Landmines :: Nuclear War Weapons Essays

Landmines The possible use of weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear bombs, biological and chemical weapons, terrorizes us, as it can have catastrophic repercussions if they were to be in the hands of terrorists. One of the reasons behind our fear is that no matter where we are in the world can we tomorrow suffer from the use of such weapons, and are in no place completely safe, as we have seen with the catastrophe of September 11, 2001. Yet there exists many other weapons that can be used to harms civilians, from which we are less conscious about since they don’t affect us. The result of the use of landmines, for example has been horrendous in many third world countries, hurting many non-military personnel, even once a conflict between tow nations has been resolved. They have been implanted on the battlefield of more than 70 countries in the world, and are still being built by some of the most powerful nations such as Russia, China or the United States. The first known description of a pressure-activated landmine was by the German military historian Frieherr Von Flemming in 1726, but such mines were not commonly used in warfare until the Second World War. It has been accounted that more than 300 million mines were deployed between 1939 and 1945. In the first part of the war mines were solely used as a device to counter enemy tanks. Yet, one of the problems with Anti-Tank (AT) mines of the time was that they were easily removed and re-used by the other side, so Anti-Personnel (AP) were created to solve this problem. They were deployed around AT mines to prevent their removal. Originally, both AT and AP landmines were developed as tactical, defensive weapons. They were intended to protect troops, military bases, and key installations like power plants and water supplies. After the Second World War, with the advances in technology the landmines became an offensive weapon. Mines in the 1960’s could be simply launched from an airp lane, and would only activate once on the ground, thus making it possible to drop more mines from the air than if placing them on the ground. Not only this would allow mines to be placed in a war zone in a much greater frequency, but until now, each mine that was placed was recorded and mapped, in order to be able to remove it once the conflict was over.

Compare and Contrast the Ways in Which Two Poets Create Sympathy for Their Characters †‘on a Portrait of a Deaf Man’ and ‘the River God’. Essay

The poems ‘On a Portrait of a Deaf Man’, written by John Betjeman and ‘The River God’, written by Stevie Smith appear as two very different poems; one in monologue form and the other in a regular form; but they are in fact two very similar poems. ‘On a Portrait of a Deaf Man’ presents a character mourning the death of a deaf man who was very close to him/her, and ‘The River God’ presents a lonely God who is abused by people and resorts to murdering women to keep himself company. Both characters are lonely and the portrayal of this loneliness causes you – the reader – to feel sympathetic towards them. The ‘River God’ is lonely because he is only used by others, no one stays to be with him, they leave – ‘and I like the people who bathe in me . . . or will she go away?’ suggesting that he enjoys their company but doesn’t want them to go as he get’s lonely. In ‘On a Portrait of a Deaf Man’ the mourner feels lonely because he/she has lost someone very close to them – ‘the kind old face . . . he took me on long silent walks . . . when young’ implying they were close as they have known each other since a young age. Both blame others for the situations that they have found themselves in. The ‘River God’ blames the women who ‘bathe in [him]’ for his loneliness, meaning that out of desperation he tries to keep the women with him but by doing so ends up killing them ‘she lies in my beautiful deep river bed with many a weed’. I believe he understands though that he has killed them and that is why he keeps them in the ‘beautiful deep river bed’; this causes you to feel some sympathy for him as he accidentally kills them but then out of love keeps them in his ‘beautiful deep river bed’. The mourner blames God for the death of the ‘deaf man’: ‘You, God, who treat him thus and thus, /Say ‘Save his soul and pray.’/You ask me to believe You and / I only see decay’ describing how God should be, but then the reality of asking God for things which aren’t achieved. This causes you to feel sympathetic because you see someone who asked God to save him yet he still died – ‘see decay’. The poems both begin with descriptions of characters. ‘The River God’ begins ‘the kind old face, the egg-shaped head’ and ‘On a Portrait of a Deaf Man’ begins ‘I may be smelly and I may be old’; the first description makes you feel sad that someone kind and good has died and the second makes you feel pitiful for the river, it’s not the river’s fault that it’s that way as it’s reflective of old age and the abuse it has had by mankind, all of which you would be distraught if you found yourself in so you can feel sympathetic towards them. The poets use the death of a person to draw sympathy from you. In ‘The River God’ a woman dies, one that he was fond of and he was against her dying; in ‘On a Portrait of a Deaf Man’ a friendly deaf man dies, presumably suddenly; these draw your sympathy because it suggests that they are lonely, in a state of mourning and vulnerable – all of which are states in which you would not want to find yourself and when you see someone else in such a state, you will feel sympathetic and be able to relate to the emotions they are feeling. The poets use the deaths of characters in their poems to create side-personas for the characters through the persona of the main-speaking character. ‘The River God’ uses the dead woman to give another perspective of what’s going on, ‘This beautiful lady, or will she go away?’ shows this perfectly. The questioning gives her perspective that she wants to leave but she is being held, leading you to feel sympathetic for her as this large ‘River’ is holding her captive and she cannot leave. However, it shows the misunderstanding of the ‘River God’ as she is drowned, ‘Oh who would guess what a beautiful white face lies there’, ‘white face’ implying she is dead, leading you to feel sympathetic again towards him as he is totally ignorant of everything going on around him. ‘On a Portrait of a Deaf Man’, the writer uses the deaf man to display what exactly he/she has lost through his death, Ã¢â‚¬Ë œHe knew the names of ev’ry bird’. This shows how caring he was and this would presumably translate to how he acts to people – kind and caring – and lead to sympathy as you would never want to lose a person so good to die. The poem also describes what further potential to do good he had if he knew what was coming, ‘He would have liked to say good-bye/Shake hands with many friends.’ This causes a sympathetic response from the reader because again even though he was dying he would have wanted to show respect to his friends rather than just leaving. It also creates sympathy because the person who has lost this ‘kind’ man would be very upset about his/her death. We see this when he/she blames God for his death as he didn’t save him/her, ‘’Save his soul and pray.’/ You ask me to believe You and/ I only see decay.’ – this shows a stage of mourning in which you blame others for the death you have experienced. In conclusion, the poets create sympathy for their characters very effectively through: descriptions, meanings and powers out of the characters control; all of which attract the reader to feel some understanding, pity or empathy towards them. The poets both use the deaths of characters to contrast the feeling of the characters and the feelings of the dead to create sympathy.

The Great Depression And President Roosevelt s New Deal

The 1930s, a time of great racial tension and segregation, is historically remembered for the Great Depression and President Roosevelt’s New Deal. Slavery had ended and the Ku Klux Klan started to become less popular; the struggle for African Americans, however, was not over. Racial segregation continued to thrive with half of African Americans out of work, their jobs given to whites who were struggling from the Great Depression (â€Å"Race During the Great Depression†). The New Deal, created to promote equality and produce jobs, was largely ineffective on the front of desegregation, doing little to help the black American community. One place that African Americans were able to prosper: jazz. However, even the jazz community itself was segregated. Racial prejudice came from both fronts: whites did â€Å"not want to mix socially with Negroes,† and black people believed that â€Å"when a Negro enters a White band, he loses his identity as a Negro musicianâ €  (â€Å"DownBeat Dodges the Racial Issue†). Benny Goodman, however, broke this barrier, initially in 1935 with the first interracial jazz performance, and again in his 1938 Carnegie Hall concert featuring black musicians. Benny Goodman’s career did not begin with the Trio’s 1935 performance; a clarinet player from a young age, Goodman started his professional career in 1925 as a member of the Ben Pollack Orchestra. During his time in the orchestra, he recorded his first solo on the song â€Å"He’s the Last Word.† In 1931, Benny Goodman beganShow MoreRelatedThe Great Depression And President Roosevelt s New Deal894 Words   |  4 Pageshistorically remembered for the Great Depression and President Roosevelt’s New Deal, demonstrated a time of great racial tension and segregation in America. Slavery dissolved and the Ku Klux Klan became less popular; the struggle of African Americans, however, was not over. Racial segregation thrived wit h half of African Americans out of work, their jobs transfered to whites who were struggling from the Great Depression (â€Å"Race During the Great Depression†). The New Deal, created to promote equalityRead MoreTo What Extent Was The New Deal A Success? What Were Its Successes And Failures?1682 Words   |  7 Pages2 Professor Ojserkis 1 May 2017 To what extent was the New Deal a success? What were its successes and failures? 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Roosevelt informs the nation of his New Deal and planned solutions to the problems of post-Depression America. He speaks warmly and directly, addressing the American people â€Å"you† and himself â€Å"I†. Many people— unemployed or working, poor or wealthy, supporter or critic – listen attentively as the President enters and becomes the center of their homes solely through radio broadcasts The Great Depression And President Roosevelt s New Deal The 1930s, historically remembered for the Great Depression and President Roosevelt’s New Deal, demonstrated a time of great racial tension and segregation in America. Slavery dissolved and the Ku Klux Klan became less popular; the struggle of African Americans, however, was not over. Racial segregation thrived with half of African Americans out of work, their jobs transfered to whites who were struggling from the Great Depression (â€Å"Race During the Great Depression†). The New Deal, created to promote equality and produce jobs, proved largely ineffective on the front of desegregation, doing little to help the black American community. One place that African Americans were able to prosper: jazz. However, even the jazz community itself remained segregated. Racial prejudice came from both fronts: whites did â€Å"not want to mix socially with Negroes,† and blacks believed that â€Å"when a Negro enters a White band, he loses his identity as a Negro musicia n† (â€Å"DownBeat Dodges the Racial Issue†). Benny Goodman, however, broke this barrier, initially in 1935 with the first interracial jazz performance, and again in his 1938 Carnegie Hall concert featuring black musicians. Benny Goodman’s career did not commence with the Trio’s 1935 performance; a clarinet player from a young age, Goodman initiated his professional career in 1925 as a member of the Ben Pollack Orchestra. During his time with the orchestra, he recorded his first solo on the song â€Å"He’s the Last Word.† In 1931, BennyShow MoreRelatedThe Great Depression And President Roosevelt s New Deal895 Words   |  4 Pages1930s, a time of great racial tension and segregation, is historically remembered for the Great Depression and President Roosevelt’s New Deal. Slavery had ended and the Ku Klux Klan started to become less popular; the struggle for African Americans, however, was not over. Racial segregation continued to thr ive with half of African Americans out of work, their jobs given to whites who were struggling from the Great Depression (â€Å"Race During the Great Depression†). The New Deal, created to promoteRead MoreTo What Extent Was The New Deal A Success? What Were Its Successes And Failures?1682 Words   |  7 Pages2 Professor Ojserkis 1 May 2017 To what extent was the New Deal a success? What were its successes and failures? The new deal was many programs issued by the US government to help the economy after the stock market crash of 1929. The new deal was issued because of the great depression and the new deal was a way to get out of the great depression. The great depression began in August 1929 and it lasted for about 10 years. â€Å"The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939, and was the worst economic downturnRead MoreFranklin D. Roosevelt : An Effective American President And Leader1509 Words   |  7 PagesPresidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt Thesis: Franklin D. Roosevelt was an effective American president and leader. Franklin D. Roosevelt was a powerful leader and one of the most highly regarded presidents in American history. He connected well with American people, had a strong character, possessed a clear vision for America, had valuable political skills, and could lead people in challenging times. With recent development with radio technology, his democratic views had a great influence and he connectedRead MoreFranklin D. Roosevelt s President Of The United States1221 Words   |  5 PagesFranklin D. Roosevelt was the thirty-second president of the United States. He was also the first and last president to serve four terms. Next, to Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, FDR’s presidency was one of the most challenging presidencies in the history of the United States. Throughout his presidency, he faced extremely hard tasks and while facing them he had promised the people prompt, vigorous action, and he was assertive with his Inaugural Address. In 1929, the longest economic downturn in AmericanRead MoreThe Administration Of President Franklin D. Roosevelt1469 Words   |  6 Pagesadministration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt lasted from 1933-1945. His first term being between 1933-1937. His second and third term lasted between 1937-1945. Making him the president to serve the longest amount of time in office.Throughout his presidency, Roo sevelt was faced with many challenges on a national and global scale. The first and certainly one of the most difficult challenges that this administration faced was the Great Depression, left over from late 1929. The Great Depression, and laterRead More Down And Out In The Great Depression Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the 1920’s, America was a prosperous nation going through the â€Å"Big Boom† and loving every second of it. However, this fortune didn’t last long, because with the 1930’s came a period of serious economic recession, a period called the Great Depression. By 1933, a quarter of the nation’s workers (about 40 million) were without jobs. The weekly income rate dropped from $24.76 per week in 1929 to $16.65 per week in 1933 (McElvaine, 8). After President Hoover failed to rectify the recession situationRead MoreFranklin D. Roosevelt And The Great Depression1337 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough a duration of chaos and prosperity th at contributes to new knowledge, resources and innovations for a society. Periods of turmoil often give rise to an individual of power, who provides citizens with a sense of hope and security. The United States went through a severe period of chaos when the economy collapsed, compelling an abundant amount of individuals into poverty. This period during the early 1930’s is known as the Great Depression. Throughout this period, millions of citizens placed theirRead MoreThe Great Depression and the New Deal Essay example999 Words   |  4 PagesGreat Depression The Great Depression and the New Deal In response to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was ready for action unlike the previous President, Hubert Hoover. Hoover allowed the country to fall into a complete state of depression with his small concern of the major economic problems occurring. FDR began to show major and immediate improvements, with his outstanding actions during the First Hundred Days. He declared the bankRead MoreThe Great Depression By Franklin D. Roosevelt s New Deal Legislation1115 Words   |  5 PagesWhat do you think about when you hear The Great Depression? Some might say the worst economic time in the United States of America. The Great Depression was one of the longest and innermost economic downturn in the world of history between the years of 1929 and 1939. Also, The Great Depression led to the Federal Government having a more involved role in America s economy, this was done through the creation of Franklin D. Roosevelt s New Deal Legisl ation, which turned out to be effective becauseRead MoreFranklin Roosevelts New Deal1672 Words   |  7 Pagesevening, my friends†¦Ã¢â‚¬  echo audibly over the static and ambient noise, and the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt informs the nation of his New Deal and planned solutions to the problems of post-Depression America. He speaks warmly and directly, addressing the American people â€Å"you† and himself â€Å"I†. Many people— unemployed or working, poor or wealthy, supporter or critic – listen attentively as the President enters and becomes the center of their homes solely through radio broadcasts