CIS assigntment #2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CIS assigntment #2 - Essay Example There are different types of Malware present in the market and they are used by their attackers to perform different activities. Some of the malware present in the wolrd of computers to day include: Viruses – These can be said to be one of the oldest malwares that have been present in the world of computers (Brodkin, 2013). Viruses are programs that have been designed to replicate themselves so as to spread from computer to computer causing havoc wherever they infect. They affect the computers they infect in a number of ways including changing the behavior of the computer, erasing data and stealing information that may be stored on the computer. Viruses embed themselves onto other program files in the computer and are activated when the user attempts to open the infected file (Brodkin, 2013). They can be spread through a downloaded file that contains the virus which is transferred from one computer to another. Trojans – These malware is named after the Greek mythology of the Trojan horse due to their innocent appearance to the user so as to avoid suspicion of the actual danger that they yield (Brodkin, 2013).Once they are activated however, they are able to achieve a number of attackers on the Personal Computer such as causing continuous irritations such as unrelated pop up windows to more harmful acts such as the deletion of programs and the creation of backdoors into the computers files. The fact that Trojans present themselves as harmless programs make them harder to detect and a user may be more vulnerable to this form of malware. Remote Access Trojans (RATs) are those that can create a backdoor system that allow the hacker access to one’s computer and is even able to send commands via root access capabilities (Brodkin, 2013). Backdoors – These are programs that are designed to allow the creator undetected access to a computer system once they have been installed. Backdoors can be used by hackers to steal information from a server

The Evolution of the Human 'Y 'Chromsome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The Evolution of the Human 'Y 'Chromsome - Essay Example Females account for two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y chromosome. Y chromosome is also one of the significant sex determining chromosomes in animals and since we are focusing on the human aspect, so the same is in human beings as well. In mammals, the gene SRY is located in the Y chromosome which has an effect on the development of the testis which in all fairness is an indicator of the maleness of a person. The Y chromosome spans 58 million base pairs which are indeed the building blocks of the DNA and there is a clear enough representation of around 0.38% from the DNA as present in the cell of a human being. The Y chromosome has within it 78 genes where there is a coding taking place of only 23 proteins which are very distinct and different in nature. Specifically talking about the Y chromosome now, we see that in the past, the scientists were of the belief that the human sex chromosome, the Y chromosome was just a minute and smaller version of the X chromosome, which indeed is the chromosome present in both the sexes, males and females. Moving further ahead on this notion, we discern that the research conducted by Dr. David Page who is a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research showed that on the reversal of the Y chromosome there is a significant story as it brings out the essence related with the evolution of the sex chromosomes and not only that but also provides an area of respite for the genes present for the sake of male fertility. What these results have done is to educate one and all of the basis and importance related with the Y chromosomes. (Ribbert, 2003) More than that, it has portrayed the Y chromosome as being the basis for the different diagnostic techniques for literally thousands of men who are infertile and cannot have babies. The genetic differences are easily understood through the results thus achieved on the working done on the Y chromosome and these genetic differences are in line with the

How Intervention Strategies Contribute to Change Essay Example for Free

How Intervention Strategies Contribute to Change Essay Anne-Marie van Oost, Master of commercial sciences and Innovation Management, InduTec asbl/vzw, avenue Nellie Melbalaan 73, 1070 Brussels, [emailprotected] Jacques Tichon, Dr. Ing., Haute Ecole Paul-Henri Spaak, rue Royale 150, 1000 Brussels, [emailprotected] Summary Change involves moving from one condition to another. Change is not necessarily innovation. But an organisation that finds a fundamentally new way to reach and serve its customers has achieved an innovation. Organisations are changing at a record pace to keep up with an environment that demands more performance. Some organisations are doing a good job of changing to meet new performance requirements. These organisations know that change is the rule and that they will need to master change to continue to thrive. Every manager who has tried to guide an organisational change has experienced the reality of having to run the business while changing the business.Running an organisation and changing an organisation are two different kind of jobs each requiring different mindsets and skill sets. That wouldn’t be a problem if changes didn’t come along often and an organisation could just keep doing what it had been doing and still satisfy customers and stakeholders. But today’s environment is very different than it was a few years ago, and change is now the rule and not the exception. Employees must be able to perform as well during the change as they perform when the organisation is not changing. Unfortunately most managers and employees have been overtrained to perform in a no change, and undertrained to perform during change. This article will give you some theoretical concepts you will need to better understand the need of mastering change. 1. How to make organisational change happen? What is the importance ‘to  intervene’ 2. Are all organisations having trouble changing? Lots of organisations are not changing well enough to avoid negative consequences. Change implies inevitably resistance. 3. It is leadership that focuses the organisation on its new direction, whether that direction comes first from the leader hi/herself or from the mind of others. It is leadership that must coordinate the processes of change so that the organisation does not lose its way. It is leadership that supplies the courage for continued change in the face of the inevitable resistance and disappointment along the way. 1. INTRODUCTION Change has to do with ‘learning oganisations’. The concept has found favour in organisational development and management studies through the work of Senge, Nonaka Takeuchi, and others. , who have highlighted the importance of building ‘learning organisations’. The thinking is that only organisations that can learn fast will be equipped for the period of rapid change. Heifetz and Lauria state firmly that: â€Å"Solutions to adaptive challenges reside not in the executive suite but in the collective intelligence of employees at all levels†1. In order to improve organisational performance, there must be recognition that change and the turbulence it generates will undoubtedely affects all parts of the system.That is why it is one of the fundamental tasks of leadership to balance attention to the management of performance with attention to the management of change and uncertainty Academic Education focuses on technical and mental competences and stresses the need to train skills required for executive functions and leadership. Public and private enterprise would very much welcome purposeful and efficient training for leadership skills, but very often cannot find properly trained applicants for managerial positions.2 Leading people means asking people to change. One has to learn how to change,  one has to really want change and go for it. If people don’t really want to learn and change, it will not happen. That is why changing is so difficult. With this paper some concepts and models are introduced from literature that offer some insight into the management of change. But keep in mind that models may offer some insight, but at the same time they show and conceal reality, because they are one-sided by definition. â€Å"If change really is of the essence, if you really wish to see change occur at the behaviour level, for example to see managers manage changes differently or to see a greater amount of teamwork, then you have to think of something that compels such behaviour† (Eric Van de Reed, P., Extraordinary leadership, creating strategies for change, Kogan Page, UK, 2001. Pfeiffer, J.W., voorwoord in , Situationeel leiding geven, Uitgeverij Business Contact, Amsterdam, 2006 2 1 Loo).3 This article deals with behaviour interventions, topics like resistance and power as important derivatives, as well as leadership in relation to change. 1.1 Intervening as a technique and phenomenon To intervene means that someone forces their way into an existing system of relationships, people, groups or objects with the aim of improving it. In processes of change intervening as a technique and phenomenon is an important topic. But keep in mind that models may offer some insight, but at the same time they show and conceal reality, because they are one-sided by definition. Aryris defines ‘to intervene’ as follows.4 â€Å"Organisations do not perform the actions that produce the learning. It is individuals acting as agents of organisations who produce the behaviour that leads to learning. Organisations can create conditions that may significantly influence what  individuals frame as the problem, design as a solution, and produce as action to solve a problem. Whenever an error is detected and corrected without questioning or altering the underlying values of the system (be it individual, group, intergroup, organisational or interorganisational), the learning is single-loop. The term is borrowed from electrical engineering: a thermostat is defined as a single-loop learner. The thermostat is ‘programmes’ to detect states of â€Å"too cold† or â€Å"too hot†, and to correct the situation by turning the heat on or off. If the thermostat asked itself such questions as why it was set at 68 degrees, ot why it was programmed as it was, then it would be a double-loop learner.† Single-loop learning occurs when matches are created, or when mismatches are corrected by changing actions. Double-loop learning occurs when mismatches are corrected by first examining and altering the governing variables and then the actions. Governing ariables are the preferred states that individuans strive to â€Å"satisfice† when they are acting. These governing variabes are not the underlying beliefs or values people espouse. They are the ten have, Steven en Wouter, Verandering,over het doordacht werken aan de organisatie, Uitgeverij Nieuwezijds, 2004 4 Argyris, C. ,On organisational learning, Blackwell Publishing, 2004 3 variables that can be inferred, by observing the actions of individuals acting as agents for the organisation, to drive and guide their actions. This is where intervention shows up. In case you don’t handle the double –loop thinking, you become a servant of the status quo!! In his â€Å"Intervention theory and method: a behavioral science view, Argyris presents 3 methods of intervention: 1. To rely on knowledge and know-how already present in an intervener. Success is pretty much guaranteed as the proven methods put a client at ease. 2. To use in a creative manner a combination of different sources of existing knowledge of an intervener from previous situations. This requires more time than the first approach. 3. A third approach builds on the first two methods: to combine sources of knowledge of an intervener with those of a client. In this way, an  intervention helps a client to understand a problem and the intervention contributes to the theoretical knowledge base of an intervener. This approach is less common, but should be preferred over the first 2 methods. The joint development of conceptual models not only helps the client, but is also useful for future cases an intervener has to deal with. In this way, an intervener tries to translate specific issues of a client to generally applicable rules and views the various interventions and strategies of change as complementary. Harrison, R.5 sees the different methods and strategies for change as complementary . He does not consider the methods as different ways of doing the same thing, but rather as different ways of doing different things. Harrison contends there is a need for a conceptual model that indicates which strategy is suitable for which problem. A distinction in this regard might be the depth of the intervention at an individual, emotional level. Harrison explains depth according to 5 strategies: 1. Operations analysis: this approach (very little depth) addresses the use of roles and functions within an organisation. The strategy is aimed at bringing about change in the relationship between the different roles. The assumption is that people are exchangeable to a significant degree. Thus, relevant skills, needs and values of people within an organisation should be discernable. Harrison, R. Choosing the depth of Organisational Intervention , Journal of applied Behavioral Science, 181-200 5 2. Management by objectives: (an approach with a little more depth) This approach addresses the individual results. The individual and the manager agree on the services to be provided. The process (how to achieve those results) remains latent. 3. Instrumental process analysis: This strategy does address the process: what is someone’s work style and what is its influence on others within an organisation? A particular person is the focus of attention: what stimulates and curbs someone’s performance and how can negotiations be conducted between groups and individuals in order to achieve better results through work behaviour and work relationships? 4. Interpersonal relationships: . (this approach exhibits a great deal of depth). The intervention focuses on feelings co-workers have vis-à  -vis each  other and is aimed at improving teamwork. 5. Intra-personal analysis: (deepest level of intervention). A person is hit in their core with the aim of gaining more insight into the inner self as well as into relationships with ‘significant others’. The level of depth has different effects on an organisation: The more depth a method has, the more difficult the intervention is. The more depth there is, the more personal the result is, the less transferable it is. As an intervention becomes more personal, the amount of available information shrinks. The predictability of the outcome of an intervention decreases as the depth of an intervention increases. Conclusion: there should not be more depth than necessary to obtain a long-lasting solution to the current problems. 1.2 Resistance Whenever there is talk of change or change is in the air, resistance is just around the corner. It is important to ascertain where exactly processes of change are bogged down and what the underlying dynamics are. Boonstra frequently attributes resistance to blocked relationship patterns. Van de Loo makes a slight differentiation and describes resistance as non-rational reactions and specifically relationships suffering from a non-open, safe and insular environment. Kotter Schlesinger6, Readings in Managerial Psychology, 1989, 664-678, lay out a strategic approach to organisation change. Major changes and a low tolerance level in coworkers cause resistance. Managers are aware of the role played by resistance but few take that into account in defining the approach. The 4 most common reasons for resistance are: 1. Parochial self-interest: employees believe they are losing something valuable. Self-interest is placed above the company’s interest. This type of resistance often is reflected in subtle, political behaviour that is  exhibited before and during a change if the interests of a co-worker or of a group of co-workers do not match the organisation’s interest. 2. Misunderstanding and lack of trust: If co-workers do not understand the consequences and believe there will be more downsides than upsides to a change, they may also fee resistance. It is therefore key to clarify ambiguities as quickly as possible and to inspire as much trust as possible. 3; Different assessments: This situation often is created when different groups have different information available. Employees may get the impression that a change will have more drawbacks than benefits, both for themselves and for the entire organisation. 4. Low tolerance for change: This type of resistance stems from uncertainty and fear over not meeting the demands in terms of new skills and behaviour, even as co-workers realise change will be beneficial. There is also the fear over loss of face if change is perceived as doubt over previous activities. Major changes and low tolerance for change on the part of co-workers breed resistance. Kotter Schlesinger identify roughly 6 ways of dealing with resistance (strategy): 1. education and communication: especially in cases where resistance is caused by wrong or insufficient information, education and communication in advance can help reduce the level of resistance as well as the amount of time and effort put in. 2. participation and involvement: involving potential opponents in change can help prevent resistance. Participation leads to commitment. 3. support (training, time off after a heavy period, listening and providing emotional support,..: if it is fear and concern that cause resistance, support is the best medicine. 4. negotiation and agreement: offering incentives to active or political opponents can also reduce resistance. This method is effective if co-workers are losing position. The drawbacks are the high costs and the fact that a manager weakens his position once it becomes apparent that he is open to negotiation. Kotter,J.P. Schlesinger L.A. , Choosing strategies for change, Readings in Managerial Psychology, 1989, 664-678 6 5. manipulation and co-optation: manipulation boils down to selective use of information; cooptation is to appoint a co-worker to an important post at the time of design or implementation. However, if co-workers feel like they  have been misled, this will give rise to even more resistance than had no action been taken. 6. explicit and implicit coercion: to coerce co-workers into accepting change, for instance by threatening dismissal or transfer. The selection of the method for implementing change depends on the desired speed, the level of planning in advance, the involvement of co-workers as well as the alternatives. To increase the level of success, a manager may do the following: 1. perform an organisation analysis representing the current situation, the problems and their causes. Also, such an analysis provides insight into the speed at which problems should be solved as well as the type of change needed. 2. draw up a list of factors that are important for the change needed. This will increase the insight into who may put up resistance, why and how much, who has the necessary information, whose cooperation is crucial for the implementation and what the relationship between initiators and co-workers is like. 3. select a strategy of change, based on the analyses set out above. This strategy determines the speed of change and the level of planning and participation. 4. monitor the process of change in order to anticipate unexpected events during the process of change in a timely and adequate manner. 1.3 Leadership It is becoming more and more evident that the way the human potential is made use of, is the standard to judge the success of an organisation. The outcome of our striving for excellency depends upon the way we manage to offer leadership. Our own staff and employees will decide if our organisation will prosper. It was Paul Hersey’s challenge to develop a model of leadership that is both practical and based on clear, universal and logical concepts. The model he has developed is called ‘Situational Leadership’7. 7 Hersey, P., The situational leader, Uitgeverij Business Contact Amsterdam, 2006 In this model first the dimensions ‘Guiding’ and ‘Supporting’ as instruments to influence people have been entered on the two-dimensional chart. By ‘Guiding’ Hersey means actions that instruct people what to do, how and when to do it, and who specifically has to do it. ‘Supporting’ contains listening, encouraging, creating conditions, showing appreciation and empathy. Then the 4 quadrants are entered into the model to show the 4 different styles or manners of leadership.

Elitism Or Pluralism Depiction Of Political Power Politics Essay

Elitism Or Pluralism Depiction Of Political Power Politics Essay The United States of America, the biggest democracy in the world, was born as such in 1787, when 55 representatives of each state gathered in Philadelphia in order to achieve a compromise, a union within states. When we talk about America, what crosses our mind is the idea of greatness, strength and power, an enormous power of an enormous country, and its distribution is one of the major issues in American politics, whether it is an elitist or a pluralist distribution of power. Nevertheless, it is worth first of all turning ones attention to the history of the United States and this will perhaps allow us better to understand and analyse the American power. Lets go back to the eighteenth century, when Americans were unfairly treated by the English Crown, they contributed to the metropolis and they were torn apart in every decision that concerned them so that by the middle of the eighteenth century, a negative atmosphere against Great Britain was starting to flourish. As a consequence, the War of Independence broke out in 1775; it was a revolution, a desire of freedom, and the American people, all together, achieved their independence. On 4th of July of 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by John Hancock, Jon Adams and Thomas Jefferson, to name just a few; and the new states formed a Republic made up by a president and a congress or assembly, this is when a democratic regime is set up in the United States. A good example of this political transformation is this quote of John Adams: Let it be known, that the so called elitists liberties are not the grants of princes or parliaments. That many of our rights are inherent and essential. Agreed on as maxims and established as preliminaries even before government existed. We have a right to them, derived from our maker. Our forefathers have earned liberty at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasures, and their blood. Liberty is not built on the doctrine that a few nobles have the right to inherit the earth. It stands on this principal that the meanest and the lowest of people are by the unalterable, indefeasible laws of God and nature as well entitled to the benefit of the air to breath, light to see, food to eat, or clothes to wear as the nobles, or even a king. That is liberty, and liberty will reign in America! (Speech by John Adams, HBOs John Adams Series) Moreover, the Constitution of 1787 reflects for the first time the principles of political liberalism, inspired by ideals of freedom and equality against the elitist political power of Great Britain at the time. Therefore, a federal government was created, formed by a president of the Republic, the Congress with two legislatives chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Supreme Court. However, each state had its own government with competences in internal policy. Nevertheless, this separation of power first came from Montesquieu who suggested three different functions for the government: legislative, executive and judicial. He finds liberty in the distribution of power into several hands; if two functions were held in the same person, it could lead to tyranny. That being said, it is worth now analysing briefly the three branches of the American government. As for the Legislature (Congress) split into House of Representatives and the Senate, its main feature is to make law. According to the Founding Fathers, the Congress was supposed to be the centre of the governmental power; just to name a few competences, the Congress can declare war, confirm treaties or impeach the president. Today, because it is considerate as the symbol of the nation, the centre of government lies in the Executive (President) who represents the enforcement of law, having the power of veto, the grant of pardons or the nomination of judges to the Supreme Court. And finally, the Judiciary (Supreme Court) whose main feature is the interpretation of law. In the Federalist No.51, the fourth president of the United States and the Father of the Constitution, James Madison, wrote about the American power and its distribution. He said: If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. Therefore, a government is needed to maintain freedom and equality in the Hobbes state of nature in which the stronger oppresses the weaker and as a result, the interests of the individuals are reduced. But James Madison designed a federalist government in order to get privet rights and public happiness. He planned a double security, that way, the power surrendered by the people would be first divided between two distinct governments. These two governments are the State and the Federal government; then, the civil rights of the people will be preserved. Madison made sure of that by establishing a system of checks and balances in order to keep any institution from becoming more powerful. Some of these checks and balances are the nomination of judged to the Supreme Court made by the President which are confirmed by the Congress or the judiciary reviews made by the Supreme Court. That fear of power is also reflected in the Bill of Rights, which controlled the federal power by providing each state with federal representation. So, going back to the question proposed, is the American distribution of power elitist or pluralist? As I may have mentioned briefly at the beginning of this essay, and referring again to the past, American people wanted freedom and equality, but where these ideas came from? The European ideals and values of the eighteenth century got to the American society, lets remember that some years after the War of Independence, in 1789 the French Revolution shook the French Crown and also European governments; in 1802, the Spanish War of Independence and the posterior European Revolutions in 1820, 1830 and 1840. With the purpose of suggesting America as a pluralist country let me analyse the political thought of the most influential authors of the time who were Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, the figures who brought new values to the New World. In Hobbes State of Nature, all that reigned was chaos, anarchy and insecurity. Men were dangerous to themselves. The only way to get through that situation of insecurity was by given up peoples authority in order to lay their power on the government, so there could be order and peoples rights could be preserved. Here, is when the Lockes Social Contract comes, people devote their power to governors who have the duty to protect their rights, nevertheless, if governors stopped doing this, people would have the right to rise up against the power. As we have seen in the last few years, the American society power has forced some presidents to resign; the Watergate case in which the republican president Richard Nixon got involved, led him to his resignation. With the Social Contract, the government is created and its legitimacy is based on the protection of the rights of the people, who form the government, and it takes decision in a democratic manner, being the popular sovereignty one of the main principles of the State. Locke considered that the human being had some rights derived from the Maker, derived from God, and those were survival, liberty and the right of property. This can be reflected on the previous quote of John Adams. In short, American society has been forged in those values, the Constitutional principles, its individualism and natural liberty characterize it, because each person is the owner of oneself and every citizen makes the decision of participating and collaborating in the political life, because he or she is free to do it. In the end, the smallest state in political terms that we could think of is the individual, who is mobilized and organized by political parties; they play a very important role in American political life as well. Basically, political parties take part in the puzzle of the American policy in a complex manner. That is to say that, for instance, when there are presidential elections in the United States, the political parties get involve a lot more than in the Congress elections. The President, as I may have mention before, has become the nations sense of identity (Carl N. Degler, History Counts: The Burden of American Politics), people see in him the role of the leader who can only be Democratic or Republican. On the other hand, in Congress, there could be two parties, the Democratic and Republican leading the legislation together, in a higher or lower percentage of members but still, that is another argument for the pluralism of the United States. All in all, the United States of America conform the biggest democracy in the world, and as such, people have an important role in American political life, therefore, I would add a new branch in the American distribution of power: The Congress, the President, the Supreme Court and the people, because after all, the American Constitution of 1787 says We the People; and if Congress plays the legislative role, the President the executive and the Supreme Court the judicial, people are responsible of supporting them, because they are the base of the American political system. Even though it is not possible for them to reach the elite that leads the Congress, the Presidential figure or the Supreme Court, by accepting their authority and leadership, they make every political mechanism work. One example of what I have said before is the speech of the President Harry S. Truman in 1947 directed to Congress: At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. Our way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression I believe it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world -and we shall surely endanger the welfare of this Nation. Great responsibilities have been placed upon us of this Nation by the swift movement of events. (Quote taken from the R. J. Johnstons The American Ce ntury) Also, the John Kennedys quote Ask not what you country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country or the Obamas Yes, we can show that, as Pablo Gonzà ¡lez Casanova asserts, America is made of many Americans; and if in the past, the government could be of the people and for the people, now, despite of the enormous influence of the minority upon the majority, the majoritys interest still prevails. In conclusion, after this brief analysis of the American distribution of power through the history of the United States in which the War of Independence, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were incredibly important and also the influence of some philosophers of that time like Hobbes, Locke or Montesquieu who brought new values and principles to the American society, it would be possible to consider the United States distribution of power as pluralist. Indeed, the facts that characterize Western democracies, according to Darryl Baskin in his critique about American Pluralist Democracy are: social diversity and balance, subsystem autonomy and separation of powers. I would like to finish off this essay with another quote, this time of Carl N. Degler (History Counts: the Burden of American Politics): What I am talking about here are not politicians and parties but the character, the historical nature, if you will, of the American people. For it is they who have created and sustained the politics of this country from the beginning right down to the present.

Euthanasia Essay examples -- essays research papers

Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide â€Å"To be or not to be† Problem: Life is a precious gift containing a wide spectrum of emotions and experiences that make it so sacred. Emotions and experiences are intertwined and are the substance of ones existence. Yet when the pain outweighs the joy of life one begins questioning whether or not to endure. â€Å"To be or not to be† an extremely difficult question, a query that resides souly in desperation a place of pain and darkness. What brings a person to even consider such an act? What is up ahead or around this individual that feeds the need to bail out? It seems that perpetual pain or loss of ones control are both common reasons for this escape. Euthanasia and assisted suicide have both been topics contemplated throughout the history of human civilization. Whether or not one has the right to take their own life and further more get aid in doing so. â€Å"Euthanasia can be traced as far back as to the ancient Greek and Roman civilization where it was allowed to help others die†(Encarta 98). Thi s practice has followed us through the years and has been rejected accepted and considered throughout the globe. â€Å" In the United States the first doctor was charged for performing euthanasia in 1935. Harold Blazer was charged for the death of his daughter a victim of spinal meningitis. After caring for her for thirty years, he placed a rag of chloroform over her face until she died, he was acquitted from charges† (www.angelfire.com/al/jefspage). â€Å"In Holland euthanasia and assisted suicide are both crimes punishable with 12 years in prison, yet it has been a common practice (3,600 cases in 1995 alone) for nearly a decade. These laws are rarely enforced providing physicians follow official guidelines† (Time.com). Currently in the United States controversy swarms on weather or not to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide. †Marian Fredrick stricken with Lou Gehrig’s disease, felt her muscles degenerate to the point where she could no longer hold her head up, or speak. Marian then decided to end her life seeking out Dr. Kevorkian, who helped her find a final peace†(Proposal B). Should we allow a person who is terminally ill, in constant pain, and on the verge of losing control, the right and the privilege to escape from their fading shell? Should they have the â€Å"right† to seek aid and consolation in this important decision? Absolutely, why shou... ...nd taken by God. The meek and uninformed would see the bill as a loss of control and a potential area of abuse. These groups would most likely unite to push agents the bill with a counter â€Å"Right to live† campaign, using the media as well as pushing the populists’ religious and apprehensious pressure points. Pressure on politicians is another poetical threat that the large religious community would exercise, against peoples freedom to chose their own end. Others belief’s should not infringe on the decision concerning ones self, these individuals are free not to participate or believe in this practice, yet to cause another to suffer at their expense is truly unjust. Efforts would have to be increased as a result at better informing the public help people evaluate â€Å"others belief over ones freedom†. Another potential problem is the abuse of this practice, where individuals would be taken advantage of by a devious doctor. The involvement of the st ate with procedures, monitors, and checks would play a important role in reducing if not eliminating abuse. Problems are to be expected, in almost any instance concerning the mass public, yet hopefully the majority can make the right decision.

The Igbo People †Origins and History :: Essays papers

The Igbo People – Origins and History Igboland is the home of the Igbo people and it covers most of Southeast Nigeria. This area is divided by the Niger River into two unequal sections – the eastern region (which is the largest) and the midwestern region. The river, however, has not acted as a barrier to cultural unity; rather it has provided an easy means of communication in an area where many settlements claim different origins. The Igbos are also surrounded on all sides by other tribes (the Bini, Warri, Ijaw, Ogoni, Igala, Tiv, Yako and Ibibio). The origins of the Igbo people has been the subject of much speculation, and it is only in the last fifty years that any real work has been carried out in this subject: ...like any group of people, they are anxious to discover their origin and reconstruct how they came to be how they are. ...their experiences under colonialsim and since Nigeria’s Independence have emphasized for them the reality of their group identity which they want to anchor into authenticated history. (Afigbo, A.E.. ‘Prolegomena to the study of the culture history of the Igbo-Speaking Peoples of Nigeria’, Igbo Language and Culture, Oxford University Press, 1975. 28.) Analysis of the sources that are available (fragmentary oral traditions and correlation of cultural traits) have led to the belief that there exists a core area of Igboland, and that waves of immigrant communities from the north and west planted themselves on the border of this core area as early as the ninth century. This core area – Owerri, Orlu and Okigwi – forms a belt, and the people in this area have no tradition of coming from anywhere else. Migration from this area in the recent past tended to be in all directions, and in this way the Igbo culture gradually became homogenized. In addition to this pattern of migration from this core area, other people also entered the Igbo territory in about the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries. Many of these people still exhibit different characteristics from that of the traditional Igbos – for example geographical marginality, the institution of kingship, a hierarchical title system and the amosu tradition (witchcraft). For some time some Igbo-speaking peoples claimed that they were not Igbo – the word was used as a term of abuse for â€Å"less cultured† neighbours. The word is now used in three senses, to describe Igbo territory, domestic speakers of the language and the language spoken by them.

Gun Violence in America

Gun violence in America is not at all as bad as it is in Sierra Leone and other countries with war and little law enforcement as we read about in the book a long way gone. In the book the main character Ishmael discovers that America is not at all like he heard through rap songs. When he moves to America and tells his story of being a soldier and killing people the people he talks to about it think that it is cool and Ishmael states in the book â€Å"violence in America is romanticized. I do agree with this statement that we do make war look easy and fun through movies and video games. We do not understand what it is like to be in a war and witness killing and bloodshed every day. Gun violence in America is not understood by very many people most people blame guns for killing people but it is not the guns that kill people it is people that kill people either by accident or on purpose in a murder. This is seen in the statistics â€Å"gun violence has gone up from 10,000 victims in 1975 to 15,000 victims in 1995.† This information proves that violence has gone up with the increases in gangs and the lessening of guns in households and teaching of gun safety. Also, 98% of gang homicides involve guns. Gun violence in America has been on the increase, since 1975 when there were less than 27 gun related death. In 1999 it increased to 80 deaths every day. http://www .gun-control-network.org/GF01.htm. Gun deaths are not only homicides nearly 58% are suicide. Another statistic is one hundred cities with populations of 250,000 or more have reported a tremendous amount of gang activity. When there is gang activity there is an increased amount of homicides. There are so many active gangs in the United States. They range from the crypts to the bloods and they are known worldwide. These are not the only gangs there are many more not mentioned. However, 94% of gang members are male and only 6% are female. It’s not a surprise that 77% of murdered juveniles were killed by a gun. With the increased gang activity in the United States 39% of households have a gun. In the United States many people have a fear of guns but guns aren’t something to fear. If everybody had a gun and knew how to use it then we would all have protection from people that want to harm us with a gun. If guns were outlawed then there would be riots and the murder rate would go up because the people that want to do good with them would not be able to protect themselves and others, the people that want to harm others with a gun would not turn in their gun and would be able to harm other people with little fear. Violence is seen everywhere in today’s society on the news, movies, videogames, and in our lives. This violence lends the illusion to our society today that violence is cool and fun and only portrays the faà §ade that our society has created. The general public does not even begin to understand the traumatic images that our soldiers have come back with and we think that the war we see on the news is like the movies that we watch on T.V. but we cannot begin to imagine.