Hate Crime Essay - 1268 Words

In the United States, hate crimes have been the longest of many crimes that are committed. What is a hate crime? A hate crime is a criminal offense that is committed against an individual, a group, or a property, largely due to their; race, gender, sexuality, religious, and the list goes on and on. A hate crime is the act of aggression that goes against the individual, group, or society. Examples include; assault and battery, vandalism, and threats. Hate crimes are the most damaging, they attack the person for who they are not what they have done. The hate crime appeared during the late 1980s and has continued throughout America today. In America today, we see many different types of hate crimes have increased. America is still†¦show more content†¦Every day we see on the media about people being harassed, abused, or even murdered, it has become the Americas normal. Hate crimes are committed every hour; three gays become victims of hate crimes every day. Current laws do not protect these three groups of individuals: women, the disabled, and the homosexuals. I believe a huge hate crime percentage in America today is against the LGBT society. As the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender society grows, we start to see more than ten percent in the population. In 1973, the shooting of New Orleans French Quarter gay par killing 32 people, 1997-150 people, 2000- 7 people, 2009- one victim, 12 staples to the head, 2013- one individual poured gasoline on a stair way and set the club on fire, there was about 750 people in that club, last, the most recent in 2016, killing 50 people and sending 53 to the hospital, the Orlando pulse gay nightclub was violently attacked. 68% of people favor including sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crimes law (Libman Marzullo, 2009). Anti-LGBT groups have violently acted out against the homosexuality, and claimed that same-sex marriage and the other LGBT population are dangerous to children and to itself. They hope that we support that homosexuality and the those who identify as transgender are criminals, and it should be against law. They also say they are a conspiracy known as the homosexualShow MoreRelatedHate Crimes Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesEssay #2: What are the roots of the violence/hate crimes today in our contemporary society? What can we do to reduce them? Explain. The world is full of HATE. What is this word? What makes someone HATE someone else enough to kill or harm another human being? Hate crimes are criminal actions intended to harm or intimidate people because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or other minority group status. They are also referred to as bias crimes. Hate crimes have been goingRead MoreHate Crimes Essay1417 Words   |  6 PagesCrimes I. Intro-What is a hate crime . A hate crime is when a person intentionally selects a victim because of the race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. A person who commits a hate crime can come from any background and be any race. The term hate crime is meant to differentiate criminal behavior that is caused by prejudice from behavior that is motivated by greed jealously, anger, politics and like. Hate groups differ from one another in terms of membershipRead MoreEssay on hate crimes661 Words   |  3 Pages Defining Hate Crimes Hate crimes has become an increasing problem here in the united states ranging from racial hatred to gender discrimination but what are hate crimes? According to Dr. Jack McDevitt, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston Hate crimes are message crimes, Hate crimes are defined as crimes that are violent act against people, property, or organizations because of the group to which they belong or identify with. The coined term â€Å"hate crimes† was first used No matterRead More Hate Crimes Essay902 Words   |  4 Pages Hate Crimes I. What are Hate Crimes A. Definitions for Hate Crimes B. Counting Hate Crimes 1. White Power 2. Black Power II. Examples of Hate Crimes A. Hate Crime penalties III. Reasons for Hate Crimes Even though Hate Crimes have been around in the past, and have been most certainly been more violent in the past. Hate Crimes are most certainly still a problem in todays society, but it is not dealt with the same violent manner as previously performed in the past. There are still violent actsRead MoreEssay on Hate Crime Analysis1420 Words   |  6 PagesHate Crime Analysis Kim Hull CJA/540 Criminological Theory October 13, 2011 Facilitator David Mailloux CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I  certify that  the attached  paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else.  I haveRead MoreReligion and Hate Crimes Essay2507 Words   |  11 PagesIn 2007, according to the Federal Bureau Investigation of the Nation’s law enforcement agencies â€Å"there were 9,535 victims of hate crimes; of these victims17.1 percent were victimized because of a bias against a religious belief which totaled to be 1,628 victims of an anti-religious hate crime† (1). Almost ten thousand people were victims of hate crimes alone in 2007. That is something to be alarmed about because part of living in the U.S.A as minority is to have freedom to do and be anything youRead MoreReligion and Hate Crimes Essay2520 Words   |  11 PagesIn 2008, the Uniform Crime Reporting program of the U.S. Department of Justice — Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that â€Å"13,690 law enforcement agencies submitted hate crime data to the UCR Program. Of these agencies, 2,145 reported 7,783 hate crime incidents involving 9,168 offenses and of the 7,780 single-bias incidents reported in 2008, 19.5 percent were motivated by religious bias† (1). The statistics of 2008 are alarming to look at because the numbers of hate crimes committed in that yearRead MoreThe Many Forms of Hate Crimes Essay687 Words   |  3 PagesThe Many Forms of Hate Crimes The issue of hate crimes has greatly affected the way in which people interact. A hate crime is defined as any act of violence or verbal slashing of a person based upon race, religious belief, or ones sexuality. There are several other grounds for determining a hate crime depending upon guidelines in written laws. Hate crimes are said to have originally derived from the unjust treatment of Jewish cultures during the Holocaust in World War II. Slavery of AfricanRead MoreEssay about Hate Crime Victimization1642 Words   |  7 Pagesof murders, assaults, and acts of vandalism and desecration were fueled by bigotry† (Karmen, 2013, p. 350). Hate crime victimization is a very prevalent and serious issue that exists amongst our society today that is often used to demonstrate a form of hate towards a particular group of people; primarily minority groups. â€Å"Although each state employs a different definition of hate crime, most statutes include groups singled out on the basi s of race (such as African Americans or Asian Americans)Read MoreEssay on Hate Crime1498 Words   |  6 PagesHate Crime   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Violence motivated by a bias against victims’ characteristics which include race, religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation, represents a serious threat to all communities. Experts estimate that a bias-related crime is committed every 14 minutes. Criminal justice officials and state policy makers need to realize that it is key to make or adjust hate crime legislation. This has been a heated debate for centuries

What is the Importance of Friendships to Personal Health

Friendship is very important for mental and personal health, the people who you celebrate happy and not so happy times with. The friend who can cheer you up and brighten up your day, the list goes on. Friendship is important, its been researched that it can boost your self-confidence, help you cope with difficult situations and even encourage you to change, habit for example. This relationship as you can see is very important to anyone, physically and mentally strengthening you, without friends people can become depressed and feel that they dont belong on the earth causing mental health. There are many different kind of friendships, such as best friends, close friends and friends, all impact a person in many different ways. Its not about how many friends you have because it only takes one to change you and be there for you. As research shows you could have many friends but have only one youll turn to for advice and help. If we look at a person that has no friendships, we see that their confidence, social skills and personal heath is effected because they dont gain the skills that can only be obtained through friendships. Friendships are really powerful even though we might not think it, many children and adults have committed subside because they had no friends, this shows it impacted their personal health so much, that they felt worthless to the world. Its proven that you may have stopped someone from committing suicide from just smiling at a stranger in theShow MoreRelatedThe Magic Of A Family Meal By Ellen Goodman1260 Words   |  6 Pagesauthors conclude the im portance of personal relationships. Though varied in their theses, tones, and styles, each article stresses that individuals quality of life can be positively affected by taking time for companions and relatives. 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The Twilight Saga 5 Midnight Sun 19. Baseball Free Essays

string(128) " waiting for Charlie in his driveway so he could tattle tale like a little kid on Bella’s new found relationship with me\." As I pounced on Bella I brought her into my arms and held her there securely while flying through the room at a ferocious velocity. When we collided with the couch it went flying across the room until it settled against the wall with a large crashing blast. She was breathing in large heavy gasps of air and her heart was drumming madly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 19. Baseball or any similar topic only for you Order Now She tried to move out of my protective arms and I refused. I moved her closer into my embrace letting her warm my body. She eyed me suspiciously and a playful grin spread across my face without my permission. It was just something I did naturally when I was around her. â€Å"You were saying?† I pretended to growl. â€Å"That you are a very, very terrifying monster,† her voice was sagging with sarcasm under her heavy panting. â€Å"Much better,† I agreed. She looked up at me, still a little jarred by my sudden movement, â€Å"Um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she paused and continued to struggle, â€Å"Can I get up now?† she asked. â€Å"What the hell was that noise?† Jasper asked Alice. â€Å"Ha-ha. Edward is wrestling with Bella.† Alice answered cheerily. Oh my, Jasper began thinking, but his thoughts turned frenzied. I began laughing at Bella and Jaspers now frantic thoughts. â€Å"Can we come in?† Alice asked from the hall. Bella continued to struggle in my arms but I refused to let her go. I repositioned her so she was on my lap. I could feel the warmth of Bella’s blood as it raced up her cheeks when she realized that Alice and Jasper were in the door way. â€Å"Go ahead,† I barked a laugh. How can he get that close to her? It seriously blows my mind, Jasper was panicking mentally. Jasper had a strong belief that being this close to a human was impossible without feeding. His belief was now being thrown out the window. Alice’s thoughts were just a humming of approval. She was radiating with glee as she moved fluidly into the room, dropping to the ground and crossing her legs with a gleaming smile across her face. Jasper continued to stay in the door way. His thoughts were still fanatically stunned. â€Å"It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share,† Alice said while she failed extravagantly at trying to suppress laughter. Bella stiffened like a board in my arms but met her gaze unflinchingly and I couldn’t help but grin at both of them. When Bella saw my face she relaxed. I looked at Alice and answered back playfully, â€Å"Sorry, I don’t believe I have enough to spare.† I tightened my arms around her. Her heart was still humming quickly and her blush was still pronounced on her cheeks. Jasper finally got his thoughts out of a tangle as the mood of the room finally hit him. Wow, I’ve never felt Edward feel so†¦happy†¦and†¦in love. A smile spread across Jaspers face automatically at the cheerfulness in the room. â€Å"Actually, Alice says there’s going to be a real storm tonight, and Emmett wants to play ball. Are you game?† he asked while walking into the room. Playing ball did sound fun. I knew Emmett would be thoroughly pissed if I didn’t show up this time. I remembered the vampires that are visiting in the area and without thinking about it I looked at Bella and realized I would never leave her for a moment with those creatures at large. Before I could respond Alice chimed in, â€Å"Of course you should bring Bella.† What? Jasper looked mildly surprised and sent Alice a quick look but turned back so quickly I wasn’t sure if Bella caught it. Once again I had to remind myself that it was always her choice, â€Å"Do you want to go?† I asked as excitement burst through me. She looked at me and without hesitating she said, â€Å"Sure. Um, where are we going?† This is going to be so much fun! Alice’s thoughts flitted through my mind. I can’t believe this. Oh well this should be†¦interesting. Jasper thought while curiosity was willing inside him. â€Å"We have to wait for thunder to play ball ?C you’ll see why,† I smiled at her. A sign of nervousness was evident on her face when she bit her lower lip. She didn’t realize she was doing it when she looked at me and asked anxiously, â€Å"Will Ineed an umbrella?† We all started laughing but I was relieved because I was finally aware of what her sudden apprehension was. â€Å"Will she?† Jasper asked with a most peculiar expression. â€Å"No. The storm will hit over town. It should be dry enough in the clearing.† Alice said while the vision of the clearing ran through her head. Jasper was so full of happiness and joyfulness from the situation happening in the room that he couldn’t contain his smile, â€Å"Good, then,† he exclaimed. Being around Alice was always a little strange because I was constantly seeing the future. This time it was just the coming minutes going through her mind. I saw her going to Carlisle and asking about playing ball. â€Å"Let’s go see if Carlisle will come,† Alice jumped off the ground and headed toward the door with a wink in Jaspers direction. â€Å"Like you don’t know,† Jasper teased. Jasper closed the door behind him, Have fun bro. Bella turned in my lap, her heart fluttering at our closeness, â€Å"What will we be playing?† she wondered. I laughed at the thought of letting her hold a bat, or worse, letting her try to hit a ball with a bat. â€Å"You will be watching,† I clarified, â€Å"We will be playing baseball,† I explained. She rolled her eyes at me, â€Å"Vampires like baseball?† she asked in disbelief. â€Å"It’s the American pastime,† I said in mock seriousness. Some very annoying sound was in my ear. I was driving down Bella’s street when little droplets of rain began splattering onto the windshield. That was not what was bothering me. Billy Black was waiting for Charlie in his driveway so he could tattle tale like a little kid on Bella’s new found relationship with me. You read "The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 19. Baseball" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Damn Quileute legends,† I muttered so low that Bella couldn’t hear me. Jacob and his father were taking shelter on Bella’s front porch and I was instantly tense. Can’t she tell there is something wrong with that kid? His cold white skin, his aversion to the sun†¦I will settle this though. Charlie will listen to me and force her to stop seeing the Cullen kid. Billy Black thought with a sneer and a curse in each thought with my name. Charlie isn’t even here, why are we waiting here in the rain like idiots? Jacob thought until he saw Bella, Oh, well†¦maybe this wasn’t a wasted trip after all. I had heard enough. The thoughts radiating off of them were about to drive me to let the monster free. I couldn’t let that happen when Bella was around. â€Å"This is crossing the line,† I said vehemently. Bella’s eyes found mine and they were worried. â€Å"He came to warn Charlie?† she asked horrified. I gave her a grave look and nodded. I turned toward Billy then and I was seeing red. My eyes were narrowed into tiny slits. I can just get out of the car and scare them off. Or maybe I could†¦ â€Å"Let me deal with this,† Bella interrupted my internal rage. I didn’t want to let her leave my side. To think of the things she was going to hear from Billy’s mouth. His thoughts continued to get snippier and nastier each time he glared in my direction. I knew if I left the vehicle now and released my anger that I would lose Bella, so I quickly agreed, â€Å"That’s probably best. Be careful, though. The child has no idea.† â€Å"Jacob is not that much younger than I am,† she reminded me crisply. I turned my gaze on her because she pulled me from my anger. She always knew exactly what to say to calm my nerves and bring me back to earth. I grinned at her, â€Å"Oh, I know,† I assured her. She looked exasperated. She reached for the door handle and sighed. I needed to leave here before my temper came back. What the hell are they doing? What is taking so long? Billy thought angrily. â€Å"Get them inside so I can leave. I’ll be back around dusk,† I commanded. Her eyes met mine again, â€Å"Do you want my truck?† she asked. Hasn’t she learned better by now? I rolled my eyes, â€Å"I could walk home faster than this truck moves.† A sad look entered her eyes, â€Å"You don’t have to leave,† she said longingly. She had no idea how difficult it was for me to leave while there were vampires lurking in the vicinity and the Blacks were here to cause trouble. I looked at her expression realizing she didn’t want me to leave just as much as I didn’t want to leave her. â€Å"Actually, I do. After you get rid of them,† I glared in the Blacks direction, â€Å"you still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend,† a smile spread across my face. She groaned loudly, â€Å"Thanks a lot.† Her face was so adorable when she was upset or angry. I couldn’t help but smile at her. â€Å"I’ll be back soon,† I promised. If she doesn’t exit that truck in one minute I am going to go over there and make sure she is okay, Billy swelled ominously. I turned my glare back in the direction of the porch at the last thought. I wanted to taunt Billy just a little bit and Jacob too. I leaned down and slowly brought my lips to Bella’s jaw. I kissed lightly and her heart jumped up in her chest. Her blood was pulsing quickly and the scent made me go wild. The kiss was all flames and electricity down my throat. When I moved away from her, she looked towards the porch and could see the same thing I could. Billy had a death grip on his wheel chair and his thoughts were in frantic disarray. Oh, how†¦ oh, goodness. I†¦ Well†¦disgusting! Billy’s thoughts were choked. Bella realized how panicked Billy was now and she was suddenly in a rush, â€Å"Soon,† she ordered while opening the door to the truck and stepping out into the rain. When the rain droplets ran down her face I could see them evaporate while the wind blew her rainy scent in my direction. I gripped her steering wheel so tightly I almost broke it off. She shut the door quickly and ran to the porch for protection from the rain. I decided to keep my attention on the Blacks and not on the way Bella’s scent was covered in a delicious sweetness. â€Å"Hey, Billy. Hi, Jacob,† Bella greeted them in a incredibly false pleased voice, â€Å"Charlie’s gone for the day ?C I hope you haven’t been waiting long.† Right, right, I don’t believe she is worried about our wait at all. Billy thought with disappointment etched in every sagging line of his face. â€Å"Not long,† Billy replied dully, â€Å"I just wanted to bring this up,† he pointed to a brown paper sack in his lap. I wonder when Charlie will be home. I still can’t believe what I saw in her truck. Billy thoughts continued to curse me. â€Å"Thanks,† Bella responded in a confused voice, â€Å"Why don’t you come in for a minute and dry off?† she offered. She doesn’t seem scared or nervous†¦not at all like she was just with a vampire. Billy was alight with a feverous fanatical burn. Bella opened the door and showed them in. Before the door was shut I was out of the truck and pelting through the woods. Each step dragged as I was contemplating going back and scoping up Bella and running for it. The only reason I didn’t was because Billy was right about everything. She shouldn’t be with me. She should realize the appalling creature that I am and run away screaming. But she didn’t; she continued to pull herself ever closer to me and I allowed it. I embraced her and wanted her in my arms. The love I was feeling for her was overwhelming. If anything were to happen to her†¦ I stopped running in the forest to take several unneeded deep breaths. When the fear and anxiety finally dulled I swiftly made my way back home. For the first time in ages Alice wasn’t waiting for me at the porch steps; Emmett was. â€Å"Hey! I heard that you and Bella are coming out to play ball tonight!† Emmett laughed loudly while his face twisted with glee. â€Å"No, Bella will not be playing,† I said with a grim smile. â€Å"Oh, damn it. I was hoping to see Bella with a bat in her hand,† Emmett smiled sinisterly. â€Å"Please, like I would place a bat in her hands!† Yeah, yeah I get it. You just don’t understand how funny it is when she does something human, Emmett chortled a wild little laugh as he walked into the house. Alice walked over the threshold then, You know this is going to be a good game. There will be a tie breaker. Do you remember what happened last time between Jasper and Emmett? Esme is going to have to come up with a better idea for tie breaking. I smiled at her, â€Å"So are you pitching?† Of course, you can’t let Carlisle do it; he’s just not that good at pitching. Alice thought. We were both silent for a few seconds and I could tell what topic of conversation Alice really wanted to cover, â€Å"Go ahead, ask me,† I suggested. When can I take Bella shopping? Please let me take her soon! Have you seen the dreadful attire she was wearing? Just wait until you see what she is wearing tonight. Ugh! Alice pouted. â€Å"We’ll see,† I replied. Fine, okay†¦ Want to throw the ball around? Alice asked, bored. â€Å"Sure.† Alice flew through the house, grabbed a baseball and flew to the backyard. I was already waiting for her. We threw the ball back and forth for several minutes until Jasper and Emmett came outside to join us. Emmett and Jasper decided that throwing the ball back and forth was ‘boring’ and needed some spice. They began throwing the ball as far as they could to see who would be the first to not catch it. This went on for several long minutes. I sat on the grass watching the sun slowly descending behind the trees. I got up in a hurry to pick Bella up. Take Emmett’s Jeep. Trust me. Alice sent a vision of us running through the forest, She would appreciate it if part of the way there wasn’t on your back, she giggled. â€Å"Hey, Emmett, I’m taking your jeep,† I informed him. â€Å"Okay, bring it back in one piece, oh, and you better help Bella get into the Jeep. I wouldn’t want to see her get hurt trying to get in it,† Emmett’s bellowing laugh echoed and reverberated off of the trees. â€Å"Funny,† I muttered. I could hear Charlie and Bella’s conversation from a mile down the road. I caught the very end of it. Bella had informed Charlie that we were going on a date and Charlie was having a hard time comprehending the match. â€Å"Where is he taking you?† he asked protectively. I could hear Bella groan loudly, â€Å"I hope you’re getting the Spanish Inquisition out of your system now. We’re going to play baseball with his family,† she explained. Baseball? Hum, maybe I had things all wrong with this Edward kid, Charlie mumbled in his thoughts, But, Bella, playing ball? A loud chuckle erupted from him. â€Å"You’re playing baseball?† he asked in disbelief. I was extremely pleased that she finally told Charlie the truth about our plans. â€Å"Well, I’ll probably watch most of the time,† she responded. All of the time, I amended in my mind. â€Å"You must really like this guy,† Charlie observed suspiciously. I heard Bella sigh as I parked in the driveway. I heard the water going in the kitchen. â€Å"Leave the dishes, I can do them tonight. You baby me too much,† said Charlie. I promptly made my way to the front door and lightly pressed the door bell. Bells began ringing throughout the house. I heard Charlie’s footsteps followed by Bella’s coming towards the door. He opened the door swiftly sending their scent flying out into the rain. Every particle of air around me began soaking up Bella’s scent instantly. Charlie’s scent could have been non-existent compared to hers. I could almost catch her taste on the saturated air. â€Å"Come on in, Edward,† Charlie greeted me. Bella exhaled a large gust of air sending another tantalizing scent ripping down my throat and sending my stomach into knots at the fragrance. â€Å"Thanks, Chief Swan,† I replied respectfully. â€Å"Go ahead and call me Charlie. Here, I’ll take your jacket,† he reached for it. I pulled it off quickly and replied, â€Å"Thanks, sir,† before handing it over. â€Å"Have a seat there, Edward,† he ordered while pointing to the seat. I saw Bella’s face in my peripheral vision and she looked like she was going to be sick with anxiety. I sat down in the only chair. Bella and Charlie sat on the sofa. Bella glared at me with her arms folded around her stomach. Her kittenish out-rage was comical at best and so I winked when Charlie’s back was turned. Her cheeks turned bright pink – in horror or embarrassment I wasn’t sure. â€Å"So I hear you’re getting my girl to watch baseball,† Charlie mused. â€Å"Yes, sir, that’s the plan,† I answered courteously. â€Å"Well, more power to you, I guess,† he said incredulously and we both broke into hooting laughs. Blood had boiled to the surface of Bella’s face and rage flowed out of her mouth. She stood up, â€Å"Okay. Enough humor at my expense. Let’s go,† she ordered. I waited for Charlie to stand up and then followed him. We met Bella in the hall while she angrily pulled her jacket over her flannel shirt. I don’t care what Alice said, the flannel looks pleasant on her. When she flipped her hair it sent a wave of her bouquet my direction and I inhaled deeply at the pleasurable pain that was echoing in my throat. â€Å"Not too late, Bell,† Charlie instructed. â€Å"Don’t worry, Charlie, I’ll have her home early,† I promised. What he didn’t know was that I would be staying the night in his daughter’s room†¦again. Holding her tightly against my body and tracing every line of her face, arms, and shoulders. I imagined her trembling under my touch when Charlie finally distracted me. â€Å"You take care of my girl, all right?† Charlie ordered and I could hear the mental humming of his love for his only daughter spilling from his mind in large waves crashing into me all at once. I wondered briefly if this is what Jasper felt like when he absorbed someone’s mood. Bella groaned again but we both ignored her. â€Å"She’ll be safe with me, I promise, sir.† There was no doubt that she would always be safe with me, that I would never let any harm come to her. Charlie’s thoughts became muffled like they did at times but I could still tell that he believed me. I grabbed my jacket and watched Bella walk angrily down the hall. Bella, still in her kittenish rage, turned to look at me and then marched out of the house. Charlie and I both laughed and I followed her. When she reached the porch her jaw almost dropped to the ground when she caught sight of the Jeep. Charlie came into view of the Jeep too and whistled. â€Å"Wear your seat belts,† he stammered. Bella finally got her act together after taking in the whole jeep. Her eyes had roamed from the monster tires to the metal guards over the headlights and the crash bar. She stalked forward and I followed her, opening the passenger side door. I saw her look at the ground and then at the seat while her eyes slightly popped. She crouched like she was about to spring up into the seat. I sighed remembering Emmetts taunts and I carefully grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into the Jeep with one hand. It was pouring down rain and her scent was teasing me by swirling around my nose and deep in my lungs as I inhaled. I walked around to the front of the Jeep while watching Bella struggle with the seat belt. I suppressed a chuckle. I opened the driver’s side door and she looked at me confused, â€Å"What’s all this?† she asked pointing to the buckles. â€Å"It’s an off-roading harness.† â€Å"Oh-oh,† she looked nervous. I watched her struggle some more, delighting in the blood flushing her face at her frustration. She wasn’t going to give up the fight and I finally sighed, reaching over her to help. I brought the seat belt over her neck caressing her lightly and brought my finger tips across her collarbone. Her hands went limp in her lap and her heart was like a humming bird’s wings. She began breathing heavily. The scent of her breath hit me like a ton of bricks, sweet and delicious. I pulled away once she was buckled. I did enjoy dazzeling her. I turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared the life. Bella was looking rather nervous. â€Å"This is a†¦um†¦big Jeep you have.† â€Å"It’s Emmett’s,† I informed her, â€Å"I didn’t think you’d want to run the whole way.† She was still breathless, â€Å"Where do you keep this thing?† â€Å"We remodeled one of the outbuildings into a garage,† I explained. She looked at me with one eyebrow raised, â€Å"Aren’t you going to put on your seat belt?† I threw her a disbelieving look. She was being ridiculous. She continued to stare at me and her look suddenly became horror struck, â€Å"Run the whole way? As in, we’re still going to run part of the way?† her voice rose a few intervals. I tried to prevent a grin from spreading across my face but it was a hopeless attempt. My lips turned up at the corners no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, â€Å"You’re not going to run.† â€Å"I’m going to be sick,† she pulled her lips together tightly like she was preventing herself from getting sick right then. Again, I tried to prevent a smile from appearing and yet there it was. â€Å"Keep your eyes closed, you’ll be fine.† With her normal nervous gesture she began biting at her lower lip. When she did this it always made me a little anxious that she might hurt herself, but she never did. I watched her carefully as the panic was racing through her veins. Her pulse was hammering and her breath was heavy on the air. Her hair was slightly wet from the rain and I couldn’t help it – I brought my nose to her head and kissed her hair. A groan came out of my throat without my permission. I pulled away and she gave me a questioning look. â€Å"You smell so good in the rain,† I explained. I took more air into my lungs, a whirl wind of her warm scent swirled into them. I held it there for a second before exhaling and doing it all over again; reveling in her aroma. â€Å"In a good way or a bad way?† she gave me a furtive look. I sighed, â€Å"Both, always both.† Once our journey took us off the paved road and into the forest conversation became impossible for Bella because she was bouncing up and down. I swear I could see her eyes rattling around. I couldn’t help but smile at her look. It was hilarious and no matter how hard I tried to hide my smile, it was brilliant and brightly plastered across my face. The end of the path loomed into view and we could no longer drive any farther. I stopped the Jeep turning the key as the engine became silent. â€Å"Sorry, Bella, we have to go on foot from here,† I explained. â€Å"You know what? I’ll just wait here,† she answered sarcastically. â€Å"What happened to all your courage?† I asked with a smile, â€Å"You were extraordinary this morning.† Her face started draining of all color, â€Å"I haven’t forgotten last time yet.† I wrenched the door open and hopped out of the Jeep and in less than a second I was on her side of the Jeep unbuckling her seat belt. She stared at me indignantly. â€Å"I’ll get those, you go on ahead,† she protested. I finally unbuckled all of the straps and decided teasing was the best way to go, â€Å"Hmmm†¦,† I mused, â€Å"It seems I’m going to have to tamper with your memory.† I pulled her into my arms and sat her gently on the ground. â€Å"Tamper with my memory?† she asked anxiously. â€Å"Something like that,† I teased. It was no longer raining and the mist was falling into her hair sending the sweet seductive scent evaporating into every particle of air around us. I took in a generous amount of the air in between us. I decided a distraction was needed so I could get her into the clearing. She was leaning against the Jeep and I took two hasty steps until I trapped her there by placing both of my hands on either side of her. I brought my body ever closer to hers. She backed away slightly but didn’t seem to mind my closeness. Her warm body enveloped me as I brought my face ever closer to hers. I wanted to place my lips to hers. I was nervous to see what her reaction would be this time. â€Å"Now,† I breathed, â€Å"what exactly are you worrying about?† â€Å"Well, um, hitting a tree -† she gulped, â€Å"?C and dying. And then getting sick.† I remembered both times when she got sick; at school and after running with me. I couldn’t help but smile at the memories but quickly smoothed my face. I moved the few extra inches until her warm breath was now in my mouth. I brought my lips to the hollow at the base of her throat. I kissed lightly moving my nose under her jaw lightly. â€Å"Are you still worried now?† I breathed on her skin making her tremble in pleasure. â€Å"Yes.† her voice quivered in bliss, â€Å"About hitting trees and getting sick.† Apparently I wasn’t distracting her enough though I was thoroughly distracted. I was euphoric. I trailed the tip of my nose up her throat and down her jaw line to the tip of her chin. â€Å"And now?† I whispered while breathing in her every breath. â€Å"Trees,† she inhaled, â€Å"Motion sickness.† I brought my lips to her eyes and kissed her eye lids, â€Å"Bella, you don’t really think I would hit a tree, do you?† â€Å"No, but I might,† her confidence failing extravagantly. I began my journey to her mouth. I kissed slowly down her cheek letting her skin warm them. I brought my lips to the corner of her mouth. Gently, I let my bottom lip softly brush against hers. â€Å"Would I let a tree hurt you?† My lips were barely touching her. A curious sensation crawled up my throat. With every touch of our lips electricity shot through my body sending a joyous feeling through my veins. Her bottom lip was trembling in absolute pleasure. I took in several generous gulps of her breath. â€Å"No,† she breathed against my lips. â€Å"You see,† I said my lips touching hers as I spoke, â€Å"There’s nothing to be afraid of, is there?† â€Å"No,† she sighed and she became limp against the Jeep, giving up. I pulled her face into my hands a little rougher than usual and brought my lips to hers fiercely. Our lips were moving together and we were both panting heavily at the sensations shooting through our bodies. She brought her arms around my neck bringing me closer to her. We embraced frantically while our bodies were welded together. My hands moved eagerly to her back bringing her closer to my chest while bowing her body against mine. She was quivering with delight as her lips parted slightly and she sighed heavily bringing her breath deep in my lungs. Excitement exploded in the pit of my stomach. I let go and staggered back several steps, flustered, realizing this was the only sensible course of action. I couldn’t believe I let myself get so out of control. â€Å"Damn it, Bella!† I was gasping, â€Å"You’ll be the death of me, I swear you will.† I watched as she leaned forward placing her hands on her knees and panting. â€Å"You’re indestructible,† she mumbled while continuing to breathe heavily. I was so angry at myself for letting it get that far. I monster inside me wanted me to lose control and I couldn’t let that happen. â€Å"I might have believed that before I met you. Now let’s get out of here before I do something really stupid,† I growled. I pulled Bella onto my back while trying to be as gentle as possible. She secured herself to me by wrapping her legs around my waist and pulling her arms around my neck. The warmth rippled down my body. â€Å"Don’t forget to close your eyes,† I reminded her. She lodged her face into my shoulder and it sent a jolt of electricity through me. I could feel her warm breath. I broke into a run and her pulse picked up, her heart beating out large palpitations. It only took a matter of minutes before we arrived just outside the clearing where my family was already preparing to play ball. Bella did not move as I stood there waiting for her to let go. I was terrified that she had opened her eyes and fallen sick like before. I reached behind me and ran my fingers through her silky hair gently. â€Å"It’s over, Bella,† I said softly. She sighed in relief and she was suddenly no longer wrapped around me. I heard a pulpous noise that was followed by, â€Å"Oh!† I turned around swiftly worried she had hurt herself. I did the smallest of double takes before I saw her expression and the tension finally broke between us. Her face was screwed up in embarrassment. I was trying my hardest to hold in laughter but I was unable to. I barked out a laugh. Her expression had twisted into indignation and chagrin. She pushed herself off the ground while brushing dirt and bracken off of her backside. She turned, muttering silently, and marched off in the wrong direction. A smile was still on my face as I wrapped my arm around her waist. â€Å"Where are you going, Bella?† â€Å"To watch a baseball game. You don’t seem to be interested in playing anymore, but I’m sure the others will have fun without you,† she said bitterly. â€Å"You’re going the wrong way,† I said coolly. She turned on her heal with a firm and purposeful tread in the opposite direction. I shook my head back and forth at her and grabbed her around the waist a second time. â€Å"Don’t be mad, I couldn’t help myself. You should have seen your face,† I tried to explain but a chuckle broke through my composure. She looked at me haughtily. â€Å"Oh, you’re the only one who’s allowed to get mad?† she asked while raising her eyebrows. I paused for a moment and studied her face. â€Å"I wasn’t mad at you.† â€Å"‘Bella, you’ll be the death of me’?† she quoted crisply. â€Å"That was simply a statement of fact,† I said while still trying to hold in my amusement. She gave me a look of pure abhorrence and turned to stride away again. In a quick motion I pulled her to my chest. I couldn’t take it if she left me now. â€Å"You were mad,† she persisted, her face stricken. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"But you just said ?C† she began. â€Å"That I wasn’t mad at you. Can’t you see that, Bella?† I asked patiently. â€Å"Don’t you understand?† I felt completely exasperated. She was so sweet, loving†¦fragile; there was nothing she could do to make me upset at her. She pursed her lips. â€Å"See what?† she insisted with a confused expression. â€Å"I’m never angry with you ?C how could I be? Brave, trusting†¦warm as you are,† I explained. â€Å"Then why?† she asked softly. I analyzed her face, trying to read her mind once again. I reached the barrier I always did while trying to probe her mind, the silence persisted. She looked just as confused as ever. I sighed and pulled her delicate face in my cold palms. Her cheeks instantly warmed my whole body. I looked her straight in the eyes. â€Å"I infuriate myself,† I said quietly. â€Å"The way I can’t seem to keep from putting you in danger. My very existence puts you at risk. Sometimes I truly hate myself. I should be stronger; I should be able to ?C† She placed her warm palm over my mouth touching my lips softly. â€Å"Don’t.† She stared into my eyes, the depth of her eyes were communicating with mine. I put my hand over hers and moved it to my cheek. The warmth radiated off of her skin and deep into my body. I felt the sudden urge to bring our lips together and tell her how much I loved her. The words were exiting my mouth before I made the decision to do so. â€Å"I love you,† I stated. â€Å"It’s a poor excuse for what I’m doing, but it’s still true.† Her face softened at my words. â€Å"Now, please try to behave yourself,† I pleaded as I slowly bent down and brushed my lips lightly across hers. She didn’t move but her heart raced and she parted her lips with a sigh. I inhaled copious amounts of her breath into my lungs letting it send flames down my throat. â€Å"You promised Chief Swan that you would have me home early, remember,† she whispered against my lips. â€Å"We’d better get going.† My insides were twisting in pleasure at our touch but I finally got my act together. â€Å"Yes ma’am,† I replied while continuing to smile. I released all of her but her hand. I showed her the way through the forest. It was only a few feet until we reached the clearing. I was feeling radiant with glee. Esme, Rosalie and Emmett were sitting on a large rock. When they caught sight of us they all three rose. Alice and Jasper were in the distance throwing the ball back and forth and Carlisle was marking bases. Right on time! Alice thought. I’ll just hold my breath if she gets too close, Jasper contemplated. I thought I heard them, Esme thought while walking in our direction. Rosalie strode off in the other direction without a single glance behind her. Oh great†¦the human’s here, Rosalie sneered, alight with malice. Come on! Jeez, not this again†¦ Emmett stared at the back of Rosalie as she marched away from us. Whatever, I’m not missing this. Emmett followed behind Esme. â€Å"Was that you we heard, Edward?† Esme asked as she approached us. Yeah, that weird gurgling noise. â€Å"It sounded like a bear choking.† Emmett chortled. A small timid smile was on Bella’s face. â€Å"That was him.† Oh, I see how it is, I thought internally. â€Å"Bella was being unintentionally funny,† I explained with a wide grin. Alice came running towards us. Five seconds, she thought as she stopped in front of us. â€Å"It’s time,† she announced. Lightning flashed through the dark cloudy sky while thunder rippled overhead shaking the ground around us. Bella’s eyes grew wide in wonder. Her face is hilarious, Emmett thought. â€Å"Eerie, isn’t it?† he winked at Bella hoping for her to make another ‘human’ face. â€Å"Let’s go.† Alice grabbed Emmett’s hand and they speed swiftly away toward the field. I’ll take care of her. Go play now, Esme vested. Excitement was flowing in my veins. It had been a long time since I had felt so light and buoyant. â€Å"Are you ready for some ball?† I asked eagerly. Her face showed a mix of awe, bewilderment, and perplexity at the game. She seemed extremely intimidated. â€Å"Go team!† she said enthusiastically. A chuckle came through my lips as I fluffed her hair up in a frenzy and bounded after Alice and Emmett. Another crash of lightning sent a rumble of thunder through the earth at our feet. All the amazing feelings shooting through my body were making me exceedingly intoxicated with bliss. In this moment I felt like I had everything I could ever want. I flew past Alice and Emmett. Show off, Emmett thought. I just chuckled at his expression as I turned to run backwards, stopping in the outfield next to Carlisle. I peered over Emmett’s shoulder to see Esme and Bella walking toward the field. â€Å"Same teams?† Carlisle asked. Everyone nodded in agreement. My team members, Carlisle and Alice, left to go to their positions. Carlisle went to stand between first and second base while Alice went to the pitcher’s mound. I darted toward the outfield. Edward, you are such a gentleman, Esme commended. I hadn’t been paying attention to their conversation and listened to the end of it as they finally reached the outside of the playing field. â€Å"You don’t mind, then? That I’m†¦all wrong for him?† Bella asked Esme incredulously. She’s not all wrong for me, I’m all wrong for her. I amended internally. â€Å"No.† Esme began. I’d never want to take Bella away from Edward, I just couldn’t imagine†¦ â€Å"You’re what he wants. It will work out, somehow.† He needs to change her but I know if he never will, Esme was thinking wistfully. The ground shook below us as thunder rumbled overhead. Get ready, Edward! Emmett chortled internally. He was swinging the bat back and forth. He’ll miss the first one, Alice snickered. â€Å"All right,† Esme called out. â€Å"Batter up.† Emmett raised his bat, ready to strike. Alice continued to snicker internally as she pictured Emmett missing the first pitch. She brought the ball to her waist. In a swift stealthy move she brought the ball into flight. It flew past Emmett at amazing speeds as Jasper caught it. He’s going to hit the next one, Edward. Be prepared, though, there is a ninety-seven percent chance you’ll catch it. Alice mused in her mind. Jasper threw the ball back at Alice and she showed her gleaming teeth at him. Damn she is so attractive when she pitches, Jasper thought. I began ignoring Jasper’s thoughts quickly after that. I didn’t need to be distracted from the game. Alice brought the ball back to her waist. She threw it with great force again and I was prepared. Emmett hit the ball with such strength that the aluminum smashed into the ball making a sound so fierce that it reverberated off the trees. It sounded just like the thunder. I caught a glimpse of Bella before I took off running. Her face looked stunned. The ball suddenly flew toward me at a ferocious velocity. It went whizzing by me at lethal speeds and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to catch it. Bella had distracted me with yet another one of her expressions. I hurtled through the woods, jumping over downed trees, hopping over rocks until I caught up with the ball. I put all my strength into my leap as I jumped and caught the ball while grabbing onto a branch and swinging down to the ground. With immense speed I ran back to the clearing, ball raised high and a smile prominent on my face. â€Å"Out!† Esme yelled to Emmett’s disappointment. Don’t worry, I’ll get you back†¦ he threatened. Bella had a bewildered expression. I heard Esme explaining what happened. â€Å"Emmett hits the hardest, but Edward runs the fastest.† Jasper was next to bat. He already knew that throwing one towards me would be a mistake and was going for a ground ball. He hit the ball and it bounced off the ground. Carlisle caught it and started running to beat Jasper to first base. They collided and sent another thunderous noise through the night’s air. Bella was sitting on the grass and jumped up with a look of concern on her face. I laughed harder than ever at her expression. â€Å"Safe.† Esme called out. We continued to play until the other team had three outs. We switched positions and I was at Bella’s side in a quick motion that she almost didn’t see. â€Å"What do you think?† I asked in excitement. â€Å"One thing’s for sure, I’ll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again,† she smiled widely. â€Å"And it sounds like you did so much of that before,† I laughed. The thrill of the game and the desire I felt when I was around Bella had me feeling high. â€Å"I am a little disappointed,† she said teasingly. â€Å"Why?† I asked, perplexed. â€Å"Well,† she grinned, â€Å"it would be nice if I could find just one thing you didn’t do better than everyone else on the planet.† She thought I was better than everyone else on the planet. I was soaring. I didn’t think anything could remove the smile that seemed to be permanently plastered on my face. I’m going to have to have a talk with her about filling your head with non-sense, Emmett guffawed stupidly. You’re oozing love over here. You’re up lover boy, Jasper joked. â€Å"I’m up!† I told Bella while heading to the plate. We continued to play for several innings when several things happened simultaneously. I had bent down to get into the catching position, Carlisle had walked up to bat and Alice gasped in horror while she shrieked in alarm in her mind. I brought my eyes to hers as I saw what she was seeing. Terror rose inside me as a large dead weight fell through my chest and into my stomach. Three vampires were running in our direction, curious about playing ball. The next series of visions had me scrambling to Bella’s side in terror. Edward, no! Alice thought while her vision continued as one tall vampire caught Bella’s scent on the wind and attacked. In her vision Bella didn’t die because we prevented him from sucking her dry but she had been bitten. Only a part of a second had passed and I was at Bella’s side. Get her out of here now! Alice bellowed from her mind. My brain was in limbo because I saw the other outcomes too. Everyone was saying Alice’s name alarmingly in their heads but Esme was the first to break the silence. â€Å"Alice?† she asked, her voice strained. â€Å"I didn’t see ?C I couldn’t tell,† she mouthed almost soundlessly. I felt Bella tense up as everyone flew rapidly to her side in protection. Bella knew – she had to know. She was always so observant. Everyones thoughts were jumbled in confusion and alarm. Panic burst inside me like poisonous gas. â€Å"What is it, Alice?† Carlisle asked in a business like tone. It’s too late, Edward. I’m sorry. â€Å"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before,† Alice’s eyes were blank yet horror struck. They’ll have to go through me before they get to Alice, Jasper thought protectively. He moved closer to her. â€Å"What changed?† She looked up at him in absolute horror. I could see how split second decisions were altering her visions. None of them looked promising. â€Å"They heard us playing, and it changed their path,† she explained with pure agony in her voice. It’s my fault, she thought feebly. We all looked at Bella and saw that her face was shocked. Her heart drummed madly as she comprehended our words. I saw through seven pairs of eyes Bella’s expressions from every angle. Each of their thoughts were ricocheting in my head. Was this the punishment I would suffer for being selfish? Losing her? I cried internally. My heart was screaming in protest. â€Å"How soon?† Carlisle asked me. Alice was in a stunned stupor. I read through each line of her thoughts as they flitted across her mind. â€Å"Less than five minutes. They’re running ?C they want to play.† I frowned at him. Take Bella and run! â€Å"Can you make it?† Carlisle asked me nervously. I brought her scent into my lungs. It was just another reminder of how weak and fragile she was. â€Å"No, not carrying ?C† I cut short. â€Å"Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting.† It was one of the many visions that had gone through Alice’s mind: Bella being hunted. Each decision we made turned the outcome into something different. Some were more devastating than others. As soon as I decided it I saw the reaction of the vampires. They would hunt ?C we would lose. I couldn’t run with her. This isn’t good, Carlisle thought. All right, a fight! Emmett exclaimed in his head, completely unperturbed. I glowered at him. He shrugged, I’m sorry. I don’t want them to hurt Bella any more than you do. â€Å"How many?† Emmett asked Alice. â€Å"Three,† she clipped in a muffled wail. â€Å"Three!† That will be too easy. â€Å"Let them come.† Emmett scoffed and began flexing his muscles. Everyone’s thoughts were in such a frantic state of mind I couldn’t listen anymore. They were coming at me from all angles. Bella’s name was coming up in every single thought. I began dissolving in misery. It was entirely fault. â€Å"Let’s just continue the game,† Carlisle finally decided. â€Å"Alice said they were simply curious.† This is ludicrous! I can’t believe this crap†¦all for a human girl. Rosalie muttered reproachfully. Now that the decision is made what is the outcome? Carlisle asked me. I shrugged because there were too many situations where decisions have yet to be made. I knew my face was screwed up in concentration and I knew that worry lines were etched into every crease of my face. I could see myself perfectly in Carlisle’s mind as he stared at me. Everyone began walking out onto the field to continue the game. Their minds were somewhere else though. Forest is clear here, Emmett thought. I nodded in his direction. Esme grabbed my arms and pulled me just a few feet away from Bella. The short distance felt like miles. I was so horrified that I had brought her to danger. Anguish was ripping through my body. A knot formed in the pit of my stomach. â€Å"Are they thirsty?† Esme whispered. I shook my head. That’s good to hear. Esme was relieved. I headed back to Bella quickly. â€Å"You catch, Esme. I’ll call it now.† I stood in front of Bella protectively. I would die to save her if I had to. She didn’t deserve any fate but life. My insides were plummeting sickeningly with each aching second before the crimson eyed creatures were to come into view. I won’t let anything happen to her, I swear. Alice tried to assure me. She had refused to go back onto the field, staying at Bella’s side in a protective stance. I knew that in this moment Alice showed her loyalty to me. The space between her and Jasper made him relatively nervous and he, too, was staying closer to Alice because of the situation. Emmett and Rosalie were staying in the infield. Chaos was filling everyone’s minds around me. The wind blew across Bella’s neck sending her sultry scent down my lungs. â€Å"Take your hair down,† I commanded. Her face looked positively terrified as she obediently slid her rubber band out of her hair and shook it out. She could tell that eminent danger was around the corner. The smell assaulted my lungs again. â€Å"The others are coming now,† she stated. I knew she could understand. Her knowing mind always amazed me. For a fleeting second I thought about what it would do to me if she were no longer around. Pain ripped through my chest leaving large angry scratches. â€Å"Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and don’t move from my side, please,† I pleaded. The billowing wind blew her scent towards me again. Each time it was a reminder of how easily this could go wrong. The knot in my stomach tightened. I pulled her hair forward and tried to wrap it as closely to her neck as possible. Edward†¦Edward. Edward! Alice was shouting my name from her head but I was too preoccupied to notice. â€Å"That won’t help,† she whispered, â€Å"I could smell her from across the field.† â€Å"I know,† I said, frustrated. Bella was like a gazelle in a sea of lions. I didn’t want to scare her but you wouldn’t respond. Alice sighed in her thoughts. The rest of my family began playing baseball again. This time they were lightly bunting the ball and barely running at top speeds. We weren’t interested in the game anymore. The waves of terror continued emitting from everyone’s mind. I felt Bella’s heat against me. She had moved within inches of my body. â€Å"What did Esme ask you?† she whispered. I wasn’t going to tell her but I realized that I had too. I hesitated for only a second. â€Å"Whether they were thirsty,† I was thoroughly discomposed. This is the dumbest idea ever. I don’t know what the hell Edward is thinking keeping her human. Grr. So frail and†¦mortal. Rosalie wailed in a real temper. I ignored her because I was too busy looking for the minds of strangers in the forest. I wonder how many there are. An unknown ‘voice’ flitted through my head. My eyes snapped up to the edge of the tree line. I couldn’t believe I had put Bella in this kind of danger. I was constantly putting her in harm’s way. â€Å"I’m sorry Bella,† I cried, â€Å"It was stupid, irresponsible, to expose you like this. I’m so sorry.† I couldn’t expect forgiveness because I didn’t deserve it. This should be interesting. I heard an unfamiliar female’s mind. I heard them in the distance and so did the rest of my family. There was a quivering silence cutting through the air as my family peered out at the darkening forest in the direction of the coming doom. They were just lurking out of sight. I was convinced for a whole shining second that they had changed their minds until three dark figures emerged from the forest. How to cite The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 19. Baseball, Essay examples

Propaganda and September 11 free essay sample

This essay looks at the events of September 11, propaganda and the media. This paper presents a detailed discussion about the use of propaganda in the media. The writer focuses on propaganda in the media regarding the subject of terrorism and discusses why it is being used and how it differs from persuasion. The essay focuses a great deal on the effects of September 11 and the media. The events of September 11, 2001 will be forever etched in our minds and we knew that day that we would never be the same. As the days events unfolded we were filled with a patriotism that we had not known for a long time. Every man, woman and child stood tall and proud and wanted to take whatever weapons they could find in their homes, and attack those who had done this to us. It was a day of anger, a day of revenge discussions and a day of support if the resident wanted to blow certain nation off the map completely. We will write a custom essay sample on Propaganda and September 11 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That day was filled with rage but as we all know time heals most wounds and this to passed. How can we keep the anger alive? How can we be sure we have what it takes to settle in for the long haul? The President warned us from the first day that this attack on terrorism was not going to be short lived and he wanted us to be ready to make sacrifices and to understand it will be a long and drawn out process. How can we make sure we do not lose the anger or the drive to seek revenge? That is where the media comes in and bombards us with propaganda.

Tips Strategies for the Boston College 2017-2018 Supplemental Essay

Applying to Boston College? Here are the supplemental essay prompts and tips on how to tackle them: Among all the universities and colleges located in the Boston area, Boston College stands out as a private Jesuit Catholic university located in Chestnut Hill, MA. Its religious affiliation is embedded in the university’s teaching philosophy and student body, which makes the liberal arts education of the diverse student body of different religions all the more interesting and challenging. Students can apply to study in one of the 4 schools and colleges that offer undergraduate programs: Morissey College of Arts Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Lynn School of Education, and the Connell School of Nursing. If BC is one on your college list then note that on top of your Common App essay, you’ll also have to respond to one of the 4 following supplemental essay prompts: We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the following prompts. (400 word limit) Prompt 1 Human beings have a creative side that tends to shine most when we are truly invested in the world around us. Describe a situation when you responded effectively to a particular need and found yourself at your creative best. TIP: First, let’s break down the prompt and see what the questions is really asking. The prompt wants the applicant to address three different topicsservice, passion and creativityand how they overlap and intertwine. And, they often do! With this prompt, begin by asking yourself: how are you truly invested in the world around us? Put more simply, how have you contributed or impacted the world? Jot down some things that come to your head. Did anything on your list involve innovative or creative approaches? You can also start by brainstorming different creative outlets you have. Do you notice a pattern of how you utilize your creative side? And remember, creative doesn’t just mean the arts. It’s also how you think outside the box and how flexible you are about approaching a problem. Prompt 2 Experience teaches us the importance of being reflective when making major decisions. Share an example from a recent event when a leader or an average person faced a difficult choice. What were the consequences of the decision? Would you have done the same? TIP: Let’s break down this essay prompt as well. This prompt is multi-layered. First, it’s asking there is a person you look up to, or learned from. In other words, a role model or an inspiration to you. There is no right or wrong answer here; who you look up to is a personal choice, but you should choose carefully. What it can demonstrate is your knowledge in a particular field, your character and your critical thinking. How? Because the prompt is also asking you why you look up to this person through an example from a recent event. What did he or she do to earn your following or understanding? This is where you can demonstrate your knowledge in a particular field and what your personal values are. Finally, do you empathize with the difficult decisions he or she made? Is hindsight 20/20? By reflecting on this decision, what have you learned and could you have done something different that yielded a better result? You may not want to do anything different. The decision may not have resolved everything, which yielded mixed consequences but that could also have been the best scenario given the circumstances. This is how you’ll be able to display your critical thinking abilities. Prompt 3 Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? TIP: In a nutshell,, this question probes your intellectual curiosity. What class would you die to get into if you saw it on the curriculum? This is where you can show off a little bit about what you want to know and what you want to pursue. The course can be something related to history that really fascinates you. For example, Adolf Hitler vs. Mao Zedong: The Psychology of World Leaders. This allows you to dive deep into your knowledge in history, if you’re a history buff, but also take a more creative approach of understanding history. Or the course can be more related to current events and developments: gender inequality, climate change, or artificial intelligence. Whatever it is, choose a topic where you can easily fill a whole page with questions you want answered! Then reel it back in. Filter those questions and focus on the major ones. Why do you want to address these issues? Is there an application to the betterment of our future? How can you apply what you’ve learned in a classroom to the real world? Pull from real experiences you’ve encountered. Prompt 4 Jesuit education stresses the importance of the liberal arts and sciences, character formation, commitment to the common good, and living a meaningful life. How do you think your personal goals and academic interests will help you grow both intellectually and personally during college? TIP: There’s a lot going on in this essay prompt, but the main question here is simply: Why Boston College? The prompt asks you how BC’s jesuit education can help foster your personal goals and academic interests. To answer this, you’ll also need to have done your research into BC’s student and academic life, and what Jesuit education is. In the prompt itself, there are 4 key factors. Break them down and start from there. Importance of Liberal Arts Sciences Why is a well-rounded education important to you? If you want to be a doctor, for example, maybe it’s having the knowledge of hard sciences, but also having an understanding of other cultures so you can empathize with your patients and their family. Maybe it’s developing critical thinking skills through literature that you can apply to your desired profession. Character Formation Who are you? Who do you want to be? College is a supportive environment to help you figure out what you’re interested in and who you want to be. You can tie this to the importance of a well-rounded education on how your academics can have you search for your answer. The answer might also lie in the faculty and student body. How do students of different religious background all come together to learn at a Jesuit university? What new perspectives do they offer? Commitment to the Common Good If you’ve done any community service during high school, this is something you can plug in. Why was it apart of your high school life? Are you committed to continue those efforts at BC? It can be an extracurricular you can point to, but it can also be related to your studies and future endeavors. How do you want to impact the world and help people? Living a Meaningful Life What is a meaningful life to you? In other words, what do you value the most? What can’t you live without? This would be another opportunity for you to showcase how well you know the school. Are there student groups that help support and foster the things that are important to you? Or even in the city of Boston? There is a 400 word limit so you can start by breaking the 4 key factors down and brainstorming each of them. Maybe you’ll find overlaps and can tie those values together. At the end of the day, remember to emphasize why this type of academic and personal development is best done at Boston College. We hope these tips are helpful as you work on your BC supplemental essays! Remember to look at your college application as a whole. What else have you not shown or discussed in your application? Based on that answer, choose the essay prompt that will allow you to divulge a different aspect of who you are.Ourpremium plansoffer different levels of profile access and data insights that can help you get into your dream school. Unlock any of ourpackagesor search ourundergraduate profile databaseto find specific profiles that can help you make an informed choice about where to apply!

interstate commerce act essays

interstate commerce act essays In 1887 the United States was still trying to rebuild and move to the west. The main method of transportation was the railroad. Not only was it quick, it was also expensive. No one had more problems paying for railroad cargo and themselves were the farmers. Congress eventually formed the Interstate Commerce Commission. Its goal was to wage lower rates than the railroad would allow. This was the start of the interstate commerce act of 1887. In this short essay some of the important sections of this act will be discussed and demonstrated by its importance and reasoning. Here is a brief, but accurate summary of the interstate commerce act of 1887. First, farmers could only carry cargo and transport it through the United States. Second, if a passenger asks for cargo or money from another passenger or the committee will punish him. Third, it is unfair to give money or cargo to any other person except for whom its is going to. Fourth, it is the rule that the railroad company is to keep scheduled stops and prices written legibly. The act says Schedules shall be plainly printed in large type... for use of the public.(Section 6,51) The last few sections give rights to the carriers safety. Any person claiming to be damaged may complain to the commission...or draw up a suit which is stated in this act.(Section 9,51) Other rules are the right to inspect cargo and ask the passengers purpose for transporting or having it. It was very important to the people of this time to have a proper-posted schedule, a decent fare, and a cooperative service in the railroad industry. The interstate commerce Act of 1887 not only set up fair state to state shipping and trade but, made it easy for their expansion and settlement. ...

Analysis of a Media Source’s Coverage on a Research

The Wall Street Journal published an article regarding a recent psychopharmacology study on depression done by Dr. Hunter that investigated whether pre-medication brain activity corresponded with treatment outcome. In addition, the article discusses the interesting results garnered from the placebo group v. medicated group analysis. While the news piece does a fair job in representing the study’s findings, the author does delve into extrapolations not statistically supported in the actual study. Fifty-one adults who were diagnosed with major depression were used in the study, and this was accurately reported by the news article (Wang, 2006). Hunter et al. investigated whether there were significant differences in â€Å"demographic characteristics, illness history, baseline illness severity, [and] final response[s],† and finding none, pooled the subjects for analysis (2006, p. 1427). This does give the Journal, who must condense the findings for the public, good reason to fail in reporting this. The study is experimental in nature, also using double-blind and randomized assignment to help rid the results of confounding variable input. All of the subjects were given a placebo anti-depressant for a one-week lead-in; after this, half of the individuals were continued on the placebo while the others were given one of two anti-depressants. Electroencephalograph (EEG) readings were taken at the time of enrollment, after the lead-in period, and several times later (over an eight week period). The Wall Street Journal condenses this explanation down, and while the article abandons the jargon of an experimenter, it does give the impression of an experimental method being followed. When the news article explains how the researchers defined their variables they leave out valuable information. The author states that patients with certain brain-patterns â€Å"ended up responding better to antidepressant treatment[s],† but fails to mention how this was evaluated (Wang, 2006, p. 1). A Hamilton depression scale was given to judge improvement, giving reliability to the study’s findings. However, the news piece does accurately report that EEG was also used, in an attempt to find a decrease in prefrontal lobe activity. This study uses a control group, those maintained on the placebo, and compares their EEGs to those of the medicated group, but the main focus of the research was the search for experimental evidence supporting that the commonly used one-week lead-in can predict treatment outcome via brain imaging. The Wall Street Journal article focuses on only a facet of the study, and one that the researcher’s claim to have nonsignificant support for. Wang states that, â€Å"patients who developed this brain-pattern change ended up responding better †¦ than patients who didn’t,† which is misleading to an audience that has not read the actual research (2006, p. 1). While Hunter et al. do find that their EEG scans were a good indicator of treatment success, they also caution that: Although the placebo and medication group analyses yielded different brain regional predictors of outcomes, because of the absence of statistical group interaction we cannot conclude that changes in †¦ [the differing brain regions] †¦ differentially predicted outcomes (2006, p. 430). The news article wrongly insinuates that the study provided evidence for a brain-pattern that is linked to a good treatment outcome in depression. It is certainly true that this study offered outcomes that encourage research in this direction, and that the author also seems to believe that the EEG-pattern found is â€Å"a good indicator† for success, but after reading the actual experiment, Wang seems to have inflated the actual findings. Having critiqued the insinuations of the news piece, the extrapolations made by the author do have some merit. The researchers discovered that both the medicated and the placebo groups had a similar variance â€Å"predicted by the neurophysiological changes occurring during the placebo lead-in phase† (Hunter et al. , 2006, p. 1429). They offered some possible causal factors such as â€Å"pharmacotherapeutic alliance and pretreatment expectations,† these results seem to demonstrate a placebo-treatment effect, which offers even more reason to further investigate how a patient’s treatment induction affects his/her progress (Hunter et al. , 2006, p. 1429). Though not mentioned or referenced in the Wall Street Journal item, the ethical issues surrounding this experiment are noted by Hunter et al. Providing individuals suffering from major depression placebos for eight weeks is risky, using a double-blind procedure makes it even more dangerous. While the IRB board of UCLA did require a 15-25 minute counseling session during each patient’s visit, this is a massive step down from the psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic support offered at the recruitment area (a psychiatric outpatient hospital) (Hunter et al. 2006). Conversely though, this ethical â€Å"patch† does raise an interesting question for further research, lightly touched on by the study’s authors; if this psychotherapy (however minute) was responsible for a pre-treatment neurophysiological shift, and the shifts that were indicatory of better treatment outcomes could be identified, research could be done to more effectively meld psychotherapy and medic al psychiatry. It is understandable why media reports often leave out details of a research study, often the conclusions and discussion by the author/s of the study are of more interest to the public. However, when a media piece merely latches onto a nonsignificant observation or a suggestion for future research found in the study, the true findings of the experiment are overshadowed by the speculation of the piece’s author. When a media source offers information about a study, it is vital to maintain a skeptical and critical mindset towards the findings until they are corroborated by the primary source. It is important to look for information that supports the generalizability of the study’s findings. In the piece presented above, it is worth noting that the study was done on depressed individuals, other psychopathologies may not have any correlation to the results or conclusions provided. The media also commonly jumps from correlation to causation, whether directly or implicitly. While scientific information is the goal of research, sensitization by the media will usually occur to some degree.

Oral presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Oral presentation - Essay Example and expenses over necessary employees training programs, health benefits, food etc. In addition, it can lead to ‘decreased absenteeism, work/family balance, higher morale, save of the transport time, reduced employee work stress related issues and finally better employee performance’. On the flip side, it can lead to lesser managerial control over employees and subordinates, lack of team-based environment, reduced ‘face-to-face contacts’ and friendliness among employees, lack of communication (and coordination) among managers and employees, and most importantly to lack of discussions about industry advancements and innovations because telecommuters do not often attend organizational developmental programs unless they are compelled to do so. Moreover, technical problems may take additional time to get resolved in such scenarios. (Internet: dhhs.state.nc.us) This paper starts with a formal definition of Telecommuting and its explanation to fully comprehend the idea behind this tool. I would then describe the working of Telecommuting followed by all the potential advantages and disadvantages of Telecommuting that would be the body of this assignment and the main focus of my paper. Finally, I will conclude my paper by comparing the benefits of Telecommuting with the costs that could be incurred during adoption and implementation stages. I would finally end up this paper by proving my recommendation towards this whole exercise. Today, the world has become a global village after the emergence of international markets (worldwide trading centers) and global media such as BBC, CNN, MTV, ESPN sports and other channels that together have led to a universal culture (example Valentine’s Day) with mostly similar tastes, preferences and consumption of products offered by various organizations (examples include KFC, PNG, Burger King, Levis and Strauss, Gucci, Rolex, Toyota etc). Moreover, global trade agreements such as WTO, NAFTA etc.

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Paper Example Even with the government allocating relatively low funding to the national health care as part of measures to cut costs, Israel still managed to build a quality health care system ranked among the best in the world. Among the different medical areas, the country has performed exceptionally well in the diagnosis of chronic diseases thus preventing frequent hospitalizations unnecessarily. Such include cases like diabetes, which usually receive appropriate attention and early diagnosis significantly reducing the rate of complications as well as chances of hospitalization (Brinkley, 2007, p. 27). Government’s commitment and dedication to ensuring a healthy nation has been a key input to the success of the program. One other reason why proper execution of healthcare programs has yielded fruit is the fact that Israel benefited a lot from the influx of doctors and nurses from the former Soviet Union in the 1990’s though most are now aging and exiting from the profession. The c ountry’s health care is based on universal coverage, substantial federal government control and oversight and is a managed healthcare system. The country’s health care model requires citizens to be members of one of the four insurance plans. The plans are by law mandated to meet certain minimum service quality requirements and are not expected to reject clients simply because of certain preexisting conditions (Brinkley, 2007, p. 20). Even though the management of healthcare has been such a success, several areas of improvement have been suggested from various quarters. One such area is the expansion of the assessment of medical data by insurers from community health fund clinics to include monitoring improvements in care. Additionally, hospitals have also been urged to enhance the quality of treatment and accessibility of hospital data by healthcare professionals. There has not also been enough competition among providers of healthcare and also on quality among health care funds. Increased competition in these areas has been proposed as another avenue for better health care in the country. In terms of equity in care provision, there are a number of gaps based on ethnic groups and between the rich and the poor. To enhance accessibility to care and improve equity, additional efforts are inevitable. The Israel and the American Healthcare Systems The American healthcare system is majorly a public private partnership arrangement with a majority of Americans covered by their employers. There are more than 5000 hospitals in the United States majority operating as nonprofit private entities. A good number of Americans did not have health insurance but with the enactment of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the number without insurance is projected to significantly reduce. Both the American and the Israel health systems employ both public and private sources of funding with a mix of government and non-governmental organizations. Both sys tems are among the few in the world that utilize extensive use of competing managed care organizations though faced with shortages in healthcare professionals particularly physicians and nurses (Brinkley, 2007, p. 23-24). One of the notable differences between Israel’s and America’s healthcare systems is the issues of financing and coverage as well as cost control in health

The Diversification of America Essay Example for Free

The Diversification of America Essay The commentary: â€Å"Culturally and ethnically, America is now one of the most diverse members of the global village. This remarkable pluralism is transforming Americans’ inherited values and institutions faster than they can adapt to the consequences. Globalization is propelling this country toward an era of conflict and upheaval-and that is precisely what makes Americans such a good reference point for other societies where time-honored traditions are also collapsing. † is an appropriate observation to the current situation. However, it is with all hope, as diversity and multiculturalism are unavoidable, that society finds a â€Å"broader sense of we† (Putnam, 2007) and creates a new identity that combines all cultural heritage into one harmonious blend. Multicultural Origins The United States has always been multicultural. The country was built by immigrants. The first African Americans came in, although forcibly, in 1619. During the mid-19th century railroad constructions, Chinese immigrants came in to the country as workers. Many Mexicans were still living in previous Mexican territories taken over by the United States in 1848. Especially with the United States rise in power and wealth, it is no surprise that more and more people wanted to enter and live in the country. Today, people of different colors comprise the majority in many large cities and in the state of California (PRA, 2002). Difficulty of Assimilation It took centuries before an African American was elected president and demonstrate a sense of equality in society from their beginnings in slavery and segregation. Many Mexican immigrants living in the country today cannot speak fluent English. Racial stereotypes also hinder benevolent assimilation. Assimilation versus Multiculturalism In today’s age of individualism and self expression, the trend is more towards multiculturalism than assimilation. Instead of assimilating to existing norms and traditions, immigrants bring in their own, fostering the value of pride for their heritage. Even their own holidays are celebrated nationally like the Irish’s St. Patrick’s Day and the Mexican’s Cinco de Mayo. Certain ethnic groups also exist, for example the Amish and Hassidic Jews, who have attempted to preserve their unique cultures by resisting assimilation, while living peacefully alongside other communities (PRA, 2002). Evolution of Language The different ethnicities bring in their own language, assemble their own communities where they can talk freely in their native tongue, diminishing the need to learn English. Even when they do, they bring in their own accent, jargon and additions to the language, in a way making their own version e. g. ghetto speak, double-negatives. As a result, English speakers are the ones to adjust. Even in some states, the inability to speak Spanish is a disadvantage as some employment need communication with both Spanish and English speakers. Instead of English being able to bring together different ethnicity and help bridge diversity, the purely English-speaking Americans are the ones to feel like the foreigner in their own country. The Neighborly Attitude Gone are the days of bringing freshly baked pies to the doorsteps of a new neighbor. In ethnically diverse neighborhoods, Putnam found that people are less likely to trust each other: not only people of a different ethnicity or race but more so their own (Leo, 2007). People tend to keep to themselves and are less likely to make friends and less likely for community cooperation. This is not just a marginal issue but a mainstream one. It does not just affect certain ethnic groups but the whole country. More and more, people become isolated in their own homes and know very little about the families just living next door. Constructing A New Identity To diminish the negative effects of unavoidable increase in immigration and diversity, a new identity must be constructed. Some say that contact with others increase tolerance and social solidarity. On the contrary, some say that contact with others make one group stick to their own more, hence the trend of self segregation, where people of the same race move in one place creating their own homogenous community. It is a likely attempt to resist diversity instead of adjusting to it, highlighting more the differences between cultures, thus increasing the gap instead of bridging it leading to social deterioration which nobody benefits from. A successful society would be one that is able to seamlessly fuse its disparate parts into one new entity. However the era of multiculturalism poses a great challenge to this. Cultural Diversity in British Cultural Institutions Another example of society feeling the effects of diversity is that of the British culture, particularly their cultural institutions. The old cultural elite’s idea of â€Å"proper culture† is being revised by multiculturalism. British history and Shakespeare are being replaced by Sikh theater and exhibitions about immigrant histories (Appleton, 2004). Conclusion Cultural and ethnical diversity happen in most advanced countries where people want to migrate to. Particularly in the United States, considered the superpower of the world, diversity has been rampant with the sharp increase in immigration, especially in recent years and people had a confused way of dealing with it. There had been self-segregation, diminished community cooperation and neighborliness, language barriers and the general inflexibility of adapting to each other. Even experts like political scientist Robert Putnam do not paint a good picture. He found that ethnic diversity tend to reduce social solidarity and social capital. However difficult it may be, as in the example of African Americans, the fragmentation has to be overcome to create a successful new society by crossing the boundaries, breaking the walls, bridging the gap and merging into one. References Appleton, J. (2004, April 7). Art for Inclusion’s Sake. Spiked Essays. Retrieved April 16, 2009, from http://www. spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CA4BC. htm Leo, J. (25 June 2007). Bowling With Our Own. City Journal. Retrieved April 16, 2009, from http://www. city-journal. org/html/eon2007-06-25jl. html Political Research Associates. (2002). Immigration and Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity. Retrieved April 16, 2009, from http://www. publiceye. org/ark/immigrants/CulturalDiv. html Putnam, R. D. (2007). E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century The 2006 Johan Skytte Prize Lecture. Scandinavian Political Studies, 30. 2, 137-174.

Eight Artists Address Brown v. Board of Education Essay -- Art Exhibit

Eight Artists Address Brown v. Board of Education It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon, when I, accompanied by a friend, went to Krannert Art Museum for the first time to see the social studies exhibition in relation to Brown v. Board of Education. Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court unanimously outlawed racial segregation in public school system. Although the decision is widely considered a major step towards a more equitable and integrated educational system, it did not fix all the racial problems in school system. Today, at the fiftieth anniversary of the High Court ruling, eight Americans artists share their works with the public at the Art Museum, both to commemorate Brown v. Board of Education and to ask the American public to reflect on the current existing racial problems in education. We walked in through the main entrance and were immediately greeted by the museum keeper, an old man with long gray hair, who wanted to make sure that every visitor put his/her bags in the deposit lockers, a ritual that most other museums practice. Krannert was small ? it was as big as a typical Outback Steak House. Yet for all its size, it had a wide array of collections ranging from ancient Chinese pottery in the Shang dynasty to oil paintings in Renaissance to contemporary art photographs. One has to give credits to the curator, who manages to put together neatly in this small building items so different in their geographical and chronological backgrounds. We were enticed by the paintings, sculptures, and some artistic works from oriental cultures. Staring at the ancient Chinese artifacts, we could not help wondering what they had gone through before ending up in an American university art museum... ...the museum keeper interrupted. With ripples of thoughts still lingering in our minds, we left the museum. My friend and I were impressed. For my part, I seldom went to see an art exhibition and had little experience of visual art appreciation. Still, the works of the artists were enough to temporarily desensitize my idea of time, clear my other thoughts and plans, and allow me to commit myself fully to finding as much as possible the meaning so often promised in the seemingly simple yet beautiful pieces of modern art. Art exhibitions may not have the same potent power of a talk or a march in informing people of the latest social problems or pushing for a social movement. After all, artistic works time and again demand personal reflections rather than call for immediate actions. In view of its reflection-provoking nature, this exhibition, to me, was successful.