Reggae Icons, Jamaican Culture, and Homophobia Essay...

Reggae Icons, Jamaican Culture, and Homophobia The world is in trouble/Anytime Buju Banton come/ Batty boy get up and run/ ah gunshot in ah head man/Tell dem crew†¦ it’s like/ Boom bye bye, in a batty boy head, rude boy nah promote no nasty man, them hafi dead. The average member of the reggae dancehall culture knows the message that this song is sending to its listeners. However, without a translation these lyrics do not mean a thing to someone who is not familiar with this culture and the vocabulary of dancehall artists. Translated the lyrics read: The world is in trouble/When Buju Banton arrives/Faggots have to run/Or get a bullet in the head /Bang-bang, in a faggot’s head/Homeboys don’t condone nasty men/They must die. These†¦show more content†¦Unlike North America where homosexuality has come to be more tolerated, there is no sign that it will be accepted in Jamaica. On July 19, 1992, Buju Banton made headlines when his self-produced single Boom Bye Bye entered the music charts in the no. 15 position. Within weeks of the release, Buju Banton was locked into the biggest controversy of his career thus far. After hearing the lyrics of the song the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) accused the artist of gay bashing. GLAAD was strongly against Buju Banton’s song because it went against what they stood for as an organization. GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The GLAAD also organizes the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to respond to negative and positive portrayals of their community in media, thorough their Monitoring and Mobilization program, in which they focus on studying a nd articulating cultural and media-specific trends, issues and controversies. True to its missions of improving the public’s attitudes toward homosexuality and putting an end to violence and discrimination against lesbians and gay men, GLAAD decided to expose Buju Banton’sShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Mirroring Lives of a Jamaican and a Rastafarian4081 Words   |  17 PagesThe Mirroring Lives of a Jamaican and a Rastafarian Introduction This paper is a series of two interviews that I had over the course of the semester. I used both of the interviews as a series of research. I then used this research and supported it with published work. The first interview occurred when I was in Jamaica. I randomly crossed paths with Peter. He informed my friends and I that he was a Rastafarian. We spoke with him for about two hours on the beach. He informed us about his religion

Cipd - 3rto Resourcing Talent - 679 Words

Date:10/10/2015 To: Maxine Rawlings From: Michaela Sampson Subject: Module: 3RTO Resourcing Talent Overview: The aim of this report is: 1.1 To identify and and explain at least 3 organisation benefits of attracting and retaining a diverse workforce 1.2 To identify and assess at least 4 factors that affect an organisation’s approach to attracting talent 1.3 To describe at least 3 factors that affect organisation’s approach to recruitment and selection Diversity in any organisation includes hiring and promoting a workforce of people with differences. These differences include race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical abilities and economic backgrounds. The premise of a diverse workplace is that employees are†¦show more content†¦* Greater diversity leads to greater innovation and productivity which is crucial in being successful on the market. It encourages different perspectives and ideas whilst fostering innovation as well as ability to come up with wider range of solutions to a business problems and challenges. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/fred.zimny/forbes-innovation-through-diversity?related=1 (Accessed:13th October 2015) 1.2; * Recruitment policy; will provide a framework for recruitment policy. Policies and procedures on how to recruit, who to recruit and based on what.. Policies and procedures will be adhering to Legal Factors such as: Law and various acts such as Child Labour Act 1986, Equality Act 2010 amp; Discrimination, Immigration etc. * Restructuring - changes to the companys structure and the way they operate will have an effect on its workforce. Talent of its lack of will give a ground for recruitment drive from outside or within the company. * Image of the company; Organisation with a positive image and diverse workforce will have more chances of attracting, recruiting and retaining the talent. Negative image leads to loss of trust from employees current and potential, as well as all business partners or customers. * Supply and demand; Organisation will have to look at supply of the talent. If the supply is low and demand high use of internal resources will be necessary by forward plannin g, supply of specialist trainingShow MoreRelatedCIPD Resourcing Talent 3RTO1276 Words   |  6 Pagesorganisation’s growth and goals. 1.2 Business Objectives Budget has a huge impact attracting talent. We are currently doing more in-house promotions, freeze pay increase at least for this year, keeping outsourcing to a minimum .We tend to recruit Healthcare Assistants with psychology background as that is cheaper than paying Psychology Assistants. Lack of engagement /commitment impact on attracting talent. Having failed in trying to motivate employees through CPD, PDP, in-house promotions, and activitiesRead More3RTO Web770 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Resourcing Talent – (3RTO) Activity 1 Diversity means variety. Diversity is about â€Å"valuing everyone as individuals, as employees, customers and clients† (CIPD 2010a). The benefits of diverse workforce are immense. Since the primary purposes of an organisation are to survive and develop so that it continue to provide the best possible service for its public or provide the highest return to its shareholders, in order to achieve this, the organisation needs a knowledgeable and competentRead More3RTO Resourcing Talent Assignment1351 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Resourcing Talent Amanda Dingli Student number: 284483 Unit number 3RTO Resourcing Talent Lecturer – Will Boulton 4th May 2015 Resourcing Talent Introduction. It is essential for every organisation to understand the recruitment trends as by attracting the best talent, organisations will have an advantage over their competitors. When talent planning, organisations should promote a career opportunity, not a job opportunity as this gives a whole new outlook to any potential employeeRead MoreCipd Level 34041 Words   |  17 Pageswho do not have sufficient qualifications to undertake CIPD intermediate or advance level qualifications Learners will need to relate these skills and techniques to their own organisations and to the environmental context in which it operates. Recommended Text Book for HRP MARTIN, M., WHITING, F. and JACKSON, T. Human Resource Practice. 5th ed. N.B. ALL learners must join the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), who will require an initial registration fee and a proRead More3rto Resourcing Talent Essay5855 Words   |  24 PagesCIPD ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION DECLARATION To be completed by candidate: |Centre name: |SELHURST CONSULTING | | |Candidate name: |Angelina Algieri | | |CIPD Qualification undertaken: Read More3rto7920 Words   |  32 PagesTutor Marked Assessment- Submission document 3RTO Resourcing Talent |Your Name |Marion Dobson | |HLC Student Number |708616925 | |Cohort/Group |January 2016 | |YourRead More3RTO CIPD Essay2710 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿ Resourcing Talent (3RTO) Activity 1 – Word Count: 1272 Identify and assess at least 4 factors that affect an organization’s approach to attracting talent. Market Demand/Supply for Talent: Depending on the nature of the business, organizations will require various sets of talents (skill, knowledge and capabilities) that contribute towards the their growth and success. Markets in general have high supply of some talents and low of others. Based on the talent requirement of the organization and

John Lennon Free Essays

Introduction On a gloomy night in London, while Hitler’s bombs rained down from the sky, John Lennon was born. An infant of war, Lennon would turn out to be a symbol of peace to the entire world. His father left him for the sea and his mother was taken from him in a car crash. We will write a custom essay sample on John Lennon or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, he had music inside of him, and with this music he built a new family, a family which still endures and still cultivates the lives of many. He journeyed the earth, singing â€Å"come together† and â€Å"all you need is love.† He journeyed to India to study harmony in the land of Gandhi. He gave an anthem to the peace movement when he sang â€Å"All we are saying is give peace a chance† (Give Peace a Chance, 1969). But more importantly, he gave the world vision and dreams when he sang â€Å"Imagine† (1970). This discussion will highlight the points in Lennon’s career that transformed him into one of the most recognized figures of our Western culture. With his influences from Eastern cultures, he incorporated many aspects of this into his music and created a double ideology that can still be seen today. Various aspects of Lennon’s career will be analyzed in order to realize the type of person he was, and how he has influenced our culture at present. In the concluding section, a much deeper analysis will be conducted noting the importance of Lennon’s impact through his music, art and mind. The Career of a Genius Mainly well-known as one of the members of the Beatles as well as the co-composer of the Beatles song catalogue which included many of the most admired rock songs ever written, John Lennon is also distinguished for his solo career, with his continuing status as a celebrity persecuted by one of his own fans, shot dead outside his New York City home, and as a celebrity who used his fame to draw awareness to various peaceful causes (Coleman, 1992). Lennon was born in Liverpool, raised in a middle class home that lacked a father and also a mother as well; Lennon was for the most part raised by his aunt Mimi, who warned him that while playing his guitar was fine, it was unlikely that he would learn a living from it (Coleman, 1992). He attended an art school where he produced a small group, the Quarrymen, which would later shape the foundation for the Beatles (Conord, 1994). Lennon was the original leader of the Beatles and their most controversial component. At the 1963 Royal Command Performance, he said to the audience, â€Å"On the next number, would those in the cheap seats clap their hands and the rest of you rattle your jewelry.† Upon being awarded the MBE, Lennon observed, â€Å"I can’t believe it. I thought you had to drive tanks and win wars† (Conord, 1994). He provoked even more argument when on November 25, 1969, he returned his MBE â€Å"with love† to the Queen to object to Britain’s involvement in Vietnam and his song â€Å"Cold Turkey† slid down the charts (Green, 1989). In 1966, Lennon told Maureen Cleave in the London Evening Standard, â€Å"The Beatles are bigger than Jesus Christ,† provoking a religious repercussion in the United States (Coleman, 1992). A similar British reaction was created when Lennon appeared naked on the cover of his Two Virgins album. An exhibition of Lennon’s erotic lithographs had to have eight prints removed under threat of possible prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act. However, they were later declared â€Å"unlikely to deprave or corrupt† by legal experts and handed back (Conord, 1994). In addition to music and art, Lennon also experimented with literature. Lennon wrote his first book, â€Å"In His Own Write†, which subsequently won a Foyle’s Literary Prize. This was followed by â€Å"A Spaniard in the Works†. In addition to his film work with the Beatles (Help!, A Hard Day’s Night, Let It Be), Lennon had a small role in Richard Lester’s illogical black comedy â€Å"How I Won the War† (Davies, 1968). He was also the focus of the documentary film Imagine. Lennon also formed his first post-Beatles group, the Plastic Ono Band, which originally consisted of himself, Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, and Alan White, who threw together an under rehearsed show for a live concert in Toronto which was recorded as an album and film. Lennon’s next Plastic Ono Band effort, Plastic Ono Band with Voorman on bass, Ringo Starr on drums, and occasional piano by Billy Preston and Phil Spector, is one of rock’s all-time classic albums (Conord, 1994). Sparse and powerful, the album was an outgrowth of Lennon’s involvement in primal scream therapy techniques as he tries to exorcise his personal pain and rejection tempered by feelings of love and hope (Henke, 2003). Paradoxically, following the break-up of the Beatles, even Ringo Starr initially had greater chart success than Lennon (Green, 1989). If Plastic Ono Band evoked Lennon’s agony, his â€Å"Imagine† album celebrated his delight, and proved to be another classic. This was the most melodic of Lennon’s solo albums, a quality he would downplay subsequently as his peace expressions gave way to political statements as on his rasping â€Å"Some Time in New York City† album (Henke, 2003). Lennon decided to move to the United States, but Lennon’s political activities brought him under examination by the FBI and he was ordered to leave the U.S. by the Immigration establishment (Coleman, 1992). Lennon was able to productively fight the deportation, and in January 1974, he asked the Queen for a Royal Pardon in connection with his drug conviction in order to be free to journey to and from the United States (Green, 1989). Nevertheless, Lennon’s dedication as an artist has left a lasting feeling, from his commitment to political causes to his celebrated love for Yoko Ono in the face of public hostility and contempt (Seaman, 1991). His solo music has been frequently repackaged, his demo tapes and home recordings formed the basis of a long-running radio show, â€Å"The Lost Lennon Tapes,† a couple of these recordings formed the basis for the two Beatles reunion singles, â€Å"Real Love† and â€Å"Free As a Bird,† and many of these pieces were collected together for release in late 1998 as the Lennon Anthology album (Seaman, 1991). They offer a complete portrait of Lennon, from his pleasure to his misery, his irritation and his wit. Lennon came to the conclusion years ago that what most people around him were most attracted to, was Lennon himself, and few artists have put so much of themselves into their talent so that he and his love for Yoko became his celebrated subjects (Henke, 2003). The Influence of a Soul The feelings that John Lennon spoke of grew more and more personal, striking a receptive chord in the fans that followed him; some commented that the experience was like group therapy (Aquila, 1985). Following Lennon’s tune â€Å"all you need is love,† a whole new generation loosened the bonds with their parents and turned to their peers as relatives. With colleague Beatle Paul McCartney, John wrote â€Å"I am the Walrus† (1967), which began with the association with LSD, â€Å"I am he as you are he,† and led to the sixties collective ideal â€Å"we are all together.† From Berlin to Paris, from New York to Sydney, John wandered with his three fellow Beatles, singing and living a meaning of honesty and peacefulness. Lennon and McCartney’s â€Å"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)† about â€Å"flowers that grow so incredibly high† was said to present a pleasant image for a central chapter in the history of youth culture: flower p ower and psychedelia (Weiner, 1984). â€Å"And in the end,† he sang, â€Å"the love you take is equal to the love you make† (â€Å"The End†, 1969). The end for this man of peace came by a gun in the hand of a criminal. Nevertheless John Lennon is greater in death even than he was in life. In life, John Lennon was a rock star. In death, he was to become a myth. The young people who were his original disciples are no longer young, but are still devoted to him. Now they are joined by their children and grandchildren: Lennon has become a voice that speaks to all generations. The man who was born in hostility and died in violence became a principal representation of peace. We can see the power of indifference and re-initiation in Lennon’s music which is only granted to us at a sanctified time. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether the reason a person becomes a hero or heroine is that they create a new distinctiveness for their generation or that they represent the collective ideals of their society. Perhaps we can say that a commendable figure is the one who listens to his own needs and those of his generation and has the gift to respond to these needs by his talent and flair. John Lennon is just the one who was gifted in converting his private pain and struggle into a public voice (Wiener, 1984), thus he gave his society a meaning to live by, and a dream to pursue. Legacy: A Cultural Influence To an age group of baby boomers, John Lennon was at the head of their culture. His music and way of life changed the way a generation reflected, dressed and felt about drugs, sex and political opinions. Future generations revealed the Beatles and John Lennon in the years after his death (Green, 1989). Today, almost every musical artist regardless of type is familiar with and partial in some way by the music of John Lennon and the Beatles. Possibly the aspect of Lennon’s music that makes it so long lasting and influential is its sincerity (Green, 1989). John was not afraid to confront his own demons, writing about the passing away of his mother, his painful removal from heroin, his irritation, his love and his wish for a better world. He was genuine, and the approaches raised by his music remain real today. Now, around 25 years after his death, the influence of John Lennon remains powerful. The world will never know what route Lennon may have taken had he lived further than December 8, 1980. Although in the 40 short years he was on this world, Lennon gave the world music that made it think and feel and changed the way millions of people look at the world. Very few people have had as strong of a legacy as he. References Aquila, Richard. â€Å"Why We Cried: John Lennon and American Culture† in Popular Music Society. Vol. X, No. 1, 1985. Carr, Roy, and Tony Tyler. The Beatles: An Illustrated Record. Revised and updated edition. New York, Harmony Books, 1981. Coleman, Ray â€Å"Lennon: The Definitive Biography.† Harper Perennial, New York, 1992. Conord, Bruce W.   John Lennon.   USA:   Main Line Book Co., 1994. Davies, Hunter. The Beatles. Harper Collins, 1968. Du Noyer, Paul â€Å"We All Shine on: The Stories Behind Every John Lennon Song: 1970-1980.† Harperperennial Library, 1997. Green, John â€Å"Dakota Days.† St Martins Mass Market Paper, 1989. Henke, James. Lennon Legend: An Illustrated Life of John Lennon: Chronicle, 2003. â€Å"Legend-John Lennon†Ã‚  Online.   http://www.johnlennon-legend.com 4/4/07. Norman, Philip.  SHOUT!.   New York:   Simon and Schuster, 1981 Seaman, Frederic â€Å"The Last Days of John Lennon.† Birch Lane Pr, 1991. Wiener, Jon. Come Together: John Lennon in His Time. New York: Random House, 1984. How to cite John Lennon, Essay examples John Lennon Free Essays John Lennon: The Smart Beatle â€Å"You, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one,† is the chorus of Imagine, one of the most famous John Lennon songs. John Winston Ono Lennon was a singer, songwriter, artist and a hero in the eyes of the many people that belonged to the world of the hippies during the 1960s through the 1980s. John Lennon was part of the music group the Beatles; who sang about everything from world peace to young love and even drugs. We will write a custom essay sample on John Lennon or any similar topic only for you Order Now He also became a solo artist after the Beatles split up and created a sound of his own. He earned the love and admiration of his generation by creating a huge body of work that inspired and led people (John Lennon). However, he was not a god in any way; he had his flaws just like any other person. John Lennon suffered through a rough childhood, faced a challenging, yet exciting adulthood and would never get a chance to experience his manhood. As a child, John Lennon was defiant, determined and extremely intelligent. John Lennon was born on October 09, 1940 during the Nazi bombing of Britain (â€Å"John Lennon Biography†). John was born to Alfred Lennon and Julia Stanley Lennon. They separated when he was a baby, but were never officially divorced. He did not see his father from the age of four, until after he became famous. After Alfred and Julia separated, Julia started a new relationship with John â€Å"Bobby† Dykins. When the social services discovered that young John was sharing a bed with Julia and her new partner, it was agreed that John would move in with Mimi Smith, Julia’s sister (Coleman 88-89). John was raised in Woolton, Liverpool by his Aunt Mimi (63). At the age of four he was taught to read and write by his Uncle George, later came to have a passion for books (99). John attended Dovedale Primary School where he did well in all of his classes. John excelled in art but had a weakness in math.. At the age of eleven John was accepted into Quarry Bank High School after passing an eleven-plus exam (104,106). While attending Quarry Bank High School, John became less responsible. John started failing to pay attention in class, would skip lessons, started to smoke and began to swear (107-108). John attended Liverpool College of Art and was kicked out by the age of nineteen for disorderliness. All these things would not be enough to prepare him for what he was to encounter as a growing adult. During his adulthood, John became more daring, less responsible and was found caught up in the rush of fame. At the age of sixteen, John became a fan of Elvis Presley, who at the time was just being discovered. Elvis became the inspiration behind the band that John formed called the â€Å"Quarry Men†, named after his school (â€Å"John Lennon biography†). Shortly after forming the band, John met Paul McCartney and a friendship based solely on music was formed. After playing their first gig, the band began to gain momentum and decided it was time for a new name (194). As the band started to throw around names such as Long John Silver, one of the band members came up with the name the Beetles. John would later change the name to the Beatles, to incorporate the word ‘beat’ which was a popular word used to define the unique bands that originated from Liverpool (195-196). After the Beatles were discovered by Brian Epstein in 1961 at the Cavern Club, they released their first single, Love Me Do in October 1962 and it peaked on the British charts at number 17. The Beatles became the first band to break out in the United States, creating the Beatlemania. After Beatlemania started to lose the magic that is possessed from the start, the band split up. After an extended break, the band returned to the studio to expand their experimental with drug-influenced exotic instrumentation/lyrics and tape abstractions. The first sample was the single Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever, followed up by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, still considered by many to be the greatest rock album ever (â€Å"John Lennon Biography†). John never did get to experience his manhood, but he did get to experience many other things like marriage, divorce and having kids. The first woman he married was his college friend Cynthia Powell. Cynthia became his wife during Beatlemania and had their son during that time too. On April 8, 1963 their son John Charles Julian Lennon was born (Coleman 261). John Lennon did no want to get married, but in order to protect Cynthia and the child he decided that marriage was the best option (264). Cynthia Powell said, â€Å"I don’t think that we’d have been married if I hadn’t become pregnant. He wasn’t the sort at the age of twenty- one to say: â€Å"Will you marry me? It was all so immediate that we hardy realized the seriousness of it all: making love, getting pregnant, getting married. † (qtd. in Coleman 263). After meeting Yoko Ono at one of her art showings in 1966, John and her started to have an affair. As they got more and more serious John finally had the courage to tell Cynthia what was going on (422). Though they tried to work through this hard time, John finally decided to end their marriage in 1968 (440). John and Yoko were married on March 20, 1969 (John Lennon). They had a son, Sean Lennon Ono, in 1975. John’s second marriage ended on December 8, 1980 when he was assassinated by an enraged fan outside of his hotel (John Lennon Biography). After the death of John Lennon his record sales soared and he continued to be admired by his generation (John Lennon). On December 14, 1980, a ten-minute silent vigil in John’s honour was observed around the world at 2:00 P. M. E. S. T. (Coleman 724). John left behind a legacy of music that has reached generation after generation. John Lennon suffered through a rough childhood, faced a challenging, yet exciting adulthood and would never get a chance to experience his manhood. As a child, John was raised by his Aunt Mimi after his parents were divorced, never saw his father until he became famous and was seventeen when he lost his mother after she was hit by a car. During his adulthood he formed a band, began a friendship with Paul McCartney and his renamed band, the Beatles were discovered by Brian Epstein. John never did get to experience his manhood, but he did get to experience many other things like marriage, divorce and having kids. He married, divorced and had a child with Cynthia Powell. Then he married and had a child with Yoko Ono and during their marriage he was assassinated by an enraged fan. John left behind a legacy of music that has reached generation after generation. â€Å"You, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one,† is the chorus of Imagine, one of the most famous John Lennon songs. Works Cited Coleman, Ray. Lennon: the definitive biography. USA: HarperCollins Publishers, 1985. Print. â€Å"John Lennon Biography. † The Rock and Roll Hall of fame and museum. Web. 09. Aug. 2012 â€Å"John Lennon. † 2012. Biography. com 2012. Biography. com 10 Aug 2012 How to cite John Lennon, Essay examples

Conservative vs Liberal Beliefs free essay sample

Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs Copyright 2005 (revised 2010) StudentNewsDaily. com We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. The argument is how to achieve them†¦ LIBERALS – believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems. | CONSERVATIVES – believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems. | ISSUE| LIBERAL| CONSERVATIVE| Abortion| A woman has the right to decide what happens with her body. A fetus is not a human life, so it does not have separate individual rights. The government should provide taxpayer funded abortions for women who cannot afford them. The decision to have an abortion is a personal choice of  a woman regarding her own body and the government must protect this right. Women have the right to affordable, safe and legal abortions, including partial birth abortion. | Human life begins at conception. Abortion is the murder of a human being. An unborn baby, as a living human being, has separate rights from those of the mother. Oppose taxpayer-funded abortion. Taxpayer dollars should not be used for the government to provide abortions. Support legislation to prohibit partial birth abortions, called the â€Å"Partial Birth Abortion* Ban†(*Partial Birth Abortion:   the killing of an unborn baby of at least 20 weeks by pulling it out of the birth canal with forceps, but leaving the head inside. An incision is made in the back of the baby’s neck and the brain tissue is suctioned out. The head is then removed from the uterus. )| Affirmative Action| Due to prevalent racism in the past, minorities were deprived of the same education and employment opportunities as whites. The government must work to make up for that. America is still a racist society, therefore a federal affirmative action law is necessary. Due to unequal opportunity, minorities still lag behind whites in all statistical measurements of success. | Individuals should be admitted to schools and hired for jobs based on their ability. It is unfair to use race as a factor in the selection process. Reverse-discrimination is not a solution for racism. Some individuals in society are racist, but American society as a whole is not. Preferential treatment of certain races through affirmative action is wrong. Death Penalty| The death penalty should be abolished. It is inhumane and is ‘cruel and unusual’ punishment. Imprisonment is the appropriate punishment for murder. Every execution risks killing an innocent person. | The death penalty is a punishment that fits the crime of murder; it is neither ‘cruel’ nor ‘unusual. ’   Executing a murderer is the appr opriate punishment for taking an innocent life. | Economy| A market system in which government regulates the economy is best. Government must protect citizens from the greed of big business. Unlike the private sector, the government is motivated by public interest. Government regulation in all areas of the economy is needed to level the playing field. | The free market system, competitive capitalism, and private enterprise create the greatest opportunity and the highest standard of living for all. Free markets produce more economic growth, more jobs and higher standards of living than those systems burdened by excessive government regulation. | Education school vouchers charter schools| Public schools are the best way to educate students. Vouchers take money away from public schools. Government should focus additional funds on existing public schools, raising teacher salaries and reducing class size. | School vouchers create competiton and therefore encourage schools to improve performance. Vouchers will give all parents the right to choose good schools for their children, not just those who can afford private schools. | Embryonic Stem Cell Research| Support the use of embryonic stem cells for research. It is necessary (and ethical) for the government to fund embryonic stem cell research, which will assist scientists in finding treatments and cures for diseases. An embryo is not a human. The tiny blastocyst (embryos used in embryonic stem cell research) has no human features. Experimenting on embryos/embryonic stem cells is not murder. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to cure chronic and degenerative diseases which current medicine has been unable to effectively treat. Embryonic stem cells have been shown to be effective in treating heart damage in mice. | Support the use of adult and umbilical cord stem cells only for research. It is morally and ethically wrong for the government to fund embryonic stem cell research. Human life begins at conception. The extraction of stem cells from an embryo requires its destruction. In other words, it requires that a human life be killed. Adult stem cells have already been used to treat spinal cord injuries, Leukemia, and even Parkinson’s disease. Adult stem cells are derived from umbilical cords, placentas, amniotic fluid, various tissues and organ systems like skin and the liver, and even fat obtained from liposuction. Embryonic stem cells have not been successfully used to help cure disease. | Energy| Oil is a depleting resource. Other sources of energy must be explored. The government must produce a national plan for all energy resources and subsidize (partially pay for) alternative energy research and production. Support increased exploration of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power. Support government control of gas and electric industries. | Oil, gas and coal are all good sources of energy and are abundant in the U. S. Oil drilling should be increased both on land and at sea. Increased domestic production creates lower prices and less dependence on other countries for oil. Support increased production of nuclear energy. Wind and solar sources will never provide plentiful, affordable sources of power. Support private ownership of gas and electric industries. | Euthanasia    Physician-assisted suicide| Euthanasia should be legalized. A person has a right to die with dignity, by his own choice. A terminally ill person should have the right to choose to end pain and suffering. It is wrong for the government to take away the means for a terminally ill person to hasten his death. It is wrong to force a person to go through so much pain and suffering. Legalizing euthanasia would not lead to doctor-assisted suicides of non-critical patients. Permitting euthanasia would reduce health care costs, which would then make funds available for those who could truly benefit from medical care. | Neither euthanasia nor physician-assisted suicide should be legalized. It is immoral and unethical to deliberately end the life of a terminally ill person (euthanasia), or enable another person to end their own life (assisted suicide). The goal should be compassionate care and easing the suffering of terminally ill people. Legalizing euthanasia could lead to doctor-assisted suicides of non-critical patients. If euthanasia were legalized, insurance companies could pressure doctors to withhold life-saving treatment for dying patients. Many religions prohibit suicide and euthanasia. These practices devalue human life. | Global Warming/ Climate Change| Global warming is caused by an increased production of carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). The U. S. is a major contributor to global warming because it produces 25% of the world’s carbon dioxide. Proposed laws to reduce carbon emissions in the U. S. are urgently needed and should be enacted immediately to save the planet. Many reputable scientists support this theory. | Change in global temperature is natural over long periods of time. Science has not shown that humans can affect permanent change to the earth’s temperature. Proposed laws to reduce carbon emissions will do nothing to help the environment and will cause significant price increases for all. Many reputable scientists support this theory. | Gun Control| The Second Amendment does not give citizens the right to keep and bear arms, but only allows for the state to keep a militia (National Guard). Individuals do not need guns for protection; it is the role of local and federal government to protect the people through law enforcement agencies and the military. Additional gun control laws are necessary to stop gun violence and limit the ability of criminals to obtain guns. More guns mean more violence. | The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms. Individuals have the right to defend themselves. There are too many gun control laws–additional laws will not lower gun crime rates. What is needed is enforcement of current laws. Gun control laws do not prevent criminals from obtaining guns. More guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens mean less crime. | Health Care| Support free or low-cost government controlled health care. There are millions of Americans who can’t afford health care and are deprived of this basic right. Every American has a right to affordable health care. The governement should provide equal health care benefits for all, regardless of their ability to pay. | Support competetive, free market health care system. All Americans have access to health care. The debate is about who should pay for it. Free and low-cost governement-run programs (socialized medicine) result in higher costs and everyone receiving the same poor-quality health care. Health care should remain privatized. The problem of uninsured individuals should be addressed and solved within the free market healthcare system–the government should not control healthcare. | Homeland SecurityNOTE – there are many facets to Homeland Security. This entry focuses on airport security. | Airport security – Passenger profiling is wrong, period. Selection of  passengers for extra security screening should be random. Using other criteria (such as  ethnicity)  is discriminatory and offensive to Arabs and Muslims, who are generally innocent and law-abiding. Terrorists don’t fit a profile. â€Å"†¦Arabs, Muslims and South Asians are no more likely than whites to be terrorists. † (American Civil Liberties Union ACLU)Asked on 60 Minutes if a 70-year-old white woman from Vero Beach should receive the same level of scrutiny as a Muslim from Jersey City, President Obama’s Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said, â€Å"Basically, I would hope so. †| Airport security – Choosing passengers randomly for extra security searches is not effective. Rather, profiling and intelligence data should be used to single out passengers for extra screening. Those who do not meet the criteria for suspicion should not be subjected to intense screening. The terrorists currently posing a threat to the U. S. are primarily Islamic/Muslim men between the ages of 18 and 38. Our resources should be focused on this group. Profiling is good logical police work. â€Å"If people are offended (by profiling), that’s unfortunate, but I don’t think we can afford to take the risk that terrorism brings to us. They’ve wasted masses of resources on far too many people doing things that really don’t have a big payoff in terms of security. † – Northwestern University Aviation Expert A. Gellman. | Immigration| Support legal immigration. Support blanket amnesty for  those who enter the U. S. illegally (undocumented immigrants). Also   believe that undocumented immigrants have a right to: – all educational and health benefits that citizens receive (financial aid, welfare, social security and medicaid), regardless of legal status. – the same rights as American citizensIt is unfair to arrest millions of undocumented immigrants. Support legal immigration only. Oppose amnesty for those who enter the U. S. illegally (illegal immigrants). Those who break the law by entering the U. S. illegally do not have the same rights as those who obey the law and enter legally. The borders should be secured before addressing the problem of the illegal immigrants current ly in the country. The Federal Government should secure the borders and enforce current immigration law. | Private Property| Government has the right to use eminent domain (seizure of private property by the government–with compensation to the owner) to accomplish a public end. Respect ownership and private property rights. Eminent domain (seizure of private property by the government–with compensation to the owner) in most cases is wrong. Eminent domain should not be used for private development. | Religion and Government| Support the separation of church and state. The Bill of Rights implies a separation of church and state. Religious expression has no place in government. The two should be completely separate. Government should not support religious expression in any way. All reference to God in public and government spaces should be removed (eg. the Ten Commandments should not be displayed in Federal buildings). Religious expression has no place in government. | Th e phrase â€Å"separation of church and state† is not in the Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution states â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚   This prevents the government from establishing a national church/denomination. However, it does not prohibit God from being acknowledged in schools and government buildings. Symbols of Christian heritage should not be removed from public and government spaces (eg. the Ten Commandments should continue to be displayed in Federal buildings). Government should not interfere with religion and religious freedom. | Social Security| The Social Security system should be protected at all costs. Reduction in future benefits is not a reasonable option. [Opinions vary on the extent of the current systems financial stability. ] Social Security provides a safety net for the nation’s poor and needy. Changing the system would cause a reduction in benefits and many people would suffer as a result. | The Social Security system is in serious inancial trouble. Major changes to the current system are urgently needed. In its current state, the Social Security system is not financially sustainable. It will collapse if nothing is done to address the problems. Many will suffer as a result. Social Security must be made more efficient through privitization and/or allowing individuals to manage their own savings. | Taxes| Higher taxes (primarily for the wealthy) and a larger government are necessary to address inequity/injustice in society (government should help the poor and needy using tax dollars from the rich). Support a large government to provide for the needs of the people and create equality. Taxes enable the government to create jobs and provide welfare programs for those in need. Government programs are a caring way to provide for the poor and needy in society. | Lower taxes and a smaller government with limited power will improve the standard of living for all. Support lower taxes and a smaller government. Lower taxes create more incentive for people to work, save, invest, and engage in entrepreneurial endeavors. Money is best spent by those who earn it, not the government. Government programs encourage people to become dependent and lazy, rather than encouraging work and independence. | United Nations (UN)| The UN promotes peace and human rights. The United States has a moral and a legal obligation to support the United Nations (UN). The U. S. should not act as a sovereign nation, but as one member of a world community. The U. S. should submit its national interests to the greater good of the global community (as defined by the UN). The U. S. should defer to the UN in military/peacekeeping matters. The United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. U. S. troops should submit to UN command. | The UN has repeatedly failed in its essential mission to promote world peace and human rights. The wars, genocide and human rights abuses taking place in many Human Rights Council member states (and the UN’s failure to stop them) prove this point. History shows that the United States, not the UN, is the global force for spreading freedom, prosperity, tolerance and peace. The U. S. should never subvert its national interests to those of the UN. The U. S. should never place troops under UN control. U. S. military should always wear the U. S. military uniform, not that of UN peacekeepers. [Opinions vary on whether the U. S. should withdraw from the UN. ]| War on Terror/Terrorism| Global warming, not terrorism, poses the greatest threat to the U. S. , according to Democrats in Congress. Terrorism is a result of arrogant U. S. foreign policy. Good diplomacy is the best way to deal with terrorism. Relying on military force to defeat terrorism creates hatred that leads to more terrorism. Captured terrorists should be handled by law enforcement and tried in civilian courts. | Terrorism poses one of the greatest threats to the U. S. The world toward which the militant Islamists strive cannot peacefully co-exist with the Western world. In the last decade, militant Islamists have repeatedly attacked Americans and American interests here and abroad. Terrorists must be stopped and destroyed. The use of intelligence-gathering and military force are the best ways to defeat terrorism around the world. Captured terrorists should be treated as enemy combatants and tried in military courts. | Welfare| Support welfare, including long-term welfare. Welfare is a safety net which provides for the needs of the poor. Welfare is necessary to bring fairness to American economic life. It is a device for protecting the poor. | Oppose long-term welfare. Opportunities should be provided to make it possible for those in need to become self-reliant. It is far more compassionate and effective to encourage people to become self-reliant, rather than allowing them to remain dependent on the government for provisions. |