OCD Disease Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis, Abnormal Psychology

OCD Disease It was 9:30 a.m., and Nancy, a 36-year-old attorney, had arrived late for work again. Nancy knew she needed to catch up on her legal assignments, but a familiar worry nagged at her. No matter how hard she tried, Nancy could not dislodge the thought that she had left a pot burning on the stove. The image of her home engulfed in flames was so vivid she could almost smell the smoke. Nancy tried to shut the thought out of her mind, reassuring herself that she had turned the gas jet off. But even remembering her hand touching the cool stove burner-a precaution she took whenever she left the house-still left her wondering whether she had checked carefully enough. The pot and stove were not all that had been on Nancy's mind that morning. For Nancy, leaving the house entailed a time-consuming routine designed to ensure that no major or minor disaster-such as a fire, burglary, or household flood-would strike while she was away. Like a pilot preparing for take-off, she would spend more than an hour checking and rechecking that all appliances were turned off, all water faucets shut, all windows closed, and the doors to the house securely locked. Except for necessities such as work, Nancy avoided going out because it meant performing this arduous routine. But even these measures were not enough to keep her from worrying. A few weeks earlier, Nancy had hit on the idea of documenting that everything was safe before she left home. Now, sitting at her desk, she pulled a completed checklist from her purse and reviewed it to see if the "stove and oven" item and been marked off. At first, she felt relieved to see that it was. But then a new thought struck: What if this wasn't today's checklist? Panic overtook reason. Nancy dialed the local fire department and asked that truck be sent to investigate a fire at her house. (Goodman, 1994, pp 103, 104) The first modern description of OCD was provided in 1838 by Jean-Etienne Dominique Esquirol, a French psychiatrist. Esquirol called the disorder the folie de doute, or doubting madness, and suspected it was rooted in a physical problem in the brain. During much of the 1900's, psychoanalytic theories dominated the study of OCD. Many psychoanalytic theorists believed OCD originated from conflicts early in a child's development over such issues as toilet training. (Goldman, 1994, p.104) Researchers theorize that an antibody may actually cause OCD. The antibody called D8/17, is produced to fight streptococcus bacterium that causes rheumatic fever. However D8/17 may attack healthy cells in the brain's basal ganglia region, which helps control basic movement sequences, such as walking or eating. (Klobuchar, 1998, p.266) The obsessions or compulsions must cause marked distress, be time consuming (take more than 1 hour per day), or significantly interfere with the individual's normal routine, occupational functioning, or usual social activities or relationships with others. Obsessions or compulsions can displace useful and satisfying behavior and can be highly disruptive to overall functioning. Because obsessive intrusions can be distracting, they frequently result in inefficient performance of cognitive tasks that require concentration, such as reading or computation. In addition, many individuals avoid objects or situations that provoke obsessions or compulsions. Such avoidance can become extensive and can severely restrict general functioning. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994). Symptoms of OCD include repetitive, ritualized behavior, such as counting, hoarding objects, or handwashing; obsessive fear of threats, such as germs; or a fear of committing violent acts. (Klobuchar 266) The American Psychiatric Association classifies OCD as an anxiety disorder. People with OCD suffer from persistent and disturbing thoughts, images, or impulses, called obsessions. They relieve the anxiety caused by their obsessions through compulsions-repeated behaviors that they feel driven to perform. (Goodman, 1994, p.104) The DSM-IV defines obsessions as recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses that are anxiety-provoking and are perceived as intrusive or senseless. (Gragg & Francis, 1996, p.1) The intrusive and inappropriate quality of the obsessions has been referred to as "ego-dystonic." This refers to the individual's sense that the content of the obsession is alien, not within his or her own control, and not the kind of thought that he or she would expect to have. However, the individual is able to recognize that the obsessions are the product of his or her own mind and are not imposed form without (as in thought insertion). (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994). Obsessions typically fall within seven major categories. i.e. Contamination obsessions, which typically involve excessive concerns about germs, disease, and cleanliness.

Free Essays on All-in-1 Toothpaste

Strengths 1.Unique Product Our All-in-1 toothpaste will encompass all the qualities of the top toothpastes into 1 tube. Our All-in-1 toothpaste will provide tartar control, whitening, cavity protection, fresh taste, mouthwash, and more. We will market this toothpaste as being the best toothpaste to satisfy all users in a household, our toothpaste is the new â€Å"family toothpaste† or has the qualities to satisfy every user in the house. Weakness 1.New Company Being a new company is a weakness in itself. We do not have a loyal customer base nor do we have any brand recognition. Through creative marketing we hope to create a curious buzz regarding our product. We want consumers to be so interested in our product that they run right out and purchase it. Opportunities 1.Need Everyone needs to use toothpaste in order to clean their teeth. Perception is a huge drive behind the need for clean teeth. Seventy-one percent of Americans said they are less likely to marry someone with bad teeth and 74% believe bad teeth can hurt career success, according to the Mentadent Smart Mouth survey. Also, 33% said whitening is the attribute they look for most when shopping for toothpaste. Threats 1.Competition Globally Colgate commands a market share of 80% or more. Its numbers aren't quite so dominant in the U.S., but Colgate grabbed the lead over Procter & Gamble's Crest after launching Total toothpaste in late 1997. At that time the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's approved Total as the only toothpaste that reduces the gum disease gingivitis. The result, it's now the No. 1 toothpaste recommended by dentists. Thanks to such relentless marketing, Colgate continues to chew up the competition. It accounts for more than one-third of all toothpaste sales in the U.S. while once-dominant Crest holds a 29% market share. Marketing Objectives We will be marketing the All-in-1 toothpaste by promoting the basics ... Free Essays on All-in-1 Toothpaste Free Essays on All-in-1 Toothpaste Strengths 1. Unique Product Our All-in-1 toothpaste will encompass all the qualities of the top toothpastes into 1 tube. Our All-in-1 toothpaste will provide tartar control, whitening, cavity protection, fresh taste, mouthwash, and more. We will market this toothpaste as being the best toothpaste to satisfy all users in a household, our toothpaste is the new â€Å"family toothpaste† or has the qualities to satisfy every user in the house. Weakness 1. New Company Being a new company is a weakness in itself. We do not have a loyal customer base nor do we have any brand recognition. Through creative marketing we hope to create a curious buzz regarding our product. We want consumers to be so interested in our product that they run right out and purchase it. Opportunities 1. Need Everyone needs to use toothpaste in order to clean their teeth. Perception is a huge drive behind the need for clean teeth. Seventy-one percent of Americans said they are less likely to marry someone with bad teeth and 74% believe bad teeth can hurt career success, according to the Mentadent Smart Mouth survey. Also, 33% said whitening is the attribute they look for most when shopping for toothpaste. Threats 1. Competition Globally Colgate commands a market share of 80% or more. Its numbers aren't quite so dominant in the U.S., but Colgate grabbed the lead over Procter & Gamble's Crest after launching Total toothpaste in late 1997. At that time the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's approved Total as the only toothpaste that reduces the gum disease gingivitis. The result, it's now the No. 1 toothpaste recommended by dentists. Thanks to such relentless marketing, Colgate continues to chew up the competition. It accounts for more than one-third of all toothpaste sales in the U.S. while once-dominant Crest holds a 29% market share. Marketing Objectives We will be marketing the All-in-1 toothpaste by promoting the basics ...

A Modest Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

A Modest Proposal - Essay Example Jonathan uses numerous techniques complete his writing. This power of satire portrays to the lack of morality and expedience of how Ireland's dealings are managed. The lack of authority held by the Irish people springs from the extensive amount of power the English Protestants held over the Irish, especially the penal laws imposed upon the Irish Catholics. Jonathan uses this truth to exploit his prominent satire and eventually to suggest the consumption of the babies of deprived Irish mothers. The author uses satire severely in his writing. One of the most apparent uses of satire Jonathan uses is when he talks about the likely English response to his suggestion. He claims, "Maybe I could name a nation, which would be happy to consume our whole country." Here, Jonathan is reflecting the degree to which the English had power over the Irish. The basis of his proposal centers in the notion of consuming the newborns, as food, is no mistake.This idea was selected in order to symbolize the collapse of Ireland through the "consuming" power the English had over the Irish. This made the Irish seem as powerless as infants (Smith 138). At one point, while making his suggestion, Jonathan guarantees the politicians who dislike his approach that the deprived people of Ireland would rather surrender their life than experience the everlasting scene of misfortunes. While Jonathan is giving his suggestions to the ruling class, he ironically represents the hardships as being the sole liability of the poor (Smith 140). Jonathan is talking to the politicians who have denied the Irish Catholics some of their rights, but he argues that the Irish are repressing their landlords by not settling their rent on time. The author contradicted himself at this point. The satire, of course, was the immense economic cruelty imposed on the Irish by the English through agricultural protectionism and other things. Jonathan’s use of satire, in his writing, serves to portray, to the English lea ders, the reality of the circumstances that they are subjecting to the people of Ireland. However, despite Swift's obvious dislike for the English, he, at some instances, also partly blames the Irish for the conditions of the country. Specifically, his depiction on the part of the Irish is what appears to trouble Jonathan the most (Smith 140). While a person might assume that Irish Catholics should have united to deal with English, they instead fell victim to forfeited certain liberties and land seizures. Jonathan asserts that his suggestion will greatly reduce the number of papists, who stay, at home, to deliver the empire to the Pretender. It is obvious that Jonathan does not, in fact, believe that the papists are exploiting the Protestants. However, I feel that he is attacking the Irish Catholics for not trying to take back their nation from them. Jonathan argues that the Irish have gladly handed their nation over to the English, and that makes them the most treacherous enemies t o Ireland (Smith 140). Throughout the writing, Jonathan, when talking about the Irish infants, uses terms as if he were describing farm animals. Phrases and words such as pigs, stock, flesh, cattle and carcass, were all present in

Bicycle Thieves Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bicycle Thieves - Movie Review Example In many ways, the young boy represents a purity and moral fortitude that elders around him have difficulty to master. The young boy accompanies his father through his long, arduous and ultimately futile attempt to locate his stolen bicycle. But throughout these travails, he hardly betrays his immaturity. The poise and understated maturity of young Bruno is pleasing to see. I believe it is upon De Sica’s directorial discretion that Bruno’s character was drawn on those lines. There is one scene in particular where the young boy’s maturity comes to light. It was when his frayed and tired father slaps him on the cheek out of his own inner frustrations. Bruno was hurt and he starts to cry. He moves away from his father and sulks. Yet, when his repentant father comes to him to console and cajole, he does not rebuke him. Instead of playing truant and throwing a tantrum, young Bruno allows his dad to make peace with him. Eventually, his father takes him to a restaurant t o buy him a luxurious cake. In a subtle irony, De Sica showcases how the young can sometimes lead the old and display more maturity. Neo-realist cinema might be passe for modern audiences, but when De Sica gave it full expression in Bicycle Thieves it was fresh and inventive. In fact, poverty as a theme for commercial cinema was thought unviable by many producers. Consequently, De Sica had difficulty garnering funding for his project. The fact of the availability of only a limited funding actually accentuated the neo-realist feel in the film. For example, the lead actors are all amateurs who barely had any acting experience prior to the film. The scenes were all shot on location without using any studio settings. The material reality of poverty was well captured too. After all, it doesn’t require expensive props to execute a film based on the ordeals of poverty. Consistent with the neo-realist style the background music for the film is minimal. The idea is to let the story cr eate its own sense of drama and poignancy without the aid of music. Moreover, an austere production philosophy resonates with the poverty and frugality at display onscreen. (Wakeman, 1988) The film is good material for philosophical inquiry. In my view, the essence of the film is the last scene where the victim decides to become the victimizer. When Antonio Ricci (the protagonist) decides out of desperation that he would steal a bicycle to recompense what had been stolen from him, the title Bicycle Thieves takes on an added dimension. What was till that point in film a reference to the gang of burglars who steal bicycles and resell them in the market, now includes the aggrieved loser himself. This is a powerful political statement on part of De Sica about the nature of poverty and the evaluation of morality in this economic realm. In other words, the film can be seen as an early exploration on the vicious cycle of poverty and crime. There is little doubt that the director’s t ake on these twin blights of society are rather sympathetic. This much is evident from the overall tone and effect of the film. In this sense, the film is a powerful social and political comment – something that is apt for further study from sociological perspectives. (Ratner, 2005) In sum, Bicycle Thieves is an important work in the history of world cinema. Its appeal is universal because its theme is universal and based on humanism. Bicycle Thieves is an intense film that has an underlying engagement with humanist

Reading Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading - Assignment Example The article notes that although, there are some negative impacts that are associated with the use of the internet, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The author precisely means that the internet makes people smarter. However, he notes that it do not necessarily make individuals smarter at all times (Whitney, 2010). The author makes use of an inductive argument and makes use of facts to convince the audience. These arguments are effective and convincing to the audience. I agree with the arguments expressed in the article since they are based on facts. His research is also based on those expressed by experts in different fields. The author’s major argument is based on the claim that the internet makes people smarter. Her sole purpose is to persuade and the arguments are based on opinions. The sources used in the article are reliable since most experts agree on one thing. The tone of the article is persuasive. There are no biases on the author’s side. Logos appeals are employed to evoke thinking. Not all important angles were covered as no statistics were provided to support the claim. This is also the weakness in the reasoning presented. I agree with the author because the internet has resulted to easy and quick access of all sorts of information. The ideas connected with mine based on the few setbacks that are linked with the internet. The article is titled â€Å"Critical Thinking Crucial in the Information Age† and was written by Massimo Pigliucci. The article stated that critical thinking is not given the significance it deserves in the modern world. This is supported by the arguments made by Socrates on knowledge (Pigliucci. 2011). The article states that knowledge and ignorance are both the major causes of evil. The author states that ignorance is the major cause of evil in the major cause of evil in the modern times. The article expresses that it is difficult for human beings to prove

Concurrent Engineering Vs Traditional Sequential Methods

Concurrent Engineering Vs Traditional Sequential Methods In order to signify the differences between the traditional approach of sequential engineering and the modern concurrent engineering approach, I will simulate the release of an aircraft component onto the market, and explain in detail the process. I will point out differences between the methods as I go along. Traditionally, products were designed and manufactured following the sequential engineering methods, where people from different departments work one after the other on successive phases of development. This method of production is in a linear format. The different steps are done one after another, with all attention and resources focused on that one task. After it is completed it is left alone and everything is concentrated on the next task. The product is first completely defined by the engineering design department, and then the manufacturing department take over and define the manufacturing process, etc. This was a lengthy process, and often led to a lot of design changes as the prototype testing began, due to production problems, delays or design flaws. This is therefore a slow and costly approach, often leading to a low-quality and less competitive product. Concurrent Engineering, sometimes called Simultaneous Engineering or Integrated Product Development (IPD), can be defined as a systematic approach to the integrated, concurrent design of products and their related processes, including manufacture and support. This approach is intended to cause the developers, from the outset, to consider all elements of the product life cycle from conception through disposal, including quality, cost, schedule, and user requirements. This results in the product development team clearly understanding what the product requires in terms of mission performance, environmental conditions during operation, budget, and scheduling. In this method, several teams within an organization work simultaneously to develop new products and services andthis therefore allows a more streamlined approach. Decision making involves full team participation and involvement. The team often consists of product design engineers, manufacturing engineers, marketing personnel, purch asing, finance, and suppliers, and the role of the leader is to supply the basic foundation and support for change, rather than to tell the other team members what to do. In concurrent engineering, different tasks are tackled at the same time, and not necessarily in the usual order. This means that info found out later in the process can be added to earlier parts, improving them, and also saving a lot of time. Examples from companies using Concurrent Engineering techniques show significant increases in overall quality, 30-40% reduction in project times and costs, and 60-80% reductions in design changes after release. BENEFITS ADVANTAGES of concurrent Concurrent engineering provides many benefits over sequential engineering, including lower manufacturing and production costs, improved quality of resulting end products and increased accuracy in predicting and meeting project plans, schedules, timelines, and budgets. Because the multidisciplinary teams working together early in the process can make informed decisions about cost, quality, process and product issues, trade-offs can be made between design features, part manufacturability, assembly requirements, material needs, reliability issues, serviceability requirements, and cost and time constraints. Any differences are usually reconciled early in the design process, leading to increased efficiency and performance, higher reliability in the product development process, reduced defect rate and ultimately a faster time to market which results in increased market share. This also means faster reaction times in responding to the rapidly changing market, which in turn fosters increased customer satisfaction and a higher return on investments due to the reduced labour and resource requirements, improved inventory control and scheduling. Improved communication between individuals and departments within the firm also encourages cohesiveness, and a more pleasant working environment, which in turn can positively affect productivity of the workforce. Concurrent engineering is not a trivial process to apply; therefore companies must be careful in using this approach. To be successful, they should initially compare themselves with their competitors to set a benchmark, and identify potential performance improvements and realistic targets by analysing the market and knowing the customers. It is paramount to have the top managements support, and to develop a clear strategy and implementation plan which must be continually reviewed and revised with progress. Individualism should be suppressed within the team and project leaders must have a clear overall visualization of the project and goals. Cross -functional integration and collaboration needs to be established and encouraged, so as to foster team ethics and freely transfer technology and information between individuals and departments. Some organisations have been known to have problems in the past, which manifest themselves when there is an unwillingness to institutionalize concurr ent engineering, and new reporting lines and reward systems are not set up to agree with the new approach. Problems can also arise if the employees have not had any training in teamwork, or if the schedules set are unrealistic. There needs to be a change in relationships with vendors in order for the concurrent engineering methods to work at their best, alongside a focus on process improvement rather than computerisation. Concurrent engineering is an evolving process that requires continuous improvement and refinement. This continuous improvement cycle consist of planning, implementing, reviewing, and revising. The process must be updated and revised on a regular basis to optimize the effectiveness and benefits in the concurrent engineering development process. Conclusion In todays business world, a quick effective response to changing market needs is paramount if a corporation is to be successful. They must be able to reduce their time to market with an adaptable attitude and decision must be made quickly and correctly the first time around. If the firms waste time repeating tasks, as might happen using sequential methods, they will become less competitive, therefore concurrent engineering has emerged as way of bringing rapid solutions to product design and development process. Concurrent engineering is indisputably the future for new product development for all companies regardless of their size, sophistication, or product portfolio. In order to be competitive, corporations must be able to complete diverse tasks concurrently, even if that means altering their product and process development cycle. Although it will require a major reorganisation and be reviewed and adjusted for continuous improvements of engineering and business operations, this new process will benefit the company in the long-term.

essay :: essays research papers

Halley’sComet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Comets have amazed, interested, and driven scientists to study them often. Comets like the Hale-Bopp have been seen by millions of people. Since the discovery of comets, scientists, astrologers, or and even your next door neighbor have been interested in discovering or studying comets. Like Halley’s Comet which has had a real impact on the history of comets.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Halley’s comet put on bright shows for the planet Earth ever since 204 BC, maybe even 1059 BC. Its most famous appearance was in 1066 AD, right before the battle of Hastings. It was named after Edmund Halley, who found out its orbit. He predicted that the appearances in 1531 and 1607 were the same comet that made a 76-year orbit. Halley died in 1742, never to see if his prediction should come true, which it did in 1758.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only three comets were ever studied by a spacecraft. Comet Giacobini-Zinner was studied in 1985, Comet Halley in 1986, and Comet Grigg-Skijellup on July 10th, 1992. Halley’s comet made appearances in 1835and then in 1910. Then after in 1984 and 1985, five spacecrafts from Russia, Japan, and Europe were launched to make rendezvous with the comet in 1985. One of NASA’s deep space satellite was reprogrammed to monitor the solar wind that was from Halley.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The nucleus(entire body) is an ellipsoidal shape and measures about 16 by 8 by 8 kilometers(10 by 5 by 5 miles). Next perihelion is determined to be in 2061 because it orbits every 76 years. The well developed tail structure of Halley’s Comet is made up of both dust and ion. One of the most spectacular showings was the one when a piece of the comet ion tail breaks off. This was seen and photographed in 1986, by a telescope at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory at NASA. Hall ey’s Comet obviously never came in contact with any other comets or planets. essay :: essays research papers Halley’sComet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Comets have amazed, interested, and driven scientists to study them often. Comets like the Hale-Bopp have been seen by millions of people. Since the discovery of comets, scientists, astrologers, or and even your next door neighbor have been interested in discovering or studying comets. Like Halley’s Comet which has had a real impact on the history of comets.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Halley’s comet put on bright shows for the planet Earth ever since 204 BC, maybe even 1059 BC. Its most famous appearance was in 1066 AD, right before the battle of Hastings. It was named after Edmund Halley, who found out its orbit. He predicted that the appearances in 1531 and 1607 were the same comet that made a 76-year orbit. Halley died in 1742, never to see if his prediction should come true, which it did in 1758.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only three comets were ever studied by a spacecraft. Comet Giacobini-Zinner was studied in 1985, Comet Halley in 1986, and Comet Grigg-Skijellup on July 10th, 1992. Halley’s comet made appearances in 1835and then in 1910. Then after in 1984 and 1985, five spacecrafts from Russia, Japan, and Europe were launched to make rendezvous with the comet in 1985. One of NASA’s deep space satellite was reprogrammed to monitor the solar wind that was from Halley.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The nucleus(entire body) is an ellipsoidal shape and measures about 16 by 8 by 8 kilometers(10 by 5 by 5 miles). Next perihelion is determined to be in 2061 because it orbits every 76 years. The well developed tail structure of Halley’s Comet is made up of both dust and ion. One of the most spectacular showings was the one when a piece of the comet ion tail breaks off. This was seen and photographed in 1986, by a telescope at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory at NASA. Hall ey’s Comet obviously never came in contact with any other comets or planets.

Women S Rights

For so long women have had the image of someone who was at home, cooking and cleaning and was weaker and submissive to men. As time passes the nuclear family promotes women having jobs rather then the men having the job in the family and women at home. After World War 2 you have both men and women working in a family now. And even when they have jobs there still mostly jobs like nurses or teachers. As my father grew up he sees that the image of a women changes and they start to break the stereotype.For example: There has been women's basketball and soccer- established decades ago. Women's physique is also changing, which also breaks the stereotype, however it takes time to do that because women are stained with this image. The Women's rights movement is increasing throughout the years since my father was young. The social status in women is getting closer and closer to men's and even sometimes higher then men. Once they are in this position they have the need and want for more becaus e they can. Once they have more money etc. Inns can happen more easily for them. Women are able to act more freely and society, the limits to what women can and cannot due are getting cut loose every year which allows them to do more. For ex: women were not even able to join the army but they were able to join the army and now recently a year ago they are able to join in the line of combat. Women are gaining more freedom exponentially, because with every boundary cut another two can be cut. Women were able to advance a lot in different careers and in court.Women's rights have been increasing because you have women in higher power asking now instead of lower class women. In conclusion it is easier for women now and the roles are much more different because they have broken stereotypical boundaries and achieved higher classes. Everyday women are taking a step forward into 100% equality. Every year women are unlocking more and more fields that women were not available to. If you kick a round today's society you will see women's roles changing gradually.

Defining Racial Prejudice

Defining Racial Prejudice Words such as racism, prejudice, and stereotype are often used interchangeably. While the definitions of these terms overlap, they actually mean different things. Racial prejudice, for instance, typically arises from race-based stereotypes. People of influence who prejudge others set the stage for institutional racism to occur. How does this happen? This overview of what racial prejudice is, why it’s dangerous and how to combat prejudice explains in detail. Defining Prejudice It’s difficult to discuss prejudice without clarifying what it is. The fourth edition of the American Heritage College Dictionary provides four meanings for the term- from â€Å"an adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts† to â€Å"irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race or religion.† Both definitions apply to the experiences of ethnic minorities in Western society. Of course, the second definition sounds much more menacing than the first, but prejudice in either capacity has the potential to cause a great deal of damage. Likely because of his skin color, English professor and writer Moustafa Bayoumi says that strangers often ask him, â€Å"Where are you from?† When he answers that he was born in Switzerland, grew up in Canada and now lives in Brooklyn, he raises eyebrows. Why? Because the people doing the questioning have a preconceived idea about what Westerners generally and Americans particularly look like. They’re operating under the (erroneous) assumption that natives of the United States don’t have brown skin, black hair or names that aren’t English in origin. Bayoumi acknowledges that the people suspicious of him typically don’t â€Å"have any real malice in mind.† Still, they allow prejudice to guide them. While Bayoumi, a successful author, has taken the questions about his identity in stride, others deeply resent being told that their ancestral origins make them less American than others. Prejudice of this nature may not only lead to psychological t rauma but also to racial discrimination. Arguably no group demonstrates this more than Japanese Americans. Prejudice Begets Institutional Racism When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the U.S. public viewed Americans of Japanese descent suspiciously. Although many Japanese Americans had never stepped foot in Japan and knew only of the country from their parents and grandparents, the notion spread that the Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) were more loyal to the Japanese empire than to their birthplace- the United States. Acting with this idea in mind, the federal government decided to round up more than 110,000 Japanese Americans and place them in internment camps for fear that they would team up with Japan to plot additional attacks against the United States. No evidence suggested that Japanese Americans would commit treason against the U.S. and join forces with Japan. Without trial or due process, the Nisei were stripped of their civil liberties and forced into detention camps. The case of Japanese-American internment is one of the most egregious cases of racial prejudice leading to institutiona l racism. In 1988, the U.S. government issued a formal apology to Japanese Americans for this shameful chapter in history. Prejudice and Racial Profiling After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Japanese Americans worked to prevent Muslim Americans from being treated how the Nisei and Issei were during World War II. Despite their efforts, hate crimes against Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim or Arab rose following the terrorist attacks. Americans of Arab origin face particular scrutiny on airlines and airports. On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, an Ohio housewife of Arab and Jewish background named Shoshanna Hebshi made international headlines after accusing Frontier Airlines of removing her from a flight simply because of her ethnicity and because she happened to be seated next to two South Asian men. She says that she never left her seat, spoke to other passengers or tinkered with suspicious devices during the flight. In other words, her removal from the plane was without warrant. She’d been racially profiled. â€Å"I believe in tolerance, acceptance and trying–as hard as it sometimes maybe–not to judge a person by the color of their skin or the way they dress,† she stated in a blog post. â€Å"I admit to having fallen to the traps of convention and have made judgments about people that are unfounded. †¦The real test will be if we decide to break free from our fears and hatred and truly try to be good people who practice compassion–even toward those who hate.† The Link Between Racial Prejudice and Stereotypes Prejudice and race-based stereotypes work hand in hand. Due to the pervasive stereotype that an all-American person is blonde and blue-eyed (or at the very least white), those who don’t fit the bill- such as Moustafa Bayoumi- are prejudged to be foreign or â€Å"other.† Never mind that this characterization of an all-American more aptly describes the Nordic population than individuals who are indigenous to the Americas or the diverse groups that make up the United States today. Combating Prejudice Unfortunately, racial stereotypes are so prevalent in Western society that even the very young exhibit signs of prejudice. Given this, it’s inevitable that the most open-minded of individuals will have a prejudiced thought on occasion. One needn’t act on prejudice, however. When President George W. Bush addressed the Republican National Convention in 2004, he called on schoolteachers not to give in to their preconceived ideas about students based on race and class. He singled out the principal of Gainesville Elementary School in Georgia for â€Å"challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations.†Ã‚  Although poor Hispanic children made up most of the student body, 90 percent of pupils there passed state tests in reading and math. â€Å"I believe every child can learn,† Bush said. Had school officials decided that the Gainesville students couldn’t learn because of their ethnic origin or socioeconomic status, institutional racism would have been the likely result. Administrators and teachers would not have worked to give the student body the best education possible, and Gainesville could’ve become yet another failing school. This is what makes prejudice such a threat.

On some Counterproductive Social Aspects of Controlled Subst essays

On some Counterproductive Social Aspects of Controlled Subst essays In human society controlled substances have always had a significant presence in social situations. From the dawn of human civilization in Central Africa about twenty-five thousand years ago, drugs have been a part of human culture. In almost every past civilization there is evidence of drug use in some form. Honest normal people obviously have a want inside of them to alter their state of consciousness, to argue this fact is both a futile and imbecile endeavor. Instead we must come to terms with the reasons one would want to gethigh.? To portray these users as anything less than normal humans would only demonstrate the extent of one's ignorance on matters of human nature. What we do is what we do, and all that we do by definition is natural. For any one to call these controlled substancesbad? orevil? again would only demonstrate one's overwhelming ignorance. We can instead acknowledge the fact that in modern society, certain drugs could be counterproductive or even dangerous to one' s wellbeing. I aim to designate the reasons one in modern American society would ever think to voluntarily come under the influence of a substance. Also I would like to elaborate on the justification of ritualistic or ceremonial use of substances, and how this reflects on the prohibition of select substances in the United States. We must reevaluate the situation of prohibition in the United States based on the facts presented herein. I also aim to question the justification of total prohibition in light of alternate policies that might ultimately benefit our society in a much greater way than prohibition ever did. I will try my best to harbor no biases towards or against drugs. I hope that the reader when reading this will employ the same objective attitude. Having stated that, controlled substances can have a definitely ha a profound negative effect on one's being. Depending on the circumstances, drugs can be extremely counterproductive towards one's gene...

Roosevelts New Deal and American Federalism Assignment

Roosevelts New Deal and American Federalism - Assignment Example In the same clause, it postulates that the congress shall impose taxes and duties in a uniform manner across all the states of the United States of America. The third clause is very important as it defined the power of the congress with regard to commerce issues. It states that the congress will have power to regulate powers among the US states and also between the Unites States of America and the rest of the world as well as with the Indian tribes. This clause gave the congress and thus the federal government exclusive power over the state governments, to regulate trade and commerce as well as make, establish and enforce laws regarding commerce. By giving such powers to the federal government, the role of the states was being trampled underneath the federal government and this clause was to later play a big role in defining the power boundaries between the federal government and the state governments. Commerce is definitely very important for any government and giving commercial sup remacy to the federal government meant that the power of the state government was minimized and the power for the federal government was increased.Supreme Court judgements in the past have also helped in defining the parameters of the powers of the federal government of the United States of American over the state level laws. These decisions by the United States include the Supreme Court decisions in McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden. In this McCulloch, the second bank of United States found itself in a row with the state of Maryland. The state of Maryland had passed a law that required all banks, local or federal, to only issue local notes and also to pay taxes on these. The second bank of United States did not however want to pay tax because this was not in line with federal bank regulations. As a result, the state of Maryland took the case to court and the case was eventually decided in favour of the second bank of the United States. The Supreme Court quoted the supremac y clause of the United States constitutions and said that the state did not have the power to override the federal laws and that the court should be able subscribe to the federal laws as a guidance to its decision. The same issue was also repeated in the case of Gibbons v. Ogden (1824). In this case, the issue was about the monopoly given to Ogden on the use of the navigation waters of the New York area. The state of New York had given Ogden a monopoly over the waters of the area and also tried to convince the other neighbouring states to do the same but they refused. Gibbons, appealed to the Supreme Court which overruled the decision and argued that the state did not have powers to override the federal laws. The Supreme Court quoted the third clause of the eighth section of article I of the United

Essay/Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

/Memo - Essay Example nt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work, Mother Theresa has left an important legacy of humanism and self-sacrifice after years working to better humanity (Clucas, 1998). Mother Theresa was first and foremost a Christian who believed in the spread of the Gospel and the eternal redemption of the poor through the word of Christ. She was a humanist who left her native Albania to tend to the sick, frail and the poor and established an international charitable organization which sought to administer to the sick and dying around the world. Mother Theresa was known for her selflessness and the charitable nature of her life. Kindness and self-sacrifice were virtues that she lived by. Mother Theresa worked tirelessly to help others and based her life upon the compassionate teachings of Christ. A humanist in the truest sense, Mother Theresa tended to the poorest of the poor, irrespective of ethnic or racial differences. According to the Mother Theresa Center in Calcutta, India, Mother Theresa had the following to say about her worldview, â€Å"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, I am Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.† (Mother Theresa Center, 2009). Internal characteristics which Mother Theresa came to embody included a universalism which was not often understood in the context of the middle of the 20th century, an eternal compassion for the suffering of others and a call to duty to spread the word of God through help and self-sacrifice. Although she committed herself to a life of self-sacrifice and poverty, Mother Theresa’s charities were international in scope and established throughout the world. She worked with terminally ill patients and those inflicted with the scourge of leprosy in India while operating ministries in more than 100 countries by the late twentieth-century (Williams, 2002). Mother Theresa was a compassionate and