Racism And Police Brutality Today By Cassandra Chaney And...

My first scholarly article that I read was Racism and Police Brutality in America by Cassandra Chaney and Ray V. Robertson. The article begins by highlighting the beating of Rodney King in 1992. Police brutality has gone on for a long time, and with the help of technology it has finally been brought to the light. In 1992, four white police officers beat an African American man named Rodney King. The events were caught on camera and were aired that night by a local TV station in Los Angeles. In the video the officers kicked, tasered, and beat King until he was left with an inch of his life. The injuries King sustained were crushed bones, shattered teeth, kidney damage and a fractured skull. The Rodney King beating showed American people the†¦show more content†¦This targeting led to the incarceration, imprisonment, chain gangs, prison farms and other correctional facilities for tens of thousands of African American men, women, and children.† The idea of mass incarcerati on being used to systematically oppress black people has traveled to the surface with Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow, and Taylor talks about the effect of mass incarceration. In the book, Alexander highlights that the majority of the African American men are either in prison or have some type of criminal record making it unable for them to vote and get jobs. Alexander describes the criminal justice systems as the â€Å"New Jim Crow,† a modern type of oppression for African Americans. Mass incarceration rate skyrocketed during the Drug War and many African American were jailed for several years for petty crimes, shown in the documentary 13th by Ava DuVernay. Alexander book shows the oppression of African American and is a statement to change our criminal justice system that is targeted to victimize African Americans. Ultimately, Taylor points out that not only do the police have the power to destroy your body, but by using their power to charge African Amer ican men for petty crimes they able to effectively keep African Americans in a lower-class status, supporting the white suprematist view manifested in our police force. The Destruction of Black Bodies I examined a selection of articles regarding some of the high profile cases of police brutality likeShow MoreRelatedThe New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration1347 Words   |  6 PagesHunter Silver Dr. Kendall Smith English 103-4120 10 November 2015 High Incarceration Rates Due to Racism Racism effects the the high incarceration rates according to Michelle Alexander, the author of â€Å"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. This scholar writes about how the civil rights movement has been taken back by the mass incarceration of black Americans in the war on drugs. Alexander also explains how the severe consequences that these black men carry on afterRead MorePolice Brutality And Its Effects1973 Words   |  8 PagesThe term / issue of â€Å"Police Brutality† has been going on as early as the late 1800s and is something that still possibly has the same effect to its victims today. On August 22, 2006, a twelve year old girl, Dymond Milburn, was sent outside to go switch a circuit breaker. Then a van with three undercover officers came out and accused her of being a prostitute and were about to arrest her. One of the men grabbed Dymond and said â€Å"You’re a prostitute. You’re coming with me.† Like any o ther person

Supermans Real Hero Essay - 1922 Words

British actor Michael Caine was quoted in the edition of Entertainment Weekly as saying â€Å"Superman is the way America sees itself, but Batman is the way the world sees America.† Although these two characters are classic comic book heroes they have also become the face of America and how it has evolved over the many years. After analyzing the two articles â€Å"Superman’s real identity: America’s everyman† by Gloria Goodale and â€Å"Batman’s War on Terror† by Benjamin Kerstein, Michael Caine is declaring that America’s role in the world is subjected to different viewpoints of its people and their values. Superman is not only a classic American superhero but also a representation of the nation itself. His characteristics reflect his identity and shape†¦show more content†¦However, Superman does differ from most people in America as he strays away from involving himself in any politics and focuses on the idea that his â€Å"values are above mere politicians† (Goodale). Although as a young kid, he was just a â€Å"superthug† he grew to be the familiar role model that stands for the nation and not for politics or anything that can divide the people of the United States (Goodale). Even though Superman is just a comic book character to some, he was created in the essence of America and has evolved over the years with the nations gains and losses. Not only does Superman focus on the representation of America but specially the view point of the country and how it sees itself. Because he was created as an outsider he relates to the country in that it is a nation of immigrants and follows the â€Å"American values of truth, liberty, and justice† that are given in the constitution unlike any other country (Goodale). Just like Superman, America has a dual identity. However, Americas dual identity is between its fundamentals of freedom, that it was built on, and its â€Å"new role as the world’s sole superpower† (Goodale). America is by far the youngest country and has moved its way to the top very quickly which has made a huge impact on the society that lives in it. Americans tend to see themselves with this confidence that resembles the success of the country and embodies a patriotic respect for their nation. ItShow MoreRelatedThe Maxx By Sam Keith954 Words   |  4 PagesThe Maxx by Sam Keith is story that follows the adventures of a supposedly purple hero through a real world and an alternative reality. Written in the era known as the â€Å"nineties anti-hero† the Maxx is considered a peculiar comic with a weird purple character. The Maxx contrasts from the ideal superhero aspect, which dominated in early 1930s to after World War II, with the anti-heroism aspect. The contrasting superhero aspect, story arc, themes, symbols and imagery in the Maxx can be used to argueRead MorePower Is An Opportunity Tool That Can Be Used For Variety Motives1255 Words   |  6 PagesChandler Superhero Essay Power is an opportunity, tool that can be used for variety of motives. A person with superpower can turn either into a hero or a villain, it just depends on ones morals, principles and persona. In this world full of powerful people, use and misuse of power can be seen clearly. Power doesn’t changes ones ethics, it just magnifies one’s ability to achieve greatness. People are not called super heroes just for their power. They are respected as super hero because of their usageRead MoreJoker and Batman Essay9227 Words   |  37 Pagesa breakout hit, with sales on Detective Comics soaring to the point that the character was given his own title in 1940. By that time National was the top-selling and most influential publisher in the industry, and Batman and Nationals other major hero Superman were the cornerstones of the companys success.[7] The two characters were featured side-by-side as the stars of Worlds Finest Comics, which was originally titled Worlds Best Comics whe n it debuted in fall 1940. Creators including Jerry

Deontological and Utilitarian arguments for Abortion free essay sample

The issue of abortion is one that has been at the recent forefront of many political discussions in the United States and around the world. There are people spread across both sides of the argument whose opinions vary in intensity and depend on different sources of information to back up their points of view. For the purpose of this paper, abortion will be defined as the deliberate termination of human pregnancy. It is my opinion that abortion, completed early enough in a pregnancy, is not an unethical act and should not be considered to be a decision that is immoral. My argument is based on ideas that are rooted in both utilitarian and deontological ethics as I will show throughout the essay. One of the few religions to condone acts of abortion is Hinduism. This is not to say, however, that Hinduism is blindly accepting of all kinds of abortion. In Hinduism, the belief is that one should make a decision based on what kind of effect it will have on all those involved. This is a very utilitarian way of looking at abortion because it looks at the decision and determines which choice will cause the least amount of harm to the mother, father, fetus, and society (BBC, 2013). Traditionally in Hindu culture, when considering circumstances where abortion is a possible solution to a problem, it is usually found that the procedure is not the appropriate response to the situation and aborting the baby would have negative social and spiritual consequences. I believe this is important because although Hinduism isn’t â€Å"pro-choice†, like many democratic liberals in our country, it still allows for abortion to be an acceptable option in circumstances where not performing the procedure would cause more harm than the abortion itself. Another argument that surrounds the discussion of whether abortion is right or wrong is in regards to cases where the unborn fetus is known to have some kind of disability. Proponents of the pro-life argument usually cite how people who live with disabilities are happier to be alive with a disability rather than not being alive at all and therefore should be allowed to develop and try to live as normal a life as possible. I don’t believe that this is a strong argument against abortion because it is not only the life of the disabled person that needs to be considered. Although a disabled person may be happy in the life they live, it is likely that many people have experienced things like emotional hardship and financial hardship caused by living with someone with a disability. Therefore, it is likely that the abortion of a disabled fetus would reduce the amount of harm done to those involved overall. A popular question surrounding this discussion is whether or not the fetus has the right to life. A right to life can be seen as a right to be provided with everything necessary to sustain life (BBC, 2013). This brings abortion into a more deontological discussion because the question is if the fetus has a claim on the fundamental rule that people have a right to life. Eventually this debate arrives at the conflict that decides when a fetus is really considered a person. On one side, people believe that life starts at conception. The other side of the discussion believes that life hasn’t really started until the fetus reaches a certain point in development. I am in congruence with the second opinion because until a fetus has developed certain organs like the brain, which essentially creates a person as we would know them, it is not considered a person and therefore does not hold the same claim to the right to life that further developed fetuses and living people do. This means that if an abortion is performed early enough in the process of development, it does not go against a fundamental human right. Other deontological arguments in regards to abortion have to do with different religions. In Christianity, the belief is that a life starts at the moment of conception and because of that, abortion isn’t condoned under any circumstances (English, 1975). Judaism however, condones abortion when the health of the mother is threatened by the fetus. It also gives permission for its followers to discuss the issue on a case by case basis with their rabbi to determine the best course of action (BBC, 2013). If I were to include the arguments of other religious traditions I would have a list of many different rules for how to appropriately address the issue of abortion without compromising one’s morality. Because there are differing opinions on the morality of abortion that come from religion, it makes them difficult to use as sources to argue one side or the other when different traditions support different sides like Judaism and Christianity. This, I believe, makes deciding on a universal standard for the abortion issue based on knowledge of religion irrelevant. A common pro-choice argument is that the mother of a baby has a right to defend herself against personal threats (Thomson, 1971). This is generally thought of when there are circumstances where the fetus is causing a threat to the mother’s physical health. It is my belief that the concept of self-defense can be extended to issues relating to a mother’s ability to sustain her in society, which a baby can have a large impact on. If a baby poses a threat not only to the health of a mother but to her livelihood, then the mother is has a right to decide if she will keep the baby. I think that this decision is warranted because if the mother cannot sustain herself, then she will be unable to provide for the child in a way that would be beneficial to its own future and we unfortunately live in a world where there are already too many children that aren’t being well taken care of. As I’ve outlined above, it is my belief that abortion is not immoral for many reasons. The religious traditions that all outline different opinions of abortion differ too much and too frequently to successfully establish abortion as wrong. There are also many circumstances where the abortion of a fetus can benefit more people than it will harm, therefore making it difficult to claim that the action is one totally without moral worth.

Benefits of a Liberal Arts Degree Essay Example For Students

Benefits of a Liberal Arts Degree Essay The liberal arts offer education, not training, and thus prepare students for a Wide range Of possibilities in both work and life. By developing their minds through a liberal arts education, students benefit themselves, their eventual careers, and the culture at large . For anyone interested in personal and intellectual growth, the liberal arts offer immeasurable benefits. Studies in such fields as English and Philosophy introduce a student to the great writers and thinkers whose ideas have shaped our culture. By working through the dialogues of Plato, students see logic in action; by studying the plays of Shakespeare, the poetry of Wordsmith, or the novels of Dickens, they realize the power tot language. Without knowledge of the great writers and thinkers of the past, people operate in a vacuum, unable to see beyond their immediate world. How can they gauge the validity of ideas it they know nothing except the present moment? In a media-driven culture of instant celebrity, students need to experience truths that have endured over hundreds and even thousands of years, These truths expand their thinking beyond their immediate limitations, and they discover new insights into their own minds. The benefits of a liberal arts education, however, go beyond personal growth into longer-term career skills. Every liberal arts course from Art History to Womens Studies requires proficiency in reading and writing. Graduates with Arts degrees find their communication skills in demand by employers seeking people who can read, write, and speak well. As Francis Bacon observed nearly 400 years ago, Reading make a full man; conference a ready man, and writing an exact man(106). No courses develop these skills more fully than do those in the liberal arts. In addition, the Iberia arts foster analytical thought: the ability to break an argument into its parts and assess its validity. Clear analysis is fundamental to the practical worlds of trade and commerce. Finally, the liberal arts encourage originality, as students learn to think in creative ways. The student who gives an inventive presentation or develops a fresh perception will enhance the workplace with that creativity. Its no surprise that law schools actively seek liberal arts graduates for its programs, or that jobs in the civil service, human resources, and upper management are happily staffed by people with Arts degrees. The only surprise is that anyone still scoffs at the notion that a general g,A. Is a useful degree. As significant as its impact may be on personal and career growth, the real value tot liberal arts education is found in its benefits to the culture as a whole, The liberal arts retain and transmit the history of civilization itself. Without a commitment to preserving that history, our culture runs the risk of forgetting or distorting its past Liberal arts students serve as guardians of intellectual thought for the next generation. Writers, journalists, film-makers, and politicians ? the people shaping the thoughts and actions of the future are drawn from the ranks of liberal arts majors. Boor example, the creator Of the Harry Potter series, J_K. Roiling, has an undergraduate degree in Classics, and Liberal leader Michael Generating earned degrees in History. Moreover, the liberal arts tend to be interdisciplinary in nature. Knowledge in one area illuminates another, so that instead Of creating a society Of narrow specialists, liberal arts studies actually encourage a culture of educated, open-minded people. Such individuals have both the capacity and the training to address practical problems in society. Leading reformers of the 20th century, including Nelson Mandela (Nelson) and Martin Luther King, Jar. (martin, profited from their liberal arts studies. A degree in the liberal arts is not a dead-end route that culminates in a lifetime of serving fries or stocking shelves. Rather, it is a doorway that opens to paths heading in every direction. Students who expand their minds through liberal arts benefit themselves, their future career choices, and the wider culture.