Legalization of Same Sex Marriages

Legalization of Same Sex Marriages Free Online Research Papers Legalizing same sex marriage, is it right or wrong? â€Å"In 2003 when the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to ban a marriage between two individuals of the same sex† (www.uua.org, 2008) it sparked new controversies and debates all over the United States. This has sparked new issues to be raised in Congress to put into law that marriage would consist of a union between a man and a woman and not two genders of the same sex. This ruling has caused many states to pass state laws banning the union of the same sex and declaring it a violation of state law. â€Å"In 2008 California and Connecticut followed suit with Massachusetts and the Supreme Courts of these states stopped the ban on same-sex marriages.† (www.uua.org, 2008) With this taking place it has caused debates between Religious factors and liberals throughout the country. There are several public figures and non public figures that have an opinion on this issue. The people that are against the issue raise issues like children and the moral issue of the upbringing of the children and the impact that it will have on society for many it is a religious belief that in the bible it says that† a marriage is between a woman and a man for life.† (Matthew 19:6 Good Will Publishers, Inc, 1990) The Liberals have arguments for the marriage of same-sex couples argue mainly that Couples of any sex deserve to be married and have the safety and security that comes along with being married. They also state that it is good for America because the more married couples there are the more successful society will be. I will go into further explanations of the cases for and against same-sex marriages in the paragraphs to follow. In the following paragraphs I am going to present arguments for and against same-sex marriages and why they have such a strong opinion on whether it is right or wrong. I will end with my position on the issue and why I feel strongly about my stance on this issue. Three of the main arguments against same-sex marriage are that the legalization of same-sex marriage would quickly destroy the traditional family, that legalization of same-sex marriages will lead inexorably to polygamy and other alternatives to one man/one woman unions, and that it will hurt the raising of children because they have the right to start with a mother and a father and without one or the other the child is losing the relationship of having a mother and a father. I will now go into further explanation of each issue. ISSUE 1: Legalizing same-sex marriage would quickly destroy the traditional family. Dr. James Dobson position on this issue is that â€Å"same sex marriages cannot co-exist with a marriage between a woman and a man because they represent two opposite ends of the universe.† (Dobson, 2004) If the state was to sanction same-sex marriages it would give the younger generation unclear description of marriage. It would cause short term relationships and confusion about their sexuality, emotional bonding and sexual purity, understanding of lifelong commitments and the sanctity of marriage. It reduces marriage to a partnership not a lifelong commitment to one another under the eyes of God.† It is reduced to only the attractive benefits and sexual convince of a partnership.† (Dobson, 2004) ISSUE 2: Legalization of same-sex marriages will lead inexorably to polygamy and other alternatives to one man/one woman unions. People who practice polygamy are using this issue as a basis for them to legalize polygamy. They are arguing in court that the state must prove that polygamy is harmful to society instead of them proving that it is not. In court cases from polygamist in Utah are citing cases such as Lawrence vs. Texas as legal authority for their cases. â€Å"In the past for the definition of marriage we have fallen back on the foundation of tradition, legal precedent, theology and overwhelming support of the people.† (Dobson, 2004) If we were to allow same-sex marriages it would open the door for other types of marriages like a marriage of two men and five women or one man and ten women. If a court decides to allow the marriage of same sex couples it â€Å"will open the meaning of marriage up to anything that is doable by civil rights and destroy the legal underpinning of marriage.† (Dobson, 2004) ISSUE 3: Same-sex marriage and parenting. The main concern today is, what would same-sex marriage due to children. They pose the issue that every child has the right to start out life with one mother and one father and to take that away from them would be detrimental to their emotional well being. There is no research on what same-sex marriages would do to the future generations of children. â€Å"No society at any time has ever raised a generation of children in same-sex homes. Same-sex marriage will subject a generation of children to the status of lab rats in a vast untested social experiment.†(Stanton) (Bohan, 2008) In foresight there has not been enough research done on the gender preference of children raised in same sex marriages. Children raised in same sex marriages do not have the upbringing of what is proper to society or what it is like to have both a mother and father and the moral upbringing that this would provide. In arguments for legalization of same sex marriages they argue that denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions), marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples, and denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination. ISSUE 1: Denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions). People in favor of allowing same-sex marriages argue that the concept of a marriage being only between a man and a woman is a religious belief and they believe that homosexuality is a sin. If government starts passing laws based on this reason then they are going against the â€Å"First Amendment of the Constitution because it clearly states that a persons religious views or lack thereof must be protected. â€Å" (Messerli, 2008) In this issue they are raising their civil rights to chose to believe in the religious text or not. ISSUE 2: Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples. Homosexual couples argue that they should have access to all the benefits that a heterosexual couples do. They believe that they should be able to have the tax filing benefits, joint ownership of property, insurance benefits, and be able to make critical medical decisions for the other partner. They also state that marriage is more than a legal status. ISSUE 3: Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination. Homosexual couples argue that denying them the privilege to be married is going against the Bill of rights that ensures equal protection and that the rights of minorities should be protected. They argue that denying them this right is no different than telling a black or Hispanic couple that they cannot marry. This is one of their weaker arguments. My stance on this issue is that I believe that marriage between the same sexes should not be legalized. For centuries marriage has always been considered the union of one man and one woman and children should have the advantages of having a mother and a father not two mothers or two fathers living in the same household as husband and husband or wife and wife. I do not hold anything against people who are homosexuals but I do believe in God and the Bible and God had written in several passages that marriage is one woman and one man for life. I always use the example that God made Eve from Adams rib so that he would have a partner in life and that he did not make another Adam. For some this may not be logical to them but when I am discussing this issue it is the best way for me to convey how I feel. In today’s society this is an issue that will not be going away and whether you are for or against same sex marriages we need to take into consider all the facts and research more th e effect this will have on our future. Bohan, D. (2008, September 16). Family expert lays out argument against same-sex marriage. Minnesota Family Council / Minnesota Family Institute . Dobson, D. J. (2004). Marriage Under Fire. Multnomah Books. Holy Bible Matthew 19:6 Good Will Publishers, Inc. (1990). Holy Bible Matthew 19:6. J.G. Publishing Company. Messerli, J. (2008, December 28). Should Same-Sex Marriages be Legalized. Retrieved from Balanced Politics: balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm Sullivan, A. (1997). Same-Sex Marriage: Pron and Con. New York: Vintage Books. www.uua.org. (2008, november 3). Retrieved from Social Justice: uua.org/socialjustice/issues/bgltequality/marriageequality/27673.shtml Research Papers on Legalization of Same Sex MarriagesThe Broken FamilyBooker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-BarnettThe Equal Rights AmendmentProbation OfficersThe Legal ProcessEmmett Till BiographyThe Story of Beatrix PotterAmerican Central Banking and OilGap Analysis: Lester ElectronicsSexually Transmitted Diseases

Culture and religions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Culture and religions - Essay Example Pesently, there are at least 5000 indigenous groups in the world. Their indigenous religion and culture has faded away with the spread of the non-indigenous religions and cultures. The modern civilization has also made it difficult for them to practice the indigenous religion because their rights to practice it are subjugated by the dominant modern people (Scheiner, 1992). The importance of interrelatedness of everything in the cosmos developed from the similarity of experiences of the indigenous people dwelling in different parts of the world. Such experiences included but were not limited to feelings of pain and pleasure, instances of birth and death, and indigenous people’s wonderment regarding the cosmos as well as the place they had in it. In addition to that, the indigenous people also interacted with one another through trade and traveling. These factors allowed the exchange of beliefs and cultures and played the role of catalyst in the interrelatedness of everything in the cosmos. The spiritual purpose that they serve for the indigenous people is that they inculcate unity and harmony among them and enable them to interact with one another in spite of the indigenous religious and cultural differences because these factors make them feel that they are not alone and that they can help others and attain help from them in

Human Resource Management in UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Resource Management in UK - Essay Example It would appear that the dynamic business environment at that time certainly had great influence, if in fact not actually being the catalyst towards an overall full scale adoption of HRM or at least the embracing of a number of elements of the concept. HRM is a good example of how the macro environment can influence change within an organisations micro environment. Essentially it is an organisations response to macro environment factors which will determine success. In the 1980's in the UK the macro environment produced a range of political, economic, social and technological factors which favoured a movement towards a HRM approach to people management and it is also true to say that the macro environment still has a very powerful influence over the extent to which HRM is practiced and types of HRM implemented today. The term 'human resource,' first emerged in the USA in the 1950's, coined by Peter Druker in one of his seminars and traces back to organisational development and human capital theory. HRM is controversial and debatable surrounded by great academic diversity. Confusion is caused because of the 'ambiguous pedigree' of the concept (Noon, 1992). There is a lack of clarity, the term can be viewed as being broad. HRM is a concept regarded as being enigmatic / obscure due to ideological, empirical and theoretical reasons and in many cases because of micro politics (Storey, 1992). Difficulties in defining HRM and the lack of a universally accepted definition implies that HRM is an innovation that takes on the meaning of whatever the person speaking at the time wants it to be (Torrington, 1989). Questions arise over the existence of HRM (Armstrong, 2000), over its meaning and status; is HRM a 'map,' 'model' or 'theory' (Noon, 1992) and of whether it is distinct from the traditional rhetoric of personnel and industrial relations management. Or is HRM simply old wine in a new bottle, a catch all term which basically re-labels the generic activities of personnel management (Torrington, 1989; Poole, 1990; Storey, 1995). Until the emergence of HRM, debatable as it is, the traditional approach to people management was personnel management. Personnel management is based on compliance, management control over employees, it was pluralist and concerned with adverse relations and thus operating via collective relationships (Trade Unions and employee representatives) and it is characteristic of a bureaucratic style of management. Personnel management tends to be reactive, tactical and concerned with short term objectives. Personnel management tends to have more pragmatic objectives, concerned greatly with cost effectiveness. In contrast HRM is proactive and strategic, it integrates personnel /industrial relation considerations with strategic decision making. HRM is based on commitment, it is unitarist with no conflict of interests thus focusing on an individual relationship between employee and line management. HRM concentrates on people as a vital resource and focus' upon greater utilisation of this asset through its policies so as to achieve organisational

The Song of Roland Essay Example for Free

The Song of Roland Essay Count Roland was the epitome of everything a Carolingian knight should be. He was virtuous in every possible way. Bravery, piety, modesty, strength, and ability are all adjectives that aptly describe Sir Roland. In the work The Song of Roland a portrayal of 8th Century warfare and practices are given to the reader. We see a world were values such as loyalty, friendship, and piety co-exist with values such as ferocity in combat, eagerness to kill infidels, and lionizing of the sacking of cities and looting of the dead. What could bring about such opposing values into one moral code? Perhaps the system of values existing in 8th Century Frankish society is a combination of moral systems. Frankish knights of the Carolingian Era adhered to a strict moral code that drew many values from Christian doctrine, but also drew heavily from the moral system of a warlike barbarian people; such as the early Frankish tribes as portrayed in History of the Franks by Gregory the Bishop of Tours. During the time of Clovis I Christianity was just beginning as the state religion of the Franks. In Gregorys depiction of the Frankish people following the death of Clovis I, he shows a society were murder, incest and the killing of ones own son is perfectly acceptable. Treachery and ambush are expunged as virtues befitting a great ruler. The only mentions of Christianity in the text seem to be purposely placed there by Gregory. While the Franks claim to be Christian at this time they clearly do not understand the moral code that goes along with their Christian faith. Understanding of that Christian faith comes at a later time. Loyalty in particular seems to be a central virtue of Carolingian knights. Roland says once, It is fitting we should stay here for our king; a man should suffer hardships for his lord, and persevere in heat and cold; a man should lose if need be, hide and hair (Roland 83). This attitude of sacrifice for your lord, and loyalty unto death is very different from the attitude of the early Franks. In Gregorys account Frankish warriors care more for booty than loyalty. Theodoric knew that the men of Clermont-Ferrand were ready to betray him. Follow me, said he to his people, and I will lead you to a land where you will be able to lay your hands on so much gold and silver than even your desire for loot will be satisfied (Gregory 6). Roland and his twelve companions were ready to die for the honor of their king, while the men of Clermont-Ferrand fought only for the promise of booty. This ideal of loyalty and faithfulness can only have come from the influence of the Catholic Church. Piety is clearly very important to the Carolingian knight. Before their deaths many of the twelve companions seek penance and absolution so that they may enter Heaven. Roland begs Gods mercy as he dies saying, True Father, who hath never told a lie, Who resurrected Lazarus from the dead, and Who protected Daniel from the lions, protect the soul in me from every peril brought on by wrongs Ive done throughout my life! (Roland 124). This statement shows Rolands understanding of Christian doctrine. He comprehends the need for absolution in order to attain paradise, and he clearly has a thorough understanding and knowledge of scripture, as he quotes from the Bible in numerous places. During and following the time of Clovis I the Franks understanding of piety was simple. If you were pious, you won battles, if you werent, you lost. Gregory said in regard to successes, they have come to Christians who confess the blessed Trinity and ruin has come to heretics who have tried the same. (Gregory 1) So on the battlefield is were you proved your piousness, not in your life or during prayer. This is clearly a gross misunderstanding of Christian doctrine by the early Franks. Ferocity in combat is perhaps one of the most important characteristics of a Frankish knight. It co-exists with loyalty, friendship and piety, all Christian virtues. Roland who is the epitome of the Carolingian knight is the fiercest warrior of them all. His ability is thus described, the baron goes ands strikes with all his force upon the jewel-studded golden casque, cuts downward through the head, the trunk and the byrnie, the well-made saddle set with gems and gold, and deep into the backbone of the horse (Roland 100). This cleaving of a man in two is not deemed tragic or saddening as one would expect from a Christian society, instead it is raised up as an example of a good Christian activity. Killing infidels is never sinful. Indeed even the Archbishop himself engages in such activity, But Turpin strikes He spits his body (the Spaniards) through from side to side and throws him dead upon an open spot. (Roland 98) Even though many Christian ideals have sunk into Frankish society, the warlike nature of the Franks still endures during the Carolingian age. Sacking towns and acquiring plunder are not the chief motivation for warfare, as they were during early Frankish history, but these activities are still very central to warfare in the Carolingian age. Following the retreat of the Spanish Charles knights loot the bodies of the dead enemy knights even before pursuing the retreating enemy (Roland 126). Many mentions are made of the numerous towns that Roland had sacked prior to this story. The fact that Roland had killed thousands of innocents and burned hundreds of homes is not used to criticize Roland, instead it is used as an example of his prowess as a warrior. This attitude toward random slaughter and plunder is clearly not inline with Christian morals. Its origins must instead be from early Frankish society. When Christianity first entered Frankish society it was merely a new version of paganism for the Franks who practiced it. They viewed the Christian god as more powerful than other pagan deities, and so they converted to Christianity. At no point though did they embrace the moral code of Catholicism. However, later under Charlemagne the missionaries had mostly finished their work of educating the Franks. The knights portrayed in The Song of Roland clearly understand the morals of piety, honesty, loyalty and friendship. They also demonstrated a thorough knowledge of Christian doctrine and scripture. Even though the Carolingian knights were more Christian, certainly than the Franks of the 6th Century, they were still not totally inline with true Christian morals. Slaughter, plundering and mortal combat were still held in high esteem during the Carolingian era. These barbaric ideals still existed in Frankish society, despite the efforts of Christian missionaries. Clearly the moral code of the Carolingian knight was a combination of Christian values, and the value system of the early Frankish tribes.

The Struggle for Identity in A Doll’s House :: A Doll’s House

The Struggle for Identity in A Doll's House      Ã‚   A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that was written ahead of its time. In this play Ibsen tackles women's rights as a matter of importance. Throughout this time period it was neglected. A Doll's House was written during the movement of Naturalism, which commonly reflected society. Ibsen acknowledges the fact that in 19th century life the role of the woman was to stay at home, raise the children and attend to her husband. Nora Helmer is the character in A Doll House who plays the 19th woman and is portrayed as a victim. Michael Meyers said of Henrik Ibsen's plays: "The common denominator in many of Ibsen's dramas is his interest in individuals struggling for and authentic identity in the face of tyrannical social conventions. This conflict often results in his characters' being divided between a sense of duty to themselves and their responsibility to others."(1563) All of the aspects of this quote can be applied to the play A Doll House, in Nora Helmer's character, who throughout much of the play is oppressed, presents an inauthentic identity to the audience and throughout the play attempts to discovery her authentic identity. The inferior role of Nora is extremely important to her character. Nora is oppressed by a variety of "tyrannical social conventions." Ibsen in his "A Doll's House" depicts the role of women as subordinate in order to emphasize their role in society. Nora is oppressed by the manipulation from Torvald. Torvald has a very typical relationship with society. He is a smug bank manager. With his job arrive many responsibilities. He often treats his wife as if she is one of these responsibilities. Torvald is very authoritative and puts his appearance, both social and physical, ahead of his wife that he supposedly loves. Torvald is a man that is worried about his reputation, and cares little about his wife's feelings. Nora and Torvald's relationship, on the outside appears to be a happy. Nora is treated like a child in this relationship, but as the play progresses she begins to realize how phony her marriage is. Torvald sees Nora's only role as being the subservient and loving wife. He refers to Nora as "my little squirrel" (p.1565), "my little lark" (p.1565), or "spendthrift"(1565). To him, she is only a possession. Torvald calls Nora by pet-names and speaks down to her because he thinks that she is not intelligent and that she can not think on her own.

Starry night vs. Apse Mosaic long essay

There is a much deeper meaning to the works of art titled Apse Mosaic done in the SST. Apollonian, and The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. Both are very different forms of art and have what is known as a visionary experience. A visionary experience is known as a visual representation of culture or a meaning personal to either the creator or viewer. Apse Mosaic is a mosaic form of art done in the SST. Apollonian, and represents another representation of Christ and the many symbols affiliated with Christ, like the sheep, cross, and also the fact that the art was done on he ceiling.The art being done on the ceiling may a reference to when you die you go to heaven up above, in the direction of the ceiling. The Starry Night was an oil painting on the village of SST. R ©my. Van Sago's painting is told to represent a symbol of death, shown by the Cypress tree and the stars being an idea of death as a route to heaven. Both paintings express similar cultural meanings when analyzed more in - depth. Apse Mosaic is from the 6th century C. E. And is representative of Byzantine art ND culture.Mosaics in churches were very popular forms of art during this time as the Byzantine culture was well known for expressing their belief in Christ. The mosaic uses the lines and color very well by using contour lines and different, vibrant colors to show the distinct characters and symbols in the art. Space is very well used by leaving no â€Å"grey' area. Every detail is also in proportion to one another, except for the Cross, which is emphasized to draw the viewers attention into the center of the work.The Cross is also placed above the apostles, in the sky, to symbolize the transformation of Christ and heaven, which shows the believe that after death you rise into heaven to be with Christ. The Starry Night is from late 19th century and is an oil painting Van Gogh used to symbolize events and facts from his early life. While the painting is well known for its remarkable appearance, many believe in deeper meanings Van Gogh was trying to express in the painting.The Starry Night is an oil on canvas, which is not meant to be one to show significant detail, however it is evident that the subject was of a village which has very important to Van Gogh. The lines in the painting are more implied lines, where no true edge is shown, however Van Gogh uses brighter colors in the sky on the cool color scheme to show separation. Also, the emphasis of the Cypress tree and the smaller buildings in the background are used to show a foreground, middle- ground, and background in the painting.The reason for further meanings of this minting come from a letter Van Gogh wrote to his brother, discussing the idea of death as a route to the stars. The stars are inspiration for the title and the glowing colors of the sky, possibly meant to show Angels or Christ. To go even more in-depth, the cypress tree symbolizes death. Van Sago's death was thought to be suffered from depression and i llness, which ended his life one year after the painting. Perhaps the reason for the symbols were meant to represent his own death and a reflection of his Starry night vs.. Apse Mosaic long essay By little_doge

Canadian Governor General Michalle Jean Biography

A well-known journalist and broadcaster in Quebec, Michaà «lle Jean emigrated from Haiti with her family at an early age. Fluent in five languages—French, English, Italian, Spanish and Haitian Creole—Jean became the first black governor general of Canada in 2005. A social activist for women and children at risk, Jean planned to use the office of governor general to help disadvantaged young people. Jean is married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond and has a young daughter. Governor General of Canada Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin chose Jean to be the governor general of Canada, and in August 2005, it was announced Queen Elizabeth II approved the choice. After Jeans appointment, some questioned her loyalty, because of reports of her and her husbands support of Quebec independence, as well as her dual French and Canadian citizenship. She repeatedly denounced reports of her separatist sentiments, as well as denounced her French citizenship. Jean was sworn into office Sept. 27, 2005 and served as the 27th governor general of Canada until Oct. 1, 2010. Birth Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1957. At the age of 11 in 1968, Jean and her family fled the Papa Doc Duvalier dictatorship and settled in Montreal. Education Jean has a BA in Italian, Hispanic languages and literature from the University of Montreal. She earned her masters degree in comparative literature from the same institution. Jean also studied languages and literature at the University of Perouse, the University of Florence and the Catholic University of Milan. Early Professions Jean worked as a university lecturer while completing her masters degree. She also worked as a social activist, as well as a journalist and broadcaster. Michaà «lle Jean as Social Activist From 1979 to 1987, Jean worked with Quebec shelters for battered women and helped establish a network of emergency shelters in Quebec. She coordinated a study on women as victims in abusive relationships, which was published in 1987, and she has also worked with aid organizations for immigrant women and families. Jean also worked at Employment and Immigration Canada and at the Conseil des Communautà ©s culturelles du Quà ©bec. Background of Michaà «lle Jean in Arts and Communications Jean joined Radio-Canada in 1988. She worked as a reporter and then host on the public affairs proframs Actuel, Montrà ©al ce soir, Virages and Le Point. In 1995, she anchored Rà ©seau de lInformation à   Radio-Canada (RDI) programs such as Le Monde ce soir, LÉdition quà ©bà ©coise, Horizons francophones, Les Grands reportages, Le Journal RDI, and RDI à   là ©coute. Beginning in 1999, Jean hosted CBC Newsworlds The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts. In 2001, Jean became an anchor for the weekend edition of Le Tà ©là ©journal, Radio-Canadas major news show. In 2003 she took over as anchor of Le Midi, the daily edition of Le Tà ©là ©journal. In 2004, she started her own show Michaà «lle, which featured in-depth interviews with experts and enthusiasts. Addtionally, Jean has participated in a number of documentary films produced by her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond including La manià ¨re nà ¨gre ou Aimà © Cà ©saire chemin faisant, Tropique Nord, Haà ¯ti dans tous nos rà ªves, and Lheure de Cuba. After the Governor General Office Jean has remained publicly active after her service as the federal representative of the Canadian monarch. She served as a special envoy of the United Nations to Haiti to work on education and poverty issues in the country, and she was also the chancellor of the University of Ottawa from 2012 to 2015. Beginning on Jan. 5, 2015, Jean began a four-year mandate as the secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie, which represents countries and regions where French language and culture has a significant presence.