Influence of Women on American History Through the Civil War

The Influence of Women on the Founding of America and Through 1877 Kelley Swatsenbarg Wayland Baptist University – San Antonio Center Mr. Thomas Gaj May 4, 2010 The Influence of Women on the Founding of America and Through 1877 Throughout the many years of history, women have always had some kind of influence over man. Whether it be coercing him, tricking him, or demanding of him, they changed the actions of men. Sometimes it has been completely unintentional; sometimes intentional. Sometimes it has been covertly; sometimes overtly. Sometimes it has been the mothers of great men making decisions about their upbringing; sometimes it has been the choices made by female leaders or leaders wives. The United States in no different; women have been influencing, directly or indirectly, the decision and actions of the men in America starting from the choice to fund Christopher Columbus’s misguided exploration. Famous foreign rulers have influence America, from the beginning of the history of the United States. The first, of course, is the famous Isabella, Queen of Spain, who convinced King Ferdinand to finance Christopher Columbus’s exploration to find a route to Asia by traveling west. Then Elizabeth, Queen of England, decided to try to colonize the Americas to get tax revenue thus causing great numbers of Englishmen to colonize the United States. Some women did what they could within the confines of their traditionally established role of nurturer and were involved in the medical field. Two examples are Susie King Taylor and Mary Edwards Walker. Susie King Taylor traveled with her husband who was in E Company 33rd United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. She was a former slave who became their nurse, laundress, cook, teacher, and even comforted the sick soldiers even on their deathbed. Mary Edwards Walker was also a Union nurse during Civil War who finally won a commission in the army as a surgeon, and was the only woman to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. Dorthea Dix helped organize the Union Army Corp of Nurses and was appointed superintendent of the Union nurses. There was the teacher, Clara Barton, now a famous humanitarian, who, after the outbreak of the Civil War, remained in contact with many former students in the New England Volunteer Regiment that went south. Their mothers gave her gifts for their sons as they thought that she, as a nurse, would be able to get packages to them. She realized that these were not gifts, but rather necessities like soap; from this she created the American Red Cross. She was also a Union nurse who bravely stayed to help surgeons under fire when all the male assistants fled. Some women personally aided soldiers and the underprivileged. One such woman was Margaret Corbin who traveled with her husband to take care of him during the war, doing woman’s work, but was in a battle with her husband. When he died in battle, she took over the cannon; she was wounded and later received the first retired disability pension for a woman. Some women created inspiration in various forms of literature to give hope to the men of this nation. One was Ethel Lynn Beers who wrote poetry and published a poem she'd titled â€Å"The Picket Guard. † The poem was adapted to music and sung by soldiers on both sides in the Civil War. Another woman of inspiration is Lydia Maria Child who wrote An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans_ _that was a key to persuading many Americans of the need for abolition of slavery. Some women were acclaimed worldwide, like Catherine Maria Sedgwick, who wrote numerous historical sketches and biographies. Her writing is considered to be completely American in both thought and feeling; it captured the all of the characterx and manners of New England. Another American author was Mercy Otis Warren, the wife of politician, James Warren; the couple had a close friendship with Abigail and John Adams. John encouraged her to write the history of the American Revolution. Ironically, he ostracized her and her husband because of candid accounts of atrocities against women and children during the war. By far the most famous writer to influence politics was Harriet Beecher Stowe who became a celebrity when she published Tom's Cabin in 1851 depicting the atrocious lives of black slaves in the South. In 1852 she was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln who greeted her â€Å"So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this Great War! † Other women created patriotic symbols which would inspire generations of Americans. Betsy Ross, operated an upholstery shop, became legendary for making the first stars-and-stripes at the request of George Washington which was adopted as the national flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Another example of a woman who inspired is Julia Ward Howe, a famous writer who wrote the celebrated Battle Hymn of the Republic. Many women inspired men through their patriotic activities. One great patriot that inspired Georgia was their most famous female patriot of the Revolutionary War, Nancy Hart, whose steadfast endeavors get rid of British and their sympathizers. However the most famous heroic female patriot, in spite of her flaws, is Dolly Madison, the wife of James Madison and acting first lady for Thomas Jefferson. She could have influence them in their politics, but she inspired the masses with her patriot deeds. During her husband’s tenure as president, the British attacked Washington, D. C. She had the foresight to save not only the silver but also secret documents and a portrait of George Washington which would have likely been destroyed. Another patriot was Molly Pitcher, originally named Mary Ludwig Hays. During the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, she was with her husband on the front lines. Seeing that the soldiers were thirsty, she made her way through ferocious fighting to carry pitchers of water to the artillery gunners, and she even took over her husband’s job as rammer when her husband was wounded and could no longer man the gun mission. Sometimes women invented machines or assisting others in their endeavors to invent. For example, Martha Coston developed an elaborate system of flares called Night Signals that allowed ships to transmit nocturnal messages which was later purchased by the U. S. Navy. Also, Mary Walton patented a method of deflecting smoke stack emissions through water tanks later adapted the system for use on locomotives and invented a noise reduction system for elevated railroads. On the other hand Catharine (Kitty) Littlefield Greene helped Eli Whitney set up his workshop and was among the few people to see his first prototype of the cotton gin. At the time it was able to remove the seed, but the cotton fibers kept getting stuck in the mechanisms. Kitty simply suggested sweeping the fibers off and the rest, shall we say, is history. Some women have taken steps out of the boundaries of the traditional role by being the first woman to surpass a man in a particular field. Among these was Lady Deborah Moody who, because of lack of religious freedom, led a group of followers to the Dutch colony of New Netherland where she founded the settlement of Gravesend in Brooklyn. Also because of views about standard religions, Mary Baker Eddy founded Christian Science as well as the six time Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor. Still other women inspired men to think of women as more equal by making the same achievements as men. First there was Mary Katherine Goddard, the first woman publisher who was asked by the signers of the Declaration of Independence to print the first official copies of the document. There was also Margaret Fuller, the first female foreign correspondent. In medicine, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school, and Sarah Hackett Stevenson was the first female member of the American Medical Association. Sometimes women influence men by political activism like Harriett Delille who campaigned for children’s labor rights or Ester Deberdt Reed who formed a women’s organization that collected $300,000 for Washington’s army. Still others campaigned for workers’ rights like Sarah Bagley who fought for a ten-hour workday. Of course now the laws state that a workday must be no longer than eight hours a day or forty hours per week, but we would not have progressed to where we are without her protesting. Others spoke out for women’s rights like Susan B. Anthony, Isabella Stowe Beecher, Lucretia Coffin Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, just to name a few. Yet others spoke out against slavery like Abby Folsom, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Maria Stewart, and Truth Sojourner. Victoria Woodhull took activism a step further when she became a politician and was the first women to campaign for president of the United States in 1872. Sometimes their influence has simply been by virtue of the fact that they were married to famous men and they have influenced their husbands’ actions. Martha Washington, as we all know, was the wife of President George Washington. She was the first first-lady forming the model for all first ladies to come with her abilities to balance managing a plantation, arranging state dinners and function, visiting troops, and maintaining her relationship with George by supporting and advising him. Abigail Smith Adams was the wife of Samuel Adam and mother of John Quincy Adams who would later become president. She was his confidant, counselor, and advisor sharing her political views with him and even warning him about future problems including women’s rights. Their son, John Quincy Adams married Louisa Adams. Louisa, the only first lady not born in America, is reputed to have made many social calls to help him get elected. Deborah Read Franklin was the common law wife of Benjamin Franklin. She also took over his responsibilities as owner of a printing business and as postmaster while he was away on diplomatic affairs. On the other hand, Elizabeth Schuler Hamilton spent her entire life dedicated to memorializing her husband’s heritage. She even ensured a brass plaque was placed on their son’s grave in Sacramento, California dedicated to Alexander’s patriotism. Sarah Livingston Jay would pass valuable information, and gossip, to her husband, John Jay which helped him while he was secretary of foreign affairs – this position was also the head of Congress and thereby the de-facto head of state. Mary White Morris and her husband Robert Morris were close friends of John and Sally Jay, often having many a long political discussion. While Rebecca Ann Felton, the husband of William Felton, helped him write his speeches while he served as a congressman between 1875 thru 1881. Still other women were simply involved with activities which have influenced domestic politics like, Irene Sanford Emerson who was sued by a former slave, Dred Scott. Mr. Scott traveled with Mr. Emerson while he was in the army stationed in the North; he claimed he had been emancipated as a result of having lived with his master in the free state of Illinois. The court ruled in favor of Mrs. Emerson; Mr. Scott appealed to the Supreme Court where the decision was upheld, but it set the precedence that blacks had a legal right to file suit in a civil court, as previously blacks were considered property and therefore, like a chair, could not litigate. There were also many Native American women who assisted and acted as diplomats for the settlers and colonists. One was Mary Musgrove, an American Indian interpreter, diplomat, and businesswoman. She was raised by Colonists and, because she knew both languages well, she interpreted for James Oglethorpe when he founded the colony of Georgia. She also inherited land from her Native American mother, as their tradition was to pass property down the matriarchal line. The English refused to accept the legality of her property ownership and she took them to court. They negotiated and came to a compromise; some of the land was sold by the British with her receiving the proceeds. Then there was Pocahontas, Native American princess who helped the Jamestown settlers by bringing them food and warning them of her father’s attacks. She was held prisoner by the settlers in an effort to force her father into a peace agreement, but he refused; she eventually converted her to Christianity and married John Rolfe. Because of her position as wife of John Rolfe and daughter of an Indian chief, she was able to maintain peace between the two communities. Sacajawea was another Native American who influenced American politics. She was married to a French man, Toussaint Charbonneau, the guide hired by Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition. Sacajawea went with her husband and interpreted with the Native American Indians. She would translate to Charbonneau in French and he would translate to Lewis and Clark into English. During her trip she gave birth to a son, and, all the while taking care of him, guided the explorers trough Indian lands, protected them from Indian attacks, kept valuable items from being lost–her husband was a klutz, and even found them food to supplement their all-meat diet. Other women covertly did the jobs of men such as Deborah Champion, a teenage girl who bought parcels, messages and pay to General George Washington when soldiers could not. Some other messengers were Behethland Moore and Sybil Ogden Ludington, dubbed the â€Å"female Paul Revere† (she rode about twice as far as he did on his famous ride). Still other women, like Harriet Tubman–a conductor on the Underground Railroad, acted secrectly. The history of the world abounds with famous female spies like Pauline Cushman, a Union spy, became a camp follower of the Confederate army. She was discover, tried in a military court, and sentenced to hang; they delayed her sentence due to her health and she was rescued by Union forces. Upon her return North, President Lincoln made her an honorary major. Elizabeth Van Lew was a famous and effective Union spy. She entered the Confederate Libby Prison on the pretense of humanitarian reasons, and, since the guards thought she was harmless and crazy, she gained information about the strength and disposition of the troops. As her work continued, she devised a way to send coded messages inside eggs. Belle Boyd used her feminine wiles to gain secrets and trap Union soldiers. Others posed as soldiers and fought in war. During the Civil War, Ann Clarke dressed as a man in the Confederate army. She was wounded, taken prisoner, and later released. Prudence Wright gathered a women’s troop and dressed in husbands’ uniforms to defend their city from the British. They captured a British spy and turned him over to the Colonial Army. Deborah Sampson Gannet dressed as man in order to fight in Revolution; her husband received land and was granted the pension of a soldier. During her career she was wounded several times and caught a fever which nearly took her life. If it were not for the fever she would have remained a soldier longer, but a doctor finally discovered her secret, but he did not publicly release the fact, instead he sent her to General George Washington who immediately discharged her. Then there was the famous story of Sarah Emma Edmonds who enlisted in the Union army as Frank Thompson, a male nurse. She effectively guarded her secret for many years even taking on disguises of men and women, blacks and whites to spy. She left the army for medical treatment in an area where she was unknown, when she did this, Frank Thompson was viewed as a deserter. Afterwards, she fought to be recognized for her achievements, and, with a special act of Congress, she was honorably discharged and given a pension. The Confederacy had plenty of female spies too. Included in this number is Antonia Ford who passed along to Confederate J. E. B. Stuart information on Union troop activity. Rose O’Neal Greenhow was such a successful spy that she was imprisoned twice, and then exiled to the Confederate states. She was to tour Britain and France as a propagandist for the Confederate cause; her memoirs were published with a wide sale throughout the British Isles. She obtained more and more sympathy for the South. There was also the case of Loreta Janeta Velazquez who enlisted in disguise and served at Manassas/Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh under the name Lieutenant Harry T. Buford. She also claims to have served as a spy and worked working as a double agent for the Confederacy in the service of the U. S. Secret Service. To this day no one can determine if in fact any of these accounts are true,, although a newspaper report mentions a Lieutenant Bensford arrested when it was disclosed â€Å"he† was actually a woman giving her name as Alice Williams. Even in Colonial times America was full of willing female spies and messengers such as Dicey Langston was a teenage colonial spy who forded a river, up to her shoulders, to get details of British troop movement to the colonial army. And then there was Emily Geiger a messenger for General Greene in the Colonial army. Coming from the direction of Greene's army, she was suspected and confined to a room. The officer sent for a woman to search her for papers. She sought to destroy the letter; once the door was shut, she ate up the letter, piece by piece. Lydia Darragh was a mortician and would watch British troops from the window of her house. She sent messages about their activities through one of her sons and then to another soldier to get information to Washington’s Army. British officer Major Andre commandeered her house, but allowed the family to stay in the house. She could then listen in on their plotting and send word of their plans. Others’ influences were merely accidental like Peggy O’Neale Eaton, married Senator John Eaton in 1828 during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Many gossiped about her colorful past and seeming infidelity with her first husband, when she married Eaton, she shunned by cabinet members’ wives due to her assumed sordid past. The behavior of the ladies towards her and the influence upon their husbands created such a disaster that the cabinet fell apart–Jackson fired them all. An unintentional influence on men’s actions was Betsy Loring who was General Howe’s mistress; although she was the wife a loyalist, she distracted General Howe by â€Å"entertaining† and distracting him from battles with General Washington. The United States of America owes an enormous debt to Mary Ball Washington. She set the example of solid morals and religious opinions, and even read to her children aloud. We need to thank her for one incidentally decision that she made regarding the future of her son. When George was fourteen years old, his half-brother Lawrence obtained a midshipman’s warrant for him in the English naval service. George was already packed and ready to go, but his mother refused to give her consent at the last minute. So, because of an inadvertent decision, George Washington became the Father of Our Country and our first President instead of an English naval officer. In conclusion, in all nations, including the United States, women have been influencing, either directly or indirectly, the decision and actions of the men. Regardless of whether we believe that changes women have made are good or bad, they have helped define this great nation of ours, and, as the French say, â€Å"Viva la difference. Collins, G. (2003). America’s Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Roberts, C. (2004_) Founding Mothers: the Women Who Raised Our Nation. _ New York: HarperCollins Publishers Roberts, C. (2008). Ladies of Liberty: the Women Who Shaped Our Nation. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Taylor, S. K. (2004). The Diary of Susie King Taylor, Civil War nurse. Tarrytown, NY: Benchmark books Zall, P. M. (1991). Founding Mothers: Profiles of Ten Wives of America’s Founding Fathers. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books

Thoreau, New Mexico Report

Kaitlyn Willett Thoreau, New Mexico City Report Practically all residents pronounce the town's name like â€Å"thuh-roo† (similar to â€Å"through† or â€Å"threw†) and definitely not like â€Å"thorough† or â€Å"throw. † Thoreau lies along Interstate 40 and the historic U. S. Route 66. The climate in Thoreau is desert, with sparse vegetation typical of the region. Common plants include pinyon pine and juniper trees, sagebrush, tumbleweeds, and some short, sparse grasses. Summers are relatively mild, due to Thoreau's high elevation and persistently low humidity.Cold, persistent, very high winds are common in spring, usually through much of the month of March. Thoreau supports three public schools in the Gallup-McKinley County Public School District. The public school mascot is the hawk, and the school colors are green and gold. In addition to the Navajo traditional beliefs (medicine men and Native American church) the Saint Bonaventure Catholic mis sion and several Protestant denominations are also active in Thoreau, including Baptists, Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Church of Christ, Church of God, and some independent congregations.The Native American culture and history is strong in Thoreau. The Navajo Nation operates a Chapter House here, and many Navajo residents speak their native language. Thoreau is a local trading center for artisans including rug weaving, sand painting, silver making, pottery making, and turquoise jewelry making. Anasazi archaeological sites connecting with Chaco Canyon can be found in and around the town. In Thoreau, there are only 73. 7% American Indians, 13. 3% Hispanic, and 12. 9% White. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,863 people, 532 households, and 405 families. Thoreau is your typical western setting.Hot days, cold nights, and lots of sand. Rattlesnakes and lizards are commonly found just about everywhere so you have to watch your every step. Though it gets pretty hot, the wind there will knock you down. History is all throughout Thoreau. It is home to the Navajo Indians and once to the Pueblos. The Pueblo Indian ruins are found in Chaco canyon and many are still standing. But how did the Navajo make their way to New Mexico? Starting in the spring of 1864, around 9,000 Navajo men, women and children were forced on The Long Walk of over 300 miles to Fort Sumner, New Mexico. It was a failure for a combination of reasons.It was designed to supply water, wood, supplies, and livestock for 4,000–5,000 people; it had one kind of crop failure after another; other tribes and civilians were able to raid the Navajo; and a small group of Apaches had been moved there. In 1868, a treaty was negotiated that allowed the surviving Navajos to return to a reservation that was a portion of their former nation. I bet almost everyone in here has never in their life heard of Thoreau, New Mexico. But though it is not commonly heard of, it is full of history and culture. To the Navaj o Indians to the huge red mountains and cliffs, it is a town worth visiting.

Jollibee’s Success in the Philippines Essay

Jollibee is the Mcdonald’s of the Philippines. From a simple ice-cream parlor in 1975, it has explored the concept of hot meals and sandwiches in 1978 and since then revolutionized the concept of fast food in the Philippines. 1984 saw Jollibee hit the Top 500 Philippine Corporations. 1987 landed the fast food chain into the country’s Top 100 Corporations. It became a billion-peso corporation in 1989. Today, there are 600 branches of Jollibee in the Philippines and about 50 abroad. Analysis of Jollibee’s Success in the Philippines The Philippines is a small, third-world country in south-east Asia. Like many asians, Filipino people eat their meals with rice and they prefer it home-cooked. However, due to the urbanization of the capital city in the late 70’s and the modernization required for economic development, Filipinos had to settle for less than the best: the turo-turo style. Way before the term â€Å"fastfood† reached the vocabulary of the Filipinos, people in the Philippines had eaten turo-turo style. Turo-turo is where ready-to-eat and ready-to-go entrees arrayed in steam-heated trays, are always ready to be eye-balled by hungry and harried customers. If you wait more than 20 minutes to get your food, it’s not considered as a turo-turo restaurant. Jollibee’s claim to have revolutionized the concept of fast food in the Philippines is probably correct. The company claims that the secrets of its success are â€Å"superior menu line-up, creative marketing programs, and efficient manufacturing and logistics facilities. It (success) is made possible by well-trained teams that work in a culture of integrity and humility, fun and family-like. † Success did not come easy as Jollibee is not exactly the first â€Å"fastfood† in the Philippines. Wendy’s from the USA came first and that is where Jollibee â€Å" conceived† the idea of sandwhiches and hotmeals served in less than twenty minutes to cater to the urbanized city of Manila. Competition has been tough for the first few years however Jollibee made the right decision to â€Å"Philippinize† its concept starting with market research. It was hypothesized that the Filipinos love not actually the home-cooked meals served by their wives but the smell and aroma of the meals served at home. Capitalizing on this theory, Jollibee launched the slogan, â€Å"langhap-sarap† which in English translates to â€Å"smells delicious†. Also, knowing the heart and soul of every Filipino is the family, Jollibee made itself cater not to individual professionals in the modern city but to the family as a whole. Jollibee became a red, giant bee mascot children adore. Jollibee easily became a household name in the market. The most notable commodity Jollibee offered is the chicken joy. When you step inside a single branch of Jollibee, you can actually smell the crispy, golden chicken being deep fried to juicy tenderness. In Jollibee, hamburger patty is being eaten with gravy and served with rice and they call it the burger steak. Same as any product, this one â€Å"smells delicious†. Another notable thing about Jollibee is how spaghetti is flavored. The spaghetti of Jollibee is sweet as Filipinos put sugar in their spaghetti and not much tomatoes. This menu line-up thanks to research on the wants of Filipinos, target customer and the use of mega-superstars as endorsers put Jollibee at the top of the fastfood industry in the Philippines. Jollibee in the USA The Jollibee branch located in San Francisco area is supposed to cater to the voluminous home-sick Filipinos working in the city. This Jollibee branch looks like a normal Jollibee branch in the Philippines. The most notable difference is the price of the food. Jollibee in the USA is more expensive than McDonald’s. They also accept credit cards which is a facility not found in any of the Jollibee branches in the Philippines. The commodities sold is also very different. Though they market it as the same â€Å"smells delicious† chicken joy from the Philippines, the chicken hardly smells nor looks delicious. It doesn’t have the same crispy juiciness as that of the local branches and it tastes mostly of salt. The burger steak is still served with rice though the hamburger patty is bigger and spaghetti is not as sweet as it should be, Filipino-style. The fusion of two states could be blamed for the high pricing as Jollibee might be adjusting to the cost of putting up a branch in San Francisco where raw materials are considerably more expensive. However, the objective of catering to home-sicked Filipinos is not met, in my opinion, as this Jollibee, though the same as in the home country in name, is not the same in every other aspect.

Memorandum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Memorandum - Essay Example The agreement between the parties was solely directed towards the two parties involved innovative cancer treatment and the hope hospital. The exhibits bearing proof to this consent are the claimant’s exhibit number 6,which is the sales and licensing agreement of the two parties involved. An active scanning technology equipment was purchased by the seller and a license showing that the equipment was indeed sold was issued out. The license also revealed the terms to which the claimant was entitled to and their permanent use of the software equipment sold. In addition, the exhibit also show cased that the claimant was expected to co-operate in the development of the software equipment purchased by the buyer. A copyright of the agreement was also availed to innovative cancer treatment allowing them to sell the software equipment under their ownership and without bearing any liability. The claimant was also entitled to file a case against the purchaser in cases where the agreement is neglected or not followed in the courts of Mediterraneo which was within their jurisdiction. Claimant’s exhibit number 7 also attest to the agreement between the two parties. It clearly states that innovative cancer treatment did not stick to the terms of the agreement. They sited that the engineers who were tasked with ensuring the effective operation of the software equipment did not play their role as they did not check the equipment for repair of defective parts. Secondly, the exhibit also states that the sold software could not perform as guaranteed since an example was that room number was left unused because patients did not receive effective health care services of treatment from the software equipment. Lastly, the exhibit also pointed that hope hospital was running on losses is stead of finding the use of the equipment cost effective as promised by the seller,

Parson, the birth of modern politics ( U.S. History to 1865 ) Essay - 1

Parson, the birth of modern politics ( U.S. History to 1865 ) - Essay Example Historians have argued that Andrew Jackson was a person who showed people what it meant to be in a political arena. Some of the actions may have been positive while others negative, but he managed to enter the books of history about what politics really involves; honor, ethics, democracy, conflicts, racism and liberation. Lynn Hudson Parson argues about how modern politics came to exist. In the 1828 presidential election, Andrew Jackson, who was a Major General, contested against John Quincy Adams and this election was what was viewed to be one that will be remembers through history. It was viewed as the first truly democratic presidential election which implemented campaign tactics (Parsons, 99). In that presidential election, Andrew Jackson, a hot-tempered and whose education was not perfect showed his supporters that he was a man of the people, genuine of his word and this made him make history after defeating an aristocrat whose education and political experience matched no other. The election led to the coordination of media, fund-raising, rallies be organized, polling of opinion, use of campaigns and research on opposition in order to gain an upper hand at the elections. In The Birth of Modern Politics, Parsons goes on to bring out Andrew as a man who made a historical achievement. Parson goes on to say how the contest brought out a national debate that involved incitements against each other in terms of culture, social life and the economic values of people. Those whose intentions were pure and had an interest in community development were pitted against those who believed that the only way communities would grow stronger is not by them standing together, but as individuals with the freedom to ensure that their own interests were satisfied above others. Despite the difference in backgrounds between Andrew and Quincy, they had the same values at heart, and

Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Critical Thinking - Essay Example The article â€Å"Yes: It Provides Protection for Children,† written by Steve Francis and Gayle Francis, assert that teenagers cannot make this abortion decision on their own, and so they need their parents or adults to help them get through this crisis. Steve Francis and Gayle Francis argue that Proposition 4 will be good for concerned teenagers, parents, and society in general. It will be good for teenagers, because they can access the emotional and social support that their parents or adult family members can give them. Francis and Francis assert that during these sensitive times, girls need their parents to help them cope with physical and psychological trauma of abortion. Furthermore, they emphasize that this proposition will protect girls from male predators, who will force them to do an abortion. Parents will also benefit from this proposition, because they can ensure that their children receive quality health care, including post-operation health care services. Francis and Francis argue, too, that states with parental involvement laws have lower percentages of teen pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted infections than states without these laws. Finally, they underline that this proposition is good for society, beca use it is aligned to existing laws that protect the youth from sexual predators and it can ensure that the youth will not have to make this hard decision on their own. The strength of this article is that it wants to ensure that teenagers get enough social support when making life-changing decisions. It suggests sincere belief in the paternal role of the state in protecting the welfare of the youth. Their article, however, possesses several fallacies, specifically overgeneralization, statement of opinion as facts, and weak inductive argument. Francis and Francis give an example of a 13-year-old girl from the San Francisco Bay Area. A 39-year-old man got her pregnant and brought her to a clinic for an abortion. A few days after, the

What is the best nursing intervention to prevent urinary tract Essay

What is the best nursing intervention to prevent urinary tract infection for older people - Essay Example Very few of the nursing interventions have been studied and proven to be safe and useful to the patient. The paper will mainly focus on the best available evidencesupporting nursing interventions for the elderly that suffer from incontinence and urinary tract infections. Older people will be the main focus because of their vulnerability to infections (Miller, 2008) and the care provided to them. Definitions of both terms will be provided and an analysis of each will be done based on the best nursing interventions. Protocols and policies concerning the prevention of urinary tract infections will be looked at and of major interests will be examined from a range of countries. The subject is very important because it provides an insight into the issues concerning incontinence and urinary tract infection in the elderly adults. It also provides information of the best nursing practices that can be used in the prevention of these conditions and provide a future plan for the control and prevention of such conditions. Incontinence is a very common, disturbing and potentially immobilizing condition in the elderly or geriatric population. Incontinence can be defined as an involuntary loss of the stool or urine in adequate quantities or frequency to comprise a health and/or a social problem (Vieria, 2009). The condition is heterogeneous and it varies in severity from the occasional incidents of trickling small quantities of urine to a continuous urinary incontinence and associated fecal incontinence (Abrass, Kane and Ouslander, 2004). Older persons with incontinence are not usually severely bedridden, demented or in the nursing homes. Many of these patients in the community and in the institutions are ambulatory and their mental functioning is good (Abrass, Kane and Ouslander, 2004). Incontinence has impact on the self-esteem of the patient and there is the usual fear of soiling or wetting during a sexual intercourse and this has a

Culture Shock and Poor Adjustment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Culture Shock and Poor Adjustment - Essay Example The discussion can be put into perspective by considering the altering trends in the pantheon of cultural research. In the 19th century, the problem of cultural group independence was introduced for the first time by Sir Francis Galton in his work over correlation (Bird and Fang, 2009, p. 139). Galton stated that the cultural groups could not be considered entirely independent of each other because of the strong relationships created by the processes of cultural transfusion. As a result, the focus of research became cultures in toto and little work was done to draw comparisons across cultures. During the 1950s, the cultural change had attracted a lot of scholarly attention which led to the evolution of cultural ecology as a response to the natural environment (Steward, 1955). During the 1970s, there occurred rapid theoretical development in the field of anthropology’s cultural research. Keesing (1974) differentiated between the ideational theory of culture in which culture is visualized as the structural, symbolic, and cognitive systems, and the ecological theory of culture in which culture is visualized as an adaptive system. Efforts were made to deal with the complex matter of culture by â€Å"cutting . . . the culture concept down to size†¦[into] a narrowed, specialized, and†¦theoretically more powerful concept†.In order to understand the effect of internationalization of the telecommunications organization that is currently based in the UK, there is need to explore the country differences in the culture of organizations. â€Å"The effect size of country at the individual and organization levels, while not expected to be the same, is expected to be related, if it is accepted that differences in individual level characteristics (e.g. cultural values) of organizational members do, to some degree, translate into organization level differences in culture† (Gerhart, 2008, p. 264). Nelson and Gopalan (2003) conducted a large-scale mu lti-country research to measure the organization culture. To achieve this, they collected the data of a total of 288 organizations based in three countries with very different cultures i.e. India, the United States, and Brazil. The researchers first obtained the organization culture profiles for each of the three countries and then determined the extent to which the cultures complied with the national culture profiles for the countries from which the organizations were selected. Nelson and Gopalan (2003) found that the culture of 79 per cent of the organizations was not isomorphic with their respective national cultures of the countries. Another research on the country based differences in

Critical evaluation of about 4 pages on the Accenture article on the Essay - 1

Critical evaluation of about 4 pages on the Accenture article on the Innovation Death Spiral - Essay Example According to the CEO of Apple Inc Tim Cook, innovation may create new market share and new customers for the organization. In order to fulfil such views, the organization created a new invention named Apple i-pad. This proved extremely effective for the organization in the age of recession in order to amplify its profit margin and productivity. However, after a very small period of time, the organizational performance started declining significantly thereby reducing its image and reliability in the market among other rival players as presented by the below figure. Therefore, as per Mr. Tim Cook, the organization of Apple Inc became trapped in the process of ‘Innovation death spiral’. According to this process, the organization develops new products with the desire that it might present high results but yields up with disappointing results. However, in order to balance such a phenomenon, Tim Cook, implemented balancing innovation strategy in order to rectify such trouble, as innovation is considered as an engine. In order to retain the portfolio and reputation of the organization, Tim Cook decided to offer higher concentration over the field of research and development. Only then, the organization might analyse and evaluate the demands and preferences of the customers in an effective way (Innovation management, 2011). So that, after developing and launching the products, it might offer high-ended results to the organization of Apple Inc that might amplify its net income and market share. In order to do so, the CEO, Tim Cook developed varied types of products such as I-pad mini, iphone 5, iMac and many others. By inventing a series of above mentioned products, the total sales of the organization of Apple Inc increased by almost 50 percent in the period of recession as well as compared to other rival players such as Microsoft (Mysticdots, 2012). Apart from this, in order to save the organization from falling in the

Recycled toothbrushes make sense Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Recycled toothbrushes make sense - Assignment Example Stonyfield was potential enough to provide Recycline with discarded yogurt containers as raw-materials through its collection points introduced as the new Gimme 5 program. The partnership could also promote consumers concerns on environmental issues and thereby the demand for green products that Recycline used to manufacture. This growing concept of sustainable business encouraged people to drop plastic containers at the disposal points from where Recycline could collect them easily. Hudson can be further innovative with the marketing tactics in order to enhance the sales of its green products. Like any other business marketing, Recycline can also utilize the advantages of various advertising techniques. Obviously, the notable feature of its eco-friendly approach to business can be highlighted for the promotion of sale. Like the partnership with Stoneyfield, Hudson can seek possibility of collaborating with non-profit organizations which encourage sustainable businesses and green products. In addition, he can announce certain compliments along with each sale so that it would retain Recycline’s potential customers and would attract new clients. Finally, Hudson can inquire if the products could be sold through fair trade outlets by acquiring fair trade certification from the responsible agencies. Environmental risk management has become one of the significant areas of an organization’s legal as well as ethical compliance. As an emerging trend organizations today voluntarily undertake environmental protection. Since ‘green brand’ is the major competitive advantage of Recycline, the company can launch new products that would align with its sustainable policy. It should explore the scope of implementing modern information technology for enhancing internal and external communication and organizational integration. As the firm grows further, it should restructure its hierarchy

Child Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Child Development - Essay Example This report stresses that the childhood of the anti-socials had been full of negligence and deprival which has sucked out all their humanity and fellow feelings. Same can be said about children who spend their childhood in an orphanage where there is no one to specially care for each child. Such children spend a childhood of depression and when they grow up, often develop pessimistic approach towards life. Moreover, since the commencement of human civilization, human beings have learnt to depend on one another to satisfy their basic needs. Thus the nature of dependence on one another is the integral feature of mankind. Now, if a child is deprived of his right at the start of the life, this will obviously hamper the natural growth and development of its mind and consequently develop a sense of loneliness at a later stage in life. This paper makes a conclusion that proper care is very important for a child to help it grow up into an ideal human being and lead a normal life. This care must be selfless and unconditional in nature, which can only be expected from a child’s mother. Researchers have found how a traumatic and painful childhood can hamper the proper mental development of a child, sometimes even leading a person to develop negative feelings towards the society. This is why sensitive mothering is very important for a child.

Imperial Presidency Essay Example for Free

Imperial Presidency Essay The Imperial Presidency The Imperial Presidency is a term that was created and made known by Arthur Schlesinger. The term is defined as a belief that the presidency is becoming too powerful. The modern president has many powers that the founding fathers did not intend for them to have. This increase in power has started ever since the formation of president Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and World War II. The term conveys a president that has imperial powers and is authoritarian. The president can make many decisions that the founding fathers did not intend for him to have the power to make. This includes calling a state of emergency, and declaring war without putting it through congress first. These powers are not necessarily bad but they can be taken advantage of. This violates the role the founding fathers intended congress to have. They intended congress to be the center of decision-making. The modern president also has a large Executive staff. It is the president’s staff making big decisions on his behalf that has caused the president to become more powerful. Presidents also have the right to secrecy and they can withhold any information they want from the public. One historical example of Imperial presidency would have to be the role of Colonel Oliver North in the funding to the Contras in Nicaragua, under the presidency of Reagan. This was a huge contravention of a United States Congressional ban, and exemplifies just how much influence and power one member of a large White House staff could have. This was a huge disaster for Reagan and the Government of the United States since it had been â€Å"illegally financing a civil war of the Contra guerrillas against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. According to the constitution, the president is Command and Chief of the military forces of the United States. Therefore he is able to declare war at any time, without the consent of congress. This is one of the most powerful powers that the president holds. The president also has the power to sign or veto all legislative bills passed by the congress. Thus giving him more power than congress, which is not what is ideally supposed to be, unless Congress over-rides the veto by a two-thirds vote. These are two formal owers that the president uses in order to promote imperial presidency. There are many informal powers that the president uses to expand his role as an imperial president. One of them is the fact that the president has more access to information, knowledge, or expertise than Congress does. This once again puts the president in ahead of congress in being the most powerful. Another informal power the president has is the power to make an executive agreement. An Executive Agree ment is the pact made by the president with heads of foreign nations. They do not need congressional approval. So congress would not have a say in these agreements. Personally, I do believe that the imperial Presidency does exist. It is no news that the president’s executive staff has gradually increased since Roosevelt. These staff members that hold personal loyalty to the president, have powers that they were never intended to have. The power that the White House Chief to Staff position holds is nothing that ever was in the past presidents of the earlier centuries. The large number of officials surrounding the president and only listening to him, along with many other examples, suggests that an imperial presidency certainly does exist. I do believe that an imperial presidency is very necessary right now in the 21st century. The world is becoming more and more powerful, and our country needs a kinglike leader to lead it or else congress will never decide on anything. Congress is now a party based body of government. Their actions tend to focus of what is best for their party rather than what is best for the country.

The Murray Darling Basin: An Analysis

The Murray Darling Basin: An Analysis The Murray-Darling Basin covers 1,061,469 square kilometres or approximately one-seventh (14%) of the total area of Australia. The Three longest rivers in Australia the (Darling River, the Murray river, The Murrumbidgee river) all run through the Murray-Darling Basin. The Murray Darling Basin is home to the most diverse ecosystem in Australia. It has at least 35 endangered species of birds, 16 species of endangered mammals and over 35 different native fish species. Unfortunately 20 species of mammals have already become extinct. It supports hydroelectricity, irrigation, domestic, industrial, recreational and leisure activities. It also produces over 40% of all Australian yield which is used in domestic and overseas markets. The aim of this report is to look at the three main issues regarding the Murray Darling Basin; the water quality, Droughts and Flood in the river and Blue-Green Algae. This report reflects on some of the effects these issues are having on the Murray Darling Basin. The final section of this report will make some recommendations to solve these problem. These issues are effecting the health of the Murray River and are damaging it as we speak. Current precautions and programs have not been able to arrest environmental damage. Blue Green Algae Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria known as Cyanobacteria. Blue-green algae are a natural part of the freshwater environment. In favourable conditions they reproduce at very high rates to form blooms which are explosions in growth that dominate the aquatic environment, forming scums that can be toxic. Blue-Green algae interfere with other uses of the water and can affect human health and have far-reaching consequences for the environment and the economy. Algae need stable water columns, Nutrients and sunlight to bloom. If these factors all combine together and then persist for a few days, blue-green algae cells will accumulate in the surface layer of the water body and if the conditions persist for several days or more, the cells can multiply to dramatic numbers eventually forming a bloom. They need little or no flow, calm weather with little or no wind and hot sunny days; these factors allow the water column to stratify, which is where a layer of warm surface water remains unmixed with the cooler, deeper water. Stratification can also result from differing densities through the water column, where saltier, denser water at the bottom remains unmixed with the fresher surface water above. There are many Dams built along the Murray-Darling Basin which restrict the flow of the river (little or no flow). As we are one of the hottest nations in the world it is natural to have hot weather. European farming have removed 15 billion trees. They: Influence water quality by initiating undesirable tastes and odours Discolouration and unattractive scums. Are toxic with some species producing toxins Can cause liver damage, stomach upsets and disorders of the nervous system in humans. Contact with high centralizations of blue-green growth can result in skin and eye aggravations. Although: Each State has extensive monitoring arrangements to detect and measure algae comprehensive emergency plans for dealing with algal blooms detailed arrangements for alerting the public about health risks Water supply authorities have advanced treatment techniques to remove dissolved toxins. The problem of Algae is still a big threat to the basin and it is increasing. I advise the construction of more sewage treatment plants along the Murray-Darling Basin. Instead of dumping the sewage straight into the Basin it would be wise to treat the water before dumping the water into the Basin or we could re-use the water after it is treated. I will also like to recommend to increase the flow of the river. A big machine similar to a blender be planed inside the basin which would blend the water in the river preventing Algae to bloom. If such technology is not available then maybe the government would consider to fund engineers to come up with a device/machine like described above or even better. Changes in Drought and Flood patterns Drought and flood are a natural phenomenon in the Murray–Darling Basin. Throughout wet years, the streams of the Basin will overflow into floodplains. However during times of drought the rivers become strings of disconnected waterholes along the course of the riverbed. On average, the natural flow into the Basin is around 33,000 GL per year but this varies greatly from year to year. Human uses of water has highly regulated the system with many structures such as dams, locks and weirs resulting in increasing impact on both drought and flood. After almost a decade of drought, a return to wetter conditions throughout the Basin in 2010 led to widespread flooding. This resulted in the inundation of many floodplains and refilling of the Basins water storages. The basins total water storage increased from 32% to 81% during 2010-11. It enabled numerous species to recover from the impacts of a long dry season. Climate change studies predict that the climate of the Murray–Darling Basin is likely to become drier in the future, due to the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Many places along the basin suffer the worst from drought as they are in risk of not obtaining enough drinking water to support its population let alone its farmers. There is a projected impact of a 10% reduction in the average surface water availability across the whole Basin in 2030. Total losses caused by the severe 1982-1983 drought, for example, were estimated by the Australian Government to exceed $3 billion. The long-term health of the whole system is currently in danger. It has also been discovered that 4% of water that Australia gets from rainfall reaches the sea from the basin. Operation of the River Murray system is based primarily upon the control and management of the four main storages: Dartmouth Reservoir Hume Dam Menindee lakes storage scheme Lake Victoria In times of drought water is used from the dam’s storage for all activities. They provide safety to towns and cities from the tolls of flood and it will take a lot of time and money to recover. The government of Australia provides drought packages to support our farmers in major water crisis. Many areas in Australia have water restrictions to help conserve water for future use. Some areas also usewater recycling,desalinationplants and dig bores into the ground to get more water for their residents like that in Western Australia which was the first state to tap the ocean as a source of public drinking water produces 130 million litres of freshwater a day. I would like to recommend large scale constructions of desalination plants along coastal areas, it will help Australia to meet the demands of the increasing population of Australia at present and in the future; and to cope through major droughts. I would also like to recommend construction of dams in Queensland as they receive the most rainfall, but the water is not trapped and is hence wasted. Instead of using the rain water, they take water from the Basin to support their needs. The water can be used for all purposes. I would recommend the construction of more water storage facilities in drier parts of the county like Adelaide. It would also be wise for the government to stop the 4% of water obtained by rain from reaching the sea. Water Quality Salinity means the amount of salt content in soil or water. European farming practices replaced native vegetation with crops and pasture. As a result, the plants designed to deal with salinity issues were removed. This resulted in the increasing of salinity problem. It affects ecosystem health, reduce drinking quality and cause economic loss in agriculture. It affects native vegetation, crops, pasture, wetlands and river systems; it destroys native habitat and decreases biodiversity. With current practices there are no signs that the process of salinisation will slow down or be reversed within the foreseeable future. The quality of the Murray darling basin can also trigger algal growth. Matter disposed in the water carries nutrients which reduce the penetration of light which affects aquatic plants and animals. Lower water temperatures due to the release of water from deeper layers held in dams during summer can damage downstream ecological systems. Higher temperatures resulting from lack of flow from clearing of vegetation may worsen algal blooms. The water has low levels of dissolved oxygen because floodplains are flushed with organic matter which discolour the river water and make it appear blackish. The blackish water can sometimes become very low in dissolved oxygen resulting in the harm of aquatic plants and animals. Although these events can have a positive impact on the environment as they put nutrients back into the system which promotes the growth of many aquatic organisms. Although, there have been actions taken to solve these issues: The setting up of salt interceptions schemes throughout the Basin has helped to alleviate the problem of salinity. Toxins produced by Algae and other harmful particles are filtered and the water is purified before it is supplied to places. Many nutrients are put back into the water to promote the growth of many aquatic organisms. The government of Australia funds many water cleaning programs like: The Australian Government has signed an agreement with the Australian Capital Territory that will see up to $85 million of Australian Government funds available to help clean up Canberra’s lakes and waterways. Have not had a very significant effect on the issues. The government of Australia funds many water cleaning programs like: The Australian Government has signed an agreement with the Australian Capital Territory that will see up to $85 million of Australian Government funds available to help clean up Canberra’s lakes and waterways. I would also recommend the government to encourage farmers to practise water efficient farming and use pants that have roots which go deep into the earth to get their nutrients. The government should plant trees or bushed which remove salt from the water and soil like the salt bush. If current water problems continue Adelaide will run out of healthy drinking water by 2020. The government of Australia should also consider the introduction of strict laws and heavy penalties for dumping waste into the basin. Conclusion The issues of the Murray darling basin are increasing. Ninety percent of Adelaide’s population is dependent on the basin for their drinking water. Most of these issues were not an issue in the early 18-19 century. Everything was natural and all issues had a solution, but increase in human activities have made these issues big. If nothing is done about these issues, Australia will have a very tough time surviving. These issues are increasing even with the current actions being taken, because of the increasing population, activities and demand of Australia. Australia is growing vastly every day; new towns are being constructed, people are migrating, increase in mining and increase in farming. Australia needs water to support all these activities. If current conditions continue Australia will not be able to produce enough food and water to support its population let alone export anything. The agriculture industry consistently accounted for around 20 per cent of manufacturing sale s and service income and in 2009–10($24.3 billion) it provided jobs for 226,750 Australians. The economy of Australia will crash and it will have to import even the basic of foods. The ecosystem will not be able to recover and eventually Australia will run out of water. It has also been predicted that in the future there will be many wars for the sole purpose of obtaining water. Many advices included in this report will help solve other inter related issues, e.g. Construction of de-salination plant will help improve the water quality and to cope through major drought as well as Algae. The Australian government should consider the advices included in this report as they will help improve the health of the basin and ensure that Australia will have enough water in the future to support its increasing population. Bibliography

Primary Health Care In Grenada Health And Social Care Essay

Primary Health Care In Grenada Health And Social Care Essay Primary Health Care service delivery in the Health sector in Grenada is public based, meaning, health clinics, emergency room care, general hospital and a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) for insurance, as well as private based, with the provision of private health insurance and private hospitals, such as St. Augustine. As a result it employs the use of both solo and group practice. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Employment status of Physicians: The Caribbean in general is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals and Grenada is not immune to this problem. A major contributing factor is that many medical professionals leave to work in other countries, creating a situation of braindrain. It was estimated by the U.N. that around 70% of native born Grenadian physicians leave and work overseas, (UN population statistics, 2010) Grenada has a low physician to population at 8.1 for 10,000 people for comparison Mexico has 20 per 10,000, (PAHO). It is estimated that there are approximately 110 physicians currently working in the health sector in Grenada. A small section of these physicians serve as independent contractors, most of whom are specialist with a few general practioners. A greater majority of those however are in private practice but are still employed in public practice, providing healthcare services at their private establishments and/or the private hospital as well as providing healthcare services through the pub lic health facilities, health centers and hospitals. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Population Served: All citizens of Grenada and foreigners, mainly SGU students and visitors are able to get access to the healthcare facilities. The general population of Grenada served, excluding foreigners, is approximately 93,000. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Types of Hospitals: Grenadas health policy aims at ensuring that every Grenadian has access to quality health services. The Grenadian government has embraced the concept of primary health care as the main strategy for improving the populations health status. As part of its aim to attain health for all by the year 2000 it has adopted the goals and targets established through the Caribbean Cooperation in Health initiative as the priorities for its health services. Grenada is divided into seven health districts, six of which have a health center with most services and an additional 30 medical stations. These are major primary care facilities and usually serve as the first point of contact within the Grenadian health system. All health facilities are within easy access of the population and each health district is assigned a District Medical Officer, several categories of nurses, community health aides, dentists and dental auxiliaries, pharmacists, environmental health officers and mental health workers. At some Health Centers, some specialist services, such as pediatrics, and psychiatry are provided. There is a 240 bed General Hospital, which is the main hospital on island and located in the capital of St. Georges. The General Hospital is a referral hospital offering 24 hour emergency care, specialist, surgical, paediatrics, psychiatric, ophthalmic, obstetric/gynecology, and ENT. Ultrasonagraphy and electrocardiogram are also available. Support services include laboratory, pharmacy, imaging, physiotherapy and rehabilitative services. In addition there are two rural hospitals, the Princess Alice Hospital and Princess Royal hospital, with 60 beds and 40 beds respectively. As part of their provision of primary health care for all, the Grenadian government, through the health sector also provides specialized Mental Health Services providing treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up care at the Mental Hospital and in the community. The institutions include an 80-bed psychiatric hospital for acute and chronic patients, the Mount Gay hospital, and a geriatric facility at Richman Hill with 120 beds, that is usually filled above capacity. Dorothy Hopkin Home a 16-bed facility offers services for disabled children. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Prevailing Remuneration of the Health Care Workers: What currently obtains in Grenada as relates to the prevailing remuneration system for health care workers is that they are primarily salaried workers. The salary of healthcare workers is determined by the negotiation between the Government and the bargaining agent, the Public Service Workers Union. Salary is based on a scale system that is predetermined by the government. Entry into that scale is determined by qualification and the job title held. Private physicians however are paid on a fee for service basis. The fee scale is determined by the Grenada Medical Association. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Referral Restrictions: Public hospitals have a restricted referral system, access to specialist care is on the basis of referral from a General Practitioner within the public health sector. This serves as a means of gatekeeping. Home referrals are done by the district medical doctor on advisement from the district health centers. Laboratory and other medical test referrals are also assigned by public health physicians as well as private physicians from the list of preapproved test centers. Private facilities does not necessarily operate within the boundaries of a referral system as persons using private facilities would have direct access to private specialist care. Home referrals are done by the private physicians whose clinic have been visited or referred to other physicians in different specialties according to the characteristic of the disease. Laboratory and medical tests are referred by private physicians to the test centers, which have agreements with the physicians. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Level of internal integration between staff: Within the health system of Grenada both the public and the private sector are integrated. To date, there are about 110 physicians working within the private and public health sector combined. Because of this nurses /midwives and other medical professional that serve both in the private and public sector are allowed a lot of interaction with each other. Within the public sector there is a hierarchy that exists among physicians, there are the senior physicians, followed by the junior doctors. Also within in the nursing system there is a hierarchy. This lends to a flow of authority between members of staff. Though there is this hierarchy, it can be seen from interactions with members of the system that there is a respect that exists between professionals within the different fields that make up Grenadas very integrated public and private health systems. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Level of external integration with other services: The National Strategic Health Plan stated that the community health services had issues with primary care services as it was neither integrated nor coordinated. This is due to limited confidence in community services. It also reported that persons would visit the general hospital or private clinics. There is an increase in private clinics which is seen as the provider of quality care. It should be noted that one of the goals of the National Strategic Health Plan reported that there is an endeavor to improve collaboration between Non-government agencies, public health care, community centers as well as private health care services in an effective and efficient manner. A strategy that was curative in nature was developed to increase collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Regional sectors in aiding with the treatment and diagnosis of Dengue. The formation of strategies that are developed for prevention and promotion aids in the development of partnerships with other ministries to help deal with youth issues.   The Ministry of Health was in collaboration with PAHO in Barbados to develop a cost benefit analysis of a National Fluoridation Program. Level of integration of staff education and training in primary care: Generally the training in primary care for staff education is a mix between coninous professional development and undergraduate/basic education. In the National Strategic Health Plan for Grenada, the level of integration of staff education and training in primary health care is as follows: for there is in service training provided for community workers. There is also a plan to have training in the screening of cancer, a system of surveillance in communicable diseases, pre and post natal care as well as training in acquiring the proper nutrition for children and their mothers. The training of staff to be sensitive in providing quality care of the elderly, training for hospital staff and the development of the support of clinical service.

Americas New War :: Politics Government Essays

America's New War America is currently at war against some intangible entity called Terrorism. I know that seems like and unnecessary statement of the obvious, but sometimes I feel the need to be reminded of the fact that we are really fighting a war. It is almost laughable how easy it is to avoid thinking about â€Å"America’s New War†. How can a nation go to war without the involvement of its population? The American public is not being asked to unite in support of our troops overseas; there has been no request for sacrifice or conservation of resources. Instead, we are being urged to consume, travel, and go on with our routine lives. According to an article titled, â€Å"Our World War†, by Jonathan Rowe, â€Å"the advertising industry has wracked its clever brains to conjure from the ashes of the World Trade Center an upbeat buying mood† (Adbusters Jan/Feb 2002 no. 39). The world has changed and we are asked to return to life as usual. I find this concern with consumer confidence somehow incongruent with the events that are taking place in Afghanistan right now. The economy is, without a doubt, a defining characteristic of the American way of life, and a weakened economy would jeopardize its stability and security. "’Sept. 11 dealt a very serious blow to the economy, demonstrating the cost of inaction,’ says White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan. New security measures are needed ‘for the sake of the economy and the safety of the American people’" (Ramstack). Our economic stability should be monitored and increased security measures should be taken after an attack like the one on September 11th. However, I feel a lack of concern for the lives that are at stake in the Middle East. I have to question whether our economic status is more important than the thousands of soldiers that are engaged in the war abroad. So much emphasis has been placed on the continuation of the â⠂¬Å"American Dream†, that after the drama of the attack wore off, the American unity and mobilization have been directed towards malls and car dealerships. Maybe someone can explain to me how my next purchase will benefit those sacrificing lives on the front lines.

National Sovereignty, Oppressive Government, and the US Role in the Wor

National Sovereignty, Oppressive Government, and the US Role in the World Introduction The American attack against Afghanistan that was triggered by the September 11th tragedy once again raised the question of US role in the world. The current military intervention also touched the issue of the major factors, defining the course of US international policy. In the globalized world today the ratio of â€Å"soft power† (the ability to attract through cultural and ideological appeal) to â€Å"hard power† (a country’s economic and military ability to buy and coerce) used in solving international conflicts is constantly increasing (Nye 2). However, military campaigns still provide a way out of deepening international crises. Should America, then, engage in indiscriminate humanitarian interventions, advancing its ideas of democracy, human rights and liberty, or should it be militarily concerned only with international affairs that have a direct bearing on US vital national interests? In my paper I argue that the US violation of a country’s sovereignty should come only after a careful consideration and deep investigation of the reasons behind an international conflict. Moreover, all interventions should be based on specific achievable end-goals and strategies. Also, US military campaigns’ rationale should suit America’s vital national self-interest, as I define it later. Several reasons support such an international policy: First, in the long run the negative effects of a military international intervention, even if against oppressive governments, could actually outweigh the positive ones. Moreover, coercive policy could, in fact, aggravate a conflict by providing grounds for long lasting hostility, aggression, or ev... ...osnia and Kosovo. The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies v. 25,( 2000): p. 489-510 Nye, Joseph S. Jr., Redefining the National interest. Foreign Affairs, (July/August 1999): p. 22+ Rule, James B., On evils abroad and America’s new world order. Dissent v. 46, no3 (1999): p. 50 – 57 Smith, Tony, Morality and the use of force in a unipolar world: the â€Å"Wilsonian moment†?. Eyhics and International Affairs v. 14, (2000): p. 11-22 < http://www.cceia.org/lib_volume14.html> Tarzi, Shah M., The threat of the use of force in American post-cold war policy in the Third World. Journal of Third World Studies v. 18, no1, (2001): p. 39-64 The U.S. Nuclear Weapons Cost Study Project

Chapter 17 The Four Champions

Harry sat there, aware that every head in the Great Hall had turned to look at him. He was stunned. He felt numb. He was surely dreaming. He had not heard correctly. There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was starting to fill the Hall; some students were standing up to get a better look at Harry as he sat, frozen, in his seat. Up at the top table, Professor McGonagall had got to her feet and swept past Ludo Bagman and Professor Karkaroff to whisper urgently to Professor Dumbledore, who bent his ear toward her, frowning slightly. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione; beyond them, he saw the long Gryffindor table all watching him, openmouthed. â€Å"I didn't put my name in,† Harry said blankly. â€Å"You know I didn't.† Both of them stared just as blankly back. At the top table, Professor Dumbledore had straightened up, nodding to Professor McGonagall. â€Å"Harry Potter!† he called again. â€Å"Harry! Up here, if you please!† â€Å"Go on,† Hermione whispered, giving Harry a slight push. Harry got to his feet, trod on the hem of his robes, and stumbled slightly. He set off up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. It felt like an immensely long walk; the top table didn't seem to be getting any nearer at all, and he could feel hundreds and hundreds of eyes upon him, as though each were a searchlight. The buzzing grew louder and louder. After what seemed like an hour, he was right in front of Dumbledore, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon him. â€Å"Well†¦through the door, Harry,† said Dumbledore. He wasn't smiling. Harry moved off along the teachers' table. Hagrid was seated right at the end. He did not wink at Harry, or wave, or give any of his usual signs of greeting. He looked completely astonished and stared at Harry as he passed like everyone else. Harry went through the door out of the Great Hall and found himself in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite him. The faces in the portraits turned to look at him as he entered. He saw a wizened witch flit out of the frame of her picture and into the one next to it, which contained a wizard with a walrus mustache. The wizened witch started whispering in his ear. Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched-up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur Delacour looked around when Harry walked in and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair. â€Å"What is it?† she said. â€Å"Do zey want us back in ze Hall?† She thought he had come to deliver a message. Harry didn't know how to explain what had just happened. He just stood there, looking at the three champions. It struck him how very tall all of them were. There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Harry by the arm and led him forward. â€Å"Extraordinary!† he muttered, squeezing Harry's arm. â€Å"Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen†¦lady,† he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. â€Å"May I introduce – incredible though it may seem – the fourth Triwizard champion?† Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, â€Å"Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman.† â€Å"Joke?† Bagman repeated, bewildered. â€Å"No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!† Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned. â€Å"But evidently zair ‘as been a mistake,† she said contemptuously to Bagman. â€Å"‘E cannot compete. ‘E is too young.† â€Å"Well†¦it is amazing,† said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. â€Å"But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name's come out of the goblet†¦I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage†¦.It's down in the rules, you're obliged†¦Harry will just have to do the best he -â€Å" The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door. â€Å"Madame Maxime!† said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. â€Å"Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!† Somewhere under Harry's numb disbelief he felt a ripple of anger. Little boy? Madame Maxime had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her handsome head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black-satin bosom swelled. â€Å"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?† she said imperiously. â€Å"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore,† said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. â€Å"Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions – or have I not read the rules carefully enough?† He gave a short and nasty laugh. â€Å"C'est impossible,† said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. â€Å"‘Ogwarts cannot ‘ave two champions. It is most injust.† â€Å"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore,† said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. â€Å"Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools.† â€Å"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff,† said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. â€Å"Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here -â€Å" â€Å"Thank you, Severus,† said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair. Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him, trying to discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles. â€Å"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?† he asked calmly. â€Å"No,† said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows. â€Å"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?† said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape. â€Å"No,† said Harry vehemently. â€Å"Ah, but of course ‘e is lying!† cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling. â€Å"He could not have crossed the Age Line,† said Professor McGonagall sharply. â€Å"I am sure we are all agreed on that -â€Å" â€Å"Dumbly-dorr must ‘ave made a mistake wiz ze line,† said Madame Maxime, shrugging. â€Å"It is possible, of course,† said Dumbledore politely. â€Å"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!† said Professor McGonagall angrily. â€Å"Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!† She shot a very angry look at Professor Snape. â€Å"Mr. Crouch†¦Mr. Bagman,† said Karkaroff, his voice unctuous once more, â€Å"you are our – er – objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?† Bagman wiped his round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr. Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in his usual curt voice. â€Å"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament.† â€Å"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front,† said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed. â€Å"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students,† said Karkaroff. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly look indeed. â€Å"You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore.† â€Å"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that,† said Bagman. â€Å"The Goblet of Fire's just gone out – it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament -â€Å" â€Å"- in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!† exploded Karkaroff. â€Å"After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!† â€Å"Empty threat, Karkaroff,† growled a voice from near the door. â€Å"You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?† Moody had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with every right step he took, there was a loud clunk. â€Å"Convenient?† said Karkaroff. â€Å"I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody.† Harry could tell he was trying to sound disdainful, as though what Moody was saying was barely worth his notice, but his hands gave him away; they had balled themselves into fists. â€Å"Don't you?† said Moody quietly. â€Å"It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter's name in that goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out.† â€Å"Evidently, someone ‘oo wished to give ‘Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!† said Madame Maxime. â€Å"I quite agree, Madame Maxime,† said Karkaroff, bowing to her. â€Å"I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards -â€Å" â€Å"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter,† growled Moody, â€Å"but†¦funny thing†¦I don't hear him saying a word†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Why should ‘e complain?† burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. â€Å"‘E ‘as ze chance to compete, ‘asn't ‘e? We ‘ave all been ‘oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money – zis is a chance many would die for!† â€Å"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it,† said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl. An extremely tense silence followed these words. Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet and said, â€Å"Moody, old man†¦what a thing to say!† â€Å"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime,† said Karkaroff loudly. â€Å"Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons. â€Å"Imagining things, am I?† growled Moody. â€Å"Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy's name in that goblet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat?† said Madame Maxime, throwing up her huge hands. â€Å"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!† said Moody. â€Å"It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament†¦.I'm guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school, to make sure he was the only one in his category†¦.† â€Å"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody,† said Karkaroff coldly, â€Å"and a very ingenious theory it is – though of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously†¦.† â€Å"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage,† Moody retorted in a menacing voice. â€Å"It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff – as you ought to remember†¦ â€Å"Alastor!† said Dumbledore warningly. Harry wondered for a moment whom he was speaking to, but then realized â€Å"Mad-Eye† could hardly be Moody's real first name. Moody fell silent, though still surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction – Karkaroff's face was burning. â€Å"How this situation arose, we do not know,† said Dumbledore, speaking to everyone gathered in the room. â€Å"It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do†¦.† â€Å"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr -â€Å" â€Å"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it.† Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not speak, she merely glared. She wasn't the only one either. Snape looked furious; Karkaroff livid; Bagman, however, looked rather excited. â€Å"Well, shall we crack on, then?† he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room. â€Å"Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?† Mr. Crouch seemed to come out of a deep reverie. â€Å"Yes,† he said, â€Å"instructions. Yes†¦the first task†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He moved forward into the firelight. Close up, Harry thought he looked ill. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes and a thin, papery look about his wrinkled skin that had not been there at the Quidditch World Cup. â€Å"The first task is designed to test your daring,† he told Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, â€Å"so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard†¦very important†¦. â€Å"The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. â€Å"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests.† Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. â€Å"I think that's all, is it, Albus?† â€Å"I think so,† said Dumbledore, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. â€Å"Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?† â€Å"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry,† said Mr. Crouch. â€Å"It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment†¦.I've left young Weatherby in charge†¦.Very enthusiastic†¦a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?† said Dumbledore. â€Å"Come on, Barry, I'm staying!† said Bagman brightly. â€Å"It's all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office!† â€Å"I think not, Ludo,† said Crouch with a touch of his old impatience. â€Å"Professor Karkaroff – Madame Maxime – a nightcap?† said Dumbledore. But Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and was leading her swiftly out of the room. Harry could hear them both talking very fast in French as they went off into the Great Hall. Karkaroff beckoned to Krum, and they, too, exited, though in silence. â€Å"Harry, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed,† said Dumbledore, smiling at both of them. â€Å"I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise.† Harry glanced at Cedric, who nodded, and they left together. The Great Hall was deserted now; the candles had burned low, giving the jagged smiles of the pumpkins an eerie, flickering quality. â€Å"So,† said Cedric, with a slight smile. â€Å"We're playing against each other again!† â€Å"I s'pose,† said Harry. He really couldn't think of anything to say. The inside of his head seemed to be in complete disarray, as though his brain had been ransacked. â€Å"So†¦tell me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Cedric as they reached the entrance hall, which was now lit only by torches in the absence of the Goblet of Fire. â€Å"How did you get your name in?† â€Å"I didn't,† said Harry, staring up at him. â€Å"I didn't put it in. I was telling the truth.† â€Å"Ah†¦okay,† said Cedric. Harry could tell Cedric didn't believe him. â€Å"Well†¦see you, then.† Instead of going up the marble staircase, Cedric headed for a door to its right. Harry stood listening to him going down the stone steps beyond it, then, slowly, he started to climb the marble ones. Was anyone except Ron and Hermione going to believe him, or would they all think he'd put himself in for the tournament? Yet how could anyone think that, when he was facing competitors who'd had three years' more magical education than he had – when he was now facing tasks that not only sounded very dangerous, but which were to be performed in front of hundreds of people? Yes, he'd thought about it†¦he'd fantasized about it†¦but it had been a joke, really, an idle sort of dream†¦he'd never really, seriously considered entering†¦. But someone else had considered it†¦someone else had wanted him in the tournament, and had made sure he was entered. Why? To give him a treat? He didn't think so, somehow†¦ To see him make a fool of himself? Well, they were likely to get their wish†¦. But to get him killed? Was Moody just being his usual paranoid self? Couldn't someone have put Harry's name in the goblet as a trick, a practical joke? Did anyone really want him dead? Harry was able to answer that at once. Yes, someone wanted him dead, someone had wanted him dead ever since he had been a year old†¦Lord Voldemort. But how could Voldemort have ensured that Harry's name got into the Goblet of Fire? Voldemort was supposed to be far away, in some distant country, in hiding, alone†¦feeble and powerless†¦. Yet in that dream he had had, just before he had awoken with his scar hurting, Voldemort had not been alone†¦he had been talking to Wormtail†¦plotting Harry's murder†¦. Harry got a shock to find himself facing the Fat Lady already. He had barely noticed where his feet were carrying him. It was also a surprise to see that she was not alone in her frame. The wizened witch who had flitted into her neighbor's painting when he had joined the champions downstairs was now sitting smugly beside the Fat Lady. She must have dashed through every picture lining seven staircases to reach here before him. Both she and the Fat Lady were looking down at him with the keenest interest. â€Å"Well, well, well,† said the Fat Lady, â€Å"Violet's just told me everything. Who's just been chosen as school champion, then?† â€Å"Balderdash,† said Harry dully. â€Å"It most certainly isn't!† said the pale witch indignantly. â€Å"No, no, Vi, it's the password,† said the Fat Lady soothingly, and she swung forward on her hinges to let Harry into the common room. The blast of noise that met Harry's ears when the portrait opened almost knocked him backward. Next thing he knew, he was being wrenched inside the common room by about a dozen pairs of hands, and was facing the whole of Gryffindor House, all of whom were screaming, applauding, and whistling. â€Å"You should've told us you'd entered!† bellowed Fred; he looked half annoyed, half deeply impressed. â€Å"How did you do it without getting a beard? Brilliant!† roared George. â€Å"I didn't,† Harry said. â€Å"I don't know how -â€Å" But Angelina had now swooped down upon him; â€Å"Oh if it couldn't be me, at least it's a Gryffindor -â€Å" â€Å"You'll be able to pay back Diggory for that last Quidditch match, Harry!† shrieked Katie Bell, another of the Gryffindor Chasers. â€Å"We've got food, Harry, come and have some -â€Å" â€Å"I'm not hungry, I had enough at the feast -â€Å" But nobody wanted to hear that he wasn't hungry; nobody wanted to hear that he hadn't put his name in the goblet; not one single person seemed to have noticed that he wasn't at all in the mood to celebrate†¦.Lee Jordan had unearthed a Gryffindor banner from somewhere, and he insisted on draping it around Harry like a cloak. Harry couldn't get away; whenever he tried to sidle over to the staircase up to the dormitories, the crowd around him closed ranks, forcing another butterbeer on him, stuffing crisps and peanuts into his hands†¦.Everyone wanted to know how he had done it, how he had tricked Dumbledore's Age Line and managed to get his name into the goblet†¦. â€Å"I didn't,† he said, over and over again, â€Å"I don't know how it happened.† But for all the notice anyone took, he might just as well not have answered at all. â€Å"I'm tired!† he bellowed finally, after nearly half an hour. â€Å"No, seriously, George – I'm going to bed -â€Å" He wanted more than anything to find Ron and Hermione, to find a bit of sanity, but neither of them seemed to be in the common room. Insisting that he needed to sleep, and almost flattening the little Creevey brothers as they attempted to waylay him at the foot of the stairs, Harry managed to shake everyone off and climb up to the dormitory as fast as he could. To his great relief, he found Ron was lying on his bed in the otherwise empty dormitory, still fully dressed. He looked up when Harry slammed the door behind him. â€Å"Where've you been?† Harry said. â€Å"Oh hello,† said Ron. He was grinning, but it was a very odd, strained sort of grin. Harry suddenly became aware that he was still wearing the scarlet Gryffindor banner that Lee had tied around him. He hastened to take it off, but it was knotted very tightly. Ron lay on the bed without moving, watching Harry struggle to remove it. â€Å"So,† he said, when Harry had finally removed the banner and thrown it into a corner. â€Å"Congratulations.† â€Å"What d'you mean, congratulations?† said Harry, staring at Ron. There was definitely something wrong with the way Ron was smiling: It was more like a grimace. â€Å"Well†¦no one else got across the Age Line,† said Ron. â€Å"Not even Fred and George. What did you use – the Invisibility Cloak?† â€Å"The Invisibility Cloak wouldn't have got me over that line,† said Harry slowly. â€Å"Oh right,† said Ron. â€Å"I thought you might've told me if it was the cloak†¦because it would've covered both of us, wouldn't it? But you found another way, did you?† â€Å"Listen,† said Harry, â€Å"I didn't put my name in that goblet. Someone else must've done it.† Ron raised his eyebrows. â€Å"What would they do that for?† â€Å"I dunno,† said Harry. He felt it would sound very melodramatic to say, â€Å"To kill me.† Ron's eyebrows rose so high that they were in danger of disappearing into his hair. â€Å"It's okay, you know, you can tell me the truth,† he said. â€Å"If you don't want everyone else to know, fine, but I don't know why you're bothering to lie, you didn't get into trouble for it, did you? That friend of the Fat Lady's, that Violet, she's already told us all Dumbledore's letting you enter. A thousand Galleons prize money, eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests either†¦.† â€Å"I didn't put my name in that goblet!† said Harry, starting to feel angry. â€Å"Yeah, okay,† said Ron, in exactly the same sceptical tone as Cedric. â€Å"Only you said this morning you'd have done it last night, and no one would've seen you†¦.I'm not stupid, you know.† â€Å"You're doing a really good impression of it,† Harry snapped. â€Å"Yeah?† said Ron, and there was no trace of a grin, forced or otherwise, on his face now. â€Å"You want to get to bed, Harry. I expect you'll need to be up early tomorrow for a photo-call or something.† He wrenched the hangings shut around his four-poster, leaving Harry standing there by the door, staring at the dark red velvet curtains, now hiding one of the few people he had been sure would believe him.