Immorality and Inhumanity in the Pictures from Abu Ghraib

One of the most serious blows to American society and reputation was the highly publicized scandal of maltreatment and abuse of prisoners in Iraq. These incidents, which were uncovered in 2004, happened in the Abu Ghraib prison complex and perpetrated by American personnel under the 372nd Military Police Company.The abuses came to public notice from the media, which was able to acquire extremely graphic images of the tortures taken by the soldiers involved in the incidents themselves. (Hersh, 2004) Following the incident, the United States Military charged those responsible for the crimes and demoted the officer in-charge of the U.S. prison system in Iraq.Until now, however, the American public and the world are still reeling from disappointment over the irrationality and immorality of such systematic acts of violence against the Iraqui prisoners which included various forms of physical, psychological, and sexual abuses. More disconcerting than the acts of the abuses, however, is the fact that the soldiers even took photographs of their crimes.The photographs show the prisoners in shameful conditions, either naked or forced to assume positions suggesting sexual acts with fellow prisoners. Undoubtedly, the photographs show not only violations of basic human rights according to the International Humanitarian Law but also disrespect to the Muslim culture and Islamic beliefs by the American soldiers involved.Among the most disturbing aspects of the photographs taken in the Abu Ghraib prison is the presence of a woman, Private Lynndie England, posing with her thumbs up while the prisoners are being subjected to inhuman treatment.In one photo she is shown posing with a fellow soldier while naked prisoners are made to form a human pyramid at the foreground. In another, she poses with the ubiquitous thumbs up sign while at the same time pointing to the genitals of hooded male prisoners lined up. Indeed, the gloating and happy image of Private England is a stark contras t to the cruelty and torment seen from the prisoners who are reduced to the state of animals.Thus, the pictures should provoke not only outrage from the public but should also lead to a reexamination of the kind of morality and basic sense of decency of military personnel such as England who could derive enjoyment from the clear suffering of her fellow human beings. It is an unfortunate incident that a woman, whom the public expects to be more sensitive to the feelings and emotions of her fellow human being, would be part of the ritual of dehumanization of the prisoners from the physical, emotional, and the psychological aspects of the torture.It is a disappointing fact that Private England, despite her gender, was able to tolerate highly sexualized abuses that were usually committed by men to show their dominance upon women: rape, brutality, and sodomy.Aside from being devoid of any sense of morality, the pictures violate public sensitivity and ethics. The purpose of the pictures a nd the intent of the people who took them therefore become questionable. These images where clearly not meant for an audience, but then, why take them in the first place? Did Private England and her cohorts need a remembrance of how they were once part of the violation and abuse of the Iraqui prisoners?Upon analysis, the pictures are not only proof of the lack of ethics and sensitivity of the soldiers but also signify a deeper perversion. The abuse of the prisoners, supposedly meant to prime them for interrogation by intelligence personnel, show the ugly characteristic of power play wherein the abusers took freedom upon their prisoners because of their perceived dominant position.Their main intent is to degrade the prisoners, to strip away their dignity as human beings, and to show them that they are powerless beneath the abusers’ hands. The pictures, then, are part of the ritual of abuse. By exposing the private parts of the prisoner and capturing the moment forever on film or on video, the perpetrators are breaking the person’s will, reducing him or her into an object.Unfortunately, the acts of the American soldiers reflect the corruption of the entire U.S. military. Hersh (2004) observes that the Abu Ghraib incidents occurred not only because of poor leadership from the direct commanding officer but because of the lack of accountability in the military’s chain of command.Moreover, the incidents are an indication not only of the failure of the United States Army but also of American ideals and society to instill respect for human rights and human dignity among its members. It is a great shame and a devastating blow for the world’s superpower and the supposed protector of Democracy, to be associated with blatant acts of human rights violations.It is in this aspect that the world will continue to be haunted by the images of prisoners from Abu Ghraib. For the people will always remember how Private England smiled and gave a thumbs up sign for the camera while other human beings were being treated as animals in the foreground. Indeed, the torture and abuse of Iraqui prisoners are symptoms of the breakdown of humanity; the images of the grinning the soldiers will therefore serve as a haunting reminder of the capacity of humans for boundless inhumanity.Works Cited:Hersh, Simon R. Torture at Abu Ghraib. 10 May 2004. The New Yorker. 31 March 2008. http:// www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/10/040510fa_fact

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

a. Round 1 = In this round I removed lichens from the ecosystems. This would have a huge effect on the ecosystem because they play a role in the creation of soil where plants obtain nutrients. If they are taken out it can affect trees and flowers which affect bees, because they depend on them. This also effect humans that depend on the bees for honey and the fruit that the bees help pollinate. b. Round 2 = In this round humans was removed. By removing humans there was a little effect on the ecosystem. We are the top of the food chain and, but our actions do more damage then good for the environment. c. Round 3 = In this round bees was removed. This is a huge problem in today’s environment and effects the pollination of plants. Because of the removal of bees it really affects the ability of plants to produce fruits, which allow humans food. d. Round 4 = In this round flowers was removed. This was an affects to the ecosystem because flowers deliver food for bees. Bees provide honey and pollinate plants. Because of the removal of flowers it eventually removes bees which effect humans and the food chain. 2. Provide one action we as humans engage in that leads to the extinction of each of these components. Action affecting Lichens = Humans affect lichens with air pollution, industrialization and the introduction of sulphur dioxide can kill lichens. (Air Quality and Lichens, 2014) Action affecting Trees = Humans cut down trees to use for lumber, and to expand. This deforestation is the largest way for humans to affect trees. Action affecting Flowers = The way humans are affecting the flowers is by over population and polluting the air with automobiles that can produce acid rain. Action affecting Bees = The actions that humans take to affect bees is by destroying habitats, 3. Provide three specific actions that humans can take to minimize our impact on the ecosystem and ensure the survival of lichens, trees, flowers, and bees. Action 1 = Humans can reduce the amount of pollution that produced by using more efficient automobiles and public transportation. Action 2 = Humans can reduce the amount of pollutants the produce by using more efficient automobiles and public transportation. Action 3 = The other action they can do to minimize the impact on the ecosystem is to recycle this will save the need to destroy habitats for more resources. Experiment 1: Diversity of Plants Table 2: Number of Each Plant Species Present in Pot 1 and Pot 2 Species Observed Number in Pot 1(sunlight) Number in Pot 2(shade) Zinnia 2 1 Marigold 2 2 Morning Glory 3 1 Cosmos 8 4 Ryegrass 3 2 Total Number of Species in Pot: 18 10 POST LAB QUESTIONS 1. Develop a hypothesis on which pot you believe will contain the highest biodiversity. Hypothesis = I believe that the plants that are in the sun will develop the highest biodiversity. 2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this. Accept/Reject = I accept my hypothesis because the flowers that I grew in the planter that I placed in the sun made the most flowers and different types. 3. If each pot was a sample you found in a group of wildflowers, would you determine based on the diversity of flowers that the ecosystem is healthy? Why or why not. Answer = I was so impressed with the amount of flowers that grew in both environments. In my determination based on the diversity of flowers that the ecosystem is healthy. There was actually a lot of plants in both of the environment but of course the ones in the sunlight had a healthier ecosystem. 4. How does biodiversity contribute to the overall health of an ecosystem? Provide specific examples and utilize at least one scholarly resource to back your answer. Answer = Biodiversity is very important to the health of an ecosystem. The greater species diversity is it ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. It provides natural services such as soil protection, water resources, pollution breakdown, food, medical resources, and future resources, according to Shah (2014). She states â€Å"Each species depends on the services provided by other species to ensure survival. It is a type of cooperation based on mutual survival and is often what a â€Å"balanced ecosystem† refers to†(2014). Crops are used to feed cattle, then the cattle waste nourishes the crops. Crops, as well as yielding grain also yield straw , the straw provides organic matter and fodder, crops are therefore food sources for humans and animals then the soil and organisms such as bacteria and algae serve as nitrogen fixers. Rodents, then aerate the soil and improve its water-holding capacity Spiders, centipedes and insects grind organic matter from the surface soil and leave behind enriched droppings. This large biodiversity is accentual to maintaining health crops and animals for the food supply.

Journey of man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Journey of man - Essay Example This essay will expound on this thesis. In this most compelling story of natural history, the pivotal moment was the great Ice Age that set in 50 thousand years ago. Up until this point, the entire human population (technically of the species Homo sapiens) were confined to just the African continent. This is understandable, for most of the early hominids evolved in this landmass, with the evolution of our species being a natural progression. With the onset of the Ice Age, the rich and diverse ecology of central and southern Africa began to change. With the substantial drop in temperatures, the erstwhile green and fertile regions began to dry up. The early human populations that depended on this ecosystem for survival faced drought like conditions. To illustrate the depth of the problem, the sea-shore caves of South Africa, which were used as shelter by primitive people, became ever more distant from the shore line – nearly 40 kilometers at the peak of the Ice Age. Such radical changes to the ecology forced people to move toward he north-east of the continent, where the climate was somewhat more temperate. And this crisis for survival is perhaps the most important event in anthropology. For, without it, Homo sapiens might not have ever left Africa. In consequence, the richness, diversity and reach of human species might have been limited. There are many interesting subplots within the epic narrative of Journey of Man. What each of these subplots tells us is that there is a shared sense of adventure and enterprise inherent in our species. To begin with, the populating of the Australian continent was a tantalizing story of adventure and chance. Scientists were first confounded by the 6000 mile of ocean that separated the East African coast from the nearest shore in Australia. Later it came to light that the radically new geological conditions created by the Ice Age provided an easy passage wherever the sea had receded. In geological timescales, usually popu lations within a species only gradually expand their habitat. But the speed with which our species moved out of Africa was unprecedented in the history of evolution. This is underscored by the astounding fact that in Australia there was not even a single primate species when humans arrived there. Likewise the crossing of the arctic inhabiting Chikchu people into the New World is another historical achievement of our species. The Americans who are newly native to this expansive continent nearly covered its entire breadth and width in less than a millennia of its advent. Instances such as these highlight how all groups within our species shared the same spirit of adventure and tenacity for survival. It is these qualities that unites us as humans and makes us the most intelligent and successful species on the planet. Another interesting information presented in the documentary is how modern Europeans took a complex migratory route to arrive at Western Europe. The lore of the Cro-Magnon man is very prescient to the mind as they conquered the temperate and cold climes of Europe with a physiology that was ill suited to these conditions. In other words, the early inhabitants of Europe were dark skinned people, who quickly acquired a paler complexion. They were also very imaginative and creative in finding the means to adapt and survive in conditions that are alien to those found in the Central

Understanding International Relations (IR) Essay

Understanding International Relations (IR) - Essay Example This essay stresses that the globalisation concept explains international relations better than the sovereignty concept. For one, almost all the aspects of the modern day society seem to have been influenced either directly or indirectly by globalisation. In addition, globalisation in its entirety is all about intensifying cross-border relations/interactions. Moreover, it looks at the interdependence between countries; consequently, this has a major impact on the international system. This paper makes a conclusion that globalisation concept demonstrates interconnectedness of different states in the modern international system. The interconnectedness includes bodies such as the International Federation of Stock Exchange whose decisions have, in one way or another, impacted states all over the globe and the world economy. Even more importantly, globalisation has facilitated the opening of national borders and the subsequent implementation of free trade. The consequence of this is cohesion between states and reduction of conflicts. In a nutshell, therefore, it can be argued that the globalisation concept is quite explicit in as much as international relations is concerned. The increase in the level of dependence among states and their interconnectedness that are key to understanding international relations are captured well globalisation. Globalisation has equally contributed towards the solving of international problems.

Virtual Reality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Virtual Reality - Research Paper Example These applications range from educational to health systems. However, the technology also has harbored some disadvantages due to its application. This paper delves into the topic of Virtual Reality. It examines some of its uses, its disadvantages as well as challenges that hinder its effective application. Introduction Virtual reality is a three-dimensional environment. One can only view it on a computer screen or through special goggles. Besides, one can relate with the virtual world as if one is part of it using specially designed equipment (Owens, 2010). According to Isdale (1993), virtual reality is a means for individuals to manipulate, interact and visualize with extremely complex data and computers. In this case, visualization part talks about the computer producing auditory, visual or other sensual outputs to a human being within the computer. This world could be a scientific simulation, a view into a database, or a CAD model. Conversely, the user can relate with the world an d directly and control objects within the world. In addition, other processes like simple animation scripts or physical simulations animate some worlds. With virtual reality, there is a likelihood of custom-designed while the three-dimensional environments permit instinctive â€Å"transparent† boundaries such that the computer interface is imperceptible to the user. In addition, virtual reality allows for considerably improved three-dimensional perception and interaction over conventional three-dimensional computer graphics because of its interaction capabilities and three-dimensional display (Bryson, 1996). On the other hand, VR can also be useful in an advanced user interface to three-dimensional simulation models in simulation terms (Barnes, 1996). Moreover, there are various fields in which VR applications have significant potential including medicine, industry, education and training, commerce, entertainment industry, scientific research and the space. On the other hand, to make innovations that use VR technology effective, there should be a thorough exploration. However, VR is still immature both as a technology and as a field of research. As a result, there should be considerable research to be done to realize the full potential of VR (Barrett, 2004). This is the reason the electronic and computer engineers are pursuing new ways of improving the virtual reality experience. Presently, computer and electronic scientists and engineers are developing a system that will incorporate the sense of taste (Lee, 2011). Applications and equipment for Virtual Reality Several technologies are requisite for the creation of a virtual world each of which, have advanced technologically and independently. The heart of virtual reality is a combination of software, hardware and electronics. These three computers related technologies merge to make virtual reality work. In addition, three imperatives are essential to help virtual reality work including special software , the individual user and a computer. Moreover, there are several input devices to improve the virtual reality experience and enable it to work. These input devices help in recording, measuring electronic signals, and converting them into a physical world. On the other hand, the output devices allow the user's brain to process the computer-generated physical world created. However, the reality engine is the main power of a virtual reality system. This engine helps create the virtual world and process information. It comprises either a group of computers or one powerful computer because the reality engine is supposed to create complex graphics (Lee, 2011). However, the virtual reali

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 32

Case Study Example This decision is seen to be inconsiderate of the customer sentiments in the location and the news of a rate increase and setting up of the nuclear plant may lead to negative reactions among the customers. The main external issues in this case include the sentiments of the customers regarding the operations of the company and the subsequent increase in the rates of power supply. The power supply rates of Phoenix Power are already high and the customers are skeptical about a nuclear plant in their vicinity. As such, the skepticism and non-reception of the customers are likely to act as the main external issue. The internal issues related to the advertising process would include the business decision regarding the choice of an advertising agency and personnel required for the short term advertising campaign. The alternatives would include making the customers more aware of why it is important to increase the rates of power supply. The positive aspects for building the nuclear plant can be focused on in the advertising. The nuclear plant once completed would be useful for supplying sufficient power to the whole city and Phoenix Power would not have to source power from the plants in California. This would subsequently reduce the costs for electricity after the setting up of the nuclear plant. This aspect should be focused on in the advertising campaign so that the customers become aware of the benefits of the project and also become supportive of the project. The message for the advertising campaign should be based on highlighting the long term positive benefits that can be realized from the project of Phoenix Power to establish the nuclear power plant in Arizona (Jameson and Campbell 170). Since, the consumers already have a negative attitude towards the increase in the rates; therefore, this issue should be handled in a sensitive manner in the advertising campaign. Phoenix Power

Period of Baroque Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Period of Baroque - Essay Example Renaissance, through its new ideology and reform, resulted with a variety of styles. The idea of individualism and freedom of artistic creations influenced Michelangelo in a different manner. He was, in a way opposite of Leonardo. He was emotional and inward oriented. While painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he described the creation of the universe in his own way. He represented God as an old man with bears, most probably because of the humanism. Also, the humanism of Renaissance allowed him to represent a naked man, together with God, in same size. Renaissance was a start of reform and it was a return to classical values. In opened a new viewpoint in terms of ideology and style. After Renaissance, Baroque period have started. The artistic center moved from Florence to Rome. The reconstruction and redecoration of Rome gave rise to different artistic ideas and styles. One of the features of Baroque which distinguished it from Renaissance period is that it was international. Baroque style spread all through Europe, it was also accepted in Russia and passed into the New World. Caracci and Andrea Pozzo became famous with their ceiling frescoes and Caravaggio with his style, his way of representing figures and use of light etc. The paintings on ceilings in Baroque period differed from Renaissance. In this period the paintings became more elaborate and variety of images created an allegory in a way, representing the glorification of the miracles. There were flying figures on ceilings. and everything took place above us. Therefore the perspective moved from walls to ceilings and scientific reality gave its place to illusion and movement. The Baroque period had its own way of representing naturalism and reality. Michelangelo Merisi Da is better known as Caravaggio and he was an Italian baroque painter. His works portrayed saints and other biblical figures as plain ordinary people. Little is known about his early life but one might assume from his painting that he was a very catholic person with good morals. But actually this is not the case- His fame came when he unveiled his three life size paintings narrating the life of Saint Matthew in 1600. At that time his life was filled with notorious violence. It is said that a full transcript of his trial pending and police records would fill several pages. Several of these violent incidences almost ended in his death. He was later ordered to quit Rome after one of his alliances was killed during a violent accident. He wanted to paint saints and biblical figures