The issues surrounding Abortion Essay Example for Free

The issues surrounding Abortion Essay Explain how a follower of natural law might approach the issues surrounding Abortion. Natural Law, as outlined and enforced by Thomas Aquinas, says that every living thing has a purpose, and that every solution to a dilemma and every action can be solved by reasoning, which will gain you ultimate happiness. This Is linked with Aristotles idea that everyone has a specific purpose, and the Primary Precepts can help you to achieve your purpose. This is key knowledge to help with the understanding of Natural Law followers views about abortion. Human reasoning in any dilemma or problematic situation should be applied to the Primary Precepts of Natural Law. The two main precepts that are concerned in Natural Law with abortion are The Preservation of Life and Reproduction. Generally, conforming to Natural Law, the right action to take would be one that conforms to all the precepts, however with abortion it is not quite as simple. The first Precept to consider when thinking about abortion from a Natural Law followers state of mind would be Reproduction. The precept of Reproduction states that it is always right to encourage reproduction, and most nearly always wrong to prevent reproduction. Applying this to abortion would result in a follower of Natural Law believing that abortion is wrong. This is because the act of aborting a foetus, or baby, is preventing the act of reproduction, and therefore going against one of Aquinas Primary Precepts; Preservation of Life. Natural Law does not consider the people involved or most of the consequences, but more on the act of abortion itself. Reproduction as known is a Primary Precept of Natural Law, and because the act of abortion stops procreation then it is frowned upon by Natural Law followers. The act of abortion can also disturb the precept of Preservation of Life. This precept states that it is always right to help save or maintain a life, and always wrong to try and intentionally. However this is only if one believes that life begins at conception. Abortion involves taking the life of a foetus that you believe to be a human life, which in turn act against the precept of the Preservation of Life, as you not preserving life, but taking one away. However, there are a few exceptions. Aquinas Doctrine of Double effect applies these exceptions. Aquinas saw the precepts as absolutely true for every single being, and that using our reasoning can bring us to the right solution in every situation. However there are times when in order to conform to one precept, we must decide to act against another. For example; there is a pregnant woman, however for medical reasons carrying on with the pregnancy would end in her death. She has two choices, one; have the baby and end her own life or two; have an abortion and save her own life. The first solution would go against the precept of the Preservation of Life, where the second would go against both the Preservation of Life and Reproduction. In this case it is okay for a person to come to a suitable solution through reasoning, as whatever happens there will be bad consequences. However, this is only acceptable if the bad consequence is but an unwanted side effect of the action with good intent. All in all, abortion acts against two of the Primary Precepts of Natural Law, which clearly makes it a bad action. Even though there are a few exceptions, these are only in the worst of situations, and on the whole, abortion is entirely wrong according to Natural Law. A foetus is not a person Discuss. There are many different opinions and arguments as to when a Foetus becomes a person, and these all play different but key roles into solving many huge arguments. To hope to solve this argument is absurd, however the different viewpoints can be stated and analysed to find the strongest. One way in which to argue whether or not a Foetus is a person is to apply it to the criteria of Personhood. These criteria are suggested by Mary Anne Warren, and are Sentience, Emotionality, Reason, Ability to Communicate, Self-awareness and Moral agency. Conforming to these criteria would mean the a Foetus cannot be classed as a person, as it does not fit into any of these criteria. However, later on in the development of a Foetus it begins to fit into some of the criteria, such as Sentience. Could this mean that a foetus slowly becomes a person? Mary Anne Warren suggests that a Foetus is a potential person, but says that it does not have a right to life, which really does not solve any arguments as to whether or not a Foetus is a person. It is also argued that a potential life, as proposed by Mary Anne Warren, does not have any rights or privileges. This would also mean that a Foetus does not have access to human rights, and the right to life. So that begs the question, if something does not have access to human rights, is it a person?

Love in The Taming of the Shrew Essay -- Taming of the Shrew Essays

Love in The Taming of the Shrew Wonder, for a moment, what Shakespeare means when he uses the word â€Å"love†, if it really does exist in any of the relationships in this play, particularly between Petruccio and Katherine. Is love not a certainty? Such winds scatters young men through the world To seek their fortunes farther than at home, Where small experience grows. But in in a few, Signor Hortensio, thus it stands with me: Antonio, my father, is deceased, And I have thrust myself into this maze Happily to wive and thriveas best I may. Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, And so I am come abroad to see the world. (1.2.47-55) Upon the death of his father who cared for him, he is in search of a wife so that he can live a desired lifestyle upon her fortunes. He is not desirous of love, or lust, or infatuation, b...

Importance of Traditions in Richard Wagamese’s Keeper’n Me Essay

Any relationship goes two ways to keep our life in balance, and also affect our life whichever of family or culture. As Bernice Weissbourd says: â€Å"Because it’s not only a child is inseparable from the family in which he lives, but that the lives of families are determined by the community in which they live and the cultural tradition from which they come.† In Keeper’n me, for instance, Garnet Raven who was taken away from his family to a series of white foster homes when he was three. Garnet’s experiences as a result of the oppressive political and social policies. Moreover, Keeper as a storyteller tries to pass the message of traditions and a way of life to guide Garnet, who arrived in White Dog reservation with anything but Native, to find himself. Finally, Garnet dealt with fitting in the life on the reservation and acceptance of people that around him by learning the Ojibway culture that Keeper taught him. Through setting, character development and symbols the author shows that there is more significance to our actions and emotions in finding a place to belong and a balance of life. Traditions which means a custom or belief that has existed for a long time, affect a person’s identity. The protagonist of story, Garnet, initially feels uneasiness and disconnected from his family and his culture. Environment changes the way that he lives by taking him away from where he was born. When he first arrived at White Dog reservation, people laugh at him on account of dressing like a black man â€Å" I had my Afro all picked out to about three feet around my head, mirrored shades, a balloon-sleeved yellow silk shirt with the long tapered collar, lime green baggy pants with the little cuffs and my hippest pair of platform shoes, all brown with silver spangles, and three gold chains around my neck† ( Wagamese 45). He’s just like a tourist, not knowing what to do or what to be as an outsider in his culture. The society forces him to be someone else except Native. It reflects that he tries to fit into White world by being things that he is not because he was embarrassed to be Indian. This quote also foreshadows that he will find a place to belong as far as staying on the reservation to keep in touch with his family and Native culture. During a positive lesson of Native culture, he starts to fit in the society and gets acceptance of people. His mom gives him the shirt that he had on the day he arrived at reserve to remind him of where he came from and how he wanted to be. Although his mom revamps the shirt that â€Å" the sleeves were cut back regular, the long pointed collar was gone and the ribbons ran across the chest and back and down the arms† (Wagamese 301). He learns the traditional ways of Native and makes the connection with people, especially his family, and now he changes the way that he used to dressing. Everyone needs family in order to find themselves, no one could be his own person without knowing himself. The surroundings compel Garnet to learn Whites instead of his own culture cause he lost connection and himself. Setting is one aspect of the culture that affect Garnet’s identity in social way. The setting of the book is very important in Garnet’s character development and personal growth. The relationship between Garnet and his family is detached because he was raised by foster homes instead of his family, that makes him a lot differences between him and Natives. When he returns to the reserve, he has lots of things need to learn, especially the traditional Native spiritual ways. At the beginning of the book, Garnet was trying to act others except Indian such as â€Å"Hawaiian, Polynesian, Mexican or Chinese† (Wagamese 19). He felt lost in White society and tries to escape reality of being an Indian in respect that he doesn’t know how to be an Indian and never meet a â€Å"real† Indian until he back to the reservation. In this book, Keeper’s voice initiates the story that there is something to be learned about people, himself and his purpose. Keeper teaches Garnet the religious beliefs that helps him to find a balance in his life, and Garnet follows Keeper’s teaching to learn to become a storyteller that he will keep and teach Native traditions. Garnet follows the â€Å"Teachings. The blazes made by them that went before. The signs that mark the path we’re all supposed to follow. The path of the heart. The path of human beings. The red road† (Wagamese 305). To Garnet regard the loss of culture and the old teachings should follow it in order to be at peace with nature and people around us. It shows Garnet that his culture is decline and that he has a chance to become a keeper to teach and bring back the traditions. It also realizes the benefits of learning the way of Ojibway and being connected to his culture. The religious beliefs give Garnet a good sense of spirituality that he finds a culture to belong and knows himself about what he desires to be and how to do it. The character development is one aspect of learnings that affect Garnet’s identity in spiritual ways. The setting and character development that Garnet experiences in the story help reveal the powerful symbolism and themes. The drum symbolizes the connection of traditions and the traditional Native culture’s theme of respect. When Garnet first time to play the drum and tries to sing songs follow the beat, â€Å"The beat got all scattered and the song fell apart on its own† (Wagamese 135). He tries to feel drum and sing songs as an Indian but still have more white and black inside him that affect him more than Indian. It reflect that his emotions are confused just like he starts to play the drum but when he attempts to sing songs at the same time, he lost the rhythm. He doesn’t find a balance of playing drum and singing songs as well as he doesn’t find a balance of his life to fit in Native culture. This quote also foreshadows that he will learn the importance of drum in Native traditional teachings as a value of how it interacts with others. Drum is symbolic of how sacred and old their culture is. As Keeper said in the book, â€Å"The drum’s the heartbeat of Mother Earth† (Wagamese 163). Keeper was explaining how the land is an integral part of Native identity and how he feels the heartbeat of mother earth when he plays the drum. It is a connection to traditions and culture that remind Indian of simplicity kept them alive through everything and help them live in balance with the whole world. Drum also as a representation of female womb and the beating of the drum is like the beating of mother’s heart and represent the heart of the land. You treat a drum with respect as you’d treat your mom with respect. The values of traditions teach Garnet that finds a balance of his life and respect others especially mother. The symbol also is one aspect of Native culture that affect Garnet’s identity in emotional ways. Keeper’n me is a view of positive way in Natives’ life by teaching Garnet traditions, traditions affect Garnet’s identities. White society separates Garnet from his family on the reservation causes that he lost connection and place to belong. The values of environment views influence on Garnet’s social identity. Based on the setting, character development shows how Garnet felt lost and no beliefs at beginning, but during learning religious beliefs he feels connective and finds himself where he should be. The religious beliefs impact on Garnet’s spiritual identity. Ultimately, the symbol of drum highlights the significances of Native traditions and respect that helps Garnet finds balance of his life. The values of one interacts with others that teaches traditional ways affect Garnet’s emotional identity. Traditions are the most important part of our life, it shows acts, thoughts and influence of identity in our lives.

What is Grassroots Lobbying

In the news, we hear about professional lobbyists who attempt to influence legislation and policy through various means. Grassroots lobbying is when everyday citizens contact their own legislators to try to influence legislation and policy. Advocacy groups of all kinds engage in grassroots lobbying, asking their members to call and write their legislators about a piece of legislation. Most people will never contact their legislators, but anyone can pick up the phone and ask their senator to support or oppose a pending bill. Why I Should Contact My Legislators It’s important to let your legislators know where you stand because the number of letters on each side of an issue will be an important indication of where people stand and frequently influence how a legislator will vote on a bill. Grassroots lobbying is very effective because the legislators are hearing directly from their constituency, who will be voting the next time they are up for re-election. How To Contact Legislators It used to be that a hand-written letter was best because it showed that the person cared enough to sit down and write a letter. For security purposes, all letters to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives are now pre-screened before being delivered to congressional offices, which means that all letters are delayed. It is now better to make a phone call or send a fax or an email. If you are planning to visit Washington D.C., you can contact your legislator’s office and ask for an appointment. They will ask which issue you would like to discuss, and chances are, you will meet with an aide who handles that issue, and not with the legislator directly. Even if you just find yourself walking past the Hart Senate Office Building while you are sight-seeing, you should feel free to drop in and speak with your legislator’s staff. They are there to serve you, the constituent. Need to contact your state legislators? Locate your state here, and use your state’s official website to find out who your state legislators are and how to contact them. What To Say to Legislators When you send a fax or an email, be sure to provide your contact information, including your street address, so that they can respond to you and they will know that you are constituent. State your position clearly and politely – do you want the legislator to support the bill, or oppose it? Try to keep the message short. Briefly state in a paragraph or two why you support or oppose the bill. Write a separate message for each bill, so that your message will get forwarded to the correct aide who handles that issue. If you call their offices, the receptionist will usually take a short message and may ask for your contact information. The receptionists need to answer many phone calls every day, and just want to know whether you support or oppose the bill. They usually will not need or want to hear an explanation. If you’d like to submit more information, it’s better to send a fax, an email, or a hard copy. Form Letters and Petitions Petitions do not carry much weight. Legislators know that it’s much easier to collect 1,000 petition signatures than it is to get 1,000 people to make a phone call. They also know that many people who sign a petition outside of the supermarket will forget all about the issue at election time. Electronic petitions are even less valuable because it is difficult to verify signatures. If your organization sends out a form letter for your members to send to legislators, encourage people to use the letter as a sample letter and to re-write the letter in their own words. However, if you get an impressive number of signatures on a petition, or if the petition concerns a hot issue in the news, you may be able to interest the media. Send out a press release announcing a date, time and place where the petitions will be delivered to the legislator. If you get media coverage, this will help spread your message and may inspire more people to contact their legislators.