Abstract In this paper, the author addresses many of the issues surrounding sexual harassment in the workplace, such as the risk of offensive language or jokes, perception vs. intent, and the ultimate cost of human gossip. Furthermore, the author attempts, through a more thorough look into the problems and situations surrounding the issues, to shed some light on many of the common misconceptions regarding sexual harassment.
From the Paper "Despite widespread publicity and controversy over the problem of sexual harassment in the work place the growing challenge of preventing such an act continues to infest our work places. Several recent reports indicate that despite the acknowledgment of the continuing problem of sexual harassment, many employers have yet to fully address the problem. Moreover, recent news reports indicate that sexual harassment has found its way from the grunts of the cooperate world all the way to the highest levels of management."
An analysis of the Patriot Act, which was passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and gives sweeping powers of search and surveillance to the law enforcing agencies.
Abstract This paper discusses the controversy that still surrounds the Patriot Act and examines its impact on the law enforcement agencies and the Fourth Amendment. The USA Patriot Act, which was signed as law in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, gives sweeping powers of search and surveillance to the law enforcing agencies and is aimed at eliminating the terrorist activities in the U.S. The Department of Justice and the Bush administration claim that the Patriot Act has been instrumental in preventing further terrorist attacks in the U.S. after 9/11. However, the civil libertarians claim that the Act severely compromises the civil liberties granted in the U.S. Constitution and violates the due process law of the Fourth Amendment.
From the Paper "The Bush administration and the US Department of Justice insist that the Patriot Act is not aimed at restricting civil liberties and consists of only modest, incremental changes in the law in order to preserve the lives and liberty of the American people from the challenges posed by a global terrorist network. The Department of Justice Website claims that following its passage, the Patriot Act has played a key part in a number of successful operations to protect innocent Americans from the deadly plans of terrorists. (The USA PATRIOT Act: Preserving Life and Liberty, 2003) Others such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) beg to disagree and denounce the defense of the Act by the government as misleading and dishonest. Their main worry is that the expansion of police powers and the reduction of personal privacy do not make Americans any safer from terrorists - it only allows the government to interfere with the privacy of its citizens."
Abstract This paper explains the pros and cons of human cloning and provides enough information on both sides of the argument for the reader to make his or her own informed decision on whether human cloning is ethical or not. This paper presents several areas, including the definition of cloning, an explanation of why questions concerning the cloning of humans have arisen, and a discussion of the facts and opinions that support cloning.
From the Paper "A young couple were married for only three years when the husband was in a terrible car accident. He was unconscious at the scene of the accident and went into a coma shortly after arriving at the emergency room. Although he eventually awoke from the coma, he never returned to his previous level of consciousness. He had suffered severe head trauma and would live out the rest of his days as a vegetable. The wife was very distraught because they had both wanted to have children and now they would be unable to do so. Over the past several years, she had heard a lot amount cloning but wasn't sure it could be done in her case. She believed it was the only way that she and her husband could have children together. Introduction The ethics of human cloning has become a great issue in the past few years. The advocates for both sides of the issue have many reasons to clone or not to clone."
Abstract This paper discusses the abortion issue, presenting the pro-life side and the pro-choice side. It gives a medical definition of abortion and a legal definition. It gives some of the possible physical and psychological results of abortion, and presents statistics to show that the risks are higher for childbirth than abortion for these complications.
From the Paper "The medical definition of abortion is the induced termination of a pregnancy with destruction of the fetus or embryo ..."
Abstract This paper presents five major arguments in favor of the abolition of the death penalty. The arguments include that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent, it weakens society, and it forecloses restitution or reconciliation.
From the Paper "If this very moment you were asked to serve on a jury in which there was a high probability that if convicted the defendant would receive the death penalty would you do it? If you are inclined to say yes ..."
Abstract This paper explores the importance of cultural diversity in nursing. The paper examines both the legal, and the moral/ethical obligations of professionals in the field to represent and embrace diversity. The paper concludes that in order to reach this goal, nursing education must include more trans-cultural coursework and emphasis.
From the Paper "Developing sensitivity to diversity is not only a legal obligation in the United States. It is also a moral and ethical obligation that speaks directly to aspects of the social contract and the longstanding human need..."
Abstract This paper presents an argument that gay marriage should be permitted despite traditional and widespread religious opposition to it. The author points out that the issue of same-sex marriage is one of the most controversial in American society since the issue of abortion.
From the Paper "Although many religious conservatives wish it would, the issue of Gay marriage will not go away. This is particularly now that the U. S. Supreme Court has struck down state anti-sodomy laws as unconstitutional and in light of the Michigan State Supreme..."
Abstract This paper examines the arguments concerning euthanasia and whether the practice of euthanasia can be considered ethical or even justified. The paper discusses and explains voluntary and involuntary euthanasia and looks at how the Utilitarian philosophy can be applied to this issue. The paper also looks at how arguments of Peter Singer apply to this topic.
From the Paper "The debate over euthanasia begins with the definition of the word itself. Today people distinguish between active and passive euthanasia as well as voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. The distinction between active and passive euthanasia would seem to be straightforward. Active euthanasia occurs when someone actively brings about someone's death as in through an injection of a toxic substance. Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, occurs when someone refuses to intervene actively in order to prevent someone else's death. For example, in a real life hospital setting a..."
Abstract The paper investigates the issues surrounding the death penalty, or capital punishment. The writer examines the history of the death penalty and current developments in its execution. The paper explores the pros and cons of using capital punishment; available alternatives; different points of views from different sectors in society; and the common issues involved. The paper concludes that although the death penalty may be warranted in certain cases, one must be prepared for the possibility of a wrongful conviction.
Table of Contents:
I. Introduction
II. Capital Punishment: Death Penalty
A. History of Death Penalty
B. The Pros and Cons of Death Penalty
C. Death Penalty Alternatives
D. Cost
E. 4 Issues of the Death Penalty
1. Deterrence
2. Arbitrariness.
3. Retribution
4. Wrongful Convictions
III. Conclusion
From the Paper "On the other side, it can't always be expected that just because two crimes from different states appear to be the same, the criminals will be punished similarly. The US court found it unconstitutional to mandate death penalty to all who are guilty of 1st degree murder. Hence, each member of the judicial system is entitled to his or her own judgment on a case-to-case basis. Though there may be some people who get away from being punished with death penalty, it does not follow that everyone should then be spared."
Abstract The paper addresses questions concerning educating children of illegal immigrants. It asks whether the United States should be responsible for educating the children of illegal immigrants and whether tax payers should be responsible for paying taxes so these funds can go to schools that educate illegal immigrants.
The paper further examines the consequences of not educating these children.
From the Paper "Should the United States be responsible for educating the children of illegal immigrants? Should tax payers be responsible for paying taxes so these funds can go to schools that educate illegal immigrants? Certainly, these are important questions. However, consider these questions: Should children be punished for what their parents do? Will failure to educate children make them responsible adults that can contribute to society? Should colleges offer lower tuition costs? While the first two questions sound important, many people fail to consider the consequences of what might happen if children of illegal immigrants were not educated. Educating children regardless of who they may be is vital to their future. The Issues Involved in Illegal Aliens and Children Many illegal aliens live in the United States. "The Attorney General recently estimated the number of illegal aliens within the United States at between 3 and 6 million" (Sutherland)."
Abstract Arguments against the use of torture, even in rare extreme circumstances, generally focus on the violation of humanity that occurs when a person is tortured. Torture, critics state, has a devastating affect on a victim's physical, mental, and social well being; it inflicts psychological agony which lasts indefinitely, creates a sense of disconnection in the individual and violates the tortured person's dignity and trust, as stated by Allen S. Keller, an assistant professor of clinical medicine and the Director of the Bellevue NYU Program for Survivors of Torture. This paper reviews and discusses arguments put forth against the use of torture.
Abstract This paper looks at the strong debate raging between those who believe in gun control and those who believe in gun rights and then proceeds to make the argument that children dying from guns should speak loudly that gun control is vital in saving the lives of children and others.
From the Paper "A six-year-old girl brings a gun to school and shoots a six-year-old (School Deaths). Another example of tragedy involving guns is a high school student who shoots three members of his own family and two other people before he finally kills himself (Wilson). These are two examples of children that obtain guns to shoot others. In the 1999-2000 school year, there were ten shootings. Personally, if one child dies because of a gun it is too many."
Abstract This paper discusses how historically the concept of the single parent family in the United States has led to the belief that when one individual attempts to raise a child there will be hardships and family failure. This is contended because of the reliance of the family on one income and the dual roles that many single parents are forced to play in raising their children. Single mothers act as caregiver disciplinarian financial head of household and housekeeper. The paper further discusses how in addition to these responsibilities most single moms have full-time jobs, and statistics indicate that the majority of single mothers in the country receive no financial support from fathers. Yet, despite the abundance of negative elements that may be possible in the world of the single parent, there is an absolute possibility of success for the single parent to raise a family in this country.
Abstract This paper discusses how since September 11, 2001, it has been painfully evident that the U.S. news media has been much more interested in promoting the Bush Administration than in being objective reporters of the news. Their abandonment of journalistic standards and integrity has had serious consequences, ranging from the disastrous war in Iraq to massive and systematic violations of our Constitution and our laws by the Bush Administration. The paper further discusses how despite overwhelmingly supportive media coverage, the Bush Administration's Iraq policies have been clearly based upon hype instead of facts. Before the war, many Americans and much of the international community suspected the Bush Administration of ulterior motives in Iraq and the Middle East.
Abstract This paper reviews the debate swirling around affirmative action. In particular, the paper argues that affirmative action contains more benefits than debits and that at least some of the arguments put forward in opposition to it can be successfully rebutted by the available evidence. Specifically, the paper reviews the commonplace criticisms that affirmative action diminishes professional standards and also exacerbates racist and/or sexist attitudes towards certain groups. The paper concludes that the reasons in support of affirmative action are plausible and convincingly supported by the literature.
From the Paper "For a very long time now, American society has been attempting to come up with a means of ensuring access to higher education and to lucrative jobs for minorities and for women. The most controversial of all the means used has been affirmative action, an approach which has increased the percentage of women and minorities in managerial and professional occupations ("Myth: Affirmative Action Hasn't Worked" n.d.) but has done so, critics charge, by placing people in positions for which they are ill-prepared and/or by discriminating against people simply on the basis of gender or race. Consequently, every failure by someone boosted into a position of authority by affirmative action may actually feed negative stereotypes about the group to which that individual belongs and lead to calls that merit is the greatest victim of affirmative action policies."
