. America’s history with marijuana began around 1914 when it became popular among Hispanics of El Paso and New Orleans (Jones, 2003). Around this time Americans were still angry from the Spanish-American War. A media campaign against Hispanics was launched by the government. Stories usually told of Hispanics all doped out committing vicious violent crimes. The publics attitude toward marijuana in the twenties is described as, “…they believed it was a sexual stimulant and lowered societal inhabitions. (Musto, 2003)” The marijuana was blamed 2005-04-20T04:31:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marijuana-The-Case-for-Decriminalization-26520.aspx Animal Testing Introduction The application of animals to test a large number of products from household compounds and cosmetics to Pharmaceutical products has been considered to be a normal strategy for many years. Laboratory animals are generally used in three primary fields: biomedical research, product security evaluation and education. (Animal Experiments) It has been estimated that approximately, 20 million animals are being used for testing and are killed annually; about 15 million of them are used to test for medication and five million for other products. Reports have been generated to indicate that about 10 percent of these animals are not being administered with painkillers. The supporters of animal rights are pressurizing government agencies to inflict severe regulations on animal research. However, such emerging criticisms of painful experimentation on animals are coupled with an increasing concern over the cost it would have on the limitation of scientific progress. (Of Cures and Creatures Great and Small) Around the world, animals are utilized to test products ranging from shampoo to new cancer drugs. Each and every medication used by humans is first tested on the animals. Animals were also applied to develop anesthetics to ease human ailments and suffering during surgery. (Animal Experiments) Currently, questions have been raised about the ethics surround animal testing. As a result several regulations have been put in place to evaluate and control the animals being used for testing purposes. These regulations hope to ensure that such research is carried out in a humanely and ethical manner. (Testing on Animals: A Patient’s Perspective) Acceptance of such experimentations is subject to a lot of argumentation. As the statistics indicate animal testing is dangerous and harmful, but medical research must continue. We need to find other testing techniques that are advanced in order to eliminate this harmful process, till then all we can do is continue with our research. Arguments for testing The supporters of animal testing argue that if animal testing is eliminated, that many of the medications and procedures that we currently use today would exist and the development of future treatments would be extremely limited. They argue that humans have been assisted from the healthcare developments that have been based on the benefits of animal research and testing for many years now. Supporters for animal testing argue that research is justified because it assists in discovering ways 2005-04-20T04:28:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Testing-Pros-and-Cons-26519.aspx Gay couple should not adopt children Should gay couple adopt children? Are gay couples capable of raising children with as much devotion as a normal couple? The answer is certainly a “No!”. Adoption of children by homosexual couples is a very controversial contemporary issue. National Adoption week in the United Kingdom in October 2000 saw a drive to encourage gay couples to adopt, in order to find homes for thousands of orphan children. At present, many democratic countries like United States of America, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland have regarded les-gay adoption as an important area of gay rights. However, I believe that gay couples should not adopt children, as children of gay couples will be confused about their own sexual identity, will be raised in a promiscuous environment, and will fail to understand traditional values. First of all, gay couples are abnormal, which will create an uncertainty for the children. Research in the US (Univ. of Illinois Law Review, 1997) finds that children raised in homosexual households are significantly more likely to question their sexuality. In addition, a child’s primary role models are his or her parents. Raising a heterosexual child in a gay household gives the a distorted view of minority sexuality, just as a girl brought up by two men would fail to benefit from a feminine influence or a boy would fail to benefit from masculinity if he is raised alongside only girls. Usually, children from gay families are discriminated against in a society and are bullied. This can have immense effect in their psychological development. They will be discouraged, and will feel inferior, frustrated, depressed and will be unable to face the challenge of this fast running world. Hence, their future will be doubtable. The upbringing of children by gay couple is immoral. To legally allow adoption by gay couples is to encourage what is an unnatural upbringing. Gay adoption has deep implications because it forces a radical redefinition of marriage and family. Research shows that the Annual Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Domestic Violence highlights the occurrence of domestic violence in the homosexual community, perhaps as much as a 33% rate. Heterosexual adoption has a domestic violence rate around 1%. Such violence will change the child’s perspective of good and bad things, for the worse So, the child will be raised in an immoral environment. Another 2005-04-14T14:27:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-Essay-Gay-Couple-Adopting-Child-26502.aspx The Americans with Disabilities Act Summary On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law intended to make the American society more accessible to people with disabilities. The general purpose of this legislation is to extend the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, and national origin to persons with disabilities. This further protects individuals with disabilities in recruitment, preemployment screening, hiring, promotions, layoffs and termination's, and any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions are covered in the act. In addition, the ADA applies to all aspects of participation in society, including employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. The ADA prepares employees by providing appropriate information and personnel training on the provisions of the ADA, its relevance to the functioning of the organization as a whole, and the responsibilities of specific personnel. Five Titles of the ADA The Americans with Disabilities Act is divided into five titles. Employment being the first, states that businesses must provide reasonable accommodations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Possible changes may include restructuring jobs, altering the layout of workstations, or modifying equipment, Employment aspects may include the application process, hiring, wages, benefits, and all other aspects of employment. Medical exams are also highly regulated. Title two, public services, which includes state and local government instrumentality's, cannot deny services to people with disabilities participation in programs or activities which are available to people without disabilities. In addition, public transportation systems, such as public transit buses, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. In title three, public accommodations are addressed. All new construction and modifications must be removed if readily achievable. Public accommodations include facilities such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, retail stores, etc., as well as privately owned transportation systems. Title four, telecommunications, states that telecommunication companies offering telephone service to the general public must have telephone relay service to individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf or similar devices. Finally, title five, miscellaneous, prohibits coercing or threatening or retaliating against the disabled or those attempting to aid people with disabilities asserting their rights under the ADA. Who Meets Disabled Requirements? A person may be considered disabled if he or she meets at least any one of the following requirements: 1. He or she has a physical or mental 2005-03-29T01:38:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Americans-with-Disabilities-Act-Summary-26445.aspx Immigration Policies Background America was built by immigrants. From Plymouth Rock in the seventeenth century to Ellis Island in the twentieth, people from every where came to America some were fleeing religious persecution and political turmoil. Most of them came for economic reasons and were part of extensive migratory systems that responded to changing demands in labor markets. In recent year, an 2005-03-27T10:34:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Immigration-Policies-Pro-or-Against-26411.aspx Should drug testing be allowed in schools? On June 26, 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Vernonia School District (Oregon) v. Wayne and Judy Acton that school drug testing was allowed. Since then, many schools have initiated drug-testing programs, and North Carolina is taking it into consideration. If it was the law for drug tests to occur, then this state would be violating the rights of students. We are juveniles, but the rights stated in the Constitution apply to us just as any other citizen. There are two possible roads that North Carolina could take in instituting testing programs. The tests could be voluntary or mandatory. Both are unconstitutional. The state seems to be leaning towards voluntary testing, but is is not voluntary. Voluntary by definition means done willingly and without contraint, meaning no strings attached. There are definitely strings attached if you must get tested in order to play sports or be on the yearbook staff. It is not by your own free will. Students would not be allowed to be involved in any extra-curricular activities unless they gave a urine sample. This is a forced act, disguised as being uncoerced. It is a paradoxical statement. Mandatory testing would be a violation of the fourth amendment. It reads "the right of the peiople [which includes juveniles] to be secure in their... effects against unreasonable seizures, shall not be violated..." Making someone give up part of their body to a school that otherwise has no other indications of drug use is an infraction on our rights. Serious issues come into question when someone is forced to give up urine samples. One of the main issues is the fact that most people won't be found containing drugs. In Vernonia, Oregon at the school that the Surpreme Court ruled upon, only two percent of those students tested over a four and one-half year period produced tests that were positive for serious drugs. Some came up positive for basic medications such as pain relievers. For the result of only 12 students found guilty, a huge price was paid, one morally and one economically. While hundreds of students' rights were violated, excessive amounts of money was spent. An average annual price for voluntary drug testing for 1500 students would be about $17,307. A mandatory test for 1500 students would be close to $189,000. The higher price for mandatory testing is because it requires more 2005-03-27T10:23:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drug-Testing-in-Schools--26405.aspx The medical community continues to expand our ability to handle life-threatening illnesses and prolong life. With that ability comes an extension of the treatments that patients must undergo. Many patients today refuse medical treatment that may save or prolong their life, out of a desire to avoid the unpleasant side affects associated with the treatment. In recent years it has been discovered that the use of Marijuana alleviates several symptoms associated with cancer and AIDS treatments and disorders. The patients are currently forced to choose between breaking the law to reduce symptoms or suffering life-changing symptoms rather than break the law. The conditions of AIDS and cancer are life threatening and many are not going to survive its attack. Medicinal marijuana should be legalized so that those who already suffer the disadvantage of disease, will not also be forced to suffer treatment symptoms that are easily corrected. It is interesting that during current history the use of marijuana is even up for debate (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 45). For many years it was an accepted treatment for the alleviation of symptoms of different disorders. Between 1840 and 1940 there were over 100 papers published in which the effectiveness of marijuana for medical use was praised. Physicians constantly reported success from the use of the drug in treating some disorders (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 46). According to those who published the papers, marijuana works medicinally by shutting down the nerves that allow pain to be transmitted from the brain to other areas of the body (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 39). In more recent years many chemotherapy patients have insisted that smoking marijuana relieved the nausea often associated with disease treatments (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 45). In addition patients with glaucoma have been proven to have pressure on their eyes relieved with the use of marijuana. (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 45.) In the most recent developments regarding the medicinal use of marijuana it has proven to be a successful appetite stimulant as well as a depression reliever among patients who are fighting AIDS (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 43.). "In spite of these medical benefits, Congress still refuses to legalize marijuana for medical use, because it is harmful to one 's health when smoked." (Medical Marijuana Legislation Overdue, 45). " This seems like a ridiculous argument, considering that cigarettes are the leading cause of heart disease and lung cancer (Medical 2005-03-27T07:03:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Legalization-Marijuana-Paper-26401.aspx What is democracy? In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." According to Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. The description of democracy could take up more than 10 more pages, but to simplify this, democracy is basically a system which includes: people who have sovereignty, a government based upon consent of the governed, rulership of the majority, however serving to protect the rights of minorities--whether ethnic, religious, or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation, guarantee of basic human rights for all, free and fair elections, equality before law, constitutional limits on the power of government, social, economic, and political pluralism, and values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise. Although experiencing minor improvements in terms of democracy, progression of liberty for racial minorities, improvement in voting conditions, betterment in the equal distribution of town offices according to financial status of the people, Wethersflield didn´t illustrate major progression from the 1750´s to the 1780´s, with the presence of unequal distribution of land and property, and lack of religious tolerance. Between the 1750´s and the 1780´s, Wethersfield experienced some minor improvement in terms of democracy. Most notibly, the increase of the free black population. According to `Document A´, in 1756 50% of the black population were slaves, whereas in 1774, 36.1% of all blacks were slaves. This was a great accomplishment considering the fact that even though the white population increased by 54.2%, the number of black slaves decreased in number, since it would have been expected for the slave population to rise in order to satisfy the needs of more whites. Other than racial liberty,according to `Document G´, Wethersfield also experienced a slight increase in the percentage of adult white males meeting the freeman requirements, along dramatic increase in the percentage of adult white males taking freeman´s oath, actually voting, and getting elected to town 2005-03-27T07:00:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-is-democracy--26399.aspx You have been told that you are unique. The belief that there is no one else like you in the whole world has made you feel special and proud. In the near future, this belief may not be true. The world was stunned by the news in the summer of 1995, when a British embryologist named Ian Wilmut, and his research team, successfully cloned Dolly the sheep using the technique of nuclear transfer. Replacing the DNA of one sheep’s egg with the DNA of another sheep’s udder created Dolly. Plants and lower forms of animal life have been successfully cloned for many years, but before Wilmut's announcement, it had been thought by many to be unlikely that such a procedure could be performed on larger mammals and life forms. The world media was immediately filled with heated discussions about the ethical implications of cloning. Some of the most powerful people in the world have felt compelled to act against this threat. President Clinton swiftly imposed a ban on federal funding for human-cloning research. Bills were put in the works in both houses of Congress to outlaw human cloning because it was deemed as a fundamentally evil thing that must be stopped. But what, exactly, is bad about it? From an ethical point of view, it is difficult to see exactly what is wrong with cloning human beings. The people who are afraid of cloning tend to assume that someone would, for example, break into Napoleon's Tomb, steal some DNA and make a bunch of emperors. In reality, infertile people who use donated sperm, eggs, or embryos would probably use cloning. Do the potential harms outweigh the benefits of cloning? From what we know now, they don't. Therefore, we should not rush placing a ban on a potentially useful method of helping infertile, genetically at-risk, homosexual, or single people to become parents. Do human beings have a right to reproduce? No one has the moral right to tell another person that they should not be able to have children, and I don't see why Bill Clinton has that right either. If humans have a right to reproduce, what right does society have to limit the means? Essentially all reproduction done these days is with medical help at delivery, and even before. Truly natural human reproduction would make pregnancy-related death the number one killer of adult women. Some forms of medical help 2005-03-24T03:41:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Are-You-Unique-for-Cloning-26395.aspx Euthanasia: When is it Right? When we hear the word euthanasia, most of us automatically associate it with the act of murder-suicide. We also immediately refer to the so-called Dr.Kevorkian who has personally assisted suicides. Euthanasia may not be our natural way to die, but who determines what that is? One would think that the only person, who could decide if euthanasia is the right or wrong way to die, would be the person directly affected by it. It varies from country to country whether euthanasia is accepted. In the United States the government has chosen euthanasia to be illegal and as a result, if someone were to attempt to end their lives and did not succeed he or she would have to pay the consequences in jail. Unfortunately, there are many circumstances in which people suffering from a terminal illness and/or are undergoing an unbearable amount of pain that may want to seek euthanasia are not given that choice. Euthanasia that is commonly called mercy killing occurs when incurably ill people ask their physician, or maybe even a friend or a relative to put them to death. There are two types of euthanasia to consider Active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. "The distinction between active and passive euthanasia is thought to be crucial for medical ethics. The idea is that it is permissible, at least in some cases, to withhold treatment and allow a patient to die, but it is never permissible to take any direct action designed to kill the patient." (Rachels, 1975, p. 560) Active euthanasia, which is most commonly committed by administering a lethal injection, is illegal in the United States, Canada, and almost all other countries. Most religious groups consider it to be suicide or murder and, therefore, immoral. Some supporters of euthanasia claim that it allows a person to die with dignity instead of being kept barely alive by machines. Passive euthanasia is the withholding of most types of medical treatment. This method allows the patient to die naturally and it usually legal. Regardless, the type of euthanasia preferred the problem becomes more intense after considering that there is another party involved in the process. Whether the person is assisting by administering a lethal injection or by simply withholding medical intervention, their participation makes them guilty of murder. It may seem that they are only helping the 2005-03-21T01:33:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-When-is-it-Right-26390.aspx BALANCING ACTS, Yesterday And Today. Considering the traditional role of women, going back to the Vedic Age, it is seen that the Rig Vedic Age women were the copartners in life and in pleasure and hazards. The position of women was high. In the later Vedic Ages however the position of women deteriorated. They became minimally the vehicles of bearing sons and had to obey her authoritarian and dominating husband, regard him as her master and serve him faithfully. According to Srinivas, the traditional role of a Hindu wife was precisely laid down in the Hindu Literature. So she had to adhere to the set pattern laid down. Indian society is still characterized by its ancient societal norms and values but yet amongst it, the status and role of women have witnessed rapid changes in recent years. The thoroughly domesticated women who could not think beyond the welfare of their families have now awakened to action. They have a fierce desire to succeed, which is the awakening of their dormant individuality. Women do have the required talent to occupy predominant positions in enterprises. Latent energy lying wide among our women population must be unleashed to enable them to participate and contribute their due share to National Growth and prosperity. Women entrepreneurs in India represent a group of women who have broken away from the beaten track and are exploring new vistas of economic participation. Their task has been full of challenges and yet they have steered clear of prejudice, oppositions and constraints and have established themselves as successful entrepreneurs. These pace and trend setters for woman’s economic emancipation have shown courage, tenacity, resolution, far sightedness and vision in handling business ventures independently. By enabling woman to become entrepreneurs and participate fully and more effectively in a wider range of economic and especially industrial activities, it is possible not only to improve their position in society, but also to make greater progress towards overall economic and social development, objectives such as increased economic growth, improved productivity, improved distribution of income, reduction in poverty and above all, reduction in unemployment. Entrepreneurship does not distinguish between man and woman .It calls for an attitude of mind and suitable motivation duly supported by congenial external conditions. When these are present then there emerge the central qualities of risk taking and decision making which constitute the basis of entrepreneurship. The ICWE research studies and analysis reveals that there is present enormous entrepreneurial 2005-03-20T09:42:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Balancing-Acts-Role-Conflict-of-Women-Entrepreneurs-26383.aspx Comeback Cities: A Blueprint for Urban Neighborhood Revival Chapter 1: The South Bronx, From the Bottom Up The tale of the South Bronx is one that many people do not understand. This is a city that made a remarkable turnaround without getting rid of or enriching their poor. It was done over the course of many years and a lot of money, but this money was not needed in one lump sum. It began with Jimmy Carter, who went to the South Bronx, hoping that he could help restore the area. He never actually promised any money, but in later years, when the story was told, he reportedly had done so. He wanted to improve the city badly, but by the time he returned home, only a few hundred thousand dollars had arrived and he felt defeated. He was then blamed for a lot of what was going on in that area. For twenty years, the South Bronx became a politically detrimental area. Almost no presidents stepped foot there for fear of being thought to make a promise to change things. Then in 1997, President Bill Clinton went there with cameras and everything for another look at “the urban wasteland”. With the help of community organizations and some funding from New York City, the South Bronx had done a complete change. In the worst areas, shootings were down by more than 2/3, and robberies and assaults by more than ½. School attendance had also dramatically increased. Property values had become so high that some residents of more affluent neighborhoods like Manhattan could barely afford to live there. The credit for this change does not go to one person or organization only. The change was set in motion on Oct. 5, 1977, and took 20 years to realize. The three elements for the change were: 1. Community organizations willing to stay and build 2. A federal government willing to finance their efforts 3. A local government that had learned clear but bitter lessons from decades of massive, top-down “renewal” This was a shocking event to those who saw it on the day that Clinton arrived, but there are some things that he did NOT see. In the 1970s, the South Bronx had lost a great deal of its population, and they never returned. Poverty is still significantly higher than in most other parts of NY. The South Bronx has not regained its former grandeur and will probably not do so. It 2005-03-19T22:40:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comeback-Cities-A-Blueprint-for-Urban-Neighborhood-Revival-26379.aspx Fur is Dead Taking a look into a once strong industry, shocking facts are revealed. The fur industry brings in an average of $1.5 billion in sales each year. Furs were considered a beautiful and feminine version of clothing by many women, until the public became aware of the horrors that accompany the industry. Activists have been a voice for animals tortured for their fur, making the public aware, and diminishing the old view of fur. Approximately 3.5 million fur-bearing animals are killed each year by trappers, and another 2.7 million are raised on fur 'farms'. (1) The fur industry is a 'for-profit' venture, meaning methods that maximize production and keep costs at a low rate are used, this often leaves no room for humane treatment. About 90% of all ranched fur bearers are minks. (2) Foxes, rabbits, and chinchillas account for most of the remainder. These animals are kept in filthy, cramped, and diseased conditions. Foxes are kept in wire-mesh cages only 2.5 feet square, with up to four animals per cage. Minks and other species are typically kept in 1-foot-by-3-foot cages, again with up to four animals per cage. Animals born at fur farms live very short lives, and because profit is the grand interest, the cheapest methods are used to slaughter the animals. The cheapest methods are also the most inhumane, crude, and cruel methods. Trapping is also a method for obtaining furs. The suffering that follows trapping makes fur farms seem almost humane. There are various types of traps, such as snares, box traps, cage traps, and the most commonly used, the leg trap. This is a simple yet crude device, and has been banned in 63 countries, and four U.S states.(3) Greta Nilsson exposes the inhumane trap in "Facts About Furs": When an animal steps on the leghold trap spring, the trap's jaws slam down on the animal's limb. Dr. Robert E. Cape explains that "if the trap is properly anchored, the captured animal will struggle to get loose, mutilating the foot and causing deep, painful lacerations. Or the animal will attempt escape by chewing or twisting off the trapped extremity. Ten to 12 hours after being 2005-02-28T02:48:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fur-is-Dead--26347.aspx Sex Education and The Classroom In today's society there is an on going debate over sex education and its influence on our children. "The question is no longer should sex education be taught, but rather how it should be taught" (DeCarlo). With teenage pregnancy rates higher than ever and the imminent threat of the contraction of STD's, such as HIV, the role of sex education in the school is of greater importance now then ever before. By denying children sex education you are in a sense sheltering them from the harsh realities they are bound to encounter. Sex education has become an essential part of the curriculum and by removing the information provided by this class we'll be voluntarily putting our children in danger. During the teenage years every boy and girl undergo major changes in the body that most of the time need explaining. This underscores one of the most evident reasons for sexual education being taught to students. Sex education can help children to cope with the many changes caused by the onset of puberty. One such example is a female's first menstruation and the uneasiness they feel. If this girl had been informed of this change prior to its onset, then her ability to accept and understand it would be greatly enhanced. Hormonal and physical changes in the body begin without warning and a child needs to know why these changes are occurring. Students are taught about the anatomy of the human body and how and why it works the way it does. Knowing and understanding how ones body works is a fundamental part any person's life and ability to gain this knowledge should not be removed. At the beginning of puberty hormones start rushing and all teenagers begin to experience sexual urges. It's not something anyone, including a parent or teacher, can control. It's a natural function of the body and has been since the beginning of time. With this hormone rush comes experimentation among teenagers. They begin to explore their bodies along with the bodies of other people. "You can't prevent teenagers from having sex, no matter what you preach. If students are having sex they might as well do it the safe way. It's a way for schools to show that they actually care," says Shauna Ling-Choung (qt. Richardson 2005-02-28T01:03:46-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Sex-Education-and-The-Classroom-26337.aspx HUMAN CLONING “And the lord god formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed in to his nostrils the breath of life; and ma became a living soul. The lord god then took one of his ribs and closed up his flesh instead thereof: and with the rib from which the lord god had taken from man he created woman." Is cloning necessary for advancements in improving the quality of life? People often question whether or not we as a scientific nation are trying to play the role of god by the diverse issue of human cloning. Early in 1997 Scottish scientist Ian Wilmut revealed to the world that he had successfully cloned an adult sheep, known to the world as Dolly. With this invention the world made a collective gasp at the realization that cloning was no longer an element of a science fiction movie. Since then the cloning of human beings has been one of the most largely debated topics in the world. From the schoolhouse to the White House discussions have begun regarding the ethical implications of cloning. In several recent polls by Time magazine (The Ethics of Human Cloning 1998) it was shown that 75% of the responding population thought that human cloning was a bad idea. Furthermore, 74% of the respondents believed that cloning was against gods' will, and when asked if they would clone themselves if presented with an opportunity, 91% responded with no. However when asked to define human cloning an estimated 95% could not do it correctly. Opponents of human cloning often argue that it is immoral and unethical to clone human beings for both religious and humanitarian reasons. Moreover others describe human cloning as a luxury for the wealthy and as a tool for the Organ Market Development. Conversely, I feel that cloning is immoral and a bad idea for the following reasons. First of all cloning may reduce genetic variability. Producing many clones runs the risk of creating a population that is entirely the same. This population would be susceptible to the same diseases. That means that one disease could devastate an entire population. One could easily picture the human race being wiped out by a single virus. However, less drastic but more probable events could occur from lack of genetic diversity. For example, 2005-02-23T09:12:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/HUMAN-CLONING-Argument-Against-26332.aspx Eeoc And The Process The mission of the EEOC, as set forth in its strategic plan, is to promote equal opportunity in employment through administrative and judicial enforcement of the federal civil rights laws, education and technical assistance. Overview The EEOC carries out its work at headquarters and in 50 field offices throughout the United States. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in employment begin the processes by filing administrative charges. Individual Commissioners may also initiate charges that the law has been violated. Through the investigation of charges, if the EEOC determines there is "reasonable cause" to believe that discrimination has occurred, it must then seek to conciliate the charge to reach a voluntary resolution between the charging party and the respondent. If conciliation is not successful, the EEOC may bring suit in federal court. Whenever the EEOC concludes its processing of a case, or earlier upon the request of a charging party, it issues a "notice of right to sue" which enables the charging party to bring an individual action in court. The Commission also issues regulatory and other forms of guidance interpreting the laws it enforces, is responsible for the federal sector employment discrimination program, provides funding and support to state and local fair employment practices agencies (FEPA's), and conducts broad-based outreach and technical assistance programs. The Process Once an employee or applicant files a charge, the EEOC then serves notice on the employer, usually by mail, that a charge has been filed against it. This notice normally includes a copy of the actual charge filed by the employee or applicant. Title VII and the ADA require that notice be served on the employer within 10 days after the Commission receives the charge, although the EEOC's workload often prevents it from meeting this statutory deadline. The EEOC's unintentional failure to meet this deadline, however, does not prevent the charge from proceeding, unless the employer can show that it was substantially prejudiced by the delay. The filing of the charge triggers an EEOC investigation into whether or not there is reasonable cause to believe that the employer did in fact illegally discriminate against an individual in violation of Title VII, the ADEA the EPA and/or the ADA. There are no restrictions on the duration of an EEOC investigation, and the EEOC has the authority to inspect the employer's workplace, obtain employer documents, and interview 2005-02-23T09:08:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Eeoc-And-The-Process--26331.aspx Prostitution This essay focuses mainly on the trade of street prostitution and on women (the people who practice it most often). Women prostitutes outnumber men in a ratio of four to one. Despite the fact that prostitution is not illegal in Canada, activities closely related to the profession are penalized (i.e. procuring, keeping a bawdyhouse, communicating). This results in the infamous "Catch 22" situation, where prostitutes face a good news-bad news scenario: prostitution is legal, but it is illegal to practice. The government's and the legal system's inability to clearly define where prostitution can take place facilitates the further victimization of women by forcing them to practice their chosen profession on the street under less than optimal conditions. Moreover, society as a whole is partly responsible for young women choosing prostitution as a career. Also, the incompetence of the law forces the police to be in a position where they have to make the laws. In the words of an authority on the subject, John Lowman, in Canada "the legality of prostitution is rhetorical at best." Arriving at a workable definition on what prostitution is is very difficult, since not even the government can agree on what exactly constitutes the offence. Prostitution is the exchange of sexual favours for money or other material goods, devoid of any emotional involvement. Although prostitution has never been illegal in Canada, many of the peripheral activities intimately related with it are so penalized. Communicating for the purposes of prostitution, soliciting, keeping a common bawdyhouse, procuring, and living off the avails of prostitution are some examples of the type of activities that are criminalized. The purpose of the "procuring" and "living on the avails" provisions in the Criminal Code is to hinder third parties from making a profit from the prostitution of others. This includes directing potential customers to the services of a prostitute, and living fully or partly off the earnings of a prostitute. In most large cities, people in the service industry such as taxi drivers, bellhops, bartenders, and hotel clerks tend to supplement their incomes by procuring. Pimps are people who actively seek out another person to prostitute for them. In exchange for this, pimps are supposed to perform certain activities for their prostitute: administer protection from the police, customers and other prostitutes; provide a residence; and recruit customers for "their women." Although not a great number of women enter the profession as a result of manipulation by pimps, several alleged 2005-02-23T08:45:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Prostitution-Research-Report-26324.aspx Is The Family Dying? Is the Canadian family dying? Divorce rates across the country are on the rise, fewer long-term relationships result in marriage, and fewer children are sitting around the dinner table each night with their parents. These trends suggest that the traditional family is slipping from its roots, and in essence, dying. But what is a Canadian family? Many different definitions of family may be used in our modern day society, which include extended families, stepfamilies, blended families, and the nuclear family. Perhaps the Canadian family is not dying, but rather it is changing. The demographic face of Canadian society has changed. Fifty years ago, the typical Canadian family unit was much larger, as our grandparents had more children. Most women dedicated their time to raising the children while the men were the breadwinners of the family. The era of World War Two introduced more women to working in factories, and taking on a new life outside of the home. This drastically changed the cycle of the Canadian family, as women began to be more career orientated. This lead to the future of the independent women, a new trend in which women began focusing on secondary education and careers, before starting a family. In 1991, 65% of women aged 20-24 were single, compared with 51% in 1981. More and more, women are putting families on hold, until they are personally financially stable. This revolution led to households with fewer children, due to the later marriage. In 1986, the average number of children per marriage was 1.2, as opposed to 3.2 in the 1930's. Women are still having families, but this is not always their first priority. The divorce rate in Canada is on the rise, and has become much more acceptable over the years. Divorce laws in Canada have been changed to make divorce much more obtainable and equitable for all Canadian citizens. The divorce rate in Canada had tripled from 1951 up until 1987. Although divorce is the gateway to the ending of what is considered a nuclear family, many other types of families are introduced through divorce. Divorce is not always the ending of a family, but in many cases, it is the start of a new one. Stepfamilies, 2005-02-23T08:28:30-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-The-Canadian-Family-Dying-26315.aspx Child Abuse What causes child abuse? There are all kinds of reasons for child abuse. As there are different kinds of child abuse. Such as, physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse, and neglect. Abuse occurs in all cultures: High, middle, and low-income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups. However, you will find that it is more common in certain ethnic groups, such as, those below the poverty level. If a child has unexplained bruises, broken bones, and even cigarette burns, that is physical abuse. Physical abuse can also cause death to the child. No adult has a right to beat a child, no matter what. There are many reasons why a parent or an adult uses physical abuse on a child. The parent(s) or adult could have come from an abusive home himself or herself. If that is all that the adult was taught growing up, then that is all he or she is going to know. So it will be passed down to his/her children and their children will pass it down to their children. It is an endless chain of abuse. Alcohol and drugs play a big rule in child abuse. The parent(s) or caregiver is already stressed out by a variety of social conditions and when he/she get home from work she/he can start drinking or using drugs, if not both, This can trigger the violent behavior. Children are even sexually abused. A parent, guardian, relative, or a family friend can sexually abuse them. The age doesn't even matter. There are babies that have been sexually abused as well as teenagers. Some children cannot or will not tell another adult that they are being sexually abused. It is up to adults to look for signs of sexual abuse, such as physical complaints, fear of certain people or places, withdrawal from family and friends, discipline problems at home or school, self-destructive behavior, depression, and getting involved with alcohol or drugs just to mention a few. Children that are being sexually abused frequently will display certain behavior such as copying adult sexual behavior, having sexual contact with other children or themselves, and showing sexual knowledge through language or behavior. Other signs an adult can look for are unexplained swelling, bleeding or irritation of the mouth, genital, or anal area. Children that have 2005-02-23T08:24:55-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cause-of-Child-Abuse--26312.aspx The American Misconception Of Islam On September 11, thousands of innocent civilians became casualties of an unspeakable act of terror. As the day progressed, the events took most Americans on an emotional rollercoaster that brought dismay, fear, sadness, pride, anger and vengeance. This despicable act left fingers pointing to radical Muslim terrorist groups. Consequently, Muslims and/or of Arabic ethnicity, have become victims of hate and discrimination here in the United States. Examples include an Arabic gas station attendant in Indiana, who ducked behind a counter as bullets flew at him by a masked gunman; In San Francisco, a mosque was splattered with pig's blood. Women in Washington DC have had their head scarves snatched while walking down the street. Sadly, Arab-Americans will have to face the scrutiny of increased suspicion from the law enforcement, even though they promised them protection from intolerant persecution. The Internet and talk radio have become anonymous ways people are spreading their messages of hate towards Arabic ethnicity. Ironically, it would seem the television news media has played a role to spark anger in Americans by, for example, showing footage of Arabs celebrating the attack in America. Islam is a religion that promises peace, harmony and justice for those who do the word of God (Allah). There are many similarities between Islam and other religions such as Christianity and Judaism, which for example, recognize Moses and Abraham as prophets of God. Islam is divided up into many different denominations and sects like Christianity. All Muslims do hold to fundamental religious practices such as fasting, the pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Mecca, and daily prayer 5 times a day. Many Muslims generally have a negative view of the United States because of our lack of religious morals and our secular lifestyle. Even if the America established itself as a Christian nation, it would be more highly respected among Muslims. Muslims believe that the moral decay of the western civilization is bad for Islam, and refer to the Quran's stories of jihad, or "holy war". The word has various meanings, including the fight to control one's conscience, convert unbelievers and improve morals in society. In addition, Muslims believe martyrs go directly to heaven. More recently, the martyrdom belief had expanded to include volunteer suicide in battle, as demonstrated in Iran, when thousands of young Iranian soldiers volunteered to sweep Iraqi 2005-02-21T03:27:06-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-American-Misconception-Of-Islam-26290.aspx Class Size Debate Students, teachers and administrators everywhere are hearing about the topic of class size reduction and it's benefits versus the costly measures that are being taken in order to implement this movement in education. Research has indicated that people agree with the idea that small educational settings will undoubtedly provide success for schools, students, as well as teachers (Are Smaller Schools the Answer?), but the inevitable problems that go along with reducing class sizes are also of major concern to the communities that surround the school. There are many factors which have contributed to the idea that class sizes should be reduced including: falling test scores, rising drop-out rates, increased school violence, trends toward career and character education, along with techniques favoring learner-oriented strategies that people feel need to be changed to better our students(Class Size). The question is, what measures can be tolerated to reduce class sizes? What sacrifices will the community have to make in order to solve the problem? There is no conclusive evidence that leads us to a definitive answer to this problem. So, the class size debate lives on in communities everywhere, and there doesn't seem to be a clear answer on the horizon. Some educators believe more and more that students, especially in the primary grades, would benefit from a class size reduction to a national average of 18 students per classroom(Class Size Reduction: Success Stories). Studies such as Tennessee's Project STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio) have shown that smaller classes are better for both the teacher and the students in both educational and social aspects(Class Size Reduction: Success Stories). It is obvious that the nation is motivated to try to improve school climate for both students and teachers, and the reduction of class size is one avenue that they are pursuing. Other states are looking into the possibilities that the reduction of class sizes will have on their young learners. Some states, such as Ohio, are using funds from the Class Size Reduction Program to turn low-performing schools around by reducing class size from 25 to 15. In Maryland, students in grades one and two have stated that they are benefiting by having a class size of no more than 15 students for reading instruction. Finally, in Pennsylvania and Mississippi, funds are being used to recruit and prepare qualified teachers so they too can 2005-02-20T06:22:39-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Class-Size-Debate,-Big-or-small-26280.aspx Teenagers, Drugs, and Peer Pressure Drug use is an increasing problem among teenagers in today's high schools. Most drug use begins in the teenage years, these years are the most crucial in the maturing process. During these years adolescents are faced with the difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority figures and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily available, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there is a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn lead to depression and suicide. One of the most important reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure. Peer pressure represents social influences that effect adolescents, it can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on the person's social group. We are greatly influenced by the people around us. In today's schools, drugs are very common, peer pressure usually is the reason for their usage. If the people in your social group use drugs there will be pressure a direct or indirect pressure from them. A person may be offered to try drugs, which is direct pressure. Indirect pressure is when someone sees everyone around him using drugs and he might think that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. Person might try drugs just to fit in the social norms, even if a person has no intentions of using drugs, they might do it just to be considered "cool" by his/her friends. Today drugs are considered to be acceptable by many teenagers. In today's highs schools the availability and variety of drugs is widespread. There is a demand for drugs and the supply is plentiful. Since drugs are so easy accessible, a natural interest in them may develop. A person may hear about drug experiences, or reactions of drug usage. Examples include," Hey the weed that he sold us was cool, I got stoned man". This response will create a sense of curiosity and may convince the person to try drugs themselves. Many teenagers today believe that their first use of drugs is safe. However even though there is no instant addiction with the first try, youngsters tend to experiment further. Soon a person could actively 2005-02-03T00:46:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teenagers,-Drugs,-and-Peer-Pressure-26249.aspx TV Violence and the Future of Our Children In recent years, the news has seemed to mimic violence that appears in television and in movies. Several incidents support the majority of people's assumption that TV violence effects a child's behavior in many ways. A child's judgment is hurt badly by viewing TV violence, which can have some serious long-term effects. First of all, when children see characters on TV or in movies triumph by using physical force, they begin to see violence as an acceptable way of resolving conflicts. As a result, children use physical or verbal abuse toward others on the playground or at school. Some parents often worry that their children will not fit in with their friends if they do not watch popular children's television programs. The same 20-year research tell us that children who watch more violent television are actually rated more poorly by their peers. Also, according to Dr. Jeanne Beckman, children who spend more time watching violent TV programming are rated more poorly by their teachers, their peers, have few problem-solving skills, and are more likely to get into trouble with the law as teenagers and young adults. Take for instance the young boy who opened fire at his school in Pearl, Mississippi. The movie the Basketball Diaries had the most effect on this boy. Children who view too much media violence may have more difficulty getting along with others. If children do not see acts of kindness between other children and adults, they are less likely to be kind, or resolve their conflicts peacefully. This makes other children less eager to play with them. Along with verbal abuse, violent TV programs do not teach good language skills. Young children tend to repeat things they hear as they begin to develop their own vocabularies. Violent movies and TV programs show children a very limited way to talk about their problems -- and to solve them. Children are visual learners and television is more visual, more salient, more intense than simply reading a story to your child. Secondly, children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Viewing violence encourages children to see other people as enemies rather than as individuals with thoughts and feelings like themselves. Children who cannot put themselves in others' shoes may become less desirable playmates. One perfect example that supports this idea is the Columbine High School tragedy 2005-02-03T00:45:42-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/TV-Violence-and-the-Future-of-Our-Children-26248.aspx Against Animal Experimentation Imagine having a headache and not having aspirin to take, or being diabetic and not being able to take certain types of insulin (Williams 3). It seems impossible that these drugs could be unavailable to humans, but they would not be attainable had scientists not tested these drugs on non-animal subjects. Contrary to what many people believe, testing drugs on animals often give defective results. “More than 205,000 new drugs are marketed worldwide every year, most undergo the most archaic and unreliable testing methods still in use: animal studies” (PETA 1). Although animals may seem the like ideal specimens for testing new drugs, the experiments are untrustworthy and can cause unknown side effects. Research on animals is deemed necessary to develop vaccines, treatments, and cures for diseases and to ensure that new products are safe for humans to use. “The development of immunization against such diseases as polio, diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella, pertussis, and hepatitis all involved research on animals […]” (AMPEF 1). Scientists have found many drugs by means of animal experimentation. To some people, animals are viewed as better test subjects than anything else. Scientists can control many aspects in an animal’s life such as their diet, the temperature, lighting, environment, and more. Animals are biologically similar, but not identical to humans and can form some of the same health problems. When these health problems are injected into an animal it can have the same physical reactions as a human could. Brettner -2- Experimenting on animals, to some, is important if humans want to continue with improving our medical advances (AMPEF 1). Although animals have helped form useful medicines for humans like anesthesia, they have also helped put dangerous drugs on the market (AMPEF 1). Practolol, a drug for heart disorders that passed animal test was pulled off the shelves when the drug caused blindness in people. Also, arsenic, which is toxic and causes cancer in humans, has not caused cancer in any animals that were tested (PETA 1). “According to the General Accounting Office, more than half of the prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1976 and 1985 caused serious side effects that later caused the drugs to be either relabeled or removed from the market. Drugs approved for children were twice as likely to have a serious post-approval risks as other medications” (PETA 1). 2005-02-02T08:32:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-Against-Animal-Experimentation-26233.aspx Abortion Clinics Should Not be Closed in the USA In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death (“abortion”). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: “the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference” (“abortion”). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care (“ACLU”). Policy 263 states: “The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children.”(The American Civil Liberties Union) The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease (“abortion”). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women 2005-02-02T06:50:05-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Choice-Abortion-Clinics-Should-Be-Closed-in-the-US-26226.aspx The argument of abortion has been raging since the Supreme Court case, Roe vs. Wade, in 1973. This court case has divided the country into two factions: pro-choice and pro-life. Pro-life advocates argue that abortions are murder and extreme levels of child abuse. While pro-choice advocates believe abortions are a justifiable means to end pregnancies. The pro-choice argument is that the fetus is not yet a human being and its rights should not override that of the mother’s. An importance on what defines a human is very important. Is a human the result of sperm fertilizing an egg? At this point of fertilization the human is composed of a single cell with a unique DNA structure. Killing this unique cell would be wrong, however does this single cell constitute for a person? If being human is defined through having a certain level of self awareness and acknowledgment of your person, then the fetus is not yet a human being so aborting it would be as immoral as destroying a malignant tumor (Shrage 127). Should emphasis be placed on intelligence and awareness when interpreting what a human being is? A fetus is not a form of intelligent life because it has not yet had any experience, so therefore probably hasn’t had thoughts. In his essay, Rene Descartes, argues that we truly exist because we can doubt our existence. He states, “If I completely stop thinking, I would completely cease to exist”. In this sense of existence is it possible for an unborn child to doubt their existence, or truly think? (Kessler 325). “It could be said that a person should have an interest in their own future before they earn the right to it” (Shrage 8). Even if a fetus is defined as a human being because it has a potential life, if the fetus does not yet aspire to live. It is impossible to argue that the fetus values its future yet, so why should it have a right to it? It could be argued that as the child could not possibly survive independently of the mother, at least before approximately four months into the pregnancy, it is not yet an independent human being, but an attachment of the mother, therefore she should be allowed to terminate it, if this is what she wants to do to herself, as opposed to when the child is physically independent of the mother, when any potentially 2005-02-02T03:57:52-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Arguments--26216.aspx Abortion In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death (“abortion”). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: “the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference” (“abortion”). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care (“ACLU”). Policy 263 states: “The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children.”(The American Civil Liberties Union). The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease (“abortion”). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women will still continue to attempt, and succeed, 2005-01-30T01:17:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Research-Paper-and-Commentary-on-Abortion-Controversy-26176.aspx Gender Inequality The question on how gender inequality shapes peoples' life chances is one that has been echoing widely through minds of modern society in the recent decades. Historically sociologists have suggested, amongst various other reasons, that biological differences between men and women constitute as one of the main reasons for males having better job opportunities. Thus males were always branded the breadwinners of the family whilst a female's place was at home (Joanne Naiman 1997: 250-51). However, during the latter half of the 20th century these views began to slowly change but still stained with the ideologies from the past they still exist at the brink of the 21st century. Nevertheless, this is in a more subtle form and it is culturally reasoned to be normal and acceptable. This paper will discuss from a sociologists point of view how gender has come to determine ones future due to ideas instilled into society some time ago intervened with that of the present. Examining this from the root one can see that historically males have shaped the society in which we live. The policy-makers have almost always been male and therefore it is not surprising that our society mirrors those ideas, which exist as a result of this male-domination. For example in Joanne Naiman's book, there is an excerpt from Gustave Le Bonne, a Parisian in 1879, in which he openly compared most of the female brains with that of gorillas and stated " the inferiority (of women) is so obvious that no one can contest it for the moment; only its degree is worth discussing." (quoted in Joanne Naiman 1997: 250) Another instance closer to recent times is from Carol Travis' book titled "The Mismeasurement Of Woman". She states that in the beginning the left hemisphere of the brain was considered to deal with intellect and reason, while the right side dealt with passion, sex, irrationality and similar concepts -- thus males were considered to have a superior left brain. However in the 1960's and 70's scientists found that right brain was intellectually superior and was the source of genius, inspiration, creativity, imagination, mysticism and mathematical brilliance hence conveniently males now had a more developed right brain (Carol Tavris 1992:48). Both these citations clearly show historically how society regarded for the females as a species and how they were not considered smart enough to do jobs that entailed thinking or decision making. 2005-01-08T06:21:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Research-Paper-on-Gender-Inequality-26142.aspx Mediation as a Solution in Place of Litigation We are in the midst of a litigation crisis. The high cost and long delays associated with the trial of civil matters often make litigation an impractical method of resolving disputes. It is not uncommon for the attorneys fees, expert witness fees, jury fees, court reporter fees and other related costs to exceed the amount in dispute. Parties increasingly find that they are spending more to litigate than the cost to settle the matter. Mediation means many things. Often the different meanings are in harmony and improve each other -- which is why so many family and other disputes involve co-mediators. However, successful mediation in all of its guises requires several factors to make it work and to ensure that it remains the "something better" that the public has come to think mediation really means (Managing Conflict Through Mediation 21) Mediation is a facilitative process in which disputing parties engage the assistance of a neutral third party who acts as a mediator in their dispute. The neutral has no authority to make any decisions which are binding on them, but uses certain procedures, techniques and skills to help them to negotiate a resolution of their dispute by agreement without adjudication (ADR Principals and Practice 108). The term "mediation" is often used interchangeably with "conciliation"; sometimes, however, mediation is understood to involve a process in which the mediator is more pro-active and evaluative than in conciliation; and sometimes the reverse usage is used: there is no national or international consistency of usage of these terms. Mediation differs from arbitration in that the role of the neutral third party in arbitration is to consider the issues and then to make a decision which determines the issues and is binding on the parties. The neutral third party in mediation does not have any authority to make any decision for the parties, nor is that the mediator's role or function. Even where the mediator expresses a view about the merits of the dispute, which may happen in some but not other models of mediation, this would only be a non-binding opinion, and in no circumstances would a mediator have the power to impose this view on the parties. Indeed, any such power would be contrary to the spirit of mediation, which is inherently consensual (ADR Principals and Practice 109). Use of the term "mediation" 2005-01-06T07:46:31-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mediation-as-a-Solution-in-Place-of-Litigation-26132.aspx A Nation of Immigrants: An Overview of the Economic and Political Conditions of Selected Racial and Ethnic Groups. The North American economic development has seen several stages of development. The first stage of economic development was a plantation-slave economy mixed with mercantilism, the second stage of development was a competitive industrial economy, and the stage third stage of economic development is multinational capitalism. Economic institution and related governmental actions have formed the tides of migration and the resulting patterns of immigrant adjustment. The original groups of inhabitants in North America were Native Americans. These Native people lost much of their land and many of their lives to the vicious European invasions. Many groups of immigrants came to America, yet each group had left their native country for various reasons and under various circumstances. Some immigrant groups entered America as slaves, others came to work at low paying labor jobs, and some came as entrepreneurs. These various groups were discriminated against at varying level, depending on the resources the group brought with them. Those immigrants who made the journey to America on their own freewill with economic resources found that it was much easier to find good jobs than those immigrants with less than such freewill and resources. Small business opportunities unfortunately were not available for most immigrants. The waves of immigrant migration to the North America are highlighted in phases. With phase one came English colonists from the 1600's to the 1800's. The English created colonies and forced land from the native people. The English also established a form of capitalism. During this same time Africans were seized from their native lands and were shipped to America involuntarily in the form of property, to be used as slave labor. Also, phase one brought an era in which Irish Catholics immigrated to America, driven from their native land from the 1830's to the 1860's, due to famine, oppression, and poor living conditions. These Irish immigrants were able to obtain low wage jobs. Phase two began with the immigration of Chinese people from the 1850's to the 1870's; these people came due to recruitment efforts by the United States and in hope of obtaining better living conditions. The Chinese became employed mostly in construction, and menial service jobs. The Italians arrived between the 1880's and the 1910's. The Italian people were recruited for construction and other related low wage labor jobs. The Japanese 2004-12-29T07:00:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Nation-of-Immigrants-Overview-of-Economic-Political-Status-26097.aspx Welfare Description Welfare is a government program that provides money, medical care, food, housing, and other things that people need in order to survive. People who can receive help from these welfare programs are children, elders, disabled, and others who cannot support their families on their current income. Another name for welfare is public assistance. There are many organizations that supply this public assistance. Such as Salvation Army and other groups. Public assistance benefits help many people who live below the poverty line, an income level is established for families. If your income is below this you would be eligible to receive this help. Welfare in the United States Federal and state governments in the Unites States serve the poor people through about 60 public assistance programs. Most people receive help through one of the four major programs. These programs are Medicaid, Aid to families with dependant Children, Social Security, or Supplemental Security, or the food stamps program. I will discuss the four programs individually. Medicaid provides free medical care to the poor people. Funds vary from state to state. In some situations, people who may be able to pay daily needs, but can't afford large medical bills may also be able to receive Medicaid. Some services paid for are bills such as doctor's visits and nursing home care. Most Medicaid funding comes from the federal government. The rest is supplied by the state. Each state runs their own Medicaid program. A.F.D.C. provides cash benefits to dependent children and the parents or the guardians taking care of them. Most families that qualify for A.F.D.C. have just one parent in the home. About 80 percent of these families are headed by a woman. A.F.D.C. also pays benefits to two-parent families if both parents are unemployed. Most A.F.D.C. funding comes from the federal government. The states provide the rest of the money and administer the program. The sizes of families' payment vary from state to state. Next is Social Security Income. This provides financial Aid to people in need who are at least 65 years old, blind, or disabled. The federal government finances and administers social security income programs in most states, though some states supply the federal payment and are able to run their own programs. Finally, the Food Stamp Program helps low-income households buy more and better food than they could otherwise afford. Each participating household receives a certain number of coupons called food stamps. The stamps 2004-12-26T06:04:01-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Welfare-Paper-26052.aspx Being Young & Pregnant "Human beings are like tea bags. You don't know your own strength until you get into how water"- Bruce Laingen, U.S. diplomat. Through out my teenage years I always had it made. I had security, support of my family, and other things. When I turned 16 I had found out something that would change my life forever, I was pregnant. Being pregnant at a young age is a very difficult thing to go through. It can be hard mentally, financially and also physically. Everyday, people are faced with choices. Some of life's choices are simple, such as deciding what to wear to school or choosing a television station to watch. Other choices, however, are much more serious and have life-altering consequences. Being pregnant has many choices, whether or not to keep the baby. There are many choices such as adoption, or abortion. I decided that I would keep my baby because I knew in my heart that I would regret it in the long run if I didn't. Throughout my pregnancy I suffered from depression, which is the condition of feeling sad or despondent mentally. My depression was mainly due to the fact that I was sixteen, alone, and scared, I was a waitress at a local restaurant, but that job couldn't pay for all the financial needs it takes to raise a child. I left my baby's father when all the arguing and physical abuse began. I couldn't deal with that and I definitely wasn't going to raise my child through it. Although I knew deep down that this big decision was for the best, it was still difficult and very painful. Just the thought of raising a child alone was scary. My parents were so disappointed in me they really didn't have much to say, especially my mother. That made my pregnancy worse because I felt as though I had no one to talk to. I had friends to talk to but most of them didn't understand what I was going through. There were many days that passed when I felt as though I wasn't going to make it and I felt as though I didn't deserve to be alive, but who is really ready to take care of a child anyhow? I wasn't. Then one day I woke up and realized that my life would go on, and that I just had to do 2004-12-22T23:54:49-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Being-Young-amp-Pregnant--26013.aspx Euthanasia: The Controversy Lisa, a 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with lung cancer, terminal disease. For the past 2 years Lisa has been receiving chemotherapy and taking numerous types of medication trying to prolong her life. This life prolonging treatment caught up with her. Everyday now Lisa has to battle just to get out of bed, everyday getting worse and worse. The doctors now tell Lisa she has six to eight months to live, and she has to receive 6 hours of therapy everyday. Lisa then breaks down in tears. She decides she doesn't want to go through anymore pain or suffering. Now knowing it is only a matter of time before she dies, she wants to end her suffering by taking her own life. Lisa can not do it by herself; she needs someone to assist her. But how can someone assist a terminally ill person in taking their life and not risk going to jail for it? This brings up the controversial and moral debate of legalization of P.A.D. (Physician Assisted Death) and the act of euthanasia in America. Should people who are terminally ill, go through pain and suffering, or should they have a choice? Why doesn't this women have the right to choose the way she lives or dies? There is a difference between P.A.D. and euthanasia. P.A.D. involves a second party, actually a doctor, who gives the patient drugs and instructs the person planning to take his or her own life. With euthanasia, it is a doctor who administers the lethal drug dose. Since it is identical to homicide, active euthanasia is illegal in every state. But how do prosecutors define the difference between ending a person's life with his or her permission, and helping a person commit suicide? If a doctor, at a patient's request, gives the person a lethal injection, he or she may be charged with murder. However, if a doctor simply places the lethal injection by the patient's side, and the patient injects himself or herself, the doctors would be charged with assisted suicide. "In the Netherlands, because primary care doctors have long-term relationships with their patients, helping them die takes a heavy emotional toll (Neumann 5)." Although few doctors who perform it have been brought to trial and none have been convicted and imprisoned. Most doctors hesitate to practice assisted suicide on legal grounds. Doctors are trained to preserve life; most doctors 2004-12-22T22:53:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Controversy-Behind-Euthanasia-is-Unjustified-26002.aspx Euthanasia One of the biggest controversies of this decade is euthanasia. Euthanasia is inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful?(Henrickson and Martin 24). There are four types of euthanasia voluntary and direct, voluntary but indirect, direct but involuntary, and indirect and involuntary. Voluntary and direct euthanasia is chosen and carried out by the patient.? Voluntary but indirect euthanasia is chosen in advance. Direct but involuntary euthanasia is done for the patient without his or her request. Indirect and involuntary euthanasia occurs when a hospital decides that it is time to remove life support (Fletcher 42-3). Euthanasia can be traced as far back as to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. It was sometimes allowed in these civilizations to help others die. Voluntary euthanasia was approved in these ancient societies. As time passed, religion increased, and life was viewed to be sacred. Euthanasia in any form was seen as wrong (Encarta 98). In this century there have been many groups formed that are for and against euthanasia. In 1935 the first group that was for the legalization of euthanasia was formed. It was called the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and was started by a group of doctors in London (The Voluntary Euthanasia Society). The first society established in the United States came shortly after in 1938. It was called the Hemlock Society and it now consists of more than 67,000 members. The purpose of this society is to support your decision to die and to offer support when you are ready to die (Humphrey 186). This society also believes that a person must have believed in euthanasia for a certain amount of time before you can make the request for death (Humphrey 112). Euthanasia has been a large issue in the courts during this century. The first doctor was charged for performing euthanasia in1935. Harold Blazer was charged for the death of his daughter. His daughter was a victim of cerebral spinal meningitis. He killed her by placing a handkerchief soaked with chloroform over her face until she died. He had taken care of her for thirty years. In his trial he was acquitted (Humphrey 191). The first doctor to be found guilty was Joseph Hassman in 1986. He injected a lethal dose of Demerol into his mother-in-law by the request of her family. He was sentenced to two years probation, fined $10,000, and ordered to perform 2004-12-22T22:22:37-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Euthanasia-Pros-and-Cons-25993.aspx Attitudes Towards Smoking In Public Shore, Ted H, Tashchian, Armen & Adams, Janet S (2000). Development and validation of a scale measuring attitudes toward smoking. Journal of Social Psychology, 140 : 5, 615-623 The topic of the article I have chosen deals with smoking, and the attitudes of smokers and nonsmokers towards smoking in public places. Legislators have brought many laws into effect that restrict smoking in many public places. These laws and restrictions have caused much contraversy about the rights of smokers and nonsmokers. Each person has their own opinion about smoking. Smoking poses a serious health risk to smokers, and also to their rivals, nonsmokers. Many things have been done to try to help smokers stop smoking. It has been clearly proved that a serious behavior change is needed by the smoker to ever quit smoking. Over the years, peoples ideas about smoking has changed a great deal. As people learned more and more about the health risks, smoking has become a major concern on many peoples minds. This has resulted in many changes reguarding smoking in public places. In the experiments carried out by these psychologists, they found that smokers and nonsmokers have very strong opinions which usually differ greatly. The psychologists used a questionnaire to retrieve peoples opinions on smoking in the first experiment. They used the questionnaire on a group of 7th and 8th grade Chinese students. In this questionnaire they found that Chinese students had a more positive attitude toward smoking than did students in the United States. In 1989, two psychologists used a telephone survey to study public opinions of smoking. They found that smokers were more against public smoking restrictions and tobacco sales taxes than nonsmokers were. Also, psychologists used a telephone survey in Illinois and North Carolina. They found that the results were the same. They concluded that self-interests were related to attitudes toward smoking restrictions and tobacco sales. In another experiment among several hundred college students, some smokers and some nonsmokers, many conclusions were made. Smokers said that "cigarette companies should be able to advertise their products in any way they wish." Nonsmokers held more negative attitudes towards smoking, they favored laws restricting the use of tobacco products in public places. Nonsmokers were also more concerned with the 2004-12-21T08:07:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Attitudes-Towards-Smoking-In-Public-25946.aspx Opposing Views of the Affirmative Action Program "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...." Even before it became a nation, America was heralded as a land of equality. Thomas Jefferson's statement begs more than a few questions, one of which is: "How can we ensure equality to everyone?" Beginning in the late 1960s, the federal government provided an answer to this question in the form of affirmative action. In recent years, many people have called this policy into question. Interestingly, affirmative action is sometimes attacked by the people it helps, and defended by those it hurts. In particular, two recent essays demonstrate that people's race does not necessarily determine their beliefs on the issue of affirmative action. "Why I Believe in Affirmative Action" is by Paul R. Spickard, a white man who is defending affirmative action, while "A Negative Vote on Affirmative Action" is by Shelby Steele, an African-American who is attacking the program. When the two essays are considered as responses to each other, Steele's logical explanations of the effects and implications of affirmative action expose the flaws in Spickard's ethical arguments supporting it. Both authors structure their arguments to appeal to their respective audiences. Since Spickard's essay is written for Christianity Today, he makes a lot of ethical appeals that a Christian audience could easily relate to. Steele, on the other hand, is writing for The New York Times Magazine, so he relies on logic that would appeal to a more general audience. Spickard begins his ethical appeal by establishing his credibility through focusing on his support of affirmative action even though he has been denied employment because of the program. He says, "I am willing to take second best if overall fairness is achieved," and backs up his position by referring to Philippians 2:3-6, which instructs Christians to look out for the welfare of others before their own. He is, in effect, saying that his position must be right because he supports affirmative action out of the goodness of his heart, rather than because he benefits from it. In contrast to Spickard, Steele begins with the opposite scenario, stating how he could really be helped by affirmative action through financial aid for his children's college education. However, he says that he does not want the assistance of affirmative action, because he believes the help should go to those who are truly 2004-12-21T07:29:20-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Opposing-Views-of-the-Affirmative-Action-Program-25944.aspx Cigarette Smoking Cigarette smoking is one of the major killers in the world. The biggest side affect from smoking is Cancer. Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All forms of Cancer involve out-of-control growth and spread of abnormal cells. The American Cancer Society estimates that cigarettes are responsible for about 419,000 deaths in the united states each year. The largest killing cancer is Lung Cancer, which accounts for 30% of all U.S cancer deaths. The risk of dying from lung cancer is 22 times higher for males, and 12 times higher for female smokers as oppose to nonsmokers. Additionally, smokers are at an increased risk for cancer of the larynx, oral cavity , esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas. Health effects of smoking Smoking causes a five time increase in the risk of dying from chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and a two time increase in deaths from diseases of the heart and coronary arteries. Smoking also increases the risk of stroke by 40-50% in men and 60% in women. Researchers have also proven that mothers who smoke while pregnant or before they got pregnant usually give birth to babies with birth defects, who are premature or are underweight. This is probably because of a decrease in blood flow to the placenta. Tobacco Smoke The ways in which tobacco smoke affects the human body have been under extensive research and study for many years. Recent findings may explain why cigarettes are so addicting. An unknown component or part of tobacco smoke appears to destroy an important enzyme in the brain called monoamine oxsidase B (MOA B). The enzyme is essential in breaking down excess amounts of the chemical dopamine, a nerve cell messenger chemical and one that is involved in pleasure-seeking behaviour. Apparently smokers have low levels of MOA B and have exceptionally abnormal levels of dopamine, which most likely encourage the smoker to go for the more pleasure seeking things such as smoking, and sometimes experimenting with more mind altering drugs. Recent research has focused on the effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). This is the effect of smoke in the atmosphere and the environment and how it affects the non-smokers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that exposure to ETS, which contains all of the same toxic chemicals that the smoker inhales, causes 3000 cancer deaths a year in non-smokers. It can also provoke less serious diseases 2004-12-21T06:07:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Discussion-of-Cigarette-Smoking-25920.aspx Animals In Psychological Research An increasing number of researchers, scientists and practitioners are questioning the use of animals in research on ethical, moral, socio-political and scientific grounds. Use of animal research data to affect change in their patients is rarely used by clinical psychologists. This is certainly a public interest issue as it involves an enormous amount of brutality. Animal research is a very lucrative business, since billions of tax dollars are invested in it annually. An enormous amount of this money going towards researcher’s salaries, overhead costs, animal husbandry expansion and building maintenance. These billions of dollars can be redirected to prevention, public health programs, treatment and clinical research. There are too many missed opportunities for advancement in psychology due to money spent on theoretical, repetitive and exploitative animal research. In our society we have come to see that animal research is an easy way to stay alive in the “publish or perish” world of academia. Nearly anything can be proven using animals as test subjects which is evident in the way that the tobacco industry still claims that their research proves that cigarettes do not cause cancer. (Linder, 1998). In spite of the fact that animal experimentation can be traced back as far as Galen (ca. 100 AD), its significance in consumer safety and medical research and is a relatively recent phenomenon. In 1865, Claude Bernard published his “introduction to the study of experimental medicine”, which marked the beginning of animal experimentation as a scientific method of research. (Menache, 1998). The industry has always been quick to exploit the less than conclusive results of animal tests, especially in fields such as onconlogy. Consequently, the drug saccharin remains on sale to the public because it appears to cause bladder cancer only in male rats. The ingestible contraceptive drug Depo-Provera was banned in the United States over twenty years ago on the basis that is caused cancer in baboons and dogs. However, The Food and Drug Administration and The American Health Regulatory Authority recently reinstated the drug because twenty years of human experience in those countries, which did not prohibit its use, had convinced the Food and Drug Administration that Depo-Provera did not cause cancer in humans. Another example that is even more bizarre is the drug Tamoxifin, which is used to treat human breast cancer. Even though Tamoxifin reduces the incidence of mammary cancer in rodents, it actually increases the 2004-12-21T06:06:33-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animals-In-Psychological-Research-25919.aspx [i:6cf35dca7f]Americans and SUVs[/i:6cf35dca7f] What does “SUV” stand for? SUV stands for “Sport Utility Vehicle,” and this is one of the American dreams to own a SUV. David Goeway, author of “Careful, You May Run Out of Planet”, introduces the idea of big cars like, SUVs, “…, the vehicle that combines the most potent mix of American mythologies is the sport utility vehicle(SUV),…(p 106).” The fascination with American frontier, Goeway goes on with idea of how SUV are accepted in American society and how their names are related to American culture, and what are the reason SUV manufactures are rising up high as far as the issue of profit concerns. Now, we can categorize the modern SUV into two different points of views, first we can talk about the benefits of the SUVs and second in contrast we have to mention the negative sides of the them too, since the are made by humans there is always a place for error or negative out comes. The notion that “…, the modern SUV represents a preeminent symbol of American popular culture (p 106).” SUV are very safe to drive around cities and specially on the High-ways, and they are more liable to single vehicle accidents. The only or better to say the most common reason for SUVs to have higher liability compare to cars is the size of them. All through out the centuries size was a big issue for humans and SUVs are most likely are satisfying the need of hunger for a wider and bigger vehicles. The most obvious ironies are perhaps best noticed in the ability of SUVs to get off the road and show any problem/s for the drives, “ …, these vehicles are designed for rugged, off the road motoring,….(p 106).” Having the power to mostly go or take your vehicle off the road, where regular vehicles aren’t able to go, is one of the unshared and unique options for SUVs. Another most distinct ironies are perhaps best observed in the SUV models are the names chosen by the manufactures, “Many vehicles are directly evocative of America’s western frontier mythology,…(p 106-7)”. Naming or using western names for SUV is another way of showing the accepted idea of sports utility vehicles in Americans families. As far as the “Americas popular mythology” is concern, the SUV informs and casts back the principal components of the mythology. According to “SUV.com/news,” in 2004-12-21T06:05:24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Americans-and-SUVs-Gas-Guzzling-in-America-25918.aspx Adolescent Suicides INTRODUCTION Suicide is an act where one intentionally ends his/her own life. (Berman, 1992). Suicide has existed for a long time and has increased substantially in the past 2-3 decades among adolescents (Hawton, 1986). In order for a death to be considered suicide it must be ones own doing, where the person intentionally used a physical action to kill himself; this is different from an accidental self-inflicted death. If a suicide does not result in death, it is labeled as an attempted suicide. Statistics show that suicide rates in Ontario between 1971 and 1977 have increased by 42%, for adolescents and young adults between the ages of 10 to 24 years old. Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death for adolescents, where age, sex, and race are important risk factors (Berman, 1992). Hawton (1986) agues that there has been a great amount of adolescent suicides that have gone unreported due to; 1. The relative rarity of the event in this age group may make those responsible for determining the cause of death unlikely to consider suicide as an explanation; 2. Even if suicide is considered a possibility, the widely held belief that small children rarely commit suicide may mean that there is a greater tendency for death in this age group to be mistakenly reported as accidental. Subsequent suicide statistics will therefore confirm the belief that suicide is uncommon in children; 3. Those responsible for reporting suicide may be, consciously or unconsciously, concerned to protect other individuals from distress that a verdict of suicide may cause. Parents are particular liable to feel not only grieved but guilty about the suicide of a young son or daughter and the death may be reported as accidental or of undetermined cause in order to protect their feelings; 4. The predominant religious beliefs of a country or society are also likely to be important. For example, the Roman Catholic Church regards suicide as a mortal sin, and so officials in predominantly Catholic countries such as Italy and Ireland may be less likely to believe that a person has committed suicide than in predominantly Protestant countries. (p. 17-18) My paper will discuss the reasons for adolescent suicides; the methods of suicide; euthanasia; prevention of suicide and how social workers can help with intervention. Reasons for suicides in adolescents. There are methodological problems in studying the reasons or causes of suicide in adolescents because 2004-12-21T06:04:19-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Adolescent-Suicides-Research-Paper-25917.aspx Today in America those supporting and opposing abortion engage in very heated debates. I am for abortion for many reasons that I strongly believe in. Without legal abortion many women in this country would be killing or mutilating themselves. We would also have unwanted children, which leads to huge problems for families and society. Also I believe that the outlawing of abortion violates the separation of church and state. The choice to have an abortion or not, should be left up to the woman bearing the child instead of the government. Most women who want to have abortions will not be stopped by a law. Pro-lifers say that the women that desire abortions should opt for adoption instead. These women are usually young girls who are uneducated, frightened, vulnerable, and embarrassed of their situation. They are not ready to publicly recognize their pregnancy to their parents or families to go through their entire term and then give the child up for adoption. 74% of girls who had sex before age fourteen, and 60% who had sex before age fifteen, report that it occurred involuntarily . A probability sample of women at least eighteen years old showed 84% of rape victims did not report the offense to the police. Although in both of these incidences the young woman is not consensual, they feel that they are responsible for these acts of sexual abuse. Therefore they are reluctant and ashamed to continue their pregnancy. If laws exist prohibiting abortion, many of these young girls will secretly find other ways to rid themselves of this child. These other options are either performing the abortions on one or going to an unlicensed, unregulated, abortionist. Often this leads to death or mutilation of the woman’s body. If a woman decides to have the child and become a mother many problems may result. If the mother is a teen, she is 50% more likely to deliver a baby with a low birth weight than non-teens. If the baby survives birth that may not be the end of the dilemmas. Many times when a teen mother does not have an abortion, she will feel as though the child is a burden to her resulting in child abuse or throwing the child into the care of someone who is 2004-12-12T16:04:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-as-a-Right-25837.aspx Animal – what comes to your mind when you hear this word? Perhaps something furry, something feathery, something slimy, something with a beak or lots of sharp teeth, - right? I am sure this what comes to almost everyone’s mind when they think “Animal”. However, do you think of life, a beating heart, and receptiveness to stimulants, feelings, and a struggle for survival amidst tremendous odds? Take a minute to stop and think of this; after all, animals aren’t the cuddly stuffed toys that you see in department stores. They are living, breathing creatures, given a life just as we humans have. They too have to live, eat, survive, and live their lives. But there is a huge difference between the way animals live and the way humans live. Animals have to struggle for survival; they have to fight for their lives. They do not people to help take care of their babies for them, to cook for them, no family members for guidance and help – the things that humans tend to take for granted. No. Animals are solely on their own from the minute they take their first breath to the minute they take their last. They have to eat for survival, defend themselves with nothing except themselves, build their own homes, take care of and protect their young. To them life is an extremely tough existence, and they have to make do with whatever they have and cannot demand for anything more. Sounds kind of harsh, doesn’t it? Yes, that’s an animal’s life! The world today is becoming less aware of the pain and suffering being inflicted on animals. As a result, animals are becoming even more and more downtrodden in society. Humans have, and continue to, treat animals as if they are property, as if we can own and therefore control their lives and what happens to them. This is immoral, animals are here for themselves, animals have their own lives, and they think, have feelings, feel pain, require love (from their own species), feel emotional hurt, have families, and everything else that humans do. To just simply say that non-human animals should have no rights because they’re “defective” is a mindless statement! People come to this “conclusion” because they come up with some mindless babble like, non-human animals can’t talk, drive cars or vote, and therefore they have no non-tradable properties. Well answer me this; 2004-12-12T06:13:27-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/About-time-to-give-animals-their-rights,-right-25833.aspx Premarital sex is a huge problem in society today. People everywhere are not waiting until they get married to have sex. People having sex today are not aware of the consequences that come with having sex. They just think it is fun and there are nothing other than fun comes with having sex. Some people tend to have a lot of sex. They say they do it for the satisfaction. They believe sex is fun. It is perceived to be a great thing from the time one is young. Going to elementary school kids always talked about the day they were going to have sex. They looked forward to it. Where they got the idea that sex was such a great thing is a question that one must ask? The movies, maybe. The magazines that one sees when digging through the drawers of an older brother, uncle or ones father. Sex is all over society. You can not watch cable television without seeing people kissing intimately, or even having sex. Just because cable does not show full nudity does not make it any better to let an eight year old child watch a television show full of sex. In today's society women are not held to that same standard as men are when it comes to having sex. Now that the reasons people are having sex has been somewhat discussed and is out of the way, let us discuss the consequences that come with having sex, such as A.I.D.S. This is a deadly virus that kills ones immune system. A person never dies from the actual virus. They die from the diseases that they would not have otherwise contracted if they still had a strong immune system. The immune system doesn't die slowly either it take at least five years for the immune system to eventually give out. A person can die from a simple cold if they have contracted the A.I.D.S virus. They cold starts of as a normal one does but it just keeps getting worse and worse. People suffer before they die from this disease. This disease has been responsible for killing millions of people. The way this virus is contracted is through exchange of bodily fluids. Sex is the number one way this virus is spread. What people are not realizing is this disease is deadly and by having premarital sex and not being monogamous they 2004-12-12T06:06:23-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pre-Marital-Sex-and-its-Plague-25832.aspx Stereotypes are common in today’s society, mainly due to ignorance. It is this lack of knowledge that causes people to have false information about others. One frequent misconception is that all Italians are involved in organized crime. This causes the public to be afraid of, or intimidated, by Italians in America. The media is one of the contributing factors that leads to this Italian stereotype. One of the reasons is because of the HBO show, “The Sopranos.” The show is based on an Italian man, Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini, who is the head of an organized crime family. Throughout the show, people who do him wrong get “whacked,” or murdered. Many Italian-American activist groups disapprove of the show because it contributes to this stereotype. They believe that by showing a man who lives to gamble, cheat, and kill, people will believe this to be true of all Italians. Society needs to understand that this show is no different than any Mafia movie such as The Godfather, or Goodfellas. It is meant for pure entertainment, and is not based on any real people or places. While there are bad people of every race, this is no reason to prejudge an entire nationality. It is not fair to say that all Italians are involved in the Mafia, because this is just not correct. Another argument is that throughout history, organized crime has been led by Italians. However, people such as John Gotti have given Italians a bad reputation. By looking at the fact that some Italians may be corrupt, a judgment cannot be made about a whole population. While there are other organized crime families of different nationalities such as the Russian Mafia, or the Chinese Mafia, Italians are thought to be the prevailing ones. To say that an entire ethnic group is guilty of being involved in some way with the Mafia is completely false. That would be like saying all Asian people are smart, or all Irish people are drunks. These stereotypes are simply based on ignorance. It is this ignorance, and also false prior knowledge, that causes people to believe these stereotypes to be true. Once again, there are terrible people of every race, and to pinpoint one specific one and say that the entire group 2004-12-10T20:44:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Italian-Stereotypes-25814.aspx It was a typical day for me on Tuesday the 11th. I woke up like it was any other day and went through my usual routine to get ready for school. It wasn’t till I arrived at the Delta parking lot and turned off my CD player that I found out about the World Trade Center. I was running a little late for music class, but decided to quickly tune into the radio to check the weather. That was the first I heard of what happened to the twin towers. However, I really didn’t get the full story until I got to class, where the teacher briefly talked to us about that mornings incredible event. From that day on, I knew the American way of life would change. In the following weeks after the terrorist attacks, thanks to newspapers and the news on television, I saw how all of America got together. Everyone started to show his or her patriotism and unity. Everyone across the United States went out and purchased an American flag. Many people also gave blood for the victims in New York. Others donated clothes, food, and supplies. However, the thing that surprised me was how everyone came together and raised money. I mean it’s surprising how much we, as a country, can do if we all put our minds together and focus on a certain goal or have the same motivation driving us, for example the attack. When I seriously think about it, it is disappointing to see that we only get together and show how united we are when something goes wrong. I mean why can’t we have flags flying high everyday or always donate money to help the needy. I think we don’t do that because it’s boring to the Americans. I really feel that Americans have short attention spans and that they don’t really like doing the same thing repeatedly. I feel that all the flag flying, donating of money and unity showing will all end just as quickly as it started. The attacks brought change in many ways, but some things remain the say. I noticed one thing that didn’t change at all in America: racism. I would think that Americans would be smarter than to take matters into their own hands. Racism will never stop, but after terrorists attack like we experienced, there is really no reason to take matters in 2004-12-10T20:41:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Terrorist-Attacks-of-9-11-25813.aspx TV in today’s society often distorts our view of the world and its reality. This often happens when people start to relate to everything they see to be real, or “Written in Stone,” as some may say. Hopefully at the end of this article you will look at television a little more unrealistic than realistic. When looking at this subject, it is easiest to break it down into six categories, which are derived from cultural critic George Gerbner’s research: Sex, age, race, work, health, and crime. (Waters 166.) The most common role in the sex category is the way the family is portrayed. The perfect example is the show the Wonder Years. It is often portrayed as the way families were set up in through out the fifty’s and sixties. There is the male, father, and man of the house. He is expected to be in charge. What he says goes, and everyone listens. The mother is usually known as the common housewife, not daring to get a job, because the husband is the so-called “Bread winner.” Her role is to clean the house, cook all the meals, and tend after the children. Even all-major decision-making is left to the male. It’s always, ask your father. The children may try to talk their way out of trouble with the mother, but very rarely with the father. They know he will get mad and say no. In the second category, age, we will consider as people over the age of sixty-five. The number of people growing older in today’s society is on the rise thanks to the “Baby boomer age.” We sometimes try to target younger people with activities going on in the world, often excluding the older generations. Older people are often found sitting in front of the tube passing the time by, but just because they watch a lot of television, doesn’t mean that they are the most influenced. They have already lived life, good times and bad. They usually have the best understanding of how the world operates. The third category is probably the most sensitive to discuss, race. Television portrays the different ethnic groups usually in stereotypes, not so much on appearance. Minorities usually play a lesser role. When a child looks at this he might automatically try to determine his worth or part of society. There are often many race issues brought up by television. Inter-racial 2004-12-05T05:45:55-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Television-s-Distortion-of-Reality-25795.aspx In his essay, “Teenagers in Dreamland,” Samuelson suggests that these days teenagers have too much freedom and too few responsibilities. I personally agree with Samuelson’s suggestion because we all know that no one is forced to go to school. It is up to the person whether he/she wants to go to school. Having the freedom to choose not attending school and starting work, at an early age, can lead teenagers to two different pathways in life. One of which is known to be the positive path for success and the other one to be the negative path for failure. The positive path can direct teenagers to learn self-responsibility but the negative path will mostly get them in trouble such as where they could be involved in drugs and gangs. Having a job, at an early age, can make teenagers learn about self-responsibility as they are growing up to become an adult. For instance, the teens are now on their own to make decisions for themselves in life. The teenagers now have to decide how much money should they spend in a week and how much should they save up because their parents are not there anymore to help them every step of the way. It’s up to the teenagers to decide what is right and what is wrong for them, especially, when they are encouraged by people to sell drugs and make big money. Also when a teen couple has a baby they have to be extremely careful about their budget because who knows when might their baby get sick and they might need money to pay for his/her medical bills. Let’s take my friend Cathy for example. She and her boyfriend Damien have recently had a baby and now they a so uptight about them spending too much money. First, before they do anything with their paycheck, my friend and her husband always consider about their baby’s expenses. Expenses such as his diapers, his milk, and, his clothes. It’s not easy for teens to raise a child, as they are themselves in the stage of learning their own responsibilities. Nevertheless, if they have faith in themselves, they will turn out successful. Having an occupation can mean trouble to teenagers at times. For example, they could be involved in drugs, which is something that they will regret for 2004-11-29T16:36:58-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Teenagers-Not-Enough-Responsibility-25777.aspx To obtain peace, there are two methods. The first is to have both sides battle each other until one finally 2004-11-04T06:36:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Education-is-Key-to-Peace-Paper-25732.aspx There is little doubt that we can learn a lot about human behavior through the study of nonhuman primates. These animals are the closest taxonomical relatives to humans and are not only similar in skeletal structure but in behavior as well. Many behaviors commonly observed in the social interactions of humans are also portrayed in the social interactions of monkeys and other primates. It is for this reason that so many experiments are done on nonhuman primates when it is deemed inappropriate to use human subjects. Between 1959 and 1973, Harlow and his colleagues performed a series of experiments in which they studied primates in various situations. Findings from these studies were key points in furthering developmental theory. In Harlow (1959), experimenters took eight baby rhesus macaques away from their mothers just a few hours after birth and placed them with substitute “mothers” in order to test Freud’s drive-reduction theory of emotional attachment between mother and child. Babies were placed with two substitute mothers in a cage, one made of wire and the other of terry cloth. Four monkeys were fed by the wire mother, and four by the terry cloth mother. Experimenters found that regardless of who fed them, all the monkeys much preferred the terry cloth mother. These findings showed the importance of body contact and the comfort it offers infants, and suggested that infants form attachment to mothers based not on the biological drive to eat, as Freud had suggested, but on the soothing comfort of physical contact. Subsequent experiments by Harlow and colleagues helped support these new findings. A year after separation from the substitute mothers, the young monkeys raised with a wire mother that fed and a terry mother that had no food still showed preference to the cloth mothers when given three levers that would allow them to see either the cloth mother, the wire mother or an empty box. They showed no more interest in the wire mother than the empty box (Harlow & Zimmerman, 1959). In strange or fearful situations, baby monkeys ran to the cloth mothers and not the wire mothers for comfort (Harlow & Harlow, 1969). These experiments showed a clear link between attachment and physical comfort. While Harlow’s studies revealed much insight about human psychological development, there are still ethical issues regarding the use of primates 2004-10-31T04:19:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ethics-in-Animal-Research-25668.aspx Imagine being back in middle and high school and waking up everyday to get ready for school. Depending on how you are feeling that day, you put on an outfit that makes you feel your best. You go to school and are surrounded by other students who have many diverse styles and looks. Now imagine waking up to go to school and having to wear exactly what everyone else in your school is wearing -- the dreaded school uniform. That image will make most young people, who thrive on individuality and creativity, cringe at just the thought. When I came to college, I was told by many adults that over half of the things that I will learn will come from outside of the classroom mainly because I will be living away from home. In high school and middle school, however, most of the learning comes from inside the classroom. Adolescents often find out a lot about who they are in their school environments. Ten states currently allow states to mandate school uniforms (Isaacson, 1). The advocates of school uniforms believe that they will reduce violence in schools and promote a better learning environment for students. They believe that students will be able to concentrate on their work more instead of being insecure with how they look and stop comparing themselves to others. It is true that young students, primarily in middle and high school, often are not mature enough to know what is appropriate attire as far as things being too revealing, too short, or very offensive . Thus, I do agree that school dress codes are a must as long as they are not too particular and the enforcement policy not ridiculously strict. However, wearing school uniforms takes away from adolescents’ growing and learning experiences that they go through in school. Students often develop a sense of who they are while in school and develop their own creativity. Mandating uniforms for students would take away from their right to freedom of expression under the First Amendment. Also, it would send a negative message to young people; one that says it is not alright to be yourself and that society does not trust or respect you enough to be able to dress yourselves appropriately. Suppressing a child’s individuality is not productive to his or her’s learning experience. When a child 2004-10-31T03:21:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/School-Uniforms-May-Be-Harming-Your-Children-25664.aspx America is fortunate to be one of the world’s birthplaces of the concept of community service. Early pilgrims had to serve each other to keep from 2004-10-30T17:08:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-Of-Community-Service-25650.aspx With dismaying regularity, news reports detail the excesses, and the deaths, of vibrant college students, their promise and their talent compromised or extinguished. For university “caretakers”- from the president to the student affairs office, to the faculty- alcohol abuse by students prompts sadness, anger, sometimes defeat, and often frustration(Issues pg. 1). Some 83% of the students in the most recent, Core Alcohol and Drug Survey said they drank, and 43% reported some form of violence (arguments, threats, fights, thefts, ethnic and sexual harassment, or unwanted sexual encounters) related to alcohol(Issues pg.1). How to best deal with the complex issues, responsibilities, and liabilities, how to be an instrument for change in the college environment, is a challenge facing all colleges and universities around the country(Issues pg. 1). For years, universities have been grappling with collegiate alcohol abuse in a variety of ways. The dilemma, respecting the adult sensibilities and independence of young people while honoring the law and an institution’s “duty to care”, has become even more difficult to solve(Issues pg. 2). Some 15 million students now attend more than 3,500 institutions. Nationally, raising the legal age for buying alcohol to 21 has meant the mingling on campuses of underage and legal age students(Issues pg. 2). It is a known truth that something needs to be done with drinking at all colleges and universities around the United States. What needs to be done is something that needs to be researched and tested to see what will work. One idea that is being tested on many college and university campuses is making the campus completely alcohol free, or “dry”. Dry campuses, what exactly is a dry campus? Well my opinion of a dry campus is a campus where alcohol is not allowed in any way, shape, or form. It can not even be brought on the campus, in the dorms, or at functions or parties put on by the university on the campus. There are many pros for a dry campus, but with the pros of course there are always cons. I plan on discussing both the pros and the cons of dry campuses 2004-10-30T17:06:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dry-Campuses-Pros-and-Cons-25649.aspx Gun Control in the U.S. Gun control, as we know it, consists of the government restricting the ability of individual citizens to purchase weapons. The different types of gun control vary from waiting periods between when you purchase the gun and when you actually get it, background checks so that high-risk people can't purchase guns through legal channels, and completely banning certain types of guns. There are countless ways for criminals to avoid these government regulations, causing them to only render the ability of innocent citizens protecting their home and family's ability to purchase guns. The "waiting period" method of gun control is basically a two-step process. The first step in the procedure is that the person wanting a gun goes to his local shop (or calls a reputable mail order outlet) to place the initial order. Then, he must wait one to two weeks while the government performs a small background check for past criminal activities, disorderly conduct, or lack of mental/emotional stability. During this time, if the purchaser of the gun wanted the gun for impulse reasons (out of rage), it is hoped that they will not still want to cause bodily harm after a couple weeks. The problem with this method of gun control is that it stops the ordinary citizen from purchasing a gun on the whim, but it actually protects the common criminal. Underage buyers and other delinquents can purchase mass quantities of weapons through "dummy buyers" that have clean backgrounds. So if a burglar enters a house with full intention to maim or kill, the innocent victim (who can't get a gun to protect his family because he was arrested for drunk driving seven years ago) is simply a victim of a law that supports black market trade. There are over 200 million registered guns in circulation (Larson), and they are the ones that will not be killing our children. The unregistered ones are owned by murderers, rapists, and thieves. Another practiced technique of preventing dangerous firearms from killing honest people is to ban an entire type of weapon. The AK-47 is a commonly-used example of that. Again, the criminals still have limited access to the weapon through underground channels, but these banned weapons are so powerful that there is really is not practical purpose for them in the home (or in hunting). This can 2004-10-30T05:47:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Control-in-the-U_S_--25646.aspx Throughout history, the flaws in our legislation on child labor laws are usually evaluated by whether or not we create legislation that changes the way that certain flaw is handled in the future. Hundreds of years ago, daily child labor was part of culture, and children working fourteen hours a day and seven days a week was not an uncommon practice. Many different issues of child labor including the length of time the children worked, the children’s age, and the types of jobs they were assigned have all been taken into account by the legislation on Child Labor currently in effect in New York State. Many children need special working papers, need to be above the age of 16, and need written permission from a parent to be able to work legally. The types of laws that protect children today from rash child labor conditions are still changing frequently in support for a much safer workplace and a decrease in shift times. For children in New York State that are attending school, to work, employers and children must follow a strict procedure to promise the safety and protection for both the child and the employer. Depending on the job and the age, children can work certain hours set as a maximum per day. Children are allowed to work at various different types of jobs including newspaper carriers, different street trades including shoe shining, farm work and many more. There are strict laws for those children, who work in factories relating to whether they attend school, their age, and the set hours they are allowed to work per week. Many of these laws are direct provisions made as we determine which aspects of history, our culture allowed in child labor. In the eighteenth century, many children worked long, miserable and unsociable hours each day. This clearly had a major impact on their development and dramatically decreased their education due to their usual schooling of only one-day per week. As time progressed maximum hour laws and the treatment of children at the workplace were heavily evaluated. Each industry would be inspected to make sure each met certain criteria and that children only worked at certain hours. Many journalists and muckrakers exposed the problems of child labor to society, which had an extreme effect. As our culture became more aware of the problems of child labor, national attention forced various 2004-10-30T03:54:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Labor-Laws-25627.aspx In today’s society, there are many different terms and definitions used to describe multiculturalism. For example, “melting pot”, “mosaic”, and “assimilation” are the most commonly used terms today to describe multiculturalism. However, with societies different definitions of multiculturalism there will always be stereotyping, bias opinions, racism as well as problems associated with cultural references. Nevertheless, by raising awareness of the multicultural policy in future generations one could only hope to eliminate such behaviours. One of the ways multiculturalism had been defined is by the term “melting pot”. Melting pot is when a culture, say for example Japanese, moves to the United States of America, the Japanese would then take on an American culture, which then becomes the majority culture. Gloria Yamato sates that we must reclaim whatever parts of our ethnic heritage that we have lost. She feels that this so called “melting pot” has succeeded into turning us into “fast gobbling generics”. In the story, “For Mataji” by Amita Handa the author says that girls couldn’t go to school because they weren’t looked at in the same way that the boys were (280, Amita Handa). Not allowing girls to go to school is prejudice, because of the fact that they’re equal, and are not different. However, in the Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution, Pierre Elliot Trudeau stated “I speak of a country where every person is free to fulfill himself or herself to the utmost, unhindered by the arbitrary actions of governments” (430, Pierre Elliot Trudeau). This means that he believes everyone is enjoy themselves to the fullest and not to hold back anything about themselves. The second way multiculturalism had been defined is by the term “mosaic”. Mosaic is when there are many cultures in one place but all of the different cultures can practice their own beliefs without being looked down on. However, in the story “Wing Chips” by Mavis Gallant this is not the case. An English father asked the child who was French if that was the reason that the child’s father was always around frogs (pg 206, Mavis Gallant). That is not only bias and racist but also it’s rude and uncalled for. Nevertheless, Pierre Elliot Trudeau always has something encouraging to say, for example, “I speak of a Canada where men and women of Aboriginal ancestry, of French and British heritage, of the diverse cultures of the world, demonstrate the will 2004-10-30T02:11:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Multiculturalism-Varying-Definitions-25620.aspx After reading Phillip Jenkins’ article from Nerve.com, I am appalled that there are sick people in this world who actually enjoy “kiddie porn.” I have heard some horrible stories, but nothing quite like what Jenkins has mentioned in his article. Jenkins states, “if sexual fantasies, however grotesque, however unhealthy, can be made illegal, none of us are safe.” Jenkins cites specific examples such as videos of “kindergarten girls masturbating and giving blowjobs to adult men” along with many other examples to help support his thesis. Jenkins starts his article using an analogy to emphasize society’s strong feelings between kiddie porn, Timothy McVeigh, and snuff films to get readers on his side; everyone hates McVeigh for the Oklahoma City bombing and many people hate snuff films. Therefore, Jenkins figures that if he uses examples of instances where people have strong opinions of McVeigh and snuff films in the beginning of his article, then he will be able to persuade readers throughout the rest of his writing to believe his examples he gives for his thesis. The next topic Jenkins discusses is a case about a man named Dalton who was sentenced ten years in prison for writing his personal thoughts down on paper. Dalton kept a personal journal, which he did not share with anyone else, and one day his probation officer found it in Dalton’s house. Inside his journal, Dalton described disgusting scenarios of child pornography. For example, he talked about “molesting and torturing” little children. Dalton never performed any sexual acts with children, he never used specific children’s names, and never intended for anyone else to see his personal journal. So why should he be sentenced to ten years in prison for expressing his personal thoughts? Jenkins then goes on to cite that in 1984, there was a federal child protection act stating that any material, such as photos of minors, can be considered child pornography. Evidently, Jenkins says that courts have become stricter with cases dealing with minors and pornography. I am glad that they are stricter so that we can help eliminate sick, sexual acts on innocent children who cannot protect themselves. The next area that Jenkins introduces is a discussion of Lolita, which is a book written by a Russian author dealing with drugs and child pornography. Jenkins tries to compare Lolita with Dalton, but they are two different cases. Lolita was 2004-10-30T02:05:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Pornography-Response-to-Article-25618.aspx This last century has assisted the births of such words as sexism, racism, etc. Women fought for their rights, as did the black people. Peter Singer, a graduate at Oxford and a member of the Philosophy Department at la Trobe University in Australia, defines the word prejudice as the actions performed by one group for their benefit at the expense of another group. Women and African American people resisted and fought off the oppressions that were hanging above their heads. Nevertheless, Singer asks, what happens to those who cannot speak up, those that do not have the ability to communicate with us, what about animals? Shouldn’t we direct the notion equality toward the animals, as another sort of species, Singer demands? Peter confirms. Speciesism is relatively a new word in our modern society. Singer declares that for some people this new prejudice is just mind-boggling, compared to the most common ones, sexism and racism. Singer asks himself, why cannot animals be allowed to the same privileges as the humans. People say that men and women are very different from animals, and that these liberties cannot be extended to animals. The nonhumans, animals, simply are incapable of making rational decision, therefore, why should they be allowed any rights? Singer gives an example of how simply and quickly animal rights can be denied and unconsidered: “Men and women can vote; animals cannot vote, therefore why should we bother giving them right to vote. This just draws a picture saying, why should we give them any rights at all? Humans consider themselves superior, therefore why should they give in to a weaker species? Singer then compares racism to speciesism. He affirms that if we cannot judge by the race or the sex, why are we judging by species? Singer also tells us that we cannot judge people by their race or their sex, because these attributes do not give out the whole person. This is how Singer defines discrimination. To reach equality, we cannot base ourselves on the person’s intelligence, their strength or their moral capacity. Equality, according to Singer, is an ethical principle. From this, he declares that, even if two people are different, the level of satisfaction of their needs and interests should not be. Finally, Singer, ties the equality principle to speciesism. He argues that if humans cannot exploit each other, who gives them the right to exploit animals? 2004-10-30T02:00:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Utilitarian-Defense-of-Animal-Liberation-25615.aspx Child abuse is one of the biggest problems facing America today. Children whose parents abuse them often turn to a life of crime, or suffer physical or mental scars. In severe cases the child may even die. In Saint Louis a boy was attacked by a pack of dogs, after he had finished playing basketball at the local court. If his mother had reported him missing he may have been found in time to rescue him, instead he bled to death under a tree. (Davis 3A) Of course this is an extreme case of child abuse, and it is often not this severe. The best way to prevent child neglect is to start family planning at an earlier age. It is tough for many people to understand why anyone would abuse a child, but it happens more than people think. Intergenerational transmission of violence is a major cause of child abuse. Children who were abused when they were young are more likely to be abusive when they grow up and have children. (Compton’s 1) Some studies have shown that thirty percent of abused children grow up to be abusive parents. Children who were not abused and grow up to have children are much less likely to be abusive parents, only two to three percent of people will be abusive. (Child Abuse and Neglect 1) People would tend to question why a child who knows how hard it was when they were young would grow up and do this to their child. Children grow up thinking that everything their parents do is right. The problem is when these children are abused they don’t often learn that it is the wrong thing to do, and will be more likely to abuse their children. (Compton’s 1) Stress can be a cause of child abuse as well. Parents who don’t know how to handle stress will often lash out, and become abusive to their children. Stress can be brought on from a variety of places. Common stress factors are unemployment, illness, drug abuse, poor housing, larger than average family size, death, or the presence of a new baby. (Compton’s 1) A large number of cases of child abuse come from families living in poverty, poverty can cause or result of any one of 2004-10-29T23:28:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Child-Abuse--25614.aspx The Bill of Rights states that every human being deserves to be treated equally, but in society it’s evident that we have set boundaries around certain “groups” throughout history. These groups are usually the minority, and can be dumped on because they are not part of the majority – or are even considered abnormal. But what happens when the minority gets bigger, and can actually voice it’s own opinions on the meaning of life? Topics arise, and questions come to the point where they have to be answered. The gay lifestyle has become a way of life for many people, and with more people feeling like the majority they have come out of the closet strong. Some become writers such as Andrew Sullivan or Lindsy Van Gelder, telling stories of their own in writings such as “What is a Homosexual?” and “Marriage as a Restricted Club.” These people give us the energy to shout out our own views on subjects concerning gay rights and marriages. Every state has it’s own laws on homosexuality just as every person has his own particular views on society, mine just happen to be very clear-cut. A homosexual couple should have a way, whether it be through marriage or not, to be distinguished as “united” and also reserve the right to adopt so long as it is through the foster care program. Just as we abolished slavery we should knock down our walls of discrimination against gays. All human beings are supposed to be treated equally. That means there are no tiers and there is no hierarchy. In an essay like “What is a Homosexual?” Andrew Sullivan doesn’t seem to see a world without boundaries writing, “The society separates these two entities, and for a long time the homosexual has no option but to keep them separate. He learns certain rules; and, as a child learning grammar, they are hard, later on in life, to unlearn.”(p.53) He sees the world as straight or gay, not human being or human being. He has been taught to discriminate himself, just as everyone else learned that gays are different, therefore they are wrong. Well, it’s 2001 and today we took a step further towards equality for homosexuals. Throughout the history of oppressing gays, each day forward is now more accepting 2004-10-29T22:23:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gay-Lifestyle-Understanding-Differences-25610.aspx Each year there are about 250 people added to death row and 35 executed. The death penalty is the harshest form of punishment enforced in the United Sates today. Once a jury has convicted a criminal offense they then proceed to the second part of the trial, the punishment phase. If the jury recommends the death penalty and the judge agrees then the criminal will face some form of execution; lethal injection is the most common form used today. Capital punishment is immoral in principle, unfair and discriminatory in practice. It assures the execution of some innocent people. As a remedy preventing crime, it has no purpose and no effect. Among the many reasons why a criminal should face life in prison rather then the death penalty is based on the number of times when a innocent person has been put to death. Although the number of innocent lives taken may not be large, one innocent persons life is already too many. Studies show that in this century, at least 400 innocent people have been convicted of capital crimes they did not commit. Of those 400, 23 were executed. The wrongful execution of an innocent person is an injustice that can never be rectified. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty, 96 men and women have been found to be innocent; some were just minutes away from execution. These numbers should be convincing enough to prove that capital punishment is not the only way to deter crime. In fact it has been proven that the thought of capital punishment does not deter a criminal from committing a crime. In most cases they are not in a clear state of mind when committing a capital offense. A study was published by economist Stephen K. Layson at the University of North Carolina that showed that each execution of a murderer deters, on average, 18 murders. The study also proved that raising the number of death sentences by one percent would prevent 105 murders. However, only 38 percent of all murder cases result in a death sentence, and of those, only one percent actually carry out the execution. Capital punishment in the United States should be abolished. Criminals need to live with their consequences for the rest of their life’s, not die for them. He or she will never have to look in the mirror and regret he/she’s horrible crime. Life in 2004-10-29T22:00:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capital-Punishment-Should-be-Stopped-25606.aspx Charles Krauthammer’s article “Yes Lets Pay for Organs” appeared in Time Magazine on May 17, 1999. Krauthammer disputes paying for organs that come from the dead is fine, but buying organs from the living is degrading. This controversial subject, buying organs from live people, not only violates federal laws but lowers a person’s self- image of human dignity. Even though there is a huge organ shortage throughout the United States, that does not make it right for people to sell parts of themselves for money. Will the rich be tempted to sale their organs for an extra three hundred dollars? Of course not, it is the poor who will be made a commodity of organ selling, not the rich. If paying money for organs helps replenish the supply for people who need them, so be it. One state that agrees with the following idea is Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania plans to begin paying the relatives of organ donors three hundred dollars, to help ease funeral expenses. Even though this sounds great, rewarding organ donations violates a federal law made in 1984. This federal law states that organs are a national resource, not objects that are taken out of you when you die. Due to this law, and the controversy of pricing organs, the demand needed to expand the supply has increased. According to Krauthammer’s article, there are Sixty-two thousand Americans desperately awaiting an organ transplant. However because of the increased demand for organs, there are hardly enough to go around. Paying money for organs seems like a great solution in alleviating the problem, but the author thought it was kind of odd that no one had offered money for organs. If paying money is what it takes in order to increase the supply and save lives, then lets do it. Unfortunately there are a few major drawbacks toward assessing this situation. For example Pennsylvania’s idea, about rewarding money for organs, will greatly affect the poor. A three hundred-dollar reward will not be enough money for a rich person to donate his/her organs. Primarily lower class people will take advantage of this situation, because they are in need for money. In addition the poor will not only benefit from this situation, but everyone else will too. Simply because every time someone donates an organ, 2004-10-29T14:30:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Organ-Sales,-The-Boundaries-of-25601.aspx “Monkey see, monkey do” has become a well-known saying in today’s society, but is it correct? Just sixty years ago the invention of the television was viewed as a technological curiosity with black and white ghost-like figures on a screen so small hardly anyone could see them. Today that curiosity has become a constant companion to many, mainly children. From reporting the news and persuading us to buy certain products, to providing programs that depict violence, television has all but replaced written material. Unfortunately, it is these violent programs that are endangering our present-day society. Violent images on television, as well as in the movies, have inspired people to set spouses on fire in their beds, lie down in the middle of highways, extort money by placing bombs in airplanes, rape, steal, murder, and commit numerous other shootings and assaults. Over 1,000 case studies have proven that media violence can have negative affects on children as well. It increases aggressiveness and anti-social behavior, makes them less sensitive to violence and to victims of violence, and it increases their appetite for more violence in entertainment and in real life. Media violence is especially damaging to young children, age 8 and under1, because they cannot tell the difference between real life and fantasy. Violent images on television and in movies may seem real to these children and sometimes viewing these images can even traumatize them. Despite the negative effects media violence has been known to generate, no drastic changes have been made to deal with this problem that seems to be getting worse. We, as a whole, have glorified this violence so much that movies such as “Natural Born Killers” and television shows such as “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” are viewed as normal, everyday entertainment. It’s even rare now to find a children’s cartoon that does not depict some type of violence or comedic aggression. What we do not realize though, is that it is the children that are ending up with problems. Unlike most rational, educated adults, many children are gradually beginning to accept violence as a way to solve problems and are imitating what they observe on television. These children do not understand that the violence is shown strictly because the public wants to see it. They cannot grasp the meaning of “ratings” and “entertainment” 2004-10-29T09:50:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Impact-of-Media-Violence-25592.aspx Does the consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman constitute “fetal abuse”? Alcohol use by a pregnant woman poses extreme risk to the fetus. Everything consumed during pregnancy has an impact on the unborn child --whatever a woman eats or drinks so does her fetus. Drinking during pregnancy opens the doors to various harmful affects on the unborn child, both physical and mental. The adverse affects of alcohol vary with the stage of pregnancy and the amount of alcohol consumed on each occasion. Children born with complications caused by alcohol are said to have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). These affects are decisively preventable, but are an irreversible, incurable, and cause life long damage to the child. Drinking alcohol while pregnant is the same as feeding alcohol to your baby. Alcohol avoids the normal digestive process and goes directly into the bloodstream, so when a pregnant woman drinks, alcohol in the mother’s blood crosses the placenta freely and enters the fetus through the umbilical cord. However, unlike the mother, the liver of the fetus cannot process the alcohol at the same rate, therefore it stays in the fetus for longer periods. The concentration of alcohol in the unborn baby’s bloodstream is at the same or sometimes higher level as the mother. The fetus is too immature to metabolize the alcohol by itself and must rely on its mother for the elimination of the alcohol. For the unborn child, the alcohol interferes with its ability to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other body organs. The obvious advice is not to drink while pregnant, for there is no safe level at which one can drink. Early exposure indicates the greatest risk for serious physical defects, and late exposure increases the chance of neurological and growth deficiencies or miscarriage. During the first trimester, alcohol may affect the way cells grow and arrange themselves as they multiply, altering the tissue growth in parts of the developing fetus. In the second trimester and third trimesters, miscarriage is a high peril. In addition, during the third trimester, alcohol can impair growth and harm the central nervous system. The brain, which is developing in all trimesters, can be affected throughout the pregnancy. (See diagram on next page) 2004-10-29T02:48:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcohol-and-Fetal-Abuse--25583.aspx Instead of throwing drug offenders in jail and hoping for the best, why not try to treat them? Treatment is ten times more cost effective than law enforcement. It costs fifteen times less to treat a person than it costs to put them in jail (Rydell 16). Tax dollars that are being spent on an obsolete program (the present “War on Drugs”) could be spent on treatment, a proven method of decreasing the use and sale of illicit drugs. The American legal system should draft a bill in Congress that gives treatment to drug offenders instead of throwing them in jail. Such a bill would be advantageous to American society as a whole, and benefits would arise from an economic and civil rights standpoint as soon as the bill was signed into law. Such programs have already shown nothing but positive results in The Netherlands and Switzerland, and I believe that with the right direction America can catch up with the rest of the world. The first step in creating a functional program to fight the Drug War is to face a few hard facts. A study was conducted to investigate police corruption inside drug cases in New York City. This study showed that police corruption, brutality, and violence were present in every high crime precinct that had a high concentration of minority populations (Cole 23). It found very disturbing cases of corruption and brutality, including cases of police stealing from drug dealers, engaging in unlawful searches and seizures, and lying to justify unlawful searches and arrests in areas with large minority populations (Cole 24). After seeing this information, one might come to the conclusion that most drug offenders are in fact minorities. This is far from the truth. Minority groups are victims of our inadequate system. Not only are most drug offenders white, but five times as many whites use drugs as blacks (hrw.org). Since most of the offenders are white, an intelligent person might come to the conclusion that most people put in jail for drug offences are also white. This is also far from the truth. Blacks make up the great majority of drug offenders sent to prison (hrw.org). It is not a sensible solution to send more white drug offenders to jail. Rather, reducing the use of prison for lower level drug offences and increasing the use of treatment would be an effective way to 2004-10-29T02:18:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Real-Rehabilitation-25574.aspx Trapping Should Be Illegal-Then And Now Trapping is a very important issue, which is connected to many other larger issues. For instance, trapping lies at the heart of the First Nation's distinct society issue. Before I talk about the present, however, I would like to discuss whether trapping should have been illegal when Canada was first being settled in the 17th and 18th centuries. When the first explorers came to the new world, it was regarded as a huge slab of worthless rock standing between Europe and the riches of the Orient. The only reason these explorers even explored this continent was the hope of finding the North-West passage, a route to the Orient. Fortunately, while searching for this North-West passage, some of these explorers stumbled onto a virtual magnet for settlement: The Fur Trade. When people heard how pelts of all kinds could be obtained so easily and sold for so much, the idea of not settling in the new world was ridiculous. Suddenly settlers came to this "slab of worthless rock" and tried to set up permanent living there. Even after a few failed attempts the draw of the fur trade was responsible for the settlement we call New France. After the first steps toward a permanent colony in the new world were made, the next steps came in leaps and bounds. The French government was sending everyone they could to settle in New France. Courieurs de Bois, began coming to the colony to trap furs and sell them back in France. France granted land to poor people that were willing to risk the great voyage. The colony flourished, and grew. It was the fur trade that was mostly responsible for this colony. However, some think that by this point the colony was large enough to illegalize fur trapping and still remain a profitable colony for France. However, there is one major reason that fur trading should have been allowed: Relations with the Indians. Relations with the Indians were shaky, at best. Some Indians befriended the French, and some befriended the English. Some just gave their furs to the highest bidder. The relationship with the Indians was more than just a trade agreement. The wars of the Indians were the wars of the French. Now, imagine what would happen if one day, an Indian came to a Frenchman and offered him a pelt. The Frenchman tells the Indian that not only will he 2004-10-29T01:05:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Trapping-Should-Be-Illegal-Then-And-Now-25573.aspx Does entertainment influence society's attitude towards violent behavior? In order to fully answer this question we must first understand what violence is. Violence is the use of one's powers to inflict mental or physical injury upon another, examples of this would be rape or murder. Violence in entertainment reaches the public by way of television, movies, plays, and novels. Through the course of this essay it will be proven that violence in entertainment is a major factor in the escalation of violence in society, once this is proven we will take all of the evidence that has been shown throughout this paper and come to a conclusion as to whether or not violence in entertainment is justified and whether or not it should be censored. Television with its far reaching influence spreads across the globe. Its most important role is that of reporting the news and maintaining communication between people around the world. Television's most influential, yet most serious aspect is its shows for entertainment. Violent children's shows like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and adult shows like NYPD Blue and Homicide almost always fail to show human beings being able to resolve their differences in a non-violent manner, instead they show a reckless attitude that promotes violent action first with reflection on the consequences later. In one episode of NYPD Blue three people were murdered in the span of an hour. "Contemporary television creates a seemingly insatiable appetite for amusement of all kinds without regard for social or moral benefits" (Schultze 41). Findings over the past twenty years by three Surgeon Generals, the Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence, the American Medical Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other medical authorities indicate that televised violence is harmful to all of us, but particularly to the mental health of children (Medved 70-71). In 1989 the results of a five year study by the American Psychological Association indicated that the average child has witnessed 8,000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on television by the time he or she has completed sixth grade. In further studies it was determined that by the time that same child graduates from high school he or she will have spent 22,000 hours watching television, twice as many hours as he or she has spent in school (Bruno 124). In a 2004-07-12T22:04:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Violence-in-the-Media-25549.aspx Marijuana is illegal in fifty states because of its classification as an illicit drug, but controversial issues have been established that this "illicit drug" has improved the course of treatment for suffering patients. Marijuana has beneficial effects when used in medicinal scenarios for the treatment of pain; thus it should be an administered drug for patients who can benefit from the use of this drug. Marijuana has undergone analysis for its use as a medicine and the results have shown improvements in the patients who were treated with this drug. Doctors have expressed opposite opinions, making this issue very controversial. As the debate about marijuana’s use as a medicine continues, experts have given us information pertaining to its positive effects when used properly. Much of the controversy falls in the hands of the government, which purports that marijuana is not a safe medicine, versus the doctors who research the topic for medicinal purposes. Granted, not all doctors feel cannabis should be a "legal" prescribed medicine, it is in their hands to decide so. The Institute of Medicine has ignited the controversy when it said smoking marijuana is risky, but also recommended that critically ill patients should be allowed to use it under closely monitored settings (Koch 707). A specialist at the National Cancer Institute authorized his patients to use the drug, but not over do it (Koch 708). With all the speculation, one would think that doctors wouldn’t be so eager to offer the drug as a reliever. The National Institute of Drug Abuse renders approximately 300 free joints each month for patients whom are enrolled in an experimental program (Iversen 12). The Government proclaims there is no therapeutic value in the medicinal use of marijuana, but they do not have hard evidence to prove it (Grinspoon 46). Ira Glasser, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, (at a congressional forum) expressed: "the government has demonized all drug use without differentiation and has systematically and hysterically resisted science."(Koch 714) Possibly if the two "sides" would work together an agreement could be established concerning procedures for further development and treatment. Marijuana has eased the pain of chemotherapy, severe muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, weight-loss due to the AIDS virus, and other problems (www.abcnews.go.com/medmj990317.html). Experts from the National Institute of Health or NIH have confirmed that marijuana is an effective, safe and inexpensive alternative for treating nausea caused by AIDS 2004-07-12T21:59:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marijuana-for-Medicinal-Purposes-25548.aspx While many people believe there should be more gun control and the possibility of banning guns all together, I believe the gun control laws should not be changed. Although there are many reasons that may persuade people to choose to ban guns, I believe that there are several other reasons that lead to all the tragedies with guns in America. Banning guns is not an answer the gun problem in America, there are a few other things that could be done to stop gun violence. In this essay I will tell about why I believe gun control laws should not be changed. After the many shootings in schools over the past two years, many people believe guns should be made illegal for civillians to posses or purchase guns. While this may make it difficult for minors, drug addicts, and people with mental deficiencies to get hold on a gun, The Constitution allows all citizens to possess arms to defend themselves, their families', and their property. However if guns were made illegal, there would still be people who would smuggel guns. If a burgular were to smuggle a gun in to someone's home, that man or woman should be allowed to posses a gun to defend theirself. And if guns were illegal, mostly only people who do not abide the law would smuggle them, leaving all the law-abiding citizens unarmed and more prone to attack with a gun. Some people suggest making a longer waiting-period and deeper background check to purchase a gun would reduce the amount of violence with guns. While once again that would make it more difficult for minors, drug addicts, and people with mental deficiencies to obtain a gun, it would not prevent many people who wish to have a gun from getting one. Also, many people obtain guns from stealing it from another person, or buying it off a citizen who is unknowledgable or uncaring for the law, or the temperment of the buyer. Besides, if a person who is of age, and has a clear record wishes to buy a gun to be violent with it, there is no way of preventing him or her. Anyone who believes strengthening the gun control laws would reduce gun violence is correct. However, if someone wants to kill someone, not having a gun is unfortunately not going to stop him or her. If a gun is not accessible, 2004-07-12T21:59:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gun-Control-Laws-Should-they-be-altered-25547.aspx "Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder on an overwhelming dread of becoming fat. The result of this unfounded fear is self-starvation and major weight loss. In addition, the undernourishment may cause hormonal disturbances, anemia, heart problems, brittle bones and many other problems, some of which are life-threatening ("Anorexia Nervosa," 1). Bulimia is an eating disorder that is psychological in origin and can have dire physical consequences. While anorexics starve themselves, bulimics binge on food and then purge by self-induced vomiting. Bulimics also frequently use diet pills, laxatives, and diuretics to reduce their weight. The purging may serve two purposes: preventing weight gain and also temporarily relieving depression and other negative feelings ("Bulimia," 1)." These eating disorders are a major issue in society today due to society’s stereotypical view of women and young teenage girls, in, but many cases’ men are affected too. First, an eating disorder is an illness that affects several of the United States population because society has driven many people to be self-conscience about their appearance. For example, eight million people in the United States suffer from eating disorders ("The Secret Language of Eating Disorders," 1). Furthermore, 3% of all young women suffer from anorexia and 3-4% suffer from bulimia ("The Secret Language of Eating Disorders," 1). This proves that many women and teenage girls are affected because many are afraid of becoming fat and "unacceptable" to society’s view on women in general. In addition, 1% of boys and young men suffer from eating disorders, and their cases are becoming more common ("The Secret Language of Eating Disorders," 1). Also, it is a disorder that crosses racial and economical lines, those who succumb to compulsive starving or binge eating are males (Lang, 1). This shows that today’s society has also affected men’s stereo-typical view of their appearance and weight. Thus, eating disorders not only affect women, they also affect men, in which we are seeing more cases of every day. Second, victims of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have many warning signs which help people notice the signs of these eating disorders. For instance, anorexia nervosa has the following symptoms: significant weight loss, excessive dieting and exercising, and constipation ("Anorexia Nervosa", 2). Also, bulimia nervosa has the following symptoms: makes excuses to go to the bathroom after meals, and eats large amounts of food on the spur of the moment ("Bulimia Nervosa", 2). This illustrates that anorexia 2004-07-12T21:58:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Eating-Disorders-Their-Dark-Sides-25546.aspx One of the most controversial political issues of today is that of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Illegal immigration into the United States is a problem that should be stopped, as it is unfair to both Americans and to the people of the country from which they illegally immigrated. It is thought that the majority of illegal aliens residing in the U.S. are Mexicans (Anderson 55). Roy Beck clarifies the situation by stating, "The national consensus is that the United States should be a post-mass immigration country has included most leaders of business, religion, labor, academia, and social work." Illegal immigration from Mexico must be stopped by means of different policies and other methods of prevention, because the effects on both Mexico and the United States are predominately unfavorable. There are multiple policies and means of preventing illegal immigrants from entering the United States. Immigration laws are the catalysts of illegal immigration prevention. Proposition 187 is a tough immigration law clamping down on illegal aliens, used in California, the state with the most illegal immigrants. It doubled the number of boarder guards, made it harder for legal immigrants to bring their families over, not permitting as much political asylum and was harder on illegal aliens already here (DiConsiglio 3). NAFTA, officially, hasn’t reduced as much illegal immigration as had been hoped, but, it helped Mexico recover faster from it’s economic crisis in ‘94-’95, which has stopped a larger flood of people, since most immigrants tend to come to the U.S. in times of Mexican economic depression ("Mexico" 2). The major reason Mexicans tend to illegally immigrate is to find jobs. Therefore, elimination of the chance of them getting a job would be a deterrent. A bill shown to the House, by California would let the employer enter a job applicant’s social security number over the phone to receive confirmation, of a person’s official citizenship (DeMott 31). That would work in conjunction with the need for proper documentation to be shown to employer for current verification of legal citizenship, limiting their job opportunities and thus discouraging them from ever illegally immigrating. The Border Patrol is the most effective and widely used form of prevention. It is an agency of Immigration and Naturalization, that is charged with detecting and preventing illegal passage to the U.S. between Mexico and America (Anderson 59). U.S. vigilance on "the line" causes more delays, higher risks and raised costs 2004-07-05T23:00:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Illegal-Immigration-from-Mexico-into-the-United-States-25534.aspx "In Edinburgh, a homosexual man is four times more likely to be attacked than a heterosexual man." This fact has been iterated so much by the media over the past few weeks that it would be a challenge to find one Scot who could not quote it accurately. One would think that this alarming statistic could be greatly improved if people were educated from an early age in the aspects of homosexuality, and taught, even if not to agree with it, at least to be tolerating towards it. Why, then, is there such an opposition to the repealing of Section 28 of the Local Government Act, a clause which prohibits the "promotion of homosexuality", thereby increasing homophobic prejudice, legitimising the bullying of homosexual and bisexual school pupils, and encouraging hate crimes against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals? Currently, there is a great deal of controversy concerning whether or not this law should be repealed. Is it that this law protects children or encourages ignorance and prejudice? Section 28 was invented in 1986 by the Conservative Party. The actual wording of Section 28 is as follows: A local authority shall not: (1) intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality (2) promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. Those in favour of Section 28 would argue that educating children in matters of homosexuality is morally wrong. They believe that children are extremely susceptible to what they see and hear around them, and that hearing from teachers about homosexuality would encourage them to try it for themselves. Claims have been made that children could be "turned" gay in this way. This would certainly be backed up by the unfortunate Jamie Bulger murder, where two young boys admitting to killing two-year-old Jamie after watching a violent film on television. If the media did not make an impression on people’s minds, advertising companies would go out of business. Another argument is that school pupils learn many things from their teachers, that is the reason that they go to school, so could learning about homosexuality not teach them to be gay? Firstly, the media can not be blamed for individuals eradicating the blame for their own actions. Religious programming on television has not caused a nationwide surge of Christianity. It is true that advertisements on television and in magazines can have a strong influence on the things we do 2004-07-05T22:59:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Homosexual-Laws--25533.aspx Hate based on race, religion and sexual orientation exist within any cultural rich societies. When this type of hate fuels a person into taking violent actions upon those they hate, it is called a hate crime; a topic which the American public is seriously concerned about. It has been a widely discussed subject on the media, and often debates of whether or not a crime should be attributed with hate are the center for discussion. Does hate crime imply on any case when a person is convicted for inflicting damage on someone "different"? It is often difficult to set a benchmark for measuring sufficiency of hate as a cause to label it in front of crime. The term can be conveniently stretched and squeezed by people with different ideas and biases. The four white policemen who brutally beat Rodney King Jr., a black man, half to death for merely speeding is determined by the court¡¦s judgment, as officers performing their duty. Hate, to those particular jurors and judge, was not a valid concern. To them, the beating was not due to the officers¡¦ resentment for a black man, but because they were simply disciplining an offender of the law. To the minority groups, the court¡¦s ruling was outrageous. From their point of view, the savage beating was unnecessary and hate was obviously the factor which induce the four cops to perform such a nasty feat. Because people have varying views and opinions, application of the term "hate crime" is not always relevant. Can we assume the murder of Nicole Simpson by OJ Simpson a hate crime since it involves a black man killing a white woman or are there more in depth twist to the case? People who are willing to do a little thinking, do not just look at the difference of the victim and the convicted and draw conclusions of whether or not the crime is hate related, they examine all the other psychological elements also. The most common way of judgment is to ponder: if the victim was of a different race, religion, or sexual orientation, would the same injurious action still have taken place? In order to picture the virtual scenario, we would need to think critically and be able to delineate out hate, and to do that, we need to understand why people hate. No one is born to be prejudice. It is the society people grow 2004-07-05T22:58:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Hate-Crimes-25531.aspx The Right to Own Guns As American citizens, we have more rights and freedoms than any other group of people in the world. The founders of this country established these freedoms because they had previously lived in countries where the people did not have as many rights. One of these rights is stated in the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which proclaims "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." But over the years various laws and regulations have infringed upon this right. The reasons for these laws are to get the guns that cause crime and injuries off the streets. But most of these laws have only prevented the common citizen from acquiring a firearm. There should be some regulation with regard to who can own a gun, but we need to ensure that this regulation is done in a fair and practical manner. The best argument for the protection of the right to possess arms is the Second Amendment. The purpose of the amendment, and the entire Constitution, is to establish certain rights that cannot be abolished or changed by our government. But the wording of the amendment has been a source of debate. The main argument is that the amendment only provides for a militia, and that the "right to keep and bear arms" is referring to militia members only. But the amendment also states that it is the right of "the people" to keep and bear arms. But is "the people" referring to only the militia or to all citizens in general? In 1990 that question was answered in the Supreme Court case U.S. v. Verdugo-Urquidez (Cramer 171). This case was about a man who had committed a crime while in Mexico. The man argued that his constitutional rights had been violated. But the court ruled that since he was outside the United States when the crime was committed, he was not protected. During the case, the question of what the "right of the people" meant in the Constitution (Cramer 171). The court decided that "’ the people’ protected by the Fourth Amendment , and by the First and Second Amendments, and to whom rights and powers are reserved in the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, refers to a class of persons who are part of a national community… (Cramer 172)." This decision clearly shows that the right to keep and bear 2004-07-05T22:53:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Right-to-Own-Guns-The-Right-to-Bear-Arms-25530.aspx Overall, the rights and status of women have improved considerably in the last century; however, gender equality has recently been threatened within the last decade. Blatantly sexist laws and practices are slowly being eliminated while social perceptions of "women's roles" continue to stagnate and even degrade back to traditional ideals. It is these social perceptions that challenge the evolution of women as equal on all levels. In this study, I will argue that subtle and blatant sexism continues to exist throughout educational, economic, professional and legal arenas. Women who carefully follow their expected roles may never recognize sexism as an oppressive force in their life. I find many parallels between women's experiences in the nineties with Betty Friedan's, in her essay: The Way We Were - 1949. She dealt with a society that expected women to fulfill certain roles. Those roles completely disregarded the needs of educated and motivated business women and scientific women. Actually, the subtle message that society gave was that the educated woman was actually selfish and evil. I remember in particular the searing effect on me, who once intended to be a psychologist, of a story in McCall's in December 1949 called "A Weekend with Daddy." A little girl who lives a lonely life with her mother, divorced, an intellectual know-it-all psychologist, goes to the country to spend a weekend with her father and his new wife, who is wholesome, happy, and a good cook and gardener. And there is love and laughter and growing flowers and hot clams and a gourmet cheese omelet and square dancing, and she doesn't want to go home. But, pitying her poor mother typing away all by herself in the lonesome apartment, she keeps her guilty secret that from now on she will be living for the moments when she can escape to that dream home in the country where they know "what life is all about." (See Endnote #1) I have often consulted my grandparents about their experiences, and I find their historical perspective enlightening. My grandmother was pregnant with her third child in 1949. Her work experience included: interior design and modeling women's clothes for the Sears catalog. I asked her to read the Friedan essay and let me know if she felt as moved as I was, and to share with me her experiences of sexism. Her immediate reaction was to point out that "Betty Friedan was a college 2004-07-05T22:53:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gender-Equality-In-The-1990-s-25529.aspx Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What has made these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and prestigious way to live? The long range answer to these questions can only be speculated upon, but in the short term the answers are much easier to find. On the surface, gangs are a direct result of human beings' personal wants and peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence we must find the way that these morals are given to the individual. Unfortunately, these can only be hypothesized. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I believe there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, drugs and our economic system. On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed. Many teens in gangs will pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous. Money is also an crucial factor. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a member) is shown that s/he could make $200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Although these are important factors they are not strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly against their morals. One of the ways that kids morals are bent so that gang violence becomes more acceptable is the influence of television and movies. The average child spends more time at a TV than she/he spends in a classroom. Since nobody can completely turn off their minds, kids must be learning something while watching the TV. Very few hours of television watched by children are educational, so other ideas are being absorbed during this period of time. Many shows on television today are extremely violent and are often shown this from a gang's perspective. A normal adult can see that this is showing how foully that gangs are living. However, to a child this portrays a violent gang existance as acceptable. 'The Ends Justifies the Means' mentality is also taught through many shows where the "goody guy" captures the "bad guy" through violence and is then being commended. A young child sees this a perfectly acceptable because he knows that the "bad guy" was wrong but has no idea of what acceptable apprehension techniques 2004-07-05T22:52:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gangs--25528.aspx Drinking and driving is the number one killer of teenagers in America. Because of it, the teenage group is the only age group who’s number of deaths are increasing instead of decreasing. Outright denying teens of alcohol doesn’t work. That just makes young adults want alcohol even more. What’s sad about drinking under the influence cases is that every one of them could have been easily prevented. So, if you cannot deny adolescences of alcohol, why not just educate them on simple precautions that can be taken to prevent drinking and driving. One of the best and oldest ways to stop drinking under the influence is having a designated driver. It’s not a hard thing to do. Just asking someone responsible to accompany you to a party (or whatever it may be) in which you know there will be alcohol. If you don’t know if there will be alcoholic beverages served, take a responsible friend anyway just to make sure. Another good way to keep yourself from being a DUI case is to clear out your car of anything distracting. When you’re drunk, simple things can give you an incredible amount of entertainment. So, clean out your car from fuzzy dice, cellular phones, anything that can distract you. Studies show that just by doing this, your chance of having an accident can be decreased by over 25%. So, you’re already at the party and drinking beer. What can you do? For starters, you can try eating high protein food like meat, cheese, and peanuts. Foods that are rich in protein can help absorb alcohol faster. Another thing you can do is drink slowly. Take a sip every now and then. If you drink a gulp, you don’t get to savor the taste and aroma. Also, you tend to drink a lot more than what you can take. What if you’re the person who’s throwing the party and serving the alcohol? Well, try to be the least bit responsible and help your fellow friends out. Before you let someone into your party, ask him or her to hand in their keys. No keys, no admittance. Doing this will prevent drinkers from ever using that car that night. What if someone refuses? Just don’t let them in. If that person gets into an accident after the party, you will probably be held responsible for serving the beverages. Serving food first before drinks is also a 2004-07-05T22:52:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drinking-and-Driving--25527.aspx Domestic violence is a significant social issue that has a major impact upon the health of women in society. Discuss this statement and identify the factors that may contribute to domestic violence. Domestic violence is known by many names including spouse abuse, domestic abuse, domestic assault, battering, partner abuse, marital strife, marital dispute, wife beating, marital discord, woman abuse, dysfunctional relationship, intimate fighting, male beating and so on. McCue (1995) maintains that it is commonly accepted by legal professionals as "the emotional, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse perpetrated against a person by that person's spouse, former spouse, partner, former partner or by the other parent of a minor child" (although several other forms of domestic violence have become increasingly apparent in today's society). Whatever name is used to refer to it, however, domestic violence is a very grave and difficult problem faced by Australian society. Although domestic violence can include the abuse of parents, children, siblings and other relatives, it predominantly involves violence against sexual partners with women being the most common victims and men being the 'aggressors' (Family Violence Professional Education Taskforce 1991). It is inadequate to view domestic violence as an aspect of the normal interpersonal conflict which takes place in most families. According to McCue (1995), many families experience conflict, but not all male members of families inevitably resort to violence. It is not the fact of family disputes or marital conflict that generate or characterize violence in the home. Violence occurs when one person assumes the right to dominate over the other and decides to use violence or abuse as a means of ensuring that domination (Family Violence Professional Education Taskforce 1991). Although all forms of domestic violence are pressing issues of equal importance, this essay is more specifically directed at spouse abuse and aims to delve deeper into the issue of domestic violence by examining its causes with respect to the socioeconomic status of the particular family and its effects upon women in Australian society. The FACS (Family and Community Services) booklet (1995), defines domestic violence as follows: 'when a woman suffers persistent physical, verbal, economic or social abuse from her partner with the result that she suffers a sustained emotional and, or psychological effect.' Domestic violence is the most common form of assault in Australia today. However, it remains a hidden problem because it occurs within the privacy of the home and those involved are 2004-07-05T22:51:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-in-Australia-25525.aspx Adolescence is much like a midpoint in ones life; when a person is neither a kid nor an adult. At this period, teens have passed the age when they were called kids but are not yet qualified to be adults. Teenagers want to think like adults, behave like adults and also start to view themselves as independent beings in decision making. All this hormonal changes also come with the negativity of maturity such as drugs and alcohol. The statistics below show that the percentage of teenagers using drugs and alcohol in the last decade has increased. Why is this? The answer is that teenagers are under pressure by their peers, mass media and also the influence of parents. Peer pressure plays a major role in the harmful behavior of teens. Teens who want to fit in among their friends are most especially prone to this. They try to make friends and they get friends as much as possible. Of these friends there are the good ones who give them the knowledge and information you want need or inquire and there are the ones who give them information about not too good things like drug, alcohol, parties, e.t.c. This influential communication between a teen and his/her peer may be directly or indirectly. Directly such as conversations with their friends or indirectly such as listening to classmates discussing of a party which occurred a night before. Then they begin to mention alcohol, drugs and violence obviously from what have experienced they talk about it in a way possible. Then you would like to see how good it is the next weekend you go to that kind of party. If you can not resist such as a temptation you will begin to do harmful deeds that will definitely have adverse results in the future. Let’s not put all the blame on teens and their peers alone. The mass media is also responsible in an understandable way. The media has proven to be a lot damaging than useful in the type of information meant for mature audience but end up with the immature audience. Soap operas and frivolous shows shown on TV contain immoral and untrue images of the world as it is more of the writer’s imagination or the way directors direct them to act. Most teenagers are probably old enough to watch this shows but not mature enough to comprehend with the 2004-07-05T22:48:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drugs-and-Alcoholism-Why-are-Teenagers-Involved-25524.aspx The drinking age is fine, if anything is should get raised. It is hard to ignore the fact that this law is broken everyday. It's the 90's all teens just want to fit in. Kids are drinking at a much younger age. Now, even 10 year olds and 11 year olds are trying to fit in with us older kids. It's amazing and sometimes funny what kids will do just to fit in with the "good" crowd. Well to some of us, that's considered the druggies and drinkers. Our parents call them the "bad" crowd with good reason. I speak from experience. Now I agree with the parents out there who worry about their kids getting into the same kind of troubles as I was in at one point in my life. I'm going to cut the bull shit and talk about the facts. Here's what parties today look like for teens. The setting, a beach or a house with no adults around to say what's wrong. The people are a bunch of teens of both sexes. The environment is any kind of drugs and or alcohol. These consists of hard liquor like Vodka and Jack Daniel's. Then there is beer with the lighter stuff like wine, wine coolers, and fuzzy navel. Teens that drive are in big trouble and are at big risk. I'm not blaming the accidents that involve drunk in just teens. Drunk drivers are of all ages. And I'm not trying to say that all teens drink either. But the ones that do and are stupid enough to say they're sober and can drive home safe. Those are the ones that put innocent citizens at risk. The drunk teens that drive are looking at getting their license provoked. They go to jail, their car gets impounded, and of course they get a DUI. At parties where teens get drunk, they can easily forget stuff. A lot of times that's where teens get pregnant. The girls don't always know their pregnant so they continue drink. This is bad for their baby. When they have unprotected sex there's the risk of diseases. All together I think it's pretty stupid to even think about changing the drinking age to 18. We already have to worry about the illegal drinkers. There will be more drinking by teens if they change the age. What's next? Changing the age to 16? Yes it makes sense that 2004-07-05T22:46:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drinking-Age--25521.aspx Rape is a very strong word. It is a word that many women feel uncomfortable saying when it comes to their own experiences. Many women have been raped and may not even know it. This is called date or acquaintance rape. Someone the victim knows or is aquatinted with commits this rape. The man who is committing this rape often doesn't believe that he is committing a crime, but he is. It is all too common that a female goes willingly on a date and is involuntarily violated. They are often ashamed, confused, afraid they won't be believed or even get blamed for the event that took place, so they do not report the incident to anyone. Teenage girls are especially at risk for date rape. 38% of all rape cases reported the victim's range in ages fourteen to seventeen. This to me is a high percentage for such a small age range. There are many sad stories of girls who have been violated by someone that they know. They almost all begin with a wonderful night and eventually get taken advantage of. The woman in the situation may feel as though she asked for it. The male may feel as though she didn't say no, so if I do this I am doing nothing wrong. It is horrifying how many times this has happened to a woman. Men take their strong, masculine image and use it to their advantage. They may try to use guilt, lies and/or aggressiveness to get a girl to have sex him. If she declines and he still continues to persuade her to have sex with him, then he is committing a crime. Tara was once in a situation that she felt to be fine. Tom, a guy she knew from school, had asked her out on a date. Unsuspecting she agreed to go. They went to a movie and on the way home they stopped on an abandoned road to talk. They talked for a little while and then Tom began to come on to her. Tara politely declined his gestures. Tom began to get angry and began touching Tara forcefully. Tara continued to tell him no, but Tom continued to force her to have intercourse. After he dropped her off at home and acted as though nothing had happened. Tara felt confused and ashamed. She had many unanswered questions and felt as though she had 2004-07-05T22:46:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Rape--25520.aspx Crime is a serious issue that affects everyone in society. It affects the victims, perpetrators and their families. Crime has increased drastically within the last decade. More prisons are being built around the world because there is not enough room to hold inmates. The government has made an attempt to reduce crime by funding programs such as prevention and intervention for youth at risk , as well as rehabilitation for prisoners that will be released. Some argue that criminal behavior is due to environment, others believe that it is genetic, and yet others think that it has to do with personality. If there were certain personality traits that could be identified with potential criminal behavior, steps could be taken to try to reduce or diminish the "criminal personality". Although personality is not the only factor in criminal behavior, there does seem to be a strong association between the both. Alfred Adler believed that children who failed to solve the vital problem of social interest-who lack cooperation and a desire for contributing to the well-being of others-will always meet significant problems later, during their adult years (Adler, 1998). This could include personality problems or criminal behavior. Personality develops early in life. That is why early childhood aggression and antisocial behavior should be taken seriously. Being able to identify potential criminal behavior is vital for prevention and intervention. Childhood factors shown to relate to the development of antisocial behaviors include a difficult early temperament, low IQ, academic deficiencies and learning problems, lack of empathy, underdeveloped social skills, and negative peer relations. (Sutton,Cowen, Crean, & Wyman, 1999). Environmental factors such as family structure and poverty are also associated with potential criminal behavior. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Report (1993) noted that one violent crime (e.g. aggravated assault, murder) was committed every 22 seconds in 1992, and 15% of those arrested for such crimes were under the age of 18 (Sutton, ete.al. 1999). Juvenile delinquency is becoming more common. The age at which these young kids are committing crimes is getting younger. The crimes they are committing are getting more serious. They are not only involved in vandalism and shop lifting like many people might assume, but they are involved in life threatening crimes such as assault and murder. According to the FBI, the number of arrests for youth 12 and younger, in 1996, was 250,000. For youth age 13 and 14, the number 2004-07-05T22:42:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Crime-Problems--25516.aspx On April 20th, 1999 two teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into their school in Columbine Colorado and began a one-hour long killing spree, which ended in the death of 12 of their fellow classmates and one teacher and left another 28 wounded. The shooters then took their own lives. The two teenage gunmen did not have a previous history of violence but were both enthusiasts of killing-oriented video games. The violence in video games was a major factor in teaching these kids how to shoot other people in real life. Violent video games can and have led children to committing acts of violence against other children and adults. Growing children are easily influenced by the examples laid out before them. A young boy who plays hockey and follows the sport closely is probably more likely to resort to violence to solve a conflict than a boy whose role model is a pacifist folk-singer simply because violence and fighting is a prominent overtone of the sport. The same goes for a child who is very interested in one or more of the numerous video games available that focus on killing as their main theme. A child who plays violent video games will resort to violence more easily when faced with a problem than a child who has never been exposed to such interactive killing. Violent video games do not teach any other way to deal with a conflict. So a young, impressionable youth will be susceptible to resorting to violence if that child has been exposed to violent video games. Violence in video games can also act as a gateway to more serious forms of violence. If a child who has no interest or knowledge in guns and weaponry begins to play a "shoot-em-up" video game where the sole purpose is to kill other people that child could become interested in guns and move on to something more realistic such as pellet and paint ball weaponry. From there the child could move into actual guns when he/she is able to acquire such weapons and this could lead to an act of violence against another human being. Violent video games can foster an interest in guns and violence in children, which can lead them to more realistic violence. Video game companies are continuously releasing more and more realistically violent video games onto the market in order to sell more copies, 2004-07-05T22:41:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Columbine-Shooting-Killer-Kids-25514.aspx Rare is a person that crosses the path of the White House without some emotion of envy or awe. This building epitomizes world leadership and unprecedented power. This renowned leadership may be the only association made by certain countries, while in the United States many see an other significance: Watergate, Whitewater, Kennedy's brutal and mysterious assassination, and today, Clinton's "zippergate" scandal. When the President of the United States takes oath, he gives up a part of his life. His private life becomes the public's life, and they feel the right to know what happens behind the Oval Office. Now the Presidency must battle against Newspaper journalists, radio personalities, televised news reports and now, even more menacing: the Internet. Presidents who are constantly reminded of their power and prestigious rank, become exasperated because they cannot control the news media, even though they can to a large degree set the news agenda. Media has expanded in its presence, becoming widespread on the Internet, perhaps monopolizing the domain, by becoming more powerful and more used than written, televised or radio journalism. The Presidents' inability to control the press exposes their vulnerability and tends to question the actual power they can actually exert. All presidents, at some time or another, became frustrated at what they perceived as unfair treatment by the press, even while acknowledging its vital function in a free society, and many presidents have been a part of a scandal. The current Presidential scandal with Monica Lewinsky had swept the Nation overnight. It seems quite impossible to know just how it will all turn out, and unfair to even speculate, but the media certainly seems to think they possess that right. It is obvious that this story has changed the face of journalism, has put online media on the map in a major way, and has made life more difficult for newspapers forever. First, let's take a look at how this story developed and how it acted on the Internet. David Noack of E&P in his article "Web's Big Role in Sex Controversy" does a great job of detailing the twisting path this tale took from rumor to investigation to publication, and how the Internet played a key part. Noack points out in his article that the "Clinton/Lewinsky" scandal has drastically changed online media. He writes: "A year ago, most newspapers and news magazines adhered to the hard rule that they would not stoop themselves by 2004-07-05T22:40:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Clinton-Sex-Scandal-25511.aspx It is clear that businesses have an obligation to inform their customers about their product's ingredients and dangers. Looking at the case of Rose Cipollone we see that she was a heavy smoker. Her doctor's had to remove part of her right cancerous lung and informed her that she had to quit smoking. Unfortunately, she was addicted. Her doctor's removed the rest of her lung that year and she finally quit smoking. She then sued the Liggett Group, the makers of the cigarettes she smoked. The lawsuit charged that the company knew of the link between cancer and smoking in the early 1940's. The company was found innocent of conspiring with other tobacco companies to hide the dangers of cigarette smoking but guilty on the grounds of falsely claiming its products were safe. However, things have changed. It is not 1940 anymore, when people were ignorant about the dangers of smoking. Tobacco companies now have Surgeon General warnings on cigarette packs. Unless they have been living under a rock, the general public should have been exposed to enough information by this time when it comes to cigarettes and addiction. Nicotine information is but a click away. Tobacco companies should no longer have the obligation to warn their customers, except if a new ingredient is added, in which case they should be notified. No one is saying get rid of the Surgeon General warnings, but enough is enough! If a person wants to smoke 3 packs of cigarettes a day, then that is their choice; tobacco companies should not be held responsible. Let us examine the hype surrounding the supposed danger and addition of nicotine. The Food and Drug Administration tells us that nicotine (the addictive drug found in cigarettes) is just as addictive as cocaine and should be illegal. "Much of the rhetoric of the anti-smoking movement seeks to demonize tobacco smokers as "nicotine addicts". In the past, of course, the term "addict" has been generally applied only to mind-altering drugs, e.g., heroin and cocaine. Even alcohol, which is mind-altering, is not generally referred to as "additive". So, the argument is one of semantics. If nicotine is addictive, so are chocolate candies, pies and cakes, etc. Indeed, if "addiction" is defined as dependence upon some chemical, everyone is addicted, to air!" Nicotine and cocaine are two different things. They may be just as addictive as each other but they certainly do 2004-07-05T22:39:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cigarettes-Addiction-and-Product-Dangers-25510.aspx The medical use of amphetamines was common in the 1950/60's when they were used to help cure depression and to help the user lose weight. An amphetamine is a drug that is a stimulant to the central nervous system. Amphetamines are colorless and may be inhaled, injected, or swallowed. Amphetamines are also used non-medically to avoid sleep, improve athletic performance, or to counter the effects of depressant drugs. Amphetamines are addictive. Because of this, when the user discontinues use or reduces the amount that they use, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Some withdrawal symptoms are as follows: severe exhaustion, deep sleep lasting from 24 to 48 hours, psychotic reaction, extreme hunger, deep depression, anxiety reactions, and long but disturbed sleep. Although someone using amphetamines may experience withdrawal symptoms for a short period of time, the benefits to a person who stops using the drug greatly outweigh an addiction to amphetamines. Because amphetamines suppress appetite and give the user feelings of energy, they are sometimes abused by people who are trying to lose weight. But, because appetite is suppressed and decreased, malnutrition occurs. The user will not be getting enough vitamins or minerals and will become ill more often. They may also lose a dangerous amount of weight. Abuse of amphetamines is not a safe nor effective way to lose weight. Methamphetamine's chemical structure is similar to that of its parent drug, amphetamine, but has more pronounced effects on the central nervous system. Methamphetamines are a powerfully addictive stimulant that, like amphetamines, affects the central nervous system. Methamphetamine was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. There are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, such as the treatment of narcolepsy and ADD, but these uses are limited. In its regular form, methamphetamines are also known as speed, meth, and chalk. In its smoked form, it is known as ice, crystal, crank, and glass. Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected. The smokeable form of methamphetamine, knows as "ice," came into use in the 1980's. Ice is a large, usually clear crystal of high purity that is smoked in a glass pipe like crack/cocaine. The smoke is odorless, leaves a residue that can be re-smoked, and produces effects that my continue for 12 hours or more. Since there are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, methamphetamine is a controlled substance in 2004-07-05T22:37:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Amphetamines-and-Methamphetamines-25507.aspx My bookreport is about living with someone who drinks too much. I chose this topic because hit its very close to home. In the book that I read it tells about other children who are or have grown up with an alcoholic parent. I learned alot about acoholism which is what makes you an alcoholic. I also learned about what some kids go through while growing up. This book tells you how to deal with someone who is an alcoholic and how to deal with your self as well. This book was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. First I would like to point out that kids who live with a parent that drinks all of the time feel as thogh they are the reason why that person drinks all the time. Children often tell that person that they do not like them when they have been drinking. The first chapter in my book was about a girl named Amy who wanted to tell her story about her mother that drank too much. She writes in here about her quite spot which was her room. She went there when her mother was drinking because often her mother was not herself. She tells about how she first noticed that her mother was not like other mothers when she went to other peoples homes. The next chapters explain what acoholism is. It is a disease that when a person wants to quite drinking can not. First of all you will notice that an alcoholic will often gulp their drinks, they can probably drink alot before the get drunk, they may stay drunk for several days, they will also have a favirote drink, and mya change their favirote drink to another. They may also hide thier drinking. Acoholism is an illness and is very sick. It is very hard for an alcoholic to stop drinking because they are afraid to and they know how they feel when they do not drink. Alcoholics usually try to stop drinking because they maybe have hurt someone they love or may also be on the verge of losing their job. People who stop drinking sometimes may have to go to the hospital for a period of time this is called detoxification. This is the best way for treatment when it is hard for them to stop. The withdrawl symptoms are things such as shaking, sweating, fever, pains and nausea. 2004-07-05T22:35:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alcoholism-Should-NOT-Be-Viewed-As-A-Disease-25505.aspx Adopting a child is an experience that promises to bring great joy as it changes a couple or individual’s life forever. But what happens if the mother of that child wants to endorse their child? Those are the issues that many adopting parents and birth-right mothers are facing today. Many biological mothers want their child back. There are many concerns for adopting parents to know- that there is the possibly that the birth mother may file for the child. As a birth mother or the adopting parent one must realize consequences that could lay ahead. The legal and social transfer of all parental right, responsibilities, and roles from one parent or parents, usually biological, to a nonbiological parent or parents is the definition of adoption. In such a transfer, adoptive parents accept the same rights and responsibilities as the child’s birth parents would have had, while the child becomes a member of a family that provides the social, emotional, and physical nurturing that children needs to grow up to be healthy, functioning adults. But there are some legal issues or opinions that can lead to a halting backfire in the adoption process. But, as the biological parent(s) and adopting parent(s), they must be ready for the quickly, approaching pros and cons. Throughout the adoption journey, the gardein must be prepared and know what is best for them and their child. There are many positive feedbacks to adoption. Children are in need of adoption because some birth parents are unable or unavailable to provide adequately for the needs of their child. Birth parents may feel they cannot take on the responsibility of an unplanned child because they are too young or because they are financially or emotionally unable to provide proper care. They do not feel ready or able to be good parents. Most adopting parents, although, feel confident that most birth-right mothers will not seize their child back. Chris Intagliata, a mother of two adopted children advises that " It [is] important to ask yourself what you can handle. If you feel you can handle everything, that’s a good attitude." Those are important notions adopting parents must do. Most of the time adopting parents can handle the task but some times it backfires when the biological mother or couple want the baby back. Statistics show that the vast majority of independent adoptions in California are completed without a hitch; less 2004-07-05T22:34:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Adoption--25503.aspx Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tends to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Therefore it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer (Blackman, 1995). Despite this increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly underdiagnosed and leads to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment, which may often continue into adulthood. Brown (1996) has said the reason why depression is often over looked in children and adolescents is because "children are not always able to express how they feel." Sometimes the symptoms of mood disorders take on different forms in children than in adults. Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil, mood swings, gloomy thoughts, and heightened sensitivity. It is a time of rebellion and experimentation. Blackman (1996) observed that the "challenge is to identify depressive symptomatology which may be superimposed on the backdrop of a more transient, but expected, developmental storm." Therefore, diagnosis should not lay only in the physician's hands but be associated with parents, teachers and anyone who interacts with the patient on a daily basis. Unlike adult depression, symptoms of youth depression are often masked. Instead of expressing sadness, teenagers may express boredom and irritability, or may choose to engage in risky behaviors (Oster & Montgomery, 1996). Mood disorders are often accompanied by other psychological problems such as anxiety (Oster & Montgomery, 1996), eating disorders (Lasko et al., 1996), hyperactivity (Blackman, 1995), substance abuse (Blackman, 1995; Brown, 1996; Lasko et al., 1996) and suicide (Blackman, 1995; Brown, 1996; Lasko et al., 1996; Oster & Montgomery, 1996) all of which can hide depressive symptoms. The signs of clinical depression include marked changes in mood and associated behaviors that range from sadness, withdrawal, and decreased energy to intense feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Depression is often described as "an exaggeration of the duration and intensity of normal mood changes" (Brown 1996). Key indicators of adolescent depression include a drastic change in eating and sleeping patterns, significant loss of interest in previous activity interests (Blackman, 1995; Oster & Montgomery, 1996), constant boredom (Blackman, 1995), disruptive behavior, peer problems, increased irritability and aggression (Brown, 1996). Blackman (1995) proposed that "formal psychologic testing may be helpful in complicated 2004-07-05T22:34:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Adolescent-Depression-25502.aspx Researchers at the University of Toronto have taken important steps toward producing a profile of an abusive parent. Prof. Gary Walters and doctoral student Lynn Oldershaw of the Department of Psychology have developed a system to characterize parents who physically abuse their children. This could ultimately allow social service professionals to identify parents in child abuse. Over the last five years, Walters and Oldershaw, in collaboration with Darlene Hall of the West End Creche, have examined over 100 mothers and their three to six-year-old children who have been physically abused. In the laboratory, the mother and child spend 30 minutes in structured activities such as playing, eating and cleaning-up. The family interaction is video-taped and later analyzed. The researchers have developed a system which allows them to record the effectiveness of parenting skills. They are particularly interested in disciplinary strategies because abuse most commonly occurs when the parent wants the child to comply. "It's a question of trying to determine which type of parent produces which type of child or which type of child elicits which type of parental behaviour," explains Oldershaw. As a result of their work, Walters and Oldershaw have identified distinct categories of abusive parents and their children. 'Harsh/intrusive' mothers are excessively harsh and constantly badger their child to behave. Despite the fact that these mothers humiliate and disapprove of their child, there are times when they hug, kiss or speak to them warmly. This type of mothering produces an aggressive, disobedient child. A 'covert/hostile' mother shows no positive feelings towards her child. She makes blatant attacks on the child's self-worth and denies him affection or attention. For his part, the child tries to engage his mother's attention and win her approval. An 'emotionally detached' mother has very little involvement with her child. She appears depressed and uninterested in the child's activities. The child of this type of mother displays no characteristics which set him apart from other children. In order to put together a parenting profile, the two researchers examine the mother/child interaction and their perception and feelings. For instance, Walters and Oldershaw take into account the mother's sense of herself as a parent and her impression of her child. The researchers also try to determine the child's perception of himself or herself and of the parent. Abusive parents are often believed to have inadequate parenting skills and are referred to programs to improve these skills. These programs are particularly appropriate for 2004-07-05T22:33:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abusive-Folks-25500.aspx Handguns and other firearms have a long tradition in American civilization. The right to bear arms is an American right featured in the second Amendment of the Constitution. In the 18th century, when the constitution was written, times were different; there was a need for armed citizens to insure the safety of the society as a whole. Contemporarily the police department preserves the safety of society and the need for armed citizens is out of date. The founding fathers of the Constitution could presumably never imagine the horrendous outcome of their actions. Every year too many lives are claimed as the result of the American government’s inability to fully face up to effects of the issue. Compared to other western countries that have considerably stricter gun control laws America is still viewed as "The Wild-Wild West". The growing gun related death toll in the U.S. has to come to a turning point. Stripping away the constitutional right to bear arms might have the effect that only criminals will have access to guns. It is important to understand that in a society where both criminals and law abiding citizens have access to guns the likeliness of an innocent person getting shot, when both parties are waving guns, is probably greater than if only criminals have guns. A ban on firearms might not be appealing as a short-term solution but it is important that people don’t limit their thinking to their generation and not think about the safety of their children, grandchildren and the society people are creating today for them to live in. The main obstacle in removing firearms from citizens in the U.S. is the second Amendment of the Constitution. It reads: "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." The second Amendment can be interpreted as every citizen right to bear arms. However the key word is "Militia", meaning soldiers or defenders of the State. In the late 18th century, when the Constitution was written, times were very different than those of contemporary America. People were scared of possible invasions from Native Americans, the English, and other nationalities. By "a well regulated Militia…" the founding fathers probably meant that citizens could have a muscot standing in the corner just in case anything would happen. Note that the writers of the 2004-07-05T22:29:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Consequences-of-Guns--25499.aspx The state murdering people because of their crimes simply does not equate to justice. It is real easy to hear about how the government is doing this wrong or that, but the death penalty is abounded with so many injustices and faults that it’s an embarrassment to our entire due process of law. Supporters of capital punishment subscribe to religious and ethical points of view rather than facts, and when they do offer facts it’s always the same argument: "It’s a deterrent." The death penalty is extreamly flawed, most notably it comes with a very high price tag to an already under-funded correctional institution in America; no stable argument has been installed to warrant it as a deterrent; and the moral decay it establishes creates among other things a feeling of revenge and spite within society. Many people for and against the death penalty are under the proposed belief that capital punishment is a deterrent for crime. No study can offer a clear explanation of this theory. Almost a dozen states don’t offer a death penalty, and a dozen more haven’t executed in over fifty years that have one. Are their first and second-degree murder rates head and shoulders above the other states? Of course not. Some of these states include large metropolis’ such as Minnesota’s twin cites. Detroit has a high crime rate (in actual number not on a per capita basis) in Michigan, which doesn’t offer a death penalty, but Birmingham has one of the highest crime rates per capita in the nation. What has Alabama’s electric chair not done in Birmingham that life in prison has done in St. Paul? Deter crime, particularly murder. Studies have shown that, all evidence in view, long prison terms punish just as effectively as capital sentences. The flaws of capital punishment become too many shortly after they total one. This is because of the focus of the death penalty that being human life. Innocent people being sent to death or being released within weeks of execution are becoming frequent stories on the nightly news. The legal system is disturbingly unable to correctly administer the death penalty. Every day individuals who can’t afford a lawyer have to have one appointed to them under the constitution. Almost thirty percent of Americans can’t afford health care, how are they supposed to afford a lawyer? These lawyers, who are on average paid 5 dollars an 2004-07-05T22:26:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Death-Penalty-In-the-Name-of-Justice-25496.aspx Death Penalty Introduction: The most severe of all sentences: that of death. Also known as the death penalty, capital punishment this is the most severe form of corporal punishment as it is requires law enforcement officers to kill the offender. It has been banned in many countries, in the United States, an earlier move to eliminate capital punishment has now been reversed and more and more states are resorting to capital punishment for serious offenses such as murder. An Eye for and eye, a life for a life, who has never heard of the famous lex talionis? The Bible mentions it, and people have been using it regularly for centuries. We use it in reference to burglary, adultery, love and many other situations. However, some people use it on a different level, some people use it in reference to death. One steals from those who have stolen from him, one wrongs those who have wronged him, but do we really have the right to kill those who have killed. Today, there is a big controversy over capital punishment whether or not it works, or if it is morally right. We have a certain privilege on our own lives, but do the lives of others belong to us as well? Do we have the right to decide the kind of lives others can or cannot live? We find someone guilty of murder and sentence him to death, does that not make murderers out of ourselves? Can justice justify our acts? Those who assist in the death penalty are they not partners in crime? Is the death penalty a "Cruel and Unusual" punishment or is it now a necessary tool in the war on crime? With the increase in crime and violence in our society, how does the death penalty affect a North American family. History of the Death Penalty: Use of the death penalty has declined throughout the industrial Western World since the 19th century. In 1972, movement in America to have the death penalty declared unconstitutional during the landmark case of Furman v. Georgia, which declared the death penalty cruel and unusual punishment. However, after a supreme court decision in 1975, Gregg v. Georgia, which stated capital punishment did not violate the eighth Amendment, executions commenced again under state supervision. (Van der Haag, 1975, 3-4) The debate: Deterrence: There are four major issues in the capital punishment debate, the first being deterrence. A major purpose of 2004-07-05T22:26:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Death-Penalty-Just-or-Injust-25495.aspx Capital punishment is necessary in order for justice to prevail. Capital punishment is the execution of criminals for committing crimes, regarding so bad that this is the only acceptable punishment. Capital punishment lowers the murder rate, but its value as retribution alone is a good reason for handing out death sentences. It is one of the only fair punishments allowed by the judicial system. Another issue is that it saves money compared to the alternative of life in prison. The death penalty deters murder and prevents murderers from killing again by putting the fear of death in to would be killers. A person is less likely to do something, if he or she thinks that harm will come to him. Another way the death penalty may help deter murder is the fact that if the killer is death, he or she will not be able to kill again. Criminals deserve to die and not stay in jail. If a man kills a man and is convicted he should be ready to die next. Supporters of the death penalty feel that criminals should be punished for their crimes, and that it doesn't matter whether it will deter crime. They want to make examples out of offenders so that the threat of death will be enough to stop them from commiting such horrible crimes. Some people might say to give the murderer life in prison. This is hardly a punishment at all. Today, due to overcrowding in prisons, a lot of prisoners don’t serve their full sentence.Another thing about today’s prisons is that the prisoners get free meals, clothes, bed, electricity, air conditioning and heating, cable and many other luxuries that make it a comfortable place to live if you get used to the people. The death penalty should be given the day after conviction. Many people believe that criminals live in prison off of other peoples hard earned money. Criminals should think of the consequences before they kill someone. If they don't do this or did and still killed someone, they probably aren’t intelligent enough to make any positive impact on the world or they are mentally unstable. They shouldn’t get off the hook for killing someone. people might feel that sentencing them to life in prison is punishment enough but to other people it is just getting off the hook. There are seven main types of execution: Hanging, where the 2004-07-05T22:24:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Capital-Punishment-Just-25494.aspx "Dead Man Walking!" This sound rings through each and every death row inmate a thousand times a day; But should it? Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. Since every person has there own opinion on this topic, either for or against, the question always raised is "Is it morally right." The number of problems with the death penalty are enormous, ranging from innocence to racism, and these problems will never be resolved unless the death penalty is abolished. The problems with capital punishment stem as far back as the ritual itself. The number of occurrence on why the death penalty is racist is uncountable. A 1990 report released by the federal government's General Accounting Office found a "pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the charging, sentencing and imposition of the death penalty after the Furman decision." Professor David Baldus examined sentencing patterns in Georgia in the 1970's. After reviewing over 2,500 homicide cases in that state, controlling for 230 non-racial factors, he concluded that a person accused of killing a white was 4.3 times more likely to be sentenced to death than a person accused of killing a black. The Stanford Law Review published a study that found similar patterns of racial dispair, based on the race of the victim, in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Virginia. For example, in Arkansas findings showed that defendants in a case involving a white victim are three-and-a-half times more likely to be sentenced to death; in Illinois, four times; in North Carolina, 4.4 times, and in Mississippi five times more likely to be sentenced to death than defendants convicted of murdering blacks. There is also the issue of Capital Punishment being a deterrent. But does the death penalty really deter crime? The death lobby wants you to believe the answer to that question is "yes." But, in fact, it is a resounding "NO." Consider this...the US is the only Western nation that still allows the death penalty, and we also have one of the highest crime rates. During the 1980s, death penalty states averaged an annual rate of 7.5 criminal homicides per 100,000, while abolition states averaged a rate of 7.4 per 100,000. That means murder was actually more common in states that use the death penalty. Also consider this...in a nationwide survey of police chiefs and sheriffs, capital punishment was ranked last 2004-07-05T22:24:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Capital-Punishment-25493.aspx When turning on the television, radio, or simply opening the local newspaper, one is bombarded with news of arrests, murders, homicides, serial killers, and other such tragedies. It is a rare occasion to go throughout a day in this world and not hear of these things. So what should be done about this crime rate? Not only is it committing a crime, but today, it is signing your life over to the government. This is a risk one is taking when he decides to pull a trigger or plunge a knife, but is it really up to our justice system to decide one's fate? There are many issues that address this question of capital punishment such as religion, the effect on society, restitution being denied, the possible "wrongly accused", and the rights of the convicted. But how often do these concepts creep into the public's mind when it hears of our 'fair, trusty' government taking away someone's breathing rights? The Bible states "Thou shalt not kill," and this being a sin should have to be amended within oneself. However, the Bible also states "Don't judge others' personal convictions." It is the government's responsibility to punish people that disobey the law to keep our world in tact but is it their right to take away their lives? It is a Christian's responsibility to point out to those who sin that they do so and this country, trusting in God as it says it does, should do just that. So if the government stands strongly by this statement that's on the dollar bill, may they line up all the liars, adulterers, Buddhists, thieves, covetous and murderers at the chair. If they shall look into this one sin as so evil may they see all ten commandments so holy. The society is so confused as to what is "right." More and more children are becoming murderers themselves. The reason is obvious: they see that if they kill someone they go to jail, get the death penalty, and the government, who they know as the "good guy" kills them for punishment. Lesson learned: the finger is pointing to its own actions. Learning morals is only as hard as people make it. Why complicate things? Some people think that restitution is granted when one is sentenced to the death penalty. However, if a loved one is murdered and his family feels justice in having the murderer done 2004-07-05T22:24:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Views-on-Capital-Punishment-25492.aspx Animal rights is a catchphrase akin to human rights. It involves, however, a few pitfalls. First, animals exist only as a concept. Otherwise, they are cuddly cats, curly dogs, cute monkeys. A rat and a puppy are both animals but our emotional reaction to them is so different that we cannot really lump them together. Moreover: what rights are we talking about? The right to life? The right to be free of pain? The right to food? Except the right to free speech – all the other rights could be relevant to animals. But when we say animals, what we really mean is non-human organism. This is such a wide definition that it easily pertains to potential aliens. Will we witness an Alien Rights movement soon? so, we are forced to narrow our field to non-human organisms which remind us of humans and, thus, provoke empathy in us. Yet, this is a dangerous and not very practical test: too many people love snakes, for instance and deeply empathize with them. Will we agree to the assertion (which will, probably, be avidly supported by these people) that snakes have rights – or should we confine our grace to organisms with nervous systems (=which, presumably, can feel pain). Even better is the criterion : whatever we cannot communicate with and is alive is a rights-holder. Historically, philosophers like Kant (and Descartes, and Malebranche and even Aquinas) did not favour the idea of animal rights. They said that animals are the organic equivalents of machines, moved by coarse instincts, unable to experience pain (though their behaviour sometimes might deceive us into erroneously believing that they do). Thus, any moral obligation that we have towards animals is a derivative of a primary obligation towards our fellow humans (the morally significant ones and only ones). These are the indirect moral obligations theories. For instance: it is wrong to torture animals because it desensitizes us to human suffering and makes us more prone to using violence towards humans. Malebranche augmented this rational line of thinking by proving that animals cannot suffer pain because they do not descend from Adam and all the pain and suffering in the world are the result of his sins. But how can we say whether another Being is suffering pain or not? The answer is based on empathy. If the other Being is like us – than surely he has the 2004-07-05T22:23:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Rights-The-Rights-of-Animals-25491.aspx Do you consider yourself a pet lover? Do you love animals in general? Can you imagine yourself as a little boy in a trailer far away from the depths of socialization? Once upon a time there was this boy, and this boy had a friend. No matter how hard times got he had Bo. The boy was incredibly happy because he had always dreamed of having a dog like that, a companion. Then your friend dies and you are left standing. Can you imagine the pain? Nobody likes to lose a good friend or a pet, and the majority of the population loves animals. However, evidence points that people don’t like animals as much as they claim to because the majority of the population tends to over look the genocide that exists this very instance. Gandhi once wrote, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways its animals are treated"(Why Vegan? 1) Gandhi brings up a good point because the issue of Animal Rights is in fact an issue of one’s moral code. To define the morality and ethics, this paper will refer to Ayn Rand’s definition taken from the book, The Virtue of Selfishness. Rand describes itthis way, "It is a code of values to guide a man’s choices and actions that determine the purpose of his life" (Rand 13). Can the common animal lover really love animals that much and is it in their moral code to protect the living? Maybe they would if they were presented with the facts about vivisection and the meat industry. The truth of the matter is, people don’t love animals as much as they claim to, because they allow mistreatment, support companies that practice Vivisection, and the majority of the population still eats meat. The first form of oppression comes from probably one of the most grotesquely cruel practices of all. Did you know that from buying your toothpaste to buying your cosmetics, you open yourself up for the opportunity to participate in the funding of Vivisection? PETA, an international non profit organization designed to protect the rights of animals has defined the term as, "Vivisection is the practice of experimenting on live animals" (PETA 1). Let’s start with the large amount of animals Vivisection effects. The American Anti-Vivisection Society reports that, "Between 25 and 50 million animals are killed in American Laboratories each Year"(www.aavs.org/Doc). Animal’s 2004-07-05T22:23:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Rights-Do-We-Really-Love-Our-Animals-25490.aspx The choice of eating meat or not has been a debated issue for a continued number of years. There have long since been two sides: the proponents and opponents of meat consumption. More and more debates of its value and effect on the world have risen. Many claim it is wrong, while others think of it as a needed pleasure. Today, a greater percentage of the population eats meat. Only a few individuals seek the alternative route. Yet, there has been a steady rise in the number of vegetarians. Many may already know that religions all over the world have advocated a meat-free diet. While a few are lenient, the majority is steady. The reason a vegetarian diet has been preferred over meat dates back thousands of years. Take for example, the Christian tradition. Although most are now lenient, previously many great saints advocated a meat-free diet, for more reasons than one. In the beginning it was said by God, " Here I have given you all vegetation bearing seed which is on the surface of the whole earth...to you let it serve as food." (gen.1.29) Later it was spoken by Jesus of the commandment, "thou shall not kill". Jesus said, "You heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'Thou shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment."(Matthw.5.21) There is also the Hindu tradition, where a meatless way of life has gone on for thousands of years (until the invasion by foreign rule, forcing some to comply to foreign acts). This tradition has volumes of scriptures proclaiming vegetarianism. Take for example this quote from the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.37, "A cruel and wretched person who maintains his existence at the cost of others' lives deserves to be killed for his own eternal well-being, otherwise he will go down by his own actions." There are many more such quotes from scriptures all over the world. Yet nowadays, there is just the opposite of vegetarianism in compliance of these ancient texts. "Although meat-eating has been denied to the human form by God and his sons and daughters of the past, people still adopt the process." Such are the statements of devout followers who adhere to a meat-free diet in accordance to scriptural texts. Those who advocate vegetarianism profess that many people are weak of heart and so succumb to meat eating. While those who advocate a meat-oriented 2004-07-05T22:22:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Rights-Cause-for-Vegetarianism-25489.aspx In Roe et al. v. Wade District Attorney of Dallas County (1973), one of the most controversial cases in recent history, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state laws that limit a woman's right to an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy. Justices Rehnquist and White dissented. Mr. Justice Blackmun delivered the opinion of the Court.... This Texas federal appeal and its Georgia companion, Doe v. Bolton, post, p. 179, present constitutional challenges to state criminal abortion legislation. The Texas statutes under attack here are typical of those that have been in effect in many States for approximately a century. The Georgia statutes, in contrast, have a modern cast and are a legislative product that, to an extent at least, obviously reflects the influences of recent attitudinal change, of advancing medical knowledge and techniques, and of new thinking about an old issue. We forthwith acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigourous opposing views, even among physicians, and of the deep and seemingly absolute convictions that the subject inspires. One's philosophy, one's experiences, one's exposure to the raw edges of human existence, one's religious training, one's attitudes toward life and family and their values, and the moral standards one establishes and seeks to observe, are all likely to influence and to color one's thinking and conclusions about abortion.... The Texas statutes that concern us here are Arts. 1191-1194 and 1196 of the State's Penal Code. These make it a crime to "procure an abortion," as therein defined, or to attempt one, except with respect to "an abortion procured or attempted by medical advice for the purpose of saving the life of the mother." Similar statutes are in existence in a majority of the States. Texas first enacted a criminal abortion statute in 1854. Texas Laws 1854, c. 49, Sec. 1, set forth in 3 H. Gammel, Laws of Texas 1502 (1898). This was soon modified into language that has remained substantially unchanged to the present time.... Jane Roe, a single woman who was residing in Dallas County, Texas, instituted this federal action in March 1970 against the District Attorney of the county. She sought a declaratory judgment that the Texas criminal abortion statutes were unconstitutional on their face, and an injunction restraining the defendant from enforcing the statutes. Roe alleged that she was unmarried and pregnant; that she wished to terminate her pregnancy by an abortion 2004-07-05T22:21:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Opinions--25488.aspx Many have pondered upon the meaning of abortion. The argument being that every child born should be wanted, and others who believe that every child conceived should be born (Sass vii). This has been a controversial topic for years. Many people want to be able to decide the destiny of others. Everyone in the United States is covered under the United States constitution, and under the 14th Amendment women have been given the choice of abortion. In 1973, Harry A. Blackmun wrote the majority opinion that it's a women's right to have an abortion. Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. Even though these people have been given the right, the case is not closed. Pro-life activists carry a strong argument, and continue to push their beliefs. They feel so strongly about these beliefs that violence has broken out in some known instances. Pro-choice activists, on the other hand, also carry very strong points. They believe that the child inside them is their property and it's life doesn't be until birth. In 1973, the United States Supreme Court decided that as long as the baby lived in the womb, he or she would be the property of the mother. Because of this decision almost every third baby conceived in America is killed by abortion, over one and a half million babies a year (Willke vii). Many countries have followed our decision on the abortion issue and some of these include Canada, England, and France. Other countries still believe abortion should be illegal, they include Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand. Although many believe that abortion is a women's choice, abortion should be banned because its immoral and life begins at conception. Abortion is the choice of a women whether or not she want's to receive one. Under the 14th Amendment's "personal liberty" women are given the right to receive an abortion. The 14th Amendment's concept of "personal liberty" and restrictions on state action is enough to allow a women's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. The right to choose to have an abortion is so personal and essential to women's lives that without this right women cannot exercise other fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution (Paltrow 72). The state can't interfere in the private lives of a citizen. Without the right to choose an abortion the 14th Amendment's guarantee of liberty has little meaning for women. With the right to 2004-07-05T22:20:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Thoughts--25487.aspx Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continually argued over for the past few years and probably many years to come. The main controversy is should abortion be legalized? First before we get into the many sides of abortion we must first define abortion. Abortion is the destruction of the fetus or unborn child while the child is still in the mothers womb. This can be done by almost anyone from the mother herself to back alley abortions and even to abortions by clinics set up especially for this purpose. There are two sides to this abortion topic the PRO-LIFE which is those who are against abortion altogether and the PRO- CHOICE or those who believe it is the womans right to choose if she wants to have an abortion. These two groups offer different solutions to problem. The pro-life solution is to have the child and basically live with it. They believe abortion is not an answer. The pro-choice solution is abortion because of reasons they feel are appropriate. Although abortion is morally and ethically wrong should it be legal for victims of rape or incest who have no other alternative? There is no real answer to this controversy, there are two sides to it though which have been arguing for many years over the subject. The first is the pro-life group. This group does not believe in the abortion factor. To understand where the pro-life stands we must first understand its beliefs and reasons for its beliefs. Then we can discuss what their solution to the abortion topic is. Pro-life believes that rape and incest are very emotional topics. "They often elicit throughout the population feelings of revulsion; people draw back from the issue of rape and incest. People don't know how to handle a person who is in that much pain. There is no quick fix. That is why it is difficult for even pro-life people to come to grips with the argument over abortion in cases of rape and incest." Some of those who are pro-life will allow abortion in these cases because they don't know what else they can do for the victim and except it as a rare case. But it is known that allowing abortion in these cases usually does not help the victim, instead it only worsens the problem because the victims needs are not being met. But what the facts suggest 2004-07-05T22:20:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Ethics-of-Abortion-25486.aspx Every day, an overwhelming amount of human beings’ lives are terminated. The culprit: unwanted pregnancies. Many woman are (not by choice), becoming pregnant as a result of unsafe sex, rape, and other things. So what is one to do when they discover that they’re pregnant? They have some alternatives: (1) have the child and raise it (2) have the child, then give it up for adoption (3) get an abortion. Sadly, many women choose alternative three, unaware of what they’re getting themselves into. Abortion is very cruel to the baby and even harms the mother. It is murder! There are many different procedures for abortions, all gruesome and pain inflicting on the baby. Suction Aspiration (vacuum curettage) makes up for 98% of first trimester abortions. The cervix is first dilated. Then a suction tube with a sharp cutting edge is inserted which rips the baby to pieces. It then sucks out all the remains. If the mother waits until the third trimester (when the baby is more developed), then she must have Partial Birth Abortion. Using Ultra-sound, the doctor grabs the baby’s legs and forces out all but the head. Scissors are then jammed into the back of the skull and opened, creating a larger hole. A suction tube sucks the brains out, causing the skull to collapse. Then the dead baby is removed. Believe it or not, the mother is also harmed. In Suction Aspiration, if any tissue is left inside, it’ll become infected. For Methoxotrexate Injection, another type of abortion, Methoxotrexate can produce ill side effects such as anemia, nausea, cancer, lung disease, and heavy bleeding. Just think of the mental trauma the mother is also feeling. She has the forever-guilty conscience of being responsible for her own child’s death. Many mothers say, "I’ll regret it for the rest of my life." "I feel like crawling into a hole and dying," says another mother after the operation. A common argument is that abortion isn’t murder because the baby isn’t alive. But on the contrary: life begins at conception. After only 18 days, the heart is formed, and after 20 the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are developing. A mere four days later, the heart starts beating. Is abortion murder though? According to the Webster Dictionary, abortion is to terminate a pregnancy because the baby is not capable of living. Murder is to kill another human being. A human being is defined 2004-07-05T22:19:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Life-Vs-Abortion-25485.aspx In Roman times, abortion and the destruction of unwanted children was permissible, but as our civilization has aged, it seems that such acts were no longer acceptable by rational human beings, so that in 1948, Canada along with most other nations in the world signed a declaration of the United Nations promising every human being the right to life. The World Medical Association meeting in Geneve at the same time, stated that the utmost respect for human life was to be from the moment of conception. This declaration was re-affirmed when the World Medical Association met in Oslo in 1970. Should we go backwards in our concern for the life of an individual human being? The unborn human is still a human life and not all the wishful thinking of those advocating repeal of abortion laws, can alter this. Those of us who would seek to protect the human who is still to small to cry aloud for it's own protection, have been accused of having a 19th Century approach to life in the last third of the 20th Century. But who in reality is using arguments of a bygone Century? It is an incontrovertible fact of biological science - Make no Mistake - that from the moment of conception, a new human life has been created. Only those who allow their emotional passion to overide their knowledge, can deny it: only those who are irrational or ignorant of science, doubt that when a human sperm fertilizes a human ovum a new human being is created. A new human being who carries genes in its cells that make that human being uniquely different from any and other human being and yet, undeniably a member, as we all are, of the great human family. All the fetus needs to grow into a babe, a child, an old man, is time, nutrition and a suitable environment. It is determined at that very moment of conception whether the baby will be a boy or a girl; which of his parents he will look like; what blood type he will have. His whole heritage is forever fixed. Look at a human being 8 weeks after conception and you, yes every person here who can tell the difference between a man and a women, will be able to look at the fetus and tell me whether it is a baby boy or a girl. No, a fetus is 2004-07-05T22:19:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Life-or-Death-Who-Chooses-25484.aspx In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death ("abortion"). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: "the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference" ("abortion"). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care ("ACLU"). Policy 263 states: "The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children."(The American Civil Liberties Union) The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease ("abortion"). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women will still continue to attempt, and succeed, in ending unwanted pregnancies just 2004-07-05T22:19:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Clinics-Should-Not-be-Closed-in-the-U_S_-25483.aspx Methods of Execution In the United States today, there are five existing methods of execution. These methods are used to kill convicted criminals that have been given the sentence of the death penalty. The different methods are; lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad shootings. Lethal injection is currently used by thirty-six states in America. It is the most commonly used from of execution in the U.S. The preparation begins outside of the chamber with the use of a gurney. The convict is held to the gurney by wrist and ankle straps. There is then a cardiac monitor and stethoscope attached and started. In each arm there is a saline intravenous line. The convict is then covered by a sheet. The lines are turned off and the felon receives the first injection of sodium thiopental. This puts the felon to sleep. They are then injected with Pavulon, which relaxes all of the muscles in the body and stops breathing. Shortly after, the felon dies. A second method of execution is electrocution. This method is done by putting the person in a wooden chair, which they are secured to by leather straps. The electric current runs through the head and out the leg. The first current is of two thousand or more volts of electricity, lasting only an approximated three seconds. The voltage is then lowered to help prevent external burning of the body. The initial shock of the electricity causes the person's body to surge forward. The shock burns the internal organs or the person, which leaves them dead. During this process urinating, vomiting of blood, change in skin color, and even swelling or burning of the skin may occur. This method of execution is currently used by only eleven states. In a gas chamber execution the prisoner is put in a sealed steel chamber. The prisoner is restrained in a chair that has a pan below. At the first signal a valve is opened which releases hydrochloric acid into the pan. When a second signal is given tablets or crystals of about eight ounces of potassium cyanide is dropped into the acid. This combination creates a hydrocyanic gas. The fumes of this deadly gas rise and are inhaled by the prisoner, which kills them. The 2004-07-05T19:58:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Methods-of-Capital-Punishment-Execution-Research-Paper-25364.aspx In 1973 a thirty-three year-old Caucasian male named Allan Bakke applied to and was denied admission to the University of California Medical School at Davis. In 1974 he filed another application and was once again rejected, even though his test scores were considerably higher than various minorities that were admitted under a special program. This special program specified that 16 out of 100 possible spaces for the students in the medical program were set aside solely for minorities, while the other 84 slots were for anyone who qualified, including minorities. What happened to Bakke is known as reverse discrimination. Bakke felt his rejections to be violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment, so he took the University of California Regents to the Superior Court of California. It was ruled that "the admissions program violated his rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment"1 The clause reads as follows: "...No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor without due process of the law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."2 The court ruled that race could not be a factor in admissions. However, they did not force the admittance of Bakke because the court could not know if he would have been admitted if the special admissions program for minorities did not exist. Bakke disagreed with the court on this issue and he brought it before the California Supreme Court. The California Supreme Court held that it was the University's burden to prove that Bakke would not have been admitted if the special program was not in effect. The school could not meet this requirement, and Bakke was admitted by court orde r. However, the University appealed to the Supreme Court for "certiorari", which was granted, and the order to admit Bakke was suspended pending thCourt's decision.3 The Issues and Arguments for Each Side "Bakke was the most significant civil rights case to reach the United States Supreme Court since Brown v. Board the Education of Topeka, Kansas."4 The special admissions program at Davis tried to further integrate the higher education system because merely removing the barriers, as the Brown case did, did not always work. In short, Bakke was questioning how far the University of California Medical School at Davis could go the try to make up for past 2004-07-05T09:34:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Reverse-Discrimination-25348.aspx Overall, the rights and status of women have improved considerably in the last century; however, gender equality has recently been threatened within the last decade. Blatantly sexist laws and practices are slowly being eliminated while social perceptions of "women's roles" continue to stagnate and even degrade back to traditional ideals. It is these social perceptions that challenge the evolution of women as equal on all levels. In this study, I will argue that subtle and blatant sexism continues to exist throughout educational, economic, professional and legal arenas. Women who carefully follow their expected roles may never recognize sexism as an oppressive force in their life. I find many parallels between women's experiences in the nineties with Betty Friedan's, in her essay: The Way We Were - 1949. She dealt with a society that expected women to fulfill certain roles. Those roles completely disregarded the needs of educated and motivated business women and scientific women. Actually, the subtle message that society gave was that the educated woman was actually selfish and evil. I remember in particular the searing effect on me, who once intended to be a psychologist, of a story in McCall's in December 1949 called "A Weekend with Daddy." A little girl who lives a lonely life with her mother, divorced, an intellectual know-it-all psychologist, goes to the country to spend a weekend with her father and his new wife, who is wholesome, happy, and a good cook and gardener. And there is love and laughter and growing flowers and hot clams and a gourmet cheese omelet and square dancing, and she doesn't want to go home. But, pitying her poor mother typing away all by herself in the lonesome apartment, she keeps her guilty secret that from now on she will be living for the moments when she can escape to that dream home in the country where they know "what life is all about." (See Endnote #1) I have often consulted my grandparents about their experiences, and I find their historical perspective enlightening. My grandmother was pregnant with her third child in 1949. Her work experience included: interior design and modeling women's clothes for the Sears catalog. I asked her to read the Friedan essay and let me know if she felt as moved as I was, and to share with me her experiences of sexism. Her immediate reaction was to point out that "Betty Friedan was a college 2004-07-05T09:20:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gender-Equality-in-the-1990s-25323.aspx The purpose of the media has become an ongoing question since the large amount of conflicts between the consumer and media. Why is the original purpose of the media so damn hard to figure out? It is time to confront this issue instead of blowing it off by saying, "We can never change the media, so why bother?" What kind of chickenshit statement is that?! If there are so many people with so much power, surely one of them realizes the downward spiral of the ethics of the media. I feel my sole purpose of this paper is to tell everyone my ideas and viewpoints on censoring the media. Ooooooo, censor. What a bad word that is when used in the same sentence with media. So many people believe censorship is a bad thing, but there is no other solution in stopping the "bad press." When I sit back and look at the stories about stories that are bad and offending to someone, I realize something needs to be done. The media is out of control. True, there are many informing and needed stories, but, my god, how many times a day to we need to hear and read about how much money O.J. Simpson has to pay the family of Ronald Goldman? We, as consumers, need to sit back and ask ourselves, "What was the point of hearing or reading that story?" Back to the censor issue. I, as an aspiring journalist, do not believe in total and complete censorship of the media, but also, as an aspiring journalist, I am embarrassed of some of the stories that are run, for instance, when the crime scene photos of Jon-Benet Ramsey were run in Globe magazine. Was there not anyone, an editor, a writer, or even a custodian at Globe who thought, "Uh, oh. These photos may get us into some trouble." Was there not a single sole who had enough ethics to try and stop these pictures from being printed? This is where censorship comes in. If I could do anything in the world, I would first, stop world hunger, and second set up some guidelines and laws that the media must obey. Guidelines such as, no digging through peoples trash and no peeking in windows. Of course, we know that by law, there is to be no peeking in windows, or over fences, but there is no one at 2004-07-05T09:19:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ethics-in-the-Media-25320.aspx Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with an intentional or criminal intent. In today's world, terrible crimes are being committed daily. Many believe that these criminals deserve one fate: death. Capital punishment, the death penalty, is the maximum sentence used in punishing people who kill another human being - and is a very controversial method of punishment. In most states, a person convicted of first degree murder has the potential to be given the death penalty. Capital punishment is a subject that can be counted upon to stir emotion and controversy into any conversation or argument. The very concept provokes a profusion of valid questions and opinions. Today's daily world of crime and violence calls for punishment of a severe nature, and many citizens argue that the punishment necessary is the death penalty. These people quote passages such as the "an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" concept from the Old Testament of the Judeo-Christian bible. Some people take the neutral position that there is no right or wrong answer, that each opinion on capital punishment is valid in its own way. Opponents of the death penalty claim that sentencing a person to death does not change the reality of the situation; the harm already done simply cannot be fixed from a vengeance standpoint. You cannot bring the murdered person back by taking the prisoner's life. Proponents of capital punishment tend to defend their opinion mainly on two grounds: death is a fitting punishment for murder, and executions maximize public safety through incapacitation and deterrence. The view of proponents of the death penalty in reference to the "let the punishment fit the crime" ideal is that, in the eyes of many law officials and citizens of the United States, if a crime is so serious that it causes irreversible damage or the loss of human life, then the only penalty for such crimes would be death for the individual that committed this act. Many also feel that if an individual can possess the strength and will to take the life of another human being in a planned manner, then they must also in turn be able to face their punishment which could only be a punishment of the same magnitude as the crime they have committed; that being for their life to be ended for the common good. These people feel that, while it is 2004-07-05T04:33:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Both-Sides-of-Capital-Punishment-25290.aspx Is there a single plant that could possibly save the world? Because of its vigor and adaptability, it was amongst the first plants to be cultivated by humans and has been used and grown by many cultures for thousands of years. Yet, today people are fined, even jailed for growing this plant because it is illegal. Lawmakers fail to see that this sole plant probably has more uses than any other material on earth. The entire plant can be utilized for over 25,000 applications. To begin, the seed is nature's perfect food. It can be ground into a meal or can be sprouted and used like other beans and seeds. In addition to the oil from the seeds have the highest percentage of essential fatty acids and the lowest percentage of saturated fats. It is also a complete source of protein and can be served as a meal in itself. Second, byproducts from the plant are an excellent source building material. It has 4 times the cellular fiber than trees, making it perfect for pressed board, particle board and concrete framework. It is longer lasting and more flexible than currently used materials. In comparison, trees take 20 years to mature while this plant only takes 4 months. Correspondingly, 1 acre of this plant produces as much as 4 acres of trees. Third, paper that is made from this plant is stronger, more water-resistant than wood pulp, is less likely to tear and is 7 times more recyclable than wood. It also uses a fraction of the dangerous chemicals used in processing wood pulp. Fiber is a fourth use. A cloth made from this plant is softer and warmer than cotton and is 6 times as strong. In addition to, the cloth is much more resistant to weathering and wear. Moving on to the fifth use, medically, a derivative of this plant has recently been proven to relieve nausea in AIDS and cancer therapy. It has been used with success in treating glaucoma, asthma, epilepsy, mood disorders, and arthritis. It increases appetite, promotes sleep and relaxation, and relieves stress and migraines. Most importantly, fossil fuels could stay in the ground. The plant produces far more and safer chemical compounds suitable for conversion to methane than any other plant. This renewable fuel contains no sulfur and while growing helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via photosynthesis. For thousands of years, all good 2004-07-05T04:19:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Hemp-the-Miracle-Plant-25289.aspx Is cloning ethical and should it be pursued? Cloning is the method of producing a baby that has the identical genes to one person. In February 1997, embryologist Ian Wilmut and his colleagues at Roslin Institute in Scotland announced, "that they cloned a sheep named Dolly from the udder cells of a ewe." (1),. The announcement of Dolly's birth attracted enormous press interest, perhaps because Dolly drew attention to the theoretical possibility of cloning humans. This revelation also shocked the entire world and politicians immediately proposed bans on human cloning. The House of Representatives and the Senate drafted bills to completely ban human cloning and President Clinton established a National Bioethics Advisory Commission to address the science and ethics of human cloning. In the state of Michigan, Governor Engler signed a law last year making human cloning illegal with harsh penalties. The government's decision is a contentious issue because they are concerned about the use of cloning being abuse, even though cloning can be used for medical benefits. People have conflicting views of the government's actions and they have proved to be controversial. The federal government should have regulated human cloning instead of banning it. There are significant benefits that can result from the technologies of cloning. Bypass of infertility is one of the most promising benefits. Fifteen percent of Americans suffer from infertility, much of which cannot be cured by current medicine. "Infertility is caused by genetic defects, injuries to the reproductive organs, congenital defects and exposure to toxic substances and radiation." (1),. Cloning offers infertile people the chance to raise and love their own genetic children. "The Supreme Court has ruled that every American has a constitutional right to "bear or beget" children, and to make reproductive decisions without government interference. This includes the right of infertile couples to use sophisticated medical technologies like cloning." (2),. This is ironic because the government officials have recently banned cloning and for many Americans cloning exercises their right to reproduce. But the government has taken this right away from them. There are limits on government control over who gets born. Americans have a constitutional right to have their own children, but infertile Americans are barred from having children. In this legal system, the fact that infertile people are prohibited from having children by cloning is unfair and unjust. Cloning technology can lead to the use of cloned organs for the purpose of transplants. 2004-07-05T03:45:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-cloning-ethical-and-should-it-be-pursued-25285.aspx The clones are coming! The clones are coming! When the news hit of Dolly, the first mammal cloned, it sent a shockwave of ethical repercussions around the world. Considered trite and boring by science fiction standards, cloning in Scotland generated enough excitement to put the picture of a sheep on front pages everywhere. Not since Louise Brown was there such a noteworthy birth. In the wake of public opinion that followed, it became clear that many people are confused as to what cloning really is. There are those who fear only the rich being able to grow spare parts for themselves. There are predictions of an army of Hitlers forming armed militia. Many people see adult replicas of the cloners serving unscrupulous needs. These people are mistaken, of course. To understand what cloning really is, one must know the difference between genotype and phenotype. Genotype is the actual gene make-up of a living thing. Phenotype is what that living thing looks like. The brave new world of today sees a sheep identical to another, not only phenotypically but genotypically as well. For the first time, a sentient being, albeit it a herding animal, exists when it was never meant to be. Is this bad? I don't think so. It's just weird. An egg is emptied of it's DNA, and the whole amount of DNA from an already existing being is inserted into it. The egg is electrically and chemically stimulated to divide normally as if the full amount of DNA were the usual mixture from mother and father. This is a leap from artificial insemination and other assisted reproductive techniques. At least those mixed a mother's and a father's genes together to produce the next generation. If one were to consider cloning an identical twin a generation later, one must look into the human meaning of progeny because cloning changes everything: Dolly is the same generation. A generation later. Motherhood and fatherhood, grand motherhood and grand fatherhood imply different generations. Dolly being the same generation eliminates these distinctions. This promises to add a lot of confusion. And what of spare parts? Once it's clear that a baby is "conceived" and born, it becomes obvious that we can no more raid his 2004-07-05T03:42:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Cloning-Ethical--25284.aspx Humanity is plagued with many moral issues each day. With recent announcement that a research facility in England had successfully cloned a sheep, many more questions arose. The overall question is , "To clone or not to clone?" Many groups worldwide, doctors, politicians, religious people, have been battling with this question. Many doctors believe cloning is an advancement to help save more people's lives. Although specific organs or rare blood types have yet to be cloned and actually made available to the general medical community. Think about it: if someone desperately needed a liver transplant because they drank too much alcohol, with the aid of cloning technology, doctors would be able to clone that person's liver cells and produce a healthy, genetically matched liver, thus saving that patient's life. Cloning could revolutionize the medical industry! While many doctors are on the up-side of cloning, many politicians are on middle ground. Many see the medical need, but are reluctant. Most politicians want something for themselves for their endorsement either way on an important issue. Since cloning is not yet ready to be made accessible, by any means, to the general public, it is not yet a major issue to politicians. Since politicians make the laws worldwide, we will have to wait and see whether cloning is legal all out, only parts and specific uses legal, or all illegal. Most religious people are on the down-side of cloning. Many say that cloning is messing with the natural order of things. That it's playing God (which ever one you believe in). Many say that cloning will take away the natural part of life and death. If a young child is killed in a car accident, a grief stricken mother could have him cloned. By doing this, she did not let herself rightly heal. She created a totally different human being from her lost son ( in the sense that inevitably he will have a different personality.). Many, religious or not, say that cloned humans may be looked down upon as inferior. That clones will be enslaved, or harvested for organs organ transplants. Both are cruel and very viable arguments . Would you want to be enslaved and have your organs taken just because you were cloned and not born naturally? The politicians, doctors, and religious groups should get off their high horses and talk with one another. Communication is the key to this 2004-07-05T03:40:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cloning-Good-or-Bad--25283.aspx A Worldwide Problem Software piracy is defined as the illegal copying of software for commercial or personal gain. Software companies have tried many methods to prevent piracy, with varying degrees of success. Several agencies like the Software Publishers Association and the Business Software Alliance have been formed to combat both worldwide and domestic piracy. Software piracy is an unresolved, worldwide problem, costing millions of dollars in lost revenue. Software companies have used many different copy protection schemes. The most annoying form of copy protection is the use of a key disk. This type of copy protection requires the user to insert the original disk every time the program is run. It can be quite difficult to keep up with disks that are years old. The most common technique of copy protection requires the user to look up a word or phrase in the program's manual. This method is less annoying than other forms of copy protection, but it can be a nuisance having to locate the manual every time. Software pirates usually have no trouble "cracking" the program, which permanently removes the copy protection. After the invention of CD-ROM, which until lately was uncopyable, most software companies stopped placing copy protection in their programs. Instead, the companies are trying new methods of disc impression. 3M recently developed a new technology of disc impression which allows companies to imprint an image on the read side of a CD-ROM. This technology would not prevent pirates from copying the CD, but it would make a "bootleg" copy differ from the original and make the copy traceable by law enforcement officials (Estes 89). Sometimes, when a person uses a pirated program, there is a "virus" attached to the program. Viruses are self-replicating programs that, when activated, can damage a computer. These viruses are most commonly found on pirated computer games, placed there by some malignant computer programmer. In his January 1993 article, Chris O' Malley points out that if piracy was wiped out viruses would eventually disappear (O' Malley 60). There are ways that a thrifty consumer can save money on software without resorting to piracy. Computer companies often offer discounts on new software if a person has previously purchased an earlier version of the software. Competition between companies also drives prices low and keeps the number of pirated copies down (Morgan 45). People eventually tire or outgrow their software and decide to sell 2004-07-05T01:11:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Software-Piracy--25282.aspx "They can manipulate anything from your political views to your reproductive behavior, all in the interest of making a buck," says expert Wilson Bryan Key who wrote the most popular subliminal advertising book ever, Subliminal Subduction. Subliminal Advertising is an important method of influencing consumers to buy company's products. Subliminal advertising, which first came to the public attention in 1957 is embedded, camouflaged, or hidden words and/or symbols in advertisements. Although most of the subliminal advertising is done in the media, subliminal messages are often played in department stores to discourage shoplifters from stealing. Some of the different messages are "stealing is dishonest", and "I am a dishonest person". Every 7.5 seconds messages were played either under songs or really low so no one can consciously hear it. Another form of advertising not in the media is by a group called Interloc design who uses computers to do their subliminal advertising. They use the newest way of subliminal advertising which is screen savers. Text or images may be inserted in the screen saver and flash at 1/50 of a second. The only way to detect it would be with either laser disc or four-head VCR's. There are many different techniques and symbols that advertisers use. There are also many ways of stopping advertisers from abusing your unconscious brain. There isn't just one technique that advertisers use to brainwash buyers. A technique that can normally be viewed in movies or in television. What is normally done by advertisers is they flash images that are pleasing to the viewers eye such as a flashy color or a sexual innuendo. A technique that is very effective is questioning the buyer. When used, it makes the buyer ask themself the question "would I be a bad person if I did not buy this product?" The next technique used is another way to catch the buyers eye. "Buzz words" which are words that make us want to see what all the fuss is about, and to read the company's advertisement. The way it's used in newspapers is if your flipping through the pages, not really looking at what your reading. What advertisers will do is put in big, huge word in an ad to catch the reader such as NEW!, or IMPROVED!. The way it's used in magazines 2004-07-05T01:11:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Subliminal-Advertising-25281.aspx An integral component to the infrastructure of government is law enforcement. In over two hundred years of prosperity, the United States has relied heavily upon the integrity of its law enforcement in maintaining order and securing the civil liberties of the American. The conduct and code of the police force in the United States has been exemplary, and has set the standards by which many nations have modeled their police departments after that of the U.S.. Disregarding the chain of the insidious debauchery during the 1920's where prohibition resulted in prevalent organized crime and police corruption, law enforcement in America has maintained its scruples. However, as America enters into the new millennium, the integrity of the United States Law Enforcement is being compromised once again. With the recent outbursts of brutality and corruption within the urban areas of the United States, the civil liberties and public freedoms that this great nation was founded upon are being jeopardized as the citizens from the urban sectors to the suburban regions of America are being denied their rights. Numerous incidents of police scandal have been recorded in several different cities throughout the United States. These incidents are becoming commonplace in the daily lives of many urban Americans. Police departments across the nation are becoming increasingly careless and apathetic in the preservation of integrity in their departments, but none have been as blatantly in violation of law enforcement codes as the Los Angeles Police Department. With its reputation in question for the better part of the 1990's after recovering from the mishandling of the 1965 Watts Riots, the Los Angeles Police Department proved has proven itself guilty of violent brutality and devious corruption in the recent scandal; the largest scandal in the history of the department. In an investigation conducted by a collaboration of agencies from the FBI to the Los Angeles District Attorney's to the LAPD's internal-affairs unit, investigators unraveled the cases of hundreds of wrong fully indicted victims. The evidence found in these investigations have led to the reversals of forty criminal convictions and hundreds of cases opened for review, including thousands of cases awaiting examination. In the ongoing process of apprehending of mischievous of the Los Angeles police officers, there have been four indicted officers, two others fired, twenty officers relieved of their duties, and scores of officers 2004-07-05T01:11:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Import-The-Cracks-in-the-System-25280.aspx THINK THE MAFIA IS GONE? THEN THINK AGAIN. Exactly what is the Mafia? Mafia, more specifically the Italian-American Mafia, is a group of criminals organized into "families," and operating primarily in North America. Also known as La Cosa Nostra, at one time there were 26 families in the United States - roughly one for each major city. The Mafia composed of bosses of numerous families, mostly New York, was the overseeing authority for all of the other La Cosa Nostra families. New York City is the place of origin for organized crime in the United States. Currently, there are five families in the New York City outfit of the La Cosa Nostra. The five families are, the Gambinos, Genoveses, Colombo, Bonanno, and Lucchese crime families. There is even a family in Denver who had its last known whereabouts in January 1999, Clarence Smaldone is still alive and considered the underboss of a two-member mob family. The most important day in most mobsters life, the day they get made and become a full member La Cosa Nostra. To become a member of the family one would have to be recommended by a Mafia member. After that they go through a ceremony this ceremony is usually done in the basement of a fellow mobsters house. The mobster is told that this is a secret society and there is one way in and one way out. You come in on your feet and you go out in a coffin. Then their is the final initiation where everybody holds hands and the boss (in Italian) says, "In honor of our brotherhood, I untie the knot," and everybody lets go. The the new made guy stands and joins hands in the circle and again the boss says, "In honor of our brotherhood, I tie the knot." Then one is at full loyalty to the Mafia. If they asked one to leave their mother while on a death bed would one come? Or if they asked one to kill your own brother, would you? One would have to or die them selves. If so which finger would you use to pull the trigger with. The Mafia has no mercy for any one just look at what happened to Joe Iannuzzi. Joe Dogs, as he was known in The Family for his love of greyhound racing, he was broken. His head was battered until its flesh puffed up 2004-07-05T01:10:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Think-The-Mafia-Is-Gone-Think-Again_-25279.aspx Rita Kramer's "Juvenile Justice Is Delinquent," a very well written argument, explains how juvenile delinquents have changed, and are getting away now with almost everything they do without a severe punishment. Kramer writes clearly to make the reader understand her essay. Kramer writes that the Juvenile system is very similar to New York's Family Court. The New York Family Court was originally sought to protect children who were getting in trouble with the law that still considered them infants, because of their young age. What Kramer is saying is that a teenager that is a criminal would not be tried or treated as an adult because of the teenagers young age. Rita states that the present juvenile court system actually encourages the young delinquent to continue criminal behavior by showing them that they can get away with a crime. The juvenile court system is very similar to the New York Family Court system which was made to protect children who are usually under the age of 18 who kept on running into trouble with law. It was designed to function as helping parents of juveniles. By protecting those kids who were younger from the age of 18 juveniles always used the system as a game and said, "I ain't sixteen yet," they cant do anything to me. If the government then protects them and the juveniles get no punishment, that means that the government is giving them a second chance repeating crimes. In the 1950's juvenile delinquents who were caught doing something illegal were not treated like an adult, because that delinquent was "not criminally responsible... by reason of infancy." A hearing though would be held but in private to protect the child's identity. But in the 1960's the juvenile court system changed and it gave juveniles who were called "respondents" instead criminals, the rights to have a lawyer represent them. On top of that it also gives protection like the criminal court system gives adults who are responsible to serious penalties if guilty. In paragraph six of Rita's essay she says that the current juvenile system has made it the defendant's lawyers job to protect the young client from any possibility of rehabilitation. That means that the courts now are also protecting rights of juveniles, which makes it even more impossible for prosecuters to convict the defendant. This then offers the child to get away with no punishment and now thinks that he/she 2004-07-05T01:09:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Juvenile-Delinquency--25278.aspx Why should I worry about privacy and security? I'm not a criminal or a terrorist. I've got nothing to hide. These are things that most people think. They also believe the internet is much more secure and that their personal information is only available to them, whereas this is actually quite wrong. There are more reasons to want to protect your privacy than can be named. The important principal is that you have a right to privacy as long as that right is used within the bounds of the law. Seeking privacy should not make you feel guilty. Privacy should be expected, and demanded. The reasons might be as simple as preserving your right to express unpopular opinions without being subjected to persecution, or as serious as communicating sensitive business information, revealing credit card numbers, legal discussions with your accountant, or hiding your true identity from a secret government. Regardless of your reasons, privacy is your right. Contrary to what some governing bodies might want the public to believe, not all those concerned with security and privacy are hackers or terrorists. The internet provides one of the easiest communications tools ever afforded by mankind. It is quick, convenient, cheap....and as insecure as it is quick, convenient, and cheap. A message sent many months ago may remain on an ISP's server or as a backup, and can be easily retrieved by anyone who knows how to do so. This is information which you personally have deleted for a reason - not to be accessed by someone else after you have finished with it. There have been times where information has be retrieved up to 6 months after, and used in a court case as evidence. It can be quite simple for someone to intercept your messages or information if they want it. This may be just an administrator of your ISP or your office network. Or it might be a business competitor, legal foe, or government agency, with much more serious intentions. There are an abundant means available to protect online privacy. Some are large and complex while others are extremely simple. The important fact is that some methods are almost totally lacking in security while others are practically bulletproof. It is an all too common misconception that anonymity equals privacy. Anonymity and privacy may be related, but their significance is quite different. Do you wonder what other people know about you? Cookies are available 2004-07-05T01:08:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Internet-Privacy-25277.aspx Relationships are the most important things in life. And marriage is one of the most 2004-07-05T01:08:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Arranged-Marriage--25276.aspx Using and Abusing AA This paper will try to explain the different views of how and why Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are accepted and rejected as effective tools in treating alcoholism and other addictions. The articles reviewed contradict the others' opinion. First, we see that supporting the 12-step programs with a degree of involvement both the doctor and patient will see better results in treating the addiction. The second view will show that 12-step programs can be used as "self-help" treatment and must be used in conjunction with other forms of rehabilitation. When AA and other 12-step programs are not used with other forms of treatment, the patient tends to become codependent on the group. Doctors Peter Johnson and John Chappel believe that AA is not considered self-help and by contributing to the 12-step process as doctors the program experience will be enhanced. Self-help programs are considered to be a form of therapy used to better oneself without scientific research supporting the success rate and usually attended without a physician's input. The support shown for programs like AA is attributed to the abundant success rate they found when a doctor takes some minimal preparation for the patient. These preparations include such tasks as locating the closest meeting and the type of meeting the patient would prefer. The person who is suffering normally takes on these tasks; if discouraged at this point faith in the program may be ceased. They state in the article, "AA is more important over the long term than professional treatment." (Johnson, Chappel.1994) The article shows effective guidelines for professionals in the treatment of addiction. We know that AA predates the American Medical Associations' ruling that alcohol addiction (along with other addictions) is a disease. We know from experience, either personal or second-hand, that addiction can not be cured without intervention of some kind. With the help of a professional and others' suffering it can. Is that enough of a scientific approach to rely on a group-help program? Dr. Jarlais does not think so. In the article, Self-help and Science in the Treatment of Addiction, Dr. Jarlais addresses the concerns about the relationship between formal scientific methods and the 12-step approach of treatment. The proof or data necessary to be labeled as such would need to concur with that of a group and not just the personal experience of one and the authors. By disproving 2004-07-05T01:07:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abusing-Alcoholics-Anonymous-25275.aspx Marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana's composition is complex, and has a number of physiological effects. Also, a reason for marijuana legalization is the potential wealth of health benefits that have largely been ignored (www.howardcc.edu). In addition, there are many industrial uses for the cannabis plant (www.sandi.net). Marijuana consists of a mixture of leaves, stems, and flowering tops of the Cannabis sativa plant, or hemp plant (Britannica 7/47). Marijuana is also known as grass, pot, tea, or weed. Both male and female plants contain psychoactive substances called cannabinoids. The ingredient in marijuana that produces most of the psychological and physiological effects is 1-delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC. THC effects primarily the nervous system and on the heart and blood vessels. Marijuana generally produces changes in mood, mental abilities, coordination, blood pressure, and pulse. These physiological factors result in a "high," including euphoria, relaxation and sleepiness (Marshall 76). Marijuana potentially has many health benefits that have been widely ignored. Marijuana holds the promise of being a treatment for glaucoma, chemotherapy-induced nausea, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS, among many others (www.howardcc.edu). In addition, the side effects of marijuana use, which include hunger and red eyes, are beneficial. The "munchies" (hunger) allow cancer and AIDS patients eat without becoming nauseous. The red eyes are a sign of vascular dilation which means marijuana could relieve migraine headaches (www.sandi.net). The problem is marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means that the drug has no currently accepted medical use as a treatment in the United States. This restricts any research or experimentation to be made with marijuana. Many researchers have suggested that marijuana be promoted to Schedule 2 classification, which would allow it to be tested, allow it would still be illegal. In addition, the medical community is the place where marijuana legalization has received the most support (Marshall 79). The many uses of the Cannabis plant have remained hidden since 1937, when the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, prohibiting the cultivation of the cannabis plant. Paper and clothing can both be made out of hemp with less harm to the environment. One acre of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as wood, with much less chemicals (www.sandi.net). Hemp fiber and pulp can also make biodegradable alternatives to plastic. In addition, many plastic products can 2004-07-05T01:07:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marijuana-Legalization-25274.aspx Over the years many people have created groups to support their beliefs. These groups allow people with the same ideas to gather together and work out plans to advance their ideas. All of the groups that have been established have not necessarily gained a positive image from the public. One example is the Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan originated over one hundred years ago and has gone through many eras and changes since its beginning. Although many people know the Ku Klux Klan exists, they do not understand its purpose or how it has changed throughout its life. After the Civil War ended, the Southern states went through a time known as Reconstruction. Ex-Confederate soldiers had returned home now, and they were still upset about the outcome of the war. It is at this point in time that the Ku Klux Klan became a part of everyday life for many Southerners. In the beginning the Ku Klux Klan was started to be a way for people who had the same views to spend time together. The original members meant of the Ku Klux Klan to be a "hilarious social club" that would be full of aimless fun (Invisable Empire, p.9), though in later years the Ku Klux Klan became known for their violence against people outside the white race and people who associated with them. Contrary to what most people believe, the Ku Klux Klan was started because of a few people wanted to have some innocent fun, not because they were intending to start a chain of violence on anyone outside the white race.(The Klan, p.2) The Ku Klux Klan began in Pulaski, Tennessee, a small town south of Nashville. On the night of December 24, 1865 six ex-confederate soldiers were sitting around a fireplace it the law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones.(Invisible Empire, p.9) These six friends were having a discussion and were trying to come up with an idea to cheer themselves up. One of the men suggested that they should start a club and the rest of the men agreed with the idea. After discussing the mew idea, the men decided to meet again and retired for the night. The second meeting was again at Judge Thomas M. Jones' law office and was attended by the same six men. During this meeting the group decided it needs a name. After many hours 2004-07-05T01:06:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Klan-Of-Terror--25273.aspx One day, there were two people who went to an interview for only one job position at the same company. The first person attended a prestigious and highly academic university, had years of work experience in the field and, in the mind of the employer, had the potential to make a positive impact on the company's performance. The second person was just starting out in the field and seemed to lack the ambition that was visible in his opponent. "Who was chosen for the job?" you ask. Well, if the story took place before 1964, the answer would be obvious. However, with the somewhat recent adoption of the social policy known as affirmative action, the answer becomes unclear. After the United States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964,it became apparent that certain business traditions, such as seniority status and aptitude tests, prevented total equality in employment. Then President, Lyndon B. Johnson, decided something needed to be done to remedy these flaws. On September 24, 1965, he issued Executive Order #11246 at Howard University that required federal contractors "to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed . . . without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin (Civil Rights)." When Lyndon Banes Johnson signed that order, he enacted a very discriminating piece of legislature. Affirmative action was created in an effort to help minorities leap discriminative barriers that were ever so present when the bill was first enacted, in 1965. At this time, the country was in the wake of nationwide civil-rights demonstrations, and racial tension was at its peak. Most of the corporate executive and managerial positions were occupied by white males, who controlled the hiring and firing of employees. The U.S. government, in 1965, believed that these employers were discriminating against minorities and believed that there was no better time than the present to bring about change. When the Civil Rights Law passed, minorities, especially African-Americans, believed that they should receive retribution for the years of discrimination they endured. The government responded by passing laws to aide them in attaining better employment as reprieve for the previous two hundred years of suffering their race endured at the hands of the white man. To many, this made sense. Supporters of affirmative action asked, "why not let the government help them get better jobs?" After all, the white man was responsible for their suffering. 2004-07-05T01:05:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Discrimination--25272.aspx Animal Rights in the Media This essay will explore the moral and ethical issues raised by human superiority over animals, why we shouldn’t have any superiority, and how this subject is portrayed in a variety of different media. The world today is becoming less aware of the pain and suffering being inflicted on animals. As a result, animals are becoming even more and more downtrodden in society. Humans have, and continue to, treat animals as if they are property, as if we can own and therefore control their lives and what happens to them. This is immoral, animals are here for themselves, animals have their own lives, and they think, have feelings, feel pain, require love (from their own species), feel emotional hurt, have families, and everything else that humans do. To just simply say that non-human animals should have no rights because they’re “defective” is a mindless statement! People come to this “conclusion” because they come up with some mindless babble like, non-human animals can’t talk, drive cars or vote, therefore they have no non-tradable properties. Well answer me this; do non-human animals have the right to exist in their natural environment and express behaviours that matter to them? We withhold non-human animals the very basic rights, simply because they don’t resemble humans. Humans are speciest! Humans are callous, brutal and cold-blooded towards non-human animals; humans have no consideration for the feelings and suffering which they selfishly inflict on animals. When a human kills another human they are the disgrace of the country, the headlines in the news, and all they did was kill one human, one insignificant human life. Yet, no one seems to care that everyday billions upon billions of innocent animals are being sickeningly, nauseatingly, hideously, vilely, unanaesthetically murdered for meat. If you think the process of that cute cow in the field to the steak on your plate is all candy and roses, then here is an extract from a very informative article on the way in which an animal is killed to become meat, (something that humans have no nutritional requirement for!). “Death came in the form of a pneumatic nail gun that was placed against their heads and fired. The gun is designed so that the nail never completely leaves the gun, but simply is blown into the animal's head and then pulled out by the butcher as the animal collapses. Three of the 2004-06-13T00:43:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Animal-Rights-in-the-Media--25169.aspx Legalization of Marijuana The purpose of this paper is to discuss marijuana and compare the issue of legalizing it from both sides. We have two factions fighting each other, those who are pro-marijuana and those who are anti-marijuana. These two factions have been fighting on this issue in the halls of justice for years. Pro marijuana legalization groups such as the Physician's Association for AIDS Care and the National Lymphoma Foundation argue that Marijuana should be legalized in order to treat terminally ill patients. Among them are AIDS victims who find that marijuana stimulates their appetites so they can fight off dangerous emaciation, glaucoma sufferers who said it has prevented them from going blind, and cancer patients for whom it alleviates the severe nausea that often accompanies chemotherapy and sometimes makes lifesaving treatment impossible. Due to all these, lobbying groups which show substantial evidence that marijuana can be used as a prescribed drug. Many advocates who are pro marijuana complain that morphine and cocaine are legal and very dangerous drugs, which brings up the question "why not legalize marijuana as a medical drug" when it is proven safer than cocaine and morphine. Lobbying groups in San Diego, California, unanimously voted to urge president Bill Clinton and congress to end federal restrictions against the use of marijuana for " legitiment medical use". City council women Christine Kehoe said she wanted the city of San Diego "to go on the record we support the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana can be a drug of necessity in the treatment of AIDS, glaucoma, cancer and multiple sclerosis". Many agencies, which are anti marijuana such as, the Drug Enforcement Agency and police departments argue that marijuana shouldn't be legalized. These agencies believe that if marijuana is to become legal, then there will be thousands of more patients using marijuana. Then people will raise the question of "why is marijuana even illegal at all, if its a medicine". The main reason why the Drug Enforcement Agency doesn't want marijuana to be legalized is because their is no hard core evidence that proves marijuana is an effective drug as a medicine. In twenty years of research, there has been no reliable scientific proof that marijuana has any medical value. The American Cancer Society , American Glaucoma Society, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association 2004-06-13T00:42:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Discussion-of-Marijuana-Legalization-25168.aspx Is Censorship Justified? Ever wondered the reason behind racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, children committing crime or violence? The main reason is that censorship is not properly imposed or there is a need of censorship in the society. Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain people, individual, groups or government officials find it objectionable, offensive or dangerous on others. There are varieties of other definitions but all have in common the concept of withholding information and/or resources from those who seek it. Hence censorship is essential in society to eliminate discrimination on basis of race and sex, protect children, maintain stability and restore what censor sees as lost moral values. Censorship occurs when expressive materials like books, magazines, movies, videos, music or work of art are restricted to particular audiences based on their age or other characteristics. (http://www.ala.org/oif/intellectualfreedeomandcensorship.html) Censorship is not a recent development. It wasn’t imposed properly or there weren’t strict regulations before. In the article “Hate Radio” by Patricia J. Williams, the writer says that radio was a powerful source of media. It had influenced a lot of people. The power of media can change the course of history. The host on the radio such as Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern were also influencing a lot of people. The theme was not merely the specific intolerance on hot topics as race and gender, but a much more general contempt for the world, a verbal stoning of anything different. Most of the audience on this radio shows were white and male. Most of the callers have spent their lives walling themselves off from any real experience with blacks, feminists, lesbians or gays. Rush Limbaugh tell his audience “what you believe inside, you can talk about it in the marketplace.” Unfortunately what’s inside is then mistaken for what’s outside, treated empirical and political reality. Most of the talks on the radio were being racist against the blacks. This had influenced so much that a statistics showed that 53 percent of people in America agree that blacks and Latinos are less intelligent than whites, and a majority believed that blacks are lazy, violent, welfare-dependent and unpatriotic. Hence this stereotype among the people was due to the lack of censorship.(Williams,502) The Rap and Rock music has influenced a lot of youths and being subjected to these types of songs, children and teenagers are committing crimes, drinking alcohol, using drugs and forming 2004-06-13T00:39:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Censorship-Argument-Essay-25167.aspx Pro-Choice Abortion Essay In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death (“abortion”). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: “the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference” (“abortion”). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care (“ACLU”). Policy 263 states: “The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children.”(The American Civil Liberties Union) The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease (“abortion”). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women will still continue to attempt, and succeed, in 2004-06-13T00:30:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Choice-Abortion-Essay-25166.aspx Censorship: an official authorised to examine printed matter, films, news, etc., before public release, and to suppress any parts on the grounds of obscenity, a threat to security, etc. (Dictionary, MS Encarta) Censorship is the removal of material from public viewing or the ability to withhold any material from being released. Using this definition, this issue of pornography seems to be in the grey area of the censorship debate. On the one side there are the people who want to protect their children from pornography and violence, and on the other people state that the Internet is the only medium which still openly accepts freedom of speech. Censorship is always wrong, no matter how unpleasant the material being considered. The Internet is a complex, living organism inhabited by people from all nations, ages, cultures, political and religious backgrounds. Despite international differences, languages and other barriers, the Internet has spread to every nook and cranny on the planet. Today the Internet is a forum for free discussion and a provider of information for all of those who wish to use it. Because of this freedom present in the ‘web’ minorities are afraid of this medium, and accuse it as being a villain, and wish to regulate it. Thus, the Internet is currently under fire because it is being blamed for the irresponsible people who use it for the wrong reasons. Web sites which contain pornographic material are the ones which we fear the most for our innocent children, however, censorship should never be used as the ‘easy way out’ as it has been so often used before by governments. Pornography is the explicit, sexual images that we wish to protect our children from, but there are other ways. It is estimated that sexually explicit sites are the only sites on the Web making money, even though there is so much competition. Using this information we can assume that the majority of the people on the Internet want and use this pornography at their own leisure and are not at all offended by it in the slightest. Further research has shown that in Australia 70% of (the) people want X-rated material readily available. There is a market out there for such material and if the Internet is censored, many successful businesses will become ‘unacceptable’ to the rules and guidelines set by the censors, but if we want it, it should be allowed 2004-06-10T06:29:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Censorship-of-Pornography-is-Wrong-25144.aspx If Marijuana Were To Be Legal Drugs are a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered to control it or even solve it. Ending the drug war seems to be a bit impossible. The war on drugs seems to be accomplishing a lot but this is not true. Different options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten a chance but should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of use, marijuana should be legalized because it will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement and it will increase our country’s revenue. There are also many benefits that can be uncovered to help people if legalization of marijuana is given a chance. Legalizing marijuana would increase our economy's revenue. During Prohibition alcohol use was still sold and used, but people were doing it illegally. The 21st amendment repealed prohibition and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with drugs. Marijuana should be taxed heavily to increase our revenue. Marijuana and other drugs would be made by the same people who make aspirin so the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants. Sterile hypodermic needles will be readily available at corner drug stores. These could be taxed heavily because the users will be assured of "clean drugs." Making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement every year. Drug dealers and users are one step ahead on the enforcement process. If one drug lord is caught, another one will show up somewhere else. We cannot win. “In 1987, 10 billion dollars were spent alone just on enforcing drug laws. Drugs accounted for about 40 percent of all felony indictments in the New York City courts in 1989. This figure is quadruple what it was in 1985. . Forty percent of the people in federal prison are drug law violators” (Long 114). One can only imagine what this figure would be like today. Too much money is wasted on a cause that seems to be no end to. “In 1989, a Republican county executive of Mercer County N.J. estimated that it would cost him as much as 1 billion dollars to build the jail space needed to house all the hard-core drug users in Trenton alone” (Long 128). 2004-06-10T06:23:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-Marijuana-Should-be-Legalized-25141.aspx Australian society is made up of a wide variety of groups. These groups of people have different cultural traditions and economic and social background. The success of the communication and interacting of these groups depends largely on the attitudes, values, and behaviour of people towards different groups. Racism is probably the first form of discrimination we think of. It is the belief that some races of people are inferior to other ‘races’. Racism usually involves negative acts against the group of people considered inferior. Genocide is the deliberate extermination of a whole race or ethnic or religious grouping of people. The impact of racism on the Aboriginal people is not just horrific but genocidal. Racism is a problem for Aboriginal Australians. This includes occupation of Aboriginal land under the ‘Terra Nullius’ principle, assimilation, the stolen generation, and Aboriginal Australian’s health. Before the arrival of European settlers, Australia was probably inhabited by as many as 500 different tribal groups of Aboriginal peoples. Many of these groups, their cultures, and their languages have been wiped out by white settlement. Aboriginal Australians traditionally owned land on a group or tribal basis according to birthright. Being a member of a tribe entitled an individual to dwell on a certain designated area of land and to utilise the natural materials from that land. The land was inalienable, that is ownership could not be transferred, because no one really ‘owned; the land in the European sense of the word therefore disputes about land did not arise between Aborigines. Upon European settlement in Australia, all useful available land was carved up by the settlers according to the notion of possession of land based on English law. This division of land failed to recognise any land rights held by the original dwellers. Dispossession had a devastating effect on Aboriginal society To the Aborigines the land was part of their very being. It had a special religious significance and they believed there was a direct relationship between the spirit and the site from which the spirit came. That place was the person’s life force and that person was inseparable connected with it and these sites were considered sacred. Within a generation of the first white settlement, many tribal groups were decimated or wiped out. By the 1850s many were on the point of extinction, others were extinct. In the Port Phillip area, for example, government records show that a pre-contact population of about 10000 was 2004-06-10T05:38:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Aboriginal-s-and-Racism-in-Australia-25120.aspx At least 40 million American adults need stronger literacy skills to take advantage of more lifelong learning opportunities (Knowles 12). Low literacy limits life chances, regardless of how it is defined or measured. According to The Random House Dictionary literacy is defined as “the quality or state of being literate, esp. the ability to read and write.” Another breakdown of the word, from the same source is “possession of education.” Basic skills and literacy abilities are widely viewed as necessities for lifelong learning and the development of success among individuals, families, communities, and even nations. Better knowledge about literacy is an essential condition for improving it. Helping children improve their literacy skills can help them develop the capacity for lifelong learning, keep pace with changing educational expectations and rapid technological change, and achieve their life goals. Today in society there are many adults with poor literacy skills who lack the foundation they need to find and keep decent jobs, to support their children’s education and help them mold a literate future. I have taken one small step towards this problem by tutoring at North Junior High Campus and Thomas Jefferson Middle School. The more time people put towards helping the youth of America is the more literate our population can become. Every small action can help, even if it is just tutoring at local middle and junior high schools. To determine the literacy skills of American adults, the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) used test items that resembled everyday life tasks. The NALS classified the results into five levels that are now commonly used to describe adults’ literacy skills. In Level 1 almost all of the adults can read a little but not well enough to fill out an application, read a food label, or read a simple story to a child. Adults in Level 2 usually can perform more complex tasks such as comparing, contrasting, or integrating pieces of information but usually not higher-level reading and problem-solving skills. Adults in levels 3 through 5 usually can perform the same types of more complex tasks with increasing length and subject matter (Knox 37). Very few adults are completely illiterate; they simply fall into the lower levels of literacy. Between 21 and 23 percent of the adult population or approximately 44 million people, according to the National Adult Literacy 2004-06-10T05:36:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Literacy-in-America-25119.aspx The Legalization of Gambling PROS: The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution in the Bill of Rights respectfully states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”. (Gerald Murphy, Cleveland Free-Net). This Amendment states the individual’s choice about how to spend ones money. There are a few reasons that the Government should not involve themselves in this situation. First and foremost the constitution does not authorize the federal government to obligate itself in the gambling and the gaming industry. Second citizens who live in a free society and under democracy and the constitution should be able to spend their money in any democratic way they want. (Will Congress Nationalize Gambling). Gambling involves only willing participants. Unlike taxes, the citizens living in this democracy are given the equal opportunity to purse any means of happiness they wish. People who gamble may win hefty amounts of cash and be content, or on the other hand they can take the chance to lose ample amounts of money and be miserable. But that is the responsibility of the people and the Government should trust and respect that. Spending money in a casino is no different from spending money in a tavern or a sports arena or even at a political fundraiser. The government should not engage themselves in this type of situation. The gambling industry has supported many different types of organizations and involves themselves financially in numerous associations. To support the Goverment the Republican and Democratic Party’s receive hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the gaming industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics the total number of money contributed from the gambling industry to politics in the last presidential election was 6.7 million dollars (Metrobeat). Much of the gambling industry’s rapid expansion in recent years can be attributed to its effective of allowing local businesses and political leaders to be tantalized by promises of increased tourism and economic development (Metrobeat). The gambling industry supports education and donates millions of dollars to colleges across the United States. For example in Georgia the Hope Scholarship is a program created by the gambling lottery industry and gives full scholarships to well deserved Georgia students. This plan 2004-06-10T05:34:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Legalization-of-Gambling-Pro-s-and-Con-s-25118.aspx While studying or even registering for a class presents a challenge to some college students, the greatest obstacle remains, going to class. Attending college is supposed to signify a new found freedom to make many important choices regarding education without high school mandatory attendance policies. However, students everywhere are coming to the staggering realization that college is not too different from high school. Teachers still take class roll and students are still expected to be at every class on time. What next, hall monitors in Holden Hall? The time has come for action to be taken. Colleges must abolish mandatory student attendance policies for several reasons to be further discussed. First, in order to enroll in college, mandatory attendance in a previous educational institution is required. For most, this record consists of 13 years of mandatory classroom attendance prior to college. It is a valid argument that the continuation of this policy is effective for job preparation in that it teaches accountability and self-discipline. But if a student is required by a higher authority to do something, is it really self-discipline? No, it is merely a high school power struggle between student and teacher that has some how found its way in to the classrooms of colleges everywhere. This policy teaches students that in his or her future, if attendance at a particular event is important, someone will be there to mandate it. The mandatory attendance policy does not promote self-discipline, it promotes the control of one individual by another. The only way that a student will learn self-discipline and accountability is through trial and error using his or her own judgement, not based on policy. Secondly, the majority of the students that do not attend class are usually the one’s that should not attend class. These students tend to be disruptive and tardy distracting the students that actually want to further their education. If this policy stays in effect, it will continue to place students with little or no academic motivation in the same learning environment as those striving to achieve their highest potential. This is detrimental to everyone involved in the education process because it slows down the pace of progression. By allowing students to miss class, the student-teacher ratio will be more favorable and teachers will have fewer distractions. Finally, a college student is 2004-06-10T02:09:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mandatory-Attendance-Policies-25073.aspx Genetic engineering is a hotly-debated topic. On the one hand, giant corporations, ambitious scientists and powerful politicians are pushing forward with projects they claim will benefit mankind, and on the other, public opinion, environmentalists and consumers' associations are concerned that these projects are insufficiently safeguarded and pose irreversible risks to life on this planet. In this paper I will set out the main issues in the debate on genetic engineering. First I will summarise the history of genetic science, and look at the origins of the debate. Then I will discuss the manipulation of plant, animal and human genes in turn, and consider the possible benefits and dangers of each. Finally, I will suggest that, for all its potential dangers, it is better for research to go ahead openly than for governments to try to ban such research altogether. GE is quite a recent science. DNA, the basic material that determines genes, was discovered in 1953 (the discovery was announced in Nature magazine on April 25th, 1953), and 'It was only in 1956...that cytogeneticists learned that each human cell contains 46 chromosomes' (Lipkin and Rowley, p. 4). 'Recombinant DNA' - which makes it possible to actually change or modify genes - was not discovered until 1973 (Howard and Rifkin, p. 13). However, the debate about GE goes back much further. It was first popularised by Aldous Huxley in his novel Brave New World (1932), in which humans are born in bottles ('test tube babies'), and genetically conditioned to think and behave in certain ways. When GE became a scientific reality in the 1970s, the debate continued to focus largely on the mainulation of human genes, following the trend set by Huxley. (See, for example, Karp, 1976, Howard and Rifkin, 1977, the former in favour of GE, the latter mainly opposed to it.) The perception was that, 'In the great game that is played, we are the players as well as being the cards and the stakes' (de Chardin, quoted by Hauerwas in Paoletti, ed., p. 130). However, as we near the turn of the century, the debate has widened considerably, and taken on a new practical significance. The first cloned animals (sheep and cows) are now actually alive (and breeding), and 'Genetically modified crops are already entering the human food supply in the UK' (Nuffield Report, p.1). The remainder of this essay is devoted to exploring the issues relating to GE of plant, animal and 2004-05-07T00:05:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Genetic-Engineering-be-Banned-131.aspx Hmong Means Free: Life in Laos and America Hmong Means Free uses the unedited life stories of several Hmong refugees from different age groups as told by themselves to offer an unbiased look at the struggles of Laotian immigrants. The inclusion of the entire life story serves to put their immigration into context, describing the immigration as a necessity rather than a choice. The introduction characterized the Hmong as a peaceful people who were inadvertently caught in a war that they were neither responsible for, nor interested in. The book’s use of personal accounts also provides a look at the diverse backgrounds of Laotian immigrants and the accounts of Hmong life in both Laos and America has a humanizing effect on the perception of Asian immigrants in general. It successfully allowed Laotian refugees to present their perspective and feelings on their immigration and goals in America, refuting the stereotypical views of leeching and inhuman refugees held by many in America at the time of their arrival. It is interesting that most of the challenges faced by the Laotian immigrants in America were very similar to those challenges described by Nazli Kibria in Family Tightrope. For example, both texts suggest that learning English and becoming familiar with American customs allows Asian immigrant children to assimilate easier into American culture and feel more accepted. Ironically, however, even though education is highly valued by Asian immigrants, the educational system serves to contradict much of parental teachings and erodes the Asian identity they wish to maintain. As Xang Mao Xiong says “The children of today have no respect for their elders and do not fear their parents. Americans do not understand our culture, and we do not understand theirs (101).” These similarities suggest that any immigrant is likely to face the same type of problems in America – racism, language-barriers, difficulty in cultural assimilation, the development of generation gaps, and employment for economic survival. For Asian immigrants in particular, it appears the methods for combating these difficulties are also similar. Laotian refugees such as Jou Yee Xiong felt an intense commitment to others back in the homeland. In Laos, and later in America, the Laotian refugees worked and lived together to establish an economic safety net. As one of the Xiong family said “We live like poor people but are happy and do not envy others…Since I have so many grandsons, relatives, and friends, 2004-03-28T06:16:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Hmong-Means-Free-Life-in-Laos-and-America-83.aspx