Societys Influence On Morals Essay -- essays research papers fc

Society's Influence on Morals   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The atrocities of the Holocaust have prompted much inquiry by researchers to understand how humans can behave so cruelly toward their fellow man. Theories have been formed that cite the men of Battalion 101 as â€Å" exceptions† or men with â€Å"faulty personalities,† when, in fact, they were ordinary men. The people who attempted to perform a genocide were the same people as you and me with the only difference being the environment in which they worked. The behavior of the men in Battalion 101 was not abnormal human behavior, rather, their actions are testament to the premise that when humans are exposed to certain environmental and psychological conditions, extreme brutality is highly apt to occur.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The members of the Police Battalion 101 had the same ideas and influences as the rest of the German citizens. Because of the racist teachings produced by the German government, the entire German society was uniform under the belief that they were the master race. The German were taught that anyone different from their own kind (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) needed to be removed from their society in order for it to prosper. The Police Battalion men shared the same beliefs as everyone else, but they had to perform the dirty work of killing approximately 83,000 Jews. Christopher Browning states in his book, Ordinary Men, that, â€Å"...the men of Reserve Police Battalion 101, like most of the German society, was immersed in a deluge of racist and anti-Semitic propaganda† (Browning 184). Unless placed in the Battalion men's situation, one can not fathom how a population of people can so evilly turn against another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People in every culture are susceptible to the ideas and beliefs brought upon them by propaganda. Whenever an idea is accepted as the ‘norm', people will find a way to justify it and follow it despite the evil implications it might entail. Humans have faced these situations throughout the last two centuries numerous times. For example, the American slave trading was totally acceptable to the southerners because the blacks were perceived to be lesser human beings. The slave owners did not mind controlling and abusing a slave like it was an animal since in their mind the slave was comparable to an animal. This was true in Germany with the only diffe... ...g's book, Ervin Staub made the assertion that â€Å"'cruelty is social in its origin much more than it is characterological'...most people ‘ slip' into the roles society provides them...† (167). Evil ideas and beliefs are molded onto a person by their surroundings rather than inherent in their personalities. With such a strong influence on our behavior, propaganda can lead a society to think and belief the unimaginable. The men of Police Battalion 101 are a testament to the idea that people are capable of not only thinking the unimaginable, but they can act upon it. Works Cited Bortnick, Rachel Amado. â€Å"Dallas Honors a Righteous Nation.† Dallas Jewish Life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nov. 1993. Browning, Christopher R. Ordinary Men. New York: Aaron Asher Books/HarperCollins  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishers, Inc., 1993. Fogelman, Eva. Conscience and Courage. New York: Anchor Books Doubleday,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1994. Jacobs, Mike. Speech to Class. Dallas, 31 Mar. 1997. Reich, Walter. â€Å"The Men Who Pulled the Triggers.† The New York Times 12 Apr.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1992. Weapons of the Spirit. Writ./Dir. Pierre Sauvage. The Friends of Le Chambon. 1988. Societys Influence On Morals Essay -- essays research papers fc Society's Influence on Morals   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The atrocities of the Holocaust have prompted much inquiry by researchers to understand how humans can behave so cruelly toward their fellow man. Theories have been formed that cite the men of Battalion 101 as â€Å" exceptions† or men with â€Å"faulty personalities,† when, in fact, they were ordinary men. The people who attempted to perform a genocide were the same people as you and me with the only difference being the environment in which they worked. The behavior of the men in Battalion 101 was not abnormal human behavior, rather, their actions are testament to the premise that when humans are exposed to certain environmental and psychological conditions, extreme brutality is highly apt to occur.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The members of the Police Battalion 101 had the same ideas and influences as the rest of the German citizens. Because of the racist teachings produced by the German government, the entire German society was uniform under the belief that they were the master race. The German were taught that anyone different from their own kind (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) needed to be removed from their society in order for it to prosper. The Police Battalion men shared the same beliefs as everyone else, but they had to perform the dirty work of killing approximately 83,000 Jews. Christopher Browning states in his book, Ordinary Men, that, â€Å"...the men of Reserve Police Battalion 101, like most of the German society, was immersed in a deluge of racist and anti-Semitic propaganda† (Browning 184). Unless placed in the Battalion men's situation, one can not fathom how a population of people can so evilly turn against another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People in every culture are susceptible to the ideas and beliefs brought upon them by propaganda. Whenever an idea is accepted as the ‘norm', people will find a way to justify it and follow it despite the evil implications it might entail. Humans have faced these situations throughout the last two centuries numerous times. For example, the American slave trading was totally acceptable to the southerners because the blacks were perceived to be lesser human beings. The slave owners did not mind controlling and abusing a slave like it was an animal since in their mind the slave was comparable to an animal. This was true in Germany with the only diffe... ...g's book, Ervin Staub made the assertion that â€Å"'cruelty is social in its origin much more than it is characterological'...most people ‘ slip' into the roles society provides them...† (167). Evil ideas and beliefs are molded onto a person by their surroundings rather than inherent in their personalities. With such a strong influence on our behavior, propaganda can lead a society to think and belief the unimaginable. The men of Police Battalion 101 are a testament to the idea that people are capable of not only thinking the unimaginable, but they can act upon it. Works Cited Bortnick, Rachel Amado. â€Å"Dallas Honors a Righteous Nation.† Dallas Jewish Life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nov. 1993. Browning, Christopher R. Ordinary Men. New York: Aaron Asher Books/HarperCollins  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishers, Inc., 1993. Fogelman, Eva. Conscience and Courage. New York: Anchor Books Doubleday,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1994. Jacobs, Mike. Speech to Class. Dallas, 31 Mar. 1997. Reich, Walter. â€Å"The Men Who Pulled the Triggers.† The New York Times 12 Apr.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1992. Weapons of the Spirit. Writ./Dir. Pierre Sauvage. The Friends of Le Chambon. 1988.

William Faulkner Essay

Gabriel Arcia 9 Honors English Mr. Settle April 18, 2010 William Faulkner’s Accomplishments William Faulkner stood 5’6† tall, but was a giant in the realm of Americans (Padgett). He is a great image of literature up to this date for his many contributions to American literary works. He has helped humanity discover how important literature and art is in America. He had accomplished more artistically over a decade than most writers in a lifetime (Padgett). Between the years 1927-1934, he had books published every year (Reuben). Many of his greatest novels were As I Lay Dying; Light in America, and above all, Absalom, Absalom. William Faulkner was known as one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers in history. He had special talents in drawing and writing poetry. His famous books made him president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and he received the National Book Award for A Fable (Hoffman 15). William Faulkner was born on September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi (Hoffman 13; Polk). William Clark Faulkner’s parents named him after his great-grandfather (Padgett; Polk). His parent’s names were Murry and Maud Faulkner. His three siblings were Murry, Jr. , John, and Dean, with William being the oldest. In September 22, 1902, when Faulkner was only five years old, he moved to Oxford at the urging of his father and stayed there for most of his life (Hoffman 13; Padgett; Polk; Reuben). This is where he received his baptized name, which was William Cuthbert Faulkner (Reuben). In the sixth grade, Faulkner grew bored with his studies and demonstrated his artistic talents (Padgett). In 1914, Phil Stone became Faulkner’s best friend and encouraged Faulkner in becoming a great author and writer. Hoffman 13; Padgett). While William Faulkner loved being an author, Stone was schooled at Ole Miss and Yale and eventually became a lawyer (Padgett; Reuben). In September 1919, Faulkner enrolled at the University of Mississippi, but never got a college degree (Frenz; Hoffman 13; Padgett; Reuben). Part of the main reason why Faulkner never received a degree was that Mississippi was one of the poorest states dur ing the time of the Great Depression (Padgett). He later dropped out after three semesters in November 1920. School was never on Faulkner’s mind. It was mostly his writings and artwork that inspired him day by day. Faulkner’s childhood sweetheart was a young girl named Estelle Oldham, who was very popular and attended many dances and parties (Padgett; Reuben). There were many barriers between them and the reason for that is Faulkner’s mother sent him to school and this opened a door for someone else to fall in love with Estelle. The man who eventually fell in love with Estelle was Cornell Franklin. They married in Oxford on April 18th, 1918; however, in 1929 Estelle divorced Franklin and married William Faulkner on June 20th (Padgett; Reuben). In 1931, Faulkner’s first daughter was born but died nine days later, but two years after his first daughter’s death, his second daughter was born and her name was Jill (Reuben). One of the best-known authors that influenced William Faulkner was Mark Twain. Mark Twain’s famous novels were The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (Polk). Faulkner was inspired by Twain’s famous novels and they led him to become an author. Faulkner’s first book published was The Marble Faun in 1924 (Hoffman 13). Other than being an author, Faulkner had a temporary job in a New York bookstore and the New Orleans Newspaper (Frenz). Faulkner took an application to join the U. S. Air Force too. In his application, Faulkner changed his name to Finchley, lived in the county of Middlesex, England, birth date was May 25, 1898, and his current civil occupation was student (Reuben). His application in the U. S. Air Force was denied. He was not allowed to join because they thought Faulkner was too short. Faulkner then decided to join the Canadian Royal Air Force. He took part in World War I during this phase of his life. (Hoffman 13). He was later discharged from his position in the Royal Air Force, but received a commission as the honorable second lieutenant on July 8, 1918. In 1932, Faulkner entered Hollywood as a motion-picture scriptwriter. This is where he worked for the 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios (Polk; Reuben). Faulkner’s tones in his novels were usually serious and even tragic (Polk). Faulkner’s fiction books discuss issues on sex, class, race relation, and relations with nature. In 1948, Intruder in the Dust was the most outspoken moral evaluation of relationships between blacks and whites (Frenz). Critics denounced his books with their emphasis on violence and abnormality. One of William Faulkner’s famous quotes is, â€Å"The past is never dead; it’s not even past† (qtd. n Reuben). In 1957, William Faulkner took two semester classes as Writer-in-Residence in the University of Virginia (Hoffman 15). In 1948, Faulkner was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters (Polk; Reuben). In 1949, William Faulkner received a Nobel Prize in literature and accepted it in December of 1950 (Hoffman 14; Re uben). William Faulkner was given the National Book Award for his collected stories in 1951. In 1955, he won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for A Fable (Hoffman 15). One of William Faulkner’s brilliant and best novels was The Sanctuary. His last book before he died was The Reivers and it received another. In July 6, 1962, William Faulkner died of a heart attack in Oxford at the age of 65 (Padgett; Reuben). Right after his death, Faulkner was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Reivers (Hoffman 15). One of his quotes in the Nobel Prize speech was, â€Å"The young man or women writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agency and the sweat† (qtd. in Padgett). William Faulkner has inspired American literature and history. He is known throughout the world, because he believed in his true dreams. He traveled from Japan to Nogan and many more places in the world to attend conferences and lecture many classes (Hoffman 15). Millions of people have failed once in their lives, but William Faulkner did not let failure get into his way. On a nice summer day, Faulkner was injured by a fall from a horse (Padgett). He did not let that fall stop him from his literary works. In every book Faulkner published, he reminded his readers of his universal values, which are love, honor, pity, pride, compassion, and sacrifice (Polk). Of course, there were many critiques on his books and genres, but he also had thousands of fans that enjoyed his books and his amazing artwork. Faulkner was raised in a normal family like everyone else is raised in the world, but he decided to come into it and make a difference in it. He pursued his dreams until he finally got hold of it and used it to change the world. A lot of people do not notice Faulkner’s hard work and effort, but one day everyone will realize the importance of this universal figure and appreciate William Faulkner for his amazing contributions to American literature. Rios

The Gender Equality Movement - 826 Words

The status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia was extremely low. Infanticide, patrilineal marriage and polygyny were only a few things that women had to live with. A woman had no share in inheritance because she was regarded as unwise and incapable of effectively managing her inherited property, and although women’s statuses varied from tribe to tribe, a woman was almost always a subordinate of her father or husband. A female child born was the possibility of disgrace, and the affirmation of having an economic burden to take care of. Of course, Islam changed the structure of Arab society and made many reforms concerning the rights of women, giving them a much higher status and the respect that they had previously so sorely lacked, clarifying that they had the same obligations and responsibilities towards their faith and society that men did. So why is it that today, centuries later, women are still having to fight mental and physical abuse over their gender, and to break down the impossible standards and boundaries that have been put up for them? Why is it that throughout the world, and most certainly in the Middle East, girls are being raised to aspire to a different life than boys? Why is it that girls are taught to be obedient, demure and be successful in finding a proper husband while boys are taught to be strong, wise and successful in building a career and name for themselves? Culture: The ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society.Show MoreRelatedGender Equality And The Rights Movement1706 Words   |  7 PagesGender is defined as distinct from sex in that it refers to the social and cultural constructs which, defines his or her roles in society. Thus the concept of gender equality is necessary however not sufficient. 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Similarly, Emma Watson has emerged in contemporary society as a champion of women’s rights and a proud self-proclaimed feminist. From de Zaya’ short story â€Å"Ravages of Vice† and Watson’s speech at the 2014 HeForShe Campaign, messages related to feminism, gender equality, and gender justice are presented in a mannerRead MoreDoes Feminism Create Equality?1037 Words   |  5 PagesDoes Feminism Create Equality? Feminism is an umbrella term for people who think there is something wrong with the idea that gender has the capability to limit an individual’s social and political right. Even if there is inequality between men and women, feminism has never been the main reason to give women their civil rights. Feminism started among European activists in the 19th century, when women were not treated equally and were not elected to high positions of power. Indeed, it sought to eliminateRead MoreGender Stereotypes And Influences Of Celebrities On Our Beliefs On Various Topics972 Words   |  4 PagesPart 1: Language and Gender. In this topic we explored gender stereotypes and influences of celebrities on our beliefs on various topics including feminism. I choose to do this written task on a speech by Emma Watson that we watched in class because agreed with many things that she said but wanted to explore why someone might not agree and how they would react to this speech. To communicate my purpose, I choose the voice of Diana Spector who is women against the feminist movement. She is a mother ofRead MoreFeminism : A Social Movement899 Words   |  4 Pagesprominent. Referred to as third wave feminism, it is a social movement focused on equality of the sexes. At the core this idea is simple but when applied to modern day societies it becomes increasingly complex and even, at times, convoluted. For the most part, this particular wave of feminism is primarily concerned with first world countries and their accompanying issues as patriarchal societies. This aspect alone elicits criticism of the movement and grounds on which some try to use to dismiss its pointsRead MoreThe Issue Of Sexual Assault On College Campuses1149 Words   |  5 Pageshistory women have sought for equality. Men, for all of time, have had more power and opportunities. Women have never been afforded the same rights men have. Recently as the feminist movement once again gains steam, w omen’s rights are finally being discussed at length. The United States of America has become more progressive as a nation, and gender equality is now something we are striving for. The feminist movement has a great hand in our ability to finally reach gender equality. Again, due to the countryRead MoreFeminism : Third Wave Feminism962 Words   |  4 Pagesof the second-wave of feminism in the 20th century when women fought for their rights for equality not just in the workplace but also their right to vote. The movement for gender equality was originally viewed as a great effort by women for women. Today feminism is a subtitle of equality. Giving us the new definition of feminism called third-wave feminism or gender equality. Modern feminism means equality for men and women whereas, a century ago, feminism meant that women should have the same rights

The Theory Of Criminal Behavior - 1333 Words

Criminal behavior has been a difficult term to define over the years due to the many variables that must be taken into account in order to present an accurate definition. However, the definition provided by Bartol is as follows, â€Å"Behavior in violation of the criminal code that is intentional and without justification or excuse† (Bartol, 2014). A vital variable that is represented in criminal behavior is crime. The fundamental purpose of theory is to explain things that can be observed. When discussing crime, it is essential to provide theories to grasp a conceptual understanding. There are many theories that have been conducted to better understand the cause of criminal behavior and crime. Some examples of these theories are Classical Theory, Deterrence Theory, Positivist Theory, Strain Theory, and Social Learning Theory. The Classical Theory developed by Cesare Beccaria, introduces the idea of free will. Acknowledging people are capable of possessing free will introduces the freedom people have to choose to be a law abiding citizen or to be delinquent. The Classical Theory was derived from the Classical School which also included a theory known as Deterrence. The Deterrence Theory is closely linked with the classical school theory and the work of Beccaria. The theory suggests the most prominent method of reducing crime is to prevent it rather than punishment. Hence the definition of the theory being to employ â€Å"threats of punishments to influence behavior† (Brown, 2007).Show MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Criminal Behavior955 Words   |  4 PagesThe theory I believe that explains criminal behavior and delinquency the best would be the Differential Reinforcement Theory, reviewed by Robert Burgess and Ronald Akers after it was criticized by C.R. Jeffery. 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There has been a learning perspective that assumed that there are law- breaking values, norms, and etc. The section goes on to explain the theories envision that a criminal’s behavior is a product of the same learning process of noncriminal behavior. Crime is known for being constructed as a normal behavior rather than pathological. The task of this learning theory is to detail theRead MoreThe Theory Of Criminal Behavior Essay 2360 Words   |  10 Pageseven though there have been harsh laws enforced for those who commit crimes. These people have come up with theories as to why people commit crimes to understand these theories, we must understand what a crime is and understand the definition of theories. Crime is a human conduct that violates the laws of a state or the federal government. There are different ways people view criminal behaviors either through the view of the social problem perspective which blames the society and the social responsibilityRead MoreThe Theory Of Criminal Behavior1608 Words   |  7 Pagescauses of his criminal behaviour through the three different criminological schools of thought: classical, positivist, and sociological. There are a number of concepts of crime including human nature, the society, social contract, the law, and punishment. The central concepts of the classical school of thought is that people are egotistical, rational, motivated by pain and pleasure, people choose their behaviour, and behaviour can be modified by fear of punishment. The classical theory focuses onRead MoreThe Theory Of Criminal Behavior1191 Words   |  5 Pagesreason being is criminal behaviour sometimes can t be defined. Law in our society is defined by social and legal intuitions, not in biology. What is criminal in one country may not be in another so how can one gene deformation cause one to become a criminal ? So, as these studies have found, there appears to be some genetic traits that can influence criminal behaviour such as a person’s gender or mental illness. But this doesn t mean there is an evil gene which all criminals inherit, socialRead MoreBiological Theories Of Criminal Behavior844 Words à ‚  |  4 PagesBiological Theories are vastly growing with fascinating research. The main stump is concretely linking it to criminal behavior, because some theories are more relatable than others. Theories involving temperament and hormones give real life biological explanations, while others like extrovert and introvert behaviors, and neuroticism explain a weaker link to crime. However, all theories are valuable in exploring the root of crime. Temperament can be described as the natural mood disposition determinedRead MoreThe Psychological Theories Of Criminal Behavior883 Words   |  4 PagesPsychological Theories The psychological theories of criminal behavior focus on the lack of socialization, incomplete cognitive development, and bad childhood experiences. Those who study psychological theories believe that failures in cognitive development can be a major factor in malfunctioning behavior. These criminals have difficulty controlling anger and containing violence, which causes them to lash out. The results of these episodes are murder, rape, robbery, assault, and battery. Many moreRead MoreEssay on Theory of Criminal Behavior1000 Words   |  4 Pages1.0 Introduction Crime depicts any act or omission that is prohibited by the public law. On the same note, behavior is a function which has measurable differences in psychological characteristics among individuals (Brennan-Galvin, 2002). Such characteristics may be influenced by constitutional, personality attributes, and neurophysiologic or genetics factors. Likewise, criminal behavior is the commission of acts which in their situational and social settings are considered crimes due to the fact

When I Hear The Words `` Eating Disorder, So Many Things...

When I hear the words â€Å"Eating Disorder†, so many things go through my head. A sort of obsession around the topic has plagued my brain since I was thirteen years old. As a twenty-one year old, I can now recognize where it all went wrong, how a lot of minor meal constrictions turned into a full blown illness. As long as I can remember I have always been weird about food, not wanting it to touch, not trying new things or eating anything with sauce on it. When I began eighth grade this became the most apparent. Middle school is a weird time, half of your friends are turning into women, while some are still girls in the eyes of doctors. Regardless, everyone thinks that this time period is the end of the world. During my eighth grade year, my†¦show more content†¦High school was no easier than middle school, it just brought cars, boys and more intense extracurricular activities. At this point in my story, I was continuing trying to restrict my diet, but kept giving in . I didn’t understand how some girls could completely stop eating, but I couldn’t keep it going for more than a few days. This is when I resorted to diet pills. I was around fifteen, so I couldn’t legally buy them from CVS, but I could order them online with a debit card. I remember receiving my first package of Oxi Elite Pro (now discontinued for causing liver failure), my mom wanted to know what was inside the package, but I convinced her it was a sample of Bert’s Bee’s body lotion. After the diet pills began, I became addicted to losing weight. The diet pills kept me from feeling super hungry, so I could finally see I was losing weight. I began compulsively weighing myself, probably up to five times a day. However, once I began running low on the pills, with no income, I needed something else. When I was sixteen, I got my first job. I remember being beyond excited to start making my own money and have extra money for gas. The girls I worked wit h at work often talked about diets and cleanses, as many girls do. However, given that I was already falling into a dark hole, I probably should have removed myself from the situation. When work would get slow, I would look the calories up in certain foods we served. I began being able to recite

God Sees the Truth, but Waits by Leo Tolstoy free essay sample

In the town of Vladimir lived a young merchant named Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov. He had two shops and a house of his own. Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of singing. When quite a young man he had been given to drink, and was riotous when he had had too much, but after he married he gave up drinking, except now and then. One summer Aksionov was going to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade good-bye to his family, his wife said to him, Ivan Dmitritch, do not start to-day; I have had a bad dream about you. Aksionov laughed, and said, You are afraid that when I get to the fair I shall go on a spree. His wife replied: I do not know what I am afraid of; all I know is that I had a bad dream. I dreamt you returned from the town, and when you took off your cap I saw that your hair was quite grey. Aksionov laughed. Thats a lucky sign, said he. See if I dont sell out all my goods, and bring you some presents from the fair. So he said good-bye to his family, and drove away.When he had travelled half-way, he met a merchant whom he knew, and they put up at the same inn for the night. They had some tea together, and then went to bed in adjoining rooms. It was not Aksionovs habit to sleep late, and, wishing to travel while it was still cool, he aroused his driver before dawn, and told him to put in the horses. Then he made his way across to the landlord of the inn (who lived in a cottage at the back), paid his bill, and continued his journey. When he had gone about twenty-five miles, he stopped for the horses to be fed.Aksionov rested awhile in the passage of the inn, then he stepped out into the porch, and, ordering a samovar to be heated, got out his guitar and began to play. Suddenly a troika drove up with tinkling bells and an official alighted, followed by two soldiers. He came to Aksionov and began to question him, asking him who he was and whence he came. Aksionov answered him fully, and said, Wont you have some tea with me? But the official went on cross-questioning him and asking him, Where did you spend last night? Were you alone, or with a fellow-merchant?Did you see the other merchant this morning? Why did you leave the inn before dawn? Aksionov wondered why he was asked all these questions, but he described all that had happened, and then added, Why do you cross-question me as if I were a thief or a robber? I am travelling on business of my own, and there is no need to question me. Then the official, calling the soldiers, said, I am the police-officer of this district, and I question you because the merchant with whom you spent last night has been found with his throat cut. We must search your things. They entered the house. The soldiers and the police-officer unstrapped Aksionovs luggage and searched it. Suddenly the officer drew a knife out of a bag, crying, Whose knife is this? Aksionov looked, and seeing a blood-staine d knife taken from his bag, he was frightened. How is it there is blood on this knife? Aksionov tried to answer, but could hardly utter a word, and only stammered: I—dont know—not mine. Then the police-officer said: This morning the merchant was found in bed with his throat cut. You are the only person who could have done it.The house was locked from inside, and no one else was there. Here is this blood-stained knife in your bag, and your face and manner betray you! Tell me how you killed him, and how much money you stole? Aksionov swore he had not done it; that he had not seen the merchant after they had had tea together; that he had no money except eight thousand rubles of his own, and that the knife was not his. But his voice was broken, his face pale, and he trembled with fear as though he were guilty. The police-officer ordered the soldiers to bind Aksionov and to put him in the cart.As they tied his feet together and flung him into the cart, Aksionov crossed himself and wept. His money and goods were taken from him, and he was sent to the nearest town and imprisoned there. Enquiries as to his character were made in Vladimir. The merchants and other inhabitants of that town said that in former days he used to drink and waste his time, but that he was a good man. Then the trial came on: he was charged with murdering a merchant from Ryazan, and robbing him of twenty thousand rubles. His wife was in despair, and did not know what to believe. Her children were all quite small; one was a baby at her breast.Taking them all with her, she went to the town where her husband was in jail. At first she was not allowed to see him; but after much begging, she obtained permission from the officials, and was taken to him. When she saw her husband in prison-dress and in chains, shut up with thieves and criminals, she fell down, and did not come to her senses for a long time. Then she drew her children to her, and sat down near him. She told him of things at home, and asked about what had happened to him. He told her all, and she asked, What can we do now? We must petition the Czar not to let an innocent man perish. His wife told him that she had sent a petition to the Czar, but it had not been accepted. Aksionov did not reply, but only looked downcast. Then his wife said, It was not for nothing I dreamt your hair had turned grey. You remember? You should not have started that day. And passing her fingers through his hair, she said: Vanya dearest, tell your wife the truth; was it not you who did it? So you, too, suspect me! said Aksionov, and, hiding his face in his hands, he began to weep. Then a soldier came to say that the wife and children must go away; and Aksionov said good-bye to his family for the last time.When they were gone, Aksionov recalled what had been said, and when he remembered that his wife also had suspected him, he said to himself, It seems that only God can know the truth; it is to Him alone we must appeal, and from Him alone expect mercy. And Aksionov wrote no more petitions; gave up all hope, and only prayed to God. Aksionov was condemned to be flogged and sent to the mines. So he was flogged with a knot, and when the wounds made by the knot were healed, he was driven to Siberia with other convicts. For twenty-six years Aksionov lived as a convict in Siberia.His hair turned white as snow, and his beard grew long, thin, and grey. All his mirth went; he stooped; he walked slowly, spoke little, and never laughed, but he often prayed. In prison Aksionov learnt to make boots, and earned a little money, with which he bought The Lives of the Saints. He read this book when there was light enough in the prison; and on Sundays in the prison-church he read the lessons and sang in the choir; for his voice was still good. The prison authorities liked Aksionov for his meekness, and his fellow-prisoners respected him: they called him Grandfather, and The Saint. When they wanted to petition the prison authorities about anything, they always made Aksionov their spokesman, and when there were quarrels among the prisoners they came to him to put things right, and to judge the matter. No news reached Aksionov from his home, and he did not even know if his wife and children were still alive. One day a fresh gang of convicts came to the prison. In the evening the old prisoners collected round the new ones and asked them what towns or villages they came from, and what they were sentenced for. Among the rest Aksionov sat down near the newcomers, and listened with downcast air to what was said.One of the new convicts, a tall, strong man of sixty, with a closely-cropped grey beard, was telling the others what he had been arrested for. Well, friends, he said, I only took a horse that was tied to a sledge, and I was arrested and accused of stealing. I said I had only taken it to get home quicker, and had then let it go; besides, the driver was a personal friend of mine. So I said, Its all right. No, said they, you stole it. But how or where I stole it they could not say. I once really did something wrong, and ought by rights to have come here long ago, but that time I was not found out.Now I have been sent here for nothing at all. . . . Eh, but its lies Im telling you; Ive been to Siberia before, but I did not stay long. Where are you from? asked some one. From Vladimir. My family are of that town. My name is Makar, and they also call me Semyonich. Aksionov raised his head and said: Tell me, Semyonich, do you know anything of the merchants Aksionov of Vladimir? Are they still alive? Know them? Of course I do. The Aksionovs are rich, though their father is in Siberia: a sinner like ourselves, it seems! As for you, Grandad, how did you come here? Aksionov did not like to speak of his misfortune.He only sighed, and said, For my sins I have been in prison these twenty-six years. What sins? asked Makar Semyonich. But Aksionov only said, Well, well—I must have deserved it! He would have said no more, but his companions told the newcomers how Aksionov came to be in Siberia; how someone had killed a merchant, and had put the knife among Aksionovs things, and Aksionov had been unjustly condemned. When Makar Semyonich heard this, he looked at Aksionov, slapped his own knee, and exclaimed, Well, this is wonderful! Really wonderful! But how old youve grown, Grandad! The others asked him why he was so surprised, and where he had seen Aksionov before; but Makar Semyonich did not reply. He only said: Its wonderful that we should meet here, lads! These words made Aksionov wonder whether this man knew who had killed the merchant; so he said, Perhaps, Semyonich, you have heard of that affair, or maybe youve seen me before? How could I help hearing? The worlds full of rumours. But its a long time ago, and Ive forgotten what I heard. Perhaps you heard who killed the merchant? asked Aksionov. Makar Semyonich laughed, and replied: It must have been him in whose bag the knife was found!If someone else hid the knife there, Hes not a thief till hes caught, as the saying is. How could anyone put a knife into your bag while it was under your head? It would surely have woke you up. When Aksionov heard these words, he felt sure this was the man who had killed the merchant. He rose and went away. All that night Aksionov lay awake. He felt terribly unhappy, and all sorts of images rose in his mind. There was the image of his wife as she was when he parted from her to go to the fair. He saw her as if she were present; her face and her eyes rose before him; he heard her speak and laugh.Then he saw his children, quite little, as they were at that time: one with a little cloak on, another at his mothers breast. And then he remembered himself as he used to be—young and merry. He remembered how he sat playing the guitar in the porch of the inn where he was arrested, and how free from care he had been. He saw, in his mind, the place where he was flogged, the executioner, and the people standing around; the chains, the convicts, all the twenty-six years of his prison life, and his premature old age. The thought of it all made him so wretched that he was ready to kill himself. And its all that villains doing! thought Aksionov. And his anger was so great against Makar Semyonich that he longed for vengeance, even if he himself should perish for it. He kept repeating prayers all night, but could get no peace. During the day he did not go near Makar Semyonich, nor even look at him. A fortnight passed in this way. Aksionov could not sleep at night, and was so miserable that he did not know what to do. One night as he was walking about the prison he noticed some earth that came rolling out from under one of the shelves on which the prisoners slept.He stopped to see what it was. Suddenly Makar Semyonich crept out from under the shelf, and looked up at Aksionov with frightened face. Aksionov tried to pass without looking at him, but Makar seized his hand and told him that he had dug a hole under the wall, getting rid of the earth by putting it into his high-boots, and emptying it out every day on the road when the prisoners were driven to their work. Just you keep quiet, old man, and you shall get out too. If you blab, theyll flog the life out of me, but I will kill you first. Aksionov trembled with anger as he looked at his enemy. He drew his hand away, saying, I have no wish to escape, and you have no need to kill me; you killed me long ago! As to telling of you—I may do so or not, as God shall direct. Next day, when the convicts were led out to work, the convoy soldiers noticed that one or other of the prisoners emptied some earth out of his boots. The prison was searched and the tunnel found. The Governor came and questioned all the prisoners to find out who had dug the hole. They all denied any knowledge of it. Those who knew would not betray Makar Semyonich, knowing he would be flogged almost to death.At last the Governor turned to Aksionov whom he knew to be a just man and said: You are a truthful old man; tell me, before God, who dug the hole? Makar Semyonich stood as if he were quite unconcerned, looking at the Governor and not so much as glancing at Aksionov. Aksionovs lips and hands trembled, and for a long time he could not utter a word. He thought, Why should I screen him who ruined my life? Let him pay for what I have suffered. But if I tell, they will probably flog the life out of him and maybe I suspect him wrongly.

Thesis Show How Mexico Lost An Enormous Territory To The U.S. In 1848

Thesis: Show How Mexico Lost An Enormous Territory to the U.S. in 1848. Henry Polk was President of the U.S.A. from 1845, and was an imperialist. He wanted his country to expand by seizing Mexico's land. His goal was to try to make the States stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Polk first offered 30,000,000 dollars to Mexico for California and New Mexico, but they refused. As relation between the two continued to worsen, it was in fact true that The U.S. had no real legal claim to those territories, and there were only seven hundred Americans compared to the 75,000 Spanish- speaking people living in the California and New Mexico territory. The Amerindians, of whom had a population of 300,000 in 1821, diminished when the Mexican government sold the church lands, at which they lived and worked in, to ranch owners. Amerindians were required to work under exceedingly harsh conditions, and 60,000 had died. By 1870, the population of Amerindians was only 17,000. The decision for Mexico to sell its land resulted in a war by the U.S.A. against them- President Polk decided that war was the only way his country could acquire the land. The 19th century philosophy included the idea that war was a way of solving a dispute, and whoever won it would obviously acquire what they wanted. Troops were sent to the land between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers. General Taylor was ordered to protect the Grande River. When in 1846, Mexican troops attacked them, war had commenced. Though Mexico believed they would win easily, they were greatly wrong. The capturing of Mexico city by the U.S. made them the conquerors over their enemy. In consequence, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was made in 1848. Mexico was to give up California and New mexico for only 13,000,000. It was the Manifest destiny that had started the war. U.S.A. now had what it focused on territorially, and thus Manifest destiny had been fulfilled. In summary, the war against Mexico made them more stronger territorially. From the Louisiana purchase to the war with Mexico, the U.S.A had become a more powerful country as a result of the war, while Mexico became smaller territorially, and the Amerindians too became smaller in terms of their population.