Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins Essay

Book Review: Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins Dr. David Traverzo Christian Ethics Gregory A. Keels 02/13/2012 Doing Christian Ethics from the margins is all about helping people explore the ethical issues of the marginalized. This book reveals as to how people who live in the margins of society deal with ethics. Also this book reveals how the same marginalized people worldview is different from the dominate culture who is not apart of the marginalized. This book is divided into four sessions, the first section dealing with theory while the last three gives specific case studies to the theory. The first session titled Ethical Theory deals with how Christian ethical systems are formed. The author Miguel A. De la Torre gives his understanding of ethical theory. The first main and important statement he makes in this section is when he talks about ethics being done in a particular social location. When he stated that it proved that ethics and social welfare comes together. A person’s upbringing and social surroundings affects his or her ethics. Also in this section the author talks about how white males generally dominated the academic ethics. This domination has many pitfalls. Some of these pitfalls include spiritual concerns that are excluded from social concerns, individualism, grace in favor of works, thinking more of heaven instead of the here and now, and failure to come up with a transformation praxis. These pitfalls reinforce ideologies of power that are connected to unjust social structures that include racism, classism, and sexism. The author puts up a challenge to every single reader to come up with a code of ethics that will identify with the example of Christ of standing against the ppressed. In the other three parts of the book the author gives case studies and show how his own hermeneutic circle applied to different ethical situations such as relationships, business, and global relationships. in each section there are four chapters. the first chapter explains the topics and the other three explains the topic with case studies. The hermeneutic circle is made up of five steps. In each of those five steps a per son’s worldview ethics is challenged and encourages the person to be more engaged in social transformation. The steps include observing, reflecting, praying, acting, and releasing. This pattern is a continuous circle repeating itself over and over. The significance of this book to the church is great significance. This model the author has presented could be used greatly in the church. When I was looking at this model I felt this is what the church should be doing. The church is only effective if it is active in the community. The church should be able to see what the need of the community, pray on it, act on it and then move onto the next need. Part of Christian ethics is doing the right thing when the problem is presented. Two of the case studies that I felt can greatly impact the church was the case studies on global and national poverty. the church has always played a major role in helping the poverty both globally and nationally. However I believe that the church need to realize that poverty is more then just not having any food or being homeless. Poverty is connected to social class. It is connected to those who can afford an education and those who can not. Poverty is also connected to those who can get hired for the high paying jobs and those who can only get the jobs that pay minimum salary and is not enough to raise a family. The church can do a better job in helping in that area. The main part of a Christian’s ethics is helping those who are in need. This is our primary responsibility. So in order to fulfill that responsibility we must understand the whole issue of poverty. The significance this book has on the society can be great. However I believe the church and society must be connected together. This helps those who read it understand the problems of the marginalized and how it can be addressed. It would be really helpful if those who were from the groups who hold the most power read this book for a better understanding of how the actions they do affect those who are marginalized. Just like I stated with the church and its response to poverty the society has to have the same response. However since the society is not the church the ethical response would be different. Those who are in high powerful positions have the ethical obligation to assist those who are in the marginalized. However what we see is those people exploiting the marginalized. When it comes to ethics as a whole this book as revealed to me no matter what position you are connected to rather it is Christian ethics, business ethics, or society ethics you have an obligation to help those who do not have the power to help themselves. It is not just about poverty either. There is an ethical obligation to help the marginalized when it comes to things like affirmative action, war, the environment etc. A strength I found in this is how the author used real life examples in his case studies that included people who were marginalized. By using real life stories it brought a whole new experience than from a typical text book. This help take the readers from a spectator view to an up close and personal view of what it is like to be in the marginalized. Another strength I felt the author had was the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. These discussion questions help the reader reflect and understand more about the marginalized. Also these discussion questions help the reader form a more solid ethic for the marginalized. The main weakness I saw in this book is how the author did not really go through the whole hermeneutic cycle. In each case study the first three cycles were used. It would have been better if the author used the whole cycle so that the reader could get a full example of how the cycle is used and the outcome of the cycle. Also it would have been helpful if the author had given some examples where this cycle has not worked. Perhaps it would even be helpful if the author had limited to just once case study in each section and go more in depth as to how the cycle worked in the case study. Overall I strongly recommend this book to those who have a desire to get an action plan that will have an impact on dealing with the marginalized. De La Torre makes a great case in challenging those who are in the dominate culture to give up the heavy power and special privilege they have so that those who are in the marginalized can live a better life. With making this challenge the author has given great tools for those who are committed to seeing the transformation of the marginalized. While this seem like a no brainer to some it might be still difficult for those in the dominate culture to accept. Some people might just not see how the dominate culture affects the marginalized while others feel they are doing just enough. Also you might get those who will say they will embrace De La Torre’s model but will fail to actually attempt to do it. It is going to take a lot of work and sacrifice to see true change. Who is willing to actually do that hard work? Who is going feel it is actually worth it? Regardless of where you fit in the spectrum we all have to do our part. If we all do not step in and say we are willing to make the sacrifices need to see a transformational change then regardless of what one group does it will not work. this has to be a group effort. I believe this is the point De La Torre was trying to bring across.

Solutions to the Global Climate Change Essay - 1389 Words

Global warming has become a world wide issue and an issue that is causing great controversy. It is an increase in the earths atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution (Dictionary). Global warming is a natural process, but because of increase in certain activities this process is taking a faster and more dangerous route creating global problems. Global warming was first theorized in 1894 by Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier a French mathematician, who noticed the earth was gradually increasing in temperature. He came to the conclusion that the earth’s atmosphere was trapping solar radiation caused by the sun and reflecting this radiation back to†¦show more content†¦The increase in CO2 emission is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are carbon-based fuels from fossil carbon deposits, including coal, oil, and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels is a big part of life because it powers automobiles, heats and cools homes, and generates electricity. This combustion of fossil fuels is about 90% of the total emission in the world (Greenhouse gases, Climate change, and energy). When this fuel is burned, it pollutes the atmosphere and increases the global warming process. What makes CO2 dangerous is the fact that it is nonrenewable and it warms the earth faster. CO2 emissions should be lowered because when the earth is warmed up this and other greenhouse gases increase the rate at which the polar ice caps melt, resulting in increasing sea levels and flooding. To help reduce these CO2 emissions replacing a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb can save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (Al Gore, reduce your impact at home, 1), moving a thermostat down 2 ° in winter and up 2 ° in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (Al Gore, reduce your impact at home, 3). Another great way to reduce CO2 emission is by switching to energy efficient appliances which can save 175 million pounds of carbon dioxide. 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The Birthmark, Rappaccini’s Daughter and the Strange Case...

When you hear the word â€Å"mad scientist† you perceive an aggressive, eccentric, awkward and intellectual individual that works with fictional equipment in order to initiate their intelligible schemes. On the other hand, they fail to recognize the evil that will stream from the hubris of â€Å"playing god†. A majority of the time these â€Å"mad scientists† are individuals who value their experiments and scientific curiosity over themselves, others and the world. The literature works, The Birthmark, Rappaccini’s Daughter and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde all depict the role of a â€Å"mad scientist† who ultimately destroys themselves and others in an attempt to create something perfect. Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Birthmark† illustrates an†¦show more content†¦Thus, Dr. Rappaccini is symbolic of an early gardener who uses genetics to alter the appearance and fragrance of plants and flowers. It should be noted that Beatrice, much like Georgiana sans the birthmark, is an extraordinarily beautiful young woman, for she is â€Å"endowed with all gentle and feminine qualities† (Hawthorne, 1057) and is worthy to be worshipped. Without a doubt, this little tale related by Professor Baglioni serves as a foreshadowing device related to Beatrice herself, meaning that Dr. Rappaccini has â€Å"experimented† on Beatrice since birth with poisons which have mysteriously endowed her with â€Å"Nordic† beauty. In fact, Professor Baglioni points out that Beatrice is certainly the offspring of her father’s experiments — â€Å"That old fable of the Indian woman,† he exclaims, â€Å"has become a truth by the deep and deadly science of Rappaccini and in the person of the lovely Beatrice† (Hawthorne, 1059). Beatrice then admits the truth, for she tells Giovanni that her father is â€Å"a man fearfully acquainted with the secrets of Nature† and that she is â€Å"the effect of my father’s fatal love of science† (Hawthorne, 1062). In order to rid Beatrice of this curse and be â€Å"purified

The Negitive Effects of Tobacco Essay - 1330 Words

Drugs are generally recognized as of the greatest problems in the United States. According to the statistics, tobacco has the highest death rate. Smoking is a very popular habit, even though we all know that smoking is very dangerous. Millions of people around the globe want to quit smoking for medical reasons such as having already two heart-valve replacement surgeries. By now, almost everyone knows that smoking and other tobacco use causes cancer. But it can also cause may more problems. When you smoke tobacco, the effects on your body are immediate. Your pulse increases. Breathing becomes faster and more shallow. Circulation begins to drop. Poisonous compounds like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia gas enter your†¦show more content†¦They become large and hard, and lose their ability to exchange air. With damaged air sacs, you cannot get enough air to breathe, and always feel that you cannot catch your breath. Emphysema is a very serious disease. It takes yea rs to develop, but its damage cannot be undone. The disease can be caused by any substance in the lungs, which causes irritation and swelling. Cigarette smoke is the most common cause of this disease as cigarette smoke contains acidic and irritant substances. Substances in cigarettes irritate the walls of the throat and the bronchial tubes. Mucus is produced which clogs up the respiratory passages. This makes breathing difficult and leads to a â€Å"smokers cough†. Very often, the bronchial tubes become infected and the disease lasts a long time instead of clearing up in a few days. Without treatment, bronchitis will seriously weaken your lungs. The only chance your lungs have to fully recover is for you to stop putting cigarette smoke into them. Is smoking really worth losing your breath? Smoking cigarettes and marijuana are closely related. Research shows that youth who smoke cigarettes are fourteen times more likely to try marijuana as those who dont. With regular use of tobacco, levels of nicotine accumulate in the body during the day and persist overnight thus exposing daily smokers to the effects of nicotine for 24 hours each day. There are long-term hazards. In addition to nicotine, cigarette smoke is primarily

Growin Up In the Hood Essay Example For Students

Growin Up In the Hood Essay Growing Up In the HoodIs it a coincidence that highly urbanized areas are full of crime and always statistically higher than small towns and rural areas? A child that is being brought up in a metropolitan area that is full of violent crimes is flooded in a sense and has nothing to do but to breath in some of the negative influences that go on around him. Therefore, I believe that the most influential scene in a childs life is the neighborhood that he grows up in. Parents cannot constantly watch over their children, ask about whom they are hanging out with, constantly check where they are, and find out what they are getting themselves into? (Statistics p348)When a child is growing up he is frequently asked what he is going to do for money when he gets older. The more this question is asked to them, the more they feel like they have to have money to be happy in life. After many tries of trying to make a stable life at a low paying job, a criminal life maybe more appealing to them at th ey may start living life under the gun. As stated by William Wilson in When Work Disappears, Neighborhoods plagued by high levels of joblessness are more likely to experience low levels of social organization, they go hand in hand. In Chicago for instance, in 1990 there was only one in three in the twelve ghetto communities that had held a job in a typical workweek of the year. When there are high rates of joblessness bigger problems surface such as violent crime, gang violence, and drug trafficking. (Wilson P356-362)These crime-ridden communities (or ghettos) are springing up all through the country, mainly in and around major metropolitan areas. These areas are the most populated, so that means that within these areas are the most people there to be influenced by the crimes committed by fellow people. In Males reading he shows statistics that prove the fact that once the poverty factor is taken away then teen violence disappears. He later adds, That if America wants to rid of juve nile violence than serious consideration needs to be given to the societally inflicted violence of raising three to 10 times more youth in poverty than other Western nations. (Males p386) As stated by Elijah Anderson, Just living in a low-income area gives most residents less hope for there own future. They see that their only way to succumb to their loss of hope is to make themselves happy by joining a gang and getting a family-like feeling or committing crimes to obtain money or other material objects. Elijah Anderson states that there are however, forces that can counteract all the influence fed to a child on the streets, that is a strong and loving family committed to middle class values. Yet, like said before, we cannot rest all this weight onto parents, if a parent is too strict with their child and sets too many rules and guidelines the child may want to rebel against them. When a child finds no positive feedback at home the street, in his mind, is the next best alternative. Rules on the streets are very opposite to the norms that are within a middle-class decent family, yet they are similar in respect. For example, in the average home life a great deal of respect is paid to the father who is usually the money maker in the family, on the streets however, that same amount of respect is paid to the lead of a gang or to a drug dealer. In ways they are similar but they are on different levels of the spectrum, one is trying to make a good home life for his family and the other is trying to lead his family to higher positions on he streets. (Anderson 363-368)I know that there are other factors that may influence a child at a young age to be violent such as physical or sexual abuse from the parents, a broken home-life, and violent media. The parental influence can be ruled out by looking at the writings of Timothy Egan, the school killers parents were not abusive nor were all but one of them divorced or speaking of it. The parents based the blame on the junk c ulture that surrounded their child, but shouldnt they have paid attention to what there kids were in to and if it was negative shouldnt they have swayed them away from it. (Egan p338-339)Another influence that is under fire is the violent media. Violent rap music that has lyrics depicting murders and other violent acts is telling kids that their music idols do it so shouldnt they? Teens are easily influenced, and when they have their favorite rapper preaching about all the people they have killed and all the drugs they do, some teens take it to heart. Another example is movies and violent television programs that always show the hero with guns or other violent weapons, that too makes teens want to be like someone that would, in real life, be thrown in prison. (Ross p407)I dont believe that negative media and abusive parents are as significant as living in a crime ridden, low income area. Parental and media influences can be directed in a more positive direction. Therapy can be given to abused children and their parents or guardians that they live with. Parents of children who watch violent television and negative music can turn it off when there is something violent on so their child doesnt soak it in. But what can be done for children living in a ghetto? Proper government housing that is controlled and monitored is a good start and certain gun laws could be put into affect but when guns are outlawed, outlaws will be the only ones with guns, so as you can see it is a vicious cycle with almost no end. .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 , .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .postImageUrl , .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 , .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:hover , .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:visited , .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:active { border:0!important; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:active , .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215 .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u788eea7f6f651a6f539c1522a4d96215:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Shoeless Joe Jackson Essay

The Pequods Leaders Their Differing Characteristics Essays

The Pequods Leaders: Their Differing Characteristics L.R.G. Captain Ahab, First Mate Starbuck, Second Mate Stubb, and Third Mate Flask. From the time they are first introduced, the Pequods leaders are noticeably very different from each other. Almost everything is different about these men save the fact that they are all four on a whaling ship. Why did Melville take such care to develop these four men as he did? Would the story have been as profound without these distinct character foils? Probably not. I think what Melville was trying to accomplish by having such differing personalities aboard the Pequod was to keep the reader interested on the personal level of the story as well as to put emphasis on Ahabs obsession. Captain Ahab is certainly an interesting character. He is driven mad by desire for revenge because of an injury he incurred from the gigantic white whale known as Moby Dick. He spends nights studying maps of ocean currents and reefs in an attempt to locate and slay the whale. He portrays the whale as evil and attempts to make everyone aboard believe that the quest for Moby Dick is their common destiny. Under his command, the sole purpose of the voyage is to hunt Moby Dick. While he is mad, he still realizes that his crew could defy him and stage a mutiny so to solve this, he offers a gold ounce to the man who kills the whale. Ahab even has his own private boat crew, which he seemingly smuggled on board, to help him kill Moby Dick. Right up until the bitter end he is certain of his ability to slay the whale. Unfortunately for him, fate, luck, or a combination of the two prevent him from doing so. Starbuck, the first mate, is a religious, conservative man. Unlike Ahab who is driven by his manic hate for the whale, Starbuck is a devout Christian who lets his religion dictate most aspects of his life. He is the only one aboard the Pequod who openly disputes Captain Ahabs order to solely hunt Moby Dick. Starbucks conservatism is a direct negation of Ahabs monomania. The second mate, Stubb, is described as a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. He doesnt take anything seriously enough to bother or frighten him. He is popular among the crew and always shows his good humor. Due to the large amount of time hes spent whaling, he seems to be desensitized to the dangers of the trade. Stubb, unlike Starbuck or Ahab, believes that everything happens for a reason and that theres not much he or anyone else can do to change that. Flask, the third mate, is a short, stocky man who seems to have a touch of what we call short man syndrome. He finds it very invigorating to kill a whale yet never stops to think about the greatness of the creature. Actually, unlike the other leaders of the ship, he never really stops to think about anything of much importance. His offensive attitude, paired with his physical appearance, earns him the nickname King-Post. These mens personalities are in contrast to one another mainly to draw attention to Captain Ahabs madness but also to keep us interested in the story. It is true that if all the mates had plain, unimportant personalities, Ahabs madness would still be quite noticeable. But what Melville did by giving the mates personalities that are in great contrast to that of Ahabs, is heighten our awareness of his madness.

Free Essays on Marijuana Legalization

With the rise in controversy over marijuana, and its use both medically and recreationally, a need for resolve of marijuana legislation has become evermore important. Modern day society carries a wide spectrum of views on this age-old drug and its use. Some compare its prohibition in the 1920s. Others argue marijuana is less harmful to society than alchol. Fifteen percent of the United States population falling under regular users and our prisons over crowded with people who have commited a victimless crime., clear and decisive legislation should be made on its use(NewScientist). The long-time argument of the benefits of medical marijuana is often the battle cry of the marijuana legalization movement. Granted, a number of supporters have no medical use for the drug, but the claim of its medicinal value is a practical one. The public support for medical marijuana is obvious, with six states having passed protests allowing medical use within their borders. More importantly the scientific support exists. Study after study shows the benefits of marijuana far outweigh its less desirable effects. For the legalization movement the most notable of these studies would be the government's most recent conducted by the food and drug administration(Wikman). This study was commissioned by General Barry McCaffrey, the drug czar of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Arguing that marijuana is a "gateway" drug and that if it was used for medicinal purposes it would lead to greater illicit usage. In the end the study showed that marijuana's medical treatments include pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation. Conceding that while â€Å"some of its effects are modest, and some other drugs may be better for some treatments,† everyone is not responsive to the other treatments and for individuals infected with AIDS or going though chemotherapy marijuana will provide a beneficial multi-symptom relief(360). On top of this... Free Essays on Marijuana Legalization Free Essays on Marijuana Legalization With the rise in controversy over marijuana, and its use both medically and recreationally, a need for resolve of marijuana legislation has become evermore important. Modern day society carries a wide spectrum of views on this age-old drug and its use. Some compare its prohibition in the 1920s. Others argue marijuana is less harmful to society than alchol. Fifteen percent of the United States population falling under regular users and our prisons over crowded with people who have commited a victimless crime., clear and decisive legislation should be made on its use(NewScientist). The long-time argument of the benefits of medical marijuana is often the battle cry of the marijuana legalization movement. Granted, a number of supporters have no medical use for the drug, but the claim of its medicinal value is a practical one. The public support for medical marijuana is obvious, with six states having passed protests allowing medical use within their borders. More importantly the scientific support exists. Study after study shows the benefits of marijuana far outweigh its less desirable effects. For the legalization movement the most notable of these studies would be the government's most recent conducted by the food and drug administration(Wikman). This study was commissioned by General Barry McCaffrey, the drug czar of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Arguing that marijuana is a "gateway" drug and that if it was used for medicinal purposes it would lead to greater illicit usage. In the end the study showed that marijuana's medical treatments include pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation. Conceding that while â€Å"some of its effects are modest, and some other drugs may be better for some treatments,† everyone is not responsive to the other treatments and for individuals infected with AIDS or going though chemotherapy marijuana will provide a beneficial multi-symptom relief(360). On top of this... Free Essays on Marijuana Legalization Most Americans do not want to spend scarce public funds incarcerating nonviolent marijuana offenders, at a cost of $23,000 per year. Politicians must reconsider our country's priorities and attach more importance to combating violent crime than targeting marijuana smokers. Marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers at least $7.5 billion annually. This is an enormous waste of scarce federal dollars that should be used to target violent crime. Marijuana prohibition makes no exception for the medical use of marijuana. The tens of thousands of seriously ill Americans who presently use marijuana as a therapeutic agent to alleviate symptoms of cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, or multiple sclerosis risk arrest and jail to obtain and use their medication. Between 1978 and 1996, 34 states passed laws recognizing marijuana's therapeutic value. Most recently, voters in two states Arizona and California passed laws allowing for the medical use of marijuana under a physician's supervision. Yet, states are severely limited in their ability to implement their medical use laws because of the federal prohibition of marijuana. America tried alcohol prohibition between 1919 and 1931, but discovered that the crime and violence associated with prohibition was more damaging than the evil sought to be prohibited. With tobacco, America has learned over the last decade that education is the most effective way to discourage use. Yet, America fails to apply these lessons to marijuana policy. By stubbornly defining all marijuana smoking as criminal, including that which involves adults smoking in the privacy of their own homes, we are wasting police and prosecutorial resources, clogging courts, filling costly and scarce jail and prison space, and needlessly wrecking the lives and careers of genuinely good citizens. Marijuana legalization offers an important advantage over dec... Free Essays on Marijuana Legalization In the year 1937, the United States government made the drug marijuana illegal. This ban had little effect on people until the mid 60’s and 70’s. This was a time where many mind altering drugs where experimented with and widely used. During this time was also when marijuana research took place. Early researches was vague and bias, but in the years after many legitimate studies have been conducted, and both sides of the issues have been revealed. While looking at these studies with an open mind, one can conclude that marijuana should be legalized. Even though there are some health risks associated with marijuana, it is no different than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana does have negative health aspects. The main hazard linked with marijuana is the smoke inhaled by the user. This is an interesting point because most marijuana users are not exposed to as much smoke as a tobacco user, and only smoke as much marijuana as necessary to reach their desired effects. Also recent studies show that the marijuana produced today is much more potent than it was thirty years ago. This only makes the hazards less because it will be safer to the user since less volume of smoke will be required to reach the same desired high. Marijuana smoke is very similar to tobacco smoke, and tobacco smoke has been found to cause lung diseases like cancer and emphysema, but marijuana users typically do not smoke anywhere near the volume of marijuana as tobacco smokers smoke tobacco. The other major effect marijuana is said to have is psychological harms. There was a time that marijuana research made it appear as if there was a structural change in the brain of heavy marijuana users, but modern research has disproved those studies (Co and Goodwin 1229). While a person is intoxicated they tend to perform poorly in auditory functions, and this is due to reduction of blood flow to the temporal lobe of the brain (O’ Leary and Andr...