Religion and Faith Essay -- essays research papers

Religion/Faith Over the last several decades America has been evolving towards many significant changes. One of these changes has posed a question, whether or not America has become secular. Although we may be uncertain of many of these changes and how they will affect our future, the answer to our secularity is quite obvious. America has indeed become secular. I think that in a society where being successful is everything, our religious beliefs tend to get lost in the "survival of the fittest" lifestyle that we lead everyday. Of course we all have certain standards in which we believe and live by. A good example of the standard behavior that makes us so secular is in Wil Herbergs essay This American Way Of Life. Herbergs says so well , "the American way of life is a symbol by which Americans define themselves and establish their unity." The author means to imply that unity is something we all strive for. To be American is to be part a huge family, no matter what gender, color, or background. We stick together. We fight together, we laugh together, we grieve together as Americans. Terms like democracy, individuality, self-reliance are all words we relate to as Americans. We teach our kids that we should be grateful everyday to be Americans. In this country we can choose our own destination. We can be whatever we want. I think that being a s...

Respect for Tradition

Respect for tradition Cultural differences In order to respect the tradition of India, Union Carbide should have done an investigation of Indian cultural values (Robertson and Fadil, 1998). It is possible that firms even within the same industry develop different values and traditions and the analysis of cultural differences permit to decrease the number of misunderstanding (Donaldson, 1989). One of the most important traits of Indian culture is the fatalism. The Indian population is very spiritual with the notions of karma, fate or destiny. According to them, everything happen for a reason and this way of thinking is significant in decision making in their personal life or within an organisation (Elder, 1966). Fatalism has an impact on two Hofstede’s dimensions. Power distance is defined as a degree of inequality among people of the community (Thomas, 2008). Hofstede (2009) found that India is a country with a high power distance which means that they accept unequal power and wealth. Indians think that people on the top were destined to be on the top so they accepted their decisions due to the fatalism philosophy. However, the power distance in United States is relatively low (Hofstede, 2009). Uncertainty avoidance represents the extent to which people are frustrated by unstructured and unpredictable situations (Thomas, 2008). India has low uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede, 2009). In fact, they prefer few rules as possible and less structures activities. In addition, they are not scared of the unknown and want to take risks. Fatalism emphasises the belief that people do not have the control of every situations (Elder, 1966). United States is also low in uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede, 2009). According to Hofstede research, both India and the U. S are masculine which means that the society accepts values like assertiveness, performance, success and competition (Thomas, 2008). Individualism/ collectivism is defined as the degree to which people in a country prefer to act as individuals rather than members of groups (Thomas, 2008). India tends to be collectivist while United States are highly individualistic (Hofstede, 2009). After analysing Hofstede cultural dimensions between India and U. S, it is worth noting that there exist differences between the two countries. Union Carbide would have examined the Indian cultural values before doing business in the country. This could have avoided the Bhopal’s disastrous. According to Donaldson, it is important for communities to self-define the aspect of their business morality and in this case, Union Carbide would have been aware and accepted it in order to respect the Indian tradition. This is called the moral free space. Usually, business communities develop ethical norms which represent a collective viewpoint concerning deals and the right behaviour to adopt when making them (Donaldson, 1999). The respect of tradition could be in contrast with core human values Donaldson considers that companies have to respect traditions of country where they work; nevertheless, sometimes these traditions could be in contrast with the core human values. As already mentioned, India is a country with high power distance. For example, in Bhopal, the municipal authorities were against the continued use of the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) plant at its original location (Shrivastava, 1987). The plant site was for commercial or light industrial use but not for hazardous industries. However, as UCIL was a powerful company in India, the central and state government authorities rejected the city’s objection and authorised the company to stay at its location (Bennett et al. 2005). Everybody accepted it and this decision was final. Even if the hierarchical system is accepted in India, Union Carbide could not have respected this tradition because it is in contradiction with the respect of individual’s basic rights. The government did not protect the individual’s rights because the plant was about two miles from the Bhopal railway station, local commercial activities and two slum colonies were located across the street from the Union Carbide plant (Shrivastava, 1987). So, in order to support and protect the Indian’s right, Union Carbide could not have respected this tradition. Uncertainty avoidance is relatively low in India and it is worth explaining its consequences on the Bhopal plant. The working environment of the plant tolerated negligence and a lack of safety consciousness among workers and managers (Shrivastava, 1987). This behaviour is not only in contrast with the respect of human dignity concept but also with the individual basic rights. In fact, the employees’ low morale jeopardised the population’s health and safety.

Same Sex Marriage Is Not The Law Of The Land - 1510 Words

Decarrio Turner Professor Lee Comp Rhetoric 2 20 October 2014 Same-Sex Marriage According to Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, If traditional marriage is not the law of the land, the institution of the family will cease to exist. Traditional marriage is a legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife. Inside the court rooms and outside, citizens of the United States battle out their differences between heterosexual and homosexual marriage; one reason for this is because the frequency of relationships involving same-sex couples in our society is constantly growing. In America, citizens fight for equality every day and homosexual couples fight hard for the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to marriage. Should there be equal rights between the two heterosexual and homosexual couples? I believe that citizens of the same sex that are able to wed should not have the same rights as citizens that undergo heterosexual marriage; because it doesn t correlate with my religious beliefs, it s more beneficial for children to be brought up w ith both the father and mother in their lives, and also, letting gay couples get married will lead to a weak institution of marriage. Homosexual couples are fighting for justice within the courtrooms. The Gay Rights Movement has been around for a while now, and through it, homosexuals have been promoting and fighting for equality and equal rights for marriage within the courtrooms. The visual I chose toShow MoreRelatedThe Laws Of Our Society980 Words   |  4 Pages The laws of our society at its best do not depict equality to every substantial entity that graces the land of the United States of America. The turmoil that is documented and/or reported that flourish our different media outlets, struggles in people day to day lives, or the great strain against indivisibility or a simple liberty or justice for all. Everyone will not always agree if ever. Some may choose to be belligerent with their voice—where others may bid for peace. Perhaps is it greener onRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Respected1123 Words   |  5 Pagessociety, same-sex marriage should be respected at the same level as traditional opposite-sex marriage. â€Å"Marriage is the ultimate affirmation of a sexual relationship. Marriage is the institution in which we not only tolerate people having sex and housing children, but we encourage it and celebrate it as a society† (Foust 3). Most states attempted to avoid the same-sex marriage issue by defining marriage between man and woman, but that soon became an unexpected controversial issue (â€Å"Same-Sex MarriageRead MoreSame Sex Marriage990 Words   |  4 PagesSupporters of gay marriage argue around the concept of equality in America. Our country is said to be found on the principle that all men are created equal, so that make it hypocritical to deny the rights of homosexuals, as it was hypocritical to deny freedom to African Americans or to prohibit women s suffrage. Supporters also believe that Gays should be allows the same benefits as regular married couples. For instance, only through marriage do same sex couples have the rights to their partnerRead MoreHow United States Are Not Regulating Same Sex Marriage Law1476 Words   |  6 PagesSection I This paper will examine problem on how states are not regulating same sex marriage law passed in the United States. I will explains certain areas in the united states where the government has yet to fully enforced the law for legalization of same sex marriage since its official decision on June 26, 2015 while in fact many states have done everything in their power to prevent homosexuals from expressing their new constitutional right. In the following I will talk about certain a state andRead MoreInadequate Same Sex Marriage Laws in the United States Essay example714 Words   |  3 PagesInadequate Same Sex Marriage Laws in the United States The institution of marriage has been around for many years. Times have changed and society has grown as a whole. The United States has laws that prohibit same-sex marriages or do not grant them the same privileges as traditional marriages. You will see how behind this great nation has remained. As many countries around the world explore less traditional ways of life, the United States has been left in the dust. In the United StatesRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Granted1473 Words   |  6 Pages If you search the definition of the word marriage, this is what comes up: â€Å"The formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife.† Myself, and many other people have a problem with this definition. Same sex marriage is outlawed in 33 states, and the reasonings for that just aren’t good enough for the large majority to except. Homosexual couples should be granted the right to marry. Something as miniscule as who you’re sexually attractedRead MoreEssay about Same Sex Marriage993 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Constitution? What if you were treated as a second-class citizen because of what you believe to be fair? That is the case that all homosexuals in the United States are facing. Many Americans feel that Gays should not and cannot be granted the same rights that they have for morality reasons. Homosexuals are n ot only discriminated and treated badly but they are also denied the rights that should lawfully be theirs. Many Americans see no reason why Gays should be granted the right to marryRead MoreHomosexuals Have Every Right to Marry686 Words   |  3 Pageshave every right to marry. Marriage is a basic human right, if straights can marry in all states then so should gays. Gay rights of all kinds are starting to become increasingly protected. â€Å"In every courthouse, in every proceeding and in every place where a member of the department of justice, stands on behalf of the United States, they will strive to ensure that same-sex marriages receive the same privileges, protections and rights as opposite-sex marriages, under federal law.† -Attorney General EricRead MoreThe Problem With The United States Constitution1209 Words   |  5 Pagesbeings, whatever their nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. Humans all equally entitled to human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interd ependent and indivisible.† The fight to protect human rights has been ongoing since the creation of law. The question of what constitutes as a human right has been raised time and time again to redefine laws in order to accommodate groups who have had their rightsRead MoreGay Marriage: Pros and Cons1152 Words   |  5 PagesMarriage Is Not Equal For All Gay Marriages Mikaela Acosta â€Æ' Gay marriage has been subject to taboo because our society has this conformed and learned version of marriage; marriage is only held between a man and a woman. Although this is more common today to hear of gay couples, in the first couple centuries in America this was almost unacceptable to general society. Beginning in 2001 was when gay marriage began to become much more widespread starting in Canada, Norway, Belgium, Argentina

Sleeping Beauty Film Analysis - 1197 Words

Sleeping Beauty. Hansel and Gretel. The Tortoise and the Hare, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood. Stories and morals that have seemed to last the test of time. They were always around, changing slightly to fit on the type of media they were told on, whether it be paper or film. Storytelling began when the sons of the mighty Pharaoh Khufu, in Egypt, 2466 BC, would entertain their father with epic tales. Although, that may be far from the truth, as it is just a passed along anecdote. As Roy told his story of Alexander the Great to Alexandria, the visualized characters and landscapes were dictated both by Alexandria’s vivid imagination and Roy’s illuminative words. Alexander The Great likely did not actually walk around the†¦show more content†¦When this concept subconsciously brewed in Roy’s thoughts, it eased his mind at the time. Roy increasingly becomes restless in the hospital, diving deeper into the depths of dark depression. The world he has created through words to Alexandria becomes mixed with his own reality. Roy attempts to kill himself by overdosing on pills. A drug infused imagination within Roy’s mind is formed, blurring the lines between the real and the fake. In this situation, his stories actually become experiences. The bandit(Roy’s fictional double within his own story), holding pills in his hand, is told â€Å"Suicide is not the answer†. Enraged, Roy wakes up to find that the pills were placebos. Later, Alexandria asks for an ending to the story and world Roy has created for her, through storytelling for all these weeks. Roy kills off nearly every male character, including trying to kill his own fictional self. This comes from his own thoughts that life is worthless. Alexandria cries, and begs for fictional him not to die in the story. â€Å"Why are you making everybody die?†, Alexandria asks. Roy replies with â€Å"It’s my story†. Alexandria says â€Å"It’s mine too†. In that moment, the story and life collide when Roy realizes that Alexandria is talking to the real him, not only the bandit him. â€Å"Let him live!† the young girl whispers, tears streaming down her face. Roy mentions that there is no reason for the bandit to live, and Alexandria brings up the character’s daughter in the fable.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Walt Disney Films Analysis 1227 Words   |  5 PagesWalt Disney Films are known to be as an incredible and outstanding fantasy stories producer. It created more than a hundred of films. Majority of what has been produced rely on fictional stories. The films that were released used animation to capture children’s interest and musically performed as well. Walt Disney produced fantasy stories like The Little Mermaid 1989; Sleeping Beauty 1959; Beauty and the Beast 1991; Cinderella 1950 and more. The tales most often than not were always about the lifeRead More Shrek and His Modern Princess Essay1656 Words   |  7 PagesShrek and His Modern Princess The film Shrek makes myriad allusions to various other texts. These allusions are usually presented as a parody of an original text, in which the makers of Shrek imitate the style of the parodied texts. Their re-creation of these hypotexts (Dentith 36) involves subverting key aspects of the original texts, setting up incongruities between what the audience expects to see and what actually takes place. The focus is thus brought to the audience, as writers ofRead MoreThe Disney Princesses857 Words   |  3 PagesSome figures that have been very important and influential to young children for a long time are the Disney Princesses. There are many features about these characters that make them so loved however after careful analysis is becomes obvious that these are not the kinds of characters children should be idolizing. Many young girls spend a large amount of their life wanting to be a princess but Disney’s portrayal of princesses makes this not seem so desirable. A princ ess according to Disney is a youngRead MoreAnalysis Of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs1411 Words   |  6 Pages Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Film Critique Di’Yana Mathis ENG225: Introduction to Film Professor Sameer Joshi October 2, 2017 â€Æ' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Film Critique Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938), is a fantasy film written by Ted Sears and Richard Creedon. This animated movie, made by Disney, was created so young children can watch and enjoy all over the world. This is a very popular film because it was the first animated movie created in England and made in color. InRead MoreWalt Disney s Influence On1942 Words   |  8 PagesBird Sean Skokan Cleveland State University Outline 1) Introduction- Introduces reader to Brad Bird, his films, and Disney s influence on both his work and his life. 2) Body Disney Protagonists- Demonstrates how Disney protagonists, specifically females, are depicted in films through several studies. Brad Bird s Protagonists- Examines how protagonists are displayed in Brad Bird s films and compares them to previously established masculine and feminine qualities that have resulted from theseRead MoreThe Lion King, Beauty And The Beast, And Sleeping Beauty1663 Words   |  7 Pagesmeanings of these children s stories. Walt Disney portrays children s tales as a simple, fun form of entertainment, but the original stories reveal the bigger truths, changes, and adversities of these children books. The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Sleeping Beauty are three of the many children s stories that have controversial backgrounds. No matter the time frame, these stories have their differences, but strangely enough have more than plenty similarities. Mid-1994, Walt Disney PicturesRead MoreThe Correlation Between Disney Movies and Poor Body Image in Young Women1406 Words   |  6 PagesDisney was named the worlds second top media company in the US for the year 2004. They have produced over 44 â€Å"classics† and are one of the most recognized names in animated film (Peterson).We expose young girls to these animated films at a very young age, yet doing so does not seem to be good for these children. Disney’s movies are littered with a virtually unattainable image of what a woman should look like and feeding such images to girls at a young age is wrong and causes low self esteem andRead MoreThe Little Glass Slipper By Charles Perrault2004 Words   |  9 PagesMany children know fairy tales as something from Disney or something to be read before going to bed, a nice happy ending before sleeping, but fairy tales have not always been this way. Fairy tales were originally written to provide moral instruction for young c hildren and women, don’t be selfish or greedy, and be good and kind and so on. When these fairy tales were originally written society held very different values and as such, the stories written reflect many of these patriarchal views and moralsRead MoreFrost At Midnight By Samuel Taylor Coleridge953 Words   |  4 Pagespresence heightens his loneliness. This baby too keeps me meditating because of his calm mood but tends to be disturbing at the beginning. He talks about the quietness and beauty of nature which he described as â€Å"Inaudible as dreams† and â€Å"low- burnt fire† of (lines 13-14). The speaker characterized the film which keeps vibrating as the â€Å"sole unquiet thing† of (lines 15- 16), which is a negation in the opposite from his sense. This negative construction reflects the (line2) in whichRead MoreGender Roles in Disney Essay2313 Words   |  10 PagesPrincesses. Presented as damsels in distress and inferior bei ngs to men, Disney Princesses give children an inaccurate portrayal of gender roles at a young age. Through Disney’s social success and intriguing films, such as The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast, Disney Princess movies portray stereotypical representation of gender roles through the denigration of the female image, targeting and ruining the perception of youth today. Disney Princess

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - 1207 Words

FCPA PAPER The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) evolved from investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor that provided evidence of illegal acts perpetrated by U.S. firms in foreign lands. More than 400 U.S. companies admitted to making questionable payments to various foreign governments and political parties as part of an amnesty program (U.S. Department of Justice http://www.usdoj.gov). Given the environment of the 1970s and the proliferation of white-collar crimes (e.g., insider trading, bribery, false financial statements, etc.), particularly the payments made to foreign officials by corporations, Congress felt obligated to introduce legislation that led to the act. Congresss objective was to restore confidence†¦show more content†¦This provision of the act applies to issuers of registered securities and issuers required to file periodic reports with the SEC. The accounting provisions require companies to keep books and records, and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets. The purpose of this accounting provision is to make it difficult for organizations to cook the books or use slush funds to hide any corrupt payments. Representative means for transfer of corrupt payments which included overpayments, missing records (No receipt), unrecorded transactions, misclassification of costs and, retranscription of records. The accounting provisions include a requirement that companies design and maintain adequate systems of internal accounting controls. This will provide reasonable assurance that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, transactions are recorded as necessary and access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements authorization. Any internal document that misrepresents the actual nature of a financial transa ction could be used as the basis for a charge that the books and records section of the FCPA has been violated. Enforcement of the act is shared. Civil and criminal enforcement of the bribery provisions for those not required to file with the SEC rests with the Department of Justice. Responsibility forShow MoreRelatedThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been pursued by government agencies recently as the SEC, the FBI, and Department of Justice are cracking down on international business corruption. Companies are working harder at expanding economically in the market by doing business with individuals and other companies in foreign countries. Foreign countries are not always in compliance with US laws and regulations, causing US companies who deal with them issues with compliance on the home front. Because ofRead MoreThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act1551 Words   |  7 PagesThe foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits paying or offering anything of value to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping a business. The FCP A was enacted by congress in 1977 due to various reports that were made by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) reported different issues concerning bribery and illegal payments by United Sates companies. The FCPA states that it’s unlawful to make payments to foreign officials; having a corruptRead MoreForeign Corrupt Practices Act :1275 Words   |  6 PagesRunning Head: FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT 1 FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT BUSINESS LAW Katherine Hall-Blair Keiser University FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT 2 FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT In the face of improper payments to officials abroad, the United States introduced the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977. This act was a pioneer step for the government of the United States to combat illegal bribes by not only U.S. companies, but overseas companiesRead MoreThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act1320 Words   |  6 PagesI. Introduction The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (â€Å"FCPA†) is the first globally enforcing statute making anti-corruption effort in the world. It has been known for the broad enforcement coverage in terms of the worldwide governing jurisdiction and anti-gaming legislative approach leading to a long time debates and discussions among practitioners and law commentators. This paper will focus on improving one of the undefined and broadly interpreted terms - â€Å"instrumentality† in the anti-bribery provisionsRead MoreForeign Corrupt Practices Act :836 Words   |  4 PagesVincent Petraro Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was introduced in 1977.It was made effective from December 19, 1977. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act applies to all citizen of United State and certain foreign issuers of security and foreign companies. The Minor changes were made in the year 1988 and in 1998.Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has two main Provision (a)Accounting Transparency under Securities Exchange Commission, 1934. (b)Bribery of Foreign Officials. DepartmentRead MoreThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act1181 Words   |  5 PagesWhile reading this case analysis, The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act came into discussion as an underlying factor in Weihardt’s decision. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was enacted for the purpose of making it unlawful for certain classes of persons and entities to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. This practice applies to Weinhardt in the fact that he was given the opportunity to give Lee a bribe to obtain Lees’ business. If WeinhardtRead MoreThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act654 Words   |  3 PagesThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977 and the corresponding amendments set forth by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 and Amendments of 1998 have tremendous ramifications for U.S. multinational companies at large, their subsidiaries, and foreign partners.   While the main purpose of the original policy was to make it â€Å"unlawful to bribe foreign government officials to obtain or retain business†, the many statutes, their exceptionsRead MoreThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act1028 Words   |  4 Pagesproblems. Such is the case with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - passed with the purpose of keeping companies that do business in the US ethical in their business dealings. The main purpose of the act is to prevent companies from paying bribes to foreign officials, though there are other provisions included. It is only fitting that Wal-Mart, the largest retail store in the United States (2013 Top Global Retailers) has had allegations of wron gdoing related to the act. Wal-Mart was reported to haveRead MoreThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Of 19771104 Words   |  5 PagesThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) evolved from investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor that provided evidence of illegal acts perpetrated by U.S. firms in foreign lands. More than 400 U.S. companies admitted to making questionable payments to various foreign governments and political parties as part of an amnesty program (U.S. Department of Justice http://www.usdoj.gov). Given the environment of the 1970s and the proliferation of white-collar crimes (e.g., insider tradingRead MoreEssay On Foreign Corrupt Practices Act1405 Words   |  6 PagesVu Le Vu LGLS 3562 Michael Valenza December 7th, 2017 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) FCPA Background The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the â€Å"FCPA† or the â€Å"Act†) is one of the primary statutes in the U.S. for fighting against corruption around the world. After the Watergate scandals and revelation of widespread corruption and bribery all over the globe by U.S companies, the FCPA was established in 1977 by Congress [1]. Before passing the FCPA, the government found that more than 400 companies

Money Crime and Great Gatsby Free Essays

Jonathan Marshall Ms. Herring English 11 – Great Gatsby Essay 3/27/13 Period 5 Dark Side of Money There’s only one thing that truly rules our world that we live in today. It’s what pretty much everybody strives for, and it’s the only reason why people want to be successful. We will write a custom essay sample on Money: Crime and Great Gatsby or any similar topic only for you Order Now Some believe it brings happiness and joy. This â€Å"thing† is a necessity for life; it’s money. Money is what makes the world go around. It is the one thing that each and every person on Earth wishes they had more of. However, what most of these people don’t realize is that money is also the root to all evil. The book â€Å"The Great Gatsby† portrays this theme in a lot of different ways. This negative idea towards money consists of jealousy, unequal power, and murder; all caused by money. In the same ways and more, money is the root to all evil in our own society as well. Many crimes occur with some sort of direct relation to money. Although everybody strives for more money, not everybody spends it wisely or legally. Unfortunately, the book â€Å"The Great Gatsby† and these real life examples are true depictions of reality and everyday lfie. Robberies are often committed in our own communities because of individuals seeking money. There are many examples of this including the â€Å"Luger Bandit† in Los Angeles whos has robbed many banks recently. The latest case was on March 10, 2013. He simply walks into a Wells Fargo bank with a gun, makes the costumers lay on the floor, and forces the employees at gunpoint to put money in his bag. Soon, this man will be arrested and thrown into prison. This kind of action will affect many of his family and friends. These robberies can easily turn worse by the pulling of a trigger. Any unfortunate person that was at the wrong place at the wrong time could die. This would mean that that innocent individual died just because of a man’s criminal pursuit for money. Another type of criminal activity caused by the pursuit for money in our community is when someone steals from another. An example of this is when two women were robbed at gunpoint in their home in Indiana. Those two women are now scarred for life and will never be able to forget this horrific event. Once again, lives are damaged dramatically by criminals looking for money. It’s evident that the power of money often drives people to commit evil crimes. This power of money is demonstrated in â€Å"The Great Gatsby†. Gatsby draws alot of attention to himself because of his wealth. Alot of people look up to him, and want to have the amount of wealth he has. In order to get this money, Gatsby got involved with the mob and organized crime. So Gatsby risked his life by making criminal decisions so he can become wealthy. Money influenced Gatsby to make these decisions with his life, which clearly shows that money is truly the root to all evil. There are multiple cases when people with wealth tend to be more selfish and stuck up. Tom and Daisy in â€Å"The Great Gatsby† can be examples to this idea. Nick explains to us towards the end of the book that Tom and Dasiy are careless, and that they leave messes behind and count on others to fix it for them. If they didn’t have the amount of money that they have, they wouldn’t be able to do this. Tom and Daisy would appreciate things more, instead of being selfish. The money is obviously the cause to their attitude towards others. A real life example of this is when a wealthy individual has a hired maid to clean up after them. The maid’s job is to clean up any mess that this person or their family makes. This type of case shows that wealthy people tend to be more lazy and have less responsibilities because they have other people to do it for them. Without all that money, they wouldn’t be able to do that. They’d have to clean up and have the same amount of responsibilities as the average person. These examples from â€Å"The Great Gatsby† and real life definitely represent society in general, because crimes are committed everywhere all the time in search for money. According to statistics, 20 banks are robbed every day and 45 houses are broken into every hour in the United States. With the percent of poverty and unemployed people in need for money increasing, I don’t see these rates dropping anytime soon. If anything it could get worse. Our society is simply doomed, we have no hope. On the other side of the story, the people with money spoil themselves by spending it the wrong ways. Alot of wealthy people choose to go to bars, stripclubs, and prostitution houses. It may be legal, but they’re still unwise decisions. Also, the amount of drug abuse continues to increase. In fact, the rate of illegal drug use rose last year to the highest level in nearly a decade. How do people recieve these drugs? They pay for it with money. Without all that money, they wouldn’t be able to afford those illegal drugs. It is clear that we can’t really do anything to avoid these problems in our society. It’ll continue to happen no matter what. Money is very powerful, it rules our world. It tends to control people and take over their minds. This shows in stats of crimes and what those people, lucky enough to have money, do with the money. Impatient people who aren’t satisfied with the amount of money that they already have attempt to take the easy way out by robbing banks, houses, cars etc. The wealthy individuals make unwise decisions and become lazy because of the money. There’s no doubt, money is the root to all evil. How to cite Money: Crime and Great Gatsby, Papers

African Americans and Cardiovascular Disease free essay sample

Abstract This paper introduces a new approach understanding about the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans, to improve self-efficacy for diet and physical activity, and to increase intentions to eat healthier and be physically active. This paper examines the effects of risks associated with being an African American with cardiovascular disease. These changes in behavioral, educational and physical activity may reverse the effects of cardiovascular disease. Providing education about the risk factors for cardiovascular disease can offer a reduction in early death amongst young African American men. African Americans and Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a term used to describe diseases of the heart and blood vessels, in which the blood vessels are blocked and leads to various forms of CVD such as stroke, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, and congenital heart defects. According to the American Heart Association (2009), more Americans die from CVD than any other disease and African Americans are at a greater risk for the disease than any other ethnic group (pp32). CVD is the number one killer of African American males in the United States. The American Heart Associations’ statistics show that 45. 9% of African American men have some form of CVD, 32. 4% of these African Americans will die before the age of fifty. Over 100,000 black men die each year from CVD; this is 274 men every day, and 11 men an hour. There are many factors that contribute to this disparity, but most of these factors can be corrected or prevented. The cardiovascular diseases that are the greatest threat to African Americans are coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and high cholesterol. The risk factors or causes for these diseases are usually linked or overlapping, that is factors that contribute to high cholesterol also may cause stroke or heart disease. The methods of reversing or preventing these diseases are pretty similar or the same for one another. About the Major Diseases Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States among African American men (Medline 2009); it is a disease where the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart narrow. This narrowing of the blood vessels is due to the buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries; this plaque comes from an overload of cholesterol in the blood system. As the coronary arteries narrow, blood flow to the heart can slow down or even stop. â€Å"This can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, heart failure, and heart attacks† (Medline, 2009). There are many factors that increase risk factors for CHD and there are factors that can be controlled and some factors you cannot control. The factors you cannot control are heredity, in which there is a family history of CHD especially if they had it before the age of fifty, and age or gender, where men are more susceptible to this disease and at an earlier age than women. Then there are factors that you can control such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol abuse, not exercising, and excessive stress. High blood pressure (HBP) is the restriction of blood flow through the vessels thus putting extra strain on the heart and damaging blood vessels. African American Community Health Advisory Committee’s factsheet (2008) states, â€Å"Twenty-eight percent of African American men are affected by HBP, and it is the cause of 65,000 deaths a year. † High blood pressure increases the pressure in the arteries, and as the heart pumps against this pressure, the heart has to work harder. If left untreated, this will cause the heart muscle to thicken and the left ventricle will become enlarged. The enlarging of the left ventricle reduces the amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute and congestive heart failure may occur. HBP also contributes to the thickening of the blood vessel wall, which increases the cholesterol deposits in the vessels. This combination increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Stroke or Cerebrovascular disease is a risk factor for heart disease where the supply of blood to the brain is interrupted. A stroke can occur when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a clot, or a blood vessel breaks open, causing blood to leak into the brain. If the flow of blood is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get blood and oxygen which will cause brain cells to die and can result in permanent damage. According to Medline (2009), â€Å"Approximately every forty seconds someone in the United States has a stroke. † (p. 164). High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for strokes (Medline 2009), but diabetes, family history, high cholesterol, alcohol abuse, and head injury also increase the odds of having a stroke. High blood cholesterol, also known as lipid disorder, is caused when there are too many fatty substances in the blood. Cholesterol is made naturally by the body, but also comes from eating an unhealthy diet of fatty meats, eggs, and dairy. Along with an unhealthy diet, high cholesterol is associated with diabetes, inactivity, alcohol use, and smoking. Prevention and Treatment Cardiovascular disease is scary and could strike at any minute, but now is not the time to be scared. Now is the time to take action, because CVD is preventable or treatable. Preventing premature CVD, before the age of fifty, is crucial; heart attacks between the age of thirty and sixty are primarily due to lifestyle factors. Smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and lack of physical activity are the most serious risk factors for CVD and heart attacks. Controlling one of these risk factors can help control the others. For example, regular exercise can help control cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and stress levels. Obesity and type two diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate, and due to a high-fat, high calorie diet, and an inactive lifestyle. Much of poor Urban Americans have easier access to highly processed foods, convenience foods, and fast foods than to fresh fruits and vegetables. A proper diet is one of the best ways to combat heart disease. Changing unhealthy eating habits greatly reduces the risk for heart disease. For optimal health, health Professionals recommend: * Maintaining a healthy weight, with a body mass index of 18. 5-24. 9. * Limiting the amount fat in your diet. * Increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids are found in fish, fish oils, and flax seed. * Limiting sodium intake. * Increase potassium intake. * Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables. * Eating a plant-based diet consisting of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Eat at least twenty-five grams of fiber daily. * Eating at least twenty-five grams of soy protein daily. * Not smoking. * Getting regular exercise. * Avoiding or reducing stress. In addition to diet modification, physical activity should also be used to help prevent CVD. â€Å"People who are not physically active have twice the risk of heart disease as those who are active. † (Delores, 2004). Mor e than half of African American men do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity. The recommended amount of activity is thirty minutes a day, five days a week. This will slow down the narrowing of the blood vessels, increase blood flow, strengthen the heart muscle, and reduce stress. The purpose of this research paper is to inform, not to scare. African American men should know that CVD is a treatable and preventable disease. Young black men do not need to die from a disease that is treatable and preventable. They should not let social economics dictate their eating habits. Dr. Cooper, Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory, said, â€Å"Develop a proactive attitude about your health. We need to get away from the idea that heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are just a way of life in the African American Community. Perhaps your mom or dad had high blood pressure and died young but you do not need to accept that you will have those problems. You need to realize maybe mom was obese and never exercised and dad ate an unhealthy, high fat diet. † If you are African American and know you are at an elevated risk, go to the doctor at least once a year and get a check-up. Pay close attention to your diet, be more active, watch your weight, and minimize your stress.