Rap Music Rocks! free essay sample

Ever since the era of rap music began in the 1970’s, violence among its audience has been connected to the lyrics of rap songs. Eventually rap music became something society was able to blame for teen violence. As the music got more disturbing and the lyrics got more violent and discriminating towards women, rap artists have gotten more blame for teens acting out. Unfortunately, this blame is misplaced. Rap music should not be blamed for teen violence because the theory is based on stereotypes of teenagers and rappers, rap is merely one genre of music that alludes to violence, and can only be blamed for influencing feelings not actions. The studies done on this topic have only represented certain groups of people. In â€Å"Does Rap Put Teens at Risk?† Sid Kirchheimer shines light on a study that shows the effect of rap videos on African American girls between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. We will write a custom essay sample on Rap Music Rocks! or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The study showed that the girls who watched rap videos at least fourteen hours a week were more likely to act out in the form of hitting a teacher, getting arrested, and using drugs and alcohol. That’s a good statistic because African American girls between the ages of fourteen and eighteen represent the entire world. Oh wait, no they don’t. This article later goes on to state that rap video’s largest audience is white suburban youth. So where are the studies showing how rap videos have affected it’s largest viewing population? It could only be assumed that this information was left out of Kirchheimer’s article because the results would have contradicted his stance on the issue and therefore weakened his argument. The study also did not specify if these African American girls were prone to violence regardless of rap due to their role models or lifestyle. If the statistics regarding rap music causing violence are this far from exact and leave such i mportant information out, they can not be used as a legitimate reason to blame rap for violence. Not all teenagers are the same. Some may think that if violence is happening in a rap music video it is okay to do in real life, but others know that is not the case. It is a lot like advertising when it comes to knowing what is fake and just being used to attract an audience or sell a product. Teenagers are old enough to watch a teeth whitening commercial and not feel inclined to go out and buy that product because most likely that gorgeous woman’s teeth were whitened via computer. Those same teenagers are old enough to watch a rap video and not feel the need to go out and get a gun and some voluptuous women in metallic bathing suits to walk around with because the life being portrayed in that video is fake and only lasts for three to four minutes. The small number of teenagers who do not know the difference between music videos and reality are the ones causing the problems and f orcing their parents and society to put the blame on rap music, but it is not fair to make the generalization that all teenagers don’t understand the difference. Not all rap music is the same. Some rappers talk about life lessons and some talk about sex, drugs, and violence. They are all allowed to rap about whatever they want, but to group all of them together and blame the whole genre of music for that small group of teenagers is a stereotype. â€Å"Lumping all rap music together and dismissing it as incomprehensible noise can harm society,† said Miriam Fitting in her article â€Å"Who Takes the Rap?†. Theories based on large stereotypes should not be taken seriously. Rap not only includes a wide variety of genres within itself, but it is also not the only style of music that contains lyrics regarding violence. Country artists like Miranda Lambert and the Dixie Chicks have put out many songs referencing weapons and murder. In Miranda Lamberts Kerosene she si ngs, â€Å"Now I don’t hate the one who left you can’t hate someone who’s dead he’s out there holdin’ onto someone I’m holding up my smokin’ gun.† In her controversial song Gunpowder and Lead about a hypothetical abusive boyfriend, Miranda talks about drinking, jail, cigarettes, shotguns and says, â€Å"His fist is big but my gun’s bigger, he’ll find out when I pull the trigger.† The Dixie Chicks are also famous for their political and controversial music. Their song Goodbye Earl is about two friends killing an ex-husband and makes references to poisoning, suffocating, and dropping a body off in a lake and says â€Å"they don’t loose any sleep at night cause Earl had to die†. Popular rock songs also have lyrics that talk about violence and suicide. â€Å"Cut my life into pieces this is my last resort, suffocation no breathing don’t give a f*** if I cut my arm bleeding,† screams P apa Roach in his song Last Resort. Although other genres of music clearly allude to the same violence as rap music, rap seems to be the only genre being connected to teen violence. Miriam Fitting, the author of â€Å"Who Takes the Rap?† believes that rap doesn’t deserve the blame, or the isolation. She said, â€Å"rap music touches each of our lives, and not just when cars with twenty-inch speakers drive by blaring it, shaking both the windows of our houses and the fragile membranes of our eardrums. It is a connecting thread running through today’s youth culture†. Rap music is a large part of youth culture and not only has similarities to other genres in the present; it also shared its rebellious start with other genres in the past. â€Å"Like other popular styles, it [rap music] has a history that is closely aligned with the rebellious attitude of it’s young creators; youth who rejected the contemporary music prevalent during the 1970’s,â €  said Kwaku Person-Lynn in her article â€Å"The Origin of Rap.† People can say that music influences people, which it definitely does. It can make you feel sad or mad, it can even make you so mad you want to hurt someone. But when it comes down to it you are the one who committed the crime, you pulled the trigger, not the rap artist who sang about doing it. A song can make you feel any emotion in the book, but a song cannot make you do something. It is a classic battle of feelings versus actions. Blaming music for making you feel a certain way is valid, but to claim that a genre of music can make you physically do something is not. Famous rapper Eminem, who has spent every minute of his career being scrutinized by the public because of his controversial and downright disturbing lyrics, explains it all perfectly in his song Sing For the Moment. He raps, â€Å"they say music can alter moods and talk to you, but can it load a gun up for you a c*** it too? Well if it can then the next time you assault a dude just tell the judge it was my fault and I’ll get sued†. No matter what Miranda Lambert sings to you, that song can’t make you go out, buy a shotgun and pull the trigger on someone you hate. No matter what Papa Roach yells at you, those words can’t make you go out, buy a razor, and take it to your wrist. No matter what rappers spit to you, that rhyme can’t make you go out and commit violence. Lyrics can make you want to do something; they can’t make you do it. Rap music has been viewed in relation to teen violence and rebellion almost as long as it’s been around. Contrary to popular belief rap music cannot be blamed for violence among teenagers. The studies trying to prove the opposite are based on stereotypes and therefore cannot be used as a credible source. It is the only genre of music blamed for promoting violence when country and rock lyrics clearly show that rap is not alone with its referen ces to violent behavior. Lastly, rap music cannot be blamed for actions of violence because the combination of lyrics and melody can only go as far as to alter a person’s mood, but cannot force a person to commit violent crimes.

Free Essays on Vietnam War

When someone thinks of the Vietnam War, people think of all the men that died and risked their lives. No one ever takes in to consideration that there was women in that war that fought, helped saved soldiers, wrote articles on it, served in the Red Cross, and died in that horrible war. In the time of the war women were still perceived to not be capable of doing what men could do. They went into Vietnam proving that they have the skills, strength, and mental capability to be with the men. Army, Navy and Air Force Nurses and Medical Specialists numbered over six thousand (U.P). All Army nurses were officers, and were Direct Commissions (T.O.D.I). They became nurses first and then attended a ten day or so Orientation Course at (Ft. Sam Houston, Texas) to teach them how to be officers. In 1965, Maj. Kathleen Wilkes and SFC Betty Adams became the first U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) members to serve as Military Advisors to the newly formed Women’s Corps of the Army of the Republic of (South) Vietnam (ARVN) (Starr 234). A lot of women requested to be sent to Vietnam but were declined. Many claim that they were being denied on purpose because many felt that women could not handle it. One WAC lieutenant complained, â€Å"What kind of delicate creatures do the brass think we are? There’s a war going on in Vietnam, but you have to be a civilian to get assigned there. Women are fighting in the jungles with the Vietcong. Yet we aren’t allowed to dirty our dainty hands† (234). Over five hundred WAC’s were stationed in Vietnam (U.P). Three factors collected to confine the amount of military women serving in Southeast Asia: (1) conventional outlook towards servicewomen; (2) desire to keep women from the unsympathetic realities of warfare; and (3) commanders believed it was easier to deal with only men. The women that did serve in Vietnam proved how capable they were of performance under all the aggressive fire. During 1968 Tet Offensive, Ca... Free Essays on Vietnam War Free Essays on Vietnam War Choices Tim O’Brien was drafted to the Vietnam War. He didn’t want to go to the war. So he went to the northern woods in the northern Minnesota. He had to make a choice whether to go to the war or not to go to the war. After spending six days with guy Elroy he decides to go. Tim O’Brien went to the war for the wrong reasons. He didn’t even think that there should be a war. He saw no reason at all why they should be fighting. He says â€Å"I was drafted to a war I hated... [I was] politically naive, but even so the American war in Vietnam seemed to me wrong. Certain blood shed for uncertain reason. â€Å"He hated this war and had so many questions about it. he says â€Å" It was my view then, and still is that you don’t make a war without knowing why.† he didn’t believe in it and didn’t know why we were fighting so why should he go to a war. He didn’t want to go to war. He wasn’t made for war. He even says , â€Å"I was no solider. I hated dirt and tents and mosquitoes. The sight of blood made me queasy.......† Now come on he didn’t even like anything to do with outdoors what good would he even do for our country. He minds well stay home and go to school. He was too young and had too much to lose. He even got a scholarship to a good school. â€Å"... I had the world *censored*ed - Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude and president of the student body and a full ride scholarship for grad studies at Harvard.† It must have been a mistake cause I was too young. â€Å" a month after graduating from Macalester college. I was drafted to fight a war I hated. I was twenty-one years old, young, yes.† Way too young to go to war. He was too embarrassed not to go. He was afraid to be laughed out of town. â€Å" ... and it was easy to imagine people sitting around a table down at the old Gobbler Cafe on Mainstreet, coffee cups poised, the c... Free Essays on Vietnam War The Effects of the Vietnam War on its Veterans Thesis: The Vietnam War took many tolls on its soldiers; now the veterans have to deal with medical problems like Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe drug and alcohol addictions, and the effects of Agent Orange. I. Introduction II. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder III. Drug and Alcohol Addictions A. Alcohol B. Marijuana C. Heroin IV. Agent Orange A. Background Information B. Diseases of The Effects of the Vietnam War on its Veterans. Have you ever seen a homeless man sleeping in the street and hastily conclude that he is at the bottom of society? I bet that you never stopped to think about where that person has come from. He could have been just like you at one time, nineteen years old, just out of high school, ready to start his life, but then he was drafted. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless at least one third of homeless males are veterans (Shay 178). A large amount of veterans have severe problems in everyday society. Many veterans have to deal with physical health conditions as well as mental health problems. The Vietnam War took many tolls on its soldiers; now the veterans have to deal with medical like Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe drug and alcohol addictions, and the effects of Agent Orange. Perhaps one of the most devastating side effects of fighting a war is the amount of stress that is put on the soldiers. This is because of a mental health problem called Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a condition that is caused by an enormous amount of stress that is put on an individual. Post-Vietnam syndrome is another name for PTSD and the two are even more generally known as war neurosis (Scott 28). War neurosis has been recognized as a medical condition from a time dating back to the civil war (Scott 28). PTSD sets in anywhere from nine to thirty months after the over... Free Essays on Vietnam War The Vietnam War, the nations longest war, cost fifty-eight thousand American lives. Only the Civil War and the two World Wars were deadlier (â€Å"Vietnam War†). The U.S. Treasury spent over $140 billion on the war, enough money to fund urban renewal projects in every major American city (â€Å"Vietnam War†). The initial reasons for U.S. involvement in Vietnam seemed logical and compelling to American leaders. Following its success in WWII, the U.S. faced the future with a sense of moral rectitude and material confidence (â€Å"Vietnam War†). There were actually two phases of the War. During the first phase, which began in 1946, the Vietnamese fought France for control of Vietnam. At that time, Vietnam was part of the colony of French Indochina (Pike 373). The Vietnam War was actually the second phase of fighting in Vietnam (373). With everything going on in Vietnam and the United States, everything was falling apart including the governments, moral issues, and t he cities. The fight for the U.S. was led by many famous American presidents, five to be exact. The aftermath and turmoil of this war was a catastrophe, considering Vietnam still became a Communist country. How did the war start? Well, the French wanted colonialism throughout Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted a communist country and South wanted a non-communist – pro-American government. America just favored Vietnam’s independence and supported South Vietnam, surprising Ho Chi Minh [leader of the North] (â€Å"Vietnam War†). The United States aid to France and later non-communist South Vietnam was based on a policy of President Harry S. Truman. He had declared that the U.S. must help any nation threatened by Communists (Pike 373). President Dwight D. Eisenhower increased the level of aid, about $2 ½ billion worth, just to get defeated by the Vietminh in the famous battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 (Seah 24). The U.S. had a great deal of difficulty in holding the army together in Sou... Free Essays on Vietnam War Vietnam War Encarta Encyclopedia defines the Vietnam War as a military struggle fought in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975, involving the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front (NLF) in conflict with United States forces and the South Vietnamese army. The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular war in which Americans ever fought. From 1946 until 1954, the Vietnamese had struggled for their independence from France during the First Indochina War. At the end of this war, the country was temporarily divided into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam came under the control of the Vietnamese Communists who had opposed France and who aimed for a unified Vietnam under Communist rule. Vietnamese who had collaborated with the French controlled the South. The United States became involved in Vietnam because it believed that if all the country fell under a Communist government, Communism would spread throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. This belief was known as the â€Å"domino theory.† The U.S. government, therefore, supported the South Vietnamese government. This government’s repressive policies led to rebellion in the South, and the NLF was formed as an opposition group with close ties to North Vietnam. The toll in suffering, sorrow, in rancorous national turmoil can never be tabulated. No one wants ever to see America so divided again. And for many of the more than two million American veterans of the war, the wounds of Vietnam will never heal. An estimated fifty-eight thousand Americans lost their lives. The losses to the Vietnamese people were appalling. During the conflict, approximately 3 to 4 million Vietnamese on both sides were killed, in addition to another 1.5 to 2 million Lao and Cambodians who wer e drawn into the war. The financial cost to the United States comes to something over 150 billion dollars. Direct Americans involvement began in 1955 with the arrival of the first advisors. In 1965 the... Free Essays on Vietnam War When someone thinks of the Vietnam War, people think of all the men that died and risked their lives. No one ever takes in to consideration that there was women in that war that fought, helped saved soldiers, wrote articles on it, served in the Red Cross, and died in that horrible war. In the time of the war women were still perceived to not be capable of doing what men could do. They went into Vietnam proving that they have the skills, strength, and mental capability to be with the men. Army, Navy and Air Force Nurses and Medical Specialists numbered over six thousand (U.P). All Army nurses were officers, and were Direct Commissions (T.O.D.I). They became nurses first and then attended a ten day or so Orientation Course at (Ft. Sam Houston, Texas) to teach them how to be officers. In 1965, Maj. Kathleen Wilkes and SFC Betty Adams became the first U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) members to serve as Military Advisors to the newly formed Women’s Corps of the Army of the Republic of (South) Vietnam (ARVN) (Starr 234). A lot of women requested to be sent to Vietnam but were declined. Many claim that they were being denied on purpose because many felt that women could not handle it. One WAC lieutenant complained, â€Å"What kind of delicate creatures do the brass think we are? There’s a war going on in Vietnam, but you have to be a civilian to get assigned there. Women are fighting in the jungles with the Vietcong. Yet we aren’t allowed to dirty our dainty hands† (234). Over five hundred WAC’s were stationed in Vietnam (U.P). Three factors collected to confine the amount of military women serving in Southeast Asia: (1) conventional outlook towards servicewomen; (2) desire to keep women from the unsympathetic realities of warfare; and (3) commanders believed it was easier to deal with only men. The women that did serve in Vietnam proved how capable they were of performance under all the aggressive fire. During 1968 Tet Offensive, Ca... Free Essays on Vietnam War America’s Longest War From the late 1950’s through the early 1970’s, America faced its most difficult challenge in recent history. That conflict was the Vietnam War. For the Americans, it was a war based on fear, economical protection, and public outcry, along with numerous executive changes that kept the war going for so long. There were many reasons why the Americans eventually left Vietnam. Those reasons are what remain of the legacies of the Vietnam War. The war started off with the Kennedy administration, in which believed that â€Å"Vietnam represents the cornerstone of the Free World in Southeast Asia, the keystone in the arch, the finger in the dike.† Should the â€Å"red tide of Communism† pour into it, Kennedy warned, much of Asia would be threatened (Herring 53). Kennedy didn’t take action once he came into office. Instead Kennedy supplied aid and money to the government to help them with relief. Kennedy then acted with stronger intentions only because the Diem government appeared on the verge of collapse. The president started to send highly skilled â€Å"advisers† to South Vietnam to properly train the soldiers of Vietnam to be successful in their missions. After a while, the Diem government questioned whether the United States knew what they were doing. â€Å"All these soldiers,† Diem complained. â€Å"I never asked them to come here. They don’t even have passports.† The growing uneasiness was clearly revealed in May 1963 when Nhu publicly questioned whether the United States knew what it was doing in Vietnam (Herring 113). In this atmosphere of confusion and mounting conflict, the Kennedy administration also began to discuss the possibility of troop withdrawals. In November 1, 1963, the South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother were murdered. The murder of Diem shocked President Kennedy and reinforced his concerns about American involvement in South Vietnam. Less than a month la... Free Essays on Vietnam War When someone thinks of the Vietnam War, people think of all the men that died and risked their lives. No one ever takes in to consideration that there was women in that war that fought, helped saved soldiers, wrote articles on it, served in the Red Cross, and died in that horrible war. In the time of the war women were still perceived to not be capable of doing what men could do. They went into Vietnam proving that they have the skills, strength, and mental capability to be with the men. Army, Navy and Air Force Nurses and Medical Specialists numbered over six thousand (U.P). All Army nurses were officers, and were Direct Commissions (T.O.D.I). They became nurses first and then attended a ten day or so Orientation Course at (Ft. Sam Houston, Texas) to teach them how to be officers. In 1965, Maj. Kathleen Wilkes and SFC Betty Adams became the first U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) members to serve as Military Advisors to the newly formed Women’s Corps of the Army of the Republic of (South) Vietnam (ARVN) (Starr 234). A lot of women requested to be sent to Vietnam but were declined. Many claim that they were being denied on purpose because many felt that women could not handle it. One WAC lieutenant complained, â€Å"What kind of delicate creatures do the brass think we are? There’s a war going on in Vietnam, but you have to be a civilian to get assigned there. Women are fighting in the jungles with the Vietcong. Yet we aren’t allowed to dirty our dainty hands† (234). Over five hundred WAC’s were stationed in Vietnam (U.P). Three factors collected to confine the amount of military women serving in Southeast Asia: (1) conventional outlook towards servicewomen; (2) desire to keep women from the unsympathetic realities of warfare; and (3) commanders believed it was easier to deal with only men. The women that did serve in Vietnam proved how capable they were of performance under all the aggressive fire. During 1968 Tet Offensive, Ca... Free Essays on Vietnam War The American conflict in Vietnam and Indochina during the 1960’s and 70’s has been seen through many different perspectives. Hollywood has given its portrayal in countless movies ranging from â€Å"Good Morning Vietnam,† â€Å"We Were Soldiers,† and â€Å"Platoon.† Books and magazines have also given their opinions in both fiction and non-fiction pieces of literature. Most of the time Vietnam is painted as a beautiful country cursed with a gruesome war. But no movie or book can describe what accurately went on more than the young soldiers who saw the violence with their own eyes. Military men had to deal with risking their lives, fighting a foreign enemy, being on constant edge, and dealing with the constant pressures that come with military service. This paper will focus on the U.S. Army’s role in Vietnam, the â€Å"politics† surrounding combat, and the graphic images witnessed by many infantrymen on the front lines. Between 1962 and 1975 approximately 2.5 Americans served in Vietnam and the Army had numerous combat units on the front lines fighting the enemy. When the first U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam in 1965 they were composed mainly of volunteers. The Air Force, Navy, and Marines were volunteer units. The escalating war, however, required more draftees. In 1965 about 20,000 men per month were inducted into the military, most into the Army; by 1968 about 40,000 young men were drafted each month to meet increased troop levels ordered for Vietnam (http://25thaviation.org/default.htm). The distinct element that the Vietnam conflict had over other major battles in U.S. history was that the fighting took place in â€Å"bits and pieces.† â€Å"There were no Normandies or Gettysburgs for us, no epic clashes that decided the fates of armies or nations. The war was mostly a matter of enduring weeks of expectant waiting and, at random intervals, of conducting vicious manhunts through jungles and swamps where snipers harassed us con... Free Essays on Vietnam War Vietnam War The Vietnam War is one of the most disgraceful periods in American history. Not only did the greatest superpower in the world get bested by an almost third-world nation, but we lost badly. Perhaps this war could have been won, or even prevented in the first place. The United States could have and should have won this war, with a combination of better weapons usage, better tactics, and better support from their home country. Before the War Even years before the war, Vietnam was a hotly disputed territory. Many countries had taken Vietnam over, and after World War II, Vietnam was in the hands of France. Obviously, the Vietnamese wanted their own country, and their long history of being a colony prompted the oppressed people to fight for their independence in the French-Indochina war. (7) Ho Chi Min, the leader of the Communist party, organized the Vietnamese independence movement, Viet Minh. Asking for support from America first, Ho Chi Min did not want to have to turn to communist support for the freedom of his people. Since the United States viewed helping Ho gain his independence from France as a move against their own allies, they declined. It was only after Russia and China offered to help that Ho adopted communist ideals and wanted to make all of Vietnam communist. The Vietnam War started simply because Ho Chi Min and his communist supporters wanted South Vietnam to become communist after the South split off in 1954 to become its own democratic nation. The United States saw this as a threat to democracy, and using the Domino theory, successfully threw the U.S. into the one of the worst wars it has ever seen. If only the United States had looked past its petty alliances and helped another country gain its independence like we had gained ours so many years ago, this war would have been completely avoided. Unfortunately for the families of over 64,000 soldiers, it wasn't. Beginnings of a Nightmare As early as 1954,...

World War I - 1918 Overview

World War I - 1918 Overview By 1918, World War I had been underway for over three years. Despite the bloody stalemate that continued to ensue on the Western Front following the failures of British and French offensives at Ypres and Aisne, both sides had reason for hope due to two key events in 1917. For the Allies (Britain, France, and Italy), the United States had entered the war on April 6 and was bringing its industrial might and vast manpower to bear. To the east, Russia, torn by the Bolshevik Revolution and resulting civil war, had asked for an armistice with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) on December 15, freeing large numbers of soldiers for service on other fronts. As a result, both alliances entered the new year with optimism that victory might finally be achieved. America Mobilizes Though the United States had joined the conflict in April 1917, it took time for the nation to mobilize manpower on a large scale and retool its industries for war. By March 1918, only 318,000 Americans had arrived in France. This number began to climb rapidly through the summer and by August 1.3 million men were deployed overseas. Upon their arrival, many senior British and French commanders wished to use the largely untrained American units as replacements within their own formations. Such a plan was adamantly opposed by the commander of the American Expeditionary Force, General John J. Pershing, who insisted that American troops fight together. Despite conflicts like this, the arrival of the Americans bolstered the hopes of the battered British and French armies which had been fighting and dying for since August 1914. An Opportunity for Germany While the massive numbers of American troops that were forming in the United States would ultimately play a decisive role, the defeat of Russia provided Germany with an immediate advantage on the Western Front. Freed from fighting a two-front war, the Germans were able to transfer over thirty veteran divisions west while only leaving a skeleton force to ensure Russian compliance with the Treat of Brest-Litovsk. These troops provided the Germans with numerical superiority over their adversaries. Aware that growing numbers of American troops would soon negate the advantage Germany had gained, General Erich Ludendorff began planning a series of offensives to bring the war on the Western Front to a swift conclusion. Dubbed the Kaiserschlacht (Kaisers Battle), the 1918 Spring Offensives were to consist of four major assaults code-named Michael, Georgette, Blà ¼cher-Yorck, and Gneisenau. As German manpower was running short, it was imperative that the Kaiserschlacht succeed as losses could not be effectively replaced. Operation Michael The first and largest of these offensives, Operation Michael, was intended to strike the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) along the Somme with the goal of cutting it off from the French to the south. The assault plan called for four German armies to break through the BEFs lines then wheel northwest to drive toward the English Channel. Leading the attack would be special stormtrooper units whose orders called for them to drive deep into British positions, bypassing strong points, with the goal disrupting communications and reinforcements. Commencing on March 21, 1918, Michael saw German forces attack along a forty-mile front. Slamming into the British Third and Fifth Armies, the assault shattered the British lines. While Third Army largely held, the Fifth Army began a fighting retreat (Map). As the crisis developed, the commander of the BEF, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, requested reinforcements from his French counterpart, General Philippe Pà ©tain. This request was refused as Pà ©tain was concerned about protecting Paris. Angered, Haig was able to force an Allied conference on March 26 at Doullens. This meeting resulted in the appointment of General Ferdinand Foch as the overall Allied commander. As the fighting continued, British and French resistance began to coalesce and Ludendorffs thrust began to slow. Desperate to renew the offensive, he ordered a series of new attacks on March 28, though they favored exploiting local successes rather than advancing the operations strategic goals. These attacks failed to make substantial gains and Operation Michael ground to a halt at Villers-Bretonneux on the outskirts of Amiens. Operation Georgette Despite the strategic failure of Michael, Ludendorff immediately launched Operation Georgette (Lys Offensive) in Flanders on April 9. Assaulting the British around Ypres, the Germans sought to capture the town and force the British back to the coast. In nearly three weeks of fighting, the Germans succeeded in reclaiming the territorial losses of Passchendaele and advanced south of Ypres. By April 29, the Germans had still failed to take Ypres and Ludendorff halted the offensive (Map). Operation Blcher-Yorck Shifting his attention south the French, Ludendorff commenced Operation Blà ¼cher-Yorck (Third Battle of the Aisne) on May 27. Concentrating their artillery, the Germans attacked down the valley of the Oise River towards Paris. Overrunning the Chemin de Dames ridge, Ludendorffs men swiftly advanced as the Allies began committing reserves to halt the offensive. American forces played a role in stopping the Germans during intense fighting at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood. On June 3, as fighting still raged, Ludendorff decided to suspend Blà ¼cher-Yorck due to supply problems and mounting losses. While both sides lost similar numbers of men, the Allies possessed an ability to replace them that Germany lacked (Map). Seeking to widen the gains of Blà ¼cher-Yorck, Ludendorff began Operation Gneisenau on June 9. Attacking on the northern edge of the Aisne salient along the Matz River, his troops made initial gains, but were halted within two days. Ludendorffs Last Gasp With the failure of the Spring Offensives, Ludendorff had lost much of the numerical superiority which he had counted on for achieving victory. With limited resources remaining he hoped to launch an attack against the French with the goal of drawing British troops south from Flanders. This would then allow another attack on that front. With the support of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Ludendorff opened the Second Battle of the Marne on July 15. Attacking on both sides of Rheims, the Germans made some progress. French intelligence had provided warning of the attack and Foch and Pà ©tain had prepared a counterstroke. Launched on July 18, the French counterattack, supported by American troops, was led by General Charles Mangins Tenth Army. Supported by other French troops, the effort soon threatened to encircle those German troops in the salient. Beaten, Ludendorff ordered a withdraw from the endangered area. The defeat on the Marne ended his plans for mounting another assault in Flanders. Austrian Failure In the wake of the disastrous Battle of Caporetto in fall 1917, the hated Italian Chief of Staff General Luigi Cadorna was sacked and replaced with General Armando Diaz. The Italian position behind the Piave River was further bolstered by the arrival of sizable formations of British and French troops. Across the lines, German forces had largely been recalled for use in the Spring Offensives, however they had been replaced by Austro-Hungarian troops that had been freed from the Eastern Front. Debate ensued among the Austrian high command regarding the best way to finish off the Italians. Finally the new Austrian Chief of Staff, Arthur Arz von Straussenburg, approved a plan to launch a two-pronged attack, with one moving south from the mountains and the other across the Piave River. Moving forward on June 15, the Austrian advance was quickly checked by the Italians and their allies with heavy losses (Map). Victory in Italy The defeat led Emperor Karl I of Austria-Hungary to begin seeking a political solution to the conflict. On October 2, he contacted US President Woodrow Wilson and expressed his willingness to enter into an armistice. Twelve days later he issued a manifesto to his peoples which effectively transformed the state into a federation of nationalities. These efforts proved too late as the multitude of ethnicities and nationalities that formed the empire had begun proclaiming their own states. With the empire collapsing, Austrian armies at the front began to weaken. In this environment, Diaz launched a major offensive across the Piave on October 24. Dubbed the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, the fighting saw many of the Austrians mount a stiff defense, but their line collapsed after Italian troops broke through a gap near Sacile. Driving back the Austrians, Diazs campaign concluded a week later on Austrian territory. Seeking an end to the war, the Austrians asked for an armistice on November 3. Terms were arranged and the armistice with Austria-Hungary was signed near Padua that day, taking effect on November 4 at 3:00 PM. German Position After the Spring Offensives The failure of the Spring Offensives cost Germany nearly a million casualties. Though ground had been taken, the strategic breakthrough had failed to occur. As a result, Ludendorff found himself short on troops with a longer line to defend. To make good the losses sustained earlier in the year, the German high command estimated that 200,000 recruits per month would be needed. Unfortunately, even by drawing on the next conscription class, only 300,000 total were available. Though German Chief of Staff General Paul von Hindenburg remained beyond reproach, members of the General Staff began to criticize Ludendorff for his failures in the field and lack of originality in determining strategy. While some officers argued for a withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, others believed the time had come to open peace negotiations with the Allies. Ignoring these suggestions, Ludendorff remained wedded to the notion of deciding the war through military means despite the fact that the United States had already mobilized four million men. In addition, the British and French, though badly bled, had developed and expanded their tank forces to compensate for numbers. Germany, in a key military miscalculation, had failed match the Allies in development of this type of technology. Battle of Amiens Having halted the Germans, Foch and Haig began preparations for striking back. The beginning of the Allies Hundred Days Offensive, the initial blow was to fall east of Amiens to open the rail lines through the city and recover the old Somme battlefield. Overseen by Haig, the offensive was centered on the British Fourth Army. After discussions with Foch it was decided to include the First French Army to the south. Beginning on August 8, the offensive relied on surprise and the use of armor rather than the typical preliminary bombardment. Catching the enemy off guard, Australian and Canadian forces in the center broke through the German lines and advanced 7-8 miles. By the end of the first day, five German divisions had been shattered. Total German losses numbered over 30,000, leading Ludendorff to refer to August 8 as the Black Day of the German Army. Over the next three days, Allied forces continued their advance, but met increased resistance as the Germans rallied. Halting the offensive on August 11, Haig was chastised by Foch who wished it to continue. Rather than battle increasing German resistance, Haig opened the Second Battle of the Somme on August 21, with the Third Army attacking at Albert. Albert fell the following day and Haig widened the offensive with the Second Battle of Arras on August 26. The fighting saw the British advance as the Germans fell back to the fortifications of the Hindenburg Line, surrendering the gains of Operation Michael (Map). Pushing on to Victory With the Germans reeling, Foch planned a massive offensive which would see several lines of advance converging on Liege. Prior to launching his attack, Foch ordered the reduction of the salients at Havrincourt and Saint-Mihiel. Attacking on September 12, the British quickly reduced the former, while the latter was taken by Pershings US First Army in the first all-American offensive of the war. Shifting the Americans north, Foch used Pershings men to open his final campaign on September 26 when they began the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Map). As the Americans attacked north, King Albert I of Belgium led a combined Anglo-Belgian force forward near Ypres two days later. On September 29, the main British offensive commenced against the Hindenburg Line with the Battle of St. Quentin Canal. After several day of fighting, the British broke through the line on October 8 at the Battle of the Canal du Nord. The German Collapse As events on the battlefield unfolded, Ludendorff suffered a breakdown on September 28. Recovering his nerve, he went to Hindenburg that evening and stated that there was no alternative but to seek an armistice. The next day, the Kaiser and senior members of the government were advised of this at the headquarters in Spa, Belgium. In January 1918, President Wilson had produced Fourteen Points on which an honorable peace guaranteeing future world harmony could be made. It was on the basis of these points that the German government elected to approach the Allies. The German position was further complicated by a deteriorating situation in Germany as shortages and political unrest swept the country. Appointing the moderate Prince Max of Baden as his chancellor, the Kaiser understood that Germany would need to democratize as part of any peace process. Final Weeks At the front, Ludendorff began to recover his nerve and the army, though retreating, was contesting each bit of ground. Advancing, the Allies continued to drive towards the German frontier (Map). Unwilling to give up the fight, Ludendorff composed a proclamation which defied the Chancellor and renounced Wilsons peace proposals. Though retracted, a copy reached Berlin inciting the Reichstag against the army. Summoned to the capital, Ludendorff was compelled to resign on October 26. As the army conducted a fighting retreat, the German High Seas Fleet was ordered to sea for one final sortie on October 30. Rather than sail, the crews broke into mutiny and took to the streets of Wilhelmshaven. By November 3, the mutiny had reached Kiel as well. As revolution swept across Germany, Prince Max appointed moderate General Wilhelm Groener to replace Ludendorff and ensured that any armistice delegation would include civilian as well as military members. On November 7, Prince Max was advised by Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Majority Socialists, that the Kaiser would need to abdicate to prevent an all-out revolution. He passed this on to the Kaiser and on November 9, with Berlin in turmoil, turned the government over Ebert. Peace at Last At Spa, the Kaiser fantasized about turning the army against his own people, but was ultimately convinced to step down on November 9. Exiled to Holland, he formally abdicated on November 28. As events unfolded in Germany, the peace delegation, led by Matthias Erzberger crossed the lines. Meeting aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compià ¨gne, the Germans were presented with Fochs terms for an armistice. These included the evacuation of occupied territory (including Alsace-Lorraine), military evacuation of the west bank of the Rhine, surrender of the High Seas Fleet, surrender of large quantities of military equipment, reparations for war damage, repudiation of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, as well as acceptance of continuation of the Allied blockade. Informed of the Kaisers departure and the fall of his government, Erzberger was unable to obtain instructions from Berlin. Finally reaching Hindenburg in Spa, he was told to sign at any cost as an armistice was absolutely necessary. Complying, the delegation agreed to Fochs terms after three days of talks and signed between 5:12 and 5:20 AM on November 11. At 11:00 AM the armistice went into effect ending over four years of bloody conflict. Test your knowledge of the battles of WWI.

The Zonk Air Accident Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Zonk Air Accident - Research Paper Example The research paper "The Zonk Air Accident" talks about the air accident that occurred at the Tahoe Airport on the 7th of November 2010. This paper also contains a conclusion, which is a summary of the major points contained in it. This paper takes a stand that there are a variety of factors responsible for the air accident involving the Zonk aircraft. These factors range from poor weather conditions, the inefficiency of the pilot, and poor management from the company. One of the causes that are given for the fatal air accident is the inefficiency of the new pilot, which was brought about because of lack of experience and inadequate training. The pilot was new hired, and he had done a total of 300 hours in flight. Of these 300 hours, the pilot had done 50 hours on twin engine air craft’s, and only 15 hours on the air a model of PA 31 (Weil, 2012). Furthermore, the pilot did not have sufficient training on meteorological conditions. He only had some 5 hours of such kind of training (Weil, 2012). Furthermore, before the accident, the pilot had only flown some three air craft’s for the Zonk Company, and before flying the aircraft, he did not fly for the company for a period of 10 days. This is an indication that the pilot was not experienced and qualified enough to handle this aircraft. Because of inadequate training in meteorology, the pilot was unable to navigate in the harsh weather conditions. And the management is also to blame because they allowed an inexperienced pilot to fly such kind of a plane.

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions Essay

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions - Essay Example It is perfectly clear that people differ in the way they perceive and process information, and for some students, it may be difficult to deal with SAT and ACT just because they are presented in the form of tests. Also, depending on a person's temperament, time of information processing changes as well. What is more, while some people are able to deal with pressure they face while completing any important task, such as testing, others are more exposed to stress and cannot complete tests properly even though they have enough knowledge to do it. External factors depend on the character of the tests, on those who compose them, and on the society as a whole. For instance, it is believed that the results of these tests highly depend on a class a student belongs to: the richer the students' parents are, the higher are his / her scores. In addition to this, taking into account high stakes, people try gaming standardized tests, and quite often, they do it criminally. Therefore, there is no gu arantee that a student is as good at studying as his / her scores show. The second argument that explains irrelevance of standardized tests is that these tests lack content validity. Content validity is a very important characteristic feature standardized tests should have. It is defined as the extent to which a test represents the content of an area that is measured. SAT and ACT do lack this characteristic feature. The matter is that they leave out a significant portion of material covered while studying.

Effects On Children Of Alcohol Dependent Parents Social Work Essay

Effects On Children Of Alcohol Dependent Parents Social Work Essay Whenever a question arises, like what are the effects on children of alcohol dependent parents, we all have the option to put forward a few answers and to set this topic aside. Alcoholism is also known as a family disease. Alcoholics may have young, teenage, or grown-up children; they have wives or husbands; they have brothers or sisters; they have parents or other relatives. An alcoholic can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful effects that can last a lifetime (Tetyana Parsons, 2003). Life is something what we have to pass over moral values and good living examples to the next generations. Since we all belong to family, we can never ignore the relevance of family life, and in family children are supposed to get the primary consideration and caring. But in an alcoholics family, the most affected group will be their children. Parents who abuse alcohol could cause a negative impact on their childrens lives. Feelings of anger and neglect can follow a child throughout adulthood and have a detrimental effect on his relationships with others (Bogle, D. 2010). Dustin Bogle, an experienced fitness instructor, nutritionist and fitness article writer, gives some major problems that occur to alcoholics children. Aggressive behavior is one of the first characteristics that a child might develop from having a parent who abuses alcohol. The aggressive behavior of children may lead to academic failure and serious social problems. As the second one, he mentions warning signs. Children may show warning signs of having an alcoholic parent. They may act out in anger with other children, or might find them lying about things. When scolded, children may become scared of their parents finding out, or they may be causing trouble because they want that extra attention that they are not receiving at home. The environment that the children are placed in is often unpredictable and chaotic. This is the third point he puts forward. The oldest child in the group is taking care of the other children while the parenting skills are lacking. Other children may become trouble-makers, and some resort to isolation, often becoming shy and unresponsive to other children. The last observation of Dustin Bogle, probably a crucial one, is the cycle of addiction. It is a very common and dangerous occurrence, and lot many dilemmas are attached with this as well. Criminal acts, teen pregnancy and other mental and emotional issues may arise. The children may become institutionalized in either jail or a rehabilitation center. Children may also be taken out of their home if the alcohol abuse becomes really bad, or they could be put in foster care or end up living on the streets. Alcoholism is a widespread disease, and it has deep rooted health related issues and severe long lasting consequences. The funniest thing in regards with alcoholism is that still it is being considered as a medium of socialization. The behaviors of parents are the guidelines of their children, and it doesnt matter whether it is good or bad. Amber Keefer, a famous health related article writer who has more than 25 years of experience in the field, is presenting some very good information in this particular matter. Fear, low self-esteem, self-blame, injury/illness, financial effects, and changes in Family Structure are the effects that she suggests for a review. If we can have a deeper look in to each point, we can see that all these points are very relevant. Children of parents who abuse alcohol often live in fear, primarily because they are abused or neglected when a parent is under the influence of alcohol. They may witness domestic violence against the other parent, their siblings or even other adults living in the household. Children who are frightened for their own safety may suffer from anxiety, sleep disturbances and depression. Children often develop low self-esteem when one or both parents abuse alcohol. When parents are more preoccupied with alcohol abuse than their parental roles, a child may not get the sense of security he needs to develop healthy self-esteem. Children often blame themselves when a parent abuses alcohol. They think that it must somehow be their fault if a parent uses drugs or drinks too much alcohol, and that will result in the loss of their self-reliability. Children can suffer injuries or health problems as a result of a parents alcohol abuse. If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the baby can develop long-term health problems. The unsanitary and unsafe situation at home may lead to certain type of illness and injuries. A family with an alcohol abused parent will definitely have economic consequences, and that family will be forced to live a low income life. Such a situation may develop an inferiority complex in children. Separations and divorces may happen in such families and those incidents will create even more stress and confusion for children. A child who is being raised in a single parent house hold, may not get proper care or even unable to get better developmental opportunities. Patti Kelly a freelance writer and registered nurse with many years of experience in pediatrics, geriatrics, public health and preventive care have made some serious observations on this topic. She is describing the effects under certain specific classifications; they are: psychological, educational, economical, social and developmental. Denial, anger, shame, anxiety, hopelessness, self-neglect, shame and isolation are a few of the psychological consequences noted in children of alcohol abused parents, and a sense of security and positive outlook are difficult to establish for such children. Children of alcohol abused parents are at an increased risk of learning disabilities, poor school attendance, and they are also more likely to be expelled, be institutionalized or drop out of school. An alcohol abused person is always in a risk of being either unemployed or under-employed and lack of income results in an overall decrease in the familys standard of living and can lead to difficulty meeting basic needs. The children of an alcoholic may be ashamed to go out in public, and such shame and fear may also prevent them from having friends over. Trust and security are being considered as the promoting agents of promote healthy development and a family with alcohol abused parent can never provide such a situation at their home. Physical and sexual abuses are also more common when there is a parent who abuses alcohol, and these factors, may negatively impact a childs normal development, making children more prone to suicide, anxiety, eating disorders and depression. As a part of this research, it is very important to note about the treatment side of the alcoholism. As I mentioned earlier, alcoholism is a disease which requires specific treatment, even though there is no medical treatment for that. But alcoholism is a treatable disease and many treatment programs and approaches are available to support alcoholics. Motivation is the major portion in treatment of alcoholics, and other important step is the self-decision. We can categorize the treatment in different steps, they are, commit to stop drinking, set goals and prepare for change, withdrawing from alcohol, find new meaning in life, plan for triggers and cravings, get support and getting started on treatment. Although it is not that easy to achieve, a powerful will and support from others, the goal is so close. The importance of this research is that what the role of a teacher in this issue is. Since the group I have taken into consideration here are children, and only because of that without any doubt I can say that a teacher can do wonders in this particular issue. Motivation is the better medicine for this and a teacher can do it very easily. Normally, almost all the parents are too much concerned about their children, and a teacher will get lots of opportunities to have detailed observation and discussion with parents. A teacher can include the topic alcoholism in their monthly meetings, and they can conduct one on one meeting with parents in which they can collect details of their family. The moral support for the children is the greatest part in this, and the teacher is the best ever person who can provide that. All the above finding and studies are giving us a clear picture of the consequences that could happen to the children of alcohol abused parents. If we can have quick look, we can see that the alcoholic abuse of parents has strong influence in their childrens future. Psychological, educational, economical, social and developmental issues can be counted as the major problems of the children of alcohol abusing of parents. Even though there is no medication, treatment of alcoholics is very important. Since a teacher has an influential role in a childs life, a teacher is supposed to pay more attention in giving moral support to children. For me, preparation of this research paper was an exciting experience. I am sure that the pieces of information that I shared here is just like a drop of water from an ocean. Although I had a chance to do a survey in this subject before, I was quite ignorant about its consequences fully. Most of the information that I gained through this research is really worthy. If we can do a little bit more deep research, definitely there are a lot more issues that we can find. The importance of peer groups and communities in the treatment of an alcoholic is a relevant question that I would like to rise. As the alcoholism is a social disaster, what are the steps that could be taken by the official authorities, in order to have control on this, is the question that I would like to ask. As an ECE student what I can offer is my moral support to the children those who are having this issue, and my effort to educate the society in regards with this dangerous problem.

Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 20

The New York Halls of Justice and House of Detention was a slablike stone structure that rose heavily from the street like an old tombstone. The interior was a portrait in gray, with grim-faced policemen and haggard criminals. And us. Vampires caught in a human system for a bloody crime we didn't commit. The twistedness of it all was remarkable, but it did nothing to alleviate our current situation. With our hands tied behind our backs, a young policeman marched Damon and me up several flights of worn wooden stairs and into the chief's office. He commanded a small square of the larger floor. Sketches of wanted men lined his walls, one man's eye struck through with a large nail. The chief himself was a grizzled veteran with a full black beard, except for where a smooth, diagonal scar cut through his skin. He looked at our rap sheet and let out a low whistle. â€Å"The whole Sutherland family? That'll be in the papers tonight.† I flinched at hearing such insensitivity coming from the lips of a normal human. What sort of monsters did he deal with that the death of an entire family was no more than a news item? â€Å"We didn't do it,† I said. â€Å"No, of course you didn't,† the chief said gruffly, running a finger along his scar. â€Å"No one who ends up here has ever done it. But the courts will get it sorted out, and everyone will get what they deserve.† We were unceremoniously dumped into a holding cell that was larger than the entire one-person jail back home, where Jeremiah Black spent many a night sleeping off his drunken stupor. I never expected to see the inside of a cell myself. â€Å"We didn't do it,† Damon whined, imitating me and shaking his head, as soon as the guard left. â€Å"Could you make us sound any more ridiculous?† â€Å"What, are you afraid of us coming off as sissies?† I asked. â€Å"Would you rather I just bared my fangs at him?† A rasping chuckle came from the corner of the cell, where another prisoner sat slumped against the wall. His hair receded from his forehead in a deep V and he had the arms of a dockworker. â€Å"Nice clothes,† he said with malicious growl, eyeing our formal suits and clean-shaven cheeks. â€Å"What are you in for, rich boys?† â€Å"Killing a family,† Damon answered without pause. â€Å"You?† â€Å"Beatin' in the heads of the likes of you,† he answered back just as quickly, cracking his knuckles. He took a swing at Damon, but my brother reached up and, with hands faster than the human eye, deflected the blow, and pushed the man against the wall with a loud crack. The giant didn't so much topple as just crumple straight down, falling into an unconscious puddle around his own feet. None of the officers came running, and I wondered if fighting in the cells was an ordinary occurrence. Damon sighed as he stepped around the man. He sat down on the floor in a moment of exhaustion that was almost human, almost like the old brother I used to know. â€Å"Why is it we always end up locked behind bars with each other?† â€Å"Well, at least this time you're not being starved,† I answered drily. â€Å"Nope. No chance in that,† Damon said. His eyes surveyed the police standing on the other side of our bars, taking in each person. Then he leaned his head up against the wall and gave the peeling paint a grudging sniff. â€Å"And I think there's more than a chance that there are a couple of rats in here for you, too.† I sighed, sliding down the wall and sitting next to him. I did not understand this new Damon. His shifts in mood were frightening. One moment he was the soulless vampire who killed without remorse, the next he was someone who seemed like my old childhood companion again. â€Å"What's the plan?† I asked. â€Å"You're looking at it,† he said, getting up and indicating the dead man at our feet. â€Å"Guard! Man down in here.† When the guard approached and saw the body on the ground he seemed annoyed, but not surprised. The guard didn't lean too close – he had survived long enough to know not to. But it was close enough. Damon flared his eyes. â€Å"Forget we were ever here. Forget what we look like. Forget who brought us in, our names, and everything about us.† â€Å"Who's us?† the guard asked, hypnotized but slow on the uptake. â€Å"The man I came in with,† Damon snapped, pointing at me. The guard nodded faintly. â€Å"Forget everything about us. And then – send over the other guard, all right?† The guard wandered back to his post, somewhat dizzily at first, then cocked his head as if he had just remembered something. He went to one of the guards on patrol and pointed at the jail cell. Not at Damon, through Damon. It was like Damon didn't exist anymore in his reality. â€Å"One down,† Damon muttered. He looked tense. Again I wondered how many people he really could control at once. The second guard approached. He had a scar across his face that twisted one eye shut, and he smacked his billy club as he walked. But before Damon could compel him, he said the absolute last thing we expected. â€Å"Your lawyer is here.† I looked at my brother. He looked back at me in equal surprise. He raised an eyebrow as if to say: Did you arrange this somehow? I very slightly shook my head. Damon straightened his shoulders as a clang sounded and the door to the stockade opened. The smell of rotten eggs and death filled the room as another man walked in – the lawyer. He was huge. Larger than the prisoner Damon had knocked out, with long arms and a huge chest. His hands were monstrous, with stubby fingers that gripped a leather portfolio. He came into the room slowly, with the careful tread of someone or something too large and dangerous for its surroundings, like the pace of a panther around its tiny circus cage. His clothing was of a foreign cut, comfortable, rich linen and silk that allowed his massive body to move easily beneath its folds. And his eyes†¦ They were small and blue, but not the clear blue of my brother's. They were mottled, milky almost, and too ancient for the rest of his body, moving quickly but incorrectly, like a bird's or a lizard's gaze, but with a powerful intelligence behind it. This man was not human. He didn't feel like a vampire, not exactly. But there was something just below his surface waiting for a chance to explode. The Power radiating from him was greater than anything I had experienced. And my instincts told me that even though he had come under the auspices of being our lawyer, this man was not here to help us. He surveyed us in the jail cell and smiled slightly. â€Å"You may go,† he said to the guard behind him. His voice didn't even rise, but quietly reverberated in a way that carried to the far end of the empty holding cells. And yet they went. Quickly, and with something like relief on their faces. We were left alone with this beast. â€Å"Good evening, gentlemen,† he said, smiling in a way that made me sick. â€Å"Who are you?† Damon asked, clearly trying to sound bored. But I could hear the fear in his voice. â€Å"Who am I?† the man repeated in a heavy accent. â€Å"Does it help to know the name of the one who will kill you? It didn't seem any comfort to your wives.† The words fell like stones to the floor, heavy and final. The man casually put a giant hand up to rest on a bar. â€Å"You killed the Sutherlands,† I whispered. â€Å"Yes.† He smiled and pursed his lips. â€Å"It was fun.† â€Å"You tore them apart like paper dolls,† I said, even though I knew he could tear me apart, too, could scatter my limbs like the petals that had lined my wedding altar. â€Å"You†¦ broke them.† â€Å"Young vampire, you must know the hunger of the beast,† he said with a smile that wasn't at all amused. â€Å"There are other hungers, for other things, that once awoken cannot rest until they are satisfied.† The whites of the man's eyes glowed red, and there was a hush in the air, like great Power was being summoned. I could practically smell the fear coiling off Damon in large strips. But I began to grow angry. Rage boiled in my stomach and shot out through my body. This man had butchered an innocent family and enjoyed it. This was what my new life as a vampire meant – layers and layers of evil, and even more horror and destruction, just when I felt I had reached the very bottom. â€Å"Why?† I demanded, coming forward as far as the bars would let me. â€Å"What did they ever do to you?† â€Å"Why?† the beast asked. He leaned forward, mocking my bravado. As he neared, mere centimeters from my face, a sickening stench of old blood and decay swept over me. It was like a thousand years of death and dismemberment followed him around, a trophy from each corpse he was responsible for. â€Å"Recompense.† He said each syllable carefully. â€Å"Recompense?† I echoed. He bared his teeth. â€Å"Yes, recompense. For taking Katherine. And destroying any chance to break the curse.† Katherine? What did she have to do with all of this, with this abomination in front of us? With the Sutherlands? And what curse? I looked over at Damon. She had always shared more details of her life, of being a vampire, with him. But my brother was wide-eyed and gaping like a fish, even more stunned by hearing her name than I was. I thought about the blissful, ignorant weeks I spent as her slave and lover, never imagining that she would lead me straight into hell. The man backed up a few steps, including Damon in his foul stare. â€Å"Yes, you understand now,† he said, nodding. But we didn't. â€Å"I – † Damon began to speak. â€Å"SILENCE!† the man roared. Suddenly he was pressed up against the bars, a blackened fingernail inches from Damon's throat. â€Å"Do you dare deny it?† With a chilling deliberateness, he pushed an iron bar aside like it was a curtain. The metal screamed in agony. In a flash of darkness he had stepped through, and wrapped a giant hand around each of our throats. â€Å"You took Katherine. I take your new life from you. An eye for an eye, as you people are fond of saying. Right?† â€Å"I†¦ don't know what you're talking about,† I said, choking. The monster threw back his head and laughed. â€Å"Of course you don't.† He snapped his head back, suddenly fixing me with his eyes and a sneer on his lips. He didn't believe me. â€Å"Katherine never mentioned Klaus?† Even after her death, Katherine continued to haunt us. I looked over at Damon. There was a pained, heartbroken look on his face. It was gone in an instant, but for that one moment I thought I saw through to my old brother. He was shocked by the fact that Katherine, the love of his life, had been involved with a creature as heartless as the one that stood before us. I felt for him. Unbidden, half a dozen images of Katherine came to my mind. Her amber eyes that commanded attention. Her long black hair hanging in waves around her neck, as if she had just done something that might have disheveled it. Her tiny waist and mischievous smile. She had been irresistible. And Damon and I weren't the only ones to have felt her pull. The man tightened his grip on my throat, and I could hear the groaning of vertebrae. In a moment we would be on the floor, our necks snapped as easily as that of the prisoner Damon had killed. Then suddenly I was free. Damon fell to the ground beside me, also released from the stony grip that held him. From outside the cell, the monster smiled viciously. â€Å"I will see you two later,† he promised. And then, almost as an afterthought, he used a delicate finger to push the jail bars back into place. â€Å"And remember, I am always watching.†