Morality And Money Stem Cell Research - 990 Words

Linda Starnes WRC 1023 Professor Timothy Braun January 23, 2016 Morality and Money: Stem Cell Research In 2001, with 22 human embryonic stem cell lines established, President George W. Bush signed legislation which prevented new, additional stem cell lines from being created and tightened restrictions on federal stem cell research funding. This legislation effectively constrained human embryonic stem cell research until 2009, when President Barack Obama reversed Bush’s legislation and relaxed the funding criteria. There are now 195 human embryonic stem cell lines being researched today. The current era of innovative research will likely change, however, if the political climate reverts back to a conservative â€Å"pro-life† rhetoric with the coming election. This would be disastrous for scientists performing stem cell research, and the voting public should not allow this to happen by selecting a candidate who unequivocally supports human embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells have been isolated and used for decades to treat a vari ety of diseases. Since 1968, bone marrow transplants have been performed because the stem cells found in the marrow stimulate the creation of healthy cells, which combat and hopefully eradicate diseased cells (Chen, et al). The reason scientists initially had so much interest in human embryonic stem cells is because these cells have the capacity to develop into an unlimited variety of human cells. By using human embryonic stemShow MoreRelatedEssay Government Funding of Stem Cell Research775 Words   |  4 Pagesvoters was the battle over embryonic stem cell research. In the weeks leading up to the election, polls were indicating that 47 percent of Bush supporters agreed that the destruction of embryo cells is unethical; however, 53 percent of Bush voters supported stem cell research. The overwhelming majority of Kerry backers also supported stem cell research, indicating that the majority of American voters support stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research, while still in its infancy, has theRead MoreFederal Funds Should Be Used for Embryonic Stem Cell Research1401 Words   |  6 PagesAre embryonic stem cells the cure to many of the human body’s ailments, including defective organs and crippling diseases, or is their use a blatant disregard of human rights and the value of life?   Thanks to the rapid advancements in this field, the potential benefits of stem cells are slowly becoming reality.   However, embryonic stem cell research is an extremely divisive topic in the United States thanks to the ethical issues surrounding terminating embryos to harvest the stem cells.   In responseRead More The Government should NOT Fund Stem Cell Research Essay899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Government should NOT Fund Stem Cell Research Stem cells look to be nothing more than a hollow sphere composed of a clump of tiny, roundish balls. In reality, they are much more than that. Those 40 cells contain all the potential to become a living, breathing human being. Many scientists believe that these cells also have the potential to cure a myriad of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and many others. The cells of the four day old human embryoRead MoreCell Research : Stem Cell Therapy1095 Words   |  5 Pagestime I heard about stem cell research, but I remember when it first stood out to me was when quarterback Peyton Manning went over to Europe to get stem cell therapy done on his neck to prevent him from getting surgery done. Stem cells offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell. Stem cells are crucial to develop organisms. They are non-specialized cells which have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the bodyRead MoreThe Heated Debate Concerning Stem Cell Research Essay examples1237 Words   |  5 PagesStem Cell Research Extraordinary advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases is believed, by many experts, to lie behind the curtain of stem cell research. Very few other areas of research have received this much attention from the media, political leaders and various groups and organizations from around the nation. The responsiveness to this issue has been incredible because of the potential of these studies as well as the most controversial aspect of the research;Read MoreEmbryonic Stem Cell Research - in Vitro Fertilization1051 Words   |  5 PagesIn vitro fertilization and human embryonic stem cell research are two of the most popular and controversial topics that are being discussed today. Lee Silver, from the film defines in vitro fertilization as: [T]ak[ing] the process of reproduction out of the darkness of the womb, into the light of the laboratory. And all of the sudden you can do anything you want with these human embryos and eggs, which couldn t be done before (Holt). The real question regarding all of the varying opinions andRead MoreWe Must First Ask, What Is Bioethics?2253 Words   |  10 Pagesasks if they MAY, and morality asks if they SHOULD conduct such experiments. Bioethics is the theory surrounding these 3 questions, and whether the answer to any of the 3 be a yes or no, it’s hard to find any one experiment that does not have its controversial debates pertaining either the legality, or morality in nature. Scientists who have focused on stem cell research have had an ongoing ethical battle. For example, in the article â€Å"Saving Superman: Ethics and Stem Cell Research,† an article focusedRead MorePros And Cons Of Cloning909 Words   |  4 Pagesof an adult’s human cells into a unfertilized human egg and then stimulate it to begin dividing like an embryo. Lab workers then destroy the developing embryo to yield the undifferentiated stem cells, which are capable of becoming specialized cells, like heart, muscle, and brain neurons It could either produce new information and wealth or it can cause an ethical and moral nightmare. Twenty states in the United States have filed bills this year to ban all cloning of human cells, with penalties ofRead MoreEssay on Stem Cell Research2004 Words   |  9 Pagesthe use of stem cells. Stem Cells are defined as a â€Å"special cells that have the ability to divide for an indefinite period and can give rise to a wider variety of specialized cell types† (Panno 1). This ability to conform and grow into specialized cells is a great concept in the fight against diseases that completely destroy certain types of cell and thereby there functions to the body. These stem cells can be taken from different parts of the body ranging from embryos, adults cells, umbilicalRead MoreFederal Funding for Stem Cell Research2053 Words   |  8 PagesFunding for Stem Cell Research Stem cells have become a subject of much interest and debate in politics, the scientific and religious communities of the United States of America and the world over. So what exactly is a stem cell? Well basically they are cells in the human body that exist in a sort of neutral state. They are the blank canvasses of the cellular world. What I mean is that they can go on to become many different types of cells in the human body. What might start off as a stem cell

Data Analysis For The South Bronx - 836 Words

Data Analysis The collected data will be analyzed using thematic data analysis. The data analysis process will be to organize, code, categorize, and interpret. Each interview transcript, observation field note, and police or school record will be uploaded into Atlas.ti in order to store and manage the data, and later will be used to code and categorize. Organizing and memoing the data are significant steps because they encompass reading through, sorting, familiarizing with the material, making initial codes, and, more generally, comprehending the collected data in order to create a â€Å"detailed description of the case† (Creswell 2013, p. 101). The description will be thorough, in-depth, and will contextualize the case in the unique setting of the South Bronx, thereby serving as a validation strategy (Alley 2016). The description serves to depict the complexity of the case itself and allows the data to be analyzed sequentially based on the actual progression of the case. The next step is t o identify emerging patterns, themes, similarities, and differences using categorical aggregation (Creswell, 2013). The themes and patterns will be directly interpreted to â€Å"develop naturalistic generalizations of what was â€Å"learned†Ã¢â‚¬  (Creswell 2013, p. 190). Direct interpretation is a unique method for the case study approach because it focuses on the information made explicit through the research and does not â€Å"generalize beyond the case† (p. 101). Ultimately, the objective is to distillShow MoreRelatedWorking With Children And Children756 Words   |  4 Pagesindividuals that are sought out in research studies are often the hardest to reach. However, the use of community organizations and gatekeepers within schools and at Bronx Defenders can facilitate the identification and selection process, and ensure that the selected cases represent the population of interest within the South Bronx School District 7. Team Composition Each member of the research proposal team brings unique experiences to the proposed study. Overall, the team shares a common interestRead MoreWhat Are Your Career Goals? How Might E2 / Mites / Mostec Help You Achieve?1455 Words   |  6 Pagesrepaired computers and resolved any software issues. At first I started opening and and exploring parts of retired dell laptops. As I became more proficient, I was able to help clients fix PC issues such as broken screens, replacing RAM, and transferring data from the hard drives to another computer. This internship inspired me to consider the Technology industry as a possible career. Taking into consideration the broad range of possible career paths in technology, I decided to major in Computer ScienceRead MoreA Brief Note On Environmental Racism Of Los Angeles1623 Words   |  7 Pagessocioeconomic status. â€Å"Greening the Ghetto† is a ted talk by Majora Carter. People of color, she mentioned are five times more likely to live near a hazardous facility. Fifty percent of the residents of the South Bronx are below the federal poverty line, and twenty five percent of children of the South Bronx have asthma. It is really unfortunate but these rates are all due to the unfair spatial planning of her community. Los Angeles, for instance, has a lot of disadvantaged communities that have high pollutionRead MoreThe Community Health Profiles For The Mott Haven And Melrose Neighborhoods2129 Words   |  9 Pages In vulnerable communities like the South Bronx, where economic opportunities are limited, populations are at high risk for various adverse outcomes that are impediments to community growth and well-being. Two statistics from the 2015 Community Health Profiles for the Mott Haven Melrose neighborhoods in the South Bronx are particularly revealing when compared to the fifty-eight other New York City (NYC) communities that were assessed: 1) Mott Haven Melrose ranks fourth for incarcerations. ItsRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement And Our Nation s Continued Progress Towards Racial Equality1477 Words   |  6 Pagesminorities per day. Police killings in America have ignited a national movement for police reform, especially since the death of Mike Brown last year in Ferguson, Missouri. Blacks were killed by police at all ages and in every state except Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont, three of the country’s least populated states. Certain cities stand out as more dangerous th an others: The most police killings occurred in Los Angeles (14), Houston (11), Phoenix (9), New York (7) and Oklahoma City (7). â€Æ' ShootingRead MoreCharter Schools Vs. Public Schools2223 Words   |  9 Pageson charter schools; however, there is great disagreement within the research. Findings vary greatly depending on where the studies occurred, variables addressed, how achievement was measured, sampling methods, how the studies were conducted and how data was analyzed. One issue facing American education today is race. This is also true of charter schools. This paper will focus on the research questions: are charter schools racially segregated, and are charter schools closing the achievement gapRead MoreCorporate Wars3372 Words   |  14 Pagesa novel concept for the time. When the separate companies merged in 1953, this concept grew to 31 flavors. By 1948, Burt and Irv opened six stores, the first franchise covering the sale of ice cream was executed May 20, 1948, for the store at 1130 South Adams in Glendale (Store #1). Burt and Irv were brothers-in-law. In 1949, the company’s production facility opened in  Burbank. They made the decision to sell the stores to the managers, thus becoming one of the first franchised food service businessesRead MoreFuther5361 Words   |  22 PagesServices Administration degree. It assumes that the student is in the final semester of graduate work and has successfully completed course work in health i ssues and policy, health economics, financial management, organizational behavior, quantitative analysis, and health law. The title of the course and its description has been instrumental in shaping the focus of this course and the material to be covered. My particular emphasis will be on management strategy within the context of current theoryRead MoreHaagen Dazs4237 Words   |  17 PagesSITUATIONAL ANALYSIS: 3 a) Company description 3 b) Product description: 3 2. MARKETING ENVIRONMENT : 5 a) Microenvironment: 5 b) Macro-environment: 6 3. SWOT analysis: 8 4. SEGMENTATION, TARGETING,DIFFERENTIATION, POSITIONING: 8 a) Segmentation: 8 b) Targeting: 9 c) Differentiation: 10 d) Positioning: 11 5. CONCLUSION 12 6. REFERENCE LISTS 13 7. APPENDIX 14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Haagen Dazs is the ice-cream brand, and the factory is in the Bronx, New YorkRead MoreRacial Profiling Essay7678 Words   |  31 Pageshave needed to consider whether they intend to (1) specifically ban police behavior, which is already unconstitutional under federal law, or (2) provide additional protections, which go beyond existing federal law. The focus of this policy analysis project revolves around Georgias Senate Bill 95 and other senate or house bills of that magnitude. Senate Bill 95 is a bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Essay Example For Students

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Essay Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a relatively new disease foundprimarily in cattle. This disease of the bovine breed was first seen in theUnited Kingdom in November 1986 by histopathological examination of affectedbrains (Kimberlin, 1993) . From the first discovery in 1986 to 1990 thisdisease developed into a large-scale epidemic in most of the United Kingdom,with very serious economic consequences (Moore, 1996). BSE primarily occurs in adult cattle of both male and female genders. The most common age at which cows may be affected is between the ages of fourand five (Blowey, 1991). Due to the fact that BSE is a neurological disease, itis characterized by many distinct symptoms: changes in mental state mad-cow,abnormalities of posture, movement, and sensation (Hunter, 1993). The durationof the clinical disease varies with each case, but most commonly lasts forseveral weeks. BSE continues to progress and is usually considered fatal(Blowey, 1991). After extensive research, the pathology of BSE was finally determined. Microscopic lesions in the central nervous system that consist of a bilaterallysymmetrical, non-inflammatory vacuolation of neuronal perikarya and grey-matterneuropil was the scientists overall conclusion (Stadthalle, 1993). Theselesions are consistent with the diseases of the more common scrapie family. Without further investigation, the conclusion was made that BSE was a new memberof the scrapie family (Westgarth, 1994). Transmission of BSE is rather common throughout the cattle industry. After the incubation period of one to two years, experimental transmission wasfound possible by the injection of brain homogenates from clinical cases(Swanson, 1990). This only confirmed that BSE is caused by a scrapie-likeinfectious agent. How does the transmission become so readily available among the entireUnited Kingdom feedlot population? Studies showed that the mode of infectionwas meat and bone meal that had been incorporated into concentrated feedstuffsas a protein-rich supplement (Glausiusz, 1996). It is thought that the outbreakwas started by a scrapie infection of cattle, but the subsequent course of theepidemic was driven by the recycling of infected cattle material within thecattle population (Lyall, 1996). Although the average rate of infection is verylow, the reason why this led to such a large number of BSE cases is that much ofthe United Kingdom dairy cattle population was exposed for many, continuousyears (Kimberlin, 1993). To help control the outbreak, the British government in 1988 introduceda ban on the feeding of ruminant protein to other ruminant animals (Lacey, 1995). Such knowledge for the pathogenesis of the BSE disease shows precisely theactions that must be taken in order to control and minimize the risk ofinfection in healthy cattle around the world (Darnton, 1996). The appearance of BSE has made a sizable impact throughout much of theworld even though few countries, other than the United Kingdom, have experiencedpositive cases (Burton, 1996). The scare of an outbreak in other countries hasled to a great disruption in the trade economy, as well as other factorsconcerning each of the countrys general welfare. However, a rapid increase inthe understanding of the disease over the last four years leaves few unansweredquestions of major importance (Masood, 1996). BSE has been prevented,controlled and eradicated. As mentioned, BSE was first recognized in the United Kingdom and it isonly there that a large-scale epidemic has occurred (Burton, 1996). By the endof 1990 well over 20,000 cases of BSE had been has been confirmed in England,Scotland, and Wales (Filders, 1990). The deadly epidemic started simultaneouslyin several parts of the country and cases have been distributed over a wide areaever since (Cowell, 1996). Besides the United Kingdom, cases of BSE have occurred in the Republicof Ireland. Some of these cases were associated with the importation of liveanimals, meat, and bone meal from the United Kingdom (Cherfas, 1990). Two cases of BSE have also occurred in cattle from the country of Oman. These animals were thought to be part of a consignment of fourteen pregnantheifers imported from England in 1985. Various cases have also been confirmedin Europe, Switzerland, and France (Patel, 1996). The economic consequences of BSE in the United Kingdom have beenconsiderable. At the beginning, the only losses due to BSE were those directlyassociated with the death or slaughter of BSE infected animals (Cowell, 1996). In August 1988, a slaughter policy with part compensation was introduced to helplessen the burden on individual farmers. As the number of BSE cases increased ,and more farmers were experiencing a second case, full compensation wasintroduced in February 1990 (Moore, 1996). In 1989 alone over 8,000 suspectedand confirmed cases of BSE were slaughtered. The compensation costs for theyear were well over 2.8 million pounds and the slaughter costs amounted to 1.6million pounds (Cockburn, 1996). Kristallnacht EssayUnfortunately, the slaughter of the great majority of affected animalsbecomes necessary at an early stage because of unmanageable behavior and injuryfrom repeated falling and uncontrollable behavior (Cowell, 1996). The durationof the clinical disease, from the earliest signs to death or slaughter, canrange from under two weeks to as long as a year. The average period is aboutone to two months (Lyall, 1996). BSE resembles other members of the scrapie family in not having anygross pathological lesions associated with disease. Characteristichistopathological changes are found in the nervous system (Kimberlin, 1993). Incommon with the other diseases in the scrapie family, BSE has a distinctive non-inflammatory pathology with three main features: -The most important diagnostic lesion is the presence of bilaterally symmetrical neuronal vacuolation, in processes and in soma. -Hypertrophy of astrocytes often accompanies vacuolation. -Cerebral amyloidosis is an inconstant histopathological feature of the scrapie family of diseases. At times, only one of the above will occur in an infected animal, while moreoften a combination of the three will occur (Swanson, 1990). Unfortunately, there are no routine laboratory diagnostic tests toidentify infected cattle before the onset of clinical disease. The diagnosis ofBSE therefore depends on the recognition of clinical signs and confirmation byhistological examination of the central nervous system (Westgarth, 1994). Aclinical diagnosis can also be confirmed by simple electron microscopeobservations, biochemical detection of SAF, or the constituent protein PrP(Hunter, 1996). At present, vaccination is not an appropriate way of preventing any ofthe diseases in the scrapie family. There is no known protective immuneresponse to infection for a vaccine to enhance (Blowey, 1991). However, BSE isobviously not a highly contagious disease and it can be prevented by othersimple means because the epidemiology is also relatively simple: -Restrictions on trade in live cattle -Restrictions on trade in meat and bone meal -Sterilization of meat and bone meal -Restricted use of meat and bone meal -Minimizing exposure of the human population -Minimizing the exposure of other species (Moore, 1996)A great deal of concern, much of it avoidable, has been expressed overthe possible public health consequences of BSE. This is understanding giventhat the scrapie family of diseases include some that affect human beings (Patel,1996). As a result of research, the circumstances in which BSE might pose arisk to public health can be defined quite precisely, and simple measures havebee n devised to prevent this risk (Kimberlin, 1993). It is important toemphasize that any primary human exposure would still be across a speciesbarrier and there would be no recycling of food-born infection in the humanpopulation, as happened with kuru and with BSE in cattle (Patel, 1996). Thelogical way to address this risk is to make sure that exposure to BSE is kept toa bare minimum. There are two scenarios for the future course of BSE. The first is thatBSE, like TME and kuru, is a dead-end disease. If this is true and meat andbone meal was the sole source of the infection, then removing this source wouldbe sufficient for the eventual eradification of BSE from the United Kingdom(Hager, 1996). The alternative scenario is that there are natural routes oftransmission of BSE and that the outbreak could turn into an endemic infectionof cattle the way scrapie is in sheep (Burton, 1996). To sustain BSE infectionin the cattle population requires that each breeding cow is replaced by at leastone infected female calf, which then transmits infection to at least one of heroffspring. For BSE to become an endemic, the number of infected cattle wouldneed to increase by horizontal spread as seen in scrapie (Masood, 1996). Theessential prerequisite for controlling such a deadly disease is through goodbreeding and movement records which are currently being compiled in the UnitedKi ngdom following recent legislation (Stadthalle, 1993). Meanwhile theprecautionary measures to safeguard other species, including human beings, arealready in place and refined to meet todays needs. Category: Science

LEGAL POINTS OF VIEW Essays - Medical Ethics, Euthanasia

LEGAL POINTS OF VIEW PRO Life for a human being is not merely about breathing or having a pulse. A human life is about pursuing the goals and values that, according to one's own judgment, will make one's life enjoyable and worth living. In dire circumstances in which a person is unable to live the kind of life that he or she regards as worth livingand only the individual can make such a determinationit may be the case that remaining alive is a fate worse than death. Life is not merely about quantity; it is also, and more importantly, about quality. In a country founded on the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, most states nevertheless forbid a person to exercise these rights when the pursuit of happiness becomes impossible. This means a person in personal agony with no hope for a future of happiness legally must remain alive and suffer. That is a moral disgrace. As Maynard wrote in a widely publicized CNN.com op-ed: "I would not tell anyone else that he or she should choose death with dignity. My question is: Who has the right to tell me that I don't deserve this choice?" physician-assisted suicide as another "choice" issue, like abortion. Why isn't this issue about someone's right to decide his or her fate at the end of life? My argument is really a social-justice-oriented argument against the legalization of assisted suicide in our current health care context. And those last words are really important: in our current health care context. I think one important piece may be the number of uninsured Americans that we have in the country. The recent numbers that came out from the U.S. Census Bureau saw the number of Americans without health insurance rise to 15.8 percent - or 47 million people in our country. What that means - and what I argue - is that legalizing assisted suicide in the context where we have this kind of inequity in our health care system actually puts those who are uninsured at risk for reaching for assisted suicide for a financial necessity or out of some duress. AGAINST that lack of universal health care increases the risk that legalizing physician-assisted suicide will ultimately lead to abuses? 61 percent of whites with incomes over $100,000 supporting physician-assisted suicide, but you have 78 percent of minorities with incomes under $50,000 opposing assisted suicide. That argument goes like this: Regardless of whether or not - in the abstract - we could justify capital punishment for certain heinous crimes, in the current context of our society, which is shot through with racism and shot through with financial problems of representation in the courts, we can't justly implement it. Let's assume that in the next few years the United States moves from its current health care system to a European-style universal care model and everyone has access to health care. That takes out of play your big concern. At that point, should people still have qualms about physician-assisted suicide? One of the most interesting comments I found was by Dr. Rob Jonquiere, head of the Dutch Voluntary Euthanasia Society. He is a very strong advocate for these rights at the end of life in the context of the Netherlands, but when asked about what the U.S. ought to do, he basically said no. He said that in the U.S., where so many people are uninsured, you could not defend such a law. And this is from someone who is a staunch advocate for the right to assisted suicide and euthanasia at the end of life. And I think that really does set the floor below which we shouldn't go in the U.S In your book you take liberals and progressives to task for ignoring the role that religion can play in this discussion. Why do you think the left has excluded religious considerations on an issue like doctor-assisted suicide? Religious views got dismissed in the debate in a couple of ways that I find really unfortunate. The first one was by using language like, "You're imposing your religious beliefs on me on this issue." If you listen to the talking points of many of the supporters of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act and physician-assisted suicide, this is

In what ways are rebellions caused by the rise of new forms of collective identity Essay Example

In what ways are rebellions caused by the rise of new forms of collective identity? Essay The periods leading up to both the French and Russian revolutions were laced with relatively new and radical ideas which were calling for widespread social change. The most notable of ideas were those of the philosophes of the Enlightenment during the late 17th and 18th centuries and the communist ideals produced by Marx and Engels in The Communist Manifesto published in 1848. These ideas helped encourage and inform rising forms of collective identity in both countries. Collective identities, however, are also inspired and developed further by other factors and revolutions are often the result of the culmination of these elements. The most important factors which caused the rebellions in France and Russia include: the leadership of the political party or group which is calling for change, economic problems and social or political issues. There has been much historical debate over the extent to which collective identity itself causes rebellion and the debate will, no doubt, continue as there are viable arguments for and against. One fact, however, remains constant; as Gustav Le Bon discussed, the fact that crowds of disgruntled citizens will display a degree of mass madness which certainly fuels revolution to an extent.1 Historian Alan Woods also highlighted the importance of the masses in his article, The French Revolution, by saying A careful study of the French and Russian revolutions provides a complete antidote to the slander that revolutions are the work of tiny handfuls of conspirators and demagogues.2 We will write a custom essay sample on In what ways are rebellions caused by the rise of new forms of collective identity? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on In what ways are rebellions caused by the rise of new forms of collective identity? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on In what ways are rebellions caused by the rise of new forms of collective identity? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In order to explain how the rise of collective identity fits into the framework of revolution, one must first look at why people choose to become part of such groups and why they act more violently within the group dynamic than they would individually. There are a few key psychological concepts which relate to this sense of collective identity and these are completely regardless of time and place, they are simply characteristics of human nature. De-individuation is an important factor because it can cause people [to] express aggression with a viciousness that would be inconceivable if they acted in isolation3. As is the idea of group polarization where groups of people take more risks and are more willing to make extreme decisions within that group than the members would be individually. Finally, the theory of groupthink describes how a split in the group is downplayed if there is an external threat.4 These external threats and the common goal of the group are of great importance to their success in causing a rebellion to initiate their desired social or political change. These ideas are important to bear in mind when discussing the role of collective identity in causing the French and Russian revolutions. Whilst some historians claim that there is not a direct link between the Enlightenment of the late 17th and 18th centuries and the French Revolution, it has to be acknowledged that the ideas that were developed during that period did play an indirect role in causing the French Revolution of 1789 -1799. The Enlightenment created an Age of Reason which raised a lot of questions about issues including politics and the social organisation of man. Three of the key philosophes during the French Enlightenment were Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau. The latters book, Social Contract, published in 1762, was a text many of the French revolutionaries read in the period leading up to the revolution and Voltaire was the most widely read who was demanding protection from the nobility.

Reality Vs. Idealism Essays - Fiction, Literature, Free Essays

Reality Vs. Idealism Essays - Fiction, Literature, Free Essays Reality Vs. Idealism In the short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce quickly drifted from realism in the beginning of the story to idealism throughout the rest of the selection. Immediately before Peyton experiences his first idealistic event, Bierce described a realistic thought on how Peyton closed his eyes and attempted to fix his final thoughts on his loved ones, his wife and children. Bierce described an idealistic observation by the main character, Peyton as he explained how he could see the intricate details through the vibrancy of the leaves of trees on the riverbank. As the story goes on Bierce often refers to the soldiers, the captain, the sergeant, the two privates, and his executioners as monsters. He refers to their movements as grotesque and horrible and their size gigantic. As Peyton tore off the noose around his neck and thrust it aside vigorously, he described how the movements of his hands resembled the movements of a water snake. As Peyton began on his final thoug hts reality faded quickly to an unrealistic point of view, or state of mind. Bierce described an unrealistic, super natural sort of power that Peyton obtained as he emerged from the stream. At that moment Peyton was in full possession of his physical senses and could feel and understand things never before perceived. The first sense that he had noticed was his amplified sight and his perception living things. From the stream he noticed the distinct colors in the dewdrops upon the blades of grass. He could see from across the bank, the gray spiders connecting their webs from twig to twig. As he noticed the veining of each leaf on the trees he also observed every little insect upon them. He could see everything as if it was in slow motion and amplified to the creators explanation of how and what steps he took to paint his master piece. Bierce described his second unrealistic encounter as his sense of hearing being amplified, as to hear every little sound, far and near. As Bierce described in his unique, highly descriptive style of writing, Peyton could hear the humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream. Most human beings are incapable of hearing a gnat fly and roam about, for its size and muted humming is no louder than a pin dropped on a rug. He could hear the flapping of the dragonflies wings and the strokes of the water spiders as they ventured through the stream. He described all these lucid sounds as audible music. Peytons hearing was remarkably and quixotically amplified beyond any human beings capability. The way Bierce described Peytons super natural powers, so to say was so detailed and full of imagery. As Peyton once again emerged to the top of the stream the soldiers or in Peytons point of view, monsters, were all aimed directly at him ready to shoot on command. As the commander ordered his men to fire Peyton dove deep into the stream and was shot between his collarbone and neck, which he so simply pulled right out with no pain or blood. Bierce describes how Peyton thought with the rapidity of lightening. These are yet more super natural, unreal descriptions of the visions and superhero like qualities. Bierce explains Peytons adventure of escape and idealistic traits in such a believable way that if it wasnt so exaggerated it could very well be mistaken as reality. As Peyton was being hanged the idealistic events began to occur. Bierce described through the nearly the whole story how Peyton experiences super natural powers such as, amplified sight, hearing, the ability to remove a bullet with such ease that he simply snatches it right out, and highly sensitive touch. Bierce told of how he escaped through his five senses being recorded in a way that no man would ever perceive. As the story ends and Peyton is still hanging high above the river, with a noose around his neck, idealism once again fades into reality.

Religious Conflicts in Lebanon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Religious Conflicts in Lebanon - Essay Example Moreover, there is conflict between the Sunni Muslim majority and the Shiite Muslim minority who been engaged in conflict for a long time and up to date, they are not at peace with each other. The Druze is another distinct fraction in Lebanon, they are also the minority in Lebanese society, and they have been into conflict with the Christians in the 1840s when the country was known as Mount Lebanon. Until today, there is tension between these religious groups as they are trying to build a stable democracy. It can be therefore noted that the chaos among religious groups in Lebanon is as a result of failure to establish a working power sharing system between these groups. This paper explores the religious conflict in Lebanon and it is organized in three sections. The first section presents sectarianism in Lebanon, followed by an analysis of the root of the conflict, identifying the actors and their interests. Lastly, the paper discusses possible solutions and consequences of different policy solutions. Mostly, the conflict in Lebanon is presented as a sectarian conflict, which involves the moderate Christians and the extremist Muslims (â€Å"Troubles a test†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Apart from religious differences between the Christians and the Muslims, there is also conflict within the Muslim community, between the Sunnis and the Shiites. The Muslim society was divided in Sunni and the Shiite because of the power struggle over succession (Tomass 714). The entire population including the Christians and Muslims speak Arabic language; however, sectarianism is a dominant socio-political reality in Lebanese society despite the features they have in common. Sectarianism is not a new in Lebanon, historical Lebanon also called Mount Lebanon used to be shared mainly by Druzes and the Maronites. They did not coexist in peace and harmony as they fought over land ownership and distribution of political power among other issues. But these two groups have coexisted in harmony until the