Gender Identity without Gender Prescriptions Essay example -- Philosop

The feminist philosopher Susan Bordo suggests that the dilemma of twentieth-century feminism is the tension between a gender identity that both mobilizes a liberatory politics on behalf of women and that results in gender prescriptions which excludes many women. This tension seems especially acute in feminist debates about essentialism/deconstructionism. Concentrating on the shared sex of women may run the risk of embracing an essentialism that ignores the differences among women, whereas emphasizing the constructed natures of sex and gender categories seems to threaten the very project of a feminist politics. I will analyze the possibility of dismantling gender prescriptions while retaining a gender identity that can be the beginning for an emancipatory politics. Perhaps feminists need not rely on a reified essentialism that elides the differences of race, class, etc., if we begin with our social practices of classification rather than with a priori generalizations about the nature of women. Perhaps it is easiest to begin with that which seems self-evident: we categorize people according to sex. Therefore, it also seems self-evident that women form a (natural) group based on a shared sex, resulting in a common gender identity. Historically, feminism politics have relied on this assumed sameness among all women. Feminism can represent the interests of all women because, after all, women are all alike in being women. Of course, women differ with regard to race, class, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and so on. But these differences have been seen as less basic than the shared similarity of sex and gender. Recently, however, more and more feminists have protested that these differences matter just as much to one's identit... ...sitions within each of these [economic, cultural, socio-political] contexts .... Despite considerable variability in what this means for particular women, this general feature of women's experience is sufficiently universal, by all anthropological and historical accounts, that it would seem to support at least a qualified conception of a distinctive women's standpoint, one which takes into account the fact that gender is by no means the only factor shaping women's lives" ("The Philosophy of Ambivalence: Sandra Harding on The Science Question in Feminism as found in Science, Morality and Feminist Theory" eds. Marsha Hanen and Kai Nielsen, Calgary: U of Calgary P, 1987, 68). (25) Bordo, Feminism/Postmodernism, 153. (26) To paraphrase Bordo "the chief imperative was [is] to listen, to become aware of one's biases, prejudices, ignorance" Feminism/Postmodernism, 138.

Is Torture Ever Ok? Essay

A lot of times in these scenarios there are no other options and torturing someone is the only way to get fast results before it is too late. I am a utilitarian thinker and I believe in the greatest good for the most people. If a lot of people’s lives are at stake in a situation and can be saved because of one criminal’s pain then torturing is the way to go. I believe that torture can be morally justified in many extreme circumstances and by regulating torture by law then it could benefit our society. My first argument will show how torture can be used to help stop a bank robber who has many hostages. Suppose, the authorities arrested one of the conspirators of the bank robber and they weren’t getting anything out of him. The bank robber told the authorities that if they didn’t get him a plane out of the country then he would start killing hostages. The authorities don’t know where the bank robber is or the hostages. The bank robber says they only have fifteen minutes to arrange him a plane before he starts killing the hostages. The authorities could torture the conspirators and get the information they need to save the hostages and arrest the bank robber or they could let the hostages die. This is why in my opinion torture is morally justified in this situation. The first argument I used shows a real example of how torturing can save people lives, arrest a criminal, and prevent more people from dying in the short and long run. A stakeholder from my last paper, Mirko Bagaric, agree with me. Bagaric is a professor of law at Deakin University and according to him, â€Å"torture is justifiable when used as an information gathering technique to avert great risk† (Bagaric, p. 264). In my example, it obviously agrees with Bagaric’s statement. There are many variables that go into whether or not torturing someone in a severe situation is permissible. Bagaric wrote a list of these variables: â€Å"1. the number of lives at risk; 2. the immediacy of the harm; 3. the availability of other means to acquire the information; 4. the level of wrongdoing of the agent; and 5. the likelihood that the agent actually does process the relevant information. † I believe that if these were the five rules in a law that regulated torture so we could set a compromise with people who think torture should never happen. The biggest reason I believe torturing is ok in harm-based situations is because it is our moral duty to save other people’s lives. In my opinion, some moral duties override others. The moral duty to save thousands of people overrides the moral duty to respect someone’s physical body, who is holding information from you because they want all those people to die. Everyone must agree that the most basic and important human right is the right to life. If you have a chance to save thousands of lives and torturing is your only option then the choice is obvious. Torturing must be ok in some circumstances, in order to save lives. I am not saying that people should torture a person to death because that violates their right to live. But, if the torture only causes some physical pain to one person to save many lives then torture should be morally and legally permissible. In Heinz site, whenever torturing someone there should always be a doctor there to make sure the person being tortured isn’t killed. I do not think torturing is always ok and it should always should be the last option, but when worse comes to worse saving thousands of people is worth torturing a person who is ok with those people dying. People who oppose torture at all times are deontologists. Deontologists believe that general rules and values must be respected regardless of the outcome. According to them even a savage terrorist who wants to kill their family and friends should not be harmed because it is immoral to inflict physical pain on someone. They believe that you should never bend the rules even if it causes death. Some of them believe that if you allow torturing that you will start down a slippery slope. For example, this slippery slope could lead up to killing a prisoner to avoid a bomb going off and killing thousands. And, what if, you killed the prisoner and he or she didn’t give up any information. The slippery slope of sinning leads to more sinning according to deontologists. For them, torture promotes violence and sin. Although, I do agree with some of the components from the other side’s argument it doesn’t change the fact the torture is needed in some malicious cases. I agree that you should not cause another person physical harm, but if harming this person can saves lives I believe it is morally ok. People have a greater moral obligation to preserve our species and defend our family and country. If physically harming one person can help us do this then torturing should be acceptable. Opponents to torture also stated that we will go down a slippery road to sin and killing people being tortured, but I disagree. I believe that we are rational enough to be able to torture someone and keep them alive. When torturing someone I think it would only be acceptable if a doctor was present to make sure the person be tortured didn’t die. Also, I believe we have to be one-hundred-percent positive the prisoner has the information we want, otherwise; torturing them would be wrong. I know that torturing is wrong in most cases but in should be acceptable in others. Bagaric states that â€Å"A legal framework should be established to properly accommodate these situations,† (Bagaric 274). If torture were to be regulated instead of prohibited, it would bring out greater good then it would harm. Torture happens whether it is prohibited or not. If we create the idea of a torture warrant at least we are stating what we are doing instead of hiding it. The only way to get a torture warrant would be to meet the five variables Bagaric wrote. Doctors being present when a prisoner is being tortured also insures that his or her life is being watched over carefully. In this example it shows that torture can be regulated to insure we don’t fall down a slippery slope and that it will help save many people in the future. My second argument shows that regulation of torture is better than prohibiting it. In my opinion, admitting what you do is better than lying about it. â€Å"Torture is outlawed in Israel yet they have been criticized all over the world for torturing people,† (Dershowitz). They are being hypocritical. It is a known fact that the United States tortures people secretly to find vital information. Although they try to be secretive about it, they usually get caught. It would be better if everyone knew that torture does happen and has to sometimes. I agree and wish that we never had to do it, but sometimes to save lives you have. By regulating torture, people will not be hypocritical about it and there will be rules pertaining to the issue. An obvious objection to this argument is again, the slippery slope. People against torture believe if you open the door to torture, even if you regulate it, you will lead to more and more torture. They say even if you torture is needed in extreme situations that making it legal will allow torture in less desperate situations. Again, I can rebuttal this objection of the slippery slope for regulating torture. First off, torture is already used even though it is legally prohibited. I believe making regulating torture will actually decrease it. People will have to get torture warrant and we should make very sure those are hard to get. Second, Bagaric and Clarke say, that â€Å"there is no evidence to suggest that the lawful violation of fundamental human interests will necessarily lead to a violation of fundamental rights where the per-conditions for the activity are clearly delineated and controlled. † For example, we use the death penalty in the U. S. , but we still value life and haven’t been putting people to death unless it was for a legitimate reason. Religions such as the Muslim-American religion state, â€Å"It is irreligious, immoral, and unethical†(Rashid 1). They state their religious history is full of stories demanding that we condemn abuse and torture. The Muslim-American’s say that, â€Å"The Prophet Moses sacrificed his royal position to stop an act of torture† (Rashid1). They state, the Prophet Muhammad forbade the mistreatment of prisoners. Torture offends Muslim-Americans because it is immoral nature. They state that the torture of human beings at the behest of the American government must be condemned. They say that, â€Å"Simply because another country allows torture does not mean we should encourage and utilize the moral weakness of others† (Rashid 1). They explain that when we ratified the Convention Against Torture President Ronald Reagan said, â€Å"[We] clearly express United States opposition to torture, an abhorrent practice unfortunately still prevalent in the world today. † They also applaud President Obama for shining light on these shameful practices. Finally they said, â€Å"We cannot be deaf to the voice of justice, but must establish it. Torture is not just† (Rashid 2). The Muslim Religion has many valid points, but I disagree that torture is always wrong and immoral. Sometimes bad things can be used for the greater good. My father who was a veteran of the Air Force knows how important it is to get vital information out of enemies. My father believes, like Bagaric, â€Å"when many lives are at risk and the only way to save someone is torture them then you should do what is necessary. † My dad has been through torture training. My dad states that, â€Å"if the other side is going to torture us then we have to have to learn the same tactics. † My father said in the interview, â€Å"that torture should always be the last option, but when things are turning for the worst then sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. I agree with my father and I think that even torture may be immoral by itself it can be used to help people who are going to be killed which makes it moral. In conclusion, I believe prohibition of torture is wrong and that there needs to be a regulating law that allows torture so we can gather vital information. If there are more instances where thousands of peopleâ₠¬â„¢s lives are at risk and there is no other way of saving their lives then to torture someone then we most allow it. It should be morally acceptable to save people’s lives and I believe a people’s lives are worth more than an evil person’s physical pain.

Persuasive Speech Topics for College Students

How to Find Winning Persuasive Speech Topic? Coming up with a good idea for a persuasive speech may seem like a piece of cake. However, when you get a real task to perform, you suddenly realize that either your mind is completely blank, or you can come up with something boring and silly. So, how to invent a topic that will be interesting and provide a good opportunity to exercise public speaking? These simple tips can help you: Keep the balance: choose an area you are truly interested in, but avoid the topics which may be too touchy. Sometimes try to express the opinion opposite to yours. Choose a controversial issue, but do not go too deeply in religious, ideological or political concerns. Make your topic up-to-date, locally oriented and important for the audience. Limit the issue by choosing a part of the problem. Here are some ideas which you may find interesting: Developed countries should not help developing ones financially. Free higher education cannot conform to the standards of the modern society. Modern art will possess no cultural value in one hundred years. The failure to achieve your aim means there was no real desire to succeed. Business success is a matter of luck and has nothing to do with professionalism. High academic results are not important for your future professional success. In order to ensure free college education for all, government must introduce an additional tax for large and medium size companies. Despite being strict, college admission procedures fail to guarantee the right people being chosen. Long-term unemployment benefits discourage people from looking for a job and stimulate the unemployment. School curriculum must place a greater emphasis on science than humanities, as humanitarian subjects are easier to master.

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The Stages Of The Stage Essay - 1351 Words

The second stage in is called the Preoperational stage this stage varies from the ages of two to seven. In this stage children are able to think symbolically (site WebMD), for example, their language becomes more advanced and sophisticated. This is also the stage where they begin to play make believe and development their cognitive memory, sadly their thoughts are not really logical but are mainly based on instinct. Advanced concepts are still pretty hard for them to grasp such as time, or being able to compare things to one another. The third stage is the Concrete Operational stage the ages for this stage vary from ages seven to eleven. Piaget believed that the concrete stage is one of the major points in the child’s development, this is the beginning of operational thought (McLeod, 2015). This is also where the child’s thoughts are less egocentric and they become aware that their own feelings and thoughts are original and may not be shared among others (site webMd), t his is the area where the child begins to work things out in the head compared to trying to work things out physically. This is also where they begin to comprehend numbers, they can also solve issues by thinking logically, however thy still cannot figure out advanced concepts. The last stage begins at the age of eleven and older, this stage is called the Formal Operational stage. In this final stage the child as able to think in advanced concepts and abstract ideas, this is also where they gain the abilityShow MoreRelatedThe Stages Of The Dilation Stage1655 Words   |  7 PagesStage 1 Description This stage is commonly known as the â€Å"dilation† stage. It starts with mild contractions marking the onset of labor, and is completed when the cervix reaches full dilation. 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The Twilight Saga 3 Eclipse Chapter 8. TEMPER Free Essays

string(23) " when he spoke of Sam\." WE ENDED UP ON THE BEACH AGAIN, WANDERING AIMlessly. Jacob was still full of himself for engineering my escape. â€Å"Do you think they’ll come looking for you?† he asked, sounding hopeful. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 8. TEMPER or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"No.† I was certain about that. â€Å"They’re going to be furious with me tonight, though.† He picked up a rock and chucked it into the waves. â€Å"Don’t go back, then,† he suggested again. â€Å"Charlie would love that,† I said sarcastically. â€Å"I bet he wouldn’t mind.† I didn’t answer. Jacob was probably right, and that made me grind my teeth together. Charlie’s blatant preference for my Quileute friends was so unfair. I wondered if he would feel the same if he knew the choice was really between vampires and werewolves. â€Å"So what’s the latest pack scandal?† I asked lightly. Jacob skidded to a halt, and he stared down at me with shocked eyes. â€Å"What? That was a joke.† â€Å"Oh.† He looked away. I waited for him to start walking again, but he seemed lost in thought. â€Å"Is there a scandal?† I wondered. Jacob chuckled once. â€Å"I forget what it’s like, not having everyone know everything all the time. Having a quiet, private place inside my head.† We walked along the stony beach quietly for a few minutes. â€Å"So what is it?† I finally asked. â€Å"That everyone in your head already knows?† He hesitated for a moment, as if he weren’t sure how much he was going to tell me. Then he sighed and said, â€Å"Quil imprinted. That’s three now. The rest of us are starting to get worried. Maybe it’s more common than the stories say. . . .† He frowned, and then turned to stare at me. He gazed into my eyes without speaking, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. â€Å"What are you staring at?† I asked, feeling self-conscious. He sighed. â€Å"Nothing.† Jacob started walking again. Without seeming to think about it, he reached out and took my hand. We paced silently across the rocks. I thought of how we must look walking hand and hand down the beach – like a couple, certainly – and wondered if I should object. But this was the way it had always been with Jacob. . . . No reason to get worked up about it now. â€Å"Why is Quil’s imprinting such a scandal?† I asked when it didn’t look like he was going to go on. â€Å"Is it because he’s the newest one?† â€Å"That doesn’t have anything to do with it.† â€Å"Then what’s the problem?† â€Å"It’s another one of those legend things. I wonder when we’re going to stop being surprised that they’re all true?† he muttered to himself. â€Å"Are you going to tell me? Or do I have to guess?† â€Å"You’d never get it right. See, Quil hasn’t been hanging out with us, you know, until just recently. So he hadn’t been around Emily’s place much.† â€Å"Quil imprinted on Emily, too?† I gasped. â€Å"No! I told you not to guess. Emily had her two nieces down for a visit . . . and Quil met Claire.† He didn’t continue. I thought about that for a moment. â€Å"Emily doesn’t want her niece with a werewolf? That’s a little hypocritical,† I said. But I could understand why she of all people might feel that way. I thought again of the long scars that marred her face and extended all the way down her right arm. Sam had lost control just once when he was standing too close to her. Once was all it took. . . . I’d seen the pain in Sam’s eyes when he looked at what he’d done to Emily. I could understand why Emily might want to protect her niece from that. â€Å"Would you please stop guessing? You’re way off. Emily doesn’t mind that part, it’s just, well, a little early.† â€Å"What do you mean early?† Jacob appraised me with narrowed eyes. â€Å"Try not to be judgmental, okay?† I nodded cautiously. â€Å"Claire is two,† Jacob told me. Rain started to fall. I blinked furiously as the drops pelted my face. Jacob waited in silence. He wore no jacket, as usual; the rain left a spatter of dark spots on his black T-shirt, and dripped through his shaggy hair. His face was expressionless as he watched mine. â€Å"Quil . . . imprinted . . . with a two-year-old?† I was finally able to ask. â€Å"It happens.† Jacob shrugged. He bent to grab another rock and sent it flying out into the bay. â€Å"Or so the stories say.† â€Å"But she’s a baby,† I protested. He looked at me with dark amusement. â€Å"Quil’s not getting any older,† he reminded me, a bit of acid in his tone. â€Å"He’ll just have to be patient for a few decades.† â€Å"I . . . don’t know what to say.† I was trying my hardest not to be critical, but, in truth, I was horrified. Until now, nothing about the werewolves had bothered me since the day I’d found out they weren’t committing the murders I’d suspected them of. â€Å"You’re making judgments,† he accused. â€Å"I can see it on your face.† â€Å"Sorry,† I muttered. â€Å"But it sounds really creepy.† â€Å"It’s not like that; you’ve got it all wrong,† Jacob defended his friend, suddenly vehement. â€Å"I’ve seen what it’s like, through his eyes. There’s nothing romantic about it at all, not for Quil, not now.† He took a deep breath, frustrated. â€Å"It’s so hard to describe. It’s not like love at first sight, really. It’s more like . . . gravity moves. When you see her, suddenly it’s not the earth holding you here anymore. She does. And nothing matters more than her. And you would do anything for her, be anything for her. . . . You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that’s a protector, or a lover, or a friend, or a brother. â€Å"Quil will be the best, kindest big brother any kid ever had. There isn’t a toddler on the planet that will be more carefully looked after than that little girl will be. And then, when she’s older and needs a friend, he’ll be more understanding, trustworthy, and reliable than anyone else she knows. And then, when she’s grown up, they’ll be as happy as Emily and Sam.† A strange, bitter edge sharpened his tone at the very end, when he spoke of Sam. You read "The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 8. TEMPER" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Doesn’t Claire get a choice here?† â€Å"Of course. But why wouldn’t she choose him, in the end? He’ll be her perfect match. Like he was designed for her alone.† We walked in silence for a moment, till I paused to toss a rock toward the ocean. It fell to the beach several meters short. Jacob laughed at me. â€Å"We can’t all be freakishly strong,† I muttered. He sighed. â€Å"When do you think it will happen for you?† I asked quietly. His answer was flat and immediate. â€Å"Never.† â€Å"It’s not something you can control, is it?† He was silent for a few minutes. Unconsciously, we both walked slower, barely moving at all. â€Å"It’s not supposed to be,† he admitted. â€Å"But you have to see her – the one that’s supposedly meant for you.† â€Å"And you think that if you haven’t seen her yet, then she’s not out there?† I asked skeptically. â€Å"Jacob, you haven’t really seen much of the world – less than me, even.† â€Å"No, I haven’t,† he said in a low voice. He looked at my face with suddenly piercing eyes. â€Å"But I’ll never see anyone else, Bella. I only see you. Even when I close my eyes and try to see something else. Ask Quil or Embry. It drives them all crazy.† I dropped my eyes to the rocks. We weren’t walking anymore. The only sound was of the waves beating against the shore. I couldn’t hear the rain over their roar. â€Å"Maybe I’d better go home,† I whispered. â€Å"No!† he protested, surprised by this conclusion. I looked up at him again, and his eyes were anxious now. â€Å"You have the whole day off, right? The bloodsucker won’t be home yet.† I glared at him. â€Å"No offense intended,† he said quickly. â€Å"Yes, I have the whole day. But, Jake . . .† He held up his hands. â€Å"Sorry,† he apologized. â€Å"I won’t be like that anymore. I’ll just be Jacob.† I sighed. â€Å"But if that’s what you’re thinking . . .† â€Å"Don’t worry about me,† he insisted, smiling with deliberate cheer, too brightly. â€Å"I know what I’m doing. Just tell me if I’m upsetting you.† â€Å"I don’t know. . . .† â€Å"C’mon, Bella. Let’s go back to the house and get our bikes. You’ve got to ride a motorcycle regularly to keep it in tune.† â€Å"I really don’t think I’m allowed.† â€Å"By who? Charlie or the blood – or him?† â€Å"Both.† Jacob grinned my grin, and he was suddenly the Jacob I missed the most, sunny and warm. I couldn’t help grinning back. The rain softened, turned to mist. â€Å"I won’t tell anyone,† he promised. â€Å"Except every one of your friends.† He shook his head soberly and raised his right hand. â€Å"I promise not to think about it.† I laughed. â€Å"If I get hurt, it was because I tripped.† â€Å"Whatever you say.† We rode our motorcycles on the back roads around La Push until the rain made them too muddy and Jacob insisted that he was going to pass out if he didn’t eat soon. Billy greeted me easily when we got to the house, as if my sudden reappearance meant nothing more complicated than that I’d wanted to spend the day with my friend. After we ate the sandwiches Jacob made, we went out to the garage and I helped him clean up the bikes. I hadn’t been here in months – since Edward had returned – but there was no sense of import to it. It was just another afternoon in the garage. â€Å"This is nice,† I commented when he pulled the warm sodas from the grocery bag. â€Å"I’ve missed this place.† He smiled, looking around at the plastic sheds bolted together over our heads. â€Å"Yeah, I can understand that. All the splendor of the Taj Mahal, without the inconvenience and expense of traveling to India.† â€Å"To Washington’s little Taj Mahal,† I toasted, holding up my can. He touched his can to mine. â€Å"Do you remember last Valentine’s Day? I think that was the last time you were here – the last time when things were still . . . normal, I mean.† I laughed. â€Å"Of course I remember. I traded a lifetime of servitude for a box of conversation hearts. That’s not something I’m likely to forget.† He laughed with me. â€Å"That’s right. Hmm, servitude. I’ll have to think of something good.† Then he sighed. â€Å"It feels like it was years ago. Another era. A happier one.† I couldn’t agree with him. This was my happy era now. But I was surprised to realize how many things I missed from my own personal dark ages. I stared through the opening at the murky forest. The rain had picked up again, but it was warm in the little garage, sitting next to Jacob. He was as good as a furnace. His fingers brushed my hand. â€Å"Things have really changed.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, and then I reached out and patted the back tire of my bike. â€Å"Charlie used to like me. I hope Billy doesn’t say anything about today. . . .† I bit my lip. â€Å"He won’t. He doesn’t get worked up about things the way Charlie does. Hey, I never did apologize officially for that stupid move with the bike. I’m real sorry about ratting you out to Charlie. I wish I hadn’t.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Me, too.† â€Å"I’m really, really sorry.† He looked at me hopefully, his wet, tangled black hair sticking up in every direction around his pleading face. â€Å"Oh, fine! You’re forgiven.† â€Å"Thanks, Bells!† We grinned at each other for a second, and then his face clouded over. â€Å"You know that day, when I brought the bike over . . . I’ve been wanting to ask you something,† he said slowly. â€Å"But also . . . not wanting to.† I held very still – a reaction to stress. It was a habit I’d picked up from Edward. â€Å"Were you just being stubborn because you were mad at me, or were you really serious?† he whispered. â€Å"About what?† I whispered back, though I was sure I knew what he meant. He glared at me. â€Å"You know. When you said it was none of my business . . . if – if he bit you.† He cringed visibly at the end. â€Å"Jake . . .† My throat felt swollen. I couldn’t finish. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. â€Å"Were you serious?† He was trembling just slightly. His eyes stayed closed. â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. Jacob inhaled, slow and deep. â€Å"I guess I knew that.† I stared at his face, waiting for his eyes to open. â€Å"You know what this will mean?† He demanded suddenly. â€Å"You do understand that, don’t you? What will happen if they break the treaty?† â€Å"We’ll leave first,† I said in a small voice. His eyes flashed open, their black depths full of anger and pain. â€Å"There wasn’t a geographic limit to the treaty, Bella. Our great-grandfathers only agreed to keep the peace because the Cullens swore that they were different, that humans weren’t in danger from them. They promised they would never kill or change anyone ever again. If they go back on their word, the treaty is meaningless, and they are no different than any other vampires. Once that’s established, when we find them again -â€Å" â€Å"But, Jake, didn’t you break the treaty already?† I asked, grasping at straws. â€Å"Wasn’t part of it that you not tell people about the vampires? And you told me. So isn’t the treaty sort of moot, anyhow?† Jacob didn’t like the reminder; the pain in his eyes hardened into animosity. â€Å"Yeah, I broke the treaty – back before I believed any of it. And I’m sure they were informed of that.† He glared sourly at my forehead, not meeting my shamed gaze. â€Å"But it’s not like that gives them a freebie or anything. There’s no fault for a fault. They have only one option if they object to what I did. The same option we’ll have when they break the treaty: to attack. To start the war.† He made it sound so inevitable. I shuddered. â€Å"Jake, it doesn’t have to be that way.† His teeth ground together. â€Å"It is that way.† The silence after his declaration felt very loud. â€Å"Will you never forgive me, Jacob?† I whispered. As soon as I said the words, I wished I hadn’t. I didn’t want to hear his answer. â€Å"You won’t be Bella anymore,† he told me. â€Å"My friend won’t exist. There’ll be no one to forgive.† â€Å"That sounds like a no,† I whispered. We faced each other for an endless moment. â€Å"Is this goodbye then, Jake?† He blinked rapidly, his fierce expression melting in surprise. â€Å"Why? We still have a few years. Can’t we be friends until we’re out of time?† â€Å"Years? No, Jake, not years.† I shook my head, and laughed once without humor. â€Å"Weeks is more accurate.† I was not expecting his reaction. He was suddenly on his feet, and there was a loud pop as the soda can exploded in his hand. Soda flew everywhere, soaking me, like it was spraying from a hose. â€Å"Jake!† I started to complain, but I fell silent when I realized that his whole body was quivering with anger. He glared at me wildly, a growling sound building in his chest. I froze in place, too shocked to remember how to move. The shaking rolled through him, getting faster, until it looked like he was vibrating. His shape blurred. . . . And then Jacob gritted his teeth together, and the growling stopped. He squeezed his eyes tight in concentration; the quivering slowed until only his hands were shaking. â€Å"Weeks,† Jacob said in a flat monotone. I couldn’t respond; I was still frozen. He opened his eyes. They were beyond fury now. â€Å"He’s going to change you into a filthy bloodsucker in just a few weeks!† Jacob hissed through his teeth. Too stunned to take offense at his words, I just nodded mutely. His face turned green under the russet skin. â€Å"Of course, Jake,† I whispered after a long minute of silence. â€Å"He’s seventeen, Jacob. And I get closer to nineteen every day. Besides, what’s the point in waiting? He’s all I want. What else can I do?† I’d meant that as a rhetorical question. His words cracked like snaps of a whip. â€Å"Anything. Anything else. You’d be better off dead. I’d rather you were.† I recoiled like he’d slapped me. It hurt worse than if he had. And then, as the pain shot through me, my own temper burst into flame. â€Å"Maybe you’ll get lucky,† I said bleakly, lurching to my feet. â€Å"Maybe I’ll get hit by a truck on my way back.† I grabbed my motorcycle and pushed it out into the rain. He didn’t move as I passed him. As soon as I was on the small, muddy path, I climbed on and kicked the bike to life. The rear tire spit a fountain of mud toward the garage, and I hoped that it hit him. I got absolutely soaked as I sped across the slick highway toward the Cullens’ house. The wind felt like it was freezing the rain against my skin, and my teeth were chattering before I was halfway there. Motorcycles were too impractical for Washington. I would sell the stupid thing first chance I got. I walked the bike into the Cullens’ cavernous garage and was unsurprised to find Alice waiting for me, perched lightly on the hood of her Porsche. Alice stroked the glossy yellow paint. â€Å"I haven’t even had a chance to drive it.† She sighed. â€Å"Sorry,† I spit through my rattling teeth. â€Å"You look like you could use a hot shower,† she said, offhand, as she sprang lightly to her feet. â€Å"Yep.† She pursed her lips, taking in my expression carefully. â€Å"Do you want to talk about it?† â€Å"Nope.† She nodded in assent, but her eyes were raging with curiosity. â€Å"Do you want to go to Olympia tonight?† â€Å"Not really. Can’t I go home?† She grimaced. â€Å"Never mind, Alice,† I said. â€Å"I’ll stay if it makes things easier for you.† â€Å"Thanks,† she sighed in relief. I went to bed early that night, curling up on his sofa again. It was still dark when I woke. I was groggy, but I knew it wasn’t near morning yet. My eyes closed, and I stretched, rolling over. It took me a second before I realized that the movement should have dumped me onto the floor. And that I was much too comfortable. I rolled back over, trying to see. It was darker than last night – the clouds were too thick for the moon to shine through. â€Å"Sorry,† he murmured so softly that his voice was part of the darkness. â€Å"I didn’t mean to wake you.† I tensed, waiting for the fury – both his and mine – but it was only quiet and calm in the darkness of his room. I could almost taste the sweetness of reunion in the air, a separate fragrance from the perfume of his breath; the emptiness when we were apart left its own bitter aftertaste, something I didn’t consciously notice until it was removed. There was no friction in the space between us. The stillness was peaceful – not like the calm before the tempest, but like a clear night untouched by even the dream of a storm. And I didn’t care that I was supposed to be angry with him. I didn’t care that I was supposed to be angry with everyone. I reached out for him, found his hands in the darkness, and pulled myself closer to him. His arms encircled me, cradling me to his chest. My lips searched, hunting along his throat, to his chin, till I finally found his lips. Edward kissed me softly for a moment, and then he chuckled. â€Å"I was all braced for the wrath that was going to put grizzlies to shame, and this is what I get? I should infuriate you more often.† â€Å"Give me a minute to work up to it,† I teased, kissing him again. â€Å"I’ll wait as long as you want,† he whispered against my lips. His fingers knotted in my hair. My breath was becoming uneven. â€Å"Maybe in the morning.† â€Å"Whatever you prefer.† â€Å"Welcome home,† I said while his cold lips pressed under my jaw. â€Å"I’m glad you came back.† â€Å"That’s a very good thing.† â€Å"Mmm,† I agreed, tightening my arms around his neck. His hand curved around my elbow, moving slowly down my arm, across my ribs and over my waist, tracing along my hip and down my leg, around my knee. He paused there, his hand curling around my calf. He pulled my leg up suddenly, hitching it around his hip. I stopped breathing. This wasn’t the kind of thing he usually allowed. Despite his cold hands, I felt suddenly warm. His lips moved in the hollow at the base of my throat. â€Å"Not to bring on the ire prematurely,† he whispered, â€Å"but do you mind telling me what it is about this bed that you object to?† Before I could answer, before I could even concentrate enough to make sense of his words, he rolled to the side, pulling me on top of him. He held my face in his hands, angling it up so that his mouth could reach my throat. My breathing was too loud – it was almost embarrassing, but I couldn’t care quite enough to be ashamed. â€Å"The bed?† he asked again. â€Å"I think it’s nice.† â€Å"It’s unnecessary,† I managed to gasp. He pulled my face back to his, and my lips shaped themselves around his. Slowly this time, he rolled till he hovered over me. He held himself carefully so that I felt none of his weight, but I could feel the cool marble of his body press against mine. My heart was hammering so loudly that it was hard to hear his quiet laughter. â€Å"That’s debatable,† he disagreed. â€Å"This would be difficult on a couch.† Cold as ice, his tongue lightly traced the shape of my lips. My head was spinning – the air was coming too fast and shallow. â€Å"Did you change your mind?† I asked breathlessly. Maybe he’d rethought all his careful rules. Maybe there was more significance to this bed than I’d originally guessed. My heart pounded almost painfully as I waited for his answer. Edward sighed, rolling back so that we were on our sides again. â€Å"Don’t be ridiculous, Bella,† he said, disapproval strong in his voice – clearly, he understood what I meant. â€Å"I was just trying to illustrate the benefits of the bed you don’t seem to like. Don’t get carried away.† â€Å"Too late,† I muttered. â€Å"And I like the bed,† I added. â€Å"Good.† I could hear the smile in his voice as he kissed my forehead. â€Å"I do, too.† â€Å"But I still think it’s unnecessary,† I continued. â€Å"If we’re not going to get carried away, what’s the point?† He sighed again. â€Å"For the hundredth time, Bella – it’s too dangerous.† â€Å"I like danger,† I insisted. â€Å"I know.† There was a sour edge to his voice, and I realized that he would have seen the motorcycle in the garage. â€Å"I’ll tell you what’s dangerous,† I said quickly, before he could move to a new topic of discussion. â€Å"I’m going to spontaneously combust one of these days – and you’ll have no one but yourself to blame.† He started to push me away. â€Å"What are you doing?† I objected, clinging to him. â€Å"Protecting you from combustion. If this too much for you. . . .† â€Å"I can handle it,† I insisted. He let me worm myself back into the circle of his arms. â€Å"I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression,† he said. â€Å"I didn’t mean to make you unhappy. That wasn’t nice.† â€Å"Actually, it was very, very nice.† He took a deep breath. â€Å"Aren’t you tired? I should let you sleep.† â€Å"No, I’m not. I don’t mind if you want to give me the wrong impression again.† â€Å"That’s probably a bad idea. You’re not the only one who gets carried away.† â€Å"Yes, I am,† I grumbled. He chuckled. â€Å"You have no idea, Bella. It doesn’t help that you are so eager to undermine my self- control, either.† â€Å"I’m not going to apologize for that.† â€Å"Can I apologize?† â€Å"For what?† â€Å"You were angry with me, remember?† â€Å"Oh, that.† â€Å"I’m sorry. I was wrong. It’s much easier to have the proper perspective when I have you safely here.† His arms tightened around me. â€Å"I go a little berserk when I try to leave you. I don’t think I’ll go so far again. It’s not worth it.† I smiled. â€Å"Didn’t you find any mountain lions?† â€Å"Yes, I did, actually. Still not worth the anxiety. I’m sorry I had Alice hold you hostage, though. That was a bad idea.† â€Å"Yes,† I agreed. â€Å"I won’t do it again.† â€Å"Okay,† I said easily. He was already forgiven. â€Å"But slumber parties do have their advantages. . . .† I curled myself closer to him, pressing my lips into the indentation over his collarbone. â€Å"You can hold me hostage any time you want.† â€Å"Mmm,† he sighed. â€Å"I may take you up on that.† â€Å"So is it my turn now?† â€Å"Your turn?† his voice was confused. â€Å"To apologize.† â€Å"What do you have to apologize for?† â€Å"Aren’t you mad at me?† I asked blankly. â€Å"No.† It sounded like he really meant it. I felt my eyebrows pull together. â€Å"Didn’t you see Alice when you got home?† â€Å"Yes – why?† â€Å"Are you going to take her Porsche back?† â€Å"Of course not. It was a gift.† I wished I could see his expression. His voice sounded as if I’d insulted him. â€Å"Don’t you want to know what I did?† I asked, starting to be puzzled by his apparent lack of concern. I felt him shrug. â€Å"I’m always interested in everything you do – but you don’t have to tell me unless you want to.† â€Å"But I went to La Push.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"And I ditched school.† â€Å"So did I.† I stared toward the sound of his voice, tracing his features with my fingers, trying to understand his mood. â€Å"Where did all this tolerance come from?† I demanded. He sighed. â€Å"I decided that you were right. My problem before was more about my . . . prejudice against werewolves than anything else. I’m going to try to be more reasonable and trust your judgment. If you say it’s safe, then I’ll believe you.† â€Å"Wow.† â€Å"And . . . most importantly . . . I’m not willing to let this drive a wedge between us.† I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes, totally content. â€Å"So,† he murmured in a casual tone. â€Å"Did you make plans to go back to La Push again soon?† I didn’t answer. His question brought back the memory of Jacob’s words, and my throat was suddenly tight. He misread my silence and the tension in my body. â€Å"Just so that I can make my own plans,† he explained quickly. â€Å"I don’t want you to feel like you have to hurry back because I’m sitting around waiting for you.† â€Å"No,† I said in a voice that sounded strange to me. â€Å"I don’t have plans go back.† â€Å"Oh. You don’t have to do that for me.† â€Å"I don’t think I’m welcome anymore,† I whispered. â€Å"Did you run over someone’s cat?† he asked lightly. I knew he didn’t want to force the story out of me, but I could hear the curiosity burning behind his words. â€Å"No.† I took a deep breath, and then mumbled quickly through the explanation. â€Å"I thought Jacob would have realized . . . I didn’t think it would surprise him.† Edward waited while I hesitated. â€Å"He wasn’t expecting . . . that it was so soon.† â€Å"Ah,† Edward said quietly. â€Å"He said he’d rather see me dead.† My voice broke on the last word. Edward was too still for a moment, controlling whatever reaction he didn’t want me to see. Then he crushed me gently to his chest. â€Å"I’m so sorry.† â€Å"I thought you’d be glad,† I whispered. â€Å"Glad over something that’s hurt you?† he murmured into my hair. â€Å"I don’t think so, Bella.† I sighed and relaxed, fitting myself to the stone shape of him. But he was motionless again, tense. â€Å"What’s wrong?† I asked. â€Å"It’s nothing.† â€Å"You can tell me.† He paused for a minute. â€Å"It might make you angry.† â€Å"I still want to know.† He sighed. â€Å"I could quite literally kill him for saying that to you. I want to.† I laughed halfheartedly. â€Å"I guess it’s a good thing you’ve got so much self-control.† â€Å"I could slip.† His tone was thoughtful. â€Å"If you’re going to have a lapse in control, I can think of a better place for it.† I reached for his face, trying to pull myself up to kiss him. His arms held me tighter, restraining. He sighed. â€Å"Must I always be the responsible one?† I grinned in the darkness. â€Å"No. Let me be in charge of responsibility for a few minutes . . . or hours.† â€Å"Goodnight, Bella.† â€Å"Wait – there was something else I wanted to ask you about.† â€Å"What’s that?† â€Å"I was talking to Rosalie last night. . . .† His body tensed again. â€Å"Yes. She was thinking about that when I got in. She gave you quite a lot to consider, didn’t she?† His voice was anxious, and I realized that he thought I wanted to talk about the reasons Rosalie’d given me for staying human. But I was interested in something much more pressing. â€Å"She told me a little bit . . . about the time your family lived in Denali.† There was a short pause; this beginning took him by surprise. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"She mentioned something about a bunch of female vampires . . . and you.† He didn’t answer, though I waited for a long moment. â€Å"Don’t worry,† I said, after the silence had grown uncomfortable. â€Å"She told me you didn’t . . . show any preference. But I was just wondering, you know, if any of them had. Shown a preference for you, I mean.† Again he said nothing. â€Å"Which one?† I asked, trying to keep my voice casual, and not quite managing. â€Å"Or was there more than one?† No answer. I wished I could see his face, so I could try to guess what this silence meant. â€Å"Alice will tell me,† I said. â€Å"I’ll go ask her right now.† His arms tightened; I was unable to squirm even an inch away. â€Å"It’s late,† he said. His voice had a little edge to it that was something new. Sort of nervous, maybe a little embarrassed. â€Å"Besides, I think Alice stepped out. . . .† â€Å"It’s bad,† I guessed. â€Å"It’s really bad, isn’t it?† I started to panic, my heart accelerating as I imagined the gorgeous immortal rival I’d never realized I had. â€Å"Calm down, Bella,† he said, kissing the tip of my nose. â€Å"You’re being absurd.† â€Å"Am I? Then why won’t you tell me?† â€Å"Because there’s nothing to tell. You’re blowing this wildly out of proportion.† â€Å"Which one?† I insisted. He sighed. â€Å"Tanya expressed a little interest. I let her know, in a very courteous, gentlemanly fashion, that I did not return that interest. End of story.† I kept my voice as even as possible. â€Å"Tell me something – what does Tanya look like?† â€Å"Just like the rest of us – white skin, gold eyes,† he answered too quickly. â€Å"And, of course, extraordinarily beautiful.† I felt him shrug. â€Å"I suppose, to human eyes,† he said, indifferent. â€Å"You know what, though?† â€Å"What?† My voice was petulant. He put his lips right to my ear; his cold breath tickled. â€Å"I prefer brunettes.† â€Å"She’s a blonde. That figures.† â€Å"Strawberry blonde – not at all my type.† I thought about that for a while, trying to concentrate as his lips moved slowly along my cheek, down my throat, and back up again. He made the circuit three times before I spoke. â€Å"I guess that’s okay, then,† I decided. â€Å"Hmm,† he whispered against my skin. â€Å"You’re quite adorable when you’re jealous. It’s surprisingly enjoyable.† I scowled into the darkness. â€Å"It’s late,† he said again, murmuring, almost crooning now, his voice smoother than silk. â€Å"Sleep, my Bella. Dream happy dreams. You are the only one who has ever touched my heart. It will always be yours. Sleep, my only love.† He started to hum my lullaby, and I knew it was only a matter of time till I succumbed, so I closed my eyes and snuggled closer into his chest. How to cite The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 8. TEMPER, Essay examples

Mendel Patterns of Inheritance free essay sample

Mendel on Patterns of Inheritance Mendel was the first to see that traits in each person were passed down, not just from the parents, but also from grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, etc. He also figured out that not every person is the same as his or her own parents. Some of these traits can come from other family members that are no longer living. Mendel is the first to also describe these traits as passages through the generations. There are at least three reasons for Mendel’s success; 1) He focused on just a few traits – seven to be exact – instead of many traits as others did; 2) he thoroughly documented and quantified all of his experimental results; and 3) he chose to study these traits in the garden pea, Pisum sativum. With Mendel’s novel, he talks about how traits are passed on by ones parents. That these traits are passed on as a whole and not usually unaltered to the offspring. We will write a custom essay sample on Mendel Patterns of Inheritance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mendel also realized that with the reproduction, each parent would contribute one hereditary factor to his and her offspring. This means that the trait giving to each individual that he or she has one maternally derived factor and one paternally derived factor, thus having one factor from his or her mother and one from his or her father. Some of the advantages that Mendel had when choosing the garden pea to do his experiments on was that of, Mendel as a young boy grew up in the fields of growing foods. He was born to a peasant farmer. Mendel also knew just what would need to be done and how to grow these items as well. He went on to become a priest at the age of twenty-one but still studied things such as plant breeding and wanting to understand more about hereditary. Out of the six major concluding principles that Mendel hypothesized about, I chose to do one, two, and six. With one, it talks about how the hereditary characteristics are passed down from the parents to the children. These basic units of inheritance are known as a gene instead of a trait. These different forms of genes are called alleles, which is how Mendel referred to the traits. With two, it talks about how every individual has two alleles for every gene. These can be either identical or not. If they happen to be identical then it is said to be that the trait is known as homozygous. If it is not identical, than it is that that the traits are heterozygous. With six, it talks about how the independent assortment applies to two or more genes. This is considered to be simultaneously. This states that alleles of one gene are passed to his or her offspring independently of all the other allele’s genes.