Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Movie Review The Last Emperor
â€Å"The Last Emperor†is a Chinese 1987 epic film, directed by Bertolucci Bernardo. The film is based on the life of Emperor Pu Yi, who was the last individual to reign as Emperor in China. It derives most of its narrative from Pu Yi’s autobiography titled â€Å"From Emperor to Citizen: The Autobiography of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Movie Review: The Last Emperor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this book, the former emperor documents his journey from being an Emperor to an ordinary Chinese citizen. The movie depicts events that took place over a period of 60 years. During this time, China underwent radical transformation due to the significant social-political events that occurred over the time span. The film begins in 1950 in a Chinese Prison, where Pu Yi has been taken as a political prisoner. After a failed attempt to end his life, the Emperor begins to have flashbacks of his earlier years. His first memories are of how he became the Emperor after being named successor to Empress Dowager Ciwi who was dying. This was in the year 1908 and Pu Yi was only 2 years old. Following this declaration, the young Pu Yi moved to the Forbidden City, which was the official home of the emperor. The film shows Pu Yi’s early life where many eunuchs and private tutors served him. It then illustrates how Pu Yi was forced to give up power after the Chinese Revolution of 1911. After this, he continued to serve as a figurehead and was allowed to maintain his luxurious lifestyle in the Forbidden City. However, a warlord banished the Emperor from the Forbidden City in 1924 forcing him to live in exile. After 6 years in exile, Pu Yi moved to Manchuria, which was his native land. While in this region, the Japanese occupational forces reinstated him as a puppet head. His reign ended when Russian forces captured him at the end of the Second World War. The R ussians kept him under arrest up to 1950 when he is returned to communist China. Here Pu Yi underwent reeducation under Mao’s reign. At the end of the reeducation efforts, he took up the occupation of a gardener and lived a humble life. While living the life of a simple gardener, Pu Yi was able to visit the Forbidden City as a tourist and he looked at the Dragon Throne, where he once reigned from, with mixed emotions. The film has a number of major characters: Emperor Pu Yi, who is the film’s central figure; Emperor’s wife, Wanrong Gobulo, who comes from a royal background and stays with Pu Yi until the end of World War II; Scottish Reginald Fleming, who served as the tutor to the young emperor and provided Pu Yi with knowledge about the outside world and inspired the young emperor to travel outside the Forbidden City; and Chen Baochen, the emperor’s personal advisor and tutor, who remained loyal to the Qing dynasty even after it collapses.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The film covers events that took place between 1908 and 1967. This gives the film major social-historical dimensions, since China underwent a number of significant changes in this turbulent period. The first major event covered by the film is the succession of Empress Dowager Cixi by the 2-year-old Pu Yi. The film then addressed the 1911 revolution that marked the start of modern China as it abolished the monarchy and established a republic under president Dr. Sun Yat Sen. This event led to Emperor Pu Yi being forced to give up his official powers. The film then records that the emperor was forced out of the Forbidden City in 1924. At around this time, the 13-year-old Chinese Republic was experiencing some problems as the ruling party was becoming more authoritarian in nature. The problems experienced by the state escalated when the ruling Kuomintang party split with the Communist Party. The Kuomintang banned the Communist Party and imprisoned most of its top leaders. This led to the Communist Party making plans to overthrow the Kuomintang and bring about a Communist Revolution in China. The realities of Japanese expansionist trends in Asia during the 1930s are highlighted in the film. It documents how Japan was able to take over the region of Manchuria and govern over it from 1931 to 1945. Emperor Pu Yi was installed as the puppet ruler in order to add legitimacy to Japanese rule. Pu Yi was responsible for signing a number of treaties that increased Japanese power in the occupied territory. This puppet state ended after the Allied forces defeated Japan and the Second World War came to an end. Another significant period covered by the movie is the Cultural Revolution under Mao Zedong. Mao took leadership of China in 1949 and set out to eliminate the old establishment and replace it with a strong Communist State. During the first years of h is rule, China experienced the Cultural Revolution that had a major impact on the social and political environment in the country. The revolution was started by peasants in the countryside who wanted to do away with the decadence of the rich. One of the ways in which the new order was brought about was by destroying the property owner class and re-educating the upper class. The Emperor was one of the individuals who underwent reeducation in Mao’s China.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Movie Review: The Last Emperor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In my opinion, the film succeeds in capturing the social and political environment in China during the lifetime of Pu Yi. It succeeds in demonstrating how the country underwent a transformation due to significant events including the 1911 revolution, the Japanese invasion, the Second World War, and the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949. The film effectively h ighlights the dramatic changes that China underwent from monarchy to republic. This transformation is best exemplified by the Forbidden City, which was once owned by the Emperor, but later becomes a public area. The film does not place equal weight on all the important issues it addresses. An issue that emerged strongly in the film was the wastefulness of the imperial era. The film demonstrates that the emperor never performed any activity for himself. Pu Yi was forced to learn how to perform basic tasks for himself through reeducation. The issues that are not well demonstrated by the film are the negative aspects of the reeducation that took place during the Cultural Revolution. The film does not make it clear that during this period, hundreds of thousands of landowners were disposed or executed. Many intellectuals in the country were sent to the rural areas where they engaged in hard labor as a form of reeducation. The most important thing that I learnt about China from this film was that there was an extreme level of extravagance by the Emperor during the monarchy days. The film clearly displays the lavishness of the Forbidden City, where Pu Yi lived. The palace is enormous in size, and it is filled with expensive furniture and ornaments. We are shown hundreds of servants who do everything for the Emperor and kneel before him in respect. This information made me understand why the Chinese people carried out a revolution against the monarchy and formed a republic, which later on became the Communist State of China. The oppressive socio-political environment advanced by the monarchy fueled the revolution that made Pu Yi the last emperor. This essay on Movie Review: The Last Emperor was written and submitted by user Reid B. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Should English be Law essays
Should English be Law essays From the article Should English Be the Law Robert D. King disputes the controversial issue of linguistics in the U.S. Mr. Kings views on immigration and nationality will be analyzed. The pros and cons of a multi-linguistic country are discussed along with the negative effects on countries that currently operate under a multi-linguistic commonality. English as the official language is becoming more of an issue in modern day society. Since there was no need to legislate English as the official language, our constitution is silent in the issue (King, 239). The idea of English as the official language was first proposed in 1975 as an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (King). In 1981 Senator S. I. Hayakawa introduced to the U.S. senate a constitutional amendment that not only would have made English the official language, but prohibited federal law as well as state law to require the use of the language (King, 240). The legislation was unpopular and did not pass through the 97th Congress. Mr. Hayakawas view were forgotten and in submission until 1986, when ten states passed official language initiatives. The votes were substantial enough to gain the attention of Congress. Many politicians as well as the American public opposed the idea at the time, but the question was still pertinent in the states. Is America threatened by the preservation of other languages, other than English (King 242)? Though a relatively new issue in the United States, the trouble of a multi-lingual society has been prevalent for years. Language has been known in many different societies to be the main cause of division among several world nations. After the first World War, it came to drawing the boundary lines for various countries and it was principally language that guided the draftsmans hand (King 244). Due to the language barrier, many of ...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Law business organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1
Law business organisation - Essay Example ?                                                                                                 2   The section 33 (a) of Insolvency Act 1986 state s that a liquidator is appointed, probably by court, to handle some issues concerning the company. These issues include but are not restricted to: (i) settling all past financial obligations (contracts and debts) the company has incurred before the liquidation; (ii) holding regular meetings with the creditors with the hope of providing them the latest information about the company’s progress; (iii) and, continuing the company’s business activities (s. 134 (5)).           The liquidator is not expected to be concerned with any financial obligation or contract any of the three plumbers, namely Charlie, Edwin, and Adam may have had before the company was formed on May 1. In other words, Plumbers Mate Ltd should not bother the liquidator to pay for the services offered to Adam before the company was established. This realization absolves the liquidator of any financial payment to Plumbers Mate Ltd, and Adam should be duly informed to pay up his debt with the Plumbers Mate Ltd.  Although, it is not indicated in the scenario that the service bought by Adam was later reverted to Plumbers Express Ltdâ€â€the new                                                                                                                                     3        There is no record in the scenario that Plumber Express Ltd borrowed money directly from any bank or financial institution, but the donation of a building worth 200,000 pound by Charlie and Edwin buying a computer and printer from Computer Galore Ltd could be debited against the company. Hence, the liquidator should see
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Nursing paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Nursing paper - Essay Example Unfortunately, such fundamental practices are often forgotten by the management and in turn affect the morale of the nurses. For example, in my first job as a nurse I witness and experienced low morale among the nursing staff. I had just joined a nursing home and was working in a busy medical oncology floor. Being my first job, I was happy, confident, motivated and enthusiastic to learn. However, the other staff members were not feeling the same because shortly before I arrived there were many changes made to the unit that they were not pleased with. They had lost some nurses in the transition and the situation had not improved yet. The problem continued after my arrival and more nurses especially experienced ones left leaving the new recruits. This led to short-staffing and overworking which in turn reduced even the morale of the new nurses. Many nurses became frustrated, tired and demoralized. The staff complained of the condition to the management but there complaints were not hea rd or at least nothing was done about them. The condition deteriorated and more nurses quit their jobs citing low morale as the cause of their leaving. The condition in the nursing home was highly blamed on the management. The management did not consult the nurses when they were making the changes in the unit.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
God Does Exist Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
God Does Exist - Research Paper Example What makes man the most superior to everything in the world is his brain. It is our senses that fundamentally make us stand out and distinguished from all other organisms. Since humans’ common sense has led them to achieving all they have today, if common sense says the God is there, God must be there. God does exist. This is self-evident. Nothing gets made unless it has been intended and somebody has done it. We want a chair and we go to the carpenter. We want a skyscraper and we approach the engineers and the architects. We want a treatment for some medicine and we go to the doctor. All of this is done purposefully because we have a belief that when somebody tries, there is an outcome. So we tend to approach the right people for the task at hand. So this is understood that there has to be a creator for everything. There is definitely a limit to what humans can create. Through research, we have come to know that man has the maximum brain as compared to all other organisms and this is the reason why man is able to create much more and far better things than all other plants or animals. While there is a limit to human brains and so to the humans’ creations, there is somebody who has got more brains than the humans and is thus able to create the whole universe. Like we create buildings, airplanes, trains, computers, internet and all the technology, there is somebody who has created us, the plants, the animals, the sun, the moon, the stars and everything that we see around us and are not able to create no matter how much we try. That somebody is God. If we place a piece of paper upon a table, it would stay there for centuries and centuries unless someone comes and removes it. When a piece of paper cannot move on its own, we are bound to think of someone that is moving the sun, the moon and the Earth and is taking care of the whole solar system. There is somebody that is transforming the day into the night and the night into the day, and that is God. Whatever happens in this world, happens for a reason. Nothing is meaningless. A woman’s breast doesn’t milk unless she gives birth to a baby. We know that in the nascent stage, milk is all that a baby asks for, and there is somebody who is not only intelligent enough to understand this, but is also powerful enough to provide the baby with the milk from the source that is the most authenticated and the best well-wisher of the baby i.e. the baby’s mother. Witnessing all this, man that has been made with brains is bound to think of somebody who understands everybody’s needs and provides everybody with them. It is not the mother who can ever produce the milk unless there is someone who intends it and is powerful enough to do, and that is God. This universe has one rule. W hat is right feels right and what is wrong feels wrong. Nothing bad that one does makes one feel good. One lies and one feels bad about it. One cheats and one feels bad about it. One steals and one repents. One murders and one faces the consequences. All these acts i.e. lying, cheating, stealing and murdering are strictly forbidden by religion that comes from God. If there is one entity that abstains us from doing everything that we know is wrong, that entity is bound to be right and just. Not only this, we have even stronger reason to believe in God. After every sin, when we make apology to God, it makes us feel good. While only good things make
Friday, November 15, 2019
The Nature Of Crime And Criminality
The Nature Of Crime And Criminality The concept of crime is not a new term especially even in laymens word. It is an act committed in violation of the law. Indeed, it is an omission forbidden by criminal law. And in the commission of a crime, it can be punishable through imprisonment or by a fine. In some cases, there are also other forms of punishment imposed by the government or other governing bodies which aims not only in reprimanding the violator but as well as in their reformation. However, this is not the case for defining the word crime. It has been perceived that by giving definitions, one significantly outs or assigns limitations to the concept. According to Savage and Brearly (2007, p. 23), it is quite common to define crime as an act that contravenes the criminal law and is therefore punishable in law. But this should not be the case because crime is a concept that should be treated with caution and not taken for granted. The focus on crime is more evident in the study of criminology. In the definition of criminology, it has been described as the systematic study of the nature, extent, etiology and control of law-breaking behavior (Henry, n.d.). The focus on the assessment of the concept of crime is dealt by the aspect of criminology. The concept of criminology is considered to be a broad science that involves various kinds of crimes as well as societies and cultures in which the crime takes place. In addition, criminology covers the aspect of law that is made by the society in order to address the various crimes that have been committed in a given area (Info Boulevard, 2008). Thus, in the science of exploring the interaction of crime and society, there has been a range of theories formulate in an attempt to explicate what causes such reactions from individuals. Similarly, theories have been created as a reaction to the judicial or social challenges which have been created (Info Boulevard, 2008). With this, one can say that concept of crime is a very complex matter such that, it cannot be explained in a single theory alone. There have been a remarkably high number of theories which attempt to explain the concept of crime in relation to people and the society. Indeed, the nature of crime is increasingly changing largely because of the changes in the society and the environment. Today, a crime cannot be viewed on a single perspective alone. The concept of crime is explained on the basis of different contending perspectives or theories. Two of the most popular perspective that explains the nature of crime is its condition as being a social construct and being an individual criminality. In the concept of crime as a social construct, it has been believed that criminality could have been avoided if there are only prerequisites. Among these prerequisites include presence of very good living conditions, real free will, not maltreatment from the direct and indirect environment, family with principles and a job which can be considered as dignified. In the absence of the noted prerequisites, it is likely that problematic or troubled individuals can be lured into becoming criminals. On the other hand, there is also the perspective that the individuals criminality is not a question. Scholars and the researchers alike argue that genetic factories such as the wrong genes and chromosomes can drive the individuals to absence of self-control, aggressive attitudes as well as generally criminal behavior. Because of this, there is a need for the society to all the members the favorable living conditions. If not, it would be almost unavoidable for the individuals to commit criminal acts. In this paper, it will look into the theories that explain these two most argued perspectives on the concept of crime. Primarily, it will provide a separate discussion on the two perspectives. After elucidating on these perspectives, this paper will present an analysis by comparing and contrasting it. In this way, one can critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the two perspectives thereby helping in the decision-making process as to whether the concept of crime is a social construct or just plainly an individual criminality. Crime as a Social Construct Generally, the basis for explaining crime as a social construct is the social environment. While crime is committed by an individual, it is still highly relevant to the society such that, the society is attributed to the actual realization of the crime. Through the environment, it is believed that it can influence the tendency of an individual to commit or engage in crime. This perspective is highly related to the aspect of knowledge as a social construct also. in the context of different dominant values or perspectives, it is believed that the values that come to be accepted are contingent upon the knowledge that is privileged. Undeniably, knowledge in itself is believed to be subject to being socially constructed and even subject to various forms of politically motivated construction (Savage and Brearly (2007, p. 9). Throughout the history, one can see that in the beginning, it is perceived that criminality is a result of the choice on the part of the offender. However, this belief was replaced by positivism wherein it suggests that rather than crime being a matter of choice, it was a matter of pathology or some kind. In short, crime is a result not of the individuals choice of the offender but of something being wrong with them. Indeed, they were bound to commit crime and not able to exercise choice in the matter (Garland, 2002, pp. 10-11). The Role of the Laws and the Government The development of crime as a social construct can largely be attributed to the role of laws and the government itself in the society. In fact, the punishment on the commitment of crime is left on the hands of the government. This governing is being guided by the policies and rules that have been promulgated to protect the welfare of the majority or the greater good. Welsh (2005) is highly critical of the formation of crime in relation to the nature of the government and its policies. He said that majority of the crimes are created by the government by choosing to outlaw something. For instance, the non-violent drug offenses are considered as crimes because it declared by the government. Indeed, it would have not been a crime if the government did not categorize drugs as something illegal. In this context, people are considered as moral entrepreneurs. By believing that drugs are evil, or adultery is bad or even sodomy is evil, they try to convince their societys authority to make violating their mores a crime. Indeed, in this form of government construction of crime, the public play an important role in the prohibition or in the process of making something illegal. For example, in the process of prohibiting gay marriage or alcohol drinking, the coalition of the public is necessary. Another aspect of the construction of crime is when crime is constructed for its own interest such as the case of tax evasion and money tracking laws. On the third, a crime is constructed by the government when it acts to enforce the privilege of an oligopoly or even monopoly. It has been a long standing practice that can be observed in the government the enforcement of state monopoly whether it is in the form of labor, good or service (Welsh, 2005). As such, taking into considerations the only few exceptions, it can already be generalized that crime is what the society chooses it to be and the crime rate is what the society chooses it to be. This phenomenon explains why the U.S. has the highest prison population in the contemporary world. Indeed, they are the highest because they chose to be so. Until now, they still continue to dictate how their people should live their lives, when their actions are either harming only themselves or are harming those who have consensually agreed to be harmed or because it is enforcing a monopoly for those who have power or who kick back into the system Labeling It is in this context where the aspect of labeling comes to fore. Sutherland (1999) avows that it is derived from the sociological dimension of symbolic interactionism. Further, it is explained that in the labeling theory, the human actions are understood in the light of the meaning of those actions. It is believed that it is the people who provide the meaning for the different situations. Consequently, the definitions given to situations are derived from various particular situations. In other words, an image is constructed in the process. Through their interaction with other people, they are able to create an image which in turn is necessary in the giving of meaning to situations. In the case of criminality, the concept of image is deemed to be indispensable. Sutherland (1999) explains that it is the people and the society that creates the image of a criminal. As a matter of fact, criminals do not perceive themselves as criminals. Through the criminal justice system, it utilizes the stigma as a way of controlling behavior. It then notifies other people in order to enhance the image. Undeniably, there is a great distinction between the black and the white races. There is higher likelihood that the blacks will be convicted for crimes than the whites. Welsh (2005) reveals that in the United States, being black or Hispanic means that there is chance of being charged or convicted with the same crime as a white individual. In addition, being poor situates an individual to a greater chance of being convicted that being rich or middle class. Thus, there is a tangible manifestation of the concept of labeling is the US social environment setting. There are severe consequences when one has acquired a criminal record in the United States. Holding a criminal conviction on ones record means that there is little or no chance of getting a decent job. As a result, they are absorbed by the black or gray economy, wherein there is a greater chance of committing a crime. The likelihood of committing further crime can be attributed to ones economic necessity since being marked means that the unmarked will not associate with him or her. In other words, it is expected that one will fall into bad company (Welsh, 2005). The Conflict Perspective The conflict perspective was the basis of explaining the differences of society and culture in perceiving behaviors. It elucidates on the way societies perceive and define what is to be an unacceptable behavior. This perspective is highly important in explaining the social construction of crimes because it presents that the nature and definition given to the concept of crime is relative to cultures and societies. According to Lundberg (n.d.), in the nature of crime as a social construct, it involves not only of the end result (defined crime), but also of the component forces from inside and outside a society which result in that definition. In line with this, the conflict perspective declares that the definitions of unacceptable behavior differ according to whether or not the definition is in the interests of the ruling class. With this, the focus of this structural perspective is on the organization of the society as well as its effect on behavior. A concrete example of the statement given above is the opposing attributes of what is considered to be acceptable and unacceptable behaviors between the European cultures and the aboriginal cultures of Canada. Indeed, the fundamental difference that can be found on European and aboriginal cultures is a reflection on their differing philosophies on the justice system. In the aspect of cultural ethics, the European culture is governed by the concept of guilty and not guilty while in the aboriginal cultures, these words are not to be found in their language. The North American aboriginal societies stress on the role of the elders in the formation of the standards of justice. With this, the basis of their cultural norms is the holistic perspective. Being holistic is true not only on the individual context but as well as in the world in general. The assessment of the physical and mental state of an individual takes into consideration the body, mind and spirit. Moreover, the aboriginal cultures stress on the near-equality of humans and animals (Hamilton and Sinclair, 1991). Overall, the culture of the aboriginal people in North America is developed in such a way that it can adapt constantly to meet the changing circumstances. For instance, this adaptability on the case of aboriginal culture is evident on the commitment of murder. In the culture of Europe, it is not a question that murder is a crime. But in the culture of the Aboriginal societies, it is not always the case. In their culture, the nature of crime is measured based on the severity of the living conditions of the people. This means sanctions may vary depending on the situation. For example, the living conditions which can be considered as unsurviveable, infanticide or abandonment of the sick or elderly is not considered a crime in times of food shortage. In this context, the most valuable member of the group or even in the family would be the hunters wherein they are the last to starve (Hamilton and Sinclair, 1991). Countries Crime Rates To further consolidate the perspective of crime as a social construct, there is a need to look into empirical data such as the condition of living among various countries and the rate of their crimes. Through the living condition of the people and the society, one can point into the necessary elements of the social environment that help shape the development of crime and criminality. Based on the findings of the net industries (2008), the pattern on crime rates among various regions differs. Specifically, it is in Africa and Latin America where there is a high rate of crimes. On the other hands, the Western Europe and the New World are considered to have a relatively low crime rates. In the aspect of victimization, it is found put that the areas in Asia have the lowest and Latin America and Africa incurred the highest. Meanwhile, the New World and the Western Europe are considered to be close to the mean. With this finding, it is asserted that there is a decline on the victimization rates in the most industrialized countries. On the other hand, this decline is not evident on the other parts of the world. What has been observed is the simple division of the world into developed and developing countries (Net Industries, 2008). The developed countries tend to have a lower rate of crimes while the developing ones are higher. Crimes as an Individual Criminality In general, human individuals as considered as the basis of explaining crime as an individual criminality. As compared to the theory of crime as a social construct, the focus of the concept of crime as an individual criminality is already on the individual. Rooting from the person, it looks into the innate or inherent factors that can significantly influence the making of a criminal. In the perspective of individual criminality, it can be asserted that a criminal is born or can be made. In the claim that a criminal is born, it can be traced on the studies regarding the importance of heredity. On the other hand, the claim that a criminal is made, it is traced on an individuals environment- ones diet and even the environment. While, the aspect of environment is still included in the theory of individual criminality, it is still geared towards the study of the individual. On one hand, the concept of a born criminal can be traced with the studies that show the importance and power of oneself in the development of ones criminality. Being a born criminal is also equated to being hereditary. A person is more likely to become criminal is it is already in their blood to become one. In heredity, it includes the elements like physical appearance, modern genetics theory as well as learning theory. Researchers argue that criminality is a genetic trait. Or at some point, criminality is also deemed that it is a result of the individual innate psychological make-up (Savage and Brearly, 2007, p. 77). On being a born criminal, it was Cesare Lambroso who emphasized on this concept. It was said that the born criminal is the one who was pre-destined for criminal behavior due to his physical configuration. People were categorised on the basis of five dimensions: skull shape; jaw and nose shape; head size; and the degree of sensitivity to pain. The category to which a person was assigned depended on the goodness of a match to predetermined characteristics of those dimensions (Crime Library, 2007). One the other hand, a criminal is made through his/her environment. In this case, the claim suggests that a criminal is made instead of being born. It is a consequence of the environmental factors which have negative effect on the people. According to Rutter and Giller (1993), the family is an important environmental which shapes the criminality of an individuality. Various scientists like Bowlby and Fry (1953) and Rutter and Giller (1993) have elucidated on the significant role of the family. There is a place in the Philippines where it has a minimal or even zero crime rate yet the living conditions are not that high or good (Malej, 2004). The people practice honesty, non-violence and other form of positive attitudes at all times. This is in spite of their very poor living conditions. As a matter of fact, their society is very backward. Almost no modern technologies are present in the said province yet they are able to live a life with dignity and harmony. The situation described above is a reflection of the theory that individual criminality is not at question. The government may not provide even the basic needs of the people yet they are able to avoid criminality. Indeed, the commitment of crime is largely dependent on the part of the individual. Ultimately, he/she is the one who makes decisions. In other words, he is the one in control of his/her life. Crime as a Social Construct and Individual Criminality While the two perspectives are considered to be at both ends, it can also be reconciled in order to come up with a better explanation on the concept and nature of criminality. In other words, it the two perspectives will be integrated so as to provide a holistic explanation about crime. It is perceived that when one utilizes only a single perspective, it can never suffice to explain the nature of crime. Hence with the combination of the two, crime can be said to be rooting on the individual make-up as well as the social construct. Undoubtedly, there is a wide array of factors that can explain criminality and thus predict crime. Jones and Connelly (2002) categorized the different factors that influence criminality based on the different spectrums. On one end of the spectrum, criminality is explained through the biological and psychological point of view. The biological theorists claim that due to the genetic composition or even heredity, some people are more predisposed to engage in criminal activity as compared to others. On the perspective of the psychological theorists, criminality can be attributed to the personality characteristics of a person. It is believed that criminality can be traced on the personalities of the offenders rather than on biology. Meanwhile, on the middle of the spectrum, the criminal behavior is explained through the point of view of theorists who are developmental, age-graded, engaged in the concept of social control and even social disorganizations. Toward the end of the spectrum, crime is explained by radical, structural and conflict criminologists. These scholars assert that crime is a result of the inequalities among class and race. In addition, the conflicting values as well as interests significantly affect the engagement into criminal activities (Jones and Connelly, 2002). On the table below, it presents the different risk factors on the commitment or involvement on crime. It asserts here that the factors affecting as well as shaping an individual transcends the personal level. It even goes further to the community or its external environment. Table 1: Risk Factors (Jones and Connelly, 2002) Family Parental criminality Parental supervision/Management practices Income Parent-Child involvement Conflict/Separation Maltreatment Delinquent siblings School Commitment Behavior Achievement Disorganization Peer Association Alienation Early involvement in problem behavior Peer involvement in problem behavior High proportion of unsupervised time with peers Early adulthood Lack of skills Unemployment or low income Homelessness Community Disorganization Drug availability Opportunity for crime Attachment High percentage of children and/or single-parent families Indeed, the causes of crime cannot be attributed to one factor alone. The different factors play a significant part in the development of the individual of a person, especially his/her tendency to commit crime. The idea that a criminal is born into crime can also be linked to the sociological causes of crime. In short, while it is possible the certain persons a born to become criminal, the realization of this fate can also be dependent on the role of its society. For instance, a born criminal can be suppressed of his/her nature as a criminal is he/she has been raised in the right environment. Hence, it is possible to say that explanations which emphasize environmental factors, in other words that crime is linked to things that happened after birth, have become more prevalent. However, such approaches can still be based on emphasis on the human individual (Savage and Brearly, 2007, p. 63). Indeed, it is evident here that there is a link between the two perspectives. To say, these two theories are interdependent with each other. Analysis The development of the two perspectives in explaining can be traced in the history of crime and the formation of criminal laws and punishment. The development of the concept of crime throughout time is largely shaped by different factors. More importantly the disparities on the perception of crime on different societies are a reflection of the relativity of the criminality. When one talks about modern concept of crime, it is usually associated with the western ideas and notion of criminal justice. Indeed, majority of the criminal justice system today is shaped towards the western ideas of criminality. As a result, majority of the societies are western-oriented. With this increasing trend is an implication of the need to examine the nature of criminality as a social construct. On the other hand, the theory that individual criminality is not a question can be considered as a traditional form of looking into the nature and meaning of crime. Since the individual is the focus of this criminological endeavor, one can say that the influence of the society in this perspective is not as pervasive as the scholars perceive to be. Indeed, in the traditional sense, the society would not be of highly influence to individual criminality. But today, there are so many intricacies in social interactions such that the individuality of a person is highly shaped by its society or the environment. Overall, the bottom line of determining the nature of crime is to attempt in reducing or eliminating its occurrence. One can only stop the prevalence of crimes by looking into the deeper context of the concept of crime. Through the opposing perspective that crime is a social construct and that individual criminality is not at question, this paper was able to examine crime on a greater vista. On the social construction of crime perspective, it suggests that the easiest as well as the simplest manner of lessening the rate of crime is eliminate or reduce the criminalization of victimless crimes. The crime rate is considered to be a choice made by the society except in case of an anarchic situation. More importantly, the people in the prisons tell a lot about what kind of society one has (Welsh, 2005). In other words, there is a need to redefine the word and crime thus to give a new meaning or image to it. The society and the government need to explore the deeper context of crime and see where criminality can be situated. Conclusion The commitment of crime is almost an inevitable activity nowadays. Only few places are now considered to have a zero crime rate. In almost any place, the existence of crime can be observed. Its prevalence can be attributed to the kind of judicial system or the kind of government laws and policies that the place has. It can also be that the society per se is the main culprit on the existence of crime. Lastly, the role of individuals in the making of crime is inevitable. Being the main instrument in the realization of any crime, ones individuality cannot be set aside in the examination of criminality. Overall, the concern of this paper has been addressed through the critical reflection of the concept of criminology. Particularly, it emphasized on the idea that crime is a social construct as well as the individual criminality being not in question. The scope of this reflection includes the examination of the state practices, the society and the individuals. By looking into the different perspectives based on this scope of reflection, one is able to conclude that all perspectives tend to seek the liberation of those people whose lives have been affected by injustice. In the personal perspective or point of view of the author of this paper, it is believed that the nature of crime can be highly considered as a social construct. Indeed, the contemporary society has presented the people with the phenomenon of interconnectedness. Human beings are now closely connected with each other in one way or another. As such, they can be highly influenced by his/her fellow human beings as well as its surroundings. It is believed that there is a complex web of connections or interactions between men and its surroundings. Especially in the modern days, the study of ones individuality or personality cannot be complete without looking into the external factors or the society. The same is true with the case of criminality. It is not enough to study the meaning and concept of crime if it is on the context of the individual only. Especially in the modern world, the role of the environment is highly critical in the conduct of lives of every individual.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Fiction Vs. Non-Fiction Essay
Literary form of writing is held to be exemplary because it is noticed due to its imaginary nature while others less straightforward forms try to cover their fictionality. The logic here is antirealist, skeptical and pragmatist. A complex case for this line of consideration might run as follows. At first a more or less common stand is set up starting with uncomplicated design of fiction, in both its description and object senses. According to this suggestion a patent divide subsists between imaginative literature, when defined in expressions of fiction creation and other conversations whose intention is not creation but description. Imaginative literature builds imaginary worlds which, although no doubt drawn from features of the existent world, are nonetheless explicitly constructs of the brain. The non-fiction, more ‘serious’ literature is not concerned with imaginary units but with the actual thing. They are evaluated not in terms of imagination but in terms of reality or association with the reality. Fiction versus fact becomes the crucial characteristic that marks off imaginative literature (Lamarque & Olsen 172). Despite there being multiple literary ‘genres’ it appears a bit odd that writing is essentially separated into just two large categories: non-fiction and fiction. Contemporary writers sometimes get a bit of information from each of these groups and form â€Å"historical science fiction†or â€Å"historical fiction†(Heller, 123). Works cited Heller, Clark Von. ESL Doxography 101. West Conshohocken: Buy Books on the web, 2006. Lamarque, Peter, Olsen, Stein Haugom. Truth, fiction, and literature: a philosophical perspective. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Parliamentary Supremacy Essay
â€Å"In the absence of a written constitution, the UK Parliament is the sovereign law-making power, incapable of limiting its own power, or being limited by an external power.†In the absence of an unwritten, or rather, uncodified constitution, the doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy (also called â€Å"Parliamentary sovereignty†) emerges as a principle factor granting legitimacy to the exercise of government power within the UK. The doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy is a set of rules that determine how courts should approach Acts of Parliament. This includes rules pertaining to how courts should handle contradictory provisions, or Acts, as well as the status attached to an Act of Parliament. This doctrine recognises Parliament as the ultimately supreme, sovereign law-making body within the UK. The rules that construct the doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy may be found in a number of sources; case law, constitutional conventions, statute law, and the writing of famous academics. The purpose of this essay is to analyse the extent to which the UK Parliament is â€Å"the sovereign law-making power, incapable of limiting its own power, or being limit ed by an external power.†Anytime the sovereignty of the UK Parliament is mentioned, Prof A.V. Dicey’s classic, three-point definition springs to mind. According to Dicey, a) Parliament has the right to make or unmake any law whatever, b) no Parliament can bind a future Parliament, and c) person or body has the right to override an Act of Parliament. The three points given above summarise the Doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy (or Sovereignty). Dicey’s first and last points, pertaining to Parliament having the right to legislate on any matter and no person or body being able to override those laws, have been strongly confirmed by UK courts. Judges have repeatedly upheld the principles of Parliamentary sovereignty, in cases and quotes. Sir Ivor Jennings once stated â€Å"Parliament can legislate to ban smoking on the streets of Paris; Parliament can legally make a man into a woman.†In Madzimbamuto v Lardner-Burke (1969), Lord Reid stated â€Å"It is often said that it would be unconstitutional for the UK parliament to do certain things†¦but that does not mean it is beyond the power of parliament to do such things.†Similarly, in ex parte Simms and O’Brien (1999), Lord Hoffman stated â€Å"Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament can†¦legslate contrary to fundamental human rights.†In Brit Railways Boards v Pickin (1974) and Edinburgh and Dalkeith Rly Co v Wauchope (1842), the courts refused to challenge the validity of an Act of Parliament, regardless of procedural flaws. This gave rise to what is now the â€Å"Enrolled Bill Rule†- which is courts will not look beyond the â€Å"Parliamentary roll.†In Jackson v AG (2005), the validity of the Act of Parliamen t 1949 and subsequent Acts passed under that procedure, was questioned. The concept of Parliamentary supremacy was challenged in obiter statements of three judges; however, the Acts were ruled as valid and the sovereignty of Parliament was again confirmed by the courts. Dicey’s second point relates to Parliament being unable to bind its’ successors. The mechanism through which courts give effect to this point is known as the â€Å"doctrine of implied repeal.†This requires courts to enforce the latter, and impliedly repeal the former, when two Acts conflict with each other. This is exemplified in the Ellen Street Estates Ltd v Minister of Health (1934). Thoburn v Sunderland City Council (2002) examined the doctrine of implied repeal more closely and held there is a special class of statutes, called, â€Å"constitutional statutes†, that cannot be impliedly repealed. Rather, they can only be expressly repealed. These constitutional statutes are those defining fundamental rights, such as the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights 1689. The Act of Union 1706 Act intended to bind future UK Parliaments, but that eventually failed. In MacCormick v Lord Advocate (1953), it was argued the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty is not reco gnised in Scottish law. The â€Å"manner and form argument†declares that although there is no limit to the subject matter on which Parliament can legislate, and a Parliament cannot bind its successors, the manner and form in which it legislates may be limited. Special procedures for legislation may be set down by the courts. This was illustrated in Minister of the Interior v Harris (1952). The two factors that challenge the concept of Parliamentary sovereignty are the ECA 1972 and the HRA 1998. EctJ judgements are binding on all UK courts, and according to S.2 of the ECA 1972, all Acts of Parliament are to be construed according to EU law. EctHR judgements are not strictly binding on the UK Supreme Court (formerly House of Lords), but the HRA 1998 calls for all legislation to be interpreted according to Convention rights. If an Act of Parliament is incompatible with the HRA, a â€Å"declaration of incompatibility†will be issued by the courts but the Act will remain in force until Parliament amends it. This â€Å"declaration of incompatibility,†in fact, enphasises the sovereignty of Parliament. In the Jackson case, Lord Hope states the supremacy of Community law limits the sovereignty of the UK Parliament. In summary, it appears the UK Parliament, to a large extent, is a â€Å"sovereign law-making power, incapable of limiting its own power,†as evidenced by many cases mentioned above. Parliament can legislate on any subject matter it chooses to, and no body has the authority t override an Act of Parliament. As illustrated by the Enrolled Bill Rule, even procedural flaws cannot invalidate an Act of Parliament. However, it is limited slightly by external powers, such as the ECA 1972, the HRA 1998, and special procedures may be laid down to make legislation difficult. However, the fact that Parliament, of its own free will, chose to pass the ECA and HRA indicates that these Acts do not limit its’ sovereignty. Parliament can, after all, legislate to undo the above-mentioned Acts and procedures if it chooses to. The phrase â€Å"what the queen enacts in Parliament is law†remains a fairly accurate embodiment of the doctrine of Parliamentary Sovereignty.
Friday, November 8, 2019
The Long Walk Of Nelson Mandela essays
The Long Walk Of Nelson Mandela essays On July 18, 1918, a boy was born into royalty in a small village near Umtata in Transkei, South Africa. This boy grew to be known as an icon representing civil rights, equality, desegregation, and the unity of South Africa. His tribal name Rolihlahla, means shaker of trees, he is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Nelson Mandela, a non-violent activist against racial oppression frustrated by unchanging policies, who then converted to a leader of infrastructural guerrilla warfare against the South African government, who then returned to his impassioned standards of non-violence thus freeing South Africa from apartheid in the name of justice, anti-racism and democracy. As a non-violent activist, Nelson Mandela fought for racial equality and freedom for his people. During this time Mandela was a member of African National Congress (ANC), an underground non-violent committee attempting to influence the South African governments position on apartheid and was the cornerstone of the anti-apartheid movement. The ANC founded the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in 1944. Mandela was elected to the ANCYLs Secretary ship in 1947. Mandela worked at a grassroots level canvassing support for policy change. Frustrated that talking, educating, debating and civil disobedience were not influencing policies nor creating change but instead provided unsatisfactory results, the leadership realized that the non-violent passive resistance was only effective if the opposition adheres to the same rules. Numerous beatings and killings such as those of the Sharpeville massacre proved that the opposition did not follow the non-violent approach. Mandela upheld his position of non-violence against people, however, he compromised his position by bombing buildings, and structures to gain a reaction, be heard, and successfully accomplish his mission. Thus, the leadership including Mandela turned from non-violent ways...
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Free Essays on Foreign Language Tech
introduces the student to numbers, time, the calendar and colors. All course sections in the program, these two included, come equipped with an amazing rating and recording feature. The program gives the user an audio of the letter or word being learned and then records the user’s pronunciation of that letter or word, providing a rating from â€Å"Tourist†to â€Å"Native†. All sections also come equipped with an option to have the translated text present or hidden. The Basic Course section first allows you to partic... Free Essays on Foreign Language Tech Free Essays on Foreign Language Tech As we all know by now, multimedia surrounds our daily life with its combination of unlimited audio and visual effects. Many of the activities we participate in each day are affected by it. Education is no exception. I found that the Learn to Speak Spanish Deluxe CD-ROM set was a perfect place to explore first hand how multimedia benefits my life. Containing a proactive level of interactivity, the educational CD-ROM was targeted at an age group of young adult and beyond. I found it very easy to navigate around the program. The home page of the program was set up in a simple manner with course menu to take you through the lessons and a toolbar across the top to assist further in an effective experience learning Spanish. First off, I will provide an overview of the course options and useful tools provided in the program. The home page of the CD-ROM is broken into two major sections. The Course Menu consists of five categories; Language Essentials, Basic Course, Comprehensive Courses, Extended Practice and Cultural Movies. The toolbar consists of nine option buttons; Home, Back, Change Course, Progress, Customization, Dictionary, Grammar, Visit Us Online and Software Support. The Language Essentials section begins with pronunciation. This allows beginner students to learn and practice pronunciation of the letters of the alphabet and combinations of those letters. It then moves on to Basic Words. Basic Words introduces the student to numbers, time, the calendar and colors. All course sections in the program, these two included, come equipped with an amazing rating and recording feature. The program gives the user an audio of the letter or word being learned and then records the user’s pronunciation of that letter or word, providing a rating from â€Å"Tourist†to â€Å"Native†. All sections also come equipped with an option to have the translated text present or hidden. The Basic Course section first allows you to partic...
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Discuss why Hybrid Cars are negative to the Envirornment Research Paper
Discuss why Hybrid Cars are negative to the Envirornment - Research Paper Example Hybrids, formally referred to as hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), infer automobiles powered by both petroleum products and electricity. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) employ a number of power sources to fuel movement. In the case of HEVs, the automobiles may be propelled by a combination of traditional gasoline or diesel with an electric battery that can be plugged in a peripheral power source (Anderson and Anderson 115). Electricity mainly supplements petroleum products as a prime power source, which in turn, yields fewer emissions and an enhanced gas mileage. The overriding perception within the car market industry is that hybrid or electric cars are environmentally benign. To some extent this is true as there are several benefits to purchasing a hybrid car; however, one should be conscious of some of the potential negative environmental influences of hybrid cars. If one takes the overall environmental cost of a vehicle right from design to its dismantling or recycling, hybrid-electric vehicles do not reasonably match the hype that they are presently getting (Phukidides par.1). Although hybrids are perceived as clean technology by a majority of people, hybrids with an internal combustion engine still generate pollutants to the environment. Similarly, the electricity generated to recharge the batteries and power the vehicles may be produced through â€Å"dirty technology†such as burning fossil fuels. The long-term impacts of hybrid cars to the environment include destructive impacts of battery waste disposals, and landfill contributions. Disposing of the batteries when they have outlived their worth also poses some environmental risks. Moreover, the metal components used in making the batteries may be processed and manufactured with diverse degrees of environmental risks (Anderson and
Friday, November 1, 2019
Gender Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Gender - Term Paper Example Attfield (2000) says understanding culture through the emotions or ideas of objects â€Å"acknowledges the physical object in all its materiality and encompasses the work of design, making, distributing, consuming, using, discarding, recycling and so on. But above all it focuses on how things have gone through all those stages as part of the mediation process between people and the physical world at different stages in their biographies†(1-7). Thus, it is clear that objects can have multiple meanings. How these elements function together to appeal to the audience’s personal sense of function and appearance is what is referred to as aesthetics. This term is most often used in the art world to designate important works of art. Through the concept of aesthetics, artists such as Robert Maplethorpe explore concepts such as gender in works like the photographic print â€Å"Smutty†exhibited in the Tate Collection. Aesthetics is a very subjective subject as it depends not only on what the artist portrays, but also on what he intended to portray and what the audience brings to the dialogue. John Armstrong (2004) says aesthetics is the process that â€Å"enables one person to find beauty in an object which leaves another unmoved†(4). â€Å"Smutty†by Robert Maplethorpe was produced in 1980 as part of the artist’s collection of somewhat controversial images. The image consists of a half dressed man seated or perhaps squatting down to the ground and looking directly into the camera, but his head is tilted somewhat away from it. The man is a very lean person perhaps in his upper teens or early 20s and the upper portion of his body is bare. If it weren’t, the man might be mistaken as a woman. Both of the man’s arms are covered with tattoos and his style of clothing, what can be seen of it, is much like that of a punk rocker, which was popular in that era. The pant s he wears are black enough that they lose their dimension at the bottom edge of the picture. His
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)