MRI vs. CT Scans free essay sample

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are both diagnostic tests that provide us with high-resolution pictures of any area of the body. Both tests use computers to construct pictures to view within the body. Both of these tests are non-invasive procedures designed to provide medical professionals with a better understanding of the patient’s condition. There are, however, inherent differences in these tests’ mechanisms, sophistication, and application (â€Å"What is the Difference Between CT and MRI? †). In short, computed tomography uses a refined version of X-ray equipment to produce an image of the body. As the patient is slowly moved through the machine, its X-Ray tube rotates around the body and sends beams from all directions to a specific spot on the patient’s body. Because at any moment its beams are confined to a â€Å"slice† of the body about as thick as a dime, CT Scans end the confusion resulting from overlapping structure seen in conventional X-rays. The device’s computer translates this information into a detailed, cross-sectional picture of the region being scanned (Marieb 8). All of the pictures can be saved as a group on a computer, and can also be printed out to show the results to the patient (â€Å"Computed Tomography†). In contrast, an MRI produces high-contrast images for multiply areas of our body. This technique subjects the body to magnetic fields 60,000 times stronger that that of the earth’s. The MRI Pliura 2 primarily maps the body’s content of hydrogen, most of which is in water. The patient essentially lies in a chamber within a huge magnet. When the machine is turned on the body’s hydrogen molecules act like tiny magnets, spinning like tops in the magnetic field. Their energy is also enhanced by the radio waves of the machine, and when the machine is turned off the energy released is translated into a visual image. MRI distinguishes our body’s tissues based on their water content, so it can differentiate between the fatty white matter and the more watery gray matter of the brain (Marieb 9). Both of these tests operate differently and are better suited for different types of diagnoses (â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI†). An MRI can be done for many different reasons. For instance, it is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, or infection within the body. MRI’s are often done to provide more information about a problem seen by another type of medical image (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). For example, an MRI would be a physician’s best alternative if they needed to detect a disease within the body that could not be seen by the CT Scanner (Shiel). The magnetic field of the MRI allows it to gather information that cannot be seen by other types of medical imaging (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). Meanwhile, a CT scan is able to record images of bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels simultaneously, offering a clear advantage over the MRI in some cases. A CT Scan can also be used to guide needle biopsies during surgery. For instance, using a CT Scan can allow cardiologists to view images of arteries without ever having to do experimental testing. This painless procedure greatly assist physicians in diagnosing cardiovascular illnesses, musculoskeletal problems, and certain types of cancer. In some situations the CT would be the preferred scan of choice simply for its speed and limited Pliura 3 restrictions of the patient. Both of these scans offer unique advantages for different situations. The specific area of the body being viewed is another vital aspect to consider when picking which scan to use (Ryan). An MRI can be done for a number of injuries dealing with the head. It can look for aneurysms, bleeding of the brain, or problems such as damage caused by a stroke. The MRI can also find damage of the optic nerves, along with auditory nerves of our ears (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). Because dense structures do not show up at all in an MRI, it peers easily into the skull, enabling the delicate nerve fibers to be seen (Marieb 9). A spinal cord injury can prompt a physician to order an MRI instead of a CT Scan (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). For instance, multiple sclerosis plaques within the spinal cord do not show up well in CT Scans, but are dazzlingly clear in an MRI (Marieb 9). Additionally, the MRI will check the discs and nerves of the spine for conditions such as bulging discs, herninated discs, or spinal tumors (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). In contrast, CT Scans can be used to get images of the body as a whole, or certain parts such as the chest, abdomen, pancreas, or limb. For example, a CT of the chest would look for problems with the lungs, heart, esophagus, or the tissues in the center of the chest (â€Å"Computed Tomography†). CT Scans are often used to take a full scan of a patient’s abdomen, and they are now considered the forefront for evaluating most problems that affect the abdomen (Marieb 8). As opposed to an MRI, a CT of the arm or leg would not only look at the soft tissue, but it would also examine the blood vessels and bones of that limb as well (â€Å"Computed Tomography†). Pliura 4 Although these cutting-edge technologies provide us with life-saving information, they both have problems of their own (â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI†). The major concern with a CT Scan is the radiation. At maximum power, a CT Scan can give radiation equal to 600 chest X-rays. This can lead to the possibility of cancer in some patients (Ryan). Rebecca Bindman, professor of radiology and one of the nation’s top experts in the risk of radiographs, states that a 20-year old women who gets an abdominal-pelvic CT Scan has a 1 in 250 chance of getting cancer from that single scan. The best estimates are that radiation from CT’s cause 29,000 excess cancers each year in the U. S. , and this is mostly in women. Nearly 60 million Americans will receive a CT Scan in a given year, and some experts suggest over one-third of these scans are unnecessary. This leads to the realization that if we could reduce the unnecessary scans, we could possibly reduce cancer (Wachter). Pregnant women are also not recommend to get a CT for the large amounts of radiation that could be exposed to the fetus. In some cases the X-rays of a CT Scan can actually damage the DNA of the developing fetus. Since the federal government has no regulations on the amount of radiation a patient receives during a CT, the referring physician decides the strength of the dose. This is why it’s critical a physician has the best understanding possible to only give the necessary amounts of radiation (Ryan). Although the MRI avoids radiation exposure, it’s not without problems either (Shiel). One of the downfalls of this machine is that it makes a tremendous amount of noise during the scan. The noise sounds like a continual, rapid hammering, and is due to the rising electrical currents being opposed by the magnetic field. People who are pregnant or obese most often Pliura 5 cannot fit into the MRI system (â€Å"MRI: Advantages and Disadvantages†). This is due to the very narrow tube the patient must be inserted into. Because of this some patients experience a claustrophobic sensation during the procedure (Shiel). In fact, 30% of patients admit to having some level of distress while having an MRI (â€Å"Claustrophobia and MRI†). The time required to complete an MRI examination is also not something to be excited about. While a CT Scan only takes 5 minutes, an MRI can sometimes take over 30 minutes to obtain an accurate read (â€Å"CT Scan vs.  MRI†). Since the scan takes so long, it requires patients to hold still for extended periods of time. This is why infants often cannot get an MRI; they are not able to hold still for a long enough period. Even slight movements of the part being scanned can cause distorted images which means the scanning has to be repeated (â€Å"MRI: Advan tages and Disadvantages†). The procedure of both scans have similarities and differences between them. For instance, both consist of a contrast dye that is injected into the scan area to enhance the definition (Ragavan). Additionally, during both procedures a medical attendant will be close by in case of emergency (Shiel). A moving couch is what actually moves the patient through the scanner of both machines. However, with a CT the person is moved through a hoop that has the shape of a very large doughnut. Whereas with a MRI, the moving couch moves the patient through a cylinder that nearly encloses the body. The scan’s results also differ in the fact that a CT’s results show up as a 2-dimensional image, whereas the magnetism of the MRI allows it to build up a 3-dimensional image of the body (Ragavan). The cost of each procedure is another aspect to consider carefully, especially if the cost is coming out-of-pocket. To put simply, CT Scans are much cheaper than MRI’s. CT’s cost Pliura 6 anywhere from $1,200-$3,200 while an MRI can cost up to $4,000. As a general rule, the MRI usually cost double what a CT Scan would cost. It becomes the patient’s choice as to whether they want to spend less on a lower-grade image or more on a higher-grade image. The cost of the machine itself also distinguishes the two machines. A very low end CT Scanner costs around $150,000, while a top-of-the-line CT Scanner can cost in upwards of $450,000. This is a small amount when compared to the $1 Million dollars most new MRI machines cost. Furthermore, some of the top-of-the-line MRI machines can cost almost $1. 5 Million. Both the CT and MRI will require annual maintenance, which can also cost tens of thousands of dollars (â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI†). In conclusion, and as mentioned earlier, each scan operates in its own way and both are better suited for different types of diagnoses. Therefore, it is not which scan is better overall, rather, it’s which scan will best help the physician diagnose the patient for that particular case. Works Cited â€Å"Claustrophobia and MRI. † proscan. com. PDF file. â€Å"Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body. † WebMD. WebMD, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI. † Diffen. Diffen, 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging. † WebMD. WebMD, 16 May 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Marieb, Elaine. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. San Franciso, CA: Pearson Benjamenin Cummings, 2009. Print. â€Å"MRI: Advantages and Disadvantages. † Anapol Schwartz. Anapol Schwartz, 2008. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Ragavan, Vijayan. â€Å"MRI and CT Scan The Differences. † Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 8 Jul. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Ryan, David. â€Å"Advantages and Disadvantages of a CT Scan. † LIVESTRONG. com. Demand Media, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. Shiel, William. â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging. † MedicineNet. com. MedicineNet. com, 31 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Wachter, Bob. â€Å"A Game-Changing Statistic: 1 in 250. † The Health Care Blog. The Health Care Blog, 11 Feb. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. â€Å"What is the Difference Between CT and MRI? † University MRI Diagnostic Imaging Centers. University MRI, 2004. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

Critical race theory and Inequality-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Critical race theory and Inequality. Answer: Introduction to the theory The Critical race theory(CRT) has helped in determining the different kinds of inequalities based on the race and the positioning of the people in the society. It has helped in determining the cultures and the heritage of the people who are politically and suppressed people (Harris et al., 2012). It is a branch of the social sciences that deals with the knowledge of the society and its trends. Moreover, it also portrays the understanding of the different factors that has led to the inequalities in the society. The study of the theory helps in determining the driving forces that has affected the functioning of the power in the nation. The understanding of the different forms of inequalities has helped in the evolution of the theories for the better understanding of the conditions that has led to the inequalities in the nations. The major aspects of the change in the situation of the nation are based specifically on the different inequalities pertaining to the race, gender or the power . Purpose of the report The purpose of this discussion is to understand the different critical factors of the CRT theory and the manner in which it helps in understanding the situations of the racial discrimination and inequality in Australia. The theory not only reflects on the discrimination of the different races but also helps in determining the major role that is played by the political power of the nation in this connection. Race inequality in Australia The issues that are faced by the inhabitants and the new migrants of the nation are based on the factor of the inequality. The discrimination of the races and the culture of the people in terms of employability, education or other factors affect their lives. On the other hand, there are certain regulations that forbid the effects of the inequalities like Racial Discrimination Act 1975(RDA). The Racial Discrimination Act 1975(RDA) clearly stated that the discrimination among people based on the race, color, national or ethnic origin is unlawful (Kingsley et al., 2013). However, there are instances where the discrimination has affected the lives of the people largely based on the preferences of the employers influenced by the political support. The situation that is faced by the Aboriginals in the nation has affected their livelihood. The poor health and sanitation conditions and the employability of the people is affected through the inequality in the region. The uneven cash flow syst em has affected the development of the suppressed race of the region thereby affecting their healthy livelihood. According to DiGiacomo et al., (2013) the different aspects of the change in the society is based on the understanding of the challenges that are faced by the people due to the discrimination based on the race and the culture of the people. However, Browne-Yung et al., (2013) stated that the understanding of inequality is based on the political and the social influences that have affected the livelihood of the people living in the nation. The health conditions of the indigenous people are affected through the inequality that is faced by the people living in the diverse regions of the nation. Kelaher (2014) stated that some 22% of the people face a growth in the mortality rate of the people living in the different sections of the society. On the other hand, the determination of the different situations that are faced by them has helped in the understanding of the ill effects of the racial discrimination. The race inequality in the society has affected the functioning of the people and the livelihoods of the same. Cunningham and Paradies (2013) stated that the employability of the people is affected through the inequality in the society. On the other hand, the educational systems and the other facilities are not provided to the people based on the functioning of the inequality. The political power of the nation is recently taking steps in order to amend the required changes in favor of the deprived people. The major asp ects of the change in the structure and the functioning of the legislative body have helped in determining the level of inequality and the adverse effects that are faced by the people relating to the same. The link between the theory and the scenario The theory has helped in determining the different aspects of the change in the structure and the functioning of the political systems in order to determine the level of inequality and racism to which the people of the nation is subjected to. The uneven cash flow and the liquidity of the same has affected the livelihood of the people living in the region. Aspin et al., (2012) stated that the livelihood of the people is dependent on determining the different aspects of the change in the society, which is characterized by inequality. The theory has helped in the understanding of the aspects of the inequality that is affecting the practices and the lifestyle of the people living in the Australian society. The determination of the racial discrimination has affected the societal change that the government of the nation seeks to undertake (Durey Thompson, 2012). The employability of the people and the rendering of the facilities that are amended to the people living in the city are not pr ovided to the people living at the outskirts of the nation. On the other hand, the understanding of the subtle changes in the society is determined through the proper evaluation of the situation of the society in the nation. Conclusion Therefore, from the above discussion it can be stated that the proper identification of the issues relating to the inequalities in the society is clearly determined through the theories. The Critical race theory(CRT) has helped in the understanding of the situation of the Australian society and the racial discrimination that has affected the lives of the indigenous and Strait Islander people of the nation. the issues that are faced by the same is also enumerated as a part of the report for the proper understanding of the concepts of the inequality and the manner in which it affects the livelihood of the people living in the nation. References Aspin, C., Brown, N., Jowsey, T., Yen, L., Leeder, S. (2012). Strategic approaches to enhanced health service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic illness: a qualitative study.BMC health services research,12(1), 143. Browne-Yung, K., Ziersch, A., Baum, F., Gallaher, G. (2013). Aboriginal Australians' experience of social capital and its relevance to health and wellbeing in urban settings.Social Science Medicine,97, 20-28. Cunningham, J., Paradies, Y. C. (2013). Patterns and correlates of self-reported racial discrimination among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, 200809: analysis of national survey data.International journal for equity in health,12(1), 47. DiGiacomo, M., Davidson, P. M., Abbott, P., Delaney, P., Dharmendra, T., McGrath, S. J., ... Vincent, F. (2013). Childhood disability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: a literature review.International journal for equity in health,12(1), 7. Durey, A., Thompson, S. C. (2012). Reducing the health disparities of Indigenous Australians: time to change focus.BMC health services research,12(1), 151. Harris, A. P., Crenshaw, K., Gotanda, N., Peller, G., Thomas, K. (2012). Critical race theory.International Encyclopedia of the Social Behavioral Sciences. Kelaher, M. A. (2014). Experiencing racism in health care: the mental health impacts for Victorian Aboriginal communities.Education,55(56), 8-3. Kingsley, J., Townsend, M., Henderson-Wilson, C., Bolam, B. (2013). Developing an exploratory framework linking Australian Aboriginal peoples connection to country and concepts of wellbeing.International journal of environmental research and public health,10(2), 678-698.

There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica Essay Example

There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica Paper I agree with the statement above, There are many similarities between Looking for a rain god and Veronica. Both of the stories are written in a way that draws the reader into the stories picture, the other similarity is that of the themes. The themes, which the two stories include, are those of poverty, isolation, death and helplessness. Both stories are set in countries and places, which are far removed from ours in distance and culture adding to the similarities between the two. However these themes are presented in different ways, both giving a similar impression. There is a mixture of key elements, which make the two stories differ in the way they are presented; in structure, characterisation, use of language and dialogue. These differences are used to give us the reader a diverse and greater understanding of how the separate themes work in the different stories. As in all good stories themes are used help us to understand the characters and the author on a deeper level. The most evident theme in Veronica and Looking For A Rain God is that of isolation and distance. The land, which Bessie Head (writer of Looking For A rain God) describes, is one that is cut off from the rest of the world and ultimately lonely. The opening line conveys this well We will write a custom essay sample on There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is lonely at the lands where people go to plough Bessie Head (The writer of Looking For A Rain God) uses the first paragraph to set a scene of distance and isolation. This is done to try to help us gain insight and understand the situation and characters. Adewale Maja-Pearce or Okeke (The writer of Veronica) also tries to use the theme of isolation and distance to help understand the story better. Although in contrast to Looking For A Rain God it is for a more personal reason, partly to understand his friends actions. When Okeke returns to Veronica for the first time after becoming a doctor he is shocked at how little has changed. Veronica is not so shocked and although her words may sound accusing they in fact reveal a level of understanding of her isolation. She says simply to Okeke I am still here, as you left me. The writers have been brought up in areas distant to ours and the western world. The isolation they talk about seems shocking and extreme to us, but the writers are more concerned with the effects of living in isolation. This isolation that both writers try to tackle brings about a helplessness they both feel towards the different situations. In Veronica Okeke is about to move away to the city and wants Veronica to follow him there as he feels helpless to the fact she is stuck in a constant cycle of unhappiness. He tries to persuade her to come with him, but there is always something standing in the way. When asked to come to the city she replies sharply No, the city is for you, not me. What will I do once I get there? I have no qualifications, not even Standard Six. This is in contrast to LFARG as it seems like there is no solution to the seven year drought. Bessie talks about how such a tiny village whos economy relies solely on farming as the main source of money can suffer. She writes about the helplessness and growing concern No one knew what to do to escape the heat and tragedy that was in the air The themes in both stories help to mould the tone, making it solemn and remorseful. The stories carry such a tone because both narrators perhaps feel an underlining guilt for what happened, accompanied by a feeling that they would not have acted differently if it had happened to them. Bessie Head makes her views clear when she writes But all people who lived off crops knew in their hearts that only a hairs breadth saved them from sharing a similar fate. In Veronica to the scene where Veronica refuses to go to the city, the writer admits that he understood her point of view. But he was still resentful as he writes Although I knew there was a lot of truth in what she said I resented her arguments. There is a similar setting in Veronica and Looking For A Rain God which may explain why they share many prominent themes. This can be explained due to the fact that they are both stories taken from writers who have lived in an isolated and distant place. But this can over shadow the fact that both stories differ greatly in how they present similar but vastly different ideas. The structure is very different in the Looking For A Rain God to Veronica. Bessie Head writes the story from a third person narrative and is describes a villagers view of story, which gives us a wider insight. Looking For A Rain God is split into three sections; the first creates a background to the story and a short image of what life is like, the second tells the story of the family, finally the third analyses what has happened and portrays its effect on the village. Veronica, in comparison, is not so complicated in structure; instead it focuses solely on the relationship between the writer and Veronica, ending in her death. The story is mainly told using dialogue and a bit of narrative, it is written only in the first person. The use of dialogue seperates the two stories, as it gives Veronica an added depth to the characters and leaves more to be interpreted by the reader. The language in Looking For A Rain God compared to Veronica is far richer, describing in detail the significant elements of the story. This works towards setting a deeper background making up for the lack of personal touch. For instance Bessie Head describes the land seven times in the opening paragraph. The language in Veronica is direct, with the Okeke letting the actions which happen tell the story rather than him, again showing a further willingness for the story to be interpreted freely. This works as he does not write with a particular view instead just his memoirs. The Narrative is the main reason why the stories are noticeably presented differently. Veronica is written in the first person narrative, as the writer actually experienced what he is writing about, so we see it through his eyes. His motives for writing the story lend well to a first person narrative, as he wants to analyses what happened between him and Veronica. So by going over his actions and speech he can better understand how he felt about her. Rather than the story being only about veronica it is instead about what Okeke did or said in relation to her. Again as in Veronica the narrative is dictated in Looking For A Rain God by the aims of the writer. Bessie Head wishes to convey a way of showing the effects of isolation and distance when a major disaster happens and what the implications for that can be. The third person narrative also helps Bessie Head, convey the complex mixture of old traditions and new ones, also to analyses that. As none of what happens involved her she writes about it as an onlooker to the story and offering her explanations. As the title of this essay says there are many similarities between Veronica and Looking For A Rain God. But the narrative and aims of the two writers means these ideas are presented in different ways.

Journal Prompts for the Elementary Classroom

Journal Prompts for the Elementary Classroom As you design a   journal writing program for your students, its a good idea to use journal prompts so that your students are working on productive creative writing. A journal writing checklist helps your students assess their own progress each time they write. Journal Prompts for the Classroom Here is a list of teacher-tested journal topics to help you get started in your journal writing routine: What is your favorite season? Describe how you feel during different times of the year.What is your favorite game? Think about indoor games, outdoor games, board games, car games, and more!Write about your favorite subject in school. What is your least favorite subject?What do you want to be when you grow up? Choose and describe at least three jobs that you think you would enjoy.What is your favorite holiday and why? What traditions do you and your family share?What qualities do you look for in a friend? How do you try to be a good friend to others?Have you ever had to apologize for something you did? How did you feel before and after the apology?Describe a typical day in your life. Use sensory detail (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) to make your daily experience come to life.Describe a fantasy day in your life. If you could design a whole day to do anything and everything you wanted, what would you choose to do?If you could choose one superpower to have for a day, which would you select? Describe in detail your activities as a superhero. Should children have strict bedtimes? What do you think is a fair bedtime for children your age and why?Write about your brothers and sisters. If you dont have any, do you wish you did?What is more important in life: presents or people?What do you think is the perfect age to be? If you could choose one age and stay that age forever, what would you choose?Do you have any nicknames? Describe where the nicknames came from and what they mean to you.Write about what you do on the weekends. How do your weekends differ from your weekdays?What are your favorite foods? What are your least favorite foods? Describe how it feels to eat each of the foods.What is your favorite type of weather? Write about how your activities change with different types of weather.When you are feeling sad, what cheers you up? Describe in detail.Describe your favorite game. What do you like about it? Why are you good at it?Imagine that you are invisible. Write a story about the day you turned invisible.Describe what its like to be you. Write about a day in your life. What is the most interesting thing that you know how to do? What makes it interesting and why do you do it?Imagine that you went to school and there were no teachers! Talk about what you did that day. Edited By: Janelle Cox

Beyond the Need for a House Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Beyond the Need for a House - Essay Example From these numerous studies, "I'm Tired of Being a Slave to the Church Floor" by John Stackhouse, "The Homeless: Are We Part of the Problem" by Jack Layton, "Life on the Streets" by Thomas O'Reilly Fleming, and "No Room of Her Own" by CMHC, Sylvia Novac, J. Brown are used to support the arguments of this paper. One common theme of these articles is the identification of what causes homeless as well as how it can be solved. Meanwhile, in the pursuit of resolving homelessness, various sectors of the society are determining the root cause of homelessness often attributing it to structural problems like uneven wealth and power distribution, poverty, lack of employment opportunities, and housing shortages. This is often due to the widespread belief that problems in shelter are more economic and structural in nature. However, homelessness should not be looked at just the lack of a permanent physical structure to settle into but the individual's lack of belongingness and comfort. The real root of homelessness goes beyond the broad economic and societal issues present in the community to more specific and deeper needs for emotional shelter. The National Coalition for the Homeless cites seven major causes of homelessness four of which are structural problems. ... Unemployment on the other hand limits the ability of an individual to generate income in order to afford a decent house. People who are unemployed generally lack money to rent a place to stay that's why they prefer streets and shelters. Homelessness is also blamed to the inadequate or lack of social intervention from the government. Declining welfare is also synonymous with only few people benefiting from it. These aforementioned structural issues and the respective explanation on how they contribute to the problem of homelessness fail to tell the true story. It is partly true that homelessness can be explained by the imperfections in the economic structure. However, if that is the case, we should expect countries which are more economically developed like the United States to have less or no occurrence of homelessness. Furthermore, the articles under consideration reveal that the cause of homelessness goes beyond these structural issues. Stackhouse, Layton, O' Reilly Fleming, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC) provided support to the argument that homelessness is also caused by individual factors unique to each homeless. Stackhouse's account which relates the situation of BJ disproves the assumption that all homeless cannot afford a home. It should be noted that BJ, a panhandler living in the streets of Toronto, has a two-story home in Newfoundland (230). Also, being unemployed is not always a reason why people seek shelters. Stackhouse recounts the story of an "overnight guest" who earns $600 to $700 each week by hauling scrap metals to dumps. The support from the government may well be useless as some homeless like Jake do not collect their welfare. Thus, using structural

Cosmological Argument. The forms of cosmological arguments Essay

Cosmological Argument. The forms of cosmological arguments - Essay Example Cosmological arguments usually strive to explain the existence of God in many forms. Many philosophers in the past, from Aristotle and Kalam to Aquinas, tried to argue the existence of God in different ways (Taliaferro 21). The several forms of cosmological arguments usually explain the existence of God in the following ways: that there is the existence of things, that it is possible for the same things not to exist and that those that are non-existing, yet they exist, must have been caused to exist. On this note, it is an illogical fact that things cannot bring themselves into existence since they must exist to bring themselves into existence. The argument shows that an infinite number of causes that can bring something into existence cannot exist. This is because there is no initial cause of an infinite regression of causes, meaning that the cause of existence is not there. Cosmological arguments try to prove that the universe has a cause since it exists. This shows that all things have an uncaused cause, and the uncaused cause must be God (Craig and Moreland 52). The most successful cosmological argument is Thomas Aquinas’ argument of contingence. Aquinas (1225–1274) was a theologian born in Medieval Europe. ... One has to use all the five arguments since all of them form the basis of his argument (Craig and Moreland 56). The Argument from Motion Using the works of Aristotle, Aquinas through observation, concluded that any moving object is able to move because another supreme object or supreme force makes it move. He observed that there must have been a mover that was making the objects move. This mover must have been unmoved and it must have been God. Aquinas believed that of all the things that were moving, none could move itself. This means that nothing can move itself. He also noted that in order that all objects to be in motion, the first object to be in motion needed a mover. He also said that the mover was unmoved and was God and that movement cannot last forever. Aquinas believed that all things must be at rest and motion is unnatural. According to him, motion is any change that occurs, for example, growth, rotation, etc. He concluded that a supernatural power must have put the state of motion (Craig and Moreland 61). The Argument of Causation of Existence In the argument of causation of existence, Aquinas said that it was logical that nothing can create itself. There must have been a previous object, which created it. This first object must have been uncaused cause and it must have been God. He concluded that causation of all things that exist, are other things and that nothing can be the cause of itself. The things that cause other things to exist cannot be an endless string of objects; therefore, the first uncaused cause is God (Craig and Moreland 63). The Argument of Contingence The argument of contingence is the modal argument. Aquinas argued that an uncaused

Impact of Ethnicity on Politics

Impact of Ethnicity on Politics Introduction: The concept of Ethnic Identity and the resulting Politics is a somewhat recent development. History is full of examples where certain ethnic group got together and won over other ethnic groups for exploiting and snatching the assets of the other group. The battle for supremacy has exploited the ethnic ties in groups for their own benefit. The American Civil War – as is evident today – is a variation of this type of conflict. The crusades undertaken by Christians – however unchristian that may be – is also coming under this category. Today the politicians are roping in ethnic groups to strengthen their rank and file so that they can exploit the number game of today. The invasion of India by Babur, the first Moghul Emperor, was an ethnic groups’ invasion of a foreign land where the things needed by the group were available. The Moghul Empire, after a shaky start, lasted out for a few centuries. Hence, the fact Ethnic psychology played a significant role in shaping the history of the world is common knowledge. However, there must be something more in these group affiliations which is beyond religion, caste, creed or even culture. This paper examines the possibility of some basic reasons like economics, common threats, recurring frustrations or uncertainty factors which evolve an ethnic group and their contribution for stimulating political activities. Discussion: Every ethnic group shares not only a culture, religion, caste system etc but they also face certain common hostilities, frustrations and drawbacks which they want to overcome. These days there is no way other than politics by which they can make their statement heard and acknowledged by the concerned people. In the past whenever there was any common threat to a group they combined under an umbrella which later came to be called an ethnic group. In most of the cases it was religion but fact remains the group maintained solidarity by some thread only to fight against the threat facing them. There have been a number of ‘terrorist attacks’ all around the globe and in almost all these cases the roots are traceable to certain factions of a religion. The threats faced by these groups are numerous but it cannot be denied that the ethnicity factor had become dormant and the political ambition has become dominant. A case in point is that of the Gorkhas in the eastern part of India. It is well known that the Gorkhas are Mongoloid in origin but as far as religion goes most of them are either Hindus or Buddhists. They have an identity of their own but are supposed to play a secondary role in the body politic of India in general and West Bengal in particular. They claim to be affiliated to certain tribes and have been living in the remote hilly area for generations. Some clans are traceable to Chine uplands and are just not compatible to the society and culture of the main land India. These people, who have earned distinction by their services under the Royal British Army, have a very gallant regiment under the Indian Army. They are known to be very tough and brave in all assignments they are given. Yet they have started feeling that, outside the Indian Armed Forces, they are being deprived of their rightful claim to all the facilities due to them. As far as education goes they are not given any preference, all the important jobs in their home country of Darjeeling and adjoining areas are being given to the main land people. Thus they are now demanding that they should be giving a separate state under the Indian Constitution where they will be able to protect the interest of the hill people. This is a glaring example of ethnic politics. This ethnic group is trying to maintain its identity by resorting to politics whereby they are trying to protect the interest of the ethnic Gorkhas. In the past they have used all the means available to them – strikes, non-cooperation, work stoppages and even violence in many cases so that their demands are at least heard if not met. The situation has become so serious that the tourist traffic to the hills has plummeted to the rock bottom causing great harm to the state’s exchequer. However for the last forty years they have been given no consideration at all and the successive state governments have only made a mockery of their demands. Tall promises have been made but not a single action has been initiated for addressing their demands – most of which are towards protecting the rights of the ethnic Gorkha. The cultural background of the Gorkha people is significantly different from that of the main land population. Their way of life, social bonding and group affiliation has ensured that they project themselves as a different lot and therefore the ethnic political actions have created a significant impact on the total nation. People all over the country have slowly but surely started realising that the Gorkha people have a point to state. The major political parties are trying to woo their support in gaining advantage and clout in all local elections and other related issues. Thus they are now on the threshold making a big impact on the Indian political scene. Due to their geographical location they cannot think of going with the Chinese set up and the Indian politics has been dragging its feet in giving them their rightful claim. The ethnic identity has led to a significant polarisation of the political forces and may be in some occasion in the not too distant a future the identity of the Gorkhas are accepted and accommodated in the body politic of the Indian sub continent. When this long awaited eventuality takes shape it will once again vindicate the thinking that ethnic identity has a significant role to play in the political ambience of a place. The present day Gorkha movement is a clear validation of the existence of ethnic identity influence on the political development of an area. It may once again be recalled that the visible and manifested problems of the Gorkha people are just an expression of their frustration and anger at being deprived of the due facilities which is their rightful claim. The ethnic display of social bonds, cultural affinities and religious leanings are all but a manifestation of basically economic factors. This has been mobilised into an ethnic identity for influencing the politics of the place. Conclusion: The involvement of ethnic issues into creating any political identity is as old as history. However the truth is that the form and feel of such identity Politics on ethnic grounds has undergone a metamorphosis over time. The social, political, cultural, and racial aspects are all traceable to some common threat and frustration faced by the people. Such instances are countless in all countries but the issue of Gorkha people fighting to have their home land (on which certain knowledgeable write-ups were available) was chosen to highlight the main issues in the ethnic identity in politics. Here also the underlying reason for such consolidation of peoples will, could be traced to essentially economic and deprivation issues. Thus so long there are reasons to feel frustrated people will unite – amongst others – under the ethnic identity and try to wrench out political advantage from the authorities. Crowding under the ethnic banner for an identity and visibility will continue to be a dominant force in shaping the political situation of the world in the days to come.