Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?

Name: Arwen Chen(49712057)
Reaction Article #5
Date: 05/29/2009


Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?

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It is great that Portugal officially abolishes all criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs and, and the decriminalization appears to work. Nevertheless, despite the statistics seeming going optimistic, I am greatly concerned that it is just facially going well but can not last for long. Just as Peter Reuter notes, a professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Maryland, the cyclical nature of drug epidemics — which tends to occur no matter what policies are in place — may account for the declines in heroin use and deaths.
Apart from that, a policy applying to one country may probably not apply to another. That is, not every country fit the same policy or law alike. Therefore, just as Kleiman put, director of the drug policy analysis program at UCLA, I don’t think Portugal is a realistic model for the US, either, because of differences in and culture between two countries.
After reading this article, what comes into my mind and worth speculating is – whether severe prohibition or offering therapy is more efficient? In my opinion, when something is against me, it would only provoke of my human nature of fighting against, and further, occupying it. As a result, chances are that it would only do the same to the drugos and drug dealers. On the other hand, I can help but question – does the human nature cling to the good forever? How many people are there still preserve the good nature after being polluted by this cruel society? Sometimes at the beginning people are forced to do things that violate social ethics, in order to make a living. But most of time, they lose the very good nature, at the end. (283)

Does Facebook Replace Face Time or Enhance It?

Name: Arwen Chen (49712057)
Reaction Article#4
Date: 05/08/2009


Does Facebook Replace Face Time or Enhance It?

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What a coincidence! I’ve just enrolled as a member of Facebook a few minutes ago in order to browse some photos taken by my friend before I read this article. In my opinion, this article, very much, worth speculating.
For sure, there always are pros and cons about everything.

To name some advantages, indeed, social websites like Facebook enable people to convey information without actual body interaction. And that sometimes saves the hassle of having to socializing when you don’t want to or are not in the mood to. On the other hand, I agree that there is a decent positive advantage social websites have brought about - they have, in spite of the different time and place, brought me closer to my friends, including not only the one’s I’m already in regular contact with, but also the ones I had not been quite familiar with, and even the faraway ones.

I had been a member of Myspace, which is also a social websites. It had been all fun at the beginning. However, after a few weeks, I came to sense that people seemed just superficially gather friends. The number of friends on the friend lists appears to equal one’s popularity. Everyone wanted to be popular. Does he/she really care about how you are? Does he/she really drop a line just to say hi? In my opinion, his/her actual purpose was to see as many comments back on the comment book as possible. It went boring afterwards. Therefore, I got tired of it.

All in all, there’s no denying that advanced technology conquers more and more difficulties and inconveniences as well. In any case, only wise people are able to make good use of it. (285)