Prison Inmates, Are Some Of The Most Maladjusted People In Society. Mo

Prison inmates, are some of the most "maladjusted" people in society. Most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are very insecure and are "at war with themselves as well as with society" (Szumski 20). Most inmates did not learn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled criminals they enter the phase of secondary deviance. They will admit they are criminals or believe it when they enter the phase of secondary deviance (Doob 171). Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change those who want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are "likely to develop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personality" (Szumski 21). This kind of program would provide skills and habits and "replace the sense of hopelessness" that many inmates have (Szumski 21). Moreover, another technique used to rehabilitate criminals is counseling. There is two types of counseling in general, individual and group counseling. Individual counseling is much more costly than group counseling. The aim of group counseling is to develop positive peer pressure that will influence its members. One idea in many sociology text is that group problem-solving has definite advantages over individual problem-solving. The idea is that a wider variety of solutions can be derived by drawing from the experience of several people with different backgrounds. Also one individuals problem might have already been solved by another group member and can be suggested. Often if a peer proposes a solution it carries more weight than if the counselor were to suggest it (Bennett 20-24). Further, in sociology, one of the major theories of delinquency is differential association (Cressey 1955). This means some people learned their ways from "undesirable" people who they were forced to be in association with and that this association "warps" their thinking and social attitudes. "Group counseling, group interaction, and other kinds of group activities can provide a corrective, positive experience that might help to offset the earlier delinquent association" (Bennett 25). However, it is said that group counseling can do little to destroy the power of labeling (Bennett 26). The differential-association theory emphasizes that a person is more likely to become a criminal if the people who have the greatest influence upon them are criminals (Doob 169). Most of today's correctional institutions lack the ability and programs to rehabilitate the criminals of America. One can predict that a prisoner held for two, four, eight or ten years, then released , still with no education or vocational skills will likely return to a life of crime. Often their life in crime will resume in weeks after their release. Although the best prisons and programs in the world will not cure the problem totally, improvements still must be made (Szumski 20). Prison inmates, are some of the most "maladjusted" people in society. Most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are very insecure and are "at war with themselves as well as with society" (Szumski 20). Most inmates did not learn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled criminals they enter the phase of secondary deviance. They will admit they are criminals or believe it when they enter the phase of secondary deviance (Doob 171). Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change those who want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are "likely to develop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personality" (Szumski 21). This kind of program would provide skills and habits and "replace the

Overview and Explanation of an Alford Plea

Overview and Explanation of an Alford Plea In the law of the United States, an Alford plea (also called a Kennedy plea in West Virginia)Â  is a plea in criminal court. In this plea, the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty. Origin of the Alford Plea The Alford Plea originated from a 1963 trial in North Carolina. Henry C. Alford was on trial for first-degree murder and insisted that he was innocent, despite three witnesses who said they heard him say he was going to kill the victim, that he got a gun, left the house and returned saying he had killed him. Although there were no witnesses to the shooting, the evidence strongly indicated that Alford was guilty. His lawyer recommended that he plead guilty to second-degree murder in order to avoid being sentenced to death, which was the likely sentence he would receive in North Carolina at that time. At that time in North Carolina, an accused who pled guilty to a capital offense could only be sentenced to life in prison, whereas, if the accused took his case to a jury and lost, the jury could vote for the death penalty. Alford pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, stating to the court that he was innocent, but only pleading guilty so that he would not receive the death penalty. His plea was accepted and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Alford later appealed his case to federal court, saying that he was coerced into pleading guilty out of fear of the death penalty. I just pleaded guilty because they said if I didnt, they would gas me for it, wrote Alford in one of his appeals. The 4th Circuit Court ruled that the court should have rejected the plea which was involuntary because it was made under fear of the death penalty. The trial court verdict was then vacated. The case was next appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that for the plea to be accepted, the defendant must have been advised that his best decision in the case would be to enter a guilty plea. The Court ruled that the defendant can enter such a plea when he concludes that his interests require a guilty plea and the record strongly indicates guilt. The Court allowed the guilty plea along with a plea of innocence only because there was enough evidence to show that the prosecution had a strong case for a conviction, and the defendant was entering such a plea to avoid this possible sentencing. The Court also noted that even if the defendant could have shown that he would not have entered a guilty plea but for the rationale of receiving a lesser sentence, the plea itself would not have been ruled invalid. Because evidence existed that could have supported Alfords conviction, the Supreme Court ruled that his guilty plea was permitted while the defendant himself still maintained that he was not guilty. Alford died in prison in 1975. Implications Upon receiving an Alford plea from a defendant, the court may immediately pronounce the defendant guilty and impose sentence as if the defendant had otherwise been convicted of the crime. However, in many states, such as Massachusetts, a plea which admits sufficient facts more typically results in the case being continued without a finding and later dismissed. It is the prospect of an ultimate dismissal of charges which engenders most pleas of this type. Relevance In the law of the United States, an Alford plea is a plea in criminal court. In this plea, the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty. Today Alford pleas are accepted in every U.S. state except Indiana, Michigan and New Jersey and the United States military.

Explain How Electronic Recycling will better the environment as a Annotated Bibliography

Explain How Electronic Recycling will better the environment as a whole - Annotated Bibliography Example Alternatively, other new perspectives of comprehending the implications of electronic recycling continue to emerge because of extensive research (Parsons & Oja, 2013). The writers cite military simulations conducted in the US that currently attempt to reduce equipment damage and physical harm to both soldiers and citizens. Overall, this safeguards the environment because a lot of computer materials are recycled for reuse in the facilitation of communication and surveillance unlike the disposal of such electronic gadgets. Similarly, electronic recycling through computer simulation nurtures potential environmentalists concerned with the total protection of their surrounding irrespective of arising costs. In a symposium conducted by environmentalists and scientists, several issues emerged on the successes and failures of electronic recycling. According to (Zhang, 2011), the development of effective recycling techniques has resulted to the proper use of printed circuit boards (PCBs). This means success has been achieved in recovering hazardous soldering materials to assist in leaching studies. In the same perspective, the safe disposal and treatment of PCBs resin has heralded a novel way of recycling electronic materials. Unfortunately, some organizations continue to violate electronic recycling standards and this hampers success in reducing the organic swelling characterized by PCBs.

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 45

Journal - Essay Example Additionally, the title of the article depicts that the story given by Roosi has not yet been validated. This is because of the use of the phrase â€Å"woman says† (Watkins & Almasy 1). On the other hand, the contents of the article are well detailed and include quotations from Roosi and Richard Quest and statements from the Malaysian Airlines. The article has an embedded video with a slide show of the pictures taken by Roosi and her friend at the cockpit in 2011 with Hamid. The article employs a relatively formal language. It quotes the words â€Å"A Current Affair† and â€Å"Piers Morgan Live† to imply that the reader will categorize them as referring to television programs. The tone of the article is apathetic as there is little concern over the matter raised on the conduct of the Malaysian Airlines pilots and the article does not offer recommendations that may assist in averting such an incident in the future. Watkins, Tom, and Steve Almasy. "Jonti Roos says she flew in cockpit with missing pilot." CNN. CNN, 12  Feb.  2014. Web. 12  Mar.  2014.

Constrained Women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Constrained Women - Essay Example Short stories can often focus a reader’s attention on various elements of our lives that frequently pass by under our radar because they are now so deeply ingrained in our society’s norms. Such concepts in our life would include the inherent male-dominant beliefs of old in which the woman’s space is considered to be only within the home. On a social level, the woman’s place remains below men even in modern times and is usually placed only slightly above children in matters of importance. While these are ideologies that have, in the past 100 years, been increasingly challenged, particularly by women who have continued to demonstrate their ability to keep up with men, it remains the case that women continue to struggle, not simply on the social level, but on the personal level as well. This personal battle in the example of female subservience requires women to begin questioning the values learned in their youth to consider something both thrilling and frigh tening – the idea that they may be capable of making their own decisions in life without the leadership or approval of men. For many women, the concept alone would be the most they would achieve, especially in earlier time periods. The female characters found in William Faulkner’s short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† and Shirley Jackson’s short story â€Å"The Lottery† live within this oppressive ideology of the subservient woman both socially and internally, but also exhibit a yearning to escape the ties that bind them.

Is International Adoption Justified In The Usa Social Work Essay

Is International Adoption Justified In The Usa Social Work Essay The reason I chose this subject was mainly because International adoption has played a major role in the news during the last few years. On the one hand, there are thousands of orphan children worldwide, mainly in poor countries. On the other hand, there is an increasing demand for adoption in the U.S. and many people turn to international adoption because the supply of national children for adoption is lower than demand. In order to draw a conclusion I have made an extensively research. In particular, I made a thorough analysis for the current situation in the country, the types of adoption that exist and also some celebrities views and acts, since it is believed that celebrities have contributed to the popularity of international adoptions. Moreover, I have described the adoption system in the U.S.A., the main reasons people tend to adopt and why they turn to international adoption. Furthermore, I examined the consequences (positive and negative) of international adoption for the child, for the adoptive parents, for the birth parents and for the society in general. In the end I concluded that international adoption should be justified under certain circumstances. More specifically, I believe that it is better for a child to be adopted from a family in its own country. If this is not possible, someone should turn to international adoption, instead of leaving the child in an inadequate orphanage, where social care is non-existent. Of course, he/she should not overlook the negative impacts of international adoption and the implications it may have on the child, the original parents and the country of birth. Adoption is the act of establishing a person as parent to one who is not in fact or in law his child  [1]  . Adoption is so widely recognized that it can be characterized as an almost worldwide institution with historical roots traceable to antiquity.  [2]  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nowadays, adoption can be either open or closed. Open adoption is a process in which the birthparents and the adoptive parents meet and exchange identifying information. The birthparents relinquish legal and basic childrearing rights to the adoptive parents. Both sets of parents retain the right to continuing contact and access to knowledge on behalf of the child  [3]  . On the contrary, closed adoption, the traditional closed system in adoption, seals all identifying information and bans any contact between children and their biological families.  [4]  However, during the last decades more and more countries have acknowledged the legal right of the adoptee to search for his/her original roots. There are also two types of adoption: national and international or intercountry adoption. National adoption is a type of adoption in which an individual or couple adopts a child born in the same country. On the contrary, international adoption, is a type of adoption in which an individual or couple adopts a child from a different country through permanent legal means, and brings that child to the home country permanently. Through international adoption, the  legal transfer of parental rights from birth parent(s) to another parent(s) takes place. United States citizens started adopting war orphan children from other countries mainly after World War II. Recently, the number of families that adopt children from countries other than their own has increased considerably  [5]  . In U.S., in particular, families have adopted on average approximately 20,000 children from foreign nations each year  [6]  . And, not long ago, factors such as poverty and social changes resulted in the adoption of children from Latin America, the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and China.  [7]   Nowadays, international adoption has become a common practice and in some countries accounts for the majority of cases. International adoption can be conducted through both public and private agencies in each country. However, each country has passed different laws as regards international adoptions. In order to  ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children, The Hague Conference on Private International Law developed the Convention of May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This is known as the Hague Adoption Convention and it is an international treaty among over 75 nations around the world, including the United States  [8]  . Its aim is  to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children; it enables  intercountry adoption under certain circumstances and, recognises intercountry adoption as a means of offering the advantage of a permanent home to a child when a suitable family has not been found in the childs country of origin  [9]  . The aim of this study is to show whether international adoption in the United States is justified, examining the consequences on three levels: for the child, for the family, and for society in general. MAIN REASONS FOR INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION International adoption is gaining ground in our day and time. Couples and individuals tend to look for children to adopt from developing countries, such as China, Thailand, India and may more. There are a plurality of reasons that urge American people to resort to this course of action and are related to the changes effected to the social structure of society at large, the status of women, the financial situation and the changes effected in the mentality of the population. The social structure of the society and especially demographics in the United States has changed significantly. According to recent statistics  [10]  , the percentage of households headed by single parents is at about 9%, up from 5% in 1970. Out of 12.9 million one-parent families in 2006, 10.4 million were single-mother families and 2.5 million were single-father families. Some other highlights are as follows: Average household size in 2006 was 2.57 people, down from 3.14 in 1970. Slightly more than one in four households (26%) consisted of a person living alone in 2006, up from 17% in 1970. In 2006, 33% of males and 26% of females 15 and older had never married, compared to a respective 28% and 22% in 1970. In addition, contemporary society in the US faces fertility problems. According to recent data  [11]  , the level of childlessness among women 40 to 44 years old in June 2006 (20%) is twice as high as 30 years ago (10%). Moreover, 45% of the women in the principal childbearing ages of 15 to 44 years were childless. Financial pressures and the changes in the traditional stereotypical perceptions about the role of women in the society, force American people to consider marriage at a later age in their lives (40-44), after having established their careers and secured a steady income. In particular, women at this age or older do not want to risk a pregnancy, which may put the mothers life at risk or bear children with physical and/or mental diseases. This was not the case in previous decades, in which American people were very conservative with regards to accepting young, unmarried mothers in the society. The norm called for a well-built family around the patriarchal symbol, with the woman playing the role of the child-raising parent. Back then, unmarried women who got pregnant had no option other than having an illegal abortion to avoid the consequences of ostracism from the rest of the societal members. For those women who wanted to keep the child they were bearing, adoption away from home was the only choice once the child was born. Changes in social norms nowadays have made it possible for unmarried women in the United States and abroad to give birth to their children without the fear of facing all sorts of different sanctions, be it moral or psychological. This significant turn on behalf of the American society to higher tolerance levels has made possible the acceptance of unmarried mothers. Even more so, in the case of young girls giving birth, their parents are willing to adopt the new-born and thus support both psychologically and practically their young daughter. Tolerance to abortion has also been heightened and although illegal in many states, abortion is a safe resort -with the advancements in medicine- for many women who want to terminate their pregnancy at an early stage. This limits the number of children available for adoption nationally in the U.S. Added to the above is the fact that women who have a career feel that the nine months of pregnancy could interfere with their job, therefore, adoption would be a better option for them. They may not even want to take that much time out of work to have a baby. This trend is further supported by the fact that in the last decades women have become more financially independent and educated; hence, they are more capable of making ends meet and stand on their feet to run their own households, without having to get married. Still, they want to have the privilege of raising a child and reap the benefits of parenthood. Because a married couple has much higher chances of being allowed to adopt a child, unmarried women resort to international adoption, to overcome their handicap against married couples. In other cases, people who know that they carry a serious genetic disease may not want to give birth to a child, to avoid the risk of passing the disease to their offspring. Still, some families choose to adopt believing that they will be saving a child, offering a loving and supportive family. This is mainly the reason why some people prefer international adoption to national adoption, believing they offer service to the developing world. They usually choose children from developing countries, where the standard of living is very low and they mainly prefer children with no families or relatives, who live in orphanage. International adoption has received widespread media coverage lately, due to the recent adoption of foreign children by several high-profile celebrities. Nowadays, there are many cases of famous people who choose to adopt. Generally, famous people have the same reasons for adopting children that people who are not famous have. Adopting children may be one way for them to feel like they are helping the world out  [12]  . Moreover, famous people often have both financial resources and influence, so, in contrast to an ordinary family, adoption process is much easier for them  [13]  . There are many examples of celebrities who have adopted several children from abroad  [14]  , such as Sharon Stone, Meg Ryan (from China), Mia Farrow (from Vietnam and Korea), Madonna/Guy Ritchie (from Malawi) and Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt (from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam). However, in contrast to what has been discussed above, there are some negative aspects of adoption, mainly international adoption. A negative reason for adoption is when people choose to adopt in order to deduct an amount from their tax liability. In the US both those who adopt internationally and domestically can take advantage of the Adoption Tax Credit  [15]  . The Adoption Tax Credit is a valuable benefit for adopting families since they may take a tax credit for qualifying expenses paid to adopt an eligible child (including a child with special needs). Such expenses include reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, travelling expenses (including amounts spent for meals and lodging while away from home), and other expenses directly related to and for which the principal purpose is the legal adoption of an eligible child  [16]  . Another negative issue is when adoption becomes so crucial to a celebrity only to get fame, power and admiration. In such cases, international adoption becomes a trend that may result in a negative impact that could last a childs lifetime. Also, a negative aspect of international adoption relates to a tendency of the rich and famous to bypass the law. Celebrities sometimes are bending the rules and pushing the boundaries to bring babies to their own countries. They do not always respect the laws of the third countries and do not follow the procedures as ordinary people usually do. Two cases of famous people that have been discussed a lot are the cases of Madonna and Angelina Jolie. Angelina Jolie acts as a very good example. She has adopted following the proper procedures, she has shown great sensitivity and interest in such issues and has been Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. On the other hand, Madonna has not followed all the proper procedures according to the Malawian Law, and there have been legal disputes over whether her adoption was totally legal or not  [17]  . Her practice was condemned by many humanitarian organisations and agencies that deal with international adoptions (ISS Headquarters in Geneva expressed their disapproval for the way the procedure was carried out). In short, the discussion in this part of the essay has focused on the rationale behind international adoption. Evidently, there is a trend towards international adoption, which is attributed to the increasing demand for adoption in the U.S. It appears that many people turn to international adoption because the supply of national children for adoption is lower than demand  [18]  . Also, the rising number of single mothers in America as well as in the rest of the western world has turned international adoption into an attractive alternative to national adoption, with its legal complexities and the preference for married couples. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION IN THE U.S. IS IT JUSTIFIED? Adoption, either national or international, came into effect so that children can live in a loving and healthy environment. In addition, through adoption, individuals as well as childless couples who wish to raise a child can enjoy parenthood. Adoption involves three parties, the child (adoptee), the family (adoptive parents) and the home country of the child (birth parents). It is evident that adoption alters traditional family structure and functioning. In other words, positive and negative aspects of international adoption emerge for each one of these parties. Positive aspects For the adoptee As I stated previously, United States citizens started adopting orphan children from other countries in substantial numbers after World War II. Moreover, over the last twenty years, many children have been adopted from poor countries all over the world. So there are numerous positive aspects for the orphan and poor children worldwide. Research shows that children do best when raised in a supportive, caring family  [19]  . The most important is that international adoption provides a permanent family for the orphan children worldwide. Also, nowadays, many high society individuals are adopting children from underdeveloped nations. This, besides a good home to live, provides the children with a secure future. Living with a rich family, children can have not only a decent living, but also good educational opportunities that they would never have had in their birth country. In addition, most children who need new homes are older than five, sick, disabled, or somehow traumatised. So they have more opportunities for a better life if adopted by a prosperous and caring family. Statistical data derived from parents, teachers and children themselves show that the vast majority of the adopted children demonstrate satisfactory adjustment  [20]  . More specifically, adopted children felt strongly attached to their adoptive families. This can be explained, in part, by the fact that the American society is highly multi-cultural, reducing thus the time for adjustment of a new member originating from a foreign country. Evidently, adjustment is even easier for an adopted international child at the age of five, which is quite malleable and open to stimuli from a different culture. For the adoptive parents Most adults, when they get married plan to have children. Few of these individuals expect ahead of time that there will be difficulties in conceiving a child. Yet, approximately, one in six couples in the U.S. will experience a fertility problem  [21]  . When this happens, most couples seek a medical solution. Nearly 50% of them will be eventually able to have a child biologically  [22]  . The remaining couples must decide whether to remain childless or to seek parenthood through adoption. There are thousands of children without a family all over the world and people who wish to adopt have a better chance of obtaining a child internationally. Thus they are able to give a permanent home and a nurturing environment for an orphan child. This is definitely a positive scenario and, according to statistical data derived from interviews, adoptive parents expressed considerable satisfaction in their roles  [23]  . For the birth parents The biological parents are forced to give away their children, usually because they are very poor, and they cannot provide a stable home and the necessary basics for living. Giving their child for adoption makes them happy that their child gets a family, and a secure future in a loving and healthy environment. Even though the process of separation from their children is painful, they realise that this is a far better solution than not being able to provide their children with a safe, healthy and promising future. On occasions when the mother is very young and has little or no experience to raise a child, adoption is also a better option than entrusting the fate of a newborn to an inexperienced mother, who may be living in the slums of an impoverished nation. For the society of the birth parents International adoption brings significant financial resources into poor countries, putting them in a better economic condition. Still, societies are deprived of their younger members in cases where the adoptee goes to another country. Celebrities like Madonna and Angelina Jolie have provided significant financial resources to poor countries. In addition, celebrity adoptions, through the publicity that they have, play a major role in increasing peoples awareness as regards poverty all over the world. Negative aspects For the adoptee International adoption often, but not always, involves trans-racial placement. Opponents of trans-racial adoption suggest that placement of children outside their own racial group will undermine the development of positive racial identity, ultimately leading to cultural genocide  [24]  . The childs removal from its birth country would mean the loss of the childs original language and culture. According to research, adopted children may experience the loss of birth parents and extended birth family; loss of status; loss of ethnic, racial, and genealogical connections, loss of feelings of stability in the adoptive family, and loss of identity  [25]  . For some children, adoption is associated with feelings of confusion, sadness, anger, embarrassment, and shame. When children begin to understand the meaning and implications of adoption, around five to seven years of age, emergence of sensitivity to adoption related stigma and loss occurs. Some children appraise being adopted in negative ways and have great adjustment problems. In reality, the younger the children the more sensitive they are to adoption issues. For the adoptive parents Among the many tasks experienced by parents are those associated with coping with infertility and the transition to adoptive parenthood, discussing adoption with their child, creating a family environment that supports the childs exploration of adoption issues, helping their child cope with loss, supporting a positive self-image and identity in their child in relation to adoption and, in some cases, as the adoptee moves into adolescence and adulthood, supporting their childs plans to search for birth family. Although not necessarily a negative implication of adoption, it is a great challenge for the adoptive parents, especially when they have adopted a child from abroad. For this child, the pursuit of answers to questions about his/her origins, cultural differences, ethnic background and the like is a long journey that many a times has an unclear destination. The decision to adopt a child is not an easy choice. Profound stress, typically associated with infertility, often results in both short-term and long-term psychological problems, including heightened feelings of anxiety, guilt, shame, anger, and depression; diminished self-esteem and marital difficulties  [26]  . For the birth parents The child is genetically connected with the birthparents and this connection is lost with adoption. As a result, birthparents suffer from a loss of their role as parents, which makes them feel irresponsible and incapable of bringing up their child. Sometimes birthparents are under great pressure and are enforced to give their child to adoption against their will. Sometimes they worry about the future of their child, and they wonder if they will ever see it again. They may feel anger with themselves, with the society, even with the adoptive parents. And the most important issue is that they will have to deal with this for the rest of their lives. From what has been covered in the preceding paragraphs it is concluded that adoption can change significantly the life of all parties involved. Adoption is therefore justified and should be made with the best interests of the child. Likewise, international adoption should be an option only when and if there is no viable alternative in the childs country of origin  [27]  . It should be also mentioned that Unicef believes that international adoption should be considered as a last resort, for children who cannot find a permanent home in their country  [28]  . CONCLUSION Through my study I can understand that international adoption constitutes a great part of the total adoption and has caused public reaction, both positive and negative. I agree with adoption critics, which focus on the issue of exploitation since adoption often involves the transfer of children from less to more privileged people, or from black to white families  [29]  . However, I would like to make it clear that international adoption does not always cause injustice. It should be taken under consideration that there are many orphan children in poor countries or families that are not in a good situation to raise a child. In the case of international adoption, I believe that all alternative solutions for orphan children in poor countries should be considered. These children have no home and family and they are suffering neglected in various institutions. Keeping orphan children in inadequate institutions rather than giving them good permanent homes, does not mean that they will be happier. If a family in their country could offer them home, love and affection, I am convinced this solution would be preferred. If not, international adoption clearly represents an extraordinarily positive option for them. Otherwise, homeless children around the world will probably live or die in inadequate institutions or on the streets. In my opinion the U.S. is a suitable new home for internationally adopted children since a large part of the population who want to adopt a child are well-off and can offer a good and caring family. Since the number of national children for adoption is less than the demand for adoptions, international adoption is the next best alternative  [30]  . To this end, international adoption in the U.S. is justified. Yet, we should not overlook the negative impact of international adoption discussed in the previous section and the implications it may have on the child, the original parents and the country of birth. Ideally, it would be better to provide a home in the country of birth but this is not always possible if the child was born in a very poor country, where social care and infrastructure to support local adoption are non-existent. Banning international adoption will not solve the problems of homelessness in poor countries. Being anti-foreign without a reason is not reasonable. As far as international adoption works well under the existing adoption laws and serves childrens interests, it should be justified and facilitated. The destructive earthquake in Haiti left almost 300,000 people dead and thousands of children without a family. I am of the opinion that for many of these children, international adoption could be a justifiable solution and a unique opportunity for the U.S. to prove that its citizens can make good use of it for the sake of the children and their future.

The Basics of Socialism and Communism Essay -- Government History Soci

The Basics of Socialism and Communism The radical political essay, Communist Manifesto- written by the German revolutionary philosopher Karl Marx, addresses numerous sociological problems of the 1800’s. In it, Marx basically calls for a proletariat, or working class, revolt and the installation of communism. Communism, also known as â€Å"scientific socialism†, like the latter name points out, is derived from socialism. These two complicated theories both yield a government that as autonomous political system has the responsibility to govern its country with the people's best interest as the priority. The Communist Manifesto and these ideas, however, can be best understood with an explanation of socialism and communism. Socialism, which preceded communism, began in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Utopian socialists such as Charles Fourier, Robert Owen, and Charles Dana were some of the founders of socialist thought. These visionaries had notions that human society could be organized into ideal communities of all the different occupations, including capitalists in some cases. They thought these communities would be stable and self-sustaining.[i] In addition, socialism calls for â€Å"state ownership and control of the fundamental means of production and distribution of wealth, to be achieved by reconstruction of the existing capitalist or other political system of a country through peaceful, democratic, and parliamentary means.†[ii] It also promotes protecting public welfare with the national government. One of the significant differences between socialism and communism is that along with state corporation ownership, socialism allows and encourages smaller business es to be owned privately. The ultimate goal of... ...s well. Notes [i] Bruno Leone. Socialism: Opposing Viewpoints, (Minneapolis: Greenhaven Press, 1978), 6. [ii] Michael Harrington. Socialism: Past and Future. (New York: Arcade Publishing, 1989), 51. [iii] Leone, Socialism, 19. [iv] Bruno Leone. Communism: Opposing Viewpoints, (Minneapolis: Greenhaven Press, 1978), 2-3. [v] Karl Marx, â€Å"The Communist Manifesto,† The Avalon Project of Yale Law School, (11 March 2002). [vi] Marx, â€Å"The Communist Manifesto.† [vii] Leone, Socialism, 6. [viii] Andrew Linklater. Beyond Realism and Marxism. (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990), 113. [ix] Harrington, 39. [x] Leone, Communism, 63. [xi] Harrington, 230-234.

Life is a Gift Essay

Life is a gift. It is an honor; a spark; an excitement. We all have a world of our own. A wise author, Albert Camus, once stated, â€Å"you will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life† (Albert Camus). Life is about living to your fullest abilities; why waste our time looking for the meaning of each breath we take? Each person is a part of life. Each life has a world of its own. I believe that the meaning of life, defined by Victor E. Frankl, is to find meaning in our own life. Each and every person on this planet has a meaning to his own life, and is a unique and independent individual. And so, the question comes along, â€Å"Who am I? † The answer is I. I am who I am, and not one person can ever change that. My life is exceedingly meaningful, and is made up of a series of rituals, experiences, a plentiful amount of mistakes, and many various emotions. According to the article, The Rite of Passage, a ritual â€Å"help[s] us understand the changes in our lives and give meaning to experiences† we undergo. Rituals express who we are today, as well as the sum total of our actions, feelings, and thoughts that makes each person in this world, a single, individual person. An example of a major ritual and life-changing event in the Odyssey is the trial of the bow. During this scene, a disguised Odysseus surpassed a difficult task, as he without effort strung the challenging bow. Odysseus, after laying the arrow on the arch, shot the mighty bow â€Å"with careful aim, not miss[ing] an axe’s ring from first to last† (Homer 2011). This scene makes a change in not only Odysseus’s life, but also his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope. The trial of the bow is an important Rite of Passage, offering significance to each one of their lives. Just like Odysseus, I have progressed through a numerous amount of rituals, along with experiences, mistakes, truths and actions, all leading up to the fourteen year old girl I am today. Although each person has a different opinion on what surrounds us, I believe the nature of the universe is full of the unknown. The world is a scary place to be in, it encloses us in, with nothing but mystery. It is a frightening thing, to move on with your life not knowing what will happen in the next few moments, but that is what life is all about; the unknown. We surround ourselves with questions that can never be answered; yet we need to learn to live life in the present, not thinking about the future with every step we take. No one in this world is fearless, in fact, according to H. L. Mencken, â€Å"The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear – fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants above everything else is safety† (H.L. Mencken). In agreement to Mencken, nothing in this world is safe; we waste seconds; minutes; hours; even days worrying about our fears. Worrying about our fears of the unknown. I believe we can’t relate to this unknown universe, however, we can live with it. Instead of waking up each day wondering what the unknown is, we need to wake up everyday focusing on what we do know, and interpreting that information into what we understand. In order to find the meaning in our lives, we each need control over our lives. I control my life one hundred percent. I make me own decisions, choose my individual actions, and control my responses. We have complete control over our own lives. However, the one think we do not have control over is other people’s actions and decisions. Although we have the power in our individual lives, others may influence our judgments, choices, and conclusions. All of these factors affect whom we are, along with the fact that we can’t control others reactions, which may cause poor influence on us. For example, in the novel, The Odyssey, Odysseus sails a long journey home, facing many distractions, challenges, and adventures. He encounters many different monsters that stop him in his path, including Cyclops, The Sirens, and Poseidon. Although Odysseus can control his actions, and the way he fights, he has a weakness when it comes to his opponents. Just like Odysseus, we can control our actions and responses, but when it comes to having others involves, we have no control over how they can act and make their choices. Living life freely, with no regrets, and accomplishing all of our goals. That is a satisfying life. Taking risks, without worrying, loving ourselves, being happy with our achievements, and experiencing all different emotions is what life is all about. A variety of different feelings occur throughout our lives; we need happiness, excitement, fears, anger, and even tears to lead a fulfilling life. In the independent reading novel, entitled Speak; Melinda Sordino writes about emotions and feelings, â€Å"When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time† (Anderson 58). Melinda believes the reasons people need to express themselves is because everyone needs to experience all kinds of emotions in order to interact and stay alive. In the Odyssey, Both Odysseus and Telemachus are involved by an overwhelming amount of emotions. Without the emphasis of their feelings without the novel, the story would have much less meaning and would not be as dramatic. Emotions add to our everyday conversations and feelings towards each other. We need them to live a satisfying, enjoyable life. I believe, in order to find the meaning of my life, I need to sit back, relax, and let the question answer itself. In order to survive, and live for as long as possible, I have to enjoy my life in the present. Not be thinking about the future, and where life is going to take me; but live life as it is brought to me, rather then bringing myself to my life. By being patient and letting my life come to me as time goes on, I am sure to survive for a longer, happier, and more exciting period of time. Yet, at the conclusion to each person’s life, the certainty of death must strike. Getting ourselves ready for this unpredictable day is very easy, as long as we’ve accomplished everything that we have set out to achieve, death may appear whenever it feels the need to. It is a misfortunate thing, though, as some deaths develop so quickly and suddenly, we do not have time to say our goodbyes. Nor do the victims have time to achieve their goals, and pass on wishes. An example of a sudden death is in the novel entitles Lost for Words, by Alice Kuipers. In the story, Sophie’s older sister died traumatically in a sudden train bombing. Due to the death, it ripped Sophie’s family apart. They stopped talking to each other, and everything became awkward between her and her mother. Because of the unpredictable death at such a young age, her sister was, sorrowfully, not ready for her time to come. She may have not achieved her goals in life, and got to take as many risks as life leads her too, making it an even bigger tragedy for Sophie and her family. There were a number of dreadful deaths in the Odyssey as well. These included Odysseus’ crew, Odysseus’ mother, and many suitors. From reading all of these disastrous scenes and stories about death, I have learned that in order to reconcile myself for the inevitability of death, I need to start living my life with many risks, and no regrets. By living my life without any doubts, and enjoying my life in the present, I can be sure to live a long, satisfying life, ready for the fate of death for whenever it decides to doom on me. I believe the meaning of life, is to find meaning in our own, individual lives. By waiting for life to come to me, and enjoying the present in a way of happiness, enjoyment, and risks, I can be sure to eventually come to a full understanding of why I am here, living today. Each life has a world of its own, and each person his own life. Each person in this world will have a different story to share, and a different meaning and impact on our world today.

Overrated Fitness Industry Essay Essays

Overrated Fitness Industry Essay Essays Overrated Fitness Industry Essay Essay Overrated Fitness Industry Essay Essay Health nine rank gross revenues is among the most useless of services available today. The potency of personal trainers and aerophilic teachers are extremely overrated. A twosome of thousand dollars and 8 months subsequently for a service that cost merely $ 20. 00 per month. in the beginning. has non put the client any closer to his or her ends. Of class. there are no refunds or warrants. There are so many alibis in the fittingness industry as to why the individual did non acquire the consequences they wanted. The individual did non follow a low fat diet. the person’s metamorphosis is slow. the individual has bad genetic sciences. Now the fittingness industry speaks of something call metabolic harm. This. and other invented wellness jobs coming up out of nowhere. is more alibis as to why a individual can non accomplish their fittingness ends. The wellness nine industry remains overrated. Peoples think these fittingness professionals are fabulous for go throughing on all this useless information. Health nines and fittingness professionals are overrated because it offers a service that people can non purchase. No 1 can purchase motive. Anyone motivated to force their physical capacity in a gym. run on the route in forepart of their house. They do non let money. or lack there of. to stand in their manner. In the 1970ss and early 1880ss. people did non necessitate interior decorator places ; do non hold bad dorsums from running on pavings. or making crunches and so on. Teaching childs they can non run without a 100 dollar brace of Nikes is stating them they can non be physically fit without money. Oprah Winfrey is a millionaire. She can afford to hold her chef accompany her 24 hours a twenty-four hours. She can afford the best personal trainers the fittingness industry has to offer. Oprah had antic consequences. Oprah. as so many others. gives all the recognition to her personal trainer and cook. Many people recognition Oprah’s weight loss to her ability to afford a personal trainer. She gained the weight back. Her fiscal position stayed the same. or possibly increased. Anyone can help person through an exercising modus operandi. Madonna on the other manus. corsets tantrum. Her weight does non fluctuate. Madonna and the populace over evaluate her personal trainers. She is quoted for stating everyone needs a personal trainer. Madonna’s dedication to pattern yoga for an hr. Pilates for another hr. exercise in the gym for another hr. so do aerophilic activity for another hr has nil bash with her personal trainer. Most personal trainers and fittingness professionals say that is making manner excessively much. Aerobic teachers and personal trainers really rarely come from an athletic background. They are mindlessly go throughing on information they acquired through a class they had to be certified through to acquire employed. The industry is set up for people to acquire no consequences. There is no go oning money coming in when people get what they pay for. Approximately 90 % of the overestimate of fittingness services is psychological. Peoples were in form when low fat diets were popular ; they were in form when low fat diets were neer heard of. Peoples were physically fit with high saccharide diet. The same people who switched to a high protein did non alter physically. Millions of people continue to pay for fittingness professionals to state them it is their mistake. or their genetic sciences why they are fleshy. to decelerate. to old. and have limited flexibleness. These same people truly believe these people who have a certification on the wall are great for stating them about their physical restrictions.

Free Essays on Two Observations

â€Å"Two Observations† In the essays â€Å"Observing Wolves† and â€Å"First Observations†, we are taken into the minds of two writer’s perspective on their animal subjects. Though both Farley Mowatt and Jane van Lawick-Goodall have similarly isolated themselves in the wilderness in the hope of achieving a higher understanding, their methods, perspective, and observations show two vastly different approaches. The preceding, in conjunct with their two completely different writing styles, shows us a glimpse of nature from practically opposite angles. The two writers began their examinations differently right away. In â€Å"Observing Wolves†, Farley Mowatt expressed care and caution but trying not to get in the way of the wolves so as not to disturb â€Å"the even tenor of their lives too much† (237). He wanted to completely enter their world - but gradually. However, this respect was not demonstrated further into the essay when he attempted to get the animal’s attention by challenging their boundaries. In Jane van Lawick-Goodall’s â€Å"First Observations†, the narrator approached the chimpanzees more objectively. Her first impression of the primates was of their simplicity, but her reaction as she became familiar with them showed a growing awe for the them. Her portrayal of the animals and the jungle in her essay, as well as her careful observations, further showed her fascination and respect. In both essays, the reader could easily expect a different reaction from the observers based o n their thesis’ but are led somewhere completely different. In â€Å"Observing Wolves†, the narrator focused more on his feelings in relationship to the animals. His observations were more light-hearted, yet there was an underlying intensity shown in his admiration of the wolves and his eagerness to identify with them. The humor and expressiveness of his writing makes the story interesting and exciting; even for a reader with no knowledg... Free Essays on Two Observations Free Essays on Two Observations â€Å"Two Observations† In the essays â€Å"Observing Wolves† and â€Å"First Observations†, we are taken into the minds of two writer’s perspective on their animal subjects. Though both Farley Mowatt and Jane van Lawick-Goodall have similarly isolated themselves in the wilderness in the hope of achieving a higher understanding, their methods, perspective, and observations show two vastly different approaches. The preceding, in conjunct with their two completely different writing styles, shows us a glimpse of nature from practically opposite angles. The two writers began their examinations differently right away. In â€Å"Observing Wolves†, Farley Mowatt expressed care and caution but trying not to get in the way of the wolves so as not to disturb â€Å"the even tenor of their lives too much† (237). He wanted to completely enter their world - but gradually. However, this respect was not demonstrated further into the essay when he attempted to get the animal’s attention by challenging their boundaries. In Jane van Lawick-Goodall’s â€Å"First Observations†, the narrator approached the chimpanzees more objectively. Her first impression of the primates was of their simplicity, but her reaction as she became familiar with them showed a growing awe for the them. Her portrayal of the animals and the jungle in her essay, as well as her careful observations, further showed her fascination and respect. In both essays, the reader could easily expect a different reaction from the observers based o n their thesis’ but are led somewhere completely different. In â€Å"Observing Wolves†, the narrator focused more on his feelings in relationship to the animals. His observations were more light-hearted, yet there was an underlying intensity shown in his admiration of the wolves and his eagerness to identify with them. The humor and expressiveness of his writing makes the story interesting and exciting; even for a reader with no knowledg...

The 7 Unbreakable Rules of Digital Strategy Success Assignment

The 7 Unbreakable Rules of Digital Strategy Success - Assignment Example It is their responses through which the company responds to the market trends. This can be done so through the during the sales process or through formally dedicated surveys conducted to know about the impulse of customers as a whole. Since the customers make up for large part of company profile, company performance, revenues and returns, it is therefore important to start off with the audience identification. Dissection and specialization of services based on the kind of audience to which the services are directed makes up for the first basic principle of success in the entire process of market driven functions. Once the audience is identified accordingly and their areas of concern and interested are dealt with, it enables handling the remaining part of process and task completion easier and practically executable in this regard. Keeping up with the constant change in the demand of the customers also serves for the criteria fulfillment with regard to the customers’ needs

CONFLICT AND IDENTITY THEME BETWEEN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND CHECHNYA Essay

CONFLICT AND IDENTITY THEME BETWEEN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND CHECHNYA - Essay Example Despite the fact that the two superpowers were allies during the World War II, they, however, differed on views pertaining to post-war reconstruction as one was pursuing capitalism, while the other was socialism, and this diversion is said to be the root cause of the world's bipolarity. The USSR sought alliances from its established satellites in Eastern Europe as well as Latin America and South East Asia, influenced these nations towards Socialism and Communism, while the U. S. sought the containment of communism and established several alliances to this end, particularly in Western Europe and the East. The USSR found allies in other communist regimes in Eastern Europe such as Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Poland, Albania, Romania, East Germany, and Finland, making the political machinery and arsenal of Communism spread strongly. Despite informal expression of war between the US and USSR, the Cold War period was characterized by international crises such as the Korean War in 1950-53, the Berlin Blockade in 1948-49, the Berlin Crisis of 1961, the Vietnam War in 1959-1975, the Soviet-Afghan War in 1979-89, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 (Wohlforth 1993). However, the potential for mutually assured destruction through deliverable nuclear weapons deterred direct military attacks between the US and USSR. When the Cold War drew close to the period of 1990s, newly appointed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost and perestroika, unclothing the real face of classical revisionism, which he called Socialism, while the US increased diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on the USSR. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 alongside the ideologies of revisionism, the United States was left as the only triumphant superpower in a unipolar world. As this paper intends to present an artifact that would convey a conflict and identity between Prague and another country under USSR during the cold war, such artifact chosen is the ammunition relic. The ammunition relic is so chosen since it fits tremendously in the then existing military and political turmoil caused against the Czech and Chechen people in the spread of communism. Apparently, the two capitals held in focus for this purpose are Prague (Czechoslovakia) and Grozny (Chechen Republic). The ammunition relic has a corresponding significant in terms of the ongoing construction and promotion of the national identity of the two countries in respect of the Cold War conflict. It symbolizes control, power, domination, and repression of people by their governments in the latter's pursuit for world recognition of the government systems that they upheld. The Relationship Between the USSR and Czechoslovakia During the Cold War The beginnings of communism in Czechoslovakia ensued in the post-World War II era. On May 1945, the USSR liberated its capital - Prague - from the Germans after a popular uprising. The mark of the true emergence of communist power in Czechoslovakia began in 1948 upon organized mass strikes by communist party members, leaving the government