Religion and Justice essays

Religion and Justice essays Stanley Kurtz and Jonathan Rauch are two well-respected journalists. In 2001, they engaged in a series of debates, published on National Review Online, in regards to the issue of same-sex marriages. In his article, Point of No Return, Kurtz was opposed to allowing gay couples to marry because marriage domesticates men based on what he described as the underlying dynamic of male-female sexuality. Rauch, a homosexual man, wrote Whos More Worthy in support of gay marriage because marriage is indispensably about the commitment to care for another person. These men both agree that the solution to ending the national debate is an amendment to the constitution defining what marriage means. If you asked 100 Americans to define marriage, receiving 100 answers, many of these answers would be based on religious principles. We should not make an amendment to our constitution based on religious doctrine. This country was founded on the principle of religious tolerance. We have even judged other nations for using religion as a means to control its citizens. For example, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, based on their interpretation of the Koran, Americans declared they were a rogue regime, and we removed them from power. Therefore, we must define marriage without any religious influence, or we will be just as guilty of imposing religious beliefs on American society as the Taliban was in Afghanistan. So, what is marriage? Websters dictionary defines marriage as any close union. A pretty broad definition, it does not mention gender. We all probably agree marriage is a long-term, committed relationship between two people, vowing to love and care for each other. Marriage has been predominately male-female for centuries. Who decided marriage had to be male-female? An explanation often quotes God as that decision maker. If we take out God as the reason for this, another g...

101 Freedman and Response Professor Ramos Blog

101 Freedman and Response Narrative Example Protect Yourself at All Times Review Articles Review Freedman â€Å"How Junk Food Can End Obesity† p. 506. Locate places where the author agrees, disagrees, or both. Summary Summarize the opening argument as Freedman frames it. Summarize the position that he sets out to refute. Pages 508 – 510. Respond to Freedman. Agree p. 60, Disagree p. 62, both p. 64 using a template. Explain your response. When responding you do not want to only agree or disagree. Add something to the conversation. How can we add something to the conversation? Personal, Example, etc. Criticism of Pollan Freedman is particularly critical of the views of Michael Pollan p. 520 – 527. What are his specific criticisms? How do you think Pollan might respond? The Fast Food Conversation Slate responded to Freedman How does the author begin his article? What position did the author take? How does he add to the conversation? Homework

Discussion on NSA Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion on NSA Security - Essay Example According to Hypponen, basically, each international internet user is under US surveillance. Hypponen is worried about our future communication and data which he fears will be stored in the US data center in Utah; the world’s largest. Hypponen laments how the US government is infringing on individual privacy and making everything insecure by infiltrating standardization bodies to purposely sabotage encryption algorithms. The NSA by use of PRISM which is a particular NSA database and an aspect of the entire NSA surveillance endeavor, details collection program for data collection from various service providers. Thus clearly, the world is no longer a safe place to communicate freely and the US has completely infiltrated people’s privacy under the guise of fighting terrorism. Although the US is legally obligated to monitor foreigners as well as foreigners’ data connections when they end up or pass through United States, you realize that 96% of people in the planet are foreigners. This means that almost virtually everybody is being watched by the US. This i s not only morally wrong, but also rude and should make everybody angry. Hypponen proposes that the world unite together through either political pressure or by seeking alternative services, so as to build together open, free as well as secure

Pathophysiology and Current Management Practices Case Study

Pathophysiology and Current Management Practices - Case Study Example This paper outlines three differential diagnoses for a case, their respective pathophysiology and current management practices for those diagnoses. The case diagnosed in this paper is about a 62-year-old man who collapsed at a shopping center at about 10:30 am after feeling extremely dizzy. The man who is also living alone had experienced an episode of falling from stairs eight months ago without any major injury. Although the man is awake and sitting on the ground, he shows signs of drowsiness and disoriented and has difficulty in talking. The man insists on going home even though his eyes suddenly move upwards and in a few seconds he begins a seizure. The key symptoms, in this case, are drowsiness, difficulty in talking, dizziness, difficulty in talking and seizure. The history such as episodes of falling, age, time of the incident and the fact he lives alone are also crucial and important information in obtaining accurate differential diagnoses. The brain metabolism relies primari ly on glucose to supply the energy necessary for metabolism. When levels in blood drop below certain levels normally 0.55nm, subtle reduction in the mental effects of the brain occurs and results in the impairment of judgment resulting in symptoms like seizures. Small quantities of glucose can be derived from the stored glycogen within the astrocytes; however, a brain is dependent to the greater extent on the continual supply of glucose from the blood. Glucose from the blood diffuse into the interstitial cells, then into the central nervous system (CNS) and finally into the neurons. Within the CNS, energy is required for synthesis of signals and conveyance of information to the muscles. This explains the emergence of symptoms such as drowsiness, difficulty in talking, dizziness, and seizure. Generally lack of enough glucose supply to the brain would result in confusion and in severe cases, it is preceded with dizziness and drowsiness, seizure and finally, the patient can go into a c oma.

Methods of research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Methods of research - Assignment Example Answer to Question 2: The first step is to define and refine a topic. Here, the researcher starts with a clearly defined and well-focused research question and a plan. The second step is to design the search. This step involves planning the research strategy at which point the research decides on the type of literature review, its extent, and the forms of literature to include. The third step is locating the research literature. This step depends on the type of literature sought. It is usually advisable that multiple research strategies be employed in order to counteract the limitations of a single search method. The fourth step is evaluating the results and determining what to record. The final step is to write the review. This requires planning and good, clear writing. The aims and objectives of the study need to be kept in mind and then be questioned and evaluated, not just accepted as facts. Answer to Question 3: A keyword is an important term relating to a specific topic, and is likely to be found in a title. Keywords are important in the literature search because they help the researcher obtain relevant information. This is because keywords break down the research problem into its key words or concepts which can be searched with ease. Answer to Question 4: The steps of writing a quantitative review of literature are: identifying the problem or research question; determining the purpose of the study; searching and reviewing the literature relating to the question and developing a framework; defining and refining the research question or formulating a research hypothesis; selecting the research method and determining the design of the study; specifying the group of subjects to be studied. Answer to Question 6: This depends on what sample size she needed but she seems wrong. The first step should have been to determine the population from which the sample was to be selected. Supposing that the town had a population of

Policy Is Now Made In A More Democratic Manner Essay Example for Free

Policy Is Now Made In A More Democratic Manner Essay What Extent Do You Agree With This Statement? The 1997 general election in Britain changed the way that policies were made in both of the leading political parties. The Labour Party is composed of three major institutions: The NEC (National Executive Committee) -the administrative authority of the party, the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) which consists of all elected Labour Party MP s and the Annual Party Conference. The Annual Party Conference is the supreme decision-making body within the Party. Ordinary members of the party are given the opportunity to publicly articulate their views and for cabinet members (or shadow cabinet members if the party is not in government) to deliver set-speeches directed towards the party or the public. The Conservative Party had a system where power rested entirely in the hands of parliamentarians with little or no organisation outside of parliament. It also consisted of three main institutions: The Parliamentary Conservative Party, the National Union Of Conservative and Unionist Associations and The Conservative Central Office. The ultimate decision making body in the Party is the leader himself. He or she may be advised however this advice does not have to be taken. Before 1997, any member of the Labour party could raise a topic to be debated. However after the 1997 election, in an attempt by Tony Blair to meet the demands of party unity and discipline, the Labour Party changed its structure to include the NPF (National Policy Forum). The job of the National Policy Forum was to set our the agenda to be discussed at the annual party conference.Members could no longer bring up issues during the conference. Instead, members could make an application to the forum for a debate on a particular topic although the ultimate decision would be made by the forum. Although members were still free to convey their views at the annual conference. The Conservatives adopted a similar system to the Labour Party. The Conservative Party also underwent structural changes after the 1997 election. In a bid to make the party more democratic, William Hague introduced the Fresh Future. This included the creation of two new bodies, the National Conservative Convention and the Conservative Policy Forum (although these act as advisory bodies only, the final decision rests with the leader). In conclusion, the Labour Party certainly makes policy in a less democratic way. From an open conference where members could freely bring up topics for debate to a forum where only a select few have the ultimate decision in deciding party policies. This reform has decreased the number of members who can participate in making policies and reduced the range of views that the policies represent. Although the Conservative Party has made an attempt to make its policy making more democratic by introducing the Fresh Future and the new Conservative Policy Forum, the leader still holds the ultimate decision when deciding on policy and although it increases the number of people who can attempt to advise the leader although the leader still has ultimate power when making decisions so it means nothing. It is therefore concluded that party policy is not now made in a more democratic manner.

Reflection On The Ppph And Mph Course

Reflection On The Ppph And Mph Course My life before the MPH I have been at the University of Liverpool for the past sixteen years, starting as a BSc Microbiology student, then with my PhD on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), and finally working as a research associate on several clinical trials in Malawi, Africa and in Liverpool. I am currently in Primary Care and have just undertaken a feasibility intervention study by NHS Health trainers. Working on this study promoted me to reflect on my own work experience and identify any gaps in my knowledge, which resulted in me applying as a part-time student on the MPH course. Because I only had a contract to the summer of 2010, I was only able to register for some of the course, as a PGCert student. As a result, I have not done the complete MPH, but only the five modules outlined below. First Semester Health Society Quantitative Research Methods I Second Semester An intro to Qualitative Research Health Economics Policy Politics in Public Health I choose these particular modules in relation to the gaps in my knowledge, except in the case of QRM I, which I saw as a refresher course. I would describe myself as a quantitative researcher, who had very little qualitative experience. Although on trials in Malawi and Liverpool, members of the team undertook some qualitative research that I managed on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, I had some understanding of the practicalities in undertaking this type of research but not in the theoretical background, methodology and analysis. Therefore, it was very important for me to do the qualitative parts of the course, as within my current role in Primary Care I will be more hands on with qualitative research. As part of the NHS Health trainer feasibility study, the team looked at the health economics and its implications, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of East Anglia; therefore, it was valuable for me to do this module. In addition, as part of this study I looked at the history and development of the NHS Health trainer policy by the government so I did the PPPH module to help me to put this research into context. So what would I say was my Public Health experience? Well to start with, I think I have worked on research topics of public health importance throughout my time at the University of Liverpool but I may not have formally seen it as the case. I can see this when I reflect on my previous experiences, starting with my PhD, where I studied STDs in Nigeria, as part of my time there we undertook some promotion of condoms within the local rural community. Also in Malawi, one project was on reproductive health issues and again as part of a team, we promoted the safe motherhood programme. Moreover, in the last clinical trial in Malawi, the team was testing an efficacy of a Rotavirus vaccine against diarrhoeal disease, which because of that research has become part of the recommended World Health Organisation vaccine schedule for babies. For that reason, although there has clearly been a public health agenda within my work but I did not see it, it was very important for me to undertake this cou rse. In order to supplement my previous knowledge within the theoretical basis of Public Health and learn some new practical ways to help when I am conducting future research. Public Health Policy Module On of my reason for undertaking, this module was to understand how people create public health policy, the impact of politics has in that, and finally how the implementation of the policy comes into being for ordinary people. As a result, I came into the module with the aims of understanding the workings of the process of policy formation. Overall, I have found the topics in the module very interesting and motivating. As stated earlier, as part of my job I looked at the history and development of the NHS Health trainer policy with their role in helping people to have a healthy life-style. But when I looked at the document trial for this policy I was shocked to see that the role of NHS Health Trainer just seemed to appear in the 2004 white paper Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier (1), without any supporting research evidence, or even case studies showing how this worked in a UK setting in that white paper. Nevertheless, it was still enshrined into government policy, which has resulted in people, all over the country, employed to be NHS Health trainers. Therefore, I hoped that the PPPH module would give me some insight into how this happened. Consequently, in that context I found the readings and lectures for week two, on Public Health Policy Theoretical background to Policy Formulation and Development in the UK context very enlightening. In the lecture on What is policy, it was interesting that hear that a definition of health policy described as anything the government does, making decisions and implementing actions that allocates a value and how they translate their political vision to deliver outcomes desired changes in the real world. Also outlined were the various different models, which brought home to me the complexity in the development of policy, and the importance that policy should be evidence based. When I related this lecture back to my own experience with NHS Health trainer policy, I could see that how it derived its origin, from the political idea of choice in influencing public behaviour to improve health and wellbeing. This idea was supported by one of the pre-lecture readings, where Mulgan (2010) stated that we know people care about their health and the link of illness with their everyday choices, but they find it hard to adopt healthier behaviours, therefore how does the government help people to make to help people make the right choices for them (2). Therefore, it seems that the NHS Health trainer policy appears to be political intervention, designed to mop up gaps and strengthen other areas driven by the idea of having a healthy choice. In addition, I saw how the government has not adopted the nudge approach to this policy, which soft and non-intrusive and preserves an individual freedom of choice in that you do not remove the unhealthy choice altogether. But, used the stewardship model, which sees government as having an active, positive role, in that it promotes health by providing information and advice, with NHS Health trainer programme to help people overcome unhealthy behaviours (3). I can see the NHS Health Trainers policy ticking all the right boxes, such as community involvement, not top down, and client focused but the evidence base for this policy is weak, with the NHS Health Trainers Initiative website devoted to guidance notes and health trainer only. Up till now, recent publications on the main outcomes of the national and local reports for NHS Health Trainers Initiative of Health trainers have focussed on recruitment and training of Health trainers and analysis of service delivery but not client outcomes (4;5). Crucially, no studies have examined the effectiveness of Health Trainers at promoting heart-healthy lifestyles, with our work being only a feasibility study, which we have not yet published. This seemed to me to be back to front way of doing it. However, in reflection the lectures, in week 3, on Influencing Public Health Policy were interesting as, I am looking at to how my own work on Health trainers could have an impact on the current policy. Th ese lectures brought home again, how complex the world of Policy and Politics is within Public Health. I can draw on the experiences of the speakers, in week 3, in their roles as advocates for policy change from inside and outside the system. It is clear that policy change is not linear but follows a circular pattern; within this circle therefore, as a researcher, I can contribute by increasing the knowledge base for this policy. I found researching for the debate, I was part of the team looking at the argument for the motion on the Marmot Report, gave me a greater insight into the difficulties of addressing the health problems in our society. One of the key points our team made, was that the way our current public health policy looks at tackling the symptoms rather than the root causes of health inequalities. Moreover, from my reading around in preparation for this work, the question arose as to how we do not address the real issues, which at the root of it is the political ideology of Neo-liberalism. Navarro (2007) pointed out that real problem is not absolute resources but the degree one has control over ones own life in every society (6). In this article, Navarro gave an example of this quoted below. An unskilled, unemployed, young black person living in the ghetto area of Baltimore has more resources (he or she is likely to have a car, a mobile phone, a TV, and more square feet per household and more kitchen equipment) than a middle-class professional in Ghana, Africa. If the whole world were just a single society, the Baltimore youth would be middle class and the Ghana professional would be poor. And yet, the first has a much shorter life expectancy (45 years) than the second (62 years). How can that be, when the first has more resources than the second? (6) This created a powerful image, which brought home that message to me about how the inequalities affect our society. There has been a focus on the phenomenon of lifestyle drift, whereby governments start with a commitment to dealing with the wider social determinants of health but end up instigating narrow lifestyle interventions on individual behaviours, even where action at a governmental level may offer the greater chance of success, this can be seen in the NHS Health trainer policy. Even though I had to argue for the impossibility in implementing the recommendations of Marmot, I strongly believe that when making changes we need to be part of a collective membership where we take decisions not just in the interest of an individual but also for the everyone as a whole. On the other hand, on a note of pessimism I was shocked as to how successive governments failure to act on the health inequalities reports prior to Marmot, such as the Black Report (1980), Acheson Report (1998) and Wanless Report (2004). Consequently, we need to understand the political determinants of health and act upon them, even if it seems risky and painful to implement the changes needed. Has my perspective changed? As I have only done some modules of the MPH, I will reflect on the impact of these. However as it now seems I will be, continuing next year with the remaining modules, I expect these views to change in the coming year as do the other modules. The question asks what affect this course has had my own understanding of and my future approach to public health. Well, as explained earlier, before undertaking this course I could see how my work has had elements of dealing with public health issues at the coalface, as it were in Africa and latterly in the UK, but I seemed unaware of them at the time. I think that is clearly one of the important changes to how I view public health from now on. Over the course of all the modules, I have seen very much the interconnectivity of all the disciplines in both developing the knowledge base for and creating public health policy itself. As I have trained as a quantitative scientist, very much grounded in the positivist view of society, I found the two qualitative modules very enlightening. One of the results from my study on the NHS Health trainer was how little people engaged with the programme even though we recruited people into the study because of they had risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity. A group of people who at the outset we thought would be an ideal group for the intervention. However, when looking at the pattern of behaviour in the quantitative data at each stage of the study, a higher than normal proportion of this group did not take up our offer and engage with our Health trainers. Fortunately, in parallel to this research the team conducted qualitative interviews with some of the participants. Therefore, we were able to get some information on why we saw this affect, with the view coming out that some people were hoping that the LHTs would find a nutritional magic bullet but when faced with the reality that the programme only involved motivational support they disengaged. Therefore, as a specific example of a change in my practice in the future, I see the need to incorporate a mixed paradigm approach, quantitative and qualitative, to get the whole research picture. Therefore, in undertaking the two qualitative modules I know feel I have a good understanding of the theory and practice to start adopting this as an effective approach to my research.