Mental Health Supreme Court Cases - Free Essay Example

  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mental Health has been a brought into a lot of Supreme Court Cases over the past decades. This has really become an issue and has brought in many amendments into play. The 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th amendments are just some of the amendments used in Supreme Court Cases. Jackson v. Indiana, Kansas v. Hendricks, and Dusky v. United States were just some of the Mental Health cases that were brought to the Supreme Court. Mental Health is also something we will talk about in this topic and why it’s necessary for all defendants to understand their rights especially if they have some mental illness.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Mental Health In some cases an individual is considered an imminent danger to themselves or others, they have the right to due process, representation and appeals just like anyone else, though appeals can be civil commitment or involuntary treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Jackson v. Indiana was known as a â€Å"landmark† case only because The United States had violated due processing for Jackson who was committed for a indefinite period of time. Then he was also, a deaf-mute in which he was not able to read or write. In which, he was going to need a lawyer and needed to take the competency evaluation to see if he was fit to stand trial. â€Å"An individual found incompetent will nevertheless be detained for a ‘reasonable period of time necessary to determine whether there is a substantial probability that he will attain that capacity in the foreseeable future.’† (Supreme Court pg 17). This quote here is basically telling us that since Jackson had a mental illness and not capable of standing trial. So there for he was put into a â€Å"Indiana Department of Mental Health for treatment until he was determined to be ‘sane.’† (Jackson v. Indiana). But, his lawyer wanted to have a new trial because there was no evidence that his client was insane and that he was getting a life sentence in a mental hospital without being convicted of a crime. But, the motion was denied by the Supreme Court of Indiana. The Court therefore said that since Jackson wasn’t considered mentally ill according to their standards then he would be able to be released at any time. The Court also said that â€Å"[a] person charged by a State with a criminal offense who is committed solely on account of his incapacity to proceed to trial cannot be held more than the reasonable period of time necessary to determine whether there is a substantial probability that he will attain that capacity in the foreseeable future. If it is determined that this is not the case, then the State must either institute the customary civil commitment proceeding that would be required to commit indefinitely any other citizen, or release the defendant. Furthermore, even if it is determined that the defendant probably soon will be able to stand trial, his continued commitment must be justified by progress toward that goal.† (Jackson v. Indiana). They finally decided that holding people for an indefinite period of time was unjust. But, it was too late for that since Theon Jackson was already held for an indefinite period of time without getting another trial. It was only because there was a lack of due process that’s why the Court concluded with this statement. The Court decision to put Jackson in a mental institution without being committed of a crime or being put in there because he was unable to comprehend why he was being arrested. Therefore, the Justices were not fair or just towards Mr. Jackson having him spend years in a mental institution because he was a dead-mute person who couldn’t read or write with a low I.Q Kansas v. Hendricks case was one that used the Kansas’ Sexually Violent Predator Act. In which, states the procedure for civil commitment of a person due to a â€Å"mental illness†. Hendricks was sent to jail because he sexually molested children at different period of times. After, he was then released after serving ten years of his sentencing. He was clinically diagnosed as a pedophile and believed that he couldn’t be successfully treated. Pedophilia is defined as a mental abnormality under the Act, so they ordered that Hendricks be civilly committed. In the case of Hendricks trial the jury found him to be a sexual violent predator and he then appealed their claim. The Kansas Supreme Court held the Act unconstitutional. The Kansas Sexually Violent Predator Act is penalized when a person is sentenced and tried as a predator and allows his release. But, when the offender is charged and sentenced for life in prison then the Act is unnecessary.   But, some have argued that â€Å"the statue is really a further criminal penalty disguised as a civil commitment† (Kansas v. Hendricks pg 2). The actions of the Court were brilliant and fast because he needed to be put away for sexually abusing children and shouldn’t be set free from prison but, also putting him in a mental institution was also a good option. But, it feels as though that the Court might have done double jeopardy in which they did put him in the mental institution for committing the same crime he was charged for. Double jeopardy clearly states the prosecution of a person twice for the same offense in which, Mr. Hendricks had been in.

Beowulf is an Epic Hero Essay - 469 Words

Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities: epic heroes are superhuman types of beings. They show great bravery, intelligence, strength and resourcefulness. They have a strong admiration for the values of their society. They are dominant male figures and suffer severe pain, but in the end, they†¦show more content†¦This shows Beowulf’s strength, courage and fearlessness. Through this it is evident that he possess courageous traits. Beowulf’s strength is exemplified many times in the story. Beowulf was said to have â€Å"the strength of thirty men in his mighty handgrip.† He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all but his last. In his argument with Unferth, Beowulf explains the reason he lost a swimming match with his opponent Brecca. Not only had Beowulf been swimming for seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf is also strong enough to kill the monster Grendel with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel’s mother, he is able to slay her by slashing the monster’s neck with a giant sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. When he chops off her head, he carries it from the ocean with no difficulty, but it takes four men to lift and carry it back to Heorot. This strength is a key trait of Beowulf’s heroism. Another heroic trait of Beowulf is his ability to put his people’s welfare before his own. Beowulf’s uncle is king of the Geats so he is sent to help kill Grendel. His actions toward Grendel show that he is willing to help others. In an epic it is usually found that the hero often determines the fate of a nation or group of people. He uses his super-human physical strengthShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Beowulf As An Epic Hero1519 Words   |  7 Pagesaway following a journey, you have most likely read an epic. An epic by definition is â€Å"a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation†. Every epic has a main character that undergoes the same archetypal journey as all other heroes, an epic hero. There are specific qualities one must have to be considered an epic hero. Each epic hero possesses superhuman strength, displays a strong sense ofRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf As An Epic Hero711 Words   |  3 Pagesthan the writer. These â€Å"epic heros† are protagonists that fulfill their potential of greatness through using their bravery, strength and humility for good. The near ancient tale of Beowulf is a classic example of an epic story that contains an epic hero. In this tale Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, has been terrorized by a beast known as Grendel. This beast has been murdering the king’s people and no one has come close to stopping this killer. A Geat warrior named Beowulf hears of the King’s predicamentRead MoreBeowulf : An Epic Hero930 Words   |  4 Pages The story of Beowulf shows its reader many characteristics of why this Anglo-Saxon poem is an epic. First of all, Beowulf is a warrior of epic renown by the time he formally introduces himself in the poem. Next, Beowulf is the warrior that many strive to be in life. In addition, Beowulf finds himself tackling many quests that involve dangerous beasts, or as he might call them, demons. The next quality shown by Beowulf is his bravery and honor. The reader is able to easily identify this characteristicRead MoreBeowulf, The Epic Hero1373 Words   |  6 Pages 2015 Beowulf, The Epic Hero In Anglo Saxon times, Beowulf is considered a well known epic hero. â€Å"Epic heroes are literary characters from ancient mythology and other stories, which were written down in the form of long, narrative epic poems. The hero is the main character, or protagonist of the poem†(Epic Hero: Definition, Characteristics Examples.). The epic hero usually battles for accomplishments to a set of tasks to complete important goals. Beowulf is described as an epic hero becauseRead MoreThe Epic Hero Of Beowulf866 Words   |  4 PagesAn epic hero is someone who is of great importance, they have supernatural abilities, have some form of connection with the Gods, and accomplish great deeds. In Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is the epic hero in his tale and he is considered great by those who know of his life. There are two versions of his story which portrays him in a certain way. The video version does not do its best to portray him as an epic hero but instead show that he is a liar, a womanizer, and a coward. TheRead MoreBeowulf : An Epic Hero894 Words   |  4 Pages The character of Beowulf demonstrates several characteristics that make a great epic hero. Throughout his lifetime he displayed several characteristics such as honor, bravery, physical superiority, leadership, and glory. These characteristics all formed how the Anglo-Saxons believed one should live their life. Along with the valorous deeds that Beowulf accomplished he is considered to be a prime example of an epic hero. Beowulf would have even been considered a model human to the Anglo-SaxonsRead MoreBeowulf : An Epic Hero978 Words   |  4 Pages Beowulf is a character that exudes the qualities of an epic hero. Throughout this epic, Beowulf is seen as a hero to many and a major threat to the evils he encounters. The values of the Anglo-Saxons, who would have read and admired this poem, included loyalty, bravery, and honor. Beowulf’s character exemplifies all of these qualities to the highest degree. The values and traditions of the original composers of this story cause Beowulf’s character to be the perfect example of an Anglo-SaxonRead MoreBeowulf: an Epic Hero983 Words   |  4 PagesGauvain British Literature Beowulf Essay 9/22/04 Beowulf: An Epic Hero According to Abrams, the heroic poem is a long verse narrative on a serious subject, told in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race. Beowulf fits Abrams description of an epic, exhibiting all of the characteristics listed throughout the book, thus defining Beowulf as a hero and making the book an epic through its elevatedRead MoreBeowulf, the Epic Hero1431 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf, the Epic Hero There have been many grand stories about great warriors, and champions; those about epic heroes however, are the truly exceptional tales. One such tale, over a thousand years old, stands out from all the rest: Beowulf, the tale of a great warrior, on his quest to achieve eternal glory, defeating great opponents. Throughout the whole story, Beowulf demonstrates most –if not all- of the qualities that an archetypal hero possesses. He embodies the highest ideals of his cultureRead MoreBeowulf : The Epic Hero960 Words   |  4 PagesPotter, and Beowulf all have in common? They all demonstrate the qualities of epic heroes. Beowulf represents several characteristics of an epic hero and demonstrates the values of the Anglo-Saxons. He is the main character of his story, he has a main goal, he travels and fights with a group of people, and he accomplishes many valorous deeds; the values of the Anglo-Saxons are also shown through the actions of Beowulf, such as courage, loyalty, an d fame. For example, when Beowulf heard a cry

The Evergreen Marching Band And Colorguard - 900 Words

The Evergreen Marching Band and Colorguard (EMBC) has stewed in accomplishment, success, and hard work, for more than two decades. People don’t know, that we re not just a normal halftime marching band--we are a competitive marching band. Like any football, drill, or soccer team, EMBC strives to compete amongst the greats. For a couple decades, EMBC has marched to success and we don t want to stop now; however, the competitive program was close to being slashed this year, due to lack of funds. Students and parents raged at the thought of no competitive season. Competing is the best part for everyone in this program. If we lost that it wouldn’t be as much fun. We were so far in debt that if we couldn t raise enough money, it would ve been game over. If we had more money in our budget to do our competitive season, we would not have to say goodbye to competing. The program receives a mere $1000, for the whole band program, as said by the band director. That is not enough for our program. My school district needs to fund the EMBC program separately from the regular band programs. I am not saying that their program isn’t as important, but we, the EMBC, require more funding for our award winning program. It is a sport, and therefore merits the full funding like any other team. A way we can do that is by moving around funding from teams who don’t require as much and move it towards the ones that do, like us. One example of this, would be to move excess funding from oneShow MoreRelatedIt s Time For The Final Round Of Competition908 Words   |  4 Pagesperform the best you ever have. Once you get off you feel proud and accomplished. However, this year that feeling, might have not been repeated. The Evergreen Marching Band and Colorguard (EMBC) has had this feeling for more than two decades. A lot of people don’t know, that we re not just a normal halftime marching band, we are a competitive marching band. We travel to competitions in Washington and Oregon. This program has been around for a couple decades, and we don t want to stop now. However,

The Souls Of Black Folk By W. E. B. Du Bois - 1415 Words

The 1800s was a time of barbarity and cruelty in the United States. The novel The Souls of Black Folk, published in 1903, is a two hundred and forty-two paged composition of various essays written by W. E. B. Du Bois. The author guides his audience alongside himself during the historic events occurring in the South, and how both Black and White people handled this difficult time. The novel is written of the life of a Black man, Du Bois, during the time of slavery and inequality in America. He discusses slavery and inferiority effect on the African race and the process of the elimination of slavery and unjust laws. He utilizes the cruel language in which the White race slander the Africans with. Du Bois also describes the United States as being partitioned into two unlike universes. One world being of the White race, with the grant of unlimited rights and dominance. While the other is filled with tons of people who struggle to acquire a higher education, civil rights, and the right t o vote. In addition, this novel prime concentration is to investigate the assets of all beings. The strengths of all beings are outlines as one’s cultural background, drive, and freedom. To further explain, the text reports, â€Å"Work, culture, liberty,—all these we need, not singly but together, not successively but together, each growing and aiding each, and all striving toward that vaster ideal that swims before the Negro people, the ideal of human brotherhood, gained through the unifying ideal ofShow MoreRelatedThe Souls Of Black Folks by W. E. B. Du Bois700 Words   |  3 Pages The Souls Of Black Folks by W. E. B. Du Bois The Souls of Black Folks by W. E. B. Du Bois is a text published to explain a series of events to inform many people about the many unexplainable ways of African Americans. This story is of the coming of the strong African American race . This story is the explanation of many not easily described discrepancies between African Americans and White Americans. It conveys the meaning of many black ways and reasoning. African Americans were obviously alwaysRead MoreThe Social Theory of Du Bois1907 Words   |  8 Pagesof W.E.B Du Bois Aaron Josuah Cabahug Sociology 102 4/21/2013 Abby Mosher The Social Theory of W.E.B Du Bois Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim are widely recognized as the trinity of sociological theory. While these three sociologists were trailblazing social theorists who enhanced the study of human behavior and its relationship to social institutions, other, more contemporary scholars were just as innovative - one of those scholars being W. E. B. Du Bois. W. E. B. Du Bois was a politicalRead MoreDifferences Between Du Bois And Marx1365 Words   |  6 PagesWhile there were many similarities between Du Bois and Marx there was also key differences, particularly the type of division in society and social groupings discussed. Marx was interested in how Social Classes were divided and the economic conditions which led to the subordination of the poor to the wealthy (Ritzer Stepnisky, 2018). Du Bois took this idea a step further and studied the ways in which society was stratified by race and how minority groups were viewed and subsequently exploited byRead MoreBooker T.Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois Essay1184 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica, Blacks have been abused and oppressed into a state less than human. In an article written by W.E.B. Du Bois he said, â€Å"The sincere and passionate belief that somewhere between men and cattle God created a tertium quid, and called it a negro† (Du Bois). In the late 19th and 20th centuries a st rong push for economic and social progress for African-Americans was being made. The prominent leaders of this movement amongst the Black community were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, howeverRead MoreWeb Du Bois and Double Consciousness Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesW.E.B. Du Bois: Double-Consciousness Ashanti Johnson SOC101 Lestine Shedrick October 18, 2011 W.E.B. Du Bois (1968-1963) was a huge contributor to sociology through the eyes and experience of an African-American scholar (Vissing, 2011). Du Bois was an author, activist and student of Black sociology. In his 1897 article, Strivings of the Negro People†, Du Bois introduced the term â€Å"double-consciousness†, a concept I believe to be just as relevant in today’s African-American communitiesRead MoreComparative Analysis Of African Americ Annotated Bibliography878 Words   |  4 Pagestime ago. This poem really helps in proving a point in my argument. Hughes poem clearly shows that America has treated black people poorly, but not only blacks, also any other race that isn’t white. All of the hard work that was put into building the very foundation of America only for those who worked to be treated like criminals or trash. B., Du Bois W. E. â€Å"The Souls of Black Folks†. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1961. Print. This book is a collection of essays that focuses on the post-Reconstruction realityRead MoreThe Souls of Black Folk1595 Words   |  7 Pagesthe text of The Souls of Black Folk embodies Du Bois experience of duality as well as his peoples. In Du Bois Forethought to his essay collection, The Souls of Black Folk, he entreats the reader to receive his book in an attempt to understand the world of African Americans—in effect the souls of black folk. Implicit in this appeal is the assumption that the author is capable of representing an entire people. This presumption comes out of Du Bois own dual nature as a black man who has livedRead MoreW.E.B. Du Bois Essay1794 Words   |  8 PagesW.E.B. Du Bois Few men have influenced the lives of African-Americans as much as William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Du Bois is considered more of a history-maker than a historian(Aptheker, The Historian). Dr. Du Bois conducted the initial research on the black experience in the United States. Civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have referred to Du Bois as a father of the Civil Rights Movement. Du Bois conducted the initial research on the black experience in the United StatesRead MoreB. Du Bois1868 Words   |  8 Pages W. E. B. Du Bois was. Du Bois grew up in Massachusetts, but then moved south where he attended Harvard University. Moving south he began to realize the problems of racial prejudice. Du Bois did much documentation of African Americans and their fight for equality. He had learned so much to mention in The Souls of Black Folk that the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line. Du Bois devoted much of his life to The Souls of Black Folk was not well received when it firstRead MoreWilliam Edward Burghardt Du Bois1252 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born to Alfred and Mary Silvina Du Bois on February 23rd, 1868 in Great Barrington Massachusetts. While he grew up an African-American in a mostly white community, he attended an integrated school and excelled there. When he was old enough, his neighbors and church raised enough money for him to attend Fisk University in Nashville from 1885 to 1888. Because he had never been south before, this is where he first experienced racial prejudice and Jim Crow laws.

Research on Lung Cancer Risk Factors - 370 Words

The reason the majority of this research on lung cancer risk factors can be dated to the 1990s is because this period was defined by an increased societal awareness to the adverse health effects of smoking tobacco. During the 1990s, over 40 states filed federal lawsuits against major American tobacco companies, and the growing involvement of the Surgeon Generals office motivated many independent researchers to narrow their focus to lung cancer and its causes. Furthermore, this period of time saw the largest increases in lung cancer rates ever recorded, as the Baby Boomer generation of lifelong smokers began to suffer the health consequences of their habit. During the last decade, with the link between lung cancer and tobacco-derived carcinogens conclusively established, the scientific community has dedicated fewer resources to the study of lung cancer risk factors. References Kreuzer, M., Kreienbrock , L., Gerken, M., Heinrich, J., Bruske-Hohlfeld, I., Muller, K.M., Wichmann, H.E. (1998). Risk factors for lung cancer in young adults. American Journal of Epidemiology, 147(11), 1028-1037. Retrieved from http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/147/11/1028.full.pdf Molina, J.R., Yang, P., Cassivi, S.D., Schild, S.E., Adjei, A.A. (2008). Non small cell lung cancer: Epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, and survivorship. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 83(5), 584-594. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718421/Show MoreRelatedAssociation between Air Polluiton and Lung Cancer761 Words   |  3 Pagesepidemiologic studies have found an association between ambient air pollution and lung cancer. This evidence lead the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to report air pollution as a category 1 or definite cause of cancer. The IARC reviewed over 1000 studies from five continents and covering many different scientific fields. They concluded that air pollution is linked to increased cancer incidence, with lung cancer being the most prevalent (Pope, 2013). Air pollution occurs when the air isRead MoreLung Cancer Term Paper1559 Words   |  7 PagesLung Cancer Week 6 Term Paper for Professor Inglis Kelvin Samuels Introduction My topic for this term paper will be lung cancer. This topic was chosen because I have pass family whove lost their lives to lung cancer. I believe the best way to start is by defining the disease. We will then take a glance at statistics and risk factors for lung cancer. Next will look at lung cancer symptoms, staging and treatment, and finally I will draw my final conclusion. I. What is Lung Cancer? A simple andRead MoreCause And Effect Of Lung Cancer Essay1334 Words   |  6 Pages Lung cancer is one of the most lethal cancer known throughout the world. The most common suspect of that is smoking, then what happens to the people who inhales the smokers’ smoke? Are they also at risk for developing lung cancer from being a victim? The answer to that right now is that secondhand smoke alone is just a risk factor, there are no evidence right now that currently show that secondhand smoke alone can cause lung cancer by itself. This means that we need to encourage studies that areRead MoreCancer : A Type Of Disease1203 Words   |  5 PagesSantiago Gallardo Ventura Mr. D’Angelo English 12, Period 6 13 November 2014 Research Paper: Cancer Cancer, is a type of disease that involves abnormal cell growth and has the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumors are cancerous, there is one type that is not cancerous; benign tumors (which do not spread to other parts of the body). Possible signs and symptoms include: a distinct lump, a lengthened cough, irregular bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a differenceRead Morelung cancer927 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Lung Cancer By Brayan Almora and Hector Aparicio Pedroza Ms. Powell, 7th Language Arts Problem – Solution Paper May 15, 2014 Lung Cancer Causes and Treatments Lung cancer is defined as abnormal cell tissue that forms in tissues of the lungs. It is estimated that there are 224,210 new cases every year, while the estimated deaths are numbered at 159,260 per year . There are several options of treatment and are as follows: Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation TherapyRead MoreEffectiveness Of Models Of Health1647 Words   |  7 PagesSocial factors, like, socioeconomic status, lifestyles, living conditions are considered as distal factors of ill health (Cockerham, 2007). Over the last 150 years, there is an epidemiological transition in global causes of mortality from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (Cockerham, 2007). Social interventions were more effective than medical interventions in eliminating infectious diseases. As life expectancy increased, there are more chronic diseases. Lifestyle factors are increasinglyRead MoreThe Effect Of Nanoparticles On Lung Cancer1323 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effect of Nanoparticles on Lung Cancer As time has gone on, the search to find a cure to lung cancer continues to this day. Researchers and scientists have spent years constructing numerous labs and tests trying to find an answer to the age old disease that has taken the lives of thousands. Lung cancer involves the rapid growth of unknown cells in the lung region. Unfortunately, similar to many other forms of cancer, it is difficult to detect symptoms at an early stage. In most cases, patientsRead MoreMales and Females Who Smoke Can Develop Lung Cancer Essay735 Words   |  3 PagesMethods: My research question is, is there a significant difference in lung cancer rates between males and females. My variables were inspired by some phone call questions that I picked from the HINTS dataset there is a total of, in which all were made from a sample of the U.S. population, also two out of three questions were asked in a likert scale. One of the first questions was â€Å" Have you ever smoked cigarettes everyday for at least s ix months?†, their pool of respondents were all those who haveRead MoreRisks Associated With Lifestyle Diseases1652 Words   |  7 Pageslifestyle. According to a research conducted by the World Health Organization in 2011, the research found that approximately 63 percent of global deaths are due to lifestyle diseases and in Australia 8 out of the 10 most leading causes of death are lifestyle diseases. Due to these statistics, lifestyle diseases are considered as the major cause of death in Australia and globally. Risky behaviours are associated with lifestyle diseases as they can indicate an increased risk of developing a specificRead MoreHealth, Nutrition, And Physiology Essay1466 Words   |  6 PagesPhysiology December 4, 2016 Unaware cancer: Lung cancer According to our planet, right now, full of a variety of diseases which one of them can be cured and one of them can’t be cured. The incidence of lung cancer has a high actively rate of most people in the world, about 90 percentage of lung cancer comes from smoking, and another issue are about breathing air pollution and too much dust (or chemical) in some specific areas or careers. The risk of lung cancer is growing up each year because a lot

Coloring In My Numbness free essay sample

Color is generally defined as the visual reflection of light off an object. For a maximum understanding of my essay, however, try to think about color as rather a feeling or a state of being. When a person is sad, we say he feels blue. The first color to come to thought with anger is generally a bright red. In the occurrence of traumatic events, the human brain has the extraordinary power to shield itself from the overwhelming colors with grey. Grey is a lack of color and for our purpose a lack of feelings: numb. My story is that of a colorblind woman learning to see. My first glimpse of color transpired at the Humane Society. It was somewhat of a glittering, pale pink that occurred as Joe, a seven-year-old Rottweiler mix with flea-bitten ears and a scabbed neck from life on a chain wagged his tail for the first time. We will write a custom essay sample on Coloring In My Numbness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hope, I believe is what it’s called. Then there was the time Larry, the aging cashier at the Shell gas station said for the hundredth time â€Å"Tea’s on me today, Bracelets,† And I felt earnestly orange. This was not the smile that I’d used countlessly on my family, my friends, at parties, at school. This smile was happy. One night I showed the scars littering my hips and wrist to a boy and instead of cringing or questioning he leaned down and kissed them. That color’s a tough one to describe. Poets have been falling short of it for centuries. Little things triggered small bouts of color. These were soon overpowered and washed away by the bleakness until I was able to remember what it was like to see the world saturated in intensity. I remembered it’s better that way. It was hard at first, trying to adjust my mind to it. I was so accustomed to hearing good news and forcing a smile. So used to drowning the pain until there was none. I had to throw myself back into life, engaging my mind in every possible way. I spent more hours volunteering. I stopped faking emotions, stopped saying things I didn’t mean and most importantly, I let myself live. To live is something we define too loosely, I think. It’s not to breathe or talk or party. To live is to view every color at its brightest. Not all of the colors that I’ve learned to see again have been pleasant ones. There’s the dark green when I’m taking a test and don’t know the answer, the muck brown when I forget my self-worth. And red. There’s a red so bright it burns me when I see suffering that I can’t help. Contrasting colors create a neutral just as contrasting feelings create a balance. I’ve learned never to wish the pain away or we might just lose the happiness, too. Finding my way back to it, coloring in my numbness, has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life.

Composition Abortion free essay sample

As well I would like to thank her for guiding us while we started to write this paper. Table of Contents Content Page Title page 1 Honor Pledge 2 Acknowledgments 3 Abstract 5 Abortion: A Man, a Woman and a Victim 6 References 2 Abstract This paper deals with abortion from pro-life perspective providing evidence and examples. It argues that abortion must not be legal as it sheds light on the harms that an abortion could cause. It goes on from discussing the dangers that threaten the well-being of the mother to the hardships that face couples who choose to abort a child as it finally establishes that abortion is a murder proving that there is life in the fetus. This paper refers to many studies, books and articles to provide the appropriate scientific back up to every claim. Abortion: A Man, a Woman and a Victim ‘No one wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal, caught in a trap, wants to gnaw off its own leg. ’- Frederica Matthews-Green. The reason why abortion is such a controversial topic hides behind the fact that it was illegal for a long time and is now becoming legalized in many parts of the world. As a matter of fact, abortion was practiced in almost every society in the ancient times. Evidence of abortions are as old as 3500 years. It was not until the early 19th century that many physicians, religious persons and social reformers first sought to ban abortion. Of course, many defend the new laws that are with abortion claiming it to be part of a woman’s rights to her own body, while many others argue that killing a fetus is as bad as killing a child. The two stands could be branched from two more general viewpoints: pro choice and pro life respectively. To be pro life means to believe that the government has the duty of preserving all human life no matter what the quality of life may be; in contrast, being pro choice means believing that all choices pertaining to one’s own anatomy should remain legal. Ironically, both view points are defending human rights, the only disagreement lies in what should be considered human life and what should not. However, these approaches are very theoretical and lack reality. Abortion is not: ‘an induced termination of pregnancy, involving destruction of the embryo or fetus’ as Websters New World Dictionary suggests. It is the termination of a potential human life which actually generates more torment than it does relief. By all means, abortion should be illegal all around the world because, in addition to all the dangers that threaten the well being of the woman and the couple, it is still murder. Most of the women who go into surgery or take a medicinal treatment to abort a child are not told about the risks they are taking. The physical, mental and emotional dangers that are triggered after such a process are far more serious than the repercussions of any other treatment. As Lalwani (2010) reported in her article â€Å"Post Abortion Side Effects†, surgical abortions could cause irreparable damage to the patient’s cervix or uterus. Furthermore Lalwani explains how hazardous general anesthesia could be when used to perform an abortion and how it could lead to cardiac arrests. Despite the fact that a surgical abortion seems scarier than a medical one (one that involves using a pill kill the fetus), the writer clarifies that the side effects of medical abortion could stretch out to infertility and death as a result of a whole bodily infection. Moreover, the effects on mental health are completely related to the emotional state of the patient. â€Å"There was clear evidence of a relationship in which rates of mental health problems increased significantly with increasing abortion-related distress. † (Fergusson, Horwood amp; Boden, 2009, p. 424) The research, based on information about 523 women, proved that women who have had an abortion were 1. 9-2. 0 times more likely to have negative reactions such as â€Å"major depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, alcohol/drug dependence, and a number of mental health problems† than women who have not. Infinite numbers of studies confirm that after abortion most women get suicidal ideas, some even give it a try. According to Dillon (2007), of the 65% of women who thought about killing themselves, 35% actually attempted to ‘abort’ their own lives. It is no mystery why any mother wouldn’t want to live after her child is killed. Who would want to live with not only the thought of having lost a child, but also with the feeling of guilt that constantly reminds them it was their choice that killed? Anyone who is human enough to feel love for another would feel extreme distress after such a procedure. No one wants to be in a situation where they have to make tough decisions, but the dangers of abortion make it clear that it is not a proper solution to any problem. The relationship of the couple is also affected by abortion because as much as the embryo is part of the woman’s life, it is also part of the man’s. No matter how much feminists make it seem like an unborn child is only the mother’s concern, the father also has a say in this. A woman has the right to do whatever she wants to her body, and she is free, but that fetus is a being on its own and part of the father and not just part of the mother. According to Shostak, McLouth, and Seng, (1984), many men (whose girlfriends or wives have had an abortion) felt that they were absent in the decision-making process. Many of them would have wanted to keep it—â€Å"Many broke down and cried during the interview†. If person M and person F were baking a cake together in person F’s oven, and F decided she did not like or want the cake anymore, does she have the right to throw it without M’s consent? M has put as much ingredients and effort in that cake and has the right to object. The fact that it was being baked in F’s oven makes no difference. When an unexpected pregnancy occurs and abortion is brought up, the world of the couple crumbles. If a single person can’t make up their mind when it comes to such a controversial subject, then how about two? The truth is, couples rarely mutually agree about performing an abortion, since there is always someone who’s reluctant about it and another who’s encouraging it. If a couple thinks having a child might destroy their relationship, then they should try having an abortion. In his PhD. Thesis, â€Å"Induced Elective Abortion and Prenatal Grief†, Gail Williams reveals that 80. 7% of women who have had an abortion weren’t even living with their partner (the father) after a couple of years. Couples hardly ever survive abortions, because while the woman is experiencing dozens of emotional complications, the man is trying to re-gain his masculine identity as a parent, a father. To make matters worse, the woman’s ‘sexual response’ usually radically lessens after an abortion for a number of reasons including physical problems and fear of another pregnancy. It is even professionally advised that women who have had an abortion refrain from any kinds of sexual activities (Pendergraft, 2009). All that leads to less communication between the couple due to the lack or the insufficient understanding of one to what the other is going through. Whether with respect to a woman, a man or both as a couple, an abortion is a very emotionally draining process. The way that people view abortion differs solely because of the way people perceive a fetus. Individuals who are pro choice believe that the embryo is not a human being until the mother is three months into her pregnancy. To them, the unborn child remains a part of its mother, and so it is part of her right as a human to act however she wishes with it. As Head argues in his article â€Å"Pro-life vs. Pro-choice†, â€Å"We value each other for social, emotional reasons; science does not tell us to do it. † It is as if those who are for abortion are simply for abortion because to them, science can’t prove the existence of human life in the womb before three months. However, and contrary to what they might think, all the scientific evidence of life before three months has been gathered. In his book â€Å"Abortion and the Meaning of Personhood†, Bajema(1974) states â€Å"Webster defines life in this way: The quality or character distinguishing an animal or a plant from inorganic or from dead organic bodies, which is especially manifested by metabolism, growth, reproduction, and internal powers of adaptation to environment. (p. 16). Even the zygote constantly experiences metabolism and growth, and the embryo develops reproductive organs as early as six weeks. Moreover, studies of fertilization in vitro have proven that a zygote as young as one week has a chance of adapting to the culture outside the mother’s womb. (Brown NA, Clarke D. O. , McCarthy A. , 1991, p. 245-253). And isn’t it alive? I think everyone can relate to the fact that where life exists, so does the instinct of survival. A fetus of less than 12 months still swims away from the curette (the loop-shaped knife that is usually used in pre-mature abortions) when it is inserted into the uterus – survival! How about the embryo which is aborted? What happens to it? It Dies. The fact that it dies means that it was alive before so. Some people argue that it is not human before three months. Well, it certainly is not a monkey. It has all the chromosomes and DNA of a human being. At as early as eight weeks, the embryo has developed hair, eyelids, and by the end if the ninth week, it starts to suck its thumb. (Willke, 1985). A fetus is as alive as any human being, and killing it should not be legal when homicides are not. Aborting a fetus is murder, and there is more evidence to prove it than needed. Abortion is many things, among those it is the taking away of a human life. Whether before or after twelve weeks abortion is a crime – a crime which people are rarely penalized for. Because of social pressures, humans are abolishing life. Mockingly, individuals defend the rights of those who are disabled and yet, if they could, some would kill them before they are even born. Abortion today is not limited by anything except time, and excuses vary from not being ready to have a child to not wanting an abnormal child. There are only excuses for mistakes, errors and wrong doing. And if abortion is not even a mistake, then homicide shouldn’t be a crime. Abortion cannot only be blamed on the parents; it should also be blamed on the doctors that perform such operations because they are the ones who have been sworn to do their best to preserve human life – abortion is really the opposite of that. And as Reagan R. said, â€Å"Everybody that is for abortion has already been born. † Mothers should be encouraged not to abort, but to love their unborn children as much as they love the ones they have born. After all, it’s only a matter of time. References Fergusson, D. M. , Horwood, J. L. amp; Boden, J. M. (2009) . Reactions to abortion and subsequent mental health. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 195, 420-426. Lalwani, P. (2010). Abortion: Side effects of abortion. Retrieved from http://www. buzzle. com/articles/abortion-side-effects-of-abortion. html Shostak, A. , McLouth, G. Seng, L. (1984). Men and abortion. New York: Praeger Publishers. Reisser, T. (2009). The effects of abortion on marriage and other committed relationships. Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change, 6, 4. Pendergraft, J. (2009). Post abortion: What to expect afterwards. Retrieved from http://www. articlesbase. om/womens-health-articles/post-abortion-what-to-expect-afterwards-880007. html Dillon, J. (2002). A path to hope  : For parents of aborted children and those who minister to them. Totowa, New Jersey: Resurrection Press. Head, T. (2011). Pro-life vs. pro-choice. Retrieved from http://civilliberty. about. com/od/abortion/tp/Pro-Life-vs-Pro-Choice. htm Brown, N. A. , Clarke, D. O. , McCarthy, A. (1991) Adaptation of post implantation e mbryos to culture: membrane lipid synthesis and response to valproate. Reprod Toxicol. 5(3):245-53. Willke, J. C. (1985). Abortion: Questions and answers. Cincinnati: Hayes Publishing.