Civil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau - 888 Words

Before discussing whether or not Civil Disobedience is an appropriate weapon in a democracy, one must understand what Civil Disobedience is and how it was developed. The definition of civil disobedience is simple: the refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something. The man who developed the undertones of Civil Disobedience was Henry David Thoreau. Several key figures looked to his famous paper, The Duty of Civil Disobedience, for inspiration. In a Democracy, Civil Disobedience is not an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau and Cynthia Dunbar. Thoreau studied at Harvard College and took various courses†¦show more content†¦He also says that if one disagrees with the law, they should remove themselves and get as far away as they can. In his essay, he states that he does not think that any reform in the government is possible. He continues by sayin g that petitioning and voting do not do anything for the common people. Henry David Thoreau uses his experiences in jail to effectively prove his points. In my opinion, in a democracy, Civil Disobedience is not an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice. By definition a democracy is an organization or situation in which everyone is treated equally and has equal rights, appropriate is â€Å"to take or use (something) especially in a way that is illegal, unfair, etc.†, weapon is â€Å"something (such as a skill, idea, or tool) that is used to win a contest or achieve something†, justice is â€Å"the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals†, and Civil Disobedience is â€Å"the refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something†. By these definitions, it is never appropriate to use Civil Disobedience to get justice. In a true democracy, if there ever was a problem or something one did not agree with, one could bring it up to a leader and they would have to acknowledge the problem. They would have to do this due to the fact that everyone has equal right in a true democracy. Everyone would have to vote, and getShow MoreRelatedCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau975 Words   |  4 Pages Henry David Thoreau was a very influential writer in the 1800s and still is today. Thoreau was one of America’s â€Å"greats† when it came to early American literature. Henry David Thoreau wrote one of the most influential essays entitled Civil Disobedience. This essay was Thoreau’s political statement, it outlined his views on non violent resistance. Civil Disobedience was written during the Mexican War. The Mexican War was a conflict between Mexico and America that was caused by a dispute over theRead MoreHenry David Thoreau And Civil Disobedience1455 Words   |  6 PagesHenry David Thoreau was an American philosopher known for his interest in politi cs; specifically raising awareness about the injustice committed by the American government. He’s the author of prominent works like Civil Disobedience and Slavery in Massachusetts, which set the setting for the United States at the time. Both of these works follow a common theme of perseverance through difficult times and the role of the self when choosing right from wrong. Thus, he was deeply engaged in the idea ofRead MoreCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau969 Words   |  4 Pages Transcendentalism is an idea that expresses the individuality of a person and his differing beliefs from the current societal opinions. This idea had a few articles written about it such as â€Å"Civil Disobedience† by Henry David Thoreau which in summary states that if you don’t agree with the society’s opinion, you should form your own and fight for it. Another writing about it is â€Å"Self Reliance† by Ralph Waldo Emerson which also basically states that you should follow your heart and not conform toRead MoreHenry David Thoreau : Civil Disobedience933 Words   |  4 Pagesa quote from Henry David Thoreau from his well-known book called Civil Disobedience (Baym, Levine ,2012). His famous book was written after he was jailed for a night for refusing to pay a tax. However, the following day his relatives paid the tax without his knowledge and this inspired his book Civil Disobedience. Though Henry David Thoreau is also known for being a poet, practical philosopher and his two-year project at Walden pond near Concord, Massachusetts (â€Å"Henry David Thoreau,† 2014). His projectRead MoreCivil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau1260 Words   |  6 PagesCivil Disobedience was written by Henry David Thoreau. The Letter From A Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King Jr. They both had similarities and differences. There were injustices that were done wrong to each of them by others in the society in which they both lived. The injustices and civil disobedience they incurred should never happen to anyone. Henry David Thoreau spoke in an emotional tone in his essay â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† The emotional part of his essay of Civil DisobedienceRead MoreCivil Disobedience, By Henry David Thoreau1650 Words   |  7 Pagesweakness? In his 1849 essay â€Å"Civil Disobedience,† American writer Henry David Thoreau explained he had refused to pay his poll tax to the U.S. government for six years because he opposed the U.S. engaged in war with Mexico. This kind of â€Å"civil disobedience,† Thoreau (1849) said, is crucial because â€Å"a minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then†. In fact, he said, â€Å"It costs me less in every sense to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it wouldRead MoreCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau1384 Words   |  6 Pagesis also known as civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is the most efficient form of protest in a society. In all societies both modern day and past, there has been some sort of government. In history many of these governments have abused their power and have become too powerful. In these cases it was the right of the people to protest. All past societies have agreed the less power a government has the better. In an essay Civil Disobedience, written by Henry David Thoreau the text states â€Å"ThatRead MoreCivil Disobedience: Henry David Thoreau771 Words   |  4 PagesHenry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was a philosopher and writer who is well known for his criticism of the American government during the time. During Thoreau’s life, there were two major issues being debated in the United States: slavery and the Mexican-American War. Both issues greatly influenced his essay, as he actually practiced civil disobedience in his own life by refusing to pay taxes in protest of the Mexican War. He states that the government should be based on conscience and that citizensRead MoreHenry David Thoreau s Civil Disobedience933 Words   |  4 PagesIn Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, he is writing to the American people. He is trying to spark a desire for change, for people to oppose their government without actions. He uses this work to criticize the American institution of slavery as well as the Mexican-American War. Thoreau is attempting to convey the importance of listening to one’s conscience over the laws, believing that it is more important to do what they feel is right rather than listen to the laws given by the majority. ThoreauRead MoreCivil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau Essay1178 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Civil Disobedience† by Henry David Thoreau was a means of educating people on why they should not settle for a less than perfect government. Thoreau’s work is a reminder that it is our duty to throw off an unsatisfactory government, as stated by Thomas Jefferson in the â€Å"Declaration of Independence.† Civil Disobedience touches on the subject of why people choose to do nothing about a government they are unhappy with. People fear the consequences they might suffer if they do interfere with the

Last Sacrifice Chapter Eighteen Free Essays

I SPRANG UP FROM THE bed, relieved that I didn’t fall over. My head still hurt, but I no longer felt dizzy, which hopefully meant I really had evaded a concussion. Glancing at an alarm clock as I left Sonya’s bedroom, I saw that I’d been in Lissa’s head for a few hours. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Eighteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now Her test had been far more extensive than I’d realized. In the living room, I found an almost comical sight. Victor and Robert stood there, in the flesh, taking in the surrounding details. Even Robert seemed to be with us mentally this time. Only, whereas Victor was studying everything in his calculating way, Robert’s attention was fixed on Sonya. His eyes bugged out in astonishment. Dimitri, meanwhile, hadn’t altered his position near Sonya or put away the stake at her throat. It was clear from his stance and watchful gaze, however, that he regarded the brothers as a new threat and was trying–impossibly–to stay on guard against everything. He seemed relieved to see me and have some backup. Sonya had gone perfectly still within her chains, which I didn’t like at all. It made me think she was planning something. Her red eyes narrowed. The whole situation was tense and dangerous, but a tiny part of me felt smug satisfaction as I studied Victor more closely. The dream meetings had been deceptive. Just as I could shift my appearance in dreams, Victor had made himself look stronger and healthier in those visits than he actually was in real life. Age, disease, and life on the run were taking their toll. Dark shadows lined his eyes, and his graying hair seemed thinner than it had a month ago. He looked haggard and tired, but I knew he was still dangerous. â€Å"So,’ I said, hands on hips. â€Å"You managed to find us.’ â€Å"There’s one lake in this town,’ said Victor. â€Å"One blue house. Maybe you had trouble with those directions, but for the rest of us, it wasn’t that difficult.’ â€Å"Well, if you’re so smart, what’s your plan now?’ I asked. I was trying to stall as I frantically thought about what my plan was. I’d wanted to capture Victor and Robert but didn’t know how. Since we had to split our attention between them and Sonya, Dimitri and I couldn’t team up. I wished we had leftover chain. Aside from physically subduing the brothers, we would also specifically need to restrain their hands to reduce their ability to use magic. â€Å"Since you’re so smart,’ countered Victor, â€Å"I assumed you’d have already obtained the needed information.’ I gestured toward Sonya. â€Å"She’s not exactly forthcoming.’ Victor’s eyes fell on her. â€Å"Sonya Karp. You’ve changed since I last saw you.’ â€Å"I’m going to kill you all,’ Sonya snarled. â€Å"And consume you one by one. Normally, I’d start with the human and work up to the Moroi, but †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ She glanced at Dimitri and me, her face full of rage. â€Å"I think I’ll save you two for last and drag out your suffering.’ She paused and almost comically added, â€Å"You’ve annoyed me the most.’ â€Å"Do all Strigoi go through some boot camp and learn all the same threats? It’s a wonder you don’t cackle too.’ I turned back to Victor. â€Å"See? Not that easy. We’ve tried everything. Beating it out, torturing it out. Sydney went through the names of all her relatives. No reaction.’ Victor studied Sydney in detail for the first time. â€Å"So. Your pet Alchemist.’ Sydney didn’t move. I knew she had to be scared of facing someone who was both a vampire and a dangerous criminal. I had to give her points for meeting his stare unflinchingly. â€Å"Young,’ Victor mused. â€Å"But of course she would be. I imagine it’s the only way you could manipulate her into this little escapade.’ â€Å"I’m here by choice,’ replied Sydney. Her expression stayed calm and confident. â€Å"No one manipulated me.’ Abe’s blackmail wasn’t really relevant at the moment. â€Å"Look, if you wanted to keep torturing me with your not-funny comments, you could have just kept invading my dreams,’ I snapped. â€Å"If you don’t have anything useful to offer, then get out of here and let us wait until hunger weakens Sonya.’ And by get out of here, I meant: foolishly think you’re going to leave so that I can knock your heads together and drag you back to the guardians. â€Å"We can help,’ said Victor. He touched his brother lightly on the arm. Robert flinched, jerking his eyes from Sonya to Victor. â€Å"Your methods were destined to fail. If you want answers, there’s only one way to–‘ Sonya made her move. Dimitri was still right next to her, but he’d also been keeping an eye on the rest of us. And of course, I’d been completely focused on the Victor drama as well. It was probably the best opening Sonya could have hoped for. With crazy Strigoi strength, she bucked up from the chair. The chain was wrapped around her over and over, but her quick movement and strength were enough to snap the chain in two places. The rest still encircled her, but I knew perfectly well even one opening was enough for her to eventually bust out. Distracted or not, Dimitri was on her in a flash, and a second later, so was I. She was flailing in the chair, using every bit of her strength and speed to shake off the chains. If she got loose, I knew she’d put up another fierce fight. Dimitri and I met eyes briefly, and I knew we were thinking the same things. First, how were we going to re-restrain her? The chain could probably be rebound, but we’d need to unwind it and start over, which would be next to impossible. We also both knew he and I might not be able to take her down a second time, and now we had innocents around. They couldn’t fight, but Sonya might be able to use them to her advantage somehow. All w e could do was try to keep her down. Holding her against a flat surface like the floor would have been much easier than the unwieldy recliner. It shook as she fought against us, and we struggled to get a good position on the chair. Dimitri had his stake– I’d set mine down earlier–and he raked it against her skin, giving us some advantage in the struggle. She screamed in rage, and I clung to the hope we might tire her out. Probably not. We’d break first. My aching head was proof enough that I wasn’t in peak condition. I saw a flash of movement in my periphery, setting off new alarms. Robert Doru was heading toward us–and he had a silver stake in his hand. The sight was so bizarre and unexpected that I was slow to alert Dimitri. When my sluggish mind suddenly kicked back to life, it was too late. â€Å"No!’ I shrieked, seeing Robert raise the stake. â€Å"Don’t kill her!’ Dimitri turned and saw Robert then, but there was nothing he could do. Dimitri and I had created the perfect opportunity. We were holding Sonya still, and with her chest vulnerable, Robert had a clean shot. Frantically, I wondered what to do. If I stopped him, I’d release Sonya. If I didn’t stop him, he might kill our only chance at finding out who– Too late. The stake plunged down with a force that astonished me. Lissa had had a very difficult time staking Dimitri, and I’d assumed the same would be true for someone like Robert, who was older and seemed so fragile. But, no. He still had to use two hands, but the stake went firmly into Sonya’s chest, piercing her heart. Sonya let out an intense scream. A brilliant, blinding white light suddenly filled the room, just as an unseen force blasted me away. I hit a wall, my brain barely registering the pain. The small house shook, and with one hand, I tried to grab something and brace myself. I squeezed my eyes shut but could still see starbursts. Time slowed. My heartbeat slowed. Then–it all stopped. Everything. The light. The tremors. I breathed normally. All was quiet and still, as though I’d imagined what had just happened. I blinked, trying to bring my eyes back into focus and assess the situation. I did my best to scramble clumsily to my feet and saw Dimitri was doing the same. He looked like he’d also been knocked over but had caught the wall for support, rather than smashing into it. Robert was lying flat out on the floor, and Victor rushed over to help him. Sydney just stood frozen. And Sonya? â€Å"Unbelievable,’ I whispered. Sonya was still in the armchair, and from the way she was sitting back, it was obvious that she’d been blasted by the same force that had hit the rest of us. The chains were still around her, but she’d stopped struggling. On her lap was the silver stake Robert had held only moments ago. Sonya managed to wiggle a hand out of the chain, just enough for her fingers to brush against the stake’s surface. Her eyes widened with wonder–eyes that were a rich, azure blue. Robert had brought Sonya Karp back to life. She was no longer Strigoi. When Lissa had saved Dimitri, I’d felt the magic’s power through the bond, giving me the full and overwhelming experience of it all. Witnessing it now, without the firsthand knowledge provided from Lissa, was still just as incredible. Victor was preoccupied with Robert, but the rest of us couldn’t stop staring at Sonya in amazement. I kept looking for anything–anything–that might give the slightest hint of her previous existence. There was none. Her skin bore the typical Moroi paleness, but it was still filled with the warmth of life, with the faintest tinge of color–not like the Strigoi, who were completely devoid of pigment. Her eyes were bloodshot, but that was from her rapidly forming tears. There was no red ring around her irises. And the look in those eyes †¦ there was no cruelty or malice. They were not the eyes of someone who had just threatened to kill us all. Her eyes were all shock and fear and confusion. I couldn’t tear my gaze from her. A miracle. Another miracle. Even after seeing Lissa restore Dimitri, some secret part of me had believed I would never witness anything like it again. That was how miracles worked. Once in a lifetime. There’d been a lot of talk about using spirit to save Strigoi everywhere, talk that had faded when other drama–such as the murder of a queen– took precedence at Court. The shortage of spirit users had also made the idea unpopular, and besides, everyone knew the difficulties involved with a Moroi staking a Strigoi. If trained guardians died fighting Strigoi, how could a Moroi stake one? Well, here was the answer: a subdued Strigoi. A Moroi could manage staking one with two hands, especially with guardian backup. The possibilities made me reel. Robert’s magic was strong, but he was old and frail. Yet, if he had still done this, could any spirit user? He’d almost made it look easy. Could Adrian do it? Could Lissa do it again? A miracle. Sonya Karp was a living, breathing miracle. And suddenly, she began screaming. It started off as kind of a low wail and rapidly grew in volume. The noise snapped me to attention, but I didn’t exactly know how to respond. Dimitri did. His stake fell from his hand, and he rushed to Sonya’s side, where he began trying to free her from the chains. She floundered at his touch, but her efforts no longer packed the supernatural strength of an undead monster seeking revenge. These were the motions of someone desperately, terribly afraid. I’d wrapped those chains pretty securely, but Dimitri had them off in seconds. Once Sonya was free, he sat in the chair and pulled her to him, letting her bury her face against his chest and sob. I swallowed. Dimitri had also wept when he had been changed back. An odd image of newborn babies flashed through my mind. Was crying the natural reaction for anyone being born–or, in this case, reborn–into the world? A sudden movement grabbed my attention. Sydney’s eyes were wide, and she was actually moving toward Dimitri–to stop him. â€Å"What are you doing?’ she cried. â€Å"Don’t release her!’ Dimitri ignored Sydney, and I caught hold of her, pulling her back. â€Å"It’s okay, it’s okay,’ I said. Sydney was the most stable factor in this whole operation. I couldn’t have her freaking out. â€Å"She’s not Strigoi. Look. Look at her. She’s Moroi.’ Sydney slowly shook her head. â€Å"She can’t be. I just saw her.’ â€Å"It’s what happened to Dimitri. Exactly the same. You don’t think he’s a Strigoi, do you? You trust him.’ I released my hold on her, and she stayed put, her face wary. Looking down at the brothers, I realized theirs might be a more serious situation than I had realized. Robert, while not a Strigoi, looked pale enough to be one. His eyes were vacant, drool escaping his partially open mouth. I reassessed my earlier observation about Robert making Strigoi restoration look easy. He’d staked her like a pro, but obviously, there were a few side effects. Victor was trying to support his brother and murmured soothing and encouraging words. And on Victor’s face †¦ well, there was a look of compassion and fear that I’d never seen before. My brain didn’t entirely know how to reconcile it with my well-defined and villainous image of him. He seemed like a real person. Victor glanced up at me, his lips twisting into a bitter smile. â€Å"What, no witty quips now? You should be happy. We’ve given you what you wanted. You need answers from Sonya Karp?’ He nodded toward her. â€Å"Go get them. They’ve certainly come at a high price.’ â€Å"No!’ exclaimed Dimitri. He still held Sonya against him, but his gentle expression turned hard at Victor’s words. â€Å"Are you crazy? Didn’t you see what just happened?’ Victor arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Yes. I noticed.’ â€Å"She’s in no condition to answer anything! She’s in shock. Leave her alone.’ â€Å"Don’t act like she’s the one who’s suffering here,’ snapped Victor. Turning back to Robert, Victor helped his brother stand and go toward the couch. Robert barely managed it, his legs trembling and then giving way as he sat down. Victor put an arm around Robert. â€Å"You’ll be all right. Everything’s all right.’ â€Å"Will he be?’ I asked uncertainly. Robert didn’t look like he was in all that good of shape. My earlier thoughts about spirit users saving Strigoi continued growing unrealistic. â€Å"He †¦ he did it before and recovered, right? And Lissa’s fine.’ â€Å"Robert was much younger–as is Vasilisa,’ replied Victor, patting Robert’s shoulder. â€Å"And this is hardly a simple spell. Doing it even once is monumental. Twice? Well, you and I both know how spirit works, and this feat takes a toll on both body and mind. Robert has made a great sacrifice for you.’ He had, I supposed. â€Å"Thank you, Robert,’ I said. The words came hesitantly to my lips. Robert didn’t seem to hear. Dimitri stood up, lifting Sonya easily in his arms. She was still crying, but her sobs were quieter now. â€Å"She needs to rest,’ he said gruffly. â€Å"Believe me, you have no idea what’s going on inside her right now.’ â€Å"Oh, I believe you,’ I said. â€Å"You’re idiots,’ snapped Victor. â€Å"Both of you.’ It was a wonder Dimitri’s glare didn’t pin Victor to the floor. â€Å"No interrogation yet.’ I nodded my agreement, not knowing what else to do. When Lissa had changed Dimitri, she’d taken on a fierce, similarly protective attitude. He might not have been the one to change Sonya, but he was the only one here who had any idea what she was going through. I knew he’d had a hard adjustment and that the initial effects of the restoration had been disorienting. That wasn’t even taking into account the subsequent depression. He swept past all of us, taking Sonya to her bedroom. Sydney watched them go and then glanced over to the sofa, where Victor still had his arm wrapped around his brother. The Alchemist met my eyes wonderingly. â€Å"I heard †¦ but I didn’t believe.’ â€Å"Sometimes,’ I told her, â€Å"I still don’t. It goes against every rule of the universe.’ To my surprise, she touched the small gold cross around her neck. â€Å"Some rules are bigger than the universe.’ Victor rose from the couch, apparently satisfied Robert was resting. I tensed up. Miracles aside, he was still a criminal, one I intended to capture. He took a step toward me, pitching his voice low. â€Å"Sorry to interrupt Metaphysics 101, but you need to listen to me,’ he said. â€Å"Be careful, Rose. Very careful. A lot rests on you now. Don’t let your pet wolf keep you from finding out what Sonya knows.’ â€Å"But he’s right,’ I exclaimed. â€Å"Its been five minutes! What she went through †¦ what they both went through †¦ well, it’s kind of a big deal. Literally life-changing. He had to recover too and adjust to being saved. Once she does, she’ll help us.’ â€Å"Are you sure?’ he asked, narrowing his eyes. â€Å"Will she think she’s been saved? You forget: Belikov was turned against his will. She wasn’t.’ â€Å"W-what are you saying? That she’s going to try to become Strigoi again?’ He shrugged. â€Å"I’m saying get your answers soon. And don’t leave her alone.’ With that, Victor turned and headed toward the kitchen. He soon returned with a glass of water. Robert drank it greedily and then fell into a heavy sleep. I sighed and leaned against a wall near Sydney, totally worn out. I still hurt from the earlier fight. â€Å"What now?’ asked Sydney. I shook my head. â€Å"I don’t know. We wait, I guess.’ Dimitri returned a little while later and spared a small glance for Robert. â€Å"She’s sleeping too,’ he told me. â€Å"The transformation †¦ it’s difficult.’ I could see a haunted look in his eyes and wondered what memory was tormenting him now. The memory of being changed? The memory of being Strigoi? â€Å"I don’t think we should leave Sonya alone,’ I said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Victor smirk. â€Å"Someone should stay with her in case she wakes up. She won’t know what’s going on.’ Dimitri didn’t answer for a few seconds as he scrutinized me. He knew me well enough to sense there might be something else on my mind. Fortunately, he couldn’t find a fault in my logic. â€Å"You’re right. Do you mind sitting with her?’ he asked Sydney. I groped for something to say. No, no. Not Sydney. If Sonya did turn on us, we needed someone else on guard–someone who could fight back. Sydney, probably guessing my problem, saved me from lying to Dimitri–or from telling him the truth about my concerns. â€Å"She doesn’t know me. It might make things worse when she wakes up. Besides †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Sydney put on that disgusted expression that Alchemists excelled at. â€Å"I don’t really feel that comfortable with someone who was a monster five minutes ago.’ â€Å"She’s not Strigoi,’ he exclaimed. â€Å"She’s absolutely, completely Moroi again!’ Even I felt a little cowed by the harshness of his voice, but I wasn’t entirely surprised at his vehement reaction. He’d had a hard time convincing others he’d changed. His face softened a little. â€Å"I know it’s hard to believe, but she really has changed.’ â€Å"I’ll stay with her then,’ I said. â€Å"No, no.’ Dimitri shook his head. â€Å"Sydney’s right about one thing: Sonya might be confused. It’s better if someone’s there who understands what’s happened.’ I started to argue that I was the only one Sonya really knew but then decided I’d rather stay with the brothers. They seemed harmless now, but I didn’t trust them. Dimitri apparently didn’t either. He took a few steps forward and leaned down, speaking only an inch from my ear. â€Å"Keep an eye on them,’ he murmured. â€Å"Robert’s down right now but might recover sooner than we think.’ â€Å"I know.’ He started to turn, then glanced back at me. His commander face had softened into something thoughtful and awestruck. â€Å"Rose?’ â€Å"Yeah?’ â€Å"That †¦ was that what it was like when Lissa changed me?’ â€Å"More or less.’ â€Å"I didn’t realize †¦ it was †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He struggled for words. It was uncharacteristic. â€Å"The way that light filled the room, the way she changed. Seeing that life emerge from death †¦ it was †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ â€Å"Beautiful?’ He nodded. â€Å"Life like that †¦ you don’t–no, you can’t waste it.’ â€Å"No,’ I agreed. â€Å"You can’t.’ I saw something shift in him then. It was small, just like in the alley, but I knew then another piece of the Strigoi-trauma had peeled away. He said no more, and I watched as he walked back down the hall. With nothing else to do, Sydney sat down cross-legged on the floor, holding a book in her lap. It was closed, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Meanwhile, Victor sat back in the armchair and reclined it. He didn’t look as bad as Robert, but lines of fatigue showed on both brothers. Good. The longer they were out of commission, the better. I brought in a chair from the kitchen so I could sit and survey the room. Everything was peaceful. I felt like a babysitter, which I suppose I kind of was. It had been a long day, and night soon turned the windows black. This made worried me. For all I knew, Sonya had some Strigoi pals who might stop by. The fact that Donovan knew her certainly indicated she wasn’t a total outcast among them. It made me extra-vigilant, but at the same time, I was exhausted. The brothers were already asleep. Sydney, perhaps in an attempt to keep her human schedule, eventually found a spare blanket and pillow and curled up in a makeshift bed on the floor. And me? I was halfway between human and vampiric schedules. I had a feeling Dimitri was the same. Really, we were on a do-what’s-necessary schedule, in which extensive sleep was not an option. A hum of excitement and astonishment suddenly sang through the bond. I sensed no danger or threat, but curiosity made me decide to check in with Lissa anyway. Even if I was in her mind, I knew my body would stay watchful, and I wanted to know how the rest of Lissa’s test had gone. Beautifully, of course. She rode back to Court, exhausted but proud of herself. She wasn’t the only one. The rest of her companions all wore similar expressions †¦ all except for Ava Drozdov. She had been the only one to break and use the cell phone to call for help. Lissa was surprised that Ava had cracked. After his earlier bitching, Marcus Lazar had seemed the most likely to bail. But no, the old man had managed it somehow, meaning he’d continue on in the monarch trials. Ava refused to make eye contact with anyone, instead staring bleakly out the window as they traveled back to Court. She would still hold a Council spot, but her shot at being queen was gone. Lissa felt bad for her but couldn’t spare too much concern. It was the way of the trials, the way they determined the best candidates. Besides, Lissa had her own issues. Staying out in the daytime had run contrary to the normal vampiric schedule. Now, she simply wanted to get back to Court, find her room, and sleep for a few hours. She wanted some peace. Instead, she found a mob waiting for her. How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Eighteen, Essay examples

Racism The Future Essay Example For Students

Racism The Future Essay Racism People see it everyday across America. A group of whites burn down a black church, someone gets hurt or murdered from a racial slur, or fights break out at school or in public. These are the extremes of racism. Racism is definitely not a good thing, its a power that has taken over through the last two years. In doing research on Racism, I hope that my feelings towards blacks would improve and they have. What will the future bring for Racism? What are the main problems of racism? Can we get a hold on racism throughout America or will we self-destruct in our own hate? Racism is everywhere, as much as today tries to hide it or say that we resolved it forty-to-fifty years ago. Racism is still all over the place. Racism first showed it teeth in America, when the segregation of blacks and whites came along. The segregation shut down all activities or actions from whites and blacks. It absolutely separated whites and blacks from being close to each other in public and blacks having no rights. Then the movement took place when Rosa Parks wouldnt give up her seat to a white man on a bus. At the time she was tired of the treatment her and fellow African-Americans were getting. She said she was tired and on this fateful day she bgan the turning wheels of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement took place and gave blacks their future as they have now. It gave them the freedom that they deserved and needed. They were given the ability to vote; not having to be separated in such insane ways against whites, as they were. Positive helpers in the role of blacks rights were Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. King had a dream that little black boys and girls would be able to join hands with little white boys and girls. His dream came true. On April 4th 1968, King was leaving his motel room. When he was shot and killed (Schulke). 2Everybody knows what racism is, but there are so many other factors that tie in with racism. If someone is a racist they are of course, prejudice. Prejudice is when someone doesnt like someone for the way they look. A big problem with racism is many live in racist conditions and dont even see it. It flies right over their heads. Schools, the workplace, our community, our friends house, even our homes. We hear a racial slur, oh well, its just a joke. Hardly. If you think racist joke are harmless than you should take a reality check. Racist jokes are just the start of it. Many people think the jokes are funny. Maybe they are, but they still hurt the people the jokes are about. Some of the worst racists are the ones who think that they are not racist, and they really are. They really have to come to grips with reality. Why are they some the worst racists? They are, because they cant comprehend what is happening. They dont realize what they are saying and doing are racist. Until they c ome to grips with it, there is no problem. No problem, in their minds. They say that they arent racist, even when they dont hire the East Indian employee who was the most qualified of the candidates. Even when the basketball team that they coach is all white. And even the time when they moved from their seat at the movie theater because of the black person next to them. Well, gee, they could have been a criminal. A robber from the hood. After all, isnt that what most of them are. No one deserves to be prejudged like that. The prejudice of people in the world is disgusting. The worst part of it all is that they dont even know that they are doing it. They think its normal behavior, it doesnt even phase them when they do it. .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 , .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .postImageUrl , .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 , .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:hover , .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:visited , .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:active { border:0!important; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:active , .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561 .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1f3c79a81dfa6275fa8d6f5940001561:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Education Makes People Easy to Lead but Difficult to Drive EssayBorn of the civil rights movement three decades ago, affirmative action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment, education and contracting decisions. In its modern form, affirmative action can call for an admissions officer faced with two similarly qualified applicants to choose the minority over the white, or for a manager to recruit and hire a qualified woman for a job instead of a man. Affirmative action decisions are generally not supposed to be based on quotas, nor are they supposed to give any preference to unqualified candidates (Froomkin). And they are not suppose d to harm anyonethrough reverse discrimination.3Then there are those who are completely unaware of racism in the world. They walk down the streets, through the stores and working at their job, completely oblivious. Theyre so blind! Why cant they see what is happening around them? Have they really lived such sheltered lives? Or do they just not want to believe it is happening? If you take someone and put them in the heart of a racist area, they still wont notice the problems. They will see it with their own eyes, but it wont register in their mind. If these people dont open their eyes, they will never see what is happening. What is going to happen to the world if people dont start realizing what is happening? Will we be plunged into a time where racial tension is everywhere? Will we soon start having racial wars? Will racial violence be a normal every day occurrence? I dont know. No one could know. Unless we start taking action and helping people come to grips with the way they are, we cant combat racism. Today we are living in a load of social issues that we have to deal with and racism is one of them. For some reason many people cant figure out, is why are many standards being lowered? The government has given blacks many ways to get in and out of college and its not fair for the average white person. Throughout history blacks havent always been the smartest people. They have consistently under performed in IQ (Emeagwali). A black athlete then doesnt have to be as smart as the average white athlete to get into college. Blacks blame their faults and disappointments against society and the whole race in which they live in. They say that since they grew up in a poor family, they cant do good or excel, but anyone can do good or excel if they put their mind to it. This is not a one sided situation though. Whites can be the same way. Many whites grow up in poor families, and they cant use excuses either. Some whites live in a trailer so they say that they cant succ eed in anything. I have friends that act this way. There isnt but one