Two Views of Affirmative Action Essay - 1498 Words

Two Views of Affirmative Action We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal†¦. Even before it became a nation, America was heralded as a land of equality. Thomas Jeffersons statement begs more than a few questions, one of which is: How can we ensure equality to everyone? Beginning in the late 1960s, the federal government provided an answer to this question in the form of affirmative action. In recent years, many people have called this policy into question. Interestingly, affirmative action is sometimes attacked by the people it helps, and defended by those it hurts. In particular, two recent essays demonstrate that peoples race does not necessarily determine their beliefs on the issue of affirmative†¦show more content†¦He is, in effect, saying that his position must be right because he supports affirmative action out of the goodness of his heart, rather than because he benefits from it. In contrast to Spickard, Steele begins with the opposite scenario, stating how he could really be helped by affirmative action through financial aid for his childrens college education. However, he says that he does not want the assistance of affirmative action, because he believes the help should go to those who are truly at a disadvantage, not to those whose only disadvantage is the color of their skin. To him, it simply makes no sense for African-American students who are well removed from the kind of deprivation that would qualify [them] as disadvantaged to receive scholarship and grant money when that assistance is denied to poor white students. Next, Spickard claims that affirmative action is a way to help make life fair for minorities. He states that Americas initial push for equal opportunity resulted in very little progress, so affirmative action was needed to level the playing field. Steele, on the other hand, contradicts Spickard by saying that blacks had made great advances during the 60s without quotas, and that the quotas involved in affirmative action actually slanted the playing field in the opposite direction, rather than leveling it. However, neither authorShow MoreRelatedDoes Affirmative Action Make Moral Sense?1084 Words   |  5 PagesDoes affirmative action make moral sense? A moral being is one capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct, but a big question that follows concerns the idea if there even is such a thing as â€Å"right conduct.† â€Å"Whatever can be proved to be good, must be so by being shown to be a means to something admitted to be good† (Mill 6). In John Stuart Mill’s book, â€Å"Utilitarianism,† he states this notion where an individual assumes good things are good without knowing why they’re good. Defined fromRead MoreAffirmative Action: Equality for All? Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative Action: Equality for All? Affirmative action in the United States has become a misused and misguided practice in modern times. In the current form of affirmative action, it is impossible to create a truly equal society. It was originally used as an equal opportunity measure to allow qualified minorities into positions they were denied because of race. However, affirmative action has become a system of racial quotas that lowers standards for minority applicants in order to give themRead MoreAffirmative Action Essay968 Words   |  4 PagesTwo hundred years ago in America, being born of a certain race or gender predetermined one’s opportunities in life. African Americans were subjected to slavery and discrimination and women had very little liberty. In the present, the United States is much closer to equality, yet gender and race still play a role in life’s opportunities given the high frequency of affirmative action programs; they attempt to increase the representation of minorities on college c ampuses and in the office, regardlessRead MoreThe Importance Of Distributing Desert Based Aid At A Small Liberal Arts School1441 Words   |  6 PagesMountain College, several arguments present themselves: one, desert based aid insures that incoming students meet a standard that facilitates strong academics, which in turn improves the school s reputation and contributes to its long term viability; two, it incentivises students to work hard academically, benefiting fellow students and faculty who appreciate active classroom involvement and discussion; and three, students with good grades have likely worked hard for them and deserve just compensationRead More Affirmative Action Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pages The roots of Affirmative Action can be traced back to the passage of the Civil Rights Act where legislation redefined public and private behavior. The act states that to discriminate in private is legal, but anything regarding business or public discrimination is illegal. There are two instances when opposing affirmative action might seem the wrong thing to do. The nobility of the cause that help others. Affirmative Action was a great starter for equality in the work place. The mostRead More Affirmative Action Is the Wrong Action Essays1708 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative Action Is the Wrong Action The United States of America has long been a country divided by race. Hate has pervaded her existence since her conception, and now today’s society is forced to deal with those issues. Minorities have suffered at the hands of the white male majority for centuries as the social activities of the old war were brought to the new colonies, only to ferment and continue to affect the lives of all who lived within her borders. There is no doubting that thisRead MoreLegal Aspect of Affirmative Action Essay1288 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative action programs are often misunderstood. Each person has their own idea of what affirmative action really entails. This paper will provide an overview of the legal aspect of affirmative action. The differences between affirmative action programs and equal opportunity legislation will be explained. The positive arguments will be presented along with the negative arguments. The affects affirmative action has on the society of the United State s will be analyzed. Finally the reactionsRead MoreEssay on Affirmative Action1571 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative Action Affirmative action is one of the more recent and popular civil rights policies that affect todays society. Affirmative action can be described as nothing more than a lower educational standard for minorities. It has become quite clear that affirmative action is unfair and unjust. However, in order to blend race, culture, and genders to create a stable and diverse society, someone has to give. How can this be justified? Is there a firm right or wrong to affirmative actionRead MoreAffirmative Action719 Words   |  3 PagesAffirmative Action Generations of families have suffered due unequal laws or prejudices set in place to prevent minorities from growing. Slavery, segregation, separate but equal laws, the trail of tears, failing ESOL classes, unequal pay and so much more effect todays youth and causing history to change slowly if at all. Affirmative action has good intentions and is very much needed in todays world however it sometimes fails doing what it was created to do. The extra points given to theRead MoreWhy We Still Need Affirmitive Action1493 Words   |  6 PagesWhy we still need affirmative action Because of the complex nature of the discussion on affirmative action and the controversies and the emotion surrounding it, it is imperative to first recap on the causes of race and inequality in the United States of America. The policies on affirmative action were proposed as a fractional remedy for the socio-economic impacts of past and present disadvantage faced by certain groups in the population, especially with regard to biases on gender and race. Such disadvantages

The Account of Mary Rowlandson and Other Indian Captivity...

A Clash of Cultures Mary Rowlandsons â€Å"The Account of Mary Rowlandson and Other Indian Captivity Narratives† shows two different sides of the Indian people. This narrative describes Rowlandsons experience as a captive of an Indian tribe that raided the town of Lancaster in 1676. Following her capture Rowlandson is treated no better than an animal, and has no type of freedom what so ever. Even so, after living with the Indians for some time, they start to treat her more like a person by trading and giving her time to see her family. Neither the whites or Indians are completely at fault for the death of so many people, it is the clash of two completely different cultures. Although after learning a little bit about each others†¦show more content†¦Rowlandson was completely shocked by this kind deed and did not know what to make of it (65-66). Shortly after this event, the Indians realize that she can be an asset to them instead of a burden. Because of her skil l in making clothing, the Indians begin to trade food and other small items for her services. King Phillip even trades â€Å"good news† for a bunch of items from Rowlandson (83). As she gains more trust with the Indians she is granted leave to go visit her family by herself. The change in the attitude of the Indians towards the captives was dramatic nearing their release, showing that they were not just ruthless killers but also human. The large amount of killings done by both Indians and whites were not because either one was â€Å"evil,† but because there was a huge difference in culture. When two completely different cultures like that are suddenly combined, there is going to be a lot of confusion and in this case blood shed. The cultures initially didnt know how to react to each other so became hostile. Because of this constant hostility, neither culture was able to learn about the other. This learning was only accomplished by the people who were captured by the other side such as Rowlandson. Near the end of her captivity, Rowlandson begins to warm up to the Indians a littleShow MoreRelatedThe Narrative Of The Captivity And The Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1422 Words   |  6 Pages An Indian attack on Lancaster during King Phillip’s War resulted in the capture of twenty-four people. Mary Rowlandson was among these captives, and the resulting captivity narrative, titled The Narrative of the Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, published in 1682, is formed based on her memory. Rowlandson’s captivity narrative carried great significance in that it came to be used as a didactic Jeremiad, leading its Calvinist audience back towards God’s path and away from anRead MoreFaith, Food, And Captivity : Mary Rowlandson s Account Of Survival And Courage1554 Words   |  7 Pages Faith, Food, and Captivity: Mary Rowlandson s Account of Survival and Courage The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a personal account that was written by Mary Rowlandson in 1682. It is her account of what her experience in captivity was like. Her narrative about her captivity grew popular with American and English literature. Rowlandson lost everything when there was an attack orchestrated by Indians on her town Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1675; where she wasRead MoreThe Tribe Not Only Kidnapped Mary Rowlandson1263 Words   |  6 Pagesset flames to Rowlandson’s life. The tribe not only kidnapped Mary Rowlandson, but her three kids as well. This tragedy is what inspired Rowlandson to start writing and becoming a famous known American author. The beginning of Mary White Rowlandson’s life started in the year of 1637. She was born in Somerset England. A little ways down the road of her life, Rowlandson’s parents brought her to the Massachusetts colonies. In fact, Mary Rowlandson’s father was known to be one of the wealthiest menRead MoreCaptivity Of North America And Continued As A Significant Genre Of American Literature Essay1406 Words   |  6 PagesCaptivity narratives began with the settlement of North America and continued as a significant genre in American literature until the end of the nineteenth century. The first captivity narratives are believed to have been created by Native Americans who were captured by early Spanish explorers. However, the genre commonly refers to the accounts written by European settlers who were abducted by Native Americans. European settlers were fleeing to the â€Å"new land† in order to escape religious persecutionsRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Captivity An d The Restoration Of Mary Rowlandson1611 Words   |  7 Pages On February tenth, 1675, an Indian attack on Lancaster during King Philip’s War resulted in the capture of twenty-four people. Mary Rowlandson was among these captives, and the resulting captivity narrative, titled The Narrative of the Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, published in 1682, is formed based on her memory. Rowlandson’s captivity narrative carried great significance in that it came to be used as a didactic Jeremiad, leading its Calvinist audience back towards God’sRead More Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1366 Words   |  6 PagesNarrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson From the violent and brutal clash between Indians [1], and British colonists in Massachusetts during King Philips War (1675-6) grew a new literary genre. After their redemption, some colonists who had been prisoners of the Indians wrote autobiographical accounts of their experiences. These captivity narratives developed a large audience, and interest in the narratives continued into the nineteenth century.[2] After her captureRead More Compare Contrast Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano Essay1667 Words   |  7 Pagesthings that make up a piece of literature. For example: choice of diction, modes of discourse, and figurative language. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were great examples of authors that used these elements of literature. There are similarities and differences in A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America. Though Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano shared similarities in experiences, they had different writing p ersonalities, purposes, attitudesRead MoreCompare/Contrast Writers1706 Words   |  7 Pagesthings that make up a piece of literature. For example: choice of diction, modes of discourse, and figurative language. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were great examples of authors that used these elements of literature. There are similarities and differences in A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America. Though Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano shared similarities in experiences, they had different writing personalities, purposes, attitudesRead MoreNative Indians: The Captivity and Restoration by Mary Rowlandson990 Words   |  4 PagesThe Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration, written by Mary Rowlandson describes the events that she was taken captive alongside a number of people by Native Indians. The story is written in first person; therefore, it has details on the happenings during and after the captives. Mary narrates her experiences and highlights her views of her captors and the Native Indian community at large. The narratives indicate Mary Rowlandsons position as a female in her society during her time. Mary RowlandsonRead MoreA Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, by Mary Rowlandson1483 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† by Mary Rowlandson is a short history about her personal experience in captivity among the Wampanoag Indian tribe. On the one hand, Mary Rowlandson endures many hardships and derogatory encounters. However, she manages to show her superior status to everyone around her. She clearly shows how her time spent under captivity frequently correlates with the lessons taught in the Bible. Even though, the colonists possibly murdered

The law balance out the rights of the victims Free Essays

To what extent does the law balance out the rights of the victims, offenders and society in the criminal investigation process? The role of the criminal investigation process is to balance the rights of the victims and offenders in society. All individuals’ wether victim, offender or member of society have basic rights to which the law attempts to adhere to. While all are individual, the rights will differ for the purpose of maintaining a balance in society. We will write a custom essay sample on The law balance out the rights of the victims or any similar topic only for you Order Now Though upholding the rights of the people is essential in order to ensure that the investigation process is conducted correctly and without abuse. In a criminal investigation case, a victim is usually seeking Justice for an offence against them personally. Victims can be involved in the criminal trial in a number of ways, from reporting a crime and assisting police in testifying at a trial as a witness impact statement. However in certain cases a victim can be of significant value in the criminal investigation process as they may be the only witness to the crime. The victim also has the right to maintain their dignity and to be protected from the accused as they may have access to certain information that may be otherwise confidential. The victims’ rights are outlined in the victims’ rights act 1996. Victims also have to right to a victim impact statement, being a voluntary statement written by the victim about the impact of the crime had on them. Although this is only allowed in serious offences and to ensure fairness in particular highly sensitive cases the Judge may not allow a victim impact statement, on the grounds to assuring that the emotional content does not persuade the Jury and result in a bias verdict. Case) In NSW, crimes will be investigated by the NSW police force, as they play an important role in the criminal investigation process. The police force is given special legal powers enabling them to carry out their duties effectively. The majority of these powers are found in the law and enforcement (powers and responsibilities) act 2002 permitting them to investigate crimes, make arrests, interrogate suspects and gather evidence against the accused. The NSW police force also follows a specific code of behaviour called the code of practice for CRIME (custody, rights, investigation, management and evidence) which sets out the rights of the suspect and the manner in which the investigation should be carried out, it also includes that all citizens must e treated fairly regardless of race, religion, ethnic background and sex. Police are not allowed to detain a person unless they have good reason to do so, if enough evidence and a warrant is issued the police may arrest someone for the crime they are investigating. The accused will be held in police custody for questioning, this is known as interrogation. At the end of the detention period the police will make a unconditionally. If the accused believes that this procedure has not been adhered to appropriately they have the right to report their opinion through a complaints rocedure overseen by the NSW ombudsmen and the police integrity commission. Society have an important role to play in the criminal Justice system by being actively encouraged by community programs to report information about criminal activity. Crimes will usually be reported by a person who has knowledge of the crime, or has witnessed the crime. Citizens have the right to actively participate in the identification of a crime and exercise their right to live in a safe and secured environment. The member of society also has the right to remain anonymous during the criminal investigation process in order to protect their individual security. Citizens can exercise this right directly through the police or through a community program such as crime stoppers. robbed, deceived or cheated. Victims can be involved in a criminal trial process in a number of ways from reporting a crime and assisting police through to testifying at as a witness and submitting a victim impact statement. In NSW, victims of crime are recognised and guaranteed certain rights under the Victims rights act 1996. The Act contain a charter of victims’ rights which requires among a number of things, respect for a victims dignity, victims compensation, protection from the accused, protection of dentity and certain rights to information and assistance during the criminal process. A victim impact statement is a voluntary statement written by the victim about the impact the crime has had on them. It allows the victim an opportunity to participate in the process by letting the court know how the crime has affected them. The statements are only permitted for serious offences involving violence, death of or any physical harm to a person and only if the court approves of it. Victim impact statements can be controversial because they can be very subjective yet have significant effect on sentencing. Supporters argues that they provide an important opportunity for victims to express themselves in the criminal process. case The area of the criminal process trial that are critiqued by society are the right of police powers against the rights of the suspect. The role of the police in the criminal investigation process is to investigate crimes, make arrests, interrogate suspects and gather evidence against the accused. The police will then present the evidence for judgeme nt to a court on the behalf of the state. The NSW criminal trial process states that the accused has the right to a fair trial as it is stated in the crimes act of 1900 How to cite The law balance out the rights of the victims, Essays