Saturday, January 25, 2020
London Bombings: Aftermath and Effects
London Bombings: Aftermath and Effects Managing the Aftermath of the London Bombings Introduction The Aftermath European Union Governmental Agencies in the United Kingdom Conclusion Bibliography Introduction The 7th of July 2005 will always be remembered as an infamous date representing the day when a coordinated attack was conducted by terrorists on the public transport system of the city of London during the heavily trafficked morning rush hour period (CNN.com, 2006). The series of attacks occurred aboard three underground trains all within a minute of each other starting at 8:50 a.m., with a fourth occurring on a bus that was traveling in Travistock Square at 9:47 a.m. (CNN.com, 2006). That day saw a death toll of fifty-two civilians, along with the four suicide bombers, and approximately seven hundred and seventy individuals injured (BBC.co.uk, 2006). The incident was reportedly motivated by the United Kingdomââ¬â¢s inclusion in the United States backed invasion and occupation of Iraq (Altermedia.info, 2005). The attack was highly reminiscent of the train bombings in Madrid, with both coming after Spain and the United Kingdom had reduced their troops stationed in Iraq (Dhimmi Watc h, 2005). The events preceding the attacks in London strongly suggested that a similar occurrence might happen in the United Kingdom. With the attacks taking place as the G8 Summit was being held in Scotland, the probability of an attack should have been higher on the British threat assessment scale than it was (World Socialist Web Site, 2005). In addition, London was also in the middle of celebrating the fact that it had made a successful bid for the hosting of the Olympics in 2012, thus the attacks were targeted to achieve maximum effect and exposure (Rasmussen, 2005). But, that view is open to conjecture as the target, timing and nature of the attack could have occurred in any number of possible ways, thus making the potential to suggest its prevention as a rather moot point. The nature of terrorist attacks is their surprise and use of individuals who purportedly can fly beneath the surveillance radar of the authorities seeking to uncover them. Subsequent information and reports have linked the bombings to Al-Qaeda (Philpott, 2005). The developments resulting from the occupation of Iraq, Al-Qaeda and global terrorism have changed the manner in which governments view, react and prepare for potential occurances. What happened on that fateful day could have occurred in any country at any time, and that propensity is still open. This examination will look at the aftermath of the London bombings and the events that transpired as well as the larger implications and actions that it triggered. And while various plans where in place as a result of the events of 9-11, action after such an event can be subject to variables that even the most prepared plan could not make contingencies for. The following will chronicle those events as well as investigations, inquiries, changes, legislation and findings made in the aftermath from varied quarters. The initial reports indicated that there were six explosions which was reported as a result of them occurring between stations, thus causing passengers to exit at points located to the front as well as rear of the train streaming them into two opposite directions thereby creating confusion as to the initial damage and explosion count. That development caused additional confusion for the various agencies responding to the attacks until the situation entailing three train attacks was revealed. After the initial confusion cleared it was determined that (CNN.com, 2006): The first explosion took place on the eastbound Circle Line train traveling from Liverpool Street to Aldgate. Explosion number two occurred on the westbound Circle Line train between Edgware Road and Paddington approximately. The third explosion took place on the southbound Piccadilly Line between Kingââ¬â¢s Cross Street Pancras and Russell Square The London Underground suspended service throughout the entire network after all trains were brought into the nearest stations thus causing massive displacement for individuals throughout the city. The Tavistock Square double decker bus explosion represented the final of the explosions, where it first passed by Euston as evacuees where exiting from the underground station. It had to divert its route and the final incident occurred (Rasmussen, 2005). The investigation into the bombings uncovered that the bombs went off as another train was passing in the opposite direction, thus leading to the conclusion that the attacks were timed for maximum effect, however for some reason the bombers did not escape (Sky News, 2005). The investigation uncovered that there were possessions found on the bombers that aided in the identification of the attackers as they where carrying identification as well as other information that subsequently led to the discovery of their factory in Leeds where the explosive devices were made (Edwards, 2005). All of the attackers carried ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ return rail tickets â⬠¦ and display car park tickets â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ prior to their boarding the trains (Edwards, 2005). Further evidence to supported Edwards (2005) contention, which aligns with of the statements made by Tony Blair (2005) is illustrated by the fact that the explosive devices where contained in large sized rucksacks that could have easily been dumped, and personal effects such as drivers licences, banking cards and other items were found on their remains further supporting his theory that they were deceived by their superiors and the bombs were set to explode in advance as suicide bombers customarily remove all forms of identification and links. The importance of the discovery of the manner in which the events unfolded as well as the origin of the attackers was an outgrowth of the investigation into the affiliations of the attackers. The individuals involved were unknown to authorities by name, however they were caught by surveillance techniques that included a large sweep of activities thus relegating them to lesser status. Through re-tracing their steps based upon the receipts found on their remains it was clear that they traveled to Luton via vehicle, and then onto London by train (Campbell and Laville, 2005). They were captured on the Kingââ¬â¢s Cross CCTV system at 8:30 a.m.. The Aftermath In a statement released by the Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, the MP Chairman of the United Kingdomââ¬â¢s Intelligence and Security Committee, he commented as to whether there was any intelligence information that could have aided in the prevention of the attacks (Community Central, 2005). The official statement and position was if there had been prior suspicions or information, then the authorities would have intervened. In all probability the audacity of the attack, even after the events if September 11th in the United States and Madrid, caught authorities by surprise even though planning for the potential of such an occurrence had been undertaken. There were and are scores of reports commenting on the probability of advance knowledge as well as one of the bombers being spotted a full year prior to the event (officialconfusion.com, 2006a). In addition to the preceding, the government is purported to have had advance knowledge that such an attack would be carried out on Londonââ¬â¢s un derground through information gathered by intelligence services (occificalconfusion.com 2006b). In hindsight it is easy to shift through mountains of information that had been gathered and or observed and put the pieces together after the fact, but the vagueness of data, the many sources and potential endings they suggest makes foresight more difficult. In one report, the London Metropolitan Police had contracted the private company of Visor Consultants to look into planning a simulated drill concerning the potential of multiple explosive attacks being made upon the London underground system (Chossudovsky, 2005). Interestingly enough a drill simulating such an attack was being conducted at 9:30 that very morning with the participants having to switch in mid drill to an active status. These drills represented crisis management on the part of the London Metropolitan Police (Chossudovsky, 2005). The preceding indicates that the varied reports as documented by Officalconfusion.com (2006ab) and other web sites in the aftermath had some validity. As the inquiry into this aspect of the London bombings represents as important an area in crisis management procedures either planned or in place prior to the attacks and hence, further investigation is warranted. A Report to Parliament by Prime Minister Blair concerning the ââ¬Å"Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committeeââ¬â¢s Report into the London Terrorist Attacks on 7 July 2005â⬠was presented on May 2006 (Prime Ministerââ¬â¢s Office, 2006). The Report stated that the existence of Siddeque Khan was known to authorities, however his identity was not. It, the Report, also stated that Shazad Tanweer was also unknown by name, and that surveillance did pick him up through routine activity, however, since the activity was routine, no special significance was made. Said Report did indicate that the outcome of the 7 July attacks might have been prevented if the Security Service had come to different conclusions concerning the intelligence it gathered before the event. Blairââ¬â¢s Report also covered the subject of the reduction of the threat level and alert systems which was reduced from severe general to substantial (Prime Ministerââ¬â¢s Office, 2006). The Report stated that the intelligence gathered prior to and up to the event did not indicate the likelihood of such an occurrence, and that a high alert level reflects a substantial indicator which did not affect the security aspects being lowered concerning transport systems. With regard to police systems the Report recommended their merging information and operative systems to provide increased communication regarding strategic and national issues as represented by terrorism, with more information passed down to lower levels (Prime Ministerââ¬â¢s Office, 2006). The foregoing also indicated an increase in police community support officers from 6,300 to 16,000, with further increases through 2008 to heighten the ability to cover more intelligence areas and retrieve information. In conjun ction with the preceding, the Security Service along with Special Forces units have embarked on expansion putting more regional offices in place along with increased fiscal and resource support (Prime Ministerââ¬â¢s Office, 2006). Resources from the Home Office were increased by à £30 million, with the level of increase rising to à £60 million for the budget period 2007 through 2008 (Prime Ministerââ¬â¢s Office, 2006). European Union On a broader plane, the European Union implemented measures representing key priorities as a response to the bombings in London via the Council of the European Unionââ¬â¢s Counter Terrorism Coordinator issued a special report concerning the ââ¬Å"Implementation of the Action Plan to Combat Terrorismâ⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). While the Report was one of a regular series issued every six months as the result of an adoption by the Council of the European Union, it made special reference to the London Bombings and that this Report contained a response to that event. The European Union, as the governing body for its member states and the center resource in implementing plans and planning of their behalf that takes into consideration past, present and future considerations, the Declaration of March 2004 to combat terrorism was set forth to be a priority for the European Union. As a direct outgrowth of the London bombing the ââ¬ËMoney Laundering Dir ectiveââ¬â¢ was issued and put into action, along with the ââ¬ËDirective on Enhancing Port Securityââ¬â¢ â⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). Additionally, Europol, Frontex and Eurotrust increased their support to the national law enforcement authorities of member nations as well as increased cooperation with national governmental agencies of other non-member nations. Specifically, the Report gave priority and urgency to the London bombings and various measures as a result of it. The vulnerability exposed by the successful terrorist attacks in London heightened the Councilââ¬â¢s sense of urgency to identify, arrest and prevent such occurances. The use of the Internet as a communications medium by terrorists was highlighted, along with their ability to obtain weapons and employ non-conventional explosive devicesâ⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). Such developments indicated that additional measures, techniques and strategies were needed in the face of the preceding. New directives included the information exchange program to provide criminal record data to appropriate agencies as well as the improvement of mechanisms in consort with the preceding. The directive made it mandatory that information and cooperation be exchanged between member states along with Europol and Eurojust for all pending investigations as well as prosecutions â⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). Important to the preceding is the access to databases under the Schengen Information System which is to be made fully operational by 2007. Present implementations included the Visa Information System and its consolidation to permit faster detection, information, investigation and prevention by virtue of cross data access and matching â⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). A direct implementation coming out of the London bombings was the adoption of biometric identifiers for residence permits along with national identity cards. The implementation of enhanced measures for security regarding explosives, equipment to make bombs and firearms was also put into place (European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). Heightened training for police departments in terrorism, and Customs protocols were also adopted. The areas of Port security along with Airport security were increased through the adding of additional screening measures, new technologies in equipment a s well as increased personnel and surveillance systems. Risk management measures were also upgraded through enhanced Civil Protection Mechanisms, along with crisis management techniques to provide guidance in pre attack, in the event of their occurrence, preparedness and post attack response â⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). The London bombings resulted in the Council putting forth a plan to devise crisis coordination as a result of a special adoption of the Council made on 13 July 2005. The foregoing entailed increased information sharing in emergencies and in particular, terrorist attacks when such involves more than one member state, with such measures to be in place by June 2006 â⬠(European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator, 2005). The importance of the foregoing is the increased funding, inter agency cooperation and information sharing for all European Union member states as well as national governments not a part of the EU. Governmental Agencies in the United Kingdom The events of 7 July 2005 involved the following agencies and departments, the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, City of London Police, London Underground, London Ambulance Service and the Gold Coordinating Group, MI5 as well as outside intelligence reports. MI5 represents one of the more important agencies in the preceding list and maintains a web site for reference by the general public. It provides information on response levels and threats, however no update on measures either directly taken or in progress as a result of the 7 July bombings is available on their web site (MI5, 2006). Equally important is the Ministry of Defence which maintains a web site as well. It as well did not and does not contain any relevant information concerning departmental updates in the aftermath of the bombings (UK Ministry of Defence, 2006). The same search was conducted for The Secret Intelligence Service (2006) that yielded the like results. The preceding is understandable in that disseminating internal information regarding the conduct of affairs in relationship to measures in place or being put into place, does not represent an intelligent option. Internal measures and developments on the part of governmental agencies are secretive areas, thus new plans and activities represent aspects that are unavailable to the public. Public sentiment and anxiety in the United Kingdom over the 7 July bombings represent an area of intense concern within the country for all of its citizens. The aftermath of this event resulted in the country developing ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ stronger counter terrorism measures â⬠¦ as represented by legislation (Lawson, 2005). As the attacks were carried out by homegrown terrorists, the difficulty in preventive measures has increased dramatically as the identification means take in individuals already inside the countryââ¬â¢s borders. The response by the Emergency Medical Service represents a major component plan that worked from the standpoint of crisis management. With a wounded total in excess of 700 people, the importance of getting medical personnel to the sites, performing emergency services and transporting them to hospitals, coordinating which location was a major undertaking. The London Ambulance Service deployed vehicles throughout the four sites and had to respond accordingly to the level of the incident as developments became known (Heightman, 2005). A situation of this type calls for on the spot reactions, decision making and judgment. As part of emergency preparedness, the London Ambulance Service had researched various plans scenarios to respond to such incidents as a result of the events of September 11th in the United States, briefings with government officials and the threat of such a disaster occurring in London as a result of the countryââ¬â¢s participation in Iraq and the train attack in Madrid some sixteen months prior. The personnel total exceeded 250 emergency staff, supplemented by a contingency of volunteers who responded to the situation, with approximately 100 ambulances used to transfer injured individuals to various medical facilities (Heightman, 2005). The total or injured exceeded the London Ambulance Service capacity, so under the contingency plans developed, it called in aid from Bedfordshire, Kent, Essex, Herefordshire and Surrey as well as St. John Ambulance and the British Red Cross (Heightman, 2005). Per the crisis management operational plan the vehicles were staged at locations that had been planned in advance where a large contingent of vehicles could have easy access and departure. Local managers arrived at these locations to coordinated activities and schedule departures as well as points to ferry the injured to as well as aiding in making determinations of whom to carry out first and whom to treat on the scene (Heightman, 2005). In total, the London Ambulance Service oversaw the treatment of 645 individuals, of which 45 represented critical and serious injuries such as burns, amputations, fractured limbs and blast burns, with an additional 300 treated on scene and 300 ferried to various hospitals (Heightman, 2005). Working in conjunction with the London Metropolitan Police the entire operation was seamless and one of the bright spots in a day of disaster. In the immediate aftermath of the bombings the governmentââ¬â¢s COBRA crisis management team, along with the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center swung into action which combines MI5 and MI6, domestic and foreign intelligence, Government Communications Headquarters and the police together to coordinate response, investigation and management of the situation (Philpott, 2005). The entire operation went global in hours, pulling in intelligence and research from the United States, United Nations, The European Union, and other countries to review briefings, documents, surveillance and other materials. The inter-agency team London Resilience that was put into operation after September 11th, coordinated emergency services, health, fire, transport, utilities and business under its umbrella (London Resilience, 2006). London Resilience ââ¬ËStrategic Emergency Planââ¬â¢ represents a blueprint designed for the effective handling of crisis situations in London as a collaborative effort. The London Metropolitan Police were also prepared for the situation, as stated by Ian Blair, Commissioner, ââ¬Å"This is the biggest crime scene in Englandââ¬â¢s history â⬠¦ a situation for which we have planned and prepared â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Philpott, 2005). Critical in the immediate investigation of the incident where the 400,000 CCTV cameras throughout London that helped to identify the bombers at Kingââ¬â¢s Cross when they arrived. (Wikipedia, 2006). It recorded them splitting up and talking, and the investigation team spotted the four bombers on Monday through matching their images with documents found at the explosions (Philpott, 2005). The CCTV system was designed and developed as a result of the 1985 IRA bombings, and the trial program was so successful that it was expanded (Wikipedia, 2006). As one of the most sophisticated CCTV systems in the world, the United Kingdom has one camera for every 14 individuals when home, business, and governmental systems are added to gether (Wikipedia, 2006). The events of 7 July has resulted in all major cities increasing their security efforts with respect to subway bombings, however, the measure of scanning all backpacks, pocketbooks, suitcases and other carry one items is not only impractical, but impossible. Thus, in the aftermath the underground system in the United Kingdom is safer, but still vulnerable, much less so than prior to the incident, but vulnerable nevertheless. In London a major impediment to more security measures on top of the additional personnel which has been put into place is fiscal. The present budget does not allow for security officer patrolling enough trains, as well as having at least one officer per station to eye scan passengers (Philpott, 2005). Funds to provide added cameras, hardening of tunnels, fences, radiation detection and intrusion systems, control and command tools for security and track monitoring along with rolling stock have been estimated at à £1 billion (Philpott, 2005). All in all, the emergency services, police, MI5, intelligence arms and government responded favorably to the largest incident in the countryââ¬â¢s history, save for World War II. The planning, preparations, and coordination that the government put into place after September 11th helped to quickly identify the bombers, although the evidence strongly suggests that they were sacrificed in the process by devices that were timed to go off quicker than they were led to believe thus capturing them in the explosions as well (BBC News, 2005). The fact they were carrying their personal identification, bank cards, and the parking ticket points to their belief that they were deceived by their superiors (Edwards, 2005). Conclusion The surprise nature of the bombings could not have been forecast, even in the face of the advance knowledge of the Madrid train attack, as to location, date and timing. Pre terrorist planning by the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, Fire Brigade and other governmental agencies has not been identified as being sub-standard or negligent. In a Report made to Parliament concerning the ââ¬Å"Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committeeââ¬â¢s Report into the London Terrorist Attacks on 7 July 2005â⬠, a full briefing of all of the salient facets were covered. The Security Service did pick up Shazad Tanweer and Siddeque Khan, but their name identities were unknown and they were not identified as significant participants at that time. Said Report made a number of important recommendations regarding the merging of police systems along with increasing police community support officers to heighten departmental capabilities in the future which were enacted. Additionally allocation increases for the police budget were immediately granted. The blasts also prompted the Council of the European Union to adopt a number of measures concerning intra country intelligence and cooperation protocols. The Declaration of March 2004 to combat terrorism was set forth to be a priority for the European Union. Money laundering,, enhanced Port and Airport security measures were increased and various agencies were provided with directives to devise increased security and cooperation methods and measures. The Council Report also increased Civil Protection Mechanisms, crisis management and pre attack preparedness. The London Ambulance Service performed admirably in response to the attack handling in excess of 600 patients and coordinating the activities of a number of regional ambulances services and volunteer units to effectively ferry the injured to hospitals. Their performance lessened the loss of live and was a bright spot in an otherwise dreadful historic day. Internal security measures and inter agency cooperation has been enhanced in the aftermath of the attacks to better coordinate activities in the pre terrorist phase through investigation, detainment and arrest. The system has prevented two such occurances and continues to seek ways to improve upon their operational standards. Thanks to the 400,000 police CCTV cameras in operation in the target area, visual identification was made in short order, resulting in arrests as well as the discovery of the factory where the devices were made. The lessons learned from the 7 July attacks represented severe and costly teachings that the country as well as European Union and the United states have taken to heart. It again provided evidence regarding the need to be ever vigilant in techniques, surveillance and preemptive action to prevent occurances of this type in the future. The loss of live by civilians represents an unacceptable price in a battle of idealism that encompasses the quest of a small group, Al-Qaeda, to impose its will on nations. Bibliography Altermedia.info (2005) Who benefits from the London Bombings? Retrieved on 6 December 2006 from http://us.altermedia.info/news-of-interest-to-white-people/who-benefits-from-the-london-bombings_1033.html BBC News (2005) Police hunt bomb team accomplices. 15 July 2005. Retrieved on 9 December 2006 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4684869.stm BBC.co.uk (2006) What happened on 7 July? Retrieved on 6 December 2006 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_5140000/newsid_5147000/5147004.stm Campbell, D., Laville, S. (2005) British suicide bombers carried out London attacks, say Police. 13 July 2005. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1527404,00.html Chossudovsky, M. (2005) Fictional 7/7 ââ¬Å"scenarioâ⬠of multiple bomb attacks on Londonââ¬â¢s subway. 11 August 2005. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.lonelantern.org/london_terror_drills.html Community Central (2005) Report into the London terrorist attacks on 7 July 2005 published. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.continuitycentral.com/news02553.htm CNN.com (2006) Minute-by-minute account. 11 May 2006. Retrieved on 6 December 2006 from http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/07/07/london.timeline/index.html Dhimmi Watch (2005) UN effectively blames West for London bombings. Retrieved on 6 December 2006 from http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/007156.php Edwards, J. (2005) Exclusive: Was It Suicide? 16 July 2005. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15742951method=fullsiteid=94762headline=was-it-suicidename_page.html European Union Counter Terrorism Coordinator (2005) Implementation of the Action Plan to Combat Terrorism. 12 December 2005. Council of the European Union Heightman, A. (2005) Bombs Enter London: The EMS response plan that worked. Vol. 30, Issue 8. Jems Lawson, D. (2005) The London Bombing Fallout: Negotiating Public Anxiety and Political Gain. 28 October 2005.Centre for Social Change Research, Queensland University of Technology London Resilience (2006) London Prepared. Retrieved on 9 December 2006 from http://www.londonprepared.gov.uk/ MI5 (2006) This is the official website of the UK Security Service. Retrieved on 8 December 2006 from http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/Page2.html Officalconfusion.com (2006a) Bomber Spotted a Year Before July 7. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.infowars.net/~officia/77/priorknow/surveillance/230106timesspottedyearbefore.html Officialconfusion.com (2006b) Spies Warned of Tube Attack. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.infowars.net/~officia/77/priorknow/surveillance/181205timesspieswarnedofattack.html Philpott, D. (2005) The London Bombings: New Evidence Points t Al-Qaeda and a New Terror Campaign. Homeland Defense Journal, Special Report Prime Ministerââ¬â¢s Office (2006) Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committeeââ¬â¢s Report into the London Terrorist Attacks on 7 July 2005. May 2006. Retrieved on 6 December 2006 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_05_06_isc_london_attacks_report_govt.pdf Rassmussen, M. (2005) Some Thoughts on the London Bombs. Vo. 4, Issue 9. Strategic Insights Secret Intelligence Service (2006) The Official Secret Intelligence Service Website. Retrieved on 8 December 2006 from http://www.sis.gov.uk/output/Page79.html Sky News (2005) Interview with Sir Ian Blair. 24 July 2005. Retrieved on 7 December 2006 from http://www.skynewstranscripts.co.uk/transcript.asp?id=117 UK Ministry of Defence (2006) Home Web Page. Retrieved on 8 December 2006 from http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Home/ Wikipedia (2006) Closed Circuit television. Retrieved on Why is Disability Viewed as a Social Problem? Why is Disability Viewed as a Social Problem? TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE SOCIAL PROBLEM THAT IS DISABILITY A MATTER OF PRIVATE CONCERN FOR THE FAMILY? Disability excites interest because disability is seen as a social problem i.e. it is seen either in terms of personal tragedy or of blame. Social problems generate public concern and private misery and call for collective action to remedy this (Worsley, 1972). Disability has been theorised in a number of different ways, most of which locate the problem in the individual rather than the broader social, political, and economic influences. This has implications for the location of the blame for social problems, such that they become depoliticised. The rise in the idea of the politics of minority groups is well documented and implies that in the case of people with disabilities who are unable to work the Government should provide a whole range of services. Because most Governments are unwilling to commit themselves this far, disability is again defined as a social problem, and often the burden of care lies with the family (Moore, 2002). This paper will give an account of definitions of disability and the ways in which they impact on disabled people. There will be an exploration of the concept and history of the family and its contemporary diverse forms, and an examination of the ways in which the ideology of the family has problematised the concept of care. The paper will then assess how the family has been implicated in both solving and defining the problem of disability and to what extent the social problem that is disability is a matter of private concern for families. Models of Disability The medical model of health is the most powerful in western society, doctors introduced a curative model of health that concentrated on the body where the hospital became the space for such models were put into practice (Walsh et al, 2000). This model situates ill health in the individual and ignores the social circumstances that may give rise to ill health, furthermore it has impacted on government healthcare policy throughout the twentieth century. The situation is exacerbated by the medicalisation of many conditions making them into a problem that can only be addressed by experts, as Brisenden(1986) comments: The problem is that medical people tend to see all difficulties solely from the perspective of proposed treatments for a patient, without recognising that the individual has to weigh up whether this treatment fits into the overall economy of their life. In the past especially, doctors have been too willing to suggest medical treatment and hospitalisation, even when this would not necessarily improve the quality of life for the person concerned. Indeed, questions about the quality of life have sometimes been portrayed as something of an intrusion upon the purely medical equation. (Brisenden, 1986:176). The medical model leads to the treatment of people with disabilities as passive objects of medical attention. This is oppressive of disabled people and spreads to other social relationships, it sees disability as pathological i.e. rooted in a persons biology, and thus unchanging. Contained within this model is the perception of people with disabilities as problematic. Disability has also been theorized as a personal tragedy, resulting in individuals with a disability being seen as victims. This results in policy making whereby people with disabilities need compensating for their disability. This model also affects social relationships. The view of disability as personal tragedy individualises disability so that it becomes depoliticised and the disabled person must make his or her adjustments to that disability as best they can (Dalley, 1990). In locating disability within the individual society denies any responsibility to cater for the diversity of their needs (Oliver, 1990). The third way in which disability has been theorized is in the social model of disability. This model is becoming increasingly dominant in research on disability. Vassey (1992) has described it thus: redefining disability in terms of a disabling environment, repositioning disabled people as citizens with rights, and reconfiguring the responsibilities for creating, sustaining and overcoming disablism (Vassey, 1992:44).. Here the person is disabled because of the refusal of society to provide for example suitable access for the wheelchair user. This model stresses that a disabling society leads to the exclusion of people with disabilities. Oliver (1996) contends that this notion has been politically empowering for disabled people, and has allowed a previously contested notion to develop an agenda that has influenced policy making. Some people see disability as entirely a result of social structures and processes while others feel that society compounds the difficulties that disabled people encounter. Disability is not a universal category, people have different types and degrees of impairment, some can function well with technical aids while still others are, to a greater or lesser degree, dependent on the care of other people (Dalley, 1988). The Concept and History of the Family Parsons (1955) argued that the family is the primary place of socialization and serves to introduce and instill the norms and values of society. Parsons model was what is commonly known as the nuclear family, i.e. parents and children living together to provide the mutual love and support that individuals need to be productive members of society (Giddens, 2001). Murdock (1949 cited in Giddens, 2001) maintains that traditional concepts of the family are a universal phenomenon. Others criticise the nuclear model for being too narrow and for neglecting the fact that not all family members experience life in the same way (Abbott and Wallace, 1997). Whether the nuclear family is regarded as universal depends largely on how the family is defined, certainly it is no longer the norm in contemporary society. Gittins (1993) maintains that there are a wide variety of domestic relationships. Thus relationships may be universal but the forms they take can be infinitely variable. There are many single parent families, whether through death, divorce or choice, there are also second marriages that often result in reconstituted families. The nuclear model relates specifically to nineteenth and early twentieth century ideological views of the family (Giddens, 2001). The Family and Ideology Until the late seventeenth century there was little or no distinction between the public and the private sphere, families generally worked the land and they did this together. The rise of industrialization and the growth of the towns brought massive changes to what had constituted family life up until that time. Feminists argue that for centuries women have been the subordinate sex in society and this subordination is largely a result of the fact that they have been born women rather than men. This subordination increased with industrialisation and the separation between public and private spheres (Oakley 1982). The coming of the factory meant that the family was replaced as the unit of production. The growing dependence of children, Oakley (1982) states, led to womens increased dependence on men and their restriction to the private sphere. Throughout the nineteenth century there was a growing idealisation of the feminine. Women were regarded as both physically and emotionally weaker than men and unfit for the same roles. Victorian ideology said that women were created to help men and should thus remain at home. This primarily affected the middle classes but as the century progressed the working class were also influenced by this ideology, locking women into the housewife role (Oakley, 1982). Murdock (1949 in Giddens, 2001) argued that gender roles are the natural result of the biological differences between men and women. Mens superior strength and womens childbearing capabilities make the sexual division of labour the most sensible way of organising society. Delphy (1977) maintains that this results in sexual inequality. Gender differences are not innate but socially constructed to serve the interests of the socially dominant group. Delphy contends that women are a separate class because the categories of man and woman are political and economic, rather than eternal biological categories. Within the family particularly, women form a class who are exploited by men, as Delphy states: While the wage-labourer sells his labour power, the marrie woman gives hers away; exclusivity and non-payment are intimately connected. To supply unpaid labour within the framework of a universal and personal relationship (marriage) constructs primarily a relationship of slavery (Delpy, 1977:15). This relationship has been exploited by successive Governments and is implicit in many social policy initiatives. The Family and the Welfare State The post-war welfare state which promised universal welfare provision, was set up on the assumption of full employment and the notion that men would go out to work while women stayed home (Abbott and Wallace, 1997).. Moore (2002) maintains that this is an ideological view of the family and how it might function. In the late 1970s the Tories actively discouraged alternatives to the traditional family e.g. cohabitation and gay partnerships (Abbott and Wallace, 1997). Since the Thatcher Government public and policy debates on family life, parenting and health have centered around the idea of responsibility (Such and Walker 2004) Moore (2002) maintains that in the thinking of the seventies and also in Labours Third Way, family members have a duty to help each other as it is not the job of the state to look after them. The state takes over when no-one else is around to share the burden. The fact that the State has had to intervene, it is argued, is one of the reasons why the traditional family is on the decline. In a good society members should help each other without regard to personal benefit. The State should be there to provide a safety net when there is no other help available. New Labour advocate a mixed economy of welfare where welfare is provided in part by the state and partly by private companies operating for profit. The shift from public to private has received much publicity and contributed to social problems and to social exclusion. Previously highly subsidized, or universal, services have either become part of the private sector, or have been subject to means testing, some welfare provision has been handed over to voluntary organizations. This has increased the likelihood that welfare and caring are now a private rather than a public responsibility (Giddens, 2001). This tends to stigmatise further those who are forced to rely on benefits, e.g. the disabled and their carers, usually women. The State and Womens Caring Role Marxist feminists e.g. Walby (1990) argue that the gender ideology that has filtered down to the working classes has affected their solidarity as a class and this makes them more easily controllable by the Capitalist system. While Marxism gives an explanation of exploitation by the capitalist system it does not explain the inequalities between women and men. Delphy (1977) maintains that gender and sexual inequality should be the fundamental categories of feminist analysis. Marxism alone does not explain for example why women are seen as responsible for household tasks. Capitalism could still profit if men stayed at home. The Community Care Act of 1990 has imposed further responsibilities on women in the role of informal carers. Dalley (1988) argues that much Governments policy making has been based on ideologies of caring with the assumptions behind the idea of community care being based on outmoded notions of the family. In practice this notion of caring disadvantages women carers and also many disabled or older dependent relatives. Within such an ideology, the caring that women do in the home is considered to be a natural part of womens role within the family. Thus, her caring role become invisible and shouldering the burden increases the likelihood that women will themselves be in need of care (Graham, 1993). This is borne out by the increasing number of women who suffer from disabilities and mental health problems. Womens caring role is further undermined by the idea that any health care that matters is given by professionals. When this is accompanied by Government discourses of self-help, self-reliance and the responsibility of the family this adds to the social stigma that disabled people face. It focuses on the disability, not the person themselves, inevitably this places an added strain on families. The prevalence of the medical model of health and the ways in which families are kept under-informed regarding the disability of a family member, particularly a child, affects family relationships. Gregory (1991) maintains that when a person is diagnosed as diabled this affects the ways in which society and the family respond to and deal with that person. Families themselves can tend to see the disabled family member as sick and different. Gregory (1991) found that having a disabled family member also affected the way in which mothers viewed themselves because ideological images of motherhood focus on having an able child. Thus a woman may feel that she is somehow not a mother because of the ways in which society defines motherhood. Press reports on disabled children and their families usually present them in terms of sacrifice and heroism (Gregory, 1991). This can affect family members response to the disabled person, their forced reliance on the medical model, and the view of disability as a tragedy becomes universalized. This misses the individuals personal needs and circumstances. It seems that increasingly the social problem of disability is becoming a matter of private concern for the family. The NHS appears to take this view. While doctors may diagnose a physical or learning disability families are often left to cope without ei ther sufficient information or professional help. In a number of cases families have reported that hospitals have refused to admit non-emergency cases unless a parent or carer remains on site to provide additional support (http://www.cafamily.org.uk/rda-uk.html). A shortage of nursing staff and the increasing tendency to perform surgery on a day care basis means that many families are left with extra caring responsibilities once they take the disabled child or adult home. (http://www.cafamily.org.uk/rda-uk.html). Conclusion Ideologies of the family and the medical model of disability exacerbate the social problems of disability. Discourses of family responsibility place a much greater burden on many people, particularly women who bear the burden of responsibility of care. Such discourses tend to make women who find it difficult to cope feel that they are a failure. This in turn reflects back on the disabled person who may feel that they are a burden. Clearly current policies and debates over partnership between the Government and families and family responsibility is moving closer to the view that disability is no longer a public concern but a private family one. Dalley (1988) argue that some form of institutional care e.g. supported living should replace care in the family. While there are support structures in place for people with disabilities, the extent to which informal carers have access to such facilities is very limited (Baldwin and Twigg, 1990).. Perhaps supported living arrangements along wit h family involvement in personal care would, arguably, take some strain off of the family and give more independence to the person with disabilities thus making the social problem of disability a shared public and private concern rather than simply a concern for the family. Bibliography Abbott, P. and Wallace, C. 1997. An Introduction to Sociology: Feminist Perspectives. London, Routledge. Baldwin, S and Twigg, J. 1991 Women and community care: Reflections on a debate in Maclean, M and Groves, D eds 1991 Womens Issues in Social Policy London, Routledge Crowe, G. and Hardey,M.1992. Diversity and ambiguity among lone-parent households in modern Britain. In Marsh, C. and Arber, S. (Eds.) 1992. Families and Households: Divisions and Change. London: Macmillan. Dalley, G. 1988 Ideologies of caring: Rethinking Community and Collectivism London, Macmillan Delphy, C 1977 The Main Enemy London, Womens Research and Resource Centre Giddens, A. 2001. (4th ed). Sociology. Cambridge, Polity Press. Gittens, D. 1993 The Family in Question: Changing households and familial ideologies London, Macmillan Graham, H. 1993 Hardship and Health in Womens Lives Hemel Hempstead, Harvester/Wheatsheaf Gregory, S. 1991 Challenging Motherhood: Mothers and their deaf children in Phoenix, A and Lloyd E, eds. 1991 Motherhood: Meaning Practices and Ideology London, Sage Moore, S. 2002 Social Welfare Alive 3rd ed. Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes Oakley, A 1982 Subject Woman London, Fontana Parsons, T. and Bales, R. 1955. Family, Socialisation, and Interaction Process. Glencoe, Illinois: Free Press Oliver, P. 1990 The Politics of Disablement Basingstoke, Macmillan Oliver, M 1996 Social Work with Disabled People Basingstoke Macmillan. Such, E. and Walker, R. 2004 Being responsible and responsible beings: childrens understanding of responsibility Children and Society 18 (3) Jun 2004, pp.231-242 Swain, J. Heyman, B and Gilmour, M 1998 Public Research, private concerns: Ethical issues in the use of open-ended interviews with people who have learning disabilities in Disability and Society 13 (1) pp. 21-36 Thomas, C. eds 2004 Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments London, Sage Vasey, S. (1992) A response to Liz Crow, Coalition, September, 42-44 Walby, S. 1990 cited in Abbott, P. and Wallace, C. 1997. An Introduction to Sociology: Feminist Perspectives. London, Routledge. Walsh, M. Stephens, P. and Moore, S. 2000 Social Policy and Welfare. Cheltenham Worsley, P and Chatterton, M 1972 Problems of Modern Society: A Sociological Perspective Harmondsworth, Penguin
Friday, January 17, 2020
Relationship influence relationships Essay
Physical attraction is based on peopleââ¬â¢s appearances. Often a caring, kind, and affectionate person will go unrecognized among others. Mostly such people find their partners due to physical proximity, ââ¬Å"oneââ¬â¢s actual physical nearness to others, in terms of housing, work, school, and so forth.â⬠On the other hand, an attractive person usually would have far more attention from others. Mills had an experiment which showed that ââ¬Å"most important determinant of desire to continue relationship was physical attractiveness.â⬠(1982) However, in Todayââ¬â¢s Magazine, the article read : ââ¬Å"according to a new study, [men are] willing to overlook a womanââ¬â¢s body shape and weight if sheââ¬â¢s friendly and likeableâ⬠. But, consider that the article, if you read it, doesnââ¬â¢t present other important information, such the percentage of people who are in the category, and to what extreme were those studies true: itââ¬â¢s likely that men can overlook minor unattractive traits, but it doesnââ¬â¢t totally disprove the study mentioned above. Even though the point if this study may have changed slightly, it is not a secret that attractive people seem to be more of everything, since with beauty, person seems happy, healthy, successful, interesting, even if it isnââ¬â¢t necessarily so, which is called the halo effect. Another kind of attraction is romantic attraction. It is ââ¬Å"love that is associated with high levels of interpersonal attraction, heightened arousal, mutual absorption (ââ¬Ëwith regard to romantic love, the nearly exclusive attention lovers give one another.ââ¬â¢), and sexual desire.â⬠Romantic attraction has a ââ¬Å"like scaleâ⬠and a ââ¬Å"love scale,â⬠that Zick Rubin brought up to measure the ââ¬Å"attitudeâ⬠towards friends and love partners. In result, love usually included passion and commitment, whereas liking lacked those things. Estimated by these scales, type of attraction can be described by the chosen attitude towards each other, as to what the two people think of each other, and whether they are intimate or not, and so on. Just as there are different reasons for forming our personalities, there are different causes which bring people together. The reason some people choose to date who they date is partially due to homogamy -ââ¬Å"the attraction of people who are alikeâ⬠and heterogamy ââ¬â ââ¬Å"the attraction of opposites.â⬠A person may seek to find someone with similar qualities or with the opposite ones to ââ¬Å"balance out.â⬠To some degrees, love may be just a mere excitement. This love (which is also something like secret love) is determined by different situations, such parentsââ¬â¢ disapproval, or when fleeing the country with someone. Just as in secret love, those events may lead to feel even stronger attraction. But even if such situations can be an attribute to the relationship, it can also bring conflict. Those relationships can be affected by uncertainty of whether there is any kind of attraction between the two people. (As Kenrick wrote, ââ¬Å"it is sometimes hard to tell the difference among sex, love, and infatuation (1989).â⬠There are also two problems: excitement that adds to attraction and boredom that decreases it; the influenced behavior may not be the cause of attraction. (Homans 1961) Similarly, I am sure there have been times when youââ¬â¢ve known or heard of someone who, for example, embraced everyone he or she was friends with. His or her behavior doesnââ¬â¢t necessarily mean deep attraction, but it may just be a way in culture, personal way of showing friendship, or a habit, or may be the fact that he or she misses his/her girlfriend/boyfriend. Any of those reasons may be the factor, why due to body language, a woman may take such action for affection, or, from another point, a man can misunderstand womanââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"warning signalsâ⬠. References Homans, G.C. (1961) Social Behaviour: Its Elementary Forms, New York, Harcourt, Brace and World. Kenrick, D.T. and Trost, M.R. (1989) ââ¬ËA reproductive exchange model of heterosexual relationshipsââ¬â¢ in Hendrick, C. (ed) Close Relationships (Review of Personality and Social Psychology 10) Newbury Park, CA, Sage. Miell, D. & Croghan, R. (1996) ââ¬ËExamining the wider context of social relationshipsââ¬â¢ in Dallos, R. & Miell, D. (eds) Social Interaction and Personal Relationships, Milton Keynes, Open University. Mills, J. and Clark, M.S. (1982). ââ¬ËCommunal and exchange relationshipsââ¬â¢ in Wheeler, L (ed.) Review of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol 3), Beverley Hills, CA, Sage
Thursday, January 9, 2020
The Origin of Man and The Universe - 699 Words
Creation and Evolution Explained Have you ever thought about how the world came to be? Most people in the world have. Creation is a Christianââ¬â¢s proof of how the world was made and how everything that was in the world before is still there now, and Evolution is a scientific theory explaining how the world was made and how everything evolved into what it is today. Charles Darwin founded the theory of evolution. It was first called Darwinism. Evolution explains the Big Bang and how everything in the world evolved. Charles Darwin was not actually evolutionary minded for his entire life. He started out as a Christian. It is believed that Darwin stole the evolutionary theory from somebody else working on the theory at that same time. Macroevolution and microevolution are two completely different things. Macroevolution is completely changing one species into another. Microevolution on the other hand, is little changes within a species that could possibly help them to adapt t o their surroundings. The Bible supports microevolution but not macroevolution, and the evolutionary theory supports both microevolution and macroevolution. Evolutionists also try to prove macroevolution with microevolution by saying that enough little changes in a species can make a new species altogether. There are many problems with the theory of evolution even though evolution is taught everywhere. Evolution is taught in a lot of places, such as public schools, most colleges, and it will beShow MoreRelatedEssay on Sciene and Christianity512 Words à |à 3 Pages Generally, science and Christianity are considered two contradictory views of the universe. Science symbolizes an evolutionary and naturalistic view of the universe from which God is (or at least can be) excluded. Christianity symbolizes a world view where everything is created by the direct creative act of God. Science offers us different ways at looking at the origins of life. Its two most famous theories are the Big Bang and the theory of evolution. TheRead MoreThe Problem Of Pain : Lewis s First Foray Into Christian Writing Essay933 Words à |à 4 PagesDivine Goodness, Human wickedness, The Fall of Man, Human Pain, Hell, Animal Pain and Heaven, arriving at the conclusion, that the argument is not unanswerable. Lewis opens the book with an introductory, that attempts to describe the origins of religion and its role in the problem of pain. Pulling from his personal experiences as an atheist in his youth, Lewis looks to find an answer to how man came to the notion of attributing the creation of the universe to a wise and good creator. ââ¬Å"Not many yearsRead MoreThe Life Of Charles Robert Darwin s Theory Of Biological Evolution1612 Words à |à 7 Pages II. Beginning and evolution of the universe A. Scientific view As the universe enlarged, matter started to form into gas clouds, and form there its shaped stars and planets. However, to understand how the universe formed into its present shape, we must understand how galaxies, planets and stars are formed. Then suddenly, the universe began to enlarge at a very fast rate, while slowly cooling down from its initial state of great temperature. When the universe was about 65% of its size, the solarRead MoreOriginal Creation of Earth1117 Words à |à 5 Pagesfallible word of man. YOUNG EARTH At its simplest, evolution is a hypothesis which claims that all life has descended with modification from a primitive single celled organism in the remote past. The development has been one of increasing complexity. Originally, the first cell evolved from a preexisting organic ââ¬Å"soupâ⬠in a primeval ocean, which in turn developed from chance conglomerations of inorganic chemicals. Ultimately, these chemicals themselves were produced by the ââ¬Å"Big Bangâ⬠origin of the actualRead MoreThe Major Divisions Of Philosophy860 Words à |à 4 PagesPg 2 â⬠¢ What is the origin of our being? â⬠¢ Where did everything originate? As Biblical Christians we believe Genesis 1 has the answer. ââ¬Å"In the beginning Godâ⬠. It is as simple as that. God created the universe and all that is in the universe, including man. The second subdivision of Metaphysics is that of Cosmology. Cosmology comes from the Greek word ââ¬Å"Cosmosâ⬠which means ââ¬Å"orderâ⬠. It usually refers to the world, the universe, and all that is associated with the universe. It deals with theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Infinite Nature Of God 1499 Words à |à 6 Pagesconclusion. The first proposition is that things made by us seem to have a specific purpose which suggests a creator. This is followed by the universe appearing to have a purpose so therefore the universe must have a creator. This argument relies heavily on an analogy which is comparing our everyday lives and experiences within the world and universe to the origin of the world and how it was originally created. ââ¬â¢The intricate fitting of means to ends throughout all nature is just like (though more wonderfulRead MoreCosmology : The Origin Of The Universe900 Words à |à 4 PagesCosmology is the study of the origin of the universe in the s ense of how it comes into being. At the foundation of nearly every culture is a creation myth that explains how Earth in its entity came to be. These myths have an immense influence on peopleââ¬â¢s framework of reference. They all come from one early source and are different only because time and local cultural circumstances have embellished or altered them. Despite being separated by numerous geographical barriers; many cultures before andRead MoreThe Origin Of The Universe1363 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Origin the Universe was explained over centuries by different people and in different parts of the world. The African myths of Bumba, Bishop Usher (Book of Genesis), Greek philosopher Aristotleââ¬â¢s explanation of eternal universe, German philosopher Immanuel Kant thesis and anti-thesis about the beginning or eternal universe all tried to explain the origins or eternal existence of Universe. Later part of 20th century many scientific theories were more convincing explanations for of the origin ofRead MoreUnderstanding the Debate Over the Origins of Life Essay examples1104 Words à |à 5 PagesWhen addressing the origins of life, an unwavering dedication to the theories behind creationism evolutionary and abiogenesis theories makes itself present. It is in this realm of debate, Darwin challenges the dogmatic approach to understanding made by religious doctrine with science and evolutionary precedent. The ongoing debate between evolutionary and abiogenesis biologists and religious leaders is the ultimate contest between science pseudoscience. Evolutionary biology bases its claims behindRead MoreThe Origin Of Life And Evolution1744 Words à |à 7 Pagesenabled a great deal of scientific and technological advancements for humanity in the last centuries. On the contrary, even though it is nearly 150 years since the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin, 1859), it seems paradoxical that there are still a great significant amount of people who maintain an anti -darwian position on the origin of life and species. A poll done by Gallup Institute in 2004 showed that an approximate of 42% of Americans believe that humanity was created by God, 18% believe in
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Woshiyishabi - 2171 Words
æâ°â¬Ã¦Å"â°Ã¤ º ¤Ã©â¬Å¡Ã¦ â¡Ã¥ ¿â"çšâé ¢Ëè ¯ ·Ã¥ âÃ¨â¬Æ'ç ½âç «â¢ http://www.usa-traffic-signs.com/ //////////////////////////////Chapter 2//////////////////////////////// Your driver license may be suspended for causing: One serious collision What is the maximum fine for a conviction of driving without a valid driver license? $200 Your driver license may be suspended for: Habitual reckless driving If you are teaching a beginner to drive, you must: Be a licensed driver age 21 or over If your driver license is suspended, you may drive only: If you obtain an essential need driver license Not including thinking distance, lawful brakes must stop a car at 20 miles per hour within how many feet? 25 feet You can lawfully allow an object to extend beyond the leftâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦a siren coming, you should: Yield to the emergency vehicle It is a violation of State law for pedestrians to: Stand in the roadway for purposes of soliciting a ride A driver waiting to make a left turn when the traffic light turns green should: Turn only after there is no danger from oncoming vehicles If you must walk on the highway, you should: Walk on the left side in order to watch for approaching vehicles When a pedestrian walks out into the street in violation of the law, you should: Yield the right of way to avoid injuring them When entering a street from an unpaved road, you should: Yield to the vehicle on the paved road in all instances //////////////////////////////Chapter 4//////////////////////////////// When turning you should give the proper signal: At least 100 feet before turning After parking your vehicle, for greatest safety you should get out of your vehicle: On the curb side Under favorable circumstances, including reaction time, a motor vehicle with good brakes going 50 mph can be stopped within: About 229 feet If you are driving at the speed limit and another driver sounds his horn and starts to pass, you should: Slow down and allow him to pass You must give a signal either by hand and arm or by a signal device: Anytime you change lanes A posted speed limit of 55 mph means: You may drive 55 mph only under favorable driving conditions The speed limit for passenger cars on highways numbered by
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Margery Kempe and Mental Illness - 2438 Words
Margery Kempe: mother, mystic, mentally ill? Throughout The Book of Margery Kempe, Margery is burdened with the gift of tears. To onlookers, her behaviour seems erratic and threatening; strangers and acquaintances often wonder if devils possessing her cause her passionate wailing. Margery is often questioned about her tears, and isolated from people who fail to understand that she is one of Christââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"chosen soulsâ⬠(24). Margery sees these social difficulties as trials of her faith, and says, ââ¬Å"For ever the more slander and reproof that she suffered, the more she increased in grace and in devotion of holy meditationâ⬠(Kempe 4). Even when her community berates her, she maintains that her tears are a gift and a form of penance, that herâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Margery does not believe for a moment that she is ill; she only ever considers her experiences to be the work of God or of devils. Because her post-partum depression it is such a negative experi ence, she accepts that it must be the work of devils. We know now that stressful events such as childbirth can bring on the symptoms of various mental illnesses (Gray 587), and we also know that having one mental illness can increase likelihood of having another (Mental Illness). Therefore, it is possible that Margeryââ¬â¢s post-partum depression opened the door to symptoms of other disorders, such as hallucinations. Margery, at the end of her depression, sees a vision of Christ, after which she is ââ¬Å"as stabled in her wits and reason as ever she was beforeâ⬠(Kempe 8). If Margery was indeed suffering from post-partum depression, it is unlikely that she recovered as quickly as she describes. It is more likely that she had been slowly recovering and the vision acted as a sort of catalyst, causing her to realize her improvement. She may have gained a sense of optimism from the vision; it has been proven with various diseases that those with an optimistic outlook on recover y tend to recover better and more quickly than those who have a more pessimistic view (Repper 52). If the vision is a hallucination, it is interesting that the onset of new psychotic symptoms cure her of her depression. IShow MoreRelatedPostpartum Depression : A Severe Psychotic Syndrome1284 Words à |à 6 Pagesdepression is a more common and less threatening mental illness than postpartum psychosis, however, Margery Kempe displays the more fatal symptoms. Several readers believe that Margery Kempe was a woman who devoted her life to God, however, after her first child was born Margery Kempe was recognizably sick and continued these symptoms throughout the entire book. In The Book of Margery Kempe, the first autobiography in the English Language, Margery Kempe displays the symptoms of hallucinations, cryingRead MorePostpartum Depression : A Severe Psychotic Syndrome1384 Words à |à 6 PagesOlfson 800). Postpartum depression is a further common mental illness than postpartum psyc hosis, however Margery Kempe displays serious symptoms. Several readers believe that Margery Kempe was a woman who devoted her life to God, however, after her first child was born Margery Kempe was recognizably sick due to the feelings that she should not live. In The Book of Margery Kempe, the first autobiography in the English Language, Margery Kempe displays the symptoms of hallucinations, crying episodesRead MoreThe Book Of Margery Kempe ( Bmk )1863 Words à |à 8 PagesThe Book of Margery Kempe (BMK), records the latter portion of Margery Kempeââ¬â¢s life as she has visions of Christ and struggles with the inevitable backlash of the clergy. Questions of her authority are brought up within the text as Margery is repeatedly arrested on counts of heresy and lollardy. While these sentiments are expressed in the text, her authority is also questioned by many readers and scholars. It has become common for modern scholars to dismiss Margery as another mystic less noteworthyRead Mo reWomen Of The Medieval Times1865 Words à |à 8 Pagesintimacy, childbirth and household responsibilities were thrust upon them by the elder family members and the men that became their husbands. How did these women survive? Did the hardships inflicted on them day after day on a continuous basis lead to mental illness or a religious awakening? Perhaps the women of the Medieval Times were more intelligent and capable than one was lead to believe. What lengths would a person go through in order to survive an unbearable situation? Did the women of the Medieval
Monday, December 16, 2019
The Return Nightfall Chapter 18 Free Essays
string(31) " while the three girls winced\." Matt woke, fuzzily, to find himself still behind the steering wheel of Elenaââ¬â¢s car. He stumbled into his house, almost forgetting to lock the car, and then fumbling with keys to unlock the back door. The house was dark; his parents were asleep. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18 or any similar topic only for you Order Now He made it up to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed without even taking off his shoes. When he woke again, he was startled to find it was nineA.M . and his mobile phone was ringing in his jeans pocket. ââ¬Å"Merââ¬â¢dith?â⬠ââ¬Å"We thought you were coming over early this morning.â⬠ââ¬Å"I am, but Iââ¬â¢ve got to figure outhow first,â⬠Matt said ââ¬â or rather, croaked. His head felt twice its usual size and his arm at least four times too big. Even so, something in the back of his mind was calculating how to get to the boardinghouse without taking the Old Wood Road at all. Finally a few neurons lit up and showed him. ââ¬Å"Matt? Are you still there?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not sure. Last nightâ⬠¦God, I donââ¬â¢t evenremember most of last night. But on the way home ââ¬â look, Iââ¬â¢ll tell you when I get there. First I have to call the police.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thepolice ?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦lookâ⬠¦just give me an hour, okay? Iââ¬â¢ll be there in an hour.â⬠When he finally arrived at the boardinghouse, it was closer to eleven than to ten. But a shower had cleared his head, even if it hadnââ¬â¢t done much for his throbbing arm. When he did appear, he was engulfed in worried femininity. ââ¬Å"Matt,what happened ?â⬠He told them everything he could remember. When Elena, with set lips, undid the Ace bandage he had wrapped around his arm, they all winced. The long scratches were clearly badly infected. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re poisonous, then, these malach.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Elena said tersely. ââ¬Å"Poisonous to body and mind.â⬠ââ¬Å"And you think one of these can getinside people?â⬠Meredith asked. She was doodling on a notebook page, trying to draw something that looked like what Matt had described. ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠For just a moment Elenaââ¬â¢s and Meredithââ¬â¢s eyes met ââ¬â then both looked down. At last Meredith said, ââ¬Å"And how do we know whether one is insideâ⬠¦someoneâ⬠¦or not?â⬠ââ¬Å"Bonnie should be able to tell, in trance,â⬠Elena said evenly. ââ¬Å"Even I might be able to tell, but Iââ¬â¢m not going to use White Power for that. Weââ¬â¢re going down to see Mrs. Flowers.â⬠She said it in that special way that Matt had learned to recognize long ago, and it meant that no argument would do any good. She was putting her foot down, and that was that. And the truth was that Matt didnââ¬â¢t feel very much like arguing. He hated to complain ââ¬â heââ¬â¢d played through football games with a broken collarbone, a sprained knee, a turned ankle ââ¬â but this was different. His arm felt in danger of exploding. Mrs. Flowers was downstairs in the kitchen, but on the family room table were four glasses of iced tea. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be right with you,â⬠she called through the swinging half-door that divided the kitchen from where they were standing. ââ¬Å"Drink the tea, especially the young man whoââ¬â¢s injured. Itââ¬â¢ll help him relax.â⬠ââ¬Å"Herbal tea,â⬠Bonnie whispered to the others, as if this were some trade secret. The tea wasnââ¬â¢t all that bad, although Matt wouldââ¬â¢ve preferred a Coke. But when he thought of it as medicine, and with the girls all watching him like hawks, he managed to get over half of it down before the landlady came out. She was wearing her gardening hat ââ¬â or at least a hat with artificial flowers on it that looked as if it had been used for gardening. But on a cookie tray, she had a number of instruments, all gleaming as if theyââ¬â¢d just been boiled. ââ¬Å"Yes, dear, I am,â⬠she said to Bonnie, who had stood up in front of Matt protectively. ââ¬Å"I used to be a nurse, just like your sister. Women werenââ¬â¢t encouraged to be doctors then. But all my life Iââ¬â¢ve been a witch. Gets kind of lonely, doesnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠ââ¬Å"It wouldnââ¬â¢t be so lonely,â⬠Meredith said, looking puzzled, ââ¬Å"if you lived closer to town.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah, but then Iââ¬â¢d have people staring at my house all the time, and children daring each other to run and touch it, or to throw a stone through my window, or adults peering at me every time I went shopping. And how could I ever keep my garden in peace?â⬠It was the longest speech any of them had ever heard her make. It took them so by surprise that it was a moment before Elena said, ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t see how you can keep your garden in peace outhere . What with all the deer and rabbits and other animals.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, most of it isfor the animals, you see.â⬠Mrs. Flowers smiled beatifically and her face seemed to light up from within. ââ¬Å"They surely enjoy it. But they donââ¬â¢t enjoy the herbs I grow for putting on scrapes and cuts and sprains and such. And perhaps they know Iââ¬â¢m a witch, too, since they always leave me a bit of the garden for myself and maybe a guest or two.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why are you telling me all of this now?â⬠Elena demanded. ââ¬Å"Why, thereââ¬â¢ve been times when I was looking for you, or for Stefan, when I thought ââ¬â well, never mind what I thought. But I wasnââ¬â¢t always sure you were our friend.â⬠ââ¬Å"The truth is that Iââ¬â¢ve gotten solitary and unsociable in my old age. But now youââ¬â¢ve lost your young man, havenââ¬â¢t you? I wish I had gotten up a little earlier this morning. Then I might have been able to speak to him. He left the money for a yearââ¬â¢s rental of the room on the kitchen table. Iââ¬â¢ve always had a soft spot for him, and thatââ¬â¢s the truth.â⬠Elenaââ¬â¢s lips were trembling. Matt hastily and heroically lifted his wounded arm. ââ¬Å"Can you help at all with this?â⬠he asked, peeling the Ace bandage away again. ââ¬Å"Oh, my, my. And what sort of critter gave you these?â⬠Mrs. Flowers said, examining the scratches while the three girls winced. You read "The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18" in category "Essay examples" ââ¬Å"We think it was a malach,â⬠Elena said quietly. ââ¬Å"Do you know anything about those?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve heard the word, yes, but I donââ¬â¢t know anything specific. How long ago did you get them?â⬠she asked Matt. ââ¬Å"They look more like tooth marks than claw marks.â⬠ââ¬Å"They are,â⬠Matt said grimly, and he described the malach to her as best he could. It was partly to keep himself distracted, because Mrs. Flowers had picked up one of the gleaming instruments from the cookie tray and was starting to do things to his red and swollen arm. ââ¬Å"Hold as still as you can on this towel,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"These have already scabbed over, but they need to be opened and drained and cleaned out properly. Itââ¬â¢s going to hurt. Why donââ¬â¢t one of you young women hold his hand to help keep his arm steady?â⬠Elena started to stand but Bonnie beat her to it, almost leaping over Meredith to take Mattââ¬â¢s hand in both of her own. The draining and cleaning were painful, but Matt managed to bear it without making a sound, even giving Bonnie a sort of sickly grin as blood and pus trickled out of his arm. The lancing hurt at first, but the release of pressure felt good, and when the wounds were drained and clean and then packed with a cold herbal compress, they felt blessedly cool and ready to heal properly. It was while he was trying to thank the old woman that he noticed Bonnie staring at him. In particular, at his neck. Suddenly she giggled. ââ¬Å"What? Whatââ¬â¢s funny?â⬠ââ¬Å"The bug,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"It gave you a hickey. Unless you did something else last night that you didnââ¬â¢t tell us about.â⬠Matt could feel himself flush as he pulled his collar up higher. ââ¬Å"I did tell you about it, and it was the malach. It had a sort of tentacle with suckers around my neck. It was trying to strangle me!â⬠ââ¬Å"I remember now,â⬠Bonnie said meekly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry.â⬠Mrs. Flowers even had an herbal ointment for the mark the sucker tentacle had left ââ¬â and one for Mattââ¬â¢s scraped knuckles. After sheââ¬â¢d applied them, Matt felt so good that he was able to look sheepishly at Bonnie, who was watching him with big brown eyes. ââ¬Å"I know, it does look like a hickey,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I saw it this morning in the mirror. And Iââ¬â¢ve got another one lower down, but at least my collar covers that one.â⬠He snorted and reached into his shirt to apply more ointment. The girls laughed ââ¬â a release of the tension that theyââ¬â¢d all been feeling. Meredith had started back up the narrow stairway to what everyone still thought of as Stefanââ¬â¢s room, and Matt automatically followed her. He didnââ¬â¢t realize that Elena and Bonnie were hanging back until he was halfway up the stairs, and then Meredith motioned him onward. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re just conferring,â⬠Meredith said, in her quiet, no-nonsense voice. ââ¬Å"Aboutme ?â⬠Matt swallowed. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s about that thing Elena saw inside Damon, right? The invisible malach. And whether or not Iââ¬â¢ve got one ââ¬â inside me ââ¬â right now.â⬠Meredith, never one to soft-pedal anything, simply nodded. But she put a hand briefly on his shoulder as they entered the dim, high-ceilinged bedroom. Shortly after, Elena and Bonnie came up, and Matt could tell at once by their faces that the worst-case scenario wasnââ¬â¢t true. Elena saw his expression and immediately went to him and hugged him. Bonnie followed, more shyly. ââ¬Å"Feel okay?â⬠Elena said, and Matt nodded. ââ¬Å"I feel fine,â⬠he said. Like wrestling alligators, he thought. Nothing was nicer than hugging soft, soft girls. ââ¬Å"Well, the consensus is that you donââ¬â¢t have anything inside you that doesnââ¬â¢t belong there. Your aura seems clear and strong now that youââ¬â¢re not in pain.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thank God,â⬠Matt said, and he meant it. It was at that moment that his mobile phone rang. He frowned, puzzled at the number displayed, but he answered it. ââ¬Å"Matthew Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hold, please.â⬠A new voice came on: ââ¬Å"Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Uh, yeah, but ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"This is Rich Mossberg of the Fellââ¬â¢s Church Sheriffââ¬â¢s Department. You called this morning to report a fallen tree midway down Old Wood Road?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, I ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Mr. Honeycutt, we donââ¬â¢t like prank calls of this sort. We frown upon them, in fact. It takes up the valuable time of our officers, and besides, it happens to be a crime to make a false report to the police. If I wanted to, Mr. Honeycutt, I could charge you with this crime and make you answer to a judge. I donââ¬â¢t see just what you find so amusing about it.â⬠ââ¬Å"I wasnââ¬â¢t ââ¬â I donââ¬â¢t findanything amusing about it! Look, last night ââ¬â â⬠Mattââ¬â¢s voice trailed off. What was he going to say?Last night I was waylaid by a tree and a monster bug? A small voice inside him added that the Fellââ¬â¢s Church Sheriffââ¬â¢s officers seemed to spend most of their valuable time hanging around the Dunkinââ¬â¢ Donuts in the city square, but the next words he heard shut it up. ââ¬Å"In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, under the authority of Virginia State Code, Section 18.2-461, making a false police report is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. You could be looking at a year in jail or a twenty-five-thousand-dollar fine. Do you findthat amusing, Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Look, I ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Do you, in fact,have twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, I ââ¬â I ââ¬â â⬠Matt waited to be cut off and then he realized that he wasnââ¬â¢t going to be. He was sailing off the edge of the map into some unknown region. What to say?The malach took the tree away ââ¬â or maybe it moved by itself ? Ludicrous. Finally, in a creaky voice he managed, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry they didnââ¬â¢t find the tree. Maybeâ⬠¦somehow it got moved.â⬠ââ¬Å"Maybe somehow it got moved,â⬠the sheriff repeated expressionlessly. ââ¬Å"In fact maybe somehow it moved itself the way that all those stop signs and yield signs keep moving themselves away from intersections. Does that ring a bell, Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"No!â⬠Matt felt himself flush deeply. ââ¬Å"I would never move any kind of street sign.â⬠By now the girls were clustered around him, as if they could somehow help by appearing as a group. Bonnie was gesturing vigorously, and her indignant expression made it clear that she wanted to tell the sheriff off personally. ââ¬Å"In fact, Mr. Honeycutt,â⬠Sheriff Mossberg cut in, ââ¬Å"we called your home number first, since thatââ¬â¢s the phone you used to place the report. And your mother said that she hadnââ¬â¢t seen you at all last night.â⬠Matt ignored the little voice that wanted to snap,Is that a crime? ââ¬Å"That was because I got held up ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"By a self-propelled tree, Mr. Honeycutt? In fact we had already had another call about your house last night. A member of Neighborhood Watch reported a suspicious car roughly in front of your house. According to your mother, you recently totaled your own car, isnââ¬â¢t that right, Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠Matt could see where this was going and he didnââ¬â¢t like it. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠he heard himself say, while his mind worked desperately for a plausible explanation. ââ¬Å"I was trying to avoid running over a fox. And ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Yet there was a report of a brand new Jaguar lingering in front of your house, just far enough away from the streetlight to be ââ¬â inconspicuous. A car so new that it had no license plates. Was that, in fact, your car, Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Mr. Honeycuttââ¬â¢s my father!â⬠Matt said desperately. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m Matt. And it was my friendââ¬â¢s car ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"And your friendââ¬â¢s name isâ⬠¦?â⬠Matt stared at Elena. She was making wait gestures, obviously trying to think. To sayElena Gilbert would be suicidal. The police, of all people, knew that Elena Gilbert was dead. Now Elena was pointing around the room and mouthing words at him. Matt shut his eyes and said the words, ââ¬Å"Stefan Salvatore. But he gave the car to his girlfriend?â⬠He knew he was ending his sentence so that it sounded like a question, but he could hardly believe Elenaââ¬â¢s coaching. Now the sheriff was beginning to sound tired and exasperated. ââ¬Å"Areyou askingme , Matt? So you were driving the brand-new car of your friendââ¬â¢s girlfriend. And her name isâ⬠¦?â⬠There was a brief moment when the girls seemed to disagree and Matt hung in limbo. But then Bonnie threw her arms up and Meredith moved forward, pointing to herself. ââ¬Å"Meredith Sulez,â⬠Matt said weakly. He heard the hesitation in his own voice and he repeated, huskily but with more conviction, ââ¬Å"Meredith Sulez.â⬠Now Elena was whispering rapidly in Meredithââ¬â¢s ear. ââ¬Å"And the car was purchased where? Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Matt said. ââ¬Å"Just a second ââ¬â â⬠He put the phone into Meredithââ¬â¢s outstretched hand. ââ¬Å"This is Meredith Sulez,â⬠Meredith said smoothly, in the polished, relaxed tones of a classical music disk jockey. ââ¬Å"Miss Sulez, youââ¬â¢ve heard the conversation so far?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ms.Sulez, please, Sergeant. I have.â⬠ââ¬Å"Did you, in fact, lend your car to Mr. Honeycutt?â⬠ââ¬Å"I did.â⬠ââ¬Å"And where is Mr.â⬠ââ¬â there was a shuffling of paper ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Stefan Salvatore, the original owner of the car?â⬠Heââ¬â¢s not asking her where they bought it, Matt thought. He must know. ââ¬Å"My boyfriend is away from town right now,â⬠Meredith said, still in the same refined, unflappable voice. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know when heââ¬â¢ll be back. When he is, shall I have him call you?â⬠ââ¬Å"That might be wise,â⬠Sheriff Mossberg said dryly. ââ¬Å"These days very few cars are bought with cash on the line, especially brand-new Jaguars. Iââ¬â¢d like your driverââ¬â¢s license number, also. And, in fact, Iââ¬â¢d very much like to speak to Mr. Salvatore when he returns.â⬠ââ¬Å"That may be very soon,â⬠Meredith said, a bit slowly, but following Elenaââ¬â¢s coaching. Then she recited her driverââ¬â¢s license number from memory. ââ¬Å"Thank you,â⬠Sheriff Mossberg said briefly. ââ¬Å"That will be all for ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"May I just say one thing? Matt Honeycutt would never, ever remove stop signs or yield signs. Heââ¬â¢s a very conscientious driver and was a leader in his high school class. You can speak to any of Robert E. Lee High Schoolââ¬â¢s teachers or even the principal if sheââ¬â¢s not on vacation. Any one of them will tell you the same thing.â⬠The sheriff didnââ¬â¢t seem to be impressed. ââ¬Å"You can tell him from me that Iââ¬â¢ll be keeping an eye on him in the future. In fact it might be a good idea if he stopped in the Sheriffââ¬â¢s Department today or tomorrow,â⬠he said, and then the phone went dead. Matt burst out, ââ¬Å"Stefanââ¬â¢s girlfriend? You, Meredith? What if the car dealer says the girl was a blond? How are we going to work that out?â⬠ââ¬Å"We arenââ¬â¢t,â⬠Elena said simply from behind Meredith. ââ¬Å"Damon is. All we have to do is to find him. Iââ¬â¢m sure he can take care of Sheriff Mossberg with a little mind control ââ¬â if the price is right. And donââ¬â¢t worry about me,â⬠she added gently. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re frowning, but everything is going to be fine.â⬠ââ¬Å"You believe that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sure of it.â⬠Elena gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m supposed to stop by the Sheriffââ¬â¢s Department today or tomorrow, though.â⬠ââ¬Å"But not alone!â⬠Bonnie said, and her eyes were sparkling with indignation. ââ¬Å"And when Damon goes with you, Sheriff Mooseburger will end up being your best friend.â⬠ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠Meredith said. ââ¬Å"So what are we doing today?â⬠ââ¬Å"The problem,â⬠Elena returned, tapping an index finger against her upper lip, ââ¬Å"is that weââ¬â¢ve got too many problems at once and I donââ¬â¢t want anybody ââ¬â and I mean anybody ââ¬â going out alone. Itââ¬â¢s clear that there are malach in the Old Wood, and that theyââ¬â¢re trying to do unfriendly-type things to us. Kill us, for one.â⬠Matt basked in the warm relief of being believed. The conversation with Sheriff Mossberg had shaken him more than he wanted to show. ââ¬Å"So we make up task forces,â⬠Meredith said, ââ¬Å"and we split the jobs between them. What problems do we need to plan for?â⬠Elena ticked off the problems with her fingers. ââ¬Å"One problem is Caroline. I really think someone should try to see her, at the very least to try and find out if she has one of thosethings inside her. Another problem is Tami ââ¬â and who knows who else? If Caroline isâ⬠¦contagious somehow, she might have spread it to some other girl ââ¬â or guy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠Meredith said, ââ¬Å"and what else?â⬠ââ¬Å"Someone needs to contact Damon. Try to find out from him anything he knows about Stefan leaving, and also try to get him to go in to headquarters with us to influence Sheriff Mossberg.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, youââ¬â¢d better be on that last team, since youââ¬â¢re the only one Damonââ¬â¢s likely to talk to,â⬠said Meredith. ââ¬Å"And Bonnie should be on it, so she can keep ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No. No Calling today,â⬠Bonnie pleaded. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m so sorry, Elena, but I just canââ¬â¢t, not without a day of rest between. And besides, if Damon wants to talk to you, all you need to do is to walk ââ¬â notinto the forest, butnear it ââ¬â and call to him yourself. He knows everything thatââ¬â¢s going on. Heââ¬â¢ll know youââ¬â¢re there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then I should go with Elena,â⬠Matt reasoned. ââ¬Å"Since that sheriff is my problem. Iââ¬â¢d like to go by the place where I saw the tree ââ¬â ââ¬Å" At once there was a protest from all three girls. ââ¬Å"I said Iââ¬â¢dlike to,â⬠Matt said. ââ¬Å"Not that we should plan for it. Thatââ¬â¢s one spot we know is too dangerous.â⬠ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠Elena said. ââ¬Å"So Bonnie and Meredith will visit Caroline, and you and I will go Damon hunting, all right? Iââ¬â¢d rather go Stefan hunting, but we just donââ¬â¢t have enough information yet.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right, but before you go, maybe stop by Jim Bryceââ¬â¢s house. Matt has an excuse to stop by anytime ââ¬â he knows Jim. And you can check on Tamiââ¬â¢s progress as well,â⬠Meredith suggested. ââ¬Å"Sounds like plans A, B, and C,â⬠Elena said, and then, spontaneously, they all laughed. It was a clear day, with a hot sun shining overhead. In the sunlight, despite the minor annoyance of Sheriff Mossbergââ¬â¢s call, they all felt strong and capable. None of them had any idea that they were about to walk into the worst nightmare of their lives. Bonnie stood back as Meredith knocked at the front door of the Forbes home. After a while of no answer and silence inside, Meredith knocked again. This time Bonnie could hear whisperings and Mrs. Forbes hissing something, and Carolineââ¬â¢s distant laughter. Finally, just as Meredith was about to ring the bell ââ¬â the height of discourtesy between neighbor and neighbor in Fellââ¬â¢s Church ââ¬â the door opened. Bonnie neatly slipped a foot in, keeping it from being shut again. ââ¬Å"Hi, Mrs. Forbes. We justâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Meredith faltered. ââ¬Å"We just wanted to see if Caroline was any better,â⬠she finished in a tinny-sounding voice. Mrs. Forbes looked as if sheââ¬â¢d seen a ghost ââ¬â and sheââ¬â¢d spent all night running from it. ââ¬Å"No, sheââ¬â¢s not. Not better. Sheââ¬â¢s still ââ¬â sick.â⬠The womanââ¬â¢s voice was hollow and distant and her eyes scanned the ground just over Bonnieââ¬â¢s right shoulder. Bonnie felt fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. ââ¬Å"Okay, Mrs. Forbes.â⬠Even Meredith sounded false and hollow. Then someone said suddenly, ââ¬Å"Areyou all right?â⬠and Bonnie realized it was her own voice. ââ¬Å"Carolineâ⬠¦isnââ¬â¢t well. Sheââ¬â¢sâ⬠¦not seeing anyone,â⬠whispered the woman. An iceberg seemed to glide down Bonnieââ¬â¢s spine. She wanted to turn and run from this house and its aura of malevolence. But at that moment Mrs. Forbes suddenly slumped. Meredith was barely able to break her fall. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s fainted,â⬠Meredith said tersely. Bonnie wanted to say,Well, put her on the rug inside and run! But they could hardly do that. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got to take her inside,â⬠Meredith said flatly. ââ¬Å"Bonnie, are you okay to go?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠Bonnie said just as flatly, ââ¬Å"but what choice do we have?â⬠Mrs. Forbes, small as she was, was heavy. Bonnie held her feet and followed Meredith, step by reluctant step, into the house. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ll just put her on her bed,â⬠Meredith said. Her voice was shaky. There was something about the house that was terribly unsettling ââ¬â as if waves of pressure kept bearing down on them. And then Bonnie saw it. Just a glimpse as they stepped into the living room. It was down the hallway, and it could have been the play of light and shadow there, but it looked for all the world like a person. A person scuttling like a lizard ââ¬â but not on the floor. On the ceiling. How to cite The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18, Essay examples
Sunday, December 8, 2019
European Business Organization Law
Question: Discuss about the European Business Organization Law. Answer: Introduction Auditing is the process of checking and verifying the accounts and books of accounts of the organisation so that the shareholders and the public get actual face and position of the organisation. The report focuses on the liability of the auditors after the global financial crisis and the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The given scenario says that while working in the Chartered counting firm, a report has to be prepared for analysing the potential liability of the auditors that they have to face because of the global financial rises. The report discussed the introduction of the global financial crisis and the actual reason behind it. It also discusses that how auditors led to the situation and their role is discussed in relation to the scenario. How the situation of Global financial crisis occurred? As per Amadeo (2016), Global financial crisis is the period in which the markets face a difficulty of shortage of money in the economy. It is the situation which initiated in the year 2007 when the investors of US created a credit crunch. The federal bank of US released a lot of finance into the markets and in the next year i.e. 2008, the situation worsened. The banks created too much of money in a small period of time which lifted up the prices of the goods and services. People began to speculate on the financial markets. Slowly and gradually the amount of debt increased in the economy. Eventually the amount of debts became unplayable for the people because the amount of debts was more than the incomes of people. The payment of debts lead to the insolvency of banks and this finally led to the financial crisis. The people who borrowed too much were asked to repay their debts so they had to sell their assets soon. The prices of property and other products dropped and the banks cut dow n the lending to the borrowers further. This was the period of recession and credit crunch. As a result, the economy shrunk (Davies, 2014). Collapse of Lehman Brothers and role of auditors As per Wiggins, et al. (2015), Lehman Brothers was a firm providing global financial services and it was the fourth largest investment bank in US before it collapsed in the year 2008. Founded in 1850, the firm operated for 158 years. Lehman Brother appointed Ernst Young as their auditor from past many years. These auditors were responsible for auditing the financial statements of the firm and present their option that the financial position of the company is presented in the rue or fair manner or not. Ernst Young was responsible to detect the fraud, if any and communicate it with the audit board of the company. In the year 2008, Lehman brothers declared itself as insolvent which was considered as the biggest insolvency in the financial sector. The firm was in debt with around $619 billion. With the bankruptcy, the 25000 employees of the bank got unemployed at once. It brought financial crisis globally. The bankruptcy led to the downfall of global equity markets and everything else was affected due to it. It was found after the insolvency that Ernst Young used questionable accounting methods. It was found that the accounting transactions were done using Repo 105 which helps in making the results better than they are in real. It also concealed the failure of the bank and the auditors concealed this fact. Ernst Young was believed to know that Lehman Brothers used their liquidity assets which were impaired. Ernst Young was questioned on this case and it didnt accept any wrong practices or knowledge about these findings. It was believed that Ernst Young did not fulfilled its responsibilities and performed against the rules and responsibilities of auditors which is to disclose true and fair view of the books of accounts in public. From the year 2001, Ernst Young was the auditor of Lehman Brothers. But in 2008, the firm filed for bankruptcy even when the books of accounts were verified by the audit firm Ernst Young. According to Ernst Young, they followed the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and the collapse was not because of any accounting mistakes. This incident raised a debate on the role of independent auditors in corporate environment (Wiggins, et al., 2015). Ernst Young charged $31 million for conducting the audit of Lehman Brothers. It is found that the internal auditors of the company tried to give signs of failure and mismanagement of books of accounts but Ernst Young ignored those signs which created the blunder in the financial markets (Chatterjee, 2015). It was also found that Ernst Young was paid a very high amount for concealing these facts and numbers which is denied by the audit firm but the investors of Lehman brothers had big loss because of this incident and they filed a case against the audit firm. Later on, Ernst Young paid $99 million to these investors just to settle the case in the later years (Elliott, 2011). Auditors are responsible for checking and verifying the books of accounts of the companies to inform and present their fair and true opinion in the public. But the same did not happen in the case of Lehman brothers which led to the financial crisis at a global level. It also raised questions on the role of external auditors and their practices (Norgren, 2010). As per Flores (2011), the auditors are responsible for following the International Standards on Auditing for better and true representation of accounts of the company. The users of the financial accounts, the investors believe on them because they think of them as genuine and verified by the auditors. The auditors are liable to follow the professional standards and check each and everything genuinely so that true and fair view can be given. Once, the report is developed, it is to be signed by the auditors to showcase that it is the true opinion of auditor on the companys financial accounts. If the auditors conceal the facts and real situation of the company, it is taken as crime and the auditors are believed to be involved in the fraud which is against the roles of the auditor. The independent and external auditor is responsible for presenting his opinion on the companys financial accounts which should be guarded with the accounting frameworks, rules and guidelines. An auditor is responsible to follow the ethics and do not misrepresent any fact or incidence which can affect the true and fair representation of the books of accounts or the audit report by the auditor. Auditors are responsible to go through the internal control systems of the company and do physical verifications wherever possible. They play a key role in ensuring and protecting the interest of the shareholders as the shareholders believe in the honesty of auditors and have faith on them. The external auditors increases and enhances the value of the audited books of accounts of the firms. The auditor is responsible for assessing the risks in the firm and also responsible for having an independent opinion. They should also have a strong evidence to form their opinion. An auditor should be indep endent which means that he should not be influenced by the client or any other third party. Failing to this will degrade the credibility of the audit report. Auditors take huge amounts of fees for auditing the books of accounts which creates a responsibility to provide enough time, efforts and knowledge in presenting their fair opinion on those accounts. Potential liability that auditors face as a result of Global financial crisis Global financial crisis creates huge impact over the business as this result in impact over the performance of the business. It is the responsibility of the auditor to disclose all the aspects which it has analysed during the audit so as to present all the findings in front of the stakeholders of the business. The silence of the auditor over the financial statements of the company affects the responsibility of the auditor and various questions arise over the role played by the auditor (Amadeo, 2016). The responsibility or the duty of an auditor is to investigate the different aspects of business and present or disclose the findings in front of the stakeholders in a true and fair manner. Auditor need to identify the frauds which are perpetuated deep inside the business. An auditor has no responsibility for the decisions taken by the business and the enhancement or depletion in the performance and profitability of the business. Businesses focus over conducting audit for the purpose of checking the valuation methods selected by the business. In the case of Lehman Brothers, silence of the auditors over the financial statements of the company has disclosed the level of effectiveness of the role played by the auditors in performing their duty (Wiggins, et. al., 2015). From the case of Lehman Brothers it has been analysed that various issues have been identified on the role played by the auditor of the company. It is the duty of auditor to perform their duties or role in a fair and honest manner. The auditors of Lehman Brothers were expected to give fair and honest views over the financial statements of the company so as to display the real situation of the company. Effectiveness needs to be maintained in checking the financial statements by the auditors as the frauds or issues have been identified in the financial statements. After disclosure of the financial crisis of Lehman Brothers the auditors need to be more aware and conscious (Amadeo, 2016). It was their responsibility to apply proper and effective checking techniques for the purpose of providing or disclosing the fair and honest views over the financial statements of Lehman Brothers. Auditors were being criticised for the Lehman Brothers case as this has affected the reputation or image of the auditors. For the purpose of gaining the trust again auditors need to work in an effective manner for presenting the fair view. Different standards have been set for the purpose of guiding the auditors for performing their role in an effective manner. These audit standards have been formed for maintaining the integrity of the auditor for ensuring the fairness of the disclosure of the statements. These audit standards acts as a strategies or solutions for the issues or the problems faced by the auditors during the audit of the financial statements (Wiggins, et. al., 2015). Stakeholder trusts the auditor and assumes that auditor will act in neutral manner between the company and the stakeholder. The motive of the auditor should be to present fair views and conduct audit of the accounts or financial statements of the company. Auditors have right to reject the clients when any doubt or issue has been identified. As the frauds perpetuated in the company or in the environment of the company can affect the fair and honest representation of the financial statements of the company. The clients also need to provide proper space and freedom to auditors in checking the accounts so as to ensure that the audit is done in an effective manner. Auditor must feel free during the process of audit of the financial statements so as to maintain integrity (Norgren, 2010). Conclusion From the execution of this report it can be analysed that it is the responsibility of the auditor to provide fair and honest view of the financial statements of the company so as to analyse the financial condition in front of the stakeholders of the company. Stakeholders have substantial interest in the operation of the company and fair view need to be presented in front of them. In the case of Lehman brothers issues or suspicious activities have been identified by the auditors of the company. Different financial crisis have been analysed which have affected the financial statements of the company. From the audit of Lehman brothers auditors Ernst Young have analysed that various aspects were hidden from the stakeholders of the company. It was a case of concealment of the information from the stakeholders. It is the responsibility of the auditor to ensure that the fair and true disclosure is done of the financial statements of the company which discloses the frauds or the issues affe cting the interest of the stakeholders. After the occurrence of the case of Lehman brothers, integrity of the auditors is at risk which needs to be maintained. Different auditing standards have been prepared by the respective authorities for the purpose of providing support and help to the auditors in performing their duties well. These standards of auditing act as a solution for the issues or problems faced by the auditors during the audit of the financial statements of the company. These standards ensure that these cases are not getting repeated. Disclosure need to be done in an effective manner for providing fair presentation to the stakeholders of the company. Recommendations Recommendations need to be made for the purpose of enhancing the auditing process. These recommendations will help in the fair and honest representation of the financial statements and disclosure of the fair view. Auditors should be ensured that proper checking techniques are implemented and the standards of auditing are correctly followed. Internal audit must be conducted and the auditor needs to engage few auditors at the workplace of the company so as to keep proper and effective check. The auditors need to be set free for the purpose of selection of the client so as to ensure that no fraud is affecting the company and its performance. Proper and effective communication channel should be implemented so as to keep a proper check over the various activities of the company. References Amadeo, K., 2016, 2008 Financial Crisis: Causes, Costs and Could It Reoccur?, thebalance. Chatterjee, P., 2015, Ernst Young Pays $10 Million To Settle Lehman Brothers Audit Failure Lawsuit, CorpWatch. Davies, J., 2014, Global Financial Crisis What caused it and how the world responded, Canstar. Elliott, L., 2011, Global financial crisis: five key stages 2007-2011, the guardian. Flores, C. 2011, "New Trends in Auditor Liability",European Business Organization Law Review (EBOR),vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 415-436. Norgren, C., 2010, The Causes of the Global Financial Crisis and Their Implications for Supreme Audit Institutions, Riksrevisionen. Shah, A., 2013, Global Financial Crisis, Global Issues. Wiggins, R. Z., Bennett, R. L., Metrick, A., 2015, The Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy D: 1 The Role of Ernst Young, Yale program on financial stability case study, 3D-V1.
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