Soldier Suicide as Political Statement Essay -- Politics Army War Essa

Soldier Suicide as Political Statement At least twenty-nine U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Kuwait committed suicide between March 2003 and March 2004. Even the Pentagon considers this an "alarmingly high" suicide rate. It lead the military to commission a morale poll to be completed by Stars & Stripes (August 2003) and to send in a special mental health advisory team to assess the situation. In April 2004, military officials reported the team's conclusion: while the suicide rate for soldiers overseas is almost double that of the civilian population, is not considered a "crisis". (1) Perhaps these suicides tell us more about how the implementation of "democracy" and "freedom" in Iraq is going than we learn from other (government sanctioned) reports. "What might we gain if we considered [suicide], however tentatively, as a kind of an achievement, even... as a kind of gift... not the one we might have wished for, but the one [they give] us when [they do] not have anything to give," writes Peggy Phelan, "A more expansive consideration of suicide might help make an intervention into the usual story of shame, failure, and anguish that all too frequently dominates the relationship of the living with those who kill themselves." (2) Let us listen to the self-inflicted deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq as statements of resistance that highlight problems with the United States' "all volunteer" military system. Many soldiers (particularly members of the Reserves and National Guard) are driven to enlist for financial/economic reasons. Faced with limited options, they may have purposefully kept at bay any serious consideration of the possibilities of combat so that they would be able to sign on. These soldier... ...nic dimensions of those inequities. When one considers that for many members of our "volunteer" army, their decision to enlist was made because it was one of their only options for stability, employment, college funding, citizenship... "supporting our troops" takes on different meaning. Soldiers in Iraq who took their own lives are calling out to the wider community to investigate why so many find themselves in a situation where death is their most empowered choice. Works Cited: 1 Statistics compiled from multiple news sources listed in the Media Analysis section that follows. 2 p.6-7, 24, Peggy Phelan, "Francesca Woodman's Photography: Death and the Image One More Time," Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society , vol. 27, no. 4, The University of Chicago, 2002. 3 Stanley Aronowitz, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," First of the Month , Winter 2004.

Lean On Me Essay

Sometimes it can be difficult to know for certain when you have been victimized and it can be even more difficult to understand why, who, and exactly how you have been victimized. Obviously in cases of bullying, or violence, or rape, the victimization is very obvious, but a film like â€Å"Lean On Me† causes the viewer to question whether or not victims can sometimes go unnoticed. One example that is subtle, but present in the film, is the idea that all of the kids in East Side High School are victims of a larger social and political world that they probably could not fathom even if they had a chance to view it in its entirety. The social class-systems and economic distribution in America, the idea of â€Å"free markets† and of â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have nots† is at the bottom of their difficult and crime-infested existence. The great irony of the movie is, of course, that only by getting an education can the kids at the high school escape their dismal lives and earn something better, but the very decadence and violence of the schools has created an atmosphere where learning is impossible. Everyone, including myself, has probably experienced at least one obstacle, if not many more, to receiving their right to an education. In my own case, I have been victimized not only by school bullies, but by negligent or outright hostile teachers. In one case, I remember having been given a â€Å"C-† on an assignment in Math where the teacher had incorrectly marked many of my answers. The assignment deserved a â€Å"B† but when I asked for the teacher to take another look at the assignment, I was told to accept the grade I had been given, period. That is a kind of victimization which is very slight compared to the vents portrayed in the movie â€Å"Lean on Me,†but it is an example of how sometimes victimization can go unnoticed. People that I have known have experienced much more extreme victimization, whether it be a female friend who is in an abusive relationship, or a close friend of mine whose own family continuously criticizes him while relying on him to run errands and help with financial obligations. Victimization seems to follow a pattern where one person or group of persons takes advantage of someone whom they perceive to be weaker, or of lesser consequence than themselves. If you are a victim, that probably means that the person or group who is victimizing you has decided that you are of lesser power and importance than they are themselves. While it is a common belief that victims are the â€Å"innocent† party, it is entirely possible for somebody to be a victim while at the same time victimizing others. One good illustration from â€Å"Lean on Me† is the school drug-dealers whoa re making victims out of the people they deal drugs to, but they are also victims themselves of the same social injustices and social inequalities that plague the others. Because you are most likely to be noticed first as a perpetrator of crime than as a victim in most cases, this kind of victimization goes unnoticed. Many forms of victimization rest on the fact that the victims are usually not regarded at large as being valuable or desirable. In many cases they also view themselves this way: as of little or no importance. The best remedy I can think of for victimization is self-empowerment. That doesn’t mean violence, but it does mean that — because victimization implies that one is viewed as being weaker or of lesser value — the natural response to remedy victimization would be the demonstration that either or both of these assumptions are false. In the case that I related about my own math grade, the proper response would have been to seek out whatever official protocol the school offered to challenge an â€Å"illigitimate† grade and maybe through this means I could have had the grade changed, which, in turn would have demonstrated to the teacher that I was not of lesser consequence than the teacher themself. In the case of â€Å"Lean On Me,† of course, the sense of self-empowerment came through learning adn self-discipline, which is the very best method to address victimization and prevent future victimization.

Reading Music Essay

Of all the stuffs that people usually deal with ease, reading sheet music is just one of the downfall points. They think that the course is not as easy as ABC. Technically, reading sheet music effectively may certainly be impossible if one wants to learn fast. The course usually takes a lot of time and patience before everything is grasped and practiced. This is probably the reason a lot of music enthusiasts out there seldom know how to read sheet music. Undeniably, playing music is not impossible even if the person is unable to read sheet music. The thought is just similar to those who are able to speak, yet unable to write. But learning how to read sheet music will allow someone to explore and discover various music theories that are strange to others who just know the basics of music. On top of that, once techniques in reading sheet music are deeply understood, one is no longer limited to play songs that he/she encountered. The course will lead someone to play all types of music, even the foreign ones. Learning to read sheet music is a little complicated (Lux, n. d. ). Thus, we should take it one step at a time. The following are the ways to read sheet music effective and efficiently. The first lesson in reading sheet music is the study of the staff (Evans, n. d. ). It has five lines and four spaces wherein each corresponds to a single note. The space seen either above or below a certain line represents a note either below or above the scale. The next step a neophyte must learn is to identify the clef and its respective form (Evans, n. d. ). A clef is the first music symbol written over a staff. The clef plays a role that helps indentify which line or space in the staff represents a certain note. A chef is categorized into treble and bass clef. Each has distinctive characteristics. The former is known as a G-clef, a symbol that is used in writing music for melodic voices like soprano, alto, tenor, and the like. The latter, on the other hand, is known as F-clef, a symbol that is used for low-pitched instruments like bass, bassoons, and among others. Determining the key signature is the subsequent step in reading sheet music (Evands, n. d. ). The term, key signature, refers to a group of symbols that are placed directly to the right portion of the clef before a note is written. Such symbol could be a flat or a sharp. If the sheet music does not contain so many symbols, its key signature is considered â€Å"natural† which means it is neither sharp nor flat. Aside from the determination of key signature, it is important to observe the time signature. Such is usually located in the right portion of a key signature. It consists of two numbers that appear similarly to a fraction. These are top number and button numbers. When the preceding steps are followed well, the next step is to play the notes in relation to its time signature. Since, you are already aware of the lines or spaces that correspond to a note, you may now read the piece from left to right. It has to be remembered though that the symbols will either stand for notes or rests. The latter means silence. In other words, rests do not assign any pitch for they are placed in always the same position over staff. Types of notes and rests are whole rest, whole note, half rest, half note, quarter rest, quarter note, and a lot more. It is important to know and understand each type. The last important step in learning how to read sheet music is to listen how notes are played together vis-a-vis the sheet music. There may be some loopholes that will come out while playing, but a constant practice makes it perfect. Learning how to read sheet music is not simply memorizing it. One must understand its basic concepts well enough, see the patterns and apply them. Banking the concepts is something that everyone must do. Without it, real music will not come out. Work Cited Evans, Ashtyn. â€Å"How to Read Sheet Music. † n. d. How To Do Things. 12 April 2009 < http://www. howtodothings. com/hobbies/a2683-how-to-read-sheet-music. html> Lux, Kevin. â€Å"Introduction to Reading Music. n. d. DataDragon Information Services. 12 April 2009 < http://datadragon. com/education/reading/>

How to Make the Ultimate Colored Smoke Bomb

How to Make the Ultimate Colored Smoke Bomb The classic smoke bomb is a great project for the home or lab, producing lots of safe smoke, with purple flames. If you get dye and consider the shape of your creation, you can make a smoke bomb that billows clouds of brightly-colored smoke. Adult supervision is required. Colored Smoke Bomb Materials 60 g (3 tablespoons) potassium nitrate (sold as saltpeter in garden supply shops)40 g (2 tablespoons) sugar1 teaspoon baking soda60 g (3 tablespoons) powdered organic dye (such as synthetic indigo or an aniline-based dye, found in some craft hobby shops; not common water-based dye)Cardboard tube (best is an iced push-pop tube (eat the treat first), or you could use a toilet paper roll or section of paper towel tube, or even a rolled/taped paper tube)Duct tapePen or pencilFirework fuse (hardware, rocketry, construction, or hobby shops, or scavenge it from a firework)Cotton ballsSaucepan Make the Colored Smoke Bomb Mixture Mix 60 g potassium nitrate with 40 g sugar in a saucepan over low heat. Its a 3:2 ratio, so if you dont have grams, use three large spoonfuls of potassium nitrate and two large spoonfuls of sugar (3 tablespoons and 2 tablespoons, if you feel the need to be precise).The sugar will carmelize and brown. Stir the mixture continuously until it resembles smooth peanut butter.Remove the mixture from heat.Stir in a spoonful of baking soda (a rounded teaspoon is fine). The baking soda is added to slow down the combustion when the smoke bomb is ignited.Add three large spoonfuls (3 tablespoons) of powdered organic dye. Blue dye and orange dye are said to produce better results than the other colors. Stir to mix well.Construct the smoke bomb while the mixture is still hot and pliable. Assemble the Smoke Bomb Fill a cardboard tube with the warm smoke bomb mixture.Push a pen or pencil down into the center of the mix (doesnt have to be all the way to the bottom but should be enough that the pen stands in the mixture). You could use a different shape, but the cylinder works really well.Let the mixture harden (about an hour).Remove the pen.Insert a firework fuse. Push pieces of cotton balls into the hole to tamp the fuse securely inside the smoke bomb. Be sure there is fuse left outside of the tube so that you will be able to light your smoke bomb.Wrap the smoke bomb with duct tape. Cover the top and bottom of the tube, too, but leave the hole area with the cotton and fuse uncovered.Go outside and light your smoke bomb! Tips for Success The key to producing vibrant colored smoke is using an appropriate dye. The color is produced by vaporizing a dye from the heat of the smoke bomb, not from burning a pigment, which always produces normal smoke.Getting a good display also depends on the geometry of the smoke bomb. When the dye is vaporized, the pressure from combustion forces it out to produce the smoke. There needs to be enough pressure inside the smoke bomb to push the smoke out, but not too much pressure or else it will burst. This is why cardboard and tape are used. You can control the opening for the smoke. The materials are strong enough to contain a certain level of force  but will rupture rather than explode if the pressure is too great. Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.

Female Criminal Profiles - A - Z List

Female Criminal Profiles - A - Z List Brenda Andrew​Classification:  Murderer /  MariticideAndrew is on death row in Oklahoma after being convicted of killing her husband for insurance money. Susan Sadie May Glutz AtkinsClassification:  Murderer / TortureSusan Sadie Atkins is a former member of the Charles Manson family. She swore before a Grand Jury, that under the direction of Charlie Manson, she stabbed actress Sharon Tate. Velma Margie BarfieldClassification: Serial Killer /  Parricide /  MariticideVelma Barfield was dubbed Death Row Granny but she was anything but nurturing. Addicted to drugs, first, she would steal money from family members, then kill them to hide her thievery. Suzanne BassoClassification:  Murderer / Kidnapping / TortureBasso kidnapped a 59-year old retarded man and brutally beat him with various items resulting in his death. Kenisha BerryClassification: Murderer / InfanticideOn November 29, 1998, Berry put duct tape across the mouth of her 4-day-old baby boy, put him into a plastic bag and left his body in a dumpster. He suffocated to death. Linda CartyClassification: Murderer / KidnappingCarty hogtied a woman who had a three-day-old baby, taped a bag over her head and suffocated her. Lynette Alice Squeaky FrommeClassification:  Attempted AssassinationLynette Squeaky Fromme became the voice of the cult leader, Charlie Manson when he was sent to prison. She also pointed a gun at President Ford, for which she is now serving a life sentence. Cathy Lynn HendersonClassification: Murderer / KidnappingHenderson was convicted of the abduction and murder of a 3-month-old baby boy she was babysitting. Brittany HolbergClassification: Murderer /  Robbery / ProstitutionHolberg robbed and murdered an 80-year-old man, striking him with a hammer and stabbing him nearly 60 times. Karla HomolkaClassification: Serial Killer /  Rape / Torture /  FratricideHomolka, one of Canadas most horrific female convicts, has been released from prison after serving a 12-year sentence for her involvement in drugging, raping, torturing and killing young girls over a decade ago. The dead teens included her own young sister who she was offered to her boyfriend as a gift. Stacey LannertClassification: Murderer /  ParricideOn July 4, 1990, Stacey Ann Lannert, age 18, shot and killed her father, Tom Lannert, as he lay sleeping in the familys St. John, Missouri, home. In her statement to the police, Stacey claimed that her father had sexually abused her. She was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Angela McAnultyClassification: Murderer /  Prolicide / TortureAngela McAnulty pleaded guilty to the torture, starvation, and murder of her 14-year-old daughter. Kimberly McCarthyClassification: Murderer  McCarthy stabbed a 70-year-old woman repeatedly resulting in her death. Blanche MooreClassification: Serial Killer Moore had a bad habit of poisoning the men in her life with arsenic. She is currently on death row for killing a boyfriend. Frances Elaine NewtonClassification: Murderer /  FamilicideNewton shot and killed her husband, her seven-year-old son and her 21-month-old daughter for insurance money. Darci PierceClassification:  Murderer /  Fetus TheftDarcie Pierce lied to her family and friend about being pregnant. When it came time for her to have her pretend baby, she murdered a pregnant woman and took her unborn child. Darlie RoutierClassification: Murderer /  Prolicide Darlie  Routier sits on death row in Texas for the murder of her children. Many questions have come up since her trial. Was she railroaded? You decide. Felecia ScottClassification:  Murderer /  Fetus TheftFelecia Scott thought having a baby with her new boyfriend would help seal the relationship, but she couldnt get pregnant. Her solution? Murder a pregnant woman and steal her baby. Erica SheppardClassification:  Murderer /  RobberySheppard wanted her victims car, so she slashed her throat with a knife five times and beat her with a statue. Christina S. WaltersClassification:  Murderer / Gang RelatedAs part of a gang-initiation, Walters randomly selected three teenage girls and shot them. Two of the girls died, one survived. Andrea YatesClassification: Homicide   /  Prolicide A profile of Andrea Yates, her life, her marriage to Rusty Yates, and the tragic events that led up to her drowning her five children.

Explain why and how the morgan report has led to a substantial change Essay

Explain why and how the morgan report has led to a substantial change in crime reduction initiatives in the uk - Essay Example Four distinctive areas will be referenced as examples of their implementation in principles laid down by the Morgan Report. This Report has influenced subsequent legislation such as the Crime and Disorders Act of 1998 which has impacted substantially the very philosophy of crime reduction. This Act, a descendent of the Morgan Report, will also be reviewed. There were 181 police forces in Britain, operating mostly independently of each other, at the beginning of the twentieth century. These small enforcement groups had limited collaboration or communications between them. 43 police forces function within England and Wales today supplied with many more police officers. Interactivity between these units has increased significantly over the years with the advent of new technologies and the need to slow criminal activity, not just in a region but nation-wide. Despite new technologies that aided police in performing their duties more competently, crime continued to become increasingly prevalent after 1960, which predictably led to public condemnation of the police. It had become apparent that traditional policing methods would not prevent or reduce crime on their own. Police organisations began seeking the involvement the community. This move was a change from a predominately reactive style of enforcement. â€Å"In the early 1980s, alongside changes in policing, the government of the day put crime prevention firmly on the agenda with a number of circulars proposing coordinated approaches to crime prevention, involving many organisations working together† (â€Å"What is Crime Reduction† 2006). In 1984, an inter-departmental circular suggested the establishment of local multi-group assemblies to undertake crime issues. Historic milestones involving recent expansive techniques of crime prevention and community safety can be traced to this circular, which

A short essay ( A level standard) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A short ( A level standard) - Essay Example The events which led to the demise of his twin brothers, Dan and Jacob a year ago. He dearly missed them, his friends, play mates and also royal confidants. His life took a new turn that day when the three were playing in the house and Dan, the eldest among them tried to switch on the electric cooker and make a sandwich. The mother had gone to the market to buy their favourite foodstuffs so that she could prepare them a delicious meal. However, this would not happen as Dan was instantly electrocuted and the same fate befell his brother Jacob as he tried to assist him. The celebration mood turned sour and Janet, their mother, watched in disbelief as her sons bodies were hurled into the back of a waiting police car and to the morgue. David, the youngest observed with shock as her mother wailed in disbelief on seeing her son’s lifeless bodies lying on the ground. He was eight years then and thus could not fathom the magnitude of the occurrence as he was too young for it. But the mother knew what exactly the death of her beloved sons meant to her. It meant eternal physical separation from his twins whom she had treasured since birth and had vowed to protect, even with her own life if need be, all the days of her life. But now she had lost it all, she could not restore their life, they were gone forever. The pain and grief was unbearable, she was devastated and was hospitalised for depression. She was later discharged after immense help from a psychosocial counsellor and was able to cope and move on with life. This affected her performance at work as she could not be able to deliver the services required of her. She was thus relieved off her duties and was jobless for several months before she bumped into a secretarial job in the firm she is currently working in. Six months after the incident, Mr. Brown was diagnosed with a rare cardiovascular disease and was scheduled for operation in December. David