Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security Free Essays
string(112) " or a citizen of the United States, anyone captured in the act of terrorist violence is considered a terrorist\." The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security made a report on Counterterrorism intelligence Capabilities and Performance before the 9/11 attack. According to this report, one of the reasons why this tragedy was not prevented was their less than satisfactory management of resources particularly information that could have be used to forewarn about terrorist intentions. It was reported for example, that the FBI, Homeland Security and the other agencies had very limited ability to watchlist terrorist suspects because of their inadequate access to up-to-date data collected by the different agencies and resources. We will write a custom essay sample on The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security or any similar topic only for you Order Now In addition, it was found out that the actions of the FBI were more towards the investigation of possible terrorist attacks and less focus was placed on the prevention of such. (Report of Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, 2002). These features harmed the Intelligence Committeeââ¬â¢s ability to foresee possible threats of terrorism. Needless to say, foreknowledge of an attack is necessary for its prevention. This necessitates infiltrating communities especially those with significant Arab populations. Still, it is important to note that this infiltration is not an act of discrimination but an act based on the great probability that those involved in terrorism would belong to such nationality. There is a greater probablility that sympathizers and supporters of terrorism would belong to the members of the Islamic population than other populations of different religions. The situation demands that efforts never go below minimum if the safety of the population is to be considered. But this infiltration has drawbacks. One, it sacrifices the peopleââ¬â¢s liberty and privacy. Two, it creates exaggerated fear among the people especially if the infiltration is most obvious. To minimize the resultant fear among the people, it is necessary that infiltration be done in the most discreet way possible. Clearly, barricading the community with FBIs would not be wise as this would not only cause alarm but would also harmful to the intelligence we are trying to gather. This demands the need for informants and secret agents in the said community, from the said community and in all parts of the community, including mosques. It is very important that informants who are to be sent are selected among those already living in that population. These people are already knowledgeable about their community; they know the important people; have a personal concern over the safety of their community and would be more knowledgeable in finding important information given the right directions. This limits the time and effort required for information gathering, focusing the officialsââ¬â¢ efforts in the interpretation and analysis of data, which speeds the process of investigation. The result is a more efficient transmission of deeply analyzed information, which is exactly what is needed in the prevention of terrorism according to the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security (2002). But then, using informants, especially if these informants were selected from the same community involved would entail precautions. The danger here lies on the informantââ¬â¢s loyalty. Since the informant is selected from those already living in that population, it would be wise to assume that his loyalty is not absolutely focused towards the progression of the governmentââ¬â¢s cause. The possibility that his loyalty would lie towards the side of a guilty individual or the investigated individual, who, like him belongs to the same community cannot be denied. Also it cannot be ascertained whether or not he is in league with the terrorists and is providing them with reports, or probably bound by the same ideals completely against the governmentââ¬â¢s. In using informants from the involved community, the danger lies in the uncertainty of oneââ¬â¢s role: who is pulling the strings and who is the marionette. To manage this danger requires the use of a trusted agent who is beyond the bounds of devotion instilled by community membership. This agent would act as the control, monitoring the local informantsââ¬â¢ actions and reporting any act that signals treachery. This way, it is possible to determine the reliability of the reports given, pinpoint possible leak in intelligence and manipulate information disseminated, to the advantage of the intelligence committee. Definitely, there is more to war ethics than preventing needless deaths through terrorism, that is, the need to protect the people has made it to the point that the liberty and privacy of the people are sacrificed. Some means of protecting the people such as expanded surveillance and ââ¬Å"seize and interrogate anyone (Oââ¬â¢Connor, 2006)â⬠is in itself an act that would incise the peopleââ¬â¢s freedom. Infiltrating the community with informants and agents, may also, in a way, harm communityââ¬â¢s liberty and privacy but in a relatively less degree compared to other counterterrorism strategies. According to Oââ¬â¢Connor (2006), counterterrorism strategies involving technology and the use of informants are the most effective in terms of ensuring the peopleââ¬â¢s safety and at the same time limiting disadvantages in peopleââ¬â¢s liberty. In any case at this point, all actions aiming to provide people with their deserved safety entail a cost to the peopleââ¬â¢s civil liberty. 2. In any undertaking, it is very important to stick to the objective. This does not exclude counterterrorism, war against terrorism or any war for that matter. The war against terrorism is not an end in itself but simply a means to another end which are to protect the peoplesââ¬â¢ rights to safety and to provide, in the long run, freedom. I intend to base my answers on these premises. All peoples in the act of terrorism or fighting against the ideals of counterterrorism with the intention of harm would be enemy combatants, without any distinction of citizenship, soldier or non-soldier. This is very different to the status accorded to different people involved in the war on terrorism today where they are classified as enemy combatant, unlawful combatants, prisoners of war or noncombatant, each with different provisions ideally based on International Standards. Whether or not a terrorist is a citizen of Afghanistan, or a citizen of the United States, anyone captured in the act of terrorist violence is considered a terrorist. You read "The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security" in category "Papers" Simply being an American does not excuse someone from the punishment accorded to crimes of terrorism and the only possible status, rights and protection I could afford an American citizen in the act of terrorist violence is that of a criminal charged with terrorism. He will be interrogated, given a trial and punished according to law without disregard to his rights as human that is without the use of unnecessary torture. A foreign national engaged in terrorism in the United States would be treated in the same way, based on his actions and without regard to his nationality. There would be no more and no less harsh treatment given to a foreign national engaged in terrorism compared to an American counterpart. ââ¬Å"American national birth should not protect American-born terrorists or fail to protect naturalized citizens (Criticisms of the War of Terrorism, 2006). â⬠In affording rights, status protection and punishment, giving such special considerations would be a question to the justice system and to the real intent and objective of this undertaking. Counterterrorism is not a matter of nationality and citizenship. Counterterrorism is defending the peoplesââ¬â¢ rights and freedom, a stateââ¬â¢s sovereignty against people who disregard such ideals by instilling fear and uncertainty through violence. Double standards should have no place in the justice system. If nationality and citizenship is to be considered, in deciding rights and punishment, then the efforts to realize the underlying goal which is the safety of the people would be for naught. This would not be counterterrorism but a war against a specific community. This can be applied in the case of the American Citizen who fights against American forces. Again, this is beyond the matter of citizenship. If the American citizen fights against the American forces, he is considered as a threat against the realization of the objectives of the war against terrorism, which is to protect the innocent citizens. The American forces would have no reason not to fight back. Torturing any of these subjects would never be justified in the context of just war. I, personally would say that the torture of these subjects would not be necessary. Eliminating terrorism does not entail the necessity to torture any of the perpetrators of terrorism. Elimination and torture may be similar in a way that it would provoke the wrath of the enemy but they are different in a way that elimination is exactly what it isââ¬âthat is, it is supposed to eliminate terrorism by eliminating its perpetrators possibly through conviction and application of just laws. Torture, on the other hand would only provoke the wrath of the enemy without the assurance of eliminating terrorism resulting in possible retaliation. Surely, the means of saving lives of peoples would not be limited on a torture or no torture system. Solving terrorism with terrorism is not only unjust but also unwise. 3. Disregarding popular theories on just war, let me say that a war that is just is a matter of perspective. To the leaders, all wars are just as long as it promotes the ideals and purpose they try to protect and achieve. To the US and maybe to some, the war against terrorism is just because its purpose is supposedly to protect the lives, safety and liberty of innocent people against terror. To the leaders of the terrorists, they are supposedly protecting a certain ideal. To some, war is a religious undertaking. Terrorism may be an unpopular act to most but to its supporters, terrorism is their means of fighting for their ideals and achieve their purpose, which they personally believe are just whether others agree or not. But to some people especially those affected negatively by this war, this war would never be possibly just. The families left behind by innocent people who died in the 9/11 attack and those civilians who have become victims of bombs would never think of agreeing to any argument saying that wars could possibly be just. Those who sympathize with these civilians and those who fear the possibility that someday they would become the unknowing victims of war would think the same way. Theorists, most popular of whom, St. Augustine, conceived of criteria that characterize a just war. The just war theory provided guidelines in determining when a war is just (jus ad bellum), how combatants should fight in war (jus in bello), and when to end a war (Just War, 2006). According to the Jus ad bellum, wars should only be engaged in if there is a just cause. Just cause means that wars should only be engaged in to correct wrongdoings, as an act of defense against threats to freedom, rights and sovereignty. The cause is said to be just if it is an act to resist aggression (Orend, 2005). Right intention is also necessary in a just war. Engaging in war for material gains is outside the scope of right intention. In general, intention should always be to defend or correct suffered wrong doings (Orend, 2005). The proportionality and last resort states that gains should always outweigh the casualties incurred and wars should only be engaged in if all other possible means have been exhausted to no avail. Jus ad bellum also emphasizes the importance of legitimate authority and the probability of success. War should only be engaged in if the chance of success is high because doing otherwise would undermine the theory of proportionality, also one criterion in considering a war as a just war (Orend, 2005). In engaging in a just war, combatants are expected to act in a way that violence and casualties are restrained and attempts to recognize human rights of both allies and enemies are made. According to the Jus in bello, combatants of a just war are expected to apply the principle of discrimination in which war is directed only to the perpetrators of wrong and definitely not to civilians. Similar to the Jus ad bellum, in the Jus in bello, proportionality is expected. In this case, the force to be implemented must be justified when compared to the problem that occurred and the possible good outcome. The more civilian casualties, the more the war being waged are questionable (Just War, 2006). The Jus in bello also preaches the use of minimum force, respect for prisoners of war, and derides the use of torture (Orend, 2005). In the same way, in the just war theory, wars should be terminated only with just cause: if both parties are willing to negotiate and violations made by the aggressor have already been recognized and vindicated; right intention, discrimination, proportionality and public declaration and authority (Orend, 2005). Fighting terrorism would cease to be just if it has lost the purpose and ideals which are its foundations. That is, if fighting terrorism has become a mere machination for purposes other than the ideals it stands for. Fighting terrorism would cease to be just if it resorted to unnecessary ways; if it violates human rights; if it in itself resorted to terrorism which is the exact ideal it is supposed to stand against. Fighting terrorism would cease to be just if it has become an act against the principles proposed by the just war theory. Others assert that the presence of any civilian deaths would define an unjust war (Bell, 2006). If all these would classify wars as unjust, then the impossibility of a just war is definite especially when applied to the war on terrorism. Still, criticisms of the just war theory stresses the inapplicability of the just war theory in the present real wars, such as todayââ¬â¢s war on terrorism which is unconventional one. When fighting terrorist groups such as the Al Qaeda, the conventional guidelines for war become obsolete. Therefore, ââ¬Å"just warâ⬠has to be redefined (Bell, 2006). 4. Schools, colleges, universities, the press and some institutions have the power to carry out or instill ideas among the people. Unfortunately for the government, these institutions are the breeding ground of radical ideas, some, supporting terrorism and most of which pertaining to anti-militaristic views attacking any actions involving the war against terrorism, inspiring terrorist support. People who incite violence when they glorify violent acts against America may be responsible, indirectly for such acts because of the inspiration they give. They are indeed indirectly accountable but they should not be punished unless they themselves engage in violent acts directly. America, as it professes, hold most deeply their love for freedom and democracy, and part of this freedom and democracy that they allow their people is the freedom to express oneââ¬â¢s insights, beliefs and emotions. If a person feels like glorifying violent acts against America, if that person feels that in himself, he is against the beliefs and ideals that America stands for, then he or she is free to communicate, glorify or say anything about it whether or not it inspires violent acts among others. He should be free to say everything as long as he does not directly engage in such violence. It is, after all, his right. Now this freedom allowed to citizens is exactly what makes it difficult for the government to deal with schools, mosques and charities that indirectly support terrorism because imposing sanctions on such indirect actions would undermine the liberty that they strive to protect. The only thing the government can do is to make parallel actions that would negate the actions of the supporters of terrorism. If there are local institutions that support terrorism, then they would have to use their power to tap what available resources they have, to negate such support and ideals. They have to make an effort to promote their ideas and market it, indirectly targeting the ideas of the supporters of terrorism and at the same time, indirectly making an effort to reach out and win the key supporters of terrorism. Part of the war against terrorism is to put out ideas that make possible the perpetuation of support of terrorism and not the people who support these ideas (if they do not directly engage in terrorism). In this case the war against terrorism is simply not a guns and bombs war, but also a challenge to make some people realize the correctness of the ideas imposed. If the ideas that support terrorism start from ideas imposed by some institutions, then actions should be targeted toward making powerful institutions publicly support ideas like the governmentââ¬â¢s. Or better yet, infuse anti-terrorist ideas to the institutions that support terrorism. In a way, this would be propagating anti-terrorist ideas as well as killing ideas that support terrorism. 5. ââ¬Å"The fight against terrorism is now the first and overriding priority of the Department of Justice. (US Department of Justice, 2004). â⬠Following this is the revision of the US Patriot act, which expands the power of Intelligence Officials in gathering information. In general, the main purpose of this expansion is for a more efficient targeting and prevention of terrorism by revising previous acts that limited the governmentââ¬â¢s ability to gather and use information and provide sanctions to terrorists. The revisions include a freer access to information, allowing information sharing among government agencies, ââ¬Å"strengthening criminal laws against terrorism and updating the law to reflect new technology (US Department of Justice, 2004). All these revisions are said to be required to eliminate hindrances to the investigation of terrorist acts. The main purpose of this revision is to provide a more efficient means of using critical information especially those related to terrorism. Prior to the approval of the USA Patriot Act was a report submitted by the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security in 2002, analyzing the possible causes of failure to prevent the 9/11 attack. The main points of the report is the mismanagement of intelligence caused mostly by certain restrictions in the law prior to the 9/11 attack, and the need for certain revisions to accommodate the present need regarding terrorism (Report of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, 2002). Apparently, the revisions in the US Patriot Act are the response. Undeniably, the revisions in the US Patriot Act are a significant incapacitation of terrorist plans and are a great advancement, although not absolute, in terms of reducing the number of terrorist attacks and thus, ensuring the safety of the people. This has been proven by situations exemplified in a report by the US Department of Justice in 2004 entitled, ââ¬Å"Report from the Field: The US Patriot Act at Work. â⬠The US Patriot Act has temporarily slowed and probably prevented many acts of terrorism, thus improving the perceived safety of the population. But this advantage comes with the price of increased deprivation of civil liberty. The Act could definitely justify secret wiretaps, increase arrests even at a lower threshold of evidence, increased secret access to personal accounts, records, technological usage, mails and conversations (Oââ¬â¢Connor, 2006). The not so few accounts of erroneous arrests that have been recorded since the approval of the US Patriot Act confirm this (Criticisms of the War on Terrorism, 2006). Critics of Militarism and the US Patriot Act, and the proponents of civic liberty agree that ââ¬Å"it is better to think before doing anything drastic (Oââ¬â¢Connor, 2006). Those for the Patriot Act agree that in the war against terrorism, time is of the essence as a moment of hesitation could disastrously spell doom (Department of Justice, 2004). Another point to be considered in the US Patriot Act is the span of time when provisions of the Act would still be deemed effective in preventing terrorism and ensuring the peoplesââ¬â¢ safety. Anyone motivated by a perceived moral cause would not be stopped by simple revisions of laws, or more appropriately, by ââ¬Å"lawsâ⬠per se. And this is exactly what characterizes the terrorists in question: their motivation to terrorize is beyond any physical or material cause; they are motivated by their perceived definition of morality and justice. Soon, they will find a loophole in the laws that are presently slowing them down, and continue towards their goals. The question now is would the government foresee possible threats that are beyond the treatment of laws? And if they do, how would they handle and prevent these possible threats? Would it spell more demands on the peoplesââ¬â¢ civic liberty in exchange for the more extensive need for safety? And if they do, what if the bombs and terrorist attacks are mere guises to remove our attention from how they are working on their real targetââ¬âthe peoplesââ¬â¢ libertyââ¬âthe ideal the state is trying to protect. Because if you are a terrorist, what better way to attack than attacking the foundation of your enemiesââ¬â¢ framework. Is it not possible that the state is unknowingly working towards the achievement of the enemiesââ¬â¢ real goal? Although the approval of the Act has provided the government with better capability to reduce threats of terrorism, it is still very important, especially with the erratic movement of priorities, that such questions be given consideration and other threats to the peoplesââ¬â¢ security continue to be studied, understood and monitored (Report of Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, 2002). Given the present circumstances when the safety of the peoples is at risk, the US Patriot Act seems to be working satisfactorily in terms of preventing terrorist attacks. It would not be wise to change the provisions of the Act if the objective is to ensure the peoplesââ¬â¢ safety. But it would be nice to be hopeful that there would someday be a proposal that would ensure the peoplesââ¬â¢ safety without sacrificing the peoplesââ¬â¢ liberty. At present, all we can do is choose the lesser evil, and think of ways to eliminate ââ¬Å"evilâ⬠as a choice. References Anti-Americanism. (2006, August 5). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:02, August 6, 2006, from http://en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php? title=AntiAmericanism oldid=67844288. Bell, D. (2006). Can the War be Just? Or What is Just War Good For? In Crosscurrents Magazine. Retrieved August 6, 2006, from http://www. crosscurrents. org/Bellspring2006. pdf Criticisms of the War on Terrorism. (2006, August 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:03, August 6, 2006, from http://en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php? title=Criticisms_of_the_War_on_Terrorismoldid=67579159. Just War. (2006, August 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:02, August 6, 2006, from http://en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php? title=Just_Waroldid=67920472. Oââ¬â¢Connor, T. (2006, June 6). Civic Liberties in Domestic Terrorism. In Megalinks in Criminal Justice. Retrieved August 6, 2006, from http://faculty. ncwc. edu/toconnor/429/429lect19. htm. Orend, B. (2005). War. In The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved August 6, 2006, from http://plato. stanford. edu/archives/win2005/entries/war. Report of Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Counterterrorism Intelligence Capabilities and Performance Prior to 9-11 (2002, July). In Federation of American Scientists Intelligence Resource Program. Retrieved August 6, 2006 from http://www. fas. org/irp/congress/2002_rpt/hpsci_ths0702. html. US Department of Justice (2004, July). Report from the Field: The US Patriot Act at Work. How to cite The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, Papers
Monday, May 4, 2020
Detection and Management of Child Abuse Cases
Question: Discuss about theDetection and Management of Child Abuse Cases. Answer: Introduction Child Abuse is a hidden epidemic that children are suffering across the globe. Children are getting severely affected by the abuses that are physical, mental, sexual, and emotional. It is important to detect the signs of abuse and take steps to treat and bring them out of the trauma they are suffering from. Steps are taken to manage the situation, but still, a lot need to be done to make the world a better place to live (Gan, 2011). Issues, Measures, and Improvement Child abuse is a well-known suffering; steps to protect children against it are being taken. Still, the rate of child abuse cases is increasing every day. There are many factors that influence child abuses. Individual, family and environmental factors increase or decrease the risk of child abuse (McDonald, 2007). Victimization factor which includes childs age, special needs like intellectual disabilities, chronic physical illnesses, and mental health issues also added a risk factor. Social issues like a single parent or young parental age, low income, parental mental health, history of abuse of a parent, social isolation, parenting stress, and poor child-parent relationship lead to increased child abuse cases. Though these factors provide information about the children who are at maximum risk of child abuse and neglect, these are not direct causes and cannot predict the abuser (WHO, 2007). World-wide actions are being taken to detect and help the abused child and also measures are taken to decrease the child abuse cases. Ms. Lim a doctor working with Child Protective Services informed about a case where a child of 3 years was regularly beaten by her father when the case came to them they straight forward taken action and sent the child in the foster care (Rong, 2016). This is an example that measures are being taken to stop child abuse. There are other measures also like advising a parent if they are facing difficulties in managing children, teaching children about sexual abuse to prevent it. Along with it, there are few legislative frameworks to stop child abuse that includes The Children and Young Persons Act (CPYA), The Child Care Centres Act, and Inter-Ministry Working Group on the Management of Child Abuse ("Singapore landmark ruling in transgender child abuse case - BBC News," 2016). Many pieces of evidences that include scientific literature state that child abuse can be prevented. Still, little thought has been given to child abuse prevention regarding policy and research. A boy named Daniel lost his life as he was abused by his mother and her boyfriend who are now sentenced to jail for four years. Before Daniel, they had made a girl name Fiona also suffer the same faith, but nothing was done at that time ("Singapore landmark ruling in transgender child abuse case - BBC News," 2016). If steps were taken at the right moment, then Daniel may have survived. The report says The Ministry of Social and Family Development and Child Protective Services received more than 2,000 inquiries and reports of child abuse in the year 2015. Out of these 551 incidents were of serious abuse. From 2012-2014 there is an increase of 40% serious child abuse cases (Baharudin, Rong, Leo, 2016). This proves that existing measures are not sufficient to stop the increasing child abuse. St ern and serious measures need to be taken to stop the cruelty against children. Child Abuse is not a problem that has easy solutions. Though, improvement in the child protection, prevention, and treatment are not beyond reach. The greatest obstacle is the lack of information and awareness about child abuse and responding to child abuse. No serious legal rules are being in use that brings terror in the mind of people who abuse children (WHO, 2007). Some improvements that can be brought in the measures of preventing child abuse are by providing information for effective action against child abuse, making people aware how to prevent child abuse, effective and efficient care services for families of the victim that includes the protection for the victim and some stern rules in the law. All these together can help in decreasing the increasing rate of child abuse around the world ("Singapore landmark ruling in transgender child abuse case - BBC News," 2016). Conclusion Abusing innocent children mentally, physically, sexually, or emotionally cannot be justified in any way. It is very important that steps should be taken to identify if any child is going through the trauma of child abuse and serious punishment should be given to the abuser so that it cannot repeat his/her criminal task again. Information and awareness about child abuse and how it can be prevented should be given regularly till it ends completely. Children are future of the world if they have a traumatized childhood then they will not be able to prosper in their life with full happiness that they are liable of. Hence, it is important that everyone should take steps to prevent child abuse to spread its wings and harm innocent children. References Baharudin, H., Rong, S., Leo, L. (2016).Why didn't anyone protect Daniel from abuse?.The Straits Times. Gan, G. (2011).Management of Child Abuse in Singapore. McDonald, K. (2007).Child Abuse: Approach and Management - American Family Physician.Aafp.org. Rong, S. (2016).Playing a part in stopping child abuse.AsiaOne. Singapore landmark ruling in transgender child abuse case - BBC News. (2016).BBC News. WHO,. (2007).Preventing Child Maltreatment: a guide to taking action and generating evidence.World Health Organization.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Portrayal of Mental Illness in the Film ââ¬ÅMommie Dearestââ¬Â Essay Example
Portrayal of Mental Illness in the Film ââ¬Å"Mommie Dearestâ⬠Paper The disruption or the illness of a personââ¬â¢s mentality is a disruption of his supposed living. The person is unable to function properly for himself, his family, nor in the society. Some types of the mental illnesses are curable and others, recurrent but manageable. Because of the unstable possibilities of mentally impaired persons, they are often stigmatized and afraid of being diagnosed. Fear of being societyââ¬â¢s outsider is one of the most common reasons why people with mental illness go undiagnosed or untreated and in most cases diagnosed when it is too late to manage or treat the illness. This could greatly be accounted by the wrong and sometimes grotesque perceptions of the illness in the media and their depictions in films. Although some of these portrayals are realistic and accurate, some are more likely sensationalized. Media and films are powerful mediums of information. They can either justify the truth or bend the truth to both positive and negative extremities. With this in hand, this paper then is perusal of a filmââ¬â¢s characterization of a person with mental disorder. The film studied is the biographic movie of Joan Crawfordââ¬â¢s life entitled ââ¬Å"Mommie Dearestâ⬠which was based on the book written by her adopted daughter Christina after her death. In the film, Yablans and Perry (1981) focused the story on the relationship between the movie legend Joan Crawford and her adoptive daughter Christina. The movie starts with then single and divorced Joan Crawford; determined to adopt children to fill the void that was missing in her life. Joan first adopted a baby girl and called her Christina. She later adopted another baby boy and called him Christopher. We will write a custom essay sample on Portrayal of Mental Illness in the Film ââ¬Å"Mommie Dearestâ⬠specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Portrayal of Mental Illness in the Film ââ¬Å"Mommie Dearestâ⬠specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Portrayal of Mental Illness in the Film ââ¬Å"Mommie Dearestâ⬠specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The film depicts the childrenââ¬â¢s lives under the renowned Hollywood star, who behind curtains was an abusive and violent parent. Her obsessive want of excellence as a famous actress and a parent topped with the pressure of being in show business and an abusive attitude towards alcohol was a repeating theme throughout the movie. Yablans and Perry(1981) concentrated the film on Joan Crawfordââ¬â¢s bouts of obsessive madness where the burden was inflicted on her children. Christinaââ¬â¢s struggle as a child and later on adulthood to be an actress to satisfy her mother was also conveyed. There were only several small indications of her marriages during the film. No doubt, Joan Crawfordââ¬â¢s supposed reputation as a renowned actress was ruined by the exposure of her other life. Although Joan Crawford was not formally diagnosed, she was suspected to have an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). According to resources of MentalHelp. net (n. d. ), ââ¬Å"OCD is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions)â⬠and these obsessions are coupled with the constant ââ¬Å"urge or compulsionâ⬠to satisfy the ââ¬Å"discomfort caused by the obsessionâ⬠. These obsessions could vary, from simple things such as hygiene to more complex things such as religion. When the compulsions to satisfy his obsession are disgruntled, anxiety attacks follow. MentalHelp. net (n. d. ) further adds that a person with OCD have thoughts and behaviors that are often ââ¬Å"senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcomeâ⬠. The behavior of a person with OCD was more or less depicted by Joan Crawfordââ¬â¢s characterization in the film. First was her obsession to be seen as a good role model of a parent. She insisted on adopting children although she was advised by her friend who is an attorney to not adopt because it was not advisable for her to adopt children given her single and divorced status. When advised, she retaliates ââ¬Å"Bend the law! â⬠(Yablans and Perry, 1981). In another instance, the two children were made to recite which were obviously practiced answers to the radio staff that came to interview the Crawford family on how they spend their Christmas. Joan Crawford was watchful of their answers and it was apparent how she was delighted and agitated on the childrenââ¬â¢s every response to the radio interviewerââ¬â¢s questions. Here, it can be seen that instead of parenting her children, she was directing them. Before that radio interview, an incident happened wherein the children faced one of Joan Crawfordââ¬â¢s episodes of sheer madness. The children were already asleep when Joan walks in their bedroom. At first she was in a seemingly good mood but on seeing that Christina used wire hangers on the expensive dresses that she bought for her, she was enraged. She was in a rage, removing all the dresses and clothing from her dresser and afterward beats Christina with a wire hanger. Not satisfied, she continuous on the bathroom and inspects it. She finds the bathroom floor dirty although it was apparent that the bathroom was squeaky clean. Joan then forces her daughter to clean the floor with her. Christina was perplexed on how to clean an already clean floor and could only say ââ¬Å"How? â⬠(Yablans and Perry, 1981). This event occurred after she received an award for Best Actress.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Gossip
Gossip Gossip Gossip By Maeve Maddox When I came across a reference to a ââ¬Å"birthing chairâ⬠in a historical novel by Barbara Youree, I wanted to know more about it, so I did a Web search and found this: Today, the idea of giving birth while sitting upright in a wooden chair may seem torturous.à But long before delivery rooms, stirrups, forceps and foetal monitors, a woman gave birth at home in a chair with the aid of her midwife and other female friends, relatives and neighbours. These women were known as the ââ¬Ëgossipsââ¬â¢, for they spread the word to all the women in the community when another went into labour. What distracted my attention from the birthing chair was the explanation of the word gossips. The modern definition of ââ¬Å"a gossipâ⬠is a person who spreads information about other people, but that is a later development of the word gossip. The ââ¬Å"gossipsâ⬠who helped a friend give birth in the old days got their name another way. The noun gossip comes from Old English godsibb, ââ¬Å"godparent.â⬠The element sib means ââ¬Å"kinsman, relation by blood.â⬠The word survives in modern English sibling, ââ¬Å"each of two or more children of a common parent or parents.â⬠The word sib itself survives in Scottish dialect, as in the proverb, ââ¬Å"All Stuarts are not sib,â⬠(i.e., ââ¬Å"just because you have the same name as someone famous doesnââ¬â¢t mean that youââ¬â¢re related.â⬠) Nowadays children who are baptized ordinarily have only two godparents, but in earlier times a child might have several. Joan of Arc, for example, had at least eight. And even in this century, Prince George of Cambridge has been provided with seven. In time the noun gossip expanded to mean any close friend, man or woman, but especially the women present to help at a birth. Any activity that involves waiting for something to happen is going to call forth plenty of idle talk, so it wasnââ¬â¢t much of a leap for gossip to take on its present meaning. From the noun comes the verb to gossip, ââ¬Å"to tell tales or spread rumors.â⬠Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund PhrasesProbable vs. PossibleHow Do You Pronounce "Often"?
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy - Essay Example with undetectable HIV RNA levels, elective Caesarean section was associated with a 90% reduction in MTCT risk (odds ratio, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.030.33), compared with vaginal delivery or emergency Caesarean section. Conclusions.The results suggest that offering an elective Caesarean section delivery to all HIV-infected women, even in areas where HAART is available, is appropriate clinical management, especially for persons with detectable viral loads. Our results also suggest that previously identified risk factors remain important. (Source : European Collaborative Study). Several currently available drugs are under further development, the most important goals being the reduction of pill burden, easier dosing and less side effects. Three such preparations to have recently entered the market are Invirase 500, Truvada and Kivexa. New improvements are being developed; licensing applications for some of these are already in progress. Gilead and BMS are working on a combination pill of FTC, tenofovir and efavirenz. However, it will be some time before this so far one-off co-operation bears fruit. With increasing numbers of HIV-infected pregnant women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART),1 concerns have been raised over the possible teratogenic effects related to exposure in early pregnancy. It has been reported that a .4% prevalence of congenital abnormalities in uninfected infants exposed to antiretroviral therapy (ART; mainly monotherapy and/or dual therapy), which is similar to that seen in those not exposed. It has not been proven that whether risk of congenital abnormalities is increased by first-trimester exposure or by use of HAART, but there is an additional risk of antenatal use of HAART during...N Engl J Med 1996, 335:1081-90. 16. Mocroft A, Katlama C, Johnson AM, et al. AIDS across Europe, 1994-98: the EuroSIDA study. Lancet 2000, 356:291-6. Perelson AS, Neumann AU, Markowitz M, Leonard JM, Ho DD. HIV-1 dynamics in vivo: virion clearance rate, infected cell life-span, and viral generation time. Science 1996, 271:1582-6. 18. Volberding PA, Lagakos SW, Koch MA, et al. Zidovudine in asymptomatic HIV infection. A controlled trial in persons with fewer than 500 CD4-positive cells per cubic millimeter. N Engl J Med 1990, 322:941-9.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
As a consultancy group of 2 members you have been commissioned to Essay
As a consultancy group of 2 members you have been commissioned to present your findings on how motivation of employees may be different in the public sector - Essay Example Maslowââ¬â¢s Hierarchy of Needs Theory emphasize that each person has five (5) basic needs, which are (PLS 500, page 6): 1)Physiological needs (hunger, thirst, shelter and other bodily needs); 2) safety needs that includes security and protection; 3) social needs which encompasses affection, acceptance and a sense of belongingness; 4) esteem needs which are self-respect, recognition and achievement and; 5) self actualization where an individual becomes his ultimate self through his own capabilities. Each need within the hierarchy should be satisfied before being able to say that he or she is actually contented with what he or she became. To relate motivation of employees with the preceding statements, it is essential to remember that the hierarchy of needs is not sufficient to drive a certain individual to reach his goals in life. Often, most motivating factors stem out of oneââ¬â¢s culture and beliefs, which when taken generally is not the same baseline for everybody. Taking this into consideration, motivation in the workplace is affected by several variables which cannot be controlled by the individual to suit his wants and goals. These variables or outside factors are: 1) Ability, 2) leadership, 3) organizational culture, 4) technologies and 5) institutional constraints (PLS 500, page 6). As in any workplace or company that employs a number of people who may have similar or dissimilar goals, it is significant to note that these external factors may cause complication that would hinder or limit oneââ¬â¢s ability to actually accomplish a desired objective. Reinforcement theory is the balance between performance and pay. In a review done by James Perry, et al. an organizationââ¬â¢s desire to increase productivity and outcome will depend greatly on the monetary rewards that are to be given to an employee who has
Monday, January 27, 2020
Bulding Suspense In Spielbergs Jaws Film Studies Essay
Bulding Suspense In Spielbergs Jaws Film Studies Essay The music is played when the shark comes in distance and closer to the beach. First the music very slowly and when it gets louder and louder we feel like the shark is coming. This sound is like a theme of the film, which makes everyone to keep attention to the film. This type of music is Non-Diegetic music. This gives the audience that they are below the sea imagining the shark is waiting for them. If the shark be revealed straight away, it would destroy the whole story. Stephen Spielberg wants to build suspense by suspense to create the film attentive to it audience. One technique is that the music is used to build up the tension. Example Write here. Stephen Spielberg uses long shot to show this and cover all the details in the proof to show what happened. Second attack was quite different. It is the attack of the little boy whose name was Alex. He swam in his inflatable lilo away from the rocky sand to the sea. When he was there the shark attacked him. We know this by looking from the music and fins coming out from the shark. The camera angles builds up the tension and suspense to show like we are looking from the angle of shark and when the attack happened from the distance it shows people to show exact how the boy was attack. The Director builds up the fear of the shark by making music devious and dangerous like you get on the horror film. Director uses music like dun, dun sound/music that makes you follow the shark on its trail. You will follow the music as well as you are looking from the shark perspective. On this second attack he uses lots of close-up shots of the boy to show off the detail. The camera shot tracking is shown as though as you are shark and following the boy on his lilo. Jump cut is shown to take close shot of the people by cutting people shot one by one. After that camera moves into a close-up of the boy, who is now lying on a yellow lilo. Brody continues to look at the water, which raises tension. When we look around the beach we see yellow objects; umbrella, bathing suits, towels and a boys lilo. This is because yellow associate with fear because most of the warning signs have yellow sings like a hazardous sign. As the camera films the shore, we see a man wearing a yellow shirt playing with his dog. Moments later when he was playing fetch with his dog pippin, pippin goes missing. Dog is nowhere to be seen but only a stick floating on the surface of the sea. This is known as a camera focused, focusing on the stick only and usually called Miss -en- scene. There is no music being played, audience dont know whether the shark came again or the dog run off somewhere along the beach. This creates suspense as well as a fear. Director use number of techniques to build up fear of shark in numerous. At the first attack, Spielberg doesnt reveal the shark so audience will use their imagination a visual picture in their mind of what the attacker looks like. Tension is increased by the music factor. It is played in fast tempo and played in slow and silent way. At the second attack he builds fear for the characters by making a fin visible in the ocean surface bed. This may be first time the audience and characters in the story seen the shark and able to come to decision about first and second attack. Spielberg uses lot of camera techniques as well as music to create the suspense during the story. We hear shark music dun dun sound to tell us that the shark is coming. The music is like a heartbeat which makes louder and louder as it represent mainly shark. The music is like theme or symbol that represents the shark in the film. This is how Spielberg uses the film to become more tense and interesting. As we get to shark, we expect shark to attack or we know it is lurking quite close. Spielberg structured the film so that first and second attacks are together each other. First he kept audience alert at the first attack then continues to build fear and tension at the second attack which we see a boy in his lilo and dog goes missing. Broodys predicted that first attack was done by shark. Most of the films there is some kind of hero. In the film hero is Brody. In first attack he was the male actor to spot the theory of the shark and we were side of him. At the third attack, tension increased after a smaller shark had been killed and it was been killed by two people. But Brody thinks that the shark is too small to bit the people and this tells us more tension is about to come. This third attack is difference by manipulating others. In this attack Spielberg chose Broodys son as an alone poor child. First two attacks were involved strangers, now in the third attack its the Broodys son being involved because this has an effect on Broody. Its the last section of the film which has more tension than any other part. Whereas two attacks had been occurred in beach but now they will be out in sea to catch that killer shark in a small boat. They are fearful because they suddenly remembered that shark will be gone forever. After the investigation team have found a size of the shark, they become more afraid and couldnt believe the size of it. It putting a dramatic suspense on now because the team now realised that they now need a bigger boat to kill the shark. Now the suspense begins and audience knows that shark is going to hunt and maybe eat them. Spielberg made sure the small boat was involved to create that fear, tension and suspense. At the very last, Tension decreased because Broody kills that shark for last blowing the audience remains on seat though out the rest of the film.
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