The American Constitution

Part A

Question 1

  1. Blackmun’s Argument for his Decision about the Permissibility of Abortion

In the Joe verses Wade case, Judge Blackmun ruled that abortion was permissible. Firstly, the judge cited the right of personal privacy, which gives a woman the right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy or give birth. Secondly, the judge said the word person mentioned in the Constitution does not mention an unborn child. Therefore, the Federal law did not protect an unborn baby. Thirdly, Justice Blackmun maintained that the Texas law failed the Strict Scrutiny Test. Accordingly, the Court had to revert to a historical review of abortion cases in the country as current ones lacked a historical foundation. The judge used this analysis to show that the law allowed women to have an abortion.

  1. Explain White’s reasoning for Dissenting with Blackmun’s Decision

Conversely, Justice White dissented the majority ruling arguing that the Court lacked a legitimate petitioner. The judge reasoned that the Court needed a plaintiff in the first trimester of pregnancy to support its verdict that states should not regulate abortion in the first trimester. Since the court lacked such a witness, the case was null and void. Secondly, Justice White maintained that abortion was not a private act as the Court claimed. The entire process involved a licensed physician prodding the body of the pregnant individual. Thirdly, the judge argued that the right to privacy did not extend far enough to guarantee the right to abortion. Finally, Judge White explained that the rational relations test was appropriate for the due process case.

  1. Which Judge Advances the More Cogent Position on the Abortion Issue?

Granted, Judge Blackmun advanced a more cogent position on the topic of abortion in the country. The judge began by comparing the rights of women versus the interest of the state, which were critical issues the case. Justice Blackmun’s argument that an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy did not affect the health of the mother was valid. Furthermore, the interest of the state to protect the health of the mother was not affected. Hence, they did not have the right to regulate abortion. However, the judge agreed that the interest of the state came into play after the first three months when the danger of having an abortion increased.

Part B

Question 8

  1. What Conclusion is he trying to Support; What Reasons is he giving to Support the Conclusion?

Szasz supports the conclusion that the government has no right over the ideas one makes or the drugs they pump into their bodies. The libertarian psychiatrist argued that in a free market, businessmen can sell any product. What is important in a free market is the profit traders make from their sales. According to Szasz, drugs are commodities just like any other. The psychiatrist further argues that if the government aims to reduce harm to the users, then it should ensure the free sale of drugs in stores in the country. Doing so would ensure that doctors provide prescriptions to clients.

  1. Quality of Szasz’s reasoning

However, the argument put forward by Szasz does not hold water because drug use threatens the lives of the user and the society. Drug addicts can cause harm to their bodies and on those they love. Therefore, the government has to intervene to protect such individuals by terming the act as a crime. Additionally, commercializing drugs in the country would teach children that using drugs was acceptable. Moreover, personal drug use impinged on the rights of non-users, which goes against the civil rights. Personal drug use seems harmless to society in the beginning. However, buying illegal drugs funds the activities of drug traffickers and cartels around the globe. Such groups put communities in which the consumers live at risk of violence and death.

Campbell’s Hero’s Journey


Question One: Campbell’s Hero’s Journey

The ordinary life of the Hero is unspectacular and frigid. He moves to a new location and subsequently becomes frightened by the new surroundings. His unspectacular start represents a mythological perspective in which the would-be heroes usually experience a slow start to their live, before rising to prominence. The hero’s call to adventure occurs in the form of a fairy, which in turns transitions into a bug. As the fairy changes from its hideous form to an absolute beauty, the Hero becomes mesmerized and follows the creature into the night. This is indicative of the fact that humans are prone to follow others blindly without due consideration of their safety.

Evidently, he does not refuse the call, but seeks to follow the fairy into an uncertain world. He never changes his resolve to escape from the harsh world. Presently, he meets a mentor, who does a good job of guiding him back to reality. Just like in the ordinary world, the mentor is crucial in reinstating orderliness in the Hero’s troubled life. He then encounters tests, allies and enemies, who try to derail his journey back to the ordinary world. The trial of the Pale Man represents the Hero’s approach to the inmost cave (Campbell). The mentor turns against him and eventually expels him for misconduct when he discovered that she had touched his food.

Thereafter, the Hero experiences the ordeal when he suffers a tragedy of death of a loved one. This ordeal is similar to his disenchantment after his fairy world failure. His rewards materializes in his deep trust of a new mentor, who turns out to be his true savior as the two escape the estate to live with the rebels. He must resist all temptation and stand his ground in one last chance. This represents a route back to redemption. The hero must face one last attempt at redefining himself. The resolve for self-defense turns tragic as his nemesis finally kills him. Finally, the Hero returns with the elixir and his spirit finally ascends to the realms of the fairy world.

Question 2: Pan’s Labyrinth Reviews

The “Pan’s Labyrinth” is an exceptional movie that centers on the reality of war. Jim Emerson describes the film as one of cinema’s great fantasies, complete with great fantasies and wonder. Guillermo Del Toro’s inject the film with potency and awesome beauty, which captures adults’ imagination. In fact, Emerson claimed that the film had the same effect that “Alice in Wonderland” or the “Wizard of Oz” had on children. Emerson further claims that Pan’s Labyrinth is a movie that is only suitable for children due to its “R” rating, hence a harsh and uncompromising film.

In my own opinion about the movie, its narrative is mazy; hence creating an impression of an ebb and flow of an ocean. In the extreme, the narrative is gory and heart-wrenching, particularly the death of Ofelia. Notwithstanding the fact that it is a fantasy narrative, the movie has many similarities to contemporary battle fronts. As the 11-year-old Ofelia travels with her pregnant mother to a forest outpost, the cruelty of mankind comes to the fore (Toro). This cruelty manifests itself in the form of Vidal who in his quest to achieve his resistance aim kills Ofelia when she seeks to rescue her brother. The story is highly enlightening, and it reminds the viewers of the cruelty of war. In my view, it is a compelling narrative that will remain relevant for years to come.

Looking Through a Different Lens

Social Conflict theory is an important theoretical framework within the field of criminology and sociology. It states that particular segments of society benefit from established social and economic arrangements in the society (Spiegel, 2006). These provisions allow them to use state resources to maintain that inequality. Although this theoretical tradition was restricted to the economics of society, racial and ethnic factors have become an integral part. It reflects the fact that poverty and crime are part and parcel of the American society. Police departments are powerful institutions in the country. The American Constitutions sanction most of their activities. However, the elite continues to use them to foster their agendas. Social conflict theory explains the behavior of the police towards the public.

I agree with conflict theorists that privileged societal elites to use the police to suppress the activities of threatening individuals and groups. The perspective views society as a collection of competing sets of people. Each of these groups uses resources at their disposal to maintain personal economic status. Additionally, they extend this privilege to friends and families. Policing is a daunting task for the police because dominant groups control their activities. What the police do on the streets to maintain social order is not an individual action.

Additionally, I agree with the social conflict theory that the police have a negative attitude toward outgroups. According to this perspective, law enforcement officers emphasize the importance of in groups in their departments. These individuals believe that they must protect themselves from the public (Weitzer, Tuch, & Skogan, 2008). Indeed, when the police encounter aggressive populations such as demonstrators, they display aggression. Sometimes, they flee to save their lives. Conflict theorists assert that the police believe that the public is always out to harm the police, thus the need to remain armed at all times.

Moreover, I agree with the social conflict theory that the law enforcement institution is too powerful to be challenged by minority groups in the country. The theorists argue that the law sanctions the activities of the police. The dominant groups in society are aware of this power and use it to reduce resistance from the subjugated communities (Weitzer, Tuch, & Skogan, 2008). The wealthy realize that social disorder is not the best environment for business. Given the implications of the theory, it means that the operations of the police divide the public along social and economic lines (Hageman, 1985). In the American context, doing so opposes the interests of the poor people in society.

In conclusion, the social conflict theory explains the role of the police in maintaining social order in the country. These conflict theorists argue that elites gain from economic differences in the country. Pronounced economic differences allow the wealthy people in the society to control law and order. The elite work with the police to maintain social order in society so that their businesses do not suffer losses. Consequently, the state deploys the cops to metropolitan areas to ensure peace prevails. In some cases, the police use force when locals resist their invasion. However, the judicial system does not punish the law enforcement officers for any act of violence because they act on the orders of their superiors. Constitutionally, the police maintain social order. However, their training prepares them for violent encounters in the line of duty. The police are skeptic of members of the public because of the animosity that exists between these two sides.


Essay 1: Causes of Wars and Conflicts






Essay 2 Transitional Justice





Essay 3: America as an Empire







Teen Parenting

Raising children is a difficult task for any parent, especially those bringing kids up for the first time. It is more problematic if they are more than two. However, a particularly challenging phase is parenting adolescents and teenagers. Three of the most commonly asked questions are: how can a parent deal with teen mood swings and tantrums? How can a parent teach a teen to be responsible and avoid harmful behavior? How can a parent improve communication with their teen? A more specific point of interest would be exploring parents’ ways of correcting their teenagers after they have done something wrong. It is particularly difficult because many youngsters tend to create an antagonistic reaction towards the parent afterwards. Nonetheless, children of this age need guidance and assistance from their parents.

Article 1: 5 Mistakes Parents Make With Teens and Tweens

  1. Citation

Barker, J. (2011). 5 mistakes parents make with teens and tweens. (WebMD).

  1. Summary of Findings

One common mistake that parents undertake is expecting the worst from their sons and daughters. A parent who expects negativity from their children will find it difficult to create a meaningful bond with the teen. Additionally, it manifests the theory where expecting the worst can endorse the same behavior in them. Another common mistake parents commit is reading too many parenting books. Some of the instructions do not fit in the setting of all parent-teen relationships. As a result, they end up worsening the situation when they follow everything in the book. According to the article, they should not focus on the irrelevant issues and ignore the more serious ones. For instance, many parents are concerned on issues such as hairstyle and major problems such as alcohol abuse.

  1. Relevance of the Article to the Research Questions

The article is relevant to the research questions as it focuses on the common parents’ mistakes. According to the article, parents’ action can result in negative consequences in teenagers’ upbringing. Many parents question the actions they take to ensure a better upbringing of their youngsters.

Article 2: 10 Parenting Tips for Raising Teenagers

  1. Citation

Davis, J. (2003). 10 parenting tips for raising teenagers. WebMD.

  1. Findings

The article by Jeanie Davis provides parents with several tips that they can implement to improve their association with their teens. One suggested strategy is that parents should give their teens some room for personal growth and experiences. Another technique for getting better relationship bonds with teens is to invite their friends over. It is a fact that regardless whether a parent is happy about their teenager’s friends or not, they will have social ties. The best way to understand these friends is through welcoming and interacting with them regularly. The author suggests tips relating to ways that both the child and the parent can follow. Parents should involve their teenagers in coming up with house rules, regulations, and responsibilities to avoid the feeling that they are controlled.

  1. Relevance of the Article to the Research Questions.

The article is relevant to the research questions in that it has information on parents’ ways of teaching their teenagers. The article is of benefit to parents who are concerned with ways of teaching their children to be responsible.

Article 3: Raising Teenagers: The Mother of All Problems

  1. Citation

Cusk, R. (2015). Raising Teenagers: The Mother of All Problems. The New York Times.

  1. Findings

The author gives an overview of her experience with her daughter. She describes her relationship with her teenage daughter as different from when she was a toddler. In many occasions, most parents find themselves in similar compromising situations with their teenagers when they are hostile and irritable. The author gives more examples of parent-teen relationships that are not smooth, proving that indeed the phase is critical. In some examples, the youngsters have defected from living with one parent (in the case of divorce), and opted to move in with the other because they do not have stern rules. Raising teenagers is difficult, and it sometimes requires making tough decisions.

  1. Relevance to Research Questions

The article is relevant to the research questions in that it provides numerous scenarios of parents who are in the dilemma of raising teens. They have had to deal with mood swings and tantrums that in some cases have turned verbally abusive. However, parents can take up multiple measures based on the character of their children. When a teenager is hostile, the guardian should be more stringent. According to the article and in response to the research questions, guardians should be aware that as much as the youngsters should be given their free space to express themselves, there should be limitations and rules to follow and respect.

Article 4: Teen Temper Tantrums: 3 Steps to Stop the Screaming

  1. Citation

Kramer, M. (n.d.). Teen Temper Tantrums: 3 Steps to Stop the Screaming. Empowering Parents.

  1. Findings

The author mainly focuses on conflict resolution between parents and their teens. He compares the difficult years of parenting teenagers, especially on children around the age of two. However, the difficulties are unique since parents deal with rational young adults who strive to identify themselves. They are in a phase of crossfires of childhood and adulthood demands. The author indicates that teenagers experience tantrums as they are undergoing personal transformation. They become self-centered and are gradually becoming entitled to their individual needs and actions. One major step of controlling teenage tantrums is to reward trust-earning behavior. Another step is to look for good traits among the teen’s goals and motivate them to achieving it.

  1. Relevance to Research Questions

The article to the research questions since it highlights the possible causes of dispute between parents and teenagers. The author helps to see a way of dealing with teen’s tantrums. Parents should encourage positive traits in their children. In doing so, they are able to bond with them over positive aspects only. Additionally, the article helps readers to understand that teenage grumpiness may be a result of other external factors. Thus, parents need to try and understand the root causes of such irritabilities.

Article 5: Why Girls Talk, and What They’re really Saying

  1. Citation

Shaffer, S. M., & Gordon, L. P. (2005). Why Girls Talk–and What They’re Really Saying. McGraw Hill Professional.

  1. Findings

The author focuses on the teenage girl, stating that communication is a fundamental aspect of raising teenagers. However, the communication techniques of teens are not as direct as toddlers. For instance, it is not a guarantee that a teenager expresses their feelings. If they do, they may not express themselves clearly. Therefore, parents should be able to decipher deeper meanings of their teenagers’ conversations and act accordingly. For example, a teenage daughter may want to know how to cook a particular meal. The girl’s sudden interest may be a spark of responsibility, and a parent should not hold back such growth.

  1. Relevance to the Research Questions

The author provides relevance to the research questions regarding how parents can deal with their teens. Children are able to express themselves fully, but that is not the same when it comes to young adults. Parents can use the suggested techniques stipulated by the author to improve their communication with their teenagers.

Article 6: Parenting Teens – The Ten Most Commonly Asked Questions and Concerns

  1. Citation

Daniele, T. (2014). Parenting Teens – The Ten Most Commonly Asked Questions and Concerns. Teen Discipline 101.

  1. Findings

The article contains commonly asked questions and their responses. The author uses a Q and A format to respond to some of the major concerns regarding teen parenting. Daniele (the author) states that every unique situation that a teenager is facing should be handled independently. For instance, some scenarios are not worth throwing a fit about, for example, the shelf tidiness of the youngsters’ rooms. However, parents should not take all situations lightly. Some behaviors such as smoking are harmful to their health. Therefore, parents should not ignore them.

  1. Relevance to the Research Questions

The article is relevant to the research questions as it highlights all the major concerns that parents have regarding their teenagers. Moreover, the author provides a general overview that works for most parents. The methods of teen parenting are diverse, which makes it difficult for adults to select suitable courses of actions that will work for their teenagers. Finally, the article is relevant to the research questions because it gives an insight of the possible alternative options for parenting.

The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy

Chapter 9



Chapter 10



Chapter 11



Chapter 12

