College Paper on Ethics

College Paper on Ethics College Paper on Ethics It is truly a quite difficult task to find the exact definition of what ethics is. Peoples understanding of what is right and what is wrong differs, and the notion of ethics depends on peoples views and opinions as well. But it would be wrong to define ethics as something that people feel they can do because it is right for them. Peoples understanding of it may be deviated, moreover people cannot judge every situation with a clear head and do it objectively. Some people define ethics as a type of behavior that is acceptable by a society. However that is also not true. The society consists of separate individuals, and they may also have various points of view concerning what ethics is. We can also remember facts from history of the humanity where societies were deceived by the state, and the latter used propaganda in order to create public mood that could be used for states own purposes. Just think of German society during Hitlers rule. Similar to social-accepted rules, ethics can also be viewed as a synonym of law. However laws can be written by those who are not ethical at all. Laws are often changed which means they are not perfect and constantly need to be improved. Moreover, as we have already mentioned, peoples understanding of ethics can be deviated, and such deviation can be later result in the laws. Ethics is often identified with religion. However there is one question to ask that will probably prove that this idea is wrong: are atheists ethical? Looking at ethics just from the perspective of religion automatically makes all the other people unethical. We wont argue that religion does not encourage people to be more ethical, but if we compare religion and ethics, the latter notion is a wider one. David B. Resnik defines ethics as â€Å"norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior † (Resnik). He also states that people usually learn moral norms in various social settings, such as home, school, church, etc. However the ethical development of a person is a process that happens throughout the whole life. Some people also consider ethical norms to be common-sense. But there is a question asked by this scientist: â€Å"if morality were nothing more than common sense, then why are there so many ethical disputes and issues in our society?† (Resnik). The point is that there can be one common ethical norm for at least two people, for example. But their understanding and interpretation of what is ethical and what is not may differ. Thats why people who share similar ethical norms may turn out to act differently in various situations. Thats why the main purpose of studying ethics nowadays is not to define strict norms for conduct (which, in fact, would be almost impossible), but rather to learn the mechanism of interpretation of these norms. Reznik D.B. What is Ethics in Research Why is it Important? 2011. Web. Velasquez M., Andre C., Shanks T., S.J., and Meyer M.J. What is Ethics? 2010. Web. Tips on Writing a Good College Paper The key to any type of writing is brainstorming. You should write down everything that comes into your mind, relating to ethics  topic. Use the results of your brainstorming to write an outline. This will help you draft your ethics college paper. Do not waste your time on proofreading the paper while you are writing a draft, just let the words flow. When you are finished with the draft, you will get a more clear picture whether you have added enough valuable information. Additionally, you will see if you have all main parts of your ethics paper, such as introduction, main body and conclusion. Our online paper writing service will provide you with a high-quality customized paper on ethics written by experts. Try our service!

Cinco De Mayo and the Battle of Puebla

Cinco De Mayo and the Battle of Puebla Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday which celebrates the victory over French forces on May 5, 1862,​ at the Battle of Puebla. It is often mistakenly thought to be Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16. More of an emotional victory than a military one, to Mexicans the Battle of Puebla represents Mexican resolve and bravery in the face of an overwhelming foe. The Reform War The Battle of Puebla was not an isolated incident: there is a long and complicated history that led up to it. In 1857, the â€Å"Reform War† broke out in Mexico. It was a civil war and it pitted Liberals (who believed in separation of church and state and freedom of religion) against the Conservatives (who favored a tight bond between the Roman Catholic Church and the Mexican State). This brutal, bloody war left the nation in shambles and bankrupt. When the war was over in 1861, Mexican President Benito Juarez suspended all payment of foreign debt: Mexico simply did not have any money. Foreign Intervention This angered Great Britain, Spain, and France, countries which were owed a great deal of money. The three nations agreed to work together to force Mexico to pay. The United States, which had considered Latin America its â€Å"backyard† since the Monroe Doctrine (1823), was going through a Civil War of its own and in no position to do anything about European intervention in Mexico. In December 1861 armed forces of the three nations arrived off the coast of Veracruz and landed a month later, in January 1862. Desperate last-minute diplomatic efforts by the Juarez administration persuaded Britain and Spain that a war that would further devastate the Mexican economy was in no one’s interest, and Spanish and British forces left with a  promise of future payment. France, however, was unconvinced and French forces remained on Mexican soil. French March on Mexico City French forces captured the city of Campeche on February 27 and reinforcements from France arrived soon after. By early March, France’s modern military machine had an efficient army in place, poised to capture Mexico City. Under the command of the Count of Lorencez, a veteran of the Crimean War, the French Army set out for Mexico City. When they reached Orizaba, they held up for a while, as many of their troops had become ill. Meanwhile, an army of Mexican regulars under the command of 33-year-old Ignacio Zaragoza marched to meet him. The Mexican Army was about 4,500 men strong: the French numbered approximately 6,000 and were much better armed and equipped than the Mexicans. The Mexicans occupied the city of Puebla and its two forts, Loreto and Guadalupe. French Attack On the morning of May 5, Lorencez moved to attack. He believed that Puebla would fall easily: his incorrect information suggested that the garrison was much smaller than it really was and that the people of Puebla would surrender easily rather than risk much damage to their city. He decided on a direct assault, ordering his men to concentrate on the strongest part of the defense: Guadalupe fortress, which stood on a hill overlooking the city. He believed that once his men had taken the fort and had a clear line to the city, the people of Puebla would be demoralized and would surrender quickly. Attacking the fortress directly would prove a major mistake. Lorencez moved his artillery into position and by noon had begun shelling Mexican defensive positions. He ordered his infantry to attack three times: each time they were repulsed by the Mexicans. The Mexicans were almost overrun by these assaults, but bravely held their lines and defended the forts. By the third attack, the French artillery was running out of shells and therefore the final assault was unsupported by artillery. French Retreat The third wave of French infantry was forced to retreat. It had begun to rain, and the foot troops were moving slowly. With no fear of the French artillery, Zaragoza ordered his cavalry to attack the retreating French troops. What had been an orderly retreat became a rout, and Mexican regulars streamed out of the forts to pursue their foes. Lorencez was forced to move the survivors to a distant position and Zaragoza called his men back to Puebla. At this point in the battle, a young general named  Porfirio Dà ­az  made a name for himself, leading a cavalry attack. â€Å"The National Arms Have Covered Themselves in Glory† It was a sound defeat for the French. Estimates place French casualties around 460 dead with almost that many wounded, while only 83 Mexicans were killed. Lorencez’s  quick retreat prevented the defeat from becoming a disaster, but  still, the battle became a huge morale-booster for the Mexicans. Zaragoza sent a message to Mexico City, famously declaring â€Å"Las  armas  nacionales  se  han  cubierto  de  gloria† or â€Å"The national arms (weapons) have covered themselves in glory.† In Mexico City, President Juarez declared May 5th a national holiday in remembrance of the battle. Aftermath The Battle of Puebla was not very important to Mexico from a military standpoint. Lorencez was allowed to retreat and hold onto the towns he had already captured. Soon after the battle, France sent 27,000 troops to Mexico under a new commander, Elie Frederic Forey. This massive force was well beyond anything the Mexicans could resist, and it swept into Mexico City in June of 1863. On the way, they besieged and captured Puebla. The French installed  Maximilian of Austria, a young Austrian nobleman, as Emperor of Mexico. Maximilian’s reign lasted until  1867 when President Juarez was able to drive the French out and restore the Mexican government. Young General Zaragoza died of typhoid not long after the Battle of Puebla. Although the Battle of Puebla amounted to little from a military sense   it merely postponed the inevitable victory of the French army, which was larger, better trained and better equipped than the Mexicans it nevertheless meant a great deal to Mexico in terms of pride and hope. It showed them that the mighty French war machine was not invulnerable, and that determination and courage were powerful weapons. The victory was a huge boost to  Benito Juarez  and his government. It allowed him to hold onto power at a time when he was in danger of losing it, and it was Juarez who eventually led his people to victory against the French in 1867. The battle also marks the arrival on the political scene of Porfirio Dà ­az, then a brash young general who disobeyed Zaragoza in order to chase down fleeing French troops. Dà ­az would eventually get a lot of the credit for the victory and he used his new fame to run for president against Jurez. Although he lost, he would eventually reach the presidency and  lead his nation for many years.