Abstract This paper presents arguments pro and con the death penalty based on religious, political and social considerations. Factors against the punishment are that it is anti poor, racist, condemns innocent people to death, does not deter serious crime and that it is a cruel punishment. Factors for the death penalty include that it is not racist, that miscarriages of justice are unavoidable, it is feared as a punishment and that it is cheaper than life imprisonment.
From the Paper "I. There are five main reasons why the death penalty should be abolished throughout the world:
"It is racist. Statistics show that African Americans comprise 12% of the entire US population, yet 43% of those in the death row are Blacks. Figures also reveal that about half of all murder victims are Blacks, 83% of those who are now in the death row are there because their victims were white. (Campaign to End the Death Penalty 2002). And in 18,000 executions in American history, only 37% involved a white person who killed a Black person. Over 75% of those in the federal death row are non-white, and of the 156 federal death penalty prosecutions approved by the Attorney General since 1988, 74% of the accused were not white. (Campaign) The death penalty makes a crime out of being Black.."
A review of the book ?A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" has now become the World's most Religiously Diverse Nation? by Diana Eck about the growing diversity in religious affiliations in America especially among its immigrants and native
Abstract This paper gives a brief history of immigration to the U.S. and discusses whether "religious pluralism", a term used by Diana Eck in her book to describe America's "melting pot" of various Western and Eastern religions, serves as a unifying factor to the Americans (native peoples or immigrants) or not, especially in the light of the events of September 11, 2001.
From the Paper "In the first chapter of her book, Eck provides a brief summary of the historical background of the new surge of immigrants, and thus, the new surge of different Western and Eastern religions in the US. She further tells her readers that this surge of new immigrants, and the increased diversity of the religious and cultural traditions of America, started when the US government encouraged immigration of people from all over the world into the United States, as mandated by the new 1965 Immigration Act. This act paved the way for Asian, Arabs, and other nationalities in Eastern and Pacific Island nations to take part into the country's opportunities as the ?land of the free.? "
Tags: 911 culture tradition democratic state christianity islam judaism, buddhism hinduism
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of abortion while taking a pro-life stance. It gives a brief overview of the pro-life movement and discusses the focus on the psychological and physical effects that abortion can have on women. In addition, it examines the pro-life alternatives that are available to women who are facing an unwanted pregnancy. This paper attempts to convince the reader to accept the pro-life stance on abortion.
From the Paper "The issue of abortion has long been one of debate in our nation. On one side of the issue there are advocates of a woman's right to choose which is referred to as the pro-choice movement. On the other side there are individuals and groups that assert that abortions should not be legal this is known as the pro-life movement. For the purposes of this discussion I would like to defend the pro-life stance."
Tags: pro-life, abortion, stance, posture, issue, womens, rights, choice, movement
Abstract A discussion of the pros and cons of surveillance in the United States, looking at whether more surveillance for protection against terrorism outweighs intrusion of one's privacy. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 saw an increase in surveillance and new laws passed concerning wire-tapping. The three characteristics of surveillance technology used to describe its various aspects, amplification, re-utilization, and sublimation are examined. The author investigates whether surveillance is ethical and if it could really have prevented past or prevent future terrorist attacks.
From the Paper "When Orson Wells wrote his famous novel about government surveillance taken to the extreme, the world he described seemed very unrealistic. However, at the turn of the new millenium, the world that he describes is not so different and it seems as if we are just one step away from the "thought police" knocking on the door. For some this gives them an extra-added element of security, but others see it as a serious infringement on their freedom.
Today, we are watched in a variety of ways. Every where you look, you see video cameras recording our every move. Wiretaps are frequent and devices that transmit over the air such as cell phones are easy targets for those trying to hone in on our private affairs. The government monitors our email and web surfing activities, our bank accounts, credit card accounts and almost anything else you can think of."
Abstract The paper discusses the case of Jose Padilla, arrested on May 8, 2002 because it was believed that he was conspiring with Al Qaeda Terrorist to detonate a radioactive "dirty bomb" within the U.S. The paper shows that Padilla's arrest and subsequent imprisonment has been the subject of an on-going legal debate and at the present time Padilla is being held as an enemy combatant, which means that he is subject to Military Tribunal instead of the civil court system and can be held without being charged until the War On Terrorism is over. The essay discusses both sides of this legal debate and determines which viewpoint is the most constitutional and credible.
From the Paper "Many legal experts believe that the U.S. does not have grounds to hold him as an enemy combatant. They contend that his imprisonment is unconstitutional because he is being held even though he has not been charged with a crime. Padilla's lawyer believes that he is in custody based on information that is circumstantial and that he should be released. They also believe that his detainment is based on the idea that he may be able to provide investigators with important information about forthcoming terrorist attacks on the country."
Tags: Attorney, General, John, Ashcroft, Quirin, Posse, Comitatus, Act
Abstract This paper describes the dangers of Anthrax as a weapon in chemical / biological warfare. The paper outlines different types of Anthrax and discusses the long term effects it could have in a war of bioterroism. The writer explains the different ways Anthrax enters and affects the body. The writer provides a brief history on bioterrorism and concludes the paper with assurances that bills have been passed allowing the U.S. government to spend billions on anti-bioterrorism.
From the Paper "Bioterrorism is known to have been in effect as early as 6th century B. C. when the Assyrians attempted to poison the wells of their enemies using a substance known as "rye ergot" (History of Bioterrorism, PG, 2002). Throughout the years bioterrorism has been a constant threat, as armies have been known to hurl the bodies of diseased soldiers into enemy camps. Feces and even infected fleas have been used to spread plague and malaria into enemy quarters. As early as 1763 Native Americans were given blankets and cloths that had been infected with smallpox (History of Bioterrorism, PG, 2002)."
Tags: biological, cutaneous, deadly, gastrointestinal, inhalational, terrorists, widespread, warfare, terror
Abstract An argumentative paper about the negative side of IVF. The writer claims that the IVF process entails killing off too many embryos to justify the low success rate that the process produces. This paper gives a summary of the process and explains why the line needs to be drawn between aiming to get a woman pregnant and disposing of the unsuccessful embryos.
From the Paper "Scientist has discovered a process that enables couples that are infertile to bare children. This process is called in vitro fertilization. Some say that in vitro fertilization is a life-giving miracle that gives two individuals the opportunity to bring a life into the world; however, others say that it is playing God. Although in vitro fertilization appears to be a blessing for couples that are unable to have children, it is nothing more than infanticide in disguise."
From the Paper "Euthanasia has become an important issue in the protection of human dignity. As medical science becomes more capable at prolonging life, but not necessarily at making that life valuable, euthanasia becomes an option to be considered by those who suffer, those who love them, and those who are charged with their care. Passive euthanasia refers to the withdrawal of "heroic" measures that keep a moribund person alive, and active euthanasia means taking a positive action that leads directly to the death of another person, and active euthanasia is considered murder in most legal and religious systems (Urofsky 15). However, active euthanasia should be legalized. It is first of all a humane way of ending life in the event of a terminal illness or debilitating and incurable injury. The legalization of active euthanasia would also end the physical and emotional..."
From the Paper "Two recent cases in Britain highlight the issue of selective abortion in multiple pregnancy, used in high-risk pregnancies in order to increase the chances of success for the remaining fetus or fetuses. This issue has become more important in an era in which many infertile couples seek medical assistance in attaining pregnancy in the first place, and some of the procedures contribute to an increase in multiple pregnancies. Studies show, for instance, that selective reduction of triplet pregnancies to twins may be fairly safe in light of the increased risks of preterm birth of triplets, though it should also be noted that prevention of multifetal pregnancies in the first place is preferable to selective reduction after assisted reproduction treatments. Selective..."
From the Paper "Death Penalty for Juveniles--A Pro Stance
The thesis of this research paper is that the death penalty should be applied to juvenile offenders who commit murder at age 16 and, in appropriate cases, at even younger ages. The basis for this position is the inherent right of American society to protect itself against the savage youth in its midst which is responsible for the rise of violent juvenile crime in America.
1. Permitting prosecutors and juries to consider imposing the death penalty on juvenile offenders who commit heinous crimes such as murder and rape is neither immoral nor illegal.
Facts. In the United States, a person younger than 18 who commits a crime is considered to be a juvenile offender. Thirty-nine states now allow the death penalty to be applied to some crimes. Eleven others and the District of Columbia prohibit the.."
An arguement for active euthanasia for people with fatal diseases causing great pain and deterioration including ethics, medical and rights issues and examples.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 9 sources, 2000, $ 47.95
From the Paper "This paper contends that physician-assisted suicide should be legalized. The issue of physician-assisted suicide pertains particularly to a group of people suffering from diseases that cause a severe deterioration of human powers and capacities. Some are suffering from intolerable pain, while others find their lives unbearable. In either case, medical technology has only sustained their lives, but not improve the quality of life for them. With the assistance of a physician, these people can gain control over the timing of their death and leave the world in a dignified fashion. Especially at a time when they are losing control over their existence, they can still exercise the personal choice of dying. Unlike the critics' image of rampant "murders" of unwanted and dying patients either by the physicians or family members, the legalization of ..."
From the Paper "Thomas Bell, in his novel Out of This Furnace, deals with three generations of Slovaks and their experience in the United States, and Jacob A. Riis, in his photojournalistic How the Other Half Lives, covers the experiences of immigrants of a number of different nationalities and ethnicities at the turn of the century. This study will focus on the experiences of Jewish immigrants as depicted in Riis, comparing those to the experiences of the Slovaks in Bell's novel. Despite some important differences among the experiences of the Jews and the Slovaks, and the specific years examined, the studies are far more alike than different in their overall portraits of the suffering and exploitation of those immigrant groups in the era in which the industrial revolution exploded. The study will also briefly consider Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle, in which..."
Abstract This paper shows that if capital punishment in the United States was truly judged on fairness and on the doctrine of equal protection under the law, every state would join the current moratorium against employment of the death penalty. The paper shows that it has been argued for years that a disproportionate number of minorities, indigent and under-educated individuals end up paying the ultimate price and too often so it seems because they were too poor or uneducated to prove their innocence.
From the Paper "According to a recent study, an estimated 90 percent of American criminal defendants incarcerated for a capital crime are living in poverty when arrested, and nearly all have no money to pay for their defense by the time their case reaches the appeals stage. This means that at least 90 percent of these prisoners must rely upon court appointed attorneys, who many times are inexperienced and/or disinterested. In fact there are countless cases of counsel falling asleep at trial, or even arriving drunk."
Tags: American, Bar, Association, death, row, Supreme, Court
Abstract This paper debates the topic of euthanasia or assisted suicide for those that are dying and suffering constant and severe pain. This can range from cancer to AIDS patients. It examines the current laws in America today in various states regarding euthanasia and discusses whether assisted suicide should be legalized and if it was, who would make the final decision, the patient, the doctor or the court.
From the Paper "An elderly woman in her eighty's lies in the hospital bed with severe pain and anguish. Her husband quietly holds her hand. She begs the doctor to take her life so she is not such a financial burden to her husband and she won?t hurt anymore. Tears flow down her cheeks as she says, ?I am going to die with cancer anyway. I want to die with dignity.? What position should nurses take when it comes to this delicate subject? If you were a physician, would you assist in her death? The population of terminally ill patients can be defined as a patient who has no chance of recovering from an illness that are "suffering constant and severe pain" (Bopp and Coleson 1999). This can range from cancer to AIDS."
Abstract The paper shows that after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Americans are wondering if the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East is in need of radical modification or whether the present policy should hold firm. The paper examines the suggestion that United States foreign policy has long reflected imperialist tendencies of American monopolistic capital that exemplifies the nation's quest for world supremacy.
From the Paper "Foreign policy reflects an attempt to coexist within the boundaries of civilized reality; however, the divided interpretations of what civilized reality truly means have often clouded the very essence behind the concept of foreign policy. When the established policy does not provide for friendly relations, then the only alternative arrangement finds that the parties involved are struggling to overpower each other in an attempt to either acquire or maintain political superiority. After the September 11 attacks upon the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Americans are wondering if the US foreign policy in the Middle East is in need of radical modification or whether the present policy should hold firm. "Now more than ever, timely, detailed analysis of the changing foreign policy and security environments of Central Asia and the Middle East is essential to American security policy" (Eurasia Program)."
