Teens and Guns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Teens and Guns - Essay Example "In addition, during this same period, the number of juvenile arrests for weapons violations increased 117 percent." ("Reduce", n.d.). "When guns are the weapon of choice, juvenile violence becomes deadly." ("APA", 1993). The logical statistics show this to be true. During the period between 1976-1991, firearms were used by 65% of juvenile homicide offenders, and firearms were used in nearly 8 out of every 10 juvenile homicides in 1991, compared with 6 out of every 10 in 1976. Between 1979 and the present day, the rate of suicide among youth ages 15 to 19 increased over 31 percent, and firearms were used in 6 out of 10 of these suicides. Depression is statistically at a significantly high level among the youth of today; research has shown that approximately 1 in 5 teens will have at least one episode of major depression by the time they are 18 years of age. Depressed teens are at more risk for suicide, and research shows that teens and preteens commit suicide with guns more than any other method. "When teenagers are angry or depressed, they are more likely to kill themselves or harm themselves or others if they can easily get a gun." ("Focus", 2000). Violence is a learned behavior, and children learn this behavior from their family and their peers, as well as from items of media such as television, music, movie videos, and video games. Another form of learned violence occurs when a child is brought up in an abusive home, where they see violence or when they are physically or sexually abused themselves. Research studies have in fact shown that violent behavior can be decreased or even prevented if factors such as these were eliminated. Studies also show that if you have a gun in your home, you are 5 times more likely to have a suicide in your house than homes without a gun. In relation to this, there is a stance against guns which believes that there should be much stronger gun control laws, and that the subject of teens and guns should be taken significantly into consideration. Those who are involved in this stance believe that the only way to make a positive change in the current situation of teens and guns is by reducing the environment of fear and that in order to achieve the greatest reduction in the number of weapon-carrying youth is by directing any and all efforts at the most frequent weapon carriers. It is believed by Alfred Blumstein (2002) that "the dynamics are extremely different when a handgun is present; the conflict escalates well before anyone can retreat or intervene. Once handguns become prevalent in a neighborhood, each person who carries one has an incentive to make a preemptive strike before his adversary does." Blumstein's observations also suggest that "the growth in homicide committed by young people during the 1980s was attributable more to the weapons they used than to the emergence of inadequately socialized cohorts of 'super predators'." In retaliation against those who comprise guns and say that they are at fault for the strikingly high crime, homicide, and suicide rates among teens; these people attempt to make strong points such as that "cars kill more teens than guns. Alcohol kills more teens than guns. Disease kills more teens than guns." (Glover, 1999). The aim of those involved in this stance is to make known that guns are in fact not the leading killer among teens, and that the 'real' sources should be properly identified

Exceptionalism, Isolationism, and expansionism with reference to Essay

Exceptionalism, Isolationism, and expansionism with reference to videos and assigned readings - Essay Example An examination of a developed country’s foreign policy such as America is essential in determining the importance of an effective foreign policy. A critical analysis of the American foreign policy portrays an interconnection of exceptionalism, isolationism, and expansionism. A manifestation of this interconnection is clearly seen during the Mexican - American War. This is because the war arguably marks the first steps of America’s rise to a global power. The Mexican – American War revolved around territorial disputes between America and Mexico. This implies that the entire Mexican – American War can be considered to be based upon American expansionism. This is because America sought to expand its territories into Mexico in areas considered to have some significance. America claimed that the border was at Rio Grande while Mexico argued that the border was at Nueces River. A border at Rio Grande meant that Mexico would lose a significant portion of land to America. In 1945, President Polk sent American troops under the leadership of General Zachary Taylor to the Nueces River to take over the disputed land. Polk’s actions can be considered to have been facilitated by his position as provided by America’s foreign policy where the president is recognized as the commander in chief of the army and navy. America’s presence was met by opposition from the Mexican troops at a time that saw the death of 11 Ame rican soldiers and imprisonment of several more (The Mexican American War, 2006). However, this was followed by a series of other conflicts in Mexico in which the American troops occasionally emerged victorious and consequently the occupation of Mexico City by Americans. In addition to increased expansion interests to the South, America also had keen interest in expanding the Northern borders such as California. This period that saw increased concentration on expansion can be considered to have marked America’s first attempts of becoming a

Canada accepts immigrants

Canada accepts immigrants What Barriers Do Immigrants Face When They Come To Canada? Canada accepts immigrants from every part of the globe, with the most important flows coming from countries in South, East and Southeast Asia, also from UK and Europe and an additional of them from Africa and Middle East. New immigrants to Canada face many barriers and challenges. Not only are they dealing with the loss of leaving their country, they must adopt to new laws, customs and cultures and sometimes a new language. Many immigrants also realize that their employment options are limited because their credentials are not valid in Canada. Himani Bannerji the writer of the story â€Å"The Other Family† was born in Bangladesh. This story is about seeing herself â€Å"different†. The command of other ethnic groups can be difficult for other immigrants if they do not belong to the same ethnic group. Like in the story the girl realises her ethnicity by looking at herself in the mirror and decides to change her picture of the family. She changes it by making the man, woman and the child dark skinned, dark haired and the dress of the women to be traditional. In the story we get to know that the mother is worried of losing her child who she thought wanted to be like the other whites and would later reject her dark mother. Its difficult for other religions and ethnic children to know about their religion in Canada. Yet most teaching of religion in high schools in Canada has mainly focused on Christianity. I think courses like â€Å"word religion† should be expanded. We also have to deal with issues on sexu ality, lifestyles and marriage within our own I think new immigrants feel the need to stick together because we are all going through the same thing. In Canada, jobs may be plentiful but they are not the glamorous jobs. We might not find the same high paying job that we used to have back home or live in an equally fancy neighbourhood or have friends who weve known throughout our childhood, but we need to learn to adopt and look at things that matter like family, new friends, and succeeding in what we want to achieve during our stay in Canada. Isabel Vincent is an award winning investigative journalist and author whose work has most recently appeared in the New Yorker. â€Å"Finding a Nationality that fits† by Isabel is a story about how their Portuguese family who tried to â€Å"Canadianize† themselves in order to be accepted in society. Women are often the target of discriminatory behaviour in various industry fields. We often are left on our own to find ourselves in Canada. After a period of time living in Canada, may lose his/her family traditions, beliefs and values and it changes a person. Now, I see more young teens that came here with such innocence being involved in things that they shouldnt be, just because they want to take part in the â€Å"in-crowd†. By saying this I mean bad habits like smoking, drinking and most of all drugs. The story ‘Newcomer by Mehri Yalfani is an example of a language barrier, a common obstacle that immigrants face when deciding to live in Canada. She was silent because she could not speak English properly and knew she didnt want to be embarrassed. They may have access to ESL support but it is frequently the case that lack of funds can lead to lower educational outcomes, lack of basic literacy skills, inability to gain knowledge and attend training programs to pursue further education. Language affects access to care for immigrant children. According to a recent graph of the percentage of the population that have problems communicating with doctors: 48% usually had interpreters during a health care visit, 70% only fully understood what the doctor was saying, and 16% did not fully understand their doctor or ask any questions. There still exists rampant racism and discrimination because of one person who has an accent or cannot speak English properly. There are many terrible sad stories Ive heard and witnessed because of immigrants who have limited English-speaking skills end up feeling frustrated. Despite all this, I believe the system of bringing newcomers here to Canada is broken. The barriers extend far beyond language. Canada is traditionally a service based country and professional opportunities are very small, so nepotism plays above all. If you dont have any personal relationship, then all of your qualifications are worthless. Some obstacles I can think of that immigrants face are lack of professional networks with employers and social contacts, difficulty obtaining Canadian professional work experience, difficulty of unwelcoming workplaces, costs of training to each individual for their learning skills in order to progress, inadequacy of career counselling and information about how Canadas economic factors work, insufficient knowledge of employment opportunities and requirements, and most importantly, lack of international education, training and previous work experience. Youth unemployment is significantly high than of the general population. They may face racial discrimination, language barriers, culture shocks and lack of Canadian experience that gets in the way of them entering the labour market smoothly. Also immigrants are sometimes prevented from working at a specific organization because they cannot produce the required documentation about their foreign educational credentials. The barriers which are mostly found are as follows: Language Language is one of the most challenging barriers. As an immigrant woman who cannot speak the language it is very natural for her to feel alone. Most women cannot speak the language. Most of the educational institutions in Bangladesh still teach in Bengali, very few institutions teach in English. So though a women might have a Master degree that does not mean that she will speak and understand English. Communication Skill Though many women may be able to communicate in English, but even then there is a communication gap. Sometimes the jargons used are not familiar to many of us. Also there the accent problem, there are many words that we pronounce in one way, and people here pronounce it in another way. Adoption of A New Culture New immigrants come to Canada and settle into a new culture. In the process of settling into a new environment, they encounter new problems and conflicts between their original culture and the new culture, creating a culture clash. The conflict involves not only the internal family structure and the external social structure but also the way of preserving their own culture. When two cultures are in many ways different it is very difficult to adopt a totally different culture. Also we see conflict among the older and younger generation. It is much easier for a child to adopt a new culture than. I believe that if we all help each other and socially integrate among other immigrants, we can find opportunities and learn how to establish ourselves here. Therefore we can make our networks and amalgamate in the society. I hope Canada becomes a country of hope, not of shattered dreams. http://www.mmc.edu/www.meharry.org/Fl/Access_to_Health_Care/Barriers_to_Care_for_Immigrants.html

Reasons the Moon Landings Could Be a Hoax Essay -- neil armstrong, nasa

â€Å"Every sight in space is spectacular.† This was said by Neil Armstrong, the first man to supposedly land on the moon. The question is, did he really land on the moon, or was it a broadcasted fraud? Thousands of Americans argue that it was a setup such as the attacks on September 11, and every day, somebody changes their opinion on what really happened. For many years, people have been trying to figure out this occasion, and ever since Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin Ventured down from the moon, conspiracies have been appearing. The three men traveled on a ship called the â€Å"Eagle†. Facts show that Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were the only two to land, while Michael Collins orbited the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on the moon, saying his famous quote, â€Å"One small step for man, one large step for mankind.† Neil’s landing will be proved through many facts about the imprints on the moon, stories of these ast ronaut’s journeys, and situations that these men were actually in. What is the truth? Well, you are about to find out. Neil Armstrong was a boy scout as a young boy. He first flew in an airplane at age 6 interesting him enough to pursue in aerospace engineering to graduate from Purdue University. He eventually served in the air force as a pilot during the Korean War allowing him to become an astronaut for NASA. He was hoping to work at NASA in the future and have a chance to go to space. Armstrong did not expect to go to space, but when the opportunity came, he took it within a heartbeat. Neil Armstrong wasn’t the only person to land on the moon, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin joined Neil on this treacherous journey. These men have hundreds of interviews combined proving that they landed ... ...d 1. "10 Reasons the Moon Landings Could Be a Hoax." Listverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2014. 2. "Space and NASA News – Universe and Deep Space Information Space.com." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. 3. Dun. "NASA." NASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. 4. "Top 5: Proofs That The Moon Landing Happened." AskMen. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. 5. NASA, Photograph Courtesy. "Photos: 8 Moon-Landing Hoax Myths--Busted." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 16 July 2009. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. Books: (Alphabetized by Author’s last name) 1. Collins, Michael. Carrying the Fire; an Astronaut's Journeys. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974. Print. 2. Cortright, Edgar M. Apollo Expeditions to the Moon. Washington, DC: Scientific and Technical Information Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1975. Print.

The Industrial Uses of Gold and Silver

The Industrial Uses of Gold and Silver Metals such as gold and silver have been considered precious throughout history for their rarity and aesthetic appeal. These elements are important in modern industry as technological advances expand the applications and uses of their unique physical properties. The uses of these two metals are found in almost every field of interest. From medical to aerospace technology, the applications of these substances provide another reason for their desirability. The evolution of technology has increased its demand for gold’s physical properties.One of the key differences between gold and silver is its resistance to tarnishing. Even though silver and copper are better conductors, gold’s defiance against environmental effects makes it a perfect for electronics where consistent performance over time is desired. Melting other metals with gold forms a gold-based alloy which is extremely heat resistant but can still act as a conductor. These all oys are then used in electronics that operate under intensely high temperatures, such as toasters (World Gold Council, 2012). One significant area where gold is consumed for its reliability is the military.The military uses gold in the form of connectors where the reliability of its electronics is an important factor because using gold connectors can mean the difference between life and death. This is why every tank, helicopter, fight jet, and other military hardware has gold in some form or another. The medical field has also recognized the gold’s reliable characteristics. Most, if not all of the life support electronics are plated with gold as its conductor. One medical application of gold that is not related to electronics is the treatment of a condition called Lagophthalmos.A person with this condition has the inability to fully close their eyes. By implanting tiny amounts of gold in the upper eyelid, the extra weight allows them to completely close their eyes. Gold is us ed because it has excellent biocompatibility unlike many other metals which have a toxicity level harmful to humans (Goodman, 2002). Gold is not the only metal with medical applications. Silver has valuable anti-bacterial characteristics and unlike other metals with anti-microbial properties, it is not harmful to humans (Daima, 2011 pg. 1).Before antibiotics were invented, silver was been used as a weapon against diseases during World War I. One of the best features about silver is the fact that bacteria cannot adapt to it like they do with antibiotics. Today, silver is added to medical instruments such as bandages and scalpels. Some hospitals have even gone to the extent of coating door knobs, flooring, and files with silver to create a more sanitary environment. Silver was also recently proven to promote the growth of new cells, making wounds heal faster (The Silver Institute, 2012).Even though it is not as corrosion-resistant as gold, it is highly valued in the electronics indust ry as super conductor. This means silver-based batteries are also super capacitors, lasting much longer than other batteries. Another unique property that silver has is its ability to reflect heat and radiation. Many of today’s office buildings have silver coated windows. This application of silver reflects up to 95% of the Sun’s rays, reducing the cost of cooling during hot summer days (The Silver Institute, 2012).

Cultural and Political Changes and Continuities in Rome Essay

Rome throughout history is often thought of as rather homogeneous—ancient artifacts timeless, always the same emphases. But, while there were continuities, there were also changes of different sorts in various time periods. Specifically, cultural and political changes in the Roman civilization between 100 ­600 CE, the late classical era, included the rise of Christianity and the division of the empire into two halves, while a continuity was the use of Latin and Greek as common languages. The first change, Christianity spreading throughout the civilization, is shown in the development and spread of Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic lifestyles. Constantine legalized Christianity in the fourth century AD, and soon after, Theodosius made it the empire’s official religion. All other religions in the empire began to fade away, becoming â€Å"discouraged† at best. This was all due to the Christian missionaries who travelled the region. After this, as a result, a new controversy arose: the classic one of the separation of church and state. The unified Christian lifestyle was very different from the previously religiously ­tolerant classical Roman Empire. The next change is that the empire soon split in half. Rome became simply too large to govern under one governmental body, and so split into the Eastern and Western halves in 284. These two had separate governments and separate religions (Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholicism respectively). Also, the halves were relatively independent from each other, fighting their own battles and having different levels of advancement in science, technology, and  more. This was different from the united empire of older times. The separation of the halves would eventually create many controversies in the future, especially whether or not they were to aid one another in battle. A continuity of the time period, however, was the use of the common languages Latin and Greek. Latin was known as the original trademark of the Roman Empire and is still associated with it today. (This is similar to the Chinese language of—where else?—China.) Greek came a bit later, with the spread of Christianity, and became a favorite of scholars and politicians. It was originally spread by Alexander the Great. However, all citizens still needed to know Latin to be able to communicate commonly throughout the empire. Both of these languages were used throughout this time period and this use remained a continuity for the Roman civilization. In conclusion, the cultural and political changes in the Roman Empire between 100 ­600 CE (late classical era) involved the rise of Christianity and the division of the empire. A continuity was the widespread use of Latin and Greek. These changes and continuities would affect global perception of the Roman Empire for many centuries to come.

Japanese Green Tea

Japanese Green Tea Japanese tea is getting popular these days. This page helps you to learn how to pronounce the names of various Japanese teas. Ocha - Japanese tea in general Although cha means tea, it is usually called o-cha. O is a prefix of respect. Learn more about how to use o in Japanese words. How to Order Japanese Tea Ocha o kudasai. 㠁ŠèÅ' ¶Ã£â€šâ€™Ã£  Ã£   Ã£ â€¢Ã£ â€žÃ£â‚¬â€š) Ocha, onegaishimasu. 㠁ŠèÅ' ¶Ã£â‚¬ Ã£ Å Ã© ¡ËœÃ£ â€žÃ£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢Ã£â‚¬â€š This is how to order Japanese tea at Japanese restaurant. Both kudasai and onegaishimasu are used when making a request for items. Learn more about kudasai and onegaishimasu. The Japanese tea is complementary at most restaurants in Japan. Japanese Tea Pronunciation Here are the names of common Japanese teas. Click the links to hear the pronunciation. You might find it sounds monotone. This is because Japanese has a pitch accent unlike a stress accent in English. Matcha æŠ ¹Ã¨Å' ¶ Gyokuro 玉éÅ" ² Sencha ç…ŽèÅ' ¶ Bancha ç• ªÃ¨Å' ¶ Houjicha 㠁 »Ã£ â€ Ã£ ËœÃ¨Å' ¶ Genmaicha 玄ç ± ³Ã¨Å' ¶) Learn about each type of Japanese tea. Learn the pronunciation of other Japanese beverages. Trivia About Japanese Tea There is a matcha flavored Kit Kat, which is a limited version only available in Kyoto. Starbucks in Japan have a Matcha Latte just like the ones in North America. They also carry Sakura Steamed Milk and Sakura Frappuccino as spring specials. Sakura means cherry blossom.I find it is very Japanese to see Sakura Beverages on the menu. They remind me of Sakura-yu which is a tea-like drink made by steeping a salt-preserved cherry blossom in hot water. It is often served at weddings and other auspicious occasions. Bottled green tea (unsweetened) is a popular drink in Japan. You can easily find it in vending machines or convenience stores. Ochazuke is a simple dish which is basically Japanese tea poured over rice with savory toppings. Cha-soba is buckwheat noodles flavored with green tea powder. Matcha is also commonly used for sweets, such as cookies, cakes, chocolate, ice cream, Japanese sweets and so on. The Shizuoka prefecture has the largest production of green tea and it is considered the best tea in Japan.