Food Safety and Biosecurity Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food Safety and Biosecurity Policy - Essay Example The human aspect of biosecurity includes zoonotic diseases and biological food safety. Plant production provides the basis of the human food chain and it is therefore a crucial target of biosecurity. Food safety and biosecurity policy have attracted a lot of debate. Many people are against this policy and countless others are of a different opinion supporting their cause and grounds. This paper will highlight some of the arguments that have been forwarded in favor of the policy and also summarize some of the arguments against it. Many forces have heightened interest in biosecurity, including the increasing and globalized trade in food and agricultural products, expanding populations, advances in communications and technology, changing consumer patterns, rising popular awareness of sanitary and phyto-sanitary issue and greater attention to biodiversity and the environment and the impact of agriculture on these (Gullino, Fletcher and Gamliel, 2008, pg. 7). There are many arguments whic h have been forwarded in support of the food safety and biosecurity policy. Some of these include; Food safety and Biosecurity policies facilitates the necessary infrastructure that is needed to prevent, detect, diagnose, respond and recover from disease outbreaks (Falk, Wallace and Ndoen, 2011, pg. 53). The trends for increased agricultural trade among nations contribute to the goal of global food security. However, this increased trade also brings heightened pressures from natural and intentional introductions of plant pathogens that threaten agricultural systems as well as food production and distribution systems. The food safety and Biosecurity policies put in place facilitate the necessary infrastructure that is needed to prevent, detect, diagnose, respond and recover from disease outbreaks. Biosecurity policy facilitates the efficient use of limited resources through the harmonization of regulatory frameworks. Biosecurity recognizes common features among the relevant sectors, particularly in approaches to risk assessment and risk management, notification procedures, information exchange and international cooperation (Vapnek and Spreij, 2005, pg. 200). Thus it reduces burdens and facilitates the efficient use of limited resources by harmonizing the regulatory frameworks. Food production and distribution networks are susceptible to accidental on-farm contamination with human pathogens. Food safety and Biosecurity policies facilitate for the recognition of and effective preparation for, the threat of agro-terrorism, this subsequently permits government and agribusinesses to reduce the vulnerability of the agro-food system. Food safety and Biosecurity policies are very vital in the maintenance of national security in terms of assuring its citizenry an uninterrupted supply of healthy food as well as economic growth. The vulnerability of agriculture and the food chain to attack by those intending harm is based on several key features. One of these is the very importance of agriculture to national economies. Disruption of agricultural systems could have widespread and dramatic economic consequences in the food, feed and fiber sectors (Gullino, Fletcher and Gamliel, 2008, pg. 3). Affected stakeholders could include farmers and input suppliers, processors, upstream contributors such as the agrochemical industry and even the tourism and transportation sectors. Agricultural exports in most

Transgender Children Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Transgender Children - Research Paper Example They are transgendered children† ABC News, 2007 The terms ‘sex’ and /or ‘gender’ are used loosely and interchangeably, in today’s society, with respect to describing an individual’s gender, despite the fact that both the words have a completely different meaning, which is distinct from each other. The word ‘sex’ refers to the biological categorization of an individual into ‘male’ or ‘female’ gender, based on their reproductive organs. Gender on the other hand, is more of a social construct, and is a term coined and used by the society to classify and describe an individual typically ‘male’ or ‘female’, based on social gender descriptions of the two (Morrow & Messinger, 2006). One of the most common misconceptions with regard to the definition of the term ‘gender’ as applied by the society, refers to the fact that it is an integral part of our existence and ident ities, and that it assigns social status to newly born, at the time of their birth. The society as well as our surrounding environment such as parents, plays a key role in shaping and influencing our attitudes towards what constitute gender, and inculcate socially acceptable gender norms, by interactions with the children and is reflected in the type of toys or clothes bought for the male and the female child. Such behavior on the part of the child’s immediate environment tends to teach the ‘appropriate’ and acceptable manner of leading their lives, and teaches them to behave in a ‘gender appropriate’ manner. The term ‘transgender’ as applied in contemporary society, is an umbrella term which is used to describe individuals with gender identity issues, and display a non-conformist behavior / attitude with regard to the same, i.e., an individual, biologically born as a male tends to behave as a female trapped in a male’s body and v ice versa (Morrow & Messinger, 2006). The transgender children often insist of being born in the ‘wrong body’ (ABC News, 2007). Research questions: The key research questions addressed as a part of this study include: What does it mean to be transgendered? What are the key causes behind such gender identity issues? Are there any cures for the same? But most of all this study aims to emphasize the gravity of the issue, and delve further into the complex social and psychological implications of transexualism and its impact on the children and those around them. In order to seek answers for the above listed questions, a qualitative research method - secondary data analysis, is used, whereby data from academic and clinical journals, books, and other primary resources such as government websites and newspapers are used. 2. Literature review 2.1. Understanding Transgender Children: The term 'Transgender' refers to people who have serious gender identity issues and have diffic ulty associating and correlating with the biological sex they are born with. Such individuals do not suffer from any genetic abnormalities (Lee & Houk, 2006). Transgender children suffer from gender identity issues wherein the boys are often seen more comfortable with associating themselves with girls, dress like them and even play with dolls, display stereotypical feminine traits and vice versa (Brill & Pepper 2008). Research indicates that children normally begin to develop gender identity around the age of three years (Cohen-Hettenis & Arrindell, 1990. This theory holds true even in case of transgender child

Poetry and Ozymandias Heart Essay Example for Free

Poetry and Ozymandias Heart Essay How life goes on: the analyzing of diction and imagery in â€Å" Ozymandias† The poem â€Å"Ozymandias† by Percy Bysshe Shelley is about a traveler telling the speaker about a statue in the desert. This statue is half sunk in the sand and the traveler explains that the â€Å"sneer of cold command† on the statue’s face shows that the sculptor understood the passions of the statue’s subject. This man sneered at the people who were not as powerful as him, but he fed his people because of something in his heart. The Traveler goes on and says that on the pedestal of the statue, it is written, â€Å"My name is Ozymandias’, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!† But when you look all around the statue for the â€Å"works† there is nothing but sand and a bare desert. In this poem, Percy Bysshe Shelley creates the image of destroyed sculptures to show that nature destroys all and his choice of diction is quite interesting. The diction in this poem creates a strong sense of imagery. The notable diction is combined with alliteration to create even more powerful imagery, such as the â€Å"Sneer of col command†. Ozymandias’-â€Å"ozy† meaning air and â€Å"mandias† meaning King/God, is a sonnet, a fourteen lined poem metered in iambic pentameter. Percy Bysshe Shelley uses words such as, Trunk-less- torso is gone, visage- another name for face, and colossal- which is an allusion of the colossus of roads. He uses this choice of diction to interest the reader furthermore by being more descriptive and letting the readers imagination go wild. The poem Ozymandias has two voices. The first is the speaker, who tells the entire poem. The other is the traveler, who tells the main speaker about the poem. The speaker tells us the traveler is from an antique land,† which is a metaphor for the old age of his country. Antiques are valued mainly for their age and are almost always not modern. The traveler is described as well-traveled, knowledgeab le, and wise. The Traveler’s whole speech is about a statue that he once saw in the middle of a desert. He tells us that the â€Å"trunk† of the statue is gone; The head of the statue lies in the sand at the feet of the legs and the expression on the face is still visible. There is a lot of death in this poem. The figure represented in the statue is dead, along with the civilization to which it once belonged. The Traveler says that the lip is â€Å"wrinkled†, but he says this is not because of old age but it is the â€Å"sneer of cold command†. This leaves the reader with an impression that Ozymandias’ was a cold ruler and had no trouble giving orders. In this  octave though it is suggests that the stone is â€Å"lifeless†, but on it is some â€Å"passions†. The reader, most likely imagines that these passions are greed, conceit, and other passions that are appropriate to a harsh, power-loving ruler. These same passions are said by the traveler to â€Å"survive† the â€Å"hand that mocked them,† which would be the sculptor, and the â€Å"heart that fed† them, which is Ozymandias’.The poem is consistent to a single metaphor: the shattered, ruined statue in the desert wasteland, but another metaphor is â€Å"the heart that fed†. Ozymandias’ heart â€Å"fed† these passions. The heart seemed to be compared to a powerful figure and the passions seemed more like an animal the master throws some food to, but I think the sense is more that Ozymandias’ heart fed on the passions. When you look at it like this, Ozymandias’ heart becomes a killer and the passions his prey. It seems obvious then that the passions kept the heart alive and beating, the passions are sustenance to the heart. The passions don’t seem to be suggested to be bad, but Ozymandias’ feeding on these passions of greed and conceit resulted in evil, the same evil we see on the statue’s face. His image of the broken sculpture shows how things change over time and that human beings and materialistic values are seasonal and are bound to end. They are all prone to be affected by the laws of time.

Digital Intermediate Frequency in LTE Superheterodyne

Digital Intermediate Frequency in LTE Superheterodyne Research and implementation of the digital intermediate frequency in LTE superheterodyne transmitter Abstract: Digital IF (Intermediate Frequency) is an indispensable key technology in modern communication, among which digital up converter (DUC) and digital down converter (DDC) are important parts between baseband and IF. In this paper, we give a general method and solution of designing digital IF to meet the demands of practical application. Firstly, we analyze the theories and technologies of digital IF including filter bank and DUC. Secondly, we set about analyzing how to design filter bank in key part and implement a superheterodyne. Finally, we put forward a specific design plan of DUC and develop a digital IF suitable for TDD-LTE (Time Division Long Term Evolution) system. The results of simulation show that our design method of DUC can satisfy the requirements of relevant indicators. It has been implemented on FPGA platform in a practical LTE based transmitter. SECTION I. Introduction Nowadays, digital subscriber line (DSL) network far remains one of the most promising means of broadband communications. DSL communication is evolved from conventional discrete multitone (DMT) system to filtered architectures. The smooth evolution of filtered multitone, FMT, provides higher peak rate and higher spectrum efficiency as the widening of the limited frequency increases. As the frequency resources become increasingly scarce, research on subband coding in the field of high-speed DSL communication is of great significance. Adaptive subband estimate is the core of the FMT receiver. With the development of FMT technology, an orthogonal filter bank transmissions have become the focus of attention. As the key technology of recent multirate systems, filter banks technology is also the starting point to a breakthrough of frequency selective transmissions. For frequency selective channels, digital up-conversion must be completed firstly before filtering. Analysis filter bank structure mainly includes filtering, interpolating, mixing and resampling. Filter bank implementation involves the computation of an efficient spectral allocation and often estimates high complexities. It is very difficult to implement full corresponding spectral after sampling using the current DMT [2]. In application design, the common method is to use DMT in the time-domain to achieve digital up-conversion. In this paper, we mainly research the theoretical characteristics of the digital up-conversion in the frequency-domain, and design a set of digital up-conversion scheme suitable for FMT system. Finally, the design of subband transmissions is implemented. SECTION II. Design Requirements of DUC DUC usually needs spectrum shifting that modulate the baseband signal to band-pass signal. Because of the lower sampling rate of baseband signal, it cannot meet the needs of radio-frequency emission. The sampling rate conversion should be added. The method to implement DUC is as follows. At first, the signal is divided into two channels baseband signal (I, Q). Then the signal is transformed into a higher sampling rate through the filter interpolation. Finally the two-way signals are respectively modulated and thus the spectrum is moved to a specific point through the digital mixer. Up-converter module is realized using filter bank cascade and finally modulate it to realize the spectrum shift. The up-converter principle block diagram is shown in Fig. 1. Figure 1 Figure 1. The up-converter principle block diagram. View All Usually, the sampling rate can be improved through the filtering and interpolation [3]. We modulate the baseband signal to the NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) intermediate frequency carrier. This paper designs a broadband wireless DUC which is operated based on the TDD-LTE standard and the bandwidth is 5MHz. The Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards specifies that the sampling rate of signal carrier 5MHz bandwidth TDD-LTE is 7.68Msps. In order to shift the spectrum to the intermediate frequency 21.4MHz, signal needs to use interpolation for 8 times to achieve the sampling rate up to 6I.44Msps. Then we make analog transformation in DAC according to the Nyquist sampling theorem. DUC provides the function of spectrum shaping and improving the sampling rate, with the premise of satisfying the requirements of 3GPP standards. In 3GPP TS 36.804, it puts forward the specific spectrum requirements to the front-end of digital transmitter. On the one hand, the suppressio n performance outside the band of filter needs to meet the regulation of the spectrum template [4], [5]. On the other hand, it needs to satisfy the requirement of the 5MHz broadband. In addition, the sampling rate should be increased 8 times. The specific indicators is shown in Table 1. Table I. Design requirements of DUC Table I. SECTION III. Detailed Design Scheme of DUC In this paper, the multi-stage interpolation is adopted in DUC part. The total design is shown as Fig. 2: Figure 2 Figure 2. Digital up converter design. View All We need 8 times interpolation, therefore the design uses two CIC filters of 2-fold interpolation. Because the interpolation factor is a power of 2 times, particularly suitable for Half-band filter, we cascade a Half-band filter to achieve interpolation filtering function. A. Interpolation Theory Interpolation [6] is an integer multiple insertion of the original sequence. We do I times interpolation by inserting (I-1) zeroes between the adjacent two sampling points. The relationship between original sequence x(n) and interpolated sequence xI(n) is shown as: xI(n)={x(nI), 0,nI is integerothers(1) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. Spectrum relationship is obtained as: XI(ejω)=X(ejωI)(2) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. The original sequence does I-fold interpolation in the time domain, which is I times compression for the original spectrum. General interpolation method is inserting zeros between the sampling sequences. However, the signal spectrum XI(ejω) after interpolation not only contains the fundamental frequency X(ejω), but also high frequency mirror, the frequency of which is greater than Ï€/I. In order to recover the original signal spectrum from XI(ejω) we need to put signal through a low-pass filter with bandwidth Ï€/I. After low pass filtering, the inserted zero point smoothly get into the accurate value of x(n). Figure 3 Figure 3. Signal and spectrum before and after interpolation. View All The maximum output frequency of interpolation can reach (I-1) times of which of original sequences. The frequency spectrum of the signal is consistent with the original spectrum but frequency shifts, as is shown in Fig. 3. When the sampling rate is transformed, the I times interpolation can be realized by using only single stage. But if we design a low pass filter with larger interpolation multiple factor using the same method of single stage, the order of the transfer function h(n) will be relatively high. Its difficult to implement on an embedded hardware for its large requirement of storage and calculation. So in order to implement easier and reduce calculation, this paper uses a method of multi-stage interpolation and cascaded together [7]. A simple two-stage interpolation method is shown as follow Fig. 4: Figure 4 Figure 4. Multi-level implementation of interpolation(i=i1*12). View All After processing by multi-stage method, the order of the interpolation filter is decreased obviously. B. CIC Filter Principle and Design CIC (Cascade Integrator Comb) filter, a kind of efficient extraction or interpolation filter, is been widely used in the multi-rate signal processing. The basic components of CIC filter include two parts: integral and comb filtering. Single-stage CIC decimation and interpolation filter is shown in Fig. 5. Where, M is latency state, D is extraction factor and L is interpolation factor. Figure 5 Figure 5. CIC decimation and interpolation filter structure. View All In single-stage decimation CIC filter, the integrator stages N=1, and the feedback coefficient is 1: The state equation is defined as: y(n)=y(n−1)+x(n)(3) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. From (3) we can obtain the Z transform as: HI(Z)=11−Z−1(4) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. The state equation of comb section is defined as: y(n)=x(n−1)−x(n−DM)(5) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. where M is state delay, its function of Z transform is as: HC(Z)=1−Z−DM(6) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. Transfer function of extraction CIC filter is defined as: H(z)=HI(Z)HC(Z)=11−Z−1(1−Z−DM)(7) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. From (7) we can obtain its frequency response as: H(ejω)=sin(ωDM/2)sin(ω/2)(8) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. The amplitude-frequency characteristics of single-stage CIC filter has a higher sidelobe, so we can use a multi-stage cascade CIC filter to reduce sidelobe and improve stop-band attenuation. The system function of CIC filter can be expressed as: H(z)=HNI(Z)HNI(Z)=(11−Z−1)N(1−Z−DM)N=[∑D−1K=0Z−k]N(9) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. When we set CIC filters order D to the multiple factor of interpolation I and do an equivalent transformation, the CIC interpolation filter cascading in practical applications will be shown as Fig. 6: Figure 6 Figure 6. Cascading structure of CIC interpolation filter. View All Considering the system requirements and debugging repeatedly by MATLAB, we set the design with stages N=2, sampling rate R=3 and delay M=1. Then we can get the frequency response of interpolation CIC filter with the parameters N=5,M=1,R=3, as shown in Fig. 7: Figure 7 Figure 7. Frequency response of CIC filter after 2x interpolation. View All C. CIC Compensation Filter Design CIC filter has good anti-imaging and anti-aliasing effects. In the design of the decimation/interpolation filter, it is indispensable to get a relatively flat pass-band and a relatively narrow transition band especially for broadband systems. Consequently, if the CIC is applied to the broadband systems, the pre-compensation and compensation filter which can significantly improve the performance of the filter is needed. The amplitude response of the compensation filter is the reciprocal of the CIC filter in ideal circumstances. When we use an equal-ripple FIR [8] filter with anti-sinc function as the CIC compensation filter, its spectrum after two filters cascade will be shown as Fig. 8. According to the requirements of 5MHz bandwidth of our special TDD-LTE system, we set the parameters of CIC filter as fellow: cutoff frequency of pass-band B=5MHz, interpolating multiple D=2 and input sample rate is 30.72MHz. Figure 8 Figure 8. CIC and CIC compensation filter cascade effect. View All The so-called compensation means cascading a compensation filter in front of the filter bank. After simulation cascade in MATLAB, the band ripple of CIC filter is shown in Fig. 8(b). As can be seen from the figure, the band ripple drops about 3dB. After compensation filter processing, we find the attenuation of pass-band ripple improves so significantly that it can meet the design requirements. D. Half-Band Filter Design Half-band filter is a pretty useful and special filter and it plays an important role in the high speed signal processing and multi-stage filter design. Half-band filter is also a kind of FIR filter, and its impulse response h(k) is even symmetry with respect to the coordinate axis with the character of h(k)=h(-k). h(k)={1,0,k=0k= ±2, ±4(10) View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. According to the above formula, we learn that the impulse response of Half-band filter is not 0 except in the coordinate zero point but the rest of even position is 0. This feature is very suitable for achieving the decimation and interpolation of power of 2 times. When using Half-band filter for sample rate conversion, the system can save half amount of calculation. Therefore, Half-band filter cascade is widely used in high order filter design and high-speed processing. For Half-band filter, Stop-band bandwidth π−ωA is equal to pass bandwidth ωc, and the width of the transition zone is determined by the pass bandwidth and sample rate together by consensus. In addition, the pass-band and stop-band ripple is the same. As is shown in Fig. 9: Figure 9 Figure 9. Half-band filter. View All As we can see from above figure, the response of Half-band filter in Ï€/2−ωA interval is not zero. When making 2 times extraction, it does not satisfy the conditions of extraction without aliasing, which will result in signal aliasing distortion. But the spectral structure of signal (0∠¼Ãâ€°c) in the pass-band has not been damaged and it can still be recovered without aliasing, so we can still use Half-band filter to design 2-times sample rate conversion of pass-band signal. In DUC design of this paper, we cascade a Half-band filter to achieve 2-times interpolation. After completing the design of filter banks, we simulate the solution in MATLAB and the result is shown in Fig. 10: Figure 10 Figure 10. Frequency response of our filter bank. View All SECTION IV.Simulation Results A typical TDD-LTE signal with 5MHz bandwidth is shown in Fig. 11. The baseband signal at the zero frequency is moved to 21.4MHz after up-converter. Figure 11 Figure 11. Signal spectrum before and after up-converter. View All As can be seen from the figure above, the design of our program meets the design requirements. Specially, in Fig. 11(a) we add two noise signal outside the passband into input signal. After the designed filter banks, the additional noise signal is also normally filtered out and the indicators such as band attenuation and ripple all meet the requirements. It is shown in Fig. 11(b)-(c). SECTION V.Implementation on FPGA At the end of design, Xilinxs xc7a200t-3fbg676 chip is selected to implement the system using VHDL language [9]. Simulating and synthesizing processes run in Xilinx [10] ISE14.3 development environment. The specific implementation structure is shown in Fig. 12. There are mainly five parts: 1) DUC_pre_tx (stabilizing date rate of the up-converter input data to ensure a constant rate for the next module); 2) CIC _ compensation (compensation filter of CIC filter which has a certain filtering characteristic); 3) CIC filter (achieving the function of filtering and interpolation); 4) halfband (achieving the function of filtering and interpolation); 5) dds_modulate_tx (moving spectrum from zero frequency to IF 21.4MHz). Figure 12 Figure 12. Realization diagram of fpga. View All Fig. 13 shows the signal waveform after interpolation with CIC compensation module in simulation tool ModelSim. As can be seen from the figure, the input signal is filtered as expected. The original signal is mixed with high-frequency signal and the high-frequency part is filtered through CIC filter compensation. It indicates that our filter design has reached satisfactory results. The signal waveform processed by CIC and halfband filter is shown in Fig. 14. We can see from figure that the original input signal becomes smooth, which suggests that the signal processing is successful. The signal waveform processed by dds _ modulate _ tx module spectrum shifting is shown in Fig. 15. In the figure, we can see that the signal spectrum has been moved successfully from baseband to intermediate frequency. Figure 13 Figure 13. Waveform and spectrum before and after interpolation. View All Figure 14 Figure 14. Waveform after CIC and half-band filter. View All Figure 15 Figure 15. Waveform and spectrum after frequency shifting. View All SECTION VI. Conclusion This paper introduces a general design method for digital IF and analyzes the main parameters that affect its performance. According to the specific index of TDD-LTE, we calculate the values of various parameters that the system needs. In addition, we analyze the frequency spectrum, band-pass ripple and band-stop ripple to judge whether they meet the requirements. The designs of CIC filter and Half-band filter are analyzed respectively. After that we analyze and design a CIC filter compensation best with the purpose of achieving possible to meet the system design requirements. Finally, we verify the actual effect of the filter in Model and implement the design on FPGA platform. The result suggests that the design method is reasonable and feasible.

Where The Red Fern Grows :: essays research papers

In the story Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Billy is willing to try his best when he wants to get the dogs. He also tries his best when he wants to get Old Dan down from a tree. Billy thinks that God helped him knock the tree down and catch the coon who was up the tree.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Billy tries his best to get the dogs he saw in an ad, he found in a magazine by the lake were fishermen fish. He picked berries util his feet were covered with scratches because of the bushes. He also hunted for coons with the traps his father got him. He would sell the fur and the berries in his grandfather's store. After two years Billy finally had enough money to get the dogs he wanted. He was so excited that instead of waiting for the dogs to come to him he went to the dogs. After getting the puppies Billy got into a fight with some school kids because they were picking on the puppies and Billy was getting angry. He wanted to protect the puppies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Billy and his dogs went coon hunting Old Dan went up a dead hollow tree to try and catch the coon who went up there. So Billy had to go up and get him down. Billy tried as hard as he could to get his big dog down, then he finally did. When Old Dan got down he was so eager to get the coon he went back up the tree. So Billy went up the tree again and tried to get him down. With all his strength he finally got Old Dan Down for the second time. Billy thinks that God helped him in getting the tree to fall and catching the coon. This all happened when Billy promised his dogs that if they get the coon up the tree he would get the coon. So Billy thought of climbing the tree but it was to high. So he tried to cut the tree down. It took along time; Billy's Grandpa made a dummy so Billy can go home and rest. The purpose of the dummy was to make the coon think that a person was standing there. So the coon would stay up on the tree for several days before he finds out that the dummy is fake. When Billy went back to the tree he started cutting and cutting, but the tree was too big and thick to cut down.

The Effects that Affirmative Action Has Had on Past and Future Endeavor

The African American experience in the United States is one that could almost be described as irreparable. The African American debut in this country was one that started off as foul as a situation could be. The slavery experience ranks amongst some of the most inhumane eras in the history of mankind. The settlers in the colonies viewed Africans as only 3/5ths of a man and used Africans as tools, or pets, as opposed to acknowledging them as real thinking, loving, feeling human beings. Amazingly so, African Americans were able to advance in this society to a plateau in which we are now, by definition, accepted as equals. Racism still exists in many social institutions and mindsets of our citizens, but opportunity now is vast, compared to how it was over time. With the well documented existence of racism, there has to be an option that levels the playing field for African Americans. That equalizer is affirmative action. Affirmative action is a policy or a program that seeks to redress past discrimination through active measures to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment. In addition to providing equal opportunity, affirmative action also serves as a form of reparation for the actions by white America in the past. With the advancement of African Americans in this society, some argue that affirmative action actually is a way to declare inferiority of the black people, and holds African Americans back in terms of progress in the nation. Others argue that it is the only way that the African American person can receive fair treatment in a nation that is still blinded by prejudice. Affirmative action is a crucial debate that has no finite solution. Even if it is granted, there will still be those who view it as a cop-out or â€Å"crutch† for African Americans and other minorities. This reason is why affirmative action serves as a double-edged sword. Although the notion of affirmative action serves as a double-edged sword, affirmative action in the 21st century is headed in a direction that will benefit African Americans economically, throughout the venues of employment, income, education, and social status; and by doing so, affirmative action has definitely served as a pivotal method to assuage and suppress racism and prejudice in these United States. Affirmative action is a staple in today’s American employment system, but there was a long road to ach... ...he or she does not perform, then that may perpetuate racism. If one comes into an office and he or she excels and is above the others in the office, then it will be understood that this person did not get here just because they are a minority, but because they are capable. These reasons are why one must acknowledge the fact that affirmative action suppresses racism and eliminates it, simply because it does the least it can do, in providing opportunity-opportunity that was not always given in a more racist society, but is offered today. In the 21st century, affirmative action should stay in place, and will contribute to the advancement of minorities. The actual advancement depends, not on policy, but on the initiative of those involved. Bibliography _____________ Brunner, Borgna, Timeline of Affirmative Action Milestones (2005). http://www.infoplease.com/spot/affirmativetimeline1.html. Clinton White House Staff (1995). Affirmative Action: Emperical Research. In   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Affirmative Action Review: Report to the President, Chapter3. Retrieved from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.policyalmanac.org/culture/archive/affirmative_action_empirical.shtml

Parable of the Sadhu

Ethical Decisions Tough decisions are scary to most people. Therefore, we have guidelines or theories to help us make these decisions. The most effective managers are ideally those that simply don’t crack under pressure and are â€Å"action-oriented people. † Sometimes, people do not dedicate any of their time to the decision in front of them, and make decisions based on their situation. This is one of the many issues that arise in The Parable of the Sadhu. Buzz McCoy went on an adventurous six-month sabbatical program with his friend, Stephen, and when they were hiking in Nepal, they came across a serious ethical dilemma.As him, Stephen, and a few other hikers were hiking up the treacherous Himalayan mountains, they came across a sadhu. Stephen had been showing symptoms of altitude sickness and they had decided to rest for a bit, when one of their fellow hikers found this man. The sadhu was barely clothed, and was consequently suffering from hypothermia. The man who fo und the sickly sadhu grew irritated, as he wanted to continue on because he â€Å"[did] what he [could do]. † He left soon afterward, leaving the sadhu in the hands of Buzz, Stephen and a few other hikers.We are all less likely to take charge of a situation if there are people around us. We simply assume that someone else will take full responsibility and get our wheels turning. They had all given him clothing and tried to warm him up a bit, but none had stepped up and taken full responsibility. Buzz then also gave in, as he grew afraid of the â€Å"heights to come,† and â€Å"without a great deal of thought,† continued on. Looking back on this moment, Buzz regrets how he handled the situation. In all actuality, he never handled it at all; he never even gave it a thought.With all the adrenaline and the possible ecstasy that awaited his arrival at the peak, he never thought of the consequences of this decision. Buzz states, â€Å"I felt and continue to feel guil t about the sadhu. † If he had thought it through, he probably wouldn’t be carrying this burdenous regret. He later goes on to mention, however, that the situation he was in is parallel to a corporate situation, wherein people need to make split-second decisions (no matter the consequence). This is not an ethical method in any ay, shape or form. Buzz was not thinking about the â€Å"best option† or the â€Å"decision that would make for the greater good. † He was focused on himself, and reaching the peak of that mountain. Buzz never thought that this decision would haunt him for the rest of his life. In applying the universalization test to McCoy’s decision, I am left with a serious question: what if everyone were to act as McCoy did. What if, when faced with a challenge, or an annoyance, or simply something unexpected, everyone were to simply give up?What if everyone in the world were to walk away saying, â€Å" oh, I gave him some clothes†¦ therefore I did all I could do. † Just because they aren’t personally responsible for the sadhu, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t care. They needed to be responsible human beings, like Stephen. What if we lived in a world where everyone was out for his/her own gain? Although it may seem like it, there are still glimmers of hope once in a while, and we, as inhibitors, must fight for them. If everyone was out for their own personal gain, nothing would be accomplished.Ethical guidelines, such as the universal test, are definitely more relatable and easier to apply. The theories, on the other hand, are much more malleable and subjective. There was really only one answer when I asked myself, â€Å"what if this were the behavior of everyone on this planet? † Though, when I asked myself, â€Å"what would have been the best outcome for everyone? † the lines got a little blurry. One final thought: a valuable piece of information is the sadhu’s intentions.If he had gone to the mountain to die in the first place, then taking him down and saving him would be completely against his own intentions. The story states that he was an elderly man with hardly any clothes and no food; thus, he could have wanted to go in peace, on his own terms. Here in lies the problem: we never are given all of the information necessary to make an educated informed decision. This is why we have ethics, or guides for us to follow in situations that we seem to be blindly coming to decisions. They can help us come to ethical decisions for the situations before us.