How Aids Has Affected Our Society Essays - Pandemics, HIVAIDS

How Aids Has Affected Our Society Essays - Pandemics, HIVAIDS How Aids Has Affected Our Society Science - Health How Aids Has Affected Our Society Today more Americans are infected with STD's than at any other time in history. The most serious of these diseases is AIDS. Since the first cases were identified in the United States in 1981, AIDS has touched the lives of millions of American families. This deadly disease is unlike any other in modern history. Changes in social behavior can be directly linked to AIDS. Its overall effect on society has been dramatic. It is unknown whether AIDS and HIV existed and killed in the U.S. and North America before the early 1970s. However in the early 1980s, "deaths by opportunistic infections, previously observed mainly in tissue-transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy", were recognized in otherwise healthy homosexual men. In 1983 French oncologist Luc Montagnier and scientists at the Pasteur Institute in Paris isolated what appeared to be a new human retrovirus from the lymph node of a man at risk for having AIDS. At the same time, scientists working in the laboratory of American research, scientist Robert Gallo at the National Cancer Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and a group headed by American virologist Jay Levy at the University of California at San Francisco isolated a retrovirus from people with AIDS and from individuals having contact with people with AIDS. All three groups of scientists had isolated what is now known as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Lorusso 2 In 1995 HIV was estimated to infect almost 20 million people worldwide, and several million of those people had developed AIDS. The disease is obviously an important social issue. AIDS has caused many to rethink their own social behavior. People are forced to use caution when involving themselves in sexual activity. They must use contraception to avoid the dangers of infection. Many people consider HIV infection and AIDS to be completely preventable because the routes of HIV transmission are so well known. To completely prevent transmission, however, dramatic changes in sexual behavior and drug dependence would have to occur throughout the world. Prevention efforts that promote sexual awareness through open discussion and condom distribution in public schools have been opposed due to fear that these efforts encourage sexual promiscuity among young adults. Similarly, needle-exchange programs have been criticized as promoting drug abuse. Governor Christine Todd Whitman vetoed a bill in New Jersey that tried to create a needle-exchange program. She was accused of being "compassionless". She replied that she could not allow drug addicts to continue to break the law. By distributing needles, she felt that she was, in fact, encouraging them to break the law. Prevention programs that identify HIV-infected individuals and notify their sexual partners, as well as programs that promote HIV testing at the time of marriage or pregnancy, have been criticized for invading personal privacy. Efforts aimed at public awareness have been propelled by community-based organizations, such as Project Inform and Act-Up, that provide current information to HIV-infected individuals and to individuals at risk for infection. Public figures and celebrities who are themselves Lorusso 3 HIV-infected or have died from AIDS-including American basketball player Magic Johnson, American actor Rock Hudson, American diver Greg Louganis, American tennis player Arthur Ashe, and British musician Freddie Mercury-have personalized the disease of AIDS and have thereby helped society come to terms with the enormity of the epidemic. In memory of those people who died from AIDS, especially in the early years of the epidemic, a giant quilt project was initiated in which each panel of the quilt was dedicated to the memory of an individual AIDS death. This quilt has traveled on display from community to community to promote AIDS awareness. The U.S. government has also attempted to assist HIV-infected individuals through legislation and additional community-funding measures. In 1990 HIV-infected people were included in the Americans with Disabilities Act, making discrimination against these individuals for jobs, housing, and other social benefits illegal. Additionally, a community-funding program designed to assist in the daily lives of people living with AIDS was established. This congressional act, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, was named in memory of a young man who contracted HIV through blood products and became a public figure for his courage in fighting the disease and community prejudice. The act is still in place, although continued funding for such social programs is under debate by current legislators. The lack of effective vaccines and antiviral drugs has spurred speculation that the funding for AIDS research is insufficient. Although the actual amount of government funding for AIDS research is large, most of these funds are used

Crimes in the Name of Honor essays

Crimes in the Name of Honor essays How important honor is? In various countries throughout the world, particularly in the Middle East and parts of South Asia, notion of family honor is extremely important. The reputation of a family in the Islamic world rests on the reputation of its women. Women are usually killed because their families suspect them of immoral behavior, and having thus dishonored their families must die. These kinds of crimes are justified in the name of honor. Honor killing is an old practice in which men kill female relatives such as sisters or daughters in order to protect their familys honor, for forced or suspected of losing their virginity outside marriage, for having refused an arranged marriage or having left a husband, even when they have been victims of a sexual crime. Therefore, women who bring dishonor to their families are forced to pay a terrible price at the hands of male family member. Among honor killings, according to UNICEF Executive Director targets violence against women, there are other kinds of violence. For example: bride burning, acid violence; in Bangladesh, a common punishment is sulfuric acid thrown in the womens face. Female infanticide has been practice as a brutal method of family planning in societies, usually of newborn girls in some communities in Asia. In the Documentary Crimes of Honor-Women in the Middle East, Rania Arafat is a young girl who ran away after falling in love with a man that her family didnt approve. Hiding from her family and fearing for her life. However, she believed in the words of her mother and father, therefore, she returned. But on the way home Rania was murdered, shot in the head by her brother. She was still a virgin. Ghazi al Marine had been married just three months, when a murder came to his home and shot his wife. The murder was her brother. According to the brother he killed her sister to p...

Islamic Philosophy and Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islamic Philosophy and Law - Essay Example The result was a split between the Sunnis, who sought elections, and the Shi-ites, who sought a heritage accession. Now, the rift has meant further difference between the two groups of Islam who have claimed their respective leaders as political figures (in the case of the Sunnis) and prophets with divine insight (in the case of the Shi-ites). As such, followers of both sects have a different kind of respect for their leader and for the modern translations of ancient Islamic texts. Islamic law is very specific, with rules governing everything from punishments for stealing or adultery to the proper methods for burying the dead or how to conduct business. Sunni law is based on four different schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii and Hanbali, with specific reference to both the Qur'an and the Sunnah as perfected doctrine. While Sunni laws are quite similar to Shi-ite laws in that they subscribe to both major texts, the major differences in law are in terms of modern society. As Shi-ites put faith in their divine leaders (Imams) to show them towards the path of religious enlightenment through Islamic law, the majority of Sunnis instead believe that with democratic elections their people might be able to use religious doctrine to the best of their abilities in politics. Both sides are adamant in their interpretations of Islamic belief and law, and as such are often at violent odds with one another. Sunnis reason that it is through the already perfected Islamic texts that Muslims will find enlightenment, while Shi-ites conversely believe that the descendents of Muhammad are able to bring deeper insights to the previous texts and offer a better way of life for the future. Because of these differences, inheritance laws and punishment laws differ between the two Islamic sects and no permanent common ground has been cultivated as yet. Not unlike the rift between Catholics and the Orthodox Church, Sunni and Shi-ite Muslims have both grown past their original religious teachings to such an extent that the two can never come back together; in terms of governance this proves to be a continuously difficult challenge in the Middle East. Islamic philosophy has been influenced a great deal by the Persian (or in modern terms Iranian) theologian Al-Ghazali, who lived from 1058 to 1111. Al-Ghazali believed that every event and interaction was occasionalistic, or the will of god as opposed to a simple physical reality. He wrote a book called The Incoherence of the Philosophers in the 11th century that would change the face of Islamic theology greatly for years to come; the book moved the Islamic school of thought from its focus on Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato towards a more rigorously religious point of view. Where Islamic scholars of past centuries had celebrated the teachings of Greeks like Plato and Socrates, Al-Ghazali denounced the men as non-believers and encouraged his fellow Muslims to embrace their religion instead of thinking outside of it. He made clear his belief that supporters of Greek philosophy were being disloyal to Islam, and literally hundreds of Muslims gathered to hear these theories where h e lectured at the Al-Nizamiyya

Justification Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Justification Report - Assignment Example HP provides business with computer systems for everyday business needs, and that’s budget-friendly. †¢ Alternative B – Dell: Is an American-owned computer technology firm based in Round Rock, Texas. Dell is amongst largest technological corporations in the world. Dell sells a variety of products that could help our business such as desktops, laptops, printers, and storage devices. Dell provides businesses with deals where the more one buys the more one saves. Dell is more expensive than HP. However, both offer first-class performance. Dell has more features than Hp. For example, comparing Dell Inspiron 17R Special Edition 7720, and HP Envy 2012, Dell has Blu-ray player, Beats Audio and 1920 by 1080 screen resolutions (Low, 2014). Dell has 17 promotions. The company offers three coupon codes, 12 sales, and two free shipping coupons. In their latest offer, Dell gave out 30% coupon deals on select laptops and desktops in the last day. Dell has web and social support and phone support. They have a speedy twitter team and a useful chat service. Many customers find solutions to their problems online. However, Dell has to streamline its support site to make it easier to get live chat function (Rutherford, 2014). HP has web and social support, and phone support. Customers argue that they were satisfied with the support from HP. However, some of their customer support services like SmartFriend are very expensive. They charge almost $100 for assistance (Low, 2014). The specifications of the machine vary from HP and Dell. However, the paper will compare two laptops, HP Compaq nc6220 and Dell Latitude D610. These two laptops are somehow similar. The HP laptop has Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz, 512 MB DDRII ram, 14.1† 1024 X 768 resolution screen, Intel media accelerator, 40GB, 5400rpm HDD, DVD/CD-ROM (Low, 2014). The Dell Latitude D610 Intel Pentium M 1.86 GHz, 1GB DDRII,

Video games kill Essay Example for Free

Video games kill Essay Video games have become very popular among many age groups especially teenagers. Its common for teenagers to spend hours playing video games, particularly games with violence, sex, and criminal behavior. This is a huge concern for many parents. One parent says, My kid is so lazy, all he does is play video games in the basement! I dont know what to do. Susan, another parent says, Its frustrating when my son plays video games when its a beautiful day out. I dont get it! Many parents tend to believe video games are a waste of time, antisocial, and believe their child will become violent. But most young people, especially teen boys describe video games as fun, exciting, and another way to spend time with friends. An interesting fact parents should know is video game violence can increase aggression in only some individuals, depending on their personalities. Research by Patrick Markey, PhD, sampled 118 teenagers and participants played a violent or a non-violent video game and then hostility levels were tested. Teenagers who were highly neurotic, less agreeable and less conscientious, are more likely to be affected by violent video games. Participants who didnt have these personality traits were not affected or only slightly affected. Surprisingly, research has also found violent content isnt the main draw for the younger audience. Boys especially, surround friendships around video games and are more interested in playing to compete and win. It can be similar to rough-housing play boys engage in as part of normal development. Its another outlet for competition, status or to establish a hierarchy in the group (Olson CK. Childrens Motivations for Video Game Play in the Context of Normal Development). One teen, Alastair says, Its exciting, its like playing football, a way to bond. Another teen, Mike C. said, Some of my favorite high school memories were on xbox live. Its an easy way to connect with friends. Teenage boys want to compete with one another but it doesnt necessarily mean that because a kid plays a violent video game theyre immediately going to go out and beat somebody up, says Dr. David Walsh, president National Institute on Media and the Family. Researchers at Mass General Hospital Center for Mental Health and Media, discovered teenagers who play violent video and computer games use it as a way to cope with feelings, such as aggression, frustration, and stress. Many other scientists and psychologists also think video games can make your child smart, teaching high level thinking skills such as multitasking, quick thinking, working cooperatively, memory and self-confidence. Playing a video game is similar to working through a science problem. Like students in a laboratory, gamers must come up with a hypothesis, says James Paul Gee, Professor of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For example, players in some games constantly try out combinations of weapons and powers to defeat an enemy. If one does not work, they change hypothesis and try the next one. Video games are goal-driven experiences, which are fundamental to learning. With a combination of concentration and rewarding surges, video games exercise and build muscle for the brain caused from neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical released when we encounter something pleasurable, like when someone surprisingly finds a $20 dollar bill in their pocket. A teenager beating a level or using their favorite weapon to beat the enemy will release pleasurable feelings. Dopamine is very important for learning behavior and motivation for activities in our lives. This is a main reason teenagers love to play video games. But too much dopamine can become addicting. Parents should know the difference between a teen having fun and passing time opposed to being addicted to video games. Some signs of addiction are losing track of time, not eating and becoming irritable. One way to avoid video game addiction is teaching your children how to develop a balanced lifestyle. Also, create dialogue with your teen about the content of the video game. Showing interest in what your teen enjoys can open the door to a better relationship, improved communication and trust. If youre still frustrated with your teen, create an agreement about what you want changed. An agreement can be written or verbally explained about what is expected when it comes to chores, school, video games, or other responsibilities. If the teen, or even the parent breaks the agreement, both can talk about what happened or changes needed. Remember, be non-judgmental, acknowledge feelings, and listen when talking with your teen. Another form of effective communication is the use of I statements. It should replace the opposing You statements which implies judgment and blame, saying theyre at fault for playing video games. For example, a parent telling their teenager, You spend so much time playing video games, is not as effective as I am interested in knowing why playing video games are fun for you? Also, telling your teen what to do or how to feel will most likely upset them, making them feel controlled. Its best to be patient, manage anxiety and exemplify good behavior by showing them how to balance activities and express feelings. In addition, exposing your child to different activities can be very beneficial. Taking a trip to an art exhibit or sporting event can help teenagers discover new interests and learn other ways to be engaged. To sum up video game violence, one person who I think says it best is renowned comic-book author, Gerard Jones. He says, When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood. See more at: http://www. strugglingteens. com/artman/publish/DoVideoGamesKillES_130114. shtml#sthash. wtWmToi9. dpuf.

Identifying the Main Character in The Use of Force :: Personal Narrative

Identifying the Main Character in The Use of Force Since Olson narrates the story, I was tempted to focus on his opinions and motives in accessing and handling the intense situation of diagnosing a sick child. Though tempted to focus on Olson, after meticulous analysis of the passage, I noted Matilda as the character that force is being applied to-clearly a manifestation of the title of this story. All attention and focus is on Matilda employing care to her appearance as well as her fluster. Matilda just would not allow Olson to take cultures from the back of her throat. Olson’s blunt remarks to Matilda’s naà ¯ve parents â€Å"for heavens sake...she might have diphtheria and possibly die from it,† doesn’t affect the child in the least. Nothing changes. Diphtheria is an infectious disease in which a membrane forms over the air passage. Olson orders one parent, whom he subconsciously had not disclosed, to place the child on his lap and hold her wrist. Matilda shrieked terrifyingly, desperately, â€Å"Stop it! You’re killing me!† Matilda’s mother is even more naà ¯ve than her father because obviously Olson told the child she would die of a sore throat to startle her and prompt gravity to the urgency of acquiring the cultures. Yet, Matilda’s mother still questioned the doctor contemptibly till her husband had to suggest that she take leave of absence from the room, inferring that diphtheria is deadly. Olson’s ego is ruffled, for he states that he could have torn the child apart in his own fury and enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to attack her. Force is implied from the statements ‘Then the battle begins’ and ‘Oh yeah’ in Olson’s objection to the alternative to go to the hospital. This is embodied by the descriptions: abject, crushed, exhausted, magnificent heights of insane fury, and terror for the doctor. The doctor wrestles with Matilda and her parents. Operative determination in the final unreasoning assault, to overpower her neck and jaws to insert the tongue depressor, succeeded. Focus shifted from each character back to the child. Olsen speaks about the other characters at length, at all times referring their effect or concerns on the child. The only mention of defensiveness is in Matilda. She had fought valiantly, hiding the secret of her sore throat and cried blinding tears. Olson becomes impatient calling Matilda â€Å"a damn little brat,† emphasizing her ignorance when he says she has to be protected from her idiocy.

India and Different Religions

Unity in Diversity in India India is probable the only country in the world where people belonging to different religions, castes and creeds, speaking different languages, having different cultures, different modes of living, different clothing, different feeding habits, worshiping different gods and deity live together in harmony and believe to be the children of one mother-MOTHER INDIA. They are one nation at large. They are governed by one central authority, have one Prime Minister, one president, one Supreme Court and one army chief. This is why we say we have unity in diversity.Geographically India is a vast country so much so that even one of its states in bigger than many countries of Europe. But the whole country is well bounded by nature. In the north is the Himalayan Range. On the other side is the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea. This provides, natural geographical unity to INDIA we have different religions in India. Apart from Hinduism we have the foll owers of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity and Parsees. But Hindus form the greater majority. There are, no doubt, different factions, sections and sub-section but basically we all believe in the theory of Dharma and Karma.The theory of rebirth, purification of soul, salvation, Heaven and Hell holds good for each and every one. We untidily celebrate the festivals like Holy, Diwali, Charismas, Budh Jayanthi and Mahavir Jayanthi. This provides unity in diversity. India philosophy has developed on India soil. It has not been borrowed from anywhere. This has blended the various cultures together. There are differences in overall conception of gods, and modes of worship. These changes have been gradual due to interaction of different groups. But the ultimate aim of achieving salvation and the fear of Hell keeps them all bound together.Very important characteristic of Indian society is the coexistence of different ethnic groups. These groups formulated inter-group behavior. Hence there is no mutual interference as also no merging of their identity. There might be some drawback in our constitution such as separate provision for different castes; particularly the backward and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes but industrialization policy and agrarian reforms have generated a new secular outlook giving rise to a new culture. Members of different castes and communities and followers of different religions have come together in forms, factories and educational institution.As a result different cultures have been blended together thereby bringing unity among them. We have a cultural unity in India in as much as our philosophy of life, our customs, creeds and traditions are basically, more or less, the same. The institution of marriage, the very foundation of a society, exists all over the country and most of the rituals and sanskars are similar everywhere. Emotional unity plays its own part. The name of Bharat Mata brings us closer and closer together. I n spite of different languages and dialects, Sanskrit, the language of Vedas, brings us all together because Sanskrit is the mother of all languages.The outstanding features of Indian culture responsible for bringing unity in diversity may be summarized as follows: (a) We Indians lay emphasis on spirituality, not on material wealth. (b) Religion has the most important place in India. We believe in Karma and Sanskar. Performance of duty is our religion. (c) Religion tolerance is the unique feature of religions in India. Hence there is no difficulty in coexistence of follower of different religion. (d) Hinduism, which forms majority of the population, has the capacity to absorb all good cultures. It has either absorbed the immigrant cultures or has largely influenced them. e) We have a very broad outlook. We preach and follow religion and spiritualism without ignoring married life and worldly things. (f) We firmly believe in freedom of thought and freedom of expression because such fr eedom enriches the culture which then becomes dynamic. Although unity to the desired extent has not been attained but all attempts by foreign agencies to disrupt it or disprove it have proved futile. We might be subject to regionalism and casteism in trifling matters but we always rise to the occasion in times of need such as foreign interference or invasion on our territory. This is sufficient to prove our unity in diversity.