Cisco Systems: New Millenium †New acquisition strategy Essay

The case deals with the acquisition policy implemented by Cisco, by giving some real samples. The most interesting point concerns the way Cisco acquired companies during 90s with 4 main goals: a shared vision, shareholders’ satisfaction, motivating value added for employees, shareholders, customers and partners and a perfect â€Å"chemistry† (P.9). Contrary to the global trend of big companies’ acquisition, Cisco was involved in smaller companies, based on selection criteria (presented below) which fit the company’s needs and strategy: * Small companies: the advantage is that those companies are start-ups coming with new disruptive Ideas highly complementary with Cisco’s businesses. * Limited number of employees (but engineers as the large part of them): Cisco gives a huge importance to skilled people, because as they say, those people are the real asset which permits to increase future market shares, So people retention becomes one of acquisitions’ main goals (success driven by a very low turnover compared with the industry). * Very entrepreneurial systems focused on fast growing: the need to grow by forming part of Cisco is one of the motivating arguments to have win-win negotiations. On the other hand, this kind of companies is not risk adverse and promises future benefits to their owners. * Geographical proximity: for large acquisitions, it permits to shorten lost time and get directly to the real acquisition’s implementation in order to share the distribution channels (cost reduction) and obtain the new product earlier. * Comparable cultures and visions: since acquisition leads to the integration of the acquired company to the group, it is necessary to have the same vision of the future strategy and cultures which can be merged to obtain a coherent unit. Last, the company’s strength resides in its ability to decentralize decision making by creating a new business unit at each acquisition, because the acquired company is considered as a master in its domain. This system permits to make acquired company feel independent in the way it is managed (less change management to be processed). Cisco represents a benchmark as acquirer for the entrepreneurial firms which aim to be acquired because it proposes several advantages in terms of independency, people treatment, product valorization and so on, which form part of the most important criteria for acquisition. Moreover, in the last decade, it increased its attractiveness based on the personalized treatment provided to the new joiners and the restructuration by type of technology which makes economies of scale and allows people to share their knowledge with their previous â€Å"internal competitors† and increase their skills. So, in terms of win-win relationship, Cisco acquisition model can be a basis of comparison for any potential acquired company.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 17 VISITOR

UNNATURALLY STILL AND WHITE, WITH LARGE BLACK EYES intent on my face, my visitor waited perfectly motionless in the center of the halt, beautiful beyond imagining. My knees trembled for a second, and I nearly fell. Then I hurled myself at her. â€Å"Alice, oh, Alice!† I cried, as I slammed into her. I'd forgotten how hard she was; it was like running headlong into a wall of cement. â€Å"Bella?† There was a strange mingling of relief and confusion in her voice. I locked my arms around her, gasping to inhale as much of the scent of her skin as possible. It wasn't like anything elsenot floral or spice, citrus or musk. No perfume in the world could compare. My memory hadn't done it justice. I didn't notice when the gasping turned into something elseI only realized I was sobbing when Alice dragged me to the living room couch and pulled me into her lap. It was like curling up into a cool stone, but a stone that was contoured comfortingly to the shape of my body. She rubbed my back in a gentle rhythm, waiting for me to get control of myself. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I blubbered. â€Å"I'm just so happy to see you!† â€Å"It's okay, Bella. Everything's okay.† â€Å"Yes,† I bawled. And, for once, it seemed that way. Alice sighed. â€Å"I'd forgotten how exuberant you are,† she said, and her tone was disapproving. I looked up at her through my streaming eyes. Alice's neck was tight, straining away from me, her lips pressed together firmly. Her eyes were black as pitch. â€Å"Oh,† I puffed, as I realized the problem. She was thirsty. And I smelled appetizing. It had been a while since I'd had to think about that kind of thing. â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"It's my own fault. It's been too long since I hunted. I shouldn't let myself get so thirsty. But I was in a hurry today.† The look she directed at me then was a glare. â€Å"Speaking of which, would you like to explain to me how you're alive?† That brought me up short and stopped the sobs. I realized what must have happened immediately, and why Alice was here. I swallowed loudly. â€Å"You saw me fall.† â€Å"No,† she disagreed, her eyes narrowing. â€Å"I saw you jump.† I pursed my lips as I tried to think of an explanation that wouldn't sound nuts. Alice shook her head. â€Å"I told him this would happen, but he didn't believe me. ‘Bella promised,'† her voice imitated his so perfectly that I iroze in shock while the pain ripped through my torso. â€Å"‘Don't be looking for her future, either,'† she continued to quote him. ‘†We've done enough damage.† â€Å"But just because I'm not looking, doesn't mean I don't see† she went on. â€Å"I wasn't keeping tabs on you, I swear, Bella. It's just that I'm alreacy attuned to you when I saw you jumping, I didn't think, I just got on a plane. I knew I would be too late, but I couldn't do nothing. And then I get here, thinking maybe I could help Charlie somehow, and you drive up.† She shook her head, this time in confusion. Her voice was strained. â€Å"I saw you go into the water and I waited and waited for you to come up, but you didn't. What happened? And how could you do that to Charlie? Did you stop to think what this would do to him? And my brother? Do you have any idea what Edward† I cut her off then, as soon as she said his name. I'd let her go on, even after I realized the misunderstanding she was under, just to hear the perfect bell tone of her voice. But it was time to interrupt. â€Å"Alice, I wasn't committing suicide.† She eyed me dubiously. â€Å"Are you saying you didn't jump off a cliff?† â€Å"No, but† I grimaced. â€Å"It was for recreational purposes only.† Her expression hardened. â€Å"I'd seen some of Jacob's friends cliff diving,† I insisted. â€Å"It looked like fun, and I was bored† She waited. â€Å"I didn't think about how the storm would affect the currents. Actually, I didn't think about the water much at all.† Alice didn't buy it. I could see that she still thought I had been trying to kill myself. I decided to redirect. â€Å"So if you saw me go in, why didn't you see Jacob?† She cocked her head to the side, distracted. I continued. â€Å"It's true that I probably would have drowned if Jacob hadn't jumped in after me. Well, okay, there's no probably about it. But he did, and he pulled me out, and I guess he towed me back to shore, though I was kind of out for that part. It couldn't have been more than a minute that I was under before he grabbed me. How come you didn't see that?† She frowned in perplexity. â€Å"Someone pulled you out?† â€Å"Yes. Jacob saved me.† I watched curiously as an enigmatic range of emotions flitted across her face. Something was bothering herher imperfect vision? But I wasn't sure. Then she deliberately leaned in and sniffed my shoulder. I froze. â€Å"Don't be ridiculous,† she muttered, sniffing at me some more. â€Å"What are you doing?† She ignored my question. â€Å"Who was with you out there just now? It sounded like you were arguing.† â€Å"Jacob Black. He's sort of my best friend, I guess. At least, he was† I thought of Jacob's angry, betrayed face, and wondered what he was to me now. Alice nodded, seeming preoccupied. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I don't know,† she said. â€Å"I'm not sure what it means.† â€Å"Well, I'm not dead, at least.† She rolled her eyes. â€Å"He was a fool to think you could survive alone. I've never seen anyone so prone to life-threatening idiocy.† â€Å"I survived,† I pointed out. She was thinking of something else. â€Å"So, if the currents were too much for you, how did this Jacob manage?† â€Å"Jacob is strong.† She heard the reluctance in my voice, and her eyebrows rose. I gnawed on my lip for a second. Was this a secret, or not? And if it was, then who was my greatest allegiance to? Jacob, or Alice? It was too hard to keep secrets, I decided. Jacob knew everything, why not Alice, too? â€Å"See, well, he's sort of a werewolf,† I admitted in a rush. â€Å"The Quileutes turn into wolves when there are vampires around. They know Carlisle from a long time ago. Were you with Carlisle back then?† Alice gawked at me for a moment, and then recovered herself, blinking rapidly. â€Å"Well, I guess that explains the smell,† she muttered. â€Å"But does it explain what I didn't see?† She frowned, her porcelain forehead creasing. â€Å"The smell?† I repeated. â€Å"You smell awful,† she said absently, still frowning. â€Å"A werewolf? Are you sure about that?† â€Å"Very sure,† I promised, wincing as I remembered Paul and Jacob fighting in the road. â€Å"I guess you weren't with Carlisle the last time there were werewolves here in Forks?† â€Å"No. I hadn't found him yet.† Alice was still lost in thought. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she turned to stare at me with a shocked expression. â€Å"Your best friend is a werewolf?† I nodded sheepishly. â€Å"How long has this been going on?† â€Å"Not long,† I said, my voice sounding defensive. â€Å"He's only been a werewolf for just a few weeks.† She glowered at me. â€Å"A young werewolf? Even worse! Edward was rightyou're a magnet for danger. Weren't you supposed to be staying out of trouble?† â€Å"There's nothing wrong with werewolves,† I grumbled, stung by her critical tone. â€Å"Until they lose their tempers.† She shook her head sharply from side to side. â€Å"Leave it to you, Bella. Anyone else would be better off when the vampires left town. But you have to start hanging out with the first monsters you can find.† I didn't want to argue with AliceI was still trembling with joy that she was really, truly here, that I could touch her marble skin and hear her wind-chime voicebut she had it all wrong. â€Å"No, Alice, the vampires didn't really leavenot all of them, anyway. That's the whole trouble. If it weren't for the werewolves, Victoria would have gotten me by now. Well, if it weren't for Jake and his friends, Laurent would have gotten me before she could, I guess, so† â€Å"Victoria?† she hissed. â€Å"Laurent?† I nodded, a teensy bit alarmed by the expression in her black eyes. I pointed at my chest. â€Å"Danger magnet, remember?† She shook her head again. â€Å"Tell me everythingstart at the beginning.† I glossed over the beginning, skipping the motorcycles and the voices, but telling her everything else right up to today's misadventure. Alice didn't like my thin explanation about boredom and the cliffs, so I hurried on to the strange flame I'd seen on the water and what I thought it meant. Her eyes narrowed almost to slits at that part. It was strange to see her look so so dangerouslike a vampire. I swallowed hard and went on with the rest about Harry. She listened to my story without interrupting. Occasionally, she would shake her head, and the crease in her forehead deepened until it looked like it was carved permanently into the marble of her skin. She didn't speak and, finally, I fell quiet, struck again by the borrowed grief at Harry's passing. I thought of Charlie; he would be home soon. What condition would he be in? â€Å"Our leaving didn't do you any good at all, did it?† Alice murmured. I laughed onceit was a slightly hysterical sound. â€Å"That was never the point, though, was it? It's not like you left for my benefit.† Alice scowled at the floor for a moment. â€Å"Well I guess I acted impulsively today. I probably shouldn't have intruded.† I could feel the blood draining from my face. My stomach dropped. â€Å"Don't go, Alice,† I whispered. My fingers locked around the collar of her white shirt and I began to hyperventilate. â€Å"Please don't leave me.† Her eyes opened wider. â€Å"All right,† she said, enunciating each word with slow precision. â€Å"I'm not going anywhere tonight. Take a deep breath.† I tried to obey, though I couldn't quite locate my lungs. She watched my face while I concentrated on my breathing. She waited till I was calmer to comment. â€Å"You look like hell, Bella.† â€Å"I drowned today,† I reminded her. â€Å"It goes deeper than that. You're a mess.† I flinched. â€Å"Look, I'm doing my best.† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"It hasn't been easy. I'm working on it.† She frowned. â€Å"I told him,† she said to herself. â€Å"Alice,† I sighed. â€Å"What did you think you were going to find? I mean, besides me dead? Did you expect to find me skipping around and whistling show tunes? You know me better than that.† â€Å"I do. But I hoped.† â€Å"Then I guess I don't have the corner on the idiocy market.† The phone rang. â€Å"That has to be Charlie,† I said, staggering to my feet. I grabbed Alice's stone hand and dragged her with me to the kitchen. I wasn't about to let her out of my sight. â€Å"Charlie?† I answered the phone. â€Å"No, it's me,† Jacob said. â€Å"Jake!† Alice scrutinized my expression. â€Å"Just making sure you were still alive,† Jacob said sourly. â€Å"I'm fine. I told you that it wasn't† â€Å"Yeah. I got it. ‘Bye.† Jacob hung up on me. I sighed and let my head hang back, staring at the ceiling. â€Å"That's going to be a problem.† Alice squeezed my hand. â€Å"They aren't excited I'm here.† â€Å"Not especially. But it's none of their business anyway.† Alice put her arm around me. â€Å"So what do we do now?† she mused. She seemed to talk to herself for a moment. â€Å"Things to do. Loose ends to tie.† â€Å"What things to do?† Her face was suddenly careful. â€Å"I don't know for sure I need to see Carlisle.† Would she leave so soon? My stomach dropped. â€Å"Could you stay?† I begged. â€Å"Please? For just a little while. I've missed you so much.† My voice broke. â€Å"If you think that's a good idea.† Her eyes were unhappy. â€Å"I do. You can stay hereCharlie would love that.† â€Å"I have a house, Bella.† I nodded, disappointed but resigned. She hesitated, studying me. â€Å"Well, I need to go get a suitcase of clothes, at the very least.† I threw my arms around her. â€Å"Alice, you're the best!† â€Å"And I think I'll need to hunt. Immediately,† she added in a strained voice. â€Å"Oops.† I took a step back. â€Å"Can you stay out of trouble for one hour?† she asked skeptically. Then, before I could answer, she held up one finger and closed her eyes. Her face went smooth and blank for a few seconds. And then her eyes opened and she answered her own question. â€Å"Yes, you'll be fine. For tonight, anyway.† She grimaced. Even making faces, she looked like an angel. â€Å"You'll come back?† I asked in a small voice. â€Å"I promiseone hour.† I glanced at the clock over the kitchen table. She laughed and leaned in quickly to kiss me on the cheek. Then she was gone. I took a deep breath. Alice would be back. I suddenly felt so much better. I had plenty to do to keep myself busy while I waited. A shower was definitely first on the agenda. I sniffed my shoulders as I undressed, but I couldn't smell anything but the brine and seaweed scent of the ocean. I wondered what Alice had meant about me smelling bad. When I was cleaned up, I went back to the kitchen. I couldn't see any signs that Charlie ‘lad eaten recently, and he would probably be hungry when he got back. I hummed tunelessly to myself as I moved around the kitchen. While Thursday's casserole rotated in the microwave, I made up the couch with sheets and an old pillow. Alice wouldn't need it, but Charlie would need to see it. I was careful not to watch the clock. There was no reason to start myself panicking; Alice had promised. I hurried through my dinner, not tasting itjust feeling the ache as it slid down my raw throat. Mostly I was thirsty; I must have drunk a half gallon of water by the time I was finished. All the salt in my system had dehydrated me. I went to go try to watch TV while I waited. Alice was already there, sitting on her improvised bed. Her eyes were a liquid butterscotch. She smiled and patted the pillow. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"You're early,† I said, elated. I sat down next to her and leaned my head on her shoulder. She put her cold arms around me and sighed. â€Å"Bella. What are we going to do with you?† â€Å"I don't know,† I admitted. â€Å"I really have been trying my hardest.† â€Å"I believe you.† It was silent. â€Å"Doesdoes he† I took a deep breath. It was harder to say his name out loud, even though I was able to think it now. â€Å"Does Edward know you're here?† I couldn't help asking. It was my pain, after all. I'd deal with it when she was gone, I promised myself, and felt sick at the thought. â€Å"No.† There was only one way that could be true. â€Å"He's not with Carlisle and Esme?† â€Å"He checks in every few months.† â€Å"Oh.† He must still be out enjoying his distractions. I focused my curiosity on a safer topic. â€Å"You said you flew here Where did you come from?† â€Å"I was in Denali. Visiting Tanya's family.† â€Å"Is Jasper here? Did he come with your'† She shook her head. â€Å"He didn't approve of my interfering. We promised† she trailed off, and then her tone changed. â€Å"And you think Charlie won't mind my being here?† she asked, sounding worried. â€Å"Charlie thinks you're wonderful, Alice.† â€Å"Well, we're about to find out.† Sure enough, a few seconds later I heard the cruiser pull into the driveway. I jumped up and hurried to open the door. Charlie trudged slowly up the walk, his eyes on the ground and his shoulders slumped. I walked forward to meet him; he didn't even see me until I hugged him around the waist. He embraced me back fiercely. â€Å"I'm so sorry about Harry, Dad.† â€Å"I'm really going to miss him,† Charlie mumbled. â€Å"How's Sue doing?† â€Å"She seems dazed, like she hasn't grasped it yet. Sam's staying with her† The volume of his voice faded in and out. â€Å"Those poor kids. Leah's just a year older than you, and Seth is only fourteen† He shook his head. He kept his arms tight around me as he started toward the door again. â€Å"Um, Dad?† I figured I'd better warn him. â€Å"You'll never guess who's here.† He looked at me blankly. His head swiveled around, and he spied the Mercedes across the street, the porch light reflecting off the glossy black paint. Before he could react, Alice was in the doorway. â€Å"Hi, Charlie,† she said in a subdued voice. â€Å"I'm sorry I came at such a bad time.† â€Å"Alice Cullen?† he peered at the slight figure in front of him as if he doubted what his eyes were telling him. â€Å"Alice, is that you?† â€Å"It's me,† she confirmed. â€Å"I was in the neighborhood.† â€Å"Is Carlisle† â€Å"No, I'm alone.† Both Alice and I knew he wasn't really asking about Carlisle. His arm tightened over my shoulder. â€Å"She can stay here, can't she?† I pleaded. â€Å"I already asked her.† â€Å"Of course,† Charlie said mechanically. â€Å"We'd love to have you, Alice.† â€Å"Thank you, Charlie. I know it's horrid timing.† â€Å"No, it's fine, really. I'm going to be really busy doing what I can for Harry's family; it will be nice for Bella to have some company.† â€Å"There's dinner for you on the table, Dad,† I told him. â€Å"Thanks, Bell.† He gave me one more squeeze before he shuffled toward the kitchen. Alice went back to the couch, and I followed her. This time, she was the one to pull me against her shoulder. â€Å"You look tired.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed, and shrugged. â€Å"Near-death experiences do that to me So, what does Carlisle think of you being here?† â€Å"He doesn't know. He and Esme were on a hunting trip. I'll hear from him in a few days, when he gets back.† â€Å"You won't tell him, though when he checks in again?† I asked. She knew I didn't mean Carlisle now. â€Å"No. He'd bite my head off,† Alice said grimly. I laughed once, and then sighed. I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to stay up all night talking to Alice. And it didn't make sense for me to be tired, what with crashing on Jacob's couch all day. But drowning really had taken a lot out of me, and my eyes wouldn't stay open. I rested my head on her stone shoulder, and drifted into a more peaceful oblivion than I had any hope of. I woke early, from a deep and dreamless sleep, feeling well-rested, but stiff. I was on the couch tucked under the blankets I'd laid out for Alice, and I could hear her and Charlie talking in the kitchen. It sounded like Charlie was fixing her breakfast. â€Å"How bad was it, Charlie?† Alice asked softly, and at first I thought they were talking about the Clearwaters. Charlie sighed. â€Å"Real bad.† â€Å"Tell me about it. I want to know exactly what happened when we left.† There was a pause while a cupboard door was closed and a dial on the stove was clicked off. I waited, cringing. â€Å"I've never felt so helpless,† Charlie began slowly. â€Å"I didn't know what to do. That first weekI thought I was going to have to hospitalize her. She wouldn't eat or drink, she wouldn't move. Dr. Gerandy was throwing around words like ‘catatonic,' but I didn't let him up to see her. I was afraid it would scare her.† â€Å"She snapped out of it though?† â€Å"I had Renee come to take her to Florida. I just didn't want to be the one if she had to go to a hospital or something. I hoped being with her mother would help. But when we started packing her clothes, she woke up with a vengeance. I've never seen Bella throw a fit like that. She was never one for the tantrums, but, boy, did she fly into a fury. She threw her clothes everywhere and screamed that we couldn't make her leaveand then she finally started crying. I thought that would be the turning point. I didn't argue when she insisted on staying here and she did seem to get better at first† Charlie trailed off. It was hard listening to this, knowing how much pain I'd caused him. â€Å"But?† Alice prompted. â€Å"She went back to school and work, she ate and slept and did her homework. She answered when someone asked her a direct question. But she was empty. Her eyes were blank. There were lots of little thingsshe wouldn't listen to music anymore; I found a bunch of CDs broken in the trash. She didn't read; she wouldn't be in the same room when the TV was on, not that she watched it so much before. I finally figured it outshe was avoiding everything that might remind her of him. â€Å"We could hardly talk; I was so worried about saying something that would upset herthe littlest things would make her flinchand she never volunteered anything. She would just answer if I asked her something. â€Å"She was alone all the time. She didn't call her friends back, and after a while, they stopped calling. â€Å"It was night of the living dead around here. I still hear her screaming in her sleep† I could almost see him shuddering. I shuddered, too, remembering. And then I sighed. I hadn't fooled him at all, not for one second. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Charlie,† Alice said, voice glum. â€Å"It's not your fault.† The way he said it made it perfectly clear that he was holding someone responsible. â€Å"You were always a good friend to her.† â€Å"She seems better now, though.† â€Å"Yeah. Ever since she started hanging out with Jacob Black, I've noticed a real improvement. She has some color in her cheeks when she comes home, some light in her eyes. She's happier.† He paused, and his voice was different when he spoke again. â€Å"He's a year or so younger than her, and I know she used to think of him as a friend, but I think maybe it's something more now, or headed that direction, anyway.† Charlie said this in a tone that was almost belligerent. It was a warning, not for Alice, but for her to pass along. â€Å"Jake's old for his years,† he continued, still sounding defensive. â€Å"He's taken care of his father physically the way Bella took care of her mother emotionally. It matured him. He's a good-looking kid, tootakes after his mom's side. He's good for Bella, you know,† Charlie insisted. â€Å"Then it's good she has him,† Alice agreed. Charlie sighed out a big gust of air, folding quickly to the lack of opposition. â€Å"Okay, so I guess that's overstating things. I don't know even with Jacob, now and then I see something in her eyes, and I wonder if I've ever grasped how much pain she's really in It's not normal, Alice, and it it frightens me. Not normal at all. Not like someone left her, but like someone died.† His voice cracked. It was like someone had diedlike I had died. Because it had been more than just losing the truest of true loves, as if that were not enough to kill anyone. It was also losing a whole future, a whole familythe whole life that I'd chosen Charlie went on in a hopeless tone. â€Å"I don't know if she's going to get over itI'm not sure if it's in her nature to heal from something like this. She's always been such a constant little thing. She doesn't get past things, change her mind.† â€Å"She's one of a kind,† Alice agreed in a dry voice. â€Å"And Alice† Charlie hesitated. â€Å"Now, you know how fond I am of you, and I can tell that she's happy to see you, but I'm a little worried about what your visit will do to her.† â€Å"So am I, Charlie, so am I. I wouldn't have come if I'd had any idea. I'm sorry.† â€Å"Don't apologize, honey. Who knows? Maybe it will be good for her.† â€Å"I hope you're right.† There was a long break while forks scraped plates and Charlie chewed. I wondered where Alice was hiding the food. â€Å"Alice, I have to ask you something,† Charlie said awkwardly. Alice was calm. â€Å"Go ahead.† â€Å"He's not coming back to visit, too, is he?† I could hear the suppressed anger in Charlie's voice. Alice answered in a soft, reassuring tone. â€Å"He doesn't even know I'm here. The last time I spoke with him, he was in South America.† I stiffened as I heard this new information, and listened harder. â€Å"That's something, at least.† Charlie snorted. â€Å"Well, I hope he's enjoying himself.† For the first time, Alice's voice had a bit of steel in it. â€Å"I wouldn't make assumptions, Charlie.† I knew how her eyes would flash when she used that tone. A chair scooted from the table, scraping loudly across the floor. I pictured Charlie getting up; there was no way Alice would make that kind of noise. The faucet ran, splashing against a dish. It didn't sound like they were going to say anything more about Edward, so I decided it was time to wake up. I turned over, bouncing against the springs to make them squeak. Then I yawned loudly. All was quiet in the kitchen. I stretched and groaned. â€Å"Alice?† I asked innocently; the soreness rasping in my throat added nicely to the charade. â€Å"I'm in the kitchen, Bella,† Alice called, no hint in her voice that she suspected my eavesdropping. But she was good at hiding things like that. Charlie had to leave thenhe was helping Sue Clearwater with the funeral arrangements. It would have been a very long day without Alice. She never spoke about leaving, and I didn't ask her. I knew it was inevitable, but I put it out of my mind. Instead, we talked about her familyall but one. Carlisle was working nights in Ithaca and teaching part time at Cornell. Esme was restoring a seventeenth century house, a historical monument, in the forest north of the city. Emmett and Rosalie had gone to Europe for a few months on another honeymoon, but they were back now. Jasper was at Cornell, too, studying philosophy this time. And Alice had been doing some personal research, concerning the information I'd accidentally uncovered for her last spring. She'd successfully tracked down the asylum where she'd spent the last years of her human life. The life she had no memory of. â€Å"My name was Mary Alice Brandon,† she told me quietly. â€Å"I had a little sister named Cynthia. Her daughtermy nieceis still alive in Biloxi.† â€Å"Did you find out why they put you in that place?† What would drive parents to that extreme? Even if their daughter saw visions of the future She just shook her head, her topaz eyes thoughtful. â€Å"I couldn't find much about them. I went through all the old newspapers on microfiche. My family wasn't mentioned often; they weren't part of the social circle that made the papers. My parents' engagement was there, and Cynthia's.† The name fell uncertainly from her tongue. â€Å"My birth was announced and my death. I found my grave. I also filched my admissions sheet from the old asylum archives. The date on the admission and the date on my tombstone are the same.† I didn't know what to say, and, after a short pause, Alice moved on to lighter topics. The Cullens were reassembled now, with the one exception, spending Cornell's spring break in Denali with Tanya and her family. I listened too eagerly to even the most trivial news. She never mentioned the one I was most interested in, and for that I was grateful. It was enough to listen to the stories of the family I'd once dreamed of belonging to. Charlie didn't get back until after dark, and he looked more worn than he had the night before. He would be headed back to the reservation first thing in the morning for Harry's funeral, so he turned in early. I stayed on the couch with Alice again. Charlie was almost a stranger when he came down the stairs before the sun was up, wearing an old suit I'd never seen him in before. The jacket hung open; I guessed it was too tight to fasten the buttons. His tie was a bit wide for the current style. He tiptoed to the door, trying not to wake us up. I let him go, pretending to sleep, as Alice did on the recliner. As soon as he was out the door, Alice sat up. Under the quilt, she was fully dressed. â€Å"So, what are we doing today?† she asked. â€Å"I don't knowdo you see anything interesting happening?† She smiled and shook her head. â€Å"But it's still early.† All the time I'd been spending in La Push meant a pile of things I'd been neglecting at home, and I decided to catch up on my chores. I wanted to do something, anything that might make life easier for Charliemaybe it would make him feel just a little better to come home to a clean, organized house. I started with the bathroomit showed the most signs of neglect. While I worked, Alice leaned against the doorjamb and asked nonchalant questions about my, well, our high school friends and what they been up to since she'd left. Her face stayed casual and emotionless, but I sensed her disapproval when she realized how little I could tell her. Or maybe I just had a guilty conscience after eavesdropping on her conversation with Charlie yesterday morning. I was literally up to my elbows in Comet, scrubbing the floor of the bathtub, when the doorbell rang. I looked to Alice at once, and her expression was perplexed, almost worried, which was strange; Alice was never taken by surprise. â€Å"Hold on!† I shouted in the general direction of the front door, getting up and hurrying to the sink to rinse my arms off. â€Å"Bella,† Alice said with a trace of frustration in her voice, â€Å"I have a fairly good guess who that might be, and I think I'd better step out.† â€Å"Guess?† I echoed. Since when did Alice have to guess anything? â€Å"If this is a repeat of my egregious lapse in foresight yesterday, then it's most likely Jacob Black or one of his friends.† I stared at her, putting it together. â€Å"You can't see werewolves?† She grimaced. â€Å"So it would seem.† She was obviously annoyed by this factvery annoyed. The doorbell rang againbuzzing twice quickly and impatiently. â€Å"You don't have go anywhere, Alice. You were here first.† She laughed her silvery little laughit had a dark edge. â€Å"Trust meit wouldn't be a good idea to have me and Jacob Black in a room together.† She kissed my cheek swiftly before she vanished through Charlie's doorand out his back window, no doubt. The doorbell rang again.

Lee Harvey Oswald Was Not the Lone Assassin - 1985 Words

Lee Harvey Oswald Was No Loner On November 22nd, 1963, President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was shot and killed in a motorcade running through Dealy Plaza, in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after, a man by the name of Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the murder of President Kennedy. Over the years there has been much controversy over if Lee Harvey Oswald was in fact, the only man involved in the assassination of JFK. The assassination is still a topic of debate to this day and has spawned many conspiracy theories. At the time, there was little persuasive evidence to prove that Oswald was involved in any sort of conspiracy to assassinate the president, but as time went on people began to grow suspicious of certain things. In 1966,†¦show more content†¦Although Ruby claims to have murdered Oswald as revenge for killing President Kennedy, most people believe it was part of a cover up for a much larger conspiracy. After Ruby’s arrest, he was sentenced to death, only to have his trials postponed and die of lung cancer shortly after postponing the trial. While Oswald was in interrogation, he changed his story many times when asked routine questions such as â€Å"where were you at the time of the shooting†, or â€Å"explain to us what you did the day of the assassination†. He also denied any involvement in the incident even though there was evidence against him. Oswald was bound to face further, more intense interrogation in the future, and this is the reason most people believe that assassination of Oswald was to prevent him from talking about what actually happened in the Kennedy assassination. There were also many strange reports of President Kennedy’s brain being switched from when it was seen in evidence, to when the autopsy was performed. There were pictures of Kennedy’s brain for evidence showing immense damage to the rear, consistent with an exit wound and therefore evidence of a shot from the front. Meanwhile, the autopsy brain did not nearly show the same amount of damage in the back of the brain, and an exit wound in the front. Douglas Horne, the Record Review Boards chief analyst for military records said that he was â€Å"90-95%† certain that these brains were notShow MoreRelatedThe Assassination Of President Kennedy1491 Words   |  6 Pagesis no absolute, 100 percent clear evidence that proves Lee Harvey Oswald’s guilt or innocence of the assassination of President Kennedy (JFK,) but there is much evidence that points towards his innocence, or the fact that he was not the lone gunman to kill Kennedy. Being established a week after the assassination, on the 29th of November 1963, the Warren Commission, after a year long investigation and a singular report, concluded that Oswald had acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy, butRead More Kennedy Assassination Essay example1846 Words   |  8 Pages â€Å"President Kennedy was dead. I stopped by a giant live oak tree on the vast front lawn of Parkland Hospital and cried.quot; As this reporter said, people everywhere were distraught when they heard that President Kennedy had been assassinated. News reporters from other countries flew in, called up, and sent letters back to tell the people in their country what had happened and to give advice to the Dallas Police Station. Everyone everywhere was upset by this tragic loss. People were sent home fromRead MoreNoah Cooper. Mrs. Sites. English 10A. 15 April 2017. Lee1749 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish 10A 15 April 2017 Lee Harvey Oswald: The Sole Assassin? The public must be satisfied that Oswald was the assassin; that he did not have confederates who are still at large; and that evidence was such that he would have been convicted at trial. Unfortunately the facts on Oswald seem about too pat- too obvious (Marxist, Cuba, Russian wife, etc.) The Dallas police have put out statements on the Communist conspiracy theory and it was they who were in charge when he was shot and thus silenced (â€Å"TheRead MoreEssay on The J.F.K. Conspiracy941 Words   |  4 PagesThe J.F.K. Conspiracy Time after time again we are told in our schools, our homes, and by our media that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. How can this conclusion by made about a case that was never completely solved? If we as Americans accept the government given truth, such as in this case, without questioning how they came to their conclusion, then what would stop the government from altering other truths givenRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book New Orleans 1971 Words   |  8 Pagesreturned to the United States Oswald moves around quite frequently, eventually ending up in New Orleans. This is where the most mysterious and perplexing chapter of his life took place. In 1963, Oswald is employed at the Reily Coffee Company, where he is fired from only months later. He also starts a one-man chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and began pro-Castro propaganda in New Orleans. Oddly enough, the return address on Oswald’s pro-Castro leaflets was 544 Camp Street, New Orleans.Read MoreConspiracy Theories Related to the Assassination of John F. Kennedy1200 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the crime, but was shot and killed two days later by Jack Ruby before he could be taken to trial. The Warren Commission official ly determined that Oswald was the lone assassin, however, this conclusion has not been accepted by many. In fact, a 2003 poll reported that 75% of Americans do not believe that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Most believe that the assassination was the result of a conspiracy,Read MoreThe Assassination Of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Essay1556 Words   |  7 Pagesassassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Friday on November 22, 1963, the 35th President of the United States, JFK, was shot at 12:30 PM while traveling in Dallas, Texas to appear in the next presidential campaign. Thousands of Americans whom was present at Dallas, Texas just witness the murder of the United States president. Many Americans believed that the United States government was behind the JFK assassination. Thousands of important evidence about the JFK assassination has been locked and sealedRead MoreThe Death Of John F. Kennedy1183 Words   |  5 PagesOn November 22, 1963, our president, John F. Kennedy, was shot an d killed while riding through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was identified as the lone assassin hours after thousands of Texans witnessed the horrific last shot shattering their beloved president’s right temple. Six months later, a report of the investigation was released by the Warren Commission. Unreported findings caused the majority of America to question the accuracy of the results to what happened that day.Read MoreThe Hidden History Of The Jfk Assassination2336 Words   |  10 PagesKennedy assassination was from a lone gunman or as part of a bigger conspiracy cover-up. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot as he paraded through Dallas, Texas. That same afternoon, Dallas police had arrested their suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald, an itinerant ex-U.S. marine and self-described Marxist-Leninist, previously lived in the Soviet Union prior to his move back to the United States. However, within days of his arrest, Oswald was de ad. Oswald was murdered by JackRead More Book Report On Cover Up Essay2031 Words   |  9 PagesKennedy Jr. was a very emotional time in our nations history. This horrifying incident occurred on November 22, 1963, in a motorcade procession in Dallas, Texas. At 12:30 in the afternoon the procession was going down Elm Street in Dealy Plaza, when shots were fired. One struck President Kennedy in the throat and moments later a bullet tore apart his head. At 1:00 p.m., President JFK was pronounced dead. That same afternoon, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested as a suspect of murder. Oswald however, pleaded

Essay about Martin Luther King Jr and His Life - 907 Words

â€Å"Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say that I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one.† This quote is by John Lennon. I think it refers to what happened on August 28th 1963, a hot summer day when a quarter of a million people showed up on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. That day was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, brought together by civil rights groups and religious groups at the time, king gave a speech to try and open the countries eyes about it. Just a year earlier, only 6.7% of African Americans were able to vote in the state of Mississippi. The†¦show more content†¦to Jackson, Mississippi. On the 4th of May 1961, the freedom riders left Washington D.C... In two busses and headed to New Orleans, although they faced resistance and arre sts in Virginia. It was not until the riders arrived in Rock Hill, South Carolina that they encountered violence, the riders continued to Anniston Alabama where on May 14th riders were met by a violent mob of over 100 people before the busses arrival. One of the buses was firebombed. And its fleeing passengers were forced into the angry white mob. The violence continued at the Birmingham terminal where police force offered no protection, but the violence grabbed national media attention the series of attacks prompted James Farmer the CORE to the end of the campaign, after the freedom riders flew home to New Orleans to end the firs freedom ride of the 1960’s. All of these events helped things lead up ti the March on Washington and Kings Speech. King was born on January 15, 1929 Michael Luther King Jr, but later has his name changed to Martin. His grandfather was a pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, he served from 1914 to 1931, His father served from then until the resent and from 1960 until his death. King acted as co-pastor. He attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduated from high school at the age of 15, he received the B.A. Degree in 1948 from Morehouse college, a distinguished negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and gradShow MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Jr Essay1299 Words   |  6 PagesWhy was Martin Luther King Jr. such an inspiration to African Americans in America? Martin Luther King Jr. was an American minister, Civil Rights leader, and activist who had a strong belief in nonviolent protests (history.com; Martin Luther King Jr.). He was the leader behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington which were eventually effective and a law was passed to en d racial discrimination (history.com; Martin Luther King Jr.). On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested forRead MoreRhetorical Analysis of the I Have a Dream Speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.1219 Words   |  5 Pagesechoed throughout Washington D.C. August 28, 1963 as Martin Luther King Jr. paved the path to freedom for those suffering from racial segregation. It was the day of the March on Washington, which promoted Civil Rights and economic equality for African Americans. In order to share his feelings and dreams with the rest of the nation, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his speech encouraging all to overcome racial segregation. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech was very effective due to theRead MoreOutliers Essay909 Words   |  4 PagesOutlier Essay: Martin Luther King Jr. An outlier is a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system. In other words, an outlier is somebody who goes out of his or her way and does something extraordinary in order to accomplish their goal. Martin Luther King Jr. is a true example of an outlier. In the early 1900s, segregation was strongly recognized in the United States, until Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for what he believed in and made a change. Although he made a differenceRead MoreEssay on The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.1244 Words   |  5 Pagesdevoted his life to changing the world. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born to Alberta and Martin Luther King. Alberta Williams King was born September 13, 1904 in Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Luther King, Sr. was born December 19, 1899 in Stockbridge, Georgia. Martins dad was a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother was a school teacher. His siblings were Christine King Farris born September 11, 1927, and Alfred Da niel Williams King born July 30, 1930. Martin was theRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay871 Words   |  4 Pages Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta Georgia on January 15, 1929. His parents were Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his siblings were guided by the spiritual teachings from their father and attended public schools in Atlanta during their childhood. King and his nine siblings grew up in a financially secure middle class family. They received a better education than the average child of their race, King noticed this and it influencedRead Moreâ€Å"I Am Happy To Join With You Today In What Will Go Down1420 Words   |  6 Pagesgreatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.† (Lerone Bennett Jr. pg.125) Being a hero means to be a leader. To be a leader you have to have strength, courage, and commitment. In the 1960s, there were many leaders fighting for what they believe is the right of freedom and equality of all people. A major leader, Martin Luther King Jr. was involved in the Civil Rights Move ment during the 60s. King was influenced by advocates of nonviolence such as Mahatma Gandhi. He wanted to seekRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. What Was The Point Of Segregation711 Words   |  3 PagesHook: In the days of August 1963, Martin Luther king Jr did a march down a Washington D.C street that was very important to the united states to stop most legalized segregation. This was the point of discrimination that Martin Luther King Jr has faced. Background: This is part of the march on washington for jobs and freedom. The march is to help make segregation illegal. Segregation was a law made during jim crow laws times when he thought that blacks didn’t deserve to go to school or work withRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr., A Political Icon Essay1441 Words   |  6 Pageschanged society and the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of those individuals. Martin Luther Kings contributions to history place him in this inimitable position. One of the great figures in the march of human history, Martin Luther King Jr., like Gandhi before him, lived by a heroic credo of non-violence. More than two decades since his death, Martin Luther King ideas; his call for racial equality, his faith in the ultimate triumph of justice, and his insistence on the power of nonviolentRead MoreBeing A Hero Means To Be A Leader. To Be A Leader You Have1124 Words   |  5 Pagesfreedom and equality of all people. Major leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X they were involved with the Civil Rights Movement during the 60s. They were willing to fight until the end to make a change in society. Both men wanted to give the rights to all black people in America of living as an equal human being. But they both had their own ways of trying to make history and trying to make a difference for black people. Martin Luther believed in fighting verbally to fight with wisdomRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr1194 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Simmons 1 Gabrielle Simmons Mrs. Fitzgerald Social Studies 8A 4/27/10 Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a well known and an inspiring man to all cultures of the world. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. King s views and believes helped African Americans through the 50 s and 60 s to the rights and liberties that was their right. King faced many obstacles on his journey, things like jail and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles,

Essay Wright and Le Corbusier - 1862 Words

Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier are two very prominent names in the field of architecture. Both architects had different ideas concerning the relationship between humans and the environment. Their architectural styles were a reflection of how each could facilitate the person and the physical environment. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, is considered one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture and Le Corbusier s Villa Savoye helped define the progression that modern architecture was to take in the 20th Century. Both men are very fascinating and have strongly influenced my personal taste for modern architecture. Although Wright and Corbusier each had different views on how to design a house, they also†¦show more content†¦Corbusier felt that a home should suit many needs . Although different in philosophies, Wright and, Corbusier both moved away from designing the traditional house. Neither architect felt the traditional homes were functional. Traditional houses were compartmentalized with separate room used for every activity. The rooms of buildings and houses especially, were closed off by doors and walls which were needed to support the building. During the construction of Robie House Wright, determined to blend his buildings with the earth and nature opened up the floor plans and allowed the rooms to flow from one space to the other. Wright changed the contractor’s blueprints to make an opening in the floor of the balcony at each end of the building, creating dramatic views from the ground to the roof. Wright, designed the Robie House using architectural devices such as horizontal lines, dramatic overhangs, cantilevered roofs, balconies and terraces and masonry fireplaces. It had rows of windows, a continuous eave and horizontal lines going across the house which reflected the prairie style movement. Its walls were constructed of brick, copings and sills of cut stone, floors and balconies of rei nforced concrete, beams of steel and a final story framed of wood. The structures low-pitched cantilevered roofs were extended dramatically beyond its walls, andShow MoreRelatedDr. Howard, Le Corbusier, And Frank Lloyd Wright Essay1824 Words   |  8 Pagesand ideas of three very influential men: Ebenezer Howard, Le Corbusier, and Frank Lloyd Wright. They took their own experiences and redesigned the sprawling metropolis to improve the lives of the residents. Each man created urban utopias that included green spaces, farms, and parks to improve air quality and the livelihoods of the people. Despite theses similar views, each design differed from the others. Howard, Le Corbusier, and Wright all completely reimagined the urban city in differing waysRead MoreComparing the Urban Plans and Philosophies of Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright2380 Words   |  10 PagesPlanning Prompt 1: Center and Region I: Compare the urban plans and philosophies of Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. What are the spatial, social and economic factors of each plan? â€Å"Wright and Le Corbusier seem predestined for comparison. Their ideal cities confront each other as two opposing variations on the same utopian theme† (Fishman, 163). Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, more commonly known as Le Corbusier (October 6, 1887 – August 27, 1965), was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painterRead MoreCritique Of Le Corbusier s Proposition For The City Of Tomorrow989 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"progressive† architects of the time started to deliberate and conceive opinions to create long term solutions. Known for his radical cultural manifestos, Le Corbusier is one of the architects that epitomizes the change in ideal of the Machine Age. He introduced ideas of living in completely analogous, planned, designed, and then built, cities. Le Corbusier s proposition for the City of Tomorrow had in its roots the intention of creating a series of fundamental principles that would become the skeletonRead MoreBiography Of Charles Edouard J eanneret, The French Architect, Designer And Writer1748 Words   |  7 Pages Le Corbusier Student: Siena Geddes, 7693990 Class: 20th Century Design Lecturer: Manfred Huber Date: 1st September 2014 Word Count: 1921â€Æ' Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, better known as Le Corbusier, was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner and writer, active predominately in France, during the first half of the 20th century. Today, he is widely regarded to have been the most immensely influential architect, in terms of town planning and the architectural surroundingsRead MoreThe Rosenbaum House Is A Single Family House Built For Stanley And Mildred Rosenbaum Designed By Frank Lloyd Wright1085 Words   |  5 Pagesdesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright. This house was a part of his Usonian collection, which was built at a low cost for middle income families. The term Usonian refers to his vision for the United States; including plans for cities and homes. Wright envisioned a type of architecture for the working class; something instinctive yet simple. He is perhaps one of the most influential U.S architects of the twentieth century. Having designed at least 700 completed works, one could say Wright w as an exceptionallyRead MoreLe Corbusiers Church At Ronchamp1061 Words   |  5 PagesLe Corbusier was known for designing buildings and his theoretical works, which received considerable attention. His design had a strong impact on twentieth-century architecture and urbanism. Le Corbusier defined the five points (ukases) of good modernist design. His definition of the five point of architectural composition in modern architecture has been reformulated and commented by other famous modern architecture . He was considered to be the first generations of International school of architectureRead More Architecture Set In Motion Essay1570 Words   |  7 Pagesthemselves in architectural structures. This eclectic style is the bases of 19th and 20th century American suburbs, including new ones being built around the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia today, while also emerging in 20th century architects as Wright, who in the Robbie House(1900s) combined inspirations from many different cu ltures past and present. 3. Pritchard and Darby: Iron Bridge, Coalbrookdale, England, 1770s nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Iron Bridge is theRead MoreVilla Savoye By Le Corbusier1253 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier, is a figure head for design within the modern Era. A new way of thinking, I will be discussing the relevance of the early 20th centruy design and how there is a distinct gap between building and context. This is something that provided a precedent for Architecture that followed, being relevent in design as well as the theory of Le Corbusier himself. A way of thinking that ensured Le Corbusier would be one of the elite Architects of the day is the admirationRead More Eileen Gray Essay785 Words   |  4 Pagesnot been given any attention as a serious designer/architect, unlike her counter parts, Le Corbusier, De Stijl, Mies van der Rohe, or Frank Lloyd Wright. Eileen Gray spent most of her designing life in France and was influenced greatly by a veriety of designers and architects. She found her self indulged in the art of Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gaughin, Seurat, and Bonnaard. Eileen Gray admired Le Corbusier’s Five Points of Architecture, and found it to be a stating point in her designingRead MoreLe Corbusier ( The Contemporary City / Radiant City2294 Words   |  10 PagesLe Corbusier (The Contemporary City/Radiant City): Not all urban planning theories see a natural environment as the ideal urban space. In fact, some planners believed that in order to create a social environment, a city must be built at a very high density, and buildings would be connected by concrete plazas. Le Corbusier was a famous Swiss architect and urban planner who believed that higher density meant shorter distances to work and shopping, and this would be done by constructing a vertical

The Character of Maria in Clay by James Joyce free essay sample

This paper analyzes Maria, the main character in Clay by James Joyce, and discusses her ignorance of the world around her. This paper takes a look at Maria, a character in the story Clay by James Joyce, who never actually wakes up to face the reality or realizes that her whole life has been based on false assumptions and lies. In the Dubliners, James Joyces short story Clay stands out as a piece that has as its main character an ignorant woman who is essentially blind to the world around her. While many of Joyces characters are struck with life-changing epiphanies, Maria does not recognize the signs that are predictors of her future even when they are painfully obvious to the reader. Working at the Dublin by Lamplight laundry, Maria thinks of her position as being of the utmost importance when in reality she is nothing more than a common dishwasher. We will write a custom essay sample on The Character of Maria in Clay by James Joyce or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Although Marias budget is very limited, she nevertheless thinks that she is an independent woman and can afford the same things as women her age who are actually married. Maria believes that other individuals respect her and admire her, even though those same individuals either mock her unassuming nature or fail to notice her all together. Maria considers Joes family to be the closest thing she has to having her own family. Meanwhile, Joe, his wife and his children simply put up with Maria once a year as if she was an unpleasant burden. Throughout the story, Joyce presents comparison after comparison of how Maria views herself versus how others view her. While Maria sees her life and the world around her through rose-colored glasses, the reality is rarely accommodating of her expectations.

The Greater Good

Table of Contents Background Discussion Conclusion Works Cited Natural Law and the concepts of democracy form the basis for human rights, but then there’s the question of limitations to a person’s human rights; one of these limitations is the so-called â€Å"greater good†.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Greater Good specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The argument on â€Å"greater good† asserts that the responsibility to humanity forfeits individual rights, that the success of that responsibility justifies all the trouncing on human rights involved (Centre for Constitutional Rights). And so the atomic bombing of Japan by the US has been justified by the fact that it ended the Second World War. The US government, after 9/11 is increasingly being accused of human rights abuses and many people under suspicion, real or imagined, of terrorism have been illegally detained wi thout trial and tortured. This paper will take an insight into the concept of the â€Å"greater good† in relation to the Habeas Corpus (a provision in the US constitution). Background Habeas Corpus, also known as the Great Writ, is a constitutional legal provision that is meant to prevent the government from detaining or holding anyone without giving cause (Centre for Constitutional Rights). It also gives detainees the right to petition against detention done by the government; in that case the executive branch of the government must give a legal justification for the detention before a judge (Centre for Constitutional Rights). In the US, Habeus Corpus is enshrined in the first article of the constitution, but as part of the response to 9/11 by the US government, the Military Commissions Act (MCA) was passed by the Congress in 2006 (Centre for Constitutional Rights). It is this MCA that took away the right to habeas corpus from Guantanamo Bay detainees and any other foreigner s detained as â€Å"enemy combatant† (Centre for Constitutional Rights). But evidence has shown that most if not all Guantanamo Bay detainees have not been captured by US forces or caught in the battlefield, and most of the men have not even been legally charged with any crime (Centre for Constitutional Rights). Approximately 800 people have been held so far and only 10 of them have been charged (CCR), the rest continues to face torture, sham trials and so on (Centre for Constitutional Rights). But the MCA does not only apply to foreigners or Guantanamo Bay detainees as it also applies to legal US residents, even those who have lived in the US for many years are susceptible to being labeled â€Å"enemy combatant† and detained without trial (Centre for Constitutional Rights). Probably the most famous of these is the detention of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, the subject of David Egger’s book ‘Zeitoun’, along with three other colleagues (Pilkington).Advertisin g Looking for critical writing on constitutional law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Zeitoun, a Syrian- American citizen living in New Orleans had stayed behind in the face of the Hurricane Katrina to watch over his property. For days after the Katrina had subsided, paddling in his small canoe, he had been running a one-man rescue mission (of his neighbors and animals). In the end, he and his three colleagues were arrested by the US government for allegedly being terrorists; eventually, he was detained for almost a month, while his colleagues were detained for much longer (Pilkington). Discussion The question of the â€Å"greater good† against human rights cannot be fully understood but it can be nevertheless be investigated through Plural Legal Order (PLOs); these are institutions, rules or norms formed by a group of people or society to secure stability (International Council on Human Rights Policy). These are applic able in situations where one dispute is governed by more than one law, norm or forum co-existing within one jurisdiction; these norms, laws and forums describe what is wrong or right and how to or not to act (International Council on Human Rights Policy). Currently, the US has grown paranoiac which has led to the heightened level of vigilance; this state of things, as explained has come as part of the response to 9/11 and the effort to avert another attack. Whether it can be used to justify these human rights violations depends on whether these detentions are credible, as it is, the government has no way of ascertaining people’s suspicions. Otherwise the arrest of an innocent man like Zeitoun wouldn’t have happened; sadly 9/11 was and has been the impetus for the MCA and the many unjustified detentions, notably the Guantanamo Bay tortures. But the case of Zeitoun presents a puzzle on the question of the â€Å"greater good†; that is, how is the â€Å"greater goo d† quantified? Zeitoun had been giving relief to his neighbors because the government was not present at the time; because the government could not get to the needy at the time, its forces went in to arrest an innocent man. It makes one wonder if a harmless man was the key to the â€Å"greater good† under the circumstances for instance, or the assistance of the trapped and the dying. One may argue that if Zeitoun had really been a terrorist then he would have presented the worst threat to the country. But how well that threat to a mostly deserted area could be measured against the threat of the aftermath of Katrina to justify the prioritization of the arrest remains a puzzle. It is also worth noting that Zeitoun and his colleagues were detained in Camp Greyhound, a makeshift detention centre constructed specifically for the detainees picked in the aftermath of Katrina. The camp held at least 1,200 detainees, all denied their rights to habeas corpus (Pilkington); thus, o ne is bound to wonder why the same wasn’t done for relief purposes.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Greater Good specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For the government, the aftermath of Katrina presented two questions: humanitarian and terrorism. The former was real and doing something about it would have furthered the concept of human rights, the latter was imagined and doing something about it meant not abusing or favoring human rights, depending on whether the people detained really posed any threat to the general US population. The government prioritized the latter. Conclusion 9/11 altered the US state of things, especially the general reception of Islam; at the same time, the US explicitly came to be seen as the biggest and most potential target of terrorist attacks. The US culture, in all its variants has therefore had to adapt to this interplay of factors; unfortunately, part of this ha s been at the expense of those living within US borders, especially foreigners. Although this vigilance has partly been the key to the fact that there hasn’t been another attack, the question of â€Å"greater good† and habeas corpus cannot be answered by a simple yes or no. This is an example of â€Å"cultural relativism† (International Council on Human Rights Policy) where the people are divided between what is right and what is wrong against the government having to do what it thinks is necessary. As it is said, â€Å"human rights fall within, not outside, culture and normative systems† (International Council on Human Rights Policy). The state is an example of normative system as it defines human rights in its context; thus, â€Å"people are the bearers of rights and culture, and recognizing the rights does not mean that culture is to be rejected (International Council on Human Rights Policy). Works Cited Centre for Constitutional Rights. What is Habea s Corpus? 2011. Web. International Council on Human Rights Policy. When Legal World Overlap: Human Rights, State and Non-State Law, 2009. Web. Pilkington. The Amazing True Story of Zeitoun, 2010. Web.Advertising Looking for critical writing on constitutional law? Let's see if we can help you! 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