The Peyote Plant Essays - Native American Religion,

The Peyote Plant Drug use has always been a topic of controversy, especially when it pertains to religion. One particular drug that has been brought to the attention of the federal government is Peyote. Peyote is a drug that has been used by the Native Americans for thousands of years. This drug, Peyote which has caused much controversy over the years has recently been reconsidered for legal use. ?Probably the most famous New World hallucinogenic plant is Peyote, (Lophoproria willamsii), a small spineless cactus, native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Also in the northern and central parts of the Mexican Plateau Region. Another species (Lidiffuss) is native to the Mexican State of Quertono. The rounded, gray-green stem crown (top) is radially divided into sections, each offering a small meristematic region (called an areole) from which arises a tuft of hairs. The crown tapers into a thick carrot-like root that extends into the ground (?Mescal Bean? N. Pag.). There are many different chemicals in the Peyote cactus, the main one being mescaline. ?Mescaline, which can be made in a lab, was isolated in 1919, resembling epinephrine, the adrenal hormone? (?Peyote 1? Pag). The Peyote cactus contains more than 50 different alkaloids, but the most active hallucinogen is mescaline. ?Mescaline has a chemical structure similar to the brain neurotransmitter dopamine? (?MescalBean? N. Pag.). It is also structurally similar to the neurohormone norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and to the stimulant amphetamine. In the Peyote cactus, mescaline is formed in a complex path way from the Amino Acid tyrosine. Mescaline provides psychologic disorientation with brilliant, ever changing colors. Mescaline hallucinations produce audio visual affects, double personality, derealization (loss of sense of reality of environment) and depersonalization (shattered personality). ?Peyote was dried and eaten by Southwest Indians at religious services for sense of well being, hallucinations (visions) and trances? (?Peyote N. Pag.). Native Americans use this drug as part of their religious ceremonies. The users slice off and eat peyote crowns fresh or dried. Peyote buttons last years, swallowed whole or drunk in tea. According to Clairdone, large amounts of peyote can induce hallucinations, adherents say the quantities normally taken in religious rites bring on only an introspective mood that gives the user insight to the spiritual world. This is not something American Indians have made up in the past hundred years. ?Mescal Beans have been discovered in Indian sites dating before A.D. 1000, and from one site dating back to 1500 B.C. (?Mescal Bean? N. Pag.). ?Ever since the arrival of the first Europeans in the New World, Peyote has provoked controversy. Supression and persecution? (Scnultes N. Pag.). Peyote, in its natural state is not a dangerous drug, however, synthetic peyote causes harmful side effects. According to the article ?Peyote 1 and magic Mushrooms?, ?Synthetic peyote lowers blood pressure, depresses the central Nervous system and kills by respiratory failure.? Since Peyote is a drug that produces hallucinogenic affects, the military reached an agreement with the Native American church to honor the use of peyote for Native Americans in the Military, except for those who operate nuclear weapons. Other restrictions were said to include a prohibition against the use of peyote on military vehicles, aircraft, or ships; a requirement to stop using the drug 24 hours before returning to active duty. According to Clairdone, Church sources said fears of hallucinogenic ?flashbacks? that were raised by officials of the Strategic Air Co mmand delayed formal implementation of the draft rules and raised bitter resentment among devout native Americans who use peyote as a sacrament. Individual states had made laws that honored the peyote ritual, but peyote was still considered an illegal drug. According to Guy Mount, in his article, ?Peyote and the Law?, Three states have exempted peyote from controlled substance prohibitions, and do permit the ?Bona-Fide? sacramental use of peyote by non-Indians who are members of an established church: these are New York, Arizona, and New Mexico. A recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (1990) makes it clear that we do not have a Constitutional right to use any controlled substance as a religious sacrament. Instead, each state has the right to pass laws which honor the peyote religion, or continue to suppress it. Peyote is significant to Native American religious rituals and

Sample Reflection Essay For Teachers At Torrey Academy

Sample Reflection Essay For Teachers At Torrey AcademyThe reading assignments for the teaching staff at Torrey Academy have a new section that was recently added. The information in this section is for students only and has a specific purpose. This section asks students to submit a reflection essay to the staff on a specific occasion. Students can select one of many examples to meet the purpose of this section.One example of this is when the staff will be away for a week. The assignment is to write a reflection essay about the teacher that they have lost the ability to provide, or their performance during this week. They should also share an opinion as to why it was such a great loss to them.Another is when the staff is not able to use some programs. The teachers at Torrey Academy will be visiting other schools for a month. They need to write a reflection essay for students who are not able to attend.Finally, there is a new area that is written by the teaching staff themselves. The f eedback they receive through this section is used to decide how to improve their own teaching techniques. One example of this is if there is something that is causing problems, and they do not know what to do about it.These days, teachers seem to take whatever they can get, as long as it helps to provide a quality education. However, with the changing world of technology, how can you go on with your job and still provide a good quality education to your students?There are times when there is no one else to send out a reflection essay to. Therefore, students are having a difficult time finding the time to write a reflection essay to their teachers.This is whereTorrey Academy's teaching staff comes in handy. The TeachingStaff.com provides student and teacher resources, and the TeachingStaff.com takes full advantage of this by allowing students to receive online help with projects, test prep, reading, writing, and more!