The Psychological Impact of the Patriot Act on the American Public

Introduction The advent of modern civilization has transformed governments into critical institutions. The importance attached to governments hinges on the view that they take responsibility for indispensable aspects of the wellbeing of their people. The sustenance of these principal responsibilities requires governments to adopt policies that are consistent with their development agenda.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Psychological Impact of the Patriot Act on the American Public specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A good example of such a scenario is the United States’ enactment of the Patriot Act 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon coupled with the anthrax deaths that followed shortly afterwards (Skitka, Bauman Mullen, 2004). The involved policymakers drafted and enacted the Act hastily with nearly unanimous support from the entire US fra ternity with the hope that it would curb any further attempts to instigate similar attacks against the Americans. The perception of the people has changed from unanimous acceptance of the legislation to a state of ambivalence. In the light of this development, this paper seeks to explore the psychological impacts of the US Patriot Act on the Americans and unearth the reasons behind the change of attitude towards the Act. Historical overview of the US Patriotic Act 2001 The US Patriot Act of 2001 was enacted hardly six weeks after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The name â€Å"USA PATRIOT† is an acronym for â€Å"United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism† (Hamm, 2004, p.6). According to Abdolian and Takooshian (2002), after the 9/11 attacks there followed a notable number of anthrax deaths, which were perceived to emanate from the use of biological weaponry in the quest to perpetuate terror against the US public. Like the Antiterrorism Act of 2006 and other similar legislation in the past, the US Patriot Act of 2001 drew sharp criticism later and it remains the subject of incessant debates to date. Reservations have been expressed over the Act’s curtailment of fundamental liberties of the American people. This situation is aggravated by the view that the US was founded on a philosophy of democracy, which espouses liberty and equality for all. In this sense, the Act is inconsistent with the long-standing values of the US and thus it marks a major step in the departure from the foundational philosophies of the United States of America. The psychological impact The Act was almost unanimously welcome at the time of its enactment. The legislature overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Act (Abdolian Takooshian, 2002). The position of the larger public was not any different as Skitka, Bauman, and Mullen (2004) assert that over two thirds of the US publ ic was in favor of the Act at the time of its enactment.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Skitka, Bauman, and Mullen (2004) observe that 49% percent of the US public was willing to sacrifice part of its civil liberties in favor of the fight against terrorism after the Oklahoma bombing of 1995. The figure rose to about 68% after the 2001 attacks, but was only 29% in 1997 when there was considerable calm (Skitka, Bauman Mullen, 2004).Therefore, the overwhelming support for the Patriot Act seems to have been largely sentimental. Many people including the legislators who passed the Act are on record saying that in retrospect, they conceded that their opinion of the Act was initially inspired by fear or simply not bothering to find out what it contained due to anxiety. For instance, Hamm (2004) notes that some legislators reiterated that the Patriot Act of 2001 was the worst legi slation they ever passed. It is extrapolated that less than five percent of the legislators who voted for the Act read it before voting in its favor (Hamm, 2004). Kashan (2009) notes that almost immediately after its enactment, the Act sparked heated debates all across the USA. There were numerous offensive provisions whose implications eluded its proponents until later when the Act came into full force. The Act allows the US Department of Justice to Tap telephones, e-mail messages, and personal computer hard drives (including roving wiretaps), without a legal probable cause, request private and personal business and bank records, without a court hearing, and solicit a patron’s list of library books. †¦investigate a person who is not suspected of a crime and/or is not the target of a terrorist investigation, secretly conduct â€Å"sneak-and-peek† searches without a warrant, withhold the names and other information about individuals arrested and detained, hold clos ed hearings, and monitor jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients (Hamm, 2004, p.6). By all standards, this Act is the most overbearing legislation ever enacted in the history of the US (Bloss, 2009). The public expressed reservations for the legislation almost immediately after its enactment because of what followed. The 9/11 terror arrestees were reportedly mistreated in many ways while in custody. They were physically abused, denied the opportunity to see their attorneys, and detained for long periods without being informed of their offences (Hamm, 2004). In addition, the arrestees were largely Muslims or of Arab origin (Hamm, 2004). Despite the view that the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks were Muslims or of Arab origin, it was not reason enough to brand every Muslim or Arab a terrorist. Intriguingly, this description underscores exactly what the government did and more so, with levels of impunity that prompted the US people to start thinking differently about the future implications of the Patriot Act. The Act was devised to prevent further terrorist attacks against the US, but it has been massively abused. Hamm (2004) observes that the FBI has been gathering intelligence on the activities of American environmental and anti-globalization organizations, which are well known not to engage in any terrorist activities.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Psychological Impact of the Patriot Act on the American Public specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hamm (2004) adds that in the state of Indiana, FBI officers are reported to have approached a local librarian and demanded access to the borrowing records of certain Muslim students of Indiana University. The librarian declined, but he was threatened with arrest. Section 215 of the Patriot Act permits an FBI agent to obtain a subpoena from some designated courts and use it to gain access to anyone’s records without their knowledge. This would have been the case if the agents in the Indiana case had obtained the subpoena before their visit to the library. Intriguingly, they chose to visit the library without the document and threatened the librarian with arrest due to refusal to cooperate. In a separate case, President Bush’s administration sparked controversy when an American born citizen, Jose Padilla, accused of plotting a bomb attack, was incarcerated in solitary confinement for over three years without a right to trial because he was considered an enemy combatant (Kashan, 2009). The important question that arises in the light of such occurrences is whether the Patriot Act is worth the sacrifice that US citizens so willingly made for the sake of safety and security. Bloss (2009) argues that the hostility that US citizens show towards the Patriot Act is founded on the discovery that their liberties were sacrificed in exchange for security against terror attacks, yet this Act does not provide the purported security. Instead, they feel targeted due to the numerous unlawful actions by the security machinery against the public. Psychologically, this Act has kept the US public in constant anxiety because their confidence in the idea that the Act could enhance their security has waned over the years. The confidence has been replaced by frustration and feelings of betrayal because their long cherished liberties, such as the right to privacy among others, were sacrificed without being given the chance to give their opinions yet in the end they are at the receiving end. At the time of enactment of the Act, it is reported that over two thirds of the US public were in its favor. Naturally, everyone would expect such a reaction from the people especially if the devastating nature of the 9/11 terror attacks is considered. At the time of enacting the Patriot Act 2001, the US public emotionally and psychologically devastated. In that state, they could have welcomed anything t hat purported to provide security against similar attacks. They thus welcomed the Act with a sense of relief knowing that anyone attempting to plot a similar attack would be incarcerated.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, in the years that have followed its enactment, it has gradually dawned on US citizens that their relief was misplaced because the Patriot Act does not actually have the ability to eliminate terrorism as initially thought. Thus, the US public is constantly aware of the fact that the threat of terror attacks lives on. This creates a feeling of disappointment and gives them a resigned attitude over the same because efforts that have been made to alter the Act have all proved futile. The US citizens feel betrayed because although they expressed support for the Act, that was only after it had been enacted. The Act was completely devoid of their input even at the lowest level yet it took away the fundamental right to privacy. It is arguable that they were robbed of their privacy. This move creates a feeling of betrayal because for the average US citizen, his/her right to privacy is no more yet the fear of terror attacks still lives. This situation reflects the assertion by Zelman (2002) that citizenry that willingly gives up its liberties to the government in exchange for security and protection ends up losing both. In the US case, terrorism is still a reality that can manifest anywhere in the US at any time and on top of that, their every activity is monitored by the government. The Patriot Act trampled the right to privacy in the name of ensuring national security (Nieto, Johnston-Dodds Simmons, 2002). The gist of the controversy over this development is that the government has failed to use the freedom it gained through the Act objectively. Prior to this Act, the law cushioned the public against arbitrary action by the government. In addition, it was not possible for the government to eavesdrop on anyone or access any private records without permission from a court law (Nieto, Johnston-Dodds Simmons, 2002). Arguably, under such circumstances, it was a cinch for the unscrupulous individuals and groups to perpetuate all sorts of unethical and unlawful ac tivities against the US citizens, as although security agencies employed the best available intelligence techniques, they could not penetrate the private communication of individuals or groups to identify plots of terror attacks or other criminal activities. Thus, prior to the Patriot Act, the constitution’s position on human rights was an impediment to the ability of security agencies to combat terrorism (Zelman, 2002). This assertion is supported by the view that despite the government’s endeavors to fight terrorism; acts of terrorism were successfully planned and executed in the US. Logically, this planning involved people within the US communicating with others from outside the US, yet due to the law, the government was incapacitated and could not single out such communication and possibly avert the attacks. The devastating nature of the terror attacks recorded in the history of the US and specifically the 9/11 attacks made it permissible to sacrifice privacy right s to avert similar attacks. Law-abiding citizens who have nothing to hide need not have any problems with legislations such as the Patriot Act 0f 2001. The government needed to have to access to the records of every form of communication in order to work effectively with the Act, which implies that there is no way some elements of privacy could be exempted from the Patriot Act and still have it work effectively. The controversy surrounding the act should thus be blamed fully on the government as after obtaining the authority it required, it has failed to use the authority responsibly and objectively. It would not be so much of an issue if the government strictly adhered to the purpose of the Act and treated people lawfully during its enforcement. Conclusion The US Patriot Act was a well-intentioned piece of legislation that sought to enable the government deal firmly with terrorism. It is unfortunate that the manner in which it has been enforced has sparked furious debates on its su itability. Life is more important than privacy, but the government has failed to use its acquired authority constructively for the good of the US public. Security agencies seem to be spying for the sake of spying for the law allows it. Even though no terrorist attacks have been recorded since its enactment, the government has failed to use the Patriot Act for the intended use and it has instead turned it against the US Public. This move is not acceptable considering that the citizens lost their right to privacy for the sake of this legislation. Objectivity and goodwill need to be maintained if the Act is to be used effectively and without any major controversies. Recommendations To stop unscrupulous law enforcement agents from taking undue advantage over the public under the guise of implementing the Patriot Act, strict measures need to put in place to help identify such agents and severely punish them to restore public trust in the Act. The government should open up the extent and mechanisms of enforcing of this Act to the public scrutiny. The enforcement of this act is shrouded in secrecy yet the Act only curtailed the right to privacy and not right to information. References Abdolian, L., Takooshian, H. (2002). The USA Patriot Act: Civil liberties, the media and public opinion. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 30(4), 1429-1453. Bloss, W. (2009). Transforming U.S. police surveillance in a new privacy paradigm. Police Practice and Research, 10(3), 225-238. Hamm, M. (2004). The USA Patriot Act and the politics of fear. London, UK: Cavendish. Kashan, S. (2009). The USA Patriot Act: Impact on freedoms and civil liberties. ESSAI, 7(8), 86-90. Nieto, M., Johnston-Dodds, K., Simmons, C. (2002). Public and private applications of video surveillance and biometric technologies. Sacramento, CA: California Research Bureau. Skitka, J., Bauman, W., Mullen, E. (2004). Political tolerance and coming to psychological closure following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks : An integrative approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(6), 743-756. Zelman, J. (2002). Recent developments in international law: Anti-terrorism legislation-part two: The impact and consequences. Journal of Transnational Law Policy, 11(2), 421-441. This research paper on The Psychological Impact of the Patriot Act on the American Public was written and submitted by user Natasha M. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Amphicyon - Facts and Figures

Amphicyon - Facts and Figures Name: Amphicyon (Greek for ambiguous dog); pronounced AM-fih-SIGH-on Habitat: Plains of the northern hemisphere Historical Epoch: Middle Oligocene-Early Miocene (30-20 million years ago) Size and Weight: Varies by species; up to six feet long and 400 pounds Diet: Omnivorous Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; bear-like body About Amphicyon Despite its nickname, the Bear Dog, Amphicyon was directly ancestral to neither bears nor dogs. This was the most prominent genus of the family of mammalian, vaguely canine-like carnivores that succeeded the larger creodonts (typified by Hyaenodon and Sarkastodon) but preceded the first true dogs. True to its nickname, Amphicyon looked like a small bear with the head of a dog, and it probably pursued a bear-like lifestyle as well, feeding opportunistically on meat, carrion, fish, fruit, and plants. The front legs of this prehistoric mammal were especially well-muscled, meaning it could probably stun prey senseless with a single well-aimed swipe of its paw. Befitting a mammal with such a lengthy provenance in the fossil recordabout 10 million years, from the middle Oligocene to the early Miocene epochsthe genus Amphicyon embraced nine separate species. The two largest, the appropriately named A. major and A. giganteus, weighed up 400 pounds fully grown and roamed the expanse of Europe and the near east. In North America, Amphicyon was represented by A. galushai, A. frendens, and A. ingens, which were slightly smaller than their Eurasian cousins; various other species hailed from modern-day India and Pakistan, Africa, and the far east. (The European species of Amphicyon were identified in the early 19th century, but the first American species was only announced to the world in 2003.) Did Amphicyon hunt in packs, like modern wolves? Probably not; more likely this megafauna mammal stayed well out of the way of its pack-hunting competitors, contenting itself with (say) piles of rotting fruit or the carcass of a recently deceased Chalicotherium. (On the other hand, oversized grazing animals like Chalicotherium were themselves so slow that elderly, sick or juvenile herd members could easily be picked off by a solitary Amphicyon.) In fact, its likely that the Bear Dog faded from the world scene 20 million years ago, at the end of its long reign, because it was displaced by better-adapted (i.e., faster, sleeker, and more lightly built) hunting animals.

Beccarias Criminal Justice Theories

This paper examines the role Beccaria played in shaping criminal justice. This paper studies the life of Beccaria and his theories on criminal behavior and justice. It analyzes his work, Essay On Crimes and Punishments, and its influence in criminal justice systems throughout the world. The paper looks at how Beccaria viewed the criminal and the crime and its overall effect (damage) to society.From the paper: `This paper examines the contributions of Beccaria in the context of his own time, the lasting effect that they have had on the jurisprudential and penological systems of the modern Western world. After a general introduction to Beccarias ideas and his model of crime, this paper looks at the results of three contemporary studies that incorporate the ideas and models of Beccaria. This examination of current research will allow us to evaluate the ways in which Beccarias idea, born in such a different historical context, may still guide us in attempting to guide us in creating ever more just, more fair and more effective means of punishing criminals and allowing all of society (including criminals, victims, and the rest of us) to prosper.` Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Beccarias Life and Timesand Theoretical Underpinnings 3. Beccarias Classical Theory of Crime 4. Three Modern Studies 5. Conclusion

PORTFOLIO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PORTFOLIO - Essay Example This type of analysis is less time consuming and cost effective. Secondary sources available in academic journals and publications of the industry associations are reliable. 1. ‘Facilities Management’ reports on customer service, operational efficiency, service recovery in providing ‘Brand experience’ for the customers, asset management, risk management and development of human resources. 2. ‘Outsourcing’ covers key considerations such as quality of customer service, cost of outsourcing and type of customers involved in decision making. 3. ‘Environmental Management’ deals with environmental pollution, conservation of resources and corporate social responsibility with a view to enhance the company’s image with the public and customers and for a sustainable development. 4. ‘Technology’ discusses about the impact of technological developments in the industry with a view to enhance the level of customer service and g uest experience. Recommendations: Important recommendations in respect of facilities management include providing training facilities to employees, refurbishment and renovation on continuous basis and encouraging diversity in work place. It should be ensured that outsourcing does not affect quality of customer service. ... Recommendations References Outsourcing in Hotel Industry Introduction Broad areas of Outsourcing Opportunities for Outsourcing in Hotel Industry Conclusions and Recommendations References Environmental Management in Hotel Industry Introduction Customer Education and Employee Involvement Environmental Management Conclusions and Recommendations References Technology in Hotel Industry Introduction Technology in Hotel Industry Conclusions and Recommendations References Facilities Management in Hotel Industry Introduction According to the International Facilities Management Association (2013a), â€Å"Facility management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.† Therefore, with reference to hotel industry it refers to the whole host of operations which includes front office management, house-keeping, property management and customer service. The metamorphosis of the in dustry over the period of time calls for internationalization at all level for survival. The main aim of this report is concerned with maintenance of quality standards, improving performance through training and development and refurbishment and renovation of the facilities for enhancing the level of customer service. Improved facilities management and HRD practices increase operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Training and development programs suitably designed will motivate the employees and ensures safety of the employees and guests. This will also make the service recovery process efficient in case of service failures. Facilities management According to Mass and Pleunis (2001, p. 28) FM is the responsibility of coordinating efforts in respect of buildings, technology, furniture and

Why Boston University is a good fit for you and what specifically has Essay - 1

Why Boston University is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission - Essay Example e understand and create a solution to their problems, I was able to prove to myself that with ample knowledge about the human brain and its effects on human behaviour would allow me to help more people in the future. Taking up a bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology is exactly what I think suits me best. As of the moment, I have not thought about the area in which I would like to specialize, though I am hoping that the university would guide me through which road I should take eventually. My fascination about the human brain is too profound for me to put it to waste. It would be an honor for me to share that passion with one of the most prestigious universities in the country, Boston University. With the university’s excellent programs, I am confident that they will provide me with exceptional learning experience that would further nourish the desire within me to understand the complexity of the human mind. Being a pioneer in the research programs among the various educational institutions in the country (â€Å"Boston†), its members of the faculty are equipped with adequate wisdom and knowledge of the areas I hope to gain as much learning as possible. I believe I deserve to be educated in this institution because I share the same passion that they have particularly in recognizing the need to interpret people’s behaviour as dictated by their

A Woman Indefinitely Plagued: The Truth Behind The Yellow Wallpaper

A Woman Indefinitely Plagued: The Truth Behind The Yellow Wallpaper In The Yellow Wallpaper, a young woman and her husband rent out a country house so the woman can get over her â€Å"temporary nervous depression.† She ends up staying in a large upstairs room, once used as a â€Å"playroom and gymnasium, [†¦] for the windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls.† A â€Å"smoldering unclean yellow† wallpaper, â€Å"strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight,† lines the walls, and â€Å"the pattern lolls like a broken neck and two bulbous eyes [that] stare at you upside down.† The husband, a doctor, uses S. Weir Michell's â€Å"rest cure† to treat her of her sickness, and he directs her to live isolated in this strange room. The nameless woman tells the reader through diary entries that she feels a connection to the yellow wallpaper and fancies that an imprisoned woman shakes the pattern. The narrator’s insanity is finally apparent when she writes, â€Å"The re are so many of those creeping women, and they creep so fast. I wonder if they all come out of that wall-paper as I did?† When the story first came out in 1892, the critics saw The Yellow Wallpaper as a description of female insanity instead of a story that reveals society’s values. A Boston physician wrote in The Transcript after reading the story that â€Å"such a story ought not to be written [. . .] it was enough to drive anyone mad to read it,† stating that any woman who would go against the grain of society might as well claim insanity. In the time period in which Gilman lived, â€Å"the ideal woman was not only assigned a social role that locked her into her home, but she was also expected to like it, to be cheerful and gay, smiling and good humored.† By expressing her need for independence, Gilman set herself apart from society. Through her creation of The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote a personal testament of the emotional and psychological anguish of rejection from society as a free-thinking woman in the late nineteenth century. The life of Gilman revolved around troubled and loveless relationships that sparked the gothic tale of her descent into madness. Relating to Gilman’s situation and appreciating The Yellow Wallpaper for how it exemplifies the women’s lives of her time proves difficult today. Before the reform of women’s rights, society summed the roles of the woman in a sim... ...ions far surpassed her time. The honesty of emotion in The Yellow Wallpaper sends a chill through any backbone, whether literal or metaphorical, and reveals how a simple testament can create a revolution of any type. From: . See 1. See 1. Lawell, Jeannine. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper: The Rest Cure as a Catalyst to Insanity.† From . See 1. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. â€Å"Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?† The Forerunner. To Herland and Beyond: The Life and Work of Charlotte Perkins Gilman. New York: Penguin, 1990. Lane, Ann J. â€Å"The Fictional World of Charlotte Perkins Gilman.† The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader. New York: Pantheon Books, 1980. â€Å"The Cult of True Womanhood.† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. Microsoft Inc, 2004. â€Å"Charlotte Perkins Gilman.† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. Microsoft Inc, 2004. See 7. See 7. Ceplair, Larry. â€Å"The Early Years.† Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A Non-fiction Reader. New York: Columbia, 1991. â€Å"Depression (Psychology).† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. Microsoft Inc, 2004. â€Å"Hysteria (Study and Treatment).† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. Microsoft Inc, 2004. See 13. See 7. See 7. See 7. See 7. See 7. See 6. See 6. See 6. See 8.

Beowulf Essay

One of the main reasons we study literature from different cultures and different times is to learn about the people who wrote the stories down. From â€Å"Beowulf†, we can speculate on the values, religion and culture of Anglo-Saxon people through the values of allegiance to lord and king, love of glory as the ruling motive of every noble life, and the inevitability of fate. In Beowulf the warriors were sworn to protect and serve their lord and in exchange for such allegiance. Hrothgar was expected to bestow riches and social standing upon them. This allegiance and reward is an important theme in the book. Loyalty was shown to Hrothgar by his warriors so he built Herot for their convenience. Wiglaf returned to Beowulf despite his men’s decision to turn their back on him during his time of need because he is loyal to Beowulf. Anglo-Saxons believed in allegiance to their lord and king so they would be rewarded with protection Love of glory, fame, and recognition was important to the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf displays examples of boasting. He shows his heroic characteristics as he boasts before Hrothgar and first says, â€Å"Hail, Hrothgar! † He also portrays heroism as he come across Unferth, where explaining the swimming event with Brecca allowed him to boast about his strength and physical abilities. After defeating Grendel he displays Grendel’s arm to show his victory. Fate is what determines one’s future, success or failure, is an often used aspect throughout this epic. Beowulf symbolizes fate as the determining factor of who will win the battle saying that God will decide what will happen. Allegiance to lord and king, Love of glory as the ruling motive of every noble life, and the overall belief in the inevitability of fate were the main Anglo-Saxon ideals. Fate is a matter of interpretation depending on the religious background of a person. Fate can not be controlled. â€Å"Life can seem as a simple strategy game and those who place their game pieces in the best position are to be successful and essentially heroic. †