Should Abortion Be Made Legal Essay Example

Should Abortion Be Made Legal Essay The debate over whether or not abortion should be a legal option continues to divide Americans long after the US Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision on Roe v. Wade declared the procedure a fundamental right† on Jan. 22, 1973. Proponents, identifying themselves as pro-choice, contend that abortion is a right that should not be limited by governmental or religious authority, and which outweighs any right claimed for an embryo or fetus.They argue that pregnant women will resort to unsafe illegal abortions if there is no legal option. Opponents, identifying themselves as pro-life, assert that personhood begins at conception, and therefore abortion is the immoral killing of an innocent human being. They say abortion inflicts suffering on the unborn child, and that it is unfair to allow abortion when couples who cannot biologically conceive are waiting to adopt etuses are incapable of feeling pain when an abortion is performed according to Stuart W.G. Derbyshire, PhD, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham (England). Not only has the biological development not yet occurred to support pain experience, but the environment after birth, so necessary to the development of pain experience, is also yet to occur. etuses are incapable of feeling pain when an abortion is performed according to Stuart W. G. Derbyshire, PhD, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham (England). Not only has the biological development not yet occurred to support pain experience, but the environment after birth, so necessary to the development of pain experience, is also yet to occur. etuses are incapable of feeling pain when an abortion is performed according to Stuart W. G. Derbyshire, PhD, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham (England). Not only has the biological development not yet occurred to support pain experience, but the environment after birth, so necessary to the development of pain experience, is also yet to occur.

Herbal Practices essays

Herbal Practices essays Echinacea. Chiropractic. Gingko Biloba. Acupuncture. What do all these have in common? They are all part of what is known collectively as 'alternative medicine ¡. Readers may not be surprised to find disciplines such as  ¡Therapeutic Touch ¡ and acupuncture grouped under this label, but may be shocked to find that some seemingly well-established remedies such as chiropractic and vitamin supplements possess little or no scientific evidence for their claims. Partially for this reason, it is hard to (1) identify exactly what alternative medicine is and (2) what should be done about it. Alternative medicine, primarily, is any discipline claiming to alleviate health problems which relies on an uncorroborated theory  ¡V that is, a theory which has little or no scientific evidence to back it up. (It is a common misconception that testimonials can somehow count as evidence that a practice works, and this is used often in commercials. Even if the testimonial is sincere, it is quite possible that a treatment has nothing to do with a recovery. Testimonials are often guilty of post hoc ergo prompter hoc, or  ¡after which, therefore because of ¡.) This means any of a plethora of practices may fall under the blanket term. Many alternative medicine (or 'AM ¡) disciplines have been proven to have no detectable effect on patients, and yet still have adherents  ¡V practitioners of Krieger ¡s Therapeutic Touch, for instance, have proven unable to detect the 'human energy field ¡ their discipline insists all humans have (Rosa et. Al. 1008). Nevertheless, thousands of nurses still practice it. Other disciplines have shown themselves to produce some benefit, but are based on theories with no backing. Chiropractic care, for instance, can relieve back pain through spinal manipulation; but the theory behind chiropractic  ¡V the 'theory of subluxators ¡, which  ¡states that misaligned or 'subluxated ¡ vertebrae cause 'nerve interference tha...

Basic Hydraulic Systems

Basic Hydraulic Systems Every hydraulic system has a minimum number of basic components regardless of its design and function. The fundamental components of the hydraulic system include pump, reservoir, directional valve, check valve, pressure relieve valve, selector valve, actuator, and filter. An open center system has fluid flowing, with any pressure in the system when the actuating mechanisms are idle. The pump disperses the fluid from the reservoir through the selector valves and return to the reservoir. The open center system may engage a several subsystems, with a selector valve for every subsystem. The selector valve of the open center system is connected in series with each other. In this arrangement, the system pressure line will go through each selector valve. The fluid is allowed free passage through the selector valve and return to the reservoir until one of the selector valves is ready to operate a mechanism. When one of the selector valves is set to operate an actuating device, fluid is flowing from the pump through one of the working line to the actuator. When the selector valve is set in this position, the fluid flow to the reservoir is blocked. The system overcome the resistance by using the pressure build up in it and move the piston of the actuation cylinder, fluid from the opposite end of the actuator will returns to the selector valve and return to the reservoir. The operation of the system after actuation of the component will depends on the type of the selector valve that has been used. Many types of selector are used together with the open center system. One of the types is both manually engaged and manually disengaged. The valve is manually moved to an operating position. Then, the actuating mechanism reaches the end of the operating cycle, and the output of the pump continue until the pressure is relieves by the system relief valve. The relief valve dismount and allows the fl uid to return to the reservoir. The system pressure remains at the relief valve set pressure until the selector valve is returned manually to the neutral position. It reopens the open center flow and let the system pressure to drop to line resistance pressure.

Discuss the differences between PCR and QPCR. If you were designing an Essay

Discuss the differences between PCR and QPCR. If you were designing an experiment to study gene expression describe the main steps you would use. What would - Essay Example Real-time chemistries permit the detection of PR amplification early on. Quantification of the kinetics of the reaction at its onset defines the distinguished advantage of QPCR over traditional PCR. Moreover, these conventional methods utilize Aragose gels for detection of PCR amplification at the final stage of the PCR reaction (Dharmaraj, S. 2005; Kawamoto, S., Tadashi, O., Kita, H., Chisaka,O., & Okubo, K. 1999). End-point PCR has several constraints; for one, aragose gel results are obtained at the end of the reaction, which may prove to be very tedious and time-consuming. Results may not be available until after several days. One other advantage of QPCR is its capacity to capture even the slightest differences in the variable sample yields, which may not be as accurately measured through conventional aragose gels. It may also prove to be more difficult because of the very poor resolution of aragose gel, estimated to be about 10-fold (Dharmaraj, S. 2005). In contrast, QPCR is sensitive enough to detect a two-fold change. In summary, the following are the marked disadvantages on the use of traditional PCR: poor precision, low sensitivity, short dynamic range

Emblazoned symbols of decadence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emblazoned symbols of decadence - Essay Example By using various symbols as literary devices in the poem, the poet is able to successfully illustrate what he felt like and the painful processes he underwent as he lived the life of a prisoner within the harsh confines of a remote relocation camp. The powerful imagery and relatable concepts Okita manages to muster out of concrete nouns help him to masterfully paint mental pictures of what he and 110,000 other Japanese Americans emotionally went through from 1942 to 1946. Being forced into internment camps was a very invasive and demoralizing experience for Japanese Americans, and Okita eloquently captures the essence of how they felt by relating this hardship to a turtle’s smashed shell, which symbolizes not only the gutted houses they had to leave behind, but their squashed pride and self-respect. the middle of the poem, Okita relays how his neighbor Jimmi described the way people prepared turtle soup in the deep south as a way to symbolize what he went through as a result o f being displaced, â€Å"A huge sea turtle ─ take a sledge hammer to the massive shell, wedge it open with one simple, solid blow till the turtle can feel no home above him, till everything is taken away and there is nothing he will carry away from this moment,† (Schmidt and Crockett 331). Without the poet spelling it out, the reader can easily see that victims of internment camps underwent a painful process similar to that of a turtle being stripped of his shell, which represents the security of his home. The reader understands that once the shell (home) is taken away and destroyed, much of the defenseless victim’s identity and self-worth is stolen away, as well. The vivid imagery of the turtle, which symbolizes both Japanese Americans (body) and their ravaged homes (crushed shell), is used as a precision instrument to artfully and poignantly depict the tragedy that wartime prisoners endured. Okita also goes on to use a barbed wire fence as a symbol to draw an image of the harsh conditions faced by detainees, as well as the different perspective from which they viewed life. The poet draws on the past pleasure he took in counting stars from his home in Fresno, California, where he often sang with the joy it brought him - gazing at the celestial wonders. He then describes the stars he sees in his Arkansas internment camp, which are accompanied by the sharp, unattractive stars made from barbed wire fences, â€Å"The nice thing about counting stars is you can do it just about anywhere . . . Even in a relocation camp miles from home, even in Jerome, Arkansas where a barbed wire fence crisscrosses itself making stars of its own - but nothing worth counting, nothing worth singing to,† (331). The barbed wire fence symbolizes the constraints from enjoying the world the way it was meant to be, while the fake stars it forms are symbolic of how internment camps provide horrible substitutes for real (enjoyable) life on the outside. These litera ry conventions give the reader a better grasp of what life was really like inside the confines of the camps. Lastly, Okita uses the imagery of his family’s car before and during his internment to symbolize the condition of the detainees and their lives. He creatively does this while recounting about his mother, â€Å"At night, she’

How One Film Demonstrates Features Which Can Be Considered as Post-Modern Essay Example for Free

How One Film Demonstrates Features Which Can Be Considered as Post-Modern Essay Film within the post-modern genre simply illustrates the ideas of postmodernism through expressive art. Postmodern can be defined as a â€Å"genre of art and literature†¦ in reaction against principles and practices of established modernism† In this essay I will be outlining the key concepts as well as characteristics that can be found in a post modern film. Postmodern cinema contradicts the typical principle of narrative structure and the portrayal of the characters. One film I believe illustrates these ideologies is Quentin Tarantino’s film Pulp Fiction. Released when postmodern films were at its peek. Pulp Fiction has to be one of cinemas most iconic films of all time. Due to the uncertainty of the characters and the stylised yet ambiguous nature of the plot, Pulp fiction is not only to be branded intriguing but also a great example of postmodern. Work by theorists such as Fredric Jameson, will be looked at to help with the analysis of the chosen film. By doing so this helps prove that key concepts which are present within the film such as pastiche, irony, fragmentation and parody are perceptions that together make up a postmodern film proving that pulp fiction is a good illustration. The use of pastiche is present throughout the film. Pastiche allows the emergence of differing techniques to form together in order to create a new structure. Replications of renowned film makers work has been used in order for an updated equally creative film to be produced. Anything from words, phrases, visual, and musical patterns can be used, by doing so it demonstrates that postmodern film is a combination of a variety of texts, styles and skills. Many theorists have spoken openly about their disproval of pastiche. Theorist Fredric Jameson for example even goes as far as to refer to pastiche as a â€Å"dead language†. In the book Postmodern Culture Fredric Jameson writes about the decline of new art, he writes â€Å"in a world in which stylistic innovation is no longer possible, all that is left is to imitate dead styles† (Jameson,1995 ) Even though â€Å"plagiarism of older plots†(Jameson, 1995) occurs in some films it can be argued that by this technique being used it allows an ingenious reinvention of a classic, to be made. One of the first indications of pastiche in Pulp Fiction takes place in the third scene where Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) enter the house. When Vincent is directed to the place where the brief case is, and opens it he is to be met by a bright glow, the scenes shows similar replication to a 1950s film in the film noir genre; called kiss me deadly. Where in both films the characters gaze adoringly in to the case, in Pulp Fiction the question of what it could possibly be is asked, considering the 666 (the mark of the anti-Christ) had to be entered into the case in order for it to be opened. Referencing to the 1950s is evident in the film, Marcellous’s wife Mia is associated with the 1950s quite a lot. The dialogue between Vincent and Mia is reminiscent to what would be said in a 1950s film. This idea is highlighted again when she chooses to go to a 1950s themed restaurant. The language and the setting break’s away from the usual formatting of the film which up until now consisted of violence. Mia being so much associated with the 1950s is rather ironic as you automatically associate the 1950s and women to be calm and innocent. We soon find this not to be the case as she is soon after shown taking drugs in the bathroom. Another example of pastiche within the film would be when Marcellous got raped. After his traumatic experience he tells Butch that he’s going to get his men to work on Zed with a â€Å"pair of pliers and a blow torch†. A line that was famously taken from the film Charley Varrick. The use of parody is another postmodern feature that is evident in pulp fiction. Like pastiche parody is also the imitation of a person’s previous work. Even though they may seem the same, the two techniques in fact contrast one another. Parody imitates film through cynicism whilst pastiche emulates true form. According to Jameson the use of parody emphasises a films distinctiveness through mockery, he rightly declares â€Å"now parody capitalises the uniqueness of these styles and seizes on their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities to produce a imitation which mocks the original† (Jameson,1995 ) The sarcastic tone to situations that can be considered to be serious are ridiculed whilst random partially irrelevant scenes are present at times. This technique easily can be seen as an attack on history however it also can be perceived as a humorous take on a scene or situation of something of importance. According to Linda Hutcheon â€Å"pastiche usually has to remain within the same genre as its model, whereas parody allows for adaptation† (Hutcheon1989). Parody allows the script to differentiate away from the original and become a voice and vision of its own, helping create a new meaning to the scene. Parody allows the script to differentiate away from the original and become a voice and vision of its own, helping create a new meaning to the scene. An example of parody is shown in the film is in the scene where Butch is a young boy. He receives a visit from a friend of his father who died at war. On first appearances you as the audience not only are intrigued but curious to find out what is going on. What seems to be something of importance is soon dismissed as the soldier goes on to talk about how Butch’s birth right was hidden up his and Butch’s fathers â€Å"ass† for seven years. Another element which is evident is the exploitation of words and situations being used in order to suggest the opposite of their intended meaning. Pulp Fiction explores this feature in the form of irony. The three types of irony used are: irony of fate, verbal irony and dramatic irony. Together the three different varieties of irony merge collectively providing a witty script. The scene where the two men in suits (Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta) approach the door and enters, is a prime example of dramatic irony. This is due to fact that we know something bad is going to take place. The audience knows more than the characters in the film, making us to wonder what will happen next. The sarcastic tone in the conversation Jules is having with one of the victims, too adds to the suspense as his tone is not serious â€Å"do you mind if I have some of your tasty beverage to wash this down? The dialogue is rather confusing as you immediately think that your interpretation of events must be wrong and once again are left not knowing what is going to happen next. Before killing the victim Jules recites a biblical verse â€Å"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brothers keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will trike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee† (Ezekiel 25:17). The irony behind this is that he associates God with assignation. His act has now become justified in a deluded way. Whereas before God was associated with negativity in regards to Jules in the end it was the â€Å"divine intervention† of God that also saved him from the life of violence. Jules’ epiphany came when he was close to death it was this same epiphany that saved the thieves in the diner at the end. An example of irony of fate would have to be when Butch runs into Marcellous at the traffic lights. This is ironic as Butch escapes being killed due to Marcellous putting out a warrant for him. The scene continues to show irony as the two of them end up being put in a compromising situation in which they end up needing the help of the other for their own survival. Marvin’s death in the car is an additional case of irony of fate. He ends up being shot accidentally minutes after his life was spared. This is tragic as in Marvin’s case he was killed due to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The complex nature of the film means that pulp fiction contains multiple storylines making it a story within a story. This fragmented form â€Å"deliberately discontinuous narratives†¦to suggest the fragmentation and breaks-up of formerly accepted systems of thought and belief† (Tim Woods, 1999). This particular feature is vital and takes place through out. The mergence from one thing into the next forces those watching to construct and figure out the story for themselves. Fragmentation has a real role of importance in Pulp fiction as the distorted storyline enables the audience to have empathy for the characters. The beginning of the film which we later find out is in fact the end, starts off with a mid way conversation between a man and a women. Only seconds into the movie and already the audience is left unsure of what it is they are talking about and what is going on in the scene. After a confusing dialogue between the two people which lasts only a few minutes the scene ends with a frozen image of the two of them. Not knowing what is going on is a theme which is explored throughout the film. Like in the first scene the scene following, too starts off with a conversation which has already started â€Å"okay so tell me again bout the hash bar† by doing so again the audience are unaware of what is taking place and feel the need to construct the story for themselves. A different example in the scene â€Å"Vincent Vega and Marsellus Wallace’s wife† introduces another character which the film later reveals is one of three protagonist characters Butch. Like the formatting of the other scenes a conversation is already taking place when the scene begins. The scene continues and Vincent and Jules randomly enter wearing t-shirts and shorts. It is only nearer to the end of the film that we find out why they are wearing what they are wearing. As the film draws to an end the first scene in the diner is explained in the last scene. The audience later find out that both Vincent and Jules are in fact present at the robbery. With his new morally correct path in which Jules wants to pursue he spares them their lives even though they had a gun pointed in his face. After an extensive look into postmodern film and the role in which it plays in the formation of film, it is evident that it is these features that make the films what they are, despite it contrasting the conventions of typical film. Borrowing plot lines from other well known sources, the use of sarcasm when imitating art, irony and perplexity are just a few descriptions, you could find within this genre. Even though at times these features have been questioned as well as criticised, in the end the final product at times are fascinating, a good example of this theory defiantly lies in the film pulp fiction. Pulp fiction forces the audience not to conform to the conventional ideas of film but instead consider a new way of understanding and acknowledge film. The concepts effectively add a new type of understanding to a collective of ideologies, allowing the reader to witness many different transitions that occurs within life through the characters. The relation between postmodernism and film has been openly criticised yet applauded by theorists. The lack of originality is the main focal point in regards to the subject with some theorist even referring it to plagiarism. Quentin Tarantino disproves this theory as his work is a prime example of originality and uniqueness that can come out of postmodern film in spite of pastiche, parody, irony and fragmentation being used.

Essay --

Introduction From 1692 to 1693 in Boston Massachusetts many people were accused of practicing witchcraft. In this year close to 200 people were accused of practicing the â€Å"devils magic† and they were put on trial with the possibility of the final verdict of either life or death. This dark magic was commonly associated with random outburst, screaming, and certain positions foreign to those around them, and other things people found were out of the norm and unnatural. During this time people lived a puritan lifestyle, the devil was made very real, and this conservative and rigid lifestyle gave way to a strong belief in the devil. A total of nineteen people were hung During the Salem Witch Trials because of their conformation with the devil and their practice of witchcraft.† June 10th; Bidget Bishop, July 19th; Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Wildes, August 19th; George Burroughs, Martha Carrier, John Willard, George Jacobs, Sr, John Proctor, September 22nd; Martha Corey, Mary Eastey, Ann Pudeator, Alice Parker Wilmott Redd, Margaret Scott, Samuel Wardwell.† Those accuses in Salem, Boston Massachusetts, were believed to be seduced by the devils magic. Those accused, regardless of being guilty or not were brought into court and were pushed through the legal process. The court held each person to the same accountability, guilty until proven innocent. Each person was taken to jail, later to be asked series of questions by the magistrate to determine their confrontation with the devil and the many things that the devil influenced. In the government of today’s s ociety the same process is given to those that are accused of a crime, then having the evidence go to a grand jury, there deciding whether there ... ... the town of its evil, or the guilty, those that disturb the peace of our society, but in doing so they have not protected the innocent. During the Salem witch trials there were three things that were vital during the trail of finding a witch or wizard, â€Å"confession, testimony of two eye witnesses to acts of witches, and spectral evidence.† The process in which people are out on trial today are based upon five pieces of evidence; faulty eye witness of identification, false confessions, jail house informant testimony, perjury, prosecutorial misconduct. The Salem Witch trials had faith in this system believing all it took to find the guilty was were solely these pieces of evidence. Society and the citizens of today have the same trust in the judicial system today that it will protect. The system of the United States, aims to protect the innocent and lock up the guilty,

Boxing as a Metaphor

A film perhaps, could be considered as one of the most powerful medium in the field of communication. Creativity, per se, is a major factor in coming up with this kind of output. Not everyone is entitled that sense of creativity and at the same time, substance that would cater a â€Å"must-see† movie for all. Also, in coming up with a film, a film maker has all the means to incorporate underlying themes or messages in the film being produced.Some of the film makers have been successful in using this techniques, some, meanwhile, were not able to make their audience realize that their movies had something say beyond the denotative objects and situations in the film. Two of the films which incorporated metaphors or underlying themes on it are: Triumph of the Spirit and the Boxer and Death. The two mainly focused on the life of the protagonists with relation to boxing. Boxing was used as a form of metaphor in the said films. Triumph of the Spirit: An OverviewThe Triumph of the Spi rit was based on a true story of a boxer which took place during a Holocaust; it was released in 1989. Directed by Robert Young, it was the first ever film to be shot in the death camp of Auschwitz. Every detail was vividly shown in the film. Every detail was presented accurately—from the bread thrown into their dinner plates up to the wooden shoes that were worn by the prisoners. The movie is a true story focused on an Auschwitz concentration camp inmate named Salmo Arouch. Salmo, who was a boxing champion, was forced to be involved in a series of boxing bouts which tallied 200 win-or-die contests.â€Å"BOXING AS A METAPHOR† PAGE#2 The contest was conceptualized by the camp’s guards as they see it as a form of entertainment. The movie was set during the Holocaust of the Second World War which can be considered as one of the darkest parts of the modern history. The movie was made in the superlative description of authenticity. The film was basically about a boxe r named Salamo (played by William Dafoe). He was a Greek Jew who was sent to Auschwitz who almost died in the hands of the Nazi who captured him. He did not die as the Nazi learned that he was a champion boxer.The Nazi captors, seeking for some sort of entertainment, set a Boxing match, wherein Salamo won. The boxing matches continued with money involved. At least once a week, the Nazi captors would gather to drink and eat and also to watch their prisoners pound one another. Salamo was stuck in a very difficult situation. He would accidentally kill his opponent during bouts, or else, he himself would die. One of the camp’s gypsy prisoners (played by Edward James Olmos) appeared to be a fixer who would engage himself in a black market mainly focused on persuasion and bribery.Later, he became involved in Salamo’s plan to save his father in the prison. Unfortunately, the name of Salamo’s father was included in the list of those who would soon disappear. And when Sa lamo asked him if there anything that he could do to save his father, he merely replied, â€Å"Nothing, unless someone can be found to take his place. † â€Å"BOXING AS A METAPHOR† PAGE#3 The next predictable scene was that Salamo offered himself to replace his father. He volunteered that his name be included in the list of those who would soon disappear instead of his father.But he never really pushed through his plan. Only a few of the detainees of the Nazi captors managed to survive the Holocaust. Of course, many of them just chose to die instead of enduring the pain of the torture that had happened. But those who did not want to die, died anyway. Salamo managed to survive the Holocaust for he won enough fights during the â€Å"boxing contests. † The title of the movie was dubbed as â€Å"The Triumph of the Spirit. † Where did the concept of triumph become evident in the film? Salamo received his own triumph in the expense of his opponents.Another flaw that could be inferred in the movie is that it never really â€Å"introduced† the other characters—not even those who had significant roles. They were not even given their respective names. Basically, Triumph of the Spirit showed the horrors that can be inferred from the Holocaust part of the Second World War. Triumph of the Spirit: Boxing as a Metaphor Although boxing was not really the focus of the film, boxing was used to convey underlying themes and messages by the film maker. Salmo was a boxer during one of the darkest stages of the modern history.The story evolved on repression and abuse that happened among the prisoners perpetuated by the Nazi. â€Å"BOXING AS A METAPHOR† PAGE#4 The understanding of the film would entail a lot of creativity and a deeper comprehension of what was really the main point of the film. Basically, the main and obvious theme of the movie was â€Å"survival of the fittest. † â€Å"Survival of the fittest† would best describe that 200 win-or-die contest. The concentration camp appeared to be a place where you have only two choices—to continue to live or to accept death.That is, if you are strong enough to beat and â€Å"kill† your fellow inmates. Boxing appeared to be a manifestation of the cruelty and brutality that happened in the concentration camp. The movie also reflected a significant part of the history where the detainees of the Nazi captors had to go through all the hardship that the circumstance had to offer. Disappointingly, the movie also portrayed an individualist theme. In order for Salamo to survive he had to â€Å"unintentionally kill† his opponents who were also his co-inmates. Those who would not win the bouts were subjected to execution.The movie also assumed that the viewers were already oriented of the basics of the Holocaust. Boxing represents the struggles that the characters had to go through. Despite the flaws that could be observed in the film, the film maker was creative enough to use boxing as a metaphor in the movie. Boxing, aside from the struggles, could also signify as a defense mechanism against the Nazi captors. Boxing was portrayed as something which could save one’s life. In the case of Salamo, boxing became his â€Å"breathing apparatus. † â€Å"BOXING AS A METAPHOR† PAGE#5If not because of boxing, he might have died and his bouts did not reach to 200. Amazing how the film maker was able to come up with a metaphor that the viewers could dwell into. In life, just like in boxing, we have to get up whenever we are punched down. We have to maximize all the means that we have for us to survive. Ironically, the opponents of Salamo perhaps signified the hardships and problems that he had during the Holocaust era. Although quite inhumane, the bouts represented his winning over the predicaments that he had to face. His knowledge about boxing—or life rather—made him survive all of these.

Stereotypes: An Interview

The other day I had a discussion with my roommate about the social psychological idea of stereotyping. I found it interesting how much I felt like she was contradicting herself. But in my opinion, I do not find it surprising that she did, because I feel like most people at the point in our lives (college students) do try and not prejudge people, but do anyway. When I asked how guilty she felt she was about stereotyping people, she said it depends on what she s stereotyping, but she does not feel like she does it too much. She also said she does not feel like she belongs in a particular social group and she also feels like there are exceptions in some stereotypical groups. For example, if there were a group of black guys standing on the street, some people would automatically assume that they were up to no good. But my roommate feels like if she saw this group with one of the guys dressed nicely, she could point him out as one exception the one who would probably not be doing any harm. When I asked if she treats people differently right away because of how she has prejudged them, she answered that she does not treat them differently and that she tries not to prejudge at all. However, she does pick out a stereotypical group for a stranger before she meets them, a lot of times, and they do normally end up being what she expects. This proves the theory of the self- fulfilling prophecy to be correct. Whereas some people still tend to put some people they do know as well as strangers into stereotypical groups, my roommate does not. She said once she gets to know someone, on the acquaintance level, she does not stereotype them as much and does not really feel that they belong to a certain groups such as the preps or the jocks. And she also feels that getting to know the person does have an effect on how she feels because the more I get to know them, the less I stereotype them. When I asked if she thought any groups should have a higher self esteem because of what group they seem to be placed with (i. e. snobs or nerds ), she said no, as long as each person is doing everything they can do to keep their lives running well. On the topic of sex she feels that there are extreme stereotypes between men and women. I feel it has gone down over the years, but it definitely still exists; it could be improved; and women are degraded. She really believes there should be equality in every aspect of life between the sexes. However, she sees one stereotype about women that she can agree with is that women are a lot easier to talk to, and are more open-minded and liberal than men. On the topic of race, she feels as though all races judge and stereotype each other such as whites thinking all blacks are on welfare. She said in the case of race, she agrees with some of the stereotypes, but only because she feels that they are based on facts and evidence. Such as, a larger percentage of whites have jobs and less whites are on welfare than other races. But despite all this, she does not overall agree with stereotyping races. In conclusion, when I asked if she thinks the activity of stereotyping will ever end, she said, No, I don t believe stereotyping will ever entirely end. She also said that people should make an effort to see past all stereotypes, good or bad.

Definition of Race Essays - Social Constructionism, Free Essays

Definition of Race Essays - Social Constructionism, Free Essays Definition of Race Victoria Mullally SOC/262 February 29, 2016 Erica Lloyd Race defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary is a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits ("race," n.d.). Over time race is has proven to be so much more than that. The current view of race is more socially constructed than it is biological. Traditionally race has been looked at in a biological manner. This means that race was defined simply by viewing people by biologically inherited factors. (I.e. DNA) Obviously DNA is a small portion of what people consider to be a racial distinction. Biological factors are scientific. This also means that they will never change. Blacks would be considered black in all parts of world as would whites. However, this is not the case. A person who could be categorized as black in the United States might be considered white in Brazil or colored in South Africa. (Onwuachi-Willig, 2015, para. 1). If race remained a scientific/biological construct it would not change based on a persons view. In todays society the science of race is lost. People view race in a manner of their own personal perception. If a person views themselves as a superior race their reasoning will be considerably different than that of another, whom considers themselves superior. One person may consider themselves superior due to their wealth, while another may consider themselves superior due to their religious background. With the many variations in what society considers race its no wonder race is such a dominate factor in American culture. Race is a socially constructed concept. (Schaefer, 2014, p. 9). Race only matters so much in America because we use it to define so many things. The creation of racial groups, ethnic groups, and gender groups simply goes to show how much emphasis is put on race. Racial groups are how people group those based on apparent physical differences. Ethnic groups are how people are grouped by national origin or distinctive cultural patterns. Gender groups are obviously the separation of males and females. By using these different groups you are essentially being racist. People within these groups have no choice of being a part of them. By society differentiating people in this way racism is going to be a never ending battle. Traditional views of race hindered the assimilation of underserved groups because race was a factor. By differentiating people by race we inhibit their assimilation into American society. I feel this is true because once people feel threatened by their race they hold onto it. If people assimilate to a society that is so set on race, they themselves give into a race conscious society. If race wasnt so important, then assimilating into American society would be less of a battle for underserved groups. All people of America would be much happier if they were not defined by any type of race, whether that is the traditional view or the contemporary view. The new definition of race in contemporary America is closely related to the melting pot approach. I feel that this is the only definition that still works because America is not changing for the better. In a melting pot approach it is defined as a place where different peoples, styles, and theories are mixed. ("Google", n.d.). This to me sounds like America. All different people, their styles, and theories are mixed together in one place. Although I do not feel as though these differences are melted. This is also why I would consider contemporary America as more of a salad bowl. A salad has different parts that are tossed together, but fail to mix/melt. I feel as though pluralism is what America should be working towards. Pluralism is about coexisting. If everyone in America felt that what they thought, how they dressed, what they looked like, and what religion they practiced were not being judged they would be able to coexist. Being able to coexist means being able to learn from one another. Learning from each other is the way the world should work. Finding new approaches to life rather than judging and hindering others for being different would make America a more beautiful place to live. There are a lot of freedoms we have in America, but escape from the idea

Marital conflicts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marital conflicts - Research Paper Example Marital Conflict Introduction Marriage in U.S society Marriage is a foundational relationship in American society. According to Gottman and Carrere (1994), 90% of Americans will marry in their lifetime. However, it is found that nearly 44 percent of marriages end in divorce (Teachman, 2009). United States government data demonstrated a slight dip in the divorce rate from the 1980s to the 1990s (Teachman, 2009). However, there is a clear trend in U.S. documented history that divorce is a more viable option for couples, and the dip is negligible. It is also significant to note that many couples that stay together remain unhappy in the relationship for years According to these figures, marriage truly is a risky undertaking in American society. In addition, culture in the United States has been shaped by the growing trend of divorce. The increase of single-parent homes and the financial burdens associated with them, custody battles, and the negative effect on some children of divorce imp act American society. Teachman, (2009) reported negative effects of divorce on parents and children that most children of divorce had demonstrated some emotional distress and behavioral problems. In a study by Rogers (2004), this idea is supported, as she found that young children (under the age of 6) whose parents divorce may be at risk for developmental and behavioral problems. Divorce in U.S. culture does not occur in a vacuum but ripples through society. It destroys families and creates insecurity in children. Divorced adults must pick up the pieces emotionally, financially, and socially and start over, while mending the brokenness of the past. Addressing the communication difficulties couples have before the relationship comes to divorce or separation is important. Divorce is not the answer to the fading communicative abilities of U.S. culture. Many couples find that the problems and unhappiness they faced as individuals while married continue after divorce. Often partners assu me their spouse is the source of their unhappiness. In some cases this may be true, in many it is not. Also, partners assume there will no longer be arguments once they divorce. This is also not likely true. Couples often still argue once they are divorced, especially when they have children together. Divorce is not an easy solution to the work of marriage. Therefore, it is imperative for studies to be done that can be applied practically and can help mental health practitioners develop better understanding of how marriages can succeed, how conflict can be better managed, and how couples can adapt to one another in order to create a healthy, sustained relationship. Nature of Marriage: The Presence of Conflict The marriage relationship provides the possibility of great connectedness and communication. It also provides the opportunity for hurt and relational brokenness that extends beyond the two individuals within the marriage. Rainey (1997) explained, "No other human relationship ca n approach the potential for intimacy and oneness than can be found within the context of the marriage commitment. And yet no other relationship can bring with it as many adjustments, difficulties and even hurts" (p. 10). To succeed, marriages require work-work that is focused in the right direction.

Students are expected to write a case study with a final report of Essay

Students are expected to write a case study with a final report of 3000 words on the modus operandi and the present impact, at n - Essay Example This paper is being undertaken in order to seek a detailed discussion of the yakuza crime organization, helping this student understand the activities of the group and establishing specific details which would distinguish it from other organized crime groups. The yakuza organization became the organization it has become today at around the late 1800s under the leadership of Toyama Mitsuru (Butler and Kaplan, p. 40). Mitsuru founded the Genyosha Society and his main aid, Uchida formulated the Amur River Society. These groups dominated in activities like prostitution, gambling, entertainment, liquor, and other activities like dockside labour (Chemko). They also engaged in the 1960s and 1970s in drugs and arms trade. This group has also been highly connected with other organized crime groups, including the Sicilian Mafia, American Mafia, Colombian drug cartels, and the Chinese triads (Chemko). This group has long been recognized in Japan as a normal part of their history and activities, especially with its associations with politicians and rich businessmen. They have also become engaged in the international arena, not necessarily in areas with Japan nationals (Chemko). The current organization was organized in the mid-1600s and was identified to have engaged in gambling and street vending during its inception (Chemko). Protection for other members no matter the circumstance was one of the main qualities of this group. The members were expected to do everything necessary in order to protect their fellow members. When industrialization was introduced in the country, the group followed the trend and set-up businesses in industrialized activities, including dockside labour and construction (Bruno). Interest in policies also followed, and with it, strong associations with politicians were soon forged. Associations between the police/law enforcement officers and the yakuza were also established (Bruno). During the Second World War, the yakuza posed the most significant threat to the American troops. Food rations were given to soldiers and this caused the proliferation of the black marker, including higher resources for the yakuza and other criminal organizations (Fulford, p. 66). Street vendors, known as the gurentai gained strength, often carrying out bank robberies at the black markets. Soon enough, the American and other foreign troops played a strong role in the yakuza’s habit of wearing black suits, white shirts and black sunglasses (Chemko). They also relinquished their customary swords for firearms and became even more violent. There were about 5000 gangs during these times and with the influence of Yoshio Kodama, they were soon united and included in the major crime group known as the yakuza (Gangland). This group has traditionally considered itself a helper – a Robin Hood of sorts. Before the courts were in existence in Japan, individuals usually went to the yakuza to seek the settlement of their disputes (Gangland). However , the process of resolution often included harsh actions which were not seen when recourse from legal authorities was carried out. There are two kinds of yakuza. The first are the free yakuza which were considered outcasts of society and were not linked with other organizations (Chemko). They also did not carry out serious acts, but were considered common thugs. They were also not offered any protection and were often unable to