Friday, November 29, 2019

Amber Baron-2 Review Essay Example

Amber Baron-2 Review Paper Essay on Amber Baron-2 Genre: adventure-adventure. Continued S.Soboleva novel Condor accepts the challenge. Andrew Bushmin, in the recent past a security guard, bodyguard of the governor of the Kaliningrad region, trying to start life from scratch. He miraculously survived after the repression that hit the head of the people who dare to come close to the disclosure of one of the most pressing mysteries of the twentieth century. Was six decades as the eternal Reich had fallen under the blows of the Red Army and allied forces. But the fate of the many cultural, religious, artistic values, art and material treasures and priceless archives, remains unclear to this day. Among those missing, seemingly forever values ​​and the eighth wonder of the world, the famous Amber Room was removed by the Nazis during World War II from Tsarskoye Selo to Konigsberg Definitely, there are powerful forces that keep zealously the secrets of the past. In the course of the story the author gives his own version of the origin of these forces, sharing information about the shady clubs and organizations that play to this day a major role in the old Europe, especially in Germany. Bushmin, knowing that it will look for as a dangerous witness changed his disguise and tried to, as they say in such cases, lie on the bottom. Art historian Elena Rozanov, because of which have Bushmina had a conflict with itself amber Baron (there was a love triangle), another very informed person: she tried, too, to get out of the game at the last moment. But the plans of the two young men on a peaceful quiet life went awry. Andrew was the only surviving member of puzzling events in the western city of Russia. Rozanov after the strange death of his father, a researcher secrets of the Third Reich, has found his secret archive of the cottage. Treasure Hunter Nazis became known that the former guard Amber Baron and his girlfriend allegedly found some documents and maps of the time of the forties of the last century. So, there is a sure chance to finally discover the Nazis laid somewhere in East Prussia underground hiding places We will write a custom essay sample on Amber Baron-2 Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Amber Baron-2 Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Amber Baron-2 Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Monday, November 25, 2019

How Much Does Xarelto Cost 4 Money-Saving Tips

How Much Does Xarelto Cost 4 Money-Saving Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you have atrial fibrillation or a high risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots, and/or strokes, your doctor might prescribe you Xarelto. A novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC), or blood thinner, Xarelto works by keeping dangerous blood clots from forming. But how much does Xarelto cost? Read on to learn about the Xarelto price for those who do and don’t have health insurance. In addition, we'll explain how this cost changes depending on the pharmacy you visit, show you how to find a Xarelto coupon, and compare the Xarelto cost with those of other similar drugs. How Much Does Xarelto Cost? Without insurance, the typical Xarelto price is more than $400 for 30 tablets, or around $15 per pill. That said, it's possible to get Xarelto at a far cheaper rate. How much Xarelto costs for you depends on two main factors, which we'll discuss in more detail below: Your health insurance The pharmacy you go to Health Insurance Most health insurance plans, including Medicare, at least partly cover the cost of Xarelto. According to the official Xarelto website, â€Å"more than 90% of people with prescription coverage and on Medicare are covered for Xarelto at the lowest branded copay cost.† In other words, if your insurance covers Xarelto, you’ll only need to pay the lowest co-pay for brand-name drugs for your insurance plan. This means you'll likely pay around $10-$50 for your Xarelto prescription, or slightly more than whatever your co-pay is for generic drugs. If you’re on Medicare, you can get an estimate for your Xarelto co-pay through the website GoodRx, which offers a convenient Xarelto cost calculator. If you have a prescription deductible, be aware that you must meet this amount before you can pay your co-pay for Xarelto. So if you haven't met your deductible, you'll likely end up paying the full cost of Xarelto (that is, more than $400 for a bottle of 30 pills). There are a couple of things to note, though. For one, there are currently no generic alternatives to Xarelto (generics are usually cheaper than name-brand drugs). Thus, you won't be able to find an identical drug at a cheaper price. The other thing to note is that dosage doesn’t generally affect the cost of Xarelto. According to Drugs.com (as well as the table below, which we'll look at shortly), you’ll usually pay the same price for a 10-mg pill as you would for a 15- or 20-mg pill. A 15-mg Xarelto pill. Pharmacy The second major factor that affects Xarelto cost is the pharmacy you go to. The following table shows estimated out-of-pocket costs for Xarelto. These are the prices you’d pay at different pharmacies if you didn’t have insurance or if your insurance didn’t cover Xarelto. All estimates for pharmacies (except for Costco) are based on the price listings at GoodRx. Note: The â€Å"- † indicates that estimates are unavailable for that dosage of Xarelto. However, you can generally assume that the prices for all dosages will be close to the same. Pharmacy Dosage Price for 30 Tablets Price per Tablet Costco 10 mg $438.74 $14.62 15 mg $438.74 $14.62 20 mg $438.74 $14.62 CVS 10 mg $481 $16.03 15 mg $484 $16.13 20 mg $473 $15.77 Kroger 10 mg $466 $15.53 15 mg $466 $15.53 20 mg $466 $15.53 Meijer 10 mg - - 15 mg - - 20 mg $446 $14.87 Rite Aid 10 mg - - 15 mg $5 $17.03 20 mg $5 $17.03 Safeway 10 mg $527 $17.57 15 mg - - 20 mg $531 $17.70 Target 10 mg - - 15 mg - - 20 mg $471 $15.70 Walgreens 10 mg $495 $16.50 15 mg $507 $16.90 20 mg $477 $15.90 As you can see, there isn’t a whole lot of difference among Xarelto prices at various pharmacies. Most of the time, you’ll pay anywhere in the range of $440-$530 for a bottle of 30 pills, with Costco offering some of the lowest prices, and Safeway and Rite Aid offering some of the highest. Another feature to note is that dosage doesn’t usually change pharmacy costs, or at least not by more than $10-$30. How to Get a Xarelto Coupon or Discount There are a few ways you can get large Xarelto discounts, many of which are through the official Xarelto website. If you have commercial health insurance (not Medicare or Medicaid) with prescription coverage, you can sign up for the Janssen CarePath Savings Program Card. This card gets you a $0 co-pay on your Xarelto prescription each month, making it entirely free for you! Alternatively, if you have Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, or no insurance at all, you might be eligible for an up-to-30-day free trial of Xarelto. Finally, if you don’t have prescription coverage for Xarelto, the official Xarelto website recommends getting in contact with the Johnson Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation (JJPAF) to see if you qualify for financial assistance. In addition to the official website, tons of coupon and medical websites offer Xarelto discounts. You can search for these on Google by typing in â€Å"Xarelto coupon† or â€Å"Xarelto discount.† Note, however, that many coupons cannot be used with health insurance. One solid website is Drugs.com, which offers a savings card you can use at most pharmacies to get discounted rates on your Xarelto prescription. GoodRx is another good resource, with free coupons knocking off up to $100 on a bottle of Xarelto. How Does the Xarelto Cost Compare With Other Drugs? According to the official Xarelto website, â€Å"Xarelto has the lowest out-of-pocket cost than any other blood thinner in its class in the U.S.† This means that, compared to other anticoagulants in the same class as Xarelto- i.e., factor Xa inhibitors- Xarelto should be more affordable. Other factor Xa inhibitors include Eliquis and Savaysa. Here is a quick look at how these three medications compare with one another in regard to cost: Drug Name What GoodRx Says What Drugs.com Says* Eliquis $482.69 for 60 5-mg tablets $413.44 for 60 5-mg tablets Savaysa $380.05 for 30 60-mg tablets $336.23 for 30 60-mg tablets Xarelto $480.09 for 30 20-mg tablets $413.09 for 30 20-mg tablets *All prices are based on the Drugs.com discount card. In this chart, we’ve compared the estimated prices of the most common dosages and quantities of these three similar anticoagulant medications. But because there are wide ranges in cost, quantity, and dosage for these drugs, it's difficult to determine which is the cheapest. Ultimately, it's best to consult your doctor or pharmacist to see which medication will be most affordable for you based on your insurance. Recap: What Is the Cost of Xarelto? The cost of Xarelto, a prescription blood thinner, ultimately depends on whether your health insurance covers the drug and which pharmacy you go to. Since most insurance plans cover Xarelto, your co-pay should normally cost around $10-50 (assuming you’ve already met your prescription deductible, if you have one). If your insurance doesn’t cover Xarelto or if you don’t have insurance, you’ll need to pay the full price, which is anywhere from $440 to $530 for a one-month supply. Most pharmacies charge similar fees for Xarelto. Costco offers some of the lowest prices at around $440, while Safeway and Rite Aid offer some of the highest prices above $500. Many discounts for Xarelto are available online and through the manufacturer. One discount, available on the official Xarelto website, works with your insurance to give you a $0 co-pay each month. It's difficult to compare the cost of Xarelto to those of other similar medications such as Eliquis and Savaysa due to differences in dosage, quantity, and pharmacy. Therefore, talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you want more information about which medication will be most affordable for you.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Health and social care for leadership and management Essay

Health and social care for leadership and management - Essay Example An extensive review of the literature on management and leadership of health and social care confirms that effective leadership and management is essential for health and social care provision. Both the management and leadership ensure higher quality, consistent safety, and streamlined efficiency. Effective leadership is essential for driving health and social care delivery. The care manager needs to have the ability to exercise the leadership skills that required in their job role for effective and efficient management of care. The health and social care provision success or failure depends upon the leaders. All care professionals are considered to play an important part in leading in some certain aspects of care. The National Health Services UK The UK National Health Services was established in 1948 in the aftermath of the Second World War. During this time, healthcare was a luxury, and not everyone could afford it. However, it was based on the principles that everyone was eligible for care. Since then, NHS has undergone a lot of changes and transformations. The National Health Service delivers healthcare to a total population of over 62 million people in the United Kingdom. According to Gopee & Galloway, NHS’s total expenditure amounted to  £106 billion out of the total public expenditure of approximately  £700 billion for the UK. Therefore, the total expenditure on healthcare accounts for 16 percent of the total annual expenditure for the United Kingdom. NHS plays a key role in providing leadership in the health.   ... Despite this desirability, the theory faces criticism from C.L. Graeff, who claims that there is conceptual ambiguity that limits the practical application of the theory’s prescriptive model. One such problem is the situational leadership theorist’s argument that a motivated person without ability is less mature than an unmotivated person with ability is, against which a number of logical arguments could be made (Graeff, 1983, p. 287). Situational leadership, which attempts to impose categorical classifications onto people and groups, often fails in empirical support as well. Task-relevant maturity suffers from conceptual ambiguity and thus offers little help in a real-life approach to solving management and leadership problems (Graeff, 1983, p. 290). Escaping the kinds of theoretical problems with situation leadership, some theorists prefer to discuss a notion of â€Å"transformational leadership.† Transformational, in this case, refers to the idea that leadersh ip should inspire and cause change in individuals as well as institutions. This notion of transformation first arose in 1978 with the writings of James MacGregor Burns, who defined the concept as â€Å"a relationship of mutual stimulation and elevation that converts followers into leaders and may convert leaders into moral agents† (Wren, 1995, p. 102). Defined in another way, transformation means not only instilling a new idea and motivation in one’s followers, but to empower them to become leaders (and proselytizers) themselves. In addition, leaders are turned into â€Å"moral agents,† by which Burns means they advance from one stage of development to another, fulfilling their higher human needs for esteem and

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Xuyu Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Xuyu - Coursework Example In addition, the feeling improves children self-image and social relations. Marla is highly vulnerable to develop prejudices than Jane because of her negative attitude towards Bernadette’s situation. She criticizes Bernadate, yet fails to analyze possible causes for her poor performance. However, Jane is more understanding and supportive. Despite Bernadate’s poor performance, she understands the impact of divorce on concentration. Conversely, Marla lacks personal skills to understand the feeling of others, and control of negative thoughts. Older childrens ability to analyze information improves their perspective taking, emotional and moral understanding of themselves and others. Thus, mature children easily comprehend life difficulties and appreciate role of their friends. For instance, older children analyze and strive to fit in friends’ situations in times of challenges. The children offer moral support to their friends because they fully know impacts of life experiences. I never attended integrated elementary school. However, benefits of integrated school in child development and reduction of ethnic and racial and prejudice are enormous. The schools facilitate cross-cultural understanding. Principally, integrated schools minimize cross-racial discrimination, damaging bias and

Monday, November 18, 2019

Cognitive week9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cognitive week9 - Essay Example Sternberg (2001) uses the example of Charles Darwin's theories in evolution. Charles Darwin was thought to be a creative because of his high intelligence – he was able to generate the idea of evolution and to critically analyze it against other possibilities. If his analysis had not been intelligent, then his creativity could have been a chance happening, or it would not have been his theory of evolution in the first place. Hence he underlines the distinct lines between creativity and intelligence. * Description of a problem (personal or historical) in which creativity or insight could or could have been applied to bring about a solution or a better solution.   I remember having an old computer parts in my storage; the keyboards, the old chargers and spare screen that I had long ago put away. They were all in working condition only that they were redundant due to the fact that I worked on my new laptop and hence having them around was of no use. Finding them in storage an ol d buddy of mine asked if he could take them off my hands. Without hesitating I agreed since my storage was already packed to the maximum and I could do with the space. A lot later coming across items for sale on eBay I saw a whole collection of what I would refer to ask junk or obsolete computer equipment being sold for reasonable prices. It was then that I realized that perhaps If I had been more creative with what use I could gather from things I had so easily referred to as obsolete I would have been able to regain part of the cost that I had sustained in acquiring them. * Creative solutions to the problem.   As far as creative solution to the problem is concerned what I could have done is like so many other people on eBay sold the electronic equipment that was occupying so much needed space of my storage. Redirection, starting over might possibly work well in this case (Sternberg, 2009). I could have taken a completely different approach to tackle this problem by viewing the e quipment as possibly useful in monetary terms and hence changed my perception of wanting to get rid of it in any way possible. If my conventional approach to perceiving the worth of the equipment as much less than the increase in storage space had been revised I would have been a lot more careful with how I handle its disposal. References   Sternberg, R. (2009). Cognitive psychology (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.   Wallas, G. (1926)  The Art of Thought.  New York: Harcourt Brace. Assignment 4 The definition of creativity in terms of how it is interlinks with intelligence is a very solid concept to base your personal definition on. Furthermore it is commendable how the line between creativity and intelligence is firmly drawn by stating that not everything intelligent is necessarily functional and good. Putting all the right measures of intelligence, evolution and the environment into a operational definition of creativity is no easy feat. However the writ er has done a commendable job in linking the theory with their own personal definition ‘creativity can be defined as and ability to produce something new and original that is also purposeful and good’. The example being that of preparing an organic garden with time being the critical constraint is well defined with the number of creative solutions provided highly practical. With the best possible creative solution being that of the idea of giving up my beloved garden, and looking

Saturday, November 16, 2019

General Studies Essays Use of Torture

General Studies Essays Use of Torture Can the Use of Torture be Justified? This report aims to, in the first instance, define torture. It then examines the history of torture and looks at international law that relates to torture.  Ã‚   The main part of the study analyses ethical theories in relation to torture and uses these ethical viewpoints to examine whether or not torture can be justified in any circumstances.   In addition, the Algerian War and the Iraq War will be used as case studies to further discuss the ethical issues surrounding torture.   Conclusions will be drawn and the author’s answer to the question ‘can the use of torture ever be justified?’ will be given, based on the findings in the rest of the report. Limitations of Study This study has its limitations.   First of all, only two case studies are used.   There are numerous cases of torture throughout the world and throughout history that could be utilised.   In doing so, perhaps a different conclusion would be made.   As torture is such an emotive subject it is difficult to ensure that the facts are truly represented.   Before the nineteenth century some countries publicly acknowledged torture as an instrument of judicial inquiry, however today the vast majority of countries where torture is practised will blankly deny any knowledge of it.   This, of course, makes a study of torture difficult. In addition, as will be seen, there are numerous, conflicting ethical theories that can be applied to the topic of torture.   A person’s personal beliefs will influence how much credence they give to each viewpoint.   Consequently, the author’s opinions are likely to differ from the reader’s.   Definition of Torture Torture has a widely understood definition of causing someone severe pain or mental anguish, usually in order to gain some information from the person being tortured, most usually a confession.   Amnesty International state that ‘torture is the systematic and deliberate infliction of acute pain in any form by one person on another, in order to accomplish the purpose of the former against the will of the latter’ (Klayman, 1978, p482).   This definition encompasses both physical and mental pain.  Ã‚   It also notes that torture has a purpose, and does not allow torture for the sake of the torturer’s amusement.   The Commission for the European Convention on Human Rights defines torture simply as ‘deliberate inhuman treatment causing very serious or cruel suffering’ (Morgan Evans, 1999, p95).   It offers examples of forcing people to adopt a stress position in rooms where there is a continuous loud hissing noise, hooding, and deprivation of food and water. The Commission for the European Convention on Human Rights’ definition is the author’s preferred definition.   This is because it defines torture, not by the torturer’s intentions, but by the effect the treatment has on the tortured.  Ã‚   A Brief History of Torture The word torture often conjures up images of medieval torture instruments such a branding irons and head screws.   From the mid fourteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century torture was an accepted practise by armies, judicial systems and even churches (Maran, 1989, p vii).   Public opinion changed in the nineteenth century, but torture continued to be carried out.   Once the torture of Jews by the Nazis in the Second World War became public knowledge, numerous international laws were bought into effect to prevent the use of torture.   However, torture still continues to this day, but as its use is still widely condemned, details of torture are either kept non-public, are down played or justified by manipulation of public opinion.   So called civilised countries are just as likely to be the perpetrators of torture today as countries with a known poor human rights record (Kellaway, 2003, p34).  Ã‚  Ã‚   The International Context of Torture International law currently absolutely and unequivocally prohibits torture in all circumstances.   There are many international laws and conventions that define torture as a crime against humanity.   These include The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights.   These two pieces of law are intended to work side by side. The UN Committee Against Torture is a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and other torture related law.   All member states are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights). Ethical Theories Applied to Torture There are many and varied ethical theories that could be applied to the question, ‘can the use of torture ever be justified?’   Theories that conclude that torture is never acceptable will be examined first. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) developed Kantian Theory. It is based on the belief that reason is the final authority for morality.   A moral act is an act done for the right reasons (Lovell Fisher, 2002, p314).   Kantian Theory is closely related to the doctrines of all major religions, the Bible states ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.   At the centre of Kantian ethics is his categorical imperative, which is a set of universal rules that outline ‘that only the good will, a will to act out of a sense of duty, has unqualified moral worth’ (Pojman, 1998, p194). Using deontological theory, whereby actions are intrinsically right or wrong, torture can be seen to be unacceptable, whatever the circumstances and consequences.   Deontologists hold that one cannot undertake immoral acts like torture even if the outcome is morally preferable, such as the early ending of a war or the saving of lives. Edmund Burke, the late eighteenth century writer and politician, accused the British of suffering from what he termed geographical morality (Lee Smith, 2004, p16).   ‘Geographical morality’ is when people are prepared to be shocked by and to condemn torture in other countries while condoning its practice by their own authorities.   The British are not the only ones to be guilty of this, many countries, especially in the West can be accused of ‘geographical morality’.  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, there are many other theories that show that torture could be morally acceptable in some situations. John Stuart Mill (1808-73) put forward an ethical theory known as utilitarianism. Utilitarianism can be summed up in the phrase, ‘everyone should act in such a way to bring the largest possibly balance of good over evil for everyone involved’ (Almond, 1988, p127).   Using this theory, torture can be justified if it brings about a greater good for a greater number of people.   The ends justify the means.   Using Utilitarianism Theory, if the torture of one person means that several people are located and rescued from a dire situation, then that torture is justifiable.   Consequentialism offers the idea that torture is justifiable if the consequences of the torture are morally right.   Consequentialism is an ethical view that establishes the rightness or wrongness of actions by the good or bad produced by its consequences.   Interlaced with the question ‘can torture ever be justified?’ is the question ‘can war ever be justified?’   As torture is an agent of war, this seems appropriate.   Just War Theory can be used to justify torture on the grounds that it is acceptable in response to certain situations.   St Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) described ‘jus ad bellum’, the conditions that he believed has to be met for war to be justified.   War has to be ordered by a legitimate authority, it must be waged for a just cause and the intention of those who wage war should be the triumph of good over evil (Almond, 1998, p197).   Of course, the problem with utilising this Just War theory is that fulfilment of the conditions is subjective.   However, it is possible that torture could be morally justified using the Just War Theory if it was carried out by a legitimate government whose general aim is good and with the best of intentions. The concept of proportionality is found in Acquinas consideration of the Just War Theory. He argued that warring activity should be proportionate to the aggression made and therefore not excessive to that aggression.   This would imply that torture, an extremely aggressive warring activity, would be ethically acceptable in response to extremely aggressive actions.   It can be argued that the intentions of a torturer make a difference to the moral value of the action of torture.   In consequentialist theories of ethics, intention is important, as intention is what you hope to achieve by the action.   For Kant, intention can make all the difference between morally correct behaviour and morally incorrect behaviour.   Ideology can play a part in legitimising the use of torture.   Ideology is the body of ideas and beliefs of a group, possibly religious, or nation (Maran, 1989, p11).   If the ideology of the tortured is believed to be morally wrong and the act of torture prevents the spread of this ideology then torture can be deemed to be justified. So, in conclusion, there are ethical theories that both state that torture can never be justified and those that state it can be, in different, varying circumstances. Case Study: Torture in the Algerian War (1954-1962) The Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962.   The war was the final part of the process of the decolonisation of Algeria from France.   The war was one of the 20th Centurys bloodiest colonial struggles, and it continues to be the object of intense controversy, especially in France (BBC News, 2001).   It is now public knowledge that the French utilised torture against some Algerians.   This torture has been widely condemned in recent years.   However morality has a historical dimension and the morality of today cannot be used to judge the actions of fifty years ago.  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1955 a French civil servant, Williaume, was sent by the French government to investigate allegations of torture in Algeria by French military personnel. His report failed to unequivocally condemn the torture that he discovered (Nacquet, 1963, appendix). As a result, the period 1955 to 1962 saw an increase in the amount of torture, not only through Algeria, but also in France itself Paul Aussaresses, a retired French general is quoted as saying â€Å"as far as the use of torture is concerned, it was tolerated, if not recommended.† Aussaresses is unusual in that he openly talked about and wrote about the act of torture and his participation in it.   Although many others have reviewed the use of torture in the Algerian War, Aussaresses is one of the few who were involved and can give first hand accounts.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore his comments that defend the use of torture will be used to form the basis of this part of the report.  Ã‚   Torture, Aussaresses said, was sanctioned at the highest level because of the need to extract urgent information from the enemy.   â€Å"It was a matter of stopping actions which were being prepared for deeds causing the deaths of my fellow French and Algerian citizens,† he said.   He claims to have stopped Algerian bomb makers from killing French civilians by extracting confessions though electric shocks and suffocation. (BBC News, 2001).   Aussaresses seems here to be using Mill’s Theory of Utilitarianism to justify the torture that occurred; he believed it bought about a greater good for a greater number of people.   Whether or not this torture can be considered justified in the light of his comments depends on whether or not the torture did indeed stop other deaths, and of course, whether the reader subscribes to the Theory of Utilitarianism.   Sources note that the effect of the torture of Algerians by French was a retaliation whereby Algerians took part in ‘killing and raping collaborators, rivals and settlers’ (Joly, 1991, p36).   So, in actual effect the torture that Aussaresses describes as the catalyst for saving lives, actually served to result in more life loss.   Therefore, regardless of the beliefs of the author or reader regarding the Theory of Utilitarianism, in this instance the act of torture was not justifiable on the grounds that it bought about the largest possible balance of good over evil for everyone involved. Aussaresses is also quoted as saying â€Å"the men I executed were always men guilty of blood crimes. They had blood on their hands.   I would do it again today if it were against Bin Laden† (BBC News, 2001).   Aussaresses seems to be utilising the concept of proportionality from Acquinas’ Just War Theory to justify the acts of torture and killing here.   He believes his acts were justified as they were in proportion to those perpetrated by the Algerians involved.   However, it is the author’s opinion that the concept of proportionality has no place in ethical thinking.   The old adage ‘two wrongs do not make a right’ is very topical here.   Indeed, may proverbs lead and guide ethical thinking.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Torture cannot be justified because other crimes have been committed by those tortured.   It can be questioned, what right did Aussaresses and his contemporaries have to dish out this punishment?   If people had committed cr imes they should have been tried in a court and justice meted out in that manner.   French people were led to believe that France was ‘crusading for the defence of Western values against the barbarians of the East’ (Hoffman, 1963, p.85).   It is clear, then that ideology was used as a justification to the public of the acts of torture that occurred.   However, the author subscribes to the theory that this justification is flawed due to ‘geographical morality’ as discussed earlier.   I believe this justification was simply used to ensure the public accepted the practise of torture.   Case Study: Torture in the Iraq War (2003 onwards) There has been some conflict in Iraq for the past couple of decades.   For the purposes of this paper the latest Iraq War, commencing 2003 and still continuing will be considered.   This war is a useful case study as it demonstrates, in these more recent times, when torture is seen to be less and less acceptable, how it both still occurs and is justified in different terms to previously.   There is much discourse as to whether or not the Iraq War itself is justified, so the use of torture as part of it questioned considerably.   Using Aquinas’ Just War Theory, the Iraq War is unjust and therefore any torture taking place as part of it is also so.   The War is not believed, by the author to be just as it does not Aquinas’ third condition, that those waging the war are dong it simply to triumph good over evil. There is no doubting that both American and British troops have been involved in some kind of torture of Iraqi nationals.  Ã‚  Ã‚   A Red Cross report, the Armys own Taguba report (British Red Cross, 2004), even the photographs published in newspapers all point to this.  Ã‚   In Camp Bucca during the period August 2003 to February 2004 the following acts have been reported; forcibly arranging detainees in various sexually explicit positions for photographing, and punching, slapping, and kicking detainees, amongst others (Observer, 2004). There is an aspect of ideology being used to justify torture.   It has been noted that the media portrays Islamic people as those who ‘will stop at nothing, including disgraceful acts of terrorism, to disrupt Western values’ (Lee Smith, 2004, p 215).   However, it is the author’s opinion that this does not justify torture.   It is also the author’s opinion that information gained through torture is likely to be unreliable due to this very fanaticism, and therefore make the ‘purpose’ of torture unobtainable. The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill is the emergency legislation that was created in response to the US terror atrocities on September 11th 2001.  Ã‚   It has been accused of eroding civil liberties.   It has contributed to a heightened sense of vulnerability in the British public and perhaps, in part, although not its aim, it has contributed to making the mistreatment and torture of Iraqis more acceptable.  Ã‚   Bin Laden has been vilified in Western press and the torture of Iraqis can be seen as proportional to the atrocious acts committed by Bin Laden and his followers.   There is a real sense of ‘geographical morality’ in the justification of torture by the US and the UK.   When videos of kidnapped Westerners being tortured are viewed, there is universal damnation in the West, but Western personnel behind closed doors are practising similar acts. Conclusion This paper has explored the issue of torture and discussed whether or not is can ever be justified.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The definition of torture, a brief history of torture and the international context of torture have been discussed.   The main part of the report has dealt with the question ‘is torture ever ethical?’ by first exploring ethical theories in relation to this question, and then applying relevant theories to tow case studies, the Algerian War (1954-1962) and the Iraq War (2003 onwards).   It is worth noting that the justifications offered for torture in both cases were very similar, despite the two occurrences being fifty years apart.   Finally, the author would like to offer their opinion and draw to a conclusion the debate offered by the question ‘can torture ever be justified?’   It is the author’s opinion that torture can never be justified and can never be considered the ethically correct thing to do.   There is no ethical theory offered in this paper that the author subscribes to that can correctly be applied to any of the justifications offered in the two case studies used.   Not only that, but torture does not fulfil its intended purpose of gaining useful information and it often brings about more barbarity. Bibliography Almond, Brenda. (1998). Exploring ethics: a travellers tale, Bodmin: MPG Books. Badiou, Alain. (2001). Ethics: an essay on the understanding of evil, London: Verso. BBC News French general on trial over Algeria (2001). 14th April 2005. Available from World Wide Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1675992.stm BBC News Chirac condemns torture general (2001). 14th April 2005. Available from World Wide Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1312556.stm British Red Cross (2004).   13th April 2005. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.redcross.org.uk/uploads/documents/info%20sheet%20-%20iraq%20november%202004.doc Danner, Mark (2004). Torture and Truth: America, Abu Ghraib, and the War on Terror, New York: New York Review of Books. Evans, Malcolm D. and Morgan, Red (1998). Preventing torture: a study of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Oxford: Clarendon Press. Gray, John, Benvenisti, Meron and   Ehrenreich, Barbara. (2005). Abu Ghraib: The Politics of Torture, New York: North Atlantic Books. Greenberg, Karen J., Dratel, Joshua L., and   Lewis, Anthony. (2005). The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Hoffman, Stanley. (1963). In Search of France, Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Joly, Daniele. (1991). The French Communist Party and the Algerian War.   London: Macmillan Press. Kellaway, Jean. (2003). The History of Torture and Execution: From Early Civilization Through Medieval Times to the Present, London: Mercury Books. Klayman, Barry M. (1978). The definition of torture in international law, v.51, London: Temple Law. LaFollette, Hugh. (1999). Blackwell Guide to Ethical Theory, London: Blackwell Publishers. Lee, Roger and Smith, David M. (2004). Geographies and moralities: international perspectives on justice, development and place, London: Blackwell Publishing. Lovell, Alan and Fisher, Colin. (2002). Business Ethics and Values, London: FT Prentice Hall. Maran, Rita. (1989). Torture: the role of ideology in the French-Algerian War, New York: Praeger Publishers. Morgan, Rod and Evans, Malcolm. (1999). Protecting prisoners: the standards of the European Committee for the prevention of torture in context. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Nacquet, Vidal. (1963). Torture, Cancer of Democracy, London: Penguin. The Observer – British quizzed Iraqis at torture jail. (2004).   12th April 2005.   Available from World Wide Web: 7http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1212769,00.html Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights UN Committee Against Torture. 17th April 2005.   Available from World Wide Web: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/ Pojman, Louis. (1998).   Deontological Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company. Roy, Jules (1961). The War in Algeria, New York: Grove Press.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Sociological Theory Essay -- Social Inequality Sociology

It is a theme in sociology to discover where and why there are social inequalities, either as a result of class stratification, gender, race, and/or a combination of these factors. Theorist cannot explore, or even attempt to, discuss all of the issues so they develop explanations that, at times, coincide with one another. In dealing with the relationship between two conceptualized ideas, oppression/inequality and individualist/liberal ideology, theorist seem to focus on the cause and effect association that structures these ideas. Focusing on four theorist and their ideas for the production of these relationships we will discover how they intertwine and build on each person’s understanding of one topic, and show how it can branch to cover others, or expose the deficiencies and provide a new perception of the societal structure. After the examinations and suggestions made on how to make the communities we live in more inclusive of those who feel, and in fact are, oppressed ther e are no remedies that can cure the plague of society’s inequalities/oppressions, and whether they are evidence of individualist/liberal ideology does not matter. In T.H. Marshall’s â€Å"Citizenship and Social Class† he assesses the reasons for social inequality by examining the structure and definition of citizenship. He defends his argument by investigating the origin of citizenship in English history. In the beginning of his theory Marshall defines the individual pieces that produce citizenship; civil rights, political rights, and social rights. Civil rights are â€Å"the rights necessary for individual freedom-liberty of the person; freedom of speech, thought, and faith† (Marshall 1995 [1965]. p.94); political rights give permission to be a member of the politic... ...hley W. Doane and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (eds.), â€Å"‘New Racism,’ Color-Blind Racism, and the Future of Whiteness in America.† In White Out: The Continuing Significance of Racism (New York: Routledge), pp. 271-312. Fraser, Nancy and Lynda Gordon. 1995. â€Å"Contract versus Charity: Why is There No Social Citizenship in the United States.† In Gershon Shafir (ed.), The Citizenship Debates (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), pp. [XX]. Marshall, T. H. 1995 [1965]. â€Å"Citizenship and Social Class.† In Gershon Shafir (ed.), The Citizenship Debates (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), pp. [XX]. Young, Iris Marion. 1996. â€Å"Gender as Seriality: Thinking Theoretically about Women as a Social Collective.† In Barbara Laslett and Ruth Ellen Boetcher (eds), The Second Signs Reader: Feminist Scholarship, 1983-1996 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), pp. 713-738.