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The Impacts of aging on our financial, psychological and physical well being.
The Impacts of aging on our financial, psychological and physical well being.
As an industrious individual, aging will certainly come between my productivity and the numerous investments which eventually translate to a decrease in an individual’s financial freedom. Studies indicate that aging in particular have particular impact on the saving rates and the demand for the investments funds. As we all advance in age we tend to consume the savings we made while actively working and while in business. Studies also indicate that, our financial capacity, which is the ability to manage one’s money and to meet the individual’s needs as well as matching one’s values is one of the first component and aspect of our body to be affected.
There is a relationship between mental state and physical performance; e.g. when we respond to a situation with a physical reaction, concentrate on a task and try not to let our nerves get the better of us, or simply do a job where we are under a certain amount of stress/pressure.The ability to relax mentally and physically is of great benefit to those subjected to worries and anxieties during the course of everyday life. Occasionally, these problems need to be dealt with by someone other than the person him/herself. On the whole, exercise increases general well-being, renewing mental energy and drive, which is where the expertise of physiotherapist is most beneficial.
Psychological wellbeing and health are closely related, and the link may become more important at older ages, if only because the prevalence of chronic illness increases with advancing age. As life expectancy increases and treatments for life-threatening disease become more effective, the issue of maintaining wellbeing at advanced ages is growing in importance. Studies of older people indicate that evaluations of quality of life are affected by the person’s state of health, but the frequent finding that average self-reported life evaluation in the population increases with age suggests that psychological wellbeing is affected by many factors other than health. These include material conditions, social and family relationships, social roles and activities, factors that also change with age. There is a growing research literature suggesting that psychological wellbeing may even be a protective factor in health, reducing the risk of chronic physical illness and promoting longevity. It has also been argued that psychological wellbeing should be addressed in measures of health valuation, and be considered in health care resource allocation.
Research into psychological wellbeing and health at older ages is at an early stage. Nevertheless, the wellbeing of the elderly is important in its own right, and there is suggestive evidence that positive hedonic states, life evaluation, and eudemonic wellbeing are relevant to health and quality of life as people age. Health care systems should be concerned not only with illness and disability, but with supporting methods of improving positive psychological states. It is premature to contemplate large scale clinical trials to evaluate the effects of efforts to increase enjoyment of life on longevity; we do not yet know whether wellbeing is sufficiently tractable through psychological, societal or economic interventions to test effects on health outcomes. Much of our knowledge about psychological wellbeing at older ages comes from longitudinal population cohort studies, and sustained investment in these research resources is essential. Novel methods of assessing hedonic wellbeing and time use are enhancing our understanding of the processes underlying positive psychological states at older ages.
References.
Cantril, Hadley. “Pattern of human concerns.” (1965).
Stiglitz J. Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress. 2009 www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr.
Seaford, Charles. “Time to legislate for the good life.” Nature 477.7366 (2011): 532-533.
Racism related to religion and ecology
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Racism related to religion and ecology
Racism is the discrimination of a person due to the difference of ideologies, creed and beliefs. The United States has several cultures brought about by the availability of different nationalities. This in turn results in a community that has people of all walks of life. Culture is a way of life and is reflective of the values and norms that people uphold. Most of the cultural values are passed from generation to generation making them have sentimental value to the life of an individual. Having a culturally diverse country has advantages and disadvantages to its growth and sustainability. One of the advantages is the interaction of the different cultures so as to create awareness of the diverse cultural practices. One of the disadvantages on the other hand is the formation of divisions brought about by the supremacy of some cultures. This brings about discrimination against cultures due to the lack of respect and recognition of the culture in question. There are several forms of discrimination which is triggered by the hatred for the different groups people identify with (Iacobbo and Michael, p. 241).
The focus of this paper is to provide an analysis of racism related to religion and ecology. The paper looks at the two forms of racism and their effects on society. This is done by the provision of various positions relative to the topic at hand. The paper describes anti-vegetarian arguments that opposes or proposes the validity of the claims.
Racism related to religion
Religion is an essential aspect in the lives of majority of the population. Religion is defined as a belief in superior being. All religions have a God who is said to be the creator of all that is living. This is one of the features that make the superior being and significant part of a believer’s life. There are several religions in present society that dictate on the way of life of a particular society. Religion often preaches the practice of respect, love and truth amongst people in the immediate surrounding. This factor alone shows that the practice of a religion should improve the value of an individual’s life. This however is not the case in that religion is responsible for some of the inhuman acts known to man. Religion is also related to racism due to the superiority of some of the creeds. This notion has triggered a number of arguments that either support or argue for the statement (Olson, p. 298).
The southern part of the United States is known for their predominant practice of Christianity and the observation of the Christian faith. An enormous amount of the population are said to make significant choices based on Christianity. People in this area are therefore expected to treat their neighbors as they would like to be treated. The countries history displays a different dynamic in that the south is to date one of the most racist parts of the country. The practice of slavery involves the use of slaves for the cultivation and production of commodities such as sugar and cotton. This form of treatment went on for a considerable period of time making the African Americans subject to the needs of the whites. The occurrence of the Civil War was monumental to the country due to the change of some of the policies both economic and social. Amongst these policies that was reviewed was the banning of slave trade and freeing of the slaves from their white masters. Some parts of the country were more receptive to the change of the laws while others were on the offensive. This led to the formation of groups such as the KKK (Ku Klux Klan). The KKK was an association that comprised of white supremacists whose role was to wipe out all the inferior races. This was intended to make the white race pure from “evolving” races such as that of the Africans. It is significant to note that the association had deep connections to the Christian church and stated on several occasions that their activities were in honor of the teachings of the Christian religion. Most racist organizations hide behind the excuse of the church and religion while committing the same offenses that the Bible prohibits (Rader, p. 377).
Another example of racism was seen during the ousting of the Jews from Germans. This event is referred to as the holocaust and is marked as the time when a large percentage of the Jews were massacred at the hands of Hitler’s army. The Jews were persecuted because of their religious belief by the Christians in the country. The Germans used the excuse that their religion was of a higher status compared to that of the Jews. This shows that the belief of one’s religion has been used to persecute other races that do not share the same ideologies (Reinders, p. 245).
The fight between Islam and Christianity is has been going on from time immemorial. Most of the clashes cannot be recorded due to the centuries that have passed from the inception of the deferent religions. Christianity and Islam are one of the oldest religions in the world. Islam is predominant in the Middle Eastern part of the world while Christianity is predominant in the western part of the world and some parts of Africa. Christianity gets its roots from the Middle East due to the location of Israel. This however is one of the reasons for the conflict between the two parties who claim to own the city of Nazareth. Nazareth is pivotal to the culture of the two sides in that they both have religious buildings in the location. Both Muslims and Christians have as a result resulted in discriminating on each other. This is owed to the argument that both religions have the claim to the holy city. This misunderstanding has led to the constant fights between the two sides of the boarder. It is also responsible for the highest number of deaths brought about by the racism that is displayed by extremists in both religious sides (Olson, p. 314).
Racism related to ecology and the environment
Racism can also be related to ecology and the environment. This is not the most common form of racism because most racism cases are associated with the color and religious beliefs of an individual. One of the arguments that have taken place in this area is the anti -vegetarian verses the pro-vegetarian argument. Vegetarians are people who chose to eliminate the intake of animal meat and animal produce. Most of the foods are tailored to compliment the nutrients that are available in animal products. Some of the examples of vegetarian food are tofu and soya milk which are vegetables in nature but take on the role of dairy products. Some vegetarians choose to be extreme by living a vegan lifestyle. This diet concentrates on observing all foods and drinks in relation to the content of animal produce they contain (Olson, p. 215).
Vegetarians believe that eating meat is repugnant to the life of animals. Removing all forms of meat produce from their diet is not only a way of life but is sentimental to their love of animals. It is difficult to live this kind of lifestyle due to the expense that comes with the observation of the strict dietary laws. Some vegetarians have to go as far as announcing their vegetarian status in advance so as to reduce the inconvenience that comes with the trade. This has in turn generated discrimination towards vegetarians by non vegetarians. One of the arguments made by the anti vegetarians is that vegetarians claim that eating meat is murder while they too sacrifice the lives of plants. Most vegetarians face discrimination by their carnivorous rivals who insist that there is nothing wrong worth eating meat as long as it is done in the most humane way.
Vegetarians on the other hand maintain that human beings should refrain from the consumption from all animal related products by supplementing their diet with plant products. This also applies to the use of materials and cloth made from animals such as fur. Some of the points that vegetarians bring out are valid to some extent. The population of animals continues to reduce at the hands of careless human beings. This is seen through the mistreatment of the animals from the time of their birth to the time of their slaughter. Proper regulation of the consumption of meat should thus be encouraged so as to improve the living standards of the animals (Rader, p. 143).
Vegetarians are classified into various categories depending on the type of food they eat and the belief they stand for. Some individuals have joined organizations that fight for the conservation of trees so as to sustain the climate change. This cause is significant for the survival of all living things in that climate change can be hazardous to the livelihood of plants and animals. Some of the organizations are known to be extreme in their protest to the extent that they endanger the life of the offender. Some of these people have earned themselves titles such as tree huggers in that they risk their life for the safety of the tree. Passionate crusaders have on record climbed on top of the trees in protest of the destruction of forests. Extremists are also known to be violent towards the tree cutters and animal’s eaters in their protests (Porphyry and Clark, p. 167).
One of the most extreme groups known for its fight against the wrongful treatment of animals and plants is PETA. PETA is responsible for the rescue of more than one million animals annually through various supporters and well-wishers. The group dedicates its objective on creating awareness of the wrongful treatment and exploitation of animals by human beings. This is done through the use of extreme protests that involve lashing out during the fashion shows or releasing animals in the laboratories. This has on some occasions resulted to the violence between the two groups who both claim that their ideologies are correct.
Vegetarians believe that people who cannot control their consumption of meat should do so in the most minimalist way. This involves eating meat with the least amount of pleasure so as to show remorse of the actions. This kind of condemnation makes non vegetarians feel guilty when consuming meat. This is dubbed as racism to some extent in that people are forced to compromise on their values to fit the needs of others (Rader, p. 310).
Racism related to ecology involves the mishandling of the natural balance of the environmental features. Natural features in this case are plants and animals who are the main holders of the environment. The lifestyles of human beings are highly dependent on that of plants and animals. Most of the foods are derived from these sources making them responsible for the growth and sustainability of the all living things. The ecosystem is organized in a way that some animals are more dominant than their peers in all aspects of life. This gives rise to the policy that argues for the survival of the fittest. Plants and animals that are consumed as a result of human demand can fall under the category of discriminated features due to their vulnerability in the environment (Iacobbo and Iacobbo, p. 315).
In conclusion, racism is one of the end products of discrimination and lack of respect of a persons, race, belief color or creed. Most of the racial practices are geared toward erasing a particular group of people. There are several agents that trigger racism against different people. Religion and ecology are some of the selected factors that have over the past influenced discrimination. The observation of the two factors is therefore ideal so as to have a proper understanding of the racism and its implications on the environment.
Works cited
Iacobbo, Karen, and Michael Iacobbo. Vegetarian America: A History. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Praeger, 2004. Print.
Olson, Laura R. Filled with Spirit and Power: Protestant Clergy in Politics. Albany, NY: State Univ. of New York Press, 2000. Print.
Porphyry, , and Gillian Clark. On Abstinence from Killing Animals. Ithaca, N.Y: Cornell University Press, 2000. Print.
Rader, William. The Church and Racial Hostility: A History of Interpretation of Ephesians 2, 11-22. Tübingen: Mohr, 1978. Print.
Reinders, Eric R. Borrowed Gods and Foreign Bodies: Christian Missionaries Imagine Chinese Religion. Berkeley [u.a.: University of California Press, 2004. Print.
Racism is one of the biggest problems the country faces. This problem has its roots tied to the
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Racism
Racism is one of the biggest problems the country faces. This problem has its roots tied to the origin of this country. Over the centuries, racism has negatively affected ethnic monitory groups by denying them equal access to resources and opportunities. Racism has had a negative impact on the country’s politics, and it has negatively impacted the social and economic well-being of affected groups. This paper explores Julius Bailey’s views about racism in the country, and it explores how this problem has affected various aspects of everyday life. Racism is a systemic problem that requires a systemic solution. There is a need for stronger policies that can root out this problem from the core and create a more equitable environment in which individuals of all ethnicities have equal access to opportunities and resources.
America’s problem of racism can be traced back to the time of slavery. Over the centuries, the country has struggled with this problem, and despite the policy changes made over the years, racism continues to affect ethnic minorities throughout the country. In recent years, communities around the country have been forced to acknowledge the impact this problem has on society. The acknowledgment that racism continues to affect ethnic minorities is especially tied to recent political trends. For instance, with the election of President Trump, issues of race-baiting and blatant disregard for human lives have been brought to light. During his term and in the recent presidential elections, politicians have been accused of running campaigns using false information about race-related issues. This trend has served to divide the nation further and has also lowered the moral standard of the American people. In his book” Racism, Hypocrisy, and Bad Faith: A Moral Challenge to the America I Love,” Julius Bailey explores how the American political system has enabled racism and affected the ethnic minority groups in the country. Bailey equally explores some of the causes and consequences racism has on society at large.
The reemergence of white nationalist sentiments and movements in America indicates persistent racist traditions. Racism in America can be traced back to slavery and the post-civil war period when the Klu Klux Klan thrived in America in recent decades. There are numerous taped incidences in recent years in which ethnic minorities highlight the racist experiences they are forced to endure. Other than these documented videos, the growing acts of police violence against ethnic minorities is proof that racism continues to thrive in America. While these incidences might be viewed as one-off unfortunate events, recent political debates and elections have proved otherwise. For instance, President Trump and some of his Republican counterparts continuously refused to denounce white supremacy groups. The most synonymous case is President Trump’s refusal to condemn the red-hat white supremacist in Charlottesville (Bailey, 8). This blatant refusal by the country’s leaders to condemn racism indicates how this problem is ingrained in the structures and culture of the country. The levels of racism witnessed in the country’s political structure and some parties are in line with Baily’s observation that “racism was (and is still) coded into the Republican nostalgia” (Bailey, 6). The proof that racism is not only engrained in politics but also the American culture is evident through the voting patterns of the public. For instance, before becoming president, former President Trump was often dismissed as a radical fringe candidate; however, his presidential win and the overwhelming support he received from the public proved that his Islamophobic and xenophobic remarks appealed to a significant portion of the country (Bailey, 7). Moreover, the public knows he racially discriminated against black tenants as a real estate developer and yet appealed to a majority of conservative voters showing that a significant portion of the population share in these racist sentiments or are not bothered about having a racist leader.
Racism is evident in American politics through the recent calls for immigration reforms. Since 2012, Republicans lost great support from the Latino family, which has played a part in the growing negative political stance politicians have taken against immigrants. Mass opinion about immigration has been on the rise, evident through an increased public interest in the topic. For instance, in 2008, 7% of Americans cited immigration as a critical problem, while in 2018, 17% of Americans cited immigration as a critical topic (Alamillo et al., 2). Political rhetoric during the 2016 presidential elections suggested that immigrants were problematic. The 2015 Republican presidential preliminaries also saw influential politicians vying for the presidential ticket argue the merits of birthright citizenship. At this point, former President Trump, then a candidate, called the children of immigrants anchor babies. Though widely criticized, the debate on birthright citizenship caused a significant divide among the public, with supporters of the Republican party widely agreeing with this viewpoint. President Trump’s campaign in 2016 largely focused on the issue of immigration, with Trump and his team successfully creating the fear of Muslims and Mexicans among the public (Boot). President Trump’s political rhetoric singled out ethnic minorities and created a sense of fear in society. He made it sound that he and his supporters would single-handedly prevent the imminent destruction of America and fix what they believed was wrong with current America. One of President Trump’s most popular immigration reforms was the proposed Mexican border wall. Before his proposal, it was unimaginable that America would use a wall to keep immigrants out of the country; however, the overwhelming support Trump’s proposed wall got from the media and the public revealed the amount of the levels of unreasonable fear that the average white American had developed. Surprisingly, the popularity of this proposed policy was also witnessed among the younger generation. For instance, After Trump’s presidential win, middle schoolers in Royal Oak, Michigan, started chanting “Build the wall” (Bailey, 12).
Other than the political implications highlighted above, racism also has negative effects on the social and economic well-being of the country. Racism affects the social lives of ethnic minorities as they are exposed to issues such as racism in medicine and the excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies. As earlier highlighted, racism builds fear. This unreasonable fear against ethnic minorities such as black people is the main cause of police brutality and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. In 2020 alone, the horrifying tales of what George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery went through at the hands of law enforcement officers called to attention the systemic racism in the country and its effects on the lives of people. The deaths of these individuals resulted in nationwide protests. These protests symbolized the deep-rooted anger and despair victims of racism experienced. During the protests, the movement Black Lives Matter also garnered national attention, and they used this platform to showcase how different people of color experienced life. For instance, the tag “walking while black” is popularly used to show how life-threatening walking can be for a black person in America. Racism in medicine is evident through health outcome disparities. A 2016 report by the US National Academy of Sciences found that first-year white medicine students believed that black people have stronger immunity than any other racial group (Hoffman et al., 4296-4301). This misunderstanding is the source of inadequate treatment and cares for people of color, resulting in significant disparities in black people’s health outcomes and those of other racial groups. For instance, racist medical notions have contributed to Black women having a higher likelihood of dying from heart attacks than other racial groups. Also, black women are more likely to die due to pregnancy-related issues than their counterparts (Taylor). Other medical discrepancies are evident through the infant mortality rates of black children being higher than any other racial group and poor healthcare and treatment due to the misguided belief that black people are impervious to pain. A study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine indicated that black patients were 40% less likely to receive acute pain medication than their counterparts (Lee et al., 1770-1777).
The effects of racism on economic well-being are apparent through restrained black economic progress. The mid-1900s saw the rise of the American middle-class group that was largely white. During this period, black people were largely denied the economic incentives and benefits offered to their white counterparts creating a wide wealth gap between these two racial groups. Black people were denied these incentives due to white political leaders from the south who insisted on enforcing racial segregation. Racial conservatism has been a marker of southern politics, and it enables the southern strategy in which politicians use racism to increase political support from the white voters. The southern strategy is characterized by a clear racial hierarchal system that addresses white people’s racial grievances in exchange for their support (Bailey, 3). During the 1950s, housing was seen as a means of building wealth; hence housing was one of the biggest needs people had. The white members of congress from the south used the Southern strategy to pass the federal housing administration policy. This policy denied black Americans housing mortgages, resulting in fewer black people owning homes and increasing the wealth gap between black and white people. To date, numerous policies hinder black people from progressing economically. For instance, black people have limited access to tax-advantaged means of saving due to employment discrimination practices that shut out a significant percentage from acquiring well-paying jobs. Therefore, as black families earn significantly lower salaries than their white counterparts, they receive fewer tax benefits and have a decreased likelihood of accessing retirement benefits (Hanks et al.). These negative and racially discriminative economic policies create a damaging environment in which black people are persistently trapped in poverty.
Despite the prevalence of discrimination and systemic racism in the country, there is hope that communities can come together and root out this evil from the country’s foundation. As Bailey suggests, there is a need to revive the irrepressible hope the country experienced during the Obama “Yes We Can “years (Bailey, 15). Other than reviving hope, there is a need for political leaders and governments to create and enforce strong policies that will restructure society. As America’s racial problem is systemic in nature, there is a need for systemic solutions that promote systemic equality and root out racism at the core. Some of the key policies that need to be addressed include policies on voting rights, student loans, and financing, financing policies, employment policies, and housing policies. In the last decade, elections have been marked with voting rights violations. The country has witnessed unlawful voting restrictions set against ethnic minorities. These restrictions have negatively impacted ethnic minority groups as they are unable to vote for the leaders they want and are unable to decide on important issues affecting their lives. Also, there is a need for policies that address student loans. Most students from ethnic minority groups rely on student loans to access higher education. On average, black students tend to borrow more student loans than their counterparts due to higher poverty levels. An increase in borrowing results in an increased debt gap. By creating more favorable student financing policies, the government can help ease the debt burden affected students face and unleash the economic potential of these students. Also, there is a need for the government to introduce more favorable housing and financing policies. As highlighted above, black Americans have limited access to housing mortgages, a factor that plays into the poverty levels witnessed in this community. By introducing more favorable financing and housing policies, the government can create a more equitable environment that promotes the economic growth of all individuals. Lastly, there is a need for policies that address the discriminatory employment problem in the country. Employment policies that prohibit discrimination will help ensure that people of ethnic minority groups have equal opportunities to get well-paying jobs, hence promoting economic progress.
I have previously experienced discrimination, and I understand the harm it can cause. As such, addressing the racial problem in this country is important to me as it can help create an equitable society, but it can also help kickstart the healing this country needs. Racism has its roots tied to the origin of this country; therefore, I believe that there is a need to create strong policies that will restructure the country. Racism is a system problem that requires a systemic solution. By creating and enforcing equally powerful policies, this country’s government and political leaders can help root out this evil at its core, hence permanently solving this ever-present problem.
Works Cited
Alamillo, Rudy, Chris Haynes, and Raul Madrid Jr. “Framing and immigration through the trump era.” Sociology Compass 13.5 (2019): e12676.
Bailey, Julius. Racism, Hypocrisy, and Bad Faith: A Moral Challenge to the America I Love. Broadview Press, 2020.
Boot, Max. “Trump is running an openly racist campaign.” Washingtonpost.com (2020).
Hanks, Angela, Danyelle Solomon, and Christian E. Weller. “Systematic inequality: How America’s structural racism helped create the black-white wealth gap.” Center for American Progress 21 (2018).
Hoffman, Kelly M., et al. “Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113.16 (2016): 4296-4301.
Lee, Paulyne, et al. “Racial and ethnic disparities in the management of acute pain in US emergency departments: meta-analysis and systematic review.” The American journal of emergency medicine 37.9 (2019): 1770-1777.
Taylor, Jamila. “Racism, inequality, and health care for African Americans.” (2019).