In Organic We Trust by Kip Pastor Essay -- Organic Foods vs. Non-organi

Check your supermarket, there could be lies on your food, telling you that what you are eating is organic and cared for but most of it is not. The documentary In Organic We Trust by Kip Pastor focuses on organic foods, what they are, how they are grown, and what makes them â€Å"organic†. What he finds is shocking and relevant to society today in every way possible. Pastor proves this to the audience by using a strong form of logos throughout the documentary. He conveys it to those watching by using pathos to play on their heart strings, but lacks via ethos to win over the rest of the audience. A great job is done in this film of convincing the audience that Pastor is on their side and fighting for the health of America, even questioning what â€Å"organic† actually is. The first example is ethos, meant to describe ones character through morals, ethics and ideals. Pastor questions the ethics of the corporations and the government for its involvement in the ordeal but never answers the question to show ethos. These large corporations are questioned as to what their involvement in the â€Å"organic† industry is and the extant but never having got an answer, all Pastor is left with is to question their motives. Pastor had the same problem when it came to the government, he could only speculate as to why they were even involved with the â€Å"organic† industry if they were subcontracting everything out. He never got a straight answer, so it would be hard to determine whether the government was sincere in wanting to regulate â€Å"organic† food or just wanting a piece of the money pie â€Å"organic† is made up of. Pastor did attempt to track down both of these giants which show his credibility in wanting to get both sides of the story, but he was shu... ...g statistics about the public’s health and make the future seem bleak, â€Å"the lifespan is shortening for new American children† (Pastor) and â€Å" one in three children born after the year 2010 will develop type II diabetes† (Pastor). Pastor says that he is shocked by the impact and wants to break away from the cycle created. In his closing statements he convinces the audience to break away from the cycle away as well, by drawing on the seeds he planted with pathos, ethos, and logos. The film was well made and addressed all the issues of â€Å"organic† food and well informed the audience of what is occurring. Next time, an audience member goes to the supermarket to buy food they will probably remember what their children will look like in twenty years if they don’t take a more â€Å"organic† approach to their lives. Works Cited In Organic We Trust. Kip Pastor. 2012. DVD.

Barry Glassner’s The Culture of Fear Essay

The murder of thousands of Americans on their own soil on September 11, 2001 created a new era in United States History: the era of fear. That is the finding Barry Glassner, author of The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things. In the book’s pages is found a thorough examination of why Americans are fearful, why they aren’t, and what this says about the average citizen. It is not to say that Glassner indicates that Americans do, or should, live in fear of unexpected terrorist attack. Rather, his purpose in writing is to illuminate why it is that Americans fear the wrong things and fail to act on the right fears: he cites examples such as fearing shootings on school grounds, but not limiting access to guns. In other words, he is attempting to describe what fear is like in the culture of America and what it says about reality and perception. That is his thesis. Summed up, Glassner writes that when it comes to fear, Americans live in a culture of false paranoia and irrational paradoxes. His methodology comes through clearly. He utilizes individual case studies to coherently and cohesively build a strong unified theory. Each story and topic becomes one more brick in the foundation of his thesis. In that way he easily compels and convinces all but the most cynical reader. Finally, it is Glassner’s point of view that really works wonders. He acts as if he is but a casual, though analytical, objective observer. What Does the Author Have to Say? Fear can be created – and manipulated. Time and again Glassner returns to the example of the events of September 11, 2001 for treasures with which to bolster his theory. It is indeed ripe ground for that. It seems to be the case study for just why American citizens are paranoid for all of the wrong reasons. Yes, the terrorist attacks were awful, and all the more so because 1) they were completely unexpected and unannounced, and 2) they targeted the innocent civilian populace. That being said, writes Glassner, they were also completely anomalous. The fear of such an attack in the future due to the fact that it happened once before is unjustifiable. It had been two hundred and twenty-five years from the beginnings of the United States for such an attack to occur, and as of this tenth anniversary edition of the book it has been another ten years without such attack. Sure, that is not to say that it couldn’t happen again. However, the point that the author makes is that it is just circumstances like this that are fertile breeding ground for manipulators. In this case, he cites the then ongoing efforts of President George W. Bush to convince the population that there was an active war on terror. This war, he reminded frequently, was directed at the American citizen, the mom and pop on the street. The war could reach every home, every business. The entire country was under various alert conditions at all times. This supports the first main point of The Culture of Fear. Fear can be a force of manipulation and creation. The second point of the book is closely related to its main premise. It is the ongoing effects of a mass media accentuating the most unlikely of crimes. Each and every day the media, including the press, the internet, and the television networks, blares out stories of kidnappings, murders and more. The chief aim seems to be that ‘it could happen to you. ’ In fact, it probably will happen to you unless you take precautions daily. Fingerprint your children. Update your photographs and dental records. Plant microchips in your children’s skin. Anything to do to escape the boogeyman, because undoubtedly he’s out there. Never mind the fact that more often than not, the statistics behind the reports are skewed mightily to prove these points ex post facto. The announcements alone are proof enough for most people. The culture of fear is encouraged, and bought into. After all, the media is a powerful presence. When it comes to the third point, it becomes somewhat murky as to how some things come about. Glassner relates example after example of public policy responses to these scenarios – and how they absolutely fail to deal with the actual situations that spawn the fear. In other words, ineffective public policy is the knee jerk reaction to fear. The author is quick to relate such failures. He points out the sheer number of dollars allocated to these efforts and the startling statistics that show the problem has not changed at all. Also, he is not shy at pointing out that this culture of fear and reaction provides great political opportunity for candidates that are ‘tough on crime’ to emerge, ready to raise the banners of various well-meaning causes. Once the candidates become elected officials, either the cause is dropped along with its passion, or new laws are passed that in essence are just excuses to spend money and advance political careers. Criticism of the Author I greatly enjoyed this book. I will be unequivocal about that. Perhaps it biases my review, but I do have points to support my response. To begin with, the book is well-paced. By that I mean to say that it reads well. Much of non-fiction – particularly educated and researched non-fiction – is dry, and fails to engage the reader in the sense that its subjects remain remote. Granted, Glassner has a subject that is much more accessible to readers than the typical tome, but he does not bore with statistics or inane stories. He moves the action right along by showing readers why this involves them, and why it should naturally interest them. Each chapter begins with a premise that is readily understandable. It also includes a counterpoint and then the fun begins. Every chapter delivers. There is a natural satisfaction to this and makes reading the book enjoyable. I never experienced a more well planned out book, in this regard. I was never left wondering why something was missing, or what the author’s point was after all. He provides vignettes that most every reader either has knowledge of, or direct experience with. In that regard, the book almost reads like a continuous narrative, full of intrigue and personal connections. What surprised me in particular were the findings of the author. He clearly exposed the myths behind much of the country’s fears – fears that turn out to be nearly entirely fictitious or so improbable as to be nearly laughable. Then he does something important and which caused my surprise. He listed the fears that all Americans should actually be concerned with. These are the issues that most citizens will encounter on a daily basis and should be giving their attention rather than the stories at the top of newspaper headlines. Motor vehicle injuries, drowning, fires, head injuries to children from bicycle accidents, these are the realities of danger in America. And these can be prevented. Safer vehicles, more restrictive drivers’ licenses, and bicycle helmet laws – these are the tools of the fearful citizen that can bring some peace to life. I never thought that Glassner would make such a strong point out of such mundane information. It made me want to actually change my personal living styles, and not in the manner of investing in gas masks or bunkers. Naturally, the book is not perfect. Probably the greatest weakness is the ability of it to be dismissed as a big government bashing book. It could be accused of having an agenda. It is fairly heavy handed when it comes to discussing the media and the government’s efforts at propagating fears among the population. Perhaps Glassner could have helped himself some by providing statistical analysis of actual terrorist linked events over the course of the century. This may have more convincingly pointed out just how anachronistic the terror attacks of Fall 2001 really were, and remain. Rather than describe the government’s reaction to it, he could have simply left it at that and trusted the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. But that is a small point. One area that could have been covered differently is that chapter on Youth at Risk. With a subtitle of Faulty Diagnoses and Callous Cures one would expect that it would be a medically related chapter. Indeed that it is. However, I feel that the chapter rather disregards the pervasive depression and angst that this generation seems to be finding themselves in. It would appear at least from common experience that these troubles which are leading to more and more suicides and bullying are real and worth a serious look. It is not as if Glassner just glosses over these things, but I think that his overall take on the situation is not serious enough. He instead appears to have it out for the medical establishment. Some could say that this trivializes the problems that teens today are undergoing. I think that would be an accurate indictment. The chapter could either have been more aimed that direction, or perhaps could be eliminated altogether as a general fear among the United States population at large. Summation Barry Glassner’s book The Culture of Fear is one to be read. It is quite easy to recommend. Primarily it is because the book’s audience is also the general population. Every reader would know a potential reader in a neighbor, co-worker, relative. Glassner makes his point very clear – the culture of fear is absolutely pervasive. We are all a part of this society that lives in near constant paranoia over things that probably will never happen; and we ignore what we probably should fear on a daily basis. That is what is so ultimately compelling about the book. It is nearly a handbook for peaceful living. The Culture of Fear makes promises through its introduction and its chapter titles, and it delivers. The prose is concise and clearly understandable. The scenarios, likewise, are situations in which nearly every reader can either imagine, or has actually experienced. This lends an instant authority and trustworthiness to the book. And after all, where there is trustworthy authority, there is careful consideration of fears itself.

The Impact of Plea Bargaining on Trial Justice from a Comparative Perspective Free Essay Example, 3750 words

The Yugoslavia Tribunal made the point that plea bargaining was inconsistent with its purposes in this situation and that the crimes they were dealing with were too reprehensible for a plea to be negotiated. The same policy was adopted by the Rwanda Tribunal who sentenced Jean Kambanda to life imprisonment though he had pleaded guilty to genocide. In recent times as caseloads have grown there has bee a move towards accepting plea bargaining. In 2003 the trial of Mrs Plavsic for atrocities committed against Bosnian Muslims accepted a plea of persecution as opposed to the original charge of genocide2. As a result, she was sentenced to 11 years in prison. This verdict provoked mixed reactions with some welcoming it as a step towards reconciliation whilst others criticized the court for having greater concern for the judicial economy rather than the interests of the victims (Combs, 2007). Although justification can be given for the use of plea bargaining in particular concerned with the financial saving of the judiciary many victims fail to be convinced that this is acceptable. Many want to see proper retribution for the crimes committed and see the acceptance of plea bargaining as ignoring the suffering of the victims so as to ensure the financial prosperity of the judiciary (Dressler, 1995). We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Plea Bargaining on Trial Justice from a Comparative Perspective or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Teaching Style Of The Instructor - 1019 Words

Each teacher is different no matter what the course subject is. When I find myself in a new class with a new professor I seem to notice the little details that make up the teaching style of the instructor. In total I have four classes all of which are part of Chattahoochee technical College. Two of those classes take place at the Paulding Campus and the other two take place at the North Metro campus. I take my American Government class at the North Metro Campus every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every Monday and Wednesday I go to the Paulding Campus to take College Algebra. These two professors differ in more ways than just the subject of their course. My American government teacher is pretty cool. He has a very fun way of teaching. By cracking jokes and making cheesy remarks on every chapter, he always succeeds at making his class an interesting one. Every lecture does not even seem like one. I always look forward to sitting in the front of his class ready to learn everything. However, my college algebra professor is, with all due respect, a more old-schooled instructor. He does crack a few jokes from time to time but he’s mostly serious. He is very focused because in math one flaw, no matter how small, can cause the answer to be wrong. His way of teaching is quite interesting as well; not only does he teach the class the easiest way to solve a problem, he also teaches the class the harder way. Every student is different so the line between the ‘easy’ way and the ‘hard’ wayShow MoreRelatedTeaching Styles Of The Nurse Educators856 Words   |  4 PagesComparison of Teaching Styles The nurse educators are faced with the challenge of adapting their teaching styles to accommodate a new generation of learners. An effective teacher should take into account the intellectual, social, and cultural characteristics of each student, whereas the students should identify that each teacher has a unique style of teaching. As part of the classroom-online teaching practicum course, I was privileged to shadow an instructor at the University of South FloridaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Writing Red Pen Rhetoric Essay1606 Words   |  7 Pagesinteraction between student and teacher leads to a co-constituent relationship. In a scholarly essay entitled, Red-Pen Rhetoric: Looking at the Rhetoric of Response to Student Writing in Freshman College Composition Courses, graduate student and teaching assistant Steven T Wyrick asserts that co-constituency between teachers and students is key to academic growth and success. Wyrick uses several strategies to improve the effectiveness of his argument, including a relatable personal anecdote, butRead MoreThe Importance Of Learning And Retaining Material Is Through The Auditory, Visual And Tactile Learning Experience Essay924 Words   |  4 Pagesof learning and retaining material is through the auditory, visual and tactile learning experience. 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An awareness in different teaching theories could make an adult student a better consumer when it comes to shopping for their best value in education. This paper will explore the theories of andragogy and pedagogy, along with their implications for online adult education. SocietysRead MoreEmergent Themes And Data Supported Findings Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pagesassisting the study’s research question and purpose. The developing themes are offered by followed data supported key findings, data. Participants were asked to discuss the challenge to dominant ideology, what they perceive as jeopardizing while teaching African American males to read and write. Teachers supplied attributions supporting the three pressing problem themes: 1) lack of awareness, 2) reluctance to write 3) shortage of multi-cultural professional development. 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Teachers neglect the fact that not all students learn the same way. In learning this, I propose some changes that could be made in order to increase learning effectively such as; the choice of physical work verses onlineRead MoreOnline Classes Vs. Traditional Style Writing Classrooms966 Words   |  4 PagesAs technology evolves, the traditional style writing classrooms should do so as well. Students are used to the typical routine, in which an instructor lectures and hands out assignments. However, is that really the most effective way of teaching for all students? Teachers neglect the fact that not all students learn the same way. In learning this, I purpose some changes that could be made in order to increase learning ef fectively such as; the choice of physical work verses online work, communications

Justice, Masculinity, And Race And Crime Essay - 1370 Words

Punished Victor Rios is not only an author of a book called Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys, but he is also an ex-felon. Rios holds a PH.D. in sociology and is now an assistant professor at the University of Santa Barbara. Victor Rios has published on juvenile justice, masculinity, and race and crime in scholarly in journals such as the Critical Criminology. He has not only lived the life he preaches about, he has shown to be extremely knowledgable in this life he has once lived and is also considered an expert in his field of sociology among his peers . Rios grew up in the streets of Oakland, California and found himself in the midst of trouble when he joined a gang at the age of 13. Victor Rios lived the life of the typical stereotypical hispanic young male, living in high crime poverty neighborhoods. As a young boy, he began dealing drugs, participating in the killings of people, and violence. Throughout his life, he has witnessed a great deal of horrific tra gedies that not many thirteen year olds experience ever in their whole life. Throughout his experiences, he was able to live and tell his stories through his book, Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys. Victor Rios has used his past experiences for the good, he has mentored many kids who are going through what he went though as an adolescent. Throughout the many obstacles he has faced, it has opened up the opportunity for him to write this book about his life and the gangShow MoreRelatedRace, Class, And Gender Contribute For Youth Delinquency1205 Words   |  5 PagesDelinquency in Context Race, class, and gender contribute to youth delinquency by being factors that have been demonized because they may conflict with the social norms established by the majority in the US. 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We have attempted to eliminate racial inequality by establishing Human Rights Law, creating programs to support the need, and teaching new generation by using a lesson plan. However, it is hard to eliminate racial discrimination completely when we still see it every day. The media is one of the main sourc es of racism. We see ambiguous scenes of people and believe that what theRead MoreThe Main Categories Are Violent Crimes And Property Crimes1415 Words   |  6 Pagesare many different types of crime. The two main sub-categories are violent crimes and property crimes. Violent crimes are against people, such as murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Young white males commit the majority of both of these crimes, and make up more than half of the arrests of all crimes. This is because society makes men feel like they have to show their masculinity and aggression and competitivenessRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Chesnutt Uses Mixed Race Characters 1675 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel, Chesnutt uses mixed race characters, which have both black and white ancestors and these characters display the conflicts between black and white societies. Within the novel, Janet Miller is the best example of a mixed race character. Janet’s father was from the white aristocracy, while her mother was a slave and a servant. Janet is emotionally hurt because she doesn t receive the same affection like white half-sister. She views herself as black and submits to the segregation of theRead MoreCriminology : A Social And Political Movement3263 Words   |  14 Pageswithin criminology which was the most dominant perspective and a positivist approach to crime. 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In fact, many participants are unaware of the racial constraints and barriers that are placed on other groups based on the amount of melanin in the skin. Regarding racism in America, many are under the impression that racism is a thing of the past and that as a country, we have removed the element

Importanceof Knowledge Based Reporting Free Essays

In order for journalist to effectively integrate the aforementioned procedures and come up with substantive articles while covering a news story, they have to be well informed and knowledgeable. In writing news articles that concern various aspects of the economy or the business sector, journalist should at least have some background information on how the economy works. This will enable the journalist to come up with accurate and informed explanations and analysis of the subject being covered. We will write a custom essay sample on Importanceof Knowledge Based Reporting or any similar topic only for you Order Now In addition, being knowledgeable will enable the journalist draw a connection on the economy and how it affects or relates to the audience. Another example where journalist are required to be knowledgeable is in writing business related articles. In this case, journalist may be required to interview a professional in the field of business. The journalist needs to have some knowledge in this filed in order to know the questions to ask (Sack, 2012). In writing features, journalist who are not knowledgeable and well versed with the subject they re addressing are vulnerable to manipulation by the sources they use. For instance, experts and professionals that journalist interview may not be passionate about the pursuit of knowledge or they may have their own agenda they are trying to advance. Having some knowledge in the basic concepts pertaining the issue being addressed could be helpful in questioning and raising skepticism on the answers provided by the respondent (Sack, 2012). Works Cited Sack, J. (2012). Journalism. New York: Metropolitan Books / Henry Holt and co. How to cite Importanceof Knowledge Based Reporting, Papers

Do You Believe in Magic free essay sample

Do You Believe in Magic? It was the night we had all waited for, the night that was to bring 15 years of a magical journey to an end. As my friends and I walked into the movie theater, we were immediately surrounded by people dressed as witches and wizards, snitches and half-giants. We continued to retrieve our tickets and walk toward our respective theater, passing movie posters declaring, â€Å"It all ends here†. For the generation that has grown up with Harry, Ron and Hermione, the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part 2, was the end of an era. Memories of my parents picking my siblings and I up after school to go see the first installments in the franchise came flooding back. After seeing the film, there would no longer be countdowns to further books and movies, there would no longer be further insight into the world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It would in fact, all end here. What started as just a single children’s book when a generation of early elementary school kids were just learning to read, had turned into seven books, eight movies, one theme park, one interactive website, and countless Potter based fan sites, organizations and items of merchandise. These books managed to create an entirely new world for my generation to grow and learn with. I have memories of learning how to read with the early Harry Potter books, and reading them to my younger siblings. As the characters got older and matured, so did I, and the last movie premiering the summer after I graduated high school marked the end of my childhood along with many others who had grown up with the series. With her writing, JK Rowling has effectively morphed the culture of adolescents around the world. Since the first book was released, over 325 million copies of the books have been sold; they have been translated into 65 different languages, distributed in over 200 countries and made JK Rowling worth about one billion dollars (â€Å"Harry†). With that level of success, alternative authors have not even been able to come close to those numbers and it is likely that none will. The success of the tales of this young wizard is insurmountable including all the high amounts of revenue from all facets being used to widen the Potter experience. With â€Å"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,† having the most successful opening day and the highest-grossing opening weekend in history, raking in approximately $168 million at the box office (Sragow), and $160 million being made from Potter based toys, and countless obs being provided around the world (â€Å"Harry Potter Economy†), it is safe to say the series has also strongly influenced the economy and reset standards for all childrens books. According to Motoko Rich, writer for the New York Times, â€Å"Of all the magical powers wielded by Harry Potter, perhaps none has cast a stronger spell than his supposed ability to transform the reading habits of young people†. In a world being taken over by technology, video games and cell phones, the need for children to turn to books for entertainment is growing indefinitely. Studies performed by the United States Department o Education have shown a decline in reading for entertainment, but according to Steven Herb, director of the Education and Behavioral Sciences Library at Penn State University, Harry Potter has â€Å"put on the brakes on that decline† (Hoover). He told the Post-Gazette that there has been a reported increase in fantasy and serial fiction sales, and that the books have been a â€Å"cultural and social benefit† (Hoover). As our culture becomes more immersed in technology, the more children are relying on violent video games and movies to entertain themselves. With the creation of the Harry Potter books came an increased interest in reading. As a typical teenage girl, who â€Å"never has time† to read for fun, I have found time to read an entire Harry Potter book in a 24 hour period. By creating characters that are relatable to kids and teenagers, and having them facing universal concepts such as good vs. evil and the difficulties of growing up and by creating this alternate reality in the form of books, interest was piqued by people of all ages. You can go on the internet and find hundreds of quizzes sorting you into the different â€Å"houses† of Hogwarts, and telling you which characters you relate to, all in an attempt to become part of this alternate reality created by these infamous books. Not only has the series gotten people more interested in reading, it has sparked inspiration for many clubs and organizations around the world. Not only is the wizarding sport of Quidditch now an official collegiate sport, organizations like The Harry Potter Alliance are actively making efforts to better the world in multiple ways. The world created by Rowling has been extended to real life and therefore become a part of modern, adolescent culture. The Harry Potter world has managed to infiltrate everyday lives of millions by carrying on the magic into physical activities, not just reading and movies. No other book series has been fortunate enough to have these kinds of results. The organization known as The Harry Potter Alliance claims to be fighting real world parallels from the books, including issues of literacy, equality and human rights (â€Å"What†). Furthering the impact of this fictitious world.