Black House Chapter Twelve

12 A FEW MINUTES LATER, the pickup lurches to a halt between the last of the trees, where the macadam disappears into the weeds and tall grass. The Thunder Five's motorcycles stand tilted in a neat row a few yards ahead and off to his left. Wendell, who has replaced Freddy Saknessum on the seat, gets out and moves a few paces forward, hoping that none of the ripe aroma of dried sweat, unwashed flesh, and stale beer emerging from his fellow passengers has clung to his clothing. Behind him, he hears Freddy jumping down from the back of the truck as the others climb out and shut the doors without making any more than twice as much noise as necessary. All Wendell can see from his position is the colorless, rotting rear wall of Ed's Eats rising from a thick tangle of Queen Anne's lace and tiger lilies. Low voices, one of them Beezer St. Pierre's, come to him. Wendell gives the Nikon a quick once-over, removes the lens cap, and cranks a new roll of film into place before moving with slow, qui et steps past the bikes and along the side of the ruined structure. Soon he is able to see the overgrown access road and the patrol car astride it like a barrier. Down close to the highway, Danny Tcheda and Pam Stevens wrangle with half a dozen men and women who have left their cars strewn like toys behind them. That's not going to work much longer: if Tcheda and Stevens are supposed to be a dam, the dam is about to spring some serious leaks. Good news for Wendell: a maximum amount of confusion would give him a lot more leeway and make for a more colorful story. He wishes he could murmur into his recorder right now. The inexperience of Chief Gilbertson's force was evident in the futile efforts of Officers Tcheda and Stevens to turn back the numbers of those citizens eager to witness for themselves the latest evidence of the Fisherman's insanity . . . Ah, something, something, then: but this journalist was able to place himself at the heart of the scene, where he felt proud and humbled to serve as the eyes and ears of his readers . . . Wendell hates to lose such splendid stuff, but he cannot be sure he will remember it, and he does not dare to take the risk of being overheard. He moves closer to the front of Ed's Eats. The humble ears of the public take in the sound of Beezer St. Pierre and Dale Gilbertson having a surprisingly amiable conversation directly in front of the building; the humble eyes of the public observe Jack Sawyer walking into view, an empty plastic bag and a baseball cap swinging from the fingers of his right hand. The humble nose of the public reports a truly awful stench that guarantees the presence of a decomposing body in the shabby little structure to the right. Jack is moving a little more quickly than usual, and although it is clear that he is just going to his pickup, he keeps glancing from side to side. What's going on here? Golden Boy looks more than a little furtive. He's acting like a shoplifter just stuffing the goodies under his coat, and golden boys shouldn't behave that way. Wendell raises his camera and focuses in on his target. There you are, Jack old boy, old fellow, old sport, crisp as a new bill and twice as sharp. Look pretty for the camera, now, and let us see what you've got in your hand, okay? Wendell snaps a picture and watches through his viewfinder as Jack approaches his truck. Golden Boy is going to stash those things in the glove compartment, Wendell thinks, and he doesn't want anyone to see him do it. Too bad, kid, you're on Candid Camera. And too bad for the proud yet humble eyes and ears of French County, because when Jack Sawyer reaches his truck he does not climb in but leans over the side and fiddles around with something, giving our noble journalist a fine view of his back and nothing else. The noble journalist takes a picture anyhow, to establish a seque nce with the next photo, in which Jack Sawyer turns away from his truck empty-handed and no longer furtive. He stashed his grubby treasures back there and got them out of sight, but what made them treasures? Then a lightning bolt strikes Wendell Green. His scalp shivers, and his crinkly hair threatens to straighten out. A great story just became unbelievably great. Fiendish Murderer, Mutilated Dead Child, and . . . the Downfall of a Hero! Jack Sawyer walks out of the ruin carrying a plastic bag and a Brewers cap, tries to make sure he is unobserved, and hides the stuff in his truck. He found those things in Ed's Eats, and he squirreled them away right under the nose of his friend and admirer Dale Gilbertson. Golden Boy removed evidence from the scene of a crime! And Wendell has the proof on film, Wendell has the goods on the high-and-mighty Jack Sawyer, Wendell is going to bring him down with one god-almighty huge crash. Man oh man, Wendell feels like dancing, he does, and is unable to restrain himself from executing a clumsy jig with the wonderful camera in his hands and a sloppy grin on his face. He feels so good, so triumphant, that he almost decides to forget about the four idiots waiting for his signal and just pack it in. But hey, let's not get all warm and fuzzy here. The supermarket tabloids are panting for a nice, gruesome photograph of Irma Freneau's dead body, and Wendell Green is the man to give it to them. Wendell takes another cautious step toward the front of the ruined building and sees something that stops him cold. Four of the bikers have gone down to the end of the overgrown lane, where they seem to be helping Tcheda and Stevens turn away the people who want to get a good look at all the bodies. Teddy Runkleman heard that the Fisherman stowed at least six, maybe eight half-eaten kids in that shack: the news grew more and more sensational as it filtered through the community. So the cops can use the extra help, but Wendell wishes that Beezer and crew were blowing the lid off things instead of helping to keep it on. He comes to the end of the building and peers around it to see everything that is going on. If he is to get what he wants, he will have to wait for the perfect moment. A second FLPD car noses in through the vehicles hovering out on 35 and moves up past Tcheda's car to swing onto the weeds and rubble in front of the old store. Two youngish part-time cops named Holtz and Nestler get out and stroll toward Dale Gilbertson, trying hard not to react to the stench that gets more sickening with each step they take. Wendell can see that these lads have even more difficulty concealing their dismay and astonishment at seeing their chief engaged in apparently amiable conversation with Beezer St. Pierre, whom they probably suspect of myriad nameless crimes. They are farm boys, UW?CRiver Falls dropouts, who split a single salary and are trying so hard to make the grade as police officers that they tend to see things in rigid black-and-white. Dale calms them down, and Beezer, who could pick each of them up with one hand and smash their skulls like soft-boiled eggs, smiles benignly. In response to what must have been Dale's orders, the new boys trot back down to t he highway, on the way casting worshipful glances at Jack Sawyer, the poor saps. Jack wanders up to Dale for a little confab. Too bad Dale doesn't know that his buddy is concealing evidence, hah! Or, Wendell considers, does he know is he in on it, too? One thing's for sure: it will all come out in the wash, once the Herald runs the telltale pictures. In the meantime, the dude in the straw hat and the sunglasses just stands there with his arms folded across his chest, looking serene and confident, like he has everything so under control that even the smell can't reach him. This guy is obviously a key player, Wendell thinks. He calls the shots. Golden Boy and Dale want to keep him happy; you can see it in their body language. A touch of respect, of deference. If they are covering something up, they're doing it for him. But why? And what the devil is he? The guy is middle-aged, somewhere in his fifties, a generation older than Jack and Dale; he is too stylish to live in the country, so he's from Madison, maybe, or Milwaukee. He is obviously not a cop, and he doesn't look like a businessman, either. This is one self-reliant mother; that comes through loud and clear. Then another police car breaches the defenses down on 35 and rolls up beside the part-timers'. Golden Boy and Gilbertson walk up to it and greet Bobby Dulac and that other one, the fat boy, Dit Jesperson, but the dude in the hat doesn't even look their way. Now, that's cool. He stands there, all by himself, like a general surveying his troops. Wendell watches the mystery man produce a cigarette, light up, and exhale a plume of white smoke. Jack and Dale walk the new arrivals into the old store, and this bird keeps on smoking his cigarette, sublimely detached from everything around him. Through the rotting wall, Wendell can hear Dulac and Jesperson complaining about the smell; then one of them grunts Uh! when he sees the body. â€Å"Hello boys?† Dulac says. â€Å"Is this shit for real? Hello boys?† The voices give Wendell a good fix on the location of the corpse, way back against the far wall. Before the three cops and Sawyer begin to shuffle toward the front end of the store, Wendell leans out, aims his camera, and snaps a photograph of the mystery man. To his horror, the Cat in the Hat instantly looks in his direction and says, â€Å"Who took my picture?† Wendell jerks himself back into the protection of the wall, but he knows the guy must have seen him. Those sunglasses were pointed right at him! The guy has ears like a bat he picked up the noise of the shutter. â€Å"Come on out,† Wendell hears him say. â€Å"There's no point in hiding; I know you're there.† From his reduced vantage point, Wendell can just see a State Police car, followed by French Landing's DARE Pontiac, barreling up from the congestion at the end of the lane. Things seem to have reached the boiling point down there. Unless Wendell is wrong, he thinks he glimpses one of the bikers pulling a man out through the window of a nice-looking green Olds. Time to call in the cavalry, for sure. Wendell steps back from the front of the building and waves to the troops. Teddy Runkleman yells, â€Å"Hoo boy!† Doodles screeches like a cat in heat, and Wendell's four assistants charge past him, making all the noise he could wish for.

The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 20

â€Å"Cookies,† Alaric said gravely. â€Å"Bonnie thinks she could manage to choke down a few cookies. Just to keep her strength up.† â€Å"Cookies, got it,† said Meredith, rummaging in Mrs. Flowers's kitchen cabinet to find a mixing bowl. She clunked a big china bowl that was probably older than she was onto the counter and checked the refrigerator. Eggs, milk, butter. Flour in the freezer. Vanil a and sugar in the cupboard. â€Å"Look at you,† Alaric said admiringly as Meredith unwrapped a stick of butter. â€Å"You don't even need a recipe. Is there anything you can't do?† â€Å"Lots of things,† Meredith replied, basking in the warmth of Alaric's gaze. â€Å"What can I do to help?† he asked cheerful y. â€Å"You can get another mixing bowl and measure two cups of flour and a teaspoon of baking powder into it,† Meredith told him. â€Å"I'l beat the butter with the other ingredients in this bowl, and then we can put them together.† â€Å"Got it.† Alaric found a bowl and measuring cups and started to measure out the items. Meredith watched his strong, tanned hands confidently leveling off the flour. Alaric had gorgeous hands, she thought. His shoulders were nice, too, and his face. Al of him, real y. She realized she was ogling her boyfriend instead of stirring, and felt her cheeks color, even though no one was watching her. â€Å"Pass me the measuring cups when you're done with them?† He handed them to her. â€Å"I know something scary's going on, and I want to protect Bonnie, too,† he said, smiling a little, â€Å"but I think she might be milking the situation a little. She loves that everyone's pampering her.† â€Å"Bonnie's being very brave,† said Meredith primly, then flashed him a grin, â€Å"and, yes, she might be milking it.† Matt came down the stairs and into the kitchen. â€Å"I think maybe Bonnie should have some tea when she gets out of her bubble bath,† he said. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers is busy putting protective spel s on the bedroom Bonnie chose, but she said she has a mix of chamomile and rosemary that would be good, and to put honey in it.† Meredith focused on mixing the cookie ingredients together as Matt boiled water and careful y measured dried herbs and honey to make the tea to Mrs. Flowers's exact specifications. When he final y finished fussing over it, Matt picked up the fragile teacup and saucer careful y. â€Å"Wait, maybe I'd better take the whole pot up,† he said. As he searched for a tray to carry it on, he asked, â€Å"Meredith, are you sure you and Bonnie got everything she might need from her house?† â€Å"She was up there for nearly a half hour. She got everything she wanted,† said Meredith, â€Å"and if we missed anything, I'm sure Mrs. Flowers has some extras.† â€Å"Good,† said Matt, his handsome face intent as he picked up the tea tray without spil ing anything. â€Å"I just want to make sure Bonnie's okay.† He left the kitchen, and Meredith listened to his footsteps heading back upstairs. Once he was out of earshot, she and Alaric both burst out laughing. â€Å"Yes, she's definitely milking it,† said Meredith, when she'd stopped giggling. Alaric pul ed her toward him. His face was serious and intent now, and Meredith caught her breath. When they were this close, she could see the hidden flecks of gold in his hazel eyes, and they felt like a secret only Meredith knew. â€Å"I love how you take care of your friend,† Alaric told her, his voice low. â€Å"What I love most is that you know she's pushing it as far as she can, seeing what you'l do for her, and you laugh, but you're stil going to give her whatever she needs.† He frowned a little. â€Å"No, that's not right. I do love how you see the funny side of it, but what I love most is how wel you take care of everyone you can.† He pul ed her closer stil . â€Å"I guess mostly I love you, Meredith.† Meredith kissed him. How could she have worried that Celia would come between them? It was like there had been a mist fil ing her eyes, making it so that she was unable to see the simple truth: Alaric was crazy about her. After a minute, she broke the kiss and turned back to the cookie dough. â€Å"Get a cookie sheet, would you?† she asked. Alaric stood stil for a moment. â€Å"Okay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said. Closing her eyes, Meredith summoned al her strength. She had to tel him. She had promised herself she would. He handed her a cookie sheet and she busied herself by scooping spoonfuls of dough onto it. â€Å"There's something I need to tel you, Alaric,† she said. Alaric froze next to her. â€Å"What is it?† he asked, his voice wary. â€Å"It's going to sound unbelievable.† He gave a snort of laughter. â€Å"More unbelievable than everything else that's happened since I met you?† â€Å"Sort of,† Meredith said. â€Å"Or, at least, it's specifical y about me this time. I've been†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was hard to say. â€Å"I come from a family of vampire hunters. Al my life, I've been training to fight. I guess taking care of people is a family trait.† She smiled weakly. Alaric stared at her. â€Å"Say something,† Meredith prompted after a moment. He pushed his hair out of his eyes and looked wildly around. â€Å"I don't know what to say. I'm surprised you never told me this. I thought† – he paused – â€Å"that we knew each other real y wel .† â€Å"My family†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Meredith miserably. â€Å"They made me swear that I would keep our secret. I never told anybody until a few days ago.† Alaric closed his eyes for a minute and pressed his palms against them hard. When he opened them, he looked calmer. â€Å"I understand. I do.† â€Å"Wait,† said Meredith. â€Å"There's more.† The cookie sheet was ful , and she cast about for something else to occupy her hands and eyes while she talked. She settled on a dish towel and twisted it nervously. â€Å"Do you remember that Klaus attacked my grandfather?† Alaric nodded. â€Å"Wel , I found out a few days ago that he also attacked me, and stole my brother – the brother I'd never known I had – and took him away and made him a vampire. And he left me – I was only three – some kind of half vampire. A living girl, but one who needed to eat blood sausage and sometimes had†¦ sharp teeth like a kitten's.† â€Å"Oh, Meredith†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Alaric's face was ful of compassion, and he moved toward her, hands out. Toward me, Meredith noted. Not away, not afraid. â€Å"Wait,† she said again. â€Å"Elena asked the Guardians to change things to the way they would have been if Klaus never came here.† She put down the dish towel. â€Å"So it never happened.† â€Å"What?† Alaric said, staring at her. Meredith nodded, a helpless, confused smile spreading over her face. â€Å"My grandfather died in a retirement home in Florida two years ago. I have a brother – one I don't remember, unfortunately – he got sent away to boarding school when we were twelve and joined the military as soon as he turned eighteen. Apparently he's the problem child of the family.† She took a deep breath. â€Å"I'm not a vampire. Not even a half vampire. Not now.† Alaric was stil staring at her. â€Å"Wow,† he said. â€Å"Wait a minute. Does that mean that Klaus is stil alive? Could he come here, come after your family now?† â€Å"I thought of that,† Meredith said, glad to address the practicalities. â€Å"I don't think so. Elena asked the Guardians to change Fel ‘s Church so it was as if Klaus never came here. She didn't ask them to change Klaus and his experience. For him, I think, logical y, he did come here, long ago, and now he's dead.† She smiled shakily. â€Å"I hope so, anyway.† â€Å"So you're safe,† Alaric said, â€Å"as safe as a vampire hunter might be. Is that al you needed to tel me?† When Meredith nodded, he reached for her and pul ed her back into his arms. Holding her tightly, he said. â€Å"I would have loved you with sharp teeth, too. But I'm so glad for you.† Meredith closed her eyes. She had needed to tel him, to know how he would have reacted if the Guardians hadn't changed everything. A great warming gladness spread al through her. Alaric pressed his lips against her hair. â€Å"Wait,† she said once more, and he released her, looking inquisitive. â€Å"The cookies.† Meredith laughed and put them in the oven, setting the timer for ten minutes. They kissed until the buzzer rang. â€Å"Are you sure you'l be okay alone?† Matt asked anxiously, standing by Bonnie's bed. â€Å"I'l be right downstairs if you need anything. Or maybe I should stay here. I could sleep on your floor. I know I snore, but I'd try not to, I swear.† Bonnie gave him a brave little smile. â€Å"I'l be fine, Matt. Thank you so much.† With one last worried glance, Matt patted her hand awkwardly, then left the room. Bonnie knew he would toss and turn on his own bed, thinking of ways to keep her safe. Probably he would end up sleeping on the floor outside her door, she thought, giving a delighted little wriggle. â€Å"Sleep wel , my dear,† said Mrs. Flowers, taking his place by Bonnie's bedside. â€Å"I have cast al the protective charms I know around you. I hope you like the tea. It's my own special brew.† â€Å"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Good night.† â€Å"You are enjoying this way too much,† said Meredith, who came in next carrying a plate of cookies. She was limping, but had insisted that she didn't need a cane or crutch as long as her ankle was bandaged. In fact†¦ Bonnie took a closer look at Meredith. Her cheeks were flushed, and her usual y smooth hair was a little mussed. I think she's very glad that Celia's gone to UVA, Bonnie thought with a smirk. â€Å"I'm just trying to keep my spirits up,† Bonnie said with a mischievous smile. â€Å"And you know what they say: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. My lemonade is having Matt trying to fulfil my every need. It's too bad we don't have more boys around here.† â€Å"Don't forget about Alaric,† said Meredith. â€Å"He helped make the cookies. And he's downstairs researching everything he can that might be related to this.† â€Å"Ah, everyone catering to me, that's what I like,† Bonnie joked. â€Å"Did I tel you how much I enjoyed the dinner you made? Al my favorites†¦ it was like my birthday. Or my last meal,† she added more soberly. Meredith frowned. â€Å"Are you sure you don't want me to stay in here? I know we've protected the house as wel as we can, but we don't real y know what we're fighting. And just because the last couple of attacks took place in daylight with the whole group around, it doesn't necessarily mean that's the way they have to be. What if whatever this is can get past our defenses?† â€Å"I wil be fine,† said Bonnie. Intel ectual y she knew she was in danger, but oddly, she didn't feel scared. She was in a house with people she trusted, al of whom were focused wholeheartedly on her safety. Besides, she had a plan for the night – something she couldn't do if Meredith slept in the room. â€Å"Are you sure?† Meredith fretted. â€Å"Yes,† Bonnie said emphatical y. â€Å"If something bad was going to happen to me tonight, I'd know in advance, right? Because I'm psychic, and I get warnings about things.† â€Å"Hmmm,† said Meredith, quirking one eyebrow. For a moment she looked like she was going to argue. Bonnie kept her gaze firm. Final y, Meredith put the tray of cookies on the table by the bed next to the teapot and cup Matt had brought up earlier, pul ed the curtains across the window, and looked anxiously around to see what else could be done. â€Å"Okay, then,† she said. â€Å"I'l be right next door if you need me.† â€Å"Thanks, Mer. Good night.† As soon as the knob clicked into place, Bonnie lay back in bed and bit into a cookie. Delicious. A slow smile bloomed on her lips. She was the center of attention now, as if she were a Victorian heroine bravely suffering from some kind of wasting il ness. She had been encouraged to pick out her favorite of the boardinghouse's many bedrooms and had chosen this one. It was a charming room with creamy rose-patterned wal paper and a maple sleigh bed. Matt hadn't left her side al night. Mrs. Flowers had fussed around her, fluffing pil ows and offering her herbal tonics, and Alaric had been conscientiously researching protection spel s in al the grimoires he could find. Even Celia, who had never been anything but snippy to her about her â€Å"visions,† promised before she left to let her know as soon as she found something helpful. Bonnie turned on her side, inhaling the sweet scent of Mrs. Flowers's tea. Here in this cozy room, it was impossible to feel like she needed protection, that she could be in danger this very second. But was she? What was the time frame after one's name was cal ed? After Celia's name had appeared, she had been attacked within the hour. After Meredith's had appeared, she hadn't been attacked until the next day. Maybe things were getting more spaced out. Maybe Bonnie wasn't going to be in danger until tomorrow or the next day. Or next week. And Damon's name had appeared before Bonnie's did. Bonnie's skin tingled at the thought of Damon's name in lake weeds. Damon was dead. She had seen him die – and in fact he'd died for her (although everyone else, in their compassion for Elena, seemed to have forgotten that). But the appearance of his name must mean something. And she was determined to figure out just what. She listened. She could hear the sounds of Meredith moving around in the room next door with a steady thumping that suggested she was practicing with her stave, and from down below came the faint voices of Matt, Alaric, and Mrs. Flowers talking in the study. Bonnie could wait. She poured herself a cup of tea, crunched on another cookie, and wiggled her toes pleasurably under the soft pink sheets. She sort of liked being a supernatural invalid. An hour later, she had finished her cup of tea and al the cookies, and the house was quieter. It was time. She climbed out of bed, her too-long polka-dotted pajama pants flapping around her ankles, and opened her overnight bag. While Meredith had waited downstairs at her house, she had pried up the loose board by her bed and taken out Traversing the Boundaries Between the Quick and the Dead, a book of matches, a silver knife, and the four candles she needed for the ritual. Now she took them out of her bag and rol ed back the rug by the bed so she could crouch on the floor. Tonight, nothing was going to stop her. She was going to reach Damon. Maybe he could tel her what was going on. Or maybe he was in some sort of danger, in whatever plane dead vampires ended up on, and needed to be warned. In any case, she missed him. Bonnie hunched her shoulders and wrapped her arms around herself for a moment. Damon's death had hurt her, not that anyone had noticed. Everyone's attention, everyone's sympathies, had been directed toward Elena. As usual. Bonnie got back to work. Quickly, she lit the first candle and, dripping wax on the floor to anchor it upright, placed it to her north. â€Å"Fire in the North, protect me,† she whispered. She lit them in widdershins order: black to the north, white to the west, black to the south, white to the east. When the circle of protection was complete around her, she closed her eyes and sat quietly for a few moments, focusing herself, reaching to find the power at her center. When she opened her eyes, she took a deep breath, picked up the silver knife, and quickly, without giving herself time to wimp out, cut a gash across her left palm. â€Å"Ouch,† she muttered, and turned her hand over, dripping blood on the floor in front of her. Then she dabbed the fingers of her right hand in the blood and smeared a bit on each candle. Bonnie's skin tingled painful y as magic rose around her. Her senses honed, and she could see tiny movements in the air, as if flashes of light were appearing and disappearing just out of sight. â€Å"‘Through the darkness I cal to you,'† she intoned. She didn't need to look at the book; she had memorized this part. â€Å"‘With my blood I cal to you; with fire and silver I cal to you. Hear me through the cold beyond the grave. Hear me through the shadows beyond the night. I summon you. I have need of you. Hear me and come!'† The room went stil . It was the stil ness of expectation, as if some great creature were holding its breath. Bonnie felt like an entire audience stood around her, suspended in eagerness. The veil between the worlds was about to lift. She had no doubts. â€Å"Damon Salvatore,† she said clearly. â€Å"Come to me.† Nothing happened. â€Å"Damon Salvatore,† Bonnie said again, less confidently, â€Å"come to me.† The tension, the feeling of magic in the room was beginning to dissipate, as if her invisible audience were quietly creeping away. Yet Bonnie knew the spel had worked. She had a funny, blank, cutoff feeling, like when she was talking on the phone and her carrier suddenly dropped the cal . Her cal had gone through, she was sure of it, but there was no one on the other end. Only what did it mean? Was Damon's soul just†¦ gone? Suddenly Bonnie heard something. A light breathing, just a smidge out of time with her own. There was someone right behind her. The hairs rose on the back of her neck. She hadn't broken the circle of protection. Nothing should be able to cross into that circle, certainly no spirit, but whoever was behind her was inside the circle, so close to Bonnie that they were almost touching her. Bonnie froze. Then slowly, careful y, she put down her hand and felt for the knife. â€Å"Damon?† she whispered uncertainly. A tinkling laugh sounded behind her, fol owed by a low voice. â€Å"Damon doesn't want to talk to you.† The voice was honey-sweet, but somehow also poisonous-sounding, insidious and oddly familiar. â€Å"Why not?† Bonnie asked shakily. â€Å"He doesn't love you,† the voice said in a soft, persuasive tone. â€Å"He never even noticed you were there, unless there was something he wanted from you. Or perhaps if he wanted to make Elena jealous. You know that.† Bonnie swal owed, too afraid to turn around, too afraid to see who the voice belonged to. â€Å"Damon saw only Elena. Damon loved only Elena. Even now that he's dead and lost to her, he won't hear you cal ing,† the voice lilted. â€Å"Nobody loves you, Bonnie. Everyone loves Elena, and that's how she likes it. Elena keeps everyone for herself.† A burning sensation began behind Bonnie's eyes, and a single hot tear ran down her cheek. â€Å"No one wil ever love you,† the voice whispered. â€Å"Not when you're standing next to Elena. Why do you think no one ever saw you as anything but Elena's friend? Al the way through school, she was standing in the sunshine and you were hidden in her shadow. Elena made sure of that. She couldn't bear to share the spotlight.† The words rattled inside Bonnie's mind, and suddenly something inside her shifted. The icy terror she'd felt just moments ago had thawed, making way for roiling anger. The voice was right. Why had she never seen it before? Elena was Bonnie's friend only because Bonnie was a foil for her own beauty, her own sparkle. She had been using her for years without caring how Bonnie felt at al . â€Å"She cares only about herself,† Bonnie said, half sobbing. â€Å"Why can't anyone see that?† She shoved the book away from her and it knocked over the black candle to her north, breaking the circle. The wick smoked and guttered, and al four candles went out. â€Å"Ahhhh,† said the voice in satisfaction, and tendrils of dark fog began to creep from the corners of the room. Just as quickly as her fear had left her, it snapped back. Bonnie spun around, holding the knife, ready to face the voice, but there was no one there – just dark, amorphous fog. Hysteria wel ing within her, she got to her feet and stumbled toward the door. But the fog moved quickly, and soon Bonnie was enveloped in it. Something fel with a clatter. She couldn't see more than a few inches. Bonnie opened her mouth and tried to scream, but the fog flowed over her lips, and her scream turned into a muffled moan. She felt her grip on the knife loosen and it dropped to the floor with a dul clank. Her vision grew blurry. Bonnie tried to lift her foot but could barely move. Then, blinded by the fog, she lost her balance and pitched forward into darkness.

Should Nevada legalize the possession of marijuana Research Paper

Should Nevada legalize the possession of marijuana - Research Paper Example Nevada should not legalize the possession of Marijuana. First, possession of marijuana would lead to more serious drug additions since the drug will be easily accessible than it previously was. These drugs could pose a higher risk than that caused by Marijuana. Marijuana intake makes a person to be violent to anyone who tries to go his way and also makes parents neglect their children. If Nevada legalizes marijuana, this would make it easily available, and more new users would get to the vice. Roads carnage is likely to be on the rise since drivers would be driving under the influence of the drug (Jorge 4). The addicts of hard drugs were once consumers of marijuana; therefore, legalization it would open doors for consumers to get into the same trend (Jorge 5). Those advocating for the legalization of marijuana in Nevada cite the medicinal value, which is extremely hypothetical and is yet to be proved scientifically. In fact, the drug is called second schedule, which means that it is yet to pass to the first class schedule. It would seem irresponsible when the laws passed to protect the citizens are the same ones used to destroy their health. Those advocating for the legalization of Marijuana are merely concerned with the economic growth, and not the welfare of its people. Since the sales of tobacco have gone down, they believe Marijuana sales will boost the economy. Thus, the legalization of Marijuana in Nevada is for political and economic gains, which are likely to be disadvantageous in the long run (Mitchell 21). Nevada should not legalize the possession of Marijuana since this would stimulate the trade in drugs. Legalization of Marijuana will consequently lead to more cases of drug trafficking than when the drug is not legalized. As a result, crimes and lack of security in Nevada would increase. Drug dealers would take advantage of the law and possess other drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin (Goldberg 252). Some patients

SWK2010 How Can Social Work Practice Address The Resettlement Needs of Research Proposal

SWK2010 How Can Social Work Practice Address The Resettlement Needs of Black and Ethnic Minority Mothers Leaving Prison - Research Proposal Example ences compared to white offenders for similar offences, for example, in 1998 47% of white adult prisoners had a sentence of 4 years and over, whereas, 58% of Asian adult prisoners and 63% of black adult prisoners had received such a sentence Moreover, research has shown an alarming rise in the number of women sent to prison, up to 145% in the last 5 years(Sharp et al, 2006, p.4-5). There are approximately 2.3 million Black and Minority Ethnic women in the UK, making up just fewer than 4% of the total population of the UK, and around 8% of women (Brittain et al, 2005, p.5). Many researchers have shown that black and minority ethnic women are more vulnerable to the criminal activities compared to the white because of lack of education, poverty and cultural factors. Some of these women may enter the prison as single, but return with babies. The resettlement of black and ethnic minority mothers is a big social problem in UK at present. If the resettlement of these minority groups is not done properly, they can cause even bigger social problems than the one they already received punishment. Re-offending costs for the society in UK is around  £11 billion per year according to Sharp et al, (2006). They also mentioned that in April 2001, the Prison Service and DFES (then the DfEE) established a new partnership and forged links with the Youth Justice Board and Probat ion Service to promote coherence in the various strategies adopted to reduce re-offending and support the resettlement of offenders by giving them education and training in prison itself to develop skills needed to find a job after their release (Sharp et al, 2006, p.1). â€Å"The ballooning prison population is making it more difficult for ex-offenders to find settled accommodation when they are released, according to the initial findings of a radical new resettlement project† (Inside Housing, 2008). North (n. d) has mentioned that by 2009, it is predicted that there will be 9000 women in custody in UK prisons

Issues concerning the rights of minority members in Australia and the Essay

Issues concerning the rights of minority members in Australia and the manner in which shareholder rights may be protected - Essay Example Australia is a nation with strong legal system with a higher level of legal protection for shareholders and creditors2 compared to other nations (La Porta et al, 1998, 1999).In this essay, the various issues concerning the minority shareholder rights in Australia and the different ways by which the shareholder rights may be protected are discussed in detail. This is organized as follows. In the second section, the theoretical perspectives of corporate governance and the problems between directors and shareholders are discussed. In the third section, the directors and shareholders; rights and obligations are discussed. In the fourth section, various issues regarding the minority shareholder rights are discussed. In the fifth section, various remedies for protecting minority shareholder rights are discussed in detail. The fifth section concludes the essay. Starting from classical economists like Smith (1776), Berle, and Means (1932), many studies have been done on the conflicts of interests between the principal or investors and the agent or managers. The idea of separating the concepts of ownership and control has been developed based on these studies. The role of corporate governance comes in this context. According to Shleifer and Vishny (1997), corporate governance is given a broad definition.Corporate governance â€Å" deals with the ways in which suppliers of finance to corporations assure themselves of getting a return on their investment†. OECD(1999) defines corporate governance as â€Å"the system by which business corporations are directed and controlled. The corporate governance structure specifies the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different participants in the corporation, such as the board, managers, shareholders and other stakeholders, and spells out the rules and procedures for making decisions on corporate affairs. By doing this, it also provides the structure through which the company objectives are

Comparison of Train Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparison of Train Services - Essay Example In terms of demographics all the train services that are being analysed here, do their best to appeal to particular target customer groups based on the types of service that they offer to their clientele. Virgin Trains attract and appeal to a very up class clientele for its first class travel. Virgin Trains is by far the most expensive train service of the three that has been analysed here and therefore the demographic group that they appeal to are those that are economically well off and business travelers - as their first class passage rates are very high. National Express and the East Midlands Train lines (even though they use Virgin Trains), appeal to clients with a more economical view and therefore the demographic group that is attracted to these services are the middle class and lower middle class travelers ("MIDLAND: Take the Financial", 2006). In terms of geographical spread of the trains, the National Express Lines have the widest spread. ... On the contrary it tries to make the highest possible profit by increasing passenger numbers and providing services to the largest customer group within its area of operation (Gardiner & Matthews, 2000). In terms of psychology the three different train services uses different psychologies of the customers to appeal to them and to attract them to the respective services. In the case of Virgin Trains the psychology that is used is one of luxury and advertising, promotions as well as the first class carriages in terms of physical appearance and ambience projects an image of class as well as luxury (Cruddas, 2007). This is not to say that the first class services with the other train services do not project an image of luxury, but rather to say that they lag behind that of the Virgin Trains and therefore appeal to clients who want economy as well as luxury and are not willing to pay "top dollar" just for the sake of luxury. In terms of client behaviour, it can be stated that it goes with the territory, Virgin Trains attracts a very up-class segment of customers and therefore the manner in which they behave is very much more different than those seen in the first class service of National Express ("National Express to Change", 2007). This is because as stated in the previous sections the customers who travel in the first class carriages of the other train services are more money conscious than those traveling in the Virgin Trains. Also many politician, high ranking government servants as well are seen traveling in the Virgin Trains as opposed to the other train services ("We've Made Train Services More", 2007). Pricing Strategy Now that the author has looked at the segmentation methods that have been used by

The moon Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The moon - Research Paper Example The parts that fragmented from this impact came together to form what is now seen as the moon (Howell 2014). A recent study by scientists upon a rock drawn from Apollo mission on the moon shows some evidence of this occurrence. The new research shows isotopic differences between the moons rock and those from the earth. The importance of this development is that it shows that a body of different composition must have caused the difference. If the moon came from Theia which is different from the earth, then the composition must be different. The scanning was done on samples from three Apollo missions 11, 12 and 16 with electron microscopes that are way better than what was used in the 60s and 70s when scientists took a first look at the rocks. By then, the microscopes could not allow them to detect any significant differences. The recent findings have it that the moon has 12 parts per million-17 greater oxygen content than that of the earth (Henney 2014). One of the most obvious effect s of the moon on earth is the presence of ocean tides, especially the spring tides which occur when the gravitational pulling of the earth combines with that of the moon to cause the highest rise. The rise of the sea and the fall of the same have major effect of sea life as life is exposed to air and dipped in water in a matter of hours. This shift is thought to be a major influence to evolution. The moon also has an effect on the rising tides of solid bodies on earth.

Gene Manipulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Gene Manipulation - Essay Example James Watson discovered the double helix structure of DNA. Due to which currently we have knowledge of our genes and thus makes it easier to manipulate them. Scientists already have made wonderful discoveries regarding how genes are related to diseases. Discovering the genes for cystic fibrosis as well as Huntington's disease are without a doubt important achievements, even though new treatments for both the disorders have not been discovered as yet. The discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes of breast cancer were extraordinary accomplishments, even though they are responsible for less than 10 %of all kinds of breast cancer. Scientists will discover significant genetic associations with diseases in the next few years, some of which may eventuate in preventions or treatments that may reduce human suffering. whilst the identifying of for behavior genes are not quite understandable, there is little suspicion that scientific reports regarding new genetic tendencies or basis of behaviors will be a common occurrence in the up coming years . Furthermore, different kinds of genetic "alternative," from selection of sex to the traits of personalit y to better abilities might become obtainable by means of "gene therapy," which are also known as gene manipulation such as technologies or genetic reproductive or human cloning. This is only the beginning of the age of genetics. Genetic engineering means the human, and hence "artificial" (as in the sense of nature doesn't do this without our help), manipulation of genes. This may involve, as in the case of genetically modified foods, manipulating genes in individual organisms, one at a time. Of course, scientists do not sit there and place new genes by hand into every single potato. There are ways to do this in large batches at a time. But the expectation is that someday not too long from now we will place genes by hand, one at a time, into human fetuses or individual patients to correct deficiencies or replace "bad" genes that cause particular diseases. This sort of individual manipulation is what many people imagine when they hear the term genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is also commonly known as the manipulation of the gene pool, or the entire genes of every the individual in a population. New techniques have recently allowed fertility clinics to determine with a high statistical probability of success whether a fertilized egg is likely to be male or female. If a couple wants only females, perhaps because the parents carry genes that cause disease only in male offspring, then the clinic can pick out the females and implant only those in the mother. This is genetic engineering, the engineering of the genetic outcome of reproduction. Imagine that a clinic allows parents to choose the eggs or sperm that carry the "smartest" or "prettiest" or "strongest" genes and throw away the others. That is also genetic engineering. And it raises additional questions. What we tend to forget is that genetics is not everything. Genetics alone is not destiny, because development and the environment make a great difference in how genes are expressed. Parents of children with Down syndrome (also known as trisomy 21), for example, remind us that children with traits deemed to be a

Ethnicity and Religion Essay Example for Free

Ethnicity and Religion Essay This compared with around 45% of Hindus and Sikhs. In contrast, only 11% of white people described themselves as belonging to the Church of England. Amongst Muslim men over the age of 35, four in five reported that they visit mosque at least once every week. Data from the 1991 census demonstrates that Britain is ethnically diverse, there is a wide range of ethnic groups with different religious affiliations, and there are more ethnic groups than identified in the census data Modood and Berthoud (1997) analysed the 1991 Census data on ethnicity they suggest that ethnicity comprises: 1. Subjective identification: with which ethnicity do I and my group identify? 2. Religious identification; to what extent does it help construct ethnicity? A number of general points can be made about religious affiliation among ethnic minority groups; that is, those people comprising the 5. 49% of the population identified in the Census as non-white. Most ethnic groups are more religious than the majority of the population. The table below shows the results of a survey conducted in Britain which asked respondents to state their religious affiliation

The Corruption of Macbeth and Duddy Essay Example for Free

The Corruption of Macbeth and Duddy Essay Everyone should follow their dreams, but sometimes when you get too caught up in your dreams; you begin to forget about reality. Throughout the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare and the novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, written by Mordecai Richler, protagonists Macbeth and Duddy become corrupted as they on the pursuit of their dream. Throughout the novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and the play Macbeth, both protagonists have characters in their life that influence them into becoming corrupt. Both characters, Duddy and Macbeth have such a strong ambition that it leads to the corruption of themselves. Duddy and Macbeth’s pursuit of their dreams leads them to be greedy which leads to their corruption. In the play Macbeth, and novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, external forces influence Macbeth and Duddy’s decisions, Macbeth and Duddy’s ambition controls their actions and the greed that Macbeth and Duddy possess, all lead to their corruption while they are both on the pursuit of their dreams. Throughout the play Macbeth and the novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz we begin to see that external forces in these characters’ lives help lead to their corruption. In both books we see that some characters attempt to show Macbeth and Duddy that they must commit crimes to accomplish their goals in life. An example from Macbeth is when Lady Macbeth attempts to persuade Macbeth into committing evil acts and tries to explain to him that he cannot change what has already been done. In the play Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth â€Å"Things with all remedy should be done without regard. What’s done is done†. (Macbeth, 2) This shows us that Lady Macbeth tried to show Macbeth that if you want something you need do whatever you can to obtain it and you cannot change what has already been done in the past, which helps lead to his corruption. Similarily, in Duddy, the Boy Wonder tries to have Duddy commit crimes to â€Å"help† Duddy become rich and achieve his go als. One quote from the novel representing this is â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote shows how Boy Wonder tried to have Duddy commit these crimes to try to show him how to accomplish his goals in life, although, it just helps lead to the corruption of Duddy. In both stories external forces have told Macbeth and Duddy what they have to do in order become successful. In Macbeth, the witches inform on how to become king which corrupts him. A quote from the play showing this is â€Å"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!† (Shakespeare, 10) Another quote showing his reaction to this is â€Å"Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more!† (Shakespeare, 11) This shows us how the witches told Macbeth that he could become king and then he gets too caught up in it which finally leads to his corruption. In Duddy we see Simcha tell Duddy that â€Å"A man without land is nothing.†(Richler, ) After Simcha tells Duddy this, Duddy does whatever he can to be a man with  land without truly thinking about what he is doing. This helps leads to the corruption of Duddy. The external forces around Macbeth and Duddy influence their decisions which lead to the corruption of both characters. Macbeth and Duddy are so focused on the pursuit of their dream that their ambition to obtain their dream leads to their corruption. In both stories Macbeth and Duddy’s ambition to pursuit their dream becomes so large that both protagonists are willing to do anything in order to achieve that dream. Throughout Macbeth we see many times where he is willing to do anything in order to become king. A quote from the play showing this is â€Å"The Prince of Cumberland! This is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap; For in my way it lies.† (Shakespeare, 16) Now we see that Macbeth is willing do anything to become king and his ambition to become king has become far too great, and in the end it leads to his corruption and downfall. Just like Macbeth, Duddy is willing to do anything he can in order to obtain his dream and have all his land even if it means hurting others that are close to him. We see this when Duddy steals money from Virgil when it says â€Å"Duddy took a quick look virgil’s bank balance, whistled, noted his account number and ripped out two cheques. He forged the signature by holding the cheque and a letter Virgil had signed up to the window and tracing slowly.† (Richler, 307-308) This shows that Duddy’s ambition to get his land has him doing anything he can to get it which leads to his corruption. Also, throughout both Macbeth and Duddy, their ambition to pursue their dream leads to death or injuries of other characters which leads to their corruption. As Macbeth’s ambition grows and he murders Duncan, we see him feel guilt when he says â€Å"I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on ‘t again I dare not.† (Shakespeare, 30) We see Macbeth begin to feel guilty and the more characters that die we see he begins to become more and more corrupt. Similar to Macbeth, we see Duddy’s ambition to pursue his dream lead to a very severe injury of one of his friends. Duddy’s epileptic employee, Virgil, gets injured while driving and we see the corruption of Duddy when he says â€Å"I hope he dies and I never have to see him again.† (Richler, 248) This helps us see that Duddy’s ambition led to the injury of his friend and employee, and we see how corrupt he is becoming. The ambition of Macbeth and Duddy become so great that as they pursue to their dreams, it leads to their own corruption. Macbeth and Duddy’s greed that comes from the pursuit of their dream, leads to their corruption. Both Macbeth and Duddy only care about themselves and it leads to their corruption. An example from Macbeth is when Macbeth hears about being able to be the Thane of Cawdor and the king he wants to know how even though he is already the Thane of Glamis. The witch tells Macbeth, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!† (Shakespeare, 10) Even though Macbeth is already the Thane of Glamis and is considered to be a noble and royal man he wants more. As his greed grows Macbeth becomes more and more corrupted. Similar to Macbeth, Duddy’s pursuit of a dream makes him greedy as he gets a truck for free and lies to Virgil about it so he doesn’t have to pay him $1000. Duddy’s greed for money gets in the way as he lies to Virgil by saying â€Å"It’s in beautiful shape and he wants twelve-  fifty for it. But if you were interested, Virgie, and willing to pay cash, I think I could swing it for a thousand.†(Richler, 215) We see that as Duddy pursues his dream he becomes greedy and only cares about himself, which leads to his corruption. In both of the stories, Macbeth and Duddy’s greed grow on the pursuit of their dreams and it leads to their loneliness which leads to their corruption. So many people die because of Macbeth’s greed on his pursuit of his dream that when Lady Macbeth dies he is all alone and he becomes corrupted. As Macbeth hears about the death of Lady Macbeth he says, â€Å"Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.†(Shakespeare, 87) We see that as Macbeth’s greed grows he does things that make him lonely, and in the end he is all alone with nothing to live for. This helps towards the corruption of Macbeth. Duddy’s greed gets the best of him as he loses Yvette after the injury to Virgil. After Yvette stops seeing Duddy he says, â€Å"Without Yvette the office was a bore. Going out on the road, doing Virgil’s job, was the only peace he knew those days, and heading back for Montreal at two in the morning he always drove as fast he could, sure that Yvette would be home when he got there. Often he woke in the middle of the night, thinking he had heard her on the stairs, but he did not go down to her apartment, and he waited for more than two weeks before he phoned her.† (Richler, 250) We see that as Duddy becomes more selfish, he only focuses on the pursuit of his dream and as he loses Yvette, we see how corrupt he has truly become. Macbeth and Duddy become so greedy because of the pursuit of their dream, in the end it helps corrupt them. Throughout Macbeth and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, characters in the lives of Macbeth and Duddy help lead to their corruption, Macbeth and Duddy’s ambition towards their goals help lead to their corruption and the greed they both get from the pursuit of their dreams leads to their corruptions. Characters that are in the lives of both protagonists control the decisions the protagonists make which leads to their corruption. The ambition both Macbeth and Duddy achieve while pursuing their dreams leads to their corruption. The greed both characters obtain on the pursuit of their dream has them feeling all alone and it leads to their corruption. In conclusion, on the way to pursuing their dreams, both protagonists Macbeth and Duddy let characters influence their decisions, which helped Macbeth and Duddy’s ambition grow, which made both protagonists greedy, and in the end, both characters Macbeth and Duddy, become corrupt.

The Two Main Theories Of Nationalism Politics Essay

The Two Main Theories Of Nationalism Politics Essay During this assignment I will discuss the two main theories of nationalism and how it came about. The two main theories I will discuss are primordial ad constructivism. The fundamental definitions of nationalism will be primarily defined independently; afterwards nationalism will be justified as not being exclusive to any one of these theories but instead that they are linked together due to the complexity of politics and social transformation. Primordial nationalism is the theory that nations have a national identity embedded, nations are rooted in a common cultural heritage and language  [1]  where nationalism is not an ideology and that it is natural and instinctive. The constructivists theory states that national identity is forged in response to social and historical circumstances where it has an ideological basis for it to exist this also extends to the idea of nationalism used through the political dimensions and state power to achieve political objectives which is a polit ical ideological system.  [2]   Ideology In order to discuss the difficulties of defining nationalism it is essential we understand what ideology is. Ideology is an inherently subjective collection of ideas, or concepts, about how power should be, or is, ordered within society  [3]  . This ideology is to be understood by great masses of people, and it is about how to use power within a society. Primordial Nationalism: Primordial nationalism focuses on historic and inherent social practices as the source of the roots of its nation. The most fundamental factors of primordial nationalism are: That people are inherently group orientated and nations are a product of this. National identity is forged by common descent, shared language and a sense of territorial belonging. Nations are historical entities Nationalism is characterised by deep emotional attachments that resemble kinship ties. individuals identify with families, villages, regions, age, sex groups, classes, religions, ethnic and national communities  [4]   Such views are shared with philosophers such as Johann Herder who argues that each nation has a volksgeist which is the spirit of the people which expresses itself through song, myths and legends.  [5]   Anthony Smith, The Ethnic sources of Nationalism Anthony Smith advances the studies of primordial nationalism emphasising the continuity with modern nations and pre modern ethnic communities which he calls Ethnies  [6]  . He views pre modern ethnic communities as a template for modern states. For a nation to be present he believes that the most fundamental factors in achieving nationalism are namesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦myth of a common ancestryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦importance of historical memoriesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦shared cultureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦attachment to a specific territory [and]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ finally an element of solidarity  [7]  . From Anthony smith beliefs, there are three basic processes of ethno national transformation which is the transition from Ethnies to an ethnic nation. Ethno-nationalism is the ideology of uniting an ethno-cultural group with territory by way of genealogy  [8]  . The first process is called Vernacular Mobilization which involves the rediscovery of indigenous traditions, customs, symbols, memories and language by ethnic intellectuals. E.g. Quebecois nationalist movement. The second process is known as Cultural Politicization, in which the communitys cultural heritage is treated as a political resource, where what use to be regarded as traditions now become weapons in a cultural war waged both against outsiders and against the guardians of tradition e.g. Indian nationalism. The third process is known as ethnic purification which is a consequence of the other two processes. It begins with a return to the popular vernacular which is used specifically for political purposes and incorporates a belief in the sanctity of that culture. To preserve the culture it must be kept away from undesirable influences  [9]  . A good example of primordial nationalism is the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where in and around 800 people were murdered. It is argued that it was due to ethnicity and rivals between ethnic groups. The Hutu which were an ethnic group in Rwanda felt they needed to kill their ethnic neighbours the Tutsi so they could gain establishment and distinction of others ethnic identities. Constructivist theory: The constructivist theory states that national identity is forged in response to social and historical circumstances in which nationalism is a method of finding replacements for the loss of some cultural concepts. Constructivism links the origins of nationalism to the process of modernization. Constructivism can be related to three very important themes which are: The emergence of industrial economies which created new social tensions and broke traditional social bonds which begged the need for a national identity for the people. States play an important role in creating a sense of national identity which constructs a nation. The spread of mass education and mass literacy was a massive contribution towards national identity.  [10]   Ernst Gellner, Nations and Nationalism Ernst Gellner a philosopher stated that emerging industrial societies promoted social mobility and competition which inevitably required a new source of cultural cohesion which was to be provided by nationalism. Nationalism invented the nation not the other way around, Having a nation is not an inherent attribute of humanity but it has now come to appear as such  [11]  . He illustrates and discusses a nation in which for two men to be in the same nation requires two things: Common culture, as in a mutual understanding of each others meanings Recognition of mutual rights and duties to each other and virtue of shared membership in it. Benidict Anderson, Imagined Communities Benidict Anderson, an Irish academic, views nations as an imagined community  [12]  where individuals only meet a fraction of those with whom they share a national identity with. His theory of imagined communities suggests that nationalism is constructed through common literacy, common language, education, mass media and political socialization and that a nation as a community can only be imagined due to the sheer number of people who never see each other and the loss off supranational religions and political identities. It is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their the minds of each lives the image of their communion.  [13]   Constructivism through political views In re-constructing the political order of a society it is essential to have new ideologies, this has led to modern nations being built on philosophical grounds. A good example of this would be the USA which was founded on the principals of liberalism  [14]  . Once this ideological basis has being formed a historical identity is creation for the nation. Through this new discovery of the past cultural bonds and an essence of relationship between people is formed. Constructivism portrays nationalism quite clearly as an ideology. An extension to the constructivism theory is the political view of nationalism which states that nationalism has its objective of gaining and using state power. This form of nationalism relates to political movements already existing in states where they use the concept of the nation where the interests of the nation are supposed to take priority over all other interests where the nation has full sovereignty. Realistically its a response to the distinction between state and society, nationalism eliminates the distinction between cultural and political life where it soon becomes a dictatorship. Political Nationalism utilizes the perceived culture of society for the purpose of gaining political power.  [15]   Eric Hobsbawm, The invention of Tradition Marxists such as Eric Hobsbawm tend to view nationalism as a device through which the ruling class counters the threat of social revolution by ensuring that national loyalty is stronger than class solidarity thereby binding the working class to the existing power structure. Hobsbawm beliefs are that nations and nationalism is a product of modernism and have been created as a means to political and economic ends  [16]  . He discusses the inventions of tradition which are products of social creation which are engineered to serve the interests of the elites. After the invention those traditions establish continuity and use history as a legitimate action and cement a groups cohesion  [17]  . When a state is under pressure they would target class, church and the nation where they transferred people into citizens of a particular state, peasants into Frenchmen  [18]  . He believes that nationalism does not make states visa versa that states make nations. Hobsbawm argues that, at the time of the French revolution In 1789 only have of the people spoke some French and between 12%-13% spoke it fairly  [19]  . Nationalism is created at the top. True nationalist feelings will only occur if the needs of the average person can be achieved from it.  [20]   A good example of this would be Bismarckian unification with Germany in 1871. The inventions of traditions manifested with the concepts of cultural, political and military supremacy in which it could claim the right to be united as a single greater German state. This unification was the only historical experience which the citizens had in common. The Franco-German war was central as Germany had a national tradition which they clearly wanted to emphasise, they emphasised it through ceremonials and rituals invented. One gymnasium record there were no less than 10 ceremonies between august 1895 and march 1896 recalling the 25th anniversary of the Franco-Prussian war. Posen Barry Nationalism, the Mass Army, and Military Power Posen another philosopher argues that nationalism is caused due to preparation of war and mass mobilization warfare. Nationalism is purveyed by states for the express purpose of improving their military capabilities  [21]  . Nationalism helps generate the individual commitment to make for military combat. The anarchical condition of international relations revolves around his idea of nationalism and why it is constructed. There are two aspects to his idea of nationalism which constitute literacy and ideology which are subject to state action, states institute compulsory education and engage in propaganda because military and political leaders believe that such ideas enhance the commitment of the groups to the purpose of the war to increase their willingness to sacrifice their lives  [22]  . He discusses the war between Prussia and France emphasising how large masses when used, needed nationalism where people were bred not trained. Political propaganda was used through journals and pamphlets which were often read aloud. There was an increased emphasis in literacy within the army as criterion for promotion. In 1794 it was made compulsory for commissioned and non- commissioned officers to read and write. John Lynn stated that these efforts were highly successful. Not only did they contribute to the well- known elan of these French troops, but they encouraged a rise in self- and group-imposed standards of performance and sacrifice. These standards facilitated the rapid training of these French troops, which he concludes was critical to their developing combat power. Without strong normative compliance, large scale reliance on open-order combat would have been out of the question. Conclusion Through my studies of nationalism and its main theoretical approaches I have come to the understanding and conclusion that nationalism is neither exclusively constructed or primordial, that it is a combination of these two theoretical approaches which forms the concept of nationalism. I believe that nationalism is founded primarily naturally and that the need to build a fundamental power structure influences the ignition of constructivism. Primordial nationalism acts a building block towards constructivism, without either of these two theoretical approaches nationalism would not exist.

Possibilities for a Better World :: Kurt Vonnegut Cats Cradle Essays

Possibilities for a Better World The picture painted of the world and humanity by Kurt Vonnegut in Cats' Cradle is not a positive one. It is not the utopia that so many of the novel's character's are striving for. It is a ridiculous world where truths are based on lies and the balance of good and evil is a manufactured state. If Vonnegut's attempt is to "poison minds with humanity†¦ to encourage them to make a better world," it is only through showing the reader the follies of man, the foolishness we live with daily, that maybe we can change our outlook and make a "better world." Within the 191 pages of Cat's Cradle Vonnegut manages to slam nearly every mode of life, every motivating factor, every convention of modern man. The strongest attacks are on our ways to knowledge: science and religion. Science is shown as a field led by madmen who do not comprehend the consequences of their research and creations. Religion is shown as being all lies developed to keep man happy. The characters of the novel are not unscathed either. Most are shown as greedy, uncompromising, and unsympathetic. They are led by unknown forces to do bad things, foolish things. Vonnegut "poisons" the reader with these examples of mankind. He examines, with wit and comedy, the selfish and foolish nature of humanity. One can look at the actions of the characters and their actions, along with the consequences of those actions, and draw from it a conclusion about the futility of living. Vonnegut can certainly be seen as a cynic for the image that he gives us of humanity. He takes it one step further, though, by showing us all of the absurdity of our modern lives. He wants us to see that we live by lies. Even the words on the page are lies. There is no truth. And in this way we are not bound to live the life that Vonnegut portrays. There may be a better end for us than there is at the end of Cat's Cradle. Maybe then it is possible for us, all of mankind, to make it a "better world." With Vonnegut's poisonous attacks on all our sacred systems he may be trying to show us that there is a better way to live. I will continue to argue that Cat's Cradle goes beyond satire, and gives us a truly cynical look at the world and humanity.

Tina Modotti :: Essays Papers

Tina Modotti Even though Tina Modotti is considered a Mexican photographer because her artistic career was mostly based in Mexico and the American Southwest, she was born in Undine, Italy in 1896. She moved to California in 1913 and was employed in various labor-intensive factory jobs. She was first known mainly because of her relationship with photographer Edward Weston, for whom she was a model in the 1920s; but her abstract, portrait, and still-life photographs â€Å"showed her to be an accomplished photographer in her own right† (encyclopedia). In the 1920s, Modotti was active with Mexican revolutionaries, joining the Mexican Communist Party, and having close connections with the Mexican Artists’ Union. When her lover, Cuban revolutionary Julio Antonio Mella, was found murdered in 1928, she was accused but acquitted of complicity in his murder (encyclopedia). Modotti was eventually deported to Berlin because of her revolutionary ties when there was an assassination attempt on the Mexican president Pascal Ortiz Rubio. From Berlin, she moved to Moscow in 1931 and abandoned photography temporarily in favor of revolutionary causes there. She also lived in France and Spain before returning to Mexico clandestinely in 1939. When back in Mexico, she continued photography and political work until her death of a heart attack in 1942 (encyclopedia). Most of her surviving famous photographs were from her period in Mexico between 1923 and 1926. The photograph entitled â€Å"Staircase, 1925† is a good example of an abstract architectural image. Composition features in this work include the use of repetition of a line pattern, and perspective. â€Å"It is a picture of space becoming a pattern – a construction of lines and triangles stretched very tightly towards two dimensions – in which depth is both precisely described and subtly denied† (Szarkowski). It bears a resemblance to the drawings of M.C. Escher, where the eye is tricked into seeing an impossibly three-dimensional object. Here, an obviously three-dimensional subject is shortened to appear flat, due to the lack of contrast between near and far distances. The photograph â€Å"Flor de Manita, 1925† shows great equity between figure and ground shapes. It is a plant that has large sweeping curves, but because of the darkness of the subject and the lightness of the background, if viewed from a distance, the nature of the subject is obscured and one sees only white and black shapes that harmoniously coexist with one another.

Our generation Essay

Throughout the past couple of centuries, our world has changed over a period of time. Everything has changed; generations, the way we live, nature and so much more. History is created every day, and at every moment without even realizing it. Our culture is a huge part of our everyday environment that we do not realize how incredibly significant they influence our lives. There are many important elements that have changed American society; for example the television. Television can be used as a tool to motivate learning and to increase awareness of public issues. Social Interaction, education, culture, and criminal exposure are some of the key reasons to why the television has played a significant role in our lives. In today’s modern culture, television has played a big role throughout people’s every day lives. We depend on TV for entertainment, news, education, culture, weather, sports, and so much more. Without the TV, our social interaction percentage would be low; because of the lack of topics. People these days, talk about TV shows, movies, and more, and without it, a lot of people would be anti social. While television is often criticized for isolating people, it can also bring them together. For example, Super Bowl parties and other events in which people congregate around the TV. During the month-long telecast of March Madness, fans gather at work, in bars and other places to compare brackets, view college basketball games, and discuss the results. In addition, some TV shows invite viewers to share their opinions by calling in or posting comments. Televisions have influenced education and teaching practices. Educators have had to adapt and provide lessons that not only educate but entertain the learner. It has been shown that attention spans have decreased since the prominence of television. Reading is not seen in the same esteem as in previous generations. Studies have shown that public television programs emphasize literacy development. Using engaging characters and interesting stories, shows like â€Å"Sesame Street,† and â€Å"Sid the Science Kid,† motivate children to learn, while other specialty channels, such as â€Å"Animal Planet† and â€Å"Discovery Channel†, also provide educational content in an entertaining way. Television also provides cultural experiences, which can help broaden viewers’ perspectives and increase tolerance and appreciation for different lifestyles.TV has the ability to create powerful capabilities, TV allows people especially adolescents to share cultural experience with one another. Shows like â€Å"National Geographic,† â€Å"House Hunters International,† and â€Å"The Amazing Race,† focus on life in parts of the world that may be unfamiliar to most Americans. Even shows that concentrate their efforts in the U.S., such as â€Å"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,† and â€Å"House Hunters,† can improve cultural awareness by highlighting the foods, housing trends and customs in different regions of the country. Lastly, the impact of television also serves to expose criminal activity. According to a 2011 article in †Time† magazine, the television show â€Å"America’s Most Wanted,† was â€Å"an unprecedented collaboration between law enforcement and television,† and led to the capture of 1,154 fugitives as a result of phone tips from TV viewers. Kevin Perkins, an assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigation division told â€Å"Time,† the agency captured 17 of its most highly-ranked fugitives and also solved over 550 cases as a result of TV viewer tips. Perkins also says that they’ve captured suspects within minutes of an episode airing on TV. Also the news; today these days, there are many news channels to inform us on what is happening around the world. Without the news, we would often wonder what is happening, despite the advantage of also having social media,it is often not reliable nor true. References: Time.com: The End of American’s Most Wanted: Good News for Criminals, Bad News for the FBI. To conclude., throughout the past hundred of years, our world has changed over a period of time; generations, the way we live, nature, and more. History is created ever day, and at every moment without even realizing it. Our culture is a huge part of our every day environment that we do not realize how incredibly significant they influence our lives. One important element; the television has changed American society. Social Interaction, education, culture, and criminal exposure are some of the key reasons to why  the television has played a significant role in our lives. Without the television, our generation would be a lot different.

Rape In American Slavery Affected African American Society History Essay

Documents and research on the slave epoch in the antebellum South are awash with horror narratives of the brutal and cold intervention of slaves, peculiarly adult females. ( David Brion Davis and Eugene Genovese, – Bondage in the United States-Treatment ) . Considered ‘properties ‘ by their Masterss, enslaved black adult females endured continual physical and emotional maltreatment, sexual misdemeanors, anguish, and sometimes even decease. ( Susanne Scholz ) By the 1800s, bondage had percolated down chiefly to the antebellum South ( Africans in America ) . Whilst a bulk of these slaves were designated as ‘field retainers ‘ executing responsibilities outside the house, a smaller per centum, peculiarly adult females were employed as house servants or ‘house retainers ‘ , mammies and foster female parents. Owners by and large enforced their position as ‘property proprietors ‘ by indurate methods ( Africans in America ) . Many first individual histories ( Harriet A Jacobs ) and other informations available, underscore the rampant sexual development of African adult females slaves. In the absence of any precautions, with Torahs allowing proprietors brushing powers over their slaves, these adult females in bondage were habitually ravished, harassed, sexually stalked and used as long term courtesans non merely by their Masterss, but by the proprietors ‘ households and friends every bit good. Slave work forces, for their portion, were rendered powerless to dispute or step in, as to make so would intend certain decease or sale to distant plantations ( Africans in America ) . Progeny or ‘mulattos ‘ ensuing from such colzas were besides considered slaves, unless freed by the proprietor. ( Historian Eugene Genovese -Slavery in the United States ) . â€Å" As Masterss applied their cast to the domestic life of the slave one-fourth, slaves struggled to keep the unity of their households. Slaveholders had no legal duty to esteem the holiness of the slave ‘s matrimony bed, and break one's back women- married or individual – had no formal protection against their proprietors ‘ sexual progresss. †¦ Without legal protection and capable to the maestro ‘s caprice, the slave household was ever at hazard. â€Å" ( bondage in the united provinces – intervention & A ; colzas of females ) However, in rather a few documented instances, enslaved black adult females worked as devoted loyal retainers, as mammies and alternate female parents for white kids showing the absence of subjugation and bonds of fondness that really united the two races. Blassingame, * underlines the fact that slave parents tried to screen their immature from the barbarous worlds of the plantation. They frequently dissuaded angry impulses among the kids, which by and large arose after their first tanning, from seeking retaliation or running off. Children frequently internalized the two contradictory behavior responses of their parents ; one submissive in forepart of the proprietor, the other chastising their proprietor ‘s action in private. They understood that submissiveness was a manner to avoid penalty, but the true behaviour theoretical account emulated was the 1 they witnessed in private. The household was an of import endurance mechanism, for no affair how frequently the household was broken, it enabled the slave to last on the plantation without going wholly submissive to or dependent on the maestro. Slaves frequently retaliated, subtly or overtly, to their cold intervention. They resorted to destructing harvests or disenabling machinery, decelerating down work. Many stole nutrient, farm animal and valuables. Some committed self-destruction or mutilated themselves to cut down their belongings value and some even murdered their Masterss, by the usage of arms or toxicant ( Africans in America ) . Furthermore, slave parents were besides concerned about the proprietor ‘s intervention in their private lives. Southern jurisprudence defined slaves as movable belongings or movable. Often purchasing, selling and trading slaves, proprietors habitually disconnected households, often taking kids from their female parents. Slaves were frequently blackmailed with such intervention if they refused to work or if the adult females repulsed the progresss of their Masterss ( organisation of American historiographers -Family life in the slave quarters † survival strategies- Marie jenkin Scwartz )How were the Masterss able to exert important control and power, over their black kept womanA Virginia jurisprudence declared slaves to be â€Å" chattel personal in the custodies of their proprietors and owners for all purposes, building, and aim whatsoever † ( African American History by Henry Drewry ) . It affirmed their entire ownership and right over their slaves peculiarly the womenfolk. As absolute belongings of their proprietors, enslaved black adult females were therefore uprooted their places and households and to follow with every physical and sexual caprice of the maestro. They had to larn to be wholly submissive to the maestro, in head and organic structure. Sexual maltreatment could be in the signifier of sexual coercion to coerce genteelness for net income. Refusal of sexual overtures met with physical and emotional maltreatment and frequently the sale of a household member to distant farms, ne'er to be seen once more. She had no precaution or safety as the jurisprudence regarded colza as a mere trespassing of belongings. Developing dealingss with fellow slaves, work forces and adult females, proved hard as she or her friends could be deported or sold to another belongings at any given clip. Any challenges by the male slaves to such sexual development could intend an terminal to their ain lives ( Life of a adult female on a plantation- an essay à ¢â‚¬â€œ Berkin ) . First individual histories of two slave misss, Harriet A Jacobs and Cecil ( Harriett a Jacobs – An autobiography – Incidents in the life of a slave miss 1861 ) ( Essay on Slavery – Celia a slave ) substantiate this claim. Both female slaves of African descent articulated the hurting and agony caused by the repeated sexual misdemeanor of their organic structures and how they were held confined by their Masterss till they decided to take affairs into their custodies and get away their capturers. Compelled to populate under the same roof with a adult male 40 old ages her senior, he daily violated her. Her wretchedness seemed ineluctable, for there was no jurisprudence to protect her from the changeless abuse, force or even decease. She eventually managed to get away and went into concealment for seven old ages, before she could fly to another topographic point. Though loath kept womans, these enslaved African adult females were frequently labeled as ‘jezebels ‘ , innately promiscuous or even marauding by the white adult females. They were perceived to bask higher position and privileges than other slave adult females, but these privileges were tainted by the fact that they were forced into sexual entry ( Africans in America ) . However, research based informations indicates that rather a few of these formed short term affairs with their white proprietors for vested involvements ( Southern Mulattos Population ) and, yet others volitionally maintained long-run relationships with their Masterss, engendering them kids. Contemporary sociologist K Sue Jewell in her book aˆÂ ¦describes ‘Jezebel ‘ as a tragic mulatto bespeaking they formed the majority of black adult females sold into harlotry. In a system termed placage, many such freeborn light-skinned adult females were willing kept womans to wealthy white Southerner s. ( 3 ) How did southern plantation proprietors use their powers non merely to command their kept woman but their kids and even male slaves under their control? Slaves were at an arrant disadvantage and powerless as they were designated legal belongingss of their proprietors. Authorized to utilize punitory steps, slave proprietors and their households deployed terrible methods on the least pretext to guarantee slave obeisance ( Slavery in the United States ) . A assortment of objects and appliances such as the more normally used whip, bonds, ironss, metal neckbands, knives, guns, field tools, forced walking on the treadmill and even hanging were used to squelch any noncompliance or rebellion. Reasons for penalties ranged from interrupting a jurisprudence like go forthing the plantation without permission, running off, non following orders or slow work, frequently penalizing them in forepart of others to do an illustration of them ( Slavery in the United States ) . In fact, the jurisprudence required slave proprietors to compulsorily train recaptured runaway slaves or face mulcts. Owners besides invariably blackmailed slaves with the menace o f sale of their household members to distant plantations, ne'er to be seen once more. Enslaved inkinesss continued to be sexual pawns in the custodies of their proprietors. Children that ensued from these actions were besides treated every bit slaves as they took on the position of their female parents. ( Slavery in the United States ) Slave matrimonies were considered illegal and twosomes were often separated through sale. ( The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South is a book written by American Historian John W. Blassingame ) . It was insecure for a slave twosome to be shacking on the same plantation. Nothing demonstrated the arrant impotence of the hubby as he watch the barbarous tanning and colza of his married woman and the sale of his kids. He had no alternate but to follow with the demands of his maestro. However, Blassingame besides indicates that proprietors understood the demand to promote monogamous relationships â€Å" a black adult male, they reasoned, who loved his married woman and his kids was less likely to be rebellious or to run off than would a ‘single ‘ slave † ( The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South is a book written by American Historian John W. Blassingame ) . Whilst some Masterss were compassionate, most slaves knew that any mistake or crisis would take them to the auction block. Slave proprietors were besides uncomfortable with the fact that slave kids might oppugn their authorization and the legitimacy of the order, as they were reared to esteem other authorization figures like their parents ( Organization of American historiographers -Family life in the slave quarters † survival strategies- Marie Jenkin Scwartz ) . To overthrow this, proprietors established regulations and planned activities aimed at minimising the importance of slave household life and stressing his place as the maestro. Many went to the extent of mentioning to their slaves as household members which gave them the right to interfere in their slaves ‘ private lives. To this terminal, they kept a acute ticker on their slave ‘s activities dark and twenty-four hours, including such everyday affairs as to what they ate, how they dressed and when they slept. They would frequently corrupt the slave kids or wages bad behaviour with playthings or gifts ( Slavery in the United Sta tes )How did slavery Torahs and southern politic support the rights of slave proprietors to mistreat their slavesEnslavement of the African Americans officially commenced in the 1630s and 1640s ( Slavery in the Civil war Era ) . Colonial tribunals and legislatures clearly affirmed that Africans — unlike their opposite number white apprenticed servants-would serve their Masterss for life and their slave position would be inherited by their kids. A 1667 A Virginia act declared that â€Å" Baptisme doth non change the status of the individual as to his bondage or freedome. † And By 1740 colonial America had a to the full developed bondage system in topographic point ( Slavery in the Civil War Era ) . In fact in Virginia, after 1807, slaves were considered the main ‘cash harvest ‘ of their proprietors. Such statute law gave proprietors ultimate power over their slaves ( Slavery in the United States ) . A jurisprudence on partus in 1662 in Virginia indicated that kids of an enslaved female parent would automatically be slaves, even if the male parent was a freeborn white. This farther institutionalized the power relationships and freed the white work forces from any legal duty of either admiting or back uping their kids, restricting the dirt of bastard, mixed-race kids to the slave quarters. In the 1860s, elect households, who formed a majority of the shareholding households, influenced and shaped the political scenario of the land. Foremost amongst their common concerns was commanding and guaranting an equal supply of slave labour ( Slavery in the civil war epoch ) Legislation in the South was so designed as to protect the proprietors ‘ rights to their human movables. ‘Slave codifications † incorporated in these Torahs admitted, if grudgingly so, that slaves were human existences and non belongings like animate beings. However, these codifications instituted many clauses to minimise the possibility of slave rebellion. The codifications made it illegal for slaves to ( a ) educate themselves to read and compose ( B ) to go to church services without a white individual, or ( degree Celsius ) to attest in tribunal against a white. Besides, go forthing their place plantation without a Masterss ‘ written base on balls was out. Additional Torahs sought to curtail the possibility of manumission ( the liberation of one ‘s slaves ) . Between 1810 and 1860, statute law in all Southern provinces restricted the right of slave proprietors to liberate their slaves, even in a will, as free inkinesss might animate other slaves to arise. As a effect, most Southern provinces required that any such freed slave leave the province within 30 yearss ( Slavery in the Civil War Era ) . Authorities established ‘slave patrols ‘ to implement these codifications. Locally organized sets of immature white work forces, both slave proprietors and beefeaters husbandmans patrolled the dark look intoing that slaves were in so their quarters. These ‘patrols ‘ shared a common desire to maintain the black population in cheque ( Slavery in the civil War Era )How the isolation of Plantation life in the south factor into the per centum of Numberss of colza of black slaves.Although bondage was widespread throughout antebellum America, the 1830 ‘s saw a greater demand and concentration of African American slaves in th e booming plantations of the antebellum South ( Slavery in the civil war Era ) . Legislation of bondage in the southern provinces, unlike the North where there were free slaves, indicated that all slaves to be â€Å" chattel personal in the custodies of their proprietors and owners for all purposes, building, and purpose whatsoever. † ( African American History ) . A black adult male could be whipped for no ground. He could be beaten, stripped or tortured for the amusement of his maestro. A black adult female could be sexually harassed, assaulted, beaten or raped at anytime without inquiry. ( Life of adult females in the plantation – bondage essay ) As bonded labourers and belongings of their proprietors, slaves were confined to populate and work on the plantations. Permission to travel outside the premises was merely by written consent from the maestro and badly punishable if disobeyed ( Slavery in the Civil War Era ) . It served the proprietors ‘ double intent of labour development and race control. Children and adult females were used as domestic aid so every bit to non blow capable labour ( Berkin – Life of adult females slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62 ) . Slave codifications incorporated in the legal system restricted their motions and growing. They were non permitted an instruction, could non attest against a white or attend church services without one ( Slavery in the United States ) . Authorities established ‘slave patrols ‘ to implement these codifications. . ( Slavery in the United States ) In the absence of any precautions and Torahs to protect them, enslaved African adult females were the worst victims of a system that designated and treated them as exclusive belongings of the proprietors. Of the information available and hideous first individual histories of two slave African Americans, adult females suffered the worst possible sexual force and maltreatment ( Berkin – Life of adult females slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62 ) . Her non-compliance resulted in terrible physical and emotional punitive steps for herself and her partner or the merchandising of a household member – a kid, partner, parent or near comparative to a distant land ne'er to be seen once more. Any rebuttals to such sexual development by the male slaves could ensue in decease ( Berkin – Life of adult females slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62 ) ) .DecisionThe antebellum epoch in America is strife with the bondage era which went contrary to the rules of the War of Independence. It is ironical that the really province, Virginia in which the American Declaration of Independence was signed, would be the first to legalize bondage. African slaves foremost set pes in Virginia, America in 1619 with the reaching of prisoners sold by a Dutch to colonists in Jamestown. Sing their economic worth, peculiarly in the plantations in the antebellum South, their demand grew and spiraled over clip up to the 1800s. ( African American History ) . Colonial tribunals and legislative assemblies had racialized bondage ( Slavery in the United States ) The first arm of legalisation in 1662 stated that such Africans would be retainers for life, and subsequently in a 1667 another act declared that â€Å" Baptisme doth non change the status of the individual as to his bondage or freedome. † By 1740 a concrete legal bondage system in colonial America was in topographic point. A Virginia jurisprudence gave proprietors absolute right over their ‘p roperty ‘ saying that slaves were â€Å" chattel personal in the custodies of their proprietors and owners for all purposes, building, and purpose whatsoever. † ( African American History ) . Legalizing bondage gave proprietors sweeping powers of life and decease over their slaves, peculiarly, the enslaved black adult females ( ( Berkin – Life of adult females slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62 ) . Slaves were viciously penalized and sometimes even murdered. Rape and sexual force against enslaved black adult females was rampant and non considered a offense except for the fact that it represented intruding on another ‘s belongings. Owners frequently resorted to terrible penalty, physical and emotional, to reenforce submissive behaviour, peculiarly against black slave adult females. Designated as belongings to their white proprietors, they lived with the changeless world of colza as is witnessed in the first individual histories of Harriet a Jacobs and Celia ( ( Berkin – Life of adult females slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62 ) . Habitually, raped, harassed, sexually stalked and used as long term courtesans non merely by their Masterss, but by the proprietor ‘s households and friends, these enslaved adult females lived in changeless fright of penalty either physically or emotional blackmail through separation when their loved 1s and household members were sold to distant plantations, ne'er to be seen once more. ( Africans in America ) Laws accommodated the proprietors actions, sorting the attendant offspring as kids of the female parents merely, shriving the white male parent of any duty, unless they were freed by the proprietor. ( Historian Eugene Genovese -Slavery in the United States ) Though Black adult females were loath kept womans, they were termed as seducers called, â€Å" Jezebels † However, there is grounds to propose that some enslaved black kept womans had devised a manner to utilize her gender as a agency of avoiding development by her maestro and for other vested involvements ( Southern Mulatto Population ) . Slave work forces for their portion were powerless to step in as they faced the menace of decease. ( Africans in America ) . A slave twosome shacking on the same plantation were insecure. Nothing demonstrated the hubby ‘s impotence more than the barbarous tanning and colza of his married woman and sale of his kids. â€Å" ( The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South is a book written by American Historian John W. Blassingame ) . However, proprietors besides understood the importance and demand of leting monogamous relationships, as this was less likely to make run-away slaves. Slaves struggled to keep the unity of their household and civilization, even as Masterss applied their cast to the domestic life of the slave one-fourth. Fearing that slave kids might oppugn their authorization, slave proprietors established regulations and planned activities aimed at confirming his place as maestro. ( Organization of American historiographers -Family life in the slave quarters † survival strategies- Marie Jenkin Scwartz ) . The fact that the slaves in the antebellum South were legalized and belongings of the proprietors afforded them no rights or freedom. Their isolation from the North, where free slaves resided, farther detracted from any hope of freedom or better quality of life than at the custodies of their oppressive proprietors. ( ( Berkin – Life of adult females slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62 )