The Darkest Hour ends in May 1940. Churchill is Prime Minister and Britain has begun to evacuate its soldiers from Dunkirk after successfully taking back a piece of France. The author ties up the book with an epilogue. He writes that in England’s darkest time, Churchill became the Winston Churchill we know today. “That May, Winston Churchill became Winston Churchill.” (McCarten 265). It was through doubt and audacity that enabled Churchill to strengthen the British people and save England. “Churchill, in late May, after a great deal of vacillating, if hemming and hawing, of all-night pacing, of mental disorderliness, saying one thing and then the other, of an infuriating overuse of the volte face, of soul-searching, of heedfulness, of listening, of reconsideration, of option-weighing, of reckoning, of black-dog speechlessness, was able to confront the nation and offer words toughened in the fires of an intense doubt, and come down in the right side of history.” (McCarten 265). The book ends with the message that through doubt, audacity, and perseverance, Churchill managed to save England and be immortalized in history. The Darkest Hour is an important read because it teaches us that even when we are unable to physically fight we can still win a war with words. While we may not be fighting a war we still must use of voices to change the many pressing issues of this world. The Darkest Hour highlights the power of words and the effect they have. It teaches us that even though many people might believe that we shall forever fail, there is a time when we can prove them wrong. This message is still valuable today. We live in a world where the rich and the influential have all the power but the book reminds us that with words we can move the hearts of the coldest men and bring down armies. The general population needs to remember that our words hold meaning and power. Through us there is change, even one man can bring an entire country back from the brink of annihilation. Churchill was just one man and he stirred the British people forward when they were all but lost. Many politicians in Parliament considered Churchill to be a failure. The author details the image of Churchill, many, if not all, the politicians in Parliament entertained. “But none were easy about the choice, for what a conundrum he was, an amalgam of irreconcilable parts: showman, show-off, blow-hard, poet, journalist, historian, adventurer, melancholic, arguably an alcoholic, inarguably of pensionable age, at sixty-five a man whose primary distinction was as a continent failure, reliably misreading the writing on the wall, getting things badly wrong too often, and too often when he needed to get them very, very right.” (McCarten 15). Despite lack of faith in him, Churchill persevered and cleverly outmaneuvered his enemies, both in Parliament and in Germany. We can take a lesson from Winston as we attempt to make changes in our country.
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I am reading The Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten. The Darkest Hour is about how Winston Churchill brought England back from near defeat during World War II. The book focuses on the political situation in England as its very survival is threatened. It describes how the current Prime Minister, Chamberlain, was not only ailing but was also strategically inept, while telling of the struggle for political power as successors make a name for themselves. Anthony McCarten details the people's need for a great leader in a dark time. The Darkest Hour tells of Winston Churchill’s struggles to become Prime Minister and of his mission to defeat Nazi Germany. Churchill utilizes the power of words to stir the emotions of politicians and civilians when Europe was about to fall to Hitler and his army. Churchill saved England by encouraging the people of England to stand tall and fight for their country, with the most powerful weapons he had; words. In the Darkest Hour there is a considerable amount of political unrest. The appeasement policy divided Parliament. The Prime Minister at the time, Neville Chamberlain, proposed a policy to appease Hitler in an effort to avoid another bloody war. The civilians found the prospect of avoiding a horrific war to be appealing. As a result the appeasement was considered to be highly popular, however, other members of Parliament saw the appeasement policy to be ludicrous and weak. Winston Churchill was one of the critics of the appeasement policy. When it soon became clear that Hitler had no intention to abandon his plans for conquest. The number of supporters of Chamberlain’s policy began to wane. It wasn’t long till a majority of Parliament called for his resignation but Chamberlain stood fast in his belief of ‘peace in our time’ and refused to step down. This led to political tensions amongst Parliament as a successor for the Prime Minister was sought. The political unrest in Britain during World War II is not unlike the political unrest of modern Britain. On June 23, 2016, Britain voted to leave the EU. This process was named Brexit. The consequences of Brexit are still felt in Britain today. The British people as well as Parliament have been divided by the controversial Brexit policy. The the decision to leave the EU has led to a political unrest in Britain as they try to formulate a plan regarding the way England should be governed after being a member of the EU for more than forty years.
I am reading The Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten. The author compiled this book after doing extensive research on Churchill. The Darkest Hour is a book about how Winston Churchill brought England back from the brink during World War II. When the book first begins it has already been eight months into World War II. The book focuses on the political situation of England in its darkest time. It describes the struggle for power and the people's need for a great leader as the current Prime Minister was not only ailing but was also strategically inept. The Darkest Hour tells of Winston Churchill’s struggles to become Prime Minister and his mission to defeat Nazi Germany when all he had were the power of words. Churchill utilizes all the orator skills he has picked up across the years to stir the emotions of politicians and civilians when Europe was about to fall to a dictator. Churchill was a renowned orator and many people today know him for the speeches he gave during World War II. Some of his speeches coined new terms. For instance, during Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, he used the term “iron curtain” to reference the Soviet Union’s attempt to isolate itself from the rest of the world as Stalin surreptitiously made plans for expansion. At this time, most of Europe had fallen to Hitler. England launched numerous attacks against Hitler only to end in disastrous defeat. Prime Minister Chamberlain was convinced that through the policy of appeasement, Hitler would cease his barade on Europe. The author is quick to point out the ridiculousness of the appeasement policy. “The message was simple and clear: not only had Chamberlain to go, but with him all those who supported the policy of appeasement, the flawed belief that had dominated British policy towards Germany during the 1930s - namely, that a dictator, if well fed, would retire, stated, to his cave,” (McCarten 6). Over all, the author gives the reader a better understanding of World War II and its effects on the British people by telling the story of Winston Churchill while still staying true to history. World War II caused fear to spread across Europe as Hitler began to dominate Europe. The people of England feared that England would fall to Hitler and fascism. After England’s military suffered numerous defeats on the battlefield, England had lost faith in their leader. The British people were desperate for a great leader, one that would give them hope and stir them forward to victory. Winston Churchill was that leader. Churchill gave the people just what they needed in a dark time. While many people were fearful of the impending doom of Europe and the constant threat of Nazi attack, Churchill was effected in a different way. Churchill saw this as an opportunity to rise to the position of Prime Minister. Winston often went directly to the heart of the fighting. He was not afraid to dodge bullets, rather it would seem that he enjoyed it. Winton’s thirst for action is beautifully put by Anthony McCarten, “Perhaps it was his experience of cavalry charges with the Army or the excitement he’d felt dodging bullets as a front-line journalist. Whatever the cause, Winston seemed incapable of not meddling in areas outside of his remit,” (McCarten 45). Winston Churchill was determined to defeat Hitler and take back Europe. With all of the skills and experience he picked up throughout his life he would do just that.
Homeless Animals Introduction Homeless animals is a big problem in the community today, though we might not notice it. There are about 70 million stray animals living in the U.S. Of this 70 million, only about six to eight million cats and dogs enter the nation's 3,500 shelters every year (Humane Society of the United States). That means there are many, many animals out there that need a home. Animals become homeless because owners leave them on the side of the road or there isn’t enough room at the shelter so they get euthanized. Other animals are born without a home due to other homeless animals. We need to find a safe place for these animals to live for the remainder of their lives. We are interested in helping homeless animals because we all have animals of our own. We care about them so very much. It is our hope that other animals will be loved by an owner, just as much as we love our pets. We hate it when our pets are sick or hurt and we would like to help other animals that are possibly suffering. Loving an animal can have a huge impact on both lives. From a sick stray on the side of the road, to a strong, happy, and healthy member of a family. You should care about this issue because it affects your safety and it should make you feel rather sad that there are so many animals out there without a home. Homeless animals could get hit by a car on a highway. They are also being killed for no good reason other than no one wants them. Loving animals in need has the capacity to change the lives of both animals and people. Giving animals a safe home will improve their lives by making them happier and healthier. Overall, you should care about helping homeless animals because it’s the right thing to do. Issue Homeless animals in the U.S.A. outnumber homeless people 5 to 1. The issue of homeless animals in Wake County is a big problem for our community. It is expensive for the shelters to take in homeless animals and it costs a lot of money for taxpayers. Last year in Wake County, 5,246 dogs were taken to shelters. Out of that number, 3,157 were adopted, 1,164 were returned to their owners and 899 were euthanized. The cost is $282.45 per animal handled at the shelter. That is a lot of money spent on animals. This has been going on for a very long time. The animals that don’t get adopted are euthanized. There were 899 dogs, 1,251 cats, 3 rabbits, and 141 wildlife euthanized last year in Wake County. Euthanizing animals taxpayers a lot of money. Not only does euthanizing animals cost money but it is also cruel to put down animals that are not suffering and are merely homeless. The cause of the high number of homeless animals can be linked to over-breeding. Another cause is that owners don’t always spay or neuter their animals. Sometimes it’s because they don’t have the money to take proper care for their. Some owners don’t realize the commitment and responsibility of taking care of an animal. Responsibilities include, paying for food, shelter, shots and neutering. A lot of people think that the Humane Society can care for all unwanted pets but it is hard to provide space for all of the homeless animals. Solution The issue of homeless animals is a large one. It is estimated that 17 million homeless animals are killed in shelters each year (Best Friends Animal Society). There are many organizations in our community that have recognized this issue and are dedicated to making a difference. Organizations such as, C.A.R.E. For Animals, Second Chance Pet Adoptions, Best Friend Animal Society, and other various humane organizations have dedicated themselves to this issue. “Today, more than 4,100 dogs and cats are killed in animal shelters across the country, just because they don't have safe places to call home. But Best Friends is working with you to reduce that number to zero by the year 2025, (Best Friends Animal Society).” Organization like these are doing their best to lower the statistics of homeless animal deaths. Such missions of these organizations are to rehabilitate animals that were abused and abandoned, as well as find a permanent home that will love these animals forever. There is still so much we can and need to do to improve our community. Many animals are still without a caring and permanent home. We all can play our part by donating money and food to no-kill shelters and give animals the love they deserve. Neutering and spaying animals will also help prevent more homeless animals being born into a harsh and unforgiving environment. Some organizations such as, Best Friends Animal Society, are working to pass laws that legally require shelters to report their numbers. The hope is that this law will spread to all parts of the country. (Best Friends Animal Society). If will all participates in caring for these companions, be it by adopting or donating to shelters, we can improve the lives of animals and people alike. Action Plan One thing I can do personally is to volunteer, donate money or food to shelters. I could volunteer at shelters or organizations that need help taking care of any animals, cleaning, and anything else that I could assist with. I could also ask around for people to donate to a no-kill shelter or organization or perhaps even ask a person to foster an animal. Others can also participate in this to help animals that are in need. To lessen the suffering of animals, we can volunteer at an organization called Wags N Paws Animal Rescue NC. We can also collect money/food to donate to organization who will help those in need. Requirements
Some things you would need to know is that helping out with any shelter or organization would benefit many animals that are in need. Too many animals are abandoned and abused. With the cooperation of all those who care and are willing to help we can better the lives of helpless. One of our goals is to contribute to improving the lives of those animals. Not even foster animals have a permanent home. While they may have someone who protects them they are still without a safe and everlasting home. Time Table Works Cited Pepelko, Kristina. “12 Alarming Facts About Pet Homelessness.” One Green Planet. 20 Feb. 2014. 16 Jan. 2018 <http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/12-alarming-facts-about-pet-homelessness/> Cardiff, Emily. “10 Ways to Help End Pet Homelessness.” One Green Planet. 25 Feb. 2014. 16 Jan. 2018 <http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/10-ways-to-help-end-pet-homelessness/> “11 Facts About Animal Homelessness.” DO SOMETHING. 17 Jan. 2018 <https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-animal-homelessness/> C.A.R.E. for Animals. 17 Jan. 2018 <http://www.careforanimals-nc.org/> “Volunteer.” Second Chance Pet Adoptions. 17 Jan. 2018 <https://www.secondchancenc.org/volunteer/> “Shelter Intake and Surrender.” ASPCA. 16 Jan. 2018 <https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics> “Transparency in America’s Animal Shelters.” Best Friends. 18 Jan. 2018 <https://bestfriends.org/transparency-americas-shelters> There is a large gap in education spending amidst North Carolina counties. The wealthiest counties in North Carolina are spending more money per students than the poorest counties. This gap has grown since 2011 and is continuing to do so. I, myself, am a student in North Carolina. I want to get the most out of my education as I am sure many other students and parents do. We seek to acquire the highest education available to us and if we are given the chance to improve what we have then we should. We should also take the time to improve the schools of other counties for we are lucky enough to have a wealthy county while others do not. Other counties do not have the proper funding to improve their school. The amount of spending has an effect on classes which in turn affects the students. Wealthier schools are able to recruit more staff and offer more diverse classes. The amount of supplies is also affected by this gap. The more money spent on a school, the more supplies are available. This gap in public school spending influences the quality of education a student receives. I don’t not want other students to suffer from the lack of funding especially if there is something that can be done to change that. Parents and students need to corporate in order to bridge this gap. Parents and students can arrange fundraisers to donate money to the poorest school. Fundraisers could come in the form of raffles, money drives, and simply campaigning. Raising awareness of the issue is extremely important. By doing so more people will understand why it is necessary to donate money to schools. By donating to schools that are in need of more funding, we can help support them and give students the best education possible. All students have the right to an education and they have the right to seek to improve it. Benjamin Franklin was quoted saying “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” By investing in our schools we will improve our community and the future of our world.
Sources used: http://wunc.org/post/new-study-shows-big-gap-education-spending-among-north-carolina-counties I believe that art tells a story without words. Art conveys a story through feelings and thought. It is unlike any other story. It is unique to every individual and reaches even those who seem unattainable. This is why I believe art is beautiful.
One summer night, when I was thirteen years old, I sat alone in my room with a sketchpad in my lap and headphones on my ears. I was listening to instrumental music. I have always felt that music without words carries a deeper meaning than lyrical music. On this particular night when I listened to the music, I heard the way the tone rises and falls, how the different instruments sound like many voices coming together to tell their story. It was breathtaking. As I listened I forgot the world and for a moment the world forgot me. I no longer heard music, but a story. There was a story that filled my mind. I could not put it into words so I told the story in the only way I knew how. I needed to draw. In fact I was desperate. The story was all I could think about. As the music continued to play, the story grew, becoming not just a story but another world, another life. I drew and I drew and I drew. The pencil skimmed across the paper and the clock hands made their trek around the face. I was lost in another reality. I no longer belonged to this world, but felt pulled into another. The paper was no longer just something to be used. It was a window, a window into another world. It was a photograph created by graphite, music and emotion, each stroke capturing a part of the story in a moment of time. When the story was complete I looked upon it. A thousand words, thoughts, emotions, and actions all told in a single moment. I felt the story inside me. It never left me and it never will. I hope that those who see my art will not just see shapes. My hope is that with each individual the story will weave a new meaning. It will continue to prosper. As the story changes it will live many lives, it will continue to grow and hold a special place in the mind and heart of the individual. As I think of the story I have felt and the thought of the many stories it shall tell, I am filled with a sense of peace, for I know that the world I have created will live on. The music has faded and the graphite has settled but that does not mean that the fabricated world has come to a stand still. On the contrary, this is only the beginning. A story never really ends. As others gaze upon it they too will feel a story. That story will grow inside of them. Art tells a silent story. A story that no one else can hear. It is the purest form of storytelling. Art is beautiful in a way that in each person it evokes different emotions and memories. This I believe, art tells a story and that story is unlike any other. |
AuthorThis is a student blog. |