The National Institute Of Justice Defines Racial Profiling...

The National Institute of Justice defines ‘racial profiling’ as â€Å"a practice that targets people for suspicion of crime based on their race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.† It creates a link between certain crimes and certain races which effectively creates stereotypes, and it tends to fail to consider non-Hispanic and non-Arab whites. While it targets many racial and ethnic groups, it greatly affects African Americans’ rights and their everyday lives. Racial Profiling, largely criticized within and outside the United States, is perpetuated by stereotypes, social bias, and fear and used largely against African Americans by figures of authority as an underlying justification for use of force, search, and suspicion. DWB, or â€Å"Driving While Black†, is described as the â€Å"racial profiling of black drivers† (Dunn). Substantiated by facts, DWB, in more laymen’s terms, means that black drivers are pulled over simply for bei ng black whether there is probable cause or not. Ronnie Dunn, an associate professor of Urban Studies at Case Western University, did a study on traffic stops and violations across racial lines in and around the Cleveland area. Cleveland is an excellent setting for this experiment because while it has majority African American population, it is one of the most racially segregated cities in the United States which Dunn mentions. The study was done across 4 areas including inner-city Cleveland (Central City) and the more affluent suburbs (Westlake). TheShow MoreRelatedRacial Profiling And The United States1160 Words   |  5 Pagesby police and many other people for committing crimes. This is called racial profiling, and it is an issue going on around us. Some considers racial profiling a new phenomenon, and it is important to examine it because it is a foundational aspect of law and law enforcement in the United States. Glover in the book Racial Profiling: Research, Racism, and Resistance defines racial profiling in contemporary times â€Å"as the use of racial and or ethnic status as the determinant factor in decision to stop motoristRead MoreNo Officer, I m Not A Criminal?1415 Words   |  6 Pagesrights violation. The dictionary defines racial profiling as, â€Å"the use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed an offense†. However, in reality, racial profiling is violating the civil rights of minorities and Muslims. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) â€Å"Racial profiling by law enforcement is commonly defined as a practice that targets people for suspicion of crime based on their race, ethnicity, religion or national origin†. Judging someone fromRead MoreSocial Stratification : Racial Stratification1878 Words   |  8 PagesWeek 16 May 6, 2016 Sociology Final Project Stratification 1.1: Racial Stratification Social stratification, as described by our textbook, is the structuring of inequalities between groups in society, in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards. Essentially, social stratification ranks people in a society in a vertical arrangement, also known as a hierarchy, which defines them as superior or inferior. In terms of racial stratification, this means that some populations that share certainRead MoreRacial Profiling And The Right For Police Officers1526 Words   |  7 Pagesamongst American citizens and even top government officials. Racial profiling is a subject that has stirred up so much controversy in the past that it still hasn t been fully resolved to this day. To put into historical context, periods of American history as the Jim Crow era, segregated colored people by regarding them as second-class citizens and restricted them from access to specific public facilities. The justification of racial profiling is an important social issue that affects soci ety as a wholeRead MoreEssay about Racial Profiling: Problem or Solution1786 Words   |  8 Pagesstart pulling people over for no reason. Racial Profiling, while sometimes used inappropriately, can sometimes be a good thing because it can help cut down on illegal immigrants, drug trafficking, and help prevent terrorism. Many issues arise regarding legal immigrants and non-legal immigrants in quiet neighborhoods nationwide. Racial profiling has been increasing for many years, from the 1500’s up to present time. Debora Kops defines racial profiling in two ways; a narrow definition and a broadRead MoreRacial Stigmas: Who is to Blame ? Essay2046 Words   |  9 Pageshow an individual is judged, however, society has overtime created racial stigmas that cause individuals to view one other in negative ways. The U.S. Census Bureau of 1987 defines race by separating them into many different categories. It describes White as a person having origins in any of the original people of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa, Black or African American as a person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa, and American Indian or Alaska Native as a personRead MoreThe Public Idea Of Discretion1220 Words   |  5 Pagesaction should be taken against them, if any (Sekhon, 2011). While using discretion is one of the most important tools a police officer has in their line of work, it has not always been concisely known of or defined within the criminal justice system. An attempt to define police discretion did not emerge until around 1950 when scholars discovered issues within law enforcement. This problem was narrowed down to the individual police officer. Until then, only â€Å"total and complete law enforcement† was believedRead MoreRacism And Its Effects On Young Black Males3146 Words   |  13 Pagessomewhat devastating effects on young black males in society. â€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.† (Lee) The negative stereotypes and racial profiling that Americans hand down from generation to generation are damaging not only to the minorities but to those perpetuating them as well. The behaviors that are kept alive because of these negative stereotypes and the behaviors associated withRead MoreRacial Profiling Essay7678 Words   |  31 Pagesacross the country. The controversy regarding racial profiling has cent ered on police departments practices related to traffic stopsÂâ€"examining whether police have targeted drivers based on their race or ethnicity. Significant anecdotal evidence has suggested that some departments may be treating drivers of some races or ethnicities differently than white drivers. Parties using multiple definitions have complicated the debate over racial profiling. Variation among these definitions means that interestedRead MoreResearch Report on Impact of Time Management11320 Words   |  46 Pagesdeveloping a sense of community among neighborhood residents. These outcome measures are frequently assessed using community surveys that ask citizens their feelings and perceptions of crime and justice issues. Are outcome-oriented elements linked to citizens’ overall image of the police? Contemporary criminal justice researchers believe they are related. What is the nature of the relationship? Research shows that citizens who evaluate the quality of life in their neighborhood in favorable terms are more

The Theme of Groupthink in “the Sisterhood of the Night”...

Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Details: Date of Submission: The Theme of Groupthink in â€Å"The Sisterhood of the Night† and â€Å"The Lottery† In â€Å"The Sisterhood of the Night† by Steven Millhauser and â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson, groupthink is a central theme that authors used to explain their main idea. Groupthink is a phenomenon in psychology occurring to individuals where their desire for conformity within their group results in a deviant outcome. This means that the members consider minimizing their conflict while trying to reach a consensus decision without evaluating the alternatives critically. â€Å"The Sisterhood of the Night† and â€Å"The Lottery† presents this concept in details with relevant examples trying to depict†¦show more content†¦They strive to get the winner, which in the end will get the grand prize of death through stoning by the rest of the villagers (Jackson). Coming up with a good explanation that can justify the action of this community is not an easy task. However, a simple reason supporting the ideology is that considering this is a tradition that never seizes, people continue to work together to make it happen. Every individual in the society obeys the traditions and work together to make it happen without considering the repercussion of the outcome: groupthink. According to the author, Shirley Jackson, â€Å"the hardest thing in the world is to stand against one’s group†. The use of groupthink in the text shows how individuals are intimidated by some events without realizing the outcome. The participation of the groups in making the faulty decisions of becoming winners always deters their thinking ability since they never realize they are losing a member of their family. Another story that the author uses the theme of groupthink in the setup is, â€Å"The Sisterhood of Night.† The author of the book uses a familiar narrative voice in explaining a local peculiarity to an inquisitive stranger. Girls in the adolescent stage normally go out at night to do immoral behaviors. To some extent, they villagers practice witchcraft with some other unspeakable sexual behaviors. â€Å"What shall we do with our daughters?† a complaint from the

My Interview I Have Ever Done My Life - 856 Words

My face to face interview was by far the best interview I have ever done in my life. Kellie Stallings is such an incredible and genuine person. Through this interview I learned so much about staying true to myself while helping others reach their goal. During this interview I was intrigued the entire time. When she was in high school, she was dead set on being a physical therapist which I found ironic because in high school, I was sure I was going to do the same thing. She volunteered at different facilities and rehab around town and while helping she began to see social workers help patients and she instantly knew she wanted to change lives. She saw how the Social worker helped an amputee farmer. The social worker helped him find resources and ways to still do his job and what he loved. Stallings stated â€Å"I loved how the social worker helped him emotionally while he was dealing with something physically†(Stallings) .When she told me that I was truly in shock because I had never thought in that way before. I realized social workers definitely have to deal with every single thing the person goes through. I will have to reach my client mentally and emotionally. The thing she said that affected me the most was â€Å"when working in this profession, it is important to have a strong sense of self.†(Stallings) She went on to tell me that in this profession, I have to set boundaries or I will get burnt out. In this field I have to stick to my values and never lose sight of myself or whoShow MoreRelatedFaith And Doubt At Ground Zero Reflection1558 Words   |  7 Pages September 11, 2001 was one of the most shocking and horrifying days in United States history. There had never been a terroristic attack of this magnitude on U.S. soil ever before, causing panic and confusion among United States citizens. Two planes hit the two towers of the World Trade Center, while another hit the Pentagon later that morning. This caused commotion and panic by Americ an citizens. They did not know what would happen next. Would another plane now hit a well-known American monumentRead MoreApplying Gladwell s Law Of Few954 Words   |  4 PagesBefore this class, I never understood how stuff on social networks sites would skyrocket and go viral. Why has everything on social media become such a big deal? It did not make sense to me. I used this class to better myself in the workplace as well as at school. It has helped me in my field of my future career choice of social work. Gladwell’s â€Å"Law of few† gives me a better understanding how human interactions work. I am able to apply Gladwell’s â€Å"Law of few† and â€Å"stickiness† to my current job as aRead MoreNarrative Essay On Netflix765 Words   |  4 PagesAfter I was done procrastinating all day watching netflix I had no homework so I thought â€Å"I guess i’d be a chill thing to do this wack interview since I got nothing better to do.† My mom was getting ready for work in a rush pacing everywhere trying to get her stuff ready. â€Å"Hey mom I there’s this interview I have to do for class do you mind if I ask you a couple a questions?†, I asked her nervously as if she would snap at me irritated. â€Å"Ughh Miles does it look like I’m for some interview rightRead MoreAn Interview With Neal Lehew Essay1669 Words   |  7 PagesDuring an interview with Neal Lehew, my grandpa, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the reactions and responses to the questions that I asked. Neal was born in 1937 in Horton, KS; the same town that he has resided in his entire life. Growing up, farming has been a way of life for him; sometimes taking precedence over attending school in a one room schoolhouse. Despite being forced to farm when he was young, it became his lifelong passion. In 1955, Neal graduated from high school and joined the NationalRead MoreMy First Day Of My Life1178 Words   |  5 Pagesthe longest day of my life, I got home from school – the most dreadful place imaginable to the average teenager – and lugged myself as well as my backpack full of heavy books and overdue assignments through the front door of my apartment. Not being able to take another step, I dropped my bag and the weight of a long strenuous day off my shoulders and crawled into the living room. There I lied trying not to think about the mountain of homework I had yet to finish, all while my body searched for theRead MoreMy Interview With My Mom1558 Words   |  7 PagesMy mom Angela has always loved reading ever since she was a little kid. She is not the only one in my family that enjoys reading. My dad, grandma, and my cousin also have found a love for reading books. When I received this assignment I knew it would be difficult to single out a specific person to interview due to my family’s love of reading. I eventually decided that I wanted to interview my mom for my assignment. My mom was the pretty much the obvious choice to do the interview with because I knewRead MoreReflection Paper On Infj878 Words   |  4 PagesThrough taking the MBTI test I’ve learned that I’m an INFJ, which stands for introverted, intuition, feeling and judging. Intuition involves using the big picture of things and patterns as the main outlet to gather information. They have a more organized approach to life and tend to create plans meant to help them achieve goals. They are noticeably reflective on inner thoughts and ideas, hence the introversion. Decisions are dominantly centered around their value system, which includes wanting to makeRead MorePersonal Experience Essay1036 Words   |  4 PagesWatching my brothers graduate from college and move to far-off locations, doing interesting, fulfilling work and having exciting lives filled me with envy. On Sundays when they would load up their new cars to drive back to their jobs in neighboring states, I wished I could go al ong, just to hang out in one of their apartments and see what life was like on my own. Monday arrived too soon, like a rocket powered by the most potential caffeine and urgency imaginable, and I was back to school. I could hardlyRead MoreInterview About A Person That Inspires Me855 Words   |  4 PagesFor this project, I had decided to interview a person that inspires me through the work that he has done for our Seattle Youth Group Ministry – Matthew. This interview had really allowed me to get to know him on a more personal level and help reassured me on my own vocation in life. From a young boy who lived in darkness to a man who now led a life dedicated to spreading God’s light is what makes me felt connected to sit down and do this interview with him. Matthew’s contributions as a youth groupRead MoreHero Essay : What Makes A Hero A Hero?832 Words   |  4 PagesWhat Makes a Hero a Hero? As I have recently sat down with my grandmother, Mary, I asked her questions about a hero and herself being a hero. My grandmother has such an impact on me in daily life along with being a personal hero to me. She is such an inspiration to me in so many ways that I could never think of taking for granted. I chose my grandmother as my hero because of obstacles I have faced, she was the one to show me the love and support I was in need of at the time. Mary shows the

Colonialism in Kenya Essay free essay sample

Understanding Main Ideas Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. 1. What factors determine whether water soaks into the ground or flows over the ground as runoff? The nature of the ground, the rate of the rainfall, and the slope of the land. 2. Draw a simple sketch of a river system. Include and label the following: headwaters. Tributary, oxbow lake, meander, flood plain, delta, and mouth. 3. This picture shows river meander. Name and describe the process that is occurring at Point A and the process that is occurring at Point B. Point A: Erosion- the water breaks off fragments of soil and rock from outer curve of the riverbank. Point B: Deposition – fragments of soil and rock being carried by the water are dropped along the inner curve of the riverbank. 4. How can building up natural levees with stone and concrete often make flooding worse downstream? The built-up levees prevent the natural channel widening process that rivers normally undergo as the volume increases. We will write a custom essay sample on Colonialism in Kenya Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a result, floodwaters have nowhere to go except downstream. †¢Building Vocabulary Choose the word that best completes each sentence. 5. The land area that supplies water to a river system is called a(n) Watershed or drainage basin. 6. Water that flows over the ground surface is called Runoff 7. The broad, flat valley through which a river flows is a(n) Floodplain 8. A ridge of land that separates one watershed from another is a(n) Divide 9. A looping curve in a river is a(n) Meander 10. The process by which fragments of soil and rock are left behind as moving water slows down is called deposition

Pain And Suffering Of Animals For Humans Sake Ri Essay Example For Students

Pain And Suffering Of Animals For Humans Sake: Ri Essay ght Or WrongPain and Suffering of Animals for Humans Sake:Right or WrongWhen you go out to eat and look at your thick and juicy T-bone steak what do you think about? When you look at that gorgeous mink coat in the department store what is going through your mind? When you here that cigarette smoke causes cancer in lab animals what is the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are that in each of these cases you were not thinking about how the cow suffered while it was being fattened up, ho painful the trap was that caught those mink, or the conditions those lab animals hat to endure to develop that cancer. Most people do not think about these things. However, in this paper, you will be enlightened on the pain and suffering of animals in three different industries and you will also hear from the other side of this issue. First, one of the biggest culprits of animal suffering is the animal food industry. This is an industry in which people have a tendency to block out or ignore the animal mistreatment; this is done by disassociating oneself with the direct harm and ignoring the indirect harm (Harnack 133). A good start under this example in the case of pigs. Normally, pigs are intelligent animals capable of showing affection. They have very good senses of smell, which is why pigs have been used as hunting animals (Coats 31). This normal behavior is disrupted however in the food industry. Pigs are taken to slaughter at about twenty-four weeks of age when they are approximately 220 pounds (Coats 32). Pigs are usually mass-caged into groups that consist of other pigs of the same sex and age. This can cause excessive aggressiveness in the animals due to the stifling of the natural social orders, which are accomplished though mixing (Coats 33). Due to inactivity in cages, pigs become bored and do things such as gnaw on the bars of the cage or on the body parts of other pigs. Factory owners attempt to remedy this by doing things such as cutting off a piglets tail shortly after being born (Coats 33). There is also gender specific cruelty. To reduce aggressiveness, male pigs are castrated. Most of the time, this is done without anesthetic. This is a practice seen in other divisions of the farm industry as well (Coats 33). A factory breeding sow pig averages two and a half litters a year and ten litters in a life time. With ten or eleven piglets per litter, she brings 100-110 piglets into the systems during the first four to five years of her life (Coats 34). The pig factory owners try to get the greatest amount of piglets in the least amount of time. They do this by trying to find the optimum amount of time to leave a piglet with his mother. The later a piglet is weaned away from his mother, the better chance it will live, however this is time that the mother is not pregnant (Coats 34). Pigs confined in cages in factories have a high rate of disease and physical problems that range from respiratory diseases to lame and broken legs (Coats 45). Next, we have cows. Cows have the opportunity to go into three different division of the farming industry: dairy cow, veal calf, or beef cow (Coats 7). Firstly, concerning milk cows, the only time that a female cow produces milk is after she has had a calf, and she only produces for as long as the calf suckles (Coats 50). To keep the cows producing milk, they must be impregnated about once a year and give birth (Coats 56). While a calf is still getting milk from its mother, it drinks small quantities about twenty times a day. The cow replenishes itself as needed. In the dairy farm, a cow is sucked dry approximately two to three times per day. This forces a cow to be over loaded and weighed down with milk (Coats 50-51). When an exceptional cow is found, she is put aside for breeding. She is given drugs to induce the production of more eggs. These eggs are fertilized with the sperm of super-bulls and the embryos are implanted into different cows. This can cause problems if the calf implanted is larger than the mother can bear (Coats 56-57). Amistad EssayWhen it comes to broiler hens, the object, again, is to produce the most and biggest in the least amount of time for the least amount of money (Coats 87). By the time the chickens are ready for slaughter, they have about a one half square foot of room with which to barely move (Coats 87). The social structure needed in pigs and cows is more important to chickens. The pecking order is an essential part of their life. This is disrupted by constant shifting of chickens and cramped condition (Coats 87). The next topic to discuss is animal experimentation. About 25-35 million animals are involved in research testing and teaching each year in the U.S. (Fox 58). Animals are used to test the safety of products such as drugs, carcinogens, cosmetics, etc. (Fox 60-61). Because there are 40 to 60 thousand chemicals in common use, it is pointless to test their combinations on animals because there are so many possible combinations. The animal tests become mere propaganda to dispel consumer worries (Fox 61). Often times when animals are used as test subjects, the laboratory condition needed for testing such as in the case of diseases. Psychological disruption, which might occur, can affect the outcome of experiments (Fox 62). In conclusion to animal testing, an ethical consideration in justifying this practice is as follows: If the pain and suffering to the animal would be greater than the amount of pain and suffering that a human might fell under the same experimental conditions, then the experiment should not be permitted (Fox 64). Lastly, we have wildlife practices and the fur industry. Furs are made from pain. Wild animals are trapped in traps with steel teeth. These animals can feel this pain (Rohr 178). The leghold trap, the most common, has been banned in 65 countries due to cruelness, yet in America it is legal (Rohr 181). People who try to refute cruelty to animals site that the Bible says we should eat meat. This is a fallacy. In Genesis 1:29-30 of the King James Bible, it says:And God said, behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat; and it was so. Only after sin is introduced, which is later, do we see eating of animals. Scientists often say that to save a human, animals are expendable, and this is true, but in putting mascara on a rabbits eye, there is no help. Lastly, some say that animals can be treated anyway desired because they make no moral judgements and have a lack of ability to do so (Harnack 29). It is therefore the responsibility of humans to uphold the moral obligation of taking care of animals. In summation, this paper has given evidence of pain and suffering of animals involved in different industries. From these examples, it is clear that it is wrong of anyone to intentionally inflict pain and suffering on animals for the sake of human enjoyment. Works CitedCoats C. David. Old MacDonalds Factory Farm: The Myth of the Traditional Farm and the Shocking Truth about Animal Suffering in Todays Agribusiness. New York:Continuum, 1989. Harnack, Andrew, ed. Animal Rights: Opposing Viewpoints. Sand Diego: Greenhaven, 1996. Fox, W. Michael. Inhumane Society: The American Way of Exploiting Animals. New York: St Martins, 1990. King James Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1970. Rohr, Janelle, ed. Animal Rights: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1989. BibliographyWorks CitedCoats C. David. Old MacDonalds Factory Farm: The Myth of the Traditional Farm and the Shocking Truth about Animal Suffering in Todays Agribusiness. New York:Continuum, 1989. Harnack, Andrew, ed. Animal Rights: Opposing Viewpoints. Sand Diego: Greenhaven, 1996. Fox, W. Michael. Inhumane Society: The American Way of Exploiting Animals. New York: St Martins, 1990. King James Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1970. Rohr, Janelle, ed. Animal Rights: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1989. Animal Science

Steam Engine Essays - Piston Engines, Steam Engines, Compound Engine

Steam Engine The steam engine was an engine powered by steam. It provided an important source of power independently. The steam engine played a major role in manufacturing and transportation during the Industrial Revolution. The challenge of improving the steam engine was the beginning of the science of thermodynamics. The steam engine was a very important invention. ?Steam can be made at any time simply by boiling water, so it is more dependable than wind or water energy? (Norbeck 34-36). The heating and cooling of steam in cylinder causes pistons to move up and down. The simplest of a steam engine is used as a boiler. This was a common household heating system. The efficiency of the steam engine was very low; there fore they were later replaced by steam turbines. The first piston engine was invented in 1690 by a French inventor named Denis Papin and was used for pumping water. ?Why not find a way to use heat energy? (Garrat 12). It had a single cylinder that operated as a boiler; a small amount of water was added and heated to form steam. The steam raised the piston in the cylinder, after it was raised the heat was removed, the steam condensed and the air pressure on the upper side forced the piston down. In 1705 Thomas Newcomen invented the first practical steam engine. Steam operates the engine by a slide directing steam from on one side of the piston to the other. As the piston moves, the piston rod turns the flywheel half a turn. The steam engine doesn't create power, I t uses steam to change heat energy released by burning fuel into mechanical energy. Steam engines are considered to be external combustion engine because, the fuel is burned outside of the cylinders. An example of internal combustion engine is an automobile. The power is provided by the rapid burning of gasoline inside the cylinders, which is ignited by the spark plug. The explosion inside the cylinder wall causes the pistion to go down and turning a shaft. Thomas Newcomen invented the first steam engine in 1705 although it wasn't very efficient; it was used for pumping water for coal mines. James Watt improved Newcomen's engine in the 1760's. He produced the first type of double acting engine. ?One after another hand operations were replaced by machines? (Lipkin). In a compound engine, steam in high pressure is used in one cylinder and then, after it has expanded and lessened in pressure, it is piped to another cylinder, in which it expands further. The first compound engine used a two-cylinder type but later other types of compound engines used triple and even quadruple cylinders. The advantage of compounding two or more cylinders is that less energy is lost in heating the cylinder walls, as a result, the engine is more efficient. Further improvements to the steam engine lead to the uniflow engine. The piston itself is a valve, and the cylinder remains at a constant temperature while operating. In the uniflow engine steam moves in only one direction, it has two inlet ports and one outlet port. This was a large engine, and was used mainly in big operations; it also was a very expensive engine compared to other engines. This type of engine was a very efficient use of high-pressure steam. Steam turbines produce a rotary motion; it works the same way as a water turbine, except its energy comes from expanding steam. It turns a set of main rotating blades on a wheel. Steam turbines rotate very fast and have no vibrations, unlike the back and forth motion of pistons. Steam engines work great in steam ships, and electric power plants. The flywheel turns at the end of the piston shaft. It was made of heavy metal cast-iron, so it helped eliminate power surges to the generator and, also provides a uniform flow of power. Since the steam engine was invented we have came along way with engines. Now we are making power by nuclear power plants and things have become much more industrialized. We are always looking for new ideas and ways to improve energy efficiency. Science Essays

Humes Battle Against Superstition †Theology Informal Essay

Humes Battle Against Superstition – Theology Informal Essay Free Online Research Papers Hume’s Battle Against Superstition Theology Informal Essay I often see David Hume shaking his head as he imagines island dwelling volcano worshippers or a procession of self-flagellating medieval monks. I see him sad, but with a chuckle of amusement as he contemplates what is, in his view, a useless and frivolous waste of human energy and effort. Hume is essentially a rational deist, and gives, in his work The Natural History of Religion, a brazen but brilliant account of the progress and regress of religion in the history or mankind. Although he spends a great deal of time on the development of polytheism into monotheism and its accompanying causes, he finally ends with a very strong stand on the influence of religion on morality. Hume believes that there is a rather universal principle-based morality that governs the correctness or incorrectness of the actions of men and that religion has used its various traditions to influence the stupid irrational man to superstitious and wasteful behavior. Although Hume obviously was not a strong supporter of religion per se, there is no doubt that he saw a god as the author of the universe. This conclusion, he says, he arrived at by the application of his reason- in other words, he viewed the design and order of the world and saw it as nothing else but the structured conception of an intelligent Creator with a definite plan and purpose. He was a deist- he did not necessarily believe that God was involved in His creation any longer, but that he certainly did create it. However, his conclusion, he emphasizes, is an extension of his reason- quite different than the fear that inspired mankind to believe in polytheism or even traditional monotheism. It is evident that Hume comprehended the existence of moral principles. He mentions a few of them as â€Å"virtues† in his work: â€Å"public spirit, filial duty, temperance, integrity† are, of course, not the offspring of religious tradition (181). The problem, he explains, is that, in the irrational religious view a man will do these virtuous things, but these they are not accredited to him as true goodness or morality on the account that it is simply his duty to do them. However, let him show extensive religious piety, such as whipping himself or fasting for days on end and he is a man of extensive moral fiber. Let it not be known that while doing so he deserted his family and let them starve, or even killed a man of another color in the name of his god. Such is Hume’s great objection to religious morality, and, in essence, the origin of the modern view of the negative effects of religion as a whole. The superstitions and traditions of religion often contradict or fly in the face of what we may comprehend as universal moral principles- such as the virtues Hume described, which are simply the natural products of honesty and love. These things- honesty and love- are two of the major universal principles from which all true morality derives. Now, one must honestly ask oneself, â€Å"What is this true morality?† Well, religionists may tend to think it is the will of God. They may think that whatever God says is moral, and whatever he objects to is immoral. Now, this may be true- but only in the reverse sense. In other words, God says what he says because it is moral. The will of God cannot be the only dictates of morality, or else what we are really saying when we say, â€Å"God is good,† is that â€Å"God happens to like himself.† Thus, God himself must be following these principles and they must be above Him. However, when those who submit themselves to a â€Å"god† who does not follow these principles begin to justify themselves morally by simply pleasing their deity rather than acting according to the eternal principles of love, honesty, etc., they ironically begin to act immoral- they follow the superstitions of their god’s priests rather than submit to their reason, which would lea d them to the true morality. A perfect example of this abandon of rational moral principles in the modern era was the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center by Islamic terrorists. These men, according to Hume, would be subjugating the principles of love to the radical superstitions of their â€Å"religion† that Americans are evil and deserve to die. Thus, they would be acting immoral and completely opposite to the virtues Hume emphasized- especially filial duty. On the other side, we have the Christian Crusades in the early part of the second millennium A.D. These men, under the flag of their religion and the idea that the followers of Islam did not deserve to live in Israel, completely forsook the principle of filial duty and love and killed countless Muslims. The September 11 tragedy shook the world and certainly caused a negative view of Islam. Many prominent figures had to repeatedly tell the world that the actions of the terrorists were not in accordance with the true principles of Islam, but still, the damage had been done, and regardless of what school of thought the terrorists embraced, they still took their actions under the name of their god. Although he may be incorrect about the existence of a god who is involved in the affairs of men, Hume is right about many things. The god who created this world is a rational, perfect being who never goes against the eternal principles by which he is God. The negative view of religion in the world is a direct reaction stimulated by the teachings and creeds of many stupid men who hold their superstitions dearer than their integrity and their love. For those who wish to be involved in a religion, then, the most important thing is to find the eternal principles (such as love and honesty) through reason, and then seek out that god who does not defy them- a god unlike Jupiter, who sleeps with any woman he chooses, and a god unlike he who directed the terrorists of last year to kill thousands of virtuous people. Certainly, Hume would find solace in a religion that defies irrational human behavior and places true and reasonable principles above any foundationless tradition or superstition. 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