Discuss how social media can be used to build a brand community and Essay

Discuss how social media can be used to build a brand community and illustrate your answer with detailed examples of such use - Essay Example It goes without saying that technologies and social media, in particular, contribute to the development of the collective brand identities and, therefore, brand communities. The example of Apple Macintosh suggests that social media, including blogs, forums, and social networks, facilitate the creation and expansion of brand communities, through the creation of shared meanings, the development of groups and clubs, elimination of any formal hierarchy, and diversification of communication instruments and ties. Brand communities Brand communities are among the most popular topics of present day market research. The rapid advancement of technologies and social media, in particular, contributes to unprecedented growth of brand communities and groups. According to Muniz and O’Guinn (2005), â€Å"brand communities are nongeographically bound collectives of brand admirers who, through their ability to aggregate and community at very little cost, assert themselves as important marketpl ace collectives† (p.65). Brand communities are always about building and sustaining a common, collective identity in their members (Muniz & O’Guinn 2005). ... Needless to say, brand communities develop and operate through the subcultures of consumption which differ from brand communities but also share numerous common features with them. Subcultures of consumption Unlike brand communities, subcultures of consumption is a separate society subgroup, which self-selects as a result of developing shared commitment to brand, product class, or consumption activity (Heding, Knudtzen & Bjerre 2008). The basic features of a subculture of consumption include (a) social hierarchy; (b) shared ethos; (c) unique lexicon and ritualistic features; and (d) unique ways of symbolic self-expression (Heding, Knudtzen & Bjerre 2008). Subcultures of consumption exemplify a collective view of numerous brand communities and identities. In the current state of global marketing, brand communities are of particular importance for firms, since they primarily focus on shared brand meanings and do not normally reject the prevailing society’s culture (Wiegandt 2009 ). In this sense brand communities’ reliance on low-cost communication methods and social interaction implies that social media do play a role in their development and expansion (Wiegandt 2009). The Apple brand community presents a unique example of how social media and brand communities interact. Apple Macintosh, brand communities, and social media Apple is one of the most frequently cited objects of brand community research in professional literature. Much has been written and said about what works and sustains the culture of sharedness in Apple Macintosh brand communities. It should be noted that the Apple brand community displays a number of specific features. These

Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act Policy Analysis Research Paper

Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act Policy Analysis - Research Paper Example While the bill intends to ensure that hospitals are maintaining appropriate staffing levels and staffing plans, it also guarantees that violators of the proposed law would be subject to monetary recompense for failing to abide by the provisions set forth in the bill. As further protectionist measures, H.R. 876 would specify available protections for employees of hospitals and patients for whistle blowing in the event of grievances or complaints, thereby ensuring that discrimination does not occur as a result of the proposed operational changes within the hospital environment and that no hospital retaliation should occur as a result of said grievances (Congress.gov, 2013). Hence, the bill ensures that there is accountability within the hospital administrative hierarchy for failing to abide by the language of this proposed piece of legislation.   H.R. 876 also clearly indicates the expectations for the role of the new hospital committees, including the establishment of a recurring ev aluation system to measure the success or failure of staffing plan implementations. At least once annually, these evaluations must occur, providing the framework by which staffing plan modifications are made (Library of Congress, 2013). The proposed legislation also sets out that overtime be considered by the committee, thus providing further protections for on-staff registered nurses and ensuring that the hospital maintains staffing structures that provide adequate relief during times of absence.   Reporting of staffing plans are also mandated by the bill to be submitted for public evaluation no later than 90 days after the date by which the committee has conducted its evaluation of staffing plan implementation (Library of Congress, 2013). If, according to the Secretary, any hospital has violated the provisions outlined in H.R. 876, they will be subject to a demand for corrective action to fix the violation and may also be subject to civil monetary penalties (Library of Congress, 2013). Hence, the bill provides the specific duties of the Secretary in ensuring that the legislation is adhered to

Character Analysis: Theory Of Personality Development

Character Analysis: Theory Of Personality Development In the analysis of the star character Rachel in the 1968 movie Rachel Rachel by Paul Newman, I have used the Theory of Personality Development by Freud Sigmund (1856-1939). Sigmund developed this theory about psychoanalysis from his works on patients with mental problems several years back. In this theory, Freud Sigmund believed that allthe spheres ofsomeonespersonality were in one way or another determined by the sex of the person and aggression.Sigmund believed that other factors that shapedsomeones character also developed during this period of personality development which in totality determined the adults personality and how well they relate with the world. According to Freud Sigmund the three elements that make the personality are the Id, the ego and the superego. The ID is the part we are born with and is the part of us that wants us to be comfortable. For instance children will cry when they are hungry until they are fed in complete disregard of whether there is food or not or even whether the person attending to them is busy or not. As we have observed around us, a child will always cry until what they want is done for them or given to them. The Ego is believed to develop in children from three years of age onwards. This part enables one to realize the realities of life. At this stage of development a child can very clearly understand the consequences of their actions. For instance they can understand that some unpleasing actions can make them to be punished or rewarded. Main Body: Analysis The Superego is the part that develops by the time a child reaches five years. Once the superego develops the cycle of personal development is completed and one attains a balanced personality. The superego is also known as the conscience because it helps us distinguish between wrong and right actions and it also defines for us the ethics and morals by which we live. The movie Rachel Rachel based on the novel Jest of God by Margaret Laurence is about a 35-year-old schoolteacher Rachel Cameron who is unmarried and is portrayed in the movie as feeling terrible that she has wasted her life. The Interprofessional education would also enable me to involve all the necessary stakeholders in cases of emergency so as to limit conflicts and ensure the delivery of quality health and social care. For instance, in case I will be faced with a similar situation as the drunken patient case, I would be able to reassure the patient and ensure that they have plenty of drip water added to their body, while ensuring that before I take any steps, I consult with other adult nurses and doctors. In addition, I would advocate for joint multi-disciplinary training so as to ensure increased harmony among the IP group members at the work place. Moreover, I would also ensure that there is a clearly distinct role defined for each IP team member so that each member contributes to the situation at hand. The role of effective communication would be key to the success of my career as an adult nurse. This is because; the service user and the nurses as well as the doctors would require knowing the progress of the patient as he is being treated. In the above case, after treating the patient, he will be moved to the recovery ward where he will be attended to by other nurses and health care givers. These health care givers will require knowing the progress report of the patient, which I would ensure that they have in good time. As an adult nurse, the value of communication is immeasurable The star character Rachel lives with her mother in an apartment that was once owned by her late father in New England. It is time for the summer holidays and Rachel is not excited like the other teachers about the vacation as she figures it will just be another holiday when she will be bored and she will have to put up with her demanding mother in the house. In the movie, another character Calla Mackie who happens to be Rachels best friend,a lesbian and a fellow teacherpersuades and invites Rachel to attend a religious meeting with her. Rachel is convinced into attending the meeting and while there she is touched by the sermon delivered by the guest preacher who is a young man. This incidence marks the beginning of a series of several other events which will convince Rachel to get out of the cocoon she was hiding in and live in the real world where she can freely express her emotions and desires. Calla also feeling touched by the sermon confesses her feelings for her best friend but she is turned down by Rachel who does not have lesbian tendencies. After the religious meeting and Rachel feeling that she can express her emotions and love to those she cares about she gets involved in a short lived sexual relationship with their old family friend Nick Kazlik who was back in town to visit his folks. Rachel then has her first sexual relationship with Nick;she falls in lovewith him and starts thinking of a future with Nickmistaking the lust they have for one another for love. Nick on the other hand on noticing that Rachel is treating their relationship more seriously than it ought to be treated ends the fling because to him it was just a casual affair. Shortly after Rachel suspects that she might have fallen pregnant and this really makes her happy as she imagines having a baby of her own.Rachel therefore plans to relocate elsewhere to a place where she can raise her child now that her relationship with Nick is short-lived. Her best friend Calla helps her get another teaching job in Oregon but Rachel soon finds out that she is not pregnant but has a benign cyst. A surgery is organized and after having the cyst removed Rachel still decides to move away with her mother to Oregon and even though she is feeling alone and empty because of the loss of the man she loved and her supposed baby, she has a strong will to continue with her life. Rachels Experience Rachel Rachel is a very moving romance, classic and drama themed movie that shows the loneliness and existence of some ladies in real life where someone does not get what they have always wanted or where life seems so unfair to someone. The problem could be in our personalities where we have internal battles within us over what we want and what society or everyone else will say about us. There were several ideologies that the students discussed in low tones relating to the behavior of these students. However, this was only qualified by the fact that the medical profession students liked discussing their peers conduct and professional ethics. In this book, I learnt that Rachel had issues with other students conduct which frequently extended to the rest of the other peers both at school and at home. I concurred with critics that she often exhibited this trend. The rest of the team members agreed that the time limit of working in groups could not be construed to mean that medical students were often too pervasive. The setting of the group work was more controlled, thus limiting the results of the findings. It was agreed within my group that the real picture could be depicted in the work place though with limited variations. This was the case with the attitude of the medical students towards other medical students as well as the other students in general. The multi-disci plinary team meeting gave me insights and adequate experience in relation to the kind of communication among different professional team members. They were constantly evaluating her work which sounded kind of uneasy for Rachel. Striking a balance In emotionally sound persons, the ego normally comes out as the strongest element of personality taking care of both the Id and the superego. When these three elements are balanced someone is able to survive and exist well without taking undue advantage of others. Unfortunately not all of us can have the ego coming out stronger than our Ids and superegos. For some the Id is stronger and such a person will be self-centered and concerned only with their wellbeing and if the superego also happens to be stronger such a person can be too hard on themselves, have judgmental tendencies and relating with others would be extremely difficult for them. Like mentioned earlier the three elements are driven by sex and aggression. Sex which Freud calls the Eros stands for our desire to reproduce and live. Aggression on the other hand represents our need to acquire more wealth and protect our lives. According to Freudstheory, our ego therefore has so many tasks. It is charged with the duty of checking that everything is balanced, it deals with lifes challenges and ensures that our actions do not hurt those we care about and all this is done by employing ego defense mechanisms like: Denial- where we pretend that a problem does not exist. Suppression- where we consciously block out some thoughts from our minds especially thoughts that can hurt our feelings. Regression- where we can go back to decisions we had made earlier on. Rationalization- where we come up with logical explanations to problems or difficult situations instead of admitting the truth. Projection- where we put behaviors that are unpleasing on other people. Consequently, after looking at the storyline of the movie briefly and having explained the theory of Personality Development of the psyche by Freud Sigmund, we can say that Rachel the lead character in the movie had a personality problem. This is evident in several ways: First at 35 years of age, Rachel was still a single woman never married before and still a virgin. This shows that Rachels ego could probably be weaker than the other two elements of her personality because in Freuds explanation there reaches a point in life when every human being of reproductive age would like to procreate and have offspring of their own. And that is why when Rachel suspects that she is pregnant and her belly starts swelling she is so excited. Even though she could have ended up being a single mother she does not seem bothered at all. All that seemed to pre occupy her mind was the fact that she would have her own baby finally. This shows that Rachels super ego couldbe much stronger than her ego and her Id and that is why she was a virgin till late into her life. Secondly, Rachel looks like she has a personality development problem because she had not known who she was or what she wanted in her life before she and her friend Calla attended the crusade. It is while at the crusade that Rachel decides to have a free spirit. Rachel looks like she was hiding in some shell and it was the young preacher who helped her get out of it after which she had a sexual relationship with Nick. In this case we conclude that it is Rachels superego which was dominant once again because her morals were probably too uptight that she could not have sex before marriage. I also learnt that adult nurses should learn to downplay their differences for the common good of their patients. I also learnt that the power and authority held by students in their past affected the IP collaboration. Critics subsequently felt beaten at it. However, this has changed owing to the modern reorganization of the healthcare delivery. I learnt that other team members have now been given a chance to take lead roles in the delivery of quality health and social care. This kind of delegation was necessary due to the busy schedule of the doctors. This had to be communicated effectively within the Interprofessional teams. Nurses have been empowered and can now play a vital role which was traditionally reserved for lead doctors in the health care centers. IP working has therefore made nurses more powerful and authoritative thus providing them with ardent experience to further their careers. Rachel also does not seem to enjoy her life. Schools have closed and people are happy to be going on vacation but Rachel on the other hand is just there not excited about the holidays like everyone else. Rachel was more of an outgoing kind of person than any other character in the movie. In fact, the movie depicts Rachel as aggressive lass who not only care about her own affairs and her state of being but also the state of others. It is indeed appalling to learn that she attempts to repair the bad relationship that others have been nurturing all this while. It should be remembered that Rachels earlier background is one to reckon. I acknowledge the fact that working together as a team is integral to the success of my career. There are many times when I will have to consult various health and social care practitioners to effectively treat or deal with complications that may arise during treatment. Likewise, such professional team members may require my help in dealing with social, phys ical and mental health problems. I also appreciate the fact that effective communication within the IP teams is key since no professional staff within the health and social care can work in isolation. Professional health and social team members should attend the same training session so as to improve their IP team collaboration. Her character is mostly confused to be that of a person who is very strict and stern with all aspects of her life. This indeed helps to illuminate on the kind of character that we expect her to have. The issue again could be that her superego dominates over the other elements of her personality so much that Rachel is uptight and her conscience cannot allow her to indulge in activities that are fun even during vacation. Rachel does not seem to make decisions or to be in total control of her life. When she gets invited by Calla to attend a revival meeting Rachel goes just to please her best friend not that she really cared what was going to happen at the meeting. Fortunately for Rachel, it is a time she gets to discover herself and start doing things that other normal adults do without feeling guilty about anything. She even gets to fall in love for someone something she had never done all her entire life. The best thing is that the movie ends when Rachel seems like she is beginning to have a grip of her life and that her own life is beginning to bring meaning to her and excite her as well. Hopefully she found the love of her life where they relocated to. In the movie Rachel Rachel, several people are struggling with personality issues. The theory by Freud has helped us to study an individuals character and to be able to draw a conclusion concerning the level of development of the Id,ego and superego. My Experience During my internship at the general ward as a practicing nurse to be, I was able to experience teamwork conflicts. This experience played well during the conference, thus enabling me to learn more from a practical approach. I was also able to share my experience with the other IP team members. I also learnt important aspects of IP communication and working that are integral to the success of IP collaboration. These include, not using jargons, listening whenever other team members are talking, questioning assumptions sensibly, promoting the rights and dignity of IP team members. There are certain terms that adult nurses will use which cause confusion and ambiguity, thus making others who assume the meaning of jargons to error. On the other hand, I would also learn to resolve ethical issues within my IP team. Certain ethical issues are bound to affect the IP collaboration within my working teams. I would therefore respect other IP team members ethical standing and approach any indifference with a voice of reason in a bid to drive sense into the team members understanding. Indeed, most of the team members agreed to the fact that discrimination was indeed a shared concern. During my internship, I watched a patient walk in with his girlfriend. It was evident that from the start, the doctor on call could not give effective direction and as if this was not enough, the doctor could not take a leadership role and advice the girlfriend to calm down. I believe as a future adult nurse, I would have tackled this situation with more wit. My first step would have been to take control of the situation and give the patient options with the benefits of each. This would have given more insight to the girlfriend and reduce the conflict. I would also initiate active communication with the rest of the adult nurses for consultation in privacy. Interprofessional education would have enabled me to effectively initiate communication with my team members, thus taking control of the situation in good time. As an adult nurse, every patients condition is important since my core value is to preserve life. I have also learnt the effectiveness of working in partnership with the patients through listening and responding to their concerns. I have also learnt that it would be important to consult with the patients regarding their treatment and care before commencing such. While reflecting this experience, I shall work closely with my team members as an adult nurse and constantly communicate with the relevant authorities and IP team members for quality health and social care delivery. I truly acknowledge that I would need a succinct understanding of teamwork and modern approaches towards health and social solutions. As a future adult nurse, I will always ensure that I initiate effective communication with the rest of my IP team members so as to work together for the common good of the patients. The experience that I learnt was indeed useful as it would enable me to effectively become a successful adult nurse who would stand out from the rest. The person-centred approach was particularly imperative in ensuring that I am able to understand the genesis of multi-disciplinary teamwork. I indeed acknowledge that issues relating to patient care should be approached with interprofessional teamwork so that each medical practitioner offers advice in his or her area of professional knowledge while ensuring that they work as a team. My experience at the multi-disciplinary conference would enable me to become a successful adult nurse who values teamwork and professional collaboration. This conference has also enabled me to have a clear picture of what medical professionals go through and what can be done to avert such challenges. I now feel adequately capable of tacking these challenges that my career as an adult nurse will provide. I have also learnt to take into account the views of other people when making important decisions. Indeed issues of race, gender, class and sexuality among others should not affect multi-disciplinary teamwork. Cultural and social differences should not be construed as effective barriers to IP teamwork. As a future adult nurse, the conference was a brainstorming session which expanded my experience. I was also able to learn that certain general terms used by patients to refer to their illness may indeed cause great confusion among professional health and social care practitioners. These are referred to as stereotypes. In such a situation, the health and social professional practitioner should consult the other members of his or her IP group or team so as to come up with the proper interpretation thus limit errors in the treatment of the patients condition. Synergy model of nursing supports this argument and calls for more consultation in the treatment of the patient. The group discussion on IP education enabled me to visualize the reality between theory and practice. The patient-centred perspective was clearly illuminated by the patients voice presentation. The exclusion of IP working has been seen in collaborative treatment. Decisions made by individual inexperienced doctors have been tragic. The case of Victoria Climbie and Baby Peter can best illuminate this when Baby Tiffany passed on due to negligence. Findings from this tragic situation enabled doctors and nurses to establish a framework that saw the prevention of such situations. It was agreed that IP teams would not be able to prevent the occurrence of every tragic incidence. Some would indeed be inevitable. Hence, I was able to learn the value of communication and collaboration in the build up to my career as an adult nurse. Calla also seems to be struggling with her sexuality. She is a lesbian but before the Christian revival she cannot confess her feelings to Rachel because of the societys views on the subject but after the meeting everyone is feeling like they can open up and that is when she openly tells Rachel of her feelings even though she is turned down. Conclusion In conclusion, we can say that the three elements that make up someones personality are very crucial in molding the character of someone and greatly influence what someone turns into when they are adults. We should therefore strive to help the Id, ego and superego to grow well and the ego especially should be nurtured to surpass the other two in dominance, because as research has shown for a sound thinking adult, the ego should dominate. As much as this may not be achieved in all people, those who hang around children should motivate them so that they do not have problems in adulthood in identity or of self-esteem like was the case of Rachel and Calla. Rachels super-ego is something to reckon with though at times she seems to be not confident enough to tackle the situation at hand. She stands out as a she-wolf, always seizing any opportunity that comes her way.

Howl by Allen Ginsberg Essay -- Poetry Poems

"Howl": How the Poem Came to Be and How it Made Allen Ginsberg Famous When Allen Ginsberg sat down at a secondhand typewriter in 1955 and began the first of his many subsequent drafts of "Howl," he had no idea of the controversy it would cause. I fact, he didn't even set out to write a formal poem and especially not one that he would consider publishing. Instead, what the 29 year old began would materialize into his most famous literary work and the cause of a much publicized trial debating the first amendment right to freedom of speech. The events of Ginsberg's life and the events going on in the world around him inspired and prepared him to write "Howl," but perhaps one of the most important factors contributing to the poem and the author's fame was the surge in interest in writing, reading, and listening to poetry, which came to be known as the San Francisco Poetry Renaissance. The poem that caused the great controversy over obscenity in literature is a four part series of separate works, written mostly at different times that complete a series of ideas, which Judge Clayton Horn considered to have socially redeeming value. In the author's own words, the poem is an 'affirmation' of individual experience of God, sex, drugs, absurdity etc. Part I deals sympathetically with individual cases. Part II describes and rejects the Moloch of society which confounds and suppresses individual experience and forces the individual to consider himself mad if he does not reject his own deepest senses. Part III is an expression of sympathy and identification with C.S. [Carl Solomon] who is in the madhouse -- saying that his madness basically his rebellion against Moloch and I am with him, and extending my hand in union. This is an affir... ...ibliography Cassady, Carolyn. Off the Road. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1990. Cherkovski, Neeli. Ferlinghetti: A Biography. New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1979. Eberhart, Richard and Allen Ginsberg. To Eberhart from Ginsberg. Massachusetts: Penmaen Press, 1976. French, Warren. The San Francisco Poetry Renaissance, 1955-1960. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1991. Gifford, Barry, ed. As Ever: The Collected Correspondence of Allen Ginsberg to Neal Cassady. Berkeley: Creative Arts Book Company, 1977. Ginsberg, Allen. Howl and Other Poems. San Francicso: City Lights, 1956. Miles, Barry, ed. Howl. New York: Harper Perennial, 1995. Schumacher, Michael. Dharma Lion: A Critical Biography of Allen Ginsberg. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Simpson, Louis. A Revolution in Taste. New York: Macnillian Publishing Company, Inc., 1978.

Legalization of Marijuana Essay

Legalization of Marijuana Several topics in modern day society cause controversy, but one topic that out ranks them all is the legalization of marijuana. The main argument is whether not marijuana should be treated the same as already legalized drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Many Americans use marijuana illegally; the people using the drug range from the age of teens to even adults in their eighties. Marijuana is considered by most, especially in legal terms, as a dangerous drug. Although the drug is seen as such, many still continue to use it and argue it should be legalized for several reasons. Both citizens and government officials alike debate this topic. To successfully develop and argument for the legalization of marijuana the topic must be defined, the history of the topic must be unveiled, an argument must be made, and a good solution should be proposed. Yes, both sides of the argument both have well supported positions, but marijuana should be legalized by the United States government because the facts supporting legalization far outweigh the arguments keeping the drug as it is. Proponents for the legalization of marijuana offer several valid reasons to support their positions. The most common reason is that marijuana is proven to be no more harmful to a person’s body then legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. They believe that the marijuana only affects the mind for a short term and the long-term effects are only minor. Lawyers Adam Ford and Andrew Walter concur, â€Å" Arguments against legalizing marijuana can usually be applied with equal validity to legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco: alcohol and tobacco can be addictive, can lead to financial or social problems when used in excess, and can lead to serious health problems† (1). These two well recognized attorneys agree that marijuana should be treated the same as tobacco and alcohol because most of the reasons opponents give to not legalize marijuana all fall under bad aspects of those legal drugs. Another argument for the legalization is that the legal selling of marijuana would stimulate the economy. According to researcher, by placing a hardy tax on the drug, the American government could help cure the drastic economic situation America is in today. In the state of California the senate stated that just the crop of marijuana is worth fourteen million dollars. Thus,  legalization would help, well hardily, to stabilize the economy (Russell 230). This large amount of money that legal marijuana is worth just by being taxed would benefit the economy instead of the drug dealers. While there are many reasons for marijuana to be legalized, an equal number of arguments support its current illegal status. An argument against legalization involves the fact that is the government deemed it to be wrong, then it is simply wrong. George Wright and Heather Newton agree, â€Å"One function of government is to protect citizens from harm, whether it is from foreign enemies or from internal causes such as poisonous food or contaminated water. Similarly, the ban on marijuana protects citizens from the dangers of drug consumption, as well as potentially destructive behaviors associated with marijuana use† (1). Many people believe that the US government has everything under control and have full faith in the institution, so if the government says it is harmful then it is harmful. Marijuana is a drug, so, of course, it is a mind-altering substance. This aspect of the drug is a strong argument against its legalization. Mind-altering drugs severally affect the user of the drug and become a long-term â€Å"destroyer† of the weed smoker. This supported by Newton and Wright who claim, substances like marijuana distort an individual’s perceptions and cause an artificial sense of pleasure or satisfaction that can become addictive. Further, intoxicants rob individuals of the ability to see a clear path out of difficulties or toward being a fully productive individual in society† (2). The way that marijuana affects the human brain is its own enemy. Why would a government allow its citizens to use something that interrupts the natural order of thinking? Furthermore, several key terms relating to the topic, help clarify the issue. The terms one must be aware of to understand to the topic are the several different names that are used for marijuana. These names include: weed, â€Å"Mary Jane†, pot, dope, cannabis, reefer, and many slang words. While there are several names for the drug, marijuana is the most commonly used name and is the name used throughout most documents referring to the debate. Gateway drug is a term used throughout the argument of whether the drug  should be legalized or not. A gateway drug is a drug that is used to push a person to do more harmful and destructive drugs. Gateway drug is a term used by those opposing the legalization of marijuana to show its destructiveness. Another term is mind-alerting substance. This term is thrown around on both sides of the issue. A mind-altering substance is something g that cause one to loose judgment and common sense, something that literally affects the brain and its functions. These terms must be understood to be able to fallow the arguments throughout the issue. The legalization of marijuana is argued by all people from teenagers debating in a school function to senators arguing over a proposed bill. Marijuana is an illicit drug that thousands of people want to legalize for many reasons, personally and morally. It is also a drug that thousands of people want the status to be the same as it is right now and never changed. This fact is the reason why the legalization of marijuana is such a controversial topic that is constantly argued over by all kinds of people. To be able to truly understand the debate of a topic, one must be aware of the background and history of said topic. The marijuana plant has been used in the world for hundreds of years. Cannabis was first used as a medical drug in India, in the year 1200 (â€Å"The History†). Over the next seven hundred years marijuana ventured its way across Asia and Europe, ending up in the Americas. Americans were introduced to drugs in the late nineteenth century. According to researchers, the first law banning in type of illegal drug in the US was in 1914, the Harrison Narcotics Act (Russell 533). This act banned the recreational use of opium and cocaine type drugs. A few years after this marijuana was introduced to America by immigrants from central America and the Caribbean Islands. Marijuana use began to progress throughout America very quickly, especially in the Hispanic and African American communities. As the use of the drug began to expand, state governments began to realize it was a problem and acted accordingly. Russell relates that, by the 1930’s twenty-four states banned the use of cannabis in any possible way (533). This was the beginning of the widespread prohibition of marijuana in all of the country. Around this same time the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was created and was  led by Harry J. Anslinger, who was know as the â€Å"father of marijuana prohibition (Russell 533). With the criminalization of marijuana beginning to become a nationally understood topic, people began debate even more on the topic. Even well known people such as professors and government officials began to debate on the drug. Among these includes professor David F. Mutso, who stated, in 1935, that Anslinger was not an anti-marijuana â€Å"crusader,† and that he was focused more on heroin (Russell 534). Although this was the case many people were pushing for the federal prohibition of marijuana. These â€Å"people† include newspapers and public informing institutions, such as the New York Times. This largely spread information began to change United States officials mind and in 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was passed (Russell 534). Although the name is discerning, this act prohibited the use of marijuana in all of the United States, and soon after all state governments banned the use of weed as well (â€Å"History of Cannabis†). In that same year, Samuel Caldwell was the first person to be convicted of selling drugs on the federal level (â€Å"The History†). In the 1960’s and 1970’s America began to undergo a grand social change. With this social change many citizens began to smoke marijuana illegally with no concern for the law. Even soldiers at war consumed the drug. The Times wrote that even one soldier smoked cannabis every time he was out on patrol during the Vietnam War (Russell 535). The use of Marijuana began to show up in media forms to such as music and movies. This blatant use proved that laws were not going to stop people from doing what they want: to smoke weed. Russell states, â€Å" Marijuana use by twelfth graders climbed during the seventies in all regions and among all racial and ethnic groups . . . . [reaching] by then an all-time high of 50.8 percent of all high school seniors [who] had used marijuana† (536). With many American using this drug with out respect of the law, people of importance in the government began the debate of legalizing the use of marijuana. In 1969, the Supreme Court outlawed the Stamp Act, making cannabis legal for a short time until 1970, when the Controlled Substance Act was passed (â€Å"History of Cannabis †). This embarked the beginning of one of the largest debates in American history. By the 1990’s the government began to place a zero tolerance rule on drug convicts, meaning they receive no sympathy. The government had become much stricter and more abusive on making sure that marijuana stayed illegal and that Americans knew it. As the government became harder on drugs, including marijuana, this caused US citizens to want it legalized even more, thus strengthening the debate on the issue. According to Russell, as people began wanting it to be legalized, researches also began realize the medical uses for marijuana and soon after in the state of California marijuana was legalized for medical uses only (534). This was one small step for marijuana to be fully legalized. This medical marijuana sparked even more debate on the issue, and as the government debated more and more, Hawaii and Colorado pass medical marijuana laws aswell (Russell 534). In 2006, the FDA sated that marijuana was harmful and had no medical use and vetoed the medical-marijuana law (â€Å"The History†). Although medical marijuana is considered illegal in federal standings, the Obama administration has stated that that they will defer to state medical marijuana laws. This means that the federal government will allow the states to decide how to deal with the issue. So with the debate of legalizing marijuana also come with the smaller debate of the legalization of medical marijuana. (Russell 534). As the United States entered the new millennia, many Government officials began to propose bills for the legalization of marijuana (â€Å"The History†). They did this stating many things such as that it could help stabilize the economy by taxing the drug and that weed is no worse then legal drugs. Of course, these bills were never passed, but it put the ideas into the heads of several people in Washington. Today, there are more Senators and House Representatives who agree with marijuana legalization than ever. With more leaders of our country beginning to change sides of the argument, many citizens are fallowing by example and agreeing. The history of the issue is not long in terms of world history but it is something that needs be understood to know why the debate of the legalization is such a controversy. As the history of marijuana continues to grow, so does the strength of the  controversial debate of legalization. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial topic, which on almost every American adult has an opinion. The topic has been argued for many years, but there must be a side that is right in the end. Both sides, pro and con, of legalizing marijuana have very convincing arguments, but the reasons of pro legalization are far more convincing than the opponents’ side. Legalization of marijuana is very beneficial to the United States as a whole and its citizens. There are several very well thought out reasons that support the legalization marijuana. First and foremost, marijuana effects on the human body are no more harmful to then legal drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Marijuana is a mind-altering drug that can be dangerous in certain situations, but alcohol is also a drug that greatly affects the mind that causes even more destruction than marijuana (â€Å"Facts†). If marijuana is no more harmful to the mind than alcohol, should it not be treated the same? If an individual consumes too much alcohol at one time, it could result in alcohol poisoning and the individual could die, but someone cannot die from over consumption of marijuana, making marijuana safer than alcohol (â€Å"Facts†). Researchers agree that alcohol is one of the most intoxicating drugs, while marijuana is one of the least, and that there has never been a single death from an overdose of weed (â€Å"Facts†). Opponents of legalization argue that because marijuana is smoked and inhaled, it can cause lung and throat problems, but tobacco is also inhaled and can cause the exact same effects as cannabis. Tobacco is actually the leading cause of lung cancer found in US citizens. Although opponents of the argument contest that marijuana effects the mind in an entirely different way than legal drugs, weed is equally, if not less, dangerous to people and their minds. Ford and Walter agree, â€Å"Marijuana should be placed in the same category as alcohol and tobacco: a legal, regulated intoxicant† (1). So if the marijuana is no more dangerous than legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and the government says these drugs are safe, then the United States government in turn agrees that marijuana is sa fe. Moreover, a federal tax on legalized marijuana could play a significant role in helping stabilize the failing American economic system. The United States is in an economic turmoil, and the country has been stuck in a recession for the past years. Taxing marijuana could pump billions of dollars into the system causing a theoretical inflation, which could initially help propel America to stabilization. Even the Californian governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees that the US should look at the economic benefits of legalized marijuana (Russell 527). Opponents argue that a simple tax on one drug could not have a long-term effect on the American economy, but a marijuana tax would produce revenue into the system without any type of government spending. Also, the mass production of marijuana will require thousands of jobs. This means thousands of people would obtain jobs causing the unemployment rate to lower substantially. The amount of money that would be produced by legalized marijuana is outstanding. Americans already spend millions of dollars on an illegal drugs, even with the dangers of being charged with a crime, so with it legalized these Americans will be willing to spend even more money annually. Thirdly, marijuana can be used for medical purposes, to help treat diseases for example, cancer and glaucoma. This drug has scientific proof that it can help patients with the awful pain that comes with many illnesses. Researchers state, Doctors already use highly addictive drugs such as dolodin and morphine to help treat patients with severe pain. Both of these drugs are completely legal for medical use and are used on an everyday basis (â€Å"Medical Marijuana†). If the government can allow these drugs, which are potentially dangerous, they should also allow medical marijuana be a regularly practiced treatment. Medical marijuana has been passed by state legislation in several states including California, Hawaii, and Colorado (â€Å"Medical Marijuana†). State level officials recognize that marijuana’s medical uses are very feasible and that it is worth legalization. If states want medical marijuana, then soon the federal government will follow by example and do the same. Legalization of marijuana will make it easier for those, who would benefit form its medical uses, to be able to obtain the drug.Finally, with cannabis’s legalization would result in the crime rate associated with the drug to lower at an exponential rate. The individuals that obtain and sell illicit drugs come with many dangerous and illegal things other than the drugs they sell. Most â€Å"drug dealers,† that sell large supplies of marijuana are also involved with many other crimes such as murder and assault. Although opponents of legalization argue that  marijuana being legalized would not have a big effect on crime, with law enforcement not having to deal with crime around marijuana they would have much more time to handle other more life threatening crimes.Chris Collins is a narcotics police officer at the Memphis Police Department. He patrols the highways fiv e days of the week searching vehicle after vehicle trying to find large amounts of marijuana and other drugs. He wastes many of his days searching for marijuana and usually coming up with nothing, when he could have used this time doing something else such as patrolling the streets for criminals committing more dangerous crimes. Collins agreed, â€Å" I wish sometimes I could spend more time searching for more dangerous illicit drugs such as cocaine or crystal meth or stopping crimes that affect the lives of Memphis citizens† (2).Several reasons support the legalization of marijuana: marijuana is no more dangerous than legal drugs, a tax on legal marijuana would have positive effects of the economy, marijuana has medical uses, and legalized marijuana would cause a safer US. The topic has been argued over for many years, yet these valid reasons help prove that marijuana should be legalized. No argument for either side of a controversial topic is any good without a solution that follows it. The legalization of marijuana is argued over and over again, but nothing will be done unless a co mpromising solution is reached. Cannabis should be legalized, but to prevent the dangers that opponents of legalization fear for the drug, the law should contain certain parameters. These parameters include an age minimum and a limit on how much marijuana an individual can purchase at one time. Both sides of the argument must make sacrifices to make an ending decision to the controversy. If marijuana is legalized, certain concessions are necessary. To begin, the age minimum that would be set for legalized marijuana would help protect young people who are not wise adults from the dangers of abusing the drug. If people who do not know their own limits does not carefully consume marijuana, then it could be harmful to their bodies. Ford and Walter conclude that marijuana is not dangerous until someone uses and abuses it the wrong way (1). Children and teenagers do not know how to handle potentially dangerous substances such as drugs. This is evident also because other legalized drugs have age minimums set by the United States government. No one under the age of twenty-one can consume alcohol; likewise tobacco is not allowed to be sold to citizens  under the legal age of eighteen. The drug being legalized gives the people what they want, but the age boundary allows the government to continue to protect them. Moreover, if the federal government set a limit on the amount of marijuana that someone could purchase at one time, it would prevent the drug from being abused but still allow its consumers to enjoy its benefits. Americans are known around the world for their over consumption of wants. This is evident in our increasing obesity problem. So if cannabis were legalized then many United States citizens would end up over consuming the drug and put themselves, their bodies, and their minds in danger (Russell 540). The l imit of obtaining the drug would save lives, allowing the government to still have some control over the usage, while it will not have one hundred percent control. With a proposed solution to the controversy of the legalization of marijuana, the argument pro legalization is completed. There are several reasons that marijuana should be legalized. Although opponents of the controversy have facts supporting their argument, the facts supporting proponents far out weigh the other side. Marijuana has been a drug that has struck argument among arguments in the past decades. The legalization of cannabis is a topic that will stir up controversy until a final solution has been made that has elements pleasing both sides of the argument. The legalization of marijuana could find a ending solution by both sides coming together to create a balanced and sacrificial decision. If this happens not only will proponents of legalization but also opponents will be happy and satisfied with the final decision Works Cited Collins, Chris. Personal Interview. 30 March 2011. â€Å"Facts on Cannabis and Alcohol†. SAFERchoice.org. N.P.. 2007. Web.3 Apr. 2011. Ford, Adams and Andrew Walter. â€Å"Point: Marijuana Should Be Legalized.† Point ofView: Legalization of Marijuana. 2009. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. â€Å"History of Cannabis Prohibition.† Legalize.org. N.p., 2005.Web. 29 Mar 2011. â€Å"The History of Marijuana.† LegalizationofMarijuana.com. N.p., 2008.Web. 29 Mar 2011. â€Å"Medical Marijuana.† Drugpolicy.org. Drug Policy Alliance. 2011. Web. 4 Apr. 2011 Newton, George and Heather Newton. â€Å" Counterpoint: There Are No Good  Reasonsto Legalize Marijuana.† Point of View: Legalization of Marijuana. 2009. Pointsof View Reference Center. Web. 2011. â€Å"Medical Marijuana.† ProCon.org. N.P.. 2011. Web. 3 Apr. 2011 Russell, Julia. â€Å"Legalizing Marijuana.† CQ Researcher. (12 Jun. 2009). CQ Press.Web. 8 Mar. 2011.

Alcoholic beverage Essay

? The book ,The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage is a book dedicated to beverages and there impact on cultures and civilizations. Tom Standage’s intent for this non-fiction novel was to show six insignificant products that we see, use or have heard of in everyday life and bring them into a different light. Showing how they have sculpted our cultures and ways of life in the modern world. These six products were beverages ; beer, wine , spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola. These drinks affected more than just the diet of people it changed their societies and ways of living. Standage’s theory is that each one of these drinks brought on a new cultural stage. Each beverage showing different eras and how the beverage of that time impacted their way of life eventually impacting ours. Starting with beer in the first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Then going to wine with Greece and Rome and spirits in the colonial times with Europians and eventually getting to America. Next, their was coffee that started in the Arab world traveling throughout Europe and finally Coca-cola which started selling its drink in America and out broke to throughout the rest of world. His intent was to show the history of the world in which humans were not nomadic in the view of six different drinks. Standage presented his thesis in a very interesting and intriguing way throughout this novel. There are six main Chapters in this book ;Beer in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Wine in Greece and Rome,Spirits in the colonial Period, Coffee in the Age of Reason, Tea and the British Empire, and Coca-Cola and the Rise of America. Each main chapter has two mini chapters in them for example in the chapter Tea and the British Empire the two mini chapters are ; Empires of tea and Tea Power. Standage’s writing mostly focased on the beverages causes and effects in the different areas and lands they were most popular and developed but he would add things about the people of these times and their way of living. He also added some traditions that we have in today’s culture that were created in ancient times such as clinking glasses together for good health and happiness before drinking a glass of beer. His book shows how six measly little drinks changed humans from nomadic people who were hunter- gatherers to people who lived in cities and developed writing, government and farming. Standage showed the history of the world in six drinks hence the title A History of the World in Six Glasses. Most everyday people would think these drinks were Sarah Bedell 9/4/14 A. P. World History Mrs. Spampinato The History of the World in Six Glasses : Book Review The book ,The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage is a book dedicated to beverages and there impact on cultures and civilizations. Tom Standage’s intent for this non-fiction novel was to show six insignificant products that we see, use or have heard of in everyday life and bring them into a different light. Showing how they have sculpted our cultures and ways of life in the modern world. These six products were beverages ; beer, wine , spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola. These drinks affected more than just the diet of people it changed their societies and ways of living. Standage’s theory is that each one of these drinks brought on a new cultural stage. Each beverage showing different eras and how the beverage of that time impacted their way of life eventually impacting ours. Starting with beer in the first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Then going to wine with Greece and Rome and spirits in the colonial times with Europians and eventually getting to America. Next, their was coffee that started in the Arab world traveling throughout Europe and finally Coca-cola which started selling its drink in America and out broke to throughout the rest of world. His intent was to show the history of the world in which humans were not nomadic in the view of six different drinks. Standage presented his thesis in a very interesting and intriguing way throughout this novel. There are six main Chapters in this book ;Beer in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Wine in Greece and Rome,Spirits in the colonial Period, Coffee in the Age of Reason, Tea and the British Empire, and Coca-Cola and the Rise of America. Each main chapter has two mini chapters in them for example in the chapter Tea and the British Empire the two mini chapters are ; Empires of tea and Tea Power. Standage’s writing mostly focased on the beverages causes and effects in the different areas and lands they were most popular and developed but he would add things about the people of these times and their way of living. He also added some traditions that we have in today’s culture that were created in ancient times such as clinking glasses together for good health and happiness before drinking a glass of beer. His book shows how six measly little drinks changed humans from nomadic people who were hunter- gatherers to people who lived in cities and developed writing, government and farming. Standage showed the history of the world in six drinks hence the title A History of the World in Six Glasses.