Euthanasia Persuasive Speech Essay Example for Free

Euthanasia Persuasive Speech Essay Imagine a world where anyone, even the curably ill or depressed, is easily assisted in suicide. Where someone else decides when you’re life is no longer worth living. Where it is a societal expectation to die rather than receive long-term care. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the world that awaits us if we legalise euthanasia. Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, is defined as the practice or act of ending the life of a terminally ill person, usually by lethal injection. Though there is no exact specification for what ‘terminally ill’ may pertain to. Who would this definition extend to and who would be eligible to be euthanized? Some laws state that â€Å"terminally ill† means that death will occur in a relatively short time. Others are specifically stating within six months or less. Though this definition is futile, as medical experts state it is virtually impossible to predict the life expectancy of each specific patient. As this has been realised, numerous euthanasia activists have increasingly replaced references to ‘terminal illness’ to phrases such as ‘hopelessly ill’, ‘desperately ill’, ‘incurably ill’. In Thomas E. Joiner’s journal Suicide and Life- Threatening behaviour, an article described the guidelines for assisted suicide to be for those with a hopeless condition. The definition of ‘hopeless condition’ included terminal illness, severe physical or psychological pain, physical or mental debilitation or deterioration, or a quality of life that is no longer acceptable to the individual. In 2009, over 30% of euthanasia cases were carried out without consent in Belgium. Simultaneously, the number of cases had increased dramatically, specifically 40% greater in 2009 than in 2008. Furthermore, in 77. 9% of these cases the patients had been killed without an explicit request, nor a discussion of euthanasia. It seems extremely likely that, in Belgium, physicians are killing patients on their own cognizance with no regard for legal restraints. Is euthanasia truly a ‘voluntary’ practice, as described in the law? Even the enforcement of laws seems ineffective as they have proven to do little to ensure the safety of vulnerable patients. How can we ensure that these results will not be replicated in Australia if we follow in Belgium’s footsteps? Could euthanasia be considered a ‘slippery slope to legalised murder’? When analysing medicines primary taboo, as sworn in the Hippocratic Oath, ‘I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if they asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect’ it becomes apparent that euthanasia purely contradicts this. Doctor assistance in the death of a patient is antithetical to the moral ethos and the primary goal of medicine. Their role as healer is fundamentally incompatible with euthanasia. Furthermore, euthanasia rejects the dignity and value of human life. The existing quality-of-human-life ethic would be replaced with a utilitarian and nihilistic death culture and a pessimistic view that the answer to life’s most difficult challenges is the intentional ending of human life. Such a radical shift in morality would fire dangerous consequences. Societal pressure and acceptance of this concept would influence the decisions of those who would originally never contemplate such a decision. Vulnerable people- the elderly, the ill, the depressed- would feel pressure- real or imagined- to request an early death through euthanasia. The legalisation of euthanasia would be detrimental to the strife for survival of the ill and depressed, to the vulnerable that health-maintenance organisations wish to exterminate, to the medical profession and to the overall value of human life. By legalising euthanasia we are allowing our world to transform into the unthinkable. When will someone else decide when you’re life is no longer worth living?

The True Meaning Behind That Layer Of Blue Nail Polish :: essays research papers

The True Meaning Behind that Layer of Blue Nail Polish When the red-based shades such as pink and orange were the only type of nail polish females dared to wear, I remember wondering if in the near future they'd dare switch to completely new shades such as blue or green. Now that day and age has come when all different shades of blue can be seen painted on teens' nails. Yet, this new choice of blue isn't just another craze of the moment. Rather, it symbolizes something slightly deeper. This latest trend of â€Å" blues† not only broke the barrier of â€Å"reds only†, but broke the limits of society each girl felt she had when it came to choosing a simple shade of nail polish. Before, the â€Å"rebels† and the â€Å"freaks† were the only ones who had the guts to wear what it took to get attention and to shock the world. For them shades of nail polish whether they were blue, black, or glitter have never been an issue of inappropriateness. Those who were less eccentric when it came to expressing their exterior image stayed with the â€Å"acceptable† red tones. Now that blue nail polish is the latest manicurean craze, both the tamest and the wildest adolescents together are donning the shade. When asked why they choose to wear this latest cerulean shade of nail polish, many give back similar responses such as: â€Å"It looks cool†; â€Å"If I wore red I would just feel like another ordinary person, but if people see your blue nail polish, they do a double-take†; â€Å"It's a little new, something different†. Unfortunately, many youths have been raised in a society where they have been conditioned to fear doing anything that will have them come across as a freak to others. In today's society, nail polish is one of the few things that come between the limits of someone who may be considered a â€Å"dull dresser† or a â€Å"freak-show†. It is understandable why the more all-around fashion-conscious youths might be attracted to a new trend of accessory. A theory can evolve, however, from the other kind of youths who don't express their inner-selves fully through their apparel. It is possible that these girls may feel more at ease leaking out their wild streak through the most subtle way they know how - nail polish. You can dress normally and still wear wild nail polish, yet no one will consider you a freak because of your flashy nails. â€Å"My parents hate it.† This factor alone may be an invitation for youths to wear blue nail polish.

History with Derek Mahon Essay

History is a subject which preoccupies Mahon in many of his most important poems. I would choose particular poems because of his view towards our history and the past. His poetry presents history in a very negative light. Mahon sees the past as ‘deep-delving, dark, deliberate you would say’. In the poem Rathlin Mahon recalls historical violence on an island that is now a ‘sanctuary’ of peace and ‘through with history’. However this island in the past has witnessed ‘unspeakable violence’ with the massacre of the Rathlin women. He speaks of the ‘unnatural silence’ on the island gradually becoming ‘natural’ over the years through the island not being inhabited. Come the end of the poem Mahon is unsure ‘whether the future lies before us or behind’. Whether the violence is now behind us or is violence a continuing part of our future? In Mahons Poem Kinsale there is a welcome and a long awaited moment of light and hope. The opening line of this poem was an optimistic thought from Mahon himself by saying, ‘the kind of rain we knew is a thing of the past’. The use of imagery in this poem is both vivid and warming. The image of ‘Yachts tinkling and dancing in the bay’ is a striking image as it is both beautiful and positively uplifting. The sun is a direct contrast to the rain. The sun is an image of hope and the ‘future forbidden to no-one’ while the rain is the constant reminder of a violence filled history. Although Mahon showed a slight sense of hope he is constantly overcome with those ‘who have come so far in darkness and in pain’. In the poem A Disused Shed in Co. Wexford he uses the metaphor of mushrooms neglected in a shed to represent the victims of history. Please note! This is not an example of text written by our writers! Essaypedia.com is a database of essays that were collected at open web resources. You can use them at you own risk following the citation rules below. But we recommend you to order a custom plagiarism-free essay written just for you from one of our writers. Place an order, add your paper details and enjoy the results! You can keep in touch with your writer, check the draft of your paper and send your order for revision for free. If you are hesitating to place an order – just ask for a quote! However the both extraordinary and unbelievable picture of mushrooms with feelings is not the only reason I would choose this poem. Mahon uses the image of mushrooms neglected and forgotten to portray the misery and despair of thousands of victims who have died or survived the torturous past. ‘They are begging us you see’ to not forget them or forget what they have been through. Even the most insignificant people in history still deserve the recognition for their struggle. Small heroes from the past ‘In their wordless way’ are saying ‘Let not our naà ¯ve labours have gone in vain’. Mahon also deals greatly with the theme of isolation in this poem. The mushrooms are completely cut off from the world and their only form of light ‘Is a keyhole rusting gently after rain’. The theme of isolation is also portrayed in the poem Grandfather. The ‘Grandfather’ in the poem has completely isolated himself from family and friends. ‘Discreetly up to no good’ he leaves the house in the morning and does not return until ‘After dark’. However nothing gets by this grandfather, ‘Nothing escapes him, he escapes us all’. ‘His shrewd eyes bolt the door’ to his life and he would rather not be bothered by anyone or anything. Another good choice of poem sticking with the theme of isolation would be After the Titanic. In this poem the persona of Bruce Ismay is overcome with guilt and as a result has completely isolated himself from the world. This poem is a favourite of mine also because Mahon writes in the persona of Ismay so brilliantly. ‘Include me in your lamentations’ was the final line of this poem and it sums up what Ismay was asking for. Like the mushrooms in A Disused shed in Co. Wexford he wanted to be remembered just like those who had died in the sinking of the titanic. He believed he ‘sank as far that night as any hero’ as his life and soul died that night. He watched the ship go ‘thundering down’ and with it went his ‘costly life’. He now ‘stays in bed’ and ‘will see no-one’. Mahon allows the reader to become Bruce Ismay if only for a minute. It is amazing reading this poem. The poem Antarctica is also a great example of Mahons ability of writing in a variety of personas. In this poem Mahon writes in the persona of captain Lawrence Oates an explorer who gave his life for the lives of his fellow men. ‘I am just going outside and may be some time’ are said to be his final words. Mahons deals greatly with the theme of people in this poem. He shows that there is good in man kind and ‘At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime’. Mahon shows that even in the worst instances of isolation imaginable, trudging utterly alone, to his death Oates action may seem entirely ‘ridiculous’ but in this case it is somewhat heroic. People in life may make some pretty foolish decisions but there might always be a good outcome. The poetry of Derek Mahon is poetry that one could not live without. With this collection of marvellous pieces his poetry will continue through generations and linger in peoples minds for some time, ‘In fact forever’.

Racism And How Laws Created Over Centuries - 1158 Words

This paper investigates many different articles and reports on the origins of racism and how laws created over centuries have still failed to completely annihilate the practice of bigotry against minorities. Through the examination of different stories, articles, and research, this paper suggests and supports the idea of racism being implemented secretly through the institution system, and the relationship between the reality of a minority with a job compared to someone else with the same job. This paper also explains how certain actions are only still in society because bigotry is more so a learned behavior. Introduction Despite the hard fought years of abuse and the milestone of achieving an African American president, racism is more concealed now due to Civil Right Laws. Because of this, America is now using incidental and institutional racism to somewhat justify their acts. Statistics show that African Americans are what makes up most of the population within prisons and there are countless acts of police brutality killings towards unarmed African American victims. Not to mention the everyday challenges African-American minorities have to face when dealing with recreational events, job applications, or even shopping. But the main question that is still stirring is how did we get here, and what do we have to do to help prevent and beat modern day racism. What is Racism? Racism by definition is, â€Å"The belief that race is the primary determinant of human traitsShow MoreRelatedThe Problem of Racial Discrimination1578 Words   |  6 Pagesthemselves. Over the course of time, this created various feelings about one group over that of the other. At the same time, feelings of jealousy and resentment fueled animosity between racial groups. Evidence of these kinds of distinctions is going back to some of the earliest accounts in the Bible with the Jews enslaved and escaping from slavery in Egypt. The reason why they were slaves is because the Jews were seen as inferior to the ancients Egyptians. In the 20th and early 21st centuries, many ofRead MoreSlavery : Racism And Racism Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery: A root to Racism. Slavery and Racism Slavery as described by Oxford dictionaries â€Å"a person who is the legal property of another is forced to obey them† was introduced to America dating back to 17th and 18th centuries. African slaves were first brought to America as a means of cheap labor to work on tobacco plantations and later on the cotton gin. With the constant demand for labor and declining population, the colonists were led to believe that African slaves were the cheapest and efficientRead MoreWhite Supremacy Is Influencing The Young People Of Today988 Words   |  4 PagesSupremacy is influencing the young people of today the wrong thing? Why should White Supremacy in America be abolished? Over more than 200 years, White Supremacy has made an authority on the nation’s history, often through the federal and state laws, and it continues to be a visual element in the American society. White Supremacy was created during the 19th century, during the removal of the Native American tribes in the east of Mississippi to land west of the river. President AndrewRead MoreRace And A Broader Spectrum982 Words   |  4 PagesCommunities started too form all over the globe and individuals become groups of people. Over time, the human species advanced with great pace eventually, leading up to the present day and what we know about life today. The human mind is a wonderful thing to understand how it works and observe its changes throughout the evolution of man. To see race in a broader spectrum, I will use the lens of psychological to see how race works at Elizabethtown College. With an understand of how race works in the worldRead MoreEssay on A Noncolor Blind Society1458 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough injustice which was widely known as the American paradox. Even though it is stated in the Declaration of Independence that, All men are created equal, decades ago and often times today, it only applied to what was believed to be the superior race, and that only meant certain groups of people. This American paradox connected directly to racism which included prejudice, discrimination, and institutional inequality defined by sociologists Michael Omi and Howard Winant. America is an unequalRead MoreRacism As A Part Of Human Nature Essay1513 Words   |  7 Pages Racism is an extremely important issue that has plagued the United States of America for countless decades. America was established on racism, many Africans were enslaved and brought to America for the benefit of its white settlers. Africans were forced to farm and work for free Which created the wealth gap in the United States of America. Throughout American history racism has had a great effect on its minorities. Racism has affected many minorities such as countless lives being lost orRead MoreRacial Discrimination Against A Race1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe persons that practice racism are a set group in our society and their prejudice usually arises from ignorance to a lack of understanding. Racial discrimination against a race still existed for centuries. Racism is an historical stratification process by which the population of European descent, through its individual and institutional distress patterns, intentionally has been able to sustain, to its own best advantages such as power and financial advantages. The dynamic mechanics of upward orRead MoreIs The Mass Incarceration Of Blacks The New Jim Crow?1540 Words   |  7 Pages(Prison Activist Resource Center. Racism Fact Sheets: â€Å" Latinos and the Criminal Injustice System.† 2003). Th ere is a huge number of African Americans involved in the criminal justice system in some way. The average person does not know about mass incarceration nor about the racism that is in just about every part of the criminal justice system. When most people think about racism their thoughts often drift to slavery or Jim Crow laws, but for most, they do not consider how the amount of African AmericansRead MoreRacism And Racism1326 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history, inequality and racism have been a major problem in all governments. Inequality is the difference in size, degree, and circumstances. Governments have showed inequality in their economic growth, which also helps them thrive on the poor. Racism is also a benefit to states where the dominant race runs the government. A liberal democracy is a democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected, and the exercise of politicalRead MoreAnalysis Of Hurston s Zora Hu rston 1294 Words   |  6 PagesRacism is the belief that people that were certain skin type were better than others. One did everything better than the other at certain things. It has been one of the main factors to society in the U.S. The biggest one back in history had to be African Americans were treated different because of their color and the whites were took over Africa s property. Similarly, to the two essays I read in class that discussed racism back in the days. One of them was Zora Hurston who talked about how it was