The United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC) Essay

The United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC) Statement of Purpose This paper will clearly lay out the Unites States concerns with the International Criminal Court and will attempt to resolve them. I will then argue that no country has the right to be above international law, including the United States and that it is in the best interest of America and the world community for the united states to join the efforts of the ICC and sign the Rome Statute. Introduction to the ICC â€Å"In the prospect of an international criminal court lies the promise of universal justice. That is the simple and soaring hope of this vision. We are close to its realization. We will do our part to see it through till the end. We ask you...to do yours in our struggle to ensure that no ruler, no State, no junta and no army anywhere can abuse human rights with impunity. Only then will the innocents of distant wars and conflicts know that they, too, may sleep under the cover of justice; that they, too, have rights, and that those who violate thus rights will be punished.† Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General The Twentieth Century was the bloodiest in record history with over 174 million people killed in mass murders and genocides; more often then not, victims’ cries went unanswered. Following World War II the United Nations realized the need to take action in ending impunity from these horrible crimes against humanity. With one of the primary objectives of the United Nations being to secure â€Å"universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals throughout the world,† the United Nations recognized the need to establish an international criminal court. In 1948, at the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the ... ...xisNexis. November 3, 2003. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document? Davenport, David. â€Å"Commentary: New Threat to U.S. Sovereignty. United Press International.† August 2003. Lexis Nexis. December 3, 2003. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document? The Roman Statute of the ICC: Jurisdiction. November 3, 2002. Internet. http://www.icc.int/en/ICC_jurisdiction.html PIPA. Americas on Globalization: A Study of US Public Attitudes. International Cooperation. March 28, 2000. Internet. December 4, 2003. http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Globalization/4.html PIPA. Americans on Globalization. All Notes. Question 83. December 2, 2003. Internet. http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Globalization/notes/allnotes_.html Margrethe, Ellen. â€Å"U.S. Peacekeepers Integral and Prosecutable.† August 2002. LexisNexis. November 3, 2002. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?

Good and Evil in Scarlet Letter Essay

â€Å"Inside each of us, there is the seed of both good and evil. It’s a constant struggle as to which one will win. And one cannot exist without the other† (Burdon). The novel _The Scarlet Letter_ perfectly illustrates this point using complex and intricate characters that mirror reality with both positive and negative aspects of their personas. The story begins in mid-17th century New England with Hester Prynne being publicly humiliated for having a child out of wedlock. She is branded with a scarlet letter â€Å"A† as an adulterer but refuses to disclose who the father is. Soon after, Hester’s former husband shows up under the pseudonym of Roger Chillingworth and makes Hester promise not to tell anyone who he is as he tries to hunt down her lover. As the story progresses, the reader and Chillingworth discover the identity of Hester’s beloved as the minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. As Chillingworth begins to psychologically torment Dimmesdale, He progressively becomes more ugly, evil, and twisted. In his novel, _The Scarlet Letter_, Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the scarlet letter to convey that within each person exists the capacity for both good and evil. First, Hawthorne utilizes the scarlet letter to assert that from all evil, some kind of good is blossoms, whether it is drastic or subtle. Even the most unfavorable of situations, such as carrying the burden of the scarlet letter, yields an advantageous quality of some sort. For example, as the plot of the story begins, the women of the town are slandering Hester Prynne for her misdeeds and discuss ways to punish her and brand her as an  adulterer. While the unforgiving women attempt to scorn her, Hester enters the scene from the prison with her badge of shame. Hester Prynne had sewn her own scarlet letter to advertise her sin. â€Å"It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore, and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony† (Hawthorne 9). Even in the strictly puritan colony of Boston, Hester chooses to retaliate as an individual rather than reform. Hawthorne uses the apparent mark of shame to express Hester’s distinction as an elegant, strong, and fertile woman that can derive the beauty from even the worst situations. Later in the book, the governor questions Hester on why she should be able to keep Pearl. He calls Hester â€Å"One who hath stumbled and fallen amid the pitfalls of this world† (61) and questions her ability to care for Pearl’s â€Å"temporal and eternal welfare† (61). â€Å"‘I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!’ answered Hester Prynne, Laying her finger on the red token† (61). From the governor’s view, the scarlet letter is a clear symbol of sin. However, in her own reality, Hester has shifted the meaning of the letter to not only a valuable lesson that she can pass on, but also a badge that exhibits her individuality along with her immorality. The scarlet letter undoubtedly displays that there is merit in even the worst evil or disgrace. Secondly, Hawthorne employs the scarlet letter to convey that within all good, there is evil hidden, no matter how pure the element may seem. Even the most exemplary appearing citizens may conceal dark and evil sins. For instance, as Pearl is playing by the sea, her mother watches her make an array of things out of seaweed. Along with the scarves and headdresses, Pearl creates a letter â€Å"A† on her own bosom. As Hester questions her as to what she thinks it means, Pearl begins to inquire Hester in response. â€Å"‘What does the letter mean, mother? And why dost thou wear it? And why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?’ ‘What shall I say?’ thought Hester to herself. â€Å"No! If this be the price of the child’s sympathy, I cannot pay it† (Hawthorne 127). Despite the pleas of her child, Hester still refuses to enlighten Pearl to what the scarlet letter on her bosom signifies. Hawthorne  uses the scarlet letter as an analogy of secrets that are held. Many reprehensible acts are kept hidden to protect people who are too young, naà ¯ve, or innocent to know the truth. Later in the book, Reverend Dimmesdale becomes mortally ill. As he walks up onto the scaffold, He hardly has any strength left. Dimmesdale must be supported by Hester and Pearl just to stand up. With his last bit of vigor, Dimmesdale announces that he is guilty of the same sin for which the people have punished Hester. â€Å"With a convulsive motion, he tore the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed! But it were irreverent to describe that revelation† (198). With all of his strength and life, Dimmesdale died revealing his dark secret: That he was a sinner instead of the morally perfect man he had feigned being. However, as a truly good man, Dimmesdale knew that before he passed, he needed to prove that even the most respected among man concealed some sort of evil and that visible sinners should not be shunned. Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s letters both epitomize the evil that hides within all good. Finally, Hawthorne uses the symbol of the scarlet letter to prove that no matter how good a person is, he or she can never eradicate evil within his or her self. Even the most holy and kind people have some sort of black tarnish that cannot be erased. Likewise, As Hester confronts Chillingworth about his persecution of Dimmesdale, Chillingworth begins to sympathize with Hester. In an attempt to comfort Hester, if only for a moment, Chillingworth informs her about the council’s discussion concerning the removal of her scarlet letter. Instead of the gracious response he expected, Chillingworth was met with a much colder and wiser retort: â€Å"‘it lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off the badge,’ calmly replied Hester. ‘Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport'† (Hawthorne 115). Even when the opportunity arises, Hester knows that she does not have the ability to escape her dark deed. Despite Chillingworth making a motion that would inevitably improve her life, Hester is very aware of the fact that no matter what she does, her mark would stay with her forever: physically or at heart. Later in the story, Dimmesdale and Hester are planning to run away to England together. As the renounce their old lives, Hester thrusts her scarlet letter across the river to start their new  epoch together. However, as they call over Pearl to join them, she refuses to come near. Hester realizes that Pearl will not come near because of the fact that her mother is missing something that is part of who she is. â€Å"But, in very truth, she is right as regards to this hateful token. I must bear its torture yet a little longer†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (156). although Pearl is not exactly sure what the scarlet letter symbolizes, she knows that it is an important part of Hester that she cannot evade. Hester quickly comprehends Pearls wisdom and admits that she must live with her sin. The scarlet letter clearly demonstrates that good can never fully cast aside evil. In conclusion, the scarlet letter in Hawthorne’s _The Scarlet Letter_ represents the unbreakable link between good and evil within everybody. Whether he is stating that from all evil, good blossoms; within good, people hide evil; or that good can never fully cast aside evil, Hawthorne strongly conveys the point that Evil and Good cannot exist within someone without their counterpart.

Essay The Unethical of Euthanasia or Mercy Killing

The word euthanasia is taken from the Greek word ‘Eu Thanos’, meaning ‘good death’. Euthanasia involves an action carried out by a person other than the patient to end the life of the patient suffering from a terminal condition. This action is based on the belief that the act is putting the patient of their misery: this action has also been called mercy killings. There are a number of ethical concerns that arise when the terminally ill patient and healthcare providers decide on the best course of care for the dying patient. The definition of ethical is upright, honest, and compliant with accepted standards of social or professional behavior. Those people who think euthanasia is morally right believe that a terminally ill person has the†¦show more content†¦Healthcare providers may decide to euthanize an elderly patient just because they think the patient is going to die eventually because of their age. If we place the decision of life and death and healthcare provider’s hands it will lead to murder. Our society is working to educate individuals on the importance of seeking medical advice, getting blood work done and getting a yearly physical. However, one of the most important changes in recent years is the increasing emphasis insurance companies have placed on healthcare providers to control costs. Great discrepancy in access to care occurs, depending on the type and size of the system, source of payment for services, private versus public programs, availability of an accessibility to providers, individual preferences, and insurance coverage or ability to pay. The existing system continues to be oriented to treatment of acute or episodic conditions rather than the promotion of health and complete care. It would be cheaper for insurances if health care providers used euthanasia for those patients that are terminally ill instead of treating their illness. If euthanasia was legal healthcare providers would have to decide to do the right thing or make more money in treating patients with disabilities and incurably diseases. â€Å"Euthanasia, if it was legalized, could become a money maker tool for big HMOs, because drugs used in euthanasia would only cost aboutShow MoreRelatedEuthanasi Should It Be Legalized? Essay1125 Words   |  5 PagesEuthanasia â€Å"mercy killing† should it be legalized in New Zealand? Euthanasia debates aren’t new to the surface as people has been talking about it for more than a decade. One side of the issue is the government and other organizations that stand against legalising euthanasia as they thi nk it is unethical and would be considered as the other face to suicide. 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As such, it is legal in some countries while illegal in some. The US Law accords all informed adults the right to die even though the law surrounding it varies from one state to the other. There are however a couple of ethical issues that come up as a result of the practice. The major debate has been whether or not Euthanasia is right, or wrongRead MoreEssay about Euthanasia should not be legalized in the US622 Words   |  3 Pagesa patient’s right to choose to end his or her life by means of euthanasia. Euthanasia is the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. It has been and still remains an extremely controversial topic in the US. Does a person have the right to die? Should euthanasia be legalized? Legalizing euthanasia has become a burning topic to doctors, societies, governments, and nations. To me, the US government should not legalize euthanasia. 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