Monday, April 19, 2010
Blog #11: Writing & Revising
Over the past semester in English 101, my experiences with revision have definitely changed the way I view my writing and how I write all together. Knowing that your peers and teachers are going to be looking and critiquing your work, and that you will have to write at least one more draft based off the feedback, makes me work a lot harder while I’m writing. I put a lot more thought, effort and time into the research, brainstorming, drafting and revising into everything that I write, now that many people will be reading it. I appreciate that I get the chance to hear what was good and what needs work on my papers and then am able to incorporate that into my second draft. I have started to view my writing as something that can always improve, no matter how good I feel that I did on a first draft, there are always techniques that can make my paper THAT much better. Overall, I can definitely see that my writing is improving when it comes to structure and ideas I am choosing to include, and the increasing length of many of the essays I write. I am grateful for the amount of revising we’ve done in this class because it allows me to reflect on what I’ve written and work on making my skills even stronger.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Blog #10: Paper 4 Sources
Topic: Assisted Suicide
The first article that I read was titled “Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Legitimate Medical Practice?” from the Journal of the American Medical Association. The beginning of the article states that as of 2006, Oregon is the only state in which physician-assisted suicide is legal and allowed to be practiced. In 2001 a US Attorney General challenged Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act by saying that physicians being allowed to prescribe these lethal drugs is unlawful under the Controlled Substance Act. In the Supreme Court trial, it was decided that the Attorney General does not have the right to prohibit doctors from prescribing specific drugs. The article goes into great detail the effects that this landmark case has had and will continue to have on doctors and patients all over the country. “The free exercise of clinical judgment is important to the practice of medicine and the patient-physician relationship. Clinical judgments should be based on scientific evidence, peer assessments, and concern for the public's health. In the care of patients with terminal illness, arguably the singular purpose should be safe, effective treatment and relief of pain and suffering”. I found this quote quite interesting because it brings up the good argument of what a doctor’s true job should be. Some argue that physicians should not be allowed to administer such drugs because they are not fulfilling their job in doing all that they possibly can to help their patients. However, patients trust their doctors to keep their pain at a minimum and use their professional opinion when making decisions. If a doctor feels that nothing more can be done, and the patient is requesting the drugs, there should not be a law forbidding that.
"Gostin, Lawrence O. "Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Legitimate Medical Practice." The Journal of the American Medical Association 295.16 (2006): 295. JAMA & ARCHIVES. American Medical Association, 26 Apr. 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2010.."
The second article was very unique because it was an actual printout of a court hearing that was presented to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, of the United States Senate. It was very interesting to read statements made from the people involved in the case such as senators and witnesses, and to read so in-depth about an actual court case. The court case at hand involved an amendment that was trying to be passed that would make physician-assisted suicide nationally illegal in all 50 states. This same chairman argued that abortion and the death penalty should also be outlawed in the United States, arguing that socially and culturally, these actions are causing negative effects. “The fundamental duty of American Government, and indeed of any government, is to protect and defend the lives of their citizens, the sanctity of the lives of their citizens. It thus becomes the duty of every lawmaker to examine closely any policy that undermines either directly or indirectly the importance and value of each individual’s life”. Throughout the case numerous arguments are made that the government’s and Constiution’s main goal is to protect and preserve human life. This will be an extremely useful source in writing the paper, because it gives several examples of court cases, rulings and other legal actions that have involved the issue of assisted suicide.
"United States of America. Committee on the Judiciary. U.S Government Printing Office. THE CONSEQUENCES OF LEGALIZED ASSISTED SUICIDE & EUTHANASIA. Washington D.C., 2008. Print."
The first article that I read was titled “Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Legitimate Medical Practice?” from the Journal of the American Medical Association. The beginning of the article states that as of 2006, Oregon is the only state in which physician-assisted suicide is legal and allowed to be practiced. In 2001 a US Attorney General challenged Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act by saying that physicians being allowed to prescribe these lethal drugs is unlawful under the Controlled Substance Act. In the Supreme Court trial, it was decided that the Attorney General does not have the right to prohibit doctors from prescribing specific drugs. The article goes into great detail the effects that this landmark case has had and will continue to have on doctors and patients all over the country. “The free exercise of clinical judgment is important to the practice of medicine and the patient-physician relationship. Clinical judgments should be based on scientific evidence, peer assessments, and concern for the public's health. In the care of patients with terminal illness, arguably the singular purpose should be safe, effective treatment and relief of pain and suffering”. I found this quote quite interesting because it brings up the good argument of what a doctor’s true job should be. Some argue that physicians should not be allowed to administer such drugs because they are not fulfilling their job in doing all that they possibly can to help their patients. However, patients trust their doctors to keep their pain at a minimum and use their professional opinion when making decisions. If a doctor feels that nothing more can be done, and the patient is requesting the drugs, there should not be a law forbidding that.
"Gostin, Lawrence O. "Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Legitimate Medical Practice." The Journal of the American Medical Association 295.16 (2006): 295. JAMA & ARCHIVES. American Medical Association, 26 Apr. 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2010.
The second article was very unique because it was an actual printout of a court hearing that was presented to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, of the United States Senate. It was very interesting to read statements made from the people involved in the case such as senators and witnesses, and to read so in-depth about an actual court case. The court case at hand involved an amendment that was trying to be passed that would make physician-assisted suicide nationally illegal in all 50 states. This same chairman argued that abortion and the death penalty should also be outlawed in the United States, arguing that socially and culturally, these actions are causing negative effects. “The fundamental duty of American Government, and indeed of any government, is to protect and defend the lives of their citizens, the sanctity of the lives of their citizens. It thus becomes the duty of every lawmaker to examine closely any policy that undermines either directly or indirectly the importance and value of each individual’s life”. Throughout the case numerous arguments are made that the government’s and Constiution’s main goal is to protect and preserve human life. This will be an extremely useful source in writing the paper, because it gives several examples of court cases, rulings and other legal actions that have involved the issue of assisted suicide.
"United States of America. Committee on the Judiciary. U.S Government Printing Office. THE CONSEQUENCES OF LEGALIZED ASSISTED SUICIDE & EUTHANASIA. Washington D.C., 2008. Print."
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Blog #9: Tim Wise Group Essay
In America today, many people still believe that racism goes both ways, meaning both whites and people of color are subjected to discrimination. Author Tim Wise begs to differ. He believes that only people of color are discriminated against and whites are granted with far more privileges. Even though America had made extreme progress towards becoming a more equal nation, there is still proof that racism exists. Although racism is less open than in the past, it still affects the lives of many people today.
Racism is still seen around the world today. It affects all types of people regardless of their color. Although toned down, racism is now against the law and not looked upon as the common belief of non colored people. Wise believes , “Racism is an ideology that says certain people, by virtue of their race, are either inferior or superior to others of a different, with race usually being defined by skin color…It’s a way or organizing society” (5). What Wise means is society stereotypes certain types of people by the color of their skin. It’s convenient to judge a person because of how they look. Americans find it easier to stay within their race and make assumptions, rather than to venture out and actually get to know people of a different color. Even Wise makes assumptions, “Once I got on an airplane with two black pilots, and my immediate reaction was, “Can they fly the plane?” I caught myself and realized that of course they could. But the thought was there, and I had to acknowledge it” (12). Racism might just be ingrained in us. We are raised today to know different stereotypes and how certain races are supposed to act or supposed to be better at certain things. Regardless of age, color, or social class, racism is apparent in society and affects anybody anywhere.
Along with racism, privilege is also apparent in society. White people are privileged in that they are given rights or benefits beyond the advantages of most other people. Wise describes a few of the privileges of being white, “we whites are able to be as incompetent or mediocre as we want and never have our mediocrity ascribed to our race” (5). What Wise means is that white people don’t have to live their lives under the microscope. White people are able to make as many mistakes as they want, and their race is not held accountable.
Even though we might not see ourselves as being racist or discriminatory, we still categorize and stereotype people without even realizing were doing it. “We don’t consciously believe in racial superiority or inferiority, but we’ve become so used to the existing policies, practices, and procedures that we don’t question them. To the extent that we don’t challenge this system of racism, we are collaborating with it,” (5) says Wise. By growing up in a privileged white society, we have been shielded from and made unaware of the way minorities live. It is impossible to truly understand how people of color are forced to live in society. By being white, our opinion or definition of privilege and racism are biased. This can also lead to the issue of privileged access, which is a main component of paper three.
When arguing a food community is better than another like in paper three, one must remember that there is always the issue of access. Because of racism and white privilege, minorities have less access to certain food groups. The majority of minorities live in the inner city or ghettos, where their access to fresh fruit, vegetables, and organic food is very limited. They can’t simply drive down the street to a farmers market or walk to a fresh produce stand to get those healthy foods, because they don’t have them.
In conclusion, racism is very prominent in all areas of the world even today. The way it affects people’s lives varies depending on the degree of the racism taken. The white race as a whole is much more privileged than other colored races, and does not have to deal with all the bad treatment that others do. Without even acknowledging it, whites have more opportunities and a better chance at life and success from the day they are born. The environment and surroundings definitely influences how prevalent racism and privileges are. Hopefully one day people will begin to look past the color of one’s skin and realize that everyone is not so different.
Cook, David. "By the Color of Their Skin: Tim Wise on the Myth of a Postracial America." The Sun July 2009: 4-12. Print.
Racism is still seen around the world today. It affects all types of people regardless of their color. Although toned down, racism is now against the law and not looked upon as the common belief of non colored people. Wise believes , “Racism is an ideology that says certain people, by virtue of their race, are either inferior or superior to others of a different, with race usually being defined by skin color…It’s a way or organizing society” (5). What Wise means is society stereotypes certain types of people by the color of their skin. It’s convenient to judge a person because of how they look. Americans find it easier to stay within their race and make assumptions, rather than to venture out and actually get to know people of a different color. Even Wise makes assumptions, “Once I got on an airplane with two black pilots, and my immediate reaction was, “Can they fly the plane?” I caught myself and realized that of course they could. But the thought was there, and I had to acknowledge it” (12). Racism might just be ingrained in us. We are raised today to know different stereotypes and how certain races are supposed to act or supposed to be better at certain things. Regardless of age, color, or social class, racism is apparent in society and affects anybody anywhere.
Along with racism, privilege is also apparent in society. White people are privileged in that they are given rights or benefits beyond the advantages of most other people. Wise describes a few of the privileges of being white, “we whites are able to be as incompetent or mediocre as we want and never have our mediocrity ascribed to our race” (5). What Wise means is that white people don’t have to live their lives under the microscope. White people are able to make as many mistakes as they want, and their race is not held accountable.
Even though we might not see ourselves as being racist or discriminatory, we still categorize and stereotype people without even realizing were doing it. “We don’t consciously believe in racial superiority or inferiority, but we’ve become so used to the existing policies, practices, and procedures that we don’t question them. To the extent that we don’t challenge this system of racism, we are collaborating with it,” (5) says Wise. By growing up in a privileged white society, we have been shielded from and made unaware of the way minorities live. It is impossible to truly understand how people of color are forced to live in society. By being white, our opinion or definition of privilege and racism are biased. This can also lead to the issue of privileged access, which is a main component of paper three.
When arguing a food community is better than another like in paper three, one must remember that there is always the issue of access. Because of racism and white privilege, minorities have less access to certain food groups. The majority of minorities live in the inner city or ghettos, where their access to fresh fruit, vegetables, and organic food is very limited. They can’t simply drive down the street to a farmers market or walk to a fresh produce stand to get those healthy foods, because they don’t have them.
In conclusion, racism is very prominent in all areas of the world even today. The way it affects people’s lives varies depending on the degree of the racism taken. The white race as a whole is much more privileged than other colored races, and does not have to deal with all the bad treatment that others do. Without even acknowledging it, whites have more opportunities and a better chance at life and success from the day they are born. The environment and surroundings definitely influences how prevalent racism and privileges are. Hopefully one day people will begin to look past the color of one’s skin and realize that everyone is not so different.
Cook, David. "By the Color of Their Skin: Tim Wise on the Myth of a Postracial America." The Sun July 2009: 4-12. Print.
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