Thursday, September 19, 2019
European Settlement of the Americas â⬠The True Story :: American America History
European Settlement of the Americas ââ¬â The True Story One of the most important events in the history of the last half millennium is the European "discovery" of the Americas. The traditional story of the contact explains the Europeans' eventual success by crediting the superior technology and military prowess of the Europeans. If the traditional story mentions luck at all, it is in explaining the Europeans' good fortune at finding such a sparsely populated "pristine" continent. While it is true that European ship technology was more sophisticated than that of the native peoples of the Americas, European conquering and exploration of the Americas was as much the result of three non-technological factors as of the sophistication of European ship technology. The first was Europe's relative backwardness in comparison to the Middle and Far East, the second was macro-evolutionary factors such as geography and relative lack of natural resources, and the third was plain dumb luck. Europe's biggest motivation for westward exploration was a desire to access trade with the Far East. It was the continent's relative backwardness that prevented their achieving this access through eastward movement. The land route to the Indies was blocked because of European inability to compete with the Turks, whose Ottoman Empire stretched across the main trade routes. Carlo Cippola remarks on the irony that as Europeans were expanding on the sea, "on her eastern border she was spiritlessly retreating under the pressure of the Turkish forces." (Note 1) As a result, European nations who wanted the ability to trade with China and the rest of the Indies for goods such as silk and spices were forced to find another route, since they were not strong enough militarily to fight the Turks on land and gain access through the Middle East. The second factor of backwardness that spurred westward exploration was the fragmented nature of Europe's political system. Because the continent was home to many separate and competing nation states, each country was forced to find its own route. This competition also increased the desire for Eastern goods, since these goods represented wealth and thus the ability to pay for expensive wars and triumph over neighboring states. If the European continent had been one united body politically, the desire for Eastern goods might have been less, and westward exploration of the Americas might never have occurred since all of Europe could have benefited from the Portuguese route to the Indies around Africa.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Severe Burns: Neutrophil and Complement Levels Essay -- Medicine
Mortality rate in burn patients continues at a steady 5-10%, 75% of those deaths are related to sepsis (2). In order to understand why, we must elucidate the nature of the innate immune system in these patients. The innate immune system is the first line defense versus pathogens from the outside world. Burn patients receive a double hit to their first line defenses due to the nature of thermal injury to tissue. The skin barrier is breached, the inflammation begins, and though the numbers of neutrophils increases substantially in response to the elevations in compliment activation at the tissue level (1), it seems that the behavior of these neutrophils is aberrant (2). Neutrophils in burn patients were found to be impaired in their ability to adhere, phagocytose, and kill off pathogens via the oxidative burst. Additionally, they were found to have decreased migration speed with abnormal directionality in response to chemoattractants (2). One study suggested that neutrophils in burn pa tients became desensitized to C5a. In the rich inflammatory cytokine milieu, which develops after a severe burn, complement levels increase dramatically, but neutrophils downregulate their C5a receptors and their migratory directional speed decreases (3). This is the perfect situation for the wandering pathogen to invade and sneak past the bodyââ¬â¢s defenses in the chaos of a massive breach in security. Three studies are presented here to describe the relationship between complement and neutrophils in the severely burned patient. Van de Goot et al. demonstrated that plasma complement levels initially decreased, then rose sharply and stayed elevated for months afterward. Complement levels correlated with the severity of the burn wound and subsequent sc... ...enter around how to control the inflammatory response to the thermal injury such that wound healing occurs more quickly with less scarring, while preserving the patientsââ¬â¢ ability to fight infectious agents with normal neutrophil responses. Works Cited 1. Van de Goot et al. Acute Inflammation is Persistent Locally in Burn Wounds: A Pivotal Role for Complement and C-Reactive Protein. Journal of Burn Care and Research 2009; 30:274-280. 2. Butler KL, Ambravaneswaran V, Agrawal N, Bilodeau M, Toner M, et al. (2010) Burn Injury Reduces Neutrophil Directional Migration Speed in Microfluidic Devices. PLoS ONE 5(7): e11921. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011921 3. Solomkin JS, Nelson RD, Chenoweth DE, Solem LD, Simmons RL. Regulation of Neutrophil Migratory Function in Burn Injury by Complement Activation Products. Annals of Surgery 1984; Vol 200 No. 6: 742-746.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Home Depot â⬠Executive Summary Essay
The Home Depot (Ticker: HD) is the worldââ¬â¢s largest home-improvement retailer along with being an American Fortune 50 company. The company operates 2,259 retail building supply/home improvement ââ¬Å"warehouseâ⬠type stores all across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Home Depot has over 340,000 team members and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The average store size is just over 100,000 square feet along with an additional 24,000 square feet set aside for seasonal gardening. Target Group The Home Depotââ¬â¢s two main customers are at home ââ¬Å"do-it-yourselfersâ⬠and contractors. The main products and services offered help solve the wants and needs of customers involved with home construction and maintenance, renovation and remodeling. Competitive Environment The competitive environment for the home-improvement industry is broken into three major players: The Home Depot, Loweââ¬â¢s and local retailers. They compete with local retailers that specialize in nearly every product and service offering. The Home Depot and Loweââ¬â¢s are both ââ¬Å"all offeringsâ⬠locations spread throughout North America. Over the past decade Home Depot was stickily focused on expanding the store count and business lines whereas Loweââ¬â¢s was focused on store count growth and perfecting their supply chain and internal technology. Past Growth Over the past 13 years The Home Depot has more than doubled its store footprint. It was aided by two major factors; First being that the home improvement and building industries were growing quickly providing a constant demand for product. Second, funding was easy to receive and it was relatively cheap because of low interest rates. Management began to ââ¬Å"empire buildâ⬠with their now sold professional supply business (now known as HD Supply) and cut costs in their big box stores to help reduce costs. With the reduction of cost came the reduction in customer satisfaction. Return to Retail Noticing that customer satisfaction rating had severely slipped because of stock outs and poor team member engagement with the customer a new initiative was proposed. Marvin Ellison, Executive Vice President, U.S. Stores, proposed the ââ¬Å"FIRST Relaunchâ⬠. The program focuses on putting the customers first, by ââ¬Å"Do(ing) the unexpectedâ⬠. The operational plan focused on customer service, being in stock on all products and creating a better store appearance (inside the physical store and within the community). In efforts to focus on customer service, more employees were hired and trained. Upper management also equipped each team member with more technology (PDAââ¬â¢s, walkie talkies, etc). There was a companywide initiative to integrate Hispanic merchandise, marketing and staffing. Home Depot switched to a regional distribution system while upgrading their internal information technology infrastructure to better keep storesââ¬â¢ inventory stocked properly. This major overhaul materialized into The Home Depotââ¬â¢s stock outs dramatically decreasing. To create a stronger public image, Home Depot created The Home Depot Foundation which helps with community home building, disaster relief and veteran job placement assistance. These initiatives have greatly improved customer satisfaction and recognition in the community by increasing ratings from 55% to 75% (2008 to 2012). Current Economic cycle Home Depot has clearly set itself up to be successful in the recent upswing in the housing markets. Their technology upgrade has proven to be successful in keeping stores stocked and employees more engaged with helping the customers. Management has responded to the late spring, summer, and early fall build up in construction needs by resorting to hiring part time and seasonal workers while still giving them the proper training to satisfy the customer. Management The current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Blake, is often credited with the companyââ¬â¢s turnaround ever since taking the helm. He sold the professional supply business (now known as HD Supply) to help the company focus on their core competencies. Blake also helped implement the customer first initiatives. All while cutting his own pay and switching hisà future pay to stock and options, which are based on The Home Depotââ¬â¢s performance. Financial Position Since Home Depot has slowed their store expansions, cash reserves have grown to match total debt due in 5 years. Sales have increased steadily since the industry lows in 2008. Cash from operations have also steadily increased to match market high 2006-07 levels. A large portion of the cash flow each year has been focused toward share repurchases and steadily increasing their yearly shareholder dividends. Lending Risks The Home Depot is in the heart of an uncertain housing environment. The sales and financial results each year are closely tied to the consumer spending money on construction and housing maintenance. If the economic environment were to deteriorate it is likely many consumers would hold off on simple maintenance projects, which is currently the bulk of store sales. The housing market has seemingly bottomed but it still remains unclear to if the recent increase in housing sales is going to last.
Monday, September 16, 2019
A Fine Balance: Characters
4 Characters: Dina, Ishvar, Om, Maneck. Ishvar is Om's nephew. Dina is widowed. Maneck college student. Dina Shroff, who was raised by her strict brother after her father died she meets Rustom Dalal. The couple fall in love and marry, but on their third wedding anniversary Rustom is killed in a bicycle accident, leaving Dina alone. Rustomââ¬â¢s aunt teaches Dina to sew her eyesight begins to fail, so she is forced to find another way to make money Her friend Zenobia introduces her to Mrs Gupta, who offers her some tailoring piece work She hires Ishvar Darji and his nephew Omprakash, originally from a small village, to do the work. Ishvarââ¬â¢s father wanted a better life for his sons and so sent them to a neighbouring town to learn to be tailors They became the apprentices of Muslim tailor Ashraf Ishvar was seventeen, racial hatred of Muslims reached boiling point and any homes or shops belonging to Muslims were burnt to the ground Ishvar and his brother Narayan saved Ashrafââ¬â¢s shop by claiming it belonged to them, leaving Ashraf forever in their debt. Narayan returned to the village and set up a successful tailor business for lower caste people He married and had a son. His business was very successful and it gave him enough money to build a proper house All was going well until Narayan discovered that the elections were being fixed by Thakur Dharamsi, a powerful land owner Narayan confronted Thakur, who had him tortured Not satisfied with just killing Narayan, Thakur decided to punish his whole family. Narayanââ¬â¢s wife, daughters and parents were tied up and burnt alive in their home. Omprakesh and Ishvar were the only ones to escape they continued working in their tailor shop, but were forced out of business when a ready-made clothing shop opened in the town. Maneck. He grew up in a mountain village, where his father was the proud owner of the local village store and inventor of a popular drink, Kohlah Cola Maneck was sent to college and became good friends with the student president, Avinash Avinash led an uprising against the conditions and became involved in politics When the Emergency was declared, Avinash had to go into hiding, leaving Maneck alone His mother then arranged for him to move in with Dina Dalal The four are quite happy for almost a year, but then the Emergency starts to impact their lives. The tailorââ¬â¢s shack is demolished in a government beautification program, forcing them to live on the streets After two months they bribe their way out and persuade Dina to let them move in with her. Ishvar decides it is time for Om to find a wife, so they return to Ashraf's town There they bump into Thakur, who recognises the pair Ashraf is beaten to death and Ishvar and Om are given compulsory vasectomies Thakur visits them as they are recovering from the operation and arranges on a medical pretext to have Om's testicles removed. Ishvarââ¬â¢s legs become infected and have to be amputated. Maneck finishes his college course and returns home His fatherââ¬â¢s business is failing due to cheap imports of commercial soda, and Maneck decides to leave, taking a job in the Middle East. Dina finds herself all alone. A Beggarmaster who had been protecting her from her landlord's bailiffs is murdered, leaving her vulnerable; she reluctantly returns to live with her brother. Eight years later, Maneck returns home for his fatherââ¬â¢s funeral. Maneck reads some old newspapers and discovers that Avinash was found dead by the side of a railway track and Avinashââ¬â¢s three teenage sisters hanged themselves because their parents could not afford their wedding dowries. Maneck decides to visit Dina She explains that Ishvar lost his legs and that the tailors are now beggars Maneck leaves Dinaââ¬â¢s house, pretending not to recognize the tailors in the street, and heads for the railway station where he steps in front of a train.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Islam Essay
Field Study Research Karen Edmonds-Leach Professor Jonathan Pedrone REL212: World Religions-Summer September 4, 2011 Islam: Field Study Research After interviewing a member of the Islamic faith, I came to the realization that there are very many misconceptions about the religion of Islam and that these misconceptions are very hurtful, disrespectful, and inhumane. In this paper, I will first discuss several misconceptions that I had about the Islamic faith. I will then analyze how my prior understanding about the religion was altered through interviewing a member of the Islamic faith. Next, I will discuss my beliefs on misconceptions about other peopleââ¬â¢s religion being common or not. Lastly, I will recommend steps that can be taken to minimize misconceptions people have about religions that are not their own. I had many misconceptions about Islam before speaking with a member of the religion. The first was that Islam oppresses women. When I thought about women in Islam, I thought of the image of a woman wearing a veil, and other heavy, dark clothing, where no skin would be visible, even in the hot summer months. I thought about how women were forced to stay home, and were not allowed to drive vehicles. I also believed that the Muslimââ¬â¢s God, Allah, was not the same as the God in Christianity, and was a false god. I believed that Muslims worshipped Muhammad, and that Muhammad and Allah were the same thing. I did not think that Muslims believed in Jesus Christ. I also thought that Muslim men all married multiple wives. I thought that polygamy was something that was widely practiced in Islam, and was somewhat of a requirement. For those men who married one wife, I believed that they were merely ââ¬Å"Americanizedâ⬠. Another misconception I had was that all Muslims were Arabs. Not only did I think they were all Arabs, but I thought that being a Muslim and an Arab was the same thing. Lastly, just as the cross is something like a symbol of Christianity, I believed that the crescent and the star was the symbol of Islam. I had all of these misconceptions about Islam, as many other people who practice religions outside of Islam do, but speaking with a Muslim quickly changed my mind about these harsh misconceptions. Each one of my misconceptions about Islam count toward my overall understanding of the religion. My prior understanding was completely altered through my encounter with the Muslim woman I interviewed. I believed it would be a great idea to talk to a woman about how women are suppressed in Islam. I interviewed a friend of mine, named Kiran Masood. She was born and raised in the Islam religion, and continues to practice it today. She informed me that this is not necessarily the case. She stated that some Muslim countries do have laws that oppress women, but this practice does not come from Islam itself. Masood stated, ââ¬Å"countries that have laws against women created these laws themselves. They may say that their basis is from the Quââ¬â¢ran, but the Quââ¬â¢ran does not suggest any oppression womenâ⬠(Masood). Though this is true, there are some social constructions in Islam, where women and men are given different roles and equity. This is something that all religions accept, and is not a surprise to me in Islam. In addition, another common misconception is that a woman can be forced to marry against her will, and this is not the case at all. Masood informed me that ââ¬Å"no one can force a Muslim girl to marry someone she does not want to marry; her parents may suggest she marry a suitable man, but by no means is this girl forced to marry someone that she may not want to marryâ⬠(Masood). I was also informed that divorce is not common, and it is used as a last resort. Masood also quickly refuted my second misconception, that Allah is a different God. ââ¬Å"Allah is not a different God; Allah is simply the Arabic word for Godâ⬠(Masood) which is something that I was not aware of. Allah is the same God worshipped by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. The one difference in Islam and Christianity is that Muslims believe the God is the one and only. The religion does not accept Jesus as Godââ¬â¢s son, and believes that He has no human-like attributions. In Christianity, Jesus is accepted as Godââ¬â¢s son and was basically God in flesh when He was on earth. Also, Muslims do not worship Muhammad, as I was lead to believe. Muhammad was chosen to deliver messages, but is not the founder of Islam, and Muslims do not worship him, though they do honor him and respect him, as they do Jesus, Moses, Adam, and Noah (the other prophets of the Word). My third misconception, that all Muslim men marry multiple women, also came to be false. Masood informed me that polygamy, marrying multiple spouses, is not encouraged in Islam, and is not mandatory. She stated, ââ¬Å"In the religion of Islam, marrying multiple women is permissible, but is not something that the religion requiresâ⬠(Masood). If a man decides to marry multiple women, these women cannot be forced into it, meaning if they do not want to marry a man with other wives, then she does not have to. My fourth misconception was that Muslims and Arabs are the same thing. Masood simply told me that the two are different, but I decided to do more research on the subject. There are about 1. 2 billion Muslims in the world. Muslims reside in a variety of places, including Nigeria, the Philippines, and of course, the United States. Muslims also represent many races, cultures, and nationalities. About 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world, primarily in Indonesia (Isseroff). This is far from 100% of Muslims. Lastly, I believed that the crescent and star was the symbol of Islam, which is not the case. In the days of the Prophet Mohammed, Muslims did not have a symbol; instead, they used solid-colored flags. The Turks in fact introduced the crescent as a symbol. It was adopted due to the Ottoman Empireââ¬â¢s conquest of Constantinople. In turn, all of my beliefs about Islam turned out to be false. In fact, some of them turned out to be the complete opposite. I believe that misconceptions about other peopleââ¬â¢s religion are extremely common. No matter what religion someone practices, they always have certain beliefs about other peopleââ¬â¢s religions. This is not to say that people disrespect other peopleââ¬â¢s religions, but they simply have their own beliefs towards them. Most times, we do not know anything about other peopleââ¬â¢s religions. We are so set in our own mindset that the religion we practice is the only correct religion; that we fail to learn anything about other religions in the world. Because we lack knowledge of other religions, we use stereotypes and misconceptions to justify why we do not agree with the other religionsââ¬â¢ practices. Even those who do not practice any religion, I believe they use stereotypes and misconceptions about all religions, because those people are so fixed in their own belief that no religion is true, and that they all are false. It is important for people of all religions to have an understanding of othersââ¬â¢ religions, because sometimes, people have a lot more in common than they think they do. For example, I thought that my own religion, Christianity, was completely different from Islam, but in reality, the two religions share many similarities. I was surprised at the information I learned from Kiran Masood, and it was a shock that Islam has a lot of parallels to Christianity. Every religion has certain misconceptions. In this paper, I analyzed the misconceptions of Islam, but Christianity and other religions have misconceptions as well. We always are so quick to judge others that are different from us, but instead we should be interested in learning new things about other religions. The purpose of this is not to persuade someone to convert to a different religion, but to just be enlightened and educated about the different religions that exist in our society. One step that could be taken to minimize misconceptions people have about religions not their own is for people to let their guards down and to be more accepting to peopleââ¬â¢s differences. Not everyone will have the same beliefs, but instead of stereotyping and discriminating against other religions, we can learn from each other. Just having knowledge of new things is prideful, and is an asset that we all should have. If we take the time to learn about other peopleââ¬â¢s beliefs, these misconceptions would not exist. We should educate ourselves, instead of jumping to conclusions. One way I like to think about this is that I do not like when people of different religions criticize and stereotype against my own religion, Christianity. I wish that people would not be so quick to speak negatively about Christianity, because most times, they do not know what they are truly talking about. They jump to conclusions, and did not take the time to learn the truth behind Christianity. Because I have such strong feelings about this, I should in turn not treat other religions this way, since I know how it feels. I should take the time to educate myself about different religions. Though it will not cause me to convert from Christianity, just having basic knowledge about other religions can help me make a better judgment on certain topics. No one can make judgments or participate in a debate if they have not done research on the subject. Interviewing my friend Kiran Masood gave me a lot of enlightenment. I learned so much about the religion of Islam that I did not previously know. Though we have known each other for a while, I never thought to learn more about the religion she practices. I found it to be a rewarding experience, and learning about different religions is something that I will continue to practice. It is important for us to understand that we all have differences, whether it is race, culture, ethnic background, economic status, or religion. Amongst all these differences are many similarities between us. Instead of always focusing on the differences that separate us, we should look at the similarities that bring us together. Our differences make us special, and our similarities give us things in common. Learning about peopleââ¬â¢s differences is important because it is what makes that person unique. Though we all have a variety of differences, one thing we have in common is we all are human beings with feelings and beliefs. We should all value our beliefs, and be open to learning about othersââ¬â¢ beliefs as well. References Isseroff, A. (n. d. ). A Concise History of Islam and the Arabs. Middle East: MidEastWeb. Retrieved September 1, 2011, from http://www. mideastweb. org/islamhistory. htm. Fisher, M. P. , & Adler, J. A. (2011). Living Religions (8th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, N. J. : Pearson Prentice Hall.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Digital Fortress Chapter 85-87
Chapter 85 Greg Hale lay curled on the Node 3 floor. Strathmore and Susan had just dragged him across Crypto and bound his hands and feet with twelve-gauge printer cable from the Node 3 laser-printers. Susan couldn't get over the artful maneuver the commander had just executed. He faked the call! Somehow Strathmore had captured Hale, saved Susan, and bought himself the time needed to rewrite Digital Fortress. Susan eyed the bound cryptographer uneasily. Hale was breathing heavily. Strathmore sat on the couch with the Berretta propped awkwardly in his lap. Susan returned her attention to Hale's terminal and continued her random-string search. Her fourth string search ran its course and came up empty. ââ¬Å"Still no luck.â⬠She sighed. ââ¬Å"We may need to wait for David to find Tankado's copy.â⬠Strathmore gave her a disapproving look. ââ¬Å"If David fails, and Tankado's key falls into the wrong handsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Strathmore didn't need to finish. Susan understood. Until the Digital Fortress file on the Internet had been replaced with Strathmore's modified version, Tankado's pass-key was dangerous. ââ¬Å"After we make the switch,â⬠Strathmore added, ââ¬Å"I don't care how many pass-keys are floating around; the more the merrier.â⬠He motioned for her to continue searching. ââ¬Å"But until then, we're playing beat-the-clock.â⬠Susan opened her mouth to acknowledge, but her words were drowned out by a sudden deafening blare. The silence of Crypto was shattered by a warning horn from the sublevels. Susan and Strathmore exchanged startled looks. ââ¬Å"What's that?â⬠Susan yelled, timing her question between the intermittent bursts. ââ¬Å"TRANSLTR!â⬠Strathmore called back, looking troubled. ââ¬Å"It's too hot! Maybe Hale was right about the aux power not pulling enough freon.â⬠ââ¬Å"What about the auto-abort?â⬠Strathmore thought a moment, then yelled, ââ¬Å"Something must have shorted.â⬠A yellow siren light spun above the Crypto floor and swept a pulsating glare across his face. ââ¬Å"You better abort!â⬠Susan called. Strathmore nodded. There was no telling what would happen if three million silicon processors overheated and decided to ignite. Strathmore needed to get upstairs to his terminal and abort the Digital Fortress run-particularly before anyone outside of Crypto noticed the trouble and decided to send in the cavalry. Strathmore shot a glance at the still-unconscious Hale. He laid the Berretta on a table near Susan and yelled over the sirens, ââ¬Å"Be right back!â⬠As he disappeared through the hole in the Node 3 wall, Strathmore called over his shoulder, ââ¬Å"And find me that pass-key!â⬠Susan eyed the results of her unproductive pass-key search and hoped Strathmore would hurry up and abort. The noise and lights in Crypto felt like a missile launch. On the floor, Hale began to stir. With each blast of the horn, he winced. Susan surprised herself by grabbing the Berretta. Hale opened his eyes to Susan Fletcher standing over him with the gun leveled at his crotch. ââ¬Å"Where's the pass-key?â⬠Susan demanded. Hale was having trouble getting his bearings. ââ¬Å"Wh-what happened?â⬠ââ¬Å"You blew it, that's what happened. Now, where's the passkey?â⬠Hale tried to move his arms but realized he was tied. His face became taut with panic. ââ¬Å"Let me go!â⬠ââ¬Å"I need the pass-key,â⬠Susan repeated. ââ¬Å"I don't have it! Let me go!â⬠Hale tried to getup. He could barely roll over. Susan yelled between blasts of the horn. ââ¬Å"You're North Dakota, and Ensei Tankado gave you a copy of his key. I need it now!â⬠ââ¬Å"You're crazy!â⬠Hale gasped. ââ¬Å"I'm not North Dakota!â⬠He struggled unsuccessfully to free himself. Susan charged angrily. ââ¬Å"Don't lie to me. Why the hell is all of North Dakota's mail in your account?â⬠ââ¬Å"I told you before!â⬠Hale pleaded as the horns blared on. ââ¬Å"I snooped Strathmore! That E-mail in my account was mail I copied out of Strathmore's account-E-mail COMINT stole from Tankado!â⬠ââ¬Å"Bull! You could never snoop the commander's account!â⬠ââ¬Å"You don't understand!â⬠Hale yelled. ââ¬Å"There was already a tap on Strathmore's account!â⬠Hale delivered his words in short bursts between the sirens. ââ¬Å"Someone else put the tap there. I think it was Director Fontaine! I just piggybacked! You've got to believe me! That's how I found out about his plan to rewrite Digital Fortress! I've been reading Strathmore's brainstorms!â⬠Brain Storms? Susan paused. Strathmore had undoubtedly outlined his plans for Digital Fortress using his BrainStorm software. If anyone had snooped the commander's account, all the information would have been availableâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Rewriting Digital Fortress is sick!â⬠Hale cried. ââ¬Å"You know damn well what it implies-total NSA access!â⬠The sirens blasted, drowning him out, but Hale was possessed. ââ¬Å"You think we're ready for that responsibility? You think anyone is? It's fucking shortsighted! You say our government has the people's best interests at heart? Great! But what happens when some future government doesn't have our best interests at heart! This technology is forever!â⬠Susan could barely hear him; the noise in Crypto was deafening. Hale struggled to get free. He looked Susan in the eye and kept yelling. ââ¬Å"How the hell do civilians defend themselves against a police state when the guy at the top has access to all their lines of communication? How do they plan a revolt?â⬠Susan had heard this argument many times. The future-governments argument was a stock EFF complaint. ââ¬Å"Strathmore had to be stopped!â⬠Hale screamed as the sirens blasted. ââ¬Å"I swore I'd do it. That's what I've been doing here all day-watching his account, waiting for him to make his move so I could record the switch in progress. I needed proof-evidence that he'd written in a back door. That's why I copied all his E-mail into my account. It was evidence that he'd been watching Digital Fortress. I planned to go to the press with the information.â⬠Susan's heart skipped. Had she heard correctly? Suddenly this did sound like Greg Hale. Was it possible? If Hale had known about Strathmore's plan to release a tainted version of Digital Fortress, he could wait until the whole world was using it and then drop his bombshell-complete with proof! Susan imagined the headlines: Cryptographer Greg Hale unveils secret U.S. plan to control global information! Was it Skipjack all over? Uncovering an NSA back door again would make Greg Hale famous beyond his wildest dreams. It would also sink the NSA. She suddenly found herself wondering if maybe Hale was telling the truth. No! she decided. Of course not! Hale continued to plead. ââ¬Å"I aborted your tracer because I thought you were looking for me! I thought you suspected Strathmore was being snooped! I didn't want you to find the leak and trace it back to me!â⬠It was plausible but unlikely. ââ¬Å"Then why'd you kill Chartrukian?â⬠Susan snapped. ââ¬Å"I didn't!â⬠Hale screamed over the noise. ââ¬Å"Strathmore was the one who pushed him! I saw the whole thing from downstairs! Chartrukian was about to call the Sys-Secs and ruin Strathmore's plans for the back door!â⬠Hale's good, Susan thought. He's got an angle for everything. ââ¬Å"Let me go!â⬠Hale begged. ââ¬Å"I didn't do anything!â⬠ââ¬Å"Didn't do anything?â⬠Susan shouted, wondering what was taking Strathmore so long. ââ¬Å"You and Tankado were holding the NSA hostage. At least until you double-crossed him. Tell me,â⬠she pressed, ââ¬Å"did Tankado really die of a heart attack, or did you have one of your buddies take him out?â⬠ââ¬Å"You're so blind!â⬠Hale yelled. ââ¬Å"Can't you see I'm not involved? Untie me! Before Security gets here!â⬠ââ¬Å"Security's not coming,â⬠she snapped flatly. Hale turned white. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Strathmore faked the phone call.â⬠Hale's eyes went wide. He seemed momentarily paralyzed. Then he began writhing fiercely. ââ¬Å"Strathmore'll kill me! I know he will! I know too much!â⬠ââ¬Å"Easy, Greg.â⬠The sirens blared as Hale yelled out, ââ¬Å"But I'm innocent!â⬠ââ¬Å"You're lying! And I have proof!â⬠Susan strode around the ring of terminals. ââ¬Å"Remember that tracer you aborted?â⬠she asked, arriving at her own terminal. ââ¬Å"I sent it again! Shall we see if it's back yet?â⬠Sure enough, on Susan's screen, a blinking icon alerted her that her tracer had returned. She palmed her mouse and opened the message. This data will seal Hale's fate, she thought. Hale is North Dakota. The databox opened. Hale is ââ¬â Susan stopped. The tracer materialized, and Susan stood in stunned silence. There had to be some mistake; the tracer had fingered someone else-a most unlikely person. Susan steadied herself on the terminal and reread the databox before her. It was the same information Strathmore said he'd received when he ran the tracer! Susan had figured Strathmore had made a mistake, but she knew she'd configured the tracer perfectly. And yet the information on the screen was unthinkable: NDAKOTA = [email protected] ââ¬Å"ET?â⬠Susan demanded, her head swimming. ââ¬Å"Ensei Tankado is North Dakota?â⬠It was inconceivable. If the data was correct, Tankado and his partner were the same person. Susan's thoughts were suddenly disconnected. She wished the blaring horn would stop. Why doesn't Strathmore turn that damn thing off? Hale twisted on the floor, straining to see Susan. ââ¬Å"What does it say? Tell me!â⬠Susan blocked out Hale and the chaos around her. Ensei Tankado is North Dakotaâ⬠¦. She reshuffled the pieces trying to make them fit. If Tankado was North Dakota, then he was sending E-mail to himselfâ⬠¦ which meant North Dakota didn't exist. Tankado's partner was a hoax. North Dakota is a ghost, she said to herself. Smoke and mirrors. The ploy was a brilliant one. Apparently Strathmore had been watching only one side of a tennis match. Since the ball kept coming back, he assumed there was someone on the other side of the net. But Tankado had been playing against a wall. He had been proclaiming the virtues of Digital Fortress in E-mail he'd sent to himself. He had written letters, sent them to an anonymous remailer, and a few hours later, the remailer had sent them right back to him. Now, Susan realized, it was all so obvious. Tankado had wanted the commander to snoop himâ⬠¦ he'd wanted him to read the E-mail. Ensei Tankado had created an imaginary insurance policy without ever having to trust another soul with his pass-key. Of course, to make the whole farce seem authentic, Tankado had used a secret accountâ⬠¦ just secret enough to allay any suspicions that the whole thing was a setup. Tankado was his own partner. North Dakota did not exist. Ensei Tankado was a one-man show. A one-man show. A terrifying thought gripped Susan. Tankado could have used his fake correspondence to convince Strathmore of just about anything. She remembered her first reaction when Strathmore told her about the unbreakable algorithm. She'd sworn it was impossible. The unsettling potential of the situation settled hard in Susan's stomach. What proof did they actually have that Tankado had really created Digital Fortress? Only a lot of hype in his E-mail. And of courseâ⬠¦ TRANSLTR. The computer had been locked in an endless loop for almost twenty hours. Susan knew, however, that there were other programs that could keep TRANSLTR busy that long, programs far easier to create than an unbreakable algorithm. Viruses. The chill swept across her body. But how could a virus get into TRANSLTR? Like a voice from the grave, Phil Chartrukian gave the answer. Strathmore bypassed Gauntlet! In a sickening revelation, Susan grasped the truth. Strathmore had downloaded Tankado's Digital Fortress file and tried to send it into TRANSLTR to break it. But Gauntlet had rejected the file because it contained dangerous mutation strings. Normally Strathmore would have been concerned, but he had seen Tankado's E-mail-Mutation strings are the trick! Convinced Digital Fortress was safe to load, Strathmore bypassed Gauntlet's filters and sent the file into TRANSLTR. Susan could barely speak. ââ¬Å"There is no Digital Fortress,â⬠she choked as the sirens blared on. Slowly, weakly, she leaned against her terminal. Tankado had gone fishing for foolsâ⬠¦ and the NSA had taken the bait. Then, from upstairs, came a long cry of anguish. It was Strathmore. Chapter 86 Trevor Strathmore was hunched at his desk when Susan arrived breathless at his door. His head was down, his sweaty head glistening in the light of his monitor. The horns on the sublevels blared. Susan raced over to his desk. ââ¬Å"Commander?â⬠Strathmore didn't move. ââ¬Å"Commander! We've got to shut down TRANSLTR! We've got a-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"He got us,â⬠Strathmore said without looking up. ââ¬Å"Tankado fooled us allâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She could tell by the tone of his voice he understood. All of Tankado's hype about the unbreakable algorithmâ⬠¦ auctioning off the pass-key-it was all an act, a charade. Tankado had tricked the NSA into snooping his mail, tricked them into believing he had a partner, and tricked them into downloading a very dangerous file. ââ¬Å"The mutation strings-â⬠Strathmore faltered. ââ¬Å"I know.â⬠The commander looked up slowly. ââ¬Å"The file I downloaded off the Internetâ⬠¦ it was aâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Susan tried to stay calm. All the pieces in the game had shifted. There had never been any unbreakable algorithm-never any Digital Fortress. The file Tankado had posted on the Internet was an encrypted virus, probably sealed with some generic, mass-market encryption algorithm, strong enough to keep everyone out of harm's way-everyone except the NSA. TRANSLTR had cracked the protective seal and released the virus. ââ¬Å"The mutation strings,â⬠the commander croaked. ââ¬Å"Tankado said they were just part of the algorithm.â⬠Strathmore collapsed back onto his desk. Susan understood the commander's pain. He had been completely taken in. Tankado had never intended to let any computer company buy his algorithm. There was no algorithm. The whole thing was a charade. Digital Fortress was a ghost, a farce, a piece of bait created to tempt the NSA. Every move Strathmore had made, Tankado had been behind the scenes, pulling the strings. ââ¬Å"I bypassed Gauntlet.â⬠The commander groaned. ââ¬Å"You didn't know.â⬠Strathmore pounded his fist on his desk. ââ¬Å"I should have known! His screen name, for Christ's sake! NDAKOTA! Look at it!â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you mean?â⬠ââ¬Å"He's laughing at us! It's a goddamn anagram!â⬠Susan puzzled a moment. NDAKOTA is an anagram? She pictured the letters and began reshuffling them in her mind. Ndakotaâ⬠¦ Kadotanâ⬠¦ Oktadanâ⬠¦ Tandokaâ⬠¦ Her knees went weak. Strathmore was right. It was as plain as day. How could they have missed it? North Dakota wasn't a reference to the U.S. state at all-it was Tankado rubbing salt in the wound! He'd even sent the NSA a warning, a blatant clue that he himself was NDAKOTA. The letters spelled TANKADO. But the best code-breakers in the world had missed it, just as he had planned. ââ¬Å"Tankado was mocking us,â⬠Strathmore said. ââ¬Å"You've got to abort TRANSLTR,â⬠Susan declared. Strathmore stared blankly at the wall. ââ¬Å"Commander. Shut it down! God only knows what's going on in there!â⬠ââ¬Å"I tried,â⬠Strathmore whispered, sounding as faint as she'd ever heard him. ââ¬Å"What do you mean you tried?â⬠Strathmore rotated his screen toward her. His monitor had dimmed to a strange shade of maroon. At the bottom, the dialogue box showed numerous attempts to shut down TRANSLTR. They were all followed by the same response: SORRY. UNABLE TO ABORT. SORRY. UNABLE TO ABORT. SORRY. UNABLE TO ABORT. Susan felt a chill. Unable to abort? But why? She feared she already knew the answer. So this is Tankado's revenge? Destroying TRANSLTR! For years Ensei Tankado had wanted the world to know about TRANSLTR, but no one had believed him. So he'd decided to destroy the great beast himself. He'd fought to the death for what he believed-the individual's right to privacy. Downstairs the sirens blared. ââ¬Å"We've got to kill all power,â⬠Susan demanded. ââ¬Å"Now!â⬠Susan knew that if they hurried, they could save the great parallel processing machine. Every computer in the world-from Radio Shack PCs to NASA's satellite control systems-had a built-in fail-safe for situations like this. It wasn't a glamorous fix, but it always worked. It was known as ââ¬Å"pulling the plug.â⬠By shutting off the remaining power in Crypto, they could force TRANSLTR to shut down. They could remove the virus later. It would be a simple matter of reformatting TRANSLTR's hard drives. Reformatting would completely erase the computer's memory-data, programming, virus, everything. In most cases, reformatting resulted in the loss of thousands of files, sometimes years of work. But TRANSLTR was different-it could be reformatted with virtually no loss at all. Parallel processing machines were designed to think, not to remember. Nothing was actually stored inside TRANSLTR. Once it broke a code, it sent the results to the NSA's main databank in order to ââ¬â Susan froze. In a stark instant of realization, she brought her hand to her mouth and muffled a scream. ââ¬Å"The main databank!â⬠Strathmore stared into the darkness, his voice disembodied. He'd apparently already made this realization. ââ¬Å"Yes, Susan. The main databankâ⬠¦.â⬠Susan nodded blankly. Tankado used TRANSLTR to put a virus in our main databank. Strathmore motioned sickly to his monitor. Susan returned her gaze to the screen in front of her and looked beneath the dialogue box. Across the bottom of the screen were the words: TELL THE WORLD ABOUT TRANSLTR ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SAVE YOU NOWâ⬠¦ Susan felt cold. The nation's most classified information was stored at the NSA: military communication protocols, SIGINT confirmation codes, identities of foreign spies, blueprints for advanced weaponry, digitized documents, trade agreements-the list was unending. ââ¬Å"Tankado wouldn't dare!â⬠she declared. ââ¬Å"Corrupting a country's classified records?â⬠Susan couldn't believe even Ensei Tankado would dare attack the NSA databank. She stared at his message. ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SAVE YOU NOW ââ¬Å"The truth?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"The truth about what?â⬠Strathmore was breathing heavily. ââ¬Å"TRANSLTR,â⬠he croaked. ââ¬Å"The truth about TRANSLTR.â⬠Susan nodded. It made perfect sense. Tankado was forcing the NSA to tell the world about TRANSLTR. It was blackmail after all. He was giving the NSA a choice-either tell the world about TRANSLTR or lose your databank. She stared in awe at the text before her. At the bottom of the screen, a single line was blinked menacingly. ENTER PASS-KEY Staring at the pulsating words, Susan understood-the virus, the pass-key, Tankado's ring, the ingenious blackmail plot. The pass-key had nothing to do with unlocking an algorithm; it was an antidote. The pass-key stopped the virus. Susan had read a lot about viruses like this-deadly programs that included a built-in cure, a secret key that could be used to deactivate them. Tankado never planned to destroy the NSA databank-he just wanted us go public with TRANSLTR! Then he would give us the pass-key, so we could stop the virus! It was now clear to Susan that Tankado's plan had gone terribly wrong. He had not planned on dying. He'd planned on sitting in a Spanish bar and listening to the CNN press conference about America's top-secret code-breaking computer. Then he'd planned on calling Strathmore, reading the pass-key off the ring, and saving the databank in the nick of time. After a good laugh, he'd disappear into oblivion, an EFF hero. Susan pounded her fist on the desk. ââ¬Å"We need that ring! It's the only pass-key!â⬠She now understood-there was no North Dakota, no second pass-key. Even if the NSA went public with TRANSLTR, Tankado was no longer around to save the day. Strathmore was silent. The situation was more serious than Susan had ever imagined. The most shocking thing of all was that Tankado had allowed it to go this far. He had obviously known what would happen if the NSA didn't get the ring-and yet, in his final seconds of life, he'd given the ring away. He had deliberately tried to keep it from them. Then again, Susan realized, what could she expect Tankado to do-save the ring for them, when he thought the NSA had killed him? Still, Susan couldn't believe that Tankado would have allowed this to happen. He was a pacifist. He didn't want to wreak destruction; all he wanted was to set the record straight. This was about TRANSLTR. This was about everyone's right to keep a secret. This was about letting the world know that the NSA was listening. Deleting the NSA's databank was an act of aggression Susan could not imagine Ensei Tankado committing. The sirens pulled her back to reality. Susan eyed the debilitated commander and knew what he was thinking. Not only were his plans for a back door in Digital Fortress shot, but his carelessness had put the NSA on the brink of what could turn out to be the worst security disaster in U.S. history. ââ¬Å"Commander, this is not your fault!â⬠she insisted over the blare of the horns. ââ¬Å"If Tankado hadn't died, we'd have bargaining power-we'd have options!â⬠But Commander Strathmore heard nothing. His life was over. He'd spent thirty years serving his country. This was supposed to be his moment of glory, his piece de resistance-aback door in the world encryption standard. But instead, he had sent a virus into the main databank of the National Security Agency. There was no way to stop it-not without killing power and erasing every last one of the billions of bytes of irretrievable data. Only the ring could save them, and if David hadn't found the ring by nowâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"I need to shut down TRANSLTR!â⬠Susan took control. ââ¬Å"I'm going down to the sublevels to throw the circuit breaker.â⬠Strathmore turned slowly to face her. He was a broken man. ââ¬Å"I'll do it,â⬠he croaked. He stood up, stumbling as he tried to slide out from behind his desk. Susan sat him back down. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠she barked. ââ¬Å"I'm going.â⬠Her tone left no room for debate. Strathmore put his face in his hands. ââ¬Å"Okay. Bottom floor. Beside the freon pumps.â⬠Susan spun and headed for the door. Halfway there, she turned and looked back. ââ¬Å"Commander,â⬠she yelled. ââ¬Å"This is not over. We're not beaten yet. If David finds the ring in time, we can save the databank!â⬠Strathmore said nothing. ââ¬Å"Call the databank!â⬠Susan ordered. ââ¬Å"Warn them about the virus! You're the deputy director of the NSA. You're a survivor!â⬠In slow motion, Strathmore looked up. Like a man making the decision of a lifetime, he gave her a tragic nod. Determined, Susan tore into the darkness. Chapter 87 The Vespa lurched into the slow lane of the Carretera de Huelva. It was almost dawn, but there was plenty of traffic-young Sevillians returning from their all-night beach verbenas. A van of teenagers laid on its horn and flew by. Becker's motorcycle felt like a toy out there on the freeway. A quarter of a mile back, a demolished taxi swerved out onto the freeway in a shower of sparks. As it accelerated, it sideswiped a Peugeot 504 and sent it careening onto the grassy median. Becker passed a freeway marker: SEVILLA CENTRO-2 KM. If he could just reach the cover of downtown, he knew he might have a chance. His speedometer read 60 kilometers per hour. Two minutes to the exit. He knew he didn't have that long. Somewhere behind him, the taxi was gaining. Becker gazed out at the nearing lights of downtown Seville and prayed he would reach them alive. He was only halfway to the exit when the sound of scraping metal loomed up behind him. He hunched on his bike, wrenching the throttle as far as it would go. There was a muffled gunshot, and a bullet sailed by. Becker cut left, weaving back and forth across the lanes in hopes of buying more time. It was no use. The exit ramp was still three hundred yards when the taxi roared to within a few car lengths behind him. Becker knew that in a matter of seconds he would be either shot or run down. He scanned ahead for any possible escape, but the highway was bounded on both sides by steep gravel slopes. Another shot rang out. Becker made his decision. In a scream of rubber and sparks, he leaned violently to his right and swerved off the road. The bike's tires hit the bottom of the embankment. Becker strained to keep his balance as the Vespa threw up a cloud of gravel and began fish-tailing its way up the slope. The wheels spun wildly, clawing at the loose earth. The little engine whimpered pathetically as it tried to dig in. Becker urged it on, hoping it wouldn't stall. He didn't dare look behind him, certain at any moment the taxi would be skidding to a stop, bullets flying. The bullets never came. Becker's bike broke over the crest of the hill, and he saw it-the centro. The downtown lights spread out before him like a star-filled sky. He gunned his way through some underbrush and out over the curb. His Vespa suddenly felt faster. The Avenue Luis Montoto seemed to race beneath his tires. The soccer stadium zipped past on the left. He was in the clear. It was then that Becker heard the familiar screech of metal on concrete. He looked up. A hundred yards ahead of him, the taxi came roaring up the exit ramp. It skidded out onto Luis Montoto and accelerated directly toward him. Becker knew he should have felt a surge of panic. But he did not. He knew exactly where he was going. He swerved left on Menendez Pelayo and opened the throttle. The bike lurched across a small park and into the cobblestoned corridor of Mateus Gago-the narrow one-way street that led to the portal of Barrio Santa Cruz. Just a little farther, he thought. The taxi followed, thundering closer. It trailed Becker through the gateway of Santa Cruz, ripping off its side mirror on the narrow archway. Becker knew he had won. Santa Cruz was the oldest section of Seville. It had no roads between the buildings, only mazes of narrow walkways built in Roman times. They were only wide enough for pedestrians and the occasional Moped. Becker had once been lost for hours in the narrow caverns. As Becker accelerated down the final stretch of Mateus Gago, Seville's eleventh-century Gothic cathedral rose like a mountain before him. Directly beside it, the Giralda tower shot 419 feet skyward into the breaking dawn. This was Santa Cruz, home to the second largest cathedral in the world as well as Seville's oldest, most pious Catholic families. Becker sped across the stone square. There was a single shot, but it was too late. Becker and his motorcycle disappeared down a tiny passageway-Callita de la Virgen.
Mary Wollstonecraft: Views on Feminism Essay
1) Mary moved around a lot during her childhood, had no real friends and her father was an abusive husband. 2) Meets a girl named Fanny, similar to Maryââ¬â¢s situation except she was educated, teaches Mary to self-educate. 3) Mary has a public affair and says that women shouldnââ¬â¢t get married anymore until the law change (one flesh doctrine) 4) Writes a short book named ââ¬Å"Vindication of the Rights of Womenâ⬠Rewrite as a short paragraph/a few clear sentences. Mary Wollstonecraft grew up with an abusive father and moved a great deal during childhood, causing her to not being able to make any real friends and was deprived of family love. Later on, she meets a girl named Fanny, who led a similar life excluding the fact that Fanny had an education and teaches Mary to self-educate. Soon afterwards, Mary becomes a writer and is able to support herself; she becomes fascinated by the ideas of the enlightenment and writes a short book named ââ¬Å"Vindication of the Rights of Womenâ⬠. It wouldââ¬â¢ve been a success if it werenââ¬â¢t for her scandalous love affair with a married man, which led her to declare that marriage should be invalid until the law changed and the one flesh doctrine was removed. Sub-arguments 1) Restate the 1st sub-argument from the thesis as a clear, well-written topic sentence. Mary Wollstonecraft believed that marriage was parallel to legalized prostitution. List 1 quote from your sources which proves this sub-argument. ââ¬Å"Business of various kinds, they might likewise pursue, if they were educated in a more orderly manner, which might save many from common and legal prostitution. Women would not then marry for a support, as men accept of places under government, and neglect the implied duties; nor would an attempt to earn their own subsistence, a most laudable one! Sink them almost to the level of those poor abandoned creatures who live by prostitution.â⬠(Wollstonecraft, ââ¬Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,â⬠222) Paraphrase one piece of information from your sources which proves this sub-argument. Wollstonecraft argued what may well be her most famous line, ââ¬Å"To marry for support is legal prostitution.â⬠She contended for intellectual companionship and friendship to be the ideal of marriage. She argued for an end to social prejudice against women which would, in turn, lead to womenââ¬â¢s being defined by their character and work rather than by their marriages and social status. (Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠79) List 1 point of your opinion, supported by one of your sources which proves this sub-argument. Although marriage appears to be sacred, women in society would be deemed to be prostitutes somewhere along the continuum; it was merely a question of degree as to how much a woman sold herself to one man, and how much she relied on him for support. Marriage can be viewed as really just a form of prostitution in which women received poor recompense for their work, are more vulnerable to violence (from their husbands), and had less control over their daily lives than professional sex workers. (Wollstonecraft, ââ¬Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,â⬠222) List one additional point: your choice of evidence style (may be a quote, paraphrase, statistic, or your opinion, but must be backed up by a source). Wollstonecraft points out that in her society, marriage alone brings women prestige and power. The only way women can rise in the world is by marriage. (Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠81) 2) Restate the 2nd sub-argument from the thesis as a clear, well-written topic sentence. Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women were capable of being equal to men, if given the proper education. List 1 quote from your sources which proves this sub-argument. ââ¬Å"If women were more broadly educated, they would be better placed to carry out their educative duties as parents and to cooperate with men in this role. Part of Wollstonecraftââ¬â¢s defense of female emancipation, therefore, consists of arguing that freedom, equality, and education would make women better mothers.â⬠(Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠83) Paraphrase one piece of information from your sources which proves this sub-argument. Wollstonecraft stated that the boundaries on womenââ¬â¢s education greatly affected their maturation. She noted that aristocratic women were not in fact confined to any particular ââ¬Å"sphereâ⬠but traveled freely in public, going from place to place in order to better ââ¬Å"display their finery.â⬠Such a fine lady was useless to society not because of where she went or what she did, but because she never matured. ââ¬Å"If she has any maternal tenderness, it is of a childish kind,â⬠Wollstonecraft wrote. ââ¬Å"Though she lives many years she is still a child in understanding, and of so little use to society, that her death would scarcely be observed.â⬠With this grim assessment, Wollstonecraft concluded her argument that female education could best be improved by training young girls to become independent adults. Only then could they develop virtue in themselves and command the influence necessary to inspire others. (Field, ââ¬Å"Made Women of When They are Mere Children,â⬠203-204) List 1 point of your opinion, supported by one of your sources which proves this sub-argument. Women are seen as inferior to men and held in a state of ignorance. Women are not educated nor are they allowed to think for themselves. Without the ability to reason, women cannot achieve virtue or morality and society as a whole suffers. If women were allowed to reason and think independently, both women and men alike would share the benefits. Wollstonecraftââ¬â¢s central goal was for young girls to grow into independent women, she challenged artificial barriers to female maturity in numerous spheres simultaneously: in families, where the laws of marriage required wives to obey husbands; in education, where girls received inferior training to boys; in religious institutions, where male clerics demanded female obedience; in market relations, where employers paid women too little to support themselves; in the state, where men denied women independent political standing; and in civil society, where men discounted womenââ¬â¢s opinions. (Field, ââ¬Å"Made Women of When They are Mere Children,â⬠201) List one additional point: your choice of evidence style (may be a quote, paraphrase, statistic, or your opinion, but must be backed up by a source). Wollstonecraft argues that ââ¬Å"boys and girls, the rich and the poorâ⬠should all be taught ââ¬Å"the elements of religion, history, the history of man, and politicsâ⬠in commonââ¬âusing ââ¬Å"conversations, in the socratic formâ⬠. (Field, ââ¬Å"Made Women of When They are Mere Children,â⬠211). Wollstonecraft concedes that if women had a proper education and could develop their reason and attain independence, they might not marry at all, but could still live happy, fulfilled lives. (Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠84) 3) Restate the 3rd sub-argument from the thesis as a clear, well-written topic sentence. Mary Wollstonecraft claimed that friendship and companionship is vital to a marriage and is the key to raising a healthy family. List 1 quote from your sources which proves this sub-argument. ââ¬Å"If women marry for friendship, coquetry and flirtation would not become a way of life. Not compelled to seek male approval and adoration, they could become dedicated wives and mothers.â⬠(Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠83) Paraphrase one piece of information from your sources which proves this sub-argument. Wollstonecraftââ¬â¢s arguments about making women better wives and better mothers are mutually reinforcing, for she believes that if men and women marry by choice and for companionship, the husband is more likely to be at home and to be a better father to his children. (Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠83) List 1 point of your opinion, supported by one of your sources which proves this sub-argument. A marriage that consisted of friendship and satisfaction would liberate its partners from petty jealousies and allow them to channel their energies outward to the fulfillment of their duties as wives, husbands, mothers, and fathers. Although such a relationship might not offer romantic loveââ¬â¢s grand passion and high excitement, the type of care it offers is precious: Wollstonecraft claims that when the passion of romance subsides into friendship there develops a ââ¬Å"tender intimacy, which is the best refuge from care; yet is built on such pure, still affectionsâ⬠(Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠84) List one additional point: your choice of evidence style (may be a quote, paraphrase, statistic, or your opinion, but must be backed up by a source). Thus young people contemplating marriage should ââ¬Å"look beyond the present moment, and try to render the whole of life respectable, by forming a plan to regulate friendship which only death ought to dissolveâ⬠. A freer, more rational approach to marriage would produce stronger marriages because the people in them would be partners, indeed friends, who would value one another for their virtues of character rather than their physical beauty, status, wealth, or femininity or masculinity. â⬠(Abbey, ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠84) Conclusion Write one sentence to remind the reader of your central argument. Mary Wollstonecraft strongly argued that marriage was parallel to legalized prostitution, that education was essential to a happy and moral life, and that friendship is a crucial aspect to a healthy marriage. Write one-three sentences to focus the readerââ¬â¢s attention on the most important evidence(s) you have offered. Mary Wollstonecraft argued that by marrying for financial support and social status, women are fundamentally committing prostitution. Moreover, she states that education is essential for women to live free and moral lives, for they will be able to learn to think for themselves and become rational thinkers. Lastly, friendship and companionship is vital in a marriage, it is only then will a marriage be successful. Bibliography/Works Cited (Wollstonecraft, Mary. ââ¬Å"Of the Pernicious Effects Which Arise from the Unnatural Distinctions Established in Society.â⬠A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Peter Edes for Thomas and Andrews ,Boston, 1792. 222.) (Abbey, Ruth. ââ¬Å"Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the Thought of Mary Wollstonecraft,â⬠Hypatia. 1999. Volume 14, Issue 3. 78-95) (Field, Corinne. ââ¬Å"Made Women of When They are Mere Children,â⬠The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth. Spring 2011. Volume 4. Issue 2. 197-198) (Ford, Thomas H. ââ¬Å"Mary Wollstonecraft and the Motherhood of Feminismâ⬠, WSQ: Womenââ¬â¢s Studies Quarterly. Fall/Winter 2009. Volume 37. Issues 3 & 4, 189-204)
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