Same-sex Parents in Custody Cases - 1853 Words

When considering the word â€Å"family†, many people think of â€Å"Mom+Dad+2.5 children†--the nuclear family of television sitcom. However, this definition of family is a new interpretation that fit the rapid housing expansion of the Cold War years in the Western world. Conservatives have often decried the breakdown of this definition of family as a primary reason for their opposition to same sex marriage. As this was the predominant family structure for a lengthy period of time, most family law decisions have been written with this paradigm in mind, defining a husband/wife relationship as the norm. However, as gay marriage is legalized nationally, family law must adapt to newer definitions of the word â€Å"family†, in order to†¦show more content†¦Interestingly, a recent case has further infringed upon the ability of gay partners to adopt a child in their marriage, thus highlighting the precarious legal status of a gay parent. In the case of Amalia C. and Melissa M., â€Å"Brooklyn Surrogate’s Court judge, Margarita Là ³pez Torres, ruled on Jan. 6 that because New York State had enacted same-sex marriage in 2011 and allowed both women to be listed on the boy’s birth certificate, Amalia was already the child’s parent and could not adopt him.† (McKinley) This ruling has been troubling to gay rights advocates â€Å"because the presumption of parentage may not be respected if they leave the state,† according to Susan Sommer, a lawyer with the Lambda Legal Defense Fund (McKinley). Judge Torres, however, has stated openly that her reason for the ruling was because it places gay marriage on a separate footing from traditional marriage and while she is sensitive to the needs of those whose marriages may not be recognized in another state, she must abide by the laws of New York, which do not allow a heterosexual spouse to adopt a stepchild (McKinley). In The Gay Divorce Trap: When Same-Sex Marriage Goes Wrong., Lizzie Crocker addresses the difficulties faced by gay parents: When a heterosexual couple divorces, a judge determines custody rights—both visitation and child support—based on a child’s best interest. But that issue is complicated for gay couples who raised childrenShow MoreRelatedThe Debate On Marriage And Parenting Rights For Gay And1673 Words   |  7 Pagesrooted in homophobia. Opponents of the LGBT community contend that same sex parenting contradicts the natural order of the world, subjects children to unnecessary societal stigma, and that the state has a right to favor heterosexual norms. However, these concerns are either unfounded or unjustly infringe on the rights of gay and lesbian couples. Consequently, there is no reason to prohibit gay or lesbian couples from obtaining custody of children. Proponents of the natural law ideology, a doctrineRead MoreFamily Law Is An Area That Concern About Legal Issues Involving1283 Words   |  6 Pagesas marriage, divorce, adoption and child custody. Every country has its own family law and its typically influences by the issue, culture and religion in that country. In Malaysia, family law is divided into two categories; Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) and the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce). Malaysia is an Islamic country. Hence, this family law distinguishes between Muslims and non-Muslims. The law between each state is more or like the same. As for the United States, the family lawRead MoreLegal Issues For Gay And Lesbian Adoption And Parental Rights1626 Words   |  7 Pagesthe gay and lesbian population presents a unique set of challenges both societal and legal. Whether constitutional or not, special rules apply to same gay and lesbian adoption. Under current legislation, is same sex adoption fully legal and how do the laws on the subject measure with regard to equality to adoption among heterosexual couples in the same state? Once the issue of adoption is overcome what happens with regards to parental rights once the homosexual union is dissolved or the couple partsRead MoreRecognition and Legalization of Same-sex Marriage 1405 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Equality is a prominent topic of debate. Although the gay and lesbian community has progressed, the fight for equality remains. Recognition and legalization of same-sex marriage still falls within the minority rule amongst the states, but will soon be the majority. California , Delaware , Connecticut , Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Rhode Island , Vermont , Washington , Iowa , and Washington DRead MoreGay Fathers And Their Children1300 Words   |  6 PagesCourt’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, may lead some to believe LGBT families are a recent phenomenon. Daniel Winunwe Rivers’ Radical Relations: Lesbian Mothers, Gay Fathers, and Their Children in the United States since World War II brilliantly uncovers the previously untold history of same-sex families. Rivers’ main thesis is that same-sex families challenge both the core cultural American belief that â€Å"family is by definition heterosexual† (p. 2) and the â€Å"myth of same-sex childlessness.† (p.Read More Social and Legal Obstacles of Gay and Lesbian Parenting Essay1677 Words   |  7 Pagesresearchers have estimated that the number of children living with one gay or lesbian parent is six to fourteen million. Some have described this current period as a lesbian and gay â€Å"baby boom†. However, lesbian and gay parents face many social and legal obstacles (Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 1997). In the past, most gay and lesbian parents lived secretive and protective lives. Not only did gay parents have to face his or her coming out issues and separation from spouse, but also faceRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Is A Fundamental Right870 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, held that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right guaranteed by the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In consequence, many new legal implications have arose from this decision. For example, now there’ll be same-sex divorces, same-sex spousal rights for life insurance, wills, and the like. What does this all mean legally for same-sex couples? As time progresses, it will become clearer howRead MoreSexual Orientation And Gender Identity863 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States have at least one parent who is either lesbian, gay, or transgender. However, many people feel uncomfortable about being open d ue to their sexual orientation and gender identity due to fears of discrimination; such fears include, but are not limited to, loss of employment, loss of child custody, anti-gay violence and hate crimes. Although many people may have distinctive opinions on certain outcomes or effects that a child may have living in a same-sex family, most research studies showRead MoreMedia And Its Impact On Society Essay1625 Words   |  7 Pagesmany believe it is a slippery slope, I do believe that courts should be more open-minded when awarding custody and visitation, because the rigidity of the law no longer serves our social norms. For instance, it is common in our society for an adult with no marital presumption or biological connection to have an important parental role in a child’s life and serve as a de-facto parent (i.e. same-sex couples, stepparents, and/or cohabitating partners), however the legal system often fails to protect thoseRead MoreSex Marriage And Same Sex Parental Ad option1482 Words   |  6 PagesIntro to LGBT Studies Case Study Part 1: Historical Context Due September 22, 2017 The topics of same-sex marriage and same-sex parental adoption have been controversial and ongoing topics in recent years, which is a drastic change in mainstream society. People of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) community have had a difficult time in gaining visibility and equal civil liberties, one of which is marriage equality. Same-sex couples have only recently been recognized under the

Natural Calamity in Uttrakhand Free Essays

As a child I was amused at the premonition of the Soothsayer when he predicted the Death of Julius Caesar, who out of sheer vanity not only discarded his advice, but also admonished him for the same. A similar analogy can be drawn to the travesty that now surrounds Uttarakhand, the sole exception being, the vanity and obliviousness of the Government has gravely pulverized the State Exchequer and costed the lives of its own denizens, as against the death of one ruler. The blame game, which is a necessary by product of every mishappening in our country, has already begun, where both the Central Government as well as the State Government are rebuking each other and their predecessors in chair for faulty policy making, ineffective implementation, absence of rescue and relief strategy, steaming constitutional debates on whether the present system should be governed under Entry 56 of the Union List or under Entry 17 of the Sate List, and the classic press release phrase â€Å"mis-governance†. We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Calamity in Uttrakhand or any similar topic only for you Order Now What lies on the other hand of this scale is innumerable unreported deaths, devastation of public property, and over sixty thousand stranded people, who are yet to be afforded anything as remotely close to the term â€Å"relief†. Genesis of the Problem and Observations made by the CAG Report India boasts of being ranked sixth in terms of largest hydel power generation capacity countries. Domestically, hydel power accounts for 1/4th of India’s dependence on energy. The Hydel Power Report of Uttarakhand published in the year 2008, categorically acclaims that the State has the potential to harness almost 20,000 MW of electricity through hydel power. Blinded with such ambitious target, the State Government failed to notice, either deliberately or otherwise, the very first objective on the same page, which has been reproduced as: â€Å"To harness the environment friendly Renewable Energy resources and enhance their contribution to the socioeconomic development of the State. Another important objective which the State while implementing the said project, was oblivious to, is â€Å"To enhance the use of energy sources that assist in mitigating environmental pollution. † The current policies, as the CAG Report categorically points out, are aimed at aggravating and not mitigating environmental pollution, and have been a cause of the floods in and around the region. Periphrastically speaking, the ngoing havoc that was witnessed in Uttarakhand was preordained in the report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as late as in 2009, reproaching the Central Government and the Government of Uttarakhand for its dual role of faulty hydro power policy making as well as ineffective policy implementation. Some of the main concerns highlighted in the CAG Report are: 1. Due to the over ambitious policy of the State Government to create multiple river channels, and multiple power projects on the same tributary, a serious endangerment of environment is certainty. With over 42 Projects currently functioning, and 203 projects in construction and clearance stage, at every 6 – 7 kms stretch, there will be a dam to obstruct the flow of the river. 2. All the projects are based on high seismic areas in and around districts chamoli, rudra prayag, pithoragarh, Almora and despite severe earth quakes in 1720, 1803, 1991, and 1999 the multiplicity of hydro power projects, without adequate counter seismic measures continue to run rogue thereby causing serious risk to the lives of the people. 3. There is a clear enumeration of Flash Floods which would result in severe destruction to life and property in and around the low lying areas of the hills. Table Appended to the Report has further highlighted various instances wherein such flash floods have occurred previously in the same areas. 4. No evidence to suggest that for failure to comply with the conditions of Environmental Impact Assessment, a penalty was imposed on the builders. 5. Failure of the nodal agency to ensure submission of quarterly and half yearly compliance reports by the management. . Flagrant Negligence towards Environmental and Security Concerns. 7. The adverse impact on the ecology was further underscored by the fact that almost 4 out of 5 Power Projects have shown the complete drying up of river beds to a trickle resulting into severe impairment and devastation of the ecology, and imbalance in the water table resulting into drying up of natural aquifers in the nearby areas. 8. According to International Standards, the minimum discharge of river downstream should be maintained at 75 % so that the aquatic life remains intact. However, the present projects are discharging downstream river by 90 % and above which results into complete devastation of the aquatic life. 9. Faulty Pre-Feasibility Survey Reports, which gives inaccurate data for evaluation of the hydro power station, which means serious short comings in ascertaining whether the location to construct is feasible or not, questions on plant efficiency and what would be the impact of soil erosion, etc. remain in a state of serious jeopardy. 10. As much as 38 % of the total projects which have been granted an Environmental Clearance have failed to carry out mandatory plantation. By – Passing The Law As per the Gazette notification issued by the Central Government under Sections 2 and 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the area surrounding the river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, which is 135 kms stretch, was declared to be â€Å"eco sensitive area†. A total area of about 4179. 59 sq km came under the eco-sensitive zone. This will impose restrictions on quarrying, commissioning hydropower projects on Bhagirathi, and construction of roads in the prohibited area. Besides, it will impose a ban on felling of trees and setting up of factories to manufacture furniture and other wooden items. For the purposes of effective implementation, the State Government, with the help of the local NGO’s and people was mandated to formulate a Zonal Master Plan surrounding the area, whereby every hydel power which is below 20 MW of Power Generation Capacity had to take a clearance from the State Ministry. However, the State Government opposed the said notification in May as they were not â€Å"consulted† before this policy was formulated; among concerns voiced by the citizens that an embargo on development would send them back to the Stone Age, which in reality was not what the notification envisaged. This mutual blame game and inter-ministerial trifles have led to such travesty. Today the very area surrounding Bhagirathi and parts of Uttarkashi are the worst hit areas of the State. Travesty of Environmental Clearance. Another notification issued by the Central Government warrants deliberation. It was mandated that before sanctioning the projects, or before expanding or modernizing hitherto existing projects, it was obligatory to procure an Environmental Impact Assessment Clearance from the Central Government and the State Government. Every Hydel Power project was subjected to the same strictures as have been mandated under Section 3(1) and Section 3(2) (v) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Such an EIA has to be in conformity with the Standards laid down by the National Environment Policy, and the guidelines that have been made under Rule 5 of the Environment Protection Rules. There are four stages before procuring an Environmental Clearance: 1. Screening wherein the projects are divided into two categories, those to be assessed by the Central Government (Category A Projects which are over and above 25 MW capacity power projects), and those to be assessed by the State Government (Under 25 MW Capacity Power Projects). 2. Scoping by which the Expert Committee determines on detailed concerns (current and probable) regarding Environmental Depletion or damage, at which stage the Committee is empowered to allow or reject the application seeking commencement of the project. 3. Public Consultation which provides for a public consultation held in the auspices of the site, obtain responses of all stake holders, villagers, etc. in writing and to be supervised by the State Pollution Control Board, but which specifically excludes â€Å"modernization of irrigation projects† out of its domain. . Appraisal which means the detailed scrutiny by the Expert Appraisal Committee or State Level Expert Appraisal Committee of the application and other documents like the Final EIA report, outcome of the public consultations including public hearing proceedings, submitted by the applicant to the regulatory authority concerned for grant of environmental clearance. In addition to the aforementioned checks and balances, there is a periodic Post Environment Clearance monitoring which are to be submitted on a half yearly basis by the management. This provides a very rosy picture of the law that governs such clearances; however the reality is far from such notion. For instance, according to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as much as 38 % of the total industries and projects functioning in the area, and which have received a green signal to operate, have not complied with the mandatory plantation of trees in and around the site. This has resulted into serious deforestation in the hilly areas, which results into soil erosion. Himalayas being young fold mountains, have a very unstable soil compaction, as compared to other mountain ranges, because of which soil erosion can assume cataclysmic proportions, it is also the reason why rivers are changing their natural course and cutting deep crevices in the hills, wreaking havoc amongst those who stand in its way. Are we to blame? This is one perpetual question, which warrants a sordid introspection. Reports have also suggested that illegal construction of motels, rest houses, guest houses, hotels and restaurants have been made in the river bed, whereas a notification issued by the State Government clearly prohibits any illegal construction in or around 100 metres from the river bed. This is supplementary to the damage that has already been carried out by the Government. Media reports further stipulate that there was no effective functioning authority in the name of â€Å"State Disaster Management Authority†. The moot question that now faces us is whether this calamity was â€Å"natural† at all, or was it brought about by our own fallacies, inactions, deliberate obliviousness, and negligence. History is replete with instances of civilizations crashing under the might of Natural Forces, and with the present rate of depletion, the future of the Upper Gangetic Basin and the Himalayas hangs in a very delicate balance. How to cite Natural Calamity in Uttrakhand, Papers

Government Intervention and Internet Regulation free essay sample

Government Intervention and Internet Regulation Internet is a global network that connects millions of computers together and allows people to communicate and share information with each other in an effective and easy way. It has become the most widely used means of communications of recent times. â€Å"The number of U. S. homes with one or more personal computers increased by 16% (in 1995) to about 38 million households, up from 33 million in 1994 and 25 million in 1993† (Fox 9). Along with that staggering stat, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science has reported that 95% of the public has access to the Internet† (â€Å"Free Essay†). Internet is filled with a lot of information on almost every topic in the world and anyone can access that information anytime he or she wants and most often that information is available for free. The very fact that everything is so easily available over the internet has become a cause of great concern because people can access information that they are not supposed to view. This has given the rise to a great debate over the use internet regulation versus the concept of net neutrality. â€Å"Internet regulation is basically restricting or controlling access to certain aspects or information† (â€Å"Internet Regulation†). The proponents of regulation argue that some form of government intervention is necessary to keep a check on the information people access over the internet because that information might be a source of harm for the society in general. Whereas on the other hand, the proponents of concept of net neutrality state that if a person pays for his internet access, then there should be no restrictions on the content that he can view. Because internet is filled with all sorts of information and anyone can access unsuitable information at anytime, some sort of government intervention is necessary in the form of internet regulation to uphold the morals of the society. There are several ways through which internet can be regulated. Government can make use of the â€Å"state control approach† to â€Å"intervene directly and place technical controls on the content that can be accessed by their citizens† (Darlington). â€Å"A classic case is Saudi Arabia where all of the countrys Internet service providers have to go through a central node where the Saudi authorities block access to sites hosting pornography, those believed to cause religious offence, and web sites containing information on bomb-making† (Darlington). Another form of regulation, â€Å"the self regulation approach† is based on â€Å"voluntary initiatives by the Internet Service Providers (ISP) industry† (Darlington). As per this approach, the ISPs try to control the type of content available to the customers and they keep a check on information being accessed over the internet. â€Å"Classically this is the approach in Britain where there is no written constitution and government has shown no wish to legislate† (Darlington). And perhaps the most commonly used and widely accepted form of regulation is the use of filtering techniques through which access to some parts of the information can be controlled for some particular users. For example, parents can use filters to restrict their children from viewing inappropriate explicit content. One of the arguments for having regulation is that internet can be accessed by anyone. Initially, it was supposed to cater to the needs of the American military establishments. Then its uses spread over to the academic communities and today it can be accessed by any individuals from any country and belonging to any age group. For example, a child can easily view inappropriate content from his bedroom at any time he wants. This should not happen because that material can corrupt the mind of that child and can have some serious negative effects. â€Å"As the speed of the Internet increased dramatically with the development of broadband access in the late 1990s and early 2000s, not only has more of this type of information become more available, but also users have been able to access this information in greater quantity† (â€Å"Internet Legal Definition†). So in such circumstances, â€Å"we must have some procedures for tackling illegal content on the Internet and some mechanisms for allowing end user control of what is accessed on the Internet† (Darlington). â€Å"It is argued that the genesis of the Internet was such that it embraced and fostered a new spirit of freedom, openness and experimentation and that these values must remain an integral feature of the Internet† and if any form of regulation is introduced then the whole essence of the internet will be lost and people would not be able to access the vast resources of information that it has to offer (Darlington). The opponents of regulation also argue that any form of internet regulation is against the individual’s rights to freedom of expression and the concept of net neutrality because in such a scenario a person may not be able to choose the content he wants to view. However, it should be clearly understood that society is greater than a single person and if such rights of freedom cause harm to the values of the society as a whole, then it is perhaps the responsibility of the government to intervene and restrict the rights given to every individual in order to maintain those values. There is offensive content on the internet†, so this justifies the use of internet restrictions (Darlington). Internet is filled with explicit content. There are thousands of websites that contain pornographic materials which is considered inappropriate for minors and mostly this content is available for free, so there is no additional cost of viewing it besides the charges paid to the ISP. â€Å" Also there are some sites which propagate extremist views, often of a racist nature† (Darlington). Though such explicit material is legal to be viewed by an individual of a certain age which in most countries is set at 18, there is no one particular way of making sure that it is not viewed by anyone under this age because individuals can mislead the system and hide correct personal information. So in such a scenario, the most effective way for individuals who have responsibility of the children, like parents and teachers, is to limit the access to such material through the use of filters. These filters allow censorship of inappropriate material using the ratings provided by the websites. However, it should be kept in mind that this censorship technique â€Å"enable adults to control their own access to material so they do not stumble across things (advertising, violence, erotica/pornography, religious or political material etc. ), which offend them† (â€Å"Internet Regulation†). So in a way it is a matter of personal choice and responsibility which gives an individual the power to choose what he views because one can easily change filter settings to control the type of content available to him. Despite all the great uses provided by the internet, it is used by some people for illegal purposes; therefore, the use of regulation is justified because â€Å"a stringent internet regulation can help to curb the innumerable illegal activities over the net† (Manohar). Examples of such criminal activities include â€Å"copyright theft, credit card fraud, financial scams, money laundering, hacking, industrial espionage, cyber terrorism, actual terrorism, bomb making instructions, prostitution, certain forms of gambling, drug use, drug smuggling, suicide assistance, defamatory allegations, cyber stalking† (Darlington). In recent times, people have started to complain about the ever increasing number of spam emails that are sent over the internet. â€Å"The number of spam messages sent increased nearly 300 percent from 2001 to 2002 from 14,078,511 to 55,683,103, according to e-mail filtering company Brightmail† ( Kornblum). â€Å"Spam refers to submitting the same message to a large group of individuals in an effort to force the message onto people who would otherwise choose not to receive this message† (â€Å"Spam†). In order to ensure that people do not indulge in such criminal activities and the society remains unharmed, the government must intervene to stop any of these activities from taking place by imposing restrictions. Some people argue that the internet is an enormous network which is growing rapidly as time progresses, so it is not possible to regulate the internet. The argument provided here is flawed because the fact that the internet is so large makes regulating it more difficult, but because it is difficult it does not mean that it should not be regulated. Some also argue that because â€Å"internet is different in operation from other communication networks†, so it should not be regulated (Darlington). â€Å"Whereas radio and television is pumped into millions of homes simultaneously (push technology), the Internet is an interactive medium and requires a particular user actively to seek a particular site or application (pull technology)† (Darlington). The very nature of the way in which the end user consumes the internet makes a good argument for having some sort of formal restrictions. In the case of radio and television, there are certain restrictions on the amount of violence and sex that goes through. So even if an individual wants to see something â€Å"special†, there is absolutely no way in which he can do that if nothing such is broadcast at that time, but the case of internet is quite different. A person can view anything, anytime and anywhere he wants. Therefore, regulation acts as a great measure to ensure that a check is maintained over the usage of the internet. Some people even argue that it is not the responsibility of the government to protect the children against the inappropriate content that is available over the internet because it has got other tasks to take care of and instead â€Å"those responsible for them at the time – parents, teachers, guardians, supervisors – should control what they access on the Internet† (Darlington). â€Å"While children and teenagers need a certain amount of privacy, they also need parental involvement and supervision in their daily lives† (â€Å"Free Essay†). One way suggested by these people requires the parents to spend time with their children when they are online so that they can keep a check on what their children are accessing. But this kind of total control can not be exercised by those responsible for children because they can not be present at all times. Furthermore, internet can now easily be accessed on mobile devices so it can be easily misused and in the case of a school where a teacher has to look after a lot of students, it is practically impossible for her to monitor the activities of each student at the same time. So â€Å"while parents and teachers must exercise responsibility, they should be assisted by other approaches including the taking down of sites with criminal content and the filtering of sites with offensive or inappropriate content† (Darlington). The debate over the topic of internet regulation versus the concept of net neutrality has become a great issue these days because of the ever growing increase in the usage of the internet and its implications on the society in general.

Problem solving and decision making Consideration of Individual Differences using the Myers

Title and Abstract The title used partially gives the reader a clue on what is to be discussed but does not elaborately and vividly bring out a picture of what the article entails. It has not been clearly stated that the problem solving and decision marking is based on the determination of the individual differences among various people. The abstract on the other hand has been too general hence the exact details contained in the article have not been well brought out.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Problem solving and decision making: Consideration of Individual Differences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Introduction The introduction is well connected with brief but well researched and cited background information. The statement of the hypothesis is acceptable and well brought out. However, the objectives are not clear in the sense that it has not been stated how the use o f this research benefit an organization in decision making. The advantages derived from using this model as compared to the other model have also not been mentioned. It is only mentioned that this model is the most preferred but with no reason to support it. Participant selection (sampling procedures) Generally, this article gives information in a reported manner, that is, the information contained in this article is based on the already tried researched methods and therefore only tries to give an explanation to the research and its findings. Despite all these, there is nowhere mentioned in the article where this model was applied in determining the individual differences in problem solving. In a nutshell, this article is just but a description of a theory that is said to be widely applied but does not give clear evidence on how it was applied. There is no statement of how the research was conducted by the pioneers of this model and the results found from the same. It is therefore v ery difficult to tell the procedures used in the research and how the sampling was conducted. Procedure section This article solely concentrates on describing the relationship between the individual differences and problem solving. Views from the various theorists have also been included to come up with a solid explanation that relates the two aspects; individual differences and problem solving. What has actually been given in this article is barely an explanation but since this is a research that has been conducted, it should be accompanied by lots of supporting evidence which lacks in this article. It is therefore not clear whether the information given in this study is authentic and whether this model can be successfully applied as a reliable tool for decision making. The procedures towards problem solving have been proposed but no report on whether they have ever been tested and tried or not. Measure section The procedures given in this article are consistent and have vivid expl anations. However, it is not authentic and its workability raises doubts. This is basically because the supporting evidence is too little to fully back the information provided. For instance, test-retest approximations bring uncertainty concerning the constancy of MBTI-type marks.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Statistical analysis and results There is very little statistical analysis provided in this article. The assumptions that were taken during the research have not been mentioned anywhere. It is therefore very difficult to tell whether there were assumptions during the research and how they were solved. Discussion and interpretation The article mainly explains the results of the research that was conducted although the results themselves have not been well stated. However, basing on the information disclosed in the article, it is very true that the lack of solid evidence to sup port this model makes the entire model subject to doubt and criticism. This can be exemplified by overdependence on scores of preference on dichotomous as opposed to the continuous scores which is a limiting factor to the echelon of statistical analysis such as assigning of frequencies to the mentioned sixteen types in the module. Additionally, test-retest approximations bring uncertainty concerning the constancy of MBTI-type marks. Some investigators suggest that all personality surveys bear ambiguous stands. From the information provided in the article concerning the MBTI module, it is very to come up with an assertion the MBTI preference has errors and has insufficient scientific back up and research as far as the utility of the MBTI is concerned especially in organizational settings. From the appearance of the description, it can be further argued out that there is no sufficient, well designed research to validate the application of the MBTI perspective in areas like career and organizational and counseling. The current methodologies on which the evidence is supported are inadequate and inefficient to effectively bring forth a reliable module that can be widely used in various areas and fields (Huitt, 1992). General issues Generally, there is flow of ideas throughout the article and all the information has been presented in a logical order that is understandable. However, the problem solving techniques have just been stated in brief without a solid description. It is therefore difficult to understand full how each of them works. Conclusion In my own opinion, this article has attempted to give a vivid explanation to problem solving but the main limitation is that it lacks the scientific and practical evidence of its workability. It can therefore be improved by incorporating more scientific backing to the information disclosed to make it an authentic document that can be adopted.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Problem solving and deci sion making: Consideration of Individual Differences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference Huitt, W. (1992). Problem solving and decision making: Consideration of individual differences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Journal of Psychological Type, 24, 33-44. This essay on Problem solving and decision making: Consideration of Individual Differences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was written and submitted by user Hattie Reed 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. Problem solving and Decision Making Consideration of Individual Differences Using the Myers

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland A critical analysis of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland will help resolve the question regarding the purpose of fantasy in films and literature. It is important to determine if fantasy serves only one purpose, to provide an escape from reality.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Alice in Wonderland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is the contention of the proponent of this study that there is another reason why fantasy in film and literature exists. An examination of Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland will reveal that fantasy serves two purposes and it is to provide a way of escape from reality and provide a mechanism for the delivery of socio-cultural messages. The Primary Purpose of Fantasy The primary objective of fantasy is to provide a way of escape from the unexciting existence of daily living. At the time of writing, England was a progressive society. Victorian England provided a backdrop for the s tory and served as a source of inspiration for the writer (Clark, 1963). The importance of Victorian England in world trade assures stability for the British people (Wood, 1960). In other words the citizens of the said country can expect a routine way of life. The children wakes, up in every morning and expect the same activities to recur. They will eat breakfast and, then, learn the basic skills of reading and writing. Those who had no pending academic requirements spend their time playing with toys while others enjoy the fellowship of friends, neighbours and relatives. The children eat lunch and, then, they will eat their evening meal. After the morning and evening activities had been completed, the children retire to their beds. They need to renew their strength to perform tasks lined up for them the following day. But the same pattern can be expected the following day. The adults experience the same type of routine. They wake up to prepare for the tasks ahead. But they are confr onted with the same workload. The mothers prepare the meals and clean the house. The wife takes care of husband and children. The father eats breakfast in preparation for the work ahead. The professionals report to their respective business establishments. The blue-collar workers report to their employers to perform duties that range from construction work to back-breaking labour in factories. This description of the 19th century life in England may be a simplified version of real events. But it is enough to show the need for activities that can help deal with the grind as a result of predictability and routine (Levin, 1965).Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fantasy provides an escape not only from the boredom but also from the pain inflicted by circumstances of daily living (Guiliano, 1982). Fantasy provides an escape because it frees the mind of the reader. In fant asy, there are no boundaries. The link between fantasy and freedom was elaborated by Rosemary Jackson who wrote that fantasy is free â€Å"from many of the conventions and restraints of more realistic texts: they have refused to observed unities of time, space and character, doing away with chronology, three-dimensionality and with rigid distinctions between animate and inanimate objects, self and other, life and death (Jackson, 1988, p.2). Jackson’s insight regarding fantasy provides a clear explanation why fantasy films and fantasy literature are popular, even in the 21st century. The ability to escape through fantasy is something that must not be taken lightly. According to one commentary, â€Å"the ability to escape is an integral part of a healthy adult† (Macpherson, 2000, p.263). Fantasy literature provides a short-term escape from reality. Psychologists consider them as â€Å"breathing and laughing spaces† (Macpherson, 2000, p.263). When faced with insur mountable problems, human beings will find ways to relieve the stress and to mitigate the impact of the negative circumstances (Schwartz, 2006). Fantasy literature and fantasy films provide temporary escape. The problem still exists after watching a movie or reading a wonderful novel. But fantasy films and literature provide the psychological equivalent of an exhaust valve. It enables the person to let go of some steam before the engine explodes due to excess heat and pressure. There are problems that cannot be solved in an instant. There are struggles that require time before it can be resolved. But human beings are prone to overanalyse the problem and, as a result, anxiety can create an emotional stranglehold. Thus, it is important to focus the mind on other things. Therefore, the effective use of fantasy films and literature can be seen as an integral part of human health.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Alice in Wonderland specifically for you for onl y $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Secondary Purpose of Fantasy In the case of Carrolls Alice in Wonderland, one of the purposes of fantasy is to create a mechanism that can deliver social messages (Richardson, 1999, p.169). It can be argued that the author attempted to paint an image of an ideal child. Alice served as a model. The author can describe an ideal image of a child in a straightforward manner, but only a few people may be interested to read the article. It is much better if the message is hidden in a story. People love to listen to stories. The image of an ideal child formed in the mind of the author can come alive through storytelling. Carroll may have utilised an ideal image of an English child but the child that he created in this fantasy adventure was far from perfect. Alice may look perfect on the outside but, when it came to her character, there are areas that required significant improvements. Early in the story, the author seems to highlight the imp ortant weakness in the character of Alice. She was impatient when it came to many things. But what was highlighted in the beginning of the story was that she wanted to do things that are restricted for adults. Her family tried to make her understand that she had to wait for the time when she would be old enough to be considered an adult and experience the things that she wanted to experience such as the ability to drink tea with them. Alice did not listen to the wise words given by members of her family. Her desire to grow up and become an adult without going through the process of maturity became more evident. She was impatient and wanted to act like an adult. The author could preach about values and the importance of humility and obedience. But the target audience may be turned-off by such actions. Thus, it was better to use fantasy to create a more compelling message with regards to the importance of these values. The author was able to express his socio-cultural message in an in direct manner. When Alice fell into a hole, she was separated from her family. It was an indirect way of saying that children who disobey their parents will experience separation. Alice wanted to be independent and wanted to grow up fast. But she had no clear idea with regards to the consequences of such desires. There are many children all over the world who can relate to the feeling of frustration that Alice felt. However, the author wanted his young readers to understand that rebellion against parents can lead to alienation.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Alice did not only fell into a hole, she also experienced free-fall. She thought that she fell into a bottomless pit and imagined that at the end of the hole is a country called Australia. Fantasy enabled the author to create a world that contradicts the law of nature. It makes the story more interesting. However, this particular scene was inserted not only to explain the transition from the normal world above-ground to the magical kingdom beneath but also to show the folly of pride. Alice wanted to grow up fast and defy the natural processes that usually go with the transition from childhood to adulthood. It can be argued that her impatience and her desire to interact with adults are a sign of pride (Lloyd, 2010). Thus, when she fell into a hole, she experienced free-fall. The whole event symbolised the humbling consequence of pride. The author also made it clear that a child must not desire to cut corners when it comes to the process of growing up. There is much to learn and the c hild must go through the journey from childhood to adulthood. The insistence of Alice to enter the world of the adult was dealt within the story. In one scene, Alice was compelled to enter the house of W. Rabbit. When she was inside, she ate special food with magical powers. The food that she ate enabled her to grow but her growth was abnormal in relation to her surroundings and, therefore, she had to bend so low in order to protect her head. Her growth continued unimpeded so that she was trapped inside the house and her arms and legs blocked all possible entrance and exit to and from the house. She was pinned down, uncomfortable and wanted desperately to go back to smaller size so she can leave the house. The use of fantasy enabled the author to teach his young readers the importance of being a child and the need to follow the instructions of parents. But Alice in Wonderland is not an ordinary example of fantasy literature. The author was not only able to correct the character flaw s of Alice he also managed to create a story wherein he can insert values that were important to his target audience. Carroll’s genius was revealed through the following commentary: â€Å"Alice herself, prim and earnest in pinafore and pumps, confronting a world out of control by looking for the rules and murmuring her lessons, stands as one image of the Victorian middle-class child† (Auerbach, 1987, p.31). Thus, the use of fantasy enabled the author to underscore the importance of certain social values. Conclusion Fantasy in films and literature serves a primary purpose and that is to provide the reader with a mechanism to temporarily escape the humdrum of daily existence. But, in the examination of Carroll’s work Alice in Wonderland, it can be said that the author did not only provide an escape valve for stressed out people, he also showcased Victorian England. Carroll was able to express his socio-cultural message through the help of fantasy literature. In a unique and entertaining manner, the author utilised fantasy literature to communicate ideas that can help parents raise a child. Thus, fantasy literature did not only contain entertainment value but also the capability to impart important life lessons. References Auerbach, N 1987, â€Å"Alice in wonderland: a curious child†, in H Bloom (ed), Modern  critical views: Lewis Carroll, Chelsea Publishers, New York, pp.31-43. Clark, G 1963, The making of Victorian England, Methuen Co. Ltd., London, Guiliano, E 1982, Lewis Carroll: a celebration, Clarkson Potter, New York. Jackson, R 1988, Fantasy: the literature of subversion, Routledge, New York. Levin, H 1965, ‘Wonderland revisited’, The Kenyon Review, vol. 27 no. 4, pp. 591-616. Lloyd, M 2010, â€Å"Unruly Alice: a feminist view of some adventures in wonderland†, in P.B. Davis (ed), Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy : curiouser and curiouser, John Wiley Sons, New Jersey, pp.7-17. Macpherson, H 2000, †˜Classifying escape: Tillie Olsens Yonnondio’, Critique, vol. 41 no.3, pp. 263-271. Richardson, A 1999, ‘Romanticism and the end of childhood’, Nineteenth-Century  Contexts, vol. 21 no. 1, pp.169-189. Schwartz, L 2006, ‘Fantasy, realism, and the other in recent video games’,  Space and Culture, vol. 9 no. 3, pp.313-325. Wood, A 1960, Nineteenth century Britain, Longman, Green and Co., London.

History of the Yellow Star Inscribed With Jude

History of the Yellow Star Inscribed With Jude The yellow star, inscribed with the word Jude (Jew in German), has become a symbol of Nazi persecution. Its likeness abounds upon Holocaust literature and materials. But the Jewish badge was not instituted in 1933 when Hitler came to power. It was not instituted in 1935 when the Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their citizenship. It was still not implemented by Kristallnacht in 1938. The oppression and labeling of the Jews by use of the Jewish badge did not begin until after the start of the Second World War. And even then, it began as local laws rather than as a unified Nazi policy. Whether Nazis Where First to Implement a Jewish Badge The Nazis rarely had an original idea. Almost always what made the Nazi policies different was that they intensified, magnified, and institutionalized age-old methods of persecution. The oldest reference to using mandatory articles of clothing to identify and distinguish Jews from the rest of society was in 807 CE. In this year, Abbassid caliph Haroun al-Raschid ordered all Jews to wear a yellow belt and a tall, cone-like hat.1 But it was in 1215 that the Fourth Lateran Council, presided over by Pope Innocent III, made its infamous decree. Canon 68 declared: Jews and Saracens [Muslims] of both sexes in every Christian province and at all times shall be marked off in the eyes of the public from other peoples through the character of their dress.2 This Council represented all of Christendom and thus this decree was to be enforced throughout all of the Christian countries. The use of a badge was not instantaneous throughout Europe nor were the dimensions or shape of the badge uniform. As early as 1217, King Henry III of England ordered Jews to wear on the front of their upper garment the two tablets of the Ten Commandments made of white linen or parchment.3 In France, local variations of the badge continued until Louis IX decreed in 1269 that both men and women were to wear badges on the outer garment, both front and back, round pieces of yellow felt or linen, a palm long and four fingers wide.4 In Germany and Austria, Jews were distinguishable in the latter half of the 1200s when the wearing of a horned hat otherwise known as a Jewish hat - an article of clothing that Jews had worn freely before the crusades - became mandatory. It wasnt until the fifteenth century when a badge became the distinguishing article in Germany and Austria. The use of badges became relatively widespread throughout Europe within a couple of centuries and continued to be used as distinctive markings until the age of Enlightenment. In 1781, Joseph II of Austria made major torrents into the use of a badge with his Edict of Tolerance and many other countries discontinued their use of badges very late in the eighteenth century. When the Nazis Decided to Re-Use the Jewish Badge The first reference to a Jewish badge during the Nazi era was made by the German Zionist leader, Robert Weltsch. During the Nazi declared boycott upon Jewish stores on April 1, 1933, yellow Stars of David were painted on windows. In reaction to this, Weltsch wrote an article entitled Tragt ihn mit Stolz, den gelben Fleck (Wear the Yellow Badge with Pride) which was published on April 4, 1933. At this time, Jewish badges had yet even to be discussed among the top Nazis. It is believed that the first time that the implementation of a Jewish badge was discussed among the Nazi leaders was right after Kristallnacht in 1938. At a meeting on November 12, 1938, Reinhard Heydrich made the first suggestion about a badge. But it wasnt until after the Second World War began in September 1939 that individual authorities implemented a Jewish badge in the Nazi German-occupied territories of Poland. For instance, on November 16, 1939, the order for a Jewish badge was announced in Lodz. We are returning to the Middle Ages. The yellow patch once again becomes a part of Jewish dress. Today an order was announced that all Jews, no matter what age or sex, have to wear a band of Jewish-yellow, 10 centimeters wide, on their right arm, just below the armpit.5 Various locales within occupied Poland had their own regulations about size, color, and shape of the badge to be worn until Hans Frank made a decree that affected all of the Government General in Poland. On November 23, 1939, Hans Frank, the chief officer of the Government General, declared that all Jews above ten years of age were to wear a white badge with a Star of David on their right arm. It wasnt until nearly two years later that a decree, issued on September 1, 1941, issued badges to Jews within Germany as well as occupied and incorporated Poland. This badge was the yellow Star of David with the word Jude (Jew) and worn on the left side of ones chest. How Implementing the Jewish Badge Helped the Nazis Of  course, the obvious benefit of the badge to the Nazis was the visual labeling of the Jews. No longer would the rabble only be able to attack and persecute those Jews with stereotypical Jewish features or forms of dress, now all Jews and  part-Jews  were open to the various Nazi actions. The badge made a distinction. One day there were just people on the street, and the next day, there were Jews and non-Jews. A common reaction was as Gertrud Scholtz-Klinks stated in her answer to the question, What did you think when one day in 1941 you saw so many of your fellow Berliners appear with yellow stars on their coats? Her answer, I dont know how to say it. There were so many. I felt that my aesthetic sensibility was wounded. 6   All of a sudden, stars were everywhere, just like Hitler had said there were. How the Badge Affected Jews At first, many Jews felt humiliated about having to wear the badge. As in Warsaw: For many weeks the Jewish intelligentsia retired to voluntary house arrest. Nobody dared to go out into the street with the stigma on his arm, and if compelled to do so, tried to sneak through without being noticed, in shame and in pain, with his eyes fixed to the ground.7 The badge was an obvious, visual, step back to the Middle Ages, a time before Emancipation. But soon after its implementation, the badge represented more than humiliation and shame, it represented fear. If a Jew forgot to wear their badge they could be fined or imprisoned, but often, it meant beatings or death. Jews came up with ways to remind themselves not to go out without their badge. Posters often could be found at the exit doors of apartments that warned Jews by stating: Remember the Badge! Have you already put on the Badge? The Badge! Attention, the Badge! Before leaving the  building,  put on the Badge! But remembering to wear the badge was not their only fear. Wearing the badge meant that they were targets for attacks and that they could be grabbed for forced labor. Many Jews attempted to hide the badge. When the badge was a white armband with a Star of David, men and women would wear white shirts or blouses. When the badge was yellow and worn on the chest, Jews would carry objects and hold them in such a way as to cover their badge. To make sure that Jews could be easily noticed, some local authorities added additional stars to be worn on the back and even on one knee. But those werent the only rules. And, actually, what made the fear of the badge even greater were the other innumerable infractions for which Jews could be punished. Jews could be punished for wearing a creased or  folded  badge. They could be punished for wearing their badge a centimeter out of place. They could be punished for attaching the badge using a safety pin rather than sewing it onto their clothing.9 The use of safety pins was an effort to conserve badges and yet give themselves flexibility in outfits. Jews were required to wear a badge on their outer clothing - thus, at least on their dress or shirt and on their overcoat. But often, the material for badges or the badges themselves were scarce, so the number of dresses or shirts that one owned far exceeded the availability of badges. In order to wear more than one dress or shirt all the time, Jews would safety pin a badge onto their clothing for easy transfer of the badge to the next days clothing. The Nazis did not like the practice of safety pinning for they believed it was so the Jews could easily take off their star if danger seemed near. And it very often was. Under the Nazi regime, Jews were constantly in danger. Up to the time when Jewish badges were implemented, uniform persecution against the Jews could not be accomplished. With the visual labeling of Jews, the years of haphazard persecution quickly changed to organized destruction. References 1. Joseph Telushkin,  Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History  (New York: William Morrow and Company, 1991) 163.2. The Fourth Lateran Council of 1215: Decree Concerning the Garb Distinguishing Jews from Christians, Canon 68 as quoted in Guido Kisch, The Yellow Badge in History,  Historia Judaica  4.2 (1942): 103.3. Kisch, Yellow Badge 105.4. Kisch, Yellow Badge 106.5. Dawid Sierakowiak,  The Diary of Dawid Sierakowiak: Five Notebooks from the Lodz Ghetto  (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) 63.6. Claudia Koonz,  Mothers in the Fatherland: Women, the Family, and Nazi Politics  (New York: St. Martins Press, 1987) xxi.7. Lieb Spizman as quoted in Philip Friedman,  Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust  (New York: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1980) 24.8. Friedman,  Roads to Extinction  18.9. Friedman,  Roads to Extinction  18. Sources Friedman, Philip. Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. New York: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1980.Kisch, Guido. The Yellow Badge in History. Historia Judaica 4.2 (1942): 95-127.Koonz, Claudia. Mothers in the Fatherland: Women, the Family, and Nazi Politics. New York: St. Martins Press, 1987.Sierakowiak, Dawid. The Diary of Dawid Sierakowiak: Five Notebooks from the  Lodz Ghetto. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.Straus, Raphael. The Jewish Hat as an Aspect of Social History. Jewish Social Studies 4.1 (1942): 59-72.Telushkin, Joseph. Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1991.

Was Peter Berger right when he changed his views on secularization in Essay

Was Peter Berger right when he changed his views on secularization in the 1990s - Essay Example My paper hence deals with the idea that Peter Berger was right in changing his views on secularization. The paper will also deal with the different ideas that Berger worked with and related to in his studies on religion and secularization. In this context, ideas of modernization, pluralism, supply-side of religion and the rational choice theory as well as the sociological relevance of religion are considered within this paper. Secularization is the lessening of religious influence in a society; it is the loss of religious institution’s authority to dictate to the public the practices required in organized religion. Bryan Wilson talks at length about the need for another force in place of religion in a society that is heading towards or has already adopted secularization. Religion forms the crux for most people in today’s world. The need or presence of religion cannot be ignored in one’s life and it is this presence that has driven scholars from all walks of life to study the effects and consequences of religious presence in our life and to present their view points. Secularization became prominent when religious debate turned towards whether secularization was beneficial or not. For Peter Berger, secularization is, â€Å"the process by which sectors of society and culture are removed from the domination of religious institutions and symbols. It operates at three levels, one is a social structural: in the west, Christian churches have lost functions that are now performed by secular agencies.† (Berger, 1969) To put this idea into simpler terms; the importance of religion in any person’s life is reduced since religion loses its previous stature and place in an individual’s life. Earlier, individuals paid more attention to religious details and believed that religion had to function in cohesion with state policies. This is