Question 1
Civil and human rights involve many dynamics. They are also a question of evolving law. Although the declaration of human rights is categorized on the scope of human entitlements, it nonetheless leaves out important information on the modalities of implementation. This fact imputes much controversy. As a growing area of law, related events are important mileage in clearing certain uncertainties.
The Supreme Court decision of the year 2008 in the district of Colombia and Heller is an important event on human rights. The case involved the interpretation of the second amendment of the US constitution. The amendment recognized in part the need for, ‘a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed’ (Mason & Stephenson, 2015). In the case, the contention was whether a right to bear arms was a preserve of the military and the validity of gun control laws in light of this right. The court recognized that right to bear arms was not limited to military use. This decision charged the government agency to maintain regulations on gun possession. In light of this right, security agencies have to do more to minimize the rate of gun possession as much of it pose a further security threat.
Environmental pollution is a matter of civil right. The declaration of human rights takes cognizance that every person has a right to clean environment. Pollution through carbon emissions is as old as the industrialization age. This right requires states, corporations to engage in the sustainable use of the environmental resources to maintain inter and inter-generational balance. However, states do not heed this call, but engage in the insensitive exploitation of natural resources. A growing concern today is the reality of global warming, lack of clean air and water due to emissions. As part of its response, the US government is committed to implementing its environmental policy. The latest of its many activities is the clean power plant project to control carbon pollution. To implement its policy, it formed environmental protection agency, EPA to assist in realizing the right to clean and sustainable use of the environment.
Question 2
The media is an important tool in a free and democratic society. It provides an important forum for keeping the government in check by exposing its malpractices. However, for it to perform its work, it has to be free and independent to dispense its work without bias and favoritism. Media especially plays a facilitative role in the right to information and promoting public participation. The citizens need certain information on matters of public interest. Importantly, it is a crucial tool in shaping public opinion. Popular media platforms are opinion shapers and define public policy in the most sensitive areas of public interest. Together, media coverage leads to a homogenous culture, a wave that constitutes public policy and eventually gains legal validation. In the recent past, media coverage has been led been important in two important social developments.
Firstly, the media coverage provided an overwhelming momentum for same-sex marriages. Before the landmark Supreme Court decision, same-sex marriages were an overly controversial debate. The concept of gay marriages raises many questions. Among others, it has a moral dimension, health concern, ethical perspective, and a legal question. The arguments in support of either of them are fundamentally distinct and difficult to reconcile. From a human rights perspective, the big question has always been whether it could be deemed part of sexual freedom. The conservatives contend that it could hurt the society and undermine the institutions of traditional marriage. The matter settled when the court issued its decision. For the week before the decision, at least 47 % of media stories were in support of their legalization while 44 % exhibited a mixed up opinions. Only a small fraction of 9% stood on the opposition. During the time, the media focused on framing the matter as a question of civil rights. So far, at least six states in the US recognize same-sex marriages. Today, federal agencies and courts have had to acknowledge these institutions of the same sex marriage.
Secondly, the role of the media on Muslim staged terrorists’ activities has been overwhelming in the recent past. The media cover terrorist activities carried on non-Muslims with more intensity than when on fellow Muslims do. Many people consider this a biased approach. Notably, the right wing media coverage has led to increased ‘Islamophobia’ (Helbling, 2013). For instance, a section of the media is on record compelling the government to stop Muslim immigration into America. This is a radical stance, though, but yet informative. Admittedly, ISIS and Taliban pose a huge threat to the safety of the US populace. Security and immigration have had to improve their regulations to control immigration but without victimizing Muslims. To protect the Muslim minorities in the US, the federal agency controls the media coverage of terrorism activities meted on Muslims. The variation between the intensity accorded in covering the Istanbul killings and Brussels’ bombing is intended to serve this purpose.
Question 3
The ideals and beliefs of these two groups differ fundamentally. The distinction between the two manifests in their policy beliefs, the governing policy and legal agenda of the parties. These differences have the capacity to affect the lives of the citizens of the American people in different facets of their lives. These differences can be understood in two ways.
First, the Republicans are in many ways conservative on social issues. The only way to understand this dimension is on their stand on emerging social issues. One thing remains clear, in many ways the law is supposed to reflect public policy and public opinion even in most sensitive matters. However, the Republicans tend to be rigid and difficult on social matters that clearly call for change. The distinction between them is much more conspicuous, especially whenever the discourse on abortion and gay marriages appears. Arguably, the Republicans emerge as strong defenders of public morality and seem to adopt a strong ethical stance even when its position surpasses reason and logic. On the two debates, the Republicans take an active role in the objection on ethical and moral grounds. On the other hand, Democrats are in many ways progressive and liberal. This attitude reflects in the American life changing and radical campaigns in the most sensitive areas of human life. The gains made in the recognition of same-sex marriages in the US has its basis on their efforts.
Second, the Republicans take strong belief on harsh penalties. The Republicans are overly legal even in areas that do not require many and stringent laws. The governing principle of the Republicans’ ideology is a need for personal responsibility. However, to inform personal responsibility, they opt for tough penalties even for small offenses such as the illegal sale of drugs. The Democrats believe in legislations to govern every facet of human life. They believe that people need protection against themselves as well. It is one of the underlying concepts in its campaign for thorough regulations on private gun regulations. Even so, it is not their intention to have overly punitive penalties. For instance, the Democrats insist on light and rehabilitation penalties for nonviolent crimes such drug peddling. Besides, they do not consider capital punishment acceptable in any form. On the other hand, the Republicans insist on the capital punishment for capital crimes and repeat criminals. Either way, the discourse on capital and stringent penalties presents a huge ethical dilemma. Law and morality are almost inseparable and in many ways, light penalties in clear case of culpability may be a process towards acceptability of certain acts among the American people.
References
Helbling, M. (Ed.). (2013). Islamophobia in the West: Measuring and explaining
individual attitudes. Routledge.
Mason, A. T., & Stephenson, G. (2015). American constitutional law: introductory essays
and selected cases. Routledge.
