Why do Serial Killers Keep on Killing?

There are sick murderers all over the world and some get sexually aroused from killing, others kill for the fun of it, or some simply hate themselves so they take their anger out on people. It's like once they get a taste of blood, they'll never stop until they are stopped. There are serial killers all over, but I'll be focusing on the serial killers in our state, California. I'll be discussing about 5 serial killers/rapists on their multiple crimes, and how they got arrested.

The first serial killer is Joseph James DeAngelo also known as the Golden State Killer. From 1976 to 1986, Joseph spread fear from Sacramento to San Francisco to Los Angeles. He killed 12 people, raped about 45 people and burglarized more than 120 homes. Joseph always planned his attacks and he usually struck at night. He plans to the smallest detail, Joseph would study his victims' schedules that way he knows when the right moment is to commit the crime. When the victims aren't in their houses Joseph would break into their houses where he would sometimes hide until the victim comes home and goes to bed and from there, he would strike, or sometimes he would just break in so he could unlock all the doors, windows, basically any entrance to the house in preparation for his return. In one attack, Joseph hid in a closet and he waited there until the couple fell asleep, once that happened, he got out of the closet announcing himself, while that was happening the husband reached for his gun but it ended up being emptied which showed that Joseph broke into their house when they weren't home and ended up finding the husband's gun which he unloaded so it would make his attack easier.

On April 24, 2018, Joseph James DeAngelo was linked to two of the Golden State Killer murders after investigators discovered that his DNA matched with a really old DNA sample that was picked up from his murder spree. It was all thanks to new DNA techniques and complete DNA databases which helped out the investigators tie these cases together. Joseph was finally arrested.

The second isn't a serial killer, but a serial rapist and his name is Roy Waller also known as the NorCal rapist. Roy emerged five years after the Golden State Killer and now he terrorized California. He spread fear across six counties in Northern California for more than 15 years. Those six counties were Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Yolo, Butte, and Sacramento. Roy had broken into homes and raped at least 10 women. His first assault began in the summer of 1991 where Roy raped a 21-year-old woman inside her home, he snuck in through an unlocked glass door. In later attacks, Roy broke into more homes and would assault some woman for hours and that the victims were blindfolded so they won't be able to see his face. Sometimes he would kidnap victims and would take them to an ATM where he would take all of the victim's money out of their accounts. In 2006, Roy spent 6 hours raping two woman, ages 24 and 28, in Sacramento. A victim passed by Roy's vehicle, it was described as a 2001 to 2003 white Toyota 4Runner. After an attack has occurred a security camera caught that described vehicle driving away. The 2006 attacks by NorCal Rapist seemed to be the last ones, because no more attacks rose.

Roy was linked by DNA directly to the October 2006 attacks. Luckily it matched the DNA profile of the NorCal rapist. Roy faces 12 counts of forcible sexual assaults and allegations that he had used a gun to commit some of these crimes. More charges may be filed against him. His arrest comes 5 months after the arrest of the Golden State Killer. The same techniques that were used to match the Golden State Killers DNA to the samples was used on Roy Waller. Roy remains in jail without bail.

The third serial killer is Randy Steven Kraft also known as the Scorecard Killer. Randy is a monster compared to the Golden State Killer and NorCal rapist. Randy is a serial rapist, torturer, and killer responsible for the mutilation and deaths of about 16 young males from 1972 to 1983. Randy has a list known as the scorecard which lists every single victim he may have come into contact with which he was linked to 40 additional unsolved murders. Kraft tortured and murdered all of his victims. All of known victims were Caucasian males and most of them had been drugged, tortured, mutilated, emasculated, and sodomized. Steven Kraft is extremely weird and a psycho, because he receives pleasure by inserting objects into the victim's anus and urethra while they were still alive. All that pain and torture the victims had to deal with. How most of his tortures begin is that whenever Steven Kraft and his lover get into an argument, the victim would pay the price by being tortured to death.

On May 14, 1983, two highway patrol officers pulled over a car, because the driver was driving erratically. The driver was Steven Kraft and when he got pulled over, he got out of the car and walked towards the officers. He smelled of alcohol, so the officers gave him a standard sobriety test, which he failed. The officers then checked his vehicle which they found a dead man, his genitals exposed and had strangulation marks on his neck. They also found a scorecard which the officers believed it was a list of Kraft's murdered victims. The dead man was identified as Terry Grambrel. Steven Kraft was arrested and charged with the murder of Terry Grambrel, eventually more forensic evidence linked him to additional murders which more charges were filed. He was then charged with 16 murders, 9 sexual mutilation charges, and 3 sodomy charges. Kraft went to trial on September 26, 1988 and after 11 days in trial he was found guilty and was given a death sentence. His death sentence was upheld in 2000 and he remains on death row in San Quentin.

The fourth serial killer is Richard Ramirez also known as the Night Stalker. Richard is a serial killer, rapist, and burglar who killed about 13 people from 1984 to 1985. Richard became this monster, because of his cousin who was a Vietnam War veteran. At 12 years old, his cousin showed him pictures of Vietnamese women that he had raped, tortured, then killed. Later on, Richard witnessed his cousin fatally killing his wife, and he stayed there watching the killing. Then after that Richard started committing crimes. He committed his first murder in June 1984, where he raped and stabbed a 79-year-old widow. After his first murder, he stayed lay low for about 8 months then he resumed back to his killing. In the Los Angeles area, most of the deaths were done inside the victims' houses. What made Ramirez's killing unique from the other serial killers are that on most of his crimes, he will leave Satanic symbols behind. He was known as the Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez created a panic that saw a surge in gun sales. The victims that had survived Ramirez's home invasion described that they were sexually assaulted and beaten.

A fingerprint was discovered that led to Richard Ramirez's identification. On August 30, 1985 about six days after his last murder, his name and photograph was released to the public and in the same day a man saw Richard in East Los Angeles, so he notified the police. Richard being aware, he tried to steal a car, but wasn't successful since he was surrounded by a crowd and was beaten until the police arrived. In 1989 Richard Ramirez's trial began. In September Richard was convicted of 13 murders and other crimes. About 2 months later Richard was sentenced to death. He was believed to have committed other murders and rapes but he was not charged for it. He was on a death row at San Quentin State Prison, but Richard Ramirez was diagnosed with cancer which he ended up dying from it in 2013.

The fifth serial killer is Lonnie Franklin, Jr. also known as the Grim Sleeper. He got the name Grim Sleeper, because his killing started in 1985 and ended at 1988, then about 13 years later he reemerged in 2002 and continued his killing until he was caught in 2007. His targets were young black women in South L.A. These young black women were either prostitutes, or they struggled with drug addiction. Franklin would drive around at night looking for young women and pick them up off the street, offering them rides. Instead of actually offering them a ride, he shot and sexually assaulted them except two women, they were strangled to death. Then after he finished killing or sexually assaulting them, he would dump their dead corpse in back alleys and in trash bins. One woman managed to survive, and she described that she was shot in the chest and was sexually assaulted by what she believed was Franklin in 1988. The problem was that family members were accusing the LAPD for not taking this case seriously, because the victims were poor and black.

In 2010, investigators used a new technique to match DNA found on the women with DNA in a state database. What investigators ended up doing is that instead of searching for a match, they conducted a newly developed familial search for DNA that may be from a relative of the killer. The investigators ended up using Franklin's sons' DNA, his DNA has been collected by the state when he served his time in prison, and the exciting news is that it ended up as a match. Investigators knew that the son was simply too young to have committed the murders in the 1980's, so the investigators turned to the father which he lived in South L.A. All they needed was Franklin's DNA to see if it was a match. So, a detective posed a bustboy at a pizza parlor where Franklin was attending a birthday party. The detective managed to collect a half-eaten piece of pizza from Franklin's plate. With Franklin's DNA the investigators were able to match his DNA found on seven of the women. Afterwards, Franklins home was searched and investigators found a gun that was used in one of the murders and pictures of dozens of women including each of the victims. Then once in trial, Franklin sat there emotionless, and did not testify. It ended up being a three-month trial and from there Franklin was found guilty of 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

These are the 5 sick serial killers/rapists here in California. They all have spread fear in multiple counties. They didn't stop until they were finally arrested. There are many unsolved cases out there but these 5 were caught and punished for their crimes. Joseph James DeAngelo (The Golden State Killer) was responsible for the death of 12 people, raped 45 people, and burglarized more than 120 homes. Roy Waller (NorCal Rapist) faced 12 counts of forcible sexual assaults and allegations that he used a gun in some of his crimes. Randy Steven Kraft (The Scorecard Killer) was charged with 16 murders, 9 sexual mutilation charges, and 3 sodomy charges. Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) was convicted of 13 murders and other crimes. Lonnie Franklin, Jr. (The Grim Sleeper) faced 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. These monsters were brought to justice.

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The Mental Health of Serial Killer

Another common symptom of schizophrenia is paranoia. Paranoia is a symptom of self-centering interpretation of the subject's judgment where the real intention is hidden. Often times, people who experience insomnia also experience paranoia. Also, paranoid Schizophrenia is more often seen in men than in women. In act 1 scene 7 through line 1 to 7, If it were done when tis done, then twere well. It were done quickly. If the assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here, but here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'd jump the life to come(1.7.1-7), Macbeth seemed pretty calm and okay. He contemplated about killing Duncan but he acknowledged that he can not keep the plan of murdering since the King just privileged him and it was the wrong thing to do to the person that everyone admired. Also, he showed that he would rather enjoy the honors and good opinions he got from people than murdering him by telling Lady Macbeth. There was not any signs of paranoia.

However, right after he killed Duncan, which was his first murder, paranoia set in for him. From Act 2 scene 2, we could tell that he was hearing voices because of the fear and guilt he had. Soon after this, his attitude began to change. Act 3 scene 1, Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared. Tis much he dares, and to that dauntless temper of his mind. He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor to act in safety. There is none but he whose being I do fear, and under him my genius is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony's was by Caesar(3.1.49-58), explains that Macbeth started considering Banquo who was a close friend to him as a competitor, and he thought that Banquo was threatening him. He started feeling that everyone around him will kill him or want revenge for his sins. Eventually, Macbeth decided to murder him by hiring assassins for the murder. Paranoia that Macbeth had kept getting worse as the time went by, and after all, Macbeth began to trust the words of the witches.

When someone is talking about the symptoms of schizophrenia, hallucinations can not be excluded. Hallucinations are the experiences that are not knowable to others. It can be exist in most of senses, but the mild symptom of hallucinations is sway and the most usual hallucination is hearing voices. One may see motion in a peripheral illusion, or may hear faint noises or voices. If one is experiencing hallucinations, one may feel them as real, and vivid, however the fact is that those visions and sounds are actually not real. About 70% of people suffering from schizophrenia deal with hallucinations(Smith, Kathleen). In Macbeth, Macbeth saw many hallucinations which proved that he had schizophrenia. Later Banquo, Fleance and the servant exited the room after a short conversation with Macbeth when Macbeth saw a dagger in the air. He saw this as a clear sign that he was supposed to murder Duncan. Also, Macbeth heard the voices saying Sleep no more! after the murder at night(2.2.35-42). From the act 3 scene 4, Macbeth even saw the ghost of Banquo because of the anxiety he had from hiring someone to murder Banquo, and it led him to have a hard time with hiding his guilt.

Especially in act 4, Macbeth experienced the hallucination of meeting witches. The first apparition he saw was, an armed head and he heard the head saying beware of Macduff(4.1.71). The second apparition was a child covered with blood, and the child said, Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth(4.1.81) to him. The third apparition was a child wearing crown on his head and holding tree in his hand. Macbeth heard, Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspireres are. Macbeth shall never be vanquished until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him(4.1.94-98) said the third apparition. The last vision he saw in the act 4 was a show that showing eight kings walking across the stage following the lead of Banquo. After all of the visions he saw, Macbeth was very freaked out. He yelled towards the visions, and shoutout go away. He believed the visions were real, and the witches had vanished after the incident he experienced which proves that Macbeth was suffering schizophrenia.

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Analysis of Dulce Et Decorum Est

Dulce et Decorum est is a sonnet, which largely follows the iambic pentameter. It was written by Wilfred Owen a soldier who fought in the first modern war, World War I. It is four stanzas and 27 lines in length. World War I was the deadliest war ever at that point in human history, Wilfred Owen composes a poem with poetic language, such as similes and imagery, to express condemnation of the war and on those who proclaim The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. Dulce et Decorum Est is very much a literal poem, so while rich in similes there are few extended metaphors. The many similes all serve a purpose in getting the reader to understand the severity of the war. Each are evocative and powerful. Such as like old beggars under sacks, Owen's language here deprives the soldiers of human dignity and health. They are like unto the old and homeless, dispossessed and living a life begging. Also the line flound'ring like a man in fire or lime describes what it was like to be poisoned by the gas shells. This abomination is something Owen surely must have witnessed. He goes on to describe that same scene As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. It is probably the reality that Owen saw many fellow soldiers perish from the poisonous gas. And hear he likens it to drowning, in which someone naturally holds their breath until their brain forces an involuntary breath that leads to their inevitable doom and intense suffering. Owen's use of imagery drags the reader into the dreary situation. The cry Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!, makes the reader feel as if they are one of the soldiers. An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time is where one can feel the intense moment of desperation when the gas quickly begins to envelop them, and they must get their mask on or perish by a terrible death, and on a side note, An ecstasy of fumbling' is a beautiful use of irony. His description of the soldier who fails to put on his gas mask quick enough feels so real and is truly terrifying and utterly revolting, the white eyes writhing in his face the blood come gargling from the forth-corrupted lungs. This was truly an offensive sight for the mind, and you can almost hear what is happening as if you are there. Other lines evoke more pain and suffering like, bitter as the cud/Of vile incurable sores, incurable has a finality to it, those who have the sores will perish. Owen actually uses a farming image there as well. cud' is half-digested pasture chewed by cattle. And in that sentence, Owen equates humans with animals, as well as conveying the burning effect of the man's blood which has been contaminated by the gas inhalation. The overriding theme and the message Owen wants to convey is death and decay. The poem builds upon the despicable abomination that was World War One and the horrific conditions which the soldiers are in to put forth this message, that if you had witness the horrors of the war, you would not tell with such high zest to childrenThe old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. Here he addresses those who are in the home front of the war, those who have not experienced the horrors yet tempt young boys with the prize of glory if they fight and perhaps die for their country. Wilfred Owen was probably one of these boys seeking glory, since he enlisted himself to fight in the war. Because of his experiences, Owen now condemns the war. Dulce et Decorum Est is his testimony of this. He is quite successful with his use of the poetic language in conveying the message of the brutality of this war. He uses real and terrifying experiences to perfectly showcase the foolishness of such a war. A war that would have been prevented quite easily if not for the ineptness and pride of the world leaders at the time. There were seventeen million deaths in this war, and it is what I think to be the greatest mistake in human history.

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The Reality of WWI through Dulce Et Decorum Est

World War One was a very monumental, but also tragic time for our country. Some may not fully understand the effects of war, and the actual sacrifices that are made. Some may say our country would not be what it is today without the soldiers of that time laying down their lives for this country. To help understand the reality of this war, Wilfred Owen wrote the poem Dulce et Decorum Est. Wilfred Owen had first-hand experience of the horrors of gas warfare during WWI (World War I). I believe that Owen wrote this poem as an attempt to show the true horror of this war, from a firsthand experience During this time, the technology of war was far more advanced than just gun on gun combat. As WWI progressed the Germans began to actively develop chemical weaponry, which gave them the upper hand on each and every enemy. They called this weapon Mustard gas. This gas blistered the skin, eyes, and lungs. They claimed to use the gas to slow their enemy down as a whole, and to take out large groups of soldiers at a time. Owen focuses mostly on the aspect of chemical warfare throughout his poem. Throughout the poem he describes the physical condition of soldiers involved in the war. He projects very vulgar imagery to truly show the effect of a gas attack, and the shock that it had on the soldiers as well. Then he continues by dwelling on the results of this fatal, and dreadful experience. I feel that is generally short-sighted to correlate the narrator of a poem with its author, yet I feel it is quite likely that in Dulce et Decorum Est Wilfred is narrating in his own voice. He uses certain methods to directly address how terrible war really is to the audience of the poem. He wants to make sure that each reader knows exactly what these soldiers went through. He starts the poem off by describing a group of unnerved, and weakened soldiers falling back from the midst of battle. Each man is clearly on his last leg, and just simply beat to a pulp, Men marched asleep. (line 7) Each man is so worn down that Owen also describes them as being, drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of gas-shells dropping softly behind (lines 7-8). This goes to show that chemical warfare was just as gruesome or more so than common warfare. Though it seemed that chemical warfare was to advance to be defeated, it was not unavoidable. As the Germans continued to develop chemical weapons, the USA did not have the proper resources or technology to create the same chemical weapons as the Germans. Therefore, we developed a protective mask to prevent our soldiers from inhaling the poisonous gasses. These masks were somewhat air tight around the soldier's face, and had an air filtration system on the front of the masks that allowed the soldiers to continue to breathe without breathing in toxins. These masks became a valuable resource for the soldiers in WWI, and in this poem. Although these men knew that death was upon them, deep down they still had the will to survive. Owen portrays this will as a soldier shouts Gas! GAS! (line 9), and each man goes into an ecstasy of fumbling (line 9) using the last bit of energy left in their brutally, beaten bodies to put on the gas masks before the deadly poison kills them all. Every solider but one successfully put on the mask; the narrator watches from behind the glass of his protective gas mask into the green sea (line 14) that the gas bombs have created around him and his comrades, watching helplessly as the gas took the life of his fellow comrade. The memory of that solider dying as he sat by not able to help in any way is one that the narrator will never forget. Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight, he plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. (line 13-16) This is just a small glimpse of the gruesome reality of the mental effects that war can have on a man. Physical wounds were only a fraction of the problem for most soldiers involved in WWI. The amount of philological damage that these troops endured at this time was nothing like anyone had very seen before. After numerous troops began to experience the same philological effects. Doctors gave these symptoms the name of shell shock: The term shell shock emerged in the harsh winter of 1914-15 as soldiers sought to describe how they felt when under fire. During training, they had been instructed to conceal their fears because panic was known to spread rapidly through battalions. Yet, apart from trusting to luck, there was little that an infantryman could do to protect his life when being shelled. Without regulated tours of duty and no prospect of an early end to the conflict, many frontline soldiers were worn down by the emotional demands of trench warfare. https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/psychological-wounds-of-conflict-the-impact-of-world-war-one-71084/" The emotional impact of war is more than any normal man could ever understand. As the narrator describes watching his brother in arms die, he uses such precise imagery. He puts you directly into the narrator's boots. He makes it seem as if you are in the trenches witnessing a cruel death. For a memory such as that to haunt you every time you close your eyes is something that one would never want to experience. I believe that Owen might have a difficult time writing this poem, due to the fact he is writing from such an intense personal experience. Especially when the personal experience is one of the worst experiences possible. Although some may feel they may have a true understanding of war, I believe one would never truly understand unless they have experienced it themselves. As the war continued more and more lives were lost, and more and more families continued to receive devastating news about there loved ones losing there lives to war. WWI was not only a very hard time for the soldiers themselves but also for their families. As most of the soldiers had been deployed to fight in the war, women had to replace men in the workforce at that time. This put a lot of pressure, and responsibility on the older children of the household as they had to take care of most all of the household duties along with taking care of many younger siblings. Many of the men who came back from the War were suffering from serious injuries, the effects of Mustard Gas and or shell shock as discussed earlier. They were to haunted form, war to talk about their experiences and it would often take them a great amount of time to recover from the trauma of War. Due to these men not being able to recover properly most women became responsible for supporting the entire family. As well as the children being frightened about their fathers going off to war because they might not ever see them again. However, when some fathers did return home their children were confused on how their fathers would act because they did not understand the effects of the war and the trauma it can cause to a man. Not a single solider was prepared for the brutal reality of this war, as well as their families. As Owen continues to dwell on the war, he begins to discuss the aftermath. The aftermath and amount of deaths was nothing the world had ever experienced before, and it absolutely took a toll on our great country. In this online article it describes the amount of soldiers that were permanently effected by the war, and the ones who lost their lives. In the end, around 4,000,000 soldiers were mobilized and 116,708 American military personnel died during World War 1 from all causes (influenza, combat and wounds). Over 204,000 were wounded and 757 U.S. civilians died due to military action. https://www.historyonthenet.com/how-many-americans-died-in-ww1/ At this point in the war it seemed almost as if America had lost hope, and everyone was beginning to believe there was no chance of us walking away from this war victorious. As Owen began to experience more and more deaths he began to question whether or not it was truly noble for a young man to make such a brutal sacrifice for one's country. Who began to believe that every cruel death was not worth it. As he begins the last paragraph of the poem. He continues to talk about how the war still haunts him. He really brings the poem to an end with some of the most gruesome images one could think of. He dwells on the dreadful experience of walking behind the wagon full of dead comrades. As he discusses this it becomes mare clear of how a soldier of this time truly began to feel throughout the war. And just how awful it truly was. He makes it clear that one will never know the fellking unless they experience it themselves. If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,??” My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et Decorum Est Pro patria mori As he describes looking at his dead fellow troop in the back of the wagon, he uses imagery so cruel that you feel as if you yourself are walking behind this wagon full of dead soldiers. Looking at this man's hanging face. In all Wilfred Owen brings out the true emotion of this war throughtout the poem. Having witnessed the fatalities. He helps us better understand how terrible of a time this was for many solders and many family's to follow. As the poem comes to an end Owen is still questionable able one laying down his life for his country is a noble gesture. As said before our country would not be what it is today without the men of this time going through such unberable circumstances to keep us a free country.

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The Classic Shakespearean Play

The classic Shakespearean play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, mirrors many themes and concepts that are still relevant to modern times. Many readers are able to identify with said themes, such as ambition, which is still exhibited in some of today's most famous people. One of these is Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of former U.S. President, Bill Clinton. Over time, it has become more recognized that there are many similarities between Hillary Clinton and the character Lady Macbeth from William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is a strong, ambitious woman who, throughout the play, executes many tasks purely for her own needs. It would be difficult to name a character more completely absorbed and controlled by reckless ambition than that of Lady Macbeth, and to find a woman more frequently accused of equivalent ambition than the woman Donald Trump calls Crooked Hillary. Only, unlike Lady Macbeth, Clinton didn't stop at encouraging her husband to rise to the nation's top, she then wanted that power for herself.

When Shakespeare first introduces his audience to Lady Macbeth, he is quick to show how power hungry she is. Upon receiving a letter from her husband describing the prophecy, given to him by the Weird Sisters, that he will be king, she does not only welcome the news. She uses this as justification for killing the current king, Duncan, and his wife. In one of Shakespeare's most chilling scenes, Lady Macbeth prepares herself for King Duncan's murder by calling on the gods to dry up her breast milk and dispel any ounce of feminine care and pity from her. She then pressures her husband to commit the regicide that sets the play in motion.

Unsurprisingly, the murderous actions of the couple bring down Lady Macbeth. Her husband quickly regrets his actions and finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his victims. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, remains remorseless. As others learn of the Macbeth's actions, Lady Macbeth begins to psychologically deteriorate and dies as a result of her derangement.

While former president Bill Clinton was working to avoid impeachment, though no political rivals were killed in the process, it's not hard to see it's not hard to pick out the parallels in the scandals and ambition that attend the Macbeth's rise to power, and those of the Clinton's. It would not, however be a stretch to suggest that ambition, rather than a Democratic agenda, drove Hillary Clinton's desire to be the first female president. Many of Clinton's critics suggest that, like Lady Macbeth, she is overreaching, aspiring to a presidency that her husband already held (Schneider). Add to her ambition her insistence on preserving her privacy, and her initial unwillingness to cooperate with investigations into her work as Secretary of State, and the nation is left with the image of a secretive, conspiring leader, similar to the one that brought Scotland to its knees four hundred years prior.

Like Lady Macbeth, there is nothing Clinton will not do, say, think, or feel to get what she wants. She has a ruthless, unapologetic, unshamable way in which she pursues [her] ambition(Times), and while all politicians lie to win popularity, many believe that Hillary's entire campaign is a Grand Deceit, an entirely artificial construct built around a person who, stripped bare of the cynicism, manipulation and calculation, is nothing more than an enormous, overpowering and rather terrifying ego.(Times).

The Clinton's and Macbeth's alike have no problem doing anything and everything that it takes to rise to power. It is easy to see that the Clinton's do not take prisoners and that friends and enemies alike are sacrificed on the altar of power (All Africa). This is also evident in the Macbeth's relationship following the multiple murders committed by the two to ensure their throne. Clinton has a willingness to adopt a myriad of public faces (Rust). After each of the Clinton's political scandals, she seems to adopt yet another political persona to benefit herself or her husbands standing with the people.

Many believe that Hillary used her husband solely to climb her way up to political ladder. While this may or may not be true, there is no doubt that her marriage worked in her favor when it comes to her political rankings. Her allegiance to Bill despite his infidelities warmed her image to the public eye. In the wake of Lewinsky scandal, Hillary's approval ratings, once dismal, soared (Winkler). However, her power, like Lady Macbeths, is dependent on her husband. Lady Macbeth could not become Queen without Macbeth, much like Hillary would not have risen to power without Bill.

Melissa Mackenzie from The Spectator believes Clinton is full of, consuming ambition, inflexibility of purpose, domination of a pliable husband, and an unsettling lack of tender human feeling, along with the affluent feminist's contempt for traditional female roles (Mackenzie). These are characteristics that are also very evident in Lady Macbeth. Both Clinton and Lady macbeth are women who are behind the scenes, and weave themselves into business that does not fall under their job description. Along with this, both women consistently defend their husbands, even though they're involved in many scandals, solely to save their own reputations.

Lady Macbeth convinces the men at the dinner party that Macbeth suffered from a long term mental illness while he made a scene upon seeing Banquo's ghost, nearly confessing to the murders, to cover up for the couple's actions. This is very similar to how while in an interview, Clinton is asked questions about Bill and his many scandals, including the Lewinsky scandal, and time after time she sticks up for her husband. She not only stayed but actively strategized what to do when a shoe dropped (Dettmer). She is always prepared to blame anyone else for their scandals, and, like the Macbeth's, they don't seem to care if their friends and allies become casualties (Dettmer).
Many believe that there has always been a Lady Macbeth story line to (Clinton's) controversy-filled White House years. She found herself at the center of a host of scandals and pseudo-scandals, from the intrigue around the Clintons' failed Whitewater real estate deal to the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of her law firm records to her suspiciously lucrative trades in cattle futures. (Tumulty).
While Hillary Clinton, unlike Lady Macbeth, does not murder anyone to rise to the top of the political ladder, she does it is hard not to see the parallels between the two women. Both Clinton and Lady Macbeth were power consumed, and used their husbands to achieve said power. They are both the secretive, conspiring women behind their husband's actions, encouraging their behavior, and covering up their mistakes to ensure that the couple would not get caught, or, in the Clinton's case, make sure their ratings wouldn't plummet. It has become very clear over the last few years that Hillary Clinton's ambition, and lust for power have made many people begin to believe that Hillary is, in fact, the Lady Macbeth of Little Rock.

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Walmart Case Study

Contents

History of Walmart

History of Walmart

Rebate stores' expansive retail outlets offering a wide scope of items??”started showing up in the US after World War II. Tried and true way of thinking held that urban communities with no less than 100,000 occupants were expected to help a rebate store. Sam Walton an administrator of Ben Franklin assortment stores in Arkansas trusted that, with low costs, markdown stores could be feasible in littler networks: Our system was to put good???sized stores into minimal one???horse towns that every other person was ignoring.

Worldwide Expansion

Walmart's worldwide extension started in 1991 with a joint wander with Mexico's biggest retailer, Cifra SA, to open rebate stores and Sam's Clubs in a few Mexican urban areas. By 2000, Walmart had entered six abroad nations. In each nation Walmart entered, it was compelled to adjust its retailing framework to the particular conditions of every nation's buyer propensities and inclinations, foundation, aggressive circumstance, and the political and administrative condition.

Drivers of cost advantage make Walmart such a successful organization in the world of low-cost leadership. Substantial deals volume made conceivable by an expansive client base and size of activity, an exceptionally effective store network framework that amplifies profitability and decreases costs, low operational and overhead expenses, and utilization of bartering capacity to get minimal costs from the providers (an imperative quality for a vast scale retailer that assumes the most critical part in its value favorable position). (Pratap, A., September 19, 2017).

There are two exercises that drive the methodology of WalMart in bringing down costs; essential exercises and auxiliary exercises. Essential exercises incorporate every one of the exercises, for example, production network administration, activities, circulation, deals and advertising and administrations and so forth. The auxiliary exercises of the WalMart stores incorporate all exercises and advancements that in a roundabout way contribute in accomplishing lower costs, for example, R&D, HR administration particularly worker preparing, and so on. (The Successful Cost Leadership Strategy of Walmart, 2011).

Productivity in store network administration: WalMart is staggeringly fruitful in dealing with its inventory network. Walmart applies the most solid inventory network administration framework which is exceptionally effective on the grounds that all item information can be followed to and from the producer, distribution center, and the store rack. Effectiveness in store network framework may spare WalMart a few million dollars as it can keep misfortunes from broken item administration.

Deals volume, extent of activity and wide client base: Walmart has controlled the volume to catch a wonderful piece of the overall industry by proposing nearly all. It has tried to take care of the request of different units of the market, and to show a huge buying openings, filled into single areas. It has a various store position that increases its market reach, and it offers retail through four kinds of stores: discount stores, Walmart Supercenters, Sam's Club distribution centers and locality markets.

It's additionally significant that, as seen by Charles Fishman, 90% of Americans live inside 15 miles of a Walmart store. There is a ubiquity to the Walmart store that enables it to build its entrance in clients' lives and increment the likelihood of a buy.
Its vast volume of offers empowers it to make significant benefits, even in occurrences where singular edges on single things might be slimmer than those of its rivals.

Inventory network administration in view of electronic item data, merchant part in dissemination, and format of stockrooms: Walmart has a warehouse system structure that is being watched in different sectors amongst the most automatically advanced. Anyway on account of scanner tags or RFID labels. Walmart was a developer in getting positive item data automatically joined to items with the box that such data could be shifted to its database and could advise its standard management structure. (Hyde, R. 2018).

Association and Management Style

Walmart's administration structure and administration style reflected Sam Walton's standards and qualities??”particularly his conviction that all supervisors, including the CEO, should have been nearly in contact with clients and store tasks. The outcome was a structure in which correspondence between singular stores and the Bentonville base camp was both close and individual. Customarily, Walmart US's territorial VPs were each in charge of administering somewhere in the range of ten and 15 area directors (later assigned "market supervisors") who, thusly, were accountable for eight to 12 stores. The way to Walmart's fast???response administration framework was the nearby linkages in this framework which guaranteed speed of correspondence and basic leadership between the corporate home office and the individual stores and distribution centers. The basic connections in this framework were the provincial VPs. Most huge retailers had local workplaces; Walmart's territorial VPs had no workplaces. Their opportunity was spent visiting stores and distribution centers in their districts Monday to Thursday, at that point coming back to Bentonville on Thursday night for Friday and Saturday gatherings. On Friday, the 7 a.m. administration meeting was trailed by the marketing meeting, which managed stockouts, abundance stock, new item presentations, and different promoting blunders.

Be that as it may, Walmart's developing size required changes to its structure and administration frameworks. In 2010, it presented an extra layer of administration, separating the US into three districts: North, South, and West. As officially noticed, the amazing Saturday gatherings were additionally minimized.

Conclusion

The above little attempt to examine the world's biggest private manager brought into light a couple of solid decisions about the organization. The organization demonstrated a relentless execution notwithstanding amid the budgetary emergency and it ended up being the best out of the contenders.

The working society, the client situated concentration and its relentless point in accomplishing its vision has made it not the same as rest of the contenders. Its valuing and cost initiative systems combined with the powerful utilization of innovation has changed Walmart to a tremendous organization.

Walmart puts resources into giving a superior shopping knowledge to clients. The new product offerings, for example, vitality sparing items, headways in medicinal services, drug store and proficient usage of IT frameworks to control the activities everywhere on its stores has prepared to encounter a manageable development later on.

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Walmart.com Strategy

Sam Walton opened his first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas in July 1962. From the outset, Walton's vision was to provide outstanding customer service at everyday low prices. While many contemporaries viewed these two goals as diametrically opposed , Walmart has taken this mantra to become the market leader in traditional retail.

Walmart has since expanded their presence to an incredible scale. Each week, Walmart serves over 270 million customers across its 11,718 stores. It is now the largest employer in the world with over 2.3 million staff members. Walmart also has a considerable e-commerce presence with over 68 different web properties in 29 countries, as well.

In 2017, Walmart achieved $470 billion in revenue. Based on their most recent 10-K, Walmart's revenues were earned through its three primary business units:

Walmart US
Walmart International
Sam's Club

For the purposes of this report and analysis, we will focus on Walmart E-Commerce business and specifically its strategy to counter Amazon's rise. While Walmart's total revenues dwarf Amazon's performance, Amazon is dominating Walmart in the e-commerce segment. Since e-commerce continues to grow at a faster rate than traditional brick & mortar retail, Walmart needs to address this threat from Amazon, an extremely aggressive retail competitor.

This report will examine the current issues and challenges facing Walmart as they attempt to thwart this legitimate threat from Amazon based on Walmart's 2017 annual report along with analyzing their aggressive acquisition strategy in order to grow market share inorganically. This report will also discuss the e-commerce industry in general and perform a firm-level analysis describing the effectiveness of this strategic approach to catch-up to Amazon's dominance in e-commerce. We continue our analysis by describing the nine core building blocks of the Business Model Canvas for Walmart e-commerce as well as the key assumptions associated with each building block will be analyzed through the Reverse Engineering Strategic Option. We close the report with a discussion of the feasibility and sustainability of the proposed strategy initiatives.

Issue Statement Draft
E-Commerce performance

Walmart.com opened its e-commerce division in 1999 but experienced relatively slow growth. Despite being one of the world's most valuable companies by market value and one of the largest grocery retailers in the U.S. with 2017 revenues at $470 billion (Walmart 10-K 2017), Walmart has struggled to create a lucrative ecommerce business. According to eMarketer estimates, Amazon's e-commerce revenue was $101.5 billion, while Walmart's e-commerce business is estimated at $17.7 billion in 2017 (Green, 2017). While Walmart has dominated the traditional brick and mortar retail space, has struggled to compete with Amazon's rise due to a lack of expertise in e-commerce.

Another challenge Walmart faces is connecting with urban millennials in both the traditional brick and mortar space as well as the critical ecommerce segment as well. This gap has allowed Amazon to control this extremely lucrative market. Additionally, Walmart needs to find ways to capture a larger share of this market due to the larger annual income for shoppers at both Amazon and Target. While the average income of Despite the creation of their ecommerce platform in 1999, the company failed to connect and therefore had to go to extreme measures to catch up to Amazon and other online retailers.

Distribution centers Amazon utilized their platform to allow Chinese factories to sell directly online. They built fulfillment centers near major cities and utilized human personnel and technology to create a successful distribution plan. Walmart will struggle with meeting a similar distribution system. The company has over 11,500 facilities in the U.S., which has a successful delivery system. Walmart's significant challenge will be to build a logistical supply chain which delivers products not only factory to store, but factory to home. Add more for cost of building infrastructure. What is amazon's infrastructure cost vs Walmarts current? Find source!

Walmart adjusted their strategy in an attempt to inject innovation to their failing ecommerce segments. In 2015 Walmart utilized an important strategic option, corporate acquisition. Knowing Walmart itself was unable to capture a fraction of online sales, this strategy may be the best attempt to make a dent in Amazon's dominance. Walmart purchased companies Jet.com, Moosejaw, Bonobos, Modcloth, shoes.com, and hayneedle to enhance its online shopping experience, product assortment, technology, and corporate talent and expertise.

DATA Use it wisely pull more sources on this.

To date, Walmart has not successfully leveraged its access to customer data. Competitors such as Amazon, Kroger, and Albertsons have developed critical partnerships to store and react to consumer behaviors. Walmart's multi-year data journey hopes to capitalize in three areas: Online In-Store Shopping options, fresh product offering, and hyper-personalized promotions.

Customer Demos
Industry/Environment Analysis:

Below we will evaluate the attractiveness of the retail e-commerce industry using Porter's 5 Forces of Industry Structure model. Using Porter's model, we will examine the industry in terms of its competitive landscape, barriers to entry, supplier and buyer bargaining power, and substitution threats. This analysis will allow us to answer the fundamental question of whether or not the retail e-commerce industry is attractive and will be a viable and profitable place for Walmart to compete.

1. Competitive Rivalry: Moderate Force

The competitive rivalry force considers the effects that competing businesses within the industry have on each other. The main factors that contribute to the competitive rivalry force are diversity of competitors and industry growth.

Walmart faces strong competition in the e-commerce industry from multiple competitors including Amazon, Alibaba and Target which offer similar products and pricing. Smaller niche e-retailers that supply goods directly to consumers also pose a threat. In the past few years, Walmart has acquired various companies such as Moosejaw, Modcloth, and Bonobos to expand its offerings into more niche market segments such as fashion and outdoor goods which reduces this impact of this force (Most Innovative 2018).

Industry growth is a significant factor because online retailing and e-commerce is one of the fastest growing channels in retail (Company Profile 2017). Additionally, the e-commerce industry is not very consolidated and there are many small players in the market. Acquisitions are a viable way for large players such as Walmart to quickly gain market share (Clark 2017). As market consolidation continues, the impact of this force with attrition.

Diversity among competitors and industry growth foster competitive rivalries among e-commerce businesses. The competitive rivalry force is a moderate force overall.

2. New Entry Threat: Weak Force

The threat of new entrants force considers how likely new competition is to enter the eCommerce, and there are several factors. Companies seeking to enter the eCommerce industry need to consider brand development costs, distribution and economies of scale.
The cost of brand development has a large influence on new entrants into e-commerce and can make entering the market cost-prohibitive. It would take huge sums of money and effort for new entrants to create a strong brand and take enough market share to compete with Walmart e-commerce.

Distribution is an important consideration for companies wishing to enter the e-commerce industry which can be quite costly if outsourced and fragmented. Walmart's offline retail business has more than 6,200 physical retail locations internationally that it can use as distribution and pickup points for its e-commerce business which reduces supply chain costs (Company Profile 2017).

Finally, Walmart has enjoys high economies of scale between its e-commerce, and its brick and mortar business. These economies of scale allow Walmart to maintain low, profitable pricing, and it would be very difficult for new entrants to be competitive without achieving similar economies of scale.

The costs of brand development, distribution and reliance on economies of scale create a high barrier for new entries into the e-commerce market. The threat of new entry is a weak force overall.

3. Supplier Bargaining Power: Weak Force

The supplier bargaining power force considers the influence of upstream suppliers on the business. Some of the factors that influence Walmart e-commerce in this regard are forward integration, economies of scale and switching costs.

Suppliers in e-commerce industry are able to exert a moderate force via forward integration. The costs and ease of supplier forward integration in e-commerce is relatively low compared brick and mortar retail where forward integration is requires large amounts of capital and is difficult for suppliers. Forward supplier integration allows suppliers to sell directly to consumers and bypass Walmart if it is not willing to negotiate (The Next Big E-Commerce Wave 2012)

However as a large established player in the market, Walmart is able to exert strong control over its suppliers by leveraging its scale. For many suppliers, Walmart is a large client and can demand special pricing and terms by leveraging its economies of scale and scope across its business lines.

Further, many of the products that Walmart offers can be supplied by multiple suppliers or easily substituted, and Walmart can switch from one supplier to another without incurring major costs. The low switching costs reduce suppliers bargaining power of Walmart.
Supplier forward integration poses a moderate threat to Walmart e-commerce, but economies of scale and low switching costs weaken suppliers bargain power. The bargaining power of suppliers in e-commerce is a weak force overall.

4. Substitution Threat: Weak Force

The threat of substitutes force considers how easy it is for alternate products or channels to take market share. Some factors that influence the company in this regard are low switching costs, high availability of substitutes and relative price.

In the e-commerce market, customer switching costs are typically low and it is simple to change from one site to another site of physical retail location. Many of the products that Walmart sells are also available from its e-commerce competitors such as Amazon as well as from its brick and mortar competitors. Walmart does not offer a membership program similar to Amazon's Prime and Target's RedCard program which would increase customer switching costs to Walmart's detriment.
The low switching costs and high availability of substitutes creates a moderate force on e-commerce businesses. However unlike other e-commerce competitors, Walmart's volume between its e-commerce, and brick and mortar businesses allows the company to keep low pricing relative to potential substitutes.

The threat of substitution is a moderate force overall.

5. Customer Bargaining Power: Weak Force

The customer bargaining power force considers the influence of downstream customers on the business. Some factors that influence the company in this regard are high access to data, and low switching costs.

E-commerce customers are well informed and product data such as reviews and price comparisons is convenient to access. Further, switching costs are very low in e-commerce and it is easy for customers to switch to another retailer. However, Walmart's Everyday Low Prices strategy, which is sustained by its massive scale, reduces buyer bargaining power because buyers are unlikely to find better pricing elsewhere.

Customer bargaining power is a moderate force overall.
Is Retail E-Commerce Attractive or Not?

After applying Porter's Five Forces, we believe that the retail e-commerce industry is would be attractive to Walmart with two weak forces and three moderate forces. It is likely that Walmart's business will remain profitable over time even as the industry continues to develop because its primary value chain activities are far downstream between distribution and sales. The retail e-commerce industry is an attractive industry for Walmart to compete in.

Future Strategies:
Strategy Options:
Crucial Assumptions and Testing:
Anticipated Reactions from Competitors:

Firm Analysis

Walmart is the largest retailer in the world with a revenue of over $500 billion which is more than three times the amount of e-commerce giant Amazon. 90% of the US population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart bigbox depot, and 70% within 5 miles of any Walmart brick and mortar locations. The trend of online purchasing increasing over the last decade has caused their focus to shift to building out this infrastructure into a competitive channel. In 2007 Ecommerce sales in the US were reported at $136.4 Billion and by 2017 that number had more than tripled to $453.46 Billion (digitalcommerce360). The potential for growth in this industry is extremely high and with the existing infrastructure that Walmart has in place, makes them a threatening strategic competitor to all ecommerce companies from the small mom and pops to large retailers such as Amazon. As of 2017, Walmart holds the fourth largest segmentation with a market share of 3.7%, behind Apple with 3.9%, Ebay with 6.6%, and Amazon with a huge advantage at 43.5% (Forbes.com, Walter Loeb 2018).

Walmart is a conglomerate holding company, currently focusing on strategic acquisitions to improve their presence in the e-commerce arena. In 2016 Jet.com was acquired by Walmart Inc. to help improve their e-commerce infrastructure, gain a new client base, and corporate talent. This merge will give Jet patrons the value and discounts of a Walmart without the negative connotations of being a Walmart patron. Jet.com uses specialized analytics and pricing strategies which discounts large similar-item purchases. Products that are shipped within the same facility and by removing additional features such as return policies utilizes analytics to lower costs. Jet.com attracts an urban, higher value customer segment who values convenience more than price point. They have already invested marketing into dense, highly developed tech markets such as New York. The Marc Lore, co-founder of Jet.com, is now CEO of Walmart Ecommerce division. Lore brings his expertise being in the tech space for almost 20 years and being an online retail entrepreneur, whose businesses have been acquired by companies such as Amazon. Through Lore's advice earlier this year Walmart acquired Flipkart, an online shopping platform with over 100 million users.

In 2017, 25% of all online purchases in the Walmart family were generated from the Walmart Grocery division. Amazon's seeing opportunity purchased Whole Foods giving them a produce division and a brick and mortar infrastructure to store and distribute product. As for direct numbers, Walmart has over 6,300 locations domestic and internationally compared to Whole Foods at under 500 which positions them to increase turnover times for ecommerce transactions by having a large amount of merchandise in their stores available for pick up and same day deliveries. Walmart went onto the offensive by launching four private label brands, one in the bedding category, that they will only be offering though ecommerce channels in the attempt to drive more users to their site by having unique content. By being such a retail giant, Walmart has a large amount of buying power leveraging suppliers prices and protecting them from competition by driving down prices. The use of innovative technologies such as blockchain to aid in logistics, is keeping them competitive.

Areas for improvement/Change:

What Walmart needs to improve in is managing, collaborating, and data compilation from all their subsidiaries in a synergistic approach. Brand image segmentation is important, but on the backend, data can be used and distributed to affiliates. For example, The Walmart application is well adopted with their customer base, but the analytics is not being transferred to all the affiliate companies. Amazon is doing this with every industry that they service with Amazon Web Services, which gives them a strategic advantage on many industries.
Walmart acquired VUDU in 2010 to compete in the online streaming industry with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Over the last 8 years, there has been no content that drawn customers to use/watch this service. This is getting away from the prime business of business to consumer sales that Walmart is a master at servicing. Add-on web services extend Walmart into an arena that doesn't create new value or greater market share. Walmart has proven strength in being a retailer, so we recommend that they focus on their core models and develop it in the e-commerce space to gain more market share.

How to win

Walmart is threatened by the Amazon's alarming growth and diversity of product reach. Strategic partnerships are essential for Walmart to compete and be successful in the long term in this arena. Amazon, a web-based company, has their own infrastructure built around the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform where they are managing their systems and gathering data. Currently, Amazon controls about 33% of the market share of cloud infrastructure space where they are managing and collecting data on multiple businesses. Walmart partnered with Microsoft to transition their services onto Microsoft's cloud infrastructure, Azure, which holds about 13% of the market share.

Transitioning their platform onto the cloud, Walmart can improve supply chain logistics and generate a substantial amount of customer data that the artificial intelligence driving Azure will be able to analyze.

Walmart will become a competitor by appealing to millennials who recognise and use innovative and efficient technology. Upgrading and simplifying the Walmart app is essential to competition. Doing a comparison, purchasing a item on Walmarts platform takes 8-10 clicks which can be done in Amazon in as few as 3. It is easy to browse for items on the platform such as the retail experience but for the user who is looking for a one item purchase, it can be hassle some. Walmart is implementing in store pickup towers that will be available to 40% of the US population by 2019 that will include geofencing to notify employees when the customers arrives for pick up. This means that when I customer enters a location with their mobile device, stores will be notified by receiving a ping. Using more innovative strategies,
Walmart plans to successfully combine the experience of shopping for groceries and items in one platform, Jet.com, that no company has done successfully online.

What the challenges of e groceries and what they are doing about it...

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Job Experience in Walmart

I first began working at Walmart back in 2016. This was my first job experience in years since my accident and my surgery. I’ve come a long way at this establishment. I’ve accomplished numerous tasks, skills, and job titles in my two years of service here. My main title is customer service, but I’ve floated and trained within that job description. I’ve worked the money center, self check-out, and cashier. I have also helped out in other departments when needed too. This job has bettered my people skills, listening skills, and my ability to better focus on detail.

In a nutshell; this job changed my mindset as far as how I live my daily life. This job has taught me to treat others as I want to be treated. I easily saw how customers become frustrated with their service. They don’t like things to move slow when they are in a rush. They don’t like things to move fast when they are trying to take their time and make sure they have everything. They want to see a smile, and feel good vibes no matter what mood they may be in. I understand these things because this is what I expect from any establishment that i’m spending my money at. So I try my best to be understanding, steady paced, and respectful to all customers even if they aren’t so respectful towards me. The way that I see it; I represent the company that pays me. I’m paid to not only do my job, but also to make people feel good enough to keep coming back and spending their money with Walmart. If I can make customers feel good and comfortable enough to keep coming back and spend their money with Walmart; then I have no issue keeping a good paying job. My mindset is not only on the money that I make working there; but rather on the fact that I can’t make the money unless I do the job fully.

To do the job fully also means that I had to learn how to manage my time. Im only at work for a scheduled amount of hours. In that set amount of time I have several tasks. Those tasks change daily depending on customers, employees, and management’s needs. I learned to multi task so that I can get more done than I usually would on a busy day. I’ve learned how to help a customer, while still performing a task that management has given me. I assist other team mates during my down time. And I take my breaks on time and don’t exceed my break times. No matter what I’m doing; I always make time for the customer. In my everyday life this helps me manage time at home as well. I put myself on a schedule as to when to wake up, when to shower, cook breakfast, and prepare for dinner. As long as I keep to my schedule for home and work, my home always stays in order and I’m always on time for work. I even leave home a little early to make time to get a small snack before my shift starts because a small snack helps me better prepare for my work day.

I have had to learn several different things about myself and others working this job. I’ve learned how to make myself comfortable at work while still getting the job done. I’ve learned how to assist customers in more efficient ways. Customer service is one of the biggest learning experiences that you could ever go through. You have learn to keep your cool, stay level headed, and just breathe most times. You find that the job itself becomes a lot easier as long as you are willing to learn and listen. They have something you want, and you have something they need. You can come to a peaceful, and rewarding agreement as long as you are willing to listen. Listening is a learning process though. You have to be willing to learn how to do things another way and not your way. You learn that your way is not always the right way and that you have to take pointers from other experienced people, management, and even the customers sometimes.

Once you learn to listen and be open to other people’s ideas, then your social skills will take off from there. The more I listen to my customers, the more I’m able to relate to them. I end up finding things in common with them. I’m able to have intellectual conversations with them, and still do my job. I can make small talk and still perform tasks. It gets easier every day to smile and talk to people with general concern and competence. I just follow the idea of treat others the way that I want to be treated. This is something that I’ve learned that has taken me very far. When something is said to me that I don’t understand for whatever the reason may be; I can always just find a team member that can better help and explain what is going on. Wherever I turn, I have a boat load of help all around me. So I don’t get afraid to make a mistake or run into a rude customer because I have management and team members that will assist me at any time.
I’ve acquired many different skills over the last two years that have helped me improve my life at home, my interactions with people, and my work performance as well.

I have had several raises, bonuses, excellent vacation pay, and many different rewards for my excellent customer service skills. For the skills I have learned and show in the workplace pays off when I see my check, and my quarterly bonus. The bonus I receive every quarter is a big reflection of my attendance and my ability to accurately perform my job duties. Because of the skills that I possess; I have never missed a bonus, a check, or a raise. I’m often rewarded for all of this. Im respected by my co workers and the customers because of my ability to do my job, and because I give people the same respect that I ask for. I’m on time, ready to learn, ready to work, ready to help, and ready take on the day everyday. I have pride in my job. It has taught me a lot, and I find a sense of happiness knowing that I’m helping people in some way or another.

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Reaching my Early Thirties

I am reaching my early thirties where countless daunting bills are bombarding me every first of the month. Overwhelmed with bills here and bills there, I constantly find myself debating if college was worth all of the sacrifices I have had to make. From having to live in a small apartment in the hood, spending more on cosmetics to fulfill the demands of my insecurities, to living a life focused specifically on work and nothing else, I often wonder if this burden called student loan debt could just vanish.

If I could just have one wish in this world, I would wish for no student loan debt so that I can start doing what I came to this plane to do: to live. There is a huge difference between people who are just getting through life and people who actually make the most out of life. Currently, I am on the spectrum of trying to survive.

For someone fresh out of college, I am on a tight budget while trying to find affordable housing. However, affordable housing is often impossible to find in the booming Silicon Valley without having three or four housemates. Due to these circumstances, I would have to find a place in a more sketchy, dangerous area of town where I am constantly having to look behind me for my own safety. For me to be able to save the two hundred dollars I would spend on paying off my student debt, I could find a place in a safer part of town to avoid robberies and violence. Also, I wouldn't have to worry about spending more money to replace items that thieves can rob of me, which includes my own sanity. If I could spend less time moving and apartment hunting, I could spend more time applying to more internships and jobs that could help me financially.

People are always concerned about their appearance on the outside. Although I believe in natural beauty and being a minimalist when it comes to cosmetics, I do care about my appearance not for others but for myself. Student debt stimulates an excessive amount of stress, which leads to acne and insecurities. As someone who dealt with acne for most of her life, I remember feeling as if people were just staring at my acne instead of being fully engaged with me in a casual conversation.

Acne became a source of insecurity and I was no exception in falling into the many traps makeup brands claiming that their products were a magic potion that could heal my acne in twenty four hours or less. As a matter of fact, student debt causes so much stress that instead of sleeping I would drink over four cups of coffee per day to get more work done instead of resting. It is not rocket science that less sleep equates for not only more acne, but also extremely strenuous setbacks for a person with anemia. If my student loan debts could disappear, I would not have to worry so much about my outward appearance and I would be able to heal my anemia faster.

In a year, my wedding will be happening and my fiance and I would like to start our own family by adopting three dogs and two rabbits. Personally, I would like to travel at least twice a year to cross off locations on my bucket list. I would love to learn a new language and become a student again in what many cultures have to offer. Then, reality hits me as I wake up from this daydream at work with the fact that the bills are not going to pay off themselves. As much as I love animals, I have to be financially stable before adopting any pets. It would be selfish to adopt and then not be able to care for them by giving them the best life possible.

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Beowulf and Sir Gawain

Beowulf and Sir Gawain are what you may call heroes. A definition of the word hero is a person who is idealized for courage, admired, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. (dictionary) They can be called a hero, both men have many qualities that would be expected of heroic knights and warriors. The men are both gallant, brave and skilled men. People should believe in them, but do they? Both men attempt to honor their kings and kingdoms. One hero is liked by most, and the other has many loyal followers. These men are shown as great leaders in their time. As they are portrayed as perfect heroes, both men are far from perfect.

Sir Gawain is brave, but Beowulf has more of the natural heroic. Beowulf goes to the land of Danes without being told to go. King Hrothgar does not order him to go. Beowulf tells the king he believes he should go help the Danes defeat Grendel. His followers support him because they know Beowulf is a great warrior and a great leader. Beowulf wants to help the king because his father was in debt to him and being honorable warrior, Beowulf wants to pay that debt. Beowulf risks his life for a country that he is not a part of. In every battle Beowulf fights, he fights honorably.

When he fights Grendel, he uses no weapons because Grendel fights unarmed. He only uses weapons to fight the dragon and Grendel's mother because he cannot win otherwise. He does not cheat. He does not use unfair advantages. Beowulf fights with honor. Throughout his life, Beowulf fought many heroic battles. He defeated all sorts of monsters and creatures. He boasts about all his accomplishments in his short life when he is in the land of the Danes.

Sir Gawain, unlike Beowulf he is hesitant to accept the King's challenge. Sir Gawain fears for his life. He only accepts the challenge to protect the King's honor and life. He knows that it is his duty to protect the King. He only steps up and volunteers at the last second. In doing so Sir Gawain breaks his oath between him and the Lord of the castle he is staying at. He keeps a sash the Lady of the castle gives him because he believes it will protect him during this battle with Green knight. By keeping that sash when they agreed to change whatever they had earned at the end of each day. Sir Gawain plans to cheat by using the magical power sash to save his life. The Lady of the castle he stays in on his journey tempts him several times, but he never gives in and never disrespects her. He declines her advances in a very polite way. Sir Gawain is not once rude to her. Beowulf rarely talks about women at Warriors viewed women as prizes and decoration rather than almost sacred as knights did.

Sir Gawain is very humble. When he accepts the challenge of the Green Knight on behalf of King Arthur, he does so because he believes himself to be the least worthy of life and praise. Sir Gawain tells King Arthur, Think of your bold knights, bursting to fight, as read and willing as mean can be and I am the slightest and dullest of them all; my life the least, my death no loss, (Raffle 58) Sir Gawain is very humble before his King. He offers his life in place of King Arthur's. Beowulf is very prideful. He boasts about his tasks as often as he can. He likes to showboat his heroism and bravery. Beowulf is driven by his need to be an honorable and well-respected man. The honor he seeks is not wholly for his King's glory, but the honor of himself.

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Feminism and the Role of Women in the Awakening

Contents

Feminism and the role of women in The Awakening
Thesis Statement:
Primary Passages for Examination:

Feminism and the role of women in The Awakening

Thesis Statement:

The pressures of the feminine norms prevalent during the male-dominant/patriarchal Victorian society impel Edna towards seeking independence and establishing her sense of identity.

Primary Passages for Examination:

“In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-women seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels” (Chopin 10).

This quote evidently demonstrates the role of women, as both wives and mothers, in Edna’s society. They are subject specific duties that cater to the needs of their husband and children, meanwhile the men are considered breadwinners. I can use this to support how the portrayal of women as docile and domestic individuals further reinforces gender stereotypes. All the women around Edna seem to have contentedly accepted their duties in these inferior positions, however, Edna begs to differ. She views these duties more as obligations society has placed on her, and she instead wants to find her own identity.

“She perceived that her will had blazed up, stubborn and resistant. She could not at that moment have done other than denied and resisted. She wondered if her husband had ever spoken to her like that before, and if she had submitted to his command. Of course she had; she remembered that she had. But she could not realize why or how she should have yielded, feeling as she then did” (Chopin 41).

This passage is especially helpful to support how among all other men, even her own husband asserts control over Edna. She has been submissive of his demands in the past, but here she begins to lose sight of why she did. As the first time she has the courage to disobey her husband and stand up for herself, this is her initial moment of self-realization that contributes to her “awakening” in the story. The fact that after this instance her husband felt the need for her to visit a doctor is also noteworthy and just goes to show how unprecedented female defiance truly was.

"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself. I can't make it more clear; it's only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me." (63)

Here, Edna expresses her desire to be free from the oppression of her society. Conforming to these social expectations and the resulting repression of individual freedom proves to be too demanding for Edna. It instead limits her actions as an independent woman beyond the definition of a wife and mother. I can use this quote to justify how Edna ultimately realizes how she needs to go beyond devoting herself to her family—or anyone else in her society for that matter—in order to to find her identify. Although she still has the innate motherly love for her children, this is the only why that she can be more satisfied with her life and achieve fulfilment.

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The Feminist Awakening

Contents

The Feminist Awakening
Works Cited

The Feminist Awakening

Women's rights have evolved over time; beginning with being homemakers and evolving to obtaining professions, acquiring an education, and gaining the right to vote. The movement that created all these revolutionary changes was called the feminist movement. The feminist movement occurred in the twentieth century. Many people are not aware of the purpose of the feminist movement. The movement was political and social and it sought to set up equality for women. Women's groups in the United States worked together to win women's suffrage and later to create and support the Equal Rights Amendment. The economic boom between 1917 and the early 1960s brought many American women into the workplace. As women began to join the workplace they became progressively more aware of their unequal economic and social status. Homemakers, many of whom who had previously obtained college educations, began to voice their lack of personal fulfillment. They had an awakening, they realized their lives were not fulfilled and wanted more than what the restraints of society would offer them. Many literary works were born from the feminist movement; each enabling women to achieve more than what society expected of them and to push the societal limits. The Awakening is a prototype of the feminist movement.

Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening follows a common theme in literature. She uses the novel as a way to demonstrate the emancipation of women. Peggy Skaggs believes that Chopin's life experiences have affected her writing: Her life and experiences as a woman apparently affirmed the truths she expressed first in Emancipation, and her development as a literary artist enabled her to transpose those truths into art with increasing skill until at last The Awakening, the fully artistic expression of her theme, became possible (Skaggs 54). During the feminist movement many female authors began to write novels about female emancipation. In these novels, the protagonist experiences enlightenment where she discovers that she is living an incomplete life that society has oppressed her into. Before the movement, society forced women into roles that were inferior to men and they were thought of as men's property. Harold bloom states, The direction of The Awakening follows what is becoming a pattern in literature by and about womentoward greater self-knowledge that leads in turn to a revelation of the disparity between that self-knowledge and nature of the world (Bloom, Kate Chopin 43). Moreover, Chopin viewed women's independence as a personal challenge more than a social struggle, which contradicts her literary works. According to Harold Bloom, Chopin's novel was not intended to make a broad social statement but rather that it indicates that Chopin viewed women's independence as a personal matter(Bloom, Bloom's Notes 58). In the past, the novel was banned because of its connection to the feminist movement.

One of the main aspects of the feminist movement is breaking away from society's limits and expectations. Before Edna could break free, she first had to experience an awakening. In her awakening, she had to realize the role of women in the universe, the role that society created for women, beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being (Chopin 17). After breaking free from her past life, Edna will have to slowly learn how to care for herself and be by herself; the process of starting her new life is almost like a rebirth. She must relearn how to do everything she has done so that she can succeed on her own: But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who all of a sudden realizes its power and walks for the first time (Chopin 23). In the novel, Edna is driven to learn how to swim. The entire time she is at the summer cottage she continuously attempts to learn to how to swim. Learning to swim symbolizes Edna gaining her freedom and learning how to care for herself. The idea of a woman leaving her husband and children to be on her own was very uncommon as Kate Chopin states in The Awakening, She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before (Chopin 37). There is also another aspect of Edna's life that indicates feminism and that is her sketches: `I am beginning to sell my sketches' for instance is a check on her emerging artistic commitment, which is explicitly associated with female dissent from the male world of commodity display and exchange(Bloom, Bloom's Notes 66). Feminism concerns the empowerment of women; their ability to become free of the roles society has created for them and their ability to support themselves without the help of men. Edna achieves this goal by selling her sketches. She discovers that she can support herself without the help of her husband or any other man. Edna's capability to walk and stand on her own draw attention to feminism within novel; without the feminist aspect in the novel Edna could not stand on her own.

Through Edna's parenting it is apparent that she does not fit the mold of the stereotypical mother. The stereotype of a mother is a homemaker, one who cares for the children and dedicates her life to the life of her children. Although Edna loves her children, she does not wish to sacrifice her life for theirs: Edna clearly loves her children, but she does not confuse her own life with theirs (Skaggs 110). Chopin wanted Edna to differ from the stereotyped mother and break free from the mold society has created, which is all part of the feminist movement. Edna is not the type of woman who is willing to donate all of her time to her children; she wants her own life. As stated in the novel, In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman (Chopin 10). Because Chopin created Edna to differ from the stereotype, Edna does not view her life as being complete if it consists solely of being a wife and mother. The role of wife and mother is not sufficient for Edna; she desires a life beyond marriage and motherhood. Peggy Skaggs declares that Edna's personality will not permit her to limit herself to being a wife and mother: Edna's sense of herself as a complete person makes impossible her role of wife and mother as defined by her society (Skaggs 111). The desire to be the sole caretaker for the children and her husband is absent from Edna's character. Furthermore, Mr. Pontellier is the stereotypical father; according to Mr. Pontellier it is not his responsibility to care for the children. Chopin uses Edna's motherhood to bring forth feminism by making her role as a mother the opposite of the stereotypical role.

During the time that The Awakening was written women were their husbands' possessions; they were not independent and were not their own person. They belonged to their husbands. To Mr. Pontellier, his wife is his property. An example of him viewing his wife as property is stated in The Awakening as, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage (Chopin 3). Mr. Pontellier becomes enraged with his wife when he sees that she is not caring for their children. In, He reproached his wife with her inattentionif it was not a mother's place to look after children, whose is it? (Chopin 7) his aggravation is brought to the forefront. After Edna's awakening, she discovers that she wants to be independent and not be anyone's property: she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself (Chopin 106). This move would be against society; society doubts that women can be on their own, unsupported by a man.

The feminist movement began with an awakening much like Edna experienced. An awakening is a coming into awareness; in this case it is a coming into awareness of women's roles in society that they have been oppressed into. Women become aware that their life is incomplete because it only consists of being a wife and mother, nothing more. The statement, Quietly, Edna's awakening begins merely with a growing awareness of the inadequacy of her existence (Skaggs 96), describes Edna's awakening. It is brought to Edna's attention that her life is not fulfilled and she begins to yearn for more. Her desires will make her deviate from the majority of women: (Edna) desires to stray from norm, and to become her own person (Mercedes 1). Once Edna discovers the life she is living is not what she wants, she begins to slowly abandon aspects of her life. Chopin describes Edna's liberation as, She began to do as she liked and to feel as she liked. She abandoned her Tuesdays at home, and did not return visits (Chopin 76). The abandonment of her responsibilities is the foundation to Edna abandoning her life. In the end she deserts her husband and children. The feminist movement is what made it possible for women to leave their husbands and to be self-sufficient.

During the feminist movement authors created protagonist that lived the life that was possible because of the movement. The protagonist becomes independent and discovers who she is apart from her husband. Skaggs alludes to the unhappiness the protagonists face as a failure to know who they are, She creates one tragic heroine who refuses to settle for less than a full and satisfying answer to Lear's question: `Who am I?' (Skaggs 88). The emptiness of Edna's life and her unhappiness is revealed, but the enjoyment she receives from creating sketches is also revealed. Skaggs states that, In each case the protagonist discovers something about his or her own identity (Skaggs 69). Chopin broke boundaries previously made and fought against the tide known as the social order: Chopin defied societal assumptions of her time period and wrote the novelusing attitudes of characters in regard to gender, changes in main character, imagery and Edna's suicide to illustrate her feminist position (Phenix 1). Edna's character and her life both fit into the feminist movement. Edna ventures away from her life to have a life of her own where she is utterly independent. In order for Chopin to demonstrate the role that women were placed into she had to prove how society viewed women. Then, Chopin had to use how society viewed women to differentiate it with the life that Edna desired. Chopin demonstrates the attitudes of society through Edna by showing the life that Edna is displeased with. Edna is a complex character that experiences distress with the life she is living; as described by Jonathan Musere, The author Chopin hence paints a picture of a soul plagued by a mixture of feminist and psychological issues (Musere 1). Edna is plagued by feminist issues because she struggles to make the change to become economically independent and experience equality with the men in her life. At the start of the novel, Edna plays the role of an oppressed woman; she is forced into the life of a wife and mother. Bloom describes Edna's position in Kate Chopin, Edna becomes the victim of a society that allows her only the roles and values it assigns to women, not to fully human beings (Bloom, Kate Chopin vii). In order for Edna to become part of the feminist movement she first had to play the role that society placed women in. Edna was oppressed by her environment just as real women were by their environment.

The example of feminism in The Awakening is made through the character Edna and her struggle to deviate from the position society has created for her. She experienced all the struggles that women involved in this actual movement in history did. She worked to have the same life that actual women worked to have. All Edna wanted was to have the same opportunities in life that men had. She did not want to be a mother or a wife and had no desire to be anyone's property. Women in the feminist movement yearned for the business opportunities that men had and the ability to live on their own. Edna is used to model a woman who would have been involved in the feminist movement.

Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. Kate Chopin. New York. Chelsea House, 1987.
Bloom, Harold. Bloom's Notes. Kate Chopin's The Awakening. Chelsea House, 1999.
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Norton, 1994.
Mercedes A., Yahoo Contributor Network. May 13, 2009 Found at: https://voices.yahoo.com/a-feminist-analysis-edna-pontellier-kate-chopins-3187443.html?cat=38
Musere, Jonathan. Yahoo Contributor Network. Jul 28, 2009 Found at: https://voices.yahoo.com/the-awakening-kate-chopin-review-3886054.html?cat=38
Phenix, Cecilia. Yahoo Contributor Network. May 13, 2007 Found at: https://voices.yahoo.com/feminism-kate-chopins-awakening-337709.html?cat=52
Skaggs, Peggy. "The Awakening".Kate Chopin. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1985.

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Analysis of the Color Purple

Genesis Cuevas Eng/queer Lit346 Professor Schneiderman November 30, 2018 Paper # 3- Putting it all Together Throughout Alice Walker's The Color Purple' she uses two opposite characters such as Celie and Shug Avery who come together when abuse takes place. Both of these characters epitomize a characteristic that in some way brings them together. Shug represents an independent and bigoted character. While Celie is represented as compliant and low self-valued individual. Although most reviewers identify the Color Purple as a novel about a woman who hates black men, the main idea should be viewed as how Celie finds herself through an unexpected lesbian relationship. Critics mention that the whole objective of this novel is to make black men look bad, as Celie is accused of betraying black men to be lesbian.

However, this novel undeniably depicts Celie's journey to liberation through her self discovery with Shug, that could have resulted in her distasteful feeling towards men after continuous abuse. Despite critics considering The color purple to be the main proposition to disfavor black Men, the main focus should be Celie's self-growth. As critic Aide Edematiam mentions in her review She was accused of betraying her race, of hating black men, of damaging black male and female relationships, of being a lesbian (Theguardian.com). Despite Celie unexpectedly forming an intimate relationship with a woman, Celie endures unending abuse from men throughout her life. The men throughout her life never displayed an ounce of love to Celie but taught her to feel unworthy by calling her ugly and beating her repeatedly. Then comes Shug. Although Celie's first impression of Shug we very cruel, as the first thing Shug tells Celie is ?you sure is ugly' (p.44), she comes off as a pessimistic individual. Subsequently, it then becomes clear to Celie that Shug is truly a caring and warmhearted individual. She realizes this when Celie comes to her rescue and takes care of her while she's sick. Celie begins to have feelings that she had never come across. As quoted in The Color Purple She say, well take a good look. Even if I is just a bag of bones now. She have the nerve to put one hand on her naked hip and bat her eyes at me. Then she suck her teef and roll her eyes at the ceiling while I wash her. I wash her body, it feel like I'm praying. My hands tremble and my breath short. (49).

For the first time, Celie is having a physical attraction to another person. She's thrilled at the sight of Shug's naked body. Another critic mentions that The color purple is mainly about male dominance. Rather than the color purple being about male domination, it should be seen as how Celie overcame being dominated by men (Crossref-it.info). At the very beginning, Celie is just a lonely black girl, living a life with no love in it what so ever. The only girl Celie ever loved was her sister Nettie. I agree Celie's encounter with Shug changed her view on life. Shug demonstrated her strength and constantly defended herself from any kind of abuse from men. This is what ultimately brings Celie to admire her in the first place. As Celie and Shug spend more time together they grow closer to one another and open up to each other. Shug finds out how poorly Celie has been treated, especially from Mr. Albert, who is Shug's ex-love. Shug then expresses her disgust towards all the mistreatment Celie has gone through. This brings them to bonding, and eventually, the bond turns sexual once Celie expresses her uninterested toward sex. Shug makes Celie look at her private area into the mirror, and learns what it looks like, as well as learning the pleasure parts. This opens Celie to self-discovery and discovery of her body.

It has now allowed Celie to own her body because she never experienced any positive experience with the men she has been with. Being that Shug brought Celie to the stage of intimacy and learning of her own body, it helps her to develop a stronger persona. Overall, Shug and Celie's relationship is very symbolic because it displays Celie's ability to finally be able to express her true feelings to another individual other than her sister Nettie. Shug's role at this point, is such as a mother figure, giving Celie the openness to be able to confide in her. Till Shug and Celie kiss and hug, Celie finally feels safe and loved. Evidently, Shug and Celie learn from each other and through their lesbian relationship they became better an stronger individuals. So, rather than this novel to be viewed as a story about a woman who hates black men, it should be view as a woman overcoming abuse from men and being able to grow through her lesbian experience. Shug helped Celie evolve, and leave behind the idea that being dominated by men was no longer an option. She now has control of her mind, body, and soul.

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The Psychology of Phobias

A phobia is defined as a type of anxiety disorder that causes an extreme or irrational fear of something. The most common phobias include the fear of snakes, heights, germs, thunder/lightning and small spaces. An estimated 19 million Americans have at least one phobia, with many having multiple. As of 2018, no one knows the exact reason why these fears develop, but experts have come up with three major theories.

The first theory, created by Sigmund Freud is called the Psychoanalytic Theory. It suggests that people have unconscious impulses or thoughts that cause conflict between the three parts of the human personality, which are the id, superego and ego. The id part of the mind consists of the inherited components of the personality and emotions. The superego holds learned morals and values, along with feelings like shame and guilt. Lastly, the ego is the conscious (waking) and decision making part of the mind. If something does not seem right, then the ego will try to fix it using coping mechanisms, such as repression and sublimation. When a bad memory, thought, or event is repressed the mind will pass that anxiety onto something that is often smaller, resulting in a phobia. To sum it up, the feared object is not the root cause of the anxiety. Today, this theory is not as popular as it was many years ago.

The second theory is called the learning theory. The learning theory is very broad and includes many theories of behavior centered around the learning process. This can be found in the work of Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner who introduced conditioning that occurs through interaction with the environment. A phobia can be learned through Classical Conditioning when a thought or idea that causes fear (unconditioned stimulus) is paired with something that should not cause fear (neutral stimulus.) In Operant Conditioning, a phobia is the result of negative or positive reinforcements. Finally, a fear can also be learned through witnessing or hearing the experience through other people which is explained in the Social-Cognitive Theory.

The last theory is focused on the branch of psychology called neuropsychology which studies the brain's structure and function. Based on the medical model, mental illness should be treated through the use of medication. Studies show that people who suffer from phobias have a problem with the regulation of the chemical serotonin in the brain and can be treated with antidepressants. Researches have also found that genetics may play a role in phobias. However, it is not known yet if there is a specific genetic difference in all people who have phobias.

It is very likely that there is no one leading factor to why people develop phobias, but a combination of many factors. For example, a terrible experience may lead to a learned response. The development of a phobia is in fact, extremely complex.

This can be applied to my life because many people in my family have the same fear of being in an enclosed space. The size of the room doesn’t matter, but the door has to be open or they will have a panic attack. It possibly could have been learned when my aunts were younger because their mom had the same fear, which stemmed from her getting locked in her room at a young age. As of right now, I don’t believe that I have any phobias.

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Many Types of Phobias

There are more phobias than people can actually realize. Everyone has some sort of phobia whether they realize it or not. They each work in different ways and work differently of everyone. Researchers are starting to find and use different types of technologies for phobias; For example, FMRI and PET. They are using these to look more deeply into the brain and learning how it really functions to better understand how phobias work.

They found something called an amygdala. Which is a small almond shaped structure in the middle of the brain's temporal lobes. The amygdala and the brain structures give the phobias a higher advantage of affecting people. Researchers still don't fully understand how this happens though.

Phobias are the same as PTSD and panic disorders. Other researchers had the idea to mask the phobias stimulus, which have came out with interesting results. One third of the people were given nine weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy, half were given selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Citalopram, and the rest had no treatment at all. After the therapy was over the patients were tested again at the nine weeks mark and again after one year.

Researchers figured out that the amygdala and the cortical areas at nine weeks could predict which symptoms would get better after a year had passed. Phobias are more serious than people think they are and people can not control their reaction to their fear says Tom.

A phobia is a fear of one particular trigger. Researcher amy james says some areas of the brain store and recall dangerous or potentially deadly events. If that event occurs again those areas of the brain will remember that frightening memory sometimes more than once, which will cause your body to have the same reaction. The amygdala triggers the release of fight or flight hormones says researchers.

Most of the times doctors recommend special help like different types of therapy, medicaton, or both. Therapy is more recommended than medication because medication is more used to cope with anxietys and abnormanlitys in the brain, says Tom. It is recommended to reduce fear and anxiety and help people manage their reactions. Most people think fear and phobia are the same thing but they are not. A fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that something is dangerous, while a phobia is more of an ongoing, irrational dread of a situation or thingsays amy.

Phobias are the most common mental disorder between the ages of seven to nine and can interfere with daily functioning. Phobias during childhood can have a big impact on anxiety disorders later throughout the child's life so they need treatment as soon as possible. The most frequent comorbid anxiety disorders in youth with specific phobias are post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety. However, other comorbid disorders are common as well, says researchers.

There is a one session treatment of cognitave behavioral therapy for specific phobias. OST has been used to treat adults with specific phobias and it has shown positive long term results over a seven point five year period, with sixty five percent of treated patients diagnosis with free and an additional twenty five percent improved, says researchers.

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Fear and Panic Grips

Panic grips your mind as sweat slides down your head, chills tingling down your spine. A phobia feels something like this. Phobias cause an excessive and irrational fear reaction (Andrew Watts), or in simpler terms, they terrify you. 19 million Americans suffer from a phobia, and those people don't fail reality testing, meaning they're not delusional. Phobias are different from normal fears because they cause more anxiety, stress, and they're uncontrollable, which lets them classify as an anxiety disorder. The reason why phobias terrify you is mostly simple, and it mainly consists of your brain essentially tormenting you.

Traumatic experiences involving the object of terror, whether it be hearing about it or observing it, is one of the main factors for how phobias are developed. The brain likes to store information to recall it later on, and if someone faces a similar situation that caused them terror, their reaction would be the same. Within the brain, the amygdala triggers the fight or flight reaction, which heightens the mind and body's awareness. The areas of the brain that manage stress and anxiety retrieve the memory more often than it should, essentially torturing you. Smaller factors can also play a part in developing a phobia, such as medications, genetics, physical and mental issues, and brain injuries. There is also a theory that phobias stem from the fear and instinct from ancient times of early humans. Symptoms of phobias include sweating, chest pains, pins and needles, uncontrollable anxiety, dry mouth, chills, nausea, headaches, and accelerated heartbeat. When you have a phobia, you tend to avoid whatever terrifies you at all costs, and when in contact with the object of terror, you stop functioning normally, giving in to the terror. Understanding phobias are vital to understanding those suffering from them.

When classifying phobias, you can break them down into three main categories; Specific, Social, and Agrophobia. Specific phobias are phobias with a specific name associated with the feared object, such as arachnophobia and claustrophobia, to name a couple. Social phobias are defined as a fear of being humiliated or underperforming in social situations(). Agrophobia is when you feel uncomfortable when help isn't easily or readily available. Small spaces would be an example or Agrophobia. There are many types of Specific Phobias, too many to list and explain here. One scientist in the University of California, Mark Barad, trained two groups of mice to associate a sound with a mild electrical shock, creating fear within the mice. He then tried to cure that fear to the best of his abilities. One group of mice was continuously exposed to the noise and when being cured, they took about 20 minutes to overcome their fear. The other group was exposed to the noise in shorter two-minute bursts with 10 minutes of silence in between each burst. After being treated they still remained scared. To conclude which medicine works best, Mark tried two anxiety-reducing drugs on the first group of mice; propranolol and yohimbine. The ones treated with yohimbine lost their fear four times as fast compared to those who were treated with propranolol. The result of this test showed that with the knowledge that fears can be mostly cured, perhaps phobias could be cured as well.

There are actually multiple ways to treat phobias, and most people know their phobias, making it easier to treat. Anxiety-reducing medications, obviously, reduce anxiety, which is one of the major parts of phobias. Beta-blockers reduce physical signs of anxiety and lower your blood pressure by blocking out adrenaline. There are multiple variations of beta blockers, each either affecting your heart or brain. Non-heavy doses of tranquilizers also reduce anxiety. Therapists, to cure phobias, often practice exposure therapy. Exposure therapy isn't a very creative name, as it simply exposes the person to their phobia. Some exposure therapy uses medication to heighten the adrenaline in your body, heightening your fear. During the session, someone could look at a picture of their fear, and like with the mice testing, after continuous exposure could cure your phobia. Furthermore, understanding phobias are important to understanding and possibly helping those suffering from phobias.

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Specific Phobias in Children

This research paper will discuss specific phobias among pediatric population: the major topics this paper will address will include how children develop a specific- phobia as well as the most effective treatment for phobias in children. Specific phobia is defined as an extreme fear of a specific object or situation (Sue, Sue, Sue, & Sue, 2016). Someone with a specific phobia will react to a stimulus in a way of extreme panic and anxiety in a way that is not equally related to the danger of the stimulus. The primary categories of specific phobias are: living creatures, environmental conditions, blood/ injections or injuries, as well as situational factors. The most common fears among children are; spiders, the dark, scary movies and the fear of being teased. The etiology of phobias includes predisposing genetic factors that interact with psychological, social and sociocultural influences. Having history of anxiety within the family and negative relationships during the early ages are major factors into developing a phobia (Sue, Sue, Sue, & Sue, 2016).

In psychology there is a multipath model when talking about mental disorders that directly relates to specific phobias as there are a type of mental disorder. Author Sue, Sue, Sue & Sue (2016) defined this multipath model a model that provides organizational framework for understanding the numerous influences on the development of mental disorders, the complexity of the interacting components, and the need to view disorders from a holistic framework. The biological dimension will look at the etiology of a phobia in the sense that an individual with a specific phobia as an innate tendency to be anxious as well as have strong emotional response to stimuli. Etiology of phobias from the psychological dimension have several different pathways of how a phobia is developed. The four main perspectives of how a phobia develops in the psychological dimension is through; classical conditioning, observational learning, negative information, and the cognitive behavioral. The sociocultural dimension looks at phobias as a level of disgust among different genders, and cultural differences. In the social dimension there is focus on the parental behaviors and these translate to the children. Typically, positive treatment of phobias is through pharmacological treatments by treating anxiety and cognitive behavioral treatments that include Exposure Therapy, Systemic Desensitization, Cognitive Restructuring, and Modeling Therapy.

In psychology there are several different perspectives of the etiologies of all the different mental disorders, this is also true when looking at the etiology of phobias as well as the less severe state known as fear. In general, the perspectives are classified into the four dimensions; biological, psychological, social, and socio-cultural (Sue, Sue, Sue, & Sue, 2016). The etiology of phobias as well as fears over lap since fear is the initial response that initiates a phobia. The perspectives are broken down further into specifics to directly reference phobia etiology; the classical, vicarious, and informative pathways for fear acquisition, the preparedness framework, non-associative theory, fear module theory, and cognitive models. Coelho and Purkins (2009), looked in to each of these different perspectives by looking at different prior research that fell into each perspective.

The classical, vicarious and informative pathways for fear purpose that fear in general is learned from parent and guardian influences. One study showed the levels of fear in a child based on the mother or female guardian in a child's life, how she would display responses of fear. If the mother of child expressed high levels of a fear response in front of a child to a specific stimulus the child would also show a high fear response to a stimulus would also be very high and likely cause he child to develop a phobia. Whereas, if the mother of a child was able to contain their fear response to a stimulus the child would have not have a fear response to the stimulus (Coelho & Purkins 2009). Ultimately, this showed that a child's fear response is highly dependent on the mother's fear response.

The second perspective the Coelho and Purkins looked at was the preparedness framework. This perspective looks at the specifics of how biologic components play a role in the development of a phobia. The preparedness framework looks at the idea that particular stimuli are evolutionarily predisposed to generate a fear response in humans. According to Coelho and Purkins (2009), Charles Darwin noticed that some fears might appear by natural selection. After observing his 2-year-old son being afraid of large animalsDarwin questioned whether fears in children, that seem independent of experiences are effects of hereditariness of real dangers during prehistoric times. A later study that was conducted by Rachman showed a perspective that overtime children will develop the needed abilities to deal with predispositions to fears and actual fears by habituations and experiences. Fears that were not eliminated be resistant to extinction and habituation and were thought to be conditionally learned, resulting in the rare and uncommon fears that lead to phobias and the environment helps in this process (Coelho & Purkins 2009). An example of this theory is that a child that lives in an urban area may be more likely to be afraid of animals such as horses or chickens whereas a child that lives in a country area would be more likely to not be afraid of these farm animals. The reasoning behind this is due to the level of exposure to the stimuli each child experienced, thus leading the comfortability level each child has with the stimulus resulting whether a fear response is activated.

This next perspective of how phobias come to be is counter to preparedness, is the non-associative theory. The non-associative theory originates from the observation that each species have fears that are part of their development. But the hypothesizes these may occur without the direct or indirect experiences with the stimulus (Coelho & Purkins 2009). Classical condition does not need to occur for a phobia to happen but there has to have been a stimulus or situation that occurred for fear responses to be activated. The studies conducted show that fear is not innate, so a child will not express fear upon the first interaction with the phobic stimulus.

The following perspective is the Fear Module Theory, this theory was formed to account for the uneven distribution of fear while discounting non-associative fear acquisition. The fear module theory looks at four characteristics; relative selectivity to stimuli, automaticity, encapsulation and specific neuronal circuit (Coelho & Purkins 2009). Selectiveness looks at the extent to which a certain stimulus activates the fear module. Automatism is fast reflex activation of defense to a stimulus. Encapsulation is the relative independence and resistance of the fear response, from conscious cognitive control. The neuronal aspect of the fear module looks at the idea that the fear module is controlled by a specific circuit (Coelho & Purkins 2009).

The final etiology perspective of phobias is cognitive models. Cognitive models look at the idea that conditioning can be conceptualized as a cognitive process. A participant will learn to that a determined stimulus precedes adverse outcomes. Fear is not only related to a biological preparation, but also to attributions regarding safety and danger to a stimulus. In general, this perspective looks at the ability that I child has to cope with the stimulus. This is directly related to the whether a child maybe anxious or not. Their level of cognitive ability to process the stimulus will play a role in the way that they respond.

Understanding the etiology of phobias is crucial determining the treatment approach. It is clear that cognitive behavioral treatments are the basis when treating a child that has phobias. While there are many forms of cognitive behavioral treatments, intensive exposure treatments seem to be common. In an original study Davis et al. (2009), focused on one session treatment and the exposes process needed. The process of the authors' experiment is summarized as followed.

Before the main set of treatment, clinicians used diagnostic and functional assessment to find the exact type of stimulus that caused the fear reaction in each child. Diagnostic assessment is crucial in establishing the phobia and the fear response but also in the planning the treatment session, the functional assessment allows for the transition between assessment and treatment During this point the clinician would try to get the child to want to be involved with the process rather than just agreed to go along. During this point in time the parent and child motivation was determined to understand the purpose of the treatment. (Davis et al. 2009).

The purpose of the treatment was to use mechanisms to elect fear, so cognitions could be activated and addressed, permits fear to habituate and avoidances to extinguish, as well as prevented behavioral and cognitive avoidance in safe environments. Treatment consisted of one three-hour session with breaks only to combat fatigue of the child but did not reinforce any avoidance behaviors. During treatment the child was exposed to age appropriate cognitive challenges, this would include asking the child what they think would happen during exposure and then asking the child to discuss what happened during this step of exposure. It is important to highlight the positives of the situation with the child, making sure the child understands that what they thought would happen is not what actually happened. The clinician may also use participant modeling. This can include the clinician modeling the step of exposure with the stimulus as well as modeling the proper coping techniques to go along with the size of the stimulus. This part of the treatment starts with the clinician showing how to deal with the stimulus, to including the child, to the clinician removing self from modeling the situation. During each exposure step the child is continuously exposed to the stimulus until fear is reduced by 50 percent, this will ensure routine to the child to reduce the fear the stimulus causes. Reinforcement is used to give the kids a sense of accomplishment. Verbal praise and physical contact of such as a pat on the back. During the reinforcement do not allow a chance for avoidance. Praise should be given for a positive improvement, praise should never be given to a child that expresses avoidance behaviors. (Davis et al. 2009)

After the treatment session parents were brought in to have the children show their parents their new-found skills and ability to interact with stimulus as a positive reinforcement of the behaviors. A this point parents are informed about the positive coping mechanisms that the child learned during the treatment session. They also received information to help the child with self-exposure experiences. Self-exposures should occur for constantly for one month after session to solidify and maximize the treatment gain (Davis et al. 2009). The experimenters had concluded that this type of a treatment would be highly effective in children and to be the most cost and time effective form of treatment. Being able to have the length of exposures be longer made it easier for the habituation of the phobia. One longer treatment of 180 minutes had higher effects that 300 minutes of spaced out treatment.

The next treatment method ties into the previous treatment, this treatment is the combination of pharmacological and cognitive behavioral. Farrell, (2018) looked at the effect of D-cycloserine we paired with one session treatments. The main focus of the experiment was to see if D-cycloserine enhanced exposure therapy outcomes. The effects of D-cycloserine in children were compared to those that received a placebo. Opposing the hypothesis that D-cycloserine would have enhancing effects, there were no major differences of the effects of the children that received D-cycloserine versus the children that had had the placebo. This experiment was a small sample size resulting in a limitation of not having enough information to fully rule out the effectiveness of augmenting one session treatments with D-cycloserine.

The next part of the paper will outline limitations of treating children with phobias that also have ADHD. A large part of the child population has ADHD or express behaviors that are typical of ADHD, a major question in the study of child phobias is how effective treatment would be in these children. In an experiment conducted Halldorsdottir et al. (2016), looked at the effectiveness of both one session treatments and educational support treatment in treating phobias in children with ADHD. Symptoms continued to be significantly associated with poor long term out comes of both one session treatment and educational support treatment. For one session treatments, ADHD interfered with sustained anxious arousal that is necessary for habituations to occur and to solidify the effects of a one session treatment. This is due to the distractibility of ADHD, decreasing the effectiveness of exposures. But conduct problems related to ADHD do not affect cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety. Educational support treatments were not effective because psychoeducation interferes with the cognitive behavioral therapy. The more one knows about the treatment and the phobias the less effective treatment will be (Halldorsdottir et al. 2016).

In conclusion, it is clear that there are many different perspectives to the etiology of phobias in children. Understanding each of these perspectives and how they all interact with one another will ultimately be the deciding factor for treatment options. Observations concerning distinct models of fear acquisition are best understood as part of a continuum. Looking at and understanding each of the extreme ends allows for the better understanding of the middle of the continuum. In an extreme case of fear response being purely innate, these are so prepared that they show as instinctual defensive reactions. The opposite side of this continuum are the situations should be due to aversions being related to a large quantity of aversive experiences. (Coelho & Purkins 2009). Behaviors cannot be plainly separated into cognitive and emotional categories, the areas of the brain work in connection to one another rather than in isolation. Fear relevant stimuli are more infrequent to non-fear-related stimuli, fear of a stimulus comes from the idea that familiarity and experiences. The most common form of treatment is cognitive behavioral, one session exposure therapy treatments and the use of pharmacological treatment has not been proven to be as effective (Coelho & Purkins 2009; Farrell 2018). While this appears the most effective way to treat phobias in children there remain limitations regarding the populations the treatment will work on as it was not effective in children with ADHD (Halldorsdottir et al. 2016).

References

Coelho, C. M., & Purkins, H. (2009). The origins of specific phobias: Influential theories and current perspectives. Review of General Psychology, 13(4), 335“348. https://doi-org.ursus-proxy-1.ursus.maine.edu/10.1037/a0017759

Davis, T. E., Ollendick, T. H., ?–st, L. (2009). Intensive treatment of specific phobias in children and adolescents. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 16(3), 294-303. doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2008.12.008

Farrell, L. (2018). D?cycloserine?augmented one?session treatment of specific phobias in children and adolescents. Brain and Behavior, 8(6): 10.1002/brb3.984

Halldorsdottir, T., & Ollendick, T. H. (2016). Long-term outcomes of brief, intensive CBT for specific phobias: The negative impact of ADHD symptoms. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(5), 465“471. https://doi-org.ursus-proxy-1.ursus.maine.edu/ 10.1037/ccp000008

Sue, D., Sue, D. W., Sue, D. M., & Sue, S. (2016). Understanding abnormal behavior. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Waters, A. M., Bradley, B. P., & Mogg, K. (2014). Biased attention to threat in pediatric anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder) as a function of 'distress' versus 'fear' diagnostic categorization. Psychological Medicine, 44(3), 607-16. doi:https://dx.doi.org.ursusproxy1.ursus.maine.edu/10.1017/S0033291713000779

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki

After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, one of the most devastating bombings in its time, America declared war on Japan and therefore entering into War World II. On August 6 1945, the U.S dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, three days later they dropped a bomb on Nagasaki. Over 100,000 people were immediately killed in both bombings, and thousands more died of injuries and the effects of the radiation (Matsukawa 56). The American Government was justified to bomb Hiroshima, but they could have approached Nagasaki with less catastrophic measures.

The U.S aimed to remain neutral as possible during World War II. They started helping Britain, who was in the war, by sending war supplies but on a cash and carry basis. They blockaded trade with Japan and the countries apart of the Axis, Italy and Germany. The Japanese were furious with the stopping of shipment of airplane fuel and scrap iron that they needed for war. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese army bombed Pearl Harbor, and then the next day Japan invaded an American army base in the Philippines. After these two events the U.S declared war on Japan.

The Japanese wanted to improve their economy but instead of choosing to conduct trade negotiations with foreign governments, the Japanese government turned sharply away. Japan went once again into isolation (Bjorklund 10-11). Japan wanted to prove to the other countries that they were just as powerful as them. They joined the war for two reasons. One, to show that they can go to war and their economy can withstand a war, and secondly they were still upset with the Allies during the First World War, when the Allies met at the Treaty of Versailles, Japan did not have a voice in the discussion. All that tension built up and they did not hesitate to go to war.

During the war the U.S was planning on invading Japan. War experts estimated 1 million American lives lost and millions of Japanese lives. On April 1945 Harry S. Truman was sworn in as President. He hoped to make the invasion of Japan unnecessary. He decided to use the atomic bomb instead of invading Japan. On July 26th the U.S, Britain and China issues a statement threatening to destroy Japan unless it surrendered, Japan refused (Matsukawa 56). Truman was doing the country right by looking for a different approach, although his approach was a steady, the approach it did not do its job.

In the spring of 1945, the military instituted a target committee. This committee consisted of officers and scientists. The purpose for this committee was to decide where the bomb should fall. The committee decided that the atomic bomb would not just kill; it could wipe out an entire city off the map. They agreed that it would be horrible, but they wanted it to be so it would try to end the war and try to stop future use of nuclear bombs (Brumfiel).

They chose Hiroshima. Hiroshima is compact, if you put a bomb like this in the middle of it, you end up destroying almost the entirety of the city said Alex Wellerstein, a historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology (Brumfiel). Hiroshima was also a military target. There were factories and other facilities there. The American army took their time and was strategic when deciding where and when to bomb so they could make a point without killing an overabundance of people.

Antony Beevor said Truman had little choice. All commanders or political leaders can hope to asses is whether a particular course of action is likely to reduce the loss of life. Faced with the Japanese refusal to surrender, President Truman had little choice. The dropping of the atomic bomb was justified at the time as being moral in order to bring about a more rapid victory, prevent the deaths of more people, and the use of nuclear weapons.

Of course it is easy to say that if I had been in Truman's shoes, I would not have ordered the two bombings. says Richard Overy, a professor of history at the University of Exeter (History Extra). Apart of Richard Overy`s statement is correct, Truman should not have ordered two bombings. In his defense Truman was out of options. It was either invade Japan, risking millions of American and Japanese soldier's lives or use the atomic bomb to wipe out a city and saving millions of lives. Hiroshima's population at the time of the bombing was 350,000 people.

Richard Overy also said that It was immoral and unnecessary. When referring to bombing Nagasaki, it was unnecessary. Truman should have waited to see what Japan would do after the U.S bombed Hiroshima. Chances are they would have surrendered and/or negotiated peacefully. The first bombing was a necessary evil so to speak, but bombing Nagasaki was unnecessary and took many more Japanese lives.

On August 15th during a radio address in World War II, Japan's Emperor, Hirohito, announced that Japan would surrender after the devastating power of a new and most cruel bomb( History.com). One thing that everyone can agree on is that World War II was devastating. The Bombing of Pearl Harbor the Bombing of London, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the many German, American, British, Japanese lives lost. The American Government was justified to bomb Hiroshima, but not justified to bomb Nagasaki.

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Radiation in Hiroshima

As a student in Radiology School, I am often asked the never-ending question; is radiation safe? My answer is simple: in everyday life, we are surrounded by radiation, some of which is artificial and some that is backgroundradiation which naturally exists everywhere in the environment. These levels of radiation are clearly safe. If they were not, life on Earth would not continue to exist. However, there is a small percentage of people who are heavily exposed to radiation that may develop radiation-induced cancers or other various defects later in life. This type of radiation effects people who are: involved in radiation accidents in their occupations, being treated for existing cancer with radiation therapy, and one specifically that I will discuss is exposure to radiation from nuclear weapons, in reference to the bombings on Hiroshima.

Nearly 73 years later, many people of the U.S. still do not know or understand the story behind Hiroshima and what has been the result from the atomic bombings along what that meant for life following the occurrence and beyond relating to us today. By definition, an atomic bomb is a bomb that derives its destructive power from the rapid release of nuclear energy by fission of heavy atomic nuclei, causing damage through heat, blast, and radioactivity. In this paper, I will discuss the background and purpose for the bombing of Hiroshima, paired with compelling evidence and results that effected the U.S. and Japanese populations and history in relation to radiation protection. My research demonstrates the long-term effects of radiation exposure lead to increased cancer rates in the survivors, genetic mutations, and many other short and long terms effects due to the atomic bombings.

First, I'd like to discuss background information on Hiroshima. In August 1945, the U.S. was in the final stages of World War II. With hopes to quickly and efficiently end the war, President Truman made the decision to utilize nuclear weapons - for the first and only time in a military combat and history. The U.S. used not one, but two atomic bombsone of which was released over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and the second bomb followed three days later upon the city of Nagasaki. According to an article by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection in Germany, within seconds after the bombings, nearly 80%of the cities were completely destroyed through shock and heat waves of at least 6,000?°C. Picture a massive cloud of heat you can feel from miles away, sparatic light too bright to look towards, dust, ash, and radioactive waste and particles consuming the airthis was the terrifying result of the release of the bombings. Once the bombs had reached their full explosive potential, the surrounding area rained of radioactive fallout for a minimum of twenty minutes. Records show that victims died immediately on site or later as a result of the acute or delayed effects ofionizing radiation. Due to the extensive damage from the bombing that resulted in entire destruction of the two cities, many records and population registers were unrecoveredleaving us with an approximate, but not exact number of deaths. According to estimates, up to 80,000 people in Hiroshima and up to 40,000 in Nagasaki died directly and just as many were injured. For those who did not died on impact, they suffered from many other negative, detrimental radiation effects.

My first topic of evidence I'd like to discuss is why the U.S. chose atomic bombing as a means of ending the war. In the midst of WWII, studies have shown the Japanese military to have over a million soldiers, 3,000 Kamikaze aircrafts, and 5,000 suicide boats available to defend its homeland. In efforts to protect and preserve the U.S. population, along with its active soldiers, President Harry S. Truman, made the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan in hopes to end the war and save many lives of U.S. soldiers in place of invading their land.

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Catastrophe in Hiroshima

On 6 August of 1945, an unthinkable and dreadful catastrophe happened. The American authorities dropped an atomic bomb on a Japanese city Hiroshima as a warning and a demand for defeat. As a result, the whole city of 250000 people was destroyed, thousands of Japanese were killed and seriously injured. As an issue of usage of an atomic bomb was being actively discussed around the world, The New Yorker sent a journalist John Hersey to Japan to find out the details of this catastrophe. Later he wrote the story about Hiroshima which can tell its readers the exact events of the bombarding through the eyes of the actual survivors, describes the reasons why Hiroshima became a target, some consequences of radiation, and why the medical and rescue efforts were useless after the blow.

American decision to drop a bomb on a Japanese city was not accidental. Hiroshima was an ideal target for an experiment of an atomic bomb. According to the book, Hiroshima was a significant military strategic object with a huge port and war ammunition. John Hersey writes in his story it had been an inviting targetmainly because it had been one of the most important military-command and communication centers in Japan, and would have become the Imperial headquarters had the islands been invaded and Tokyo been captured.(HERSEY, P.107) That is why Americans chose this city to drop the bomb considering that their purpose was to deprive the country of an opportunity to continue the war.

The book tells stories of 6 survivors who somehow got the chance to endure this catastrophe. One of the central characters is Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, a German Catholic priest, was reading a journal in his mission house when a bright white flash blew up above Hiroshima. As the fire began Father Kleinsorge, some priests and other survivors had to move to a safer place which was Asano Park. Along the way, there were lots of suffering people begging for help from under ruined parts of houses. Father Kleinsorge knew he could not save everyone, that they did not have time and had to go, but that fact did not stop him feeling guilty and ashamed. He managed to help a lot of refugees, bandaged their wounds, brought them water and rice, helped to put down fires. Before the bombing, some people openly disliked Father Kleinsorge because he was a foreigner in a country involved in a war. After the blow, they could not stop asking him for help or comfort. His sympathy was endless. Later Father Kleinsorge began to feel real sick and his wounds opened again and he went to the chapel of the Novitiate to get medical help. After his condition did not improve he had to go to a hospital in Tokyo, where he finally got well. He returned to ruined Hiroshima where he with the Jesuits restored the mission house and continued his service.

There is quite a lot of information about people's lives before the explosion in the book. The author describes the morning routine of each character right before the bomb. He uses this special method to involve readers into these people's tragedies, so they understand how much this bomb changed the lives of every person in Hiroshima, how much it influenced their decisions and what kind of consequences they would have to experience. his catastrophe is both a national tragedy and a personal one.

Working through the chaos of days following the blow few doctors who were available could not afford t stop for a minute to think about unusual symptoms. A lot of patients, who seemed to be getting well, suddenly died. Later, scientists and doctors came to a conclusion that radiation from an atomic bomb caused a fatal harm to people. In the story, all the characters suffered from the symptoms of radiation sickness, such as tiredness, faintness, nausea, fever, headache, diarrhea, falling hair, blood disorders, that often led to an inevitable death. As the symptoms revealed themselves, it became clear that many of them resembled the effects of overdoses of X-ray, and the doctors based their therapy on that likeness. (HERSEY, P.104) They gave victims liver extract, blood transfusions, and vitamins, especially B. (HERSEY, P.104)

With almost every building ruined and thousands of deaths, Hiroshima had to deal with consequences such as the lack of medical supplies, equipment, and doctors. The only functioning hospital was Red Cross one, where Dr.Sasaki treated patients as best as he could without necessary medicine. Lots of patients died because doctors could not know about radiation disease and their efforts brought no effect. In the story Hiroshima an army doctor answered the question why he had not come to Asano Park to help dying people: In an emergency like this, the first task is to help as many as possibleto save as many lives as possible. There is no hope for the heavily wounded. (HERSEY, P.72) Also, there was an important factor such as Japanese mentality. This nation was very proud and they preferred to live and die with honor. It meant that the most of population in the country put up with the perception that they could not change anything. There was nothing they could do about the disaster and that brought them peace. That is why the medical and rescue efforts had so little impact on the survivors' behalf.

That day in 1945 absolutely changed the course of history. Those bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ruined not only the actual cities but the lives of several generations of Japanese. Though these events led to the defeat of Japan, they also showed the whole world the potential threat of an atomic bomb. The ethics of using this kind of weapon is still arguable.

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The Bombing of Hiroshima

The bombing of Hiroshima has been a battling controversy on whether or not the United States did the right thing. On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Then on August 9, 1945, only three days from the bombing of Hiroshima, Nagasaki was bombed by the U.S. as well. The bombing of Hiroshima has its pros and cons but overall the bombing was necessary, but the second bombing on Nagasaki was not. The bombing of Japan saved American lives and many more for the future and ended the war; however, it was unethical for the thousands of Japanese who were harmed and should have had other alternatives.

The Japanese were depicted as terrorists who had massacred more citizens that are American. Therefore, the Americans through the advice of the security experts could not risk entering the Japanese Islands, as their troops would have been massacred. The only way to stop them was by using fierce weapons that would weaken them entirely and make the surrender at their own pace and willingness. The American government was justified having lost more than 418,000 lives, both of whom were either civilians or militaries, the pressure from the citizens were mounting. For the war to come to an end, the atomic bombs were the answer for that to happen.

On the other hand, it can be argued that the United States was not interested in war right away from the beginning, following the Truman doctrines. Due to this, they were not interested in long-term wars that would financially cripple the nation and make the citizens undergo much pain and agony. It is evident that the actions of German and Japan are the ones that triggered the US to have no any other option than joining the war.

Even so, they still did not think that it would be a good idea to stay in the war for any longer. The U.S. wanted the bombs to occur as payback for their own fallen soldiers from the war. In addition to this, the actions used by the United States of the atomic bomb was equally a good idea to silence the USSR that was growing stronger. Immediately after they had struck Japan with the bomb, it is evident that the US became the dominating nation in the entire world.

In John Hersey's Hiroshima (1946), he wrote about what six individuals experienced and how it affected them during and after the bombing. One of the individuals, Miss Toshinki Sasaki was a clerk at East Asia Tin works when the bombing had happened. Thousands of people had nobody to help them. Abandoned and helpless, under the crude lean-to in the courtyard of the tin factory, beside the woman who had lost a breast and the man whose burned face was scarcely a face any more, she suffered awfully that night from the pain in her broken leg (Hersey, p. 48). Miss Sasaki broke her leg and was in need of surgery. The people who were not as injured would help those in awful conditions but they would be outnumbered. The people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki suffered even more after the atomic bomb. As if nature were protecting man against his own ingenuity, the reproductive processes were affected for a time; men became sterile, women had miscarriages, menstruation stopped (Hersey, p.78). The reproductive system for the men and women were not functioning so they are unable to have children. Based from Hersey's Hiroshima (1946), They reported that 78,150 people had been killed, 13,983 were missing, and 37,427 had been injured (Hersey, pg. 81). The results from the bombing were already high ranking but about an additional 70,000 more died from radiation sickness.

In as much as the government of the United States had quite a number of alternatives at their dispensation, it is important to note that they did not regret using the atomic bombs. Just like any other nation, the United States was literary soldiering on in what can be termed as the dark days of their history. Most of the American citizens were living in fear of attacks from either the Germans or the Japanese. Therefore, it is important to note that the United States of America's actions were far much justified as this as done on the pretext of protecting their citizens. In addition to this, in as much as the Japan's ally who were the Germans had already taken heed of the surrender policy, Japan had entire refused.

This is an indication that its strategy critically worked since the entire world ended up being peaceful. Through its strategy and action, the United States demonstrated to the entire world that it is the most powerful nation, showed the destructive power that it had and what it was capable of doing. Experts have argued that the price, which was required in order to keep the USSR in check, was quite steep. Other conflict management scholars have critically argued that if the United States had prolonged the use of the atomic bombs any longer, then this would have resulted to high fatality in Japan with more than 10 million people losing their lives.

If by any chance the US had made such attacks to any other nation, then it would have been unacceptable. However, in this case, it is evident that Japan had violated so many peace treaties and in one way or the other, they might have deserved the massive attacks. The attacks by the military critically showed that the United States were much more devastated with the effects of what Japan had caused back in their country. They were not that keen in ensuring that they invaded Japan. Therefore, the only way out since they were not interested in the war was to strike Japan from any other angle but make sure that the war had ended.

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“Hiroshima” by John Hersey

The overall theme of the book I read was that following the tragedy, the victims helped each other to the best of their ability. The community came together to repair itself after the tragedy. One quote I felt summarized the theme of the text was He was the only person making his way into the city; he met hundreds and hundreds who were fleeing, and every one of them seemed to be hurt in some way. The eyebrows of some were burned off and skin hung from their faces and hands. Others, because of pain, held their arms up as if carrying something in both hands. Some were vomiting as they walked. Many were naked or in shreds of clothing. On some undressed bodies, the burns had made patterns-of undershirt straps and suspenders and, on the skin of some women (since white repelled the heat from the bomb and dark clothes absorbed it and conducted it to the skin), the shapes of flowers they had on their kimonos. Many, although injured themselves, supported relatives who were worse off. (pg. 29) The scene Mr. Tanimoto encounters when running into the city is frightful when he attempts to look for his wife and child. This passage shows how that even though the people were hurting, they attempted to help try and help other loved ones that were hurting more. Another passage that conveys the theme of the book is One feeling they did seem to share, however was a curious kind of elated community spirit, something like that of the Londoners after their blitz- a pride in the way they and their fellow survivors had stood up to a dreadful ordeal. (pg. 87) The people of Hiroshima came together to recover as a whole from the tragedy they endured. The tragedy in some ways brought them together. They lifted each other up in times of need and this is why the quote supports the theme. Another passage that provides meaning to the theme of the book is I shall not dwell on the past. It is as if I had been given a spare life when I survived the A-bomb. But I prefer not to look back. I shall keep moving forward. (pg. 126) Toshiko Sasaki says this at a speech she gives in honor of her twenty fifth anniversary of becoming a nun. She speaks for the community when she speaks on the new hope she has discovered years after the bombing occurred. Hiroshima is now a thriving city filled with hope. The people there have rebuilt and came together to overcome this massive tragedy.

If I was to host a discussion or book talk for the book I have selected this summer, I would have many questions for the people attending. One question I would ask is How do you think the people in the book overcame this tragedy? I feel like this would give insight on how other people felt about how they did recover. Another question I would ask is Why did some of the people feel guilty about surviving?. The last question I would ask is How did the people come together after the tragedy?.

The book Hiroshima by John Hersey should remain on the RBR Global Studies reading list. The book offers a firsthand look at what that day was like for six people. The book provides a unique point of view that is different from the political side that we see often. The book sometimes provided graphic descriptions but it offers a real glimpse on to what that day was like for so many people. Many people don't know the impact the bomb had on Hiroshima and Japan as a whole. This book provides you with the knowledge to understand how the whole country was affected by this terrible event.

Dear John Hersey,

I enjoyed your book. It offered a new view of the bombing. Speaking of that though, what was it like to interview the survivors? It must've been so hard to hear the stories upon stories of grief and loss these people experienced. I don't know if I could have handled it. I almost cried during the book a couple times. I don't think you could've added anything to make it any better. It was really good. Some parts were really gruesome but I understand that you let the details speak for themselves.

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings

After Germany surrendered in Europe, American aircraft dropped Little Boy over the City of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Three days later, Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki. These acts were done to force Japan to surrender in the war. These bombs resulted in thousands of casualties, during the explosions and even years after, and President Truman at the time played a huge role in approving this decision. But was the decision to use these bombs correct? Morally, it was not. But it needed to be done in order to prevent more casualties on both sides and finally put the fighting to an end.

The two atomic bombs were dropped so the U.S. did not have to go through with Operation Downfall. This was an operation set to invade Japan starting in November of 1945 if they did not surrender. If this operation happened, it would have resulted in millions of casualties for the allied forces and about ten million for Japan, depending on the amount of resistance from civilians and the armed forces (newworldencyclopdeia.org). To prevent these casualties, President Truman approved the use of the bombs. This operation would have also cost both sides millions of dollars. Of course, this would mean the war would last longer, at least until the beginning of 1946.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were targeted because they were considered military bases at the time. Hiroshima contained the second army headquarters. It was also an assembly area for troops and was a communication center for them as well. Nagasaki had many industries that were important for the war, such as the production of military equipment, ships, and more (The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Like in any war, the mass casualties are unfortunately inevitable. An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 people died at Hiroshima and another 40,000 died instantly at Nagasaki (McNamee). Prior to the atomic bomb at Nagasaki, the U.S. dropped a relatively smaller bomb than Fat Man. Because of this, many people began to evacuate the city which resulted in fewer casualties than Hiroshima. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of people that survived suffered the horrible side effects of the radiation. The numbers of civilian casualties produced from the bombs were still less than what Operation Downfall would have resulted in.

It could be argued that the drop of the bombs did not cause the Japanese to surrender but that is not true. ""From January 1944 until August 1945, the U.S. dropped 157,000 tons of bombs on Japanese cities, according to the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. (Deadly WWII U.S. Firebombing Raids on Japanese Cities Largely Ignored). This was not enough for them to surrender, but the bombing of those two cities made the Japanese realize the kind of destructive power the U.S. had. This caused them to realize that to keep fighting would just mean more casualties added to both sides, especially for Japan, with the same end results.

All in all, the release of these bombs was a positive decision. Morally, it was wrong to kill hundreds of thousands of people, including innocent civilians. But it was the right decision, it was the only choice that the U.S. had. Thousands of people died, but it also saved millions more. If these drastic measures were not taken, the war would have been longer and cost all parties millions of dollars in equipment used, property damage, lives, and more.

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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Bombs burst over the City of Peace leaving the one and only structure near the hypocenter standing. During the explosion, 70,000 people died directly, while another 70,000 suffered from the radiation. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is located in one of the two cities to be bombed in WWII. The bomb's target was the Aioi Bridge; however, it detonated exactly over the Shima Hospital, which was within a five-minute distance of the Peace Memorial, but it was too late, and the bomb exploded, which left faces coated with dirt and debris. Many buildings in Hiroshima were destroyed and damaged.

The only structure that was not destroyed after the bombing was the Hiroshima Peace Memorial or Genbaku Dome. Everyone inside the dome immediately died. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was settled around the dome from 1950 to 1964. Some other monuments and museums the park has to offer are the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall, the Memorial Cenotaph, the Peace Flame, and Peace Bells.

The Memorial Cenotaph, the Peace Flame, and Peace Bells are all monuments promoting peace and the end of using nuclear weapons. The Memorial Cenotaph gives all the names of people who died from the atomic bomb. The cenotaph's arch depicts a shelter for the souls of all victims. Hiroshima's Peace Flame has one more symbolic role, which is staying illuminated until the planet has been rid of nuclear weapons. In addition, the three Peace Bells located in the park also have some symbolic roles. The most familiar bell is located nearby the Children's Peace Monument. The bell is open for ringing for those who visit. It was built on September 20, 1964, and was designed by Masahiko Katori. Its smallest bell is reserved for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.

Two ceremonies that commemorate those who passed away in what was what many believed to be an unfortunate event. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony is when people pray for the victims of the atomic bombing. It takes place on August 6, sometimes called A-Bomb Day. At 8:00, the ceremony starts in front of the Memorial Cenotaph, and there is one minute of silence at 8:15 to observe the victims of the bombing. The Lantern Ceremony is held on the evening of the same day and is to dispatch lanterns with the victims' spirits and messages. Lanterns from the Lantern Ceremony are sent off on the Motoyasu River. Likewise, on December 7, Americans throw flower garlands into Pearl Harbor. The Japanese and Americans hope nuclear weapons will never be used again.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a important park for the Japanese. Its numerous monuments promote not using nuclear weapons. Ceremonies held there are dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing. Many hope bombs will never be used in the way they did when bombing the City of Peace.

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About Philosopher Socrates

Throughout history there have been people who questioned the world's functioning and the society that lives within that world to try and figure out a theory that can answer those questions. There are individuals who spend their life working to discover such answers using by their intelligence, common sense, and the material of other's ideas. These individuals are known as philosophers. One of the most well-known philosophers in history is Socrates. Socrates was not one to document his teachings. The only way his teachings were remembered was through his student, Plato, who kept record of his dialogues and was able to educate others about his deceased teacher's discoveries. As of today, his words and history is still being taught. Socrates was born in ancient Greece in the city capital of Athens in 469 BCE. In adulthood, he chose to become a philosopher and eventually a husband who fathered three boys. His philosophy brought great change to the people and inspired many. He taught those who wished to learn his views of the world and spoke to a variety of people, teaching them his philosophies. He even had Socratic classrooms, philosophical counselling, [...] ?the Socratic cafe'...(Ahbel-Rappe, pg.2). His most popular and well-known dialogues are Apology, Crito, Euthyphro and Meno to name a few. The ones that will be discussed are Apology and Crito since both dialogues are ones that recall Socrates' words during his trial and last moments in a cell before his execution. Socrates did not have the best ending to his life. Those who saw him as an enemy made others view him as a threat to Athens' way of life and also accused him of attempting to corrupt the minds of the Athenian youth. Not only was he accused, but he was also being prosecuted for not believing in the city's gods, questioning their religion, and seeking out other god-like figures to believe in. Although Socrates was framed as an unjust man, sentenced to an undeserved punishment, and received an unfair hearing, he still took everything that came his way and did not show any defiance to their legal procedures or try to avoid the issue altogether. Plato viewed this type of attitude as an opportunity to write about Socrates' words to elaborate on his mentor's life in the most respectable way. There were many individuals who were a part of Socrates' accusations and trial. These people were very familiar with him just as much he was of them. In the dialogue, Apology, he attempts to turn the jury's viewpoint of his charges during the hearing. This is one of Socrates' most important speeches, as he will be fighting for his life. In his dialogue, Apology, Socrates faces the court to plea against his prosecution. The scene takes place in an Athenian court, which allowed access for all to see, along with having a very vast jury that seated five hundred people, or so it is said. There is an issue in Plato's version of the Apology, since none of his students who attended were able to record what was spoken word-for-word. Therefore, there is no way to verify if the recorded information stays true to what Socrates said, or if there are any points in his speech that should have been mentioned. As said before, his student Plato only praised his teacher, hence the possible reason for Socrates' speech appearing differently than the written works of Socrates' other student, Xenophon. Nevertheless, the viewpoint spoken of will be from Plato's. Within Socrates' speech, he chooses to use a tactic where he names all the prejudices that his accusers planted on to him and elaborating on them, all the while trying to explain why they are false. However, at first, one would think he is convincing the jury to believe they are true. He feigns guilt with his tactics, using his own methods to make the accusations seem injudicious. After He even goes as far as confessing his beliefs of not committing any crimes and that he should receive a reward rather than punishment. He also tries to compromise by asking for his sentence to be a fine that he, along with his friends, can pay together. The people of the court were not convinced with his plead and denied his requests. It is said that, his mission in turning any conversation into a deep moral examination of the interlocutor would have looked better if he had not allowed his defence speech to change into a deep and critical examination of Athenian courts themselves - and of juries in particular.(Plato, pg.37). What this means is that if Socrates did not turn every statement about him into an analysis of the people who were in the court, then his outcome could have possibly been better than what he received. Throughout his speech, Socrates does not seem to show any aggression towards his accusers. Instead, he speaks to them in a calm manner and claims he has no anger towards them. At the end of his speech, he concludes with, The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our own ways - I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.(Plato, Segal, pg.28). His last statement in the dialogue shows how he tries to give the jury an opportunity to think over whether or not Socrates' so-called crimes are legitimate and if he truly deserved to be executed for said crimes, but in the end, the verdict pleads guilty and he is sentenced to death. Some suggest that there was no way for Socrates to phrase his speech any way without going against his own beliefs and that he thought himself called by God in a give direction, and nothing would persuade him to change.(Plato, pg.38). Even though the courts viewed him to be guilty there were many who did not want to see their beloved philosopher put to death. They were willing to go against Athenian law to ensure that Socrates would be able to live. Therefore the next dialogue narrates the last moments Socrates spent inside his cell when he is suddenly greeted by an unexpected visitor. In the dialogue called Crito, the text recalls the day before Socrates' execution, where he holds a conversation with his friend, Crito, who was able to visits him. Here, Crito attempts to convince Socrates to allow himself to be freed from his prison before he can be killed. Within this collaboration, Crito elaborates about what reputation could be more disgraceful than the reputation of caring more for money than for one's friend.(Plato, Segal, pg.32). His statement refers to how although it is painful enough to soon be without his close friend, it would look terrible towards him if he did not do his best to at least make an attempt to save his friend's life even if doing such a task would cost a very large sum of money. Socrates then reminds Crito that in the beginning they never cared for how others viewed them, so he should not worry over those beliefs in the first place. Although touched by his friend's attempt, Socrates continues to refuse to escape his demise for a number of reasons. Such are that he will not go against the laws of the Athens, for it will show that he is willing to disobey his homeland, and since the city is not ideally formed yet, if people knew of his escape, the news could bring down the structure of Athens' legislation even more than it was at that moment. He also refuses to leave because he could never forgive himself if his friends were to be accused of aiding him in his disappearance and punished on his behalf. There are more reasons as to why he did not escape, but either way, the outcome remained the same. By the end of his conversation, he tells Crito, then let it be, Crito, and let us do as I say, since the god is our guide.(Plato, Segal pg.45). With this final statement, he continues to stay in his cell knowing he had lived his life well where he soon faces his punishment and [dies] from taking hemlock in a jail in Athens in 399 BC.(Santas, pg.2). Many of Socrates' friends and students were saddened by his demise. After his death, his pupil, Plato, took it upon himself to write and teach the philosophies that his mentor taught him. He would even have his own arguments against that of his teacher's, as a true philosopher would, which shows how influential Socrates was. Even though the world lost a passionate philosopher so unfairly, he became apart of history and his wisdom will be shared for centuries to come, not to mention becoming an inspiration to those who wish to follow in his footsteps as a philosopher as well. Although there is no way to validate what else he could have taught us and what other questions he may have had, there is still plenty to learn from the dialogues written.

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Death of Socrates

When I was visiting the Metropolitan Museum, a drawing about death attracted my attention because the stillness of it”Death of Socrates, stands about 129.5cm ?—196.2cm by oil painting, which is drawn by Jacques-Louis David in French,1787; depicts a tragic picture”Socrates, who was sentenced to death by the people of Athens, is preparing to drink the poison around his friends. It contains most characters from Neo-Classicism and brings solemn narratives. a beam of sunlight is shot from the cracks of the door so that the characters in the painting stand out from the dark background. David often uses different colors to express the emotions and the drawing just transfer the tragedy and ceremonial silence. The whole construction of the drawing is diagonal and all the color is 3 primary color. The topic is about a famous historical event. Nevertheless, the depicting of the drawing just stopped in the most exciting moment to enlarge the emotions transferred by the author. All the features just indicates the transformations during the Neo-Classical period. Socrates, wearing a white robe, sat on the bed, and his face was more idealism than the impact that was preserved to the contemporary situation; one hand is trying to touch with a cup of poisonous juice and the other hand bent, pointing to the top, or even the sky. One hand is trying to express the grim and ridicules of the government and the other is about freedom and yearn of philosophy. It is not difficult to understand the importance of the death of Socrates to the rule of law in the West: perhaps the law will be straightforward for a while, but there is only one law in the secular city, and everyone must abide by it. The people of Athens can guarantee the rule of law only if everyone follows the law. In this sense, Socrates must die because the laws of Athens need to survive. however, the persistence of philosophy is conducted by Socrates to every student at that time and finally leaned by younger generations. Socrates is preaching a philosophical perspective, while at the same time, he picks up the poison cup that will end his life. This action just symbolizes the obedience to the Athenian law, and his insisting about his faith”improve the spread of philosophical thinking, and finally promote the progress of social structure. Socrates was short, bearded, bald, and walked in a strange way. his flat nose, big mouth, messy eyebrows and a pair of swollen eyes indicates he is an old man. He always wears old clothes and walks barefoot. His disregard for the heat and cold, regardless of hunger and thirst and there are no negative or sad emotions on his face, but full of philosophical discussions and teaching students. Socrates does not greedy for wealth and power so all his impacts are all like a poor guy. However, from the drawing, we can understand he is investigating the genuineness the world and trying his best to teach the world a new way of consideration. Socrates is surrounded by disciples and friends of different ages. Most of them show depression and sadness. A young man holding the cup turned his head and couldn't bear to look at the last time, holding his lowered head with his hand. A middle-aged man reached for the left leg of Socratesthey are sad not only because of the death of friends, but also the missing of philosophical exploration. some people are still devoting themselves into communicating with Socrates, regarding of the death is coming soon. The comprehension from Socrates is so brilliant that they can not consider other things. the high contrast between upset and listening highlights the importance of philosophy from Socrates and enlarge the tragic of the dead influence. In the foreground of the painting, the author paints open handcuffs and scattered hand scrolls, not only reminding people about the image of Socrates in prison, but also make people realize: Death is the way to get rid of the physical bondage and lead to absolute freedom. Even if he is trapped in shackles, being captained, or tortured, he will not give up on his truth and persistence about faith, which is showing the admirable of its personality. Apart from this painting retains the neoclassical styling rule, it also creates a connection between the surface of the drawing and the spiritual or emotional of different characters. In conclusion, Death of Socrates just fused the characters from Neo-classical style and tragedy of the historical events, reminding people's consideration about law and freedom. The death of Socrates affects the controls of the Athenian government and promote the development of society. The drawing records the events in a particular moment and the emotion of tragic improved the status of its historical status.

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Influential Philosopher Socrates

Socrates was a very influential philosopher who would often be found surrounded by his students debating various topics. His primary concerns were with ethics, justice, and politics. These, as well as others, would often be discussed with those who were around him. Although most other instructors would charge fees for these interactions, Socrates refused to accept payment for his teachings. One of his most notable students was Plato, who wrote down many of Socrates' ideas. A great many of these teachings focused on the political structure that would yield an ideal society (Socratic Faction). In the ideal Socratic society, the government would be run by philosophers, each member of society would have a specialization that they focus their time on, and there would be no Assembly. While some may think that Socrates wanted philosophers to rule because he himself was a philosopher, he presents several points as to why this makes logical sense. One of the arguments that he presents is that knowledge is a key factor in someone's ability to rule. In particular, knowledge of government and justice are essential for rulers to be effective (Brown). Philosophers spend their lives seeking wisdom and truth, and therefore they are uniquely qualified to run a government. Not only that, but others are distinctly unqualified to run a government, because knowledge is not what they have devoted their lives to (Brown). In this way, ruling is a specialization in and of itself, where as a doctor would practice medicine, a philosopher would see to his society (Ambury). This transitions into the next point, that each person has their own specialization, and that one specialization is what they should stick to (Ober and Carnes, 107). There is no shame in becoming an expert in a single area and working in that area for the rest of one's life. In fact, if each person did this, every single task that was carried out in a society would be done by only the best!. It is preposterous to think that everyone is at the same intellectual level, therefore it makes minimal sense to let those who lack knowledge to have a say in areas where critical thought is necessary. In contrast to a non-philosopher doing a philosopher's work, an example given by Ober and Carnes is that it would be ridiculous to think that a philosopher would be as adept at making shoes as a shoemaker, so why bother making something mediocre (107). As Ober and Carnes state in reference to Socratic beliefs, shoemaking and politics were distinct and mutually exclusive activities, to be undertaken by different persons (107). A third aspect of an ideal government according to Socrates was to get rid of the Assembly (Socratic Faction). One of his arguments for this proposal is that many of the Athenian citizens could be convinced of nearly anything when it was proposed by a strong speaker (Ober and Carnes, 7). This is not their fault, as mentioned previously, the common folk lack the knowledge that is needed to rule effectively. In addition, the Assembly allows unjustified merit to be given to ideas brought forth by uninformed people. By having an Assembly, Athens is letting an uneducated group of people make important decisions (Ober and Carnes, 8). Another issue with the assembly is that those who are wealthy and those who are poor are divided on many topics, and consequently there are unnecessary rifts between the classes over issues (Ober and Carnes, 107). While Socrates presents a good case for why philosophers should be the ones in charge, some opponents of this viewpoint would argue that this concept is selfish coming from a philosopher. However, there are several reasons why this is an incorrect statement. Socrates mentions (through Plato's written work) that philosophers would much prefer to think about various philosophical arguments instead of ruling, but it is in the best interest of everyone that they take on the leading role in government (Brown). He makes the point that philosophers possess virtues that many others lack. This is tangibly evident by the proposal that a ruling party of philosophers would not be able to have private property (Brown). The ideal government would be ruled by a small group of philosophers who lead simple, chaste lives, dedicated solely to the welfare of everyone else (Ober and Carnes, 8). This would eliminate the potential for government leaders to become corrupted with the obsession of materialism. Materialism and corruption, while not issues in a Socratic-ruled society, are very likely in an oligarch society. Although an oligarchy may start out with good intentions, it is very likely that those in charge will forgo the good of the people in favor of personal gain (Socratic Faction). This is why it is better to put people in charge who will have no opportunities for personal gain; it prevents the possibility of corruption. While Socrates was opposed to an oligarch society, he also had suggestions as to why a democracy form of government was not the best choice. As mentioned previously, not everyone has the same ability to rule and make decisions. Another key point in opposition to democracy is that there are no standards that the society lives by on a long-term basis (Brown). Each time the Assembly meets, the outcome depends on majority vote, not one unifying goal. Finally, both of these types of government are unsuitable due to the high tension that they cause between the different classes (Brown). In a Socratic society people would be distinguished based on their duties/ specialization, not by how much money or property they had (Ober and Carnes, 107). This type of society would have a caste system where Athens is ruled by a small number of philosophers. Another important classification is the Guardians, who would serve as Athens' protectors. The rest of society would be made up of people who specialize in one field, whether that be shoemaker, farmer, or any other specialty (Ober and Carnes, 107). Another aspect of Socrates' teachings that was rather controversial was the role that women can play in government. While women who are not inclined to participate in the deep thinking that philosophy requires should not be in the ruling class, Socrates argues that gender is not relevant to whether a not someone is qualified to rule (Brown). This is also a testament to his forward thinking. While many of Socrates' ideals were met with scorn by his opponents, he presents several good arguments for why a democratic or oligarchic society would not necessarily be the best option. In his ideal society there would be rule by a select few people who are uniquely qualified to run a government with their philosophical backgrounds. Philosophers who participated as government leaders would lack corruption due to their simple living conditions. They would also be best qualified to ensure a safe home for the Athenian people with their critical thinking skills. Every other member of the Athens society would have one area of specialization and that would be what they dedicated their lives to doing to avoid anyone overstepping their areas of competence, in addition to a select group of Guardians who would serve as protectors for the Athenian people. This would be a much better use of the regular person's time than participating in the Assembly where they would be unqualified to make important decisions concerning society. Although Socrates provides many good points as to why his ideal society would be the best option, there are many factors that go in to creating the ideal civilization.

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Socrates and Nietzsche’s Views

What is good? What is bad or evil? What is ethical?Most people think they Naturally know what is good and bad .Most people may assume that having a lot of money ,being wealthy, enjoying human pleasures, being socially acceptable in the one which they live ,or having a high social and economic status . For instance , as a king or as a ruler you would undoubtedly enjoy all of these good things that would seemingly make one happy . On the flipside most people think that feeling hurt , being rejected by society , death , or being poor and living in poverty , are the worst things a person could experience in a lifetime . Most would agree that those who suffer from any of these bad things are doing far worse than those who are not . Socrates would say that this outlook is a mistaken conception. Socrates would not agree that things such as wealth are good and could bring one true happiness. Socrates thought that this way of looking at things was disastrous or detrimental . HE believed that every human naturally strives for happiness and desires to be happy . Socrates might say that if we truly do not understand what is truly good or bad then we would have wasted a lifetime pursuing all of the wrong things . According to Socrates there is only one good and this good is superior . This good Socrates spoke of is Virtue and it alone could bring happiness . The definition of virtue is ones behavior showing high moral standards . Clearly Socrates thought very highly of morality and that one being Moral could bring happiness. In turn , I believe Socrates would say being Immoral would bring one both sorrow and unhappiness. Socrates held virtue as number one in his life and that we all should. Socrates said that this was the greatest good in life. He would most likely agree that a truly virtuous or happy individual would not even fear death and death seems to be the worst thing that could happen to anyone . Socrates argued that to become virtuous we must truly understand what the word means. This is most likely the reason why Socrates constantly went around questioning everyone and everything . He was always in search of the true definition of a certain virtue .Socrates also might argue that being virtuous is ethical.

But what about the bad things or evil things that people do such as stealing , killing , or even verbally harming each other ? Why do people do these things ? Socrates might argue that if people truly knew that what they were doing was bad then they wouldn't even do it in the first place . And he would probably say that commuting evil against another is basically taking away from ones own happiness and choosing not to acquire what you truly desire which is happiness. He might also say that most people do bad to others because they have a lack of knowledge and are ignorant . Socrates believed that all evil is committed involuntarily because people have a lack of knowledge . Also he believed that when lldoing bad things to people in hopes of gaining a good of any kind we are just hurting our selves . Socrates spoke a lot about the soul he states that the soul is our true self. Basically having a good conscience is being happy to Socrates I would think .In turn , having a guilty conscience will deprive one of happiness . Socrates also believed that justice was not a political resolution for matters but instead justice is the state of a persons soul.Having wealth and riches with a guilty conscience is a waste Socrates would most likely argue because that rich person is truly unhappy. Socrates believed that an individual should live a virtuous life . Socrates was always questioning others about their personal beliefs and why they believed so. He says that examining out own lives or our souls is the most important thing in life . Examining what we do and why we do it is most important to Socrates . He also believes that a person who fails to continually self examine his or herself is living a worthless life . Socrates stood behind this notion and refused to stop self examining himself . This is basically what he said to the jury to defend himself against the charges he was facing . Socrates was accused of being ungodly and corrupting the young ones with his beliefs and personal convictions and ultimately he was found guilty and sentenced to death . Although sentenced to death he did not flee although he could have he did not because his soul would not let him. Socrates did not try to avoid death because it would contradict everything that he believed in . Socrates was truly virtuous and he could not break his moral code . Socrates would rather the whole city be happy than one individual being happy this is also another possible reason that Socrates did not flee the city in addition to the fact that he did not fear death. Clearly Socrates truly valued an orderly society and even though many may see Socrates being sentenced to death by the society by society as unjust , unfair ,or even evil, Socrates accepts his fate and chooses not run away .

It may be confusing to many but I believe atleast one reason for this is because Socrates believes that is worse to do an unjust act than to receive an unjust treatment . Socrates's philosophy is that it is damaging to the soul to harm others , in turn receiving harm is like having something that you own damaged or taken away from you . It may damage your soul when someone hurts you in my opinion but not nearly as much and on this point I can agree with Socrates . Socrates views on good /ethical seem to derive from human nature and emotions when I summarize everything .
Friedrich Nietzche another philosopher also focuses on self reflection and morality but is totally different from Socrates . You may even say he is the complete opposite of Socrates because at first glance appears to be an amoralist (Ethics from classic and contemporary writers p 272) which is someone who disregards morals . This may not be neccecarily one hundred percent accurate because Nietzsche had morals he just questioned the origins of what man believes is moral or immoral , basically why do we believe something is moral or immoral. Why is something good or bad ? Why is something right or wrong ? He believes that western morality itself is a danger to achieving ones full potential and true greatness. He even goes on to call it the danger of all dangers (on the Genealogy of Morality). A lot of people if not most do not question why things are morally good or bad according to Nietzsche but rather conform to the social norms of the society in which they live . He believes that the morality of the western world which is dominant is still present today, and believes it to be unnatural . He goes on to call it antinatutural Morality which turns against the instincts of life (Genealogy of Morality) he believed that the western perception of Morality forces most to become something less than what they are capable of being or destined to be . He most likely would agree that those who disregard the social norms and morals of the western civilization have the most potential to be great and successful . He calls the majority of people the herd or the many , and once one separates himself /herself from this group they have the potential to become higher men .

The Higher man is the man who may seem superior to the herd . Whether it be he has wealth , a special gift that he was born with , good health , anything that causes another to have envy for him. He believes that being part of the herd is not a good thing because it causes one to be a weak sickly being , a failure . Nietzsche also believes that Morality is the main reason people become filled with hatred and envy . He believes that these higher men are perceived as evil to the many .The reason for this is because when someone else becomes more successful or great in anyway it causes the herd to want to bring that successful person down or even destroy that person. This may be one reason Nietzsche finds things like equality and compassion a bit distasteful . Nietzsche would most likely say that the meanings of good and bad have meant different things at different moments and are always subject to change depending on who is perceiving it . For Nietzsche this is the same for the matter of truth, it is not written in stone and it is all about perception. Nietzche might even go on to say that the words good and evil have no definite meaning at all . It's kind of like that quote that says beauty is in the eyes of the beholder . He believes if you do not free yourself from these social norms and expectations you will never be the best that you can be , you must question everything . The world is constantly changing and so is the truth Nietzche may argue . When Nietzche says beyond good and evil he is trying to get people to see past the social norms of our societies . It does not mean that Nietzche did not have morals it simply means that for one to reach his or her full potential we have to get over the Moral values instilled by our society ,government , or religion . In other words everything is not simply black and white there are numerous maybe even an infinite amount of grey areas. Nietzsche uses this phrase to get us to open our minds outside of the herd morality because thinking in such a way denies one his or her true essence .

Nietzche is well known for the quote God is Dead (the Gay Science) this one sentence seems to strike a fatal blow at religion specifically Christianity , what a statement! Although being an atheist at the time of this writing he did not mean it in a literal since what Nietzsche was trying to get across is that the many are governed by the governed and simply to what they are told just like a herd of animals . What's good is only good because you are told it is good . In turn what is evil is only evil because you were taught so . Nietzsche believes that people should not try to push their beliefs on others or their good , he just wants people to critically think for themselves and define our own good and our own bad . Nietzsche's work causes one to question almost everything that we know . It's all about ones perception of the world we live in far as morality , I think that this is Nietzsche's main goal in his writings another example of this is the slave morality and the master morality . Most likely the masters look in the mirror and see themselves as good and feel no bad about owning slaves or about the way they treat their slaves .The masters may even see the slaves as bad or evil , because who wants to be a slave? I'm sure there were few slaves that didn't mind but just looking at it from a realistic point of view , the many of the slaves probably wished that they were free or even that they were masters . In addition the slaves most likely felt resentment towards their masters or atleast some sort of envy due to their lack of having the power , money , freedom etc.. that slave masters possessed. It makes sense that once we can look past good and evil we better understand the world we live in.

Both Socrates and Nietzche make me think deep about life and even make me realize that I may need to re assess the way that I look at things . I think I agree with both of them to a certain extent if not completely as far as their outlooks on good , bad , and ethics in general but I would side more with Socrates because I personally agree that being virtuous can make one happy . I also feel that being virtuous is the key to happiness . I am facing an issue though because Nietzsche breaks down morality into tiny pieces and makes one think well if being virtuous means being Moral then what is being Moral ? Is being Moral doing only what we think is moral or does it have a literal meaning ? I guess I have to make a decision based on my personal views . I would choose Socrates because I favor him more as a person and what he stood for .but far as who makes me think more critically I would have to say Nietzche because he really made me see that we are controlled by our social norms . Many of us are worried about whos watching ? , what will people think if I did this or that? Will my religion still accept me if I did this or didn't do this? People are always following the herd or the many like Nietzche says .I admire an individual who is not afraid to stand on his own and be alone . I admire an individual who isn't afraid to not fit in and not fit in , because it is those individuals who in my opinion form new ideas and make our world the way it is today . Without those noble ones we would not have many of the things we have today . If they were just following the herd they would not be able to branch off and provide the world with creativity . In my opinion being part of a herd provides little to no benefit and I would agree with Nietzche that it would even make you a weak person and stop one from reaching their full potential . We need those Noble ones in our world today where the herd morality is still very much alive . This is in a sense a monkey see monkey do kind of world that we live in and if you stand out a little bit you may be perceived as bad , ugly , unjust , unkind , or even evil . It's those fearless ones who I truly admire and it's those like Nietzche who can think outside of the box and ask why this and why that? In my opinion it is important to question everything and everyone .you should always ask why or would you just rather blindly follow ? Or would you like to know where you are being lead?

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Socrates and Pericles

Athens is known to have lived its most glorious times under the reign of Pericles. He was the first politician to create a democratic Athens. He molded Athens into an empire that became famous for its diversity in culture. Socrates, was viewed by many Greeks to be a great philosopher, served as a questioner of Athens. He questioned everything involving politics, knowledge, military, and social status. Living under the rule of Pericles, Socrates questioned his governing among the Athenian people. Unlike Pericles, Socrates believed that a democracy corrupted Athens and as he stated, we have elected many sweet shop owners, and very few doctors thus believing that democracy was in fact a downfall for Athens. Pericles was born in Athens to an aristocratic family whose father was a military leader and whose mother was a member of an elite family. Given that he was born into this type of family, he received a very well-rounded education in philosophy and music. As a teenager, he was left a great fortune by his family in which he used to succeed into politics. In young adulthood, he had already created a reputation for himself in the political field. As a politician, he organized a democratic institution, and became ruler of Athens. He held his pace as ruler until his death in 429 BC. Socrates was a son to a stone mason and a midwife. He did not come from an elite family as Pericles did however he still received a decent education and took on his father's craft as a stoner mason. Later in his life, he began to devote himself to philosophy. Socrates believed that philosophy gave the ability to create a well-established society. He wanted to establish a system unlike democracy that was based on human reason. In many of his writings he explained that the true happiness of a person comes from their ability to make reason. During a transition in Socrates' life, he asked an oracle who the wisest man was. The oracle replied saying that there is no wiser man than Socrates. This led Socrates onto a journey to find someone wiser than him because he did not believe the oracle's words to be true. Through questioning and reason, he created havoc among politician in Athens. They began to believe that he was corrupting the minds of the youth. However, his only mission was to bring reason to them instead of following the democracy that Pericles had built. In Plato, Apology of Socrates, Socrates is put on trial which he is accused by Meletus and Anytus with impiety and corruption of the youth. In this apology, Socrates explained that he is not apologetic towards anyone or sorry for his actions. Socrates goes on to explain how he is not responsible for the corruption of youth but in fact it is the backwards politicians who believe in the democracy who are. He explained to the court, When I say that I am given to you by God, the proof of my mission is this:Reflecting that I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live, I did not go where I could do no good to you or to myself; but where I could do the greatest good privately to every one of you, thither I went, and sought to persuade every man among you that he must look to himself, and seek virtue and wisdom before he looks to his private interests of the state; and that this should be the order which he observes in all his actions Socrates' had no interest in keeping his message private. He made it clear in public and private that the democracy in Athens was not virtuous. He told the people of Athens that it is better to give individuals who are educated and knowledgeable the right to vote rather than individuals who are not. He supported his message with an imaginary election debate between a sweet shop owner and a doctor. In his analogy, he stated that a sweet shop owner will tell you, Look, this person here has worked many evils on you, he hurts you, gives you bitter potions and tells you not to eat and drink whatever you like. He'll never serve you feasts of many and varied pleasant things like I will. Then he asked to consider the audiences response, Do you think the doctor would be able to reply effectively? The true answer- ?I cause you trouble, and go against your desires in order to help you' would cause an uproar among the voters, don't you think? His message to the people of Athens on democracy is that they have elected many sweet shop owners, and very few doctors. For this he was put on trial for corrupting the youth and deterring their view on democracy. He insisted that individuals who think of issues rationally should be able to vote. Socrates wanted to remind Athenians about their history with demagogues. Giving common people who are uneducated in certain issues and who are influenced by politicians like Pericles, Athens would again fall into demagoguery. His last words, I would rather die haven spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live. Thus, his view on democracy is unlike Pericles who believed that every citizen by birthright should be given the chance to vote in elections. Pericles was elected as ruler of Athens because of his ability, integrity, and rank. Whenever Athens fell into despair he found a way to heighten spirits amongst Athenians. He reduced anger between the rich and the poor by giving the right to vote to every citizen of Athens because he believed everyone deserved to have a say in politics. In Pericles' Funeral Oration, Pericles spoke valiantly in regard to the war heroes who died for Athens. He stated that because of their bravery and love for Athens, that they have risen to become a great empire. He continued to speak about how proud he is of the democratic state, in which the actions of the citizens have helped Athens flourish; he continues, We do not copy our neighbors, but are an example to thembut while the law secures equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as a reward of merit. In this statement, he wishes to remind Athenians that they deserve the right to vote and to voice their opinions through action. To Pericles, democracy allows men to act as they wish without fear or judgement of others as long as they act within the confines of the law. He valued the equality that democracy offered to Athenians despite class considerations. Socrates believed that intellectuals who are fit to be politicians should vote in a democracy because they have more experience and knowledge in the field. Pericles however, believed that with the voices and opinions of citizens, Athens was able to flourish. Though Socrates and Pericles have different views on what a democracy should be, they both cared deeply about Athens and its citizens.

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The Dust Bowl Known as the Dirty 30’s

The Dust Bowl also known as the dirty 30's started in the 1930. It was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the U.S. and the soil of the American and Canadian prairies during the 30's. Severe drought and a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion caused the event. Great black clouds of dust began to cover the sun. Giant dust storms swallowed large cities and towns..The biggest impact of the Dust Bowl was the southern plains. The northern plains weren't so badly affected. But the drought dust and agricultural decline were felt there as well. In 1930 weather patterns began to shift over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The pacific became cooler than normal and the atlantic became warmer than normal. When they combined they weakened and changed the direction of the jet stream. The air usually carries moistures over the land but it didn't reach the great plains and severe drought was brought. My great grandfather lived in Midwest Oklahoma at the time of this event. The only time i met him is when i was a baby and then he past away. He was a rancher and was forced out of his home due to the Dust bowl. He moved to Mississippi with my great grandmother and his one son my grandfather they eventually moved back to Oklahoma when my grandfather was out of high school and he continued to be a rancher and my grandfather moved to Duncan Oklahoma While building a house and owning his own business and had my father and aunt my great grandfather told my dad and aunt all about the Dust bowl and eventually retired and deer hunted and continued to live out his days on the ranch. The dust bowl caused many ranchers and farmers to leave their homes and travel until they could find new work and build a new life. This impacted my life because i could be living in another state and not be in Oklahoma. And that would be bad because i kinda like it here.

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The Dust Bowl Known as the Dirty 30’s

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