Friday, September 6, 2019
Breaking Dawn Edwards Pov Essay Example for Free
Breaking Dawn Edwards Pov Essay ââ¬Å"I miss you already.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t need to leave. I can stayâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Mmm.â⬠It was the eve of our wedding and Bella and I were lying in her narrow bed together, as was our habit. Though it was August, she was wrapped in her usual swaddling blanket, a protection against the chill of my skin. The bulky afghan did not prevent Bellaââ¬â¢s hands from wandering about, exploring the unclothed parts of my body. If she had her way, both of us would be even less clothed. I found shirtless to be challenge enough. With Bellaââ¬â¢s fingers probing the outlines of each muscle and bone above my waistband, her lips on mine, I was both awash in pleasure and sinking into concern. Some might call it performance anxiety and I could not deny it. When oneââ¬â¢s performance was a matter of life and death, there was no shame in that. Bella dragged her tongue across my top lip and a surge of desire shot through me. It was all I could do to remain still and let the sensation fade. If she were a vampire, I would have rolled on top of her, stripped off the bulky afghan and pressed my entire body into hers. I would have kissed her passionately, tasting her lips, her tongue, and pulling her as close to me as the laws of physics would allow. Ahhhâ⬠¦ I groaned and retreated from her caressing hands and her delicious, warm tongue. ââ¬Å"Wait,â⬠Bella murmured, clutching my arms. I watched as she kicked her right leg free from the blanket and wrapped it around my waist. ââ¬Å"Practice makes perfect.â⬠I chuckled. Iââ¬â¢d heard that one before. Numerous times. ââ¬Å"Well, we should be fairly close to perfection by this point, then, shouldnââ¬â¢t we? Have you slept at all in the last month?â⬠ââ¬Å"But this is the dress rehearsal,â⬠she protested, ââ¬Å"and weââ¬â¢ve only practiced certain scenes. Itââ¬â¢s no time for playing safe.â⬠Playing safe. My body froze as I considered how easy it would be to break Bellaââ¬â¢s arm, or tear out a handful of her beautiful hair, or snap her spine, orâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Bellaâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t start this again. A dealââ¬â¢s a deal.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. Itââ¬â¢s too hard to concentrate when youââ¬â¢re with me like this. Iââ¬âI canââ¬â¢t think straight. I wonââ¬â¢t be able to control myself. Youââ¬â¢ll get hurt.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be fine.â⬠ââ¬Å"Bellaâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Shhh!â⬠Bella put her hands on either side of my face and pressed her lips against mine. I would like to have been distracted by that, but it was too late. My mind was already elsewhere, drifting from the thousand-and-one ways I could harm Bella to enumerating all she was giving up for meâ⬠¦her family, her friendsâ⬠¦her chance to be a mother, to grow old, to become something more than what she was right now. It was too much to sacrifice just to be with me. In my mounting distress, I revisited an argument that Bella and I had had repeatedly. Iââ¬â¢d never convinced her before; I donââ¬â¢t know why I thought she might change her mind now. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not right! I donââ¬â¢t want you to have to make sacrifices for me. I want to give you things, not take things away from you. I donââ¬â¢t want to steal your future. If I were humanââ¬ââ⬠Bella stifled my objections by putting her hand over my mouth. ââ¬Å"You are my future. Now stop. No moping, or Iââ¬â¢m cal ling your brothers to come and get you. Maybe you need a bachelor party.â⬠My brothers must have agreed with her, for Emmettââ¬â¢s thoughts suddenly interrupted my own. Maybe weââ¬â¢ll catch them with their clothes off! Hope so. Ha, ha! ââ¬Å"Oh, for the love of all thatââ¬â¢s holy!â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s wrong?â⬠ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t have to call my brothers. Apparently Emmett and Jasper are not going to let me bow out tonight.â⬠Bella tightened her grip for a moment before releasing me. ââ¬Å"Have fun,â⬠she said. Perhaps it would be better for Bella if I left. Then I wouldnââ¬â¢t upset her with the ââ¬Å"cold feetâ⬠Iââ¬â¢d told her I didnââ¬â¢t have. I had no second thoughts about marrying Bellaââ¬âI could hardly wait to do that! My second thoughts were all about the wedding night. Yes, I should leave. Maybe she would get some sleep if I did. ââ¬Å"If you donââ¬â¢t send Edward out,â⬠Emmett threatened in his best, creepy-monster voice, ââ¬Å"weââ¬â¢re coming in after him!â⬠Bella lau ghed. ââ¬Å"Go! Before they break my house.â⬠Kissing her forehead, I advised, ââ¬Å"Get to sleep. Youââ¬â¢ve got a big day tomorrow.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks! Thatââ¬â¢s sure to help me wind down.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll meet you at the altar.â⬠I gave her a sly smile. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be the one in white,â⬠Bella announced nonchalantly, as if we were planning a rendezvous at the mall. I chuckled at that, considering the anxiety attacks that overcame her every time I mentioned the wedding. ââ¬Å"Very convincing,â⬠I tossed over my shoulder as I leaped out the window. My feet landed squarely on Emmettââ¬â¢s head, knocking him to the ground. ââ¬Å"Dammit, that hurt!â⬠Emmett stage whispered, as he jumped up and took a swing at me. I dodged the punch easily. His thoughts always gave him away. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢d better not make him late,â⬠I heard Bella warn my brothers. Jasper leaped up and grabbed the eaves outside Bellaââ¬â¢s window. He turned on his soothing vibes. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t worry, Bella. Weââ¬â¢ll get him home in plenty of time.â⬠ââ¬Å"Jasper? What do vampires do for bachelor parties? Youââ¬â¢re not taking him to a strip club, are you?â⬠she whispered to Jasper and I had to smile. As if that would be fun for me! No woman had ever affected me like Bella did. Women could dip themselves in blood and parade around naked all day and it wouldnââ¬â¢t do a thing for me. I should knowâ⬠¦Tanya had tried such tricks many times to get me into her bed. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t tell her anything!â⬠Emmett hissed at Jasper, earning himself a friendly forearm shove that knocked him to the groundâ⬠¦again. I could never beat Emmett if we fought strength to strength, but with my mind-reading skill, he rarely got in a good punch. I laughed at his expression as he stood up and brushed the grass off his jeans. He tried to loo k casual as he readied himself for a ââ¬Å"surpriseâ⬠counterattack. Just as he launched himself at me, I took off running, knowing he couldnââ¬â¢t catch me at full speed. ââ¬Å"Relax,â⬠I heard Jasper reply to Bella. ââ¬Å"We Cullens have our own version. Just a few mountain lions, a couple of grizzly bears. Pretty much an ordinary night out.â⬠Jasper had told Bella the truth. We would be celebrating our boysââ¬â¢ night out with a hunt. I didnââ¬â¢t need the blood at the moment, but it was still a good idea. If I fed now, then I wouldnââ¬â¢t have to leave Bella to hunt for the first two weeks of our honeymoon. Besides, I only had one more day to remain chaste until Bella and I were married. I did not want to slip-up at this late dateââ¬âgetting out of Bellaââ¬â¢s bed would make that a whole lot easier. Running gave me time to think about the last couple of months. As my fiancà ©, Bella had accepted the black credit card with her name on it attached to my account. Like the cell phone, Iââ¬â¢d presented it as a ââ¬Å"safety precaution,â⬠but sheââ¬â¢d started to use it for other things too, and that had been the point. Bella had quit her job at Newtons Olympic Out fitters, so she didnââ¬â¢t have any pocket money to speak of. I was glad that sheââ¬â¢d quit. I preferred not giving Mike Newton the opportunity to gape at and entertain salacious thoughts about my bride-to-be as was his habit. Also, I was happy that we could spend more time together. I didnââ¬â¢t have to part with her company for the three or four days a week she would have worked for what I considered to be spare change. Unless she really liked the jobââ¬âand I knew that she didnââ¬â¢tââ¬âI saw no point in sacrificing our time together. It had been a great summer. The only slight comedown had been the ââ¬Å"father-in-law talkâ⬠Charlie had initiated with me. I havenââ¬â¢t encountered many people who could surprise me in the last eighty years, but Charlie was one who could. His mind was so quietââ¬âin the sense of relatively impenetrable to meââ¬âthat while I could perceive his feelings, I often couldnââ¬â¢t hear the inner dialogue that went with them. I didnââ¬â¢t like the sense of insecurity it gave me not knowing what he was thinking. I was used to having more time to consider how to react to people than I ever had with Charlie. One evening five weeks earlier, Charlie had grabbed my arm as Bella and I were leaving his house for the evening. Weââ¬â¢d found a number of private parking spots around the area and we liked to visit them as often as possible. Because heââ¬â¢d surprised me, I reflexively yanked my arm out of his grip at my natural strength. Immediately, heââ¬â¢d put both palms up as if he was surrendering. Heââ¬â¢d mistaken my quick reflex as a sign of anger. The interaction reminded me of the television show ââ¬Å"Cops,â⬠in which hooligans whirl around and punch an arresting police officer just on principle. Charlie must get that a lot. I quickly raised my palms to indicate a mutual surrender. I would have smiled if I hadnââ¬â¢t thought Charlie would interpret it as a taunt. Bella had missed our interaction and was continuing toward the car. ââ¬Å"What can I do for you, Charlie?â⬠I inquired politely. ââ¬Å"I was just wondering what your folks think about you proposing to my daughter.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, they love her, they really do.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s not exactly what I meant.â⬠ââ¬Å"No?â⬠I wasnââ¬â¢t going to help him interrogate me. ââ¬Å"Noâ⬠¦uhâ⬠¦I meant what do they think of you getting married right out of high school?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh! Well, you know they got married quite young themselves. Esme already had Jasper and Rosalie to look after when she met Carlisle. They fell in love and Carlisle wanted to help support the kids, so he proposed when Esme was younger than he might have otherwise. Theyââ¬â¢ve been extremely happy, so they donââ¬â¢t have any prejudice against getting married young.â⬠ââ¬Å"Do you think youââ¬â¢re old enough to handle this kind of responsibility? Thatââ¬â¢s my daughter youââ¬â¢re promising to support for the rest of your life. A re you one hundred percent sure that youââ¬â¢re ready for that?â⬠ââ¬Å"I will be there for Bella. I can assure you of that.â⬠ââ¬Å"What if you screw it up and things fall apart?â⬠Charlie pressed. I thought about that for a moment before answering. I knew what he was referring to without having to read his thoughts. ââ¬Å"There are many ways I could mess things up,â⬠I admitted. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve already made mistakes with Bella. I know that. I wasnââ¬â¢t here for her when she needed me. I swear to you, Charlie, I left because I wanted Bella to have a chance to find somebody better than me. But I found that I couldnââ¬â¢t live without her and so I came back. Jacob might be a better choice for her, but she still wants me and as long as she does, I wonââ¬â¢t leave her. I donââ¬â¢t make the same mistakes twice.â⬠Charlie just gave me his dark-eyed, policemanââ¬â¢s stare. I didnââ¬â¢t blame him. Heââ¬â¢d watched Bella suffer daily after I abandoned her. Jacob had impressed upon me all the painful details he could summon about that time. ââ¬Å"Jacobââ¬â¢s a good young man,â⬠Charlie finally responded, ââ¬Å"but I wouldnââ¬â¢t want him marrying her at his age, either.â⬠I took another moment to consider my response, and then sighed, knowing Iââ¬â¢d never convince him with words. ââ¬Å"The only way to know whether Iââ¬â¢ll be good for Bella is with time. I canââ¬â¢t offer you proof, but I love her more than my own life and I will take care of her, Charlie. I just hope that I can make her as happy as she makes me, though I hardly think itââ¬â¢s possible.â⬠Charlieââ¬â¢s stare didnââ¬â¢t change, so I continued. ââ¬Å"If it makes you feel any better, my family is behind us, and you know Carlisle well enough to know that he would never let Bella downâ⬠¦even if I did. My family would step in for me. Thatââ¬â¢s just the way my parents are. Theyââ¬â¢re great people.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know they areâ⬠¦Edward. I trust Carlisle and thatââ¬â¢s why Iââ¬â¢m not making more of a fuss about this.â⬠I acknowledged his statement with a nod. ââ¬Å"Just so you know, Charlieâ⬠¦Bella and I discussed eloping to Las Vegas and marrying without telling anyone. But Bella didnââ¬â¢t want to cut you out of her decision in that way, so we decided to make it a family event.â⬠ââ¬Å"I knew there was something going on!â⬠Charlie exclaimed. ââ¬Å"I had a feeling you two were going to take off together!â⬠ââ¬Å"Bella wants you there to walk her down the aisle, or the stairs, rather. I hope you can see your way clear to do that for her on her day.â⬠Charlie nodded stiffly and I turned to follow Bella to the car. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s a fancy car you got my daughter.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, itââ¬â¢s a loaner. Carlisle called in a favor for me. Itââ¬â¢s a very safe car.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, thatââ¬â¢s good. You can hardly get a car thatââ¬â¢s safe enough to share the roads with all the bad drivers and drunk drivers out there.â⬠ââ¬Å"I agree. Goodnight, Charlie.â⬠ââ¬Å"ââ¬â¢Night.â⬠Charlie shut the front door and I saw that Bella was coming back to get me. I hurried toward her. ââ¬Å"What was all that about?â⬠ââ¬Å"Charlie wanted to have a little ââ¬Ëman-to-manââ¬â¢ talk about his precious daughter, but I told him I agreed with everything he said, so he loves me now.â⬠I grinned and winked at Bella. She didnââ¬â¢t buy it. ââ¬Å"No, what did he really want?â⬠she demanded. ââ¬Å"Tell me, or Iââ¬â¢ll march right back and ask him!â⬠I sighed. ââ¬Å"Charlie just wanted to warn me about the dangers of marrying too young and make sure I was knew what I was doing.â⬠ââ¬Å"What did you say?â⬠ââ¬Å"I said that I was old for my age,â⬠I replied, giving her a crooked smile. ââ¬Å"You did not!â⬠ââ¬Å"Sure, why not? I am, arenââ¬â¢t I?â⬠I teased. ââ¬Å"Ancient. I should be grossed out being with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fortunately, I still look good and thatââ¬â¢s what really counts.â⬠We both laughed and, to my relief, Bella dropped the subject. Bellaââ¬â¢s mother, Renee, had flown in two days earlier and Bella was sticking close to her except when our mothers worked on the wedding. It was odd behavior for a bride-to-be, but I wasnââ¬â¢t marrying Bella because she was like everyone else. Quite the opposite. When Iââ¬â¢d come home two evenings previous, Renee was visiting Esme. In an attempt to demonstrate her acceptance of me as her almost son-in-law, Renee had dashed across the living room and thrown her arms around my neck. ââ¬Å"Welcome to our family, Edward!â⬠sheââ¬â¢d said. I thought perhaps she was overexcited by the trip or by meeting my family. I hadnââ¬â¢t expected such an exuberant greeting, though she had no particular misgivings about Bella marrying me. Renee ended the hug abruptly when her arms encountered my cold, hard self. ââ¬Å"Hmm,â⬠she mumbled as she broke off contact. Hard body! was her thought, and I almost laughed out loud. The picture in her mind was complimentary, not lite ral. She was imagining what my upper body looked like without a shirt. Iââ¬â¢d already gotten acquainted enough with Renee when Bella and I went to Florida that I knew she didnââ¬â¢t mean anything by it. A cougarâ⬠¦just like Bella, I thought, and smiled to myself. It was a little sad to meet Renee again, knowing that this was the last time Bella would see her, or possibly even talk to her on the phone. As I watched Bella over the course of the two days, I sensed that she was saying her goodbyes. If Iââ¬â¢d had to give up Carlisle and Esme to be with Bella, I could have done it. I had given them up once before. But it was hard to accept that I could make Bella happy enough to give up seeing her parents. Iââ¬â¢d asked her again last night whether she was prepared to do that and her response had been, ââ¬Å"Are you trying to ditch me?â⬠Then weââ¬â¢d started laughing and the question had gotten lost. My brothers and I didnââ¬â¢t get back from hunting until a couple of hours before the wedding. Esme collared us immediately and sent us to the back garden to hang flower garlands for Alice. It had to be done at the last minute or the August day would wilt them. Alice had prohibited me from going anywhere near where she was preparing Bella, so I headed to my third-floor room to make myself presentable. Alice had changed my old-fashioned tux just enough to convert it from ââ¬Å"vintageâ⬠to ââ¬Å"vintage chic,â⬠as she put it. It did look good, I had to admit. I tried to neaten my normally unruly hair. I put some hair gel on it and convinced it to lie down in a semi-orderly fashion. After a time, Jasper came upstairs to tell me that the first guests were arriving. He and Emmett would be ushering them to their seats. Of course, Jasper could have told me that from downstairs, but Alice had specifically asked him to come get me, so that I wouldnââ¬â¢t be parading down the brideââ¬â¢s decorated stairway in full view of the guests. I walked outside through the kitchen door, telling Carlisle that Iââ¬â¢d be waiting out back. He and Esme were standing by the front door to greet everyone as they arrived. This was the most important day of my life, but I hoped to have infinitely more wonderful days to enjoy with my Bella. I felt exceedingly fortunate that she wanted me as I wanted her. I could have lost her so easily. I heard the Denali clan arrive and recognized Tanyaââ¬â¢s mental voice: Whereââ¬â¢s Edward? It will be good to see that man againâ⬠¦mmm hmm! Who is this human girl? I canââ¬â¢t imagine Edward with a woman, not even a vampire woman. This will be interestingâ⬠¦ I smiled, glad to be escaping Tanyaââ¬â¢s clutches for good. Sheââ¬â¢d given me a hard time when we were living in Alaska. She wasnââ¬â¢t used to being told ââ¬Å"no thank you.â⬠Neither vampires nor humans ever turned down Tanyaââ¬â¢s advances. She was beautiful and charming, everything a man could want. She just wasnââ¬â¢t for me and she never could accept that. It was one of the reasons Carlisle decided to move our family farther south. He told everyone that we were too conspicuous and perhaps we were, all there together, but Iââ¬â¢d had the chance to hear another reason in his mindââ¬âthat Tanya canââ¬â¢t leave Edward alone. My father empathized when Tanya had set her sights on me. Carlisle had had plenty of pushy admirers. During his first few weeks at a new hospital, nurses would line up three deep to ogle him. He had to temper that initial interest by telling some number of them that he was happily married, thank you. Of course, he wore a wedding ring, but that didnââ¬â¢t discourage everyone. Once people met Esme, though, they usually stopped chasing Carlisle. She was simply too beautiful, inside and out, to compete with. I know Esme had always worried that I wasnââ¬â¢t fully mature as a man when Carlisle had changed me and that I might never find, or even wish for, a mate. It was true that I wasnââ¬â¢t interested in any of the Denali ladies. And after the trouble Iââ¬â¢d had with Rosalie when she joined our family, I didnââ¬â¢t expect anything good could come of such interest anyway. When the Denalis met the only bachelor vampire theyââ¬â¢d seen in years, each of them had set about seeking my affection. I didnââ¬â¢t blame them, particularly. Perhaps theyââ¬â¢d gotten tired of human men and wanted someone more durable to partner with for a change. I could understand that to a certain degree. I didnââ¬â¢t go inside to greet the Denalis or any of the other arrivals. I couldnââ¬â¢t focus on anyone but Bellaââ¬âit seemed like such a long time since Iââ¬â¢d seen her. I was trying to reason myself out of an irrational fear that she wasnââ¬â¢t really there in our house, that she had changed her mind and would leave me standing alone at the altar. If I listened, I could hear her voice now and then, but I couldnââ¬â¢t hear her thoughts and that had never bothered me so much as it did at that moment. To distract myself, I listened at random to our guestsââ¬â¢ thoughts and found that everyone was astonished by the decorations. Alice had put her all into planning this wedding and it showed. The flowers alone were beyond imagining. Exquisitely fragrant arrangements covered every surface of our living room and the reception area outside. Alice was particularly fond of flowers. I thought perhaps it was because sheââ¬â¢d been deprived of beauty for so many years at the asylum. Whatever the reason, it was a boon for us all. Rosalie had started playing my grand piano, making the one instrument sound like several. I knew that Pachelbelââ¬â¢s Can on in D was my cue to enter the living room with Carlisle and stand in front of the flower-covered archway. He would come looking for me in the kitchen when the time came, so I walked back into the house. In due course, Carlisle came to retrieve me and after a final, heartfelt hug, we took our assigned places in front of the assembled crowd. I stood, frozen with emotion, and watched anxiously for my beloved to appear at the top of the stairs on her fatherââ¬â¢s arm. I had waited a lifetime to stand in front of these witnesses and declare my undying devotion to the one and only woman I would ever love. Time had stopped making sense when I finally heard the familiar C-F-F-F notes of ââ¬Å"Here Comes the Bride.â⬠I could not believe my eyes when an angel from heaven began to descend the stairs, one by one, her eyes lowered to watch her feet. It was only when I heard her whisper ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t let me fall, Dad,â⬠that I knew for sure it was Bellaâ⬠¦my Bella. I fretted for a second that my angel might fall and I readied myself to dash across the room to catch her. Seeing the groom disappear and reappear somewhere else would not go over well with anybody, though I reasoned that all of the guests would be looking at Bella, not at me. Still, perhaps we should have served champagne before the ceremony, just in case something like that did happenâ⬠¦but then, Bella was descending the final step. She lifted her face, searching for me. When our eyes finally met, a look of such utter joy crossed her face that I broke into an ecstatic smile. Bellaââ¬â¢s feelings often were written on her face, but today her expression was utterly transparent. The adoration in her eyes was unmistakable and I was jubilant enough to break out in songâ⬠¦almost. Our eyes remained glued to each other while Bella carefully traversed the fifteen-foot aisle that Alice had kept short to give Bella a fair chance of remaining upright. With the way she looked in that dress, with that makeup, with everythingâ⬠¦the glow, the scarlet blush, the prisms of tears in her eyesâ⬠¦I wanted to rush down the aisle to meet her and carry her back to the altar. But I remained patient, stretching out my palm so that Charlie could place Bellaââ¬â¢s hand in mine. He regarded me seriously as he did so and I nodded my thank you to him for his great sacrifice. Charlie seated himself beside Renee, with Phil on her other side, and Bella and I turned to face the minister. I loved the traditional wedding ceremony with its promises and pronouncements, but on this occasion, each word resonated with newly unveiled meaning. When I declared ââ¬Å"I doâ⬠to my beloved, Iââ¬â¢d never been happier in my life. I wanted to repeat the words in every language I knew. My lovely new wife was overcome with emotion. When I leaned over to kiss her for the first time as her husband, Bellaââ¬â¢s arms encircled my neck and she held on a s if she would never let me go. The audience had disappearedââ¬âshe only had eyes for me. I kissed her with a swell of love and tenderness that made my eyes burn with the tears that didnââ¬â¢t come, and she met my passion with her own. Emotion poured from her as she clung to me, melding her lips with mine as if we were utterly alone in that moment. I did not mind in the least. Bella was happy to be married to meââ¬âI could feel it in my bones. When the guests began to titter, I eased my loveââ¬â¢s face gently away from mine and looked into her tear-filled eyes. I felt my happiness radiate from me like the heat of a coal fire and I wondered briefly if my skin was sparkling in its glow. When Emmett cleared his throat unsubtly, I turned us both to face the loved ones who had gathered there and everyone broke into smiles and quiet laughter. I could not let go of Bella for a second. I wrapped my arm around her waist and practically carried her down the aisle when she forgot to move her feet. Fortunately, they were hidden by the length of her dress. Another detail that Alice had not overlooked. Bella was so stunningly beautiful that I wasnââ¬â¢t surprised to hear a number of inappropriate thoughts as the reception line shuffled slowly past us and on to the buffet. Alice had timed things well, so that the vampires would not have to step outside until twilight, just in case the sun came out. It was good that she did, because we had a beautiful wedding day with plenty of sunshine filtering through the ancient cedars. I was extraordinarily pleased that Billy Black and Sue and Seth Clearwater had come to the wedding. Despite the Cullensââ¬â¢ official status as ââ¬Å"mortal enemiesâ⬠of their tribe, the three of them were there in support of Bella and Charlie, and perhaps as a gesture of gratitude to Carlisle as well. Seth was there for me, too. Our friendship had not faded since weââ¬â¢d joined forces to battle Victoria and Riley. ââ¬Å"Congrats, guys,â⬠Seth said, coming toward me with his arms out. I hugged him with one arm while I held Bella tightly with the other. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s good to see things work out for you, man. Iââ¬â¢m happy for you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thank you, Seth. That means a lot to me.â⬠Releasing Seth, I faced Billy and Sue with honest gratitude. I knew they were not there for me. ââ¬Å"Thank you, as well. For letting Seth come. For supporting Bella today.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re welcome,â⬠Billy replied cordially and I hoped his attitude boded well for the change that was coming. I didnââ¬â¢t know how I was going to approach the Quileute wolf pack about Bellaââ¬â¢s upcoming transformation. It was possible that if we left the area to avoid their ancient vendetta, that Jacob still would come to hunt us down. He had no motivation to let me change Bella, but I hoped that he and all the wolves would agree to the one exception to our treaty. Billy wasnââ¬â¢t giving anything away with his thoughts, but Sueââ¬â¢s mind was full of concern about being in a house with so many vampires. As the receiving line moved along, the only slightly awkward moment was introducing Tanya to Bella. ââ¬Å"Ah, Edward, Iââ¬â¢ve missed you,â⬠Tanya said, pulling herself close to me in an intimate embrace. She lingered a bit too long in my one-armed hugââ¬âon purpose. I chuckled at her audacity as I employed one of Carlisleââ¬â¢s tricks for dealing with forward womenâ⬠¦to press her shoulder away as if to admire the full length of her. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s been too long, Tanya. You look well.â⬠Though Bella would never believe it, her beauty outshone Tanyaââ¬â¢s many t imes over in my eyes. ââ¬Å"So do you,â⬠Tanya replied, a familiar note of longing in her voice. With a great swelling of pride, I interjected, ââ¬Å"Let me introduce you to my wife.â⬠Kate and Carmen giggled at the emphasis. My joy at using that word for the first time sang in my words. ââ¬Å"Tanya, this is my Bella.â⬠Bella had been uncertain about inviting Tanya and her coven, but Iââ¬â¢d convinced her that as extended familyââ¬âorphans, to bootââ¬âthey must be included. I also wanted Tanya there specifically to underscore the point that I was officially and permanently unavailable. ââ¬Å"Welcome to the family, Bella,â⬠Tanya responded appropriately, if not altogether enthusiastically. ââ¬Å"We consider ourselves Carlisles extended family, and I am sorry about the, er, recent incident when we did not behave as such. We should have met you sooner. Can you forgive us?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course. Itââ¬â¢s so nice to meet you,â⬠Bella replied, blushing. I noted the brief flare of excitement among my cousins at the rush of blood before each of them contained it. ââ¬Å"The Cullens are all evened up in numbers now. Perhaps it will be our t urn next, eh, Kate?â⬠Tanya grinned. Kateââ¬â¢s sarcastic sense of humor kicked in. ââ¬Å"Keep the dream alive,â⬠she said, rolling her eyes. ââ¬Å"Welcome, Bella.â⬠Kate took Bellaââ¬â¢s hand and Carmen stepped up to add hers. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m Carmen, this is Eleazar. Weââ¬â¢re all so very pleased to finally meet you.â⬠ââ¬Å"M-me, too,â⬠Bella stuttered. I thought she was holding up well considering she was meeting my ââ¬Å"relativesâ⬠for the first time. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ll get to know each other later. Weââ¬â¢ll have eons of time for that!â⬠Tanya remarked, laughing. I enjoyed performing the rituals of the wedding celebration. Alice had ordered a gorgeous, artfully decorated cake, its beauty being the only aspect of it I could truly appreciate. I did not relish swallowing the chunky blob Bella pushed toward my face, but that could not be avoided with such an attentive audience. Flashbulbs popped, capturing the uncomfortable moment for all time. Bella tossed her bouquet to Angela, who blushed puce and carefully avoided the eyes of her escort, Ben, which are six inches lower than her own. When it came time to lift Bellaââ¬â¢s skirt and remove her garter with my teeth, she blushed hotly while Jasper and Emmett guffawed at her embarrassment. I wasnââ¬â¢t allowed to venture too far up her dress, since she slid the garter below her knee before I got the chance. Still, it was a fun moment, biting the elastic band and dragging it slowly down her calf. After detaching it from her leg, I stretched the elastic into a slingshot, aiming for Mike Newtonââ¬â¢s head. The garter snapped him in the forehead and his mouth dropped open.
The Charter of Rights and Free
The Charter of Rights and Freedom and its Affect on Canada Essay The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights granted constitutional status that was introduced in the Constitution Act of 1982 by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. The Constitution Act is also known as the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution. The Charter had several purposes; the first is ââ¬Å"to outline and guarantee the political rights of Canadian citizens, as well as the civil rights of anyone who is residing on the territory of Canadaâ⬠(The Canadian Charter. 1). Secondly, ââ¬Å"It balances the rights of legislatures and courts through the ââ¬Ënotwithstandingââ¬â¢ clause, which gives the federal and provincial parliaments limited powers to override court decisions ââ¬Å", while section 2 of the bill enshrines the freedom of the press, allowing the media to release controversial reports without fear of the state (Ibbitson. 2012). Thirdly, it criminalized discrimination in society, government rulings and the judicial system and provides a set of ethical principles for all Canadians to follow, while promoting equality throughout the country. Social discrimination was widespread in Canada at the turn of the 20th Century. Many groups were discriminated against such as minorities and women. This was evident through the introduction of Clifford Siftonââ¬â¢s head tax, the ââ¬Å"enemy aliensâ⬠and unbalanced gender equality between men and women. The first step in any change is to identify the problem. During the Holocaust of WWII the discrimination of Jewish people led to a mass genocide of 6 million people. After this affair it was realized that boundaries must be put in place to insure that basic human rights are respected. It was this idea that gave birth to the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In Canada the declaration paved paths for more government action regarding social and political discrimination, an example being the predecessor of the Charter, the Canadian Bill of Rights of 1960. This bill was introduced by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and granted similar rights to the citizens of Canada. The difference between the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Bill, is that the Bill of Rights could be contested by the government and judicial system whenever anyone sees fit, which gave room for discrimination in government and court rulings. The catalyst to the creation of the Charter was the re-election of Pierre Trudeau and the Quebec Referendum. Prime Minister Trudeau was Canadaââ¬â¢s first socialist prime minister, he was heavily influenced by the socialist European culture from the years he spent studying there. Trudeauââ¬â¢s most famous saying was a ââ¬Å"Just Societyâ⬠. ââ¬Å"The Just Society will be a united Canada, united because all of its citizens will be actively involved in the development of a country where equality of opportunity is ensured and individuals are permitted to fulfill themselves in the fashion they judge bestâ⬠(Trudeau. 968). During the Quebec Referendum when Quebecââ¬â¢s separatist movement was at its peak, the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution and the enactment of French language and French education rights (which is included in the Charter) were pieces of his platform to halt the referendum and part of his plan for a ââ¬Å"Just Societyâ⬠. After the refere ndum was rejected Trudeau kept true to his word and appealed the Constitution and enshrined the Charter of Rights and Freedom within it. The Charter of Rights and Freedom was a defining moment in Canadaââ¬â¢s history as it protected women and homosexuals from discrimination and allowed them to establish an identity. Its creation also shows our countryââ¬â¢s commitment to equality, human rights and social justice. The Charter changed Canadaââ¬â¢s view on sexuality, gender equality and homophobia; it paved a path for the second wave of the feminist movement, helped legalize abortion, removed barriers for gay marriage and completely redefined the definition of marriage throughout Canada. Abortion was an extremely controversial topic throughout the 1900ââ¬â¢s and the reason why free abortion is available in this country is because of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Before the 1969 and the passing of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, abortion was considered a criminal offense and no access to it was allowed. The right to having an abortion also brought along questions on gender roles and equality; as men were not restricted to what they could or could not do with their bodies. The catalyst to the Free Abortion Movement was the Sexual Revolution of the 1960ââ¬â¢s in the USA, which due to their proximity to Canada also had an effect on our society. The revolution was the beginning to contraception, the acceptance of casual sex and sexual liberation. Along with these boundaries breaking changes also brought the legalization of abortion. The biggest push towards free abortion from within our country was the work of a man named Henry Morgentaler. Dr. Henry Morgentaler was a general practitioner in Montreal, who specialized in family planning. He was one of the first Canadian doctors to prescribe birth control and perform sterilization. In 1967, he presented a case before the House of Common Health and Welfare regarding illegal abortions and womenââ¬â¢s rights to safe abortion, but was swiftly dismissed. The public reacted quickly to his stance on this issue, and he began to receive requests from desperate women to perform abortions. Morgentaler initially responded with a sympathetic ââ¬Å"noâ⬠, but after he realized the life-risking extent that these women were willing to go to for an abortion, he chose personal values over civil obedience and began performing illegal abortions. His bravery and determination was the catalyst to the second wave of the feminist movement and kick started the right to legal abortions for all women in Canada. The section of the Charter of Rights and Freedom that was most significant to the Free Abortion Movement was section 7. Section 7 of the Charter states ââ¬Å"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justiceâ⬠(The Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 982). Before the Charter, in 1969 a law was passed that stated ââ¬Å"a child can only be aborted if the life or health of a woman was threatenedâ⬠and must be verified by a three-doctor hospital committee (Egan. 1998). But after the creation of the charter which granted woman the right to life or to make choices, such as ââ¬Å"whether a woman had made a choice to get pregnant, continue a pregnancy, or end a pregnancy, or, framed differently, to have an abortion, or not have an abortionâ⬠(Downie. 2008). If the woman in question had not made the decision to become pregnant or even consented to the act of intercourse, then denying her right to having an abortion would violate the Charter and her right to live. Secondly, by limiting a woman access to medical services and forcing her to carry and support a fetus is an invasion of her right to security and a violation of the Charter. Thirdly, one of the reasons abortion is illegalized in many countries is because in many religions the act of protecting the fetus is sacred, causing many religious government fficers to implement bias laws against allowing abortion due to their beliefs. The charter states that all people have the freedom of belief and religion; if the individual does not believe in the practice of protecting the fetus then they should be allowed to make their decision accordingly. Lastly, the final verdict given by a judge on the Morgentaler case was: ââ¬Å"The decision whether to terminate a pregnancy is essentially a mor al decision, a matter of conscience. I do not think there is or can be any dispute about that. The question is: whose conscience? Is the conscience of the woman to be paramount or the conscience of the state? I believe, for the reasons I gave in discussing the right to liberty, that in a free and democratic society it must be the conscience of the individual. â⬠(Wilson. 1988) If the right to liberty was not given then the outcome of this significant case would be much different and women may have never been granted the right to free abortion. The changes that the Charter brought to the lives of pregnant woman were paramount. It not only allowed them to make choices with their body, but it also brought them closer in gender equality with men (as they were not longer restricted in bodily integrity) and paved a path for future changes in the lives of women. Until the re-election of socialist Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1980 and enactment the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, homophobia was very common in Canada at the turn of the 20th century. Before 1970, homosexuality was seen as a criminal offense and anyone accused of homosexual acts was charged as a sexual offender. Similarly to the Free Abortion movement catalyst to the Gay Rights Movement was also the Sexual Revolution of the 1960ââ¬â¢s and the re-election of Pierre Trudeau. Likewise to Morgentaler, there is also an extremely significant person to the rise of homosexual rights, Everett George Klippert. Klippert was mistakenly suspected of arson and was detained by the RCMP in August 1965. During his questioning he admitted that he was homosexual and had conducted several sexual acts with throughout the last 24 years. Though it was proven that Klippert was not involved in the arsonist case, the court because of his sexual activities had charged him with 6 counts of ââ¬Å"gross indecencyâ⬠. This sentence was seen as extremely unfair and cruel. Trudeau, who was the Prime Minister at the time, responded with this statement: ââ¬Å"Take this thing on homosexuality, I think the view we take here is that thereââ¬â¢s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation, and I think whatââ¬â¢s done in private between adults doesnââ¬â¢t concern the Criminal Code. When it becomes public this is a different matterâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Trudeau. 967) And within six weeks of this statement Trudeau had created and passed the Criminal Law Amendment Act, which decriminalized homosexuality. This act along with the Charter of Rights and Freedom gave Canadians the gift of same-sex marriage. After the acknowledgement of same-sex marriage in 1969, it was pointed out that the traditional ââ¬Å"one man/one woma nâ⬠biological requirement was not fulfilled. This difference led to the Canadian government denying same-sex partners the same benefits of the law as heterosexual partners. But later this is revoked, as the term ââ¬Å"minoritiesâ⬠expressed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms extends to include analogous minorities therefore all federal and provincial discrimination against same-sex couples must be overwritten. Secondly, ââ¬Å"The Charter of Rights and Freedoms introduced in Canada in 1982 prohibits discrimination against homosexual couples on the basis of sexual orientation to counter the Canadian federal law which denies marital status to the group, thus depriving them of the federal privileges allowed to heterosexualsâ⬠(Findlay. 5). Later in 1999 because of sexual orientation becoming a form of discrimination, the Supreme Court of Canada pronounced that same-sex partners now legally have the same rights and benefits as common-law couples. Lastly, at the turn of the 20th century one of the most dominant religions in Canada was Christianity. The Christian religion did not accept the idea of homosexuality, and because this belief was so do minant at the time, it created bias laws and discriminated against gay citizens of Canada. Until the creation of the Charter which granted the right to religion and personal beliefs, there was no way to argue against this religious discrimination. Finally in 2003 the Ontario Court of Appeal stated that the exclusion of same-sex couples from the definition of marriage violated equality rights under the Charter. Without the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, homosexuals would not have the rights and acceptance in society as they do in the present day. The Charter completely redefined the meaning of marriage and gave homosexuals the ability to bind themselves to their loved ones with not only their body and soul, but also with vows and aws. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was a defining moment in Canadaââ¬â¢s history because it protected women and homosexuals from discrimination and gave them several fundamental freedoms that they did not possess before. Women finally gained the right to control their own bodies, and homosexuals received the freedom to love who they wish, without hiding it. The Charter really placed Canada on the map as a place of freedom and expression, perhaps even more so than our neighbor ââ¬Å"The Land of the Freeâ⬠. It geared Canada on a path to what it is today, a place of diversity, tolerance and the land of the ââ¬Å"The True North Strong and Free.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Causes And Effects Of Traffic Congestion Tourism Essay
Causes And Effects Of Traffic Congestion Tourism Essay Jain, Sharma and Subramanian mentioned that congestion in the United States has increased dramatically since the last twenty-five years, which is the same as many countries that suffering from traffic congestion currently. From the authors prospective, one of the major causes of traffic jam in the most cities is poor road traffic management system. Increasing of traffic congestion every year is causing increasing of air pollution, wasting of time and productivity and causes diverse diseases such as, respiratory diseases. Moreover, the cost of solving or reducing traffic congestion is enormous. However, neglecting the traffic jam problem would increase the social problems among citizens. The next part of this essay illustrates many causes of traffic congestion in different cities around the world, and the effects of these causes on the environment. Furthermore, the solutions that solved the traffic jam problem, and the suggested solutions that could help to reduce the congestion in some cities. Causes and Effects This part of the essay demonstrates many causes, effects and possible solutions of traffic congestion problems. 1. Los Angeles (USA). Causes and Effects: One of the main causes of traffic congestion in Los Angeles (United States of America) is car culture, which means many people in the city or county owned private cars (Thisdell, 1993). Additionally, the land-use pattern is an important reason that makes people in Los Angeles were using private cars widely and made transport planning difficult. Furthermore, traffic congestion increased due to no underground railway and public transport in Los Angeles. Moreover, the high numbers of vehicles, which are a result of overpopulation and the economic growth, and the weak of public transportation, have a negative effect on the environment such as air pollution, which happened on Saturday when commuter traffic is insignificant. Sorensen (2009) illustrated many reasons that make Los Angeles have traffic congestion such as Common misconceptions and high regional population density. As an example of common misconceptions, people in Los Angeles love cars driving, which means the relation between people and their cars is very strong and described as loves relation. As an example of high regional population density is drivers were not consider roads as a problem of traffic congestion. Sorensen said that high population and some of the other factors that aforementioned could also make the traffic jam worse. Solutions: Thisdell (1993) mentioned that Los Angeles County transportation committee said creates more roads for cars will not solve traffic congestion problems, with increasing numbers of people and vehicles. Also, traditional public transport such as buses will be more effective in limited areas only. The committee suggested that Metro system, which is a complete project of public transport including underground railways, buses and developing motorways. It is clear that, the system has many advantages such as reducing time loss, increase productivity and cut pollution. However, the cost of making just the first part of Metro project was $1.35 billion. In addition, there are some threats to human life such as, gas and earthquakes. Sorensen (2009) mentioned about some short strategies that can solve traffic problem in Los Angeles such as, encouraging people to use ride-sharing and bicycles, improve the system of controlling the traffic light and make it more efficient, which are inexpensive so lutions but very effective and eco-friendly. The other solution is Peak -hour road pricing which make people pay some money to drive on specific roads at specific period of the day Downs (2004). This solution makes roads expensive and avoids traffic congestion at peak hours. 2. Dhaka (Bangladesh). Causes and Effects: The second cause that makes traffic congestion is lack of planning of city roads. According to Mahmud et al. (2012), Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, is one of the most densely populated cities in the whole world. The population exceeded twelve million and still increasing daily; making the traffic jams a big issue for Dhaka government. According to their survey, many reasons cause this congestion such as, huge number of people live in the city and owned their cars and traffic rule violation. In addition, the roads are narrow, lack of Planning of the citys roads and bad traffic signalling. It is clear from the survey that the citys roads are the most problems that causing traffic congestion. Due to traffic jam, there are many impacts on the economy, peoples health and the environment. The economic impact describes as people losing some working hours, cars consumed more fuel and vehicle maintenance cost. Furthermore, people in Dhaka are suffering from inconvenience, breathing and eye pro blems which caused by pollution. Additionally, environmental problems such as, air and sound pollution are threatening peoples lives. Dey et al, (2002) mentioned that 86% of the general people who live in Dhaka considered noise pollution are a big issue for them. For instance, a high percentage of students said they studied in a noisy environment. Solutions: Many solutions considered for solving Dhaka traffic congestion. According to Mahmud et al. (2012) survey, three different points to curb traffic jam were mentioned as follows: the first point is considered residents point of view [figure1], which including suggestions such as, increasing peoples awareness about traffic causes and their impact on the environment. In addition to that, 16% of people think that improving public transport is an important solution that can reduce the cost and time for them. As well as, scheduling different times to commence schools and government offices to avoid a traffic jam on the roads. The second point is vehicles considerations [figure2], which mean vehicle operators, could help to reduce traffic congestion. It is clear from [figure2] that, 41% of operators considered making strict rules of the roads, that every driver should follow these rules, as an effective solution to curb traffic jam. Moreover, 16% of the operators suggested decentralization solution, which means distribute the main offices and shopping cen tres far from city centre to avoid a huge traffic on the road going there .The third point takes the experts point of view, which were classified into three parts. The first part is the short-term solution (5 years) that can reduce roads jam temporarily as improving traffic light systems and increase the parking prices. The second part is the medium-term solution (5-10 years), such as improving the railways and makes it more efficient. The third part is the long-term solution (
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Essay on the Defense of Walls in Mending Wall :: Mending Wall Essays
Opposing the Unthinking Defense of Walls in Mending Wall The speaker in "Mending Wall" questions his neighbor's stolid assumption that "good fences make good neighbors." Perhaps, what he objects to is not so much the sentiment itself as the unwillingness or inability of the other to think for himself, to "go beyond his father's saying." Just so; we must try to get beyond the apophthegm-like opening line of "Mending Wall," testing carefully for gradations of tone as we proceed. Is it the proverb-like authority of "something there is . . . " that makes it so natural to equate "something" with the speaker? Once this equation has been made, the reader joins the speaker in sympathizing with this mysterious "something" and hence in opposing the neighbor's unthinking defense of walls. Frost rings subtly drastic changes on the sound of a phrase like "good fences make good neighbors." By the time the poem ends, this line has acquired some of the pat stupidity of a slogan. Similar turns of the screw affect the opening line, when to it is added the darker phrase "that wants it down" and again when the speaker refuses to name the antiwall "something." "Elves" is the closest he gets, yet "It's not elves exactly, and I'd rather / He said it for himself." Elves may mean not willowy things out of Tolkien but darker forces of the wood, for the next image is one of darkness. The neighbor is viewed as subtly menacing, "an old-stone savage armed." Yet this man has been the one to defend boundaries. The apparently relaxed and leisurely pace of the poem has made us lower our own boundaries and forget who is on what side. At any rate, although the speaker's ironic evasiveness undermines any confident interpretation, Poirier is surely right when he makes the following point: . . . .it is not the neighbor . . . a man who can only dully repeat "good fences make good neighbors"-- . . .it is not he who initiates the fence-making. Rather it is the far more spirited, lively, and "mischievous" speaker of the poem. While admitting that they do not need the wall, it is he who each year "lets my neighbor know beyond the hill" that it is time to do the job anyway, and who will go out alone to fill the gaps made in the wall by hunters.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Class Distinctions in World War I :: British History
Class Distinctions in World War I Pat Barker's novel Regeneration explores the effects that World War I has on the human condition and more specifically on the condition of the British people. One particular area of exploration is the detrimental presence of class distinctions within the ranks of the British military. This issue of class distinction is addressed specifically on pages 66 and 67 of the novel through a conversation between Billy Prior and Dr. Rivers. The characters' discussion reinforces Barker's theme of the injustices of these class distinctions and the harm they produce on the war front. Class distinctions were only too apparent within Britain's military entities. The Army "structured itself around class" and "in many ways . . . recreated the British class system in miniature: aristocratic generals, middle-class officers, and a working class rank and file" (Robb 84). This structure reinforced on the war front the class distinctions of the home front, and the "long-standing prejudices of the British class system ensured that enlisted men were treated almost like children." Some soldiers played the role of servant and waited on officers of high class who enjoyed luxuries unheard of to those existing in the grime of the trenches (Robb 85). In spite of the large gaps between fellow fighting men as a result of cross over social practices and of class structure within the ranks, the progression of the war caused some class boundaries to begin blurring as a need for more officers arose. The Army's initial officer class of 15, 000 men was expanded with the addition of 235, 000 individuals over the course of the war. The either permanent or temporary commissioning of these individuals gave them the title of "temporary gentlemen" ("Service"). This label of "temporary gentleman" applies to Prior in Barker's story, given his rank of Second Lieutenant. His lower class birth and provisional status place Prior in ridicule's way. During a therapy session with Rivers, Prior is asked how he "fit in" with those on the war front. In response to this question his "face shut[s] tight," and Prior asks, in order to clarify, "You mean, did I encounter any snobbery?" Prior answers his own question in the affirmative and informs Rivers that "it's made perfectly clear" who is immediately accepted at the front and who is not. He cites certain status enhancements such as having attended "the right school" or wearing shirts of "the right colour[,] [w]hich is a deep shade of khaki.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Comparing The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin :: comparison compare contrast essays
Comparing "The Lottery by Shirley Jackson" and "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin à à à The differences between "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson and "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin seem relatively minor when compared to the striking similarities they contain in setting, symbols, and theme. à à à à à Each of the stories begin with a description of a beautiful summer day. "The flowers were blooming profusely and the grass was richly green"(para 1) in "The Lottery" is quite comparable to "old moss-grown gardens and under avenues of trees"(para 1) in "...Omelas."à These descriptions (along with several others) provide positive connotations and allow the reader to relax into what seems to be a comfortable setting in either story.à Both stories also contain a gathering of townspeople.à In "...Omelas there is music, dance, and special attire incorporated in the gathering, whereas in "The Lottery," the women show up "wearing faded house dresses and sweaters."à Although Le Guin's environment seems more festive, all the folks in both stories are coming together for what seems to beà enjoyable, even celebratory occasions.à However, I believe the major similarity lies in the fact thatà these many pleasant details create a facade within each story.à The reader is then left ill-prepared when the shocking, brutally violent, ritualistic traditions are exposed. à à à à à à Children are an important focus in both stories.à Jackson makes it easy for us to imagine their "boisterous play"(para 2), and Le Guin writes "their high calls rising like swallows' crossing flights over the music and the singing"(para1).à I see these children being used to symbolize perceived states of happiness in both stories.à I also believe they are vital necessities in each story because they are taught and expected to carry traditions into the future. For instance, in "The Lottery,"à "someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles"(para 76),à he is then able to participate in the stoning of his own mother, and in "...Omelas," the tradition "is usually explained to children when they are between eight and twelve"(para 10), and of course, the victim in this tale is a child. à à à à à à The fact that both authors include references to farming may be due to the association between farming and tradition.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Ethical Computing
Ethical Computing QBA 362 w/ Burke Ltelatk H. Fritz FRITZ, LTELATK Ethical Computing QBA 362-Spring 2010 E T H I C AL C O MP UT I NG 1. Find a code of ethics from a firm of your choosing (other than the CPSR or the ACM). What do you think are the best five guiding principles from all the tips that you found? http://www. buzzle. com/articles/computer-ethics-code-of-ethics-in-computing. html Code of Ethics ? Information stored on the computer should be treated as seriously as written or spoken word. ? Privacy should not be violated. In case of academic use, it is known plagiarism. ? ? ? Information for public viewing should not be modified or deleted or inaccessible since these are considered as destructive acts. Intrusive software such as ââ¬Å"wormsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"virusesâ⬠which are destructive to the computer system is also illegal. Congesting somebodyââ¬â¢s system with a lot of unwanted information is also unethical. Sending obscene and crude messages through mail or c hat is also forbidden. ? Sending sexually explicit content, message or pictures is also forbidden â⬠¡ I felt the top five codes under Buzzleà ®Ã¢â¬â¢s Code of Ethics were the best. Because in general it covers a broad area of things. Treating information stored on computers as if they were written or spoken words, is like asking users to respect the rights of others, as well as their responsibility towards other peopleââ¬â¢s work. (Individual Responsibility) Leaving other peopleââ¬â¢s work in tact as they areââ¬âwithout modification or deletion, is important because it preserves the other personââ¬â¢s integrity. Itââ¬â¢s kind of the same as walking into (or breaking into ) someoneââ¬â¢s home and rearranging their furniture without their knowledge. Preserving Integrity) â⬠¡ 2 FRITZ, LTELATK Ethical Computing QBA 362-Spring 2010 2. Is forwarding e-mail jokes good or bad? Summarize the opposing arguments you found. â⬠¡ I personally forward e-mail that I think is appropriate for the individual I am sending the message to. However, congesting someoneââ¬â¢s space is considered unethical according to the Buzzleà ® Code of Ethics. â⬠¡ Another factor I was totally oblivious of was the fact that all these peopleââ¬â¢s names and address are forwarded with the mail. My current method of forwarding the message is just to cut the message content and then forward it to friends. Sometimes I insert their address in the blind carbon copy (bcc) area to keep their address private. It is all about respecting someoneââ¬â¢s privacy and integrity. 3. How does anonymous e-mail work and why would you use it? â⬠¡ There are so many sites where you can set up anonymous e-mails, i. e. http://www. sendanonymousemail. net/ or http://www. hidemyass. com/anonymous-email/. But you can just as well set up a bogus account and use it to send anonymous e-mails. There were so many given reasons to use such websites like, ââ¬Å"catching a spouse/partner cheating,â⬠whistle-blowing, reporting illegal activities to the authorities. But I say, if you canââ¬â¢t say it in person, write it in a letter and sign it with your name. Be account for what you believe. It takes guts, but sometimes we just gotta. â⬠¡ 4. What are five ways e-mail use can be unethical? Which do you think is most common? Why? â⬠¡ â⬠¡ â⬠¡ â⬠¡ â⬠¡ â⬠¡ Using e-mail to steal company information. Using e-mail to scam people out of money. Using e-mail to conduct illegal activities, like money laundering, human trafficking, etcâ⬠¦ Using e-mail to ruin someoneââ¬â¢s reputation or ââ¬Å"blastingâ⬠stuff about a foe. Using e-mail in push/mass marketing. (Free Viagra or stuff like that) The most common I used to get is push/mass marketing. I once got my Inbox filled with 10,000 messages in less than a month. 5. Why is deliberate spreading of viruses unethical? Name five reasons. ? ? Intrusive software such as ââ¬Å"wormsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"virusesâ⬠which are destructive to the computer system is also illegal. (Buzzle à ®) Congesting somebodyââ¬â¢s system with a lot of unwanted information is also unethical. Buzzle à ®) ? 1) Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people: If it is unethical to harm people by making a bomb, for example, it is equally bad to write a program that handles the timing of the bomb. Or, to put it more simply, if it is bad to steal and destroy other peopleââ¬â¢s books and notebooks, it is equally bad to access and destroy their files. (CEI) 3 FRITZ, LTELATK Ethical Computing QBA 362-Spring 2010 ? 2) Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work: Computer viruses are small programs that disrupt other peopleââ¬â¢s computer work by estroying their files, taking huge amounts of computer time or memory, or by simply displaying annoying messages. Generating and consciously spreading computer viruses is unethical (CEI) ? 7) Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization: Multiuser systems use user idââ¬â¢s and passwords to enforce their memory and time allocations, and to safeguard information. You should not try to bypass this authorization system. Hacking a system to break and bypass the authorization is unethical 4
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