The Free Radio Essay Example

The Free Radio Paper For my Individual Oral Presentation I have chosen the short story The Free Radio in the book East West by Salman Rushdie. The various stories in East West are largely similar in their extravagant and far fetched plots however The Free Radio reflects a true occurrence in Indian History. A symbol is something such as an object, picture, written word, sound, or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention. For example, a red octagon may stand for STOP. In The Free Radio, the importance and focus on the free radio from the protagonist and narrator results in readers being able to observe the various symbols which the free radio adopts and thus allows readers to see beyond its literal meaning to its intended symbolism for better understanding of the text and the messages in which it holds. Young, handsome Ramani- the protagonist of the story was unfortunate enough to fall in love with the Thiefs Widow The introduction of the decision Ramani made to Rob himself of his manhood comes hand in hand with the introduction of the Free Radio. We will write a custom essay sample on The Free Radio specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Free Radio specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Free Radio specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Firstly, To Ramani the Radio directly represents a symbol of achievement and loss. It represents a memorandum to the pain he has suffered, the manhood he has lost however it more importantly signifies the widows hand in marriage which he has gained. One can also see that the free radio symbolises is important as an object of escapism for Ramani in order to forget the pain and anguish of the nasbandi as he counts on the radio to compensate him for the operation. As the narrator aptly mentions Ram had poured into the idea of the free radio all his worries and regrets about what he had done f the dream were to die he would be forced to face the full gravity of his crime against his own body. The radio provides Ramani an outlet to believe in, we see this in his actions of mimicking radio broadcasts with his hand cupped to his ear etc. The free radio can also be noted as a symbol of the constriction, restriction of sex. , as mentioned earlier the free radio is only an issue with the attraction Ramani had to the Thiefs widow Soon after the dream radio was first mentioned , Ramani and the Thiefs widow were married , and then I understood everything. The narrator understood that the Thiefs widow required Ramani to undergo this operation for her hand in marriage. As we all know reproduction is a divine thing, imperative to the continuation of the human race, the old widow is seen to corrupt this as the narrator suggests that she is starving her children for days for a simple rickshaw ride. Her five brats seems too large, vulgar a number of seemingly unloved children taken care of by one widow of vile nature. If one stretches ones imagination perhaps Salman Rushdie is suggesting to be wary of women, depicting the dire consequences that foolish men face , just as Ramani had to face nasbandi because of his limited perspective , only looking at what he had to gain the hand of the thiefs widow where on hindsight he lost not only his manhood but much of his sanity as he deceived himself with the new fantasy of the free radio, and with that , a humiliating act which Ramani put up publicly which simply ended in further misery with the realisation that there was no radio. The free radio is a perfect symbol of delusion and self deception, the ability to think clearly is instrumental to separating humans from lower forms of animals, a failure in our system however is demonstrated in Ramani where he adjusts his thinking so much that he deceives himself for almost a year His young body was being poured into that space between his ear and his hand by a mighty and impossible act of will. Once he receives his radio everything would be made worth while. However one does not dispute Ramanis happiness during that year when his rare quality of total belief in his dreams allowed him to lead a happy life- A happiness which could not be explained by the supposed imminence of the transistor However in the end, this further humiliation contributed to his decision to leave the village. It is also interesting to note that with his departure, he follows his original true dream and ambition of being a bollywood star in the city and how this dream is juxtaposed against the pseudo fantasy of the free radio, however this bollywood star ambition can also be interpreted as comparable to the free radio , a further assault on the inability Ramani has to embrace reality and deal with failure. I remember the huge mad energy which he had poured into the act of conjuring reality. From the delusional effects the free radio has and noting the context at the time we can infer that the free radio has been used as a tool to criticize the Government , as mentioned earlier the white caravan and nasbandi, family planning was genuine and was going around India at the time that Rushdie wrote the story, the encouragement of men to give up their manhood in national interest, granting free radios in appreciation, often times these were empty promises of politicians vying for power. Through the use of this policy and the free radio, Rushdie demonstrates the utter humiliation and suffering these men have to endure after sacrificing their manhood in national interest, Rushdie allows readers to see the incompatibility of the free radio as compensation for an operation so humiliating and daunting as nasbandi. Through Rushdies use of diction and utilisation of an elderly narrator, readers feel disappointed as men like Ramani seemed to have been hoodwinked, deceived into taking part in something they did not want to and had little idea of the consequences of their actions. Another point to suggest a criticism of politics and the government are the semi political armband youths who flatter Ramani initially but eventually show their true self Ram was frogmarched out by his drinking-chums Ram is seen to foolishly trust and believe in these men who filled his head with dreams and in the end, just as he is with the free radio symbolising the government, he is forsaken, betrayed. Salman Rushdie also suggests that now, nobody adheres to advice from the elderly. This is seen in the beginning But who listens to the wisdom of the old today? The choice of utilising Teacher Sahib as the narrator is key to us seeing his perspectives and how if only Ramani listened to teacher Sahib -the elderly, everything would be fine as he slowly gained in stature and wisdom. Even the name of the narrator teacher Sahib suggests that he knows more and is a respectable figure. The free radio acts as a catalyst for his spite for the thiefs widow and we see all his negative feelings towards her and works as a base for readers poor first impression of the thiefs widow, but more importantly the radio, symbolically negative allows readers to see the true care and concern teacher Sahib has for Ramani as only he is against the free radio and its terrible nature. This further encourages readers to trust and believe in teacher Sahib and understand the message being suggested that respecting and listening to the generally wise and experienced elderly is the correct path to safety. Also towards the end of the story Maybe the views of the old can be discounted now, and if thats so , let it be. This martyr like sentence garners pity and sympathy readers have towards teacher Sahib who although tried his best could not save the foolish Ramani who refused to listen and heed warnings from him. This again emphasises the point of respecting the elderly. In conclusion, the free radio may seem simplistic in the story, a mere gift from the Government, but in reality it has been developed extensively . Through diction , sentence structure , and most importantly the use of the free radio as a symbol in moving the plot along , the free radio not only represents the delusional sentiments of Ramani , the wickedness of the widow but these symbols it takes on of escapism , achievement and loss , restriction of sex , delusion , deception all work together to emphasise the authors messages of importance of being realistic , wary of the consequences of ones actions, negligence of the opinions of the aged and most importantly the criticism of the government.

An attempt to reach a Beat-like America essays

An attempt to reach a Beat-like America essays In the emotionally stagnant atmosphere of post-World War Two suburbia, while square America was striving to attain the blissfully mundane lifestyle portrayed by popular television sitcoms, a small group of people  ¾led by Jack Kerouac and Allen Gisnberg ¾ were desperately attempting to expand their horizons and find significance in their existences. Kerouacs On the Road is perhaps the most famous account of the Beat Generations struggle to find emotional satisfaction and independence from the intensely conservative ideology of popular America. The novel, a blatant depiction of the excessive and controversial adventures of Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady during their voyage across the American continent, was revolutionary both in its content and style. On the Road illustrates Kerouacs fear of monotony while subtly explaining the authors search for spiritual enlightenment and the ecstasy of true knowledge. But even after all his frantic journeys to escape mediocrity, Kerouac is not s atisfied, and he makes use of contradictions and long, unrestricted sentences to portray his noble  ¾yet unsuccessful ¾ attempt to find enlightenment. Kerouac pledges his allegiance to the Beat society early on in the book, demonstrating his isolation from the average American man: The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes Awww! (Kerouac, 1961, p.10)# In this passage, Sal Paradise describes the essence of the Beat s spirit, the fantastic desire and energy of those who fight to experience life to the fullest, and their common disdain for those who accept a mundane and manufactu...

How to become a school counselor

How to become a school counselor School counselors are some of the most important professionals in the educational system. They can help bridge the gap between personal and educational issues for students and help students navigate life issues throughout their school careers. If you’re interested in both psychology and teaching, it can be a fulfilling career path. What does a school counselor do?School counselors (often referred to as guidance counselors as well) are educational administrative professionals who work with students to assist them on a variety of issues that can affect a student’s school day. Issues can range from class scheduling, to behavioral issues, to issues at home. Any given group of students’ needs are going to be diverse, and so the school counselor must be a versatile professional.School counselors are tasked with supporting students and promoting positive academic, social, and personal development. Their responsibilities may include:Meeting with students one-on-one or in groupsAssisting with college applications, job applications, and financial aid applicationsCounseling students on social, academic, or emotional problemsMeeting with parents as necessaryFacilitating peer counseling programsMediating conflicts between students, or between students and staffFacilitating help with personal problems like substance abuse, eating disorders, bullying, or other personal issues students may haveReferring students to social or emotional help resources like psychologists, mental health professionals, or social workersAdvocating for student well-beingSchool counselors work at all levels, from elementary school up through high school. Like teachers, school counselors work primarily during the school day and school year, but because there is an administrative component to the job there may be after school or year-round work related to the job. School counselors work in public schools, private schools, or other facilities that have educational components.What ski lls do school counselors need?Because this is a role that combines the academic needs of teaching with the personal skills of a psychologist, the skill set for school counselors is heavy on people skills and understanding.Observational Skills:Â  School counselors need to be able to determine issues and potential solutions, even if they’re not getting direct information from students. That means being able to piece together academic, social, or behavioral problems, or at least being able to assess students’ needs accurately.Listening Skills:Â  Much of a school counselor’s job is talking with students, determining what’s wrong, and working with them to find a solution (or more help). Active listening skills are key in helping students, who may have varying levels of communication skills.Conflict Resolution Skills:Â  Many students end up in a school counselor’s office because they need help resolving issues- whether that’s in the classroom, at home, or with other students. A school counselor needs to be well-versed in techniques for opening up communication, and finding healthy ways to resolve disputes.Communication Skills:Â  School counselors communicate with a number of different people: students, families, school colleagues and staff, and others. Clear, concise writing and speaking are very important, as is a strong sense of audience-appropriate communication.Organizational Skills:Â  School counselors may be working with a number of different students on a diverse range of issues, from college applications to bullying. It’s essential for the counselor to be able to keep information properly organized, so they can help meet students’ needs.Discretion:Â  School counselors can be privy to all sorts of private information about students, and so they need to be discreet.What do you need to become a school counselor?Most school counselor jobs require, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related subject. School counselors typically also have a master’s degree specifically in school counseling. Most states require some form of licensing, so make sure you know what your own state’s requirements are for school counselors.How much do school counselors make?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), school counselors make a median annual salary of $54,560 per year.What’s the outlook for school counselors?Like most educational careers, this is a path that will continue to grow as student bodies increase and student needs get more complex and diverse. The BLS anticipates that the demand for school counselors will grow by 11% by 2026, which is faster than average for all jobs.If you’ve got a background in psychology (or are thinking about one) and have an interest in working with students, then becoming a school counselor could be the right educational career path for you. Good luck!

Discussion President Gerge Herbert Walker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion President Gerge Herbert Walker - Essay Example It could be argued that these events came relatively early during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, and really reflect initiatives and policies of the previous president (Ronald Reagan). Two major international political initiatives that were truly spearheaded by the Bush Presidency that I have seen through my research were the military incursions into Panama and Operation Desert Storm. Whilst the actual political details of these two events are well storied, my personal impressions of the event were that they demonstrated a kind of turnaround for the United States armed forces. I recall watching an interview with Colin Powell in which he postulated that a real concern for the president was that the military incursions could expand into a second ‘Vietnam’ insofar as the nation would become involved in a prolonged un-winnable war. Ultimately the United States recognized an overwhelming military success in both incursions. After the collapse of the Soviet Union this le ft the United States in a militarily dominate position. On the negative side of the spectrum the Bush Presidency also recognized a serious downturn in the economy. Moreover, as part of his initial presidential campaign promise, Bush utilized the slogan â€Å"Read my lips, no new taxes.† As part of a compromise with the Democratic Party ultimately Bush had implemented significant new taxes which in a way tarnished his reputation.

Categorizing Risks for Risk Ranking by Morgan et al Essay

Categorizing Risks for Risk Ranking by Morgan et al - Essay Example (CROUHY, et al., 2000) Risk categories provide a systematic and planned approach in identifying risks and mitigating them. Risk categorisation enhances range of risk identification leading to effective assessment (VAUGHAN, 1997), management and analysis process by which one can easily understand the nature of risks. It is almost impossible to develop one yard stick that fits for all the risks therefore, risk categorisation helps in arranging these risks in accordance to sources, area and effects of risk etc. Risk categorisation can also be based upon financial, regulatory compliance, safety, technology, security, environmental, strategic and stakeholder risks etc. (HAMPTON, 2009). So, dividing risks into categories provide adaptable cluster of risks that can be mitigated easily (GREGORIOU, 2007). When risk are categorised, it ensures filtering risks accurately as problems of double counting, fear inclusion of one risks or exclusion of another does not remain a concern anymore. Second ly when it comes to assigning scores to risks, categorised risks are easy to be scored as compared to uncategorised risks (AVEN, 2012). Risk categorisation is important is significantly important for assessing, ranking, managing, processing and mitigating risks (SMITH, 2005). Alternative Approaches to Categorisation The authors of this article presented three approaches and methods for categorization of risks which can be encompassed into three fields of literature (HUSSEY & HALL, 2008). First field of literature described by authors is psychological approach to categorise risks which is further subdivided into three approaches. In this approach it is assumed that risk is the subjective judgement of people (AVEN, 2008). Value judgement provides extensive analysis of risks yet can also be fatal if predicted immaturely (ISHIKAWA & TSUJIMOTO, 2009). One risk may not be important to second person as it is for the first person. Psychological approach further offer alternative subdivision as categorisation on basis of similarity (KIEV, 2002). Similarity risk categories help defining social and cognitional order of exploded population on which opinions are constructed and divided (SCHNEEWEIS, et al., 2010). Next alternative approach of risk categorisation is explanation based approach, in which based on understanding and relation between events, risks are arranged and categorised. After psychological approach, an alternative approach of Natural Sciences is prescribed which categorises risks considering the common characteristics of risks. Natural Sciences literature is defined through monothetic and polythetic classification (MOLAK, 1997). Whereas monothetic classification of risks comprise only specific risks that are sufficient enough to identify and explain the risk. On the other hand, polythetic classification of risks is a broad concept of arranging risks (Sutcliffe, 1994). Another proposed alternative approach is environmental psychological categorisation with subdivision of essentialist and constructivist perspective. Essentialist perspective requires similar features as necessary attribute to categorise risks whereas constructivist perspective supports adaptability and encourage categorisation designed upon stimuli presented at time to identify risks. Recommendations for Categorisation Authors have recommended to use an explanation based

The Self Paper Essay Example for Free

The Self Paper Essay Society wonders why people are the way they are. Sometimes our surroundings and situations in life make us who we are. The following defines the self, self-concept, emotion, self-esteem, behavior, and self-presentation. According to Dictionary.com, self is, â€Å"a combining form of self and variously used with the meanings â€Å"of the self† ( self-analysis ) and â€Å"by oneself or itself† ( self-appointed ); and with the meanings â€Å"to, with, toward, for, on, in oneself† ( self-complacent ), â€Å"inherent in oneself or itself† ( self-explanatory ), â€Å"independent† ( self-government ), and â€Å"automatic† ( self-operating ). Self-concept is best defined as how you know and understand yourself (Valencia, 2010). Self-image and self-esteem are to important concepts in self-concept. Self-image is how an individual views themselves as well as how they believe others around views them. It is important to have a good self-image based on the good qualities that a person has. Some people do not give people an opportunity to obtain knowledge of the good qualities of a person and judge beforehand, this can hurt a person greatly. Some individuals have a great deal of self-image despite of what people around them think of them. Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself (emotionally) (Valencia, 2010). Self-esteem has its pros and cons. Self-esteem can be a good when an employer is seeking to find a person for a management position. Self-esteem at times makes the individual stand out from the crowd. If the individual is confident about his or herself then the employer will see that as well. When a person has low self-esteem, a person runs the risk of hurting him or herself as well as others. Some people can also get into a serious depression stage that can only be cure only with medication and therapy. Self-concept develops through interactions with others (Valencia, 2010). A person can interact with others in different ways. People interact with one another at work, school, church, community organizations, and even in family gatherings. An individual’s thoughts, beliefs, and actions are affected by how you think about you, your self-esteem, and confidence, and it determines your relationship with others (Valencia, 2010). The environment is an important role in how a person develops self-concept. The environment that a person is in reflects on how he or she are or will be in the near future. The relationship between the self and emotion is like looking at a pair of shoes with shoe laces, one concept cannot work without the other one. One of the major theories in the social psychology of the self and emotion, self-discrepancy theory, concerns the impact of self-knowledge on how people feel and behave (Fiske, 2010). People tend to behave a certain way when they feel upset, angry, happy, sad, etc. If a person is upset then a person will usually keep quiet and have a serious face. When a person is happy they tend to have a smile on his or her face and speak about the reason he or she is happy. The theory addresses how people use self-knowledge to fit social standards and adapt to group life (Fiske, 2010). There is several self-guide (standards) to regulate behaviors; the different self-guide lines include the actual self, ought self, and the ideal self (Fiske, 2010). The actual self is a person’s own image of how he or she sees him or her at that present moment. The ought self, is usually what other people think we should be. Individuals pay more attention to those closer to them such as parents, and family. The ought self, people tell them what they be or become. The ideal self represents who a person wants to be or who somebody else want the person to be (Fiske, 2010). The ideal self comes from within a person. Like when a child is in grade school, the teacher asks the child what he or she would like to be when he or she grows up. Usually children will answer: a firefighter, police office, a nurse, a doctor, or a teacher. When a person does not become what they desired to be, he or she feels sadness, and not guilt. Can the self and emotion affect an individual’s self-esteem? The self and emotion can affect an individual self-esteem in many ways. If a person is comfortable with the actual self in the present time then a person is more likely to have a stable self-esteem. If a person focused on the ought self, then a person’s self-esteem is not stable and is seeking to please others. Usually when people do not accomplish the â€Å"should,† they feel guilty. This makes them have problems with self-esteem, they believe that they cannot accomplish anything nor can they please anyone. The ideal self usually does not affect self-esteem. The individual may get sad for not becoming what he or she wanted to be in life (career), yet this does not stop them from believing in themselves and setting other goals in the future. Self-concept defines one’s view of what is accurate, plausible, and ethical, which fits people’s motives of self-understanding and self-enhancement. Behavior is defined as the aggregate of responses to internal and external stimuli (Dictionary.com). The behaving self focuses on how a person presents him or herself to others and why (Fiske, 2010). Peoples behavior depends on how much a person is eager to belong to an organization, community, or different groups. The self-descriptions represent self-presentation, the desired view of self as expressed in social behavior (Fiske, 2010). How does this relationship (self and behavior) affect an individual’s self-presentation? Self-presentation adapts to context (goals, audience, situation and society) (Fiske, 2010). People set personal goals that they are seeking to improve or reach. A persons behavior can be the tool that can help an individual or cause the person to keep from his or her personal goal. If a person is set to make the directors list at school and has a behavior of not wanting to do his or her work, well the likely hood of making the directors list is low, but if he or she works hard and turn in assignments then they are likely to make the directors list. Students have expectations, based on the audience, namely the professor, and what they think she wants (Fiske, 2010). According to Fiske, people select aspect of themselves likely to please the audience. For example, a person is more likely to answer a question using a higher level of vocabulary to please a professor. Immediate solution is one way that people change behaviors to fit in that particular environment at that specific moment. Society matters and affects the behavior of anyone. A person is more likely to interact with people in his or her society level. This cause’s a person’s self-presentation to be not as good as if interacting with those of the same society beliefs. Just like everything a person has the power to use life situations to make them a better person or to destroy them. Self-esteem can take a person far or can destroy them completely. The environment around people makes individuals who they are without a doubt. It is how a person uses that which makes the successful in life or someone who makes up a number in statistics. Reference http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/behavior http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/self http://www.selfesteemawareness.com/self-concept.htm

Kashmir Conflict :: essays research papers

Pakistan condemned India on Tuesday for detaining Kashmir separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik and called for the release of all jailed Kashmiri separatists. Malik, an executive member of the separatist All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, was detained by police on Monday under anti-terrorism law Poto after they arrested a woman carrying $100,000 for his group. A Pakistan foreign ministry statement, quoted by the official APP news agency, called the charge trumped up and said the move reflected India's "disregard for the fundamental rights and liberties of Kashmiris" and frustration at failing to suppress their struggle. Police fired teargas in Srinagar on Tuesday to disperse dozens of demonstrators protesting against Malik's arrest. The Pakistani statement urged India to "end its repression" in Kashmir, release jailed Kashmiri separatists and resume deadlocked talks with Pakistan over Kashmir. a development following the exposure of fudging of the DNA samples of those killed at Pathribal in Anantnag, experts from Hyderabad and Kolkata laboratories reached here on Monday to collect fresh blood samples of the relatives of the victims. A four-member team of forensic experts, two each from Hyderabad and Kolkata, arrived here along with inspector general of police Jammu P.L. Gupta. Addressing a press conference in Kabul on his first visit to Afghanistan, Musharraf ruled out joint operations with US troops to flush out terrorists hiding in Pakistan. Musharraf was referring to recent raids in Lahore and Faislabad in the Punjab province, which led to the arrest of nearly sixty terrorists. Abu Zubaida, a top Al Qaeda official, is suspected to be among those detained. The Pakistani president presented a check of $10 million in aid to Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai. Reacting to reports that the Centre continues to hold back door consultations with Hurriyat leaders, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday sarcastically advised the central government to continue 'pampering' Hurriyat Conference leaders. Kashmir Conflict :: essays research papers Pakistan condemned India on Tuesday for detaining Kashmir separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik and called for the release of all jailed Kashmiri separatists. Malik, an executive member of the separatist All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, was detained by police on Monday under anti-terrorism law Poto after they arrested a woman carrying $100,000 for his group. A Pakistan foreign ministry statement, quoted by the official APP news agency, called the charge trumped up and said the move reflected India's "disregard for the fundamental rights and liberties of Kashmiris" and frustration at failing to suppress their struggle. Police fired teargas in Srinagar on Tuesday to disperse dozens of demonstrators protesting against Malik's arrest. The Pakistani statement urged India to "end its repression" in Kashmir, release jailed Kashmiri separatists and resume deadlocked talks with Pakistan over Kashmir. a development following the exposure of fudging of the DNA samples of those killed at Pathribal in Anantnag, experts from Hyderabad and Kolkata laboratories reached here on Monday to collect fresh blood samples of the relatives of the victims. A four-member team of forensic experts, two each from Hyderabad and Kolkata, arrived here along with inspector general of police Jammu P.L. Gupta. Addressing a press conference in Kabul on his first visit to Afghanistan, Musharraf ruled out joint operations with US troops to flush out terrorists hiding in Pakistan. Musharraf was referring to recent raids in Lahore and Faislabad in the Punjab province, which led to the arrest of nearly sixty terrorists. Abu Zubaida, a top Al Qaeda official, is suspected to be among those detained. The Pakistani president presented a check of $10 million in aid to Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai. Reacting to reports that the Centre continues to hold back door consultations with Hurriyat leaders, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday sarcastically advised the central government to continue 'pampering' Hurriyat Conference leaders.

Spirit Bound Chapter Twelve

WHICH WAS CONFIRMED WHEN WE finally stumbled back to the Royal Court. I wasn't the only one in trouble, of course. Lissa was summoned to the queen for chastising, though I knew she'd suffer no actual punishment. Not like Eddie and me. We might be out of school, but we were technically under the jurisdiction of the official guardians now, which meant we faced as much trouble as any disobedient employee. Only Adrian escaped any consequences. He was free to do whatever he wanted. And really, my punishment wasn't as bad as it could have been. Honestly, what did I have to lose at this point? My chances of guarding Lissa had already been sketchy, and no one had wanted me as a guardian except Tasha anyway. A crazy Vegas weekend–which was our cover story–was hardly enough to dissuade her from taking me on. It was enough, however, to make some of Eddie's prospects withdraw their requests for him to be their guardian. Enough still wanted him that he was in no danger of losing a good position, but I felt horribly guilty. He didn't breathe a word to anyone about what we'd done, but each time he looked at me, I could see the condemnation in his eyes. And I saw a lot of him in the next couple days. It turned out guardians had a system in place to deal with those who were disobedient. â€Å"What you did was so irresponsible that you might as well be back in school. Hell, elementary school, even.† We were in one of the offices in the guardians' headquarters, being yelled at by Hans Croft, the guy in charge of all the guardians at Court and someone who was instrumental in guardian assignments. He was a dhampir in his early fifties, with a bushy gray-and-white mustache. He was also an asshole. The scent of cigar smoke always encircled him. Eddie and I were sitting meekly before him while he paced with his hands behind his back. â€Å"You could have gotten the last Dragomir killed–not to mention the Ivashkov boy. How do you think the queen would have reacted to the death of her great-nephew? And talk about timing! You go off party-hopping right when the guy who tried to kidnap the princess is running loose. Not that you would know that, seeing as you were probably too busy playing slot machines and using your fake IDs.† I winced at the reference to Victor, though I suppose I should have been relieved that we were above suspicion for his escape. Hans read my grimace as an admission of guilt. â€Å"You might have graduated,† he declared, â€Å"but that does not mean you are invincible.† This whole encounter reminded me of when Lissa and I had returned to St. Vladimir's, when we'd been chastised for the same thing: recklessly running off and endangering her. Only this time, there was no Dimitri to defend me. That memory made a lump form in my throat as I remembered his face, serious and gorgeous, those brown eyes intense and passionate as he spoke up for me and convinced the others of my value. But no. No Dimitri here. It was just Eddie and me alone, facing the consequences of the real world. â€Å"You.† Hans pointed a stubby finger at Eddie. â€Å"You might be lucky enough to slide out of this without too many repercussions. Sure, you'll have a black mark on your record forever. And you've totally screwed up your chances of ever having an elite royal position with other guardians to support you. You'll get some assignment though. Working alone with some minor nobility, probably.† High-ranking royals had more than one guardian, which always made protection easier. Hans's point was that Eddie's assignment would be lowly–creating more work and danger for him. Casting him a sidelong glance, I saw that hard, determined look on his face again. It seemed to say he didn't care if he had to guard a family by himself. Or even ten families. In fact, he gave off the vibe that they could drop him alone into a nest of Strigoi and he'd take them all on. â€Å"And you.† Hans's sharp voice jerked my gaze back to him. â€Å"You will be lucky to ever have a job.† Like always, I spoke without thinking. I should have taken this silently like Eddie. â€Å"Of course I'll have one. Tasha Ozera wants me. And you're too short on guardians to keep me sitting around.† Hans's eyes gleamed with bitter amusement. â€Å"Yes, we are short on guardians, but there's all sorts of work we need done–not just personal protection. Someone has to staff our offices. Someone has to sit and guard the front gates.† I froze. A desk job. Hans was threatening me with a desk job. All of my horrible imaginings had involved me guarding some random Moroi, someone I didn't know and would possibly hate. But in any of those scenarios, I would be out in the world. I would be in motion. I would be fighting and defending. But this? Hans was right. Guardians were needed for the Court's administrative jobs. True, they only kept a handful–we were too valuable–but someone had to do it. One of those someones being me was too awful to comprehend. Sitting around all day for hours and hours†¦ like the guards in Tarasov. Guardian life had all sorts of unglamorous–but necessary–tasks. It truly, truly hit me then that I was in the real world. Fear slammed into me. I'd taken on the title of guardian when I graduated, but had I really understood what it meant? Had I been playing make-believe–enjoying the perks and ignoring the consequences? I was out of school. There would be no detention for this. This was real. This was life and death. My face must have given away my feelings. Hans gave a small, cruel smile. â€Å"That's right. We've got all sorts of ways to tame troublemakers. Lucky for you, your ultimate fate's still being decided. And in the meantime, there's a lot of work that needs to be done around here that you two are going to be helping with.† That â€Å"work† over the next few days turned out to be menial manual labor. Honestly, it wasn't too different from detention, and I was pretty sure it had just been created to give wrongdoers like us something awful to do. We worked twelve hours a day, much of it outdoors hauling rocks and dirt to build some new, pretty courtyard for a set of royal town houses. Sometimes we were put on cleaning duty, scrubbing floors. I knew they had Moroi workers for these kinds of things, and probably they were being given a vacation right now. Still, it was better than the other work Hans would give us: sorting and filing mountains and mountains of paper. That gave me a new appreciation for information going digital†¦ and again made me worry about the future. Over and over, I kept thinking about that initial conversation with Hans. The threat that this could be my life. That I would never be a guardian–in the true sense–to Lissa or any other Moroi. Throughout my training, we'd always had a mantra: They come first. If I had really and truly screwed up my future, I'd have a new mantra: A comes first. Then B, C, D†¦ Those work days kept me away from Lissa, and the front-desk staff within our respective buildings went out of their way to keep us apart too. It was frustrating. I could keep track of her through the link, but I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to talk to anyone. Adrian stayed away too and didn't bother with dreams, making me wonder how he felt. We'd never had our â€Å"talk† after Las Vegas. Eddie and I often worked side by side, but he wasn't speaking to me, which left me with hours of being trapped with my own thoughts and guilt. And believe me, I had plenty of things to intensify my guilt. Around Court, people didn't really notice workers. So whether I was inside or outside, people were always talking like I wasn't there. The biggest topic was Victor. Dangerous Victor Dashkov on the loose. How could it have happened? Did he have powers no one knew about? People were afraid, some even convinced he'd show up at Court and try to kill everyone in their sleep. The â€Å"inside job† theory was running rampant, which continued to keep us above suspicion. Unfortunately, it meant a lot of people now worried about traitors within our midst. Who knew who might be working for Victor Dashkov? Spies and rebels could be lurking at Court, planning all sorts of atrocities. I knew all the stories were exaggerated, but it didn't matter. They all came from one kernel of truth: Victor Dashkov was walking the world a free man. And only I–and my accomplices–knew it was all because of me. Being seen in Las Vegas had continued to provide an alibi for the prison break and had made what we'd done seem even more rash. People were aghast that we'd let the Dragomir princess run off while there was a dangerous man on the loose–the man who'd assaulted her! Thank God, everyone said, that the queen had pulled us out of there before Victor found us. The Las Vegas trip had also opened up a whole new line of speculation–one that involved me personally. â€Å"Well, that doesn't surprise me about Vasilisa,† I overheard a woman say while I was working outdoors one day. She and some friends were strolling along toward the feeders' building and didn't even see me. â€Å"She's run away before, right? Those Dragomirs can be wild ones. She'll probably go straight back to the first party she can find, once they catch Victor Dashkov.† â€Å"You're wrong,† her friend said. â€Å"That's not why she went. She's actually pretty levelheaded. It's that dhampir that's always with her–the Hathaway girl. I heard she and Adrian Ivashkov went to Las Vegas to elope. The queen's people just barely got there in time to stop them. Tatiana's furious, especially since Hathaway declared nothing will keep her and Adrian apart.† Whoa. That was kind of a shock. I mean, I guessed it was better for people to think Adrian and I were running off than for them to accuse me of aiding and abetting a fugitive, but still†¦ I was kind of amazed at how that conclusion had come about. I hoped Tatiana hadn't heard about our so-called elopement. I was pretty sure that would ruin whatever progress she and I had made. My first real social contact came in the form of an unlikely source. I was shoveling dirt into a raised flower bed and sweating like crazy. It was nearing bedtime for Moroi, meaning the sun was out in full summer glory. We at least had a pretty site while working: the Court's giant church. I'd spent a lot of time at the Academy's chapel but had rarely visited this church since it was set far from the main buildings of the Court. It was Russian Orthodox–the predominant Moroi religion–and reminded me a lot of some of the cathedrals I'd seen while actually in Russia, though not nearly as big. It was made of beautiful red stonework, its towers topped with green-tiled domes, which were in turn topped with golden crosses. Two gardens marked the far boundaries of the church's extensive grounds, one of which we were working on. Near us was one of the Court's most remarkable sites: a giant statue of some ancient Moroi queen that was almost ten times my height. A matching statue of a king stood on the opposite side of the grounds. I could never remember their names but was pretty sure we'd gone over them in one of my history classes. They'd been visionaries, changing the Moroi world of their time. A figure appeared in my periphery, and I assumed it was Hans coming to give us another awful chore. Looking up, I was astonished to see it was Christian. â€Å"Figures,† I said. â€Å"You know you'll get in trouble if someone sees you talking to me.† Christian shrugged and sat on the edge of a partially completed stone wall. â€Å"Doubt it. You're the one who'll get into trouble, and I really don't think things can get any worse for you.† â€Å"True,† I grunted. He sat there in silence for several moments, watching me shovel pile after pile of dirt. Finally, he asked, â€Å"Okay. So how and why did you do it?† â€Å"Do what?† â€Å"You know exactly what. Your little adventure.† â€Å"We got on a plane and flew to Las Vegas. Why? Hmm. Let's think.† I paused to wipe sweat off my forehead. â€Å"Because where else are we going to find pirate-themed hotels and bartenders who don't card very much?† Christian scoffed. â€Å"Rose, don't bullshit me. You did not go to Las Vegas.† â€Å"We've got plane tickets and hotel receipts to prove it, not to mention people who saw the Dragomir princess hit it big on slot machines.† My attention was on my work, but I suspected Christian was shaking his head in exasperation. â€Å"As soon as I heard three people had broken Victor Dashkov out of prison, I knew it had to be you. Three of you gone? No question.† Not far away, I saw Eddie stiffen and glance around uneasily. I did the same. I might have been desperate for social contact, but not at the risk of dangerous parties overhearing us. Our crimes getting out would make garden labor seem like a vacation. We were alone, but I still pitched my voice low and attempted an honest face. â€Å"I heard they were humans hired by Victor.† That was yet another theory running wild, as was this one: â€Å"Actually, I think he turned Strigoi.† â€Å"Right,† Christian said snidely. He knew me too well to believe me. â€Å"And I also heard one of the guardians has no memory of what made him attack his friends. He swears he was under the control of someone. Anyone who had that kind of compulsion could probably make others see humans, mimes, kangaroos†¦.† I refused to look at him and slammed the shovel hard into the ground. I bit my lip on any angry retort. â€Å"She did it because she thinks Strigoi can be restored to their original form.† My head shot up, and I stared at Eddie in disbelief, astonished he'd spoken. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"Telling the truth,† replied Eddie, never stopping his work. â€Å"He's our friend. You think he's going to report us?† No, rebel Christian Ozera was not going to report us. But that didn't mean I wanted this out. It's a fact of life: The more people who know a secret, the more likely it is to leak. Unsurprisingly, Christian's reaction was not all that different from everyone else's. â€Å"What? That's impossible. Everyone knows that.† â€Å"Not according to Victor Dashkov's brother,† said Eddie. â€Å"Will you stop it?† I exclaimed. â€Å"You can tell him or I will.† I sighed. Christian's pale blue eyes were staring at us, wide and shocked. Like most of my friends, he rolled with crazy ideas, but this was pushing the crazy line. â€Å"I thought Victor Dashkov was an only child,† Christian said. I shook my head. â€Å"Nope. His dad had an affair, so Victor's got an illegitimate half-brother. Robert. And he's a spirit user.† â€Å"Only you,† said Christian. â€Å"Only you would find something like this.† I ignored what appeared to be a return to his normal cynicism. â€Å"Robert claims to have healed a Strigoi–killed the undead part of her and brought her back to life.† â€Å"Spirit has limits, Rose. You might have been brought back, but Strigoi are gone.† â€Å"We don't know about spirit's full range,† I pointed out. â€Å"Half of it is still a mystery.† â€Å"We know about St. Vladimir. If he could restore Strigoi, don't you think a guy like him would have been doing it? I mean, if that's not miraculous, what is? Something like that would have survived in the legends,† argued Christian. â€Å"Maybe. Maybe not.† I retied my ponytail, replaying our encounter with Robert in my mind for the hundredth time. â€Å"Maybe Vlad didn't know how. It's not all that easy.† â€Å"Yeah,† agreed Eddie. â€Å"This is the good part.† â€Å"Hey,† I shot back at him. â€Å"I know you're mad at me, but with Christian here, we really don't need anyone else making snide comments.† â€Å"I don't know,† said Christian. â€Å"For something like this, you actually might need two people. Now explain how this miracle is supposedly done.† I sighed. â€Å"By adding spirit to a stake, along with the other four elements.† Spirit charms were still a new concept to Christian too. â€Å"Never thought of that. I guess spirit would shake things up†¦ but I can't imagine you staking a Strigoi with a spirit-charmed stake would be enough to bring them back.† â€Å"Well†¦ that's the thing. According to Robert, I can't do it. It has to be done by a spirit user.† More silence. I'd rendered Christian speechless yet again. At last he said, â€Å"We don't know that many spirit users. Let alone any who could fight or stake a Strigoi.† â€Å"We know two spirit users.† I frowned, recalling Oksana in Siberia and Avery locked away†¦ where? A hospital? A place like Tarasov? â€Å"No, four. Five, counting Robert. But yeah, none of them can really do it.† â€Å"It doesn't matter because it can't be done,† Eddie said. â€Å"We don't know that!† The desperation in my own voice startled me. â€Å"Robert believes it. Victor even believes.† I hesitated. â€Å"And Lissa does too.† â€Å"And she wants to do it,† Christian said, catching on quickly. â€Å"Because she would do anything for you.† â€Å"She can't.† â€Å"Because she doesn't have the ability or because you won't let her?† â€Å"Both,† I cried. â€Å"I'm not letting her anywhere near a Strigoi. She's already†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I groaned, hating to reveal what I'd discovered in our time apart through the bond. â€Å"She got a hold of a stake and is trying to charm it. So far, she hasn't had much luck, thank God.† â€Å"If this were possible,† began Christian slowly. â€Å"It could change our world. If she could learn†¦ â€Å" â€Å"What? No!† I'd been so eager to get Christian to believe me, and now I wished he hadn't. The one saving grace in all this was that with none of my friends thinking it was possible, none of them had given any thought to Lissa actually trying to fight a Strigoi. â€Å"Lissa's no warrior. No spirit user we know is, so unless we find one, I'd rather†¦ † I winced. â€Å"I'd rather Dimitri died.† That finally made Eddie stop working. He threw down his shovel. â€Å"Really? I never would have guessed that.† Sarcasm to rival my own. I spun around and strode toward him, my fists clenched. â€Å"Look, I can't take this anymore! I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. I know I screwed up. I let Dimitri get away. I let Victor get away.† â€Å"You let Victor get away?† asked Christian, startled. I ignored him and continued shouting at Eddie. â€Å"It was a mistake. With Dimitri†¦ it was a weak moment. I failed in my training. I know I did. We both know it. But you know I didn't intend the damage I caused. If you're really my friend, you have to know it. If I could take it back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I swallowed, surprised to feel my eyes burning. â€Å"I would. I swear I would, Eddie.† His face was perfectly still. â€Å"I believe you. I am your friend, and I know†¦ I know you didn't mean for things to turn out like they did.† I sagged in relief, surprised at how truly worried I'd been about losing his respect and friendship. Looking down, I was startled to see my fists balled up. I relaxed them, unable to believe I'd been that upset. â€Å"Thank you. Thank you so much.† â€Å"What's all this shouting?† We both turned and saw Hans heading toward us. And he looked pissed off. I also noticed then that Christian had practically vanished into thin air. Just as well. â€Å"This isn't social time!† growled Hans. â€Å"You two still have another hour left today. If you're going to get distracted, then maybe you should be separated.† He beckoned to Eddie. â€Å"Come on. There's some filing with your name on it.† I shot Eddie a sympathetic look as Hans led him away. Yet I was relieved it wasn't me off to do paperwork. I continued my labors, my mind spinning with the same questions I'd had all week. I had meant what I said to Eddie. I wanted so badly for this dream of Dimitri being saved to be true. I wanted it more than anything–except Lissa risking her life. I shouldn't have hesitated. I should have just killed Dimitri. Victor wouldn't have escaped. Lissa wouldn't have given Robert's words a second thought. Thinking of Lissa pushed me into her mind. She was in her room, doing some last-minute packing before going to bed. Tomorrow was her Lehigh visit. Unsurprisingly, my invitation to go with her had been revoked in light of recent events. Her birthday–something that had been horribly overlooked in this mess–was this weekend as well, and it didn't seem right for me to be apart from her during it. We should have been celebrating together. Her thoughts were troubled, and she was so consumed by them that a sudden knock at the door made her jump. Wondering who could be visiting her at this hour, she opened the door and gasped to see Christian standing there. It was surreal to me too. Part of me still kept thinking we were in our school dorms, where rules–theoretically–kept guys and girls out of each other's rooms. But we were no longer there. We were technically adults now. He must have gone straight to her room after seeing me, I realized. It was astonishing how quickly the tension ratcheted up between them. A bundle of emotions burst into Lissa's chest, the usual mix of anger, grief, and confusion. â€Å"What are you doing here?† she demanded. The same emotions were in his face. â€Å"I wanted to talk to you.† â€Å"It's late,† she said stiffly. â€Å"Besides, I seem to remember you don't like talking.† â€Å"I want to talk about what happened with Victor and Robert.† That was enough to startle her out of her anger. She cast an anxious look into the hallway and then beckoned him inside. â€Å"How do you know about that?† she hissed, hastily shutting the door. â€Å"I just saw Rose.† â€Å"How did you get to see her? I can't see her.† Lissa was as frustrated as me over how our superiors had been keeping us apart. Christian shrugged, careful to maintain a safe distance between them in the suite's small living room. Both of them had their arms crossed defensively, though I don't think they realized how they were mirroring each other. â€Å"I snuck into her prison camp. They've got her shoveling dirt for hours.† Lissa grimaced. With the way they'd kept us separated, she hadn't known much about my activities. â€Å"Poor Rose.† â€Å"She's managing. Like always.† Christian's eyes turned toward the couch and her open suitcase, where a silver stake lay on top of a silk blouse. I doubted that shirt would survive the trip without a million wrinkles. â€Å"Interesting thing to bring on a college visit.† Lissa hastily shut the suitcase. â€Å"That's none of your business.† â€Å"Do you really believe it?† he asked, ignoring her comment. He took a step forward, his eagerness apparently making him forget about wanting to keep away. Even as distracted as she was by the situation, Lissa immediately became aware of their new proximity, the way he smelled, the way the light shone on his black hair†¦. â€Å"Do you think you could bring back a Strigoi?† She turned her attention back to the conversation and shook her head. â€Å"I don't know. I really don't. But I feel like†¦ I feel like I have to try. If nothing else, I want to know what spirit in a stake will do. That's harmless enough.† â€Å"Not according to Rose.† Lissa gave him a rueful smile, realized what she was doing, and promptly dropped it. â€Å"No. Rose doesn't want me going anywhere near this idea–even though she wants it to be real.† â€Å"Tell me the truth.† His gaze burned to her. â€Å"Do you think you have any chance of staking a Strigoi?† â€Å"No,† she admitted. â€Å"I could barely throw a punch. But†¦ like I said, I feel like I should try. I should try to learn. To stake one, I mean.† Christian pondered this for a few moments and then gestured toward the suitcase again. â€Å"You're going to Lehigh in the morning?† Lissa nodded. â€Å"And Rose got cut from the trip?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Did the queen offer to let you bring another friend?† â€Å"She did,† admitted Lissa. â€Å"In particular, she suggested Adrian. But he's sulking†¦ and I'm not really sure if I'm in the mood for him.† Christian seemed pleased by this. â€Å"Then bring me.† My poor friends. I wasn't sure how much more shock any of them could handle today. â€Å"Why the hell would I bring you?† she exclaimed. All her anger returned at his presumption. It was a sign of her agitation that she'd sworn. â€Å"Because,† he said, face calm, â€Å"I can teach you how to stake a Strigoi.†

Innocence project paper Essay

Since 1992, almost three hundred people in the United States have been exonerated by the Innocence Project. What this means is that almost three hundred people have been acquitted for a crime that they were falsely convicted of committing and were then released back into society. Many of these false convictions were the result of a lack of technology back in the time of the trials which lead to unvalidated or improper use of forensic science. Some additional reasons that people are wrongfully convicted are misidentifications from eyewitnesses and false confessions. In this paper, I plan to write about Kenneth Ireland. His story shows how wrongful convictions and exonerations are issues in the United States. On September 3, 1986, when Kenneth was only sixteen years old, a thirty year old woman named Barbara Pelkey was found dead in the factory where she worked overnight. She had been raped and suffered a massive blow to the head. Kenneth heard about the crime while watching from his bedroom and was stunned that something that horrific could happen to someone in his small town. There was an autopsy done on the victim as well as a rape kit being collected. The rape kit found that there were sperm cells present on the vaginal and anal swabs. The investigation continued for another year without any arrests, but soon after two informants came to the police and accused Kenneth Ireland and two other men of committing the crime. The police said that the two witnesses had claimed that Kenneth and the other men were making statements to them about their involvement in the crime. In addition to that information, these informants had also given additional unpublished details about the crime and had told the police that their knowledge of this information had come straight from Kenneth Ireland. Six months later, a third informant came to the police and told them that Kenneth had admitted to committing the crime. The informant wasn’t sure if Kenneth was awake at the time he had made the statements, nor was she sure that she hadn’t imagined them being said. All she was sure of that night was that she was drunk. Ultimately, because of these three informants, Kenneth Ireland was charged with felony murder, first degree sexual assault and third degree burglary. Despite being one of the three men that were accused of committing the crime, only Kenneth Ireland was tried for the crime. One of the three men had drowned before the trial took place and the other was never tried for some reason unknown to me. The trial was held in 1989, and Ireland’s attorney tried to prove that the initial two informants had presented false information to the police. They were thought to be protecting another potential suspect in the case. This other potential suspect had admitted to making inconsistent remarks to the police while the investigation was still ongoing. However, Ireland’s attorney was stopped by the judge when he attempted to present evidence regarding this other suspect. A police officer had stated during the trial that the fingerprints at the crime scene were not a match to Kenneth’s fingerprints and in addition to that a forensic analyst confirmed that the hairs from the scene were different from those of Kenneth. It was determined via the same analyst that the semen found in the rape kit was from a non-secretor. A non-secretor is a person whose blood type is not exhibited in their bodily secretions. Kenneth Ireland, along with twenty percent of all men, is a non-secretor, and the sample was also consistent with that of the victim. This meant that nobody could be excluded from the crime. During the first round of the deliberations, the jury was split 6-6. After three additional days, the jury had found Kenneth Ireland guilty and he was sentenced to fifty years in prison. It was said that Kenneth Ireland was convicted because he could not be ruled out of the blood or seminal evidence, his lawyer didn’t challenge that evidence, and his lawyer didn’t put Kenneth on the stand. In 1991, Ireland had appealed his conviction, stating that the two informants had been given a twenty thousand dollar reward in exchange for his implication. Ireland also declared that his attorney was unable to present evidence that would indicate another alternative suspect. This appeal would ultimately be denied. They again tried to appeal in 1999, when the biological evidence was put into DNA testing but results were proved nothing. It wasn’t until 207 that the Connecticut Innocence Project started to review Ireland’s case. With the help of new DNA testing methods, they were able to test the DNA evidence and rule out Kenneth as the person responsible for Barbara Pelkey’s murder. It then took another two years for Ireland to get a new trial, where he was proven innocent and allowed to be a free man. He ended up spending nineteen and a half years in prison for a crime he did not commit. As of today, Kenneth Ireland has not been compensated for his wrongful conviction and prison time. However, he and his lawyer have filed an eight million dollar claim against the state of Connecticut for the wrongful conviction. I’m not sure that eight million dollars is enough to compensate for almost twenty critical years of his life. He missed out on some of the most important years in anyone’s life and it is very difficult to put a price on something like that. Some good news is that the real killer has been found. In 2009, the blood evidence at the scene that was tested turned out to be that of Kevin Benefield. Kevin was initially a suspect when the investigation began, but the focus shifted towards Ireland. He worked at a deli near Pelkey’s workplace and was connected to her sexually but he denied the murder. Kevin was convicted in January of 2012 of the murder and felony murder of Barbara Pelkey. Both of those crimes carry twenty five to sixty years of prison time penalties. I think that it will be much harder for things like this happen in the future in the manner that it did in Kenneth Ireland’s case. It seemed to me that one of the major areas of evidence towards his conviction was the semen sample. He could not be ruled out because it was the semen of a non-secretor and he was a non-secretor. With the advances in DNA testing technology, they can test the semen and easily identify whose it is. This would have immediately been great evidence in proving that Ireland was innocent. I don’t really understand how the hair and fingerprint evidence weren’t weighed more heavily. If it was proven that the fingerprints and the hair at the scene of the crime weren’t his, that seems to me that it should have been pretty good evidence in his favor. To me it seems like he wasn’t given a fair chance at being proven innocent. In my opinion, this was a rather unfortunate trial for Kenneth Ireland. The fact that people were being paid off to implicate him was unlucky, and I feel like this is what really pushed him into the situation he was in. Even though his hair and fingerprints weren’t at the scene, because these three people came to the police saying that Kenneth had admitted to committing the crime really set him up for conviction. The blood and semen, which wasn’t able to be thoroughly examined due to the limitations in technology couldn’t save him because he was one of the twenty percent of all men who are non-secretors. Due to this, he could not be ruled out, even though to me it seems that if his hair and fingerprints weren’t present at the crime scene it wasn’t him who committed the crime. It also seems that his lawyer didn’t do a great job either. They had evidence to show the court that was denied that would have been really good for Kenneth’s case and he never had Kenneth go on the stand. I don’t know everything about the rules of a trial, but if there is evidence that can prove someone’s innocence, there must be something that you as a lawyer can do to get the court to see it. It is that important. It is terrible that Kenneth had to suffer for almost twenty years in prison for a crime that he did not commit and I couldn’t imagine what he must have went through. It really is a shame that the DNA testing technology couldn’t have been implemented or used earlier to at least lessen the nightmare that he had to endure. In conclusion, the amount of wrongful convictions that have taken place in the United States is too high. Lying informants, incorrect eyewitness reports, and the improper use of forensic science are many reasons that people are wrongfully convicted. Thankfully, there have been incredible advances in the technology used to test DNA that can now be used to help these wrongfully convicted people get back to the free world. It’s terrible to think of the years that they lost or even the lives that they might have lost if they were given the death penalty, but at least organizations like the Innocence Project are doing what they can to exonerate these wrongfully convicted people. The story of Kenneth Ireland is a sad tale of a young man falsely committed of raping and murdering a woman. He spent nineteen and a half years in prison for a crime he did not commit, missing out on his entire twenties and most of his thirties. These years are critical for people as they go to college, begin a career, and start a family. These are years that he cannot get back, but he is very fortunate to have the ability to move on as a free man as he looks towards the future. Works Cited Davis, Mark. â€Å"Freed by DNA, Ireland Speaks out.† WTNH TV. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. . â€Å"The Innocence Project – Know the Cases: Browse Profiles:Kenneth Ireland.† The Innocence Project – Know the Cases: Browse Profiles:Kenneth Ireland. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. . â€Å"Kenneth Ireland.† Kenneth Ireland. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. . Kovner, Josh, and Alaine Griffin. â€Å"Man Wrongly Imprisoned Plans To Skip Convicted Murderer’s Sentencing.† Hartford Courant. N.p., 21 Mar. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. . â€Å"Sentencing Today In 1986 CT Murder After Earlier Wrongful Conviction.† CBS New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .

Hip-Hop’s Influence on Society Professor Ramos Blog

Hip-Hop’s Influence on Society The music industry is a huge factor in influencing our sex filled society. Our young generation has such easy access to these songs and is easily influenced by them. The lyrics and videos of Hip-Hop/Rap music manipulate our society’s views of sex. According to a study done by Public Health Reports, it was concluded that â€Å"References to sexual activity are common in popular music, and degrading sexual references are more prevalent than non-degrading references.† Hip Hop/Rap musicians such as Chris Brown promote a particular view of sex. Chris Brown is an American singer, songwriter, and actor.†¯ He is 28 years old and has had many hit songs. One song that he is well known for is â€Å"Privacy.† In his song â€Å"Privacy,† the opening lyrics are I need your body in ways / That you dont understand, but Im losing my patience / Cause weve been going over and over again / Girl, I just wanna take you home and get right to it. Chris Brown is portraying lust in this song. Again, there is no desire for love or emotional attachment. The song portrays only wanting sexual pleasure. In the music video for the song â€Å"Privacy,† there are many women who are acting and dancing in a sexual manner, half dressed and are objectified. The women in these music videos are portrayed as females who would ‘bend over backward literally and figuratively for their man conveying submissiveness and appeasement. Songs and videos like â€Å"Privacy† feed our sex driven society. In the verse â€Å"baby, I promise I won’t tell nobody/ Just as long as you let me hit it like every night† Brown implies just wanting to use women for his desire with the expectation of her pleasing him. In the lyrics â€Å"I promise I won’t tell nobody† the artist suggests that it is okay if she has a significant other, as long as he is pleased every night it would be kept a secret between each other. I believe this generation has become insensitive to cheating with the influence of Hip-Hop artist such as Chris Brown.   The lyrics elaborate further onto â€Å"We don’t need nobody watching us/ No eyes but your eyes/ Ain’t nobody here but you and me.† This goes on further to suggest that cheating is acceptable. In the journal, Mass Communication and Society, an article was published asking the question, â€Å"Does exposure to sexual Hip-Hop music videos influence the sexual attitudes of college students?† (Kistler Lee) In this study, college students were exposed to different degrees of sexual activity, acceptance of the objectification of women, and sexual permissiveness shown in music videos. After five music videos were shown, the results were as followed, â€Å"Male participants who were exposed to hip-hop music videos of high sexual content expressed greater objectification of women and sexual permissiveness.† (Kistler Lee) It is also important to note that the results for female participants were mixed. The music industry has influenced our society to become very sex driven. Many songs and visuals have manipulated our society’s minds on how they think and act. Hip Hop/Rap musicians such as Chris Brown have done so with their songs, videos, and their social influence. In a research study done by the Journal of Adolescent Research published a survey which reveals that there is a close relationship between music preferences, youth attitude, and behaviors. The research surveyed that the youth (ages 17–21) who disclosed their favorite type of music was hip hop or rap, and 72% of them agreed that the music they listen to, in fact, influences them in some way. Many genres and musicians portray their views of sex to society in a manner that many don’t agree with. What can be done about this issue? Is there anything that we can do, or is it up to the musicians to make a change and realize their power of influence? Diamond, S., Bermudez, R., Schensul, J. (2006). What’s the rap about ecstasy? Popular music lyrics and drug trends among American youth. Journal of Adolescent Research 21, 269-298. Michelle E. Kistler Moon J. Lee (2009) Does Exposure to Sexual Hip-Hop Music Videos Influence the Sexual Attitudes of College Students?, Mass Communication and Society, 13:1, 67-86, DOI: 10.1080/15205430902865336 Primack, B., Gold, M., Schwarz, E., and Dalton, M. (2018). Degrading and Non-Degrading Sex in Popular Music: A Content Analysis.

The Theresa Andrews Case

The Theresa Andrews Case In September 2000, Jon and Teresa Andrews were busy getting ready to enter into parenthood. The young couple was childhood sweethearts and had been married for four years when they decided to begin building a family. Who would know that a chance meeting with another pregnant woman, while in the baby department of a store, would result in murder, kidnapping, and suicide? Summer of 2000 Michelle Bica, 39, shared the good news about her pregnancy with friends and family. She and her husband Thomas prepared their Ravenna, Ohio home for the arrival of their new baby girl by installing baby monitors, setting up a nursery, and buying baby supplies. The couple was jubilant about the pregnancy, especially after the miscarriage Michelle had suffered the year before.  Michelle donned maternity clothing, showed friends the baby sonogram, attended birthing classes, and other than her due date which kept getting pushed forward, her pregnancy appeared to be progressing normally. A Chance Meeting? During a shopping trip to the baby department at Wal-Mart, the Bicas met Jon and Teresa Andrews, who were also expecting their first child. The couples chatted about the cost of baby supplies and discovered that they lived just four streets away from each other. They also talked about due dates, genders, and other normal baby talk. Days following that meeting Michelle announced that there had been a mistake with her sonogram and that her baby was actually a boy. Teresa Andrews Disappears On Sept. 27, Jon Andrews received a call at work from Teresa at around 9 a.m. She was trying to sell her jeep and a woman had called saying she was interested in buying it.  Jon cautioned her to be careful and throughout the day tried to reach her to see how she was and if she sold the jeep, but his calls went unanswered. When he returned home he discovered both Teresa and the jeep were gone although she had left behind her purse and cell phone. He knew then that something was wrong and feared that his wife was in danger. Four Streets Over On the same day, Thomas Bica also received a call at his job from his wife. It was great news. Michelle, in a series of dramatic events, had given birth to their new baby boy. She explained that her water broke and she was taken to a hospital in an ambulance, had given birth, but was sent home with the newborn because of a tuberculosis scare at the hospital. Family and friends were told the good news and over the next week people came by to see the Bicas new baby which they named Michael Thomas. Friends described Thomas as a classic new dad who was ecstatic about their new baby. Michelle, however, seemed distant and depressed. She talked about the news of the missing woman and said she was not going to display the new baby flag in the yard out of respect for the Andrewses. The Investigation The following week, investigators tried to piece together clues into Teresas disappearance. A break in the case came when they identified the woman through phone records who called Theresa about the car. The woman was Michelle Bica. During the first interview with detectives, Michelle appeared evasive and nervous when she told them about her activities on Sept. 27. When the FBI checked out her story they found that she had never been to the hospital and there was not a tuberculosis scare. Her story appeared to be a lie. On October 2, detectives returned to do a second interview with Michelle, but as they pulled into the driveway, she locked herself in a bedroom, put a gun into her mouth, and shot and killed herself. Thomas was found outside the locked bedroom door in tears. The body of Teresa Andrews was found in a shallow grave covered in gravel inside the Bicas garage. She had been shot in the back and her abdomen had been cut opened and her baby removed. Authorities took the newborn baby from the Bica home to the hospital. After several days of testing,  DNA results proved that the baby belonged to Jon Andrews. The Aftermath Thomas Bica told police he believed everything Michelle had told him about her pregnancy and the birth of their son. He was given 12 hours of polygraph examinations which he passed. This along with the results of the investigation convinced the authorities that Thomas was not involved in the crime. Oscar Gavin Andrews Jon Andrews was left to mourn the loss of his childhood sweetheart, wife, and mother of his child. He found some solace in the fact that the baby, renamed as Teresa had always wanted, Oscar Gavin Andrews, had miraculously survived the brutal attack.

Personal movie reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Personal movie reflection - Essay Example The latter visits him. Although initially, the two boys disliked each other, Danny was determined to be forgiven of his deliberate mistake. He offers to help Reuven with his studies and the two start a friendship like no other. Reuven was accepted into the Jewish family as if he was their own. However, with Reuven’s father’s fight for the Jewish state, their friendship was marred. Danny’s father demanded him to stop speaking with his friend which he did for more than a year. Confused and hurt, Reuven also stands by his father to fight for the Jewish state. After the proclamation of Israel as an independent state, Danny again approaches Reuven and the latter accepts him back. Knowing that there is no stopping Danny from pursuing his studies, his father calls the two young men and explains why he raised Danny the way he did. Their relationship changes and they become more open to each other. The strong bond that was formed between Danny and Reuven is quite moving. Seldom in times of trial do we find relationships that have such strong foundations, not to mention the start of their relationships. They connected with each other as they found they are not so different after all despite their religious inclinations and beliefs. However, they have hurt each other as well especially at a time when they most needed each other. Their families contributed to such separation. Danny, because he is the son of a Rabbi, had to obey his father’s wishes whose word was powerful in the eyes of his followers. He was not going to be the first insubordinate follower in his father’s house. He chose to support his father despite his personal beliefs, abandoning his best friend. Reuven on the other hand suffered loneliness. He was an only child and his father was always busy with his work. He tried to support him by doing what he thought would help his father’s dreams come true. He stood alone, taking care of his father when he suffered a stroke. When