Abstract This paper reviews an article by Greg Winter that appeared in the "New York Times" about a major tobacco company's violation of the rules against marketing cigarettes to youth. The writer details how R.J. Reynolds and other major tobacco companies disregard court rulings that disallow the targeting of youth in their advertising campaigns. The various violations are detailed as are the ramifications that they have on the health of today's youth as a result of cigarette smoking. The paper discusses some of the issues that nurse practitioners can address when faced with young smokers. These include the discussion of the long-term effects of smoking and the distribution of materials about the dangers of smoking in order to educate both youths and parents. The paper also details the articles views about the reckless disregard that the tobacco companies and their advertisers have for anything but the increase in profits.
From the Paper "This has major healthcare implications. The young people targeted in such campaigns may be easily convinced and not have the maturity to resist the campaigns. Considering the addictive nature of cigarettes, these young people may find themselves addicted before they are mature enough to realise their mistake. This leads to a situation where more of the population is smoking. For the healthcare practitioner, this means they will come into greater contact with smokers and smoker-related health problems."
Abstract This study will examine the moral decision of Antigone, in Sophocles' play Antigone, to bury her dead brother against the legal decree of Creon, the King of Thebes. Antigone grants that her brother Polyneices has indeed broken the law by trying to take over Thebes (the reason that Creon wants to disallow his burial), but Antigone argues that there is a higher law than the legal code, a higher law which is based on the sacred tie of blood relations. She argues that the gods support her in her effort to bury her brother.
From the Paper "This study will examine the moral decision of Antigone, in Sophocles' play Antigone, to bury her dead brother against the legal decree of Creon, the King of Thebes. Antigone grants that her brother Polyneices has indeed broken the law by trying to take over Thebes (the reason that Creon wants to disallow his burial), but Antigone argues that there is a higher law than the legal code, a higher law which is based on the sacred tie of blood relations. She argues that the gods support her in her effort to bury her brother. The decision may cost her her life, but she is determined to do everything she can to follow and abide by what she sees as a higher moral calling. After an examination of the decision itself, this study will apply the ethical theories of Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham to that decision."
Abstract This paper discusses David Berkowitz whose reign of murderous terror gripped New York City from 1976 to 1977. David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam, was eventually arrested, tried and convicted for the series of gun-attacks that left six people dead, seven wounded and an entire city in fear. The paper shows that when caught, while there existed a potential for his being determined to be insane, Berkowitz pleaded guilty to the six murders and, under the sentencing rules of the time, was given twenty-five years to life. The paper examines how Berkowitz, while in jail, turned his crimes into profit by writing and authorizing books to be written about him. Outrage against this led to the "Son of Sam Law" which now disallows criminals in jail from profiting from their crimes while behind bars. Berkowitz has become an icon in the study of the psychology of murder, of serial killers and of the sociology of fear. This paper examines the life of David Berkowitz, the nature of his crimes and offers an analysis of the serial killer's mind.
From the Paper "People like David Berkowitz have been part of our human society since humanity began. Thomas Hobbes observed that communities form for the purpose of mutual protection and that they are a refuge from the Wild. For people like David Berkowitz, communities are, in essence, the wild and their psychopathology is the protection from that. The problem, however, is that the psychology of murder is one that cannot truly prevent such people from becoming murderers, it can only explain them once the horror has happened. David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam, terrorized a community that he had perceived as rejecting him. He retreated into a world of delusion, of fantasy, and of fear of the supernatural. Once in that world, he rationalized the destruction of human life and carried out his murders with the calmness and purposefulness of a mail carrier delivering a package. "I wasn't going to rob her, or touch her, or rape her. I was just going to kill her" (Berkowitz quoted in Chelser & Robb, 1996). What psychologists, sociologists, and anthropologists have determined about people like David Berkowitz, is that they almost universally suffer from significant psychological breaks, traumas often suffered in childhood, that have changed the very nature of their thought process and moral structure."
Abstract This study examines the moral decision of Antigone, in Sophocles' play "Antigone", to bury her dead brother against the legal decree of Creon, the King of Thebes. It explains that Antigone grants that her brother Polyneices has indeed broken the law by trying to take over Thebes (the reason that Creon wants to disallow his burial), but Antigone argues that there is a higher law than the legal code, a higher law which is based on the sacred tie of blood relations. She argues that the Gods support her in her effort to bury her brother. It shows that even though the decision may cost her her life, but she is determined to do everything she can to follow and abide by what she sees as a higher moral calling. After an examination of the decision itself, this study applies the ethical theories of Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham to that decision.
From the Paper "Creon and Antigone could not stand in more stark contrast to one another in terms of the qualities important to each. Creon may have the civic law on his side, and he may argue from that basis, at least on the surface, but the play shows that his major concerns are pride and revenge, not following the law. Antigone, on the other hand, cares only about doing what is right according to the highest standards of humanity and of the gods. She wants to bury her brother as much as Creon wants to prevent his burial. A powerful clue to the essential stands of each character is that Antigone determinedly maintains her ethical stand to the end, while Creon changes his mind and buries Polyneices--although he acts too late to avert the catastrophe prophesied by Teiresias."
Using Pipher's "Reviving Ophelia" as a reference, this paper examines the role that the mass media plays in silencing the voice of the female teenager in American culture.
1,400 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 53.95
Abstract Carol Gilligan declares that "The silencing of the female voice in adolescence is enforced by the wish not to hurt others but also by the fear that in speaking her voice will not be heard." There are certain stereotypical portrayals of women in mass media that make the sexism of our society transparently clear. It also disallows women to have their own sense of self. This process inflicts extreme damage to the female voice in adolescence. In "Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girl"s, Pipher sees America's culture as "girl-poisoning". She shows how a certain brand of femininity is imposed on adolescent girls. This process, in her perspective, obliterates the confidence and self-knowledge that these young girls have amassed since their own childhood. In a tragic sense, their own peers act as enforcers.
Abstract This paper discusses Frank J. Sorauf's "Inside Campaign Finance: Myths and Realities" and how it provides a new outlook on the financial nature of political campaigns. Most importantly, it examines the extent to which the drive for finance affects the direction of politics. The paper shows that the push towards disallowing politicians to use public funds for campaigns is a hopeless one. Indeed, since the political system sustains itself through the use of public funds for campaigning, it will not amend itself in this sense, for this would be a form of political suicide or self-destruction. Overall, the author feels that the argument is too harsh and that certain things can be done. For instance, the author strongly suggests that a separate government body should be created to monitor campaign finance.
An analysis of how polictical campaigin are funded in the United States through an examination of Frank J. Sorauf's "Inside Campaign Finance: Myths and Realities".
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 44.95
Abstract This paper discusses Frank J. Sorauf's "Inside Campaign Finance: Myths and Realities". The paper discusses how it is a work that provides a refreshingly new outlook on the financial nature of political campaigns and the extent to which the drive for finance affects the direction of politics. While Sorauf does not seem to have a personal agenda in his analysis, he points out that, within American politics, the push towards disallowing politicians to use public funds for campaigns is hopeless one. In his work, moreover, Sorauf shows that, since the political system sustains itself through the use of public funds for campaigning, it will not amend itself in this sense, for this would be a form of political suicide or self-destruction.
Written in the form of a letter, this paper argues against the elimination of the texts "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love", "The Lottery", and "A&P" from the school curriculum.
Abstract This paper addresses a decision of the school board to disallow selected texts from the school reading curriculum. The writer argues against, particularly, the elimination of the texts "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love"by Raymond Carver; "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson; and "A&P" by John Updike. It agrees that these stories may contain what some persons deem to be "inappropriate" content in terms of language or references to ethnic groups. However, the writer argues that eliminating these from one school reading list is not going to take any of the problems in the world away. Is it not better that students be made aware of the fact that the world is not a perfect, pristine place? Would we not then be better able to deal with situations in the adult world?
From the Paper "When the four friends are talking, they come upon the subject, as the title suggests, of love. It soon becomes clear that each has his or her own ideal of love. The former member of seminary, Mel, for example refers to spiritual love (p. 422) as the ultimate definition of this emotion. And this makes sense. It is all-encompassing and always compassionate. Terri, Mel's girlfriend, has a different idea. She cites her previous boyfriend's abusive behavior as his particular display of love. She describes a shocking scene of being severely injured physically. The question then is, is it good for kids to learn this kind of thing? Should we not concentrate only on the good aspects of such a high emotion as love? I don?t believe so. If students leave school with an idealized, but unrealistic view of love, the chances of making a success of a relationship are few. It is necessary to be aware of the realities of love and indeed of life."
Abstract This paper explores the evolution, history, and modern structure of the U.S. Criminal Court System. The paper looks at the appellate review process, federal rules of criminal procedure, and the appellate jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Outline
Evolution and History of the Criminal Justice System
Modern Structure of the Criminal Justice System
The Appellate Review Process
The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
The United States Supreme Court
From the Paper "When the British first colonized the Americas, they adopted their centuries? old "Royal Privy Council" as a judicial system, as a separate branch of government. Prior to the American Revolution, the individual American colonies all developed and maintained their own criminal (and civil) justice systems with absolutely no uniformity among them, either procedurally or statutorily. More importantly, there was no official method for mediating disputes between citizens of different colonies."
Abstract This paper argues that marriage for same-gendered couples should be legalized because: (1) It is necessary for the protection of both the individuals involved and their children, (2) it is natural and with some historical precedence and (3) there are no logical reasons to disallow it. The paper begins by discussing the legal, social and economic rights that are conferred to a married couple, extrapolating that by prohibiting same-sex unions, states are inherently discriminating against gay couples. Next the paper provides examples of historical precedent for the legalization or sanctification of same-sex marriages, dating back to the first century. The paper concludes by refuting some of the current arguments against same-sex marriage, suggesting that most opponents are merely rabid homophobes.
From the Paper "Marriage determines who is allowed hospital visitation and who may make medical decisions for an individual and their children. A partners or non-biological adult child of a homosexual individual would not be allowed to visit them in the hospital or make decisions which would then be left up to biological family members -- who, in many cases, are no longer on good terms due to their relatives orientation. Children may not be able to recieve visitation or medical input from both caretakers, as well. Health insurance and family leave are also potent issues -- partners and their children are generally not covered in employee benefits, which means that the children in a gay union may not have medical insurance in only one parent works and the other stays home. Additionally, as couples age they will find that most nursing homes do not allow same-gendered couples to stay together, though married couples are allowed this privilege."
Abstract This paper examines the practice of "ambulance chasing" to determine whether it is a service or a disservice to victims of a disaster. The author considers the issue from the perspective of three philosophical models used for determining the ethical course of action, including the teleological approach, the deontological approach and the relativist approach. The paper then concludes that the decision to limit severely or disallow ambulance chasing seems to be the most ethical decision and explains the reasoning behind this conclusion.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Fact Gathering
Ambulance Chasing is a Global Problem
Making Cases
Determining the Ethical Issue
Principles on Which to Base Ethical Decisions
The Relativist Approach
The Deontological Approach
The Teleological Approach
Alternatives Based on the Relativist Approach
Alternatives Based on the Deontological Approach
Alternatives Based on a Teleological Approach
Consequences
The Decision
From the Paper "Deontology demands a good and a bad element. It is difficult to delineate either of these absolutely in the case of ambulance chasing; it is easy in such cases as murder. To force application of this test in the case of ambulance chasing results in an artificially rigid interpretation of right and wrong, and it does so, moreover, before the facts in any given case are known. In the case of the train derailment in California, it is clear that the suicidal man who left his truck on the tracks was acting unethically. However, beyond that, there is no clarity."
Abstract This paper relates that, over the years, even though the approach might be slightly different and more subtle, especially in the southern states, there has been very little change in the overall outlook of the American bias toward the ownership of guns by the minorities and poor. The author points out that, even though gun control laws have restricted gun ownership to people who can afford a decent life-style, these laws have had no effect on decreasing crime and disallow poor citizens from protecting themselves with the use of a firearm when facing a criminal situation. The paper concludes by arguing that, because poor people most often live in high crime rates areas or areas where there is very little law protection, to gain a sense of personal security, the laws must be changed and markets must sell low-priced legal firearms.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Gun Control and the Poor
From the Paper "Even though, the blacks had to face the brunt of the gun control and restriction laws; however, they were not the only recipients. Certain white people who did not fit the bill of the Americans also faced numerous laws where they were treated less worthy for the ownership of guns. A good example of this could be the Sullivan law passed in 1911 where the focus shifted to the Italian immigrants, astonishingly, within the first three year of the implementation of the Sullivan law, 70% of the total people arrested had Italian names and surnames. Even the media was very openly not supportive of the guns being issued to the Italian immigrants; the disapproval was posted both in the "New York Tribune" as well as the "New York Times"."
