Being Independent

Most people like to believe that they are independent-free of a pack, their own person, unswayable by peer pressure. Is this actually true? Some philosophers and sociologists actually believe that there is wisdom in crowds and that many people are guided through life by a sense of wanting to belong. So which is actually true? How many times have you heard the sentence Im an individual, just like everybody else! Or My friends and I are all individuals. We just agree a lot. The fact of the matter is that most people seek out a crowd or a tribe of like minded people to belong to. The sentence Im an individual just like everybody else is just about as popular as the idea that no man is an island. When it comes to independence, many people try to strike a balance. In America, children and adults alike seek out like minded individuals to form alliances with. These friendships and relationships are based on a common philosophy or ideology and while this sameness is the reason for the bond, the individual parties struggle to retain their individual independence. This can often lead to a sociological kind of nomad-ness as people drift from group to group trying to find the best fit for themselves. Politically speaking, independence is what happens when a new nation is formed and declares itself free of the laws and rules of the country that it used to belong to. The United States declared its Independence from England a couple of centuries ago, Bolivia declared its independence form the Ottoman Empire-the list of independence declarations is as long as history itself. Much like individuals, nations that declare their independence immediately try to model their rules and regulations upon other models that they admire. They build themselves up while searching for other nations to form allegiances with-nations that they can trade with, fight with and, ultimately, live with in harmony. Even in a broad sense, the need to belong and forge relationships wins out over complete independence. There is not one nation that does not interact with the rest of the globe in at least a few capacities. The truth of the matter is that political independence is starting to slowly become less important. While each nation wants to retain an individual identity, thanks to things like global trade and the free exchange of ideas, the relationships between nations are getting tighter. Many people call this the shrinking of the world as individual nations give up their independence to be a part of the global community. In conclusion, it looks like true independence isnt true at all. Independence is declared in a number of degrees-a need to retain ones individual sense of self while still belonging to a group. Nobody wants to be left alone completely. Even those who say that they are more comfortable spending time alone still have a few relationships that they rely on. For more information on independence, visit  http://

My Uncle's Addicted To Illegal Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My Uncle's Addicted To Illegal Drugs - Essay Example That is the delinquent is not punished for abusing the drug, but for the actions committed whilst under its influence. Since the most controversial drug at the moment is marijuana this paper will limit itself to the examination of this narcotic. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance is a UK based political organization committed to the legalization of marijuana. It seeks to have marijuana and marijuana products removed from the UK Misuse of Drugs Act and that possession, cultivation and use of marijuana or its products should be free from prosecution. It argues that marijuana can be used to produce cost-free fuel through the process of pyrolysis on marijuana biomass. Further, it believes that the prohibition of marijuana infringes Human Rights. â€Å"Prohibition†¦goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control man’s appetite through legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not even crimes†¦. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our Government was founded.† (cited in Legalise Cannabis Alliance manifesto.) However, this is a very high end argument. It is philosophical and many times removed from the misery endured by those who abuse drugs and those who have to take care of drug abusers. It takes no account of the human or financial costs of drug abuse. The case for marijuana however is special. There are many myths about marijuana. According to the Legalise Cannabis Alliance website in 1999 the US Institute of Medicine concluded that marijuana is not addictive, it is not a gateway drug, it is not a dangerous drug and it does have medical uses. Why then is it outlawed? There are people who believe that the ‘war on drugs’ itself is adding to the human and financial costs, and that it would be wiser to stop fighting the war altogether. For example, Legalise Drugs – a pro-legalization, anti-drug organization

Issue paper with support on maintaining cultural diversity, consider Essay

Issue paper with support on maintaining cultural diversity, consider those against and write their views put me in support position with positive part of it - Essay Example One is in full support for maintaining cultural diversity for the following reasons: (1) it encourages the exchange of more variety of ideas, opinions, and points of views that increases opportunities for greater knowledge; (2) members of culturally diverse communities or organizations acknowledge that no one particular cultural value is better than others; (3) increased interaction among members would contribute to â€Å"more frequent and effective working relationships among those who have mutual interests† (Smith et. al. 1); (4) new ideas are produced, communications are improved and bridges are built to the people needing services (Smith et.al. 1); and (5) provides greater chances for emergence of innovative ideas and therefore facilitates generation of more alternatives to solve problems. Those who oppose maintaining cultural diversity contend that: (1) there would be potential tendencies to lose awareness and adherence to traditional cultural values; (2) there could be more conflicts due to disparities in beliefs, practices, and traditions; (3) there are more misunderstandings which delay effective communication process and decision-making; and (4) in organizations and work groups, maintaining cultural diversity would necessitate managing it which would be more costly and time consuming (Gadget 1). The benefits of maintaining cultural diversity far outweigh any costs or disadvantages associated with it. Therefore, one strongly believes that cultural diversity should be maintained and managed for the greater benefit of a greater number of people. Diversity and Cultural Competence Reporting Requirements, Minimum Standards and Benchmarks for Victoria Health Services Project. 2009. Web. 01 February 2012