Today?s Youth, Tomorrow?s Frankenstein :: essays research papers

Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Frankenstein Views on School Shootings On a sunny spring day in April 1999, a suburban school named Columbine High in Littleton, Colorado found itself under attack by two of its own students. (http://www.knowgangs.com) In less than fifteen minutes of the first lunch period on that Tuesday, two armed students killed thirteen and wounded twenty-one fellow classmates before they turned the guns on themselves - the most devastating school shooting in U.S. history. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the only school shooting; about thirty-five students die every year from school shootings. This generation comes from violence, hatred, and ignorance- the three principal factors that cause school shootings. In the novel Frankenstein (Mary Shelly), Dr. Victor Frankenstein creates a creature that is horribly, brutally hideous. The creature has a heart of gold and a beautiful soul; it is eager to learn and be part of the society it witnesses. But the creature is rejected, insulted, beaten, and hated by everyone it meets. Soon enough the creature becomes a violent and hateful monster, killing people close to it and destroying its home. The question eventually arises: who is responsible for the damage created by the creature? High school is a place where bullying, teasing, threats, humiliation, sarcasm, physical abuse and social isolation are commonplace. Almost 30% of youth in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. (safeyouth.org) The shooters are usually among those who are tormented daily by their peers. Killing, then, is their act of revenge. Although this does not suggest that torment justify murder, it does illustrate that the hostile atmosphere of most high schools is a major root cause of the recent shootings. Try to imagine staring at the clock on a Friday afternoon, feeling the bruises from the three beatings you took already that day and the fifteen you took over the past week, remembering the hundred beatings you'd absorbed that month, knowing that you'll probably have to endure at least one more before you can get the hell out of there and get home. And we wonder why some kids go for a gun. Schools are supposed to be second homes. It goes without saying that students should feel safe, comfortable, and happy at school. They're all there for the same reason. They're all stuck in the same boat of studying for the same diploma exams and going to the same assemblies.

Revolutionary War vs. 9/11 Essay

The Revolutionary War and 9/11 were both events that are still very talked about today.. They impacted America so much, and shook our history forever. Despite the differences in era, cause, and effects, they were also were alike in many ways. The Revolutionary War and 9/11 differ in many ways. First, the obvious fact that they took place in very different time periods. The Revolutionary War, which took place from 1775-1783 was an era before modern technology. Therefore, it took days, maybe even weeks before the media could inform the people of the events of the war. In the events on 9/11, which took place on September 11, 2001, people all across the globe knew what was going on by the second. News channels were buzzing, and the world was able to mourn along with the ones in the event. Technology also caused a major rift in between the two events due to the differences in weaponry. The Revolutionary War’s best weapons were early versions of muskets, rifles, cannons, pistols, and bayonets. In 9/11, they used box cutters, bombs, cellular communication, and airplanes. Finally, the Revolutionary War was a collection of multiple events and battles which took over a long period of time. Years, in fact. 9/11 simply took on e day. Despite their many differences, the two events are quite similar. Both the Revolutionary War and 9/11 caused fear and sadness in America. After 9/11, people were afraid of flying airplanes, leaving their homes, and some even grew paranoid of all Muslims. During the Revolutionary War, there was fear of both British and Native American terrorism. Another similarity is that both resulted in thousands of people dead or wounded. There were approximately 25,000 wounded, and another 25,000 people found dead during the Revolutionary War. In 9/11, 6,291 people were wounded, while 2,998 died. One similarity that is still very strong today is that both drastically divided the nation. During the Revolutionary War, the people were turned into either Loyalists or Patriots. Patriots were those who supported independence, whilst the Loyalists were those who remained loyal to the British king. After the devastation of 9/11, Americans who had probably referred to themselves as somewhat neutral, were all suddenly either Liberal or Conservative. The two categories had been dominant before, the the turn events caused people to be more outspoken about their beliefs. Conservatives believed in patriotism, and that we needed to punish those who had damaged our country, while liberals believed in more peaceful ways to solve the dilemma. However, regardless of any similarities, everyone can agree that both were events that shocked people, created a stronger government, and greatly impacted American history. Both events shook up our country drastically. People were left feeling unsafe and vulnerable, and thousands were left without lives. Although up until today people still debate on topics regarding both events, the truth is, no matter how much it damaged the survivors, it all resulted in a stronger America, and proved that we are a force to be reckoned with.

The Positive And Negative Effects Of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a social issue that has been around in the past and will last in the future. It is one thing that all teenagers have in common. It is highly influential with positive and negative effects. Some teenagers are more likely to give in whereas others are more likely to stand their ground. The feeling of belonging and social acceptance is considered very important, while social rejection and exclusions are very much feared. Peer pressure is defined as a feeling of pressure to engage in something that other people in one’s friend group are doing, whether it’s taking a certain action, embracing certain values, or conforming to be respected and accepted. It can turn a teenager with the best grades and highest values act in ways†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Come on! It’s going to be fun† is a sentence that often indicates a group pressuring someone into doing something. Teenagers do not want to feel left out at parties or social gatherings that revolve around drinking. The feeling of wanting to belong to the group and being accepted is stronger than being smart and rejecting the alcohol or drugs. Teenagers do not want to feel left out at parties or social gatherings that revolve around drinking. It is also considered a party activity to play drinking games like beer pong or flip cup. Therefore, they let themselves being peer pressured into drinking alcohol and/or taking drugs. For many teenagers, getting involved with drinking alcohol is just a part of growing up. However, it can easily turn into a problem and cause academic failure, drug and tobacco use. It can also lead to few physical consequences like hangovers, death from alcohol poisoning or traffic accidents. Every year, about 4300 people, under the age of 21, die of injuries involving underage drinking. Smoking is another huge factor to which teenagers get peer pressured into. Every day, many teenagers are pressured into smoking cigarettes, and often they start smoking on a regular basis. The pressure begins at an early age, and teenager think it makes them look cooler and older. The pressure on teenager to smoke is everywhere. It is at school, at parties, at home, at sporting events or social gatherings. It isShow MoreRelatedPositive Effect of Peer Pressure962 Words   |  4 PagesCONCEPT PAPER GUIDELINES I. TITLE Positive effect of peer pressure to teens II. INTRODUCTION A. Background of the study As children grow into preteens and then into teenagers, they often become less dependent on the family and more dependent on their peers when it comes to making choices and developing morals and values. Peer pressure can have a positive effect when it encourages teens to develop social skills necessary for adulthood. Unfortunately, negative behaviours tend to travel throughRead MorePositive Effect of Peer Pressure954 Words   |  4 PagesCONCEPT PAPER GUIDELINES I. TITLE Positive effect of peer pressure to teens II. INTRODUCTION A. Background of the study As children grow into preteens and then into teenagers, they often become less dependent on the family and more dependent on their peers when it comes to making choices and developing morals and values. Peer pressure can have a positive effect when it encourages teens to develop social skills necessary for adulthood. Unfortunately, negative behaviours tend to travel throughRead MoreNegative and Positive Effects of Peer Relationships1564 Words   |  7 PagesPossessing a functional or dysfunctional family is of much importance to a healthy development, helping children through peer pressure, acceptance, and the anxiety of belonging. Yet how important is the environment that a child is raised on, this being shared or non-shared? How difficult or easy can peer pressure be? Will peer pressure help or deter a child from being functional. How much do these factors affect development from childhood to adolescence? 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It has traditionally been associated withRead MorePeer Pressure Affects Academic Performance of Second Year Students1117 Words   |  5 PagesTitle: Peer Pressure Affects Academic Performance of Second Year Students Dependent Variable: Academic performance of second year students Independent Variable: Peer Pressure Objective: To know how academic performance among second year high school students is being affected by peer pressure. Introduction: To be successful in life, one must begin by being successful in school. In high school, we were all told to work hard so that we could get good grades and scores that would getRead MorePeer Pressure : Positive Or Negative?947 Words   |  4 PagesDon’t be peer pressured into being less than you are† (Steve Maraboli). This quote means that negative peer pressure can result in an individual acting out and behaving in a manner that is a downgrade from the person that is true to society. Often time, the community imagines peer pressure as teens influencing one another to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sexual intercourse. But really all peer pressure is, is the encouragement of changing values and behaviors of an individual. Peer pressure canRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Peer Pressure1532 Words   |  7 Pages Peer Pressure: An Epidemic We all have been young adolescents before and experienced all the things junior high and high school has to offer. Being a teenager is something everyone has or will experience in our life times. Teenagers go through a crucial time in their lives where they really figure out who they are and how to make more adult decisions. Peer pressure has always been a regular part of teenage life. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states â€Å"Peers play a large roleRead MorePeer Pressure And Its Effects On Adolescents1305 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Peers are important for the development of adolescents. As they continue to mature, adolescents have different targets for intimacy than when they were younger. The time of interaction between adolescents and their parents is lower compared to the time the adolescents spend with their friends and peers. They are even more likely to befriend those of the opposite sex. However, with peers inevitably there is peer pressure. Peer pressure has adopted a negative connotation, especially