Working Draft of Research Question

Xu 1

Xu 4

Yingxin Xu

English001A

Professor Elizabeth Williams

11/03/2020

Vaccines

The Healthcare system all over the world, has been revolutionized by the invention of Vaccines. The diseases that used to be deadly in the past are now life-threatening diseases, i.e., smallpox or polio. However, I want to research the causes and the way vaccines are now seen with suspicion. According to the CDC, several people are saved each year from infectious diseases, and the only solution is immunization. However, at the same time, opposition to the vaccines has risen as well, and the primary reason behind it remains the misconceptions, fear, and mistrust of the science. People in opposition to the vaccines are known as anti-vaxxers. The connection between autism and vaccines has remained the center of attention for years. At the same time, they suggest that natural immunity works wonders and is way better than artificial inoculated immunity. Several physicians, health officials, and medical experts have rejected these claims, but still, anti-vaxxers come up with the claims that vaccines have been hazardous and dangerous for the population and have more disadvantages than advantages. However, the supporters of vaccines propagate the message that people are responsible for keeping their children safe and building herd immunity among the masses (Baker, 2008).

Cancel Culture

Cancel culture has gained popularity in recent years, primarily due to the advent of social media and its rapid approach and response to different events worldwide. It means to immediately boycott the brand, celebrity, or public figure in question. It also includes harassment campaigns and mass shaming in real life and on social media. The proponents of the idea claim that cancel culture help bring social justice into society, and at the same time, it also helps bring justice to the marginalized people in society. The recent successful example of the cancel culture came after the #MeToo movement's popularity, where several celebrities and public figures have been boycotted, not only by common masses but also by more significant projects. Many politicians have also been slammed in the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter. The supporters of the cancel culture claim that it provides justice after a long-overdue period. The critics of the idea claim that it gives rise to the mob mentality and sometimes gives rise to indiscriminate decision making, i.e., in the case of Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard. It is also giving rise to intolerance in society (Velasco).

Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes in several states, and even 11 states have allowed its use for recreational purposes. Despite that, many controversies revolve around its use for recreational purposes mainly. In this research, I would like to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of its use for recreational purposes. Research has shown that more than 15 percent of Americans use marijuana for recreational purposes. The proponents of marijuana users claim that it should be the individuals' personal choice, and at the same time, the ban on marijuana also limits the use of marijuana for emergency or medical purposes.

Similarly, people will keep on finding illegal ways to get it, and illegal or tabooed objects attract teenagers. However, the ones favoring the illegalization of marijuana claim that marijuana legalization disadvantages outweigh the benefits. They also claim that it increases the risk to public health as well. With expanding legalization in different states of the country, the debate on marijuana usage has been intensified (Voth, 2004).

References

Baker, J. P. (2008). Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories. American journal of public health, 98(2), 244-253.

Voth, E. A. (2004). A peek into Pandora's box: The medical excuse marijuana controversy. Journal of addictive diseases, 22(4), 27-46.

Velasco, J. C. You are Cancelled: Virtual Collective Consciousness and the Emergence of Cancel Culture as Ideological Purging.