Abstract This paper examines the Communications Decency Act of 1996, arguing that it should be rejected because it represents the hidden agenda of a radical Christian Group, the Christian Coalition. The paper argues that this act would restrict free speech that is protected by the U.S. Constitution and that its primary purpose is to restrict pornography. The paper further argues that the Christian Coalition should be rejected as a whole because it is an extremist organization that would end freedom and democracy as we know it.
Outline
The Communications Decency Act (CDA)should be rejected because it is not a useful piece of legislation.
The CDA will impose radical changes to existing law.
Will impose broad restrictions on speech protected by U.S.
Constitution.
Will give communications providers an open ticket to censorship.
The CDA promotes a hidden agenda created by a radical Christian
group.
The CDA is an attempt to restructure existing laws to reflect the ideas of one specific group.
The CDA is an attempt to impose guidelines on an unregulated form of communication.
Legislation against the America way.
Exposing the Christian Coalition and it's true agenda in proposing the
CDA.
Main purpose of the CDA is restricting pornography.
Will end of free speech in electronic form.
The CDA will criminalize First Amendment protected communications.
Communications deemed "lascivious" or "indecent," in any form will be a crime.
Greater restrictions on pornography will cause censorship in our free
society.
The best of intentions: the worse results in conclusion.
Review of the major issues
Christian extremist views exposed
Will rewrite the First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.
Reject the CDA as a whole.
Lack of vision by an extremist organization.
Will end free society, as we know it.
From the Paper "The Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA) is going to take your right to free speech and privacy away. This document, signed into law by President Clinton, if upheld by the Supreme Court will completely rewrite free speech laws as we know them (Kniffel 1). Basically, free speech will become a thing of the past. Furthermore, it will give communications providers across a wide spectrum the authority to censor any questionable material that passes through its communications links."
Tags: morality, internet, online, communications, implications, evangelist, pat, robertson
Abstract This paper discusses the Communications Decency Act that was created in 1996. The paper uses a case study example to discuss why the Act is necessary. It looks at the relationship of the Act to rights of freedom of speech and what it adds to the Constitution that was missing previously. The paper describes the outcome of the case study and how the girl in the study may have been saved if the Communications Decency Act had been in effect then.
From the Paper "Another possibility for the Meier's could be to seek compensation for emotional pain and suffering. There is nothing that is going to be able to bring their daughter back. However, the actions of the neighboring woman made Megan Meier so emotional that she killed herself. In any event, if charges were pressed or sought after it would be heard in a civil court rather than a criminal court. There was no physical and first hand caused because ultimately Megan killed herself but figuratively speaking "the mother handed Megan a loaded gun" Ron Meier. The family should seek compensatory and punitive damages. They should get something back for losing their daughter but more importantly the punitive damages would help deter adults acting like children so that similar events do not happen to any other families."
Abstract This paper examines the formulation of the Communications Decency Act and identifies policy windows, policy entrepreneurs, and systematic agenda influences that contributed to the process. The paper examines how the systems, pluralist, rational-comprehensive, and elitist models of public policy formulation can be applied to the policy.
From the Paper "The 1990s saw the development of the Internet, a communications breakthrough that brought government regulation into an uncharted new territory. Suddenly, Congress had to deal with an issue that previously didn't exist: the exposure of children to online pornography. Congress's answer to this problem was The Communications Decency Act, a federal regulatory policy intended to protect children from "indecent" and "patently offensive" material on the Internet."
This paper reviews Elijah Anderson's "Code of the Street: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City", which describes inner city black culture.
1,725 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 0 sources, 2004, $ 55.95
Abstract This paper examines Elijah Anderson's "Code of the Street: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City", extensive interviews with people who live in an area he describes as a "hyperghetto" in "North Philadelphia". The author relates that Anderson points out that, only one generation ago, the neighborhood contained numerous manufacturing jobs; men who wanted to be decent parents could get a job that provided their family with a living wage. The paper concludes that Anderson's book, using full, unedited quotes from the people who live in North Philadelphia, managed to be analytical without being impersonal; he gives readers who have never been anywhere near such a neighborhood an understanding of both its strengths and its weaknesses.
From the Paper "The attitude of street families has at least some roots in the perception and reality of racism. Street families believe that there's one kind of justice for whites, and another for blacks, and so they will have to right any wrongs done to them on their own. Power comes from having a large group of people who will back you up in a dispute, no questions asked. The fewer people you can count on to call to your side, the weaker, and more vulnerable, you are. Having respect means not that you work hard or are trying to raise your family well, but that you are capable of vengeance and will not hesitate to seek it."
Abstract This paper analyzes the text, "Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City" by Elijah Anderson. The book is analyzed based on how it reflects four major tenets of strain theory, social learning theory, control theory, and labeling theory.
From the Paper "The first of these social theories that is demonstrated within Anderson's text is that of Strain Theory. In strain theory, it is argued that social structures that are constructed and adopted by society can cause the society's citizens to commit crime. First of all, Anderson does not demean or belittle the actions that many "criminals" in the inner-city perform during their daily lives. He argues that in this sector of society, there is a "code" and a decency that its citizens live by, not arguing that this is morally right, but showing that it is a code and manner of life, nonetheless. These are not merely subhumans going about criminal lives; this is a living, working society that adheres to its own standards and rules."
Abstract This paper discusses the Bethel School District vs. Fraser court case, regarding a school speech made at an assembly by Matthew Fraser. The paper explores the school's reaction to Fraser's speech, claiming it to be indecent, lewd, and offensive to the modesty and decency of many of the students and faculty in attendance at the assembly. The paper contends that the case sets an important precedent with regard to the future actions a school or district may take concerning similar matters of public decency and free speech, especially with regard to the actions of members of the student body.
From the Paper "In specific, the events concerned the actions of one Matthew N. Fraser, a student at Bethel High school in Washington State. In short, at a required assembly of approximately 600 students, Fraser presented a speech in which he referred to a student government opponent in terms of an "elaborate, graphic, and explicit sexual metaphor" (UMKC, 2004). Not only did the student receive a warning from two teachers that it was ?inappropriate and that he probably should not deliver it,? and that it was possible that its presentation may have ?severe consequences (UMKC),? but it was observed that the reaction of the student audience to its presentation ranged from hooting, lewd gestures which ?graphically simulated the sexual activities pointedly alluded to in respondent's speech,? to obvious embarrassment and bewilderment? (UMKC)."
This paper discusses the topic of morality, focusing specifically on whether morality exists and what makes something moral from a cultural relativistic point of view.
Abstract This paper discusses the topic of morality. Specifically, it asserts that a decent human being is not one who accepts transient consensus about what attitudes are normal and what practices are unjust. If anything, what counts as a decent human being is the independent moral decency to ignore transient consensus and societal attitudes to whatever extent transient consensus and societal attitudes obviously violate objective principles of fundamental fairness, equity, human empathy, and decency.
From the Paper "Considering the way that social convention arises in the first place provides another reason to reject the suggestion that social convention is a reliable determinant of what constitutes moral conduct and what distinguishes it from immoral conduct. Among a small isolated group of people, (such as a group of 20 individuals stranded on an island), social convention probably does reflect true majority consensus. Not that majority consensus necessarily corresponds to morality, but that would be the only possible logical basis for defining morality through social convention at all. Even in a group of 20 individuals, it is still possible that the minority position is more moral (objectively) than that of the majority, but at least the majority position does, in fact, reflect the desires of the true majority."
Abstract This essay uses Adam Hochschild's book," King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa," in order to explore the role of various people responsible for the mass killings in the Congo in 1979. The author details the conflict, the history of the region, the players, both local and foreign, whose knowledge and decency exposed the massacre and its cover-up by King Leopold.
From the Paper "Just as Leopold and his aides were involved in the exploitation of the country, there was one man who actively worked towards exposing this tragedy thereby forcing Leopold to give the people of Congo their independence. His name was Edmund D. Morel, a British shipping company clerk who noticed that ships coming from Congo carried valuables like ivory and rubber but those that went back contained nothing but soldiers and arsenal. This made him suspicious and so he resigned from his job to form the Congo Reform Association (CRA), an organization that made the horrors of the Congo region public. Morel used information smuggled out by missionaries such as William Sheppard and George W. Williams, the former being later involved in a libel suited filed against him by Leopold."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of William Golding's book "Lord of the Flies," paying particular attention to the character of Ralph. Ralph's characteristics are presented and discussed in detail within the context of the story. Ralph the sensible one, the natural leader in the group, maintains a cool-head until he is swept up during the tribal dance. This shows that all people are human and suffer from lapses in judgment. Using examples from the story, Ralph's downward spiral is detailed, along with its affects on the other boys in the group. The author demonstrates how Ralph really is just another one of the boys and that his evolution from good to bad isn't such a unique occurrence when put into the context of the situation.
From the Paper "Ralph's character slowly evolves from a decent, caring human being; someone who wants to do good and ensure that decency and morality prevail in their island society, to a self-serving person who is ruled only by his own gut feelings. (He had to admit it felt good to be part of the tribal dance, even though he did know it was an uncivilized thing to do.) Ralph has no power to stop his own transformation, no matter what he thought he believed. In the end, Ralph doesn?t see actions as being black or white ? he isn?t as sure as he once was of what is the "right" thing to do. He becomes more like Jack and his band of followers than his own initial perception of how everyone should act toward each other."
Abstract This paper introduces and discusses three similarities of hospitality in Homer's "The Iliad" and ?The Odyssey.? The paper points out that while the theme of war makes these two works very violent, there are also instances of common decency between the men who fought these wars. Here the author breaks down the discussion book by book, first discussing the individual instances of hospitality and then examines the some of the weaknesses in the thesis.
From the Paper "In ?The Odyssey,? there are many acts of hospitality; the Greeks prided themselves on opening their arms, even to strangers. However, Odysseus has been away from home for over ten years, and Calypso is holding him on her island, trying to make him fall in love with her. While she treats him well, this really is inhospitable at best, because she is keeping him from what he wants ? to go home. "This daughter of Atlas has got hold of poor unhappy Ulysses, and keeps trying by every kind of blandishment to make him forget his home, so that he is tired of life, and thinks of nothing but how he may once more see the smoke of his own chimneys. You, sir, take no heed of this, and yet when Ulysses was before Troy did he not propitiate you with many a burnt sacrifice" Why then should you keep on being so angry with him?" (Homer)."
Abstract This paper examines the controversial issue of euthanasia and examines why it is taboo in the United States. The author analyzes the arguments presented by all sides in the debate, and focuses on the positions of the religious, medical, and political communities. He concludes that despite the opposition of these groups to euthanasia, there is a small but growing consensus in the United States that for the sake of human decency and dignity, doctor assisted suicide in the form of passive euthanasia and sometimes active euthanasia should be legalized so that human suffering will not be prolonged by medical science simply to extend physical life.
Tags: SOCIOLOGY / EUTHANASIA, euthanasia in america
Abstract This paper shall examine the character of Iago in Shakespeare's classic tragedy "Othello". The main theme is that Iago is representative of "evil", where all of Iago's motivations and behaviors are dictated by evil purposes. Here, the term "evil" is presented as being both a betrayal of human decency and representative of demonic influences.
Abstract This paper analyzes the book, "Tobacco Road", by Erskine Caldwell and, in particular, discusses the author's life and its effect on his writing of "Tobacco Road," as well as criticisms of the novel and the novel's place in our literary history. It looks at how "Tobacco Road" is probably one of the most enduring glimpses into a tragic part of America's history that has ever been written and how, by profiling a poor white family from Georgia, it encapsulates the poverty and hunger these people faced, while using dark humor and pathos to portray the tragedy of their lives and the gradual decline of any decency in their spirit.
From the Paper "Throughout the novel, Jeeter and the Lesters continually blame their problems on God, on just about everybody but themselves. "' My children all blame me because God sees fit to make me poverty-ridden, Love,' Jeeter said" (Caldwell 15). They cannot take responsibility for their own actions, and they must blame their condition on someone else, it could never be their own fault. They are pathetic and amusing at the same time. Jeeter spends so much effort whining about his condition, he could certainly have done something about it if he was not so concerned with making everyone around him as miserable as he was."
Abstract This paper discusses how rap music currently enjoys the status of mouthpiece for society's rebels and how, since the music of Elvis, various forms of music have pushed the boundaries of acceptability and decency in culture. It provides a short historical overview of this musical genre, followed by a consideration of its significance for society. It shows that, while it is true that some rap artists have broken rules and norms, not only in their music, but also in their lifestyles, it is also true that other rap musicians attempt to use their art to uplift society.
From the Paper "Rap artists such as Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Ice Tea, and others have reveled in the controversy raised by their explicit and violent lyrics. According to Fields, the results of social shortcomings are portrayed in the darkest and most explicit way possible by many rap artists. This serves not only as a window to the sad childhood worlds many of these artists come from, but also as an incentive to uphold and fight for conservative social values. Indeed, broken families where the father is absent, children illegitimate, and welfare the only income, more often than not make the world in which the average rapper grew up. The desperate alienation created by this situation finds its expression in violent rap lyrics (Fields)."
Abstract This paper discusses how, in the first three acts of William Shakespeare's "King Lear", the evil trinity of Edmund, Goneril, and Regan rises to power and how we have an abundance of horror and pessimism as human decency gradually shrinks. It examines how it is to Shakespeare's credit that, despite making his principal villains partners in their quest for power, he endows them with their own peculiar shades of evil. It looks at how, even though all three have their own idiosyncrasies to deal with, somehow they are never crude, stereotypical villains; each, in his own capacity, has a distinctive quality, which enhances the luster of the evil.
From the Paper "These sycophantic words, which are repeated by Regan, are drenched in hypocrisy yet their purpose is to attain for themselves a portion of the kingdom. Who would not use a bit of flattery for such a reward? Thus, the two daughters are not exactly evil to begin with but more appropriately "hard-hearted" realists who will employ any and all means to get their share of the cake. They are very near to a modern go-getter. Even while arguing their case with Lear, their points are apparently more valid than his. It is true that he is old and choleric, his rages and temper are unpredictable and a source of problem. His retinue, especially if it follows the example Lear sets by assaulting Oswald, is likely to be a riotous lot. We almost find her common sense arguments plausible."
