The Pentagon s Decision Argument Against Female Members...

With the Pentagon’s recent decision to open up combat positions to female members of the armed forces, intense debate has occurred over this issue. Those who disagree with the Pentagon’s decision argue that women cannot perform as well as men in combat situations. Supporters counter by suggesting that opening all combat positions to women will enhance and strengthen the US military. Army Captain William Denn, in his editorial â€Å"Women in Combat Roles Would Strengthen the Military,† argues in favor of women in combat. However, to support his position, Denn utilizes the fallacy of composition, brushes aside the evidence of women’s inferiority in combat, and develops his position with flawed examples. In the opening paragraphs of his article,†¦show more content†¦According to Mike Fredenburg of National Review, another study shows that â€Å"the vast majority of women do not possess the lean mass necessary to meet the strength requirements for ve ry heavy and heavy physical MOS’s.† Thus, Denn’s argument, based on the fallacy of composition, does not hold up in light of scientific research. While acknowledging the existence of studies showing the inferiority of women’s performance in combat conditions compared to men’s, Denn holds an almost dismissive attitude toward such evidence. He instead argues: â€Å"The success of women’s integration into combat units will depend on how quickly and enthusiastically officers and enlisted soldiers embrace it. Many servicemen resist the idea, citing studies that suggest the inclusion of women in combat would imperil unit effectiveness, good order, and discipline.† Thus, Denn suggests that the barriers to women’s success in combat lie not with the women’s physical capabilities but rather with those who oppose the idea of servicewomen in combat. However, a Marine Corps study conducted over a period of one year refutes Dennâ€℠¢s claims. â€Å"The Marines created a battalion of 100 female and 300 male volunteers. During the past year, they trained†¦taking part in realistic combat exercises. All-male squads, the study

The Indigo Spell Chapter Twenty-Four Free Essays

I FELT PRETTY BAD about burning down my teacher’s house. Ms. Terwilliger, for obvious reasons, seemed to think that was the least of her problems. We will write a custom essay sample on The Indigo Spell Chapter Twenty-Four or any similar topic only for you Order Now She wasn’t sure if her insurance would cover the damage, but her company was pretty speedy in sending someone out to investigate the cause. We were still waiting to hear their verdict on coverage, but one thing they didn’t report finding was any sign of human remains. Part of me was relieved that I hadn’t actually killed anyone. Another part of me feared we hadn’t seen the last of Alicia. What silly comparison had Adrian made? The Moriarty to your Holmes. I had to imagine that being hit in the face with razor blades and then left in a burning building would make anyone hold a grudge. A little investigation eventually turned up Veronica at a Los Angeles hospital, checked in as Jane Doe. Visiting her comatose sister became the greatest of Ms. Terwilliger’s priorities, and she harbored hopes of possibly finding a way to undo the spell. Despite how busy she now was, my teacher still managed to urge me to meet her coven, and I agreed for a few different reasons. One was that it was kind of impossible for me to act like I didn’t want to wield magic anymore. The other reason was that I didn’t plan on being around. I was still resolved to go with Marcus to Mexico, and the week flew by. Winter finals were a breeze, and before I knew it, it was Friday, the day before our trip to Mexico. I took a risk by telling my friends goodbye. The safest thing would’ve been to disappear without a trace, but I trusted them all – even Angeline – to keep my secret and feign ignorance once the Alchemists discovered they had a runaway. I told Trey as well. No matter what had gone down between us, he was still my friend, and I would miss him. As the day wore on, the dorm grew quieter and quieter – aside from unending Christmas music playing in the lobby. Not wanting to exclude other religions, Mrs. Weathers had also set out a menorah and â€Å"Happy Kwanzaa† banner. Tomorrow was officially the last day before everyone had to be out, and a number of people had already left for winter break. I’d finished my own packing, which was light. I didn’t want to be burdened down with excess luggage since I really had no idea what to expect in Mexico. I still had two people I needed to say goodbye to: Adrian and Jill. I’d avoided them both for very different reasons, but time was running out. I knew Jill was just a flight of stairs away, but Adrian was more difficult. We’d been in touch a couple times after the fire, simply to sort out some details, but he’d soon gone silent. No calls, no texts, no dreams. Maybe I should’ve been glad. Maybe I should’ve welcomed the chance to leave without any painful goodbyes . . . but I couldn’t. My chest ached with the thought of not seeing him again. Even though he was the reason I was leaving, I still felt like I needed some closure. It’s not about closure, Sydney. You want to see him. You need to see him. And that’s exactly why you have to leave. Finally, I took the plunge and called him. It took me so long to work up the nerve that I could hardly believe it when he didn’t answer. I resisted the urge to immediately try again. No. I could wait. There would still be time tomorrow, and surely . . . surely he wasn’t avoiding me? I decided to hold off on talking to Jill until the next day. Telling her goodbye was just as difficult – and not just because of what she saw through the bond. I knew she’d think I was abandoning her. In truth, if I stayed and ended up with Adrian, I’d possibly be caught and never be able to help her at all. At least if I was away and free, I could try to help her from the outside. I hoped she’d understand. Waiting on her gave me the opportunity to take care of an unwelcome errand: returning Malachi Wolfe’s gun. I’d never gone to his home without Adrian, and even though I knew I had nothing to fear from Wolfe, there was still something a little unsettling about going to the compound alone. To my complete and utter astonishment, Wolfe let me into the house when I arrived. All was quiet. â€Å"Where are the dogs?† I asked. â€Å"At training,† he said. â€Å"I have a friend who’s an expert dog trainer, and he’s giving them some stealth lessons. He used to work for a local K-9 unit.† I didn’t think it was in the Chihuahua genetic code to ever be stealthy. I kept that to myself and instead stared around in amazement at Wolfe’s kitchen. I’d expected something like a ship’s galley. Instead, I found an astonishingly cheery room, with blue-checkered wallpaper and a squirrel cookie jar. If someone had asked me to describe the most unlikely Wolfe kitchen out there, it would’ve looked something like this. No – wait. On the refrigerator, he had some magnets that looked like ninja throwing stars. That, at least, was in character. Adrian’s going to flip out when I tell him. Then I remembered I might not see Adrian for a very long time. That realization killed whatever amusement I’d just felt. â€Å"So what do you need?† asked Wolfe. Peering at him, I suddenly had a strange feeling the eye patch really was on a different eye from last time. I should’ve paid more attention. â€Å"Another gun?† I returned to the task at hand. â€Å"No, sir. I didn’t even need the first one, but thanks for lending it to me.† I removed it from the bag and handed it to him. He gave the gun a once-over and then set it inside a drawer. â€Å"Fixed your problem? You can still hang on to it if you want.† â€Å"I’m leaving the country. Bringing it over the border might cause me some trouble.† â€Å"Fair enough,† he said. He grabbed the cookie jar and took off the lid, leaning it toward me. An amazing scent drifted out. â€Å"Want one? I just made them.† I was really regretting not being able to tell Adrian about this. â€Å"No thanks, sir. I’ve had more than enough sugar these last few weeks.† I felt like I should have a frequent customer card for Pies and Stuff. â€Å"I thought you looked better. Not all skin and bones anymore.† He nodded in approval, which felt really weird and slightly creepy. â€Å"So where are you two kids going?† â€Å"Mexi – oh, Adrian’s not going with me. I’m going with someone else.† â€Å"Really?† He slid the squirrel back across the counter. â€Å"I’m surprised. I always figured when you two left here, you went home and had your own private ‘training sessions.'† I felt myself turning bright red. â€Å"No! It’s not like – I mean, we’re just friends, sir.† â€Å"I had a friend like that once. Silver Tooth Sally.† He got that faraway expression that always came on when he had an anecdote to share. â€Å"I’m sorry, did you say – â€Å" â€Å"Never met a woman like Sally,† he interrupted. â€Å"We fought our way across Switzerland together, always watching each other’s backs. We finally got out alive – just barely – and she wanted to come back to the States and settle down. Not me. I had dreams, you see. I was a young man then, drawn to danger and glory. I left her and went off to live with an Orcadian shaman. It took two years and a lot of vision quests to realize my mistake, but when I got back, I couldn’t find her. When I close my eye at night, I can still see that tooth sparkle like a star. It haunts me, girl. It haunts me.† I frowned. â€Å"I don’t think the Orcadians have vision quests, sir. Or shamans.† Wolfe leaned forward and shook a finger at me, his eye wide. â€Å"Learn from my mistakes, girl. Don’t go to the Orkneys. You don’t need some mystical vision to see what’s in front of you, you hear me?† I gulped. â€Å"Yes, sir.† I hurried out after that, thinking that being in a different country from Malachi Wolfe might be a good thing. The next morning, I prepared to tell Jill goodbye, but she beat me to it and showed up at my door. It was the first time we’d truly spoken since the morning after that last dream with Adrian. She walked into my room and frowned when she saw the suitcase. â€Å"You’re really going?† â€Å"Yes. And I’m sure you know why.† She crossed her arms and looked me straight in the eye, without any of the reservation she’d shown last time. I had trouble holding that stare. â€Å"Sydney, don’t leave Adrian because of me.† â€Å"It’s more complicated than that,† I said automatically. â€Å"It’s really not,† she said. â€Å"From everything I’ve seen and heard, you’re just afraid. You’ve always controlled every detail of your life. When you couldn’t – like with the Alchemists – you found a way to seize back that control.† â€Å"There’s nothing wrong with wanting control,† I snapped. â€Å"Except that we can’t always have it, and sometimes that’s a good thing. A great thing, even,† she added. â€Å"And that’s how it is with Adrian. No matter how hard you try, you aren’t going to be able to control your feelings for him. You can’t help loving him, and so you’re running away. I’m just an excuse.† Who was she to lecture me like this? â€Å"You think I’m lying about how awkward it is for you to see everything that happens between us? Every intimate detail is on display. I can’t do that. I can’t live like that.† â€Å"Adrian’s learned to.† â€Å"Well, he’s had to.† â€Å"Exactly.† Some of her fierceness mellowed. â€Å"Sydney, he brought me back from the dead. It’s the greatest thing anyone can or will do for me. I can’t pay him back, but I can let him live his life the way he wants to. I don’t expect him to shelter me because of the bond, and I’m not going to judge him – or you. Someday, he and I will learn to block each other.† â€Å"Someday,† I reiterated. â€Å"Yes. And until then, we do the best we can. All you’re doing by leaving is making three people miserable.† â€Å"Three?† I frowned. â€Å"I’m helping you.† â€Å"Do you really think I’m happy when he’s miserable? Do you think I like the darkness that crawls over him?† When I said nothing, she pushed forward. â€Å"Look, I don’t have the same physical reaction to you that he does, but when he’s with you, he’s so full of joy . . . it radiates through to me, and it’s one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve never been in love like you guys are.† â€Å"I’m not – † I couldn’t say it, and she gave me a knowing look. I tried a different tactic. â€Å"Staying here is dangerous, especially with him. The Alchemists might find out about everything – him, my tattoo, Ms. Terwilliger, and God knows what else.† â€Å"And if they don’t find out, look at what you get. Adrian. The rest of us. Magic. The chance to uncover their secrets. I know you love this life. Why would you give it up? You’re too smart to get caught. We’ll help you. Do you really think Marcus and his Merry Men can do that much fighting when they’re always on the run?† I shook my head. â€Å"They’re like me. They understand me.† She was obstinate. â€Å"They aren’t like you at all. They talk. You act.† It was so surprising to see her like this, so confident and so much wiser than her years. It was also a little irritating. If she was so wise, why couldn’t she understand how much was at stake? â€Å"Jill, staying is a big risk – in all ways.† â€Å"Of course it is!† she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. â€Å"Any life worth living is going to have risks. If you go to Mexico, you’ll regret it – and I think you know that.† My phone rang, cutting off my next response. It was Eddie. He rarely called, and panic seized me. â€Å"What’s wrong?† I demanded. He sounded mystified. â€Å"I wouldn’t say anything’s wrong . . . just surprising. Is Jill with you? You guys should really come down. We’re outside† He hung up, and I was left totally confused. â€Å"What’s up?† asked Jill. â€Å"Something surprising, apparently.† She and I went down to the lobby, with no more mention of Adrian. When we stepped outside, we found Eddie and Angeline pointedly avoiding eye contact with each other. Standing near them was a tall, good-looking guy with neatly trimmed black hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a stern, serious expression and was scanning the area. â€Å"He’s a dhampir,† Jill murmured to me. His eyes locked onto us at our approach, and that fierce look relaxed. â€Å"Jill, Sydney,† said Eddie. â€Å"This is Neil Raymond. He’s going to be joining us here.† Neil swept Jill a bow so low, it was a wonder he didn’t hit the ground. â€Å"Princess Jillian,† he said in a deep voice. â€Å"It’s an honor to serve you, and I’ll do so to the best of my abilities, even if it means sacrificing my own life.† Jill took a step back, her eyes wide as she took him in. â€Å"Th-thank you.† Eddie looked back and forth between them, a small frown appearing on his face. â€Å"Neil’s been sent as backup. I guess you filed some complaint about Jill not having enough protection?† That was to me, and unless I was mistaken, there was an accusatory note in his voice. â€Å"No – I. Oh. I guess I kind of did.† When I’d been trying to do damage control with Stanton, one of my grievances had been that I never felt Jill was safe. I guess this was Stanton’s response. It was surprising, just as Eddie had said, but more eyes on her couldn’t hurt. From the way she was sizing Neil up, she certainly didn’t seem to mind either. I shook his hand. â€Å"Nice to have you around, Neil. Are they passing you off as another cousin?† â€Å"Just a new student,† he said. That was probably just as well. Our â€Å"family† was in danger of taking over Amberwood. I would’ve liked to learn a little more about him, but my time was up. Marcus was picking me up soon to go to the train station, seeing as Latte had been declared totaled. I guess that was a different sort of closure, albeit a sad kind. I told them all goodbye as I left to get my suitcase, acting as though I just had to run an errand. Eddie, Angeline, and Jill knew the truth, and I could see the hurt and regret in their eyes – especially Jill. I prayed they’d be okay without me. When I came back downstairs, I found Jill was the only one still there. â€Å"I forgot to give you this,† she said, handing over a small envelope. My name was on the outside, and I recognized the writing. â€Å"I’ve been trying to get a hold of him and thought he might be avoiding me. This is his goodbye, huh?† I felt disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to see Adrian in person one last time. Maybe a letter was better than nothing, but I wished I could have left with those beautiful eyes fresh in my mind. â€Å"Is he . . . is he really upset?† I couldn’t stand the thought of him hurting. â€Å"Read the letter,† she said mysteriously. â€Å"And remember, Sydney. This isn’t about me. This is about you guys. You can control everything else, but not this. Let go, and accept how you feel.† We left on that note, and I went outside to sit on the curb and wait for Marcus. I stared at the envelope, looking at the way Adrian had written my name. Three times I nearly opened it . . . but chickened out each time. Finally, I saw Marcus drive in, and the envelope disappeared into my purse. As soon as he picked me up, he began talking excitedly about the big plans ahead. I barely heard. All I kept thinking about was Adrian and how empty my life was going to seem without him. Marcus and I were meeting Wade and Amelia at the train station, but I couldn’t picture any of them understanding me like Adrian – even if they were human and shared the same background. None of them would have his dry wit or uncanny insight. And simmering beneath all those emotions were the more heated memories . . . the way we’d kissed, the way it had felt to be wrapped up in him. . . . â€Å"Sydney? Are you even paying attention?† I blinked and glanced over at Marcus. I think it was another of those moments where he couldn’t believe someone wasn’t hanging on to his every word. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. â€Å"My mind’s somewhere else.† He grinned. â€Å"Well, shift it to beaches and margaritas because your life’s about to change.† It was always beaches and margaritas with him. â€Å"You left out the part about us sealing the tattoo. Unless your tattooist is also a bartender.† â€Å"There you go again, funny and beautiful.† He laughed. â€Å"We’re going to have a great time.† â€Å"How long will we be down there?† â€Å"Well, we’ll take care of the tattoos first. That’s the most important thing.† I was relieved to see him taking that seriously. â€Å"Then we’ll lie low, enjoy the sights for a few weeks. After that, we’ll come back and follow some leads on other dissatisfied Alchemists.† â€Å"And then you’ll repeat the process?† I asked. In the rear-view mirror, I could see the Palm Springs skyline disappearing as we drove north. I felt a pang of longing in my chest. â€Å"Get others to retrieve critical information and then free them?† â€Å"Exactly.† We drove in silence for another minute as I processed his words. â€Å"Marcus, what do you do with that information you gather? I mean, what are you going to do about Master Jameson?† â€Å"Keep finding more evidence,† he said promptly. â€Å"This is the biggest lead we’ve ever had. Now we can really push forward in finding out more.† â€Å"It’s more than a lead. Why not leak it to the Moroi?† â€Å"The Alchemists would deny it. Besides, we don’t want to be hasty.† â€Å"So what if they do deny it?† I demanded. â€Å"At least the Moroi will have a heads-up.† He glanced over at me with a look that reminded me of a parent trying to be patient with a child. Ahead of us, I saw a sign for the train station. â€Å"Sydney, I know you’re eager, but trust me. This is the way we’ve always done things.† â€Å"I don’t know that it’s the right way, though.† â€Å"You have a lot of ideas for someone who just joined up.† He chuckled. I wished he’d stop doing that. â€Å"Just wait, and then you’ll understand.† I didn’t like his condescending attitude. â€Å"I think I already understand. And you know what? I don’t think you guys do anything. I mean, you’ve uncovered some amazing information . . . but then what? You keep waiting. You run away and skulk around. How is this really helping? Your intentions are good . . . but that’s all they are.† I could almost hear Jill’s voice: They talk. You act. Ironically, Marcus was speechless. â€Å"You could do so much,† I continued. â€Å"When I first found out about you, you seemed to hold all the potential in the world. Technically, you still do. But it’s being wasted.† He pulled into the train station’s parking lot, still looking utterly stunned. â€Å"Where the hell is this coming from?† he asked at last. â€Å"Me,† I said. â€Å"Because I’m not like you guys. I can’t do nothing. I can’t run away. And . . . I can’t go with you.† It felt good to say that . . . and it also felt right. All week, my brain had been telling me the right thing to do was to walk away before things with Adrian and the Alchemists blew up. And yes, that probably was the smart thing. My heart had never entirely been on board, but I’d tried to ignore it. It wasn’t until I’d listened to both Jill and Marcus that I realized just this once, my brain might have to opt for the less logical solution. I had to give Marcus credit. He actually looked concerned and wasn’t just put out at not getting his way. â€Å"Sydney I know how attached you are to this place and these people, but it’s not safe for you here. It’s not safe for you anywhere, not as long as the Alchemists are watching. Not as long as your tattoo is vulnerable.† â€Å"Someone told me any life worth living has risks,† I said, unable to hide a smile. I never thought I’d be quoting Jill. Marcus slammed his fist against the dashboard. â€Å"That’s sentimental bullshit! It sounds good in theory, but the reality is completely different.† â€Å"What kind of reality could you have created if you’d stayed with the Alchemists?† I asked. â€Å"How much could you have uncovered?† â€Å"Nothing if I was caught,† he said flatly. â€Å"And no matter how useless you think we are, I’ve freed dozens of Alchemists. I’ve helped Clarence and other Moroi.† â€Å"You aren’t useless, Marcus. You do good work, but we’re just not on the same path, that’s all. I’m staying and doing things my way. Isn’t that what you said when we first met? Helping the Moroi on our own terms? These are mine.† â€Å"You’re wasting your time!† â€Å"It’s my time to waste,† I said. Adrian had said exactly the same thing to me on the flight to the wedding, when I’d told him he couldn’t keep loving me. I felt bad for Marcus. I really did, especially since he’d truly been counting on me to come with him. He caught hold of my hand. â€Å"Sydney, please don’t do this,† he begged. â€Å"No matter how confident you feel, no matter how careful you think you are, things will spiral out of control.† â€Å"They already have,† I said, opening the passenger door. â€Å"And I’m going to stop fighting them. Thank you for everything, Marcus. I mean it.† â€Å"Wait, Sydney,† he called. â€Å"Just tell me one thing.† I glanced back and waited. â€Å"Where did this come from? When you called me to tell me you were coming, you said you’d realized it was the smart thing to do. What made you change your mind?† I gave him a smile that I hoped was as dazzling as one of his. â€Å"I realized I’m in love.† Marcus, startled, looked around as though he expected to see my objet d’amour in the car with us. â€Å"And you just realized that? Did you just have some sort of vision?† â€Å"Didn’t need to,† I said, thinking of Wolfe’s ill-fated trip to the Orkneys. â€Å"It’s always been right in front of me.† How to cite The Indigo Spell Chapter Twenty-Four, Essay examples

Sierra Haverfield Essays - Amish, Intentional Living,

Sierra Haverfield Final Project FCSA 351 274320025717500 Introduction The Amish culture is a very unique one that doesn't seem to get very much (positive) attention. In school we are always learning about foreign countries and their cultures but we never really examine the different cultures we have right here in the US. Granted, over the past couple years the Amish sectors in Pennsylvania have been in the news for child abuse, but we have never really taken a step back and looked at how differently they live from the rest of the country. I chose to write about the Amish people after sitting at the airport in Hawaii waiting for my luggage at baggage claim . Across the terminal there were a group of Amish women wearing long dresses with long sleeves and they look ed very thick in material. I was completely amazed that they weren't dying of heat stroke because it was at least 85 degrees in there. It was hard for me to believe that they came from the same country as me because they looked so foreign. When I read the prompt for this fin al essay, I knew I would have an easy time researching and writing about the Amish culture because I was already so interested in learning more about why they differ so much from the rest of America. History and Traditions The Amish religion was founded upon teachings of the early Christian church. A round 1693, a young Mennonite leader named Jacob Amman formed his own Christian fellowship. He did this because he felt that the Mennonite Church did not exercise enough church discipline or maintain a strong enough spiritual life. Because of this, Jacob Amman's 1828800-22860000 followers began to be nicknamed the Amish. Originally, dress for the Amish people did not have religious meaning. The first Amish people were mainly peasants so as time went on they just continued to dress in plain, unadorned clothing. However, interaction with the culture and lifestyle of the outside world eventually started to threaten the ide ntity of the Amish people . As a result of this, many believed that by stressing a lifestyle of nonconformity they would protect their culture and religious identity. The easiest way to do this was through th eir dress and appearance. 297180068770500 Different from most cultures, the Amish people believe that clothing is not meant to distinguish an individual from a group by making them more "attractive" over others. They feel that wearing clothing to emphasize one's attractiveness will create competition and sinful thoughts. Therefore, Amish women and girls wear dresses with full skirts and they tend to be solid colors such as blue, green, brown, or grey. However, on formal occasions they wear black. An apron is worn over the dress and they wear black shoes with stockings. When in public, Amish women wear a black bonnet and shawl. Traditionally, women and girls wear their hair uncut, and parted in the middle. It is then twisted into a bun at the back of the head. They never wear any jewelry or make-up. The Amish men and boys generally wear dark suits and the pants are held up with suspenders. They wear brown shoes for work, and black shoes for formal occasions. When outside, men tend to wear broad- brimmed hats made out of straw or black felt. For their hair, they tend to comb it in front with bangs. When boys reach adulthood, they grow beards, but not mustaches however. Mustaches are thought to be associated with the military and aggression. 3429000-131445000 Evolution 4114800177800000 The Amish people have had strict religious beliefs since the religion was first started in 1693 . This being said, there have not been very many changes to their culture and way of life. Most Amish communities believe that a lot of change in a short period of time will "ruin" their way of life. Therefore, they have only just begun to introduce technology into their daily lives . For instance, farmers now use electric powered tools, and they have electric or gas burning stoves in their homes instead of wood stoves. These little changes have greatly helped and improved the Amish way of life. However, the

GANGS Essays - Crime, Criminology, Urban Decay, Gangs, Free Essays

GANGS Essays - Crime, Criminology, Urban Decay, Gangs, Free Essays GANGS Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What has made these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and prestigious way to live? The long range answer to these questions can only be speculated upon, but in the short term the answers are much easier to find. On the surface, gangs are a direct result of human beings' personal wants and peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence we must find the way that these morals are given to the individual. Unfortunately, these can only be hypothesized. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I believe there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, drugs and our economic system. On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed. Many teens in gangs will pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous. Money is also an crucial factor. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a member) is shown that s/he could make $200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Although these are important factors they are not strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly against their morals. One of the ways that kids morals are bent so that gang violence becomes more acceptable is the influence of television and movies. The average child spends more time at a TV than she/he spends in a classroom. Since nobody can completely turn off their minds, kids must be learning something while watching the TV. Very few hours of television watched by children are educational, so other ideas are being absorbed during this period of time. Many shows on television today are extremely violent and are often shown this from a gang's perspective. A normal adult can see that this is showing how foully that gangs are living. However, to a child this portrays a violent gang existance as acceptable. 'The Ends Justifies the Means' mentality is also taught through many shows where the "goody guy" captures the "bad guy" through violence and is then being commended. A young child sees this a perfectly acceptable because he knows that the "bad guy" was wrong but has no idea of what acceptable apprehension techniques are. Gore in television also takes a big part in influencing young minds. Children see gory scenes and are fascinated by these things that they have not seen before. Older viewers see gore and are not concerned with the blood but rather with the pain the victim must feel. A younger mind doesn't make this connection. Thus a gore fascination is formed, and has been seen in several of my peers. Unfortunately kids raised with this sort of television end up growing up with a stronger propensity to becoming a violent gang member or 'violent- acceptant' person. "Gangs bring the delinquent norms of society into intimate contact with the individual."1, (Marshall B Clinard, 1963). So, as you can see if TV leads a child to believe that violence is the norm this will manifest itself in the actions of the child quite, often in a gang situation. This is especially the case when parents don't spend a lot of time with their kids at the TV explaining what is right and what is wrong. Quite often newer books and some types of music will enforce this type of thought and ideas. Once this mentality is installed in youngsters they become increasingly prone to being easily pushed into a gang situation by any problem at home or elsewhere. For instance, in poor families with many children or upper-middle class families where parents are always working, the children will often feel deprived of love. Parents can often feel that putting food on the table is enough love. Children of these families may often go to the gang firstly out of boredom and to belong somewhere. As time goes on, a form of love or kinship develops between the gang members and the child. It is then that the bond between the kid and the gang is

The Secret Life of Bees - Discussion Questions

The Secret Life of Bees - Discussion Questions Sue Monk Kidds debut novel, ​The Secret Life of Bees, is a coming-of-age story about feminine spirituality, racial tension, and maneuvering through love, loss, and change. The Secret Life of Bees is a great choice for womens book clubs and has the potential to promote lively discussions. Use these book club discussion questions to guide your group through Sue Monk Kidds touching tale. The Best Book Club Questions forThe Secret Life of Bees Spoiler Warning: These questions may reveal important details about The Secret Life of Bees. Finish the book before reading on. How would you describe Lilys feelings about her mother? Did they change throughout the novel? How did hearing that her mother left her to affect her perception of her mother?Do you believe T-Rays account of what happened when Lilys mother died?Did your opinion of T-Ray change when August told Lily about how much he used to love her mother? Does Deborahs abandonment explain or excuse T-Ray?Do you agree with Lily that people would rather die than forgive? Does she forgive her mother? T-Ray? Herself?What do the bees mean to the story? What is the secret life of bees?Do you think race was portrayed realistically in The Secret Life of Bees? What do you think Sue Monk Kidd was saying about race in this novel?Why did Rosaleen spit on the mens shoes? What are the ways the characters in the novel confront injustice? How do you think we should deal with injustice? Do these kinds of prejudices still exist today?What was your reaction to Lilys relationship with Zach? What do you think happened t o them in the future? Talk about the sisters. Who was your favorite? Do we all need a wailing wall, like May? Why do you think June was cold toward Lily? How would you describe August?What role did the Black Madonna play in their community? What do you think about the legend of the Black Madonna?Rate The Secret Life of Bees on a scale of 1 to 5.

What is peak oil Is there any evidence that cities in the developing Essay

What is peak oil Is there any evidence that cities in the developing world are taking the issue seriously in their planning If there is little or no evidence, why is this the case - Essay Example st of the potentially oil rich regions have already been explored, and also due to legislation concerning the preservation of land with natural beauty or heritage value. The irreversible decline in oil production will cause adverse impacts in the global economy, â€Å"recession, food shortages and wars and conflicts over the remaining oil supplies† (Huddart and Stott 873). By the year 2030, it is predicted that while city dwellers in developed countries would have increased by 20%, the urban population in developing countries would have more than doubled to around 4 billion people, leading to overcrowding in several cities. In contemporary society there is a heavy dependence on oil for transportation, in industry, and in other requirements for liquid fossil fuels. â€Å"China, India and other countries are rapidly increasing their consumption while production from known oil fields is peaking† (Wissler 80). Kenneth S. Deffeyes (23) raises a controversial perspective based on geology and mathematics; he considers it improbable that additional major oilfields now remain undiscovered, and predicts increasingly difficult economic, social and political conditions particularly for regions most dependent on oil, specifically imported oil. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other exporters of oil will be able to charge high rates to fulfill the demands for the commodity, resulting in steep oil price hikes followed by greater chaos than similar occurrences in 1973 and 1979. The problem of ‘peak oil’ is also related to the issue of global warming. When oil production peaks and starts declining, it will be necessary to use other substitutes besides renewable resources examined above, such as coal. This will be necessary to power electric and hybrid vehicles and as the material converted into diesel fuel. These processes producing carbon dioxide will increase air and water pollution, and adversely affect climate change. â€Å"Therefore, a potential effect of climate change is increased

Music Therapy in obstertic patient Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music Therapy in obstertic patient - Essay Example ncluded in the review they must have investigated the effect of music, involved adult hospital patients and used a randomized controlled trial design. These studies must also have used outcome measures such as anxiety, satisfaction, pain, mood and vital signs. Identified studies were critically appraised, and then categorized according to whether music was evaluated during normal care delivery or during invasive and unpleasant procedures. When appropriate, studies were combined in a meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies were identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 10 were subsequently excluded following critical appraisal. Music played via headphones reduces anxiety of patients during normal care deliver, but it has no impact on the anxiety of patients undergoing procedures such as bronchoscopy, sigmoidoscopy or surgery with a spinal anaesthetic. Music produces a small reduction in respiratory rate during normal care delivery, but appears to have little eff ect on other vital sign parameters. It has no impact on the vital signs of patients undergoing procedures. Although the evidence is limited, music also appears improve the mood and tolerance of patients. CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates the effectiveness of music for the reduction of anxiety during normal care deliver. Given the inexpensive nature of this intervention, and the lack of adverse events, it is recommended as an adjunct to normal care practices. This review also highlights the need for further research into many aspect of this intervention. The control of labor pain and prevention of suffering are major concerns of clinicians and their clients. Nonpharmacologic approaches toward these goals are consistent with midwifery management and the choices of many women. We undertook a literature search of scientific articles cataloged in CINAHL, PUBMED, the Cochrane Library, and AMED databases relating to the effectiveness of 13 non-pharmacologic methods used to relieve pain and