Reducing prejudice in society

Reducing prejudice in society A major problem still occurring in todays society is prejudice. We can observe this in the wide ranges of evidence available. . It is still reported to be in any institution such as school or work and can be learnt from how we see others. The current paper intends to explore and revise the literature that can be found surrounding the topic. Prejudice and discrimination are a reflection of how others respond to people of another group and reflect their affective, behavioural and cognitive reactions to the people within these different groups. The literature surrounding this topic is vast, so this review will focus on a specific strand gathered from the literature surrounding prejudice and concentrate on prejudice reduction within society. Where does it start? There is a negative thought pattern that occurs in early childhood as according to Klein (1992.) Media and books contain stereotyping and thus it is this that creates the foundation for prejudicing occurring in adults. Degner and Wentura (2010) carried out a study that looked at the automatic activation of prejudice in children and adolescents (9 years to 15 years.) There was a continuous pattern suggesting a linear developmental increase of automatic prejudice with significant effects of outgroup negativity which only appeared surrounding 12 to 13 year olds. However, results of younger children showed no indication of automatic prejudice activation. These results suggest that although children are assumed to acquire prejudice at much younger ages, automatization of negative attitudes may well be related to developmental processes in early adolescence. What society views as beautiful is controlled by the media through magazines etc. An article called Preventing Prejudice: A Guide for Counsellors, Educators, and Parents, written by Ponterotto, Utsey, and Pedersen (2006) gave a very useful insight. This piece of literature covers a range of topics on reducing prejudice, one being the roles and responsibilities of those in a position to reduce prejudice; such as teachers and counsellors etc. This is a view which is also shared by many others, who agree that the classroom is where the early signs of prejudice are seen and it is there that they should be alleviated. This would be a direct approach by the teacher. Pate (1995) believed that the teacher should instruct the students to take part in anti-prejudice programs by reading informative books on the topic, integrating a weekly class to enlighten the students and such other activities. However Pate did admit this was not a successful tactic as students may begrudge the instructions and thus strengthening a prejudice therefore, delayed measures are the only resolut ion to create an attitude change with the direct approach being used in the long-run. Teachers have the power and means to implement prejudice reduction techniques. This is a statement many claim, such as Dessel (2010), and could be perceived as being straight forward and true. However, there is still a lack of demonstration of this in action as something which can be repeated in any school. Again other literature from Pate indicates that the cognitive approachs principle is that people can reduce prejudice if they know more about other groups and think more clearly. Pate (1995) stated that various intervention efforts which include; empathy as well as an increase in knowledge and consideration of other groups, different in several ways from the students, are effective. Other studies also share this view about the effectiveness of the cognitive approach in prejudice reduction. For instance, Katz and Zalk (1978) found the ability to recognize and accept differences amongst member groups could promote prejudice reduction. Other classroom approaches might also work in re ducing prejudice. Some examples of this alternative are; semantics, counter-stereotype approach, cultural immersion, the study of cultural anthropology, developing instructional materials and value clarification (Pate, 1995). The common problem is still a lack of evidence and design flaws. Bigler (1999) noted that prejudice reduction research has encountered limitations due to problems with the design of many studies. Some of these include an overly simplistic model, bias in the measuring of attitudes and a want for longitudinal studies in order to ascertain if there are any sustainable effects from the reduction strategies. Some studies in the literature have actually reported that, even though strategies are implemented for reducing prejudice, there are troubling effects . . . of increased racial bias among children (Bigler 1999.) Copious amounts of literature display programs and schemes of how they can theoretically reduce prejudice from an early age such as Weston (1990.) The study claimed that carefully chosen reduction tactics incorporated into the current curriculum can reduce prejudice. This however is claimed by many theorists in different ways, although the study didnt prove to have any valid e vidence to back up the theory. Other researchers have admitted there is a repetition in the guidelines as to how we can reduce prejudice. Work carried out by Parrens (2007) does give a good background on prejudice and is insightful stating that the reduction of malignant prejudice is the responsibility of society. However this investigation lacks the presence of new research, as much already exists in the vast amount of literature available. Even so, it does highlight some factors which have been brought up before to reduce prejudice but underlines a new importance of these factors where they had previously not been counted as substantially important and discusses them further. The focus in much of the literature was on intervention in early children to eradicate prejudice; however this focus has been modified to ensure the inclusion of how social motivational processes and other aspects of a childs social interactions can influence them in their attitude towards prejudice. (Social Identity Development Theory (SID T), (Davis et al 2007). Much of the literature includes theories to reduce prejudice; however Dovidio Gaertner (1993) found that the traditional methods and techniques included in such literature may not actually be very effective in reducing prejudice. As indicated by the material available in psychology, intergroup contact seems to be an essential means of reducing prejudice. Allports (1954) contact theory argues that four major conditions must be met to effectively reduce prejudice. Pettigrew (1998) expanded on Allports theory in his intergroup contact theory by adding another condition of friendship potential. Optimal intergroup contact requires time for cross-group friendships to develop (Pettigrew, 1998) A study was conducted to examine the conflict and prejudice between Israelis and Palestinians. The existing prejudice here was reported to have furthered the development and preservation of two major groups living in direct resistance and antagonism. Stephen et al (2004) conducted such studies. Although the research seems promising in its effort to attempt to discourage and remove prejudicial stereotyping in small groups, literature has several limitations which need to be taken into account. It focused primarily on reducing prejudice between Israelis and Palestinians. This therefore evokes concern as to whether or not there can be a generalization towards conflict in other populations. Each population is different and different underlying issues exist, therefore the mentioned interventions may not necessarily be appropriate to all populations, leading to a possible requirement for adjusting according to the population. The literature also faltered in its lack of longitudinal researc h. From the study the results indicated desired effects; however these could very well only be short term. Bargal (2008) reasoned for adopting a long-range research design, monitoring the study over time, as opposed to it being a short-term intervention. Evidently, more research is required in this area in order to determine whether or not these interventions discussed, offer long lasting effects in terms of conflict resolution and reducing stereotypes and prejudice effectively. Conclusion Most of the literature informs us that the classroom is the best place to reduce prejudice due to the earliness of which it is recognized and can be manipulated. This then proposes that the students can learn empathy and other desirable emotions towards those who are different to them which could lead to unnecessary feelings of us versus them,a classic in-group versus out-group situation. According to literature, by the age of 10 a child may quickly develop a prejudiced attitude due to this becoming autonomous (Yee and Brown (1992), Rutland (1999) and Rutland et al (2005.) However, to validate this claim, more research should be conducted with a certain concentration on the age differences and the environment at home, which may breed hostile attitudes, in turn strengthening a prejudice tendency. The literature should use more of a qualitative based method and data, as opposed to the vast amount of quantitative data, to determine if the results reinforce the existing records. Again since the main reduction strategies are poorly supported by valid studies, they are merely suggestions, insufficiently backed up by research. The studies on these strategies are vague, lacking needed specifics on certain focuses such as gender, age and individual background. Future studies should aim to include a larger focus on strategies involving education and eliciting self-control and should particularly attempt to refer to different types of race and ethnicity. One such piece of literature seemed to demonstrate the best understanding of prejudice reduction tactics by offering field tested tools to determine ways to reduce it. This was written by Ponterotto et al (2006) as discussed above. However since this is one piece of literature, more needs to be focused on not just what prejudice is and the fact that it can be overcome, but to actually display studies of these reductions in action.

Types of Diabetes

DESCRIPTIONDiabetes pertains to a metabolic disorder that is associated with the lack or absence of insulin, a protein that transports glucose into the cells of the body.   Glucose, also simply known as sugars, is considered as the first source of energy for the daily activities performed by the human body, such as walking and standing.   In addition, glucose also serves as the main resource for the energy that is required to fuel cellular processes within the body, including that of growth and repair of cells and tissues.   The food items consumed by an individual generally contain glucose and thus the presence of insulin is important for the transport of this macromolecule to the appropriate regions of the body.Insulin is mainly produced by the pancreas, which is a digestive organ that is strategically located next to the small intestines, where digestion commonly occurs.   Once the process of digestion has been completed in the intestines, the glucose molecules transported into cells through the help of insulin.   In normal individuals, the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is enough to transport the glucose that is present in the meal consumed.   On the other hand, individuals with diabetes show a lack or absence of insulin secreted by the pancreas, thus preventing the transport of the glucose molecules into the cells.   Glucose is therefore left outside the cells and these remain circulating in the blood.   The continuous accumulation of glucose further extends from the blood to the urine, which in turn are samples employed for the diagnostics of diabetes.CAUSES OF DIABETESDiabetes is generally caused by a number of factors, depending on the type of diabetes that has been positively diagnosed in an individual.   Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), pertains to an autoimmune condition that involves the incapacity of the body to combat infections (NIH, 2010a).   In this case, the immune syst em of an individual causes the destruction of the cells of the pancreas, thus decreasing and possibly preventing the production of insulin for glucose transport.   The actual mechanism that triggers the destruction of the pancreatic cells by the immune system is still unknown and there are active efforts in the field of biomedical research that are attempting to elucidate this reaction.Type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), pertains to an increase in the level of glucose in the body due to aging, obesity or genetic inheritance of the condition (NIH, 2010b).   Type 2 diabetes is therefore more commonly observed among elderly individuals, as their metabolic rate generally slows down as they age.   Obese individuals tend to develop diabetes because their food choices are often different from the recommended daily diet, thus increasing the likelihood that sugar-rich foods would be consumed on a regular basis.Gestational diabetes pertains to the increase in the blood glucose level of a female during pregnancy.   This occurrence is usually linked to the gain in the total body weight of a woman during pregnancy, as well as the decrease in the physical activity of the woman as she progresses through the entire gestational period of 36 weeks or 9 months.   Unlike types 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes often disappears once the woman has given birth.   The disappearance of the features of diabetes are possibly linked to the loss in the total body weight after birth, as well as the increase in the physical activity of the woman after delivery.EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DIABETESType 1 diabetes generally affects both males and females, yet there are certain characteristics that strongly associated with this metabolic disease.   According to the World Health Organization, type 1 diabetes is more common among whites and is considered as a rare disease among non-white populations of Africa and Asia.   Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is commonly diagnosed in elderly individuals.Moreover, elderly individuals who are overweight are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes because these individuals tend to be less active in physical activities.   Certain populations are thus associated with type 2 diabetes, including those of African and Asian ethnicities.   In the United States alone, there are 24 million individuals with the age of 20 years old and above that have been diagnosed with diabetes (NIDDK, 2007).   On the other hand, there are 12 million elderly individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes in the United States.TREATMENT OF DIABETESType 1 diabetes is generally treated with the administration of insulin on a daily basis.   Patient are therefore taught how to inject insulin everyday, in order to maintain a normal level of insulin in their blood.   Type 2 diabetes is usually treated with medications that assist in the digestion of glucose from the food items consumed.   This med ication is given on a daily basis using a tablet or capsule format.   In addition to medications, a healthy diet is highly recommended to diabetic patients.   This includes food items that are low in sugar content, such as green, leafy vegetables and fiber-rich fruits and grains.Exercise is also recommended for diabetic patients, as this assists in increasing the metabolic rate of the body.   Diabetic patients are also educated on the condition of hypoglycemia, which is the extreme lowering of the blood glucose level of the body, resulting in fainting and a decrease in the arterial blood pressure.   A dietician therefore plays an important role in the design of the dietary regimen of diabetic patients.   A regular check-up should also be performed every 3 to 6 months, wherein the fasting blood sugar levels are determined, in order to evaluate the progress of the patient with the current dietary regimen.REFERENCESNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disea ses.   (2007).   National Diabetes Statistics, 2007.   Downloaded from http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/DM_Statistics.pdf on July 8, 2010.National Institutes of Health.   (2010a).   Type 1 diabetes: Thirty years of progress.   Downloaded from http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Type1Diabetes.pdf on July 8, 2010.National Institutes of Health.   (2010b).   Type 2 diabetes: Thirty years of progress.   Downloaded from http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Type2Diabetes.pdf on July 8, 2010.

Obama Pardons - 70 People Pardoned by Barack Obama

Here is an up-to-date list of  the  70 people pardoned by President Barack Obama and the offenses they were convicted of, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House. Khosrow Afghahi, who was indicted in 2015 for allegedly  facilitating the illegal export of high-tech microelectronics, uninterruptible power supplies and other commodities to Iran in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.William Ricardo Alvarez of  Marietta, Ga., who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and  conspiracy to import heroin. He was sentenced in 1997 to nine months of  imprisonment and  four years of  supervised release.Roy Norman Auvil of Illinois, who was convicted in 1964 with  possessing an unregistered distilling apparatus.James Bernard Banks  of  Liberty, Utah, who was convicted of  illegal possession of government property and sentenced in 1972 to  two years of probation.Robert Leroy Bebee  of  Rockville, Maryland, who was convicted of misprision of a felony and was sentenced to  two years probation.  Lesley Claywood Berry Jr.  of  Loretto, Kentucky, who was convicted of   conspiracy to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute, and distribute marijuana and was sentenced to  three years in prison.James Anthony Bordinaro  of  Gloucester, Mass., who was convicted to  conspiracy to restrain, suppress, and eliminate competition in violation of the Sherman Act and  conspiracy to submit false statements and was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment and  three years supervised release and a $55,000 fine.  Bernard Bryan Bulcourf, who was convicted in Florida in 1988 of counterfeiting money.Dennis George Bulin  of  Wesley Chapel, Fla., who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 1,000 pounds of marijuana and was sentenced to  five years of probation and a $20,000 fine.Steve Charlie Calamars, who was convicted in Texas in 1989 of possession of phenyl-2-propanone with intent to manufacture a quantity of methamphetamine.Ricky Dale Collett  of  Annville, Kentucky, who was convicted of  aiding an d abetting in the manufacture of 61 marijuana plants and sentenced in 2002 to  one year of probation conditioned on 60 days of home detention.Kelli Elisabeth Collins  of  Harrison, Arkansas, who was convicted of  aiding and abetting a wire fraud and sentenced to  five years probation.Charlie Lee Davis, Jr. of  Wetumpka, Ala., who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and  use of a minor to distribute cocaine base. He was sentenced in 1995 to  87 months of  imprisonment and  five years supervised release.Diane Mary DeBarri, who was convicted in in Pennsylvania in 1984 of distribution of methamphetamine.Russell James Dixon of Clayton, Ga., who was convicted of a felony liquor law violation and sentenced in 1960  to two years of probation.Laurens Dorsey  of  Syracuse, N.Y., who was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States by making false statements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She was sentenced to  five y ears of probation and $71,000 restitution.Randy Eugene Dyer, who was convicted of conspiracy to import marijuana (hashish), and  conspiracy to remove baggage from the custody and control of the U.S. Customs Service and convey false information concerning an attempt to damage a civil aircraft.Donnie Keith Ellison, who was convicted in Kentucky in 1995 of manufacturing marijuana.Tooraj Faridi, who  was indicted in 2015 for allegedly facilitating the illegal export of high-tech microelectronics, uninterruptible power supplies and other commodities to Iran in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers ActRonald Lee Foster  of  Beaver Falls, Pa., was convicted of mutilation of coins and sentenced to  one year of probation and $20 fine.John Marshall French, who was convicted in South Carolina in 1993 of conspiracy to transport a stolen motor vehicle in interstate commerce.Edwin Hardy Futch, Jr.  of  Pembroke, Georgia, who was convicted of  theft from an inter state shipment and  sentenced to five years probation and  $2,399.72 restitution.Timothy James Gallagher  of  Navasota, Texas, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to  three years of probation.Jon Dylan Girard, who was convicted of counterfeit in Ohio of 2002.Nima Golestaneh, who pleaded guilty in Vermont in 2015 to  wire fraud and his involvement in the October 2012 hacking of a Vermont-based engineering consulting and software company.  Ronald Eugene Greenwood of  Crane, Mo., who was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act. He was sentenced in 1996 to three years probation, six months home confinement, 100 hours community service, $5,000 restitution and a  $1,000 fine.Cindy Marie Griffith  of  Moyock, North Carolina, who was convicted of distribution of satellite cable television decryption devices and sentenced to  two years probation with 100 hours of community service .  Roy Eugene Grimes, Sr.  of  Athens, Tenn., who was convicted of  falsely altering a United States postal money order and passing,  uttering, and publishing a forged and altered money order with intent to defraud. He was sentenced to 18 months probation.Joe Hatch of  Lake Placid, Fla., who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was sentenced in 1990 to  60 months of  imprisonment and  four years of  supervised release.Martin Alan Hatcher of  Foley, Ala., who was convicted of distribution and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was sentenced in 1992 to five years of  probation.Roxane Kay Hettinger  of  Powder Springs, Ga., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and sentenced in 1986 to  30 days in jail followed by three years of probation.Melody Eileen Homa, who was convicted aiding and abetting bank fraud in Virginia in 1991.Martin Kaprelian  of  Park Ridge, Ill., who was convicted of  c onspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; transporting stolen property in interstate commerce; and concealing stolen property that was transported in interstate commerce. He was sentenced in 1984 to  nine years in prison and  five years of probation.Jon Christopher Kozeliski of  Decatur, Ill., who was convicted of conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods and  sentenced to  one year of probation with six months of home confinement and a  $10,000 fine.Edgar Leopold Kranz Jr.  of  Minot, N.D., who was convicted of wrongful use of cocaine, adultery and writing three insufficient fund checks. He was  court-martialed and discharged from the military for  bad conduct discharge (suspended), and sentenced to 24 months of confinement and reduction to pay grade E-1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Derek James Laliberte of  Auburn, Maine, who was convicted to money laundering. He was sentenced in 1993 to  18 months in prison and 2 years of  supervised release.Floretta L eavy  of  Rockford, Ill., who was convicted of distribution of cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. She was sentenced in  1984 to  one year and one day in prison and three years of special parole.Thomas Paul Ledford  of  Jonesborough, Tenn., who was convicted of  conducting and directing an illegal gambling business.  He was sentenced in 1995 to  one year of probation conditioned on performance of 100 hours of community service.Danny Alonzo Levitz, who was convicted of conspiracy.Ricardo Marcial Lomedico Sr., who was convicted in Washington in in 1969 of misappropriation of bank funds.Alfred J. Mack of  Manassas, Va., who was convicted to unlawful distribution of heroin and sentenced in 1982 to  18 to 54 months of  imprisonment.  David Raymond Mannix, a U.S. Marine who was convicted in 1989 of conspiracy to commit larceny  and theft of military pr operty.Jimmy Ray Mattison  of  Anderson, S.C., who was convicted of  conspiracy to transport and cause the transportation of altered securities in  interstate commerce, transporting and causing the transportation  of altered securities in interstate commerce. He was sentenced to  three years probation.Bahram Mechanic, who was indicted on charges of  violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for  allegedly shipping millions of dollars in technology to their company in Iran.David Neil Mercer, who was convicted in Utah in 1997 of violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act violation.  According to published reports, Mercer  damaged American Indian remnants on federal land.Scoey Lathaniel Morris  of  Crosby, Texas, who was convicted of  passing counterfeit obligations or securities and sentenced in 1999 to  three years of probation and $1,200 restitution, jointly and severally.Claire Holbrook Mulford, who was convicted in Texas in 19 93 of using a residence to distribute methamphetamine.Michael Ray Neal, who was convicted of manufacture, assembly, modification and distribution of equipment for unauthorized decryption of satellite cable programming,Edwin Alan North, who was convicted of transfer of a firearm without payment of transfer tax.An Na Peng  of  Honolulu, Hawaii, who was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Immigration and Naturalization Service and sentenced to two years probation and a  $2,000 fine.Allen Edward Peratt, Sr., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.Michael John Petri  of  Montrose, South Dakota, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled  substance. He was sentenced to  five years imprisonment  and three years supervised release.Karen Alicia Ragee  of  Decatur, Ill., who was convicted of  conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods and sentenced to one year of probation with six months o f home confinement and a  $2,500 fine.Christine Marie Rossiter, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana.Jamari Salleh  of  Alexandria, Va., who was convicted of  false claims upon and against the United States and sentenced to four years probation, a $5,000 fine and  $5,900 restitution.Robert Andrew Schindler of  Goshen, Va., who was convicted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and sentenced in 1986 to three years of  probation, four months of  home confinement, and $10,000 restitution.Alfor Sharkey  of  Omaha, Nebraska, who was convicted of  unauthorized acquisition of food stamps and sentenced to three years probation with 100 hours of community service and  $2,750 restitution.Willie Shaw, Jr. of  Myrtle Beach, S.C., who was convicted to armed bank robbery and sentenced in 1974 to 15  years imprisonment.Donald Barrie Simon, Jr.  of  Chattanooga, Tenn., who was convicted of aiding and abetting in the theft of an interstate shipment and sentenced to two years imprisonment and  three years probation.Brian Edward Sledz, who was convicted of wire fraud in Illinois in 1993.Lynn Marie Stanek of  Tualatin, Oregon, who was convicted of  unlawful use of a communication facility to distribute cocaine and sentenced to six months in jail, five years probation conditioned on residence in a  community treatment center for a period not to exceed one year.Albert Byron Stork, who was convicted of filing a false tax return in Colorado in 1987.Kimberly Lynn Stout of  Bassett, Va., who was convicted to bank embezzlement and  false entries in the books of a lending institution. She was sentenced in 1993 to one day imprisonment, three years supervised release including five months home confinement.Bernard Anthony Sutton, Jr. of  Norfolk, Va., who was convicted of theft of personal property and sentenced in 1989 to three years probation,  $825 restitution and a  $500 fine.Chri s Deann Switzer of  Omaha, Nebraska, who was convicted to conspiracy to violate narcotics laws and sentenced in 1996 to four years probation, six months home confinement, drug and alcohol treatment, and 200 hours community service.Larry Wayne Thornton  of  Forsyth, Georgia, who was convicted of  possession of an unregistered firearm and  possession of  a firearm without a serial number, and was sentenced to four years probation.Patricia Ann Weinzatl, who was convicted of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements.Bobby Gerald Wilson, who was convicted of  Aiding and abetting the possession and sale of illegal American alligator hides.Miles Thomas Wilson of  Williamsburg, Ohio, who was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced in 1981 to three years supervised release.Donna Kaye Wright of  Friendship, Tenn., who was. convicted of  embezzlement and misapplication of bank funds, and sentenced to 54 days imprisonment, three years probation conditioned on pe rformance of six hours of community service per week.