Abstract
The statement from which this paper derives its arguments is as follows: "Life is of ultimate value. It must be protected and preserved at all costs." In lieu of a generalist approach to this statement, this text focuses on the arguments for and against physician assisted suicide. The rationale for this approach arises from two reasons: (1) The ethical dilemmas which surround the protection and preservation of life become sharply distinct in end-of-life decisions, and (2) terminally ill and/or severely debilitated persons who wish to end their lives in a legally sanctioned and painless fashion have been, to date, unable to do so unless they are residents of the State of Oregon or live in the Netherlands. Therefore, the writer capitalizes on the original statement as a launching point to discuss the ethical issues which surround PAS (physician assisted suicide).

From the Paper
"Using the principles of autonomy and beneficence, and the concepts of 'quality of life' and 'personal dignity,' the following paragraphs will attempt to argue for and against the practice of physician assisted suicide. From a utilitarian perspective, the rightness or wrongness of the act of voluntary active assisted suicide should be judged by its nonmoral results. In other words, does its result cause more pleasure than pain, or more benefit than harm (Beckwith, 2002). For an individual in protracted pain, the choice of a hastened death upholds these utilitarian criteria in the sense that pleasure would result by the ending of pain, and benefit would come from a sense of peace gained from acting upon one's autonomy as an individual and setting to rest the 'only property which I can call my own - my body.'"

Tags:ethics, euthanasia, terminal, illness

Abstract
One of the dominant themes in scholarly debate over Pauline texts in recent years concerns St. Paul's representation of gender relations in the early Christian community (Watson 520). These discussions have been particularly contentious, some critics have argued, because of the influence of modern thinking about female equality and social egalitarianism upon scholarly discussions of exegetical questions (Engberg-Pedersen 679). This paper will explore aspects of this debate with a particular focus upon the question of the significance of Paul's discussion of the role of women in the early Church. The thesis will be argued, with close reference to 1 Cor. 7:3-5, 11:2-16 and Gal.3:27-29, that Paul's discussion of the appropriate role of women in the early Church is significant not only in terms of gender but, in particular, in terms of how Paul envisioned a common identity in the early Christian community.

From the Paper
Topic 2 - Paul and Women What is the Significance of Paul's Discussion of the Role of Women in the Early Christian Community? An Examination of 1 Cor. 7:3-5, 11:2-16 and Gal.3:27-29 One of the dominant themes in scholarly debate over Pauline texts in recent years concerns St. Paul's representation of gender relations in the early Christian community (Watson 520). These discussions have been particularly contentious, some critics have argued, because of the influence of modern thinking about female equality and social egalitarianism upon scholarly discussions of exegetical questions

Tags:paul, christianity, women

Abstract
It has been proposed that providing sexual assistance for competent adults with disabilities must be understood as simply "part of the job" of an attendant support worker. Obviously, this is a contentious issue, and is in fact fraught with potential legal, ethical and moral issues and problems.

From the Paper
Assisted Sex It has been proposed that providing sexual assistance for competent adults with disabilities must be understood as simply "part of the job" of an attendant support worker. Obviously, this is a contentious issue, and is in fact fraught with potential legal, ethical and moral issues and problems. However, in this essay it is argued that the proposition is correct - without wishing to minimize the complexity of the issue, it is nonetheless argued that providing sexual assistance for competent adults with disabilities should indeed be understood as simply "part of the job" of an attendant support worker.

Tags:disabled, people, sexual

Abstract
The phenomenon of "hate crime" is arguably one of the most contentious aspects of North American society today. While in both the United States and Canada there exist a range of hate crime legislation, as well as a significant body of scholarly literature on the subject, there is also an extraordinary degree of controversy over the concept, its definition, and how it is applied in practice as a matter of law enforcement. In order to explain this phenomenon and the complex debate surrounding it, this paper will argue that the theoretical model of "democratic racism" represents a valuable analytical tool in dissecting the array of intermingling social and political forces at play in this area. As will be seen, the bankruptcy of existing legislation and law enforcement practices with respect to hate crime in North America is demonstration of the validity of the "democratic racism" model, and of the need to systematically address this problem that policy-making elites wish to remain invisible.

From the Paper
Hate Crime in North America: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis Introduction The phenomenon of "hate crime" is arguably one of the most contentious aspects of North American society today. While in both the United States and Canada there exist a range of hate crime legislation, as well as a significant body of scholarly literature on the subject, there is also an extraordinary degree of controversy over the concept, its definition, and how it is applied in practice as a matter of law enforcement. In order to explain this phenomenon and the complex debate surrounding it, this paper

Tags:crime, hate, canada

Abstract
This paper reviews a contentious U.S. federal criminal policy - the detainee program as carried out at Guantanamo Bay. The paper looks at the conditions leading to the creation of the policy, the nature of the policy (and the controversies it has stirred), the apparent results of the policy, and some recommendations which might serve it well in the future.

Tags:guantanamo, bay, policy

Abstract
This paper discusses one of the most contentious issues in contemporary American life, birth control.
This paper examines birth control in America and argues that birth control is something which should be readily available to all citizens just as long as certain protocols are followed. In so doing, however, this paper also points out the arguments of those who are unconvinced that wide spread birth control is desirable. In the end, this paper's central contention is that having a child is an enormously challenging development in the lives of young people (or old people, for that matter) and it should only be undertaken if the parents (or parent) possess the maturity, the desire and the resources necessary to do the job well.

Tags:birth, control, rights

Abstract
This paper discusses China-Taiwan relations. The relations between the two have been a source of major concern for both the countries. The Taiwanese demand for an independent land has triggered many problems including the fear of a military uprising.

Tags:china, taiwan, relations

Abstract
The first part of the paper, examines how the liberal camp's belief in the "disparate impact theory of discrimination" conflicts with the more conservative view of equality based on access to the same opportunities. When affirmative action was first enacted, the liberals were successful in enshrining the disparate impact approach.
The second part of this paper looks at the impact this disparate impact approach has on both the political and judicial landscape. The most evident problem of affirmative action as it is currently practiced is seen in the backlash effect. In the last section, the paper evaluates the possibility of a unified definition of equality being enshrined in affirmative action principles.

From the Paper
"In the book Equality Transformed, Herman Belz (1991) presents two clashing views on the nature of equality. One theory, which Belz associates with conservatives such as Mississippi senator John Stennis, saw equality as a question of individual rights. The focus was on nondiscrimination, in providing equality of opportunities in areas such as employment. By removing the obstacles to discrimination, many conservative theorists believed that every person " black or white " would thus have equal opportunities for advancement."

Tags:race, discrimination, opportunity

Abstract
This paper points out that despite the centrality of sexuality within modern life, the scriptural responses to same-sex are relatively few. The paper discusses that misinterpreting Paul is not only heterosexism but also homophobia. This paper states that homophobia can lead to poor historical scholarship and a lack of concern for putting words into their ancient, rather than modern context.

From the Paper
"One of these references can be found in one of the letters of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1.18-32. This passage has long been used to justify Catholic condemnation of homosexual practices, as well as the larger conservative Christian rejection of homosexual marriage. However, this interpretation is far from absolute."

Tags:sexuality, scripture, same-sex, homophobia, scholarship, ancient, modern, context, marriage

Abstract
The first part reviews briefly the functioning of the multilateral trade fora and India's participation in it. The key issues of the WTO in the Development Round are discussed in the next part. India's concerns are analyzed in the third part. The fourth part focuses on the core areas of conflict and analyzes the possible outcomes given the bargaining power and capabilities of the players in the international political economy. In conclusion the paper focuses on the strategies which India should take based on findings of where her real interests lie. The future of India's participation in the WTO and extent of its probable integration in the world economy is also discussed.

Introduction
GATT and the WTO
India and GATT/WTO
WTO's Development Round: Key Issues
India's Concerns
Core Issues and Possible Outcomes
India in the WTO: A Broader Perspective
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"In almost half a century GATT had eight trade negotiating rounds. In the early years, the GATT trade rounds concentrated on reducing tariffs. A new issue was introduced in the Kennedy Round in the mid-sixties which brought about a GATT Anti-Dumping Agreement. The Tokyo Round during the seventies was the first major attempt to tackle non tariff trade barriers and to improve the trading system. The eighth, the Uruguay Round of 1986-94, was the latest and most extensive of all. It led to the WTO and a new set of agreements covering for the first time trade in services and intellectual property.
The success of GATT in promoting and securing the liberalization of much of world trade is universally recognized. Continual reductions in tariffs may have been the major factor in very high rates of world trade growth during the 1950s and 1960s "around 8% a year on average. The momentum of trade liberalization helped ensure that trade growth consistently out-paced production growth throughout the GATT era, a measure of countries" increasing ability to trade with each other and to reap the benefits of trade. The rush of new members during the Uruguay Round demonstrated that the multilateral trading system was sought after by countries seeking faster development by economic and trade reform."

Tags:agreements, countries, developing, economy, gatt, international, multilateral, organization, organizations, political, trade, world