Business Ethics - Discrimination Essay Example for Free

Business Ethics Discrimination Essay Discrimination is defined as distinguishing something from something else (i. e. don’t hire him because he has no experience). Unjustified discrimination is distinguishing something from something else on a basis that is not justified (i. e. don’t hire him because he is black). The term discrimination commonly replaces the term unjustified discrimination in business, philosophy, psychology and day-to-day community life. In a just and fair society, such as we Canadians aspire to, a job applicant’s race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, orientation, mental ability, or physical condition should not disadvantage them in career choices or job competitions. If a short Asian female firefighter can do the job, she should get the job. Conversely she should not expect to receive concessions that are not available to all; that is in effect also discrimination. Unfortunately, discrimination often arises in business in regards to hiring, job placement, wage, and promotion. Affirmative Action Ideally, discrimination should be of no concern at all; everyone should have an equal opportunity to anything. In a perfect world a hiring manager would not have to think thoughts such as, â€Å"They are disabled, they are women, they are aboriginal,† and would only think, â€Å"This person will be perfect for the job because†¦. † Unfortunately this may never completely happen. For example if a person in a wheelchair applies to be a stock person at Costco and another person who is not in a wheelchair applies for the same position the manager will be debating, â€Å"Should I hire the person who cannot walk because I want to be socially responsible? Or should I hire the person who can walk, who will probably do a better job and who I won’t have to make special accommodations for? † Another example is a man and a woman who are applying to be a nurse on the obstetrics ward; they have both just graduated and have exactly the same experience. If only one position is available who is more likely to be hired? Affirmative action programs often come into place to encourage equal opportunity. Affirmative action refers to policies or rograms that take factors such as; age, sex, race, color or religion and give preferential treatment to people that belong to an identifiable disadvantaged group, or outgroup. Cons Reverse discrimination occurs when preferential treatment is given to one person and the other is left out. For example if a woman is hired to work in an oil patch just because she is a woman and man is not hired (perhaps only because of quota requirements), he will experience reverse discrimination. This may in fact v iolate a province’s human rights code. Some would also argue that it is wrong to place at a disadvantage a current day job applicant in order to attempt to compensate for historical wrong treatment of certain categories of job applicants. Merit may not exist if affirmative action is in place. A situation could arise where an applicant may deserve a job more because he or she has more education and more experience than the hired applicant who is disabled, if the hiring was done only in the interest of a representative workplace. May condescend or offend outgroups because the people belonging to that group don’t believe they need preferential treatment in order to succeed. Affirmative action creates a perception that all racial minorities or physically disabled persons have low self image, poor job marketing skills, missed opportunities, and are in need government regulated assistance. Efficiency may be compromised if a company is forced to hirer a proportionally representative workforce. Instead of hiring the best fitting candidate, companies would be forced to seek out a visible minority or a disabled candidate. This simply is not good business practice. A company should be free to hire the best candidate. Morale and workplace cooperation may be negatively impacted by a person being hired because of affirmative action policies which clearly give special considerations not available to all. The outgroup may develop a sense of entitlement that is not supported by the majority of the workers. Affirmative action may cause a widening of the gap (and an affirmation of bigotry) instead of a diverse and inclusive work force. For example, a white man at a steel factory may think that he got his job because he is qualified for it while being angry that the Asian man only got hired because there were no other Asians working in the plant and the hiring manager did not want to be discriminating. Pros Assistance in obtaining a desired job may be necessary for members of an identifiable disadvantaged group, or outgroup, since discrimination may make it difficult to establish a career. For example, men can be excellent nurses, but if a female hiring officer doesn’t understand or embrace the benefits of diversity, the obstetrics ward would have all female nurses. Another example might be a hair dressing trainee who is in a wheelchair; this applicant may have more obstacles to overcome and more convincing to do with a prospective employer. It is not fair, or just, that these applicants would have to be much better that the â€Å"normal† kind of applicant in order to be desirable to the employer. This â€Å"assistance† is given in affirmative action plans such as requiring employers to choose the disadvantaged applicant when all other skills are equal. Affirmative action makes working in different areas more desirable. Ex, Okanagan College has free introductory welding courses for women only. If colleges did not have these affirmative action programs there would probably be less female welders. This creates an incentive for a member of an outgroup to step forward and be part of the creation of workplace diversity. Affirmative action ensures justice for those who have historically been oppressed. Although hopefully not in Canada, there may still be a stigma attached to those whose ancestors were slaves, lower class, or aboriginal and thus seen as lesser that those with good career jobs. Some people may believe that affirmative action is necessary to change the attitudes of society by mandating a diverse work force. Canada cannot ignore the fact that a few generations ago a person with mental challenges or physical disabilities would not have been offered a position if there was a reasonable candidate who was considered â€Å"normal. † Affirmative action envisions a just work place where everyone is normal because the new normal is diverse and inclusive. Affirmative action encourages a representative work force. If 2% of the community’s population is visually impaired, then in a company of 100 employees, there should be a least two people who have some kind of sight impairment. In Canada, 3% of the population is aboriginal; therefore, there should be three members of a First Nation employed at the above company. A disabled person aged 25 to 44 accounts for 8% of the population. Statistically speaking, the above company, if it were in British Columbia, should have 27 employees who are recent immigrants. With roughly 60% of Canada’s population being Caucasian, all the numbers above would create a representative work force. It could be described as a diverse, dynamic, and exciting place to work; but does it exist? By requiring the inclusion of a representative work force affirmative action will in the long term change attitudes and encourage diversity. Thesis Affirmative action programs are still necessary to ensure equal opportunities in the work place and to encourage diversity, which over time will extinguish discrimination and contribute to a just, fair, and tolerant society. History I believe discrimination stems from history. If a young person learned from parents, schools, or media that women are not good trade workers, they will continue this discrimination for generations. This is what happens in all forms of discrimination because discrimination is learned. Discrimination can be reduced in a society with the influence of laws, education, and incentives. Affirmative action mandates exposure, which with encouragement by supportive government and ethical businesses will result in workplace diversity, and that over time will influence the thinking of society as a whole. Further Discussion: Continue Affirmative Action Dimock and Tucker thoroughly discussed their views on affirmative action policies about how such policies cause problems for employment equity in Canada. Dimock and Tucker did not discuss why such policies may still be necessary and did not thoroughly discuss a solution to discrimination. Their conclusion, while pointing out that affirmative action programs have not met intended goals, does not offer concrete solutions other than education. I disagree that the young should be the only target to ensure against discrimination. Youth can be racist, sexist, and exclusive. That’s why our society has a large problem with bullying. If discrimination is a learned trait, then the youth are learning it from above, and that is precisely the target of affirmative action. I believe affirmative action should still be used to some extent in order to encourage diversification. I think a combination of education and the experience of exposure is more useful that a single target group (such as educating the young). If groups (young, school aged, post secondary, and the work force) are created with diverse and representative participants, the likelihood of all groups beginning to like each other because of repeated exposure is much higher then if they remain separated. Well informed members of society who have personal experience with diversity are the least discriminating for several reasons: †¢They have been educated not be discriminating (from classes like this). †¢They have been put together in groups with all different types of people, and †¢They have become comfortable with that diversity. The result is that they have learned to be less discriminating than their peers or previous generation. For example, a white 18 year old’s great grandparents may have been what is now considered racist toward black people. In the grandparent’s time racism, even segregation, was thought of as perfectly normal, and those views were passed down generation to generation. However, through education and exposure racism was slowly extinguished until we have a grade 12 student who welcomes a new immigrant from Zambia. Instead of being completely racist like his great grandparents the 18 year old now only believes the stereotype that all black people like rap music which he hates. The next generation will (hopefully) not even notice that a black person is in the group. If affirmative action continues it will help the top (the existing generation of employers) meet the bottom (the well informed and accepting job applicant) and the result will be a tolerant, inclusive, and diverse work place. The attitudes of the work place will in time influence society as a whole. Conclusion I was lucky enough to learn about discrimination in both psychology and philosophy class in the same week. Although solutions are not offered in this paper, I believe discrimination can be eliminated through education and diversification. If it were normal to have a representative and diverse â€Å"melting pot† of opportunities and experiences, there would be no need to practice discrimination. Diversification is good. It makes a community tolerant and compassionate; it makes a secure and exciting place to live. Including all groups in all employment opportunities will ultimately create a better society – the melting pot that Canada so prides its identity in. Affirmative action plans ensure that the work place will contribute to this pride.

Madof’s Scandal Essay Example for Free

Madof’s Scandal Essay In the first two weeks of December 2008, the stressed that 70-year old businessman, Bernard Madoff is suffering becomes apparent to his employees, most particularly to his two sons. It concerns a $7 billion redemption request that Madoff had been ‘struggling to obtain the liquidity necessary to meet his obligation’. This made them approach him directly what the problem is all about. The answer is unexpected. Prior to this incident, Madoff is well known throughout the world of economics and investment as a genius and a trustworthy owner of Madoff Investment Securities LLC. The firm is generally a broker-dealer and investment advisor concerned with the management of investors’ assets, giving advice to investment management and is associated with some nonprofit organizations (Helyar et al. , 2009). At the age of 22, Bernard Lawrence Madoff managed to build his firm from his $5,000 savings. Since its first few years in the business, Madoff’s Securities reputation was tantamount to success. Madoff also served as chairman of the board of directors of the NASDQ Stock Market (Byrne et al. , 2005). Madoff confessed, according to Theodore Cacioppi (BackgroundNow. com 2008), that ‘There is no innocent explanation’ pertaining to the fraud that he committed. Cacioppi’s testimony also revealed that Madoff stated to his ‘senior employees’ that he is already ‘finished’ and the firm is actually ‘one giant Ponzi scheme’. The Hennessee Group, represented by Charles Gradante, had also been suspicious of the Madoff’s success when their reports showed that Madoff’s only had 5 months down in a span of 13 years despite several market fluctuations and economic changes. Helyar and colleagues (2009) reported that Madoff’s strategy of split-strike conversion turns out to be front-running. This strategy involves â€Å"brokers’ for their own account†. This is known to be illegal yet Mardoff’s investors didn’t care. Helyar and colleagues believes that investors are concerned about the money they get. In my opinion, Madoff’s scandal opens the public’s eyes to the fact that cheating is indeed prevalent in the American Society. Even successful people cheat and are cheated. The effect cripples the economy and results to distrust. New policies are being and will be initiated to avoid and detect possible frauds. When I heard about the scandal, the first thing that came to my mind was the quote ‘when everything is going your way, you’re probably in the wrong lane’. Taken literally this indicates driving at the other side of the road. Nonetheless, another interpretation reveals that ‘everything coming your way’ resembles things are being ‘too good to be true’ or turning out as you expected. In the case of Madoff’s investors, they looked at the facts; they listen to what former investors say and followed that path expecting the same returns. Despite the fact that Madoff’s offer and profiles seem ‘too good to be true’. They grabbed the chance and hope for the best. At the end, it is the ‘wrong lane’ after all. Madoff fraud strategy is well-known as ‘Ponzi scheme’. This type of fraud had been in the business industry for several decades yet people still fell for it. The good promises are simply too great to refuse. These same things eluded logical thinking and provoke greed. The scandal affects the investors and their reputation. It also raised doubts regarding implementation of laws and economic policies. It posed new challenges for proper investment management and questions the liability of security firms. Moreover, it is not simply an issue of crime or fraud; rather it undermines societal values and trends. References BackgroundNow. com. (2008). Bernard L. Madoff Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Ponzi Scheme. Retrieved on February 17, 2009 from http://books. google. com/books? id=m2_yfK582ukC Helyar, J. , Burton, K. , and Silver, V. (2009). Roots of a $50 billion Ponzi Scheme. Retrieved on February 17, 2009, from http://www. businessmirror. com. ph/index. php? option=com_contentview=articleid=5577:roots-of-a-50-billion-ponzi-scheme-catid=46:bloomberg-specialsItemid=70 McShane, L. (2008). Bernard Bernie Madoff: From Queens lifeguard to soaking fraud. Retrieved on February 17, 2009, from http://www. nydailynews. com/news/ny_crime/2008/12/13/2008-12-13_bernard_bernie_madoff_from_queens_lifegu. html Schwartz, R. A. , Byrne, J. A. , and Colaninno, A. (2005). Coping with Institutional Order Flow. Springer. US Security and Exchange Commission. (2001). â€Å"Ponzi† Schemes. Retrieved on February 17, 2009, from http://www. sec. gov/answers/ponzi. htm

History of Dopamine Research

History of Dopamine Research Restoration In 1957, a Swedish scientist named Arvid Carlsson was experimenting with a new antipsycholtc drug called reserpine. Injection of the drug to rabbits temporarily paralyzed them. Carlsson speculated that the reserpine blocked a key neurotransmitter in the brain, resulting a chemical imbalance causing the symptoms. He expected a chemical called levodopa, or L-dopa, could be converted into noradrenaline in the brain to restore the chemical imbalance. It worked the rabbits became alert and moved normally. But when he examined the chemicals in their brain, he discovered that the L-dopa had been converted not into noradrenaline, but into a different compound called dopamine. Most neurologists at the time regarded dopamine as an unimportant chemical, but Carlsson was convinced that dopamine was an essential neurotransmitter for the brain to function. He suggested that dopamine deficiency was the reason for Parkinsons disease. Carlssons suggestion inspired two Austrian researchers, Herbert Ehringer, and Oleh Hornykiewicz. They examined autopsied brains and found that parkinsonian brains had virtually no dopamine. Teaming up with physician Walther Birkmayer, Hornykiewicz proved that, besides the black stuff, dopamine was also missing from the substantia nigra region. Their work formed the basis of a new dopamine-centered theory of PD. This theory suggested a possible cure for PD. Because if dopamine deficiency causes PD, then the logical solution is to replace the missing chemical. But getting the drug into the brain is not as simple as taking a pill. The brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier, which blocks certain neurotransmitters like dopamine from directly reaching the brain. Instead, the brain manufactures its own dopamine from chemicals like L-dopa, which can pass through the blood-brain barrier as Carlsson had shown with his rabbits experiment. Birkmayer and Hornkiewicz administered small quantities of L-dopa intravenously into 20 patients with advanced Parkinsons disease and found L-dopa worked. The patients could now walk, talk and stand up like normal. But many scientists were unconvinced, thinking it was a placebo effect. In 1966, a controlled double-blind trial of the drug concluded that the drug had no effect on Parkinsons symptoms. Worse, one-third of patients suffered serious side effects such as high blood pressure and nausea. Despite the skepticism, a few scientists believed L-dopa might be effective once the correct dose was determined. In 1967, Swiss chemists discovered that adding carbidopa, an enzyme block, enabled more of the L-dopa to reach the bloodstream rather than being broken down in the bloodstream. With this new regimen for carbidopa-levodopa, the US scientist George Cotzias found that a group of 18 patients made spectacular improvements in their motor function. In the late 1960s, a neuroscientist named Roger Duvoisin was experimenting with L-dopa to treat PD. He treated his first case with carbidopa-levodopa in December 1967. The effect was so dramatic he was quickly convinced. He videotaped his patients before and after each treatment. The transformation of the patients before and after the treatment was so convincing that the Food and Drug Administration quickly approved the drug for the routine treatment of PD. But clinicians soon discovered that after starting L-dopa for a month or two, the patients displayed new disabling motor side effects such as involuntary writhing movements called dyskinesias (Greek for bad movements). And the drug became less effective over time. Sometimes, the power of the drug suddenly vanished without warning. And some patients suffered side effects like confusion, agitation, paranoia, and hallucinations. Neurologists called these side effects motor complications. Because of these side effects of L-dopa, many neurologists start patients with a less powerful class of drugs called dopamine agonists. Discovered in the 1970s, dopamine agonists work by pretending to be dopamine. While the brain isnt actually receiving dopamine, it thinks it is and reacts accordingly. They are half as effective as L-dopa and have their own set of side effects, ranging from nausea to sleep attacks to compulsions.ÂÂ   Research shows that one in ten patients are susceptible to impulse-control disorder (ICD). PD patients are very lucky to have L-dopa. There are no equivalent for other neurodegenerative illnesses such as Huntingtons, Lou Gehrigs, or Alzheimers. L-dopa turned Parkinsons from a rapid slide into immobility and death condition into a chronic disease with the gradual trajectory of decline. By the late 1960s, scientists had made enormous progress since James Parkinsons 1817 essay. They could diagnose the disease and characterize its underlying pathology. They also discovered drugs that can relieve the symptoms, albeit temporarily. But what about its causes? Is it genetic or is it caused by something in the environment? Understanding the cause might well lead to a cure. Keep Takeaways In 1957, Arvid Carlsson discovered that L-dopa converts into dopamine in the brain of rabbits. He suggested that dopamine deficiency was the reason for Parkinsons disease. Herbert Ehringer, Oleh Hornykiewicz, and Walther Birkmayer discovered that dopamine was missing from the substantia nigra of the brains of PD patients. Their work formed the basis of a new dopamine-centered theory of PD. By the late 1960s, Walther Birkmayer, Oleh Hornykiewics, George Cotzias, and Roger Duvoisin showed that levodopa could temporarilyÂÂ   relieve parkinsonian symptoms in humans. After starting levodopa for a month or two, PD patients experience levodopa-induced side effects called motor complications.

Invisible Man Essay examples -- essays research papers

Invisible Man What makes us visible to others? How is it that sometimes society is completely blind to our exisitance? Either we are invisible because we are not being noticed or we are invisible because others can not see our true identity due to expectations relating to race, gender or class. Of course the term invisible was not intended to be taken literally. The meaning of invisible in Ellison’s Invisible Man is essentially metaphorical. Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the main character experiences invisibility in various manners and situations. Being invisible has its advantages. If others don’t acknowlegde you then you could get away with actions that people are usualy punished with a penalty. In the book, the main character tells of his advantages of being invisible such as living in the basement of an apartment building rent free beause the landlord is unaware of his dwelling. The same example can be said in a working enviornment where an employee can come in late multiple times but is not scrutinized because that employee is not vital and therefore unoticed by the employer. This type of invisiblilty is favored by some by laothed by others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people don’t like the felling of being unimportant. Ironically, in the book Invisible Man, the main character explained the advantages of being invisible shortly after he showed contempt for being invisible. Frustrated at his invisibility, he lashes out at a man he intentionally bumped into (althought at the beginning, he said it was accidental). Observing this more closely, it was an attempt to be acknowledge by the man to see if he would move out of the way. The fact that the man didn’t bother to do so only push him down a deeper state of anger and therefore the only way for him to be acknowledge is to act drastically. This inisibility is a reflection of the other’s respect for the main character. The main character was not a seen person of importance. Not being acknowledge is usually frowned upon. This disregard of acknowledge occurs often in a place of work. Whether it be in a learning institution or a working enviornment were a perso n deprived of praise and recongnition. In order for that perons to be reconginized is to make him/herself seen and usually this calls for gaining the attention of another by some act. Then your invisibility becomes visble as a new image is ... ...rson that he/she should speak with slang and where baggy clothes. In time, this person usually go through the gradual change of becoming person that was visible to the black community. In time those who tend towards the identity that is not their own evetually becomes lost in that identity. Therefore their true identity is no longer visible to them but remain visible to others in that â€Å"other† identity. The issue of visibility and invisibility will always involve race, gender and class. Race, gender and class aren’t the ONLY subjects that would influenece visibility and invisibiy. It can also be actions, education, hieght, etc. Unfortuntely people tend to see only what they expect to see, blinding themselves from the actually truths othe of others. This seems to be an ongoing issue as people tend to only look at the surface and don’t bother to look past it. Recongnizing what deserves regonistion is not the only solution. There is also fair treatment of others. We must learn not to assume what we expect of others. This expectations usually lead to underestimting and disrespect to those that deserive it. Only when we decide not to be blind can we finally see what ws truly invisible.

Law Enforcement Innovations in Reaction to The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks a

The terrorist attacks to the World Trade Center towers in New York City on September 11, 2001 has changed the way federal, state and local police departments communicate with each other, their structures, and operations. The new federal organization known as Homeland Security set out to coordinate their work at the state level, collect, analyze and share pertinent information and intelligence, protect key infrastructure and assets, secure the nation’s borders and ports, team up with federal and local task forces, and prepare new response training, equipment, systems and strategies (Foster and Cordner, 2005). The Federal Bureau of Investigation also shifted focus from addressing traditional crimes to preventing terrorist attacks. This is a change in strategy much like the change between the reform and community policing eras (National Research Council, 2004). It would be next to impossible for federal agencies to work directly with local agencies since there are around 18,000 local departments throughout the nation (Foster and Cordner, 2005). Occurrences such as these are the downfall of a decentralized police system, but 9/11 has created more cohesion through the federal, state and local agencies (National Research Council, 2004). This resulted from state agencies that were selected as a liaison between the federal and local law agencies to do business such as disseminating information, sharing resources and asking for assistance (Foster and Cordner, 2005). This centralization makes more levels of administration responsible for strategies and tactics (Kelling and Moore, 1988). State agencies saw a 75.4 percent increase in terrorism related intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination, 61.3 percent increase in ... ..., 2008; Rush, 2008; Kelling and Moore, 1988). These systems fall into the category of community policing as these campus police departments engage the community in the prevention of crime (Walsh, 2001). 9/11 has placed terrorist prevention in the hands of the local law enforcement agencies and reorganized the systems of law enforcement throughout our country. School shootings such as the massacre at Virginia Tech have heightened the need for security measures that can reach people quickly and on a mass scale. Where we once thought we were safe, now large-scale acts of lawlessness have brought safety and security to the fore. These acts of violence have already changed the strategies of law enforcement. If these changes give any picture of the future strategies and tactics will become more centralized and the community will be engaged to a higher degree.

Free Things They Carried Essays: The True Enemies :: Things They Carried Essays

The True Enemies in The Things They Carried  Ã‚   In Tim O'Brien's Story "Enemies," one sees several signs that explain the aspects of the Vietnam War, and the actions of two soldiers that snapped under the pressure built up by the war. These pressures caused little tiny things to create tension not only in the minds of soldiers, but also between two soldiers. For example, conflicts grew between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen. Two soldiers, whose actions were sparked by the craziness of the war, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen's argument over a jackknife illustrates a perfect example of how tension built up during the war. Both men know all to well what was gong on in the war, they understood that many times they encountered men who they thought were South Vietnamese, but with the quick pull of a gun or knife a whole battle resulted because of the unknown association between the South Vietnamese and the Vietcong. On the message bard, Jeff Jacobie stated, "soldiers in Vietnam were never sure who they could trust; they were not sure if the peasants they were around were secretly loyal to the VC or not." This lack of defined enemy drove the soldiers in the war berserk. Throughout the war, an unclear enemy caused many problems for the Americans. They would ambush a town, and before they knew it, they were under scrutiny for killing people who may or may not of had any association with the Vietcong. Yet, it was a ri sk they had to take in the war, and this risk caused immense stress and tension for soldiers "humping" through the rice fields of Vietnam. Not only from not knowing who the enemy was, tension also grew in the soldiers because of their loneliness and lack of understanding for why they were in Vietnam. Most of the time, soldiers humped around the lonely land of Vietnam with the same guys for months except for the occasional supply chopper that came in or the brief radio contacts with headquarters in order to receive backup and orders. Soldiers had very little contact with others, and this isolation would drive any man crazy. In order to get by, the soldiers had to rely on each other. If they could not trust each other with their lives, none of them would ever make it back to the States to enjoy the aspects of life away form war.

I Was Born Ugly

Not the kind of Ugliness that makes my mother turn away in revulsion. But the Ugliness that makes her stare intently, taking in every rough edge and every smooth curve. Only so that she can sit awake at night and ask God what he was up to. The type of ugliness that you wear like a jacket even when it smells of dried sweat and stunted growth. Ugliness is what made effulgent barbarians out of grown men. Because civilization and sanity are only opium for civilized and sane people and civilized and sane people are beautiful people. Ugliness is what makes the painter paint, the sculptor sculpt and the writer write. Their very existence is an act of rebellion, of contumaciousness. Art is Ugliness that helps us realize nature’s deficiencies and it cannot appeal to beautiful people, it offends their being, it is objectionable and unpleasant to their senses. Ugliness is what prompted negroes to march and sing for a liberty that was supposed to be intrinsic and not take up arms. Ugliness was the fire in his bones when he stood on that podium, forsaking office and gentry and tell the truth for what it was. Yes, Ugliness was the culprit. Ugliness was the strength in her eyes when she gave that child a hug, when she held that man’s hands and told that woman it was going to be alright. Ugliness was what made her die for a cause she knew was never going to lift her out of a squalor that her family had struggled with for generations. Ugliness was what made him look at faces that opposed him and still decide that he was not going to pick that stone or utter that curse. Ugliness was what made him think that his justice and freedom were for naught if the man in the next room did not have his justice and freedom granted to him and in equal measure. Ugliness breathed in his breaths when he said an eye for an eye, and the world will go blind. Ugliness was the reason she said that if you love until it hurts there can be no more hurt only love. Ugliness was what made that promising scholar turn his back on years of academic excellence to join an army he was so clearly unfit for. For Queen and Country was what he said. Ugliness was what swam in their veins when they suspended the death sentence because they believed that Human Rights were fundamental, that they were rights for not some, not a majority but every human being. If you seek someone to blame, blame ugliness. Ugliness was what made that mother contend the sentence against her son with every thing she had and did not have. Courage? No, that was Ugliness. Ugliness is what makes that mandarin stay true to his oaths and that wife true to her vows. Ugliness is what makes the little girl kneel beside her bed every night and pray for the hands that beat her. For the tongues that curse her and for a government that does not acknowledge her. Ugliness is not a beautiful thing, a beautiful thing is that which has tried to imitate Ugliness and failed.. Ugliness is ugly.