How does Showboat raise issues of race in American culture and bring serious issues to musical theatre Essays

How does Showboat raise issues of race in American culture and bring serious issues to musical theatre Essays How does Showboat raise issues of race in American culture and bring serious issues to musical theatre Paper How does Showboat raise issues of race in American culture and bring serious issues to musical theatre Paper Musical theater has been around for many years, with the first musical produced, which is similar to that of modern day musicals was The black Crook in September 12 1866. Before showboat the theatre was reserved for white people, using make up to make black characters noticeable. Showboat revolutionized the face of musicals by being the first racially integrated play, but some argue whether the play should be looked upon like this. As it was not always fully racially integrated in all aspects. Nevertheless, the idea was still very controversial at the time, as I will discuss later. Showboat took a new look upon the way theatre was and for some it was seen as the first as the first American musical play. The musical was based upon Edna Ferbers book; she often dealt with characters that were discriminated against for reasons such as ethnicity. Hammerstein wrote the lyrics for showboat, which were often poignant and controversial. Oscar Hammerstein is highly regarded in the history of American musical theatre with the utmost respect. The lyrics he produced such as that from South Pacific could be looked at to understand the views of Hammerstein. His use of language concerning racism is exceptionally strong, and for the most part very correct. Youve got to be taught, Its got to be drummed, To hate all the people your relatives hate. He takes this idea that no one is a born racist. You must often be brought up to be one, as suggested in this piece, which takes careful teaching and hatred. America during the 1920s was in a terrible state concerning racism, it was worse in the south with extremist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan being created. Who openly hated black people and Catholics. This resulted in lynching of black people for no reason and segregation to the point that black people were not even aloud in the same restaurant or bus as a white person. Showboat was not shown in the south during this time, this was most likely a result of such amounts of racism in the south that it would not be accepted. Possibly even making the overall situation worse. This racism in general was the reason why Showboat was such a huge step forward in American culture. The characters in the play were still at times stereotypical with black characters being presented to you as maids and stevedores. However, the major difference was for the first time black characters where given individuality, emotions and meaning. Using songs such as OlMan River sung by Joe one of the stevedores. This song sympathized with the character and his situation. It symbolizes how the black characters were often of less importance than the leading white characters. The blues influence to the songs makes them more emotional and touching. Joe is one of the characters that is shown to have much love, especially for Julie. Joe shows great respect for miss Julie as he refers to her as. Julie is the star of the show but having a mixed background causes her to have nigger blood as Vallon the racist sheriff refers to it. It would therefore be illegal for her to marry anyone who does not have nigger blood in them. At this time in American, it was a criminal offence causing the charged to be arrested. In the first scene Andy introduces her as the little sweetheart of the south Miss Julia LaVerne showing how she is made into this figure to be looking up to and admired greatly. Yall know her, and yall love her Andy says. It is rather ironic how they love Julie, as they all know her. However, in reality they know very little of her background and real identity which may not be as openly accepted as the character she prefers to be instead. She is what is known as passing. This is when someone passes for something they are not. In Julies case a white woman, but in reality, she is mixed race with many of her influences coming from the black community such as the songs she sings. Another example of the racism towards characters and use of language, which is said in an everyday manner, is Pete. Thats a hell of a thing to do giving my present to a nigger. It shows no respect towards black people. Julie is idolized, for example Magnolia who looks up to her seeking advice. Julie often refers to her as child, they have a mother daughter relationship but also like two sisters at the same time. Again little evidence is shown of Magnolia ever being told the truth about Julies upbringing. Julie is obviously very afraid of being found out for passing, which shows the harsh realities of the racism. She is afraid of the consequences and would loose everything on the showboat, it would not even be allowed for her to act on stage as someone of mixed race. Which is another strong issue that showboat brings up. The fear of being caught is shown when Julie sings a song Cant help loving that man of mine and queenie recognizes the song. The subtext says a swift terror steals across her face this gives an impression of Julies initial reaction. She is very cautious about being found out but it states the expression quickly vanishes. I believe at no point is Julie ever ashamed of the life she has lived. Or of any of her black heritage, she fears the system that is scandalizedd with racism. Everything comes to an emotional climax when Pete alerts the sheriff about the case between Julie and Steve. Showboat uses this seen to create a very strong message of how love can overcome boundaries. Steve cuts Julies hand with a knife and sucks the blood, this way Steve could honestly say, he has nigger blood in him. Vallon the sheriff is obviously grossly racist referring to the miscegenation case as a negro woman married to a white man. This is where Steve says You wouldnt call a man a white man thats got negro blood in him, would you? There is a mixed reaction by the characters with Windy openly swearing that Steve is telling the truth. While Parthy is not even allowed to speak as, Andy does not trust her to back up Steve and Julie. Magnolia desperately wants to see Julie but Parthy says you come back here this instant! No daughter of mines goin to talk to that that. Parthy appears to be like many during this time racist with no remorse. Her words are held back, but she seems to look down upon Julie even more now she found out her past. While others such as Andy are much more open-minded and sympathize with the situation. Also giving Steve money as a good gesture despite all that has happened. In conclusion, showboat raised many serious issues but most of all the racial hatred that was amongst people. It gave all characters despite their skin colour a distinct unique personality and highlighted the great faults, which lay in society. By playing with the emotions of the audience led you to feel great sorrow for Julies situation. In addition, the fact she is of mixed race seems completely irrelevant, as no one should be treated in such a manner. It made it very clear how so many people in the play (but in reality many people in real life) used racist undertones in everyday conversation without thinking twice about it. Showboat used varying themes to draw us into the whole situation such as belonging; Julies burning desire to be her real self but knowing she would not belong. And identity as she often felt inclined to cover up her roots so she would not be found it. Also, ignorance is a theme that remains throughout. An example of this is Pete who feels it is the right thing to do to alert the sheriff of the situation having no grasp of the consequences on the relationships. Because of the way society was it seemed something that had to be done, but fortunately, Captain Andy held hope and had a good nature, someone who saw the true He also saw Julie as person not a case or lawbreaker. Showboat revolutionized musical theatre and by taking such a serious theme and implementing, it into a musical environment made it all the more emotional opening the door for black actors. Also changing theatre, resulting with more serious issues being confronted in musical theatre such as Blood Brother and South pacific. Showboat was a milestone in the history of musical theatre.

LinkedIn Profile Summary Tip Distinguishing Yourself from Your Company

LinkedIn Profile Summary Tip Distinguishing Yourself from Your Company Are You Conflating Yourself with Your Company? One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in their LinkedIn profile Summary is that they do not distinguish who they are from who their company is. I call this â€Å"conflating† yourself with your company. â€Å"Conflating† is a completely natural thing to do, especially if you, like so many of us, identify yourself very strongly with your company. It just doesn’t work for your readers and potential customers. When I read a Summary on LinkedIn, I want it to tell me who that person is beyond the great professional photo up top. If I wanted to hear all about a company, I would go to the company website or LinkedIn page. I’m looking at your personal profile to learn more about you! Why You Should Separate Your Companys Accomplishments from Your Own Here’s an example from a LinkedIn profile Summary I reviewed, along with my commentary: Over 17 years of expertise providing social networking strategy consulting and implementation in organizations such as Motorola, BF Goodrich, ATT, American Express, Medtronic, CNA, UBS and hundreds of emerging companies looking to build key account relationships with large organizations, innovate new products or build their brands through social networking. Did you make it through that one? It was difficult, wasn’t it? Not only is this otherwise impressive list of credentials a run-on sentence, but it leaves us confused: Is this person talking about herself or her company? Does she have 17 years of experience or does her company? After reading this entire paragraph, I’m still wondering†¦ who is she? Her next paragraph goes on as follows: We offer a unique, exclusive and cost-effective process to build leadership, sales and customer networks to grow revenue exponentially. Recently Crains named me the best networker in Chicago. I am also the author of eleven books (just working on book twelve)†¦. Do you see where in the middle of a paragraph she switches from the subject â€Å"we† to the subject â€Å"I†? Again, who is she vs. who is her company? The above networking expert has stellar credentials and recommendations and is up to big things – but we might not ever get around to reading past the first two lines of her Summary. Its Possible to Sell Yourself AND Your Company Now, here’s an example of someone who does a great job of distinguishing himself from his company, and who succeeds in selling both: I am a research professional and LinkedIn trainer with more than eight years of combined market intelligence, competitive intelligence and Internet recruiting experience. My focus has been on deep web sourcing, executive interviews and online social networking. I enjoy networking with professionals from any industry on a global scale and encourage you to contact me at any time. Thanks! See how this entire paragraph is about the person himself? It works! We’re right there with him! His second section reads as follows: Current Phelps Research Services Initiatives: * Networking with business professionals in the greater Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago areas * Selling and conducting targeted LinkedIn training to corporations. Here he clearly makes a switch from talking about himself to talking about his company. We get that he is the principal in the company and we know who’s behind these initiatives. We stay engaged and wanting to read more. I encourage you to look at your LinkedIn profile Summary. Have you conflated yourself with your company? If so, it’s time to re-write that Summary and distinguish yourself and who you are. That’s what we go there to discover. If you are interested in working with The Essay Expert on your LinkedIn Summary, Headline or other LinkedIn strategies, please let us know! Take a moment to learn more about the LinkedIn profile writing services we provide. A LinkedIn profile review is a great place start! Category:LinkedInBy Brenda BernsteinAugust 23, 2009

Red Bull stratos PR Campaign Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Red Bull stratos PR Campaign - Assignment Example To ensure that consumers are aware of the various benefits of Red Bull, the company has established a user friendly website (www.redbullstratos.com). Through this website, the company does not only enhance consumer awareness, but also it indicates the extent to which technology can be used in marketing (Guiltinan et al, 1996). With a headline of world biggest jump, Red Bull website highlights the roles of Felix and the marketing team to portray Red Bull as the source of strength and wisdom. Red Bull Stratos PR Campaign is well displayed through Youtube. In this way, the brand has captured the attention of young consumers who regularly visit internet marketing sites. As a result, Red Bull became a major competitor in the soft drink industry whose leader is Coca-Cola Company. Red Bull Stratos PR Campaign took place on October 14, 2012 in US. Based on the confidence and daring nature of Felix Baumgartner, the brand gives an indication of the level at which brands can change consumer beh avior as well as improving their welfare. The major aim of this campaign was to attract new consumers and retain the trust of the existing customers. This goal was achieved through innovation an aspect that is used by most of the market leaders in the international market. Image of the Red Bull Stratos PR Campaign Publics targeted by Red Bull Stratos PR Campaign Young consumers-young people have wide range of responsibilities that require significant amount of energy. In this regard, the Red Bull campaign targeted young consumers who use internet and social sites to seek for brands that can give them energy to undertake their daily duties. Athletes-Based on the need to retain their titles in athletics, athletes require high level of energy. This makes them to be loyal and increase consumption of brands that provides adequate energy. Through the use of Felix, Red Bull targeted athletes and other participants in the sporting field (Menon, 1997). Investors-Red Bull used innovation to a ttract potential investors. This was an indication that the company can go to any extent to improve its sales an aspect that investors looks at when comparing investment portfolios. Executives-Red Bull campaign was initiated by experienced marketers and information technology experts thus targeting executives who are aimed at enhancing their energy to attain individual and corporate objectives. Success of the campaign One of the major reasons as to why Red Bull Stratos PR Campaign succeeded was the skills and wide experience of the team members. For example, the camping team comprised of experts in the fields of medicine, designing, engineering and science. In this way, each of the team members made a significant contribution towards the success of the campaign. In the same way, the campaign had a mission to advance discoveries in aerospace in order to improve the welfare on mankind (Davis and Blomstrom, 1975).Through this mission, the team was focused at succeeding in all the stage s of developing the campaign. The scientific research and innovation that is adopted by the US government was also a major factor that led to the success of the campaign. For instance, Joe Kittinger a famous US air force colonel motivated Felix during the campaign. It is worth to note that for any marketing strategy to succeed, a company must allocate adequate financial resources.

Worlds of English - Linguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Worlds of English - Linguistics - Essay Example This research will focus on the differences exhibited within the three worlds of English, specifically the Inner Circles, Outer Circles as well as the Expanding Circles. In addition, it shall focus on the debates that have been raised in regard to the three worlds of English. Research has shown that the inner circle of English basically involves the fundamental bases of English speakers, characterized by primary or what has been referred as native speakers. The Inner circle of English includes various countries that are inhabited by primary speakers of this language i.e. Britain, Canada, United States of America, New Zealand as well as Australia. According to Krachu’s Scheme, the varieties of English Language spoken in the countries within the inner circle are ‘norm providing’ in nature. That is, the inner circle represents socio-linguistic bases of English and the traditional historical bases, where English norms are set by the cultures of the native speakers or the primary speakers. The average number of English speakers in this circle is approximately 380,000 million. However, some 120 million people within this circle speak the language in other countries. In addition, some researchers have argued that the spread of English stemmed up from the migration of British people to other countries such as, Australia, New Zealand, Canada et cetera. Another imperative aspect of the inner circle is based on the fact that the essence of Speaking English is Multi-Functional in the sense that its transmission occurs through the family and is usually maintained through various government or even quasi-government processes. Quasi-inter-government processes include channels like; the media, schools as well as other pertinent social systems of learning. Moreover, the inner circle of English world is characterized by standard accent, that is, the native speakers of English in this World of English pronounce or term words in an

Office Automation and Group Collaboration Software Essay Example for Free

Office Automation and Group Collaboration Software Essay As the business becomes smaller and smaller due to globalization making the business environment more dynamic and competitive, organizations of today are fast realizing the importance of information as an critical asset to successes. This in turn increases the importance of automated soft wares and group collaborations systems, which make information management and use more efficient and effective. This articles explores how Office Automation and group collaboration Systems like Groove are increasingly applied to manual business functions in a network of computers in an organization, which help in business communications, writing reports, saving information and statistics, and group of people working on a project from different location and same or different time frames, all integrated in automated software which saves both time and money increasing the work productivity of the employees. An office automation system heavily relies on a network of workstations in order to create an uninterrupted and fast approach to sending and receiving information in a timely fashion. This can be a local Area Network or LAN for local destinations, for example a network of computers with in a building etc or it can also spread across countries through a Wide Area Network (WAN), which can also be use send instant messages across . this network also provides a secures work space for individual workstations to share and work on documents using groove as a group collaboration software. The functions of an Office Automation System include electronic publishing soft wares which allow users to create documents, edit them as and when requires, insert tables, charts or any other graphics, electronically store important documents and even print them in the form of memos, periodic or ad hoc reports and letters, all these functions are performed by word processing soft wares where as a desktop publishing software can also be used for professional documents for examples brochure, and by making use of available templates for magazines etc Then we have Electronic communication soft wares, as a part of the Office Automation System used for face to face communication with executives in other cities or countries through desktop video conferencing incase of two employees communicating with each other, or electronic collaboration systems which allow different work groups to communicate face to face with each other and work on projects via a network of computers regardless of the geographical location. Another important branch of Office Automation Systems is Telecommuting which now makes It possible for employees to work from home or distant locations avoiding long distance travelling, traffic by connecting to the organization’s local or wide area network. One of the greater advantages of telecommuting is that it allows organization to use the untapped pool of the handicapped people and single parents who for reasons of their own cannot come to the work place. Other advantages of Office Automation Systems is that it also incorporates image processing and presentation and multimedia soft wares like PowerPoint, SPC Harvard Graphics etc which allow the users to edit and integrate both image and texts, videos etc and share it using work collaboration systems. Another important advantage of group collaboration soft wares in this era of globalization is that it allows work groups to work on and share information and coordinate activities at same place same time or different place, different times ensuring a smooth work flow through out the wide spread organization. Although Office automation and group collaboration software make work life a lot easier for us, yet one has to be cautious about the limitations they offer along with the advantages. The soft wares can be used for personnel use unrelated to work. For example instant messaging can be used to discuss topics other than work which wastes both time and office resources. As far as group ware is concerned they can be expensive, may require extensive training, mat not support the rapid changes in technology and due to the availability of company related information with different people at different places it can also lead to a leak in critical information. Therefore, after realizing the importance of automates software and group collaborative system which without any doubt increase work productivity and make coordination of various work activities very easy for us, one must be aware that it does come with certain limitations for which caution should be exercised. After all, information is a critical asset which needs proper management.

BMG Inc Essay -- Music Industry Essays

BMG Inc The music industry has experienced dramatic shocks that will ultimately transform its structure. The transformations have been sparked by new technologies and Internet use distributing music as a digital good. The MP3 audio format and the wide distribution network that has become available via the Internet are driving changes in the recorded music market structure and, thus, are simultaneously having significant impacts on the players in the traditional recorded music value chain. Global retail sales of recorded music dropped from $39.8Bn in 1996 to $38.5Bn in 1999 while the popularity of digital music has grown. This reflects digital music’s new role as a â€Å"strategic necessity† of the music industry. It is obvious that the digital music format is here to stay and, indeed, is quickly becoming the preferred product choice of music customers. Our group will examine the internal and external factors responsible for shaping this new marketplace and analyze BMG’s roles in the move to distribution of digital music. Financial Analysis BMG Entertainment, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann media, is a privately held company; therefore we can not study its market performance. However they do release financial statements to the public allowing industry performance to be measured (See Figure 1). To measure BMG’s financial health and profitability three tests were performed. These tests were also applied to the other major players in the music industry. An excellent way to determine BMG’s financial health is a quick ratio, also known as the acid test ratio which was calculated and compared to it rivals. The quick ratio is calculated by taking a firm’s current assets minus inventory divided by current liabilities; this allows you see how well the firm can pay back its debts in a timely matter. BMG, with a ratio of 2.39, only trails Sony, and along with Sony they are the only ones to have a ratio over one, meaning the other three firms have more debt than cash and cash equivalents. This is good sign of finan cial health because BMG has more than twice the amount of liquid assets to cover its immediate debts; unlike its competitors who find themselves quite short. The final two tests net profit margin (net profits over sales) and return on assets (net profit before taxes over sales), measure firms profitability. Net profit margin measures how much profit is generat... ...68 DEM 8,652  £1,143  £1,013 JPY 210,516 JPY 176,191 $6,971 $8,881 $8,769 $9,861 Inventory DEM 1,278 DEM 1,569 JPY 16,274 JPY 12,918 $2,627 $2,555 $2,258 $2,182 Current Liabilities DEM 2,317 DEM 3,100  £2,255  £2,098 JPY 56,749 JPY 54,361 $4,709 $8,146 $9,070 $9,670 Net Profit DEM 1,122 DEM 910  £210  £132 JPY 36,264 JPY 31,863 $946 $686 $168 $1,960 Taxes DEM 520 DEM 845  £97  £72 JPY 9,038 JPY 3,929 $702 $343 $418 $1,540 Sales DEM 22,985 DEM 25,991  £3,309  £2,374 JPY 226,575 JPY 226,656 $9,474 $12,312 $26,244 $27,333 *note: Inventory level not available for EMI due to differences in British accounting practices. All figures obtained from the consolidated financial reports contained inside the parents annual report. Table 1: Financial Results for BMG BMG Inc Essay -- Music Industry Essays BMG Inc The music industry has experienced dramatic shocks that will ultimately transform its structure. The transformations have been sparked by new technologies and Internet use distributing music as a digital good. The MP3 audio format and the wide distribution network that has become available via the Internet are driving changes in the recorded music market structure and, thus, are simultaneously having significant impacts on the players in the traditional recorded music value chain. Global retail sales of recorded music dropped from $39.8Bn in 1996 to $38.5Bn in 1999 while the popularity of digital music has grown. This reflects digital music’s new role as a â€Å"strategic necessity† of the music industry. It is obvious that the digital music format is here to stay and, indeed, is quickly becoming the preferred product choice of music customers. Our group will examine the internal and external factors responsible for shaping this new marketplace and analyze BMG’s roles in the move to distribution of digital music. Financial Analysis BMG Entertainment, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann media, is a privately held company; therefore we can not study its market performance. However they do release financial statements to the public allowing industry performance to be measured (See Figure 1). To measure BMG’s financial health and profitability three tests were performed. These tests were also applied to the other major players in the music industry. An excellent way to determine BMG’s financial health is a quick ratio, also known as the acid test ratio which was calculated and compared to it rivals. The quick ratio is calculated by taking a firm’s current assets minus inventory divided by current liabilities; this allows you see how well the firm can pay back its debts in a timely matter. BMG, with a ratio of 2.39, only trails Sony, and along with Sony they are the only ones to have a ratio over one, meaning the other three firms have more debt than cash and cash equivalents. This is good sign of finan cial health because BMG has more than twice the amount of liquid assets to cover its immediate debts; unlike its competitors who find themselves quite short. The final two tests net profit margin (net profits over sales) and return on assets (net profit before taxes over sales), measure firms profitability. Net profit margin measures how much profit is generat... ...68 DEM 8,652  £1,143  £1,013 JPY 210,516 JPY 176,191 $6,971 $8,881 $8,769 $9,861 Inventory DEM 1,278 DEM 1,569 JPY 16,274 JPY 12,918 $2,627 $2,555 $2,258 $2,182 Current Liabilities DEM 2,317 DEM 3,100  £2,255  £2,098 JPY 56,749 JPY 54,361 $4,709 $8,146 $9,070 $9,670 Net Profit DEM 1,122 DEM 910  £210  £132 JPY 36,264 JPY 31,863 $946 $686 $168 $1,960 Taxes DEM 520 DEM 845  £97  £72 JPY 9,038 JPY 3,929 $702 $343 $418 $1,540 Sales DEM 22,985 DEM 25,991  £3,309  £2,374 JPY 226,575 JPY 226,656 $9,474 $12,312 $26,244 $27,333 *note: Inventory level not available for EMI due to differences in British accounting practices. All figures obtained from the consolidated financial reports contained inside the parents annual report. Table 1: Financial Results for BMG

Should Mental Illness Be Taken Into Account in Determining Punishment

The penal system has been no help in alleviating the stigma attached to mental illness, routinely and historically treating mentally unstable inmates with just the same harsh approach as their criminally insane counterparts. Indeed, the distinction between these two populations is significant; however, authorities have long been reluctant to entertain such a concept. Similar to the treatment availed to them in institutions, mentally ill inmates have a history of being shackled, beaten and deprived of the most basic human needs.One might readily argue how state and federal penitentiaries exist for one reason and one reason only: to lock up the criminal and throw away the key. The conspicuous absence of rehabilitation programs speaks to the attitude society openly harbors about its convicted felons – keep them out of sight forever. Only recently has the idea of rehabilitation over incarceration been considered throughout contemporary correctional institutions as an alternative t oward addressing the imprisoned mentally ill, a population many believe are deserving of this option because of their blatant lack of free will in making morally responsible choices.The perpetuation of criminal activity, coupled with the severely limited resources availed to the state and federal criminal justice system, has made it almost compulsory for the penal system to implement comprehensive mental health programs not only to help alleviate prison overcrowding but also to rescue those inmates who do not belong in the penal system. Most people like to think that human beings possess free will, at least with regard to a wide range of actions.In contrast, however, some believe that certain people lack the aspect of free will. Many great theorists have contended that the reason some people may, indeed, lack free will is not so much due to the determined nature of their choices and behavior, but rather due to the fact that their behavior is not responsive to their choices in such a manner as to reflect those who do possess free will.When examining this viewpoint in further detail as it relates to mental illness playing an integral role in punishment, it is important to consider whether or not an individual can truly possess free will while at the same time having one's choices and behaviors determined by a greater force, as well. When one attempts to distinguish the principle essence of such theorists as David Hume, it is essential that one understand the difference between free will and determinism. When one is cast forward by ay of determinism, it is as though one has absolutely no control over the various and sundry occurrences that take place during one's life. Free will, on the other hand, speaks to the concept of having full authority over one's aspirations and ultimate direction, reflecting the exact opposite of those ruled by determinism. Having grasped the difference in meaning, the student may then want to argue that Hume's position was more than si gnificantly biased toward the concept of determinism.One might readily surmise how an individual whose life is ruled by determinism could realistically become void of any moralistic tendencies, inasmuch as one can claim that responsibility for any action would not fall upon the individual but rather the fateful path his is forced to follow. The manner in which this concept relates to Hume's radical principle is such that one might not be compelled to fight his own destiny, choosing instead to follow a path that is not always pristine and virtuous.The message that Hume is trying to convey is one of responsibility – all man's ideas come from impressions of things that have occurred before. Contrarily and without assuming responsibility for one's own actions in light of this assertion, the world would be nothing if not a jumble of adulterated confusion. By acting upon a basis of Hume's principle, one effectively relinquishes all accountability for his actions and – in the case of considering mental illness when doling out punishment – does not deserve the option of rehabilitation over incarceration.A world without moral liability, according to Hume, is certainly no place for a civilized being. â€Å"There is a species of skepticism, antecedent to all study and philosophy, which is much inculcated by Descartes and others as a sovereign preservative against error and precipitate judgement. It recommends a universal doubt, not only of all our former opinions and principles, but also of our very faculties; of whose veracity, say they, we must assure ourselves, by a chain of reasoning, deduced from some original principle which cannot possibly be fallacious or deceitful† (Hume PG).Characteristic of humanity's constant quest for the concept of meaning, the journey of understanding has come to represent myriad things to myriad people, ultimately rendering any universal explanation virtually impossible. The problem with meaning as it relates t o free will's impact upon one's moral responsibility is attempting to successfully pinpoint a single yet comprehensive connotation to its overall concept; however, this cannot be achieved as long as any two individuals harbor decidedly different interpretations, which is usually the case when debating this highly controversial subject matter.Critics have long questioned the theory of free will existing within the shadow of determinism, arguing how difficult it is to realistically determine if people exhibit certain behaviors out of fear of consequence or because they have the power to take control of their own lives, often causing them to become neglectful and unwise. Unlike other living beings, for what is possible is pretty much fixed by instincts and reflexes, one may argue how people initiate much of what they do, whether that means for better and for worse.Clearly, the connection one might make between free will and behavior based upon Hume's conjecture leads one to believe tha t people are much more likely to act out in such a manner that is motivated only by their personal desire to do so, rather than depending upon automatic reaction or stimulation. â€Å"The skeptic, therefore, had better keep within his proper sphere, and display those philosophical objections, which arise from more profound researches† (Hume PG).Society has not been very successful in addressing its mental illness problem; one only has to witness the nation's tremendous homeless population, obtain criminal justice statistics and examine the number of people currently taking psycho tropic medication in order to underscore the prevalence of mental illness. Understanding the origins of mental health is paramount to gaining further understanding of how to address punishment issues directly associated with mental illness, which requires the examination of myriad cultural and genetic elements that have been suspect in the study of human behavior.Recognition and treatment of mental i llness has undergone a tremendous metamorphosis over the past three centuries, with the very definition of â€Å"insanity† having encountered a most significant evolution. What was sane and what was normal was completely left open for interpretation by the powers that be, ultimately sealing the fate of many a mentally unbalanced individual whose only crime was chemical disparity. Institutional inmates were forced to live out their lives in formidable surroundings where they were cloistered in small, dark, dank rooms accommodated with one floor mattress for some half a dozen people.Chained in place, the inmates were forbidden to enjoy any of what one would consider necessary daily elements for sustaining sound mind and body: fresh air, sunlight and nutritional sustenance; along with regular beatings, the unfortunate victims of ignorance were deprived of virtually every common decency known to man. A handful of professionals from the medical community sought to defend the legit imate nature of insanity and tried to explain the need for medical attention; however, their attempts fell upon deaf ears, and their reputations were immediately tainted.The mentally ill were lumped together with the criminally insane, with officials making no distinction whatsoever between the two, inasmuch as the former â€Å"were not recognized as sick people and were accused of having abandoned themselves to shameful and forbidden practices with the devil, sorcerers and other demons† (History of Mental Illness). Ancient Egyptians understood the inherent connection between the body and mind, supporting the notion that if something was amiss in one's life it could easily cause one a bout of mental instability.Their approach was simple and straightforward: talk it out and rejoice in religion. The combination of these two elements was believed to empower the individual with internal strength that would ultimately overrule the continuation of any mental imbalance. Similarly, A ristotle and Socrates – the logical beings that they were – also recognized mental illness for what it truly was and prescribed such cures as soothing music to help alleviate melancholia.Hippocrates followed suit by prescribing a natural vegetable diet and exercise as a means by which to overcome mental illness (History of Mental Illness). It was not until the concept of the â€Å"mind† began to overtake such simplistic approaches, along with blaming the victim for such a disgraceful downfall, that the entire notion of mental illness began to shift for the worse. Dual diagnosis presents yet another concern where mentally ill offenders are concerned, a situation where an individual is diagnosed as being both mentally ill and a drug addict.While it is wholly possible to be dually diagnosed with a different secondary disease, drug abuse ranks high on the list. Research findings indicate that mental illness leads into drug abuse, inasmuch as the mentally ill partake of recreational drugs no differently than their mentally stable counterparts. What does separate the two groups, however, is what is termed downward drift, meaning that â€Å"as a consequence of their illness they may find themselves living in marginal neighborhoods where drug use prevails† (Dual Diagnosis).In these cases, it is customary to address the drug problem before approaching treatment for mental illness. There are a number of social and environmental factors that encourage criminal delinquency – one in particular is overlooked more than the rest when it comes to, for example, juvenile delinquency: mental illness. Indeed, an adolescent who is suffering from any one of many forms of mentally illness can display myriad socially unacceptable behaviors; within this mindset, juvenile delinquency has been found to be a prevalent occurrence.Considered for decades to be a disease of the insane, mental conditions like depression that intensify juvenile delinquency hav e finally been recognized for the debilitating and emotionally unbalancing illnesses they truly are. With an astounding nineteen million Americans suffering from clinical depression, the disease can no longer be looked upon as nothing more than merely the blues. Additionally, another five percent are victims of occasional despondency, with one of every six people succumbing to a serious or major depressive episode at some point in life (Clinical Depression).Depression often hits the elderly more than any other age group; however, with each passing year the average age of sufferers continues to drop as depression in young people is on the rise. Indeed, mentally ill offenders have much to contend with in their own way; as such, their punishment needs to fit their mental stability. If an offender is convicted of aggravated assault yet lacks the capacity to ascertain that he actually committed a crime, then it would seem prudent that he be given the right to appropriate counseling as a means by which to overcome his tendencies.However, the implementation of the insanity plea has allowed for perfectly normal criminals to reap the rehabilitative benefits typically bestowed upon the mentally ill, which has served to compromise the very foundation of this legal loophole (Harley 45). The theoretical implications contend that far too many people are crying insanity as a means by which to evade punishment for a crime they willfully committed, knowing full well that if they can achieve an insanity status, the penalty they receive will be significantly less overall, if they receive any.Clearly, intent does not have any relevance to its determination; as such, the tactics and strategies of both the prosecution and the defense have little, if any, bearing on how insanity is determined. The implications of such a problem speak to the overall distortion of insanity, as well as illustrate how much more difficult it makes it for the truly mentally ill to secure a legitimate insa nity plea (Harley 45). Re-training the mentally ill offender to become positive, contributing members of society has always proven to be a challenge for officials in charge of rehabilitation.Myriad programs have been implemented throughout history to achieve this goal but according to those in the field, none have proven as effective as the treatment approach. In attempting to put back the missing elements of a stable and productive person, such programs as behavioral therapy have been said to be instrumental in realigning otherwise maladjusted individuals as opposed to the harsh approach of boot camps and shock incarceration programs. Critics of such programs contend that such brutal methods do nothing but instigate more of the same behavior the recovery programs seek to overcome.If delinquency is â€Å"rooted in personality characteristics rather than in external forces† (Banks et al 49), then it does not make sense to employ this type of rehabilitation. Implementing behavi or therapy is one way of addressing the issue of mentally ill offenders whose deviant tendencies lead to criminal activity. With the help of professional therapists, law enforcement agencies are learning the art of behavior therapy as a means by which to control otherwise unreachable mentally ill delinquents.The objective of behavior therapy is to first assess and then treat mental problems that cause people to act abnormally. The current consensus among mental health professionals is that behaviors responsible for causing distress or preventing normal functioning in daily life are considered abnormal. There is a social standard by which all members are expected to abide; however, when an individual shows a propensity for straying from that social norm, behavior therapy theories are more than likely applied to determine the problem's origin and ultimate treatment.There exist myriad influences that can prompt a person into sidestepping what is considered to be normal behavior, includ ing mental disorders, physical diseases and stress-related issues. Experts report successful treatment outcome and maintenance for dealing with mentally ill offenders, inasmuch as behavior therapy theories focus upon unconscious conflicts that cause anxiety or maladaptive behavior. In effect, these myriad theories represent the means by which therapists are able to assess, diagnose, treat and finally heal their mentally ill patients. News reports that usually frame mental illness in the context of violence and crime are giving rise to stereotypes which stigmatize de-institutionalized mentally ill people. Thus, the challenge facing journalists is addressing deep-rooted and largely unjustified public perceptions about mental illness and violent crimes† (Smellie 25).In order to work toward a solution to the overwhelming inadequacy of mental health resources in contemporary penal systems, grants must be both created and obtained to address the following issues: Housing the mentall y ill in places other than jail and prison †¢Revisiting community mental health centers from the 1960s and 1970s †¢Assembling a task force of researchers to undertake myriad projects †¢Assessing mental health issues in minority communities †¢Exploring mental health issues in African-American communities †¢Providing a more active role by the clergy in reference to mental health issues, especially in African-American communities †¢Researching the correlation between mental health, crime and recidivism, with particular emphasis upon minority populations Conducting ongoing research for early identification programs, prerelease programs, transitional care management programs and effective parole/probation programs †¢Maintaining consistency in all programs from start to finish (Clinical Depression and African-Americans). Clearly, continuum of care is the key for the incarcerated mentally ill, a model consisting of three distinct phases: jail/prison; comm unity mental health programs; and probation/parole. Within this continuum resides effective pre-release programs for all incarcerated mentally ill inmates; ongoing substance abuse and literacy programs; and behavior modification programs.Activities for daily living would include employment, job training and retraining through vocational rehabilitation programs, state employment services, adult ex-offender job programs and effective communication programs; and alternatives to incarceration programs for the mentally ill and dual diagnosis. Are all delinquents created equal? Indeed, there are myriad levels of criminal activity that land offenders in jail, with a percentage of those criminals committing their crimes under the duress of mental illness. These prisoners, who many believe are deserving of severe punishment, often do not have full control of their faculties.These orphans of society are compelled by an emotional or mental imbalance that provokes them to display deviant behavi or toward society and their fellow human beings. Clearly, such individuals need treatment, not prison; rehabilitative help is in order for these offenders, not a lifetime behind bars. By placing the criminal into long-term therapy, there is at least a chance of rehabilitation there likely would not be in a full security prison. To stray from the norm is to deviate from socially acceptable behavior; when one is deviant, he goes against the very essence of what society has deemed acceptable.One of the easiest things in life is to deviate from what is considered by the masses to be normal; in fact, Morpheus points out that it is often considerably more difficult to remain upon a straight and narrow path with the myriad obstacles that appear in daily life. Therefore, one can readily argue how deviant behavior has found its niche within contemporary society, even to the point of infiltrating what is considered to be a standard of normalcy; as such, appropriate corrective measures must be applied in order to expect any semblance of rehabilitation for the mentally ill criminal.WORKS CITED Banks, Terry & Dabbs, James M. , Jr. â€Å"Salivary testosterone and cortisol in a delinquent and violent urban subculture. † The Journal of Social Psychology 136, (1996): 49. Clinical Depression. 25 April 2004 http://www. nmha. org/ccd/index. cfm Clinical Depression and African-Americans. 25 April 2004 http://www. intelihealth. com/specials/depression/htmDeprAfrAmer. html Dual Diagnosis: Substance Abuse And Mental Illness. 25 April 2004 http://www. schizophrenia. com/family/dualdiag. html Harley, Debra A.