American Intervention in Soviet-Afghan War Essay

During the Cold War, the United States set out to go after the Soviet Union by agreeing with Afghanistan and taking incredible measures to stop Soviet impact and socialist belief system. In 1979, the Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan trying to extend its impact in the Middle East with the nonappearance of American impact. Now exposed War the United States and Soviet Union were pretty much at the peak of their problem, so the U. S. in this manner chose to get included by strengthening Afghan’s essential insubordinate gathering, the mujahidin. The United States risked country security by offering critical help to mujahidin progressives, and in doing so the U. S. helped them block Soviet principle over Afghanistan. There are a lot of reasons approving America’s absence of premonition and reasonability, one being that the condition of the Soviet Union was not extraordinary as it might have been. One should think about that the Soviet Union was at that point in an extraordinary decay when the United States started to mediate in Soviet-Afghan undertakings. Benjamin Frankel, a regarded essayist who composed an article for History in Dispute, depicted how there was a drawn out discussion in the Soviet Union on the subject of how to continue with socialist strategies (14). Also, America previously communicated its firm stance strategy toward the USSR in a progressively inconvenient manner. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan set up the Strategic Defense Initiative to ensure the U. S. from potential ballistic rocket assaults by the Soviet Union. Altogether, as the ABC-Clio database recommends in passage ten of â€Å"Cold War, 1945-1991†, the USSR spent roughly $80 billion on the Soviet-Afghan War. The fall of the USSR was rushed by its grand spending on the superfluous reason. Like the monetary issues in the Soviet Union, the United States’ activities concerning Soviet-Afghan undertakings perpetrated extraordinary weights upon the U. S. economy. The United States squandered a considerable measure of cash so as to help mujahidin revolts so they could check their Soviet oppressors, yet got no pay consequently. As an obscure creator from Mount Holyoke College appraises in â€Å"Origins of the Taliban†, the United States lost about $3 billion just on financing these secretive operations. The mujahidin and Afghanistan in general gave little consequently. The mujahidin, for one, just utilized America for what it gave and disposed of the nation once exchanges were finished. Additionally, Afghanistan contained lacking characteristic assets contrasted with its Middle-Eastern partners. Notwithstanding this action’s negative effect on the U. S. economy, it was likewise unjustified by the United States’ disappointment in convincing Afghans to change over to its political perspectives. The United States didn't spread majority rule government or even obstruct the Soviet Union’s socialist effect on Afghanistan. Rather than acting how it did, the United States ought to have permitted Afghanistan to develope itself and make sense of its own issues to a degree. One indication of movement in the nation happened in the mid-2000s when Afghanistan held its first presidential political race. For instance, Canada has profited by having the international strategy of noninterference. Moving back to the mujahidin, Benjamin Frankel depicts it, expressing, â€Å"Once they assisted with pushing the Soviets out of Afghanistan, they directed their concentration toward the detested ‘infidel’ West and its ‘satanic’ pioneer, the United States† (16). Benjamin Frankel proceeded to talk about how the Afghans were impassive toward the message of vote based system, while they previously hated the belief system of socialism (16). These reasons clarify why the two gatherings never became partners and part ways once the Soviets pulled back in 1989. At some point amidst the United States endeavoring to spread majority rule government in Afghanistan, the Jimmy Carter system passed a ban on wheat and corn against Russia as another endeavor to trouble the Soviet Union. The Russian Grain Embargo, sanctioned in 1980, had a negative monetary effect on American ranchers. This demonstration was attracted up to respond the past progressing strains between the United States and Soviet Union which increased when the United States started to help the mujahidin in 1979. Regarding the matter of U. S. furthermore, USSR exchange, agent George McGovern expressed at a 1980 Senate hearing in passage ten on the Annals of American History database that agrarian produce took up 75% of their exchange. With this absence of exchange, the USSR and U. S. each profoundly endured. Because of the Russian Grain Embargo, costs on a bushel of wheat dropped 50? what's more, costs for a bushel of corn dropped 30?. As McGovern later announces to the senate in his discourse in section nineteen, anticipated numbers â€Å"do not contemplate the colossal increment in cost of creation for crop year 1980 for ranchers, coupled by discouraged markets. † This demonstration, by implication related with rising strains likewise causing the U. S. to strengthen the mujahidin, made live extremely hard for ranchers. The Russian Grain Embargo left an incredible blemish on agrarian culture in both the United States and the Soviet Union, however moreso in the U. S. This announcement shows the incongruity behind the ban. The damage done to the USSR was generous, however. One may state that the Russian Grain Embargo went with the firm stance strategy Reagan set forth toward the USSR, however this contention is nullified by the monetary weights on America and the Soviet Union. In this manner in his discourse, George McGovern states in section twenty, â€Å"The U. S. omestic hit to the rural network can sensibly be finished up to be more noteworthy than the one we are conveying, in any event over the long haul and in any event in financial terms. † Besides, Russia was falling off a record low year for crop creation, further supporting this act’s injustification. In spite of the way that the Russian Embargo Act was predominantly a weight to cultivate society, it likewise demonstrated or will have demonstrated to be a weight to other significant pieces of society. The Russian Grain Embargo likewise crushed both the United States and the Soviet Union in manners other than agronomically including regular residents. In passage eighteen McGovern implies his incredible factual information, taking note of that American citizens made up for the obligation of the Russian Grain Embargo by paying a whole of $3. 8-5 million. The validity of the United States as a dependable exchange accomplice soar because of the ban. The organization of previous President Jimmy Carter likely didn't predict this result or even consider it. Another result of the demonstration was extended group butcher in Russia. Russians in this way expended terrible or now and again unsanitary meat as a result of the absence of U. S. meat shipments. Rather than burning through our time making pointless approaches or embargoes or baselessly making an incredible Afghan versatile power, the Unites States ought to have taken advantage of other significant lucky breaks. For instance, during the period where the United States sent weapons to the mujahidin, Afghanistan’s neighboring nation Pakistan built up an atomic weapon program. This is unexpected in light of the fact that restricting atomic weaponry in wherever was evidently expected to be a main worry of America, yet we didn't take care of business. Pakistan could have imparted atomic privileged insights to its partner neighbors, hence risking American security. Benjamin Frankel expounded on the likelihood that Pakistan could in the end utilize their atomic weapons. All things considered, America would surely lament not conceding to the issue. Prior to acting, we need to initially contemplate all ramifications †the advantages and disadvantages. Either the different pioneers of the United States from 1979 to 1989 didn't do this or they misevaluated. At the point when a nation is on a nevitable way to its ruin, going through a lot of cash to attempt to rush it is superfluous. Blocking exchange to that nation is inessential and idiotic if all gatherings included are contrarily influenced like on account of the Russian Grain Embargo. At long last, the Unites States and Soviet Union were troubled by their shallow methodologies; hence, we ought to gain from their errors and endeavor to fix any outstanding results. Tragically, we may one day need to bear the repercussions of not making a move if a Middle Eastern nation sets off an atomic bomb.

Term Paper on Ethics

Research project on Ethics The term morals is generally utilized far and wide and it alludes to applied and thought about products in code of human direct. At whatever point this term is utilized it alludes to mankind and human conduct. Understudies of humanities, culture, religion and medication regularly need to compose research project on morals on their educators directions. Composing research paper on morals is somewhat perplexing for the fledglings. Help to compose a research project on morals is commonly required for initial not many occasions. At the point when you have to communicate your anxiety about morals and moral issues, the research project on morals will be an extraordinary method to communicate it. At the point when understudies need compose their first research paper on morals, they ought to consider the accompanying guidelines cautiously: Composing research project on morals needs an exhaustive comprehension of morals and moral issues Research project on morals should cover the given errand in a non one-sided way and no clashing suppositions ought to be figured in point by point depiction of research project on morals. Help to compose a research paper on morals should just be taken from the legitimate sources and books with complete reference support and in content reference. Morals research papers are exceptionally expansive in ideas; a consideration ought to be taken to maintain a strategic distance from undue long discussions. Morals are firmly sewn with societies and religions, and keeping in mind that composing such research paper on morals an essayist must keep him/herself unprejudiced and ought not enjoy factional or structure own sentiment. Where required direct statements, refrains, references, lines and verses can be utilized to reinforce your answer and view point. Following explanations and contentions ought not be negative for any way of thinking or religion. This ought to be written in an exceptionally secure manner. Next stage is separating the research project on morals in various parts or gatherings. At the point when you have to compose custom research papers on morals, you should gather the necessary information first, at that point: Select a Topic for your custom research project on morals Separation the entire topic of paper in various gatherings/parts Assign number of words for each segment You should begin with presentation part of your research paper on morals. This part should comprise of top to bottom data about the territories canvassed in this paper. After presentation, next comes writing audit that would convey the profound conversation on the subject and will cover the point from various edges. Here you will attempt to include most extreme view purposes of acclaimed thinkers like Aristotle, Socrates, Shakespeare, Shelly alongside various strict renditions from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism and so on. Research procedure will come straightaway on the off chance that you are going to lead a particular rendition of moral examination or going to direct a correlation. Research discoveries will be described in an efficient manner next in this area. Last part is end and your own view point. Here you have freedom to communicate your method of musings and your own way of thinking. In the event that you dont need to compose a termâ paper on morals at your own and need to put in a request for research project on morals, you can purchase research project on morals from our accomplished and presumed organization CustomWritings.com . We guarantee great quality in lesser time and at a reasonable expense. Must check out us, we won't let you down.

The End of SURFing at NIST

The End of SURFing at NIST Yesterday, I officially completed the 12-week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the National Institute of Standards of Technology (NIST). I never thought that I would find a place that loves infinite corridors, acronyms, and research as much as MIT, but alas, I did! My research was on Using Optical Tweezers to Create Nanowire Based Devices and I worked in the Manufacturing Engineering Lab. So, see that picture? Those are zinc oxide nanowires growing on the edge of a silicon chip. My project was to find out how to remove those wires from the chip and then arrange them to create a nanodevice. Exciting, eh? In order to create complex mechanisms like nanorobots and nanocircuits that will revolutionize technology, we must start with the fundamentals and build our way up. The most basic building element is a point-like particle, which has limited possibilities to create sophisticated devices when used alone. However, line-like nanowires are much more versatile and are a fundamental building block of the simple nanoscale world. Nanowires can be used as a mechanical element, like a strut, or as an electrical component, like a conductor, or even as a waveguide to conduct light. We have many different kinds of nanowires available to us, but there are very few tools to directly manipulate and assemble them. One of the few such tools is optical tweezers, which work using the force s of radiation pressure, where radiation pressure is just the momentum imparted to an object from light. Basically, optical tweezers are the tiny functional equivalent of the tractor beams that you

Jack Welch Icon Of Leadership - 1483 Words

Jack Welch was the former CEO of General Electric between 1981 and 2001. During his time at General Electric, the value of the company grew 4000%, making it the most valuable company in the world at the time. In the movie, â€Å"Jack Welch: Icon of Leadership,† Jack discussed his experiences as CEO of General Electric and shared valuable insight into his management practices which he implemented throughout his career. While listening to Jack, I felt the most important aspects of his managing practices included being a proper leader, picking the right people for the job, and having integrity. As a leader of any organization, you have to have an edge, be energetic and energize others through good or bad appraisals and motivation, have an edge and execute plans. Jack called this the 4E’s of Leadership. Being a leader also involves choosing the right person for the right job, or releasing someone not fitting in. As a leader, Jack showed integrity throughout his career. He w as honest, a good character, righteous, ethical, moral, etc. These are all very good characteristics and practices of a successful leader. One of the most fundamental and important roles of being a leader is choosing the right person to fill a position. Human capital is an important factor for any company to succeed and grow. Finding the right person to hire is a key aspect of a leader. To quote Jack, â€Å"If you pick the right people and give them the opportunity to spread their wings and put compensation as aShow MoreRelatedGeneral Electric Company ( Ge )1394 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican company has been stayed in business because of the many great leaders who have led the success for GE. Leader s such as, Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, have brought many changes at GE bringing the company into the 20th century. Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt have been very successful at changing GE and making it a more highly profitable company, due to their leadership styles and corporate culture. General Electric Company would not be here today, if it were not for one of America s most brilliantRead MoreJack Welch1492 Words   |  6 PagesErica Walker Jack Welch Dr. Kim 6 February 2014 Jack Welch: Icon of Leadership Jack Welch has been named the â€Å"Manger of the Century† and has made innovative changes to management practices. He was born as John Francis Jr. on November 19, 1935 in Salem, Massachusetts. He attended Salem High School and then after graduating went to the University of Massachusetts. At the University of Massachusetts, Jack Welch received Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. After gettingRead MoreGeneral Electric Under Jack Welch1117 Words   |  5 PagesGeneral Electric Under Jack Welch                   In 1980 right before Welch took the position as CEO of General Electric, GE s organizational rigid structure, resistance to change, and bureaucratic climate made it impossible to perceive important environmental changes. 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Headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, the company consists of 20 units, including Appliances, Broadcasting (NBC), Capital, Medical Systems, and TransportationRead MoreCase - Alibaba Group7315 Words   |  30 PagesAlibaba Group At Alibaba, strategy and organization go hand-in-hand. Every year we change the organizational structure in tandem with changes in strategy. Jack Ma, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group, stared through the fog at the cable stays of the Hangzhou Bay Bridge whistling past on his drive to the offices of Taobao (hunting for treasures), Alibabas online marketplace for Chinese retailers and consumers. The longest transoceanic bridge in the world had a long gestation period:

Bioliographic Information on Slavery and Colonial Rule in...

Bibliographic Information: Klein, Martin A., Slavery And Colonial Rule in French West Africa, 1998, Cambridge University Press The book bears importance in being one of the few studies about domestic slavery within the French West Africa. It contributes to the field of study, by elaborating on the importance of slavery in Senegal, Sudan and Guinea in Africa’s development. The period of the study lies from 1876 to 1922, wherein Klein ultimately shows the evolution of slavery. In the years prior to 1876, Klein argued that slavery had an economic and social significance in societies. There are two themes which form a major part of the book. They include: the conflict between the French in the metropole and the French in Africa; and the†¦show more content†¦Due to the social taboo of being an ex-slave (or of slave heritage), there are ex-slaves who are afraid to mention their backgrounds to Klein. This obviously leads to a limitation of evidence, which perhaps makes it difficult for the reader to form an idea on what slavery was fully like. Despite this, Klein shows admiration for those of slave backgrounds in portraying them as being spurred on by past oppressions, to achieve a better life than those with master backgrounds. To further his arguments, Klein uses secondary sources as a basis to criticize traditional arguments. Apart from the deep historical analysis and the descriptive historical events (which aid in backing up Klein’s knowledge and deep research in the field), the book’s structure is significant. In terms of illustrations, Klein uses maps, figures and pictures. Maps are an essential part of the book in providing vivid ideas on where battles occurred or which societies were based where. In this case, his writings and the maps form a symbiotic relationship, in that the reader can understand the context through the use of maps and his writing (clear up properly). Each chapter is structured in a way that allows the reader to navigate around the chapter and read the relevant information. All chapters include an introductory section (aimed at outlining the key points of the chapter in question) and a conclusion (aimed at summarising and tying together the

Storm Born Chapter Eight Free Essays

The keep was like a cross between Sleeping Beauty’s castle and a gothic church. Towers jauntily sprang up to impossible heights, creating black patches across the evening sky. We’d lost our light now, but I could still see that a lot of the windows looked as though they contained stained glass. We will write a custom essay sample on Storm Born Chapter Eight or any similar topic only for you Order Now I imagined they’d be beautiful in full sunlight. And framing everything, of course, were those brilliant, yellow-orange trees. Volusian had told me that the kingdoms’ seasons were dependent on their rulers’ whims and could last for extremely long times. This was beautiful, but I couldn’t imagine living in a place that was perpetually autumn. I knew some claimed Arizona was perpetually summer, but, then, the people who said that didn’t actually live there. The seasons were subtle, but they were there. I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t in some kind of wacky movie as Rurik and his gang led us through twisted hallways lit with torches. People passed, giving us curious looks as they went about whatever one did in a medieval castle. Churning butter. Flogging peasants. I really didn’t know, and I didn’t care. I just wanted to get out of there. â€Å"Wait here,† Rurik told us when we reached a large set of double oak doors. â€Å"I will speak to the king before you’re shown into the throne room.† Wow. An honest-to-goodness throne room. He disappeared behind the doors, and a couple guards watched us but kept their distance. â€Å"Volusian,† I said softly, â€Å"did you purposely lead us here?† â€Å"My only purpose, mistress, is to keep you alive. Being here will increase your chances.† â€Å"You didn’t answer the question.† â€Å"You will also increase your chances,† he continued, â€Å"if you are nice to King Dorian.† â€Å"Nice? They just assaulted me and threatened to rape me.† He gave me an exasperated look. â€Å"The king will see you now,† said Rurik dramatically, returning from inside the room. He held the door open for us. Trumpets wouldn’t have surprised me. The throne room was not what I expected. Sure, there was a dais with a chair on it, just like in the movies, but the rest of the room was in a state of disarray. A large space ran through the middle, for dancing or processions, perhaps, but the rest had an almost lounge sort of look. Small couches, chaises, and chairs were arranged around low tables set with goblets and platters of fruit. Men and women, again dressed in sort of a goth-Renaissance style, draped themselves on the furniture and on each other, picking idly at the fruit as they watched me. I was put in mind of the way Romans used to dine. More than gentry lounged around, however. Spirits and sprites and trowes and wraiths were also in attendance, along with an assortment of Otherworld creatures. The monsters of human imagining, side by side with magical refugees who had immigrated to this world. I wondered then if any other shaman had been this far into gentry society. I remembered Roland’s warning, that I could be taken right into the heart of their world. If only our kind had some sort of scholarly journal. The Journal of Shamanic Assassination and Otherworldly Encounters. I could have used this â€Å"research† to write a compelling article to share with my fellow professionals. Conversation dropped to a low hum as the gentry leaned over and whispered to each other, eyes on me. Smirks and scowls alike lit their faces, and I put on the blank expression I would wear going to meet a new client. Meanwhile, my pulse raced into overdrive and breathing became a bit difficult. Volusian trailed near me on one side while Rurik walked on the other. Wil and the others moved behind us. â€Å"Why all these people?† I murmured to Volusian. â€Å"Is he having a party?† â€Å"Dorian is a social king. He likes keeping people around, most likely so he can mock them. He keeps a full court and regularly invites his nobles to dine here.† We came to a stop. On the throne sat a man, Dorian, I presumed. He looked bored. He leaned into the arm of his chair, one elbow propped on it so he could rest his chin in his hand. It sort of made him view us at an angle. Long auburn hair, reminiscent of the trees outside, hung around him, highlighted with every shade of red and gold conceivable. He could have been autumn incarnate. He had the most perfect skin I’d ever seen in such a vivid redhead: smooth and ivory, with no freckles or rosy color. A cloak of forest-green velvet covered unremarkable dark pants and a loose, white button-up shirt. He had well-shaped cheekbones and delicate features. â€Å"Kneel before the king,† ordered Rurik, â€Å"and get used to being on your knees.† I gave him a withering glance. He smiled. â€Å"I’ll be happy to make you,† he warned. â€Å"Bah, enough. Leave her in peace,† intoned Dorian laconically. He didn’t change posture. Only his eyes portrayed any sort of interest in these goings-on. â€Å"If she’s been with you for the last hour, she deserves a break. Go sit down.† Rurik’s smugness flashed to embarrassment, but he bowed before the throne and backed off. That left Dorian and me staring at each other. He grinned. â€Å"Well, come here. If you won’t kneel, I at least want to get a good look at the ‘terrible monster’ they’ve brought to me. They all seem quite afraid of you. I confess, I didn’t really believe it was you when they told me. I thought Rurik had been into the mushrooms again.† â€Å"Do you know how many of our people she has killed and forcibly banished, sire?† exclaimed Shaya from somewhere behind me. â€Å"She took out three in under a minute just now.† â€Å"Yes, yes. She’s quite terrifying. I can see that.† Dorian looked at me expectantly. I shook my head. â€Å"I’m not moving until you offer us hospitality.† This made him sit up. He kept smiling. â€Å"She’s clever too, though, admittedly, asking for hospitality before you crossed our humble threshold would have been more clever still since any of my subjects could have attacked you just now.† He shrugged. â€Å"But we’ve made it this far. So, tell me, Eugenie, why – er, wait. Do you prefer Eugenie or Miss Markham?† I considered. â€Å"I prefer Odile.† That smile twitched. â€Å"Ah. We’re still clinging to that, are we? Very well, then, Odile, tell me what brings the shining ones’ most feared enemy to my door, asking for hospitality. As you might imagine, this is without precedence.† I glanced around at all the watching, listening people. Ignore them, ignore them, an inner voice whispered. Focus on Dorian for now. â€Å"I don’t really want to talk about it in front of the peanut gallery. I’d rather meet with you in private.† â€Å"Oh.† He pitched his voice for the crowd. â€Å"Well, well. Odile wants to meet with me in private.† I blushed, hating myself for doing it. Nervous laughter ran around the room, soon growing stronger and more confident as the king’s did. Interesting, I thought. I remembered Volusian’s comments about Dorian, and his soldiers’ hesitation about his wrath. These gathered people were sheep, obviously, ready to dance or laugh at Dorian’s command, but suddenly I wondered if they were sheep who also feared the whims of their capricious shepherd. I wondered if I should be afraid too. I kept my silence, not acknowledging his joke. He leaned forward, putting both elbows on his knees, letting his chin rest in both hands now. â€Å"If I offer you hospitality, you must reciprocate in kind. I’ll see that no one harms you in my household, but in return, you can harm no one under my roof.† I glanced back at Volusian. â€Å"You didn’t mention that.† â€Å"Oh, for God’s sake,† he hissed, displaying a rare loss of patience. â€Å"What did you expect? Take it before your imminent death becomes more imminent and robs me of my chance to kill you myself.† I turned back to Dorian. I didn’t like this turn of events. I didn’t like being in a nest of gentry, nor did I want to be at one’s mercy. Why was I here again? In my head, I summoned an image of little Jasmine Delaney, imagining her being tormented in a similar way over at Aeson’s court. Only she would be subject to more than just mockery. â€Å"I accept,† I said. Dorian regarded me in silence and then nodded. â€Å"As do I.† He looked up at the crowd. â€Å"Odile Dark Swan is now under the protection of my hospitality. Anyone who so much as lays a finger on her will get his own fingers chopped off and fed back to him.† He issued the threat with as much cheer as Volusian might have. A buzz spread through the crowd, not entirely pleased. â€Å"What’s to keep her from breaking her oath?† I heard someone mutter. Another said loudly, â€Å"She could slay us all!† Dorian’s eyes flicked back to me. â€Å"Did you have any idea what a creature of nightmare you are around here? Mothers tell their children Odile Dark Swan will come for them if they’re bad.† â€Å"Hey, I don’t seek them out. I only come for them if they come for me first.† â€Å"Interesting,† he said, arching an eyebrow. â€Å"But if that’s how you like it, so be it. I always admire women who know what they want in the bedroom.† â€Å"Hey, that’s not what I – † I hadn’t realized the extent to which our slang had permeated the gentry world. Theirs was a reflection of my own; things seeped through. He cut me off with a gesture. â€Å"I gave you hospitality, now come up here. I want to see the terror that haunts the darkness.† I hesitated, both from distrust and defiance to his taunting. Volusian’s voice whispered in my ear. â€Å"He will not harm you now that he’s given his word.† â€Å"I don’t know if I can really believe that.† â€Å"I do.† My minion’s voice was calmly serious. â€Å"You know I can’t lie to you.† Turning back to Dorian, I took the steps until I stood at the same level as his chair. I met his gaze evenly. â€Å"Look at those eyes,† he sighed happily. â€Å"Like violets in the snow. You smell like them too.† Beyond us, I heard another rise of murmurs in the crowd. â€Å"What’s got them all worked up now?† They couldn’t hear our discourse. His own eyes danced. They were golden-brown, the color of autumn leaves falling from the trees. â€Å"You’ve broken protocol. They expected you to stop one step lower. Instead, you’ve put yourself at the same level as me. The fact that I’m not chastising you means I’m treating you as an equal, like royalty. You should be flattered.† I crossed my arms. â€Å"I’ll be more flattered when we have the private talk.† He tsked me. â€Å"So impatient. So human. You’ve asked for my hospitality. You can’t expect me to not give it now.† He made a gesture with his hands, and spirit servants appeared, bearing serving platters of food. For some reason, I suddenly started thinking of the song â€Å"Hotel California.† â€Å"We were about to eat when you so kindly dropped in. Dine with us, and then we’ll have as many ‘private encounters’ as you like.† â€Å"I’m not stupid. I won’t eat anything in the Otherworld. You have to know that.† He shrugged, still sprawled out on his throne like a comfortable cat. â€Å"Your loss. You can sit and watch, then.† He rose gracefully and offered me his hand. I stared at it blankly. Shaking his head with mirth, he simply walked with me down the steps, not touching. â€Å"Where’s the rest of my group?† â€Å"Your servants and human friend are safe, I assure you. We’ve given them their own accommodations since they don’t have a guest-of-honor seat at my table, that’s all.† He beckoned toward a low, polished table, a bit larger than the others in the room. Like the rest, it was surrounded by sumptuous-looking chairs and sofas, patterned in bright brocades and velvets. Dorian settled down onto a small loveseat and patted the spot beside him. â€Å"Keep me company?† I didn’t dignify that with an answer, instead sitting down in the chair next to his sofa. It was a single seat. No one could sit with me. We were soon joined by about a dozen others, including Rurik and Shaya. She reported to Dorian that the people I’d injured had been healed and were recovering. True to my word, I didn’t eat any of the food set out before us, but I confess, it looked pretty good. Stuffed Cornish game hens. Fresh bread with steam still rising from it. Desserts I would have committed murder for. But I didn’t give in. One of the first rules of the game was to never eat outside your own world. Stories and myths abounded about those foolish enough to ignore that precaution. The other diners tried hard to pretend I didn’t exist, but Dorian was fascinated by me. Worse, he flirted with me. At least he wasn’t as crass as every other gentry I seemed to encounter, but I didn’t rise to any of it – even if it was charming at times. I took it all in with a stoic face, which seemed to delight him that much more. The other women at the table were less resistant. Any look, any word, and they practically melted with lust. In fact, many other people in the room also seemed to melt with lust. Very explicitly so. During and after dinner, I watched as people – couples usually, but sometimes more – touched each other brazenly. It was like being in junior high again. Some of it was just kissing. Some of it was heavy groping – a hand fondling the breast or sliding up the thigh. And some of it was†¦more. Across the room, I saw one woman climb on top of a man and straddle him, moving up and down. I was pretty sure they had nothing on beneath the voluminous folds of her skirt. At a table nearby, one woman was on her knees in front of a man, and she was – I hastily averted my eyes, turning back to my own table. I found Dorian’s gaze on me and knew he scrutinized my every reaction. Through some unspoken command, a blond slip of a woman slid into the empty seat beside him, the one I had refused. She draped a leg over his lap and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his neck. He moved one hand up her leg, pushing up the skirt to reveal smooth flesh, but he otherwise seemed oblivious to her as he regarded me and the other guests. Aside from the free love and utterly medieval setting, there was almost something, well, normal about this place. The gentry I’d run into were always causing trouble in my world. Luring humans. Using magic indiscriminately. But this was like any other social occasion or party. People knew each other and regarded their friends with warmth. They discussed love and children and politics. True, they were still foreign and other to me, but I could also almost see them as human. Almost. Needing to do more than sit there and stare, I reached into my coat and pulled out one of the two Milky Way bars I’d brought along. It was also a utilitarian move, seeing as how I was so hungry from watching all the feasting around me. Dorian immediately became intrigued. â€Å"What is that?† I held it up. â€Å"It’s a Milky Way. It’s†¦candy.† I didn’t really know what else to say about it. I wasn’t even sure what was in it. Nougat? I had no idea what the hell that foamy stuff was, save that it was delicious. He eyed it curiously, and I broke off a piece, tossing it over to him. He caught it deftly. â€Å"Your majesty,† exclaimed one of the men, â€Å"don’t eat it. It’s not safe.† â€Å"It won’t hurt me here,† rebuked Dorian in annoyance. â€Å"And don’t even start in about poison or I’ll let Bertha the cook have her way with you again.† The man promptly shut up. Dorian popped the piece into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Watching the expressions his face went through was almost hilarious. It took him awhile to work through all that gooey scrumptiousness, and I fostered a compelling image of him with saltwater taffy. â€Å"Entertaining,† he declared when he’d finished. â€Å"What’s in it?† â€Å"I don’t know. Some chocolate and caramel. A bunch of stuff sort of fused into other stuff.† One woman, her hair curly and brown, fixed me with a combative look. â€Å"That’s so typical of them. They twist nature and the elements for the sake of their perverted creations until they no longer know what it is they do. They are an offense to the divine, bringing forth monstrosities and abominations they cannot control.† A snappy retort rose to my lips, but I bit it off. Volusian had warned me to be nice. In light of their relatively civilized behavior at dinner, I could do no less, so my voice stayed calm. â€Å"Our monstrosities do great things. We can fix injuries you can’t. We have plumbing and electricity. We have transportation that makes your horses look like dinosaurs.† â€Å"Like what?† asked one of the men. â€Å"Bad analogy,† I replied. Shaya shook her head. â€Å"We can achieve many of the same results with magic.† â€Å"Magic couldn’t do much against my gun earlier.† â€Å"Our people survived. Only a human would brag about her ability to wield death.† â€Å"And you in particular would have good reason to,† pointed out Rurik. â€Å"No other human in memory has killed as many of our kind – spirits or shining ones – as you. You would have killed me last week if you’d had the strength. You would have killed our people in the woods today if you could have.† â€Å"I don’t always kill. I even avoid it if I can. But sometimes I have to, and when I do†¦well, then, that’s the way it goes.† Glowers regarded me all around the table. Only Dorian’s face stayed politely curious. â€Å"Rumor has it you’ve killed your own kind too,† he noted. â€Å"Doesn’t it keep you up at night to have so much blood on your hands?† I leaned back in my chair, as always trying to keep my emotions off my face. It did bother me sometimes, but I didn’t want them to know. I hadn’t killed many humans – only a handful, really – and most of it had been self-defense. They’d been humans working with gentry or other creatures to do harm in my world. That had justified the kills in some ways, but I could never ignore that I was taking a life. A human life. A life like my own. The first time I’d seen the light fade out of someone’s eyes – wrought by my hand – I’d had nightmares for weeks. I’d never told Roland about that, and I certainly wasn’t going to tell this group. â€Å"Actually, Dorian, I sleep very well, thank you.† â€Å"It’s King Dorian,† hissed a plump man across from me. â€Å"Show respect.† Dorian smiled. The others glared further. â€Å"The gods will punish a murderer like you,† warned one of the women. â€Å"I doubt it. I don’t murder anyone. I defend. Everyone I’ve killed was doing damage to my world or – in the case of those humans – helping your kind cause harm. Those who merely trespass, I don’t kill. I just send them back. It’s not your world, so I protect my own. That’s not a crime.† Dorian sent the blonde away with a quick motion of his hand and leaned over the couch so he could speak closer to me. â€Å"But you know it was once our world too.† â€Å"Yes. And your ancestors left it.† Shaya eyed me, cheeks flushing. â€Å"We were driven out.† Dorian ignored the outburst. â€Å"You gave us no choice. Once we were all one people. Then your ancestors turned away from the power within and sought it without. They built. They subdued nature. They created things with their hands and the elements that we had only thought magic capable of. Some even surpassed what magic could do.† â€Å"So what’s wrong with that?† â€Å"You tell me, Odile. Has it been worth it? You can’t have it both ways. The ability to force ‘magic’ from the world killed the magic within. Your lives shortened as a result compared to ours. Your sense of wonder disappeared, short of anything that can be proven by numbers and facts. Your people will soon have no gods but their machines.† â€Å"And despite all this,† observed Shaya bitterly, â€Å"humans continue to flourish. Why haven’t they been cursed? Why do they spawn like cats and dogs while our numbers suffer? They are the abominations, not us.† â€Å"Their short lives, their burning need to create before they die, drive that. Their bodies can’t help but produce life so readily. We do not feel that urgency.† Dorian grinned. â€Å"Well, physically we do, but subconsciously†¦our souls know we have time.† â€Å"That’s another wonder of modern medicine. We can help the infertile.† Dorian frowned, again more curious than angry. â€Å"Enlighten us.† I hesitated, suddenly regretting my comment. In as brief a way as I could, I explained artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Even Dorian had trouble stomaching that one. â€Å"This is how your numbers grow?† asked a woman near Shaya. Her voice was an awed whisper. â€Å"Only for some,† I told her. â€Å"Most don’t need it. If anything, I think we have too many babies.† Seeing their shocked faces, I felt a little bad about upsetting them with all this. After all, I was a big advocate of respecting cultural diversity. Yet that core belief of mine wavered around these people. Maybe that was unfair, but I had spent my life being taught that they were not human. They might seem so now, but I didn’t think one dinner could truly alter my ingrained views. Shaya shook her head, face pale. â€Å"This, then, is what has displaced us from our homeland. These are the things that forced us from the place we came from and into the world of spirits and lost souls. We lost to twisted creatures who breed easily, who rape and pillage the earth in homage to their metal gods.† â€Å"Look, I’m sorry it upsets you all so much, but that’s how it is. You guys lost. You have to deal. You did an okay job fighting, I guess. You still show up in a lot of fairy tales and myths. But you still lost. History’s like that. There are wars, and unfortunately, in the end, who wins and who loses is more important than who’s right or wrong.† â€Å"Are you saying your people were wrong, then?† asked Dorian quietly. â€Å"No,† I said with certainty. â€Å"Absolutely not.† â€Å"You’re very loyal to your own kind.† â€Å"Of course I am. I’m human. There’s no choice there – especially when your people do nothing but cause trouble for mine when they cross over.† â€Å"Look around this room. Of those gathered†¦I would say only less than twenty have ever visited your world. And of those, only a small amount ’caused trouble.’ You have degenerates in your world too. Yet, you wouldn’t use them to define your entire race as bad.† â€Å"No,† I agreed. â€Å"But I’d still punish them. Look, maybe I’m overly jaded toward your kind, but then, the only ones I’ve ever met have been the deviants. It’s hard not to judge.† Dorian stared at me for a long time, and I couldn’t read him. Everyone else looked like they would have killed me on the spot, if not for the hospitality prohibition. I wondered if I’d made Dorian mad enough to regret giving his oath. His thoughtful face changed to its typical expression, the perpetually amused and lazy one. He rose from his couch, sweeping the cloak behind him. Everyone else hastily followed suit. I took my time getting up. â€Å"I thank you all for a lovely evening, but I must take my leave now.† He spoke loudly, so that his words carried to more than just our table. Conversation in the room dropped. â€Å"I daresay my guest is growing restless and eager for some privacy, and I do so hate to disappoint.† The toadies laughed appreciatively, and I steeled myself not to blush again. Dorian glanced at me as we slowly walked out of the hall. â€Å"If I offered my hand again, I don’t suppose you’d take it?† â€Å"Not a chance. I don’t want to give them any ideas.† â€Å"Oh. Well. I’m afraid it’s too late for that, once they see where we’re going.† I cut him a warning look. â€Å"Where are we going?† â€Å"Why, to the most private of places. My bedroom, of course.† How to cite Storm Born Chapter Eight, Essay examples

Womens Rights Essays (3423 words) - Lecturers, American Quakers

Womens Rights Not ago, in the nineteenth century, the words that our forefathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence, that all men were created equal, held little value. Human equality was far from a reality. If you were not born of white male decent, than that phrase did not apply to you. During this period many great leaders and reformers emerged, fighting both for the rights of African Americans and for the rights of women. One of these great leaders was Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton dedicated her entire life to the womens movement, despite the opposition she received, from both her family and friends. In the course of this paper, I will be taking a critical look at three of Stantons most acclaimed speeches Declaration of Sentiments, Solitude of Self, and Home Life, and develop a claim that the rhetoric in these speeches was an effective tool in advancing the movement as a whole. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born November 12, 1815, in Johnstown, New York. She was born unto a conservative, Presbyterian family of considerable social standing. Her father, Judge Daniel Cady, was considered to be both a wealthy landowner and a prominent citizen with great political status (Banner 3). Stanton was one of seven children, 6 of which were girls, to be born to Daniel and Margaret. Growing up in the period that she did, Elizabeth was very fortunate to receive the outstanding education that she did since it was not as important to educate daughters as it was sons. She overcame that boundary when she began attending Johnstown Academy. She was the only girl in most of her classes, which was unheard of in those days. Even when females did attend schools, they were learning about womanly things, like how to run a household, not advanced math and science courses, like she was in. She then went on to further her education at a very prominent educational institution, Emma Willards Troy Seminary. After that she studied law with her father, who was a New York Supreme Court Judge. It is through this training that her awareness was raised about the discrimination that women were subjected to. In 1840, Elizabeth married an abolitionist organizer named Henry Stanton, much to her familys dismay. After their marriage, Elizabeth and her husband traveled to London for a worldwide antislavery convention. It was here that she met Lucretia Mott, another well-know womens rights reformist, who was chosen as an American delegate to the convention. They were both outraged that the female delegates that were attending this convention were denied participation because of their sex. It was at this convention that their fire was ignited and they became allies in the war against the discrimination of womens rights. The first wave of the womens movement is said to have begun roughly in the year 1840, and lasted through the year 1925. While the convention in London sparked the fire in 1840, it was not until 1845, that the fire was a full blaze. The signature event that is believed to be the official starting point of the womens suffrage movement was in 1848 when a group of women met in Seneca Falls, New York (Wood 66). The Senaca Falls Convention was organized by a group of women, including Stanton, that were fed up with the mistreatment of women in the antislavery battle. They were now going to primarily place their focus on the rights of women. Consequently, the movement became almost entirely white, both in interest and membership (Wood 68). It was at this first convention that Stanton delivered the Speech the Declaration of Sentiments which addressed the grievances that women had suffered under the unjust government of men. I will go into much greater detail concerning the specifics of this s peech, later in the paper. In the beginning, the womens movement was not just a single-issue movement. Stanton realized that women were being oppressed in every aspect of their lives. Among the causes that she advocated are as follows: coeducation, girls sports, job training, equal wages, labor unions, birth control, cooperative nurseries and kitchens, property rights for wives, child custody rights for mothers, and reform of divorce laws (Wood 67). Many women did not