SCHIZOPHRENIA Essay - 821 Words

Psychological behaviors occur in so many people. A lot of them don’t realize that they have a disorder, or a particular behavior, until someone points it out. Many people have disorders. In humans there are two types of main disorders and just to do a brief analysis on them. They are biological and psychological for the biological it is a disease of the body that can be cured by altering the body. The biological involves the use of the medical model that works with genes, hormones, neurons and the chemistry of the brain. Psychopathology can be caused by a human’s disordered mental life, and mental illness can be cured by helping to change behavior, emotion and thought. The three causes of abnormalities that I am going to talk about are†¦show more content†¦I have known Dave for a very long time now and he is a very abnormal person. Dave would seem very normal to you the first time you meet him but after the first encounter the second one would be totally differ ent you would start to think that he is a very abnormal person that he is. So let talk about some of his major abnormalities to Dave none of these are going to be abnormal for him because he has been use to him all his life. Dave has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia in his early childhood. His parents weren’t aware of what was going on with him because the beginning stages were very hard to tell what was going on. Dave started with have acute schizophrenia this was when his symptoms only occurred very little. He was started on treatment medical and also mental treatment since it was just a acute form of the disorder he was able to go out in public and drive and do every thing else that a normal human being would do. After many years’ passes his symptoms were getting worse and after a point the doctors diagnosed him with having a chronic from of schizophrenia. This disorder can start in a chronic stage meaning that his symptoms where a every day coming thing and then t hey slowly become acute meaning that they are very little symptoms and the person isShow MoreRelatedSchizophrenia And Its Effects On Schizophrenia815 Words   |  4 Pagesand has schizophrenia. According to Mayo Clinic â€Å"Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior. Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is not a split personality or multiple personality. The word schizophrenia does mean split mind, but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking. Schizophrenia is a chronicRead MoreSchizophrenia And Its Effects On The Development Of Schizophrenia Essay2173 Words   |  9 PagesSchizophrenia Schizophrenia is a life-long disorder that affects about one percent of the population (Mueser McGurk, 2004). The cause of this mental illness is still unclear. Studies have suggested that Schizophrenia does not arise from one factor but from a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors (Liddle, 1987). People diagnosed with Schizophrenia struggle to deal with a multitude of symptoms that make it difficult to function (Mueser McGurk, 2004). Antipsychotic medicationsRead MoreSchizophrenia Poster Research Topics : Schizophrenia1715 Words   |  7 PagesSchizophrenia Poster Research Topics K - What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is chronic, severe, and a brain disabling disorder; that has affected people throughout history. It also interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others. People with the disorder may hear voices other people do not hear. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illnessRead MoreSchizophrenia Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesSchizophrenia One of the major concerns of modern medicine is Schizophrenia. Frey defines schizophrenia as a group of disorders marked by severely impaired thinking, emotions, and behaviors (99). Straube and Oades incorporate more on its definition by saying this illness evokes a fundamental disturbance of personality (92). According to Gottesman, schizophrenia didn’t exist before the 19th century. He found many facts that lead to this hypothesis, finding no existence of this illness inRead MoreSchizophrenia Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesSchizophrenia is affecting people more now than a few decades ago. This illness is across the US and is present in every culture. People are now aware and understand how the illness can be devastating to one’s life. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder of the brain but it is highly treatable. In the US the total amount of people affected with the illness is about 2.2 % of the adult population. The average number of people affected per 1000 total population is 7.2 % per 1000, which means a city thatRead MoreWhat Is Schizophrenia?1499 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is Schizophrenia? The study of schizophrenia dates back to the early 1800’s, when a guy by the name of John Haslam published a book called â€Å"Observations of Insanity†. In his book he goes into detail about the case studies or patents that show symptoms that we could categorize as schizophrenia disorder (John Haslam). By the end of the 19th Century the concept of schizophrenia was made known by a German psychiatrist by the name of Emil Krapelin. He basically took what he learned from HaslamRead More Schizophrenia Essay1017 Words   |  5 Pages Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects about one percent of the population. Generally if you have schizophrenia you cut out of contact with real world reality. The word Schizophrenia is Greek for â€Å"split mind†. It is common belief that a person with schizophrenia or a â€Å"schizo† has a split personality, but actually the person’s thinking, feelings, and behavior are so far from normal that they get to th e point where they interfere with their ability to function in everyday life. People whoRead MoreAbnormality and Schizophrenia1532 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to Mathers et al., (1996) â€Å"Schizophrenia ranks among the top ten causes of disability worldwide and affects one in one hundred people at some point in their lives.† (Cardwell and Flanagan, 2012). Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder which is commonly diagnosed in 15-30 year old individuals. It disrupts a person’s cognition, perceptions and emotions, making it extremely difficult to diagnose. Bleuler (1911) introduced the term schizophrenia, which translates as ‘split-mind’ or ‘dividedRead MoreSchizophrenia Essay879 Words   |  4 PagesIt has been widely accepted that schizophrenia has a genetic component, with the relative lifetime risk of schizophrenia being reported at around 0.3-0.7% (McGath et al, 2008) although some studies have shown this to be much higher at around 3.5 % (Pedersen et al, 2014). Studies have shown the risk of relatives developing schizophrenia is correlated with the percentage of shared genes (Tsuang, 2000). Twin studies have been utilised to reveal a genetic component, as monozygotic (MZ) twins share 100%Read MoreSchizophrenia Essay1066 Words   |  5 Pagesis schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by irrational thought processes. A person dealing with this debilitating illness may think that people are going to kill them, or kidnap them. Some Schizophrenics often have â€Å"voices† in their heads telling them what to do. In some cases this has caused people to take their lives or try to. Schizophrenia is everywhere you look. Out of one hundred thousand people at least one hundred and fifty people have schizophrenia. Like

Storm Born Chapter Sixteen Free Essays

string(45) " a lot of time in your king’s bedroom\." I slept the rest of the day and most of the following one as well. Only the essentials got me out of bed – food, the bathroom, one phone call, and a meeting with Volusian after Kiyo had to leave for Phoenix. I was dozing around dinnertime that second day when Tim’s angry voice in the living room woke me up. We will write a custom essay sample on Storm Born Chapter Sixteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"No! I don’t care. She needs to sleep, okay? I’ll give her the message, but stop calling.† I’d heard Tim use that tone only on a few people, so I had a good idea whom he spoke to. For whatever reason, despite having never met, he and Lara hated each other. Throwing on my robe, I shuffled out to the living room and saw him talking on my cell phone. The only progress we’d made in cleanup thus far was to sort of clear a walking path through the debris. He pulled the receiver from his face. â€Å"It’s that bitch secretary of yours. I wouldn’t have answered except that she keeps calling and calling. I told her you can’t take – â€Å" I reached for the phone. â€Å"It’s fine. I need to talk to her.† Glaring, he handed it over. â€Å"Did your asshole roommate just call me a bitch?† demanded Lara. â€Å"He has no right – â€Å" â€Å"Let it go,† I ordered. â€Å"Tell me what’s up.† â€Å"Well, I got your message. Did the shoes show up?† â€Å"Yeah, they’re great. What about the witch?† â€Å"I set it up. He’s going to come ward the place tonight. He’ll need you to let him in.† â€Å"No prob. I won’t be here, but Tim will.† â€Å"Okay, and about the other thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yeah?† A long pause. â€Å"Well, I don’t think I heard that part of the message right. It sounded like you said you needed a dress too.† â€Å"I do need a dress.† Silence. â€Å"What’s the matter? Didn’t I leave you my size?† â€Å"Yeah, you did, it’s just that†¦a dress? I mean, you’ve asked me to get you some pretty crazy stuff before – and I’m still kind of uneasy about that one time with the nitroglycerin – but this is really out there, even for you.† â€Å"Oh, stop it. Just take care of this.† I wasn’t keen on the dress either, but Volusian had insisted during our earlier bedside strategy session. If things fell into place with Dorian, I’d be attending an Otherworldly party on Beltane rather than waiting for an attack back here. Volusian had insisted I start making arrangements. What an age we lived in when spirit minions advised on fashion. â€Å"Any special requirements?† I considered. â€Å"Nothing bridesmaid or prom-ish. Think cocktail party. Simple. But elegant.† â€Å"Sexy?† â€Å"Moderately.† â€Å"Color?† â€Å"As long as it looks good.† â€Å"All right. Got it. I’ll have it by next week. Oh, yeah, Wil Delaney called again.† â€Å"You don’t have to let me know anymore. I sort of take it as a given by now.† â€Å"So you don’t want to return it?† â€Å"No.† We disconnected, and I hit the shower. Beltane eve, the big night, was fast approaching. Tonight was the warm-up. The night I made my deal with the devil. After digging out my dusty blow-dryer, I dried and brushed my hair until it gleamed. I didn’t usually go for makeup – not having the patience – but a little foundation went a long way to hide the small bruises on my face from yesterday’s blowout. I considered mascara superfluous with already dark eyelashes, but when combined with some smoky eye shadow, it did make my eyes look bigger. More lipstick, and I barely recognized myself. I didn’t look slutty or anything, but it had certainly been a long time since I’d looked so polished. I considered a skirt but couldn’t go that far. Instead, I opted for tight jeans and the new half-heeled sandals. The tank top I selected was olive green, the same color as my moleskin coat, with thin straps meant to rest slightly off the shoulder. Each strap had a tiny ruffle along its edge, as did the low, cleavage-showing scoop neckline. Examining my reflection, I couldn’t help a wistful sigh. I looked better tonight than I had when I met Kiyo. If only he could see me now. I spritzed on some Violetta di Parma, grabbed my coat and weapons, and headed for the door. Tim nearly fell out of his chair when he saw me. â€Å"What are you doing? Are you going out? You can’t do that! Not after what happened yesterday.† â€Å"I’m feeling better,† I lied. Actually, it was only partially a lie. Did I feel good? No. Did I feel better than yesterday? Yes. â€Å"You’re crazy.† â€Å"Sorry. Got business that can’t wait.† â€Å"Dressed like that?† he asked skeptically. Ignoring him, I drove out to the gateway in the desert. The transition to the Otherworld was a little rough in light of my weakened physical state, but I managed. Volusian and Nandi waited for me at the crossroads when I arrived. Finn hadn’t felt like showing. It was one of the downsides of not having him bound to me. We set out along the road. Shortly into the walk, I realized wearing heels was the Worst Idea Ever. I took them off and carried them the rest of the way. If I was going to keep seeing Dorian, I would need to leave an anchor at his place to facilitate crossings. â€Å"Don’t cross his threshold without asking hospitality first,† warned Volusian. â€Å"They’ll disarm you before you can enter. You don’t want to do that without protection.† I agreed, though I didn’t like the idea of disarming in the first place. No one ambushed us this time, and I practically walked up to the gates without incident. The guards recognized me and locked into a defensive stance, weapons drawn. â€Å"Our mistress comes in peace,† said Nandi mournfully. â€Å"She would speak with the Oak King and ask his hospitality.† â€Å"Do you think we’re stupid?† asked one of the guards, eyeing me watchfully. â€Å"Not exactly,† I said. â€Å"But I do think you were here last time and saw that I didn’t cause any trouble. Maybe you also noticed I spent a lot of time in your king’s bedroom. You read "Storm Born Chapter Sixteen" in category "Essay examples" Trust me, he’ll want to see me.† They conferred briefly and finally sent one of their number away. He returned minutes later, granting me admittance and hospitality – once they had indeed disarmed me. They walked me through the same hallway as before but not up to the throne room door. Instead, we wound deeper into the keep until we stood at a set of glass doors leading out to some sort of garden or atrium. â€Å"Our lord is outside,† explained one of the guards, about to open the doors. Volusian blocked his way. â€Å"Get a herald to announce her. She’s not a prisoner anymore. And use her titles.† The man hesitated, glanced at me, and then called for a herald. Moments later, a stout man dressed head to foot in teal velvet hurried in. He looked at me and swallowed nervously before opening the doors. A handful of elegantly dressed gentry stood out in the gardens, glancing up at our entrance. â€Å"Your majesty, I present Eugenie Markham, called Odile Dark Swan, daughter of Tirigan the Storm King.† I winced. Yikes. I’d had no idea I’d had that much appended to my name now. The soft conversation dropped. Apparently I should get used to having this effect while attending social events in the Otherworld. From inside, I had expected a small courtyard type of garden, but this looked like it stretched out indefinitely. The grass was still green, but many of the trees had leaves in orange, yellow, and red. None were the dying brown of late autumn. These showed the perfect, beautiful hues one saw at autumn’s finest. Heavy apple trees laden with fruit clustered in corners, and in the air, I could just faintly smell a bonfire and mulling spices. It was earlier in the day here than when I’d left Tucson. The end of the afternoon was giving way to twilight, the sky painted in shades of gold and pink that rivaled the leaves’ splendor. Torches on long poles were set up to offer light. The group parted, and Dorian strode forward. His red hair streamed behind him, and over a simple shirt and pants, he wore a robe-type garment made of wine-colored satin and gold brocade. I approached him, and we met in the middle. My spirits waited near the doorway. â€Å"My, my. What a lovely surprise. I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon.† Dorian reached for my hand, and this time I let him take it. A flicker of mischievous amusement glinted in his eyes at this small concession, and I knew I had already piqued his curiosity. â€Å"I hope you don’t mind me dropping in like this.† He kissed my hand, just as Kiyo had yesterday. Only Dorian’s kiss was less of a hope you get better kiss and more of an imagine my lips in other places kind of kiss. â€Å"Not at all.† He drew his lips back and laced his fingers with mine. â€Å"Come. Join us.† I recognized a couple of the gentry standing there from dinner. The other two people hanging around looked like servants, waiting anxiously with long mallet-type things in their hands. I peered at them, then at the wickets spread out in the grass. â€Å"Croquet? You’re playing croquet?† Dorian’s face broke into a grin. â€Å"Yes. Do you play?† â€Å"Not in years.† The gentry played croquet? Who knew? I supposed it was technologically simple as far as games went. It made more sense for them to play that than video games. â€Å"Would you like to now?† I shook my head. â€Å"You’re already in the middle of something. I’ll just watch.† â€Å"As you like.† He took a proffered stick from one of the servants. Watching him line up a shot, I could see he intended to hit his ball and knock out an opponent’s near a wicket. A faint breeze ruffled his hair and the folds of his robe, and he had to take a moment to brush the fabric out of his way. When he finally hit his ball, it went wide, considerably away from his opponent’s ball. â€Å"Ah, well. It was close. I nearly had it, don’t you think so, Muran?† Muran, a lanky guy dressed in lavender, jumped at being addressed. â€Å"Er, uh, y-y-yes, your majesty. Very close. You were almost there.† Dorian rolled his eyes. â€Å"No, I wasn’t. It was an abominable shot, you wretched man. Let Lady Markham have your turn. Give her your mallet.† Now I jumped. Lady Markham? But the aforementioned Muran practically shoved the thing at me. Hesitantly, I approached his ball. I was pretty sure I’d been ten the last time I’d played, off visiting one of my mom’s aunts in Virginia. Remembering Dorian’s hang-ups on his robe, I paused to slip off my coat. A servant immediately raced over to take it from me, folding it neatly over his arms. I turned back to the ball and mallet, sizing up the shot. I tossed my hair back over one shoulder and hit. The ball half-skittered, half-rolled through the grass and went through one of the wickets. â€Å"Exquisite,† I heard Dorian say. I glanced back at him but saw he wasn’t watching the ball at all. His eyes were all over me. I tried to return the mallet to poor Muran, but Dorian wouldn’t hear of it. He made me finish the game in Muran’s stead. As we played, I immediately picked up on something peculiar. Dorian was a terrible player – too terrible to be real. He was obviously faking it, but his subjects could not bring themselves to do better than their king. So they too faked their own sort of appalling game play. Watching it was comical. I felt like I was in a scene from Alice in Wonderland. Having no such qualms about winning, I played normally, and even with aching muscles and no practice, I won pretty handily. Dorian couldn’t have been happier. He clasped his hands together, laughing. â€Å"Oh, outstanding. This is the best game I’ve played in years. These sheep won’t know what to do now.† He glanced at his fellow players and beckoned them toward the building. â€Å"Go, go, your shepherd is tired of you all.† I watched them go. â€Å"You don’t really treat them†¦respectfully.† â€Å"Because they deserve none. Did you see the preposterous way they acted in that game? Now imagine that happening every second, every day of your life. That’s what it’s like to be royalty, to live at court among courtiers. Be happy you have no true throne yet. It’s all simpering and groupthink.† I almost heard a touch of bitterness in his light voice. Almost. A servant handed my coat back, and Dorian addressed her and a couple of guards. â€Å"Lady Markham and I are going to take a walk now through the eastern orchard. Seeing as she’s dressed for business, I imagine she wants to speak alone. Follow, but keep your distance.† Turning, he offered me his arm again and led me off into one of the garden’s winding turns, into a dense apple orchard. Like the other trees I’d seen, these were filled with fruit. Still more apples lay on the ground, round and red and waiting to be eaten. When we were sufficiently alone, I said, â€Å"I’m not dressed for business, not in these shoes. I was dressed for business the last time I was here.† He gave me a sidelong look. â€Å"Women who show up looking as lovely as you do after barely stomaching my presence last time do not come on pleasure. They come for business.† â€Å"You’re a cynic.† â€Å"A pragmatist. But, business or pleasure, it becomes you.† He sighed happily. â€Å"I do so wish more of our women would wear pants like those. The warriors often do but not nearly so tight.† â€Å"Thanks†¦I think.† We walked on at a leisurely pace while the sky turned orange and scarlet. â€Å"So I imagine you’ve changed in other ways since our last encounter. The very fact that you’ve come here so congenially indicates as much.† â€Å"Yes.† I narrowed my eyes. â€Å"You know, I don’t appreciate you telling me that Storm King bedtime story when all the time you knew I didn’t know what was going on.† â€Å"Mean, perhaps. But also amusing – were you in my place. Besides, I did you a service of sorts. I provided necessary background information, Lady Markham.† â€Å"Don’t say ‘Lady Markham.’ It sounds weird.† â€Å"I’ve got to call you something. Our normal rules of etiquette don’t exactly outline anything for your situation. You are the daughter of a king without a kingdom. You are royalty but not quite royal. So you are addressed like a noble.† â€Å"Well, then, only use it in public. Or stick to ‘Odile.'† â€Å"What about ‘Eugenie’?† â€Å"Fine.† Silence fell between us. The orchard seemed to go on forever. â€Å"Do you want to tell me why you’re here yet? Or should I think up some other pleasantries to discuss?† I repressed a laugh. Dorian played flamboyant and scattered, but he wasn’t a fool. â€Å"I need a favor.† â€Å"Ah, so it is business after all.† I stopped walking, and he stopped with me. Looking down at me, he waited patiently, his face pleasantly neutral. I shivered as another breeze stole through, and he took my coat from me, helping me slip it on. I wrapped my arms around myself, grateful for the coat’s warmth. Sexy was cold. â€Å"I conjured a storm yesterday.† â€Å"Did you now?† His voice held less levity and more calculation. â€Å"What happened?† I told him the story, just as I had for Maiwenn and Kiyo. â€Å"What were you thinking when it happened?† At first, I thought he was chastising me. Sort of like when you do something stupid and your mom asks, Are you insane? What were you thinking? â€Å"Like how I felt? What was going through my head?† He nodded. â€Å"I don’t know. I guess I went through a lot of moods. When it all started†¦I mean, I felt the same as for any other attack. Planned out what I would do, focused for a banishing. But once my mom got involved†¦I started to lose it.† â€Å"And when Corwyn had you trapped?† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"The elemental. He was one of Aeson’s men. The spirits you banished came back telling tales, though admittedly, no one’s heard this part, seeing as you didn’t leave any witnesses.† â€Å"I felt†¦scared. Weak. Defenseless.† â€Å"You don’t strike me as someone who’s scared a lot.† â€Å"No, actually. I’m scared all the time. Stupid not to be. What’s that saying? Only the dead are without fear? Or is that hope? Dunno. At that point, I sure as hell didn’t have any hope either. I felt like I was out of options.† â€Å"And so you chose the only option left to you.† â€Å"I didn’t choose it exactly. Not consciously.† â€Å"No. But sometimes our souls and the secret parts of our minds know what we need.† He walked over to a large, sheltering maple tree. Presumably it too had those wonderful colors, but the near-darkness made such things impossible to see. Taking off his robe, he spread it on the ground and sat down, leaving space beside him. A moment later, I sat down as well. â€Å"So what have you come to ask me, Eugenie Markham?† â€Å"You already know. I can hear it in your voice.† â€Å"Hmm. So much for crafty subterfuge.† â€Å"I need you to teach me how to use the magic. So it doesn’t take over again. I don’t want to kill someone the next time I freak out.† â€Å"Or,† he added, â€Å"you just might want to kill someone with it. On purpose, that is.† â€Å"Maybe.† I shivered. â€Å"I don’t know.† He didn’t speak right away. The darkness around us grew deeper. â€Å"What you did to Corwyn was akin to using a brick to swat a fly when much finer, much simpler methods would suffice. The storms you can conjure are great and powerful things, absolutely. The gods know your father made effective use of them. But I think you’ll find your real power is in controlling the storm’s finer elements. A child can throw paint on a canvas; a master works with fine brushstrokes. You learn the small things, and then the storms will be second nature.† I took a deep breath. â€Å"So can you teach me? Will you teach me?† Even in the dark, I knew he had that laconic smile on his face. â€Å"If someone had told me during our last meeting that we’d have this conversation, I would have flogged him for insolence.† â€Å"I don’t have anyone else to go to. Maiwenn offered, but she doesn’t have – â€Å" â€Å"Maiwenn?† he interrupted. His tone startled me. â€Å"When did you talk to her?† â€Å"After the attack.† I explained the circumstances of our meeting. When he didn’t respond, I grew defensive. â€Å"There’s nothing wrong with that. If anything, it’s kind of nice to have someone on my side who doesn’t want to see me get pregnant and take over the world.† â€Å"And for that very reason, you shouldn’t trust her. I want to see Storm King’s heir born. Therefore, I have good reason to make sure you stay alive. She does not.† I remembered thinking how Maiwenn would have had a lot less to worry about had I died in the attack. â€Å"She didn’t seem so sinister,† I replied haltingly, suddenly struck by a thought. If Maiwenn’s noble philosophy involved killing me, then would Kiyo follow her in that? â€Å"The sinister ones never do.† â€Å"You’re just trying to sway me to your side.† â€Å"Well, of course. I’d be trying to do that regardless of her involvement.† I sighed. It was all plots and posturing after all. Above all else, Dorian was still one of the gentry. â€Å"Maybe coming here was a mistake.† â€Å"Coming here was the smartest thing you’ve done so far. So tell me, what will you give me for teaching you to control your power?† â€Å"You can’t get something for nothing, huh?† â€Å"Oh, please. Don’t sound so superior. I helped you last time without asking anything in return, and now here you are again asking more of me. You demand a lot of the gentry you consider so greedy.† â€Å"Fair enough.† I leaned against the tree a little. â€Å"If you’ll help me†¦I’ll let†¦I’ll let people think we’re, you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a pause, and then his warm laughter filled the orchard. â€Å"Sleeping together? Oh, you really have made my night. That’s not fair. Not fair at all.† I blushed furiously in the dark. â€Å"You’ll one-up Aeson. He’ll think I’m willingly giving you what he tried to take by force.† â€Å"And all the while, I’ll actually be getting nothing except tantalizing glimpses of you in outfits like this.† â€Å"I’ll cover up more if it makes a difference.† â€Å"What would make a difference is if you were sleeping with me for real.† â€Å"That’s not fair either. Not for a few magic lessons.† â€Å"‘A few’?† He laughed again, his voice carrying the kind of incredulity that seemed to amuse rather than upset him. Jesus. Did nothing bother this guy? â€Å"My dear, it’s going to take more than ‘a few’ lessons to quell that storm in you, pun intended. Especially with your temper. It’s going to make focus hard.† I felt indignant. â€Å"Hey, I’ve been focusing since I was a kid. I can clear my mind in the middle of a fight to banish spirits. I go to trance in seconds.† â€Å"Perhaps,† he conceded grudgingly. â€Å"But I’m still not sure this is fair. You’ll be getting more than lessons. Assuming you are my ‘lover,’ people will be hesitant to assault you. You’ll find your status soaring.† â€Å"Christ. Nothing gets past you, does it? Apparently Volusian and I have a lot more to learn about subterfuge too.† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"My servant.† â€Å"Ah. The sullen one with red eyes?† â€Å"Yes.† He made a disapproving click with his tongue. â€Å"He’s both dangerous and powerful. You’re brave to keep him.† â€Å"I know. I couldn’t send him to the Underworld, so I bound him to me.† â€Å"If I helped you, we could probably send him on.† The thought astonished me. With Volusian securely in the world of death, I’d probably be a lot safer. As though reading my mind, Dorian added, â€Å"Things will get nasty if he ever breaks loose on you.† â€Å"I know. He tells me on a regular basis – in graphic detail. Still†¦he’s been useful. I think I’ll keep him around for a while.† We sat quietly in the darkness again. I realized it must be getting past the castle’s dinner hour. Part of the reason for showing up at this time had been to get invited to dinner. With gentry pride in hospitality, Volusian had thought it would please Dorian to show off his resources, especially since being half-gentry meant I could safely eat in this world now. Finally, a legitimate perk to all this insanity. I half-smiled imagining a hall full of hungry gentry, pounding their silverware on the table. With the way everyone danced around Dorian’s moods, however, I had no doubt they’d wait hours if need be. â€Å"If you’re going to pretend to be my lover, it will involve more than just say-so. You’ve seen how free we are with our affections in public. If you keep ten feet away from me, no one’s going to believe it.† I froze, suddenly remembering that other dinner. I hadn’t entirely considered the implications. He chuckled softly, a low and dangerous sound beside me. â€Å"Oh, yes, you didn’t think about that, did you?† He was right. I’d figured Dorian and me disappearing into his bedroom for lessons would be convincing enough. But now I had to picture sitting on his lap, letting him touch me and kiss me. I had trouble with the image. He was one of the gentry, the beings I’d hitherto kept a wary eye on and tracked down my whole life. Discovering Kiyo’s true nature had been a shock to my system, one I was slowly starting to reconcile. How could I handle someone who was completely of the Otherworld? Yet†¦the more I hung around Dorian, the easier it became to think of him as just a person. Weird or not, there was something comfortable about being with him. So, yeah. I could handle this. Maybe. It was just a little making out, right? It wasn’t sex. And wasn’t it a small thing to ensure I didn’t tear anyone else apart inadvertently? â€Å"I’m not going down on you or anything,† I warned, using flippancy to cover my discomfort. He laughed again. â€Å"As saddening as that is, it might actually be too much. You’re human enough that they’ll expect some modesty.† Small blessings. â€Å"All right. I’ll hold up my half if you hold up your half.† â€Å"Well, in distribution, I think I’m actually doing three-quarters of the work here. But yes, I’ll do the same. Shall we shake on it? Isn’t that how you humans seal a deal?† I extended my hand in the darkness, and he took it. Suddenly, he pulled me to him and kissed me. I immediately pulled back, aghast. â€Å"Hey!† â€Å"What? You don’t expect to have our first kiss in public, do you? We want to be convincing, remember?† â€Å"You’re a sleazy bastard, you know that?† â€Å"If you truly believe that, then maybe you’ll feel better finding another teacher.† I thought about that. Then I leaned forward and tried to find his lips in the darkness. I didn’t realize I was shaking until his hands gripped my arms. â€Å"Relax, Eugenie. This won’t hurt.† I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Our lips found each other. His reminded me of flower petals, soft and velvety. Whereas Kiyo was all about animal passion and aggression, Dorian seemed more about†¦precision. I suddenly remembered his metaphor about the difference between slapping paint on a canvas and fine brushstrokes. Don’t get me wrong, Dorian wasn’t exactly sweet and chaste. There was heat in those soft lips. He seemed to want to draw out the experience, almost in a taunting way, so much so that I found myself impatient and eager when his tongue finally darted in between my lips. He pushed it farther into my mouth, the rest of the kiss intensifying. He smelled like cinnamon and cider, like all the good things in an autumn night. Finally, he pulled away. â€Å"You’re still afraid of me,† he noted, amused by that fact just like everything else. â€Å"Your body still won’t relax.† â€Å"Yes.† I swallowed. It had felt good, the kind of good that sends heat down your body and makes your toes – and other parts – curl. But my fear had underscored it all, that fear of gentry and otherness that I still couldn’t quite shake. It was a weird combination, physical pleasure mingling with fear. Very different from the way it was with Kiyo – physical pleasure mixed with a larger, all-encompassing sense of chemistry and mutual affection, despite my unease over his half-kitsune heritage. â€Å"I can’t help it. This is all still strange for me. Part of me says it’s wrong. It’s hard to change what I’ve always believed overnight, you know.† â€Å"Do you want to go back on the deal?† I shook my head. â€Å"I don’t go back on my deals.† I could feel him smiling in the darkness. He leaned over and kissed me again. How to cite Storm Born Chapter Sixteen, Essay examples

Woodrow Wilsons free essay sample

For American neutrality, Zimmerman note, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Germanys use of unrestricted U-boat warfare was too much to bear without a fair fight. President Wilson was a peaceful man. He didnt want to be in a war, he wanted things to be fair and equal among all the countries. His slogan in the reelection for was He kept us out of the war. And despite this, five months later he asked congress to declare war on Germany. Wilson had tried his best to keep America out of the war and to calm the war down.But the other countries wouldnt listen to him and so In the end he had no choice. When World War I broke out In Europe, Woodrow Wilson declared that the united States would stay out of European affairs and remain neutral. He issued a declaration of US neutrality and called upon Americans to support his policy by not taking sides. He yearned that the united States would remain neutral and continue to trade with opposing nations. The united States hoped to stay clear because there was no reason for the U. S. To interfere with European dealings.Also, Wilson was aware of the huge immigrant populations whom have come from those nations currently at war. By 1915, America was allied economically to the Allies. Willows craving to remain neutral was declining as America drew closer to France and Britain. The formations of secret alliances were now being made. European countries led us to the creation of these so called hostile alliances. The two major groups were Central Powers and the Triple Alliance (allies). The Central Powers were composed of Germany, Austria-Hungry, and the Ottoman Empire.However, later on Bulgaria and Turkey Joined the central Powers. As for the Triple Alliance, France, Britain, and Russia made this group up. Later on, just like in the Central Powers more countries joined in with the Triple Alliance and those entries would be the united States, Italy, and Japan. Militarism was one of Americas top reasons for joining in on the war. Materialism was basically the building of large armies. All the nations in Europe at that time were engaged in what today could only be called an arms race. As soon as one nation built a new weapon, all the others followed suit.Now in the sass Britain was known for having the largest naval force. However, Germany wanted to have the biggest naval force so they started an arms race with Britain. Germany created a warship known as the dreadnought and Brutal made an HAMS dreadnought. This continued to cause rather conflict between the two countries, and soon started a whole new definition to war materials/weapons. With innovative forms of manufacturing such as the warfare. This mass production caused for a greater number of compatible weapons being produced. In addition to advancements in arms such as the rifle which altered from the musket to a light automatic rifle, flame throwers, tanks, gas and machine guns were now being used on the battle field. New technology accounted for the numerous numbers of deaths never before seen in warfare. The improvements of technology were without the advancements in battle field maneuvers. Previous wars were fought in a volley line rather than patrolling tactics seen in WWW, Vietnam and today. This created many deaths on both sides early in the war. As the war progressed, tactics did change.Trenches were built and a no mans land was the result. As these trenches were ploughed, a stalemate caused any advancements of development at this stage in the war. Soon the machine gun became a defensive weapon rather than an offensive weapon, as it was used to stop offensive enemy troops across this no mans land. Gas was used infinitely by both sides in an effort to triumph over the trenches. If any trench was taken by an opposing force, a succeeding trench was dug Just meters behind the one taken, making advancements longstanding and difficult. In this process many troops lost their lives, more so than any other war.U-boats were military submarines used by Germany in the war as a weapon. When the German Chancellor Bateman Hollowed proclaimed Germanys purpose to use unrestricted submarine warfare, his one main concern was that it would aggravate an American response in this he was to be precise. By 1917, the war was not going okay for Germany on the Western Front. Unrestricted submarine warfare was an outcome of anxiety and the belief that the fierceness of such a tactic might Just keep America out of the war if the outcomes were remarkable and outrageous enough.On May 7th 1915, German U-boats, patrolling in the Atlantic Ocean, fired torpedoes at the British ship the Louisiana, sinking her in 20 minutes. On the ship were 128 Americans. President Wilson, demanded that Germany stop attacking passenger ships, and declared that America was too proud to fight. Wilson also tried to mediate a compromise settlement but failed. Wilson also repeatedly warned that America would not tolerate unrestricted penumbrae warfare, as it was in violation to American ideas of human rights. Wilson was under great pressure from former president Theodore Roosevelt, who denounced German piracy and Willows cowardice. In January 1917, Germany announced it would destroy all ships heading to Britain. Although Wilson broke off diplomatic ties with Germany, he still hoped to avoid war by arming merchant ships as a warning. Nevertheless, Germany began sinking American ships instantly. On June 6th, 191 5, Wilhelm II ordered that all large passenger liners, whether neutral or not, must not be attacked. On August 19th, the Arabic, a British liner, was sunk without any form of warning being given.Two Americans died. The Kaiser then ordered that no passenger liner was to be attacked until all the crew and passengers had been given the chance to escape. In September 191 5, Wilhelm changed his naval chief of staff. Vice-Admiral Buchanan was replaced by Admiral von Wholehearted, a senior German naval officer who was supportive of Bateman Hollowed point of view. On September 18th, Wholehearted ordered that all U-boats had to adopt the cruiser system of warfare meaning, coming to the surface before attacking a ship.Wilson as a response of actions taken by the British government over which the Americans had no control. In February 1917, British cleverness gave the United States government a decoded telegram from Germanys foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman that had been stopped en route to his ambassador to Mexico. Germany had sent a memo to Mexico asking them to declare war on the United States alongside Germany if Germany decided to. In exchange they would help Mexico acquire Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. But before the message could reach them, the British intercepted it and decoded it and showed it to America.The British also intercepted and decoded another message from Germany to Japan and Mexico this time asking them to declare war on the U. S. America was not happy about these things but they still waited to declare war. It would have clearly been unreasonable and foolish for Wilson to Join with the Central Powers after all the damage they caused. America already had good ties with France and Britain so it made sense for them to Join allies. Seeing as Germany had plans to declare war on America there would be no since in trying to persuade them we want to fight on their side.With all he underhanded moves Germany has played on America such as the U-boat warfare and Zimmerman note left America with no choice. However, in the end we won being in the Triple Alliance and the Central Powers went down giving the Triple Alliance in complete control of Germanys punishment. All in all Wilson successfully guided us through WWW and was able to do a little for himself such as presenting his fourteen point plan. Joining the Triple Alliance was a very good idea for America to take in that time and day, and was one of the only choices we had if we wanted to keep our country alive and strong.

Small Elegy Essays - British Poetry, , Term Papers

Small Elegy The title of this specific piece of poetry is "A Small Elegy". Now, this title does not really give a reader much to go on. The only thing one would know about this poem is that it is a small one and that it may be about a deceased person or someone who new someone who dies. I say this because elegy is derived from the Latin elegia , which means; A poem or song composed especially as a lament for a deceased person. From the beginning, "A Small Elegy" dramatically establishes that the speaker a stand-in for the poet, is by himself talking to himself. He was with other people, but now he is completely alone--his friends gone, his beloved sleeping elsewhere, unconscious, far away. The speaker is the sole operating consciousness mourning in a world where everyone else is asleep. Against the pitch-black darkness he starts saying things to himself, using white words, which I take to mean words that have a kind of unselfconscious purity about them. He daydreams about his mother ,an "autumnal recollection", and that in turn moves him back toward his childhood home where his mother seems still to preside--diminished now over an outmoded world. She is smaller, more vulnerable, someone to be protected. "Matku," he says tenderly in Czech, "Mon maminku," my little mommy, which the translator has rendered as "my diminutive mom." He imagines that after all these years she's still sitting back there, quietly uncomplaining, thinking about his father who died so long ago. It is the next moment in the poem, when the tense radically changes, that I find especially compelling. "And then she is skinning fruit for me," he says, "I am in the room. Sitting right next to her." He doesn't say "And then she was skinning fruit for me," but instead finds himself catapulted into the past as a living present. He has been wrenched out of one time into another. The amplitude of his feeling is nearly unbearable and he starts shaking his fist at God, using a child's language, calling him a ''bully" because now he is aware that God has taken away so much, because so much is lost. And he then proceeds with the ruthlessness of a logical proposition to face what can no longer be evaded. "Because of all those hours I slept soundly, through calm nights," he declares that is, because of all those nights when he was safe and unconscious. "Because of all the loved ones who are deep in dreams" That is, because of all those who are unconscious now, unaware of the peril that surrounds them he realizes that time is running out and announces: "I can't stand being here by myself. The lamplight's too strong." Here the lamplight becomes the emblem of a consciousness that is too much to bear, an isolation that is killing: "I am sowing grain on the headland. I will not live long." The recognition here is that what he is planting is endangered, imperiled, and vulnerable. What he plants he will not be able to protect. The sowing of grain on the headland is his last gesture, his way of putting a message in a bottle when he knows he won't last much longer. The poem concludes with a terrible recognition. When I read it, my impulse is to wake up everyone around me everyone l love before it is too late. In conclusion this poem is just one stanza that contains twenty-four lines. The poet refers to the speaker as 'I' and he also uses the words 'my' and 'myself' which lead me to the conclusion that this poem was written in the first person. The speaker in this poem recalls his past after his friends have left and his "darling" (wife, girlfriend, child) is asleep. He first begins to think of his mother then gets to his father. The speaker is empty inside because he has suffered so much great loss. He has suffered so much that he curses God and calls him a "bully" and he says to himself that he cant stand being alone for any longer and he also says that he will not live long which may imply that his life may end sooner than it has to.

Analyzation of By Any Means Necessary Essays - Identity Politics

Analyzation of By Any Means Necessary Essays - Identity Politics Analyzation of "By Any Means Necessary" Danielle Dawkins Principles of Speech Howard University November 26, 2017 Malcolm X, a brilliant and radical Black Nationalist Leader, delivered his "By Any Means Necessary" speech at the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) in June of 1964. He delivered his speech in the Audobon Ballroom in Washington Heights, which is bordered by Harlem to the south. This exact place plays a major role in his technique, as Harlem was a predominantly black neighborhood in Manhattan. It's safe to assume that he wanted to start his organization and amplify his message of black liberation in a densely populated area mostly occupied by African Americans. Malcom's goal was to create an ideology, and outlined in is speech was an ideograph that consisted of the following sections: Establishment, Self-defense, Education, Politics Economics, Social. As he elaborated on each of the five sections, he utilized rhetorical devices through zealous language that implanted the central theme of "by any means necessary" in the minds of millions across the natio n. One should understand that Malcom's central theme was not a cry of revenge, but a cry for unification and self-reliance of African Americans. The topics and the sheer arrangement allows for a better flow and it ultimately helped Malcom drill down his message. Malcom began his speech with the words, "Salaam Alaikum" meaning "Peace be onto you". He then continued to acknowledge everyone in the audience, including his enemies. It's interesting that he should do that, but in his own words, ".You'll get freedom by letting your enemy know you'll get anything to get freedom" Not only did he establish a common ground with his "brothers" and "sisters", but he also established somewhat of an odd mutual understanding between him and his adversaries. The entirety of Malcolm's speech follows a timeline. He begins by explaining that he had been in Mecca, which is in Saudi Arabia, and in various independent nations of Africa where he tried to open his own mind and discover new solutions to problems at hand. He then continues to the current situation, and compares the "progress" that America had made to the progression of nations in Africa. Malcolm tells the audience that he had decided to model his newly formed organization after the Organization of African Unity, as he was impressed by how all nations were willing to work toward the elimination of colonialism by disregarding all differences. After a detailed explanation of the purpose of the OAAU, he continues with the "Basic Aims and Objectives of the Organization of Afro American Unity;" and dives into his ideograph. Beginning with establishment, Malcolm helps guide the audience by explaining why the sole purpose of it. Self-defense preaches that self-preservation is the first law of nature, and that the audience possesses the right to protect themselves and their property by whatever means necessary. Education focuses on the audience's right to educate themselves as a means of rediscovering and preserving their identity. During the politics economics section of the speech, the audience is reminded of the two powers within the United States that are structured to hold African Americans back. The arrangement and powerful delivery of each of these sections galvanized the audience and replenished their sense of empowerment. After revitalizing the audience, Malcom moves to the operational part of the organization, now that they are mesmerized, and explains the modest membership fees. The conclusion of this speech consisted of more details on the organization and its separation from the beliefs and practices of Black Muslims. Malcom X was not responding to a specific situation with his speech, not that he needed to do so. The racial turmoil of 60s was drastic enough for him to speak on. The outrage that flooded cities across the nation (particularly in the south) fueled his passion thereby allowing him to deliver a clear cut message with the help of newfound knowledge he acquired overseas. As mentioned before, Malcolm is separating himself From one hand, there was Martin Luther King, who was the preacher of the civil rights and liberty across the globe, regardless of race, gender and nationality. On the other hand, thereduti was Elijah Muhammed's Nation of Islam, founded in Detroit

Preferred Abbreviation for United States (US or U.S.)

Preferred Abbreviation for United States (US or U.S.) Even though the question of how to abbreviate  the  United States seems straightforward, as it happens, theres more than one preferred way to write it. But before getting into that, lets get it out of the way first to note that if your usage of the country name is a noun, spell it out rather than abbreviating it. If its an adjective, then how to do so becomes the question. (And obviously, if youre writing something formal, youll want to follow the style guide to which  youre assigned to adhere.) Use Periods In general, newspaper style guides  in the United States (in particular, the Associated Press Stylebook (AP) and The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage) recommend U.S. (periods, no space).  The American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual, which is used for writing academic papers, agrees about using the periods. In headlines under AP style, however, its  postal style US (no periods). And the abbreviated form of United States of America is USA (no periods).   Dont Use Periods- Sometimes Scientific style guides say to omit periods in capitalized abbreviations; thus render them  US  and USA (no periods, no spaces).  The Chicago Manual of Style (2017) agrees- but Chicago allows for exceptions: Use no periods with abbreviations that appear in full capitals, whether two letters or more and even if lowercase letters appear within the abbreviation: VP, CEO, MA, MD, PhD, UK, US, NY, IL (but see the next rule).In publications using traditional state abbreviations, use periods to abbreviate United States and its states and territories: U.S., N.Y., Ill. Note, however, that Chicago recommends using the two-letter postal codes (and therefore US) wherever abbreviations are used. So what to do? Choose either U.S. or US  for the piece youre writing and then stick with it, or follow the guidance that your instructor, publisher, or client prefers. As long as youre consistent in usage, neither way will look like an error. Legal Citations in Bibliographies, Footnotes, Etc. If youre using Chicago style and have legal-context citations in your bibliography, reference list, footnotes, or endnotes, youll use periods, such as in Supreme Court decisions, statute numbering, and the like. For example, when a law is incorporated into the United States Code, it has a U.S.C. designation, such as here, in this example note from Chicago: Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C.  § 101 (2012). In the case of Supreme Court decisions, theyre attributed to the  United States Reports  (abbreviated U.S.), like in this note: Citizens United, 558 U.S. at 322. Next, a  note referencing the U.S. Constitution is abbreviated U.S. Const. British Style Guidance Note that British style guides  recommend US (no periods, no space) in all cases: Do not use full points in abbreviations, or spaces between initials, including those in proper names: US, mph, eg, 4am, Ibw, MS, No 10, AN Wilson, WH Smith, etc. (Guardian Style, 2010). Because American and British styles differ, notes Amy Einsohn, CBE [Scientific Style and Format: The CE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers] recommends eliminating periods in most abbreviations as the most efficient way to create an international style (The Copyeditors Handbook, 2007).

Juvenile gang in Birmingham, AL Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Juvenile gang in Birmingham, AL - Research Paper Example This paper will examine the nature of gang problem in Birmingham, Alabama. Gang presence in Birmingham, Alabama is a real problem just as it is in the various states that make up the US. A gang may be defined as a group of 2 or more people, who come together for the common purpose of acquiring financial and/or political benefits through illegal means (Delaney, 2005). To achieve this, gang members utilize violence, intimidation, harassment and other unconventional means to establish and maintain their influence and significance in areas, which they perceive as their territories. Gangs, therefore, are a major threat to security within their areas of operation and though the federal government and state governments have continued to arrest and prosecute gang members, not much has been achieved (Delaney, 2005). This paper is a critical evaluation of gangs and gang related crimes in Birmingham, Alabama. Gang violence in Birmingham, Alabama is not a new phenomenon especially due to the fact that it is one of the places in the US, which are rich destinations for immigrants (Howell, 2011). However, the authorities, in the past, have continued to downplay and under report gang existence probably in an effort to mask their inability to deal with the problem. On the other hand, some law enforcers and community leaders especially in the FBI gang taskforce have acknowledged the rising cases of gang behavior especially in the young population comprising mostly of school children. The taskforce observed that immigration of people of Hispanic origin to the region has been one of the major contributing factors to gang behavior in the area as they are known to have the culture of influencing and participating in organized criminal activities such as drug and gun trafficking. Reports indicate that gangs, such as SUR 13, which is highly associated with Mexican mafia, have

Arthur Miller Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arthur Miller - Research Paper Example As a student in the University of Michigan, Miller pursued journalism as his major but soon changed it to English. This change opened the doors for him as a playwright. During his time in college, his greatest influence was from his professor and lifelong friend Professor Kenneth Rowe (Wald, 2007). Miller’s first recognition came from the first play he ever wrote known as ‘No Villain’ while still studying journalism as his major. This play marked a turning point in Miller’s academics. For this play, Miller received the Avery Hope Award putting him on the map of playwrights. He continued to write even after graduating from college pursuing a profession in scripting. In 1946, he wrote ‘All My Sons’ and this play sealed his status as a scriptwriter and won him the best author Tony Award for its success on Broadway. His other influential works that people appreciate to this day are Death of a Salesman and the Crucible. Crucible got him into trouble with the (HUAC) House Un-American Activities Committee. To this day, his playwright known as Death of a Salesman, can be considered among his best pieces (Fisher, 2009). The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) got interested in the Millers works after the release of the Crucible. Here, Miller had likened them to the Salem witch hunters of 1692. Miller got the idea of the Crucible from his friend Kazan who had betrayed him by naming names in front of the HUAC. Miller then travelled to Massachusetts to a town called Salem to research on the 1692 Witch trials. Miller's friend, Kazan, testified and named him as part of the eight people in his list of people in the Communist party. This in turn, increased the HUAC’s interest in him. Despite him overcoming HUAC’s accusations, the HUAC’s actions significantly affected Miller's life (Wald, 2007). Miller’s personal life was also in the limelight after his marriage to his second wife Marilyn Monroe. Monr oe was an actress and her life had been the object of intense scrutiny by the public. He married Marlin in June of 1956 after he ended his first marriage to Mary Slattery. Miller and Slattery had two children. Miller had met Monroe in 1951 and had an affair with her. After this affair, they kept in touch. His marriage to Monroe coincided with his tribulations with the HUAC, of which Monroe accompanied him. However, these trials put Monroe's career at risk because of the accusations made against Miller at the time. The HUAC had found Miller guilty when he refused to name other people who supported Communist activities. This led to Miller’s US passport to be revoked. The judge’s decision became overturned by the appeal courts on grounds of misleading the witness. This can be based on the fact that Miller had made a deal with the judge to appear before the court which had subpoenaed him earlier to testify without naming any other person (Fisher, 2009). He buried himself i n his work. ‘The Misfits’ was the film he wrote of which Marilyn his wife was starring. Before its debut in 1961, the couple divorced. Miller remarked that, during scripting of the movie, he underwent one of the most undesirable instances of his life. The death of Monroe also cast some light back on Miller because she died just nineteen months after she and Miller had divorced. Monroe died from a drug overdose. Miller moved on to his next wife who he remained married to till her until his death in 2002. Inge Morath was a photographer by profession. Miller and Morath had two

Gun Control Essay Example for Free

Gun Control Essay The debate on gun control has raised certain issues that need to be addressed in order to lower the deaths of American citizens from gun shots. This term paper discusses the issue of the gun control policy. The topic has raised many questions, because there are people who oppose any action taken by the government to abolish possession of the fire arms, while others support the gun control policy. However, thinking of the issue carefully, you will agree with me, that there is need for the government to control the possession of guns. Last year in June, the Supreme Court ruled that Americans had a right to keep guns at their homes, but only for self defense. It also ruled in favor of the possession of hand guns, saying that they are easier to handle, and that the party defending himself could point it towards the burglar, while he uses the other hand to dial up the police. Am not saying that the possession of the guns is a bad idea, but looking at the negative side of it, the crime rates will probably increase as the years move on. Why? Because if the government does not do anything to control the guns situation, dangerous criminals will have easy access to guns, which will obviously translate to an increase in the crimes committed. It is also surprising to note that even the gun control activists no longer put much effort in the campaign as they are expected to by the Americans. A good example s the school shooting incidences that occurred in 2001, on the month of March, where there were shooting incidences at two schools in Pennsylvania and California. People expected the then New York senator Charles E Schumer, who was a supporter of the gun control policy, to take serious actions on this incidence. But to the shock of many supporters of the policy, he simply suggested that the gun owners should set a code of ethics on a voluntary basis on the use of guns. This was a very cold response from a supporter of the gun control movement, which in 2000 almost had the government change the law on guns. Sarah Brandy, a member of the Hand Gun control had once addressed millions of people at a march. She told the Americans that if they had to make the future better, then they had to force the government to change the law on gun use. She also suggested to the people that if the government didnt consider changing the laws, then in the coming, election, (the 2001 November election), Americans would elect in a government that would see the gun control policy changed into a law. However, this dream never came true. The former president Bush was elected in, and he was a supporter of the anti gun control policy. The election of Mr. Bush, who had been an ally with the N. R. A, brought down all the hope and the possibilities of ever changing the gun policies that were in use then. The former president, as the Texas senator went ahead to sign laws that made it hard for the Americans to sue the manufacturers of weapons like guns, and those that made it legal for people to walk around with guns. (Dao James, 2001) It is not until the election of a new president, President Obama, that Americans have had the hope of seeing a change in the gun policies. The new president supports the gun control policy. Te issue on the gun control was a big debate, as his running mate Mc Cain supported Mr. Bush’s gun policies. He said that he did not see ant problem with the Americans keeping guns. President Obama said that he saw a number of American homes with guns, but he did not see the need for the Americans to keep the guns in their homes. There is some hope that he won’t destroy the hopes of his many fans and supporters. The gun control history has been dated from as early as the 1700s. The 1700 amendment on gun policies did not ever change the practice that was there in the past of keeping guns away from the wrong people. Moreover, it did not keep the militia from owning the guns. Americans who could buy the custom made guns for their personal uses continued to do so with much ease as the gun control regulations had been lessened and favored them. Te need to keep the fire arms for militia use was not the priority of the American men. The second amendment on the gun control saw the total number of the people that owned the guns increase rapidly. Even then, the constitutional analysts disagreed with the laws that allowed the citizens to own fire arms, especially if they were not in the military. Coming to the 1900s, guns control was still an issue, not only in America, but also in other countries like England and France. There is a need to make strict or to take serious, the two Acts; the 1934 National Forearms Act and the 1968 Gun Control Act, which were big steps towards establishing policies on gun Act. These two would provide good guidelines to making policies that can be effective. The 1934 Act made a strict law that anyone with a gun had to register with the authorities. There was also a tax charge on the ownership of short barreled guns and machine guns. On the other hand, the 1968 Act put an end to the sale of guns through the mail order services. There were also changes that the interstate selling of guns and fire arms be illegal. It was also illegal for minors to own or handle any sort of fire arms in any way. There was a limited access to the then newly manufactured weapons. The manufacturers, weapon dealers and those who carried out any activities on the sale of the weapons had to obtain a license from the responsible authorities. Other efforts that have been made on the gun control policy implementation were by the 106th congress. The congress suggested that there be a background check at the gun shows to ensure that no selling activities are done during the shows. It also enforced the use of fire arm locks, in order to prevent any gun shot accidents. There was also a proposal to increase the controls on the use and ownership of guns and other assault weapons. These were good proposals that would have changed the guns situation in America. Despite the mention of these proposals by the congress, none of them were enacted. Using the media to gain American’s support on the gun control policy The use of the media to promote the gun control campaign would be effective. All the Americans have access to the media, be it trough the news paper, the televisions, the radio, the websites or by use of the bill boards. In my efforts to support the gun control campaign, I would set advertisements in the television media, all to be aired at the same time and regularly, especially at prime time when most people are watching. It is also important to post the advertisement at the most watched television channels like CNN or BBC. This would be expensive, so funds are needed to support the campaign. Inviting donors to support the media advertisements is a good way to fund the petition. Featuring the crimes and the deaths that have occurred as a result of the gun exposure to people is also an important step towards the gun control petition. Another way to influence the media is to talk to the media owners and any other persons who might have an influence on what the media airs. Further more, advertising such a petition on the news papers would attract peoples attention on the issue. Creating websites and making cites where people can sign to show their support for the gun control petition is another way that might not only show the number of people that support the petition, but also to know the intensity at which the Americans support the petition. The main aim of using the media would be to make those who are not aware of the campaign more informed, and to convince, persuade or to change the minds of anti gun control Americans. The media will also give people the reason as to why they should support the gun control policies. Influencing the law makers. These are the government officials and politicians who have an influence on the laws that govern the country. It is true that you cant force the politicians to do what you want them to do, but you can either gain or buy their influence on the issues that are of your interest and that will make you achieve your goals. To do this, you have to earn the trust of the politicians, and this can be possible through the things that you say or do to them. Building good relationships with those that have influence in the government decisions and policies, including those that are not in support of the petition. You may also want to look for a way to favor the decision makers, so that in a way, you are also favoring them while as well reaching your goals. For example, helping them achieve their political goals may be a motivation to them to support the gun control petition. Respecting them and their decisions is also a way of acknowledging their superiority, which might lead them to listening to what you have to tell them, hence gaining their attention. Changes that I would like to see on the gun act The government should amend the current law on guns. It has made it very easy to gain accessibility to guns, just as it is easy to buy bread at the local store. That is why there should be implementations that will make it hard for criminals to get guns. The police should prioritize the cracking down of illegal gun owners so that the number of youths with guns reduces, and this will also lead to a drop in the number of crimes carried out using guns. This exercise should also make it hard for the criminals to obtain guns and other fire arms. A recent study that was conducted through administration of interviews with gang members and illegal gun dealers said that if guns were harder to obtain, then definitely the number of crimes committed using the guns would decrease. The death rates of victims from violent and brutal attacks would also decrease. Statistics have shown that out of the approximated 18000 annual homicides, only a third lacks a gun involvement. Research has also shown that gun violence costs the American society about 100 billion dollars per year. (Cook P. etal, 2000) If the government made amendments on the gun laws, then they would save America a lot of lives and money. Some States like Chicago have strict rules about gun controls. The law makers should ensure that such strict regulations are imposed and made in to law. The gun control policy should also consider allowing the hunters to keep their guns. Most hunters do not keep their guns for purposes of committing crimes, but as sport equipment. One of the reasons why hunters should be allowed to have guns is because they help keep the deer population in control. If they are denied the right to own and keep guns, then the deer population is gong to increase. Banning the hunters from keeping the guns would be dangerous for the deer as the population increase would mean that the food would decrease. The second amendment law therefore needs to be kept. Also, if hunters are not allowed to keep guns, there will be a shortage of the funds used to maintain and conserve the wildlife habitats. The licensing fee and taxes paid by the hunters for their guns is used to maintain the national parks. Statistics show that most of the funds come from the payments made on the guns. Should the hunters be restricted from hunting with guns, they will use other ways to hunt, like practicing drive hunts. This is hunting done by hitting the animals with the cars. It is a very dangerous way of hunting and could lead to huge accidents or worse, deaths. It should also be noted that hunting is also a good sport that is supported by most Americans. The law makers should regulate the gun policies, but allow the hunters to keep the guns so as not to take away what some people enjoy doing. I would also like to see the new laws on guns allow the honest people keep their guns for the sake of protecting themselves. It is said that for every 13 seconds, an American uses a gun to defend himself against a criminal. New policies should see to it that ownership of guns for the purpose of protecting and defending oneself should not be confused with the intentions of the criminals and other bandits. A good reason why the support for the guns for defense purposes should be is because Americans can not entirely be dependent on the police for their safety. It should be known that the police do not actually prevent the crime from occurring, but they only intervene after the crime has already been committed. It is in very rare occasions that the police have arrived at a crime scene before the crime is done. Another reason for the keeping of the guns for self defense is that a world where homes are not allowed to defend them selves with guns is more prone to death through shootings by criminals. Restricting the use of guns for self defense in a society that is full of crimes involving guns is not doing the society any good. Instead, regulations should be set on restricting the criminals from accessing the guns. (Kleck G, 1997) Gun registration and court sentences There should be a national wide program to ensure that any person that purchases a gun is registered in the system. For example, a person who lives in New York, which has strict gun laws, is in need of a gun; he can go to a State with less strict laws on the guns, ask a friend who lives there to buy a gun for him and then smuggles the gun back to New York. Even though that is an illegal practice, people still do it and the bottom line will be that the person will be in possession of a gun. There should be severe punishments for those who buy the guns for others incase they are caught. That would be enough to scare them. Also, if there were strict laws on gun purchases, then no person would purchase a gun for the other. I would also suggest that the waiting period during the purchase of the guns be extended instead of being one day as some people want it to. A thorough background check on the gun purchasers is also important. Individuals involved in juvenile cases, any misdemeanors and any fishy backgrounds should not be allowed town or carry guns around. The sentences imposed on criminals who use guns should be increased to scare any criminals intending to commit a crime. Emphasis on measures to control crime, (education. ) Studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between crime offenders and lack of education. This occurs when the youth and teenagers are idle because they have no jobs or do not attend school. They tend to involve themselves in illegal activities, among them the possession of illegal fire arms and using them to commit crimes. Parents have been advised to invest in educating their children because this will prevent them from becoming criminals and would also make the rate of the crimes to drop. A lot of money is spent in catering for the cost of the crimes committed with guns, including the hospital bills and buying the fire arms. Gun education should also be an important part of the gun act, where it can be a requirement for gun purchasers to undergo a special education to ensure that they are able to handle guns. Arguments against my position Although guns are an advantage, they too have serious disadvantages. The obvious problem is that they make injuring or killing people very easy. There are different types of murders; the premeditated first degree murder, in which the killer could kill, whether there is the presence of the gun or not, or given more time to think of how to kill the person. Then, theres murder during the process of committing a crime, murder among friends, lovers, or the careless murder committed by criminals just any how. There are also the injuries as a result of gun crimes, but are not sufficient enough to cause death. Deaths because of gun wounds are decreasing, not because people are not killing anymore, but because the doctors are getting more equipped on treating gun wounds. The presence of a gun when committing the crime makes the crime more lethal. If the murder is that of an acquaintance or between any close people, then the presence of the gun makes it easier to kill, because it is fast. The person does not think of what he is doing, until after he has already killed the other. This is especially common with people who get angry easily and have an easy access to guns. Although it is reasonable to keep guns for self defense, they may also be a reason to cause us harm. Guns are also an aid for people who want to commit suicide. Research shows that residents of homes that have a gun are likely to commit suicide five times more than of the homes where there is no access to guns. There are controversies on whether suicide is illegal or immoral, but that doesnt change the fact that guns make the suicide much easier, especially when the victim is depressed, or is under drug influence. Arguments against my proposal The imposition of more strict rules on the gun control act will not prevent the criminals from committing crimes. Why, because there are other available weapons which can be used to kill or injure other people. These are weapons such as knives, machetes, clubs or any other object that can kill. More recent studies have also shown that when murder is committed using a gun, the probability that it would still have occurred if a knife was used is twice that of the gun.

Down Syndrome Essay examples -- Mental Retardation Mentally Retarded

Down syndrome Down syndrome takes its name from Dr. Langdon Down. He was the first person to describe the syndrome in 1866. The earliest recorded incident of someone having Down syndrome dates back to an altar piece painted in a church in Aachen, Germany in 1504. Although the syndrome is named after Dr Langdon Down, he did not understand the condition, as we know it today. The syndrome was referred to as having mongolism. This was because people who have Down syndrome have similar physical characteristics to those people of oriental heritage. The diagnosis of the syndrome can be made shortly after birth. Most parents who find out their child has it have conflicting emotions. These can include shock, feelings of disbelief, feelings of sorrow, guilt and feelings of embarrassment. In the past, most babies who had Down syndrome were put into an institution. Today the trend is to keep the child at home and have the child became a functioning member of society. Having a handicapped child can cause great stress. There is also a problem of explaining the condition to the other siblings. Down syndrome should not be explained to the other siblings as an illness. They should be told the child has a handicap. Parents should also be careful not to spend all their time with the child that has Down syndrome and spend equal time with all their children. Other relatives and friends should be told as soon as possible. It will normally make other people uncomfortable. They may not understand what the parent is feeling and say inappropriate things. Down syndrome is one of the most common chromomal defects. It occurs in about 1 out of 800 births. The probability of having a child with Down syndrome increases with the mother’s age. The rate for women in their twenties is about 1 in 2000 births. This number increases dramatically for a women in her forties to about 1 in 100. The cause of Down syndrome is an extra chromosome. In 95 percent of the cases, the child has three instead of two chromosomes on the 21 chromosome. There is a test called amniocentesis that can tell the mother if her child will have Down syndrome. Amniocentesis involves inserting a needle into the amniotic sac to withdraw a small about of the amniotic fluid. The cells in the fluid are then analyzed to see if the child has Down syndrome. There is small risk of a miscarriage or infection to the uteru... ... to enjoy life in a way that other people cannot. They were so grateful for the attention that you showed them. Just like anyone else, they had their good days and bad days. The clients that had Downs were always the first ones on the dance floor when they had parties and they always had a smile on their face. In the last twenty years, there has been a push to get mental retarded people into the mainstream of society. Most adults with Downs syndrome will need some help daily activties. Independent living centers has replaced large institutions. These living centers usually have about four to twelve clients living there, the center I worked at had two houses and there were ten people in each house. They worked at a company putting wicks in candles and really enjoyed their job. They were responsible for cleaning their rooms and bathrooms. They also had different chores to do around the house such as mopping the floor and helping with dinner. Every night there were activities planned such as watching movies or doing arts and crafts. It was a great experience working with the clients. That is one of the main reason I decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in social work.

Economic factors affecting food choice Essay

The aim of this research is to find the economic factors that affect a person’s food choice for example the amount of disposable income, family size and spending patterns. This then helps us to decide a suitable dish for our chosen practical. This research helps understand the relationship between quality of diet and disposable income and how are eating patterns have changed from the past. Disposable income The amount of money left after tax and other deductions have been made is called the disposable income. The amount of money spent on food cooked at home has declined even though the disposable income has risen since the 1980s. Disposable income affects the food you eat because you tend to eat out more frequently, spend more money on premium ranges of ready prepared foods and shop at more expensive supermarkets and specialist shops if you have more disposable income. However families with less disposable income tend to spend more on convenience foods and snack foods. It takes careful budgeting and shopping around for cheaper prices to provide healthy meals for low income families. Family size and spending patterns Family size also affects how much you spend on food because declining family size and an increase in single person household has led to a change in patterns of spending on food as couples and single adult households spend more per person on food. Whereas due to larger families having young children with smaller appetites less is spent per person on food, also because less food is wasted in larger families. Larger families may also buy in bulk or shop around for cheaper prices or offers such as three for the price of two and buy one get one free. There is an increase in single person households because of an ageing population where there are more elderly people than young people in a population and due to more young, single people living alone.

My Role as a Nurse in Canada

Collaboration implies working together for the greater good, but it actually encompasses far more. Several preconditions must be in place in order for collaboration to be successful. As a nurse in a health care setting, collaboration is very important to facilitate better patient outcomes. During my practice in the hospital communication is vital for collaborative nursing to be successful. Team work is the key for all staff member. Working together requires communication. As healthcare professionals, we need to look at the whole picture and meet all of the needs of our patients.As nurses, it is essential that we give up some power and trust that other members of the team are just as important in providing comprehensive, quality care. With that in mind, we will always do what is best for our patients, even when that means relinquishing some control. In my experience I rely on the nursing aids as my eyes and ears because they are in the frontline but maintaining professional roles. In the role of teacher, I am frequently asked health, medication and growth and development questions.He or she also often provides additional details on a diagnosis not quite understood by patient or family members, the nurse helps clients learn about their health and the health care procedures they need to perform to restore or maintain their health. I assess the client’s learning needs and readiness to learn, sets specific learning goals in conjunction with the client, enacts teaching strategies and measures learning. Another form of role is a Nurse educator, combine clinical expertise and a passion for teaching into rich and rewarding careers.These professionals, who work in the classroom and the practice setting, are responsible for preparing and mentoring current and future generations of nurses. I have been in the academe for 4 years as a Nurse educators I have a pivotal role in strengthening the nursing workforce, serving as role models and providing the leadership neede d to implement evidence-based practice. As a nurse educator I express a high degree of satisfaction with my work. Watching future nurses grow in confidence and skill as the most rewarding aspects of this job. The nurse is a caregiver first and foremost.Nurse Caregiver is the one who give love and care to the people that need someone that can care not only physical and also the emotional and also the love that needed of the people with special needs and also to the aged person. I can definitely relate to this role because I have been a care giver before and it gives me much fulfillment as a nurse to see someone smiles and give gratitude for the tender loving care that you give them. Counselling is a process of helping a client to recognize and cope with stressful psychological or social problems, to developed improved interpersonal relationships, and to promote personal growth.It involves providing emotional, intellectual, and psychological support. In my practice as a nurse I encoun tered lots of situation wherein a patient or family member needed counselling regarding health related issues. As a counsellor I give information regarding their health related issues and assess how effective are the patient coping with it, based on my assessment that I patterned my intervention. Sometimes the nurse must serve as patient advocate in helping loved ones make difficult decisions. Providing education and detailed information regarding treatment options is only the beginning.The nurse asks for input from patient and families. That, in addition, to his/her own observations about each patient – and the knowledge from caring for hundreds of other patients – allows the nurse to best create an individualized care plan. As a Client advocate I acts to protect the client. In this role the nurse i represent the client’s needs and wishes to other health professionals, such as relaying the client’s wishes for information to the physician. I also assist c lients in exercising their rights and help them speak up for themselves. Communication is an integral to all nursing roles.Nurses communicate with the client, support persons, other health professionals, and people in the community. In the role of communicator, nurses identify client problems and then communicate these verbally or in writing to other members of the health team. The quality of a nurse’s communication is an important factor in nursing care. In my practice I usually communicate with other health professional regarding the most effective intervention for the client, like referring them to a specialist or to a social worker, helping the client achieve the optimal health status possible.The nurse has significant responsibility as a supervisor of delegated or assigned activities. Each person involved in this process is accountable for his or her own actions or inaction and is potentially liable if competent and safe care is not provided. Certainly, the educational p reparation and demonstrated ability of the person who will perform the designated act must be evaluated by the nurse making the decision to delegate tasks to others. In my practice decision to delegate essentially involves the use of the nursing process, i. e. appropriate assessment of the circumstances (staff available and patient acuity), planning, implementation, and evaluation by the delegator. It is up to me to make a professional judgment based upon the information available for me in each specific situation. Every day, nurses are responsible for the health and well-being of their patients. Regardless of specialty or work setting, perform basic duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients' family members.Doing this roles of nurses are basically the same in any work setting, with my education and experience I am very confident that I can do this roles when I prac tice as a registered nurse here in Canada, although there are some anxiety involved regarding the whole process, but I feel confident that I can do the job because I already have the experience being a licensed practical nurse first then moving up to becoming a registered nurse plus my previous experience as a registered nurse in the Philippines. The management and leadership competencies that I currently possess, and comfortable of using is communication.Because I am a type of person that is very organized and to be able to achieve this is to have a good communication with other members of the team, and I am very comfortable in speaking the English language because back home in the Philippines we are use to using English as a medium for instruction so there not much adjustment on my part. Barriers for this competency that might challenge me is the possibility of sending or receiving incorrect messages. So it is essential that we know the key components of the communication process, how to improve our skills, and the potential problems that exist with errors in communication.After I graduates from nursing school and gets my Registered Nurse (RN) license in the Philippines, somehow I got to possess some fundamental leadership skills to apply to direct patient care. I would identify more to a directive autocrat type of leadership, because for me it would be more effective to direct each team member to do a specific task to complete, ensuring that command and supervision as to what to do, and see to it that it gets completed accordingly. Positive side of this type of leadership is that the nurse leader tries to ensure that the whole unite works as a team to get the tasks done.

Spina Bifida essays

Spina Bifida essays Spina bifida is a congenital defect that is present at the birth of a child. It is caused by problems with early development of the spine with the main defect being the failure of the closure of the vertebral column that is the bony column that surrounds the spinal cord. Without this closure, the spinal cord is not afforded the usual protection of the vertebrae, and is left open to either mechanical injury or invasion by However, spina bifida may be treated with utero surgery. While this is a risky yet promising procedure, it appears to improve short-term outcomes (Worcester, 2003). Dr. Joseph Bruner, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Vanderbilt, states that, "To date, more than 250 surgeries to repair the lesions associated with spina bifida have been performed at centers such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of California, San Francisco, and Vanderbilt University." In utero repair has several advantages over postnatal surgery. They include potentially fewer urinary infections, less gastrointestinal reflux, improved fetal leg function and cognitive development, and less need for shunt placement with The most reoccurring type of spina bifida is an opening in the spine that appears in the body midline anywhere from the neck to the buttocks area. This may be detected before birth and a pediatric surgeon may be available to perform surgery upon birth. Since the spinal cord is not developed properly, the defect may be much more subtle, and may, in fact, be covered with skin, while in spinal rachischisis, the most severe form of spina bifida, the entire length of the spine may be open. The cause of spina bifida may be a combination of genetic factors along with environmental influences that bring about malformation of the spine and spinal column. While all of the reasons that contribute to the ...

A Short History of the Chinese in Cuba

A Short History of the Chinese in Cuba The Chinese first arrived in Cuba in significant numbers in the late 1850s to toil in Cuba’s sugarcane fields. At that time, Cuba was arguably the largest producer of sugar in the world. Due to the diminishing African slave trade after England’s abolition of slavery in 1833 and the decline of slavery in the United States, a labor shortage in Cuba led plantation owners to search for workers elsewhere. China emerged as the labor source following deep social upheaval after the First and Second Opium Wars. Changes in the farming system, a surge in population growth, political discontentment, natural disasters, banditry, and ethnic strife- especially in southern China- led many farmers and peasants to leave China and look for work overseas. While some willingly left China for contract work in Cuba, others were coerced into semi-indentured servitude. The First Ship On June 3, 1857, the first ship arrived in Cuba carrying about 200 Chinese laborers on eight-year contracts. In many cases, these Chinese â€Å"coolies† were treated just as the African slaves were. The situation was so severe that the imperial Chinese government even sent investigators to Cuba in 1873 to look into a large number of suicides by Chinese laborers in Cuba, as well as allegations of abuse and breach of contract by plantation owners. Shortly after, the Chinese labor trade was prohibited and the last ship carrying Chinese laborers reached Cuba in 1874. Establishing a Community Many of these laborers intermarried with the local population of Cubans, Africans, and mixed-race women. Miscegenation laws forbade them to marry Spaniards. These Cuban-Chinese began to develop a distinct community. At its height, in the late 1870s, there were more than 40,000 Chinese in Cuba. In Havana, they established â€Å"El Barrio Chino† or Chinatown, which grew to 44 square blocks and was once the largest such community in Latin America. In addition to working in the fields, they opened shops, restaurants, and laundries and worked in factories. A unique fusion Chinese-Cuban cuisine melding Caribbean and Chinese flavors also emerged. Residents developed community organizations and social clubs, such as the Casino Chung Wah, founded in 1893. This community association continues to assist the Chinese in Cuba today with education and cultural programs. The Chinese-language weekly, Kwong Wah Po also still publishes in Havana. At the turn of the century, Cuba saw another wave of Chinese migrants – many coming from California. The 1959 Cuban Revolution Many Chinese Cubans participated in the anti-colonial movement against Spain. There were even three Chinese-Cuban Generals who served pivotal roles in the Cuban Revolution. There still stands a monument in Havana dedicated to the Chinese that fought in the revolution. By the 1950s however, the Chinese community in Cuba was already diminishing, and following the revolution, many also left the island. The Cuban revolution did create an increase in relations with China for a short time. Cuban leader Fidel Castro severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1960, recognizing and establishing formal ties with the People’s Republic of China and Mao Zedong. But the relationship did not last long. Cuba’s friendship with the Soviet Union and Castro’s public criticism of China’s 1979 invasion of Vietnam became a sticking point for China. Relations warmed again in the 1980s during China’s economic reforms. Trade and diplomatic tours increased. By the 1990s, China was Cuba’s second largest trade partner. Chinese leaders visited the island several times in the 1990s and 2000s and further increased economic and technological agreements between the two countries. In its prominent role on the United Nations Security Council, China has long opposed U.S. sanctions on Cuba. The Cuban Chinese Today It’s estimated that Chinese Cubans (those who were born in China) only number about 400 today. Many are elderly residents who live near the run-down Barrio Chino. Some of their children and grandchildren still work in the shops and restaurants near Chinatown. Community groups are currently working to economically revitalize Havana’s Chinatown into a tourist destination. Many Cuban Chinese also migrated overseas. Well-known Chinese-Cuban restaurants have been established in New York City and Miami.