U.S. Involvement In Nicaragua Essay Example For Students

U.S. Involvement In Nicaragua Essay U.S. Involvementin NicaraguaNot very many Americans know the truththat lies beneath the U.S. involvement in Nicaragua. Most wouldbe surprised to find out that U.S. armed forces and politicians violatedU.S. laws and deliberately sabotaged Nicaraguas stable government by payingthe dictators henchmen to kill Nicaraguan citizens. The United Statesis considered one of the major superpower nations in this world. It is highly influential to other countries and often takes responsibilityto intervene with other another countrys problems?especially when it dealswith the spreading of communism. When Nicaraguas dictatorship wasoverthrown by the popular Sandinistas, a communist regime was successfullyput in place. The U.S. immediately feared that Nicaraguas surroundingcountries would eventually become communist due to the Domino Theory. The negative impact of becoming further engaged in the Nicaraguan politicswas destructive to both the U.S. and Nicaragua. These actions destabilizedthe Nicaraguan economy, encouraged civil violence, and motivated membersof the American government to violate certain laws to continue their aidto the guerillas. We will write a custom essay on U.S. Involvement In Nicaragua specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now To fully comprehend the negative impactsof U.S. intervention in Nicaragua, one must be somewhat familiar with Nicaraguashistory. The period in which the Somoza family ruled Nicaragua startedon New Years Day in 1937, when Anastasio Somoza Garcia had himself electedpresident. The Somozas ran Nicaragua as their own private estate;all three Somozas were dictators who ran the affairs of their countryto their personal benefit and against the interests of the vast majorityof their countrymen (Walker 16). Under their dominion, life forthe Nicaraguan citizens was harsh, because they suffered from abject poverty. They lived in inadequate housing, ate and dressed poorly, and were overallextremely oppressed by their leaders corruption. When the peoplefinally realized that life wasnt going to get any better, they decidedto turn to their only other option, the communist Sandinista government. The U.S. were so anti-Communist that they began to send large sums of moneyto Somozas Guardsmen (who the leaders of the Contras) in order to sabotagethe Sandinista government. One of the goals the U.S. would like toachieve when dealing with Third World nations is to help them become moreindustrialized and economically stable. Unfortunately, the oppositeof this occurred in Nicaragua. Before U.S. involvement, Nicaraguaseconomy was reasonably sturdy in the sense that there was a consistentflow of money in and out of the country. With increasing investmentin Nicaragua, as a result of the Alliance for Progress, and the CentralAmerican Common Market, this was a period of unprecedented progress (Pastor,35). It is obvious that stronger nations would not invest their timeand money into a country that was economically declining, thus displayingthat at this time, Nicaragua was doing quite well for a Third World nation. With the correct equipment and help from richer nations, Nicaragua couldhave benefited from the high quality of its land and resources, which wouldraise the citizens yearly income and help with overcoming destitution. U.S. money for the reconstruction of Managua after the incredibly hugeChristmas Earthquake in 1972 never reached where it was most needed. Instead, Anastasio Somoza Debayle (the president of Nicaragua at the time)transformed a tragic national loss into a personal financial gain(Pastor, 36). Somozas greediness enticed him to pocket the moneyinstead of directing the funds where they were intended to go. Thusvery little was done to help the disaster victims and this is just anotherexample of how his dictatorship was oppressive to the people. Thisquandary could have been simply avoided if the U.S. had sent an officialto manage the money and secure its proper usage. .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 , .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .postImageUrl , .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 , .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:hover , .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:visited , .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:active { border:0!important; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:active , .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727 .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2bd0b49220fabd14573282e6f23ae727:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Mailbox Rule EssayThrough the 1960s, Nicaragua receivedfrom the U.S. $92.5 million in economic aid, and $11 million in militaryaid. From 1971 to 1976, Nicaragua received three times that amountin economic aid but less in military. (Pastor, 43) From thesestatistics, it seems that Nicaraguas economy is being supported by U.S. funding more each year. It is fair to say Nicaraguas economy wasdependent on U.S. aid. When Somoza issued terror raids on his people,the U.S. chose to impose sanctions withdrawing all funding to Nicaragua. By advertising Somozas acts of human brutality, the U.S. was able to persuadeother countries to consider terminating their current aid to Nicaragua. Not only did Nicaraguan slip further into debt, but also the situationworsened for the poverty-stricken people. Nicaraguas economy hadfailed to attain its prerevolution level in 1983. Investment hadstagnated or declined, depending on the sector. The external debt,which was high at $1.5 billion in 1979, reached $3.8 billion in 1983. Agriculture?the dynamic center of the economy before the revolution?declinedmarkedly. As the war intensified, the economy sank even further(Pastor, 245). Nicaraguans were so focused on fighting that theydidnt realize that their land was being destroyed and that there werentenough people to farm the existing crops. Although the U.S. had intendedon using the sanctions as a way to promote human rights and to pressureSomoza to stop the killing, they exacerbated the failing economy. When the U.S. entered Nicaragua, it sentthe people mixed messages. They hoped that the violence would eventuallyend with the U.S. help, but the U.S. did not take an active part in resolvingthat violence. They did not walk away either. They carriedout their own agenda, which consisted of having a non-communist regime. They withdrew military aid from Somoza, because the American citizens disapprovedof Somozas brutal and tyrannical actions, but they would not support theSandinistas (the communist group trying to overthrow the Somoza dictatorship)either. Instead, the U.S. financed Somozas Guardsmen, the only institutioncapable of restraining the Sandinistas if they came into power. Theconstant fighting and bickering among the different groups in Nicaraguahad caused the people to become impatient with the U.S. You Americanshave the strength, the opportunity, but not the will. We want tostruggle, but it is dangerous to have friends like you Either helpus or leave us alone (Pastor, 259). The Nicaraguans were verycommitted to ending the civil war that has haunted their lives for so long. If the U.S. wasnt going to help them achieve this goal, they should stopwatching them over their shoulders. Around 50,00 lives, or approximatelytwo percent of the population had been lost, but the Nicaraguans claimedthat freedom, justice, and national dignity were sometimes worth sucha price (Walker, 20). When people feel strongly about changingsomething, they are willing to lose their valuables, pride, and sometimestheir lives to achieve it. By not letting the people know which sidethe U.S. opposed or supported, tension mounted between the groups, whichindubitably lead to a bloody massacre. The U.S. is not very knowledgeable. does not know how much blood, how many sacrifices, how much frustrationthat generations of Latin Americans have gone through (Pastor, 281). The U.S. worried so much about Nicaragua having a communist governmentthat they overlooked how many lives were lost in their effort to changethe government. If the U.S. had made it clear where they stood inthe situation, it would have resulted with in a lower death toll. When the Sandinistas overthrew the Somozaregime in 1979, they became the government of Nicaragua. The rebelsthen were the ex-Guardsmen (men from Somozas military), who were now runningthe contra-rebellion. Aid to the Contras had been prohibited by Congress (History). However, members of the ReaganAdministration and the CIA devised a scheme providing illegal funding underthe table. The plan was to sell shipments of arms to Iran via Israel. .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 , .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .postImageUrl , .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 , .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:hover , .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:visited , .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:active { border:0!important; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:active , .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9 .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf4487743ad40b1ffbac51de91a52b2a9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Rethinking My High School Education EssayThe money paid was diverted to the Contras resistance force and was overseenby Lt. Colonel Oliver North. The transaction first took place in1985. (Jewish) The men indicted were: Secretary of Defense,Casper Weinberger; Head of the Sate Departments Latin American Bureau,Elliot Abrams; Reagans National Security Advisor, Robert C. McFarlane,among many others. (Men) The U.S. obsession with anti-Communistgroups brought a handful of its leaders to break congressional laws toprovide financial assistance to a group that had previously been engagedin a series of war crimes. They ignored the fact that the group ofmen they supported were ones t hat killed and abused Nicaraguan citizensduring the Somoza dictatorship. The only excuse that they were ableto use to uphold their actions in assisting the Contras was thatthey were in the process of destroying the Communist-backed Sandinistagovernment. The U.S. participation during Nicaraguastime of crisis caused its economy to become unstable, bolstered the civilwar, and inspired criminal activities by high level politicians and officialsin the U.S. Nicaraguas economy was at an all time high before theU.S. became immersed in it. As more aid was provided to the people,Nicaragua became more dependent upon the U.S. for financial support. This caused further problems when the U.S. decided to sanction Nicaragua. The people had expected the U.S. to stop the brutality when they enteredthe situation. Unfortunately, the U.S. chose not to do anything andmerely observed the circumstances. If the U.S. had let the Nicaraguansdeal with their problems their own way, more lives wouldve been saved. The U.S. feared that if communism were successful in Nicaragua, it wouldsoon diffuse to the surrounding nations. When Congress halted theaid to the Contras, many government officials illegally earned money tosend to them. The Nicaraguans are fully aware of the role the UnitedStates has played in Nicaragua and that the resentment against the Americangovernment is very deep. Although U.S. politicians were capableof covering up the truth to the American public, the people most effectedby these traumatizing experiences will remember the U.S. involvement foryears to come. A more productive action on the part of the U.S. wouldhave been to pick a side and support if or walk away and let the Sandinistagovernment rebuild Nicaragua on its own. Despite the U.S. effortsto help the dilemmas in Nicaragua, they were only able to worsen it.

Suicides in Adolescents

Suicides in Adolescents Free Online Research Papers During the last decade there appears to have been a dramatic increase in attempted and completed suicides among the adolescent population (Emery, 1983). Among 15 to 19 year olds the suicide rate in 1950 was between 2.7 and 3.5 suicides per 100,000. By 1977 this figure had risen to 14.2, the highest increase in the suicide rate of any group except 20 to 24 year olds. Further, the tendency not to attribute suicidal motives to young adolescents and the desire to spare families public embarrassment result in a number of suicides being officially recorded as accidents (Husain Vandiver, 1984). As a consequence, some analyses estimate that the actual rates of adolescent suicide may be three times as high as the official government statistics, which show that, in 1983 alone, 6,000 young people killed themselves (Tugend, 1984). Some also contend that for every suicide there are ten unsuccessful attempts, most of which remain unreported. Yet, despite the likelihood of underestimating the actual number of suicides, suicide is still the third leading cause of death among adolescents. According to the national centers for disease control, the increase in youth suicide is primarily due to the dramatic changes in the male suicide rate (Tugend, 1984). From 1970 to 1980 the male suicide rate increased by 50 percent, in comparison to a 2 percent rise for females. Almost 90 percent of the male suicide victims are white, although there are no significant racial differences among female suicide victims. Because males choose the most violent methods for killing themselves, like shooting and hanging, their suicide attempts are far more successful than females attempts. In contrast to males, female typically employ methods that are less lethal and more time consuming, such as trying to poison themselves with pills. The increasing concern about suicide has resulted partially from a number of apparent cluster suicides during recent years (Tugend, 1984; Coleman, 1987). For example, in three of New Yorks northern suburbs, 36 adolescents killed themselves in 22 months; in Houston suburbs, adolescents took their own lives in three months; and in Plano, Texas, seven adolescents committed suicide in one year. Although in some of these incidents the adolescents did not know one another, in others the friendship between the youths suggest that their suicides may have been related. In response to increasing public concern, the national centers for disease control began extensive research on cluster suicides in 1984. In the meantime, the uncertainty over whether too much publicity contributes to multiple suicides has made researchers proceed cautiously about directing too much public attention to the matter. (Coleman, 1987) The suicide behavior of adolescents and adults is similar in several aspects (Husain Vandiver, 1984; Weiner, 1980, 1982). Irrespective of age, three times as many males commit suicide as females, but females attempt suicide three times more often than males. There is more suicide among whites than blacks, more in urban than rural communities, more in higher socioeconomic groups than among poor, and more among Protestants than among Catholics or Jews. Older adolescents and adults usually kill themselves by hanging or shooting, while younger adolescents and children usually take a drug overdose. Most people who fail in a suicide attempt have taken poisonous drugs, a method that increases the chances that someone will discover them before death occurs. Causes Depression Many adolescents who kill themselves do manifest symptoms of depression, but this is not always the case. To assert that depression is the prime cause appears to be overly simplistic. The preponderance of evidence indicates that a number of other variables seem to have an impact on a persons decision to commit suicide (Emery, 1983; Weiner, 1980, 1982) Attempts are being made to identify the types of behavior that might be the cause of a youngsters suicide (Weiner, 1980,1982). Some psychologists contend that depression among young is often overlooked, because the symptoms are dismissed as a normal part of adolescence. For example, in a 1982 survey of 116 adolescent girls from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, attending San Franciscos public high schools, 23 percent were moderately to severely depressed as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory; and 39 percent reported occasional thoughts of suicide (Gibbs, 1983). Even among adolescent psychiatric patients, fewer than 20 percent are diagnosed as having problems primarily caused by depression, yet half of these young people manifest symptoms of depression including behavior such as self-deprecation, crying spells, suicidal thoughts, and experience feelings of sadness, pessimism, and worthlessness (Weiner, 1980). Data like these have led to the suggestion that adults should become more sensitive to adolescents symptoms of depression. Depression can be perfectly normal yet transitory reaction to negative events in the adolescents life. To begin with, the type of depression that contributes to suicidal thinking often emanates from a serious loss in the adolescents life. The loss might be created by incidents like someones death, parents divorce, or a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend. In addition, feelings of loss can emanate from the loss of self-esteem. Hence, academic failure, social embarrassment, a disfiguring accident, or serious illness can contribute to suicidal thinking (Husain Vandiver, 1984; Weiner, 1980). Further, chronic depression during adolescence tends to be characterized by excessive self criticism, feelings of powerlessness, inexplicable crying spells, and feelings of hopelessness about the future (Chartier Ranieri, 1984). Not all adolescents manifest their depression in the same way. Many will be persistently tired, behave like hypochondriacs, or have problems concentrating at school. In their efforts to escape depressing thoughts, depressed youngsters sometimes become engaged in the quest for continual stimulation and entertainment. They appear excessively restless and become easily bored. They tire quickly of new activities and of former friends, searching for more entertaining substitutes. Still others withdraw into solitary activities, where they need not fear human rejection. Older adolescents often express depression through delinquency, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, and rebellious behavior at home and at school. A few attempt to cope with depression be joining groups that attract attention to themselves for their unconventional values. The study by Angold (1988) reviewed the literature on depression in children. This author is the developer of the Childhood Depression Inventory. Angold reports on the different meanings of the term depression and the differing symptoms which constitute the condition. He also reports on the risk factors which tend to predispose children to depressive symptoms. This is relevant given that the objective of the measurement techniques employed in both assessing depression must make reference to factors which can be identified as high risks for suicide. Angold states that it is the adolescent which is more prone to develop depression. Children younger than 10 years old do not have as high depressive ratings as do children from 12 to 19 years old. Girls also have more depressive states than do boys, although this is a controversial issue (Butcher, 1988). Depressive symptoms also have been found equally in low and middle income families, and in black as well as white families. The one signi ficant issue in the development of depression is the family history of depressive disorders. Children with depressive parents tend to develop depressive personality trait characteristics. Angold (1988) also reviews studies which indicate that certain precipitating factors can lead children to develop depressive symptoms, these include divorce and the loss of a love one. Although there is some controversy about the long range effects of these stressful events on a childs life, there is increasing evidence that some children never get over the divorce and often go into depressive states which last up to 10 years after the stressful event. The study by Deykin et al. (1987) directly relates to the issue at hand. The diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to determine the prevalence of depressive disorders in children aged 12 to 19. The results of the study found that adolescents who reported a history of alcohol and drug abuse were four times as likely to have a history of depressive disorders than controls. This was particularly true with females who were six times more likely to have experienced depressive symptoms. However, the use of alcohol along with the depression was more prevalent among males than females. Because of the pseudo longitudinal nature of the study the authors concluded that the depressive disorder was present prior to the alcohol abuse. Another study ( Holmes Robins, 1987,1988) found that depressive disorders in adulthood could be predicted from parental disciplinary practices. The study assumed that disciplinary actions meant misbehavior in the children who later developed depression. However, the study also found that women were more likely to develop depression and men were more likely to develop alcoholism. The interesting point from this study is that depression and alcoholism were disorders which were most predictive from knowledge about a childs misbehavior. This would tend to imply that parental influences have a strong and lasting effect on the development of disorders, somewhat supporting the contention that early experiences have effects on symptomatology in a normal population. The ability to measure depression in children has been discussed by Angold (1988). The relationship of depression to childhood experiences has also been investigated and supported by a number of studies (Carrison et al., 1988). In addition, the contributing factors which parental concordance of affective disorders with that of the children has been investigated Merikangas, et al. (1988). These authors found that depressive disorders present in parents are also at risk of being found in their children. This is not only true of depression but of other psychopathologies and of alcoholism. This finding is not new but it helps to support the contention being laid here that the presence of depression in youths can be measured, is a reliable construct to use in identifying children who might be at high risk of developing alcohol abuse, and can be used to predict alcohol abuse using expectancy testing as well as depressive scores. Unrealistic Conceptions of Death It has also been suggested that adolescents with unrealistic conceptions about death are prone to suicidal thoughts (Husain Vandiver, 1984; McKenry, Tishler, Christman, 1980). According to this view, the cognitive limitations of early adolescence an distort young peoples understanding of death. In our culture, where death is often presented in euphemistic, vague, or exaggerated terms, the realities of death are too often hidden from the young. The melodramatic or emotionless portrayals of death in the media often sustain the image that suicide is an instructive act that can teach ones enemies and careless loved ones a lesson. The argument has also been offered that rock stars can create a glamour about death that appeals to the young (Attig, 1986). Record albums and stage shows sometimes depict mock hangings and suicidal gestures in an effort to entice the audience. such acts might create genuine confusion among young adolescents, whose views of fantasy and reality may be influenced by the drama of stage limits and illusive images on photo albums. Although the relationship between suicide and our societys portrayals of death in the media or in the entertainment world is still uncertain, the assistant chief of the National Centers for Disease Control states that there is evidence that possible people imitate suicides they view on television or through other media sources. (Tugend, 1984) Several studies confirm the hypothesis that suicidal youths tend to engage in wishful, magical thinking about death (Husain Vandiver, 1984) These unrealistic thoughts about death reflect the limitations of childrens cognitive development, which include egocentric thinking, the imaginary audience, and the personal fable, as cogently described by Piaget and Elkind. For example, a disproportionate number of suicidal youths have been found to believe in reincarnation and to believe that they will remain cognitively aware of events on earth after they die. Adolescents whose suicide attempts failed have explained that they imagined how good it would feel to observe the effects of their act on those here on earth. Some imagined that their suicides would radically transform the world or would cause their lovers who rejected them to feel forever guilty. Suicide is sometimes envisioned as a chance to be reunited with a deceased loved one. Conceiving of death as an escape from problems rather than as a permanent end to life, suicidal youths tend to differ from nonsuicidal children in their belief that death is temporary. Societal Factors According to some cross cultural data, in societies with a high degree of anomie, suicide rates are higher than in countries with low anomie. Anomie is a condition that manifests itself as a feeling of alienation and detachment from other individuals and from society. Anomie is said to arise in situations where personal bonds are discouraged. Societies with the most anomie are those that stress such values as competitiveness, mobility, rapid change, and materialism at the expense of family intimacy and dedication to interpersonal relationships. According to cross cultural comparisons, adolescents in highly industrialized, modern countries like Japan and the United States commit suicide more often than those in more rural, religious and traditional countries. Such suicides are thought to occur partly in response to adolescents feelings of culturally induced anomie. It has also been suggested that modern society creates feelings of anomie and insecurity in adolescents through overemphasizing competition and financial success (Husain Vandiver, 1984). In a society where self esteem and social status are often derived through money, many adolescents grow up under the pressure of having to be number one in social, athletic, and academic pursuits. Pressured on the homefront to succeed, young people may feel overwhelmed by the economic instability, high mobility, competitiveness, and rapid change operative in our technological society. Feeling powerless and lonely in the midst of these pressures, some youngsters may feel so overwhelmed that they opt for suicide. In support of this argument, data regarding rates of American Indian youths are particularly instructive (Berlin, 1984). Reported suicides among Native American youths have increased by almost 1,000 percent during the past two decades, becoming the second leading cause of death in the 10 to 20 year old age group. Environmental factors contributing to the suicide escalation include a breakdown of tribal tradition, the increasing incidence of divorce, and a decline in the importance of religion. As Indian communities have become more acculturated, the factors contributing to the feeling known as anomie have grown. In support of this analysis, it has been noted that the lowest anomie rates exist in tribes with the most traditional customs and in areas where opportunities for employment and education exist within the tribal community. Sex Roles Because three times as many females of every age attempt suicide than do males and use less lethal methods in their attempts, it has been suggested that gender stereotypes may be influencing suicidal behavior (Husain Vandiver, 1984). According to this view, society offers males certain outlets for expressing their aggression and frustration that are typically denied to females. For example, disobedience to elders, sexual promiscuity, and physical aggression are generally condemned more severely in females than in males. Girls tend to learn to turn their hostility inward rather than to express them overtly. This anger directed toward the self contributes to suicidal thinking; although the reasons underlying the higher rate of suicide attempts among the female population are debatable, girls are clearly at a higher risk than boys. Recognizing this, special attention might be directed toward adolescent girls who manifest symptoms of depression. Family Factors Among the variables associated with adolescent suicide a number are related to the adolescents family (Husain Vandiver, 1984) It appears that drug abuse, marital discord, and physical abuse are more common in the families of suicidal than nonsuicidal youths. Suicidal youth often report feeling unloved and unwanted, suggesting that their parents have been unable to create an accepting, loving atmosphere in the home. Many suicidal children also report that their parents are excessively critical and have high expectations in regard to vocational and academic goals. Preventing Adolescent Suicide Some states have assumed legislative initiative in suicide prevention programs (Folk, 1984; Tugend, 1984). In 1984 California and Florida enacted state laws requiring suicide prevention programs in high schools. The programs are aimed at teaching students to recognize suicidal tendencies in themselves and in their friends and to seek help when suicidal thoughts occur. Given the stigma attached to the word suicide some schools are presenting the information under the guise of student stress programs. Brochures are also being provided for parents and teachers. The Florida law further requires that to be eligible for teacher certification, college graduates must receive suicide prevention training in order to recognize the signs of depression and stress in their students. There have been cases where an English teacher would grade an essay by a student- on suicide and return it corrected for grammar (Tugend, 1984). Several authors have outlined the situation and behaviors that often indicate depression leading to adolescent suicide (McKenry Christman, 1980; Husain Vandiver, 1984): 1. Changes in eating or sleeping habits 2. Increasing isolation from friends and family 3. Behaving more aggressively or more belligerently 4. Giving away valued possessions or making comments about getting my life in order 5. Talking or asking questions about suicide 6. A sudden interest in religion and afterlife 7. Experiencing recent losses: a parents divorce, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a friend or relative, a personal injury or chronic illness, the death of a pet 8. Making lower grades at school 9. Complaining often about being bred 10. Breakdowns in communication with parents or other important people 11. A history of repeated accidents 12. Truancy, delinquency, drug abuse, or sexual permissiveness 13. Appearing excessively bored, restless, and hyperactive 14. Verbalizing feelings of helplessness 15. Expressing excessive shame or guilt Recognizing the need for more data to aid suicide prevention and rehabilitation, the National Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Mental Health instituted suicide research programs in the early 1980s. Through these federally funded programs studies are being conducted on the possible genetic, biological, and family causes of suicide. Since children who come from a family where suicide has been committed are six times as likely to kill themselves than are other young people, researchers are simultaneously examining genetic data and investigating the interpersonal interactions within these families. In addition, researchers are continuing to examine the relationship between suicide and the bodys chemicals. For example, low levels of the brain chemical, serotonin, have been correlated with aggressive, impulsive behavior. Since males almost always have less serotonin than females, this finding suggests a possible link between the high attempted suicide rate of fema les and chemically related impulsivity. Such data should eventually yield a clearer profile of suicidal youth and provide a sounder basis for prevention and treatment. From the available data it appears that depression, misconceptions about death, a sense of anomie, family factors, and sex role influences contribute to suicidal thoughts, but two important caveats must be pointed out. First, although crises like losing a job, having a violent fight with a parent, to getting pregnant may appear to account for a suicide, a single incident is seldom the primary motivator. Adolescents who attempt suicide have typically been wrestling for some time with conflicts and concerns that they cannot resolve. (Weiner, 1980) A second caveat is that researchers do not agree that suicides could be prevented if only someone had taken heed of the youngsters cries for help., Some psychologists who have worked with suicidal youths feel that suicide is not clearly enough related to depression to permit us to identify suicide prone adolescents. Most suicides in adolescents come totally out of the blue; either many adolescents give no warning before their suicide or their symptoms are too imperceptible to cause adults much alarm. (Husain Vandiver,,l 984) References Angold, A. (1988). Childhood and adolescent depression. British Journal of Psychiatry 152, 601-617. Attig, T. (1986). Death themes in adolescent music: The classic years. Adolescence and Death. New York: Springer. Berlin, I. (1984, March). Suicide among American Indian adolescents. Washington, DC: National American Indian Courts Judges Association. Butcher, J. (1988). Introduction to the special series. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 56(2),171. Carrison, C., Schluchter, M., Schoenbach, V., Kaplan, B. (1988). Epidemiology of depressive symptoms in young adolescents. Chartier, G., Ranieri, D. (1984). Adolescent depression: Concepts, treatments, prevention. In Karoly Steffen, Eds. Adolescent Behavior Disorders. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books. Coleman, L. (1987). Suicide Clusters. Boston: Faber and Faber. Deykin, E., Levey, J., Weels, V. (1987). Adolescent depression, alcohol and drug abuse. AJPH 77(2) 178. Emery, P. (1983). Adolescent depression and suicide. Adolescence 18, 245-257. Folk, J. (1984). Preventative legislation. Psychology Today 18, 9. Gibbs, J. (1983). Psychosocial factors associated with depression in urban adolescent females. San Francisco: Western Psychological Association. Holmes, S., Robins, L. (1987). The influences of childhood disciplinary experience on the development of alcoholism and depression. Journal of Child Psychology 28(3), 399-415. Holmes, S., Robins, L. (1988). The role of parental disciplinary practices in the development of depression and alcoholism. Psychiatry 51, 24. Husain, S., Vandiver, T. (1984). Suicide in children and adolescents. New York: SP Medical and Scientific Books. Merikangas, K., Pursoff , B., Weissman, M. (1988). Parental concordance for affective disorders: Psychopathology in offspring. Journal of Affective Disorders 15, 278-290. McKenry, P., Tishler, C., Christman, K. (1980). Adolescent suicide and the classroom teacher. Journal of School Health 50, 130-132. Tugend, A. (1984, October 31). Researchers begin to examine youth suicide as a national problem. Education Today, 11-12. Weiner, I. (1980). Psychopathology in adolescence. In Adelson, Ed. Handbook of Adolescent Psychology. New York: Wiley. Weiner, I. (1982). Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. New York: Wiley. Research Papers on Suicides in AdolescentsArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Effects of Television Violence on ChildrenPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesCapital PunishmentResearch Process Part OneThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Against Euthanasia

Euthanasia  is: 1. â€Å"A quiet, painless death. †Ã‚  or 2. â€Å"The intentional putting to death of a person with an incurable or painful disease intended as an act of mercy. † BIBLICAL POINTS: -Euthanasia is considered MURDER One of the Ten Commandments is â€Å"Thou shall not kill† and life is a gift from God that should not be destroyed – God has given us life to live, and SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY on purpose – God is in everyone and every living thing. If you harm a living thing, YOU ARE HARMING GOD. – Paul stated (1 Corinthians 6:19) that our bodies are temples of our Lord. In VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA, we should not destroy ourselves because our life contains God’s Holy Spirit – WHEN JOB WAS GOING THROUGH SUFFERING, he still refused to TAKE HIS OWN LIFE. He argues that we must accept the suffering as we accept happiness and joy. SUFFERING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. – No man dies unless God allows it (Job 2:6) Therefore, according to the Bible, a person SHOULD NOT be killed because of a certain condition they have. Although they WILL DIE, euthanasia should not take place. IT IS MURDER. Yes, God has planned that they will be terminally ill, and he knows when they will die. But only HE has the right to take their life, not doctors. OTHER POINTS: -the power to play with people’s lives should not be handed out under a legal and /or medical disguise. – it promotes abuse and gives doctors the right to urder. – doctors are people who we trust and cure us, but euthanasia gives them the opportunity to PLAY GOD -It’s not only Christians who are against euthanasia, but other religions too. (Musilim, Jews, Hindu, Buddhist) -UNBEARBLE PAIN- pain cannot be all eliminated, but killing is not the answer! The solution is to command better education of health care professionals, expand health care, and inform patients about their rights to be alive. – Euthanasia is not about the right to die. It’s about the right to kill. OTHER RELIGIONS AGAINST EUTHANASIA: Roman Catholic Church: direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped sick or dying persons. IT IS MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Muslim: -All life is a gift Allah, so it is sacred and Muslim have a duty to respect it and submut to his will -Only ALLAH can choose when a life will end -The reason for any suffering will be known to Allah, there must be a reason for pain Jews: – Anything which shortens life is forbidden, only God could decided when a person’s life should end Hindu: -Euthanasia goes against the belief of Ahimsa (non-violence) Buddhist: -voluntary euthanasia is wrong, it shows that the person’s mind is in a bad state. Against Euthanasia Euthanasia  is: 1. â€Å"A quiet, painless death. †Ã‚  or 2. â€Å"The intentional putting to death of a person with an incurable or painful disease intended as an act of mercy. † BIBLICAL POINTS: -Euthanasia is considered MURDER One of the Ten Commandments is â€Å"Thou shall not kill† and life is a gift from God that should not be destroyed – God has given us life to live, and SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY on purpose – God is in everyone and every living thing. If you harm a living thing, YOU ARE HARMING GOD. – Paul stated (1 Corinthians 6:19) that our bodies are temples of our Lord. In VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA, we should not destroy ourselves because our life contains God’s Holy Spirit – WHEN JOB WAS GOING THROUGH SUFFERING, he still refused to TAKE HIS OWN LIFE. He argues that we must accept the suffering as we accept happiness and joy. SUFFERING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. – No man dies unless God allows it (Job 2:6) Therefore, according to the Bible, a person SHOULD NOT be killed because of a certain condition they have. Although they WILL DIE, euthanasia should not take place. IT IS MURDER. Yes, God has planned that they will be terminally ill, and he knows when they will die. But only HE has the right to take their life, not doctors. OTHER POINTS: -the power to play with people’s lives should not be handed out under a legal and /or medical disguise. – it promotes abuse and gives doctors the right to urder. – doctors are people who we trust and cure us, but euthanasia gives them the opportunity to PLAY GOD -It’s not only Christians who are against euthanasia, but other religions too. (Musilim, Jews, Hindu, Buddhist) -UNBEARBLE PAIN- pain cannot be all eliminated, but killing is not the answer! The solution is to command better education of health care professionals, expand health care, and inform patients about their rights to be alive. – Euthanasia is not about the right to die. It’s about the right to kill. OTHER RELIGIONS AGAINST EUTHANASIA: Roman Catholic Church: direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped sick or dying persons. IT IS MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Muslim: -All life is a gift Allah, so it is sacred and Muslim have a duty to respect it and submut to his will -Only ALLAH can choose when a life will end -The reason for any suffering will be known to Allah, there must be a reason for pain Jews: – Anything which shortens life is forbidden, only God could decided when a person’s life should end Hindu: -Euthanasia goes against the belief of Ahimsa (non-violence) Buddhist: -voluntary euthanasia is wrong, it shows that the person’s mind is in a bad state.

Developing a sociological perspective about government systems and Essay

Developing a sociological perspective about government systems and other sociological concepts related to developing countries - Essay Example Developing a sociological perspective about government systems and other sociological concepts related to developing countries The breaking up of tribal units, urbanization and missionary activity have all been features of â€Å"modernization† and it is clear that there are multiple consequences of these different forces. The most obvious difference between developed and less developed countries is that of wealth, but the cultural differences are perhaps even more important. One factor which has come through very strongly in the course is the concept of â€Å"cultural pluralism†. There is a big difference between the nation states of the West, with their extensive government systems and very strong sense of national identity and the much more complex mix of identities that is apparent in places like India and Africa. The impact of alien colonial ideas and the move from a rural and tribal setting to urban centres, in search of work and prosperity has created a very intriguing situation for millions of people in the modern world: â€Å"Cultural pluralism exists because individual actors include among their repertory of social roles one or more culturally defined identities.† The diaspora, or spreading out of different groups caused by factors like slavery, economic migration, persecution and war means that in developing countries people often have complex and multiple identities including aspects of nationality, tribe, race, and religion, as well as their current location which may not be linked with any or all of these.

Ethical Codes and Particular Cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical Codes and Particular Cases - Essay Example McAliley’s ‘guilt or innocence’ but the court’s responsibility to remain keenly aware of its responsibility to remain consistent with dispensing justice. According to the case (Florida, 1997) Mr. McAliley filed:†   570 docket entries in the official Court records, including numerous Motions, Petitions, and Appeals by the Former Husband to which the Former Wife has been required to respond.†Ã‚  (No. 97-0418) The responsibility of the court, in this case, is to state precedent with respect to not actions but ‘causes’ of these five-hundred seventy or so filings. As in the case of Perich v Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Church and School (heretofore: US 533) (US 553), the object of interest is an ever-increasing invasion in citizen’s domestic (divorce) issues since around 1969. The court involving themselves in divorce, at the behest of the legislature through the ‘emancipation of the Bolsheviks [circa 1917]’ finds diff iculties dealing with complex marital issues; and rightly so. Whether or not Counselor McAliley overstepped his ‘Ethical’ position under the rules of proper conduct is not the issue. The issue is the case being filed ‘no-fault/minimal fault divorce’ in a Florida court in the first place. The meritorious or frivolous nature of Counselor McAliley’s is based squarely upon the opinion of the judge presiding. Court’s must be left measuring only the rule of law; not the sensitivities or emotional ebbs of flows of societal discontents. Lawrence v Texas (US 558) seems to have drawn the line between government inspection and the limits of personal freedom of choice. For this paper, efforts were made to access the â€Å"Oklahoma no-fault divorce Bill† of 1953 to pursue knowledge of legal precedent considering no-fault/minimal fault divorce. To date there is very little information. Before 1953 (in the USA), divorce was an institutional manner handled by the church or related institutions

Candys Dog being shot dead Essay Example for Free

Candys Dog being shot dead Essay I believe that Candys dog being shot dead is one of the most important parts of the novel and should definitely be included in a film version. In this scene Carlson starts moaning about how much Candys old dog smells. He then suggests that Candy should shoot him and even offers to do it himself. But it is the things that Carlson says in order to justify himself that are important for the readers because it helps us to see why George decided to do what he did at the end of the book. For example, when Carlson says, This old dog, just suffers hisself all the time, and you aint been kind to him, keeping him alive, when he is trying to convince Candy that it is almost cruel to make him live life any longer. Carlson also describes how Candy could kill the dog in a quick, humane way. He says, shoot him right in the back of the head hed never know what hit him. This is particularly important because George kills Lennie in this exact way. It is where he got the idea that mercy killing was even an option. Slim is then asked to give his opinion and he agrees with Carlson saying, That dog aint no good to himself. As Slim is the only person on the ranch to have natural authority, and his opinions were law. Candy reluctantly agrees to let Carlson shoot his dog. If this scene was left out we would not understand why George would even consider killing Lennie and we would get the impression that George carried it out in cold blood and did not care. The scene should be set in a dimly lit, dark setting. The darkness would help to emphasize the end of life. Carlson should be talking abruptly and quickly showing that he is not thinking about Candys feelings and is unaware of how much the dog means to Candy. Slim in contrast should be taking is time over his speech, showing that he wants this to be as painless as it can be for Candy. He shows that he cares when he instructs Carlson to take a shovel, so that he can bury the dog so Candy wont have to see his dog in the morning. The Fight Scene Another important scene is the fight between Curley and Lennie. In this scene Curley has just accused Slim of being with his wife and in return Slim shouts back at him. Carlson and Candy take advantage of the situation by insulting Curley. Curley feels degraded and wants to take it out on someone. Lennie is there and is the perfect person because Curley being small always feels as though he has something to prove and a real chip on his shoulder towards bigger guys. Lennie is smiling at the thought of the dream of living off the fat of the land and Curley uses it as an opportunity to pick a fight. He says, What the hell you laughin at? and punches Lennies face making his nose bleed. Lennie is described as being too frightened to defend himself. But under the instruction of George, Lennie grabs Curleys hand and cannot let go, even with George slapping him round the face telling him to. Lennie feels guilty afterwards and he shows it when he says, I didnt wanta hurt him, and I didnt mean no harm. It is this scene that enables us to see the extent of Lennies strength and how dangerous it can be when combined with such a simple mind. The scene gives us a clue towards the main plot. Without this scene we would not realise what a true accident Curleys wifes death was and the reader would not feel as sorry for Lennie as they do. It would make the ending much less effective.

a christian nation Essay -- essays research papers

There are many different opinions regarding the idea that the United States is a Christian nation. After reading the Church book, however, I believe it is obvious that our country was not in fact founded on Christianity. Even though many religious right groups insist our laws should enforce the doctrines of Protestant Christianity. The documents written by our founding fathers say otherwise. The U.S. Constitution has no mention of Christianity or Jesus Christ, and is evidence within itself that our country was not founded as a Christian nation. The men who founded the legislature of our country had seen first hand the difficulties that church and state partnerships could create in Europe. The consequences of this partnership are the main reason a secular government was created in the United States. During the colonial period, alliances between religion and government produced oppression and tyranny on our own shores. Many colonies, for example, had laws limiting public office positions to Trinitarian Protestants. While some colonies had officially established churches and taxed all citizens to support them. Dissenters faced many obstacles of persecution. Many people began looking for an end to religious testing. They argued that true faith did not need or want the support of the government. These protestors were not anti-religious. In fact they believed that by allowing people their right to freedom from religion, they would eventually find themselves true Christians. P...

Greatest Chinese Inventions

The Greatest Chinese Inventions Gene R. Kelsey Strayer University The ancient Chinese culture produced major inventions that some of which still are relevant and useful to our modern culture all over world even today. When an Italian merchant named Marco Polo traveled to China in during the Song Dynasty in 1271 he discovered a place so technologically advanced far greater than any Western European nation of its time. The following is a listing of 9 important inventions instrumental to our growth as modern Human Beings.It would be a technical pilgrimage for me to win this contest. I would love to visit China. (1) The Process of Paper making. Although first used as wrapping and padding for over 100 years before it became a medium for writing upon around AD 105. Paper along with printing changed the way the world documented everything from history to science and many years later paper currency. Even though our modern culture is moving away from paper it will always be used in one form o r another. There is no such thing as electronic toilet paper. 2) The invention of the printing press with moveable text symbols by Bi Sheng. It was this invention that was eventually taken over to the West and used by Gutenberg for the printing of the Bible. Needless to say, this had a profound effect on the nature of knowledge and the development of literature, (The Franklin Institute). (3) Gun Powder and Fireworks. The use of gunpowder in weapons gave those with access to the technology a greater ability to protect themselves from enemies or to conquer and control others. It greatly affected the balance of power in many parts of the world.Whether we agree or not the invention of Gun Powder and the weapons that followed were huge game changers for Humanity. (4) The Compass which was really pre-dated by the discovery of magnetism by the Chinese which was first noted in a book from the Song Dynasty. However, the first suspended magnetic needle compass was written of by Shen Kuo in hi s book of AD 1088. The wet Compass was the most used. Eventually the Dry Compass took shape but was not as well accepted by the Chinese. (The Science Forum 2007) (5) The Great Wall of China. One of the wonders of the world its construction began in 221 BC in an effort to keep Mongol invaders out. The Sui Emperor Yang Di began the reconstruction and repairs of the wall around the 600’s AD. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were used to do the work. As some perished they were buried where they fell and remain in the wall. It is the biggest man made structure on earth and is said to be the only one visible from space. However, upon going to the NASA web site (www. nasa. gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall. html) you will find some contradiction to that story.Only from low level orbit can it be made out to the unaided eye. (6) Cast Iron. In the 4th century BCE due to the prior discovery of refractory clays to allow for construction of a blast furnace that could handle the heat required to melt down iron the Chinese were able to pour and mold cast iron. That along with the use of phosphorus to reduce the heat required using coal as the fuel. With the development of annealing ploughshares, longer swords, and buildings were also using iron in their construction. (Asiasociety. Org). (7) Row Crop Planting 6th Century BC. 200 years before the western world adapted this practice the Chinese were growing stronger crops much faster than previously done by planting in rows. This process allows for greater access to the plant for watering, weeding, and harvesting along with greater protection for the plant from the elements. This practice is still used today as it still remains the perfect way to grow and harvest. (8) Deep Drilling. Around the 1st Century BC the technology to drill deep bore holes using equipment that would be recognizable today.They used Derricks that towered has high as 180 feet and could reach depths of 4800 feet. They captured natural gas i n bamboo tubes to use as fuel for evaporating water by boiling brine to produce salt. There is also evidence that they may have burned it in lanterns for light. It wasn’t until the 1800’s before western nations adapted the use of deep drilling. (9) Porcelain. To this day Chinese porcelain is prized by all cultures. The process of using materials such as glass and mineral compounds in a kiln at high heat. Invented during the Sui Dynasty and perfected in the Tang Dynasty most notably by Tao-yue (c. 08 – c. 678). By the time the Sung Dynasty it reached its peak around the 10th century. It wasn’t until over 500 years later the monopoly was broken by a German Physicist Tschirnhausen who invented European porcelain. Generally speaking most scholars believe the 1st four I have in order are the most important contributions to humanity. Although the greatest written works of man may have eventually reached the pages of a book using other materials other than paper . And printing hadn’t been created when it was following paper by the Chinese.Take the time to consider the Chinese were hundreds of years or more ahead of the west so think how many works would have been lost if man continued to carve in wood and write on cloth. And of course Gun Powder which led to fireworks and firearms. And lastly the compass so one can find their way home at the end of the fireworks show. I think the greatest invention from the Chinese is their diverse culture. China is one of the four ancient civilizations (alongside Babylon, India, and Egypt) with 3600 years of written history. Out of the nine I have chosen Cast Iron which eventually became steel as something I couldn’t live without as I do.The Chinese invented the process but it wasn’t perfected until a British inventor names Henry Bessemer mass produced it in his facility in Sheffield, England in 1856. Steel is still produced using the process of blowing air through molten pig iron to o xidize the material to separate the impurities. Why would I choose cast iron and steel? All my life I have worked with iron and steel. I build cars and restore them by welding in new metal where old has rusted away. I build iron gates and art work with iron and steel. I have my work adorning many friends and family’s homes.The art of blacksmithing holds great interest for me. What other material on earth is so strong yet can be heated and molded into any shape. While doing research for this paper I ran into some of the writings of Shen Kuo. We have been studying the Renaissance of Italy. Shen Kuo was the Leonardo da Vinci of China. He was a mathematician, astronomer, meteorologist, geologist, zoologist, botanist, pharmacologist, agronomist, archeologist, ethnographer, cartographer, encyclopedias, general, diplomat, hydraulic engineer, inventor, academy chancellor, finance minister and it goes on.In the Song Dynasty he was the head of the bureau of astronomy in the Song court. One of the greatest Western sinologists of this century, Joseph Needham wrote â€Å"The Science and Civilization in China†. This Book is now one of the main references about Shen Kuo’s work in a western language. What this tells me is that genius is not limited to the west or east. The Renaissance was not limited to the west. Great minds are of the nature of the human race. They don’t come around that often. But every century has had a few of them since the eginning of man. And China has had their fair share dating back to the origin of what is China! References Secrets of Lost Empires (The Science Forum 2007) Bodde, Derk (1991). Chinese Thought, Society, and Science. On Shen Kuo. The Needham Research Institute (NRI), home of the Science and Civilization in China project. (www. nasa. gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall. html) (The Franklin Institute, 2012). The Humanities: Culture, Continuity, & Change: Volume 1 Second edition.

Hcr/210 Week 6 Checkpoint

Record Organization HCR/210 January 15, 2012 There are a few differences and similarities among small, medium, and large facilities concerning the organization of patient records and in how they handle loose reports. I have noticed that most facilities prefer that their loose records are permanently anchored in their charts, which makes sense to me because it prevents the loose reports from being misplaced and lost. However, the different sizes of facilities tend to organize patient files differently according to each particular facility’s policies. The most popular methods of organization that I have seen include chronologically, form numbers, report type, and category. During my review of the interview threads, I noticed a lot of similarities and a lot of differences in how patient files are handled. For example the medium and large facilities are by far more likely to use electronic files than paper ones, thus eliminating the threat of misplaced records. The most common difference that I saw was in whether or not the facilities use paper files. It seems that almost all of the medium and large facilities are using electronic files and everything automatically gets filed with the patient’s main file immediately. However, in small facilities they are much more likely to use paper files in which case everything is filed with the patient’s main record immediately in order to make it easy to locate and to prevent it from getting lost. In conclusion, whether the facility is small, medium, or large they all take special care in the organization of their files whether they are paper or electronic.

Capital Punishment Essays (4026 words) - Penology, Free Essays

Capital Punishment Essays (4026 words) - Penology, Free Essays Capital Punishment Why Capital Punishment Should be Abolished Unlike popular belief, the death penalty does not act as a deterrent to criminals. As stated by Alfred Blumstein, Expert after expert and study after study has shown the lack of correlation between the treat of the death penalty and the occurrence of violent crimes. (Blumstein 68) Isaac Ehrlich's study on the limiting effects of capital punishment in America reveals this to the public. The study spans twenty-five years, from 1957 till 1982, and shows that in the first year the study was conducted, there were 8060 murders and 6 executions. However, in the last year of the study there were 22,520 murders committed and only 1 execution performed. (Blumstein 54) This clearly shows that many violent criminals are not afraid of the capital punishment. Abolitionists believe the offenders should be required to compensate the victim's family with the offender's own income from employment or community service. There is no doubt that someone can do more alive than dead. By working, the criminal inadvert-ently pays back society and also their victim and/or victim's family. There is no reason for the criminal to receive any compensation for the work they do, because money is of no jail time. This could be considered a form of slavery to some, but it is no different from the days of being sent to the yard to break stone. One of the most well-known examples of the criminal contributing to the betterment of society is the case Leopld and Loeb. They were nineteen years old when they committed The Crime of the Century. In 1924, they kidnapped and murdered a fourteen-year-old boy just to see how it would feel to kill someone. They were both spared the death penalty and sentenced to life imprisonment. (Bedau 78) Together their accomplishments included working in hospitals, teaching the illiterate how to read, creating a correspondence school, writing a grammar book, and making significant developments in the World War II Malaria Project.(Bedau 193) An inestimable amount of people were directly helped by Leopold and Loeb, Both of tem made a conscious commitment to atone their crimes by serving others.(Bedau 217) The most widely used form of execution has been electrocution. With this method of executing a prisoner, the individual is strapped to a chair along with electrodes attached all over the body. The executioner then proceeds to throw the switch sending vast amounts of electricity flowing throughout the prisoner. During this period, the prisoners flesh burns and the body shakes violently from the overdose of electricity. When it is all over, smoke is often seen coming from the head of the corpse. (Ernest Van den Haag 135) Officials often defend this punishment as not being cruel and unusual, but how can they defend the opinion in the case of John Evans who was executed by electrocution in 1983? According to witnesses at the scene of the death of Mr. Evans, he was given three charges of electricity over a period of fourteen minutes. After the first and second charges, Mr. Evans was still conscious and smoke was coming from all over his body, as a result from his flesh burning. An official at the prison even tries to stop the execution on account of it being cruel punishment, but the man was unsuccessful. Witnesses later called the whole incident a barbaric ritual. (Haag 221) Another method of execution is the gas chamber; during this procedure a prisoner is put in a closed chamber and forced to inhale lethal fumes from a sulfuric acid and a cyanide chemical reaction. (Haag 243) According to a statement given by the U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens concerning the 1992 execution of Donald Harding, there did not seem to be any civilized aspect of the gas chamber method of executing prisoners. (Haag 259) According to the report, Harding tried to hold his breath inside the chamber. When he finally began to take in fumes, his body started going into convulsions and the muscles and veins under his skin were twitching in a wave-like motion. This execution took over eight minutes to complete, and Mr. Harding was writhing in pain for most of the time. According to officials, Harding did not fall

Bioethics Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Bioethics - Dissertation Example The main debate centres on whether and how bioethics should influence public policies to influence the some of the recent researches taking place in the arena of biotechnological sciences. Various groups see risks in these new scientific processes, their perceptions varying depending on their cultural, religious, and scientific background, governmental policies, and various other factors. The human genome project is one such area of study that has caused great concerns amongst the various social, religious, and scientific circles. The various social, legal, and ethical, implications of the new researches on the subject of human genetics have raised questions on the appropriateness of continuing in the future with such researches. This paper will explore the links between bioethics and the human genome project, and will study to find the appropriateness of this project in terms of ethical, moral, and religious values. Bioethics and the appropriateness of the human genome project 1 Met hodology All forms of undertaken research work consist of a fixed procedure, made up of a series of varying queries on the selected theme, that are systematic in nature. These systematic enquires enable the research scholar, to imbibe new knowledge on that particular theme. This thesis paper will comprise of both primary and secondary work, though the primary nature of the research work carried out in this paper is secondary research. Secondary research work generally tends to create a broader perspective for the concerned researcher to study and collect a large number of required data from various resources. The research process methodology as followed for this paper is based on the outline given by Graziano & Raulin, in their paper. Personal experience other’s research Initial idea procedures design study analysis Communication Interpretation Stimulating Others Research Fig: 3- Research process methodology by Graziano & Raulin, 2009, 40. The research paper is qualitative in nature and also uses an inductive and analytical method, which would make it easier for the researcher to come to a conclusion from various collected pieces of facts and evidences Summarily, this research process will consist of first locating all the relevant data and then studying and analyzing all the available data on this topic; then critical assumptions will be made from the gathered data; while, further supporting material will be collected to provide supporting evidence for all the opinions expressed and conclusions derived. 2 Discussion/analysis â€Å"It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material† ~ Watson & Crick (1953) The advancement in medical sciences, biology, and technology, has brought about new procedures and developments that potentially have the capability of being both beneficial and harmful, to the living world. Bioethics as a subject is primarily con cerned with the various debates and controversies

Iran and Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Iran and Nuclear Power - Essay Example Though the stockpiling of such weapons has been justified by many countries, notably the U.S., as being a deterrent for war, the dangers associated with the use of nuclear weaponry has been loudly trumpeted by politicians, scientists, scholars and the majority of the world’s citizens alike. In addition to the previously mentioned five countries considered ‘nuclear weapons states,’ and those that have tested or are suspected of possessing nuclear weapons, other countries including the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and South Africa have had nuclear capability but have since disarmed. Other countries including Argentina, Brazil, Iraq, Algeria and Libya have pursued a nuclear program in the past. Israel will confirm of deny that they have nuclear weapons capabilities (Reuters, 2005) The latest countries to pursue nuclear weapons capability is North Korea and Iran. Though North Korea signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1985, it pulled out of the treaty in 2003. In October of 2006, North Korea announced it had successfully tested a nuclear weapon at an underground site near the country’s east coast. This sent political and diplomatic shockwaves around the world though the test itself was deemed rather unspectacular. Iran announced in April of la st year that it had the ability to enrich uranium which is an essential phase in the making of a nuclear weapon. However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has steadfastly claimed that Iran only plans to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and intends to continue enrichment on a much larger scale. Following this announcement, the UN Security Council has put forth a resolution which, in effect, insists that Iran must immediately discontinue any and all enrichment activities (â€Å"The Nuclear Club†, 2006). Some suggest that Iran is not escalating the fanatical rhetoric or aggressive actions because it has