Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima Essay -- Rudolfo Anaya Bless Me Ultim

Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima In Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima, the creator utilizes Tony’s dreams as a method of showing different images. Three images that are utilized frequently are climate, water, and the Golden Carp. Climate is utilized to speak to strife. Water speaks to purifying, and restoration. The Golden Carp represents religion and Tony’s convictions. Since dreams are not a precise reflection of the real world, they become the ideal instrument for presenting imagery. The writer utilizes the fantasy as an approach to get to the common subjects of the book. Climate influences the lives of everybody. At the point when the climate turns foul, it makes life progressively troublesome. Turbulent climate in Tony’s dreams speaks to the contention in his life, and the lives of everyone around him. One case of the climate in his fantasies is the breeze. In one of Tony’s dreams the breeze is utilized to speak to strife that upsets the harmony that is a still lake. There was a crying breeze as the moon rose and it’s powers pulled at the still waters of the lake.(Anaya 120) The breeze here is utilized to speak to powers of unsettling influence brought about by atomic testing occurring south of the town, similarly as wrap kicks up residue and hazy spots the view. Another component of tempests is lightning storm. In Tony’s dream he sees, .....a glimmer of lightning struck and out of the thunder a dull figure ventured forward. It was Ultima......I looked for additional answers, however she was gone, vanished into a boistero us noise.(Anaya 71) Lightning can offer looks at enlightenment, yet then haziness returns, and the commotion of the thunder that follows stuns the ears. This speaks to the snapshots of good that can happen inside the middle of contention. Ultima’s appearance gives Tony a brief look at where he needs to scan for honesty, however he is as yet befuddled from this experience. He keeps on looking for answers. Another noteworthy climate event is the presence of fog. The fog twirled around me. I was at the waterway, and I heard somebody calling my name. I looked into the dim fog yet I could see nobody. (Anaya 61) Just as the fog leaves an individual inclination segregated, the fog speaks to the war and how it left Tony isolated from his siblings. Climate, as wind, lightning storm, and fog, gives amazing imagery to the contentions in Tony’s life. Purging and restoration are subjects that are proposed by the creator, and represented thro... ...eath he had seen he can’t truly trust the divine beings since they keep on letting individuals that are near him bite the dust. Tony’s confidence in the intensity of the carp is starting to blur here in light of the fact that he can not comprehend why the carp, and God keep on allowing individuals to kick the bucket. Tony recognizes what the carp speaks to, so he reprimands the carp for these passings. These statements show how the Golden Carp speaks to the force, and the significance of Tony’s religion. The Golden Carp was the most significant strict image in Bless Me Ultima. In Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima, different utilizations Tony’s dreams to show the peruser images of contention, revival, and religion. The climate in this story is utilized to speak to strife. Climate is appeared in Tony’s dreams to speak to clashes throughout his life. Water is utilized to speak to tidiness in revival. We as a whole use water to clean ourselves, yet in this book water is appeared to clean the psyche, body, and soul. The Golden Carp is demonstrated to be an image of Tony’s religion. The carp is an image that Tony goes to for answers throughout his life. In all of Tony’s dreams the peruser can increase a superior comprehension of Tony’s life using images in Tony’s dreams.

Social Psychology paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Psychology paper - Essay Example This makes this hypothesis appropriate just to higher warm blooded animals, including people. The hypothesis is particularly useful in understanding the center procedures of ordinary human connections. State, a manager ventures out on a brief siesta with a female partner; this is an average situation that falls inside the application scope of Causal Attribution hypothesis. For this situation, the supervisor orders nourishment for his associate while not being discerning of her food sensitivities. Causal Attribution hypothesis will assist us with responding to such inquiries as â€Å"How much causal obligation would we be able to relegate to the chief, for this clear mistake†? and so forth. The hypothesis is likewise helpful in controlling degrees of torment or happiness. Since the psychological instrument that outcomes in impressions of torment or euphoria involves expectation and desire, agonizing encounters can be alleviated and cheerful encounters enhanced if the individual sees occasions from an ideal point of view. Subsequently, Causal Attribution hypothesis is additionally valuable for psychotherapists who manage instances of incessant tension and melancholy. The methods figured out how to control levels of agony/delight can likewise help competitors in overseeing niggling wounds or serious weight while taking an interest in a significant game occasion like the Olympic Games. A couple of other wonders related with Causal Attribution hypothesis are â€Å"The Self-Serving Bias and The Fundamental Attribution Error† (from the Presentation). Fundamental work on these parts was finished by Jones and Harris in 1967 and by Ross and his group in 1977. Jones and Harris considered Fidel Castro’s open picture and the causal systems at play. Ross and his group contemplated game shows and found that members â€Å"fail to see the innate burdens in people† (from the Presentation). Daniel Gilbert proposed a prudent step to stay away from Attribution Errors. He suggested against weighing social and situational data simultaneously. The other region where qualification

Message From Ben And Matt

Message From Ben And Matt Hi friends, This story will likely be all over the news soon, so we wanted to write to you as soon as possible. Its a very sad day for MIT, and especially for our office. Well write more about it in a few days when weve had the chance to digest it further, but right now were really in a state of shock at the loss of our leader. To make a long story short, Marilee Jones, our Dean of Admissions, misrepresented her credentials on her resume 28 years ago in 1979, when she applied for her first job at MIT. What started as a mistake in her youth was compounded over time, which she addresses in a personal statement. We know youre going to have many questions around this, and well try to address them in the coming days. In the meantime, there are a few things we wanted to say. First, as many of you know, Marilee has built her career around trying to make college admissions better with more compassion and less anxiety. Many are understandably concerned that the momentum of this mission will be compromised by these events. But we pledge to you that as we recover in the days ahead, we will continue to celebrate and uphold all of the good that Marilee has brought to our office and to our field, and we hope that others around the country will do the same. Second, many are asking why MIT didnt accept Marilees resignation quietly. The answer is simple: transparency and openness, as you know from reading these blogs, are the backbone of our culture. People needed to know the specifics to avoid the rampant speculation that would undoubtedly follow otherwise. You need to know that this was a lie on a resume not some big scandal surrounding our selection process. Frankly, this is what it is, and theres nothing more to say about it that will be productive. We need to acknowledge what happened and move forward. As were sure you can understand, our office is quite shaken by this. Until weve had a chance to individually process this more, we dont want to host a big public thread on the topic, so please give us a few days to get back on our feet before we restore comments. In the meantime, you can always email us with questions and concerns. Fondly, Ben and Matt

Effects Of Chewing On The Brain Essay - 1050 Words

Chewing gum has been linked to concentration thru studies showing that people who chew gum during an assessment might do better than a person who is not. This is do to the fact that while chewing gum your concentration rate goes up and allows you to focus more on the assessment given. The Brain is set up with two systems one is your involuntary this is the system that collects stimuli and process it. It’s the system that makes automatic decisions for us, like turning our heads when we hear our names called or freezing when we see a spider. While system 2 runs the voluntary parts of our brains. It processes suggestions offered by System 1, makes final decisions and chooses where to allocate our attention. The funny thing about how these system work is that we assume a lot of the things we do are purely conscious decisions made by System 2. In fact, almost everything we consciously decide on is based on automatic reactions and suggestions fed to us by System 1.New research shows it takes one part of the brain to start concentrating and another to be distracted. This discovery could help scientists develop better treatments for attention deficit disorder. This ability to willfully focus your attention is physically separate in the brain from distracting things grabbing your attention, said Earl Miller, a neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He led the study, published in Friday s edition of the journal Science. Now we know these two things areShow MoreRelatedThe Effect Of Chewing Gum On Cognitive Processing964 Words   |  4 Pagesthat chewing gum might improve the performance in memory task, although other studies have not confirmed this effect of chewing. Little is known about the brain activity and the task performance while chewing gum. Near-infrared spectroscopy is a spectroscopic method that uses the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum(what does this mean). Put in my own words, describe what it means.Near-infrared spectroscopy is a useful tool for investigating brain function and can measure brain activityRead MoreThe Benefits of Gum Chewing1791 Words   |  7 Pagestrying to lose weight, suffer from oral health problems or digestive problems? Simply chewing a piece of gum can help solve any of these issues. For example, everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. Whether its from school, work, relationships or life in general. Studies have proven that chewing gum can help relieve stress from someone who is experiencing either acute or chronic stress.†Chewing gum leads to reduced stress and anxiety, and can elevate mood, improve concentration andRead MoreShould Students Be Allowed to Chew Gum in School?700 Words   |  3 Pagesclassroom. Evidence shows that the process of chewing gum increases the blood flow to the brain and heart as well as increases saliva in the mouth, which gives the individual certain advantages. Students should be allowed to chew gum while in the classroom because they demonstrate increased memory and alertness, higher test scores and concentration, as well as decreased stress and anxiety (Pooley, Smith). Most people believe that the process of chewing gum can be distracting not only to the chewerRead MoreConcentration Levels Of High School Students Chewing Gum Versus Non Chewers1215 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween concentration levels of high school students chewing gum versus non-chewers. The concentration portion provided students with two color tests to take to record differences in concentration. The results provided data with an increase in concentration of students while chewing gum. Introduction: Psychologist have tested the effect of gum many times but can’t specifically find what makes gum a concentrating agent. Sugar-free gum has the same effect as gum with sugar present. At St. Lawrence UniversityRead More Nicotine Essay809 Words   |  4 Pagesaddictive drugs. The impact it has on society is like no other. It is one of more than 4,000 chemicals found in the smoke of tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. This addictive drug is the primary component in tobacco that acts on the brain. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tobacco can be found two ways, it can be dried brown leaves of various sizes or it can be a grown form of tobacco. When extracted from the leaves, nicotine is colorless, but quickly turns brown when exposed to air. ItRead More Cocaine Essay1059 Words   |  5 Pagesstronger effect than chewing the leaves. The term quot;Crackquot; is alternately used to refer to street quality freebase cocaine, or to refer to the product of a particular manufacturing process, which uses sodium bicarbonate rather than a flammable solvent. Powdered cocaine is mostly snorted and crack or freebase cocaine is generally smoked. Smoking freebase cocaine causes a strong, short-lived peak of about 3-5 minutes, while snorting cocaine provides a lower high with major effects lasting closerRead MorePavlov s Stimulus Substitution Theory994 Words   |  4 Pagesto elicit the UR. However, during conditioning involving repeated pairing of the CS and US, new neurological connections between the CS neurons and US neurons are established which causes the US and CS to both activate the same neural centre of the brain that evokes the unconditioned response. Consequently, the CS becomes a substitute for the US and elicits the same response, hence the name Stimulus Substitution Theory (Chance, 2013). Pavlov s empirical research generally supported his theory. ForRead MoreNicotine Addiction: The Effects On The Body Essay1165 Words   |  5 Pagesapproximately 5 percent of nicotine by weight. There are two categories of tobacco products cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Nicotine has many effects on the body but the effect it has on the brain is responsible for the so called â€Å"good feeling† that is behind the addiction. Nicotine is considered to be addictive because of the psychological and physiological effects on a person. The Center for the Advancement of Health published the results of a study on teenager smokers: Almost two-thirds of the smokersRead MoreSmokeless Tobacco Essay1136 Words   |  5 PagesSmokeless tobacco is presented as an alternative to smoking cigarettes, although smokeless tobacco has some benefits over smoking cigarettes, it also causes harm to the user. There are different forms of smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco that come in the forms of as Plug/Twist, Verb Use (consider revising). Snuff another form of smokeless tobacco composed of grounded tobacco leaves requires you to place it between the gums and cheeks, then spit out the juices or swallow if you please. TheRead MoreThanksgiving Is A Holiday That Comes With A Great Feast1388 Words   |  6 Pagespart in the food consumption experience. The nose has millions of receptors that are sensitive to odor molecules. A person can smell food by sniffing the air just above the food through the nostrils or as the air is circulating inside the mouth when chewing. The latter occurs because the back of the throat is conn ected to the nose and mouth. Air has to flow in or out of the nose for the odor molecules to flow through the nostrils and into the nose which can either go through the front or the back. Without

Should Same Sex Marriage Be Legal - 968 Words

The Definition of Family What is your definition to the term ‘family?’ The answer to that question varies depending on whom you ask, and everyone seems to have his or her own idea of it. Just this year, same-sex marriage was finally recognized in Alabama – one of the most conservative, southern states that you could possibly drive into. The whole idea of homosexuality regarding important topics such as marriage, psychological health, and parenting have been called into question to scientifically define what the term family should mean. Just to be clear, this topic sparks a grand amount of opinion, and opinion can easily be shut down by facts and relative research. First and foremost, majority of the individuals that are opposed to same-sex marriage are usually just as opposed to same-sex couples raising children (whether or not these children of homosexual parents grow up to be heterosexual or homosexual). These individuals will typically argue that children raised by same-sex parents will suffer psychologically and will grow up to be anxiety ridden, depressed adults with the inability to identify with a sexual orientation. Upon further research, one will find that a child being raised by same sex parents or a homosexual parent has very little influence on the child’s well being (Golombok, Perry, Burston, Murray, Mooney-Somers, Stevens, and Golding, 2003, p. 2). According to Wainright, Russell, and Patterson’s (2004) research on children raised by lesbian mothers, theyShow MoreRelatedSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1288 Words   |  6 Pages Marriage is not precisely the same as it used to be interpreted. For example, women used to be their husband’s property. Sometimes the women were forced to marry whoever their parents wanted them to marry and most of the time they couldn’t leave the marriage. Nowadays women have more freedom. They can vote, they can run their own business, and they can marry whichever man they want to. The laws change as the people’s mind change. As they get more comfortable with the idea, they become more openRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex relationships relate to when a man or woman are attracted to someone of the same gender of themselves. It is being rejected as same gender marriage denies the obvious purpose between a man and a women which is procreation (Richardson-Self, 2012). Denying same sex couples the legal right to get married, could mean that they are being denied their basic human rights to enjoy human benefits (Richardson-Self, 2012). However, the opposing view is that if gay marriage was granted the legal rightsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1403 Words   |  6 PagesSame-Sex Marriage â€Å"I now pronounce you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At some point in a person’s life, they have heard or will hear those words. What follows, however, has changed somewhat over the years; although, the commitment has remained the same. Those words historically indicate that until the death of a spouse, that couple shall remain together. Who should be able to determine whom that spouse is for that person? Some people judge others for their sexuality and how it is affecting them, but they never stop andRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1144 Words   |  5 PagesGay Marriage There are many issues the revolve around same-sex marriage. Many issues like: Whether same-sex should be legalized and should there be an amendment on same-sex marriage? There are multiple side to view this, but gay marriage but in my opinion gay marriage is socially accepted. it should be legal and it does affect American teens in a broad spectrum of ways. There have been a lot of issues on whether or not same-sex marriage should be legal or not. According to Burns, â€Å" The unionRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal998 Words   |  4 PagesSame sex marriage ought to be legalized on the grounds that it is uncivilized and unmerited. Marriage is a commitment between two people that cherish one another. In almost every country and culture, marriage is a commitment of loyalty and love. Marriage is an authority contract gathering two individuals together, furnishing them with profits of holy matrimony such as tax cuts and clinical privileges. The debate throughout most countries today is whether or not the rights of these profits and commitmentsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1659 Words   |  7 Pages Same-sex couples can hardly remember a time where they were not fighting for their right to marriage in the United States. After several court cases, California Proposition Six, and their struggle against the Defens e of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex couples found their way into U.S. society. Many misguided studies appealed to those opposing same-sex marriage, but after several years of integrating in society, same-sex couples found the support they were looking for. Before the Supreme CourtRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal899 Words   |  4 Pages In the United States, same sex marriage became legal nationwide on June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court overruled the court in favor of same sex freedom and marriage. The victory of same sex marriage came to be recognized from the Obergefell v. Hodges case which was submitted when an American Ohio man was denied and regretted to get his name on his late husband’s death certificate. Same sex marriage has been a controversial social issue in the United States for several decades. SinceRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1491 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex marriage is one of the most debatable issues in the modern world. Marriage has been accepted as the social union between a man and a woman for the past thousand years. Homosexuality was viewed with scorn, and marriages among same sex couples were prohibited in most cultures across the globe. However, gay relationships are slowly obtaining acceptance, as homosexuals have come to be expressive in fighting their rights to marry in the early 90’s. As homosexuality grows in acceptance in theRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal892 Words   |  4 PagesLove Same sex marriage is now allowed in all states across the country. But it took years and years for this â€Å"issue† to be finally laid to rest. The first state to legalize same-sex marriage was Massachusetts in 2004. There was not a last state to legalize gay marriage. The supreme court realized how many states were now legalizing it, so they just had all of the states left legalize it as well. ProCon.org supplies information that â€Å"Twenty-six states were forced to legalize gay marriage becauseRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal2253 Words   |  10 Pages1776). The recognition of same-sex marriage is an issue influenced by numerous factors, and debates continue to arise over whether people in same-sex relationships have the right to marriage. Marriage provides many benefits, legally, financially, and personally. Same-sex marriage can open up those in same-sex relationships to tax benefits and financial demands comparable to those afforded to and required of peo ple in opposite-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage also gives them legal protections, such as

Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirty-six Free Essays

string(32) " was a low hum of conversation\." I’D OFTEN DREAMED ABOUT waking up with Dimitri, waking up in a way that was †¦ ordinary. Sweet. Not because we were hastily trying to catch sleep before fighting our next foe. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirty-six or any similar topic only for you Order Now Not because we were recovering from sex we had to hide, sex laden with baggage and myriad complications. I just wanted to wake up together, in his arms, and have it be a good morning. Today was that day. â€Å"How long have you been awake?’ I asked drowsily. My head was on his chest, and I was wrapped against him as best as I could manage. My wounds were healing rapidly but still had to be babied. We’d found a few creative workarounds last night. Sunlight now spilled in through the windows, filling my bedroom with gold. He was watching me in that quiet, solemn way of his, with those dark eyes that were so easy to get lost in. â€Å"A little while,’ he admitted, lifting his gaze to the sunlight-filled window. â€Å"I think I’m still on a human schedule. Either that, or my body just wants to be up when the sun is. Seeing it is still amazing to me.’ I stifled a yawn. â€Å"You should have gotten up.’ â€Å"I didn’t want to disturb you.’ I ran my fingers over his chest, sighing in contentment. â€Å"This is perfection,’ I said. â€Å"Is every day going to be like this?’ Dimitri rested his hand on my cheek and then moved down, tipping my chin up. â€Å"Not every day but most days.’ Our lips met, and the warmth and light in the room paled compared to what burned inside me. â€Å"I was wrong,’ I murmured when we finally broke the long, languid kiss. â€Å"This is perfection.’ He smiled, something he was doing an awful lot of lately. I loved it. Things would probably change once we were back out in the world. Even if we were together now, Dimitri’s guardian side would always be there, ready and watchful. But not right now. Not in this moment. â€Å"What’s the matter?’ he asked me. With a start, I realized I’d begun to frown. I tried to relax my face. Unbidden, Adrian’s words had come back to me, that the next time I was in bed with Dimitri, I should think about others who weren’t so lucky. â€Å"Do you think I ruin lives?’ I asked. â€Å"What? Of course not.’ The smile changed to shock. â€Å"Where would you get that idea?’ I shrugged. â€Å"There are just a lot of people whose lives are still kind of a mess. My friends, I mean.’ â€Å"True,’ he said. â€Å"And let me guess. You want to fix everyone’s problems.’ I didn’t answer. Dimitri kissed me again. â€Å"Roza,’ he said, â€Å"it’s normal to want to help the people you love. But you can’t fix everything.’ â€Å"It’s what I do,’ I countered, feeling a little petulant. â€Å"I protect people.’ â€Å"I know, and that’s one of the reasons I love you. But for now, you only have to worry about protecting one person: Lissa.’ I stretched out against him, noticing my injuries really were constantly improving. My body would be able to do all sorts of things soon. â€Å"I suppose that means we can’t stay in bed all day?’ I asked hopefully. â€Å"Afraid not,’ he said, lightly running his fingertips along the curve of my hip. He never seemed to get tired of studying my body. â€Å"They come first.’ I brought my mouth back toward his. â€Å"But not for a little while.’ â€Å"No,’ he agreed. His hand slid up to the back of my neck, tangling in my hair as he drew me closer. â€Å"Not for a little while.’ I had never attended a royal coronation before, and honestly, I hoped I never would again. I only wanted there to be this one queen ruling in my lifetime. Eerily, the coronation was kind of a reverse of Tatiana’s funeral. What was the old saying? The queen is dead. Long live the queen. Custom dictated the monarch-to-be spend the first part of the coronation day at the church, presumably to pray for guidance, strength, and all that spiritual stuff. I wasn’t sure what custom did in the case of atheist monarchs. Probably they faked it. With Lissa, who was fairly devout, I knew that wasn’t a problem and that she was probably legitimately praying she’d do a good job as queen. After the vigil, Lissa and a huge procession walked back across Court to the palace building, where the crowning took place. Representatives from all the royal families joined her, along with musicians who were playing much more cheerful tunes than they had for Tatiana’s procession. Lissa’s guardians–she had a fleet now–walked with her. I was among them, wearing my finest black and white, including the red collar marking me as a royal guardian. Here, at least, was a notable difference from the funeral. Tatiana had been dead; her guardians were for show. Lissa was very much alive, and even if she’d won the Council’s vote, she still had enemies. My colleagues and I were on high alert. Not that you’d think we needed to be, not with the way the onlookers cheered. All those who had camped out during the trials and election had stayed for this fanfare, and more had shown up still. I wasn’t sure when there’d ever been this many Moroi in one place. After the long and winding walk, Lissa made it to the palace building and then waited in a small antechamber adjacent to what served as the Moroi throne room. The throne room was almost never used for modern business, but every once in a while–like a new queen being sworn in–the Moroi liked to pull out ancient traditions. The room was small and couldn’t hold all the witnesses from outside. It couldn’t even hold the entire procession. But, the Council and highest-ranking royal members were there, along with some select invitees of Lissa’s. I stood off to the side, watching the glamour unfold. Lissa hadn’t made her grand entrance yet, so there was a low hum of conversation. You read "Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirty-six" in category "Essay examples" The room was all green and gold, having been given a thorough and fast remodel in the last few days, since custom dictated the ruling family’s colors dominate the throne room. The throne itself sat high against the far wall, accessible by steps. Carved of wood I could no longer identify, I knew the throne had been carried around the world by Moroi monarchs for centuries. People were lining up in carefully assigned positions, preparing for when Lissa would enter last. I was studying one of the new chandeliers, admiring how realistic the â€Å"candles’ in it looked. I knew they were electric, but the craftsmen had done amazing work. Technology masked in old-world glory, just as the Moroi liked. A small nudge drew my attention away. â€Å"Well, well, well,’ I said. â€Å"If it isn’t the people responsible for unleashing Rose Hathaway on the world. You’ve got a lot to answer for.’ My parents stood before me in their typical and wildly contrasting clothing. My mom wore the same guardian outfit I did, a white shirt with black slacks and jacket. Abe was †¦ well, Abe. He had on a black pinstripe suite, with a black dress shirt underneath. Splashed against the darkness was a bright, lemon-yellow paisley tie. A matching handkerchief peeped out one of the jacket’s pockets. Along with his gold earrings and chains, he also wore a black fedora, which was a new addition to his outlandish wardrobe. I guess he wanted to go all out for an event like this, and at least it wasn’t a pirate hat. â€Å"Don’t blame us,’ said my mother. â€Å"We didn’t blow up half of Court, steal a dozen cars, call out a murderer in the middle of a crowd, or get our teenage friend crowned queen.’ â€Å"Actually,’ said Abe, â€Å"I did blow up half of Court.’ My mom ignored him, her expression softening as she studied me with her guardian eyes. â€Å"Seriously †¦ how are you feeling?’ I’d seen them only briefly in the days since waking up, just enough for us all to check in on each other. â€Å"You’re doing an awful lot of standing today. And I’ve already told Hans not to put you on active duty for a while.’ It was one of the most motherly things I’d ever heard her say. â€Å"I †¦ I’m fine. A lot better. I could go on active duty right now.’ â€Å"You will do no such thing,’ she said, in exactly the tone she’d use giving orders to a troop of guardians. â€Å"Stop coddling her, Janine.’ â€Å"I’m not coddling her! I’m looking out for her. You’re spoiling her.’ I looked back and forth at them in amazement. I didn’t know if I was witnessing a fight or foreplay. I wasn’t thrilled about either option. â€Å"Okay, okay, just back off you guys. I survived, right? That’s what counts.’ â€Å"It is,’ said Abe. He suddenly seemed very fatherly, which weirded me out even more than my mom’s behavior. â€Å"And despite the property damage and string of broken laws left in your wake, I’m proud of you.’ I suspected that secretly, he was proud of me because of those things. My cynical interior commentary was brought to a halt when my mom concurred. â€Å"I’m proud too. Your methods were †¦ not ideal, but you did a great thing. Great things, really. Finding both the murderer and Jill.’ I noticed her careful wording of â€Å"the murderer.’ I think it was still hard for all of us to accept the truth about Tasha. â€Å"A lot will change because of Jill.’ All of us looked over at the foot of the throne. Ekaterina stood on one side, ready with the book of royal vows. The other side was where members of the monarch’s family stood–but only one lone person was there. Jill. Someone had done a great job of cleaning her up. Her curly hair had been elaborately styled and pinned, and she wore a knee-length sheath dress with a wide portrait style collar, just barely showing off her shoulders. The dress’s cut made the most of her lanky figure, and the dark green satin looked great with her features. She was standing straight, chin high, but there was anxiety all over her, made more obvious by her being so conspicuously alone. I glanced back at Abe, who met my eyes expectantly. I had a lot of questions for him, and he was one of the few who might tell me the truth. The decision was: which question to ask? It was like having a genie. I’d only get so many wishes. â€Å"What will happen to Jill?’ I asked at last. â€Å"Will she just go back to school? Are they going to train her to be a princess?’ Lissa couldn’t be both princess and queen, so her old title went to the next-oldest member of her family. Abe didn’t answer for several moments. â€Å"Until Lissa can get the law changed–and hopefully, she will–Jill is all that allows her to keep her throne. If something happens to Jill, Lissa will no longer be queen. So. What would you do?’ â€Å"I’d keep her safe.’ â€Å"Then you have your answer.’ â€Å"It’s kind of a broad one,’ I said. â€Å"†Safe’ means a lot of things.’ â€Å"Ibrahim,’ warned my mother. â€Å"Enough. This isn’t the time or place.’ Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. â€Å"Of course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: here’s our newest member.’ Dimitri had joined us and wore black and white like my mother and me. He stood beside me, conspicuously not touching. â€Å"Mr. Mazur,’ he said formally, nodding a greeting to both of them. â€Å"Guardian Hathaway.’ Dimitri was seven years older than me, but right then, facing my parents, he looked like he was sixteen and about to pick me up for a date. â€Å"Ah, Belikov,’ said Abe, shaking Dimitri’s hand. â€Å"I’d been hoping we’d run into each other. I’d really like to get to know you better. Maybe we can set aside some time to talk, learn more about life, love, et cetera. Do you like to hunt? You seem like a hunting man. That’s what we should do sometime. I know a great spot in the woods. Far, far away. We could make a day of it. I’ve certainly got a lot of questions I’d like to ask you. A lot of things I’d like to tell you too.’ I shot a panicked look at my mother, silently begging her to stop this. Abe had spent a good deal of time talking to Adrian when we dated, explaining in vivid and gruesome detail exactly how Abe expected his daughter to be treated. I did not want Abe taking Dimitri off alone into the wilderness, especially if firearms were involved. â€Å"Actually,’ said my mom casually. â€Å"I’d like to come along. I also have a number of questions–especially about when you two were back at St. Vladimir’s.’ â€Å"Don’t you guys have somewhere to be?’ I asked hastily. â€Å"We’re about to start.’ That, at least, was true. Nearly everyone was in formation, and the crowd was quieting. â€Å"Of course,’ said Abe. To my astonishment, he brushed a kiss over my forehead before stepping away. â€Å"I’m glad you’re back.’ Then, with a wink, he said to Dimitri: â€Å"Looking forward to our chat.’ â€Å"Run,’ I said when they were gone. â€Å"If you slip out now, maybe they won’t notice. Go back to Siberia.’ â€Å"Actually,’ said Dimitri, â€Å"I’m pretty sure Abe would notice. Don’t worry, Roza. I’m not afraid. I’ll take whatever heat they give me over being with you. It’s worth it.’ â€Å"You really are the bravest man I know,’ I told him. He smiled, his eyes falling on a small commotion at the room’s entrance. â€Å"Looks like she’s ready,’ he murmured. â€Å"I hope I am,’ I whispered back. In true grandiose fashion, a herald brought the room to attention. Perfect silence fell. You couldn’t even hear breathing. The herald stepped back from the door. â€Å"Princess Vasilisa Sabina Rhea Dragomir.’ Lissa entered, and even though I’d seen her less than half an hour ago, I still caught my breath. She was wearing a formal gown but had once again dodged sleeves. No doubt the dress-maker had had a fit. The dress was floor-length, with a skirt of silk and chiffon layers that moved and fluttered around Lissa as she strode forward. The fabric was the same jade as her eyes, as was the dress’s top, with a halter collar covered in emeralds that gave the illusion of a necklace. Matching emeralds covered the dress’s belt, and bracelets completed the display. Her hair was worn long, brushed out to gleaming, platinum perfection, an aura unto itself. Christian walked beside her, a sharp contrast with his black hair and dark suit. Customs were being modified significantly today since a family member normally would have escorted Lissa, but †¦ well, she was kind of running out. Even I had to admit he looked amazing, and his pride and love for her shone on his face–no matter what troubled feelings stirred within him over Tasha. Lord Ozera, I remembered. I had a feeling that title would become more and more important now. He led Lissa to the base of the throne and then joined the Ozera delegation in the crowd. Ekaterina made a small gesture to a large satin pillow on the floor in front of the steps. â€Å"Kneel.’ There was the briefest hesitation on Lissa’s part, one I think only I noticed. Even without the bond, I was so attuned to her mood and tiniest actions that I could pick up on these things. Her eyes had gone to Jill. Lissa’s expression didn’t change, and it was so strange not to know her feelings. I could make some educated guesses. Uncertainty. Confusion. Again–the pause was only a moment long. Lissa knelt, artfully spreading her skirts around her as she did. Ekaterina had always seemed so frail and wizened in that testing room, but as she stood there with the ancient Moroi coronation book, I could sense a power still within the former queen. The book was in Romanian, but Ekaterina translated it effortlessly as she read aloud, beginning with a speech about what was expected of a monarch and then going to the vows Lissa had to swear to. â€Å"Will you serve?’ â€Å"Will you protect your people?’ â€Å"Will you be just?’ There were twelve in all, and Lissa had to answer â€Å"I will’ three times to each one: in English, in Russian, and in Romanian. Not having the bond to confirm her feelings was still so strange, but I could see on her face that she meant every word she said. When that part finished, Ekaterina cued Jill forward. Since I’d last noticed the girl, someone had given her the crown to hold. It had been custom-made for Lissa, a masterpiece of white and yellow gold intertwined with emeralds and diamonds. It complemented her outfit beautifully, and, I noticed with a start, Jill did too. Another tradition was that the monarch was crowned by a family member, and this was what Jill had been saved for. I could see her hands tremble as she laid the bejeweled wonder on her sister’s head, and their gazes met briefly. A flash of troubled emotions swirled in Lissa’s eyes once more, gone quickly as Jill stepped back and the weight of the ceremony took precedence. Ekaterina held out her hand to Lissa. â€Å"Rise,’ she said. â€Å"You will never kneel to anyone again.’ Holding Lissa’s hand, Ekaterina turned so that they both faced the rest of us in the room. With a voice startling for her small body, Ekaterina declared, â€Å"Queen Vasilisa Sabina Rhea Dragomir, first of her name.’ Everyone in the room–except Ekaterina–dropped to their knees, heads bowed. Only a few seconds passed before Lissa said, â€Å"Rise.’ I’d been told this was at the monarch’s discretion. Some new kings and queens enjoyed making others kneel for a long time. Paperwork followed, which we all watched dutifully as well. Basically, it was Lissa signing to say she’d been made queen while Ekaterina and a couple witnesses signed that they’d seen Lissa made queen. Three copies were on the ornate paper Moroi royalty so loved. One was plain white letterhead, which would go to the Alchemists. When the signing was done, Lissa took her place on the throne, and seeing her ascend those stairs was breathtaking, an image that would stay with me for the rest of my life. The room broke out into cheers and clapping as she settled into the ornate chair. Even the guardians, who normally stayed so deadly serious, joined in the applause and celebration. Lissa smiled at everyone, hiding whatever anxiety she felt. She scanned the room, and her grin broadened when she saw Christian. She then sought me out. Her smile for him had been affectionate; mine was a bit humorous. I smiled back, wondering what she would say to me if she could. â€Å"What’s so funny?’ asked Dimitri, looking down at me with amusement. â€Å"I’m just thinking about what Lissa would say if we still had the bond.’ In a very bad breach of guardian protocol, he caught a hold of my hand and pulled me toward him. â€Å"And?’ he asked, wrapping me in an embrace. â€Å"I think she’d ask, â€Å"What have we gotten ourselves into?† â€Å"What’s the answer?’ His warmth was all around me, as was his love, and again, I felt that completeness. I had that missing piece of my world back. The soul that complemented mine. My match. My equal. Not only that, I had my life back– my own life. I would protect Lissa, I would serve, but I was finally my own person. â€Å"I don’t know,’ I said, leaning against his chest. â€Å"But I think it’s going to be good.’ First and foremost, thank you to all of the loyal and enthusiastic readers around the world who have accompanied Rose and me throughout the series. I couldn’t have made this journey without you and hope you’ll continue to enjoy the many Moroi and dhampir adventures to come. Thank you also to all of the friends and family who have supported me–especially my husband, who continually amazes me with his patience, love, and ability to live with the ups and downs of a â€Å"creative type.’ A special shout-out also goes to Jesse McGatha for creating the forest riddle, something I could never have come up with, let alone solve. And as always, I’m grateful to the publishing folks who work behind the scenes to make these books happen: Jim McCarthy–my agent, occasional therapist, and non- stop advocate; Lauren Abramo, who keeps finding more countries I’ve never heard of to send Rose to; Jessica Rothenberg and Ben Schrank, editors extraordinaire whom I’m pretty sure forego food and sleep to perfect these books; and publicist Casey McIntyre, who organizes my tours and interviews, with great care to arrange them around my hair appointments. A final thanks to all the others who work on this series at Penguin Books, Dystel Goderich Literary Management, and my international publishers. There are far too many of you to list, but all of you are essential in telling Rose’s story. Thank you. How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirty-six, Essay examples

The EverChanging American Culture Essay Example For Students

The EverChanging American Culture Essay As Americans, we used to worry little about war, having enough to eat, travel, freedom, and our most basic everyday activities. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have forever changed the American way of life. We have now become more concerned with our physical health because of the few cases of anthrax and the possibility of more biological warfare. We also worry about nuclear warfare and the effects it could have on our health and environment. Americans have certainly become more patriotic and involved with their families since September 11. Most of us watch the news diligently to learn of any defeat the United States has accomplished in Afghanistan. Many of us are avoiding the airlines and are not spending very much money. This has helped push the economy further on the downward slope. The stock exchange hit bottom on September 21 in the 8100 range and is now back over 9900, which is right at the cusp of being a bull market (Pellegrini). Oil prices have been dropping rapidly and are now around 17 dollars a barrel, which will help to boost our slowing economy. Unemployment rates will unfortunately probably remain the same. Manpower, Inc. said Monday that its survey of United States companies hiring intentions for the first three months of 2002 barely registered a pulse, a weakness not seen since the recessionary early months of 1991. Unemployment numbers will continue to climb up through the winter and spring even as and if a recovery takes hold (Pellegrini). Our commitment together to boost the nations economy will ensure a bright future. Americas future seems to be based on our new ideas formed since September 11, but yet we still carry on the problems of the past. There is still many Americans living in poverty. There is still illegal drugs that infest our nation with addiction and crime that encircles the drug trade. There are many children not getting a good education and many of whom who are fearful of violence at our schools. It is up to us as Ame ricans to face these problems head on now more than ever before. We will write a custom essay on The EverChanging American Culture specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The nations most important problems to tackle and change are our illegal drug problem, the lack of good education for those of all ages, and to end the terrorist situation. The United States War on Drugs has done little to stop the sources of the problem and has only persecuted the user. The nations children are often trying these illegal drugs at early ages despite drug education. These children also happen to lack in nearly every subject when compared to other nations around the globe. Many of the free nations of the world are dealing with terrorism and we all hope for a solution that will prevent any further violent acts committed against innocent people. The situation in Afghanistan actually began in 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded their country. The United States funded money to the mujahedin, or holy warriors, in the name of stopping communism. From this support, Afghanistan was able to defeat the Soviet Union in 1989. Yet the country became very unstable after the war. Political power was fluctuating often and leaders came in and out of power rapidly. Farmers resorted to growing many drugs such as poppies and marijuana and sold them around the globe. Cities were annihilated. Over five million Afghanis fled to other countries in search of a better life. When the Afghanis turned to the United States for help in rebuilding our country, we refused. This caused great anger amongst the Afghani people directed toward the United States. This also lead to Mullah Mohammod Omar, the current leader of Afghanistan, to form a ground of men to rebuild his country. They are now known as the Taliban. Omars personal description is, A simple band of dedicated youths determined to establish the laws of God on Earth and prepared to sacrifice everything in pursuit of that goal. The Taliban have many radical believes including the idea of the never ending holy war or, jihad. Since the original forming of the Taliban, they have taken over 90 percent of Afghanistan with some assistance from Pakistan. Now that number is probably much lower due the war efforts there. Osama bin Laden himself gave the Taliban over three million dollars in 1996 to take over Afghanistans capital (McGeary 14). Another source of the Middle Eastern peoples hate for the United States stems from our involvement with Israel. The United States has had a strong influence on Middle Eastern politics, which usually involve backing Israel. The United States supports Israel economically by giving them $840 million annually. Israel also obtains much military support from the United States, funds exceeding $3 billion and access to our weaponry (Beyer 19). Arabic people are also infuriated with American culture being thrust upon them, while they themselves cannot live our life of freedom and luxuries. Many of these people may wish to live our way of life, yet there are many who want to live the traditions of their past and want no American involvement. The main question on most Americans minds is what happens after Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda are destroyed. The al-Qaeda has provided training and inspiration to about 11,000 menaccording to United Stated intelligence estimateswho passed through its Afghan camps (Cloud). Most intelligent analysts agree that the network of terrorist could function without its leaders. Irene Stoller, former director of Frances anti-terror division states, This movement, these groups, are far too spread out, diffuse and fluid for a single operation to knock them out. bin Laden and his lieutenants may seem from the outside like super-managers of international Islamist terror, but the real planning and execution is carried out at lower levels. (Cloud). Many experts believe after the war, many terrorists will travel home to their native lands or travel to free countries and regroup with other like-minded people. Cloud states, Osama bin Ladens inner circle, the most senior figure worrying the United Sta tes investigators is Mustafa Ahmed, a.k.a. Shaikh Saiid, the bin Laden business manager and September 11 paymaster who was in the United Arab Emirates until shortly before the attacks. Ahmed has the skills and connections to put together funding for another terrorist operationand he doesnt need bin Ladens money. Investigators have learned over the past few weeks that al-Qaedas money comes from many varied sources beyond bin Laden, including gem miners who help raise funds for the group in Tanzania; contraband traders in the Muslim-heavy border region where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet; and workers at charities throughout the MidEast. The long term solution requires tackling of underlying political, economic, and social roots of terrorismunresolved demands for Palestinian rights, perversion of Islam by radical clerics, corruption and poverty in many Arab states and grievances over United States policy in the region. Although the United States continue to battle the terrorists in Afghanistan, the terrorists continue to attack us here the United States. For over a month, federal investigators have tried to the follow the trail of anthrax victims in hope of finding a source. So far this strain of anthrax has killed five people and infected 13 others. This strain of anthrax, known as Ames, originated from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Investigators now believe that, Ames may have slipped through an informal network of scientists to Iraq, which sought the strain from a British bio-defense institute in 1988 but whose application was rejected because of concerns that it would be used to manufacture biological weapons (Fainaru). Federal investigators have also proved that the strain Ames, which appeared in Florida, is also the same that was discovered in Connecticut, Washington, and New York. Yet discovering the strain is Ames has done little to display who is using the strain in such a violent way. Ames has been recognized for its resistance to vaccines and is a natural strain from a diseased cow. Slowly, investigators are tracing the movement of Ames to discover who sent the anthrax mailings, but it will be difficult because many samples and mutations of this strain have been sent out across the country and could have fallen into the wrong hands. Especially Iraqi hands that have wanted the pathogen for a considerable amount of time (Fainaru). .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 , .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .postImageUrl , .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 , .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:hover , .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:visited , .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:active { border:0!important; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:active , .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281 .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2fb0d83839aa718d0a68dec78d6f2281:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: JC Penney Marketing Research Outline EssayAs Americans, it is most important to feel safe here living in the United States and protect our freedoms. In order to continue to cope with the terrorist situations, we must face the reality. First it is important for bin-Laden and al-Qaedas fighters to be hunted down and stopped before they can reach another point of safe haven in a country that will protect them. Secondly, once the war is completed in Afghanistan, the United States should provide medicine, food, and rebuilding money to Afghanistan so we dont turn our back on them like we did before. The most important idea though is that Relative poverty did not create and does not excuse international terrorism. But it can build a network of sympathy for those who take up the bomb and gun. Somehow the West, with its commitment to rationalism, belief in the future, confidence in the soothing effects of prosperity, has to learn how to talk to those with a different mental cap, (Elliot). We also should remember that the terrorist attack of September 11 may have murdered more civilians than ever in our history, but it did not destroy our spirit. It is important for all of us to continue on with our daily lives and remember those lost. We should accept the tightening of security and laws at places and understand they are for our protection. We should fight terrorism with understanding (Alter). As Americans, we should continue to fight these new problems facing us and to try and tackle the old problems as well. Our children are our most important future and we need to protect them and educate them better than ever before. There are many reasons why the nations educational system is failing its children. Originally, formal schooling was set up to Americanize immigrants (Lieberman 41). There has been a decline in birthrates since the 1960s, yet lower socioeconomic groups birth rates remain the same. This means more middle-class and lower class children are attending public school, while though upper class children are attending private schools. Adults in low-income families are less activity politically and generally are less involved in their childrens education (Lieberman 9). There has also been a great increase in the population of senior citizens. Those older than 45 make up 35.9% of the population. Senior citizens tend to care less about supporting monies for education and more about health care. In 1987, federal spending on senior citizens per person averaged around $10,000, while average spending per child was only $854 (Lieberman 21). Changes in the family such as single parent homes, divorces, and poverty affect the education of children greatly. In 1987, 9.4 million women had children with no father involved in their childrens life. Of those families, 53.3% of those fathers did not pay any kind of child support (Lieberman 25). Also, more than one million children under the age of 18 are directly involved in a divorce each year. In 1996, 14% of the American population lived in poverty, 20.5% of which were children under 18 (Quiram 12). Families are not the only ones to blame for the lack of quality education in the United States. Eighty-five percent of the costs of public schools are spent on salaries and benefits of school district personnel, not the students (Lieberman 51). Teacher unions also only seek benefits for themselves, not for the students. Teachers are also paid based on their schooling and years of experience, not on the quality of their teaching (Lieberman 57). In 1990, the George Bush administration set up the National Educational Goals that were to have been met by the year 2000. It stated that the high school graduation rate will increase to 90%; all students leaving grade four, eight, and twelve will have competency in English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, government and geography; the nations teachers will have access to programs to improve their teaching skills; United States students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement; every adult will be literate and have necessary skills to function in todays economy; every school in the United States will be free of drugs, violence, firearms, and alcohol; and every school will promote parental involvement (Quiram 68). Yet it is true in fact that none of these goals have been completely achieved or even tackled by our school systems. The dropout rate for 1999 was 11.2%, which is still less than 90% of the students graduating (NCES). Students on the high sc hool level on the average only complete 3.8 years of English, 2.5 years of math, .2 years of computer science, 2.9 years of social studies, 2.1 years of physical and biological science and .3 years of foreign language (Quiram 24). This is not nearly enough education to compete with todays foreign market. Many of the nations public schools are still in horrible condition. In 1999, one quarter of school reported that at least one type of onsite building was in less than adequate condition. Half of schools reported that at least one building feature was in less than adequate condition. About four out of ten reported at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition. Close to ten percent of schools have enrollments twenty-five percent greater than the capacity of their buildings. The average dollar amount needed to fix each individual school is about $2.2 million and the grand total of funds needed to repair these schools is $127 billion (NCES). School safety has become a large concern since the many high school shootings. Yet statistics have not been changing for the better. During the 1996-1997 school year, 57% of public schools reported that one or more incidents of crime or violence had happened in their school. Ten percent of all public schools experienced one or more serious violent crime. Violent crimes are defined as murder, rape, sexual battery, suicide, physical attack, fight with a weapon, or robbery. Forty-five percent of elementary schools reported one or more violent incidents, compared with 74% of middle schools and 77% of high schools. School crime is proven to happen in larger schools, 38% of small schools reported incidents, while 89% of large schools reported criminal incidents. Schools in cities were twice as likely to report violent crime and gang activity than rural or suburban schools. During the 1998-1999 school year, 3,523 students were expelled for bringing a gun to school (NCES). Yet 78% of all sch ools claimed they had some type of violence prevention program, but it doesnt seem to be working. Neither does our former presidents plan to reform education. Lieberman lists many ways to help improve education. He recommends that high school age children should be able to graduate in a shorter period of time if they desire and receive rewards for doing so (274). He believes the PTA should just consist of parents and students making goals for education to discuss with teachers and the school board (275). He believes there should be a national curriculum plan so that all children are taught the same basic important ideas. Teachers should be required to take state examinations to evaluate their competency. He also believes parents should be given a better interpretation of their childrens grades by report cards that include: checklists, anecdotal comments, how attendance affects grades, how the grade point average was computed, what curriculum path the child is on, and increase the frequency of reporting (Lieberman 87). The United States government should also give better funding to schools that need repairs and new materials because our chi ldren are our most important asset of all. .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d , .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .postImageUrl , .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d , .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:hover , .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:visited , .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:active { border:0!important; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:active , .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5e6dad78f22c44a0188675d083ac891d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Essay Humans In The BiosphereThe nations illegal drug industry is not only thriving among school age children, but across the entire population of the United States. The United States is the single largest market place for illegal drugs (Zill). About 13 million Americans claim to occasional drug use of cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, and other drugs, but about five million people have serious drug habits, spending over $500 a week to support their habits. These two groups of users spend $60 billion a year on illegal drugs (Zill). In 1999, Americans spent $63.2 billion on illegal drugs, $37 billion on cocaine, $12 billion on heroin, $10.2 on marijuana, and $4 billion on other illegal drugs (Who are Americas Drug Users?). This extremely large sum of money is collected in stash houses down south from Mexico to Columbia. All this money pays the salaries of shippers, processors, and bribes of government officials. Countries like Columbia and Mexico are almost dependent on the demand for drugs from the United States. The illegal drug industry stays intact because of its huge profit margins. Zill states that, Processed cocaine is available on the streets of Columbia for $1,500 per kilo and sold on the streets of America for as much as $66,000 per kilo. Heroin costs $2,600 per kilo in Pakistan, but can be sold on the streets of America for $130,000 per kilo. Methamphetamine are often even cheaper to manufacture costing approximately $300 to $500 per kilo to produce in clandestrine labs in the United States and abroad and sold on United States streets for up to $60,000 per kilo. The so-called War on Drugs seizures of illegal drugs have little effect on the industry. Current drug interceptions only stop 13% of heroin shipments and 28% to 40% of cocaine shipments (Zill). Between 1984 and 1999, the number of defendants charged with a drug offense in Federal courts increased from 11,854 to 29,306; 65% of those charged had been previously arrested, 16% reported being an importer, grower, or manufacturer, and 25% reported they were street-level dealers (Federal Drug Offenders). In the past decade, federal and state law enforcement agencies have seized over $48 billion in drugs, cash, and assets. The government has not been tackling the major sources of illegal drugs in the United States and only seems to arrest growers, users, and sellers, not those in charge. The government should learn to target the source of drugs and also provide better education to young people. The highest rates of illicit drug users are found among older teens. In 1999, 22% of tenth graders and 26% of twelve graders had used an illicit drug in the past month (Americas Drug Users). Twenty to Twenty-one percent of young adults age 18 to 20 reported using an illicit drug within the past month. The highest drug using ethnic population is Native Americans and those reporting mixed races. In 1999, 8.7% of men and 4.9% of woman were illicit drug users (Americas Drug Users). The most commonly used drug is marijuana, with 11.1 million users in 1999. The use of marijuana has remained almost constant throughout the 1990s. There was also about 1.5 million cocaine users in 1999, representing 7% of the population. The federal governments planned expenditures on illegal drugs for the year 2002 is an estimated $19.2 billion, compared to 2001s budget of $18.1 billion. The government plans to spend $2,296 million on plans to reduce youth drug use, $8,052 million on reducing drug-related crime, $3,101 million on rehabilitation programs, $2,555 million on border control, and $2,047 on reducing the source of supply. This money is further broken down into specific programs. Parents for a Drug-Free Future Program will spend $5 million dollars on educating communities on drug abuse prevention of young people, and providing scientific information to provide factual information to children. Eleven million dollars will also be spent on the Drug-Free Communities Program, which assists community-based groups to foster local anti-drug activities. The federal government will spend over $126 million dollars on research to improve drug abuse treatment for addicted offenders in the criminal justice system. Twenty -nine million dollars will be spent on the National Data Collection, which will decide which drug-related services are still effective. The most outrageous statistic of all, the federal government will spend $731 million on the Andean Regional Initiative that will give counter-drug money to Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, and Panama (ONDCP). The description by the ONDCP states, The counter-drug strategy in the region must include funding to bring greater economic and political stability to the region and a peaceful solution to Colombias internal conflict. I find that most of these program descriptions are vague and are generally a waste of taxpayers moneys on programs that havent been working. Something drastic needs to be done to change federal government policy to either decriminalize certain drugs or to actually attack the sources of these drugs instead of funding money to the source. Drugs, the terrorist war, and education have affected each and every single American. All of our nations problems tie into together like a spider web. There are many problems faced by this nation, that all must be handled one issue at a time. More money should be spent on ending poverty in the United States. We need to discover alternative forms of energy incase of an oil shortage. We need to make drastic changes in our environmental policies to stop doing so much damage to our environment. We need to have a great love and compassion of those different than us and respect the variety of people in the United States. As a nation, we need to all become more involved politically so we have better options for senators, governors, presidents, and representatives. We must remember that freedom isnt something everyone around the world gets to experience, and we are most lucky for having it. Most of all, we must continue the patriotism that was born on September 11 and never forget how proud we are of our freedoms, right, and beliefs. Bibliography:Alter, Jonathan. Patriotism. Newsweek Sep 2001. 21 Nov 2001. Beyer, Lisa. Roots of Rage. Time 1 Oct 2001: 19. Cloud, John. What is the Al-Qaeda Without Its Boss? Time 26 Nov 2001. 26 Nov 2001. Elliot, Michael. Dont Make a Matryr of Osama. Time 26 Nov 2001. 26 Nov 2001. Fainaru, Steve and Joby Warrick. Deadly anthrax strains muddy trail. The Washington Post 25 Nov 2001. 26 Nov 2001. Federal Drug Offenders. government. Aug 2001. 18 Nov 2001. Lieberman, Myron. Public Education: An Autopsy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1993. McGeary, Johanna. The Taliban Troubles. Time 1 Oct 2001: 14. National Center of Educational Statistics. government. 18 Nov 2001. National Center of Educational Statistics. government. 18 Nov 2001. National Center of Educational Statistics. government. 18 Nov 2001. Office of National Drug Control Policy. government. April 2001. 18 Nov 2001. Pellegrin, Frank. The Street This Week: Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Malls Or None of the Above? Time 19 Nov 2001. 21 Nov 2001. Quiram, Jacquelyn, Mei Ling Rein, and Nancy Jacobs, eds. EducationReflecting Our Society. Wylie: Information Plus, 1998. Who are Americas Drug Users? org. 14 Nov 2001. 18 Nov 2001. Zill, Oriana and Lowell Bergman. Do the Math: Why the Illegal Drug Business is Thriving. org. 14 Nov 2001. 18 Nov 2001.