Saturday, January 25, 2020

The Vietnam War Essay -- Vietnam War Essays

There were many events that lead up the Vietnam War, it started in 1945 with the hostilities between the French and Vietminh. â€Å"Geopolitical Strategy, economics, domestic US politics, and cultural arrogance shaped the growing American involvement in Vietnam† (Anderson 1). As a matter of fact, the Vietnam War was several wars, but it was not until 1962 that America had their first combat mission, however, Americans were killed during ambushes by the Vietnamese before the first combat mission. There is much controversy over the reasons for the Vietnam War, supported by the several different books and articles written about the war. â€Å"The most famous atrocity occurred in a tiny hamlet called My Lai in March 1968† (Detzer 127). History shows that the reaction of many Americans to the attack by US soldiers on the village of My Lai during the Vietnam War was opposition, and the actions of the US soldiers during the My Lai Massacre will be forever remembered as a sign ificant part of the Vietnam War and American History. During the Vietnam War, the first platoon (approximately forty men) was lead by a young officer named William Calley. Young Calley was drafted into the US Army after high school, but it did not take long for him to adjust to being in the army, with a quick transition to the lifestyle of the military, he wanted to make it his career. In high school, Calley was a kind, likable and â€Å"regular† high school student, he seemed to be a normal teenager, having interest in things that other boys his age typically had. He was never observed acting in a cruel or brutal way. In Vietnam, Calley was under direct order of company commander, Captain Ernest Medina, whom he saw as a role model, he looked up to Medina. (Detzer 127). Histor... ...nd innocent villagers of My Lai, it was a time when American’s questioned their own as being â€Å"bad guys† or â€Å"good guys†. Were America’s tortuous and cruel acts to be considered patriotic or dishonorable? Some Americans, with bitter feelings for all the American lives lost in the Vietnam War, gave credit to Lieutenant Calley for leading troops in participating in such an atrocious event. History shows that there is still much debate on some facts of the massacre and many stories and opinions, although we will never know the facts exactly, what we do know is that America will never forget this tragic event, it will be talked about in American History for many years to come, and the Vietminh hearts will always fill with sadness when they think of the many lives that were lost on that tragic day in history, their minds will always have unspeakable memories of that day.

Friday, January 17, 2020

To Kill a Mockingbird Theme Essay

Courage is shown within the characters of To Kill A Mockingbird in several situations. The characters are challenged to face danger or pain without fear. The courage they display gives them strength and deepens their self-understanding as the novel progresses. Early in the novel, Scout illustrates the courage she demonstrates. On her first day of school, Scout acts as an advocate for the entire class. She takes the duty of informing Miss. Caroline of Walter Cunningham's situation. Miss. Caroline had just scolded Scout for her ability to read, however, Scout still feels the classes need for leadership.Most children at her age would fear speaking to the teacher is such a fearless fashion. Walter Cunningham, himself, was shy and fearful of speaking to the teacher. Scout overcame the fears that haunted the remainder of the class, and acted out of Walters best interest. Her courage spoke in Walters absence, and inability to express his situation. A good representation of courage is seen w ithin Atticus. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus speaks of the Tom Robinson trial as a trial all lawyers fear. He must face a court case that will have a deep personal effect upon himself and his family.Atticus calls the courage to recognize that there is a need for justice, and that it is his duty to achieve this. Maycomb is a town corrupted with stereotypes and racism. Atticus has the courage to overcome the fear of other peoples dislikes. He must face the fear of weakening the lives of his two young children and family name. The courage Atticus shows comes from his pleasing character. Atticus is devoted and unable to turn his back on those who truly rely upon his ability to show empathy. He overcomes the heartless comments of those around them, to see the necessity of his involvement.Courage within Atticus is not only in his professional life, but also shown in his family life. It is hard for Atticus to raise his children without a wife, and to face the constant family ri dicule. At one point, I was convinced Atticus had lost his courage, and had broken down to Aunt Alexandra's opinions. However, as the scene progresses, I saw the courage of Atticus and his decision to withdraw the false statements made to his children. A single father, he does not look to others to gather his parenting skills. Atticus has the courage to do what is morally right, and to allow Scout and Jem to be themselves.The largest example of courage is displayed within the life of Mrs. Dubose. She was a sick, old woman, waiting for death . However, she had one more goal to achieve before her life came to an end. She wished to free herself of a morphine addiction. Mrs. Dubose displayed courage in a situation where most people would just surrender to the drug. She was also courageous in the secrecy in how she covered up her addiction in. No one was aware that the drug caused her to be mean. She chose not to burden anyone with her problems. Mrs.Dubose did not fear death, but challen ged death through her perseverance to leave this world free of addiction. It was only after Mrs. Dubose's passing did the people she affected become aware of her courage. She surprised those around her, who found it far too easy to pass her off as a sick, old lady. She remained strong in spirit and belief. Throughout the novel, Atticus defines courage as † instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. † (112).Within all the examples of courage there is not a situation when the courage did not stem from a need within the character. Courage is the inner desire to succeed and to do what is righteous, no matter what humiliation or consequences that haunt you because of your decision. Scout, Atticus, and Mrs. Dubose understood the risks they faced, but continued with their actions because it was moral. They didn't all enter their personal situation expecting to win. Scout still faced further scolding from Miss. Caroline. There were winners and losers but they do not regret the courage they showed for the sake of good intentions.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Using The Strategy Of Having Putting Customer Service Essay

There are many strategies in which a company can use in order to compete in today environment and succeed. In order to implement the strategy you must first understand this dynamic business environment today. With the stock market at an all-time high, unemployment at 5.8 percent, last quarter economic growth at 5 percent, relative mild consumer price-inflation, and the bonanza of cheap gas we see that there is increased optimism about the U.S. economy. Yet challenges abound, both coming from the inside and from abroad. Participation in the labor force remains at the lowest levels since the late 1970’s, with over 6 million less people in the workforce since President Obama assumed office. We see that the US is going through a presidential election which has impacted the way in which American view America as well the whole world. Throughout this paper we take a look at by using the strategy of having putting customer service as a company number one object can help the company maintain brand loyalty and always have high in profit margins. Often the simplest changes can have huge improvements on your business. If you want your business to succeed, forget about searching for secrets and focus on the following simple strategies. Understand where your customers are coming from. Understanding where your customers are coming from gives you clarity. Companies with a clear understanding of customer acquisition are in control. Successful businesses always seek to understand howShow MoreRelatedStrategic Plan Part Iii: Balanced Scorecard Essay1433 Words   |  6 Pagescompany’s use to measure their performance. It includes objectives, strategies, and tactics. This paper will contain two strategic objectives for each of the four balanced scorecard areas (shareholder value or financial perspective, customer value perspective, process or internal perspective, and learning and growth perspective) for H R Block. It will also have two strategies for every objective, one tactic for each strategy, and two methods to monitor and control the overall strategic plan forRead MoreThe Pricing Strategy Of T Shirts1533 Words   |  7 Pagesof pricing gives customers a good deal and encourages them to buy more which saves on packaging in which seller gives quantity discount. In this case the bundle of 5 T-shirts s priced lower than the sum of the price of individual T-shirt. This type of pricing is based on the demand schedule where customers may have high willingness to pay for T-shirt but not for 5 T-shirts, and the pricing discount is to match customer willingness to pay. 5 T-shirts are packed for one price using a bundling pricingRead MoreAVON STRATEGIC ANALYSIS1303 Words   |  6 Pagesworldwide. Encouraging good relationship between our employees and clients to create lifelong customer relationships. Promoting equality in the work place, maintaining our growth and profitability through effective representatives and latest technology. We will remain socially responsible to the community. Actual Vision: The Avon vision is to be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service and self-fulfillment needs of women globally.   Proposed Vision: To be the premier directRead MoreThe Secrets of Cross-Promotion: Article Analysis670 Words   |  3 Pagescampaigns and programs. The author defines how cross-promotional strategies can lead to greater synergistic effects on reaching a broader market while also driving greater levels of awareness, interest, desire and action on the part of prospects. There is also an example of a promotional program which went awry and led to the sponsoring company having to pay for entrants stamps and postage in states they had originally not planned on having the contest in. The key lessons learned from the article concentrateRead MoreB2b And B2b Business Activities1542 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness to Business or B2B, companies doing direct business with each other instead of having consumers involved. A great example of a B2B company would be the Intel Corporation. The Intel Corporation is an American Global technology company, whom headquarters is located in Santa Clara, California. The overal l marketing goal for both B2B and B2C companies is the same, increase the profit margin, but the marketing strategies of the two types of companies will differ based on their company’s needs. BothRead MorePrice Of A Fast Food Restaurant1570 Words   |  7 PagesPrice Moe’s southwestern grill, like many other businesses, price their food using many different strategies such as value based pricing, cost based pricing and/or competition based pricing. Moe’s grill is known for their quality of food. Because of this, customers are willing to pay a higher price than they normally would when going to a typical fast food restaurant. Pricing this way is considered value based pricing. There are times when restaurants cannot just use one specific pricing, Moe’s alsoRead MoreHelloWallet 21031 Words   |  5 Pagespreferred the ways to manage their finance as simple as possible nowadays. However, individual investors made a number of missteps in their day-to-day financial decisions that created immediate cost. These are the reasons why people may need the service of HelloWallet. 2. How do the concepts of behavioral finance create challenges for HelloWallet? First of all, some people think that they have strong abilities to manage their money themselves although it is not true which can imply a strain of overconfidenceRead MoreRitz-Carlton Case Study950 Words   |  4 PagesRitz-Carlton Case Study The two different types of (CRM) Customer Relationship Management are operational and analytical CRM. â€Å"Operational CRM supports traditional transactional processing for day-to-day front-office operations or systems that deal directly with the customers. Analytical CRM supports back-office operations and strategic analysis and includes all systems that do not deal directly with the customers. According to our text book the primary difference between operational CRM andRead MoreEnvironmental Scan Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pagesuse business strategies to create value and secure competitive advantages. Measurements verify the company’s strategic effectiveness. This essay is a brief overview of the internal and external environmental scans, competitive advantage, value, and measurements used at Wells Fargo and Verizon wireless. Most of the supporting data are summaries from the Wells Fargo, and Verizon websites. Wells Fargo is a large financial institution with five strategic priorities: putting customers first, growingRead MoreMy Time With Pizza Hut Essay1748 Words   |  7 Pagesduring orientation helps the learners have hands on and visual experiences. The corporate office has clearly considered many different types of learners when preparing training guides for the restaurants. It is very important when training within service organizations for the workers to be well prepared to perform their job and cross-train employees so they can perform a variety of different jobs for the company (Fisk, Grove, John, 2014, p. 81). While the corporate training programs are well constructed

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Motivation and Emotion - 1493 Words

shutterstock_141144724You signed up for a fitness class at the gym so you could lose five pounds, took it diligently and dropped the weight. Your sister signed up for the same fitness class, took it sparingly, and then dropped the class without losing any weight. What motivated you to go to the class each time, participate in the class, follow through with your fitness plan and lose the weight? And why wasn’t your sister motivated to do the same? (If you find YOU can’t get motivated, learn how in our Motivation Booster class, which teaches students techniques for getting – and staying – motivated!) What Are Theories of Motivation? Theories of motivation try to explain why people do the things they do. What makes one†¦show more content†¦Theories of Motivation Theories of Motivation got their start around the 1930s and have changed from the idea that people are not aware of choices they are making to the idea that we are actually aware and are able to make decisions. In this article we will take a look at several theories of motivation, although there are others we won’t touch on here. The theories of motivation we’ll look at include: Drive theory Arousal Theory Incentive Theory Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Drive Theory The drive theory looks at motivation through the eyes of our biological needs. These biological needs, such as hunger, drive us to do something to satiate those needs, such as eat. So we are motivated to do things by these biological needs because we need to alleviate the feelings that these needs give us at certain times. The drive theory is based on the idea that we want to feel balanced. When the body makes us feel uncomfortable or out of balance, we are motivated to do something to bring back that feeling of comfort and balance. So our stomach grumbles because we are hungry, and then what do we do? We eat. We may be driven by primary needs that are biological in nature or we may be driven by learned needs. Clark Hull, who developed this theory, created this equation: Behavior = Drive X Habit Of course, not everything that we are motivated to do is based on making us feel balanced. Sometimes we eat when we aren’t hungry. WeShow MoreRelatedMotivation And Emotion And Emotions Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesMotivation and emotion are closely linked concepts that affect behaviour. Motives affect emotion and emotion has related motivational properties. Motivation is defined as a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a certain manner as it gives directions to our emotions, feelings and actions. Similar to motivation, emotions also activate and affect behaviourisms but emotion is rather a more subjective, complex experience resulting in behavioural changes. (Quizlet.com, 2016) (Alleydog.com, 2016)Read MoreEmotion and Motivation2848 Words   |  12 PagesAP Psychology Niland Notes on Motivation and Emotion – Chapter 9 Essential Questions: †¢ In what ways are humans motivated to behave? †¢ What methods of motivation are more effective than others? †¢ How can one increase their motivation to behave in various ways? †¢ What is the role of hunger in motivating behavior? †¢ How do maladaptive eating patterns affect behavior? †¢ What role do emotions play in behavior? †¢ How do cognitions affect emotions? †¢ How does stress influence health and behavior? †¢Read MoreNotes On Motivation And Emotion Essay1223 Words   |  5 PagesPHYCOLOGY MOTIVATION EMOTION EMILE BARNARD 24 MAY 2016 CONTENT: PAGE INTRODUCTION 3 MOTIVATION 4 EMOTION 5 SIMILARITIES 6 CONCLUSION 7 REFERENCES 8 PLAGIARISM 9 INTRODUCTION: My hypothesis is that motivation and emotion are very different from each other but they have similarities and they link to each other. One has a effect on the other. Read MoreMotivation, Emotion, and Behavior740 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Motivation, Emotion, and Behavior; According to Dictionary.com, motivation is an arousal of an organism that acts toward a desired goal. Emotion is the state of consciousness of what one experiences such as love, hate, happy and sad. Behavior is an action or reaction under certain circumstances. The relationship between the three is feelings that one receives under each. For instance, a cold rainy day, on such a day, one’s motivation may be to lie around all day and possibly not change out ofRead MoreEmotion and Motivation Success525 Words   |  2 Pagesnot get in the way of one’s motivation of improved behavior. The psychological effects of emotion and motivation can help people to achieve their needs. Psychology primarily recognizes seven emotions: anger, disgust, fear, surprise, contempt, happiness, and sadness. Emotional responses are the internal or external response to an event. Two responses can include the adaption-level phenomenon and relative deprivation. The adaption-level phenomenon is related to the emotion of happiness. The phenomenonRead MoreMotivation And Emotion Of Social Needs1531 Words   |  7 PagesOn the other hand, social needs are another aspect of human motivation and emotion that is vital to the workings of intrinsic motivation. Social needs are implicit needs that are acquired through the development of socialization that inherently activates an emotional responses due to experiences (Hunt, 2015d). This is significant to motivating human behavior in that one’s social needs are not expressed until there is an experience that can satisfy their achievement, affiliation, or power. Thus, theRead MoreApplying Motivation and Emotion Theories2483 Words   |  10 PagesApplying Motivation and Emotion Theories in an Analysis of Scrooge s Behaviour Motivation and Emotion Theories 2 In the past many theories have been put forth in an attempt to understand the motivations of an individuals behaviour and the emotions involved. According to Reber Reber (2001) emotional states tend to have motivational properties and the elements of a motivation will often have emotional ties. In addition, theorists have identified that physiological structures usuallyRead MoreThe Emotion of Sports Performance and Motivation2419 Words   |  10 Pagesscientific ways psychology is being used to explain and enhance sports performance from the parallel points of view of personality, motivational theory, emotion, and social cognition; all under the watchful eye of Freudian psychoanalysis. There is, of course, a reciprocal relationship between the reasons for, or why we need sports activity, and the motivation towards a qualitatively enhanced sports performance. The initial impetus for man to engage in sports may have been be to simply play at sportsRead MoreInfluence Of Emotions On Adult Learning Motivations1261 Words   |  6 PagesARTICLE FULL REFERENCE Ramsay, S., Holyoke, L. (2014). Please Pass the Peas: Influence of Emotions on Adult Learning Motivations. Journal of Education Training Studies, 2(1), 11-18 ARTICLE SUMMARY A research by Ramsay and Holyoke examined the various factors that motivate child care providers to learn. The objective of this study was to amplify the knowledge of adult learning motivation. Focus group interviews were operated in four Western United States : California, Idaho, Oregon, and WashingtonRead MoreHow Does Emotions Impact Our Motivation?851 Words   |  4 Pagesarises when someone ask, How does our emotions impact our motivation? A human being emotions impact everything we do, whether it s making our bed or just affecting our health. Motivation is a state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something. When people have motivation it can be positive or negative. Before we can experience motivation our emotions plays an enormous role in the things we do. The word Emotions refers to the conscious in which the mind

Monday, December 23, 2019

Women s Rights Of Women - 1320 Words

Introduction: As a young female growing up in the United States of America, I have not quite understood why certain gender roles still exist in my home. My family instills traditional values, including the role of women and men in the house, and in society. In school we have learned about the role that men played in the history of almost everything, from Ancient Rome to the Spanish Civil War. Yet, very few of these lessons have focused on, or even spoke about, the role of women during these times. That is because women generally, international speaking have not always been granted the same rights as men. Over time, some rights have been granted to women, such as the right to vote or even to get an education, yet the voices of women in career fields dominated by men are continuously being ignored. Therefore, I question: to what extent have the rights of women in the United States of America evolved? Have the rights of women in the United States come to a â€Å"maximum† evolution? If not, then how much further do we have to go to ensure that men and women are truly equal in the United States of America? These are the questions that this essay will attempt to answer, as it explores the rights given to women in the United States, the role they play in the steps taken to receiving these rights and the importance of these steps, and how much further society needs to evolve in order to ensure that men and women in the United States are afforded the same rights and are all equal.Show MoreRelatedWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1455 Words   |  6 Pagesa myriad of women have expressed through outlets such as public assemblies, literature, and speeches. There have been three waves of the women’s movement, each targeting a variety of issues within each era. The third wave was in 1995, where Hillary Clinton spoke in Beijing, China, claiming that women’s rights were the same as human rights, that every aspiring girl deserved the civil liberties that every man was g iven around the world. Moreover, the movement had shifted towards women in developingRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1265 Words   |  6 Pagesstands in the way of women being equal to men? Journalist Carlin Flora suggests the following, â€Å"While not all claims to humanity are universal and no one context, culture or continent can truly represent all peoples, the following three examples from very different contexts, cultures and continents show that some violations of women’s human rights are universal. In particular, it is still the case the world over that a woman’s reproductive rights, which impact on her right to life, are still seenRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women881 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty –first century ladies are discovering it a daunting task to keep up both sexual orientation parts as an aftereffect of the women s activist development. They are presently assuming liability for both the supplier and the nurturer, battling like never before t o acquire and keep a superior personal satisfaction. Woman s rights has supported in equivalent vocation opportunity, battling to get ladies acknowledged into the employment advertise, and what initially began as ladies strengtheningRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagesthe early 1920’s, women thought they had achieved the unachievable. They could finally work, keep their earned wages, marry whomever they please, and even vote. After reaching their goal and fighting vigorously, women could taste equality and the freedom they deserved. While women still have the right to work in today’s society, women are not exactly treated equal in the workplace. Regardless of the past and the extreme measures taken to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women, there are manyRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1590 Words   |  7 Pagesthe 1920s, women were ignored in every aspect of their life. From politics, to social situations, women were constantly looked at as lesser. The 20s was a decade of women ready to fight for their rights. From gaining social freedoms, to getting political rights, the 20s was the first decade of feminism. Many women played key roles in the fight for women s rights through speeches, marches, and much more. The women that fought for their rights in the 1920s completely changed how women live their livesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1230 Words   |  5 PagesWomen’s suffrage has stretched from the 1800’s to present day, as women have struggled to have the same civil and constitutional rights as men in politics and be appreciated as equals in the workforce. Groups of women known as suffragists questioned the customary views of women’s roles. Eventually our nation has evolved and realized that male-controlled societies suppress women’s rights. From the beginning steps taken in 1850 to 2013 with women earning combat roles in the military, women’s rolesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1206 Words   |  5 Pagesto speak of women and the role of women in this election, the subject of women is tiresome but necessary in a world where gender is still existent as an obstacle for most. I cannot identify what woman is. I am basing my definition from our modern understanding of woman, our general view, and the popular experience. People are using younger women voting for Bernie Sanders as proof of gender’s irrelevant in this election, that women have achieved their rights. Even if women ‘have rights now’ it doesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1393 Words   |  6 Pages Women all over the world are being treated different than men. Iran is one of the places that women are being treated the worst. From restrictions to punishments, women in Iran are being treated with no respect, and that is not okay. Women’s rights activists have tried to get it to change, and have traveled to many places to try and get more people to join their movement. There are many issues with women not having the same rights as men. One of the main problems is that they are treated lessRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1272 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history, women have fought a strenuous battle for equal rights. Many men, and even some women, all over the world believe that women do not share the same value and importance to society as men do. On September 5, 1995, Hillary Clinton spoke at the 4th World Conference on Women, on behalf of women all over the world. Clinton raised awareness on how women s rights are being violated and why it is important to recognize women s rights as equal to everyone else’s rights. Even today, in 2016Read MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1052 Words   |  5 PagesThe family has traditionally been the basic unit of Chinese society where women have long been charged with upholding society s values in their roles as wives and mothers. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, women were required to balance society s i deals with the reality of raising a family and maintaining a household. Throughout the imperial period and into the beginning of the twentieth century, the relationship among family members was prescribed by Confucian teachings. The revered philosopher

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Vampire Diaries The Struggle Chapter Thirteen Free Essays

Elena stirred, then opened heavy eyelids. Light was showing around the edges of the curtains. She found it hard to move, so she lay there on her bed and tried to piece together what had happened last night. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Thirteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now Damon. Damon had come here and threatened Margaret. And so Elena had gone to him. He’d won. But why hadn’t he finished it? Elena lifted a languid hand to touch the side of her neck, already knowing what she would find. Yes, there they were: two small punctures that were tender and sensitive to pressure. Yet she was still alive. He’d stopped short of carrying out his promise. Why? Her memories of the last hours were confused and blurry. Only fragments were clear. Damon’s eyes looking down at her, filling her whole world. The sharp sting at her throat. And, later, Damon opening his shirt, Damon’s blood welling from a small cut in his neck. He’d made her drink his blood then. Ifmade was the right word. She didn’t remember putting up any resistance or feeling any revulsion. By then, she had wanted it. But she wasn’t dead, or even seriously weakened. He hadn’t made her into a vampire. And that was what she couldn’t understand. He has no morals and no conscience, she reminded herself. So it certainly wasn’t mercy that stopped him. He probably just wants to draw the game out, make you suffer more before he kills you. Or maybe he wants you to be like Vickie, with one foot in the shadow world and one in the light. Going slowly mad that way. One thing was sure: she wouldn’t be fooled into thinking it was kindness on his part. Damon wasn’t capable of kindness. Or of caring for anybody but himself. Pushing the blankets back, she rose from the bed. She could hear Aunt Judith moving around in the hallway. It was Monday morning and she had to get ready to go to school. Dear Diary, It’s no good pretending I’m not frightened, because I am. Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving, and Founders’ Day is two days after that. And I still haven’t figured out a way to stop Caroline and Tyler. I don’t know what to do. If I can’t get my diary back from Caroline, she’s going to read it in front of everyone. She’ll have a perfect opportunity; she’s one of the three seniors chosen to read poetry during the closing ceremonies. Chosen by the school board, of which Tyler’s father is a member, I might add. I wonder what he’ll think when this is all over? But what difference does it make? Unless I can come up with a plan, when this is all over I’ll be beyond caring. And Stefan will be gone, run out of town by the good citizens of Fell’s Church. Or dead, if he doesn’t get some of his Powers back. And if he dies, I’ll die too. It’s that simple. Which means I have to find a way to get the diary. I have to. But I can’t. I know, you’re waiting for me to say it. There is a way to get my diary – Damon’s way. All I need to do is agree to his price. But you don’t understand how much that frightens me. Not just because Damon frightens me, but because I’m afraid of what will happen if he and I are together again. I’m afraid of what will happen to me†¦ and to me and Stefan. I can’t talk about this any more. It’s too upsetting. I feel so confused and lost and alone. There’s nobody I can turn to or talk to. Nobody who could possibly understand. What am I going to do? November 28, Thursday, 11:30p.m. Dear Diary, Things seem clearer today, maybe because I’ve come to a decision. It’s a decision that terrifies me, but it’s better than the only alternative I can thinkof. I’m going to tell Stefan everything. It’s the only thing I can do now. Founders’ Day is Saturday and I haven’t come up with any plan of my own. But maybe Stefan can, if he realizes how desperate the situation is. I’m going over to spend the day at the boarding house tomorrow, and when I get there I’m going to tell him everything I should have told him in the first place. Everything. About Damon, too. Oh, I’m scared. My stomach is churning. I could barely touch Thanksgiving dinner – and I can’t keep still I feel as if I might fly apart into a million pieces. Go to sleep tonight? Ha. Please let Stefan understand. Please let him forgive me. The funniest thing is, I wanted to become a better person for him. I wanted to be worthy of his love. Stefan has these ideas about honor, about what’s right and wrong. And now, when he finds out how I’ve been lying to him, what will he think of me? Will he believe me, that I was only trying to protect him? Will he ever trust me again? Tomorrow I’ll know. Oh, God, I wish it were already over. I don’t know how I’ll live until then. Elena slipped out of the house without telling Aunt Judith where she was going. She was tired of lies, but she didn’t want to face the fuss there would inevitably be if she said she was going to Stefan’s. Ever since Damon had come to dinner, Aunt Judith had been talking about him, throwing subtle and not-so-subtle hints into every conversation. And Robert was almost as bad. Elena sometimes thought he egged Aunt Judith on. She leaned on the doorbell of the boarding house wearily. Where was Mrs. Flowers these days? When the door finally opened, Stefan was behind it. He was dressed for outdoors, his jacket collar turned up. â€Å"I thought we could go for a walk,† he said. â€Å"No.† Elena was firm. She couldn’t manage a real smile for him, so she stopped trying. She said, â€Å"Let’s go upstairs, Stefan, all right? There’s something we need to talk about.† He looked at her a moment in surprise. Something must have shown in her face, for his expression gradually stilled and darkened. He took a deep breath and nodded. Without a word, he turned and led the way to his room. The trunks and dressers and bookcases had long since been put back into order, of course. But Elena felt as if she was really noticing this for the first time. For some reason, she thought of the very first night she’d been here, when Stefan had saved her from Tyler’s disgusting embrace. Her eyes ran over the objects on the dresser: the fifteenth century gold florins, the ivory-hiked dagger, the little iron coffer with the hinged lid. She’d tried to open that the first night and he’d slammed the lid down. She turned. Stefan was standing by the window, outlined by the rectangle of gray and dismal sky. Every day this week had been chilly and misty, and this was no exception. Stefan’s expression mirrored the weather outside. â€Å"Well,† he said quietly, â€Å"what do we need to talk about?† There was one last moment of choice, and then Elena committed herself. She stretched out a hand to the small iron coffer and opened it. Inside, a length of apricot silk shone with muted luster. Her hair ribbon. It reminded her of summer, of â€Å"About this,† she said. He had taken a step forward when she touched the coffer, but now he looked puzzled and surprised. â€Å"Aboutthat ?† â€Å"Yes. Because I knew it was there, Stefan. I found it a long time ago, one day when you left the room for a few minutes. I don’t know why I had to know what was in there, but I couldn’t help it. So I found the ribbon. And then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped and braced herself. â€Å"Then I wrote about it in my diary.† Stefan was looking more and more bewildered, as if this was not at all what he’d been expecting. Elena groped for the right words. â€Å"I wrote about it because I thought it was evidence that you’d cared about me all along, enough to pick it up and keep it. I never thought it could be evidence of anything else.† Then, suddenly, she was speaking quickly. She told him about taking her diary to Bonnie’s house, about how it had been stolen. She told him about getting the notes, about realizing that Caroline was the one who was sending them. And then, turning away, pulling the summer-colored silk over and over through her nervous fingers, she told him about Caroline and Tyler’s plan. Her voice almost gave out at the end. â€Å"I’ve been so frightened since then,† she whispered, her eyes still on the ribbon. â€Å"Scared that you’d be angry with me. Scared of what they’re going to do. Just scared. I tried to get the diary back, Stefan, I even went to Caroline’s house. But she has it too well hidden. And I’ve thought and thought, but I can’t think of any way of stopping her from reading it.† At last she looked up at him. â€Å"I’m sorry.† â€Å"You should be!† he said, startling her with his vehemence. She felt the blood drain from her face. But Stefan was going on. â€Å"You should be sorry for keeping something like that from me when I could have helped you. Elena, why didn’t you justtell me?† â€Å"Because it’s all my fault. And I had a dream†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She tried to describe how he had looked in the dreams, the bitterness, the accusation in his eyes. â€Å"I think I would die if you really looked at me that way,† she concluded miserably. But Stefan’s expression as he looked at her now was a combination of relief and wonder. â€Å"So that’s it,† he said, almost in a whisper himself. â€Å"That’s what’s been bothering you.† Elena opened her mouth, but he was still speaking. â€Å"I knew something was wrong, I knew you were holding something back. But I thought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shook â€Å"his head and a skewed smile tugged at his lips. â€Å"It doesn’t matter now. I didn’t want to invade your privacy. I didn’t even want to ask. And all the time you were worried about protectingme. â€Å" Elena’s tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. The words seemed to be stuck, too. There’s more, she thought, but she couldn’t say it, not when Stefan’s eyes looked like that, not when his whole face was alight that way. â€Å"When you said we needed to talk today, I thought you’d changed your mind about me,† he said simply, without self-pity. â€Å"And I wouldn’t have blamed you. But instead†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shook his head again. â€Å"Elena,† he said. It felt so good to be there, so right. She hadn’t even realized how wrong things had been between them until now, when the wrongness had disappeared.This was what she remembered, what she had felt that first glorious night when Stefan had held her. All the sweetness and tenderness in the world surging between them. She was home, where she belonged. Where she would always belong. Everything else was forgotten. As she had in the beginning, Elena felt as if she could almost read Stefan’s thoughts. They were connected, a part of each other. Their hearts beat to the same rhythm. Only one thing was needed to make it complete. Elena knew that, and she tossed her hair back, reaching from behind to pull it away from the side of her neck. And this time Stefan did not protest or thwart her. Instead of refusal he was radiating a deep acceptance – and a deep need. Feelings of love, of delight, of appreciation overwhelmed her and with incredulous joy she realized the feelings were his. For a moment, she sensed herself through his eyes, and sensed how much he cared for her. It might have been frightening if she had not had the same depth of feeling to give back to him. She felt no pain as his teeth pierced her neck. And it didn’t even occur to her that she had unthinkingly offered him the unmarked side – even though the wounds Damon had left were healed already. She clung to him when he tried to lift his head. He was adamant, though, and at last she had to let him do it. Still holding her, he groped over onto the dresser for the wicked ivory-handled blade and with one quick motion he let his own blood flow. When Elena’s knees grew weak, he sat her on the bed. And then they just held each other, unaware of time or anything else. Elena felt that only she and Stefan existed. â€Å"I love you,† he said softly. At first Elena, in her pleasant haze, simply accepted the words. Then, with a chill of sweetness, she realized what he’d said. Heloved her. She’d known it all along, but he had never said it before. â€Å"I love you, Stefan,† she whispered back. She was surprised when he shifted and pulled away slightly, until she saw what he was doing. Reaching inside his sweater, he drew out the chain he had worn around his neck ever since she had known him. On the chain was a gold ring, exquisitely crafted, set with lapis lazuli. Katherine’s ring. As Elena watched, he took the chain off and unclasped it, removing the delicate golden band. â€Å"When Katherine died,† he said, â€Å"I thought I could never love anyone else. Even though I knew she would have wanted me to, I was sure it could never happen. But I was wrong.† He hesitated a moment and then went on. â€Å"I kept the ring because it was a symbol of her. So I could keep her in my heart. But now I’d like it to be a symbol of something else.† Again he hesitated, seeming almost afraid to meet her eyes. â€Å"Considering the and then gave up, his eyes meeting hers mutely. Elena couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even breathe. But Stefan misinterpreted her silence. The hope in his eyes died and he turned away. â€Å"You’re right,† he said. â€Å"It’s all impossible. There are just too many difficulties – because of me. Because of what I am. Nobody like you should be tied to someone like me. I shouldn’t even have suggested it – â€Å" â€Å"Stefan!† said Elena. â€Å"Stefan, if you’ll be quiet a moment – â€Å" † – so just forget I said anything – â€Å" â€Å"Stefan!† she said. â€Å"Stefan,look at me. â€Å" Slowly, he obeyed, turning back. He looked into her eyes, and the bitter self-condemnation faded from his face, to be replaced by a look that made her lose her breath again. Then, still slowly, he took the hand she was holding out. Deliberately, as they both watched, he slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit as if it had been made for her. The gold glinted richly in the light, and the lapis shone a deep vibrant blue like a clear lake surrounded by untouched snow. â€Å"We’ll have to keep it a secret for a while,† she said, hearing the tremor in her voice. â€Å"Aunt Judith will have a fit if she knows I’m engaged before I graduate. But I’ll be eighteen next summer, and then she can’t stop us.† â€Å"Elena, are you sure this is what you want? It won’t be easy living with me. I’ll always be different from you, no matter how I try. If you ever want to change your mind†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"As long as you love me, I’ll never change my mind.† He took her in his arms again, and peace and contentment enfolded her. But there was still one fear that gnawed at the edges of her consciousness. â€Å"Stefan, about tomorrow – if Caroline and Tyler carry out their plan, it won’t matter if I change my mind or not.† â€Å"Then we’ll just have to make sure they can’t carry it out. If Bonnie and Meredith will help me, I think I can find a way to get the diary from Caroline. But even if I can’t, I’m not going to run. I won’t leave you, Elena; I’m going to stay and fight.† â€Å"But they’ll hurt you. Stefan, I can’t stand that.† â€Å"And I can’t leave you. That’s settled. Let me worry about the rest of it; I’ll find a way. And if I don’t†¦ well, no matter what I’ll stay with you. We’ll be together.† â€Å"We’ll be together,† Elena repeated, and rested her head on his shoulder, happy to stop thinking for a while and justbe. Dear Diary, It’s late but I couldn’t sleep. I don’t seem to need as much sleep as I used to. Well, tomorrow’s the day. We talked to Bonnie and Meredith tonight. Stefan’s plan is simplicity itself. The thing is, no matter where Caroline has hidden the diary, she has to bring it out tomorrow to take it with her. But our readings are the last thing on the agenda, and she has to be in the parade and everything first. She’ll have to stash the diary somewhere during that time. So if we watch her from the minute she leaves her house until she gets up on stage, we should be able to see where she puts it down. And since she doesn’t even know we’re suspicious, she won’t be on guard. That’s when we get it. The reason the plan will work is because everyone in the program will be in period dress. Mrs. Grimesby, the librarian, will help us put on our 19th century clothes before the parade, and we can’t be wearing or carrying anything that’s not part of the costume. No purses, no backpacks. No diaries! Caroline will have to leave it behind at some point. We’re taking turns watching her. Bonnie is going to wait outside her house and see what Caroline’s carrying when she leaves. I’ll watch her when she gets dressed at Mrs. Grimesby’s house. Then, while the parade is going on, Stefan and Meredith will break into the house – or the Forbes’ car, if that’s where it is – and do their stuff. I don’t see how it can fail. And I can’t tell you how much better I feel. It’s so good just to be able to share this problem with Stefan. I’ve learned my lesson; I’ll never keep things from him again. I’m wearing my ring tomorrow. If Mrs. Grimesby asks me about it, I’ll tell her it’s even older than 19th century, it’s from Renaissance Italy. I’d like to see her face when I say that. I’d better try to get some sleep now. I hope I don’t dream. How to cite The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Thirteen, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Evolutionism Vs Creationism Essay Example For Students

Evolutionism Vs Creationism Essay Creationism is a religious metaphysical theory about the origin of the universe. It is not a scientific theory. Technically, creationism is not necessarilyconnected to any particular religion. It simply requires a belief in a Creator. Millions of Christians and non-Christians believe there is a Creator of theuniverse and that scientific theories such as the the theory of evolution do notconflict with belief in a Creator. However, fundamentalist Christians such asRonald Reagan and Jerry Falwell, have co-opted the term creationism and it isnow difficult to refer to creationism without being understood as referring tofundamentalist Christians who (a) take the stories in Genesis as accurateaccounts of the origin of the universe and life on Earth, and (b) believe thatGenesis is incompatible with the Big Bang theory and the theory of evolution. The science of paleontology or the study of life provides the most direct proof of evolution in the past through fossil remains or impressions, usually in rock. Other evidence comes from comparative studies of living animals and plants, including their structure and geographical locations. Mollusks and vascular plants account for more than 80 percent (Futuyma 87) of the worlds species, with about 1.4 to 1.8 million species (Futuyma 87) in all. Changes occur in living organisms to help increase their adaptability, or potential for survival and reproduction, in the face of changing environments. Evolution apparently has no built-in direction or purpose. A given kind of organism may evolve only when it occurs in a variety of forms differing in hereditary characteristics, or traits, that are passed from parent to offspring. By chance, some varieties prove to be poorly adapted to their current environment and thus disappear, whereas others prove to be adaptive, and their numbers increase. The elimination of the unfit, or the survival of the fittest, is known as natural selection because it is nature that discards or favors a particular variant. Basically, evolution takes place only when natural selection operates on a population of organisms containing diverse inheritable forms. Creationists have gone back to the basic laws of nature to see if evolution is physically possible given enough time and opportunity. The one major pro blem that they see is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. It states, All natural systems degenerate when left to themselves. This is why everything falls apart and decays over time. Creationists point to death as being the ultimate manifestation of this law. This physics principle does not allow for something as complex as the human eye to originate from something simple. The eye must follow the tendency for complete degeneration. Creationists see a downward spiral for every living and non-living creation. Everything breaks down into simpler substances; they do not become more complex. Creationists say that, in the real world the long-term flow is downhill, not uphill. An experimental and physical observation appears to confirm that the law is indeed universal, affecting all natural processes in the long run. Sir Gawain And The Green Knight EssayThe evolutionists do not see the Second Law of Thermodynamics as a contradiction to evolutionary processes, because as it specifically states that the entropy of a closed system cannot decrease. The law pertains to closed systems. The earth, and therefore evolution, is not a closed system (Creation Science FAQ) As we know, there are no closed system on earth, so in no way can any living system on Earth directly violate the second law (Creation Science FAQ) Therefore, this argument is invalid. The age of the universe, perhaps billions of years old, shows that life has had lots of time to evolve from single celled organisms to what we are today. Through fossils, and other evidences, it shows that humans came from primates, which is not surprising, since we are almost physically identical to a chimpanzee. In the beginning, very simple life forms began gradually appearing. These simple life forms gradually changed to complex ones, and there have been transitional links between the different kinds, such as fishes and primates. They both have the same types of bones, for example, forearms, wrists, elbows, upper arms, and shoulders. They seem to be related to a common ancestor. The Bible says that an omnipotent being, created the earth and everything on it in 6 days. He also created everything out of nothing. This is literally impossible, it challenges all physics laws, so it cannot be done. The only proof that Creationists have of the origin of life is the Bible. Evolutionists have much more proofs or evidence of how humans appeared on the earth. The Bible, whether intended literally or figuratively, is definitely an important piece of literature. To believe that the age of the earth is only 10,000 years old does not support the validity of the creationists. To many scholars, the Bible is a figurative book of parables, not to be taken literally. The use of the Bible may be hindering, instead of supporting, the validity of the creationists arguments. It is clear that evolution is much clearer to understand and accept than the creationism theory. There will always be people who will still be curious as to how we appeared on the earth, and some people will oppose the evolution theory, therefore, the evolutionism/creationism debate will forever continue. Works CitedCreation Science FAQhttp://www.clubs.psu.edu/origins/faqsci.htmDrew Thinks About Evolutionism vs Creationism. http://petra.austinc.edu/arayburn/evolve.htmlFutuyma, Douglas J. Evolutionary Biology. 3rd ed. Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates inc., 1997. General QH 366.2.F87Montagu, Ashley, ed. Science and Creationism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1984. General QH 371.S343Strahler, Arthur N. Science and Earth History. The Evolution/Creation Controversy. New York: Prometheus Books, 1987. BS 652.S77