Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Torture Definition Essay Example for Free
Torture Definition Essay According to David Luban, â€Å"Torture used to be incompatible with American values. Our Bill of Rights forbids cruel and unusual punishmentAmericans and our government have historically condemned states that (practice) torture; we have granted asylum or refuge to those who fear it†(Luban, 1425).            But after 9/11, the American public was divided over the issue of the torture of prisoners of war or civilians suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. The torture debate intensified with the emergence of media exposes regarding the inhumane treatment of prisoners in US military jails such as Guantanamo (2002) and Abu Ghraib (2004). Indeed, is torture justifiable if it was committed by the country that prides itself as the worlds bastion of democracy and human rights?            The 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) provided the following definitions of torture: â€Å"Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession†(Garcia, 5); â€Å"Punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind†(Garcia, 5); â€Å"When such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions (Garcia, 5).            Torture reinforces the notion that slaves should be subjugated completely (Luban, 1432). Hence, when a person is tortured, he or she is transformed into a slave – an isolated, overwhelmed, terrorized and humiliated individual, stripped of any semblance of dignity (Luban, 1432). It is from the dynamics of the master-slave relationship that David Luban (2005) based the five aims of torture: Victor’s Pleasure – In his article Liberalism, Torture and the Ticking Time Bomb (2005), Luban argued that â€Å"the predominant setting for torture has always been military victory†(Luban, 1432). Torture, therefore, is the torturer’s way of relieving military victory and establishing his superiority over the faction he defeated (Luban, 1432). Terror – Dictators such as Adolf Hitler, Augusto Pinochet and Saddam Hussein tortured their political prisoners to warn people that anyone who opposed them will share the same fate. Terror can easily subdue a population than the idea that dissidents will be dealt with humanely upon capture. Punishment – Until the last two centuries, criminal offences were punishable with torture (Luban, 1433). But as society became increasingly industrialized (and adopted liberal polities in the process), the concept of torture as a form of criminal punishment was discarded. The French historian and philosopher Michel Foucault explained that this was so because torture was â€Å"a ritual of royal dominance and royal revenge, acted out in public spectacle to shock and awe the multitude†(Luban, 1434). In a liberal democracy, where there is emphasis on popular sovereignty, it is the people who decide how criminals should be penalized. Hence, the concept of using torture to impress the majority became pointless. Extracting Confessions – Before the advent of liberalism, â€Å"legal rules required either multiple eyewitnesses or confessions for criminal convictions†(Luban, 1435). Torture was necessary to achieve these two (Luban, 1435). But in a liberal society, a guilty verdict can be derived from different kinds of evidence that are proven to be credible, instead of just relying on a confession. Hence, torture was no longer needed to secure a conviction. Intelligence Gathering – Luban defined this aim as â€Å"the only one rationale for torture that might conceivably be acceptable to a liberal†(Luban, 1436). However, this motive is dangerous as it rationalizes an act that is strictly prohibited in every global human rights agreement (Geneva Convention, UNCAT, Rome Statute, etc.).            For Luban, the liberals banned torture because it is the microcosm of a tyranny (Luban, 1430). Torture is an integral component of all the evils of an absolutist rule – military conquest, regal punishment, dictatorial terror, forced confessions and the repression of dissident belief (Luban, 1438). Torture victims are â€Å"isolated and reduced instead of engaged and enlarged, terrified instead of active, humiliated instead of dignified,†in sharp contrast to the liberals’ idea of all human beings bearing an innate dignity regardless of race, creed or social status (Luban, 1433). Furthermore, torture is the starkest manifestation of a tyrannical leader – one who takes pleasure in degrading those who oppose his rule (Luban, 1433).            But what if torture was used to supposedly obtain information that will deter future terrorist attacks? Luban argued that this was the premise of the â€Å"liberal ideology of torture†(Luban, 1439). The â€Å"liberal ideology of torture†asserts that torture was necessary for â€Å"intelligence gathering to prevent a catastrophe†(Luban, 1439). Furthermore, torture should not be associated with state tyranny because it was motivated by self-defense and not by cruelty (Luban, 1439).            Torture became part of the â€Å"War on Terrorism†because the latter operated on the war model, which argued that fallen or captured combatants can be replaced by other combatants (May, 310). Hence, the fate that the captured terrorist will experience while in incarceration can serve as a warning to those who will take his place (May, 310). However, this conclusion is based on the premise that the captured terrorist has already been proven to be a real terrorist. What if the torture victim was not a terrorist, but someone who was just suspected to be a terrorist? Under the guises of â€Å"intelligence gathering†and â€Å"preventing terrorism,†the suspected terrorist’s rights to life, counsel and due process were violated.            Torture defeats terrorism at the expense of civil liberties. To make matters worse, the Bush administration wants to make it appear that the United States is exempted from every international law governing human rights. William T. Cavanaugh (2005) elaborates: Many would appeal to what has been called American exceptionalism, the idea that the U.S. is different from other nations and may be held to a higher standard†¦What we need is a frank recognition that America is not different. Approval of torture at the highest levels of government puts the U.S. in the same category as Chile under Pinochet, France in Algeria, Myanmar, Israel, Saudi Arabia and dozens of other countries today. Amnestys annual reports make clear that disregard of human rights in the name of national security is common†¦ (Cavanaugh, n. pag.) Indeed, Luban was right when he wrote in Liberalism†¦, â€Å"The liberal ideology of torture, which assumes that torture can be neatly confined to exceptional ticking-bomb cases and surgically severed from cruelty and tyranny, represents a dangerous delusion†(Luban, 1461). References Allhoff, F. (2005). Philosophy 9/11: Thinking about the War on Terrorism. Illinois: Open Court. BNET. (2005, January 25). Taking Exception: When Torture Becomes Thinkable. Retrieved January 27, 2008, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_2_122/ai_n9505722 Garcia, M.J. (2007). U.N. Convention against Torture (CAT): Overview and Application to Interrogation Techniques. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. Human Rights Watch. (2005, January 7). Abu Ghraib, Darfur: Call for Prosecutions. Retrieved            January 25, 2008, from http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/07/global9968.htm Human Rights Watch. (2005, January 5). US: Mark Five Years of Guantanamo by Closing It. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/01/05/usdom14974.htm Luban, D. (2005). Liberalism, Torture and the Ticking Time Bomb. Virginia Law Review, 19,            1425-1461. May, L. (2007). War Crimes and Just War. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Essay --
The article grants the macroeconomic indicators influences on profitability of firm’s earnings on KSE 100 index (construction and material).the macroeconomic indicators include FDI, INTEREST RATE, EXPORT, and IMPORT. In this study we are taking 19 companies regarding construction and materials listed in KSE 100 index. To check the effect of Profitability on firms earnings through EBIT, ROE, ROA. Fertility in construction and material sector market plays a vital role in the economy of Pakistan, thus profitability is important for responsive construction and materials sector in KSE 100 index. According to a paper done, whose intension to find out the effect of macroeconomic gages on small and medium enterprises effectiveness which indicates that In contemporary years, Lithuania applies considerable interest to SME’S productivity, but investigation associated to the valuation of complicated macro aspects and their impact on the concluding performance of Small and Medium Enterprises is not satisfactory. (Bekeris, 2012) It has been observed that FDI has positive impression on firms out...
Monday, January 13, 2020
The british invasion: musical movement of 1960s
The focal point of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the British Invasion or the musical movement of the mid-1960s composed of British rock-and-roll (â€Å"beat†) groups whose popularity spread rapidly throughout England and the United States. For the purpose it is important to understand the socio political equilibrium of the time. This is because the main factors in this movement are predominantly three fold. The first one is changing social pattern after the Great War. The second important factor is the aspect of cultural contacts and third aspect is the changing face of market and economy in UK and US.It could be mentioned in the initial stages that it was degeneration time. Imperialism had taken its tolls on the world, which was grilling on the last fires of the Second World War. The losses were too heavy, and the shocks, almost unbearable. People just lived through a test of the extent organized cruelty and purposeful ruthlessness could reach. As far as the future was concerned, the initial tremors of what would lead to a massive cross across the globe were being felt – the crack that broke it up into three distinctly different worlds, the first, the second and the third.In this context it would be relevant to mention that the generation was not finding their existence worth while or in other words they wanted more out of their life. This extra bit was searched everywhere and at every aspects of life and music was no different. The Beat movement came to this need of the hour with quite a few new faces budding with musical talents and a whole new genus of music called the rock ‘n’ roll. (Prawer, 221-5)It was regeneration time. Ideological conflicts and military interests were shaking civilization right up to its foundations. The doubts, dilemmas and confusions were gradually, quite slowly indeed, giving way to a new and unique cultural revolution. It was happening all across the United Kingdom and the United States. People sud denly seemed to realize that there was enough of political warfare to disgrace humanity. The prevailing standards suddenly seemed to be meaningless, and the insurgent youths wanted something different to happen.United Kingdom and its Beat Movement was no exception to this movement. As a matter of fact, it was one of the cores of it. The presence of a large number of African-Americans in the city was pushing it ahead to initiate the Civil Rights Movement. Something that had laid its roots in the human mind over a few millennia, apartheid that is, was gradually being uprooted by the new wave of what started being called the rock ‘n’ roll movement. The existing musical trends, blues and country, did not suffice in expressing the protests and grievances of the new generation, which started looking at itself as a victim of political conspiracies. (Powell, 49-53)It could be stated that the focal point of this paper is realizing that what occurred in United Kingdom during the era of 1960s that was instrumental in giving the birth of rock n' roll. This was deeply influenced by the presence of the freshly migrated African American population in United Kingdom and influenced the musical development by a huge margin with musical forms that incorporated jazz meshing with country music.But the basic background of this movement started much earlier and it would be relevant to mention that the black community contributed hugely to this movement. African American history and the context in this case is the great migration during the mid 1900s. While looking into the matter it can primary be mentioned that migration is a subject that is studied on all levels when dealing with humanity and its idiosyncrasies. In order to understand migration we must understand the various components involved in migration, including internal migration, external migration, immigration and both refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. During the twentieth century, especially in the middle decades, it was found that the population of Southern UK with specification of African American origin has doubled within a span of 10 years after the Second World War.The population escalated to a high note and this time the immigrants were there in the region to put their hands on the industrial boom. This was obviously not at par with any single industry like Manchester but the cumulative sum total of the gross output became quite high and the settlements showed the white population of the area that there was more to music than usual traditional themes.These people use to gather around at the evening and presented their compositions to themselves. It was a leisurely approach but people like McCartney or Lennon soon found out that these rural touch of music can be polished and urbanized to develop into a new form of musical genera that was ultimately to be known as Rock ’n’ roll and as these people were from smaller towns and this part was to harvest most of the credit of this new form of music. (Tyerman, 233-37)The life styles of the early 1960’s through the later 1960’s have emerged as fallout of the booming economy that is represented by the generation of ‘baby boomers’. The hardship during the days of the Second World War gave birth to the newest possible philosophies that state it is obvious to follow the trend of open market economy with all its perception of high yielding materialism. This hard cored materialism and pro life oriented attitude was previously known in the western world but now it came into a maximized form which sociologist refer as a pro active action against the mass destruction and insecurity of the last great war. The latest philosophy was to obtain as much as possible that life has to offer. Every social aspect changed with it and along with it changed the world around them.Plays and writer were no different. Colours became more vibrant and approach became more outrageous to k eep up with the society. Joe Orton's plays were a product of this period. UK and US was ready for this change and it only needed a spark to ignite its whole new musical genus. This was provided by the endowments of talented musicians like Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, John Lennon and Elvis Presley. These people were to become the pride of the youth and the era soon came to be known as the cradle of Rock ‘n’ roll. (Manning, 279)The funny side of this approach was however different from the basic perception of the life styles of the early 1960’s through the later 1960 were a confluence of conflicting philosophies. As it was mentioned earlier that the idea of materialism was at its had hitting best but alternatively the simplicities of eastern philosophies, specifically Indian philosophies, were highly acclaimed though it was concentrated within a certain group of people. As a result, the poets and the writers, as least a section of them, who took their inspirations from life and society it self, inclined themselves towards the approach of simplistic formations of art forms.It is a well known fact and it has been shown time and again by many literary historians and researchers that the main targeted audience were the baby boomers who had all the opportunities to take all the advantages of almost any and every marketing gimmicks. UK and its music were not far behind in this era. The musicians of this time needed something more vibrant and colorful and Rock ’n’ Roll came out as the product of the time. (Dollard, 116-7)It should be remembered that this was the era of the beginning of the ‘cold wars’ too and fascination of the authorities towards the space age race and nuclear future was overwhelming. So, it is obvious that the common demography of the country started mimicking the perception of the authorities taking the concept of space age right to their likings. As a result the musical designers coul d not be left far behind. They associated their music with the latest gizmos and presented the feature of Rock ’n’ Roll as new age revolution.The problem was that the new generation was unable to recognize themselves with the usual blues and other traditional forms. They wanted something exclusively that is easily identifiable to them. Rock ‘n’ Roll Music provided that element which included the latest approach to music with more flair and flamboyance. This music possessed more swings and action and this was what the generation of 1960’s wanted. The Beat movement provided this exact genus of music. (Knott, 188-9)The innovative and diversified methodology utilized between these two decades reflects a change in society’s considerations. The choice to change furniture styles reflects a great deal on the emotional status of the era and the need to recover from a series of devastating events. Those devastating events included World War II and a ve ry emotional roller coaster in the depression era which wrought havoc in many ways on the methods of production and the economic infrastructure of the United States and UK. The devastation involved during World War II provided impetus for the designers from various European countries to flee to the United States and UK for sanctuary and freedom of expression. This is where the innovation for the new modern style of music was managed.The 1950’s period was indeed a lively decade for arts and technology where many forces emerged influencing changes in musical design. The push of space travel, the defense industry and consumer booms provided impetus toward increased influences of fashion in lifestyle design. Cheap yet fashionable articles made to be thrown away afterwards became fashionable for household interiors. Youths of the era became a strong influence on this era of design by attacking the principles of tradition in many ways including interior design. Designers were intri gued and influenced by fantasy films, space travel and its mystique and more. Later this attitude was becoming more relevant with pop art culture, the Beatles, Woodstock, Peace, Love, Psycadelia and the Youth Force. (Kumar, 334)In conclusion it can well be stated that it is true that the movement of music in the form of Rock ‘n’ roll developed and reached at a great height but at the same time it is also a fact that it died out soon in its original form. However, the music of this era left a long standing legacy for generations to come in different forms and designs of music along with different issues to protest along with cultural homogeneous forms and changing socio economic and philosophical context, the basic causes of the development of this musical movement.Works Sited:Dollard, John; Zenith and Zero Points of History (New Haven and London: Yale University Press. 2004) pp 116-7Knott, P; Development of Analysis of US & UK Economy (Dhaka: Dasgupta & Chatterjee 2005) pp 188-9Kumar, H; Justice of Winners: Win Some, Lose None (Auckland: HBT & Brooks Ltd. 2005) pp 334Manning, C S; Principals and Practices of Hollywood Industry (Christchurch: National Book Trust. 2004) pp 279Powell, M; Anatomy of Modern Culture: Independence of Economy (Wellington: ABP Ltd 2001) pp 49-53Prawer, H A; The Kingdom of Rock’n’Roll (Dunedin: Allied Publishers 2004) pp 221-5Tyerman, J; Invention of the Musical Crusades (Dunedin: Allied Publications 2001) pp 233-37
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Essay on Reaping Social and Academic Benefits by Playing
Introduction and Hypothesis: Stress unites high school students together. Although it may seem counter-productive, putting down the books and taking a break to exercise may actually reduces the built-up stress. Relinquishing this anxiety may help the person perform better on the assignment at hand. Moreover, the benefits of exercising may even extend into social life, increasing the person’s self-esteem and confidence. I hypothesize that physical activity improves a person’s lifestyle. I categorized improvement in lifestyle into two sections: academic performance and social relationships. I believe that about two-thirds of the students in the higher percentiles are active about seven hours a week. Also, I think a majority of the†¦show more content†¦I found myself with a surplus of energy after being active for 75 minutes. I channeled this free energy into my studies, and by the end of the semester, I noticed a steep incline in my marks. In addition to augment ed academic performance, my relationship with peers got better, and I met some new people who I now call friends. I was very interested to see if my fellow grade 12 students shared similar experiences in one way or another. Background Information: I know that exercise helps develop strong muscles, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and increases self-esteem. Exercise releases a certain â€Å"feel-good†neurotransmitter, a protein that communicates between brain cells and is responsible for mood, known as serotonin. Last year, in Introduction to Psychology, I did my presentation on MDD, major depression disorder. This psychological disorder is strongly linked with a severe deficiency of these neurotransmitters. The beautiful thing about exercise is that everyone has the ability to do it in a variety of forms; it is not dependant on socioeconomic conditions, nor is it dependent on current physique. As I said previously, my social life and academic career was significantly improved as a result of taking two years of a class that demanded daily physical activity. Along with energy, I gained confidence in myself and found joy in who I was as a person. Grade 10 was a dark cloud on my high school experience; I was getting overweight, facingShow MoreRelatedKing Of The Court : Bill Russell And The Basketball Revolution1412 Words  | 6 PagesAustralia. Under International Olympic Committee president Avery Brundage however, the amateur concept was employed, or as Goudsouzian describes, â€Å"Playing sport for its own sake, not material gain.†In addition, Brundage insisted athletes pledged to remain as amateurs even after the Olympics were over. Organizations such as the IOC and the NCAA reaped the benefits of the athletes while the athletes themselves received no compensation of any kind. 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