IS RACISM A FACTOR IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Essay

IS RACISM A FACTOR IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - Essay Example Before we become passionate about the debate regarding racism in the election, let us first look into the real meaning of racism and then decide whether racism is truly making its indelible stamp on the 2008 presidential election. Racism comes with many definitions and some of these definitions are coined by people to suit their interest. To stay on more neutral grounds in this discussion, let us stick into the common legal and sociological definition of racism. According to the Untied Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the term racism "shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin" †¦ which results into the nullification or impairment of the rights or enjoyment of equal rights in the exercise of fundamental freedoms. In other words, racism works by diving people according to their perceived group and boundaries are set so as to prevent these groups of people from intermingling and working side by side on equal footing. Where groups of people are deprived of their basic rights simply because of the color of their skin, their ethnic origin and their race; such deprivation amounts to ra cism (See Allen, Theodore (1994). On the other hand, sociologist define racism as a highly organized system that is characterized by race based privileges that operations on level levels of society (See Cazenave N and Maddern Darlene A 1999). According to Joe Feagin, the former president of the American Sociological Society, the culture of the United States is rooted on the idea of racism because it social organizations are based on racial selection and segregation (see Feagin 2000). Although the United States government worked hard to eliminate racism within its territories, we cannot deny that incidents of racism in the country are still

Genetics - Its History, Advantages and Future Research Paper

Genetics - Its History, Advantages and Future - Research Paper Example Genetics and the studies which investigate the genome of living organisms are important in the investigation of populations in reference to their distribution. It is thus through genetics that we are able to define the existence of racial differences and the patterns which describe the behavior of each population (Betz-Zall 109). Genetics has enabled scientists to come up with medicine for the therapy of various conditions which affect human beings and animals. For example studies on bacteria and viruses in relation to their genotypic expression illustrate the move towards making medical realities possible (Coates, John and Andy 18). It is thus through studies in genetics that the life of animals and human beings is conserved. Additionally, the study of genetics enables the achievement of preservation of the plant kingdom. This is made possible through the enhancement of genotypic makeup of plants which is geared towards the enhancement of the ability of plants to survive in various environments (Geck 153). The history of genetics is demonstrated by the application of genetics in the improvement of human, animal and plant life through cross breeding techniques. The work of Gregor Mendel defines the future of genetics by illustrating how the genotypes of organisms are passed from the parents to the offspring (Betz-Zall 109). It is thus through future studies of the genotypes of living organisms that the changes in the populations of the world is to be defined and determined (Mark, Hon and Roger 58). The blending of genes to come up with a unique living organism is a historic feature of genetics which has been used to cause changes in the offspring. These changes are aimed at ensuring that the genotypic and phenotypic structures of living organisms are designed to enhance their survival within the competitive environment (Coates, John and Andy 19). Nonetheless, the studies which enhance the feature of living organisms are procedural in addition to contextually lo ng lasting through the results are beneficial to the enhancement of life of human beings, plants and animals (Mark, Hon and Roger 67). Reproduction is a concept of genetics which illustrates the role of genes in the perpetuation of the offspring. It is through the combination of the male and female genes that the existence of a population is made possible (Betz-Zall 109). The study of these genes therefore plays a leading role in ensuring that the life and existence of life is not extinct. Additionally, the human and animal genome and the related studies ensure that the existence of life is achieved through improvement of the previous genotypic and phenotypic expressions. More importantly, the conviction of nurture within the nature of life as expressed through genes is achieved through genetics and the related studies (Geck 153). Nurture explains that in addition to the role of genes in the living of organisms, the environment also plays a role. It is in this sense that it is under stood that the level into which genes contribute to the expression of living organisms is also influenced by external factors within the environment (Mark, Hon and Roger 65). The significance genes are further demonstrated by the diversity which is expressed within the human, plant and animal kingdoms (Coates, John and