Parental Punishment - 946 Words

Most parents in the United States have used spanking and slapping as a punishment, even though it is advised against. Is a mother’s use of corporal punishment (CP) on a 3-year-old child linked to risk for that child being more aggressive at 5 years of age, even after controlling for the childs initial level of aggression at age 3 and other important maternal parenting risk factor and demographic features? (Taylor, Manganello, Lee, Rice, 2010). Many studies have been completed that have shown an affiliation between the two factors, the independent variable being a mother’s use of CP and the dependent variable being the index of the child’s aggression at age 5. This longitudinal study, with a small survey component, was investigated through†¦show more content†¦The studies revealed that race, ethnicity and nativity actually have no association with the levels of child aggression. 45.6% of mothers reported that they did not use any kind of spanking in the previous month, and 27.9% reported of using spanking once or twice in the previous month. With corporal punishment, higher levels of each of the assessed maternal parenting risks were associated with risk for higher levels of child aggression. Additionally, children who were male and had younger mothers with a lower education level or household income, were at a much higher risk for levels of aggression. The absence of a father figure in a male child’s life also impacts these levels (Taylor, Manganello, Lee, Rice, 2010). Looking at all four models, mothers who used CP frequently when the child was 3-years-old showed that significantly higher levels of aggression by the age o f 5. This information will be incredibly useful to the future, and even parents now. These results show us that if a mother uses CP or spanking on their child as a form of punishment, they’re heightening their child’s risk for aggression issues in the future including: child neglect, intimate partner violence, stress, depression, use of substances, and consideration of abortion (Taylor, Manganello, Lee, Rice, 2010). These are all very severe consequences that parents wouldn’t want to have their children experience throughout their life, and as an eventual parent, I wouldn’t want my children toShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Parental Corporal Punishment On Children1499 Words   |  6 Pagesmost want their children to be active so they have to set rules. Although there’s different ways that parents will teach their children discipline, as in punishment, some take higher risks in aggression. Parental corporal punishment in our generation now is to tak e away any technology their kids are on everyday. Keywords: Technology, punishment, learn YOUNG CHILDREN AND SCREENS Young Children and Screens Read MoreEmployee Relations3245 Words   |  13 Pagesfactor; this is a system of shared assumptions, values and beliefs, which governs how people behave in organisations. The culture of an organisation often dictates to how employees are treated. For instance, an organisations culture that emphasizes punishment over reward usually creates an environment of fear and low morale. An organization’s culture that embraces employees’ unique attributes and emphasizes reward tends to improve relations between management and labour. External factors PayRead MoreChild Punishment Is An Controversial Topic On America And The Parenting Sphere892 Words   |  4 PagesDiscipline in Schools Child punishment is an extremely controversial topic in America and the parenting sphere. A particular point of contention is whether or not it is effective parenting to hit children when they misbehave. There are arguments on both sides; those against it say it could turn the children into revengeful individuals. While those in favor of this form of child punishment mostly argue that they are emulating the way they were raised. Recently the subject has reemerged when the NFLRead MoreParental Involvement in the Youth Criminal Justice System in Western Canada969 Words   |  4 Pagesfit, and what support there should be. However, in crime control approaches, there are high expectation of parents and punishments if they do not parent well and their children break laws. Hillian and Reitsma examine every possible aspect of the issues, such as judicial systemic problems, probation officers, and other law official’s personal bias, and beliefs surrounding parental involvement. The apparent intrinsic argument of the judicial system, in addition to societal, is that parents can, shouldRead MoreCorporal Punishment Of Children.981 Words   |  4 Pages Corporal Punishment of Children When I was in middle school at St. Mary’s Catholic School, in Ethiopia, I used to see our teachers using different techniques to punish my classmates. I remember an incident in middle school where a friend of mine was punished in a harmful way because he failed to answer a question. Although the use of corporal punishment in schools is intended to change the behavior of the student, teachers should not be allowedRead MoreA Separate Juvenile Justice System1003 Words   |  5 Pagesdoubt that they create one of the most vulnerable and defenseless persons of our society. A separate juvenile justice system was established in the United States about 100 years ago with the goal of diverting youthful offenders from the destructive punishments of criminal courts and encouraging rehabilitation based on the individual juvenile s needs (Mcord. J (2001), p 154). In the Juvenile justice system the vast majority of adults are clueless to the social media bullying that are happening withRead MoreCorporal Punishment in the Private and Public Sphere in South Africa1190 Words   |  5 Pages1 Introduction Corporal punishment is the unlawful intentional act of causing harm by physically inflicting punishment on the body of an offender or severely criticising the offender. There is a distinction in common-law between corporal punishment in the public sphere and in the private sphere. Corporal punishment on children in the private sphere is administered by parents. It is still legally accepted in South Africa, provided that the requirements are met. Parents know their children best andRead MoreParental Discipline And Child Abuse1809 Words   |  8 Pageswere disciplined through punishments or maybe this person might actually be you. The person who was forced to deal with punishments as a child most likely became more disciplined earlier than everyone else and most likely still is. To be clear, the intended definition of punishments to be used is a penalization for committing an act that would be considered unacceptable in the eyes of the parent i.e. swearing, fighting, being disrespectful, etc. This is also known as parental discipline. Although itRead MoreThe Issues Of The Juvenile Justice Act820 Words   |  4 PagesCommittee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Juvenile Justice Act 1992 (QLD) is particularly scrutinized for containing legislation that states 17 year olds can be charged, tried and detained as an adults, giving courts the potential to overcharge punishments for juveniles and threaten their safety in adult prisons (). This legislation is not in the best interest of the child, fails to rehabilitate youth, is not fair, just or equitable and should therefore be amended to reach the standards of the UnitedRead MoreSpanking Your Children Is Wrong !1554 Words   |  7 PagesSpanking your children is wrong! There are people who think that corporal punishment for children is a proper and productive way to discontinue bad behavior. If you spank your children for their bad behavior they will learn not to do it again. Then there are people who think spanking your children is a harsh punishment and use other options like time outs and taking away favored objects. This type of punishment teaches children that what they are doing is wrong and without using violence. Parents

Personal Statement On Self Reflection - 1726 Words

Self-Reflection Personally, I love being involved in service learning projects, and when I learned we were working with kids, I was very excited. A lot can come out of a two and half hour project, both rewarding and something to grow on. Unfortunately, I could not be in attendance for the duration of the event due to a conflicting work schedule. This was the biggest conflict I saw for myself. I had to choose whether to go into work, or to stay and fully participate in our activities. Another conflict that I happened to run into was what to do about returning the balls back to the intramurals department. Since I volunteered to receive and return the balls, I had to decide what to do with them after I had to leave. Austin willingly agreed to return them for me. I do believe that experiencing these conflicts and participating in a project like this we were able to see ethics applied, rather than understanding them within a reading or self-written paper. I did not expect there to be any surprises. I figured if we had the semester to plan how the day would go, the event would run very smoothly. Of course, there will be obstacles, but for the most part, it turned out how I imagined. There was a time when I was especially inspired, and the inspiration came from one of the kids from Community Place. While giving a tour, I met one of the younger boys and we chatted as we walked. I asked him what his interests were and he explained to me that he loved basketball. He continued onShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : Self Identity Wheel Reflection Essay1214 Words   |  5 PagesSelf-Identity Wheel Reflection For many Americans, our educational systems can provide great schools that students can attend in order to gain knowledge on subjects that they may be interest in. For sixteen years of my life I have gone through the public school system to get to the position I am at now, a college senior. Through my sixteen years of being a student, I have done a tremendous amount of growing, not only height wise, but also as an individual. The public school system has taught meRead MoreEnglish 111 Evaluation Essay623 Words   |  3 Pageswriting. This is a prerequisite English class for higher-level English education. By the end of this course a student will have gained a great deal of practice in the craft of writing. This essay will evaluate the English 111 textbooks, essays, self-reflections, the instructor, and what I personally learned. The English 111 textbook had effective sample essays and diagrams of outlines. The Successful College Writing Textbook is the textbook used for the English 111 course. This textbook had greatRead MoreLsi Paper1065 Words   |  5 PagesAssignment Guidelines Developing a willingness and ability to engage in self-reflection is a critical leadership skill that is not easily learned yet which reaps many rewards. The LSI enables you to examine your own unique way of thinking and how it influences your behavior. Your Assignment: Complete (on your own) the LSI according to the procedure outlined here, so that you end up with your Life Styles Circumplex profile: 12 personal thinking style scores, one score for each section of the circumplexRead MorePersonal Reflection On The Social Work Profession847 Words   |  4 PagesMy paper is a personal reflection on my understanding of the social work profession, as I get ready for my field placement. I will reflect on my evolving sense of professional identity, and will discuss my growth in terms of self-awareness. I will further deliberate about my knowledge of the Social Work profession. My current understanding of the profession, and activities, tasks and roles that I may undertake in a placement situation The Social Work profession in Ontario is a complete, accreditedRead MoreReporting Studying senior social science subjects was the most influential factor which provided a1600 Words   |  7 Pages This concept highly resembles that of SCCT’s ‘self-efficacy’, a concept originally derived from Bandura’s theory (1989), which determines basic career and academic interests as well as further career choice (Lent, Brown Hackett, 1994). In my case, the successful achievement in the assignment had significantly influenced in developing a strong self-efficacy in the related activities, while positive outcome expectations were formed by the high self-efficacy and enjoyment of performing similar activitiesRead MoreGenuine Reflection Paper1050 Words   |  5 PagesReflection is more than considering how we carried out a nursing action. Genuine reflection requires us not just to provide justifications for our behaviors, but to continue to study and appraise ourselves and own personal development including how we communicate and interact with others . Self-reflection ensures we carry out our nursing obligations according to the requirements of our practice and that we connect and consider our patients and coworkers in a caring way (Jacobs, 2016). Nurses alsoRead MoreDr. Kent Ingle s Divine Design977 Words   |  4 Pagesdo not sit by and let life slip through your fingertips. You must jump into life and make the effort to become what you are divinely designed to do. Furthermore, in step two of Dr. Ingle’s book there is an emphasis on self-reflection. The reason we must reflect is to promote self-discovery within, and this creates progress in our lives. Finally, in step three Dr. Ingle covers the topic of making decisions about life. Decisions will come frequently and we must be ready to make both small and bigRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My First Grade Teacher905 Words   |  4 Pagesfour not knowing one word of english. Things changed when my first grade teacher noticed the effects that my linguistic incapabilit y had on my schoolwork and on my self-esteem. This prompted him to invest time in understanding what hindered my ability to master the English language and ways to help me improve. After understanding my personal situation, Mr. Kyle took it upon himself to stay every day after school and provide me with the necessary assistance to refine these skills. Mr. Kyle tailored hisRead MoreReflection Of Socrates And Plato889 Words   |  4 Pageshad a famous statement â€Å"Know thy self†, this statement meant for Socrates that we must choose a good life for ourselves through self-reflection and self-awareness. We must understand the knowledge we learn through life and others and reflect on it. He believed we obtained this knowledge through experience and careful reflection. Knowing one’s self is a life mission and to never cease to â€Å"know thy self† was a way of life not just a statement. If living a life of experience, reflection, and religionRead MoreThe Looking Glass Self863 Words   |  4 PagesGlass Self Reflection Activity 10/10 Good observation!!! What is acceptable in one group is not always acceptable in another. Therefore, you change your appearance based on what you what others to think about you. The others’ perceived judgment about your style makes you change your style depending upon the group. Directions: Answer the Pre-Reading questions using Chapter 5 Section 2 Guided Reading Notes. When finished, read the article The Looking Glass Self: Who Holds Our Reflections. Read

The Twilight Saga 2 New Moon Chapter 24 VOTE Free Essays

HE WAS NOT PLEASED, THAT MUCH WAS EASY TO READ in his face. But, without further argument, he took me in his arms and sprang lithely from my window, landing without the slightest jolt, like a cat. It was a little bit farther down than I’d imagined. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 24 VOTE or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"All right then,† he said, his voice seething with disapproval. â€Å"Up you go.† He helped me onto his back, and took off running. Even after all this time, it felt routine. Easy. Evidently this was something you never forgot, like riding a bicycle. It was so very quiet and dark as he ran through the forest, his breathing slow and evendark enough that the trees flying past us were nearly invisible, and only the rush of air in my face truly gave away our speed. The air was damp; it didn’t burn my eyes the way the wind in the big plaza had, and that was comforting. As was the night, too, after that terrifying brightness. Like the thick quilt I’d played under as a child, the dark felt familiar and protecting. I remembered that running through the forest like this used to frighten me, that I used to have to close my eyes. It seemed a silly reaction to me now. I kept my eyes wide, my chin resting on his shoulder, my cheek against his neck. The speed was exhilarating. A hundred times better than the motorcycle. I turned my face toward him and pressed my lips into the cold stone skin of his neck. â€Å"Thank you,† he said, as the vague, black shapes of trees raced past us. â€Å"Does that mean you’ve decided you’re awake?† I laughed. The sound was easy, natural, effortless. It sounded right. â€Å"Not really. More that, either way, I’m not trying to wake up. Not tonight.† â€Å"I’ll earn your trust back somehow,† he murmured, mostly to himself. â€Å"If it’s my final act.† â€Å"I trust you,† I assured him. â€Å"It’s me I don’t trust.† â€Å"Explain that, please.† He’d slowed to a walkI could only tell because the wind ceasedand I guessed that we weren’t far from the house. In fact, I thought I could make out the sound of the river rushing somewhere close by in the darkness. â€Å"Well† I struggled to find the right way to phrase it. â€Å"I don’t trust myself to be enough. To deserve you. There’s nothing about me that could hold you.† He stopped and reached around to pull me from his back. His gentle hands did not release me; after he’d set me on my feet again, he wrapped his arms tightly around me, hugging me to his chest. â€Å"Your hold is permanent and unbreakable,† he whispered. â€Å"Never doubt that.† But how could I not? â€Å"You never did tell me† he murmured. â€Å"What?† â€Å"What your greatest problem is.† â€Å"I’ll give you one guess.† I sighed, and reached up to touch the tip of his nose with my index finger. He nodded. â€Å"I’m worse than the Volturi,† he said grimly. â€Å"I guess I’ve earned that.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"The worst the Volturi can do is kill me.† He waited with tense eyes. â€Å"You can leave me,† I explained. â€Å"The Volturi, Victoria they’re nothing compared to that.† Even in the darkness, I could see the anguish twist his faceit reminded me of his expression under Jane’s torturing gaze; I felt sick, and regretted speaking the truth. â€Å"Don’t,† I whispered, touching his face. â€Å"Don’t be sad.† He pulled one corner of his mouth up halfheartedly, but the expression didn’t touch his eyes. â€Å"If there was only some way to make you see that I can’t leave you,† he whispered. â€Å"Time, I suppose, will be the way to convince you.† I liked the idea of time. â€Å"Okay,† I agreed. His face was still tormented. I tried to distract him with inconsequentials. â€Å"Sosince you’re staying. Can I have my stuff back?† I asked, making my tone as light as I could manage. My attempt worked, to an extent: he laughed. But his eyes retained the misery. â€Å"Your things were never gone,† he told me. â€Å"I knew it was wrong, since I promised you peace without reminders. It was stupid and childish, but I wanted to leave something of myself with you. The CD, the pictures, the ticketsthey’re all under your floorboards.† â€Å"Really?† He nodded, seeming slightly cheered by my obvious pleasure in this trivial fact. It wasn’t enough to heal the pain in his face completely. â€Å"I think,† I said slowly, â€Å"I’m not sure, but I wonder I think maybe I knew it the whole time.† â€Å"What did you know?† I only wanted to take away the agony in his eyes, but as I spoke the words, they sounded truer than I expected they would. â€Å"Some part of me, my subconscious maybe, never stopped believing that you still cared whether I lived or died. That’s probably why I was hearing the voices.† There was a very deep silence for a moment. â€Å"Voices?† he asked flatly. â€Å"Well, just one voice. Yours. It’s a long story.† The wary look on his face made me wish that I hadn’t brought that up. Would he think I was crazy, like everyone else? Was everyone else right about that? But at least that expressionthe one that made him look like something was burning himfaded. â€Å"I’ve got time.† His voice was unnaturally even. â€Å"It’s pretty pathetic.† He waited. I wasn’t sure how to explain. â€Å"Do you remember what Alice said about extreme sports?† He spoke the words without inflection or emphasis. â€Å"You jumped off a cliff for fun.† â€Å"Er, right. And before that, with the motorcycle† â€Å"Motorcycle?† he asked. I knew his voice well enough to hear something brewing behind the calm. â€Å"I guess I didn’t tell Alice about that part.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Well, about that See, I found that when I was doing something dangerous or stupid I could remember you more clearly,† I confessed, feeling completely mental. â€Å"I could remember how your voice sounded when you were angry. I could hear it, like you were standing right there next to me. Mostly I tried not to think about you, but this didn’t hurt so muchit was like you were protecting me again. Like you didn’t want me to be hurt. â€Å"And, well, I wonder if the reason I could hear you so clearly was because, underneath it all. I always knew that you hadn’t stopped loving me.† Again, as I spoke, the words brought with them a sense of conviction. Of rightness. Some deep place inside me recognized truth. His words came out half-strangled. â€Å"You were risking your life to hear† â€Å"Shh,† I interrupted him. â€Å"Hold on a second. I think I’m having an epiphany here.† I thought of that night in Port Angeles when I’d had my first delusion. I’d come up with two options. Insanity or wish fulfillment. I’d seen no third option. But what if What if you sincerely believed something was true, but you were dead wrong? What if you were so stubbornly sure that you were right, that you wouldn’t even consider the truth? Would the truth be silenced, or would it try to break through? Option three: Edward loved me. The bond forged between us was not one that could be broken by absence, distance, or time. And no matter how much more special or beautiful or brilliant or perfect than me he might be, he was as irreversibly altered as I was. As I would always belong to him, so would he always be mine. Was that what I’d been trying to tell myself? â€Å"Oh!† â€Å"Bella?† â€Å"Oh. Okay. I see.† â€Å"Your epiphany?† he asked, his voice uneven and strained. â€Å"You love me,† I marveled. The sense of conviction and Tightness washed through me again. Though his eyes were still anxious, the crooked smile I loved best flashed across his face. â€Å"Truly, I do.† My heart inflated like it was going to crack right through my ribs. It filled my chest and blocked my throat so that I could not speak. He really did want me the way I wanted himforever. It was only fear for my soul, for the human things he didn’t want to take from me, that made him so desperate to leave me mortal. Compared to the fear that he didn’t want me, this hurdlemy soulseemed almost insignificant. He took my face tightly between his cool hands and kissed me until I was so dizzy the forest was spinning. Then he leaned his forehead against mine, and I was not the only one breathing harder than usual. â€Å"You were better at it than I was, you know,† he told me. â€Å"Better at what?† â€Å"Surviving. You, at least, made an effort. You got up in the morning, tried to be normal for Charlie, followed the pattern of your life. When I wasn’t actively tracking, I was totally useless. I couldn’t be around my familyI couldn’t be around anyone. I’m embarrassed to admit that I more or less curled up into a ball and let the misery have me.† He grinned, sheepish. â€Å"It was much more pathetic than hearing voices. And, of course, you know I do that, too.† I was deeply relieved that he really seemed to understandcomforted that this all made sense to him. At any rate, he wasn’t looking at me like I was crazy. He was looking at me like he loved me. â€Å"I only heard one voice,† I corrected him. He laughed and then pulled me tight against his right side and started to lead me forward. â€Å"I’m just humoring you with this.† He motioned broadly with his hand toward the darkness in front of us as we walked. There was something pale and immense therethe house, I realized. â€Å"It doesn’t matter in the slightest what they say.† â€Å"This affects them now, too.† He shrugged indifferently. He led me through the open front door into the dark house and flipped the lights on. The room was just as I’d remembered itthe piano and the white couches and the pale, massive staircase. No dust, no white sheets. Edward called out the names with no more volume than I’d use in regular conversation. â€Å"Carlisle? Esme? Rosalie? Emmett? Jasper? Alice?† They would hear. Carlisle was suddenly standing beside me, as if he’d been there all along. â€Å"Welcome back, Bella.† He smiled. â€Å"What can we do for you this morning? I imagine, due to the hour, that this is not a purely social visit?† I nodded. â€Å"I’d like to talk to everyone at once, if that’s okay. About something important.† I couldn’t help glancing up at Edward’s face as I spoke. His expression was critical, but resigned. When I looked back to Carlisle, he was looking at Edward, too. â€Å"Of course,† Carlisle said. â€Å"Why don’t we talk in the other room?† Carlisle led the way through the bright living room, around the corner to the dining room, turning on lights as he went. The walls were white, the ceilings high, like the living room. In the center of the room, under the low-hanging chandelier, was a large, polished oval table surrounded by eight chairs. Carlisle held out a chair for me at the head. I’d never seen the Cullens use the dining room table beforeit was just a prop. They didn’t eat in the house. As soon as I turned to sit in the chair, I saw that we were not alone. Esme had followed Edward, and behind her the rest of the family filed in. Carlisle sat down on my right, and Edward on my left. Everyone else took their seats in silence. Alice was grinning at me, already in on the plot. Emmett and Jasper looked curious, and Rosalie smiled at me tentatively. My answering smile was just as timid. That was going to take some getting used to. Carlisle nodded toward me. â€Å"The floor is yours.† I swallowed. Their gazing eyes made me nervous. Edward took my hand under the table. I peeked at him, but he was watching the others, his fate suddenly fierce. â€Å"Well,† I paused. â€Å"I’m hoping Alice has already told you everything that happened in Volterra?† â€Å"Everything,† Alice assured me. I threw her a meaningful look. â€Å"And on the way?† â€Å"That, too,† she nodded. â€Å"Good,† I sighed with relief. â€Å"Then we’re all on the same page.† They waited patiently while I tried to order my thoughts. â€Å"So, I have a problem,† I began. â€Å"Alice promised the Volturi that I would become one of you. They’re going to send someone to check, and I’m sure that’s a bad thingsomething to avoid. â€Å"And so, now, this involves you all. I’m sorry about that.† I looked at each one of their beautiful faces, saving the most beautiful for last. Edward’s mouth was turned down into a grimace. â€Å"But, if you don’t want me, then I’m not going to force myself on you, whether Alice is willing or not.† Esme opened her mouth to speak, but I held up one finger to stop her. â€Å"Please, let me finish. You all know what I want. And I’m sure you know what Edward thinks, too. I think the only fair way to decide is for everyone to have a vote. If you decide you don’t want me, then I guess I’ll go back to Italy alone. I can’t have them coming here.† My forehead creased as I considered that. There was the faint rumble of a growl in Edward’s chest. I ignored him. â€Å"Taking into account, then, that I won’t put any of you in danger either way, I want you to vote yes or no on the issue of me becoming a vampire.† I half-smiled on the last word, and gestured toward Carlisle to begin. â€Å"Just a minute,† Edward interrupted. I glared at him through narrowed eyes. He raised his eyebrows at me, squeezing my hand. â€Å"I have something to add before we vote.† I sighed. â€Å"About the danger Bella’s referring to,† he continued. â€Å"I don’t think we need to be overly anxious.† His expression became more animated. He put his free hand on the shining table and leaned forward. â€Å"You see,† he explained, looking around the table while he spoke, â€Å"there was more than one reason why I didn’t want to shake Aro’s hand there at the end. There’s something they didn’t think of, and I didn’t want to cine them in.† He grinned. â€Å"Which was?† Alice prodded. I was sure my expression was just as skeptical as hers. â€Å"The Volturi are overconfident, and with good reason. When they decide to find someone, it’s not really a problem. Do you remember Demetri?† He glanced down at me. I shuddered. He took that as a yes. â€Å"He finds peoplethat’s his talent, why they keep him. â€Å"Now, the whole time we were with any of them, I was picking their brains for anything that might save us, getting as much information as possible. So I saw how Demetri’s talent works. He’s a trackera tracker a thousand times more gifted than Jarres was. His ability is loosely related to what I do, or what Aro does. He catches the flavor? I don’t know how to describe it the tenor of someone’s mind, and then he follows that. It works over immense distances. â€Å"But after Aro’s little experiments, well† Edward shrugged. â€Å"You think he won’t be able to find me,† I said flatly. He was smug. â€Å"I’m sure of it. He relies totally on that other sense. When it doesn’t work with you, they’ll all be blind.† â€Å"And how does that solve anything?† â€Å"Quite obviously, Alice will be able to tell when they’re planning a visit, and I’ll hide you. They’ll be helpless,† he said with fierce enjoyment. â€Å"It will be like looking for a piece of straw in a haystack!† He and Emmett exchanged a glance and a smirk. This made no sense. â€Å"But they can find you,† I reminded him. â€Å"And I can take care of myself.† Emmett laughed, and reached across the table toward his brother, extending a fist. â€Å"Excellent plan, my brother,† he said with enthusiasm. Edward stretched out his arm to smack Emmett’s fist with his own. â€Å"No,† Rosalie hissed. â€Å"Absolutely not,† I agreed. â€Å"Nice.† Jasper’s voice was appreciative. â€Å"Idiots,† Alice muttered. Esme just glared at Edward. I straightened up in my chair, focusing. This was my meeting. â€Å"All right, then. Edward has offered an alternative for you to consider,† I said coolly. â€Å"Let’s vote.† I looked toward Edward this time; it would be better to get his opinion out of the way. â€Å"Do you want me to join your family?† His eyes were hard and black as flint. â€Å"Not that way. You’re staying human.† I nodded once, keeping my face businesslike, and then moved on. â€Å"Alice?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Jasper?† â€Å"Yes,† he said, voice grave. I was a little surprisedI hadn’t been at all sure of his votebut I suppressed my reaction and moved on. â€Å"Rosalie?† She hesitated, biting down on her full, perfect bottom lip. â€Å"No.† I kept my face blank and turned my head slightly to move on, but she held up both her hands, palms forward. â€Å"Let me explain,† she pleaded. â€Å"I don’t mean that I have any aversion to you as a sister. It’s just that this is not the life I would have chosen for myself. I wish there had been someone there to vote no for me.† I nodded slowly, and then turned to Emmett. â€Å"Hell, yes!† He grinned. â€Å"We can find some other way to pick a fight with this Demetri.† I was still grimacing at that when I looked at Esme. â€Å"Yes, of course, Bella. I already think of you as part of my family.† â€Å"Thank you, Esme,† I murmured as I turned toward Carlisle. I was suddenly nervous, wishing I had asked for his vote first. I was sure that this was the vote that mattered most, the vote that counted more than any majority. Carlisle wasn’t looking at me. â€Å"Edward,† he said. â€Å"No,† Edward growled. His jaw was strained tight, his lips curled back from his teeth. â€Å"It’s the only way that makes sense,† Carlisle insisted. â€Å"You’ve chosen not to live without her, and that doesn’t leave me a choice.† Edward dropped my hand, shoving away from the table. He stalked out of the room, snarling under his breath. â€Å"I guess you know my vote.† Carlisle sighed. I was still staring after Edward. â€Å"Thanks,† I mumbled. An earsplitting crash echoed from the other room. I flinched, and spoke quickly. â€Å"That’s all I needed. Thank you. For wanting to keep me. I feel exactly the same way about all of you, too.† My voice was jagged with emotion by the end. Esme was at my side in a flash, her cold arms around me. â€Å"Dearest Bella,† she breathed. I hugged her back. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Rosalie looking down at the table, and I realized that my words could be construed in two ways. â€Å"Well, Alice,† I said when Esme released me. â€Å"Where do you want to do this?† Alice stared at me, her eyes widening with terror. â€Å"No! No! NO!† Edward roared, charging back into the room. He was in my face before I had time to blink, bending over me, his expression twisted in rage. â€Å"Are you insane?† he shouted. â€Å"Have you utterly lost your mind?† I cringed away, my hands over my ears. â€Å"Um, Bella,† Alice interjected in an anxious voice. â€Å"I don’t think I’m ready for that. I’ll need to prepare† â€Å"You promised,† I reminded her, glaring under Edward’s arm. â€Å"I know, but Seriously, Bella! I don’t have any idea how to not killyou.† â€Å"You can do it,† I encouraged. â€Å"I trust you.† Edward snarled in fury. Alice shook her head quickly, looking panicked. â€Å"Carlisle?† I turned to look at him. Edward grabbed my face in his hand, forcing me to look at him. His other hand was out, palm toward Carlisle. Carlisle ignored that. â€Å"I’m able to do it,† he answered my question. I wished I could see his expression. â€Å"You would be in no danger of me losing control.† â€Å"Sounds good.† I hoped he could understand; it was hard to talk clearly the way Edward held my jaw. â€Å"Hold on,† Edward said between his teeth. â€Å"It doesn’t have to be now.† â€Å"There’s no reason for it not to be now,† I said, the words coming out distorted. â€Å"I can think of a few.† â€Å"Of course you can,† I said sourly. â€Å"Now let go of me.† He freed my face, and folded his arms across his chest. â€Å"In about two hours, Charlie will be here looking for you. I wouldn’t put it past him to involve the police.† â€Å"All three of them.† But I frowned. This was always the hardest part. Charlie, Renee. Now Jacob, too. The people I would lose, the people I would hurt. I wished there was some way that I could be the only one to suffer, but I knew that was impossible. At the same time, I was hurting them more by staying human. Putting Charlie in constant danger through my proximity. Putting Jake in worse danger still by drawing his enemies across the land he felt bound to protect. And ReneeI couldn’t even risk a visit to see my own mother for fear of bringing my deadly problems along with me! I was a danger magnet; I’d accepted that about myself. Accepting this, I knew I needed to be able to take care of myself and protect the ones I loved, even if that meant that I couldn’t be with them. I needed to be strong. â€Å"In the interest of remaining inconspicuous,† Edward said, still talking through his gritted teeth, but looking at Carlisle now, â€Å"I suggest that we put this conversation off, at the very least until Bella finishes high school, and moves out of Charlie’s house.† â€Å"That’s a reasonable request, Bella,† Carlisle pointed out. I thought about Charlie’s reaction when he woke up this morning, ifafter all that life had put him through in the last week with Harry’s loss, and then I had put him through with my unexplained disappearancehe were to find my bed empty. Charlie deserved better than that. It was just a little more time; graduation wasn’t so far away I pursed my lips. â€Å"I’ll consider it.† Edward relaxed. His jaw unclenched. â€Å"I should probably take you home,† he said, more calm now, but clearly in a hurry to get me out of here. â€Å"Just in case Charlie wakes up early.† I looked at Carlisle. â€Å"After graduation?† â€Å"You have my word.† I took a deep breath, smiled, and turned back to Edward. â€Å"Okay. You can take me home.† Edward rushed me out of the house before Carlisle could promise me anything else. He took me out the back, so I didn’t get to see what was broken in the living room. It was a quiet trip home. I was feeling triumphant, and a little smug. Scared stiff, too, of course, but I tried not to think about that part. It did me no good to worry about the painthe physical or the emotionalso I wouldn’t. Not until I absolutely had to. When we got to my house, Edward didn’t pause. He dashed up the wall and through my window in half a second. Then he pulled my arms frcm around his neck and set me on the bed. I thought I had a pretty good idea of what he was thinking, but his expression surprised me. Instead of furious, it was calculating. He paced silently back and forth across my dark room while I watched with growing suspicion. â€Å"Whatever you’re planning, it’s not going to work,† I told him. â€Å"Shh. I’m thinking.† â€Å"Ugh,† I groaned, throwing myself back on the bed and pulling the quilt over my head. There was no sound, but suddenly he was there. He flipped the cover back so he could see me. He was lying next to me. His hand reached up to brush my hair from my cheek. â€Å"If you don’t mind, I’d much rather you didn’t hide your face. I’ve lived without it for as long as I can stand. Now tell me something.† â€Å"What?† I asked, unwilling. â€Å"If you could have anything in the world, anything at all, what would it be?† I could feel the skepticism in my eyes. â€Å"You.† He shook his head impatiently. â€Å"Something you don’t already have.† I wasn’t sure where he was trying to lead me, so I thought carefully before I answered. I came up with something that was both true, and also probably impossible. â€Å"I would want Carlisle not to have to do it. I would want you to change me.† I watched his reaction warily, expecting more of the fury I’d seen at his house. I was surprised that his expression didn’t change. It was still calculating, thoughtful. â€Å"What would you be willing to trade for that?† I couldn’t believe my ears. I gawked at his composed face and blurted out the answer before I could think about it. â€Å"Anything.† He smiled faintly, and then pursed his lips. â€Å"Five years?† My face twisted into an expression somewhere between chagrin and horror. â€Å"You said anything,† he reminded me. â€Å"Yes, but you’ll use the time to find a way out of it. I have to strike while the iron is hot. Besides, it’s just too dangerous to be humanfor me, at least. So, anything but that.† He frowned. â€Å"Three years?† â€Å"No!† â€Å"Isn’t it worth anyrhing to you at all? â€Å" I thought about how much I wanted this. Better to keep a poker face, I decided, and not let him know how very much that was. It would give me more leverage. â€Å"Six months?† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"Not good enough.† â€Å"One year, then,† I said. â€Å"That’s my limit.† â€Å"At least give me two.† â€Å"No way. Nineteen I’ll do. But I’m not going anywhere near twenty. If you’re staying in your teens forever, then so am I.† He thought for a minute. â€Å"All right. Forget time limits. If you want me to be the onethen you’ll just have to meet one condition.† â€Å"Condition?† My voice went flat. â€Å"What condition?† His eyes were cautioushe spoke slowly. â€Å"Marry me first.† I stared at him, waiting â€Å"Okay. What’s the punch line?† He sighed. â€Å"You’re wounding my ego, Bella. I just proposed to you, and you think it’s a joke.† â€Å"Edward, please be serious.† â€Å"I am one hundred percent serious.† He gazed at me with no hint of humor in his face. â€Å"Oh, c’mon,† I said, an edge of hysteria in my voice. â€Å"I’m only eighteen.† â€Å"Well, I’m nearly a hundred and ten. It’s time I settled down.† I looked away, out the dark window, trying to control the panic before it gave me away. â€Å"Look, marriage isn’t exactly that high on my list of priorities, you know? It was sort of the kiss of death for Renee and Charlie.† â€Å"Interesting choice of words.† â€Å"You know what I mean.† He inhaled deeply. â€Å"Please don’t tell me that you’re afraid of the commitment,† his voice was disbelieving, and I understood what he meant. â€Å"That’s not it exactly,† I hedged. â€Å"I’m afraid of Renee. She has some really intense opinions on getting married before you’re thirty.† â€Å"Because she’d rather you became one of the eternal damned than get married.† He laughed darkly. â€Å"You think you’re joking.† â€Å"Bella, if you compare the level of commitment between a marital union as opposed to bartering your soul in exchange for an eternity as a vampire† He shook his head. â€Å"If you’re not brave enough to marry me, then† â€Å"Well,† I interrupted. â€Å"What if I did? What if I told you to take me to Vegas now? Would I be a vampire in three days?† He smiled, his teeth flashing in the dark. â€Å"Sure,† he said, calling my bluff. â€Å"I’ll get my car.† â€Å"Dammit.† I muttered. â€Å"I’ll give you eighteen months.† â€Å"No deal,† he said, grinning. â€Å"I like this condition.† â€Å"Fine. I’ll have Carlisle do it when I graduate.† â€Å"If that’s what you really want.† He shrugged, and his smile became absolutely angelic. â€Å"You’re impossible,† I groaned. â€Å"A monster.† He chuckled. â€Å"Is that why you won’t marry me?† I groaned again. He leaned toward me; his night-dark eyes melted and smoldered and shattered my concentration. † Please, Bella?† he breathed. I forgot how to breathe for a moment. When I recovered, I shook my head quickly, trying to clear my suddenly clouded mind. â€Å"Would this have gone better if I d had time to get a ring.'† â€Å"No! No rings!† I very nearly snouted. â€Å"Now you’ve done it,† he whispered. â€Å"Oops.† â€Å"Charlie’s getting up; I’d better leave,† Edward said with resignation. My heart stopped beating. He gauged my expression for a second. â€Å"Would it be childish of me to hide in your closet, then?† â€Å"No,† I whispered eagerly. â€Å"Stay. Please.† Edward smiled and disappeared. I seethed in the darkness as I waited for Charlie to check on me. Edward knew exactly what he was doing, and I was willing to bet that all the injured surprise was part of the ploy. Of course, I still had the Carlisle option, but now that I knew there was a chance that Edward would change me himself, I wanted it bad. He was such a cheater. My door cracked open. â€Å"Morning, Dad.† â€Å"Oh, hey, Bella.† He sounded embarrassed at getting caught. â€Å"I didn’t know you were awake.† â€Å"Yeah. I’ve just been waiting ior you to wake up so I could take a shower.† I started to get up. â€Å"Hold on,† Charlie said, flipping the light on. I blinked in the sudden brightness, and carefully kept my eyes away from the closet. â€Å"Let’s talk for a minute first.† I couldn’t control my grimace. I’d forgotten to ask Alice for a good excuse. â€Å"You know you’re in trouble.† â€Å"Yeah, I know.† â€Å"I just about went crazy these last three days. I come home from Harry’s funeral, and you’re gone. Jacob could only tell me that you’d run off with Alice Cullen, and that he thought you were in trouble. You didn’t leave me a number, and you didn’t call. I didn’t know where you were or whenor ifyou were coming back. Do you have any idea how how† He couldn’t finish the sentence. He sucked in a sharp breath and moved on. â€Å"Can you give me one reason why I shouldn’t ship you off to Jacksonville this second?† My eyes narrowed. So it was going to be threats, was it? Two could play at that game. I sat up, pulling the quilt around me. â€Å"Because I won’t go.† â€Å"Now just one minute, young lady† â€Å"Look, Dad, I accept complete responsibility for my actions, and you have the right to ground me for as long as you want. I will also do all the chores and laundry and dishes until you think I’ve learned my lesson. And I guess you’re within your rights if you want to kick me out, toobut that won’t make me to go to Florida.† His face turned bright red. He took a few deep breaths before he answered. â€Å"Would you like to explain where you’ve been?† Oh, crap. â€Å"There was an emergency.† He raised his eyebrows in expectation of my brilliant explanation. I filled my cheeks with air and then blew it out noisily. â€Å"I don’t know what to tell you, Dad. It was mostly a misunderstanding. He said, she said. It got out of hand.† He waited with a distrustful expression. â€Å"See, Alice told Rosalie about me jumping off the cliff† I was scrambling frantically to make this work, to keep it as close to the truth as possible so that my inability to lie convincingly would not undermine the excuse, but before I could go on, Charlie’s expression reminded me that he didn’t know arything about thecliff. Major oops. As if I wasn’t already toast. â€Å"I guess I didn’t tell you about that,† I choked out. â€Å"It was nothing. Just messing around, swimming with Jake. Anyway, Rosalie told Edward, and he was upset. She sort of accidentally made it sound like I wa? trying to kill myself or something. He wouldn’t answer his phone, so Alice dragged me to L.A., to explain in person.† I shrugged, desperately hoping that he would not be so distracted by my slip that he’d miss the brilliant explanation I’d provided. Charlie’s face was frozen. â€Å"Were you trying to kill yourself, Bella?† â€Å"No, of course not. Just having fun with Jake. Cliff diving. The La Push kids do it all the time. Like I said, nothing.† Charlie’s face heated upfrom frozen to hot with fury. â€Å"What’s it to Edward Cullen anyway?† he barked. â€Å"All this time, he’s just left you dangling without a word† I interrupted him. â€Å"Another misunderstanding.† His face flushed again. â€Å"So is he back then?† â€Å"I’m not sure what the exact plan is. I think they all are.† He shook his head, the vein in his forehead pulsing. â€Å"I want you to stay away from him, Bella. I don’t trust him. He’s rotten for you. I won’t let him mess you up like that again.† â€Å"Fine,† I said curtly. Charlie rocked back onto his heels. â€Å"Oh.† He scrambled for a second, exhaling loudly in surprise. â€Å"I thought you were going to be difficult.† â€Å"I am.† I stared straight into his eyes. â€Å"I meant, ‘Fine, I’ll move out.'† His eyes bulged; his face turned puce. My resolve wavered as I started to worry about his health. He was no younger than Harry â€Å"Dad, I don’t want to move out,† I said in a softer tone. â€Å"I love you. I know you’re worried, but you need to trust me on this. And you’re going to have to ease up on Edward if you want me to stay. Do you want me to live here or not?† â€Å"That’s not fair, Bella. You know I want you to stay.† â€Å"Then be nice to Edward, because he’s going to be where I am.† I said it with confidence. The conviction of my epiphany was still strong. â€Å"Not under my roof,† Charlie stormed. I sighed a heavy sigh. â€Å"Look, I’m not going to give you any more ultimatums tonightor I guess it’s this morning. Just think about it for a few days, okay? But keep in mind that Edward and I are sort of a package deal.† â€Å"Bella† â€Å"Think it over,† I insisted. â€Å"And while you’re doing that, could you give me some privacy? I really need a shower.† Charlie’s face was a strange shade of purple, but he left, slamming the door behind him. I heard him stomp furiously down the stairs. I threw off my quilt, and Edward was already there, sitting in the rocking chair as if he d been present through the whole conversation. â€Å"Sorry about that,† I whispered. â€Å"It’s not as if I don’t deserve far worse,† he murmured. â€Å"Don’t start anything with Charlie over me, please. â€Å" â€Å"Don’t worry about it,† I breathed as I gathered up my bathroom things and a set of clean clothes. â€Å"I will start exactly as much as is necessary, and no more than that. Or are you trying to tell me I have nowhere to go?† I widened my eyes with false alarm. â€Å"You’d move in with a house full of vampires?† â€Å"That’s probably the safest place for someone like me. Besides† I grinned. â€Å"If Charlie kicks me out, then there’s no need for a graduation deadline, is there?† His jaw tightened. â€Å"So eager for eternal damnation,† he muttered. â€Å"You know you don’t really believe that.† â€Å"Oh, don’t I?† he fumed. â€Å"No. You don’t.† He glowered at me and started to speak, but I cut him off. â€Å"If you really believed that you’d lost your soul, then when I found you in Volterra, you would have realized immediately what was happening, instead of thinking we were both dead together. But you didn’tyou said ‘Amazing. Carlisle was right,'† I reminded him, triumphant. â€Å"There’s hope in you, after all.† For once, Edward was speechless. â€Å"So let’s both just be hopeful, all right?† I suggested. â€Å"Not that it matters. If you stay, I don’t need heaven.† He got up slowly, and came to put his hands on either side of my face as he stared into my eyes. â€Å"Forever,† he vowed, still a little staggered. â€Å"That’s all I’m asking for,† I said, and stretched up on my toes so that I could press my lips to his. How to cite The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 24 VOTE, Essay examples

Forensic Unit free essay sample

Text Questions Please complete the following questions. It Is Important that you use full sentences and present the questions and answers when you submit your work. Submit the work as a file attachment. This means you complete all work In a word processing document (e. G. , Microsoft Word) and attach the file using the dropped tool. Use the unit 5: Text Questions dropped basket. The answers to the Review Critical Thinking questions are worth 10 points. Review Questions 1 . What is the NIB? National Integrated Ballistic Identification Network (NIB) was rated by the FBI and the TAFT using the IBIS.This network provides law enforcement agencies around the world with access to the images and Information. The network has provided law enforcement officials with thousands of matches in the decade that it has been In use. 2. What is rifling? What two types of markings does this produce? Rifling or spiral grooves cut Into the barrel of a gun In order to make a bullet spin as It Is fired. We will write a custom essay sample on Forensic Unit or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Rolling produces grooves (the low areas cut Into the barrel) and lands (the raised areas between the grooves). 3. What Is a distance determination? How Is this done?A distance determination is the process of estimating the distance between where a shot is fired and its target. This is often done by looking at the patterns of powder residue and the shot pattern. 4. What is the Egress Test? The Egress Test uses chemicals to develop gunpowder residue patterns, particularly around bullet holes. 5. When a bullet is retrieved, how is it marked for identification purposes? What should be avoided? It is marked on the person who shot the firearm, on the pack of the hand or the thumb web. Washing your hands should be avoided so the powder an still be on your body. Critical Talking Questions 1. If you found a firearm at a crime scene, what steps would you take In order to transport the weapon to the lab? 2. Why do you think it might be useful to know the distance between a gun fired and its target? 3. If you were in charge of retrieving bullets at a crime scene, what steps would you take to retrieve a bullet and take it to the crime lab? 4. What are some of the challenges in analyzing tool marks? 5. Why might it be important for a forensic scientist to determine the distance from a gun to a shooter?Discussion Questions Please post questions and answers on the UNIT FIVE discussion boards. Unless otherwise Instructed, you should submit at least one full paragraph for each question. Each discussion assignment Is worth 5 points. Forensic 1 Unit 5 Text By econometricians Please complete the following questions. It is important that you use full sentences as a file attachment. This means you complete all work in a word processing the Unit 5: Text Questions dropped basket. Agencies around the world with access to the images and information. The network it has been in use. What is rifling? What two types of markings does this produce? Rifling or spiral grooves cut into the barrel of a gun in order to make a bullet spin as it is fired. Rifling produces grooves (the low areas cut into the barrel) and lands (the raised areas between the grooves). 3. What is a distance determination? How is this Critical Thinking Questions 1. If you found a firearm at a crime scene, what steps would you take in order to otherwise instructed, you should submit at least one full paragraph for each question. Each discussion assignment is worth 5 points.

Intramural Games/Dukes Gym Essays - , Term Papers

Dr. Evans PE 310 Intramural Games/Dukes Gym 300 College Street NE, Orangeburg, SC 29115 David Erby Recreation Specialist Prior to arriving to the intramural games, that take place on Tue, Wed, Thur., my expectation was for students from the student body to come to the games for socialization. I pictured the games to be an outlet for a lot of the students on campus. I expected the teams to be warming up to play, and I anticipated a lot of excitement. The days that I attended the games I saw just that. I myself have attended numerous games in Dukes gym so I expected the games to be just as I remembered them. When I walked in the gym I observed students standing around and sitting on the bleachers. There was a basketball game going on, and there were two students refereeing the games. There two separate teams and the scores were close. On both teams there were students playing. The players were all African American males, and they were all between the ages of 18 and 23. The players seemed to be between the height of 57 and 63. Everyone is the gym appeared to be on leisure time, because they all were enjoy ing the activities taking place. The staff was composed of students that attend South Carolina State University. The staff was coaching and overseeing the game. The staff were continuing to do what I observed when I first walked into the gym. The staffs responsibilities were to monitor the game, make sure the students werent getting out of control, making sure none of the players got injured, and making sure the gym did not get messed up. The staff were wearing dress down clothes. None of the staff had on the same clothes. Everyone had on shorts, short sleeve shirt, and tennis shoes. The staff were very helpful and they were attentive to the game and their surroundings. Based on my observation I believe that I could do this job effectively. I am a fan of basketball and I enjoy downtime, so working in the gym would be an ideal job for me. In my opinion the purpose of the Intramural games at Dukes gym is to provide a safe outlet for the students at South Carolina State University. When I spoke with the head coach of t he gym he stated that I was right on the money with the gyms purpose. Dukes gym is accomplishing its goal to provide a safe outlet for the students of South Carolina State University. It is clear to see that the students are enjoying the games every week because one the three days that I attended the games the stands were full. The gym was so packed that many students had to stand up around the court. The basketball games clearly are very safe. This leads me to believe that the programs that are provided by the gym are matching the gyms mission statement. This is a place where I would easily spend my free time. In the three days that I visited Dukes gym I was very pleased. This is the perfect place for the students of South Carolina State University to enjoy safe and entertaining activities.

That cameras should be allowed in the courtroom essays

That cameras should be allowed in the courtroom essays Tradition. Precedent. Pomp and circumstance. These words come to mind when we consider the justice system. However, in many court facilities today the words "multimedia," "digital technology" and "state-of-the-art" just as easily apply. One must ask Do the words multimedia, digital technology and state-of-the-art relate to tradition, precedent, pomp, circumstance and the administration of justice. The answer ladies and gentlemen is no. We must not be fooled into the illusion of believing that cameras in the courtrooms will be beneficial to the justice system. Nor will it enable us the public to become better educated. Good evening chairperson ladies and gentlemen. As you have heard the topic for tonights debate is that we should have cameras in the courtrooms. We agree/disagree with the definition given by the opposition. Should both the moral and the practical. Cameras a device for taking photographs or motion pictures. Courtrooms a room where a law court is held. We should not have cameras in the courtrooms and we will continue to prove this to you. Tonight I will be speaking about, firstly, the use of cameras in the courtrooms as educators and how they mislead the public. Secondly, how cameras in the courtrooms are impractical. Our second speaker will continue by speaking, firstly, about the infringements cameras have on a citizens right to a fair trial and secondly, she will discuss cameras in the courtrooms in relation to entertainment purposes and the immoral form such broadcasting takes. I would now like to point out __ discrepancies in the oppositions case. My first argument tonight is that cameras in the courtrooms are not educators; they are often misleading and are the cause, not the solution, to the publics lack of confide ...

Analysis of Escobar's thesis compare and contrast his theological Essay

Analysis of Escobar's thesis compare and contrast his theological contribution - Essay Example The liberation theology was the creation of the Catholic Christianity (Prahalad & Doz, 2007, p. 125). In addition, Escobar argues that the majority of the theologians apply two principles in the liberation mission. They include an examination of the social, economic and political aspects of the missionary enterprise itself, and, secondly, an understanding of the missionary enterprise within a global observation of human history (Escobar, 2003, p. 137). This study reveals that the Escobar’s perception on the Missiology that ignores serious consideration of both the social and political realities is misplaced. Escobar believes that Liberation Theology applies incorrect principles for creating a theology of mission, instead asserts that the basis for a proper theology of mission is the social sciences and Biblical Disclosure (Rodriguez, 2012, p. 111). Furthermore, Escobar dismisses the Liberation theology justification that people first perceive God in history and then go the scr ipture to reaffirm their belief. Escobar proposes that the Bible, particularly the Biblical Christology, is the fundamental basis for theology of mission. In summary, Escobar admits that Evangelical Missiology will be formed with and by the populace, yet its foundation is not in the people, but instead with the Evangelical commitments. Comparison of Escobar’s theology with Moltmann’s theology Samuel Escobar is a leading Latin American Theologian. Escobar was among the principal participants in the international Congress on World Evangelization. Escobar constructs a theology of mission on the social and political realities, which is a total contrast with Moltmann who bring a systematic theology based on the element of eschatology (Rodriguez, 2012, p. 128). Escobar asserts that the realties in theology should be constructed out of the biblical revelation and aspects of social sciences. Moltmann focuses on four lines of thought, which include the notion of an eschatologic al open future, the Christian theology of history, the Trinitarian sending God and the scope of salvation. Moltmann believes that the prospect of history should be kept open as the meadow of God’s puzzling and capricious works since a closed history robs hope for the future. This is because a closed history denies hope for the future (Rodriguez, 2012, p. 101). It is imperative to note that this claim is fundamental to Missiology since it attempts to elucidate God’s plans and distinctiveness. On the other hand, the Trinitarian Theology forms a fundamental aspect to Mission work. Moltmann asserts that, mission originates from the very being of God and not an activity of human beings. This aspect indicates that, there exists a link amid systematic theology of the Trinity and the mission work. Moreover, the Moltmann’s Systematic study of the nature of Christian prospect is critical because it preserves the veracity of the human familiarity of time and the certainty of God’s manifestation partaking in time while addressing the nature of God and of time. Numerous theologians have supported Moltmann’s theology by asserting that, it is fundamental to mission theologians since it is future directed and oriented (Prahalad & Doz, 2007, p. 128). This theology is significant since it has enhanced understanding of God’s mission in relation to a certain amount of tension of God’s rule both now and in the future. In conclusion, the

Benefits of Bespoke Construction Contracts Term Paper

Benefits of Bespoke Construction Contracts - Term Paper Example Bespoke Contracts are core parts of the construction industry. The contractual agreements developed in the context of the specific industry are usually based on general contracts – which refer to all tasks usually developed in the context of construction projects; however, a construction project may be quite complex and it needs to be based on a contract developed especially for it: a bespoke contract will be used in this case to cover all aspects of this project; in other words, Bespoke construction Contracts are contracts tailored to the needs of a specific construction project. It is possible that the development of a construction project is primarily based on a general construction contract; during the development of the project it is made clear that certain aspects of the project are not appropriately or adequately addressed; a Bespoke Contract will be used to cover any gaps in the provisions necessary for the successful development of the project; in the above case, the Bespoke Contract will have a supplementary role in the project’s completion (O’Reilly, 1999, p.37). In order to understand the value of Bespoke Contracts compared to the existing construction contracts, we should refer primarily to the role of Bespoke Contracts within the construction industry. Bespoke Contracts can be characterized as contracts of specific characteristics; their structure and their content are likely to be influenced by the conditions of the market, the willingness of the parties but also the demands of a particular construction project.   All the above factors can influence the effectiveness of Bespoke Contracts – either in the short or the long term. In the study of Cox et al. (1997) the contractual environment of UK is set under examination; it is noted that in the contractual relations developed in the context of the above industry are likely to include the following elements: ‘the relationship, the risk apportionment, the division of responsibilities and the reimbursement mechanism’ (Cox et al., 1997, p. 127).

Sustainable and ethical tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sustainable and ethical tourism - Essay Example People do not have time to spend with their families to sit back, relax and talk. It’s all about accumulating wealth and how much can you accumulate. Under such intrigue situations people all over the world go on holidays and vacations whenever they get time to spend with their loved ones. Choosing a tourist destination is not that simple today, now you need to consider a number of factors before you make the final decision. Majority of the mass tourism today is dominated by travelers that want to explore the world and to discover the secrets and signs hidden in its beauty, matter and treasures. The market dynamics in today’s brisk paced world have revolutionized. Media empowerment, advancement of internet and technology and emergence of public entities, social groups and Non Government Organizations have revolutionized the market place from top to toe in all respects. Today the consumer is obstinate from a marketer’s perspective and has the power and liberty to repudiate or purchase, literally, anything based on personal liking and choice. This is how the marketplace works in the real world today with the emergence and existence of a new concept known to us as consumerism (Assadourin, 2010). The tourists today are also aware of the morals and ethics of travelling and they really take care of the fact that they are visiting places that offer healthy and genuine mass tourism. Healthy and genuine mass tourism refers to the fact that the culture and the heritage that is portrayed as local are original and not captured or illegally acquired. Similarly greener environments are preferred over places that are not environment friendly. Similarly with growing political tension in different parts of the world, terrorism and discriminatory acts have labeled some of the greatest tourist destinations as no go zones and this has led to the shift in interests of and choices made by tourists to decide upon their dream location for vacation (J.D Roth, 2011) . Mass tourism Industry and its impact on economy After the recession the global economy is still recovering from its aftershocks and after effects. The recession blew away all the mega structures that were created by the financial gurus and the corporate masterminds for the economic stability of Global business community. All their efforts literally went in vain as their hard work of years did not enable their businesses to survive a couple of years of economic downturn. As the disastrous recession of 2007-08 comes to an end, the corporate sectors and the global economies look for industries that are virtually recession proof and that will help them come out of the recession more quickly than others. One such industry is the Global Mass tourism Industry. According to mercopress.com the Global Mass tourism Industry accounts for 9% percent of the world GDP and 8% of the total world employment. These are big numbers and by 2019 the Global Mass tourism Industry is expected to create 29 6 million jobs worldwide. The former discussion

Job Analysis In Rapidly Changing Organizations Management Essay

Job Analysis In Rapidly Changing Organizations Management Essay The importance of job analysis in obtaining the right people for organizations has been established in literature (Siddique, 2004; Palmer and Valet, 2001; Baruch and Lessem, 1995). Job analysis refers to the process of analyzing the requirements of jobs and identifying skills, behaviours, knowledge, and other characteristics needed for satisfactory job performance (De Cieri and Kramer, 2003; Palmer and Valet, 2001; McKillip, 2001). In recent years however, there have been issues regarding the relevance of job analysis in staffing for modern organizations because of its specific and detailed outcomes, which are inconsistent with the flexible nature of contemporary organizations (Brannick and Levine, 2002). Given the arguments for and against the relevance of job analysis, can it be considered as essential in getting the best staff to work in modern and rapidly changing organizations? Analyzing this statement merits a clear look into the characteristics of best staff in modern organizations and the context where they are working. As opposed to traditional organizations that offer rigid and stable working environments, modern and rapidly changing organizations have been described as flexible (Dessler, Griffiths, and Lloyd-Walker, 2004), dynamic, competitive, and less hierarchical (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Hammer and Champy, 2001; Sanchez, 1994), multidimensional (Hammer and Champy, 2001), influenced by technological, social, political, and global changes (Dessler, et. al., 2004), and boundaryless with tasks and roles that are more fluid and less defined (Nelson, 1997; Hirschhorn and Gilmore, 1992). Given this work context, the best staff to work for modern and dynamic organizations can be considered as those who are flexible, open to learning, dynamic, empowered, and self-directed, able to respond to changing demands of the job, and with sound interpersonal and collaborative skills necessary for team work (Dessler et. al., 2004; Brannick and Levine, 2002; Hammer and Champy, 2001; Hirschhorn and Gilmore, 1992 ). Possession of the essential work-related skills (Palmer and Valet, 2001) and the ability to manage complicated tasks (Hammer and Champy, 2001) is also important. Looking at the characteristics of modern organizations, wherein jobs are constantly changing, a traditional type of job analysis which focuses on specific job descriptors and employee characteristics to match these may no longer be relevant (Nelson, 1997; Sanchez, 1994). A more modern type of job analysis that selects staff on the basis of their capability to function in a dynamic set-up is more appropriate (Sanchez, 1994). Consequently, job analysis, when used appropriately, has been seen to meet the demands of new working environments (Siegel, 1996; Sanchez, 1994). Therefore, job analysis is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern organizations so long as it is performed in a pro-active way (Siddique, 2004) and is able to accommodate and adapt to fast-changing demands (Clifford, 1994). Job analysis is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern organizations, first because it is capable of adapting to organizational needs in regards to providing relevant information for describing jobs and work environment, and staff characteristics that is best for the organization (Siddique, 2004; Nelson, 1997; Sanchez, 1994). Second, it strengthens the validity of measurement tools used to identify characteristics of jobs and employees (Kubiszyn and Borich, 1996). Third, it provides information on education and training needs for staff development (Dessler et. al., 2004; De Cieri and Kramer, 2003). Fourth, it provides the basis for evaluating staff performance needed to enhance their performance (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Palmer and Valet, 2001). Last, job analysis provides data needed in setting-up a working environment that would motivate staff to work at their best (Dessler et. al., 2004). To discuss the first point, job analysis is relevant in getting the best staff for modern organizations because it presents dynamic and new ways of describing jobs, work environments, and organization culture; and the staff characteristics needed to get the work done. Therefore, it serves its basic function of providing a match between organizational needs and staff characteristics. Job analysis no longer limits itself to identifying specific job descriptions and job specifications. Modern job analysis techniques such as the worker-oriented methods of job analysis (Nelson, 1997, p. 43) and competency-focused approach (Siddique, 2004, p.225) provides information on broader qualities such as conflict management skills, motivation, and flexibility that are critical for success in a variety of jobs for modern organizations. In addition, job analysis can also identify team descriptions that can facilitate collaboration in a team-based nature of modern organizations (Brannick and Levine, 2 002; Siegel, 1996). It is worth mentioning however, that there have also been arguments regarding the applicability of job analysis to modern organizations (Sanchez, 1994). Several authors (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Sanchez, 1994) for instance discussed the setbacks of job analysis as being rigid and inconsistent with the fluid nature of modern businesses. However, Brannick and Levine (2002) discussed that problems with job analysis stem from its products such as job descriptors and not necessarily on the entire job analysis procedure. In contrast to accusations, the ability of job analysis to identify characteristics needed to get the best staff to function in modern organizations has been evident in several instances. For example, Milan and Tucker (1992) discussed the story of British Petroleum, the worlds third largest oil company, wherein teams of staff members from its different divisions and locations worked together to develop a skills matrix that included descriptors for families of skills and corresponding performance levels. As a result, the matrix enabled the employees to understand the different roles that they can play in the company and the level of performance required, thus empowering them to take charge of their own development. Similarly, Laabs (1993) related the story of Gillette Co, a fast growing global company that benefited from identifying important broad staff characteristics like adaptability, enthusiasm, and aggressiveness which effectively helped the company in attracting and tapping new graduates that meet its global and competitive needs. Since jobs keep on changing in modern organizations, identifying work environment characteristics has been seen as more important in identifying compatible staff members than specific job descriptors (Nelson, 1997). Job analysis has been discussed to serve this function. For instance, Siegel (1996) mentioned the applicability of job analysis in a TQM environment by detailing the characteristics of the organizations systems and subsystems to enable staff to work interdependently. Similarly, job analysis is also important in ensuring that employees match the organization culture by operationalising and providing a framework for an organizations culture and the necessary staff characteristics that would fit the culture (Dessler et. al, 2004; Nelson, 1994). Clearly, so long as job analysis is up-to-date, it can function as a roadmap for companies to use in selecting the best staff both from within and outside the organization. Job and work descriptions and specifications can only be effective in getting the best staff if measures used to identify relevant characteristics are valid. Dr. Howard Hane (cited in Palmer, H. and Valet W., 2001) said that job analysis aids in the valid and reliable development of these tools by specifying what needs to be measured for a given task and at what standards. For instance, Day (1989, p. 27) emphasized the importance of conducting job analysis in designing a personality inventory and providing an accurate measure for personality traits in selecting employees. Valid personality measurements and other competency measures are important in selecting the best staff for modern organizations because these provide characteristics that are needed for a wide array of jobs. Getting the best staff does not end with matching organizational needs with employee characteristics. Once, their in the organization, they will only continue to be the best if given proper education and training. Education and training are important because in modern organizations, people are expected to be versatile and to attune their skills and knowledge to organizational changes (Dessler, et. al, 2004; Hammer and Champy, 2001). Job analysis is essential in employee education and training needs assessment in modern organizations by identifying skills and competence that needs to be developed and by forecasting skills that will be needed for future responsibilities (Dessler et. al., 2004). For instance Siegel (1996) discussed the use of job analysis in a TQM environment by providing information on employee cross-training for them to work spontaneously in different subsystems. As Clifford (1994) suggested, job analysis also assists the organization and its staff in determining training needs for professional growth planning. Furthermore, job analysis strengthens the validity of training procedures by providing a means to match important characteristics and the emphasis given to these in trainings (McKillip, 2001). The importance of job analysis in employee training for a modern organization was seen in the case of Dixie Group Inc., a major carpet industry in the United States. This company used job analysis as basis for staff education and development to enable them to keep up with and deliver good results amidst fast changing technology (Palmer and Valet, 2001). Once employees are hired, put in the right position, trained, or educated, the effective way of determining the quality of performance is evaluation. Evaluation will provide an objective basis whether the best staff is indeed at place in the organization. The basis for all evaluation is of course a clear criteria or standard of how jobs and tasks should be accomplished (Borich and Kubiszyn, 1996). Job analysis again enters the picture by providing up-to-date information for acceptable standards of job performance that will be used to assess the quality of work of staff (Dessler et. al., 2004; Siddique, 2004). If duties and standards are clearly provided by a job analysis, then evaluation procedures would proceed smoothly (Clifford, 1994). The results of the evaluation can then be used for training needs analysis as well as personal improvement plans of the staff. It can also be the basis for putting people in job categories wherein they excel. Another area of employee evaluation wherein job analysis is important has to do with compensation decisions (Dessler et. al., 2004). Fast changing organizations would likely get the best staff that they require if compensation packages are reasonable and commensurate to the responsibilities given to people and their qualifications. The information on various jobs provided by job analysis is very essential in this process (De Cieri and Kramer, 2003). Finally, getting the best staff also means keeping them at their best by providing motivation. Good employees in modern organizations are normally flexible and talented; therefore they will not stay in organizations that do not offer stimulating work environments. Job analysis addresses this issue by providing information needed in designing and redesigning interesting jobs that foster team work, responsibility, challenge, and employee empowerment (Dessler et. al., 2004; Brannick and Levine, 2002). For instance, proper combination of positive job characteristics in a job design may lead to positive work outcomes (Dessler et. al., 2004), thereby maintaining the staff at their best performance levels. Modern organizations have indeed moved from a static and bureaucratic system to one that is dynamic, flexible, and boundaryless; resulting to changes on the characteristics of the best staff needed for these organizations. Since jobs keep on changing, employees are no longer chosen on the basis of specific skills or how well they can perform specific tasks. This makes the question of whether job analysis is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern and rapidly changing organization an important point for discussion. There have been arguments regarding the applicability of job analysis in modern and fast changing organizations because it was regarded as providing rigid information that is inconsistent the with the flexible nature of organizations. On the contrary, however, literature on job analysis (Siegel, 1996; Sanchez, 1994) has shown that it is capable of adapting to the requirements of modern organizations and has evolved to incorporate methods that enable companies to get the best staffs that are suitable to its changing needs. Thus, job analysis, as long as up-to-date, is important in getting the best staff because it still serves its primary functions of first, providing relevant information about people and work characteristics needed to get the best staff (Siddique, 2004; Nelson, 1997; Sanchez, 1994); second, strengthening the validity of measurement tools used to identify characteristics of best staff (Kubiszyn and Borich, 1996); and third, providing relevant information for staff edu cation, training (Dessler et. al., 2004; De Cieri and Kramer, 2003), evaluation (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Palmer and Valet, 2001) and design of a motivating work environment to keep the staff at their best (Dessler et. al., 2004). Clearly, so long as job analysis is able to keep abreast with the dynamic needs of organizations, it is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern organizations. This topic, however, still merits more research on the applicability of job analysis in acquiring the best staff for real organizations and the development of more relevant job analysis tools.

The Language of The Neuromancer Essay examples -- Neuromancer Essays

The Language of The Neuromancer      According to A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, formalistic approach represents "an approach with methodology, with a history, with practitioners and with some detractors" (73). "When all the words, phrases, metaphors, images, and symbols and examined in terms of each other and of the whole, any literary text worth our efforts will display its own internal logic" (75). However, peculiarity of language use remains one of the most prevalent aspects of the formalistic approach in literature.    "The sky above the port was the color of television tuned into a dead channel" (3).    Opening the novel with the use of such extravagant language, the author sets an ambiance for an intriguing and intricate proceeding plot. Using surrealistic language that starts with heavy-duty terminology and bizarre coding, to names of places that have dubious and ambiguous meaning, to characters' names that Gibson uses in his cyberpunk novel, the author exposes the reader to a number of different nationalities and words derived from foreign languages that pertain to events of the modern world. Gibson talks about the Russian military prosthesis, the East European steel teeth of Ratz's, the Chinese "nerve splicing," the Japanese "Sarariman" or the English slang for "suit," the Australian bellowing, the French "flechettes," the Jamaican Rustafarian culture, the Turkish settings, which proceeds in an on-going concoction of terminology. This concept leads to the perception that incorporation and interrelation of mixed and diverse cultures through the use of different languages represen ts a stronghold for the creation of the entire world as one big cosmopolitan society.    Describing... ...ce, and 'mancer' stands for a magician and romance. Yet, "Neuromancer" might be Gibson's mere speculation about Case's "quality" as a computer "hacker" who disrupts the social order by throwing virus programs into society, thus causing chaos in the world. Nonetheless, using the "neuromancer" as a pun, the author could be alluding to the "Necromancer" in Goethe's "Faust," which means a magician dealing in evil spirits and death. Apparently, peculiarity and the use of surrealistic language determine the conceit and revelation of the novel's plot. However, contemplating about the future of science fiction and cyberpunk literature, it is probable that humans will not be capable of deciphering the language without the use of additional help sources. Rather, science fiction's predisposition of becoming an unintelligible puzzle of words increases on a daily basis.   

The Sicilian Mafia

For some people, the mere mention of the name â€Å"Mafia† paints a portrait in the subconscious of burly or corpulent, thuggish-looking men, with peppered or jet black hair, a scar somewhere on their face, dressed in black or gray pinstriped suits garnished with a flower in their lapel, a fedora cocked angularly over their brow, their necks and fingers decorated in gold jewelry, and carrying a briefcase or any means of transportation for weapons or money. This image is typically cliche of the average early 20th century gangster found in big cities such as New York City and Chicago, and of those individuals found in classic films such as â€Å"The Godfather† and â€Å"Scarface†. So then, what is, or who are, the â€Å"Mafia? † From where did they come? What did they do? Where are they now? To truly understand what the Mafia is and represents, one must travel back in time, centuries ago, where the word, and the people associated, are rooted from an area known widely for its bountiful history of arts, war, and honor – Sicily, Italy. A thorough understanding of what the Mafia consists of would not be complete without an understanding of the Sicilian concepts of â€Å"vendetta† and â€Å"omerta. † The Italian word vendetta is rooted in the Latin vindicta meaning â€Å"revenge. † A more modern equivalent would be violent and vengeful â€Å"pay back†. The vendetta was often a prolonged series of retaliatory, hostile acts in exchange for previous violent acts, such as an â€Å"eye for an eye† concept or otherwise known as lex taliones. In ancient times, when enforcement of law by reliable authorities was virtually unknown, families would often take matters in their own hands, and exact â€Å"payment† or revenge for a wrong-doing by another by means of vendetta, often by employing violence, to include murder, to redress their grievance and restore honor to the injured group or family. Equally important in understanding what Mafia is about, is the Italian concept of â€Å"omerta. In its present day usage, omerta is simply a â€Å"code of silence,† much like the Blue Curtain of Secrecy employed by law enforcement or omissions of knowledge that friends will utilize if a comrade is accused of a crime. Historically, however, the root meaning of this Italian word is â€Å"manliness,† not unlike the Spanish concept of â€Å"machismo,† which is considered an integral part, if not the very core value, behind the â€Å"code of honor. † It was in 13th century Sicily that such â€Å"men of honor† organized themselves to drive out foreign invaders, and were willing to kill, if necessary. Protecting the identities of their brothers in the event of capture, these â€Å"men of honor† invoked omerta, a code of silence, by refusing to provide governing authorities any information. The concept of omerta, then, served to provide a modicum of protection for the remaining body of those â€Å"men of honor. † No one is certain of the enigmatic origins of the name given to groups of organized criminals from Italy, and the word itself had been long debated. One theory takes place during the time in the middle ages when the island of Sicily was plagued by foreign invaders, particularly by the French Angevins, who imposed unfair taxes upon the Sicilians. Rising up against their oppressors, several numbers of male citizens, who later came to be called â€Å"men of honor,† banded together to overthrow the French, while shouting, â€Å"Morte alla Francia Italia anelia! † Translated, the phrase means: â€Å"Death to the French is Italy’s cry! † Taking the first letter from each word in this Italian phrase, the word â€Å"M-a-F-I-a! † was created. Another theory thought to be true is that the word â€Å"Mafia† was created in 1282 when an enraged group of Sicilian â€Å"men of honor† struck back against a French soldier, killing him in retaliation for raping a Palermo girl on her wedding day. Taking away a young woman’s virginity before it is given to her spouse is a heinous crime, and during this era, was punishable by death. As news of this revolt spread from one town to the next, other Sicilians rose up against their French occupiers, killing literally thousands, thus running them off the island, while crying out, â€Å"Ma fia! Ma fia! † Literally meaning, â€Å"My daughter! My daughter! Although neither theory has been proven, it is apparent that the basis of the name Mafia comes from some root of honor. The structure of the Mafia is originally based on a close-knit famiglia or family structure, where the eldest male, such as a grandfather who is wise in the ways of family operations based on heritage and traditions, is the capofamiglia, otherwise known as the head of the family or the boss – such as the â€Å"godfather†. His second in command or right-hand man who acts as a â€Å"pseudo-boss† when the capofamilglia is away, is the sotto capo, or underboss, and could have originally been a brother or first born son. The capofamiglia may have one or more advisors, made up of close friends, brothers, or cousins, who aid him in any decision making regarding la famiglia, known as consigliere. Following the sotto capo are crews of â€Å"soldiers†, or capodecina, commanded by the sotto capo. The capodecina, literally meaning â€Å"head of ten† is selected by the capofamiglia, and usually coordinates units of soldiers made up of about ten people. Lastly are associates, who have no familial ties with the famiglia, through blood or initiation, but aid the famiglia through legal and illegal means. Associates usually consist of corrupt officials, such as police officers, judges, or religious heads, who help la famiglia by providing any important information. An associate, to la famiglia, is seen as nothing more than a tool, and may be discarded of easily if their services are not needed anymore. The only way to join the famiglia in the past was to be born or married into the family. As time went on, family of friends, as well as friends of friends, were admitted, but only after partaking in an initiation ceremony and swearing their allegiance to la famiglia, or else face the consequences of horrific mutilation or death. Initiation ceremonies included a variety of oaths and pledges, where potential members would carry out various acts to show their loyalty. Some acts included, but were not limited to, killing their own family members due to an unpaid debt to the famiglia, finding a â€Å"rat† within the famiglia and sending him a warning, such as mutilation or terrorizing their home life, or other heinous and illegal acts that would show devotion. Other means of initiation were ceremonies where a blood oath was implemented. In a testimony from the police interrogation of Leo Pellegrino, from the village of Sciacca, Agrigento province, 15 March 1876, Leo proceeded to explain the ceremony he was involved in: â€Å"Marsala tied my index finger of my right hand tightly with a string. He pricked the finger with a pin. The blood dripped on the image of a female saint. He burned the image, divided it into two portions and gave me one. We ground up our portions in our hands and then threw the result into the air. As part of the ceremony I swore that I would remain a member of the Societa that has as its capo Don Vito Vita, and its aim is to commit crimes against persons and property. I was told that the Societa has affiliates in other towns, each town with its own capo, and if an affiliate does not carry out his assigned duties he would be judged by the Societa and condemned to death. Then they taught me the mode of recognizing other affiliates. † Prior to Benito Mussolini becoming Italy’s dictator during the Fascist movement, the Mafia was the one of the ways of providing protection and justice throughout Sicily without involving law enforcement and government officials. The Mafia would rid neighborhoods of vandals and criminals, while collecting fees for their services. What work they provided for the people would be repaid in money, goods, or by marrying into families so they would profit from farming lands. By the time Mussolini came to Sicily, the Mafia had acquired a great deal of power and respect from the citizens they protected and profited from. In 1924, when Mussolini visited Sicily, he was angered by the reception he received. The capofamiglias treated him as nothing more than a mere guest to their land, and told Mussolini that he was under their protection. Enraged by this notion, fearing opposition to his regime, the dictator avowed to suppress the Mafia by means of violence and honor. Mussolini names Ceaser Mori as Prefect, and ordered him to crack down with â€Å"steel and fire† against the Mafia. Because the Mafia’s power was equal to that of the State, an invasion of western Sicily took place, and during 1926-1928, 11,000 suspects in the Mafia were arrested. Ceaser Mori felt that the Mafia and Sicilian people were not one in the same. Rather, that the island had been suffering under the reign of terror known as the Mafia because the State was absent. Poor governing had created the menace known as Mafia, and that by eliminating that power, encouraged the people of Sicily to break away from unlawful oppression. He wanted the Mafia to appreciate that the State was stronger and wanted the â€Å"men of respect and honor† to be brought to their knees and be humble for their vanity and arrogance. During Mori’s suppressive action of rounding up any individual, proven or otherwise, under suspicion of â€Å"association for criminal purposes,† hundreds fled Sicily to other countries – as many as five hundred entered the United States, some illegally with help from family currently residing in the Unites States. Those arrested and unable to flee were found guilty and imprisoned. They were tortured in order to gain confessions, whether true or not, and violence towards individuals was common. Communities would be rounded up to ensure that those guilty would not flee the country. Innocent people would be caught up in the violence and tyranny with no ounce of concern from the State or other government officials. With Mussolini in control, Sicily faced a reign of terror. After capturing Don Vito Cascio Ferro, the â€Å"greatest capo the Mafia ever had,† Mori attempted to extract a confession from Don Vito, that he was, indeed, the capofamiglia of the Sicilian Mafia. Don Vito denied any accusation, regardless of the countless beatings Mori and his police committed. Finally, after having his legs clamped between a block of wood, Don Vito confessed to his involvement, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Mussolini announced to the nation shortly after that the Mafia was no more and no force would ever be able to revive it. Following the Fascist movement and World War II, the crime rate in Sicily soared in amongst the upheaval and chaos. Many criminals escaped from prison and bandits roamed the streets, wreaking havoc where ever they came. As Fascist members were disposed of, replacements were appointed, many of which turned out to be part of the Mafiosi, such as Calogero Vizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo. They would present themselves as political dissidents and would become further desirable with their anti-communist position. The Minister of Agriculture, a communist, pushed for reforms where peasants would receive larger shares of produce and own land that was forced to be sold by owners of large estates. The Mafia had connections to many landowners and murdered several social reformists; however, they were unable to stop the process, and many landowners chose to sell their land to the Mafiosi, who offered more money than the government. After the war, the government poured money into rebuilding Sicily, where two Mafia connected officials took control of Palermo’s Office of Public Works. They gave out building permits to just five people, who were probably Mafia front men. Any construction companies unconnected with the Mafia were forced to pay protection fees, and many illegally constructed buildings were put up before the city’s planning was finalized. This was the re-birth of the Sicilian Mafia. During the early 1960s, the first high-profile Mafia conflict occurred in post-war Italy. The Sicilian Mafia has always had a long history of violent rivalries, but this was the first to involve many lives, some of which were innocents. In December of 1962, a heroin shipment to America turned up missing, and when the Sicilian Mafia Commission could not decide who to blame, the La Barbera clan, one clan involved, took matters into their own hands. They murdered a Mafioso, or member, of the Greco clan whom they had suspicion of stealing heroin. Therein, triggering a war where many would lose their lives. In April 1963, several non-mafiosi were wounded during a shootout in Palermo. Two months later, six military officers and a policeman in Ciaculli were killed while trying to dispose of a car bomb. Because the conflict spread beyond Sicily and claimed several innocent lives, a crackdown commenced in which nearly two thousand arrests were made. Mafia activity fell as a result as clans disbanded and many Mafiosi went into hiding. The Commission was dissolved and would not reform until the late 1960s and early 1970s. During the 1970s, the Mafia in Sicily resumed its normal illicit business, and Corleonesi, the mafia family from the town of Corleone, slowly began growing in power and prestige under the brutal and ambitious leadership of Luciano Leggio. Luciano Leggio became the boss through simply shooting the previous boss, Michele Navarra. Corleonsi’s primary rivals were the bosses of various powerful Palermo Mafia Families. The Sicilian Mafia Commission was re-established in 1970, with Luciano Leggio as one of the three leaders, although his underboss, Salvatore Riina, represented him as he was in hiding in mainland Italy for various crimes committed. After Leggio was captured and murdered in 1974, Riina took over as boss and began winning over allies amongst other Mafia families. In 1978, Riina arranged the murders of Bontade and Inserillo’s allies, the Reisi and Catania clans’ bosses. This caused the bosses of Palermo and their men to become isolated. After the murder of Stefano Bontade, another member of the commission, the Second Mafia War began. Hundreds of enemy Mafiosi and relatives were killed by each other, and even some of those who were traitorous in their own clans. In the end, the Corleonesi faction won, and Riina became widely known as the â€Å"boss of bosses. † By the early 1980s, the magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino began a campaign against the Sicilian Mafia. With the arrest of Tommaso Buscetta, a mafioso turned informant, Falcone and Borsellino compiled their testimonies and organized the Maxi Trial, which lasted twenty-eight months. Four hundred seventy-four mafiosi were put on trial, of which 342 were convicted. By 1992, the Italian Supreme Court confirmed these convictions. The Mafia retaliated violently, and in 1988, they murdered a Palermo judge and his son, a prosecutor and an anti-mafia businessman. Four years later, Falcone and Borsellino were killed by car bombs, and this led to a public outcry, along with a massive government crackdown, resulting in the arrest of Riina in 1993. Following Riina’s arrest, the Mafia began a campaign of terror on mainland Italy. Tourist spots were attacked, such as places in Florence, Milan, and Rome, leaving ten dead and 93 injured, two churches bombed, and an anti-mafia priest shot dead. Leadership of the Mafia was held for a short time by Leoluca Bagarella, and then was passed to Bernardo Provenzano after Bagarella was captured in 1995. Provenzano ceased the violent campaign and replaced it with pax mafiosi, the quiet mafia, where it allowed the Mafia to slowly regain the power it once held. Provenzano halted the murders of state officials and informants. He felt that by not killing them and their families, it would encourage informants to retract their statements and testimonies and return to the famiglia. After eleven years of leadership, Provenzano was arrested in 2006.