Police Brutality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Police Brutality - Research Paper Example Through print media, the judiciary, activists, police and the citizens are able to voice their opinion surrounding the incidences of police brutality and killings. The victims of these police unethical behavior are targeted minority groups from African American, Hispanic and minor racial groups. Featured mostly in the New York Times and MSNBC, journalists have been able to uncover the underpinning reasons and surrounding circumstances behind the harassment of police among citizens. These brutalities and killings are influenced from issues such as racial chasm, mental instability, superiority complex and societal conceptions of the minority groups by the police. Few weeks ago, a Caucasian police officer shot a twelve year boy in Cleveland, under the presumption that he was carried a real pistol. This was after someone’s 911 alarm to the police. However, following the procedural clause of police action towards a suspect, the police officer took the law into his hands by pinning down the boy. Neighbors have until now kept protesting against the professional conduct of the police, based on the new revelations that the police had earlier on been suspending after the positive results of his mental state. However, following the handling of the case by the judiciary in Cleveland and responses from other police superintendents, police brutality, harassment and killings are a passive phenomenon, giving police the autonomy of action, based on their status and role of maintaining law and order. As reported by Oppel 2014, new revelation surfaced the investigation of the 2-second time frame which the police officer used to kill Tamir Rice (Oppel, 1).

Morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Morality - Essay Example The word Morality carries the concept of: moral standards, with respect to behavior; moral responsibility, referring to one’s own conscience; and a moral identity, that is one who can differentiate between his right and wrong actions. Morality defines the boundaries that have been set forth in our society and following them can only lead to harmony and respect within the society. It’s one of the core founding pillars of a sophisticated society as it not only characterizes what is right and wrong but also instills a sense of guilt within individuals. This makes sure that no matter how badly one wants to commit that action, morality takes over and stops one from doing that bad or unfavorable deed. For example, if a pharmaceutical company has decided not to withdraw a medicine from the market that causes severe side effects just because they will endure huge losses if they do so, it can clearly be stated as unethical. As playing with the lives of thousands of innocent peop le is not justified it is thus established as being an immoral act in society. Ethics, also termed as moral philosophy, is a prominent branch of philosophy that caters to questions about morality and its concepts, such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc. Ethics can be broadly divided into three categories namely: Meta ethics, Normative ethics and Applied ethics. Meta ethics inquires about the roots of our ethical principles and how they came into being in our society. It usually deals with questions related to the role of reason in ethical judgment, the will of God and the issues of universal truths. Normative ethics on the other side takes a more practical task in determining the moral standards that set apart the right from the wrong. This often includes pursuing good habits in general, following duties that are considered favorable and the consequences that others might face because of one’s actions. Lastly, Applied ethics simply inv olves examining specific controversial issues, such as abortion, animal rights, environmental protection, homosexuality, capital punishment and chemical or nuclear wars. Although this branch looks quite simple but it has the highest opposition since opinions differ from person to person. For example, If a country starts discriminating against the immigrants of another country on the basis of race or religion than it is highly unethical of them in this developed world. Since the immigrants hold their rights to live freely there, basing differences on religion or on one’s race is prohibited in the civilized world. It is very important to know that reason is not the root for every answer. Although being rational and reasonable might help to achieve understanding of a certain situation but every situation at hand demands a different perspective. People argue that every right thing can be determined through reason, nevertheless that is not the case. It is futile to reason against something that is already established as a norm unless there is ample evidence that a change is needed. There are a lot of wrong things that need no reason, for instance hurting a human being or animal, using harmful means to acquire money or disrespecting elders. Likewise, there are uncountable right things that need no reason to perform, for instance loving and caring for ones parents, treating others respectfully, caring for human lives, living a healthy life and the

Police Brutality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Police Brutality - Research Paper Example Through print media, the judiciary, activists, police and the citizens are able to voice their opinion surrounding the incidences of police brutality and killings. The victims of these police unethical behavior are targeted minority groups from African American, Hispanic and minor racial groups. Featured mostly in the New York Times and MSNBC, journalists have been able to uncover the underpinning reasons and surrounding circumstances behind the harassment of police among citizens. These brutalities and killings are influenced from issues such as racial chasm, mental instability, superiority complex and societal conceptions of the minority groups by the police. Few weeks ago, a Caucasian police officer shot a twelve year boy in Cleveland, under the presumption that he was carried a real pistol. This was after someone’s 911 alarm to the police. However, following the procedural clause of police action towards a suspect, the police officer took the law into his hands by pinning down the boy. Neighbors have until now kept protesting against the professional conduct of the police, based on the new revelations that the police had earlier on been suspending after the positive results of his mental state. However, following the handling of the case by the judiciary in Cleveland and responses from other police superintendents, police brutality, harassment and killings are a passive phenomenon, giving police the autonomy of action, based on their status and role of maintaining law and order. As reported by Oppel 2014, new revelation surfaced the investigation of the 2-second time frame which the police officer used to kill Tamir Rice (Oppel, 1).

Medieval Torture Devices Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Medieval Torture Devices - Research Paper Example The medieval age, also known as the Dark Age, was the lowest point of European advancement in terms of knowledge, academics, and technology (Wikianswers). It was in this stage in world history, tainted by dominance of the nobles and the medieval Christian churches, that unimaginable and inhuman torture devices were created and utilized by the ones in power. One such device that is very much known to everyone is Flagellation, more commonly referred to as Whipping. Flagellation was a common practice during the medieval times to administer justice in the form of torture to the convicts (D'Silva). It was fast, effective, and painful. It originated and used extensively during the Roman Empire Period, however, it still has gained considerable popularity to punishers during the medieval times (de la Sierra). Jesus Christ himself suffered from Flagellation before he was crucified on the cross. It was said that Christ was pinned to a column or any fixed object (Dewil), most probably for the p urpose of immobilizing him. The type of flagellant would sometimes differ on the crime committed or on the administering people (D'Silva). Often times, whipping does not lead to death. Should the authorities wish to punish the convict more because of added crimes, other forms of lethal punishments are utilized (de la Sierra). Another example would be the Iron Maiden, sometimes called the Virgin of Nuremberg. This type of torture mechanism is made up of a thick casket of iron shaped like sarcophagus with iron spikes protruding in the hallow insides of the device (Cork-Screw.com). Such device does not actually hit any vital organ; the spikes are strategically placed to prolong the pain and suffering. The casket of the Iron Maiden is so thick that neither a sound nor a single speck of light comes in and out of the device, even amidst the howling and shouting of the person inside the device. The casket stands to more or less 7 feet in height and could accommodate a full-grown man inside (de la Sierra). The person inside the Iron Maiden stays hanged right-side up due to the pierced irons on his body. Whenever the doors of the Iron Maiden are open and consequently closed, the iron spikes would pierce the same exact spot, covering the wound it inflicted and inflicting tremendous and unbearable pain, but not death (Cork-Screw.com). Eventually, the person suffering inside would not have much option but to die a painful and slow death. The iron maiden does not quickly kill the victim due to one reason: interrogation (Medieval Torture: Iron Maiden). The device was used to interrogate the victim for days and days until the victim either spills out the information demanded from him or her, or the victim dies. When the time to interrogate the victim comes, the doors will be opened, and subsequently closed afterwards. Once the doors are shut, the victim could hear nor see anything outside, causing sensory deprivation and psychological turmoil (Medieval Torture: Iron Maiden). Europe was not the only one with a period of stagnation, and definitely not the only one

Moral Reconciliation Essay Example for Free

Moral Reconciliation Essay From the beginning of the story to the end, Huckleberry Finn’s morals change rather dramatically and the novel focuses largely on this. Forced to reconcile his personal feelings of friendship for an escaped slave (Jim) with what society has told him is right, Huck learns through the course of the story to trust his moral instincts. As the story progresses, we see Huck’s character develop strong morals that eventually lead to his reconciliation. Early in the book, Huck is shown to have a low level of maturity and is very naà ¯ve. He relies more on the opinions of others more so than his own. Huck seems to know the rightful place of a slave, especially growing up in the American South. But this changes, in time, when he meets a runaway slave named Jim on Jackson Island. Huck knows he is defying society by not turning Jim in, but he continues to stay by Jim’s side and feels he can’t betray him as their friendship grows. This is an internal moral struggle for Huck, because he knows to society he is â€Å"wrong,† but to him their friendship made it â€Å"right.† While floating down the Mississippi, Huck and Jim come across a shipwreck. Huck, being the young, curious boy he is wants to explore it. Jim on the other hand is very reluctant to do so, but he feels obliged to follow Huck along anyways because he is a slave and Huck is white. On the wreck the two find a gang of robbers and a tied up man, they decide to leave immediately at this site. Huck and Jim then steal the robbers boat, but Huck feels a little guilty for doing this. So he makes up a story to a ferryboat watchman that his family was on the wreck and they needed help. The watchman showed up on the site just to discover that it sank, and the robbers most likely dead. Compassion is a key part in developing good morality and at this point Huck’s morality is slowly taking shape because he feels compassion for others. During a terrible storm, Huck and Jim are separated. Jim searches for Huck, but he cannot pinpoint him, so he goes to sleep. Huck eventually arrives on the raft to find Jim sleeping. Once Jim woke up Huck told him that the whole storm fiasco was just an elaborate dream he had, but Jim soon discovers he is lying and becomes upset. Seeing this, Huck felt guilty for hurting Jim’s feelings and apologizes. This is a pivotal point in the novel because Huck realizes that he has feelings for this slave. Once again he knows society would see this as â€Å"wrong† and just plain crazy. Huck is having another internal conflict, but feels that his friendship with Jim is morally â€Å"right† contrary to what society would think. Huck’s moral dilemmas are rooted in conflicting systems of morality: that of his upbringing and that of his own natural feelings of friendship for Jim. â€Å"I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me. I went along slow then, and I warnt right down certain whether I was glad I started or whether I warnt. When I was fifty yards off, Jim says: Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de ony white genlman dat ever kep his promise to ole Jim. Well, I just felt sick. But I says, I GOT to do it – I cant get OUT of it. Right then along comes a skiff with two men in it with guns, and they stopped and I stopped.† This a good example of Huck’s moral conflictions. At the climax of the novel, Huck as an epiphany. When Jim gets turned in by the conmen (the Duke and the King), Huck is devastated. Confused at what to do, Huck writes a letter that is intended for Ms. Watson, the letter reads: Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward if you send. Huck Finn. After wrestling with his morals and consciousness, Huck makes his most important moral decision yet, when he states: All right, then, Ill GO to hell – and tore it up. He ultimately helped Jim escape. In the end, Huck acted on the highest level of morality regardless of society’s laws and ideas. Early in the story Huck displayed childish traits and a skewed morality because of how he grew up. But Huck changed entirely in his time spent with Jim. When life was forced upon Huck he had to develop and â€Å"grow up† rather fast. He quickly progressed from a naà ¯ve boy to a mature morally correct young man. Most humans strive for the betterment of themselves and society as a whole, and this is what makes Huck’s final reconciliation so compelling.

Character Analysis of Eveline from James Joyces Dubliners :: Dubliners Essays

Eveline:   Character Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography w/3 sources  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision (James).† Originally appearing in Dubliners, a compilation of vignettes by James Joyce, his short story Eveline is the tale of such an unfortunate individual. Anxious, timid, scared, perhaps even terrified -- all these describe Eveline. She is a frightened, indecisive young woman poised between her past and her future.   Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Eveline loves her father but is fearful of him. She tries to hold onto good memories of her father, thinking â€Å"sometimes he could be very nice (Joyce 5),† but has seen what her father has done to her siblings when he would â€Å"hunt them in out of the field with his blackthorn stick (Joyce 4).† As of late she has begun to feel â€Å"herself in danger of her father’s violence (Joyce 4).† Ironically, her father has â€Å"begun to threaten her and say what he’d do to her only for her dead mother’s sake (Joyce 5).†   Ã‚  Ã‚   Eveline wants a new life but is afraid to let go of her past. She dreams of a place where â€Å"people would treat her with respect (Joyce 4)† and when contemplating her future, hopes â€Å"to explore a new life with Frank (Joyce 5).† When, in a moment of terror she realizes that â€Å"she must escape (Joyce 6),† it seems to steel her determination to make a new home for herself elsewhere. On the other hand, she is comfortable with the â€Å"familiar objects from which she had never dreamed of being divided (Joyce 4).† She rationalizes that: â€Å"In her home anyway she had shelter and food; she had those whom she had known all her life about her (Joyce 4).† As she reflects on her past she discovers â€Å"now that she was about to leave it she did not find it a wholly undesirable life (Joyce 5).†   Ã‚  Ã‚   Eveline wants to keep the deathbed pledge made to her mother but is alarmed at the prospect of sharing her mother’s fate. Her mother was ill-treated in life and Eveline vows that â€Å"she would not be treated as her mother had been (Joyce 4).† She has had a life filled with hardship and chafes under â€Å"her promise to keep the home together as long as she could (Joyce 6).† When she recalls â€Å"the pitiful vision of her mother’s life (Joyce 6)† she is uncertain of what to do and prays â€Å"to god to direct her, to show her what was her duty (Joyce 6).

The Theme of Black Leadership in Invisible Man Essay -- Ralph Ellison,

     Ã‚   Ralph Ellison's interest in effective black leadership is directly reflected in Invisible Man. The characterization of Bledsoe in the beginning of the story is that of a ruthlessly self-serving black leader (McSweeny). In chapter five, a "mythic model" for black leadership is outlined in the eulogy of the founder of the college, which is given by Homer A. Barbee (McSweeny). While Invisible Man is residing in the apartment of Mary Rambo, she drills into his head the importance of leadership and responsibility. In chapter thirteen the anger of the crowd watching the eviction begins to rise, and as one onlooker observes that "All they need is a leader" (Ellison 274). These events lead to Invisible Man's first act of leadership when he delivers a spontaneous speech to the crowd. Invisible Man comes to realize that the fundamental problem confronting a potential black leader is the lack of an infrastructure (McSweeny). He states, "...we had no money, no intelligence apparatus, either in government, business or in labor unions; and no communications with our own people excep...