Friday, January 31, 2020

Majors Forces That Have Privatized Religion Essay

Majors Forces That Have Privatized Religion - Essay Example Individualism has made privacy and personal beliefs to become more crucial than society-wide shared convictions. Multiculturalism has made forbearance win out upon religious intolerance; nowadays, religious persons are protected lawfully against prejudice. This denotes that no specific religious organism can dictate law, introducing a level playing-field for creeds to contend. This regularly leads to devotees becoming disillusioned concerning which conviction is appropriate, permitting people the option to desert religion completely. Science, education and intelligence are all roots of the end of religion, since they cause individuals to be incapable of remaining religious. Lastly, the human rights concept has made numerous religious practices appear immoral and barbaric, as gender impartiality, racism and bias against homosexuals have been conquering over religious doctrines, which oppress and stigmatize some individuals. This paper will identify and critically discuss the major for ces, which have privatized religion in modernity. Compartmentalism and Modernism Modernism, in respect to religion, is mainly tied up with compartmentalism and individualism. These entails the way a person’s private life has become detached to one’s political opinions, intellectual achievements, religious beliefs and work-life. This compartmentalism, therefore, has made religion to let down its central duty within people's lives. Religion was present from birth-death; however, now each phase of people’s lives has diverse authorities. Secular regime now decrees law and education; however, until lately both had been seized by Christian establishments. People pick their employment, lifestyles and beliefs largely autonomously. They must fit round each other. Therefore, modernism has made religion capitulate to tolerance and reason: currently, there is an open market not only for merchandises, but for faiths. This is as well because of multiculturalism (Wilson 4). On the 20th Century advent, Pope Pius X professed that modernism is the establishment of all dissents. That modernism places the axe on the root, and not on the branch. Obviously, Pope Pius X was correct. Modernism is the cause of all heresies, which has gone to the heart of belief traditions, confronting the very concept of doctrine. He was right concerning the profound pulsating of the roots, which modernism caused to Catholicism as well as to religion at large (Wilson 4). Individualism (Religion is not Public, is Private) In the contemporary democratic society, there is an ethnicity of moderation and toleration towards dogmas, so that individuals are ready to assent to the most radical belief differences as signifying personal preference, not as signifying moral dilemmas, which require Church or state intervention. Intelligent debates and discussions are available in books and Internet, covering each aspect of faith. The individualism era has rendered religion to a private preferen ce, not a collective one. Persons can pick as well as choose their faiths from those round them and strict religious groups capable of imposing the advent of appropriate belief are in inexistence. Belief has been internalized in synchronization with the manner in which the personal opinion dominance reigns over the now defunct notion of a communal religious norm (Giddens 2008). Currently, public religion does not exist. People have accepted that dogmas are dogmas; discrete from the distinctiveness of a person, and no religion or government has the right to enforce their beliefs on people. Empathy on persons who have diverse beliefs has intensified because of an augmented accent given upon the morals of individual

Thursday, January 23, 2020

A Child Called It By Dave Pelzer :: Free Essay Writer

A Child Called â€Å"It† By:David Pelzer I chose the book, The Child Called â€Å"It† because one of my friends told me about the book. The whole story line caught my attention. I was amazed at what was going on in this boy’s life. This book, a true story, is very emotional. The title relates to the book because his mother calls the boy, David Pelzer, â€Å"It†. She does not call him by his real name. His mother treats him like he is nothing but an object. Also, I think the title fits well because it catches people’s attention and gives a clue what the book is about.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author is attempting to teach the readers that no one should treat people this badly. David is an innocent child and does not deserve his bad childhood. David does not even do anything wrong, and his mother continued to treat him like an object. Pelzer succeeded in telling how cruel the mother is. He also teaches that people can be cruel to each other, and that it is important to teach people that kindness can go a long way. The whole book discusses his childhood. Pelzer wrote some sequels to tell the rest of his child life for the interested readers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story begins when he was first treated badly, in the 1960’s. His mother was a good mother until David’s father and mother started drinking. Its mother changed drastically from the alcohol drinking. The story begins in the kitchen of his house when he is doing his chores. His mother has a time limit on how fast he should do the dishes. If he does not accomplish the dishes in that amount of time, he does not get supper. In addition to the hunger, he receives a beating. The setting is very effective because the reader gets into the story. The setting also prepares you for what the mother does in the future.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main characters are David, his mother, and father. David, the abused child, cannot escape his mother’s punishments. David’s mother is a drunken, abusive mother that refers to her child as â€Å"It†. David’s father is caring and understanding, but cannot help David escape. The mother and father drastically change after the alcohol abuse. David also changes in his attitude towards his parents. At first, David cares that his mother treats him badly. After awhile, he doesn’t care and becomes apathetic.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Debate Team paper on Obamacare

Our team’s debate topic covers a controversial issue within the Affordable Care Act in America, known as Obamacare. Obamacare is the universal health care in the United States that provides Americans access to affordable, quality health insurance, with a goal of reducing growth in healthcare spending. This universal health plan is technically a mandate or tax, in which non-compliers may be penalized through their federal return. Our topic debates whether Americans should be forced to pay this ‘shared responsibility fee’ for not complying with Obamacare. Arguments for Pro’s The United States of America is a rich and powerful country.The way we handle political, social, and ethical issues are closely watched by the entire world. We are a free democratic society who has entrusted our government to make the best, most appropriate decision for each individual in this country, even if that means we have to pay a little more. Obamacare is one of many policies that illustrate the American people’s willingness to help one another.According to â€Å"Obamacare Facts† (2013), Health and Human Services (HHS), the department in charge of implementing and overseeing the Affordable Care Act, reported that in the first two months of open enrollment nearly 1.2 million Americans had selected a health plan. With so many people utilizing these policies, it sends a positive message to other countries demonstrating how, through democracy the American people’s concern for and willingness to help one another is evident. In countries like Japan, the government has been working together with its citizens to help with healthcare costs without any hesitation. According to â€Å"The Lancet† (2011), â€Å"In healthcare the government overtime succeeded in changing the basis of medical practice from Chinese to Western medicine.Moreover the transition was achieved without minimal cost and limited social disruption [ The same social compli ance can be achieved through Obamacare, even with the tax mandate in place. Throughout history, the American people has overcome tremendous social hardships (9-11 and Sandy Hook/Connecticut to name a few), by coming together and supporting one another, exemplifying our tenacity, resilience and dedication to each other] Arguments for Con There is another side of the coin that should be addressed.With the tax penalty and the implementation of Obamacare not being as smooth as our government would have liked, many Americans who were in favor of Obamacare are quickly rethinking their stance. For Americans to fully utilize the Obamacare healthcare system, Americans must accept responsibility and pay the tax for non-compliance. Obamacare offers healthcare packages specific to ones’ needs along with many added benefits. Due to a significant amount of Americans who need or want to obtain health insurance, the cost of these plans must be covered.For Americans who are experiencing an in crease in healthcare expenses due to the unacceptable regulations of insurance companies and the rising costs of prescription medications, Obamacare seems to be a perfect solution. Yet, some Americans insist that the tax is unfair and feel they should not be forced to pay anything. According to the â€Å"ARC† (2007), â€Å"Observe that all legitimate rights have one thing in common, they are rights to action not to rewards from other people. The American rights impose no obligations on other people, merely the negative obligation to leave you alone.The system guarantees you the chance to work for what you want not to be given it without effort by somebody else. † Ethical, Moral, Legal, and Technical Issues There are many ethical, moral, and legal issues that lie within the Affordable Care Act. Ethical issues like younger American’s being relied upon to cover the benefits of the older, sicker Americans. The moral issues like the fact that other countries with uni versal healthcare- Japan for example, strictly regulates cost to keep insurance affordable yet, Obamacare does not guarantee affordability for its citizens; and legal issues like the â€Å"fix† on grandfathered health plans.Americans who will consume healthcare less frequently are â€Å"needed to subsidize the cost of older sicker ones† (Oliphant, 2013). In order to achieve affordable health insurance and include the benefits of the packages, not only must Americans actively participate in the healthcare law but younger Americans especially. â€Å"In theory, the law would create large pools of younger, healthier participants whose premiums would help offset the cost of providing care for older policyholders who use the health care system more† (Cohen, 2013).As the  deadline approaches for Americans to shop and purchase healthcare packages, the desperate need for compliance by young Americans has increased and has been communicated to the People. According to C NN News reporters, President Obama encouraged young supporters to recruit their peers to sign up for healthcare on Wednesday December, 4th 2013 (Cohen, 2013). Americans who will be depending on their healthcare more, will also depend on Americans who are healthier, to comply and pay into the plan as an attempt to maintain affordability in Obamacare.Affordability in Obamacare is not however guaranteed. â€Å"The ACA was enacted with the goals of increasing the quality and affordability of health insurance [and] lowering the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance coverage† â€Å"Wikipedia/Affordable Care Act† (2013). As Americans shop, some are experiencing significant rate increases. Obamacare offers many rights, protections and benefits including, â€Å"improvements to women health services†, â€Å"better care and protection for seniors†, â€Å"no annual or lifetime limits† (Obamacare Facts, 2013), and acceptance of pre-existing c onditions.In order to include these essential additions, some Americans are facing increases in their premiums or, for Americans who were not covered before, experiencing higher than expected insurance costs. â€Å"Several studies on insurance premiums expect that with the subsidies offered under the ACA, more people will pay less (than they did prior to the reforms) than those who will pay more, and that those premiums will be more stable (even in changing health circumstances) and transparent, due to the regulations on insurance† â€Å"Wikipedia/Affordable Care Act† (2013).Even though many Americans will notice a discount, when compared to health care in Japan, Obamacare communicates a stance of quality over affordability. The Japanese Government strictly regulates health care to ensure its consumers are paying as little as possible out of pocket. The affordability of Japanese healthcare may be a factor in utilization that is 4x that of the United States. This govern ment regulation guarantees affordability for the Japanese causing an increase of usage of health care.Not to mention,â€Å"people who live in Japan can expect to remain in good health longer than anybody else in the world, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO)† (BBC news, 2000). Legal issues like the â€Å"grandfathered plan† fix have impacted the roll-out of Obamacare. Confusion raised when already insured Americans experienced significant increases in costs of current premiums. This confusion was due to the promise of President Obama to Americans, â€Å"if you like your plan you can keep it†; that Americans who were already insured would experience no change in premium costs.After further review, Grandfathered plans (plans in effect before March 23, 2010) now remain effective until 2015. President Obama’s statement â€Å"if you like your plan you can keep it† still stands. Previously insured Americans can take advantage of their current plans that â€Å"don't have to follow ObamaCare's rules and regulations or offer the same benefits, rights and protections as new plans† (Obamacare Facts, 2013). The issues that exist within the healthcare law require the American people to develop skills that aid in the execution of complying with Obamacare guidelines.Despite these issues, all Americans share a responsibility to obtain the means and abide by the healthcare law Career Competencies Obtaining health insurance requires many Americans to develop a skill-set of research, evaluation, critical thinking, decision making, and also coping with pressure due to the many inconsistencies of the roll-out and progression to deadline. Too short paragraph. One’s competence in assessing and shopping for plans provides him or her (or business) the incentive to choose the package that fully covers all specific needs.Creating an understanding of information on plans and details within the package, along with applying these expertise to shop and choose the perfect plan, allows consumers to take an active role in achieving health insurance. Whether you are shopping for individual, family, or employee coverage, paying attention to the qualifications, offers, and costs of each package will allow one to find quality health insurance while remaining aware of the benefits of Obamacare. Americans who choose not to shop for healthcare packages must also achieve competence in evaluating fees.â€Å"The individual mandate goes into effect January 1st, 2014. The penalty will be applied to your annual taxable income for each month you do not have health insurance. The fee for not having insurance in 2014 is $95 per adult and $47. 50 per child or 1% of your taxable income (up to $285 for a family), whichever is greater† (Obamacare Facts, 2013). For employers who have over 50 fulltime equivalent employees and wish not to provide insurance, competence in calculating the fee is also important.â€Å"The annual fee is $2,000 per employee if insurance is not offered. The fee is a per month fee due annually on employer federal tax returns starting in 2015. So the per month fee is 1/12 of the $2,000 or $3,000 per employee† (Obamacare Facts, 2013). Americans who choose to shop, as well as those who make the decision not to comply must obtain the necessary skill-set to remain informed and be prepared of how Obamacare will affect their finances and life beginning January 1st, 2014.In times of non-compliance, web-site flaws, the need to become familiar with new information, and fighting the clock to deadline, Americans must also cope with pressure. Maintaining a positive outlook and working productively to choose a plan, despite the circulating flaws that may arise, will promote healthy mental processes that will guide one to successful decision making. Keeping emotions under control during difficult situations will help individuals, families, and businesses obtain quality health insurance while remaining stress free and open-minded.Making the decision to pay tax rather than comply with standards of Obamacare may also increase stress. Americans making this tough decision must think critically on the matter yet remain level-headed to ensure valid and sound arguments against the insurance of their health. Conclusion American’s may feel stripped of their â€Å"freedom of choice† when forced to either pay more taxes on private health insurance or enroll in the Affordable Care act, better known as Obamacare.Many years Americans have gone without having health insurance which has increased the cost of insurance, as well as increased the cost of hospitals, medications, health insurance premiums, and other medical related costs. Over the past few decades, health in American people had deteriorated due to lifestyle choices. One of the initiatives of Obamacare is geared towards young people also known as â€Å"get covered†. â€Å"It also seeks to nudge you ng adults into action by portraying insurance as a social responsibility, and encouraging peers and parents to put pressure on the uninsured† (Bohan,2013).After many years of this continued practice and still increasing costs, we are indirectly paying for the people who go to receive treatment and do not pay their medical bills. It could be argued that Obamacare will force Americans to reassess and accept responsibility of their healthcare. Obamacare allows Americans to make a conscious decision to carry the cost for being provided quality health insurance, whether it is choosing to pay the â€Å"penalty tax† or enrolling in a healthcare plan.Life expectancy has increased over the past decades and unfortunately, this means more people have utilized Medicaid over a longer period of time. Instead of being reactive when diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, or other long term conditions which are very costly over time, Obamacare will make Americans proactive in awareness of their health by having set parameters of the requirements in coverage, i. e. , â€Å"requiring a physical†. Having a healthy nation that helps young Americans understand the importance of health is something we all must contribute to.The mentality of why Americans must pay penalties, follow requirements, and how freedom of choice will change is the first reaction to the unknown. Obamacare provides access to a market of quality and affordable health insurance for Americans. Obamacare mandates that anyone who can afford it must provide themselves, family, or employees with quality health insurance. To ensure a more healthy nation and align with the notion of shared responsibility and a willingness to help each other, Americans must abide by the mandate or pay the shared responsibility fee.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Americas Role in World War II

When events began happening in Europe that would eventually lead to World War II, many Americans took an increasingly hard line toward getting involved. The events of World War I had fed into the United States natural desire of isolationism, and this was reflected by the passage of Neutrality Acts and the general hands-off approach to the events that unfolded on the world stage. Increasing Tensions While the United States was wallowing in neutrality and isolationism, events were occurring in Europe and Asia that were causing increasing tension across the regions. These events included: Totalitarianism as a form of government in the USSR (Joseph Stalin), Italy (Benito Mussolini), Germany (Adolf Hitler), and Spain (Francisco Franco)A move toward fascism in JapanThe creation of Manchukuo, Japans puppet government in Manchuria, beginning the war in ChinaThe conquest of Ethiopia by MussoliniRevolution in Spain led by Francisco FrancoGermanys continuing expansion including taking the RhinelandThe worldwide Great DepressionWorld War I allies with large debts, many of whom were not paying them off The United States passed the Neutrality Acts in 1935–1937, which created an embargo on all war item shipments. U.S. citizens were not allowed to travel on belligerent ships, and no belligerents were allowed loans in the United States. The Road to War The actual war in Europe began with a series of events: Germany took Austria (1938) and the Sudtenland (1938)The Munich Pact was created (1938) with England and France agreeing to allow Hitler to keep the Sudetenland as long as no further expansion occurredHitler and Mussolini created the Rome-Berlin Axis military alliance to last 10 years (1939)Japan entered an alliance with Germany and Italy (1939)The Moscow-Berlin Pact occurred, promising nonaggression between the two powers (1939)Hitler invaded Poland (1939)England and France declared war on Germany (September 30, 1939) The Changing American Attitude At this time and despite President Franklin Roosevelts desire to help the allied powers of France and Great Britain, the only concession America made was to allow the sale of arms on a cash and carry basis. Hitler continued to expand in Europe, taking Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In June 1940, France fell to Germany. The speed of the expansion was noticed in the U.S. and the government began to reinforce the military. The final break in isolationism began with the 1941 Lend-Lease Act, whereby America was allowed to sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government...any defense article. Great Britain promised not to export any of the lend-lease materials. After this, America built a base on Greenland and then issued the Atlantic Charter on August 14, 1941. The document was a joint declaration between Great Britain and the U.S. about the purposes of war against fascism. The Battle of the Atlantic began with German U-boats wreaking havoc. This battle would last throughout the war. Pearl Harbor The real event that changed America into a nation actively at war was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This was precipitated in July 1939 when Franklin Roosevelt announced that the U.S. would no longer trade items such as gasoline and iron to Japan, which needed it for its war with China. In July 1941, the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis was created. The Japanese began occupying French Indo-China and the Philippines, and all Japanese assets were frozen in the U.S. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,000 people and damaging or destroying eight battleships, which seriously damaged the Pacific fleet. America officially entered the war and now had to fight on two fronts: Europe and the Pacific. After the U.S. declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. Strategically, at the beginning of the war the U.S. government began following a Germany First strategy, mainly because it posed the greatest threat to the West, it had a larger military, and it seemed the most likely to develop newer and more lethal weapons. One of the worst tragedies of World War II was the  Holocaust,  during which between 1933 and 1945 it is estimated that anywhere from 9 to 11 million Jews and others were killed. Only after the defeat of the Nazis were the  concentration camps  closed and the remaining survivors freed. American Rationing   Americans at home sacrificed while soldiers fought overseas. By the end of the war, more than 12 million American soldiers had joined or were drafted into the military. Widespread rationing occurred. For example, families were given coupons to purchase sugar based on the size of their families. They could not buy more than their coupons would allow. However, rationing covered more than just food—it also included goods such as shoes and gasoline. Some items were just not available in America. Silk stockings made in Japan were not available—they were replaced by the new synthetic nylon stockings. No automobiles were produced from February 1943 until the end of the war to move the manufacturing to war-specific items. Many women entered the workforce  to help make munitions and implements of war. These women were nicknamed Rosie the Riveter and were a central part of Americas success in war. Japanese Relocation Camps Wartime restrictions were imposed on civil liberties. A real black mark on the American homefront was the  Executive Order No. 9066 signed by Roosevelt in 1942. This ordered those of Japanese-American descent to be moved to Relocation Camps. This law eventually forced close to 120,000 Japanese-Americans in the western part of the United States to leave their homes and move to one of 10 relocation centers or to other facilities across the nation. Most of those relocated were American citizens by birth. They were forced to sell their homes, most for next to nothing, and take only what they could carry. In 1988, President  Ronald Reagan  signed the Civil Liberties Act that provided redress for Japanese-Americans. Each living survivor was paid $20,000 for the forced incarceration. In 1989, President  George H. W. Bush  issued a formal apology. America and Russia In the end, America came together to successfully defeat fascism abroad. The end of the war would send the U.S. into a  Cold War  due to concessions made to the Russians in exchange for their aid in defeating the Japanese. Communist Russia and the United States would be at odds with each other until the downfall of the USSR in 1989.