Monday, May 25, 2020

The Attack On Pearl Harbor And 2001 Attacks On The World...

The United States (U.S) Intelligence community has come a long way since the revolutionary war. After winning independence from England, the U.S would not invest much into intelligence or foreign policy until the 20th century. Foreign policy was simply not a priority for our young nation, having an ocean on eastern and Western boarders of the country severely limited potential threats. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would be the first president since Washington to understand the importance of intelligence and lay the groundwork for what we now consider national intelligence. Unfortunately, it has taken two catastrophic failures in intelligence for the U.S to realize the need for good intelligence and take steps to improve itself. The†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, due to the fractured state of U.S intelligence community, that was never a possibility. This major intelligence failure was a wakeup call, and the goal of the U.S intelligence community was now to prevent ano ther such attack from happening. Cold War Intelligence The Cold War with the Soviet Union and its allies started almost immediately after the end of WWII, and would be the next step for the U.S intelligence community. The signing of the National Security Act of 1947 by president Truman drastically restructured the military and intelligence community, creating the Department of Defense (DoD) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) while establishing a clear chain of command (CIA, 2008). With the establishment of the CIA and director of central intelligence, The National Security Act of 1947 the U.S had a permanent and legitimized intelligence community, one that could start to develop and refine their own methods of operation and traditions (Lowenthal, 2017). The National Security Act of 1947 would go largely unchanged for 57 years, not being severely altered until 2004. After Pearl Harbor the intelligence communities primary function was to ensure that a catastrophe of that scale woul d not occur again. During the cold war, the largest threat to the U.S was a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, so an extremely large percentage of intelligence assets were focused on observing the Soviet nuclear program (Bukharin,Show MoreRelatedA Comparison of the September 11 Attack and the Attack on Pearl Harbor742 Words   |  3 PagesSeptember 11th 2001 On Sept. 11, 2001, A date that will live in infamy for Americans, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. At 8:48 a.m. flight 11 crashed into the north tower. As it continued to burn a second plane flight 175 carrying 65 people crashed into the south tower around 9:05 a.m.. as smoke and debris fill the air in New York City after one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Police officers and rescue workers on the disaster scene in New York are coveredRead MoreTerrorist Attacks: Pearl Harbour and The World Trade Center Essay970 Words   |  4 Pageshistory repeats that are partially similar are terrorist attacks. Two terrorist attacks, both at different times, and both unexpected occurred. One being before the 1960’s and the other after. In the early morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. This was only one incident of terrorism. Another occurred on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center was attacked by Islamic extremists. Pearl Harbor began early on Sunday morning at around 7:48 a.m. HawaiianRead MoreThe September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on America: The Division of Nations and Views1672 Words   |  7 PagesThe September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America divided two nations, yet knit one closer like the attacks on Pearl Harbor. There were many events that lead up to 9/11 that were only the beginning. The attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 was the finale. George Bush wrote in his diary, â€Å"The Pearl Harbor of the 21st century happened today†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (George Bush). This attack was a surprise, just like Pearl Harbor, but the U.S. reacted swiftly and effectively. The appalling events Now, more than aRead MoreThe Incredible Toll of 9/11 Essay1480 Words   |  6 Pageshammered them into the World Trade Centers North and South Tower along with the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The September 11, 2001, attacks changed America forever (9/11 Attacks - 102 minutes That Changed America). The September 11 attacks were the worst acts of terrorism ever carried against the United States. Nineteen terrorists took over commercial jetliners and slammed them into two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (The World Book Student DiscoveryRead MoreThe Invention Of The Airplane1401 Words   |  6 Pagesthe world forever. The airplane is still used today to travel around the world at a much faster pace than a boat. While it has been used to mainly help people they are also used to hurt people. The army uses planes to drop bombs, shoot down planes and threats on the ground, and to survey an area. While these are just cases of military uses the airplane has also been used to do horrible things such as the terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York on september eleventh 2001(9/11 attacks), TheRead MoreI Know That More Deaths Occurred On 9 / 111067 Words   |  5 PagesHuffman 1 Dylan Huffman English II Dunnaway 2-2-16 Did you know that more deaths occurred on 9/11 than on Pearl Harbor? Most people don t know that these 19 terrorists killed more people in the US, than in the last couple decades. There are many questions asked about what happened on September 11th, but sadly, most of them remain unanswered. On Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 four airplanes we hijacked in the United States. This day will be remembered for a long time, it is known as 9/11. The fourRead MoreThe United States : A Global Power And The Attack On The Twin Towers Essay1242 Words   |  5 Pagesthreats to bombings and attacks. In this essay I will analyze and talk about how the U.S. responded to the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Cuban Missile Crisis, and the attack on the Twin Towers. On December 7, 1941, Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the United States specifically the American Naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu. This surprise attack was tragic and killed over 2,000 soldiers and sailors and injured another 1,000 soldiers. The day after this attack President FranklinRead More9/11 Conspiracy Theory - Essay 11258 Words   |  6 Pages9-11 Conspiracy Theory. Introduction. September 11th, 2001; two planes crash into each tower of the World Trade Center, one in to the Pentagon, and one â€Å"crashes† in Pennsylvania. The government tells us that the attacks were committed by Al Qaeda, a Muslim extremist terrorist group. That it was a â€Å"cowardly surprise attack.† They do not offer any proof, except, a likely fake, video tape, of Bin Laden; translated by government translators. A pattern? We took the government’s word for it. How ironicRead MoreAnalysis Of Generation Debt By Anya Kamenetz747 Words   |  3 Pagesutilizes an allusion to relate two significant events in American history. In the excerpt, she refers to the attack of September 11, 2001 and claims, â€Å"My generation was forever marked by a catastrophe, our Pearl Harbor† (Kamenetz 732). To add to this, the debt was seen like the â€Å"dust of the World Trade Center...still hanging in the air† (Kamenetz 732). Kamenetz’s allusion to Pearl Harbor expresses another problem that only adds to a debt that terrorizes her generation and many more to come. WhileRead MoreCorrelation Between the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Attack September 111231 Words   |  5 PagesThe events of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 changed not just the American way of life, but the way in which terrorism will forever be viewed. Moments after the first plane changed our way of life by crashing into the first tower, it also changed the way people will live their lives for many generations from that point forward. For the first time on Continental United States soil, America was under siege. Months after the attack many political figures and citizens wondered about

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock - 858 Words

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock By T.S Eliot Who among us has not been to a social event or in a situation where they have felt uncomfortable or self conscience, perhaps at family events or at a party where the you are unfamiliar with the guest or even the host . However for some people this problem goes far beyond social events and seeps into daily life taking away happiness before it is even gained. In T.S. Eliots poem The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock the persona is so crippled by his social disorder and self consciousness he is not able to do anything without playing every possible outcome in his mind, this prevents him from having a close relationship with anyone around him. Throughout this work elements of†¦show more content†¦Many people throughout the world have social disorders that prevent them from being what they want to be, it is evident from the amount of pharmaceutical commercials on television, and in newspaper ads. It is a scary feeling to not be comfortable in your surroundings, to not know wh at is proper and to be self-conscience every moment of the day , Eliots usage of imagery, theme, and metaphor allows the reader a glimpse into this cold and depressing train of thought and allows them to walk side by side with someone who suffers from thisShow MoreRelatedThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock1647 Words   |  7 Pagesseen in T.S. Eliot’s work The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. The main character, Prufrock, plans to ask the woman he loves the overwhelming question of marriage, but due to his pessimistic outlook, he became hesitant and self conscious. Surges of insecurity arise, and instead of proposing his love, Prufrock delays the question and spends the night talking nonsense to avoid the situation. In the end, Prufrock’s insecurities and fear of rejection alter his feelings of love into a sense of emotional protectionRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock970 Words   |  4 PagesNever in Love When reading the title of T.S Eliot’s â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† it is believed we are in store for a poem of romance and hope. A song that will inspire embrace and warmth of the heart, regretfully this is could not be further from the truth. This poem takes us into the depths of J. Alfred Prufrock, someone who holds faltering doubt and as a result may never come to understand real love. â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† takes us through Prufrock’s mindset and his self-doubtingRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock1072 Words   |  5 Pages We may never be given a second chance to do something daring ever again so we seize the day! However, people like in J. Alfred Prufrock make the attempt to do but it doesn’t work. â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† written by T.S. Elliot, essentially is about a simple man that wishes to ask a question, although the question is never revealed, the reader is taken on journey the with the speaker, only to find that they have spent a lengthy amount of time of their lives without ever asking theRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock Essay1928 Words   |  8 PagesHuman Voices Wake Us and We Drown’: Community in ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’,† James Haba contends that the repeated use of â€Å"you†, â€Å"we†, and â€Å"us† in T. S. Eliot’s â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† creates a personal ambience around the reader and Prufrock. Because of this, Haba argues that Eliot’s use of personal pronouns and references produces a sense of community and intimacy between the reader and Prufrock (53), even though Prufrock seemingly struggles with emotions of intimacy andRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock915 Words   |  4 PagesThe Love Song of Alfred Prufrock: Taking the Love out of Song A tragedy in a poem is usually characterized as an event that has a tragic or unhappy ending. They generally are used to teach morals or lessons. T.S. Eliot’s, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†, is considered a tragedy because of the way Eliot uses four different writing styles: word choice, figurative language, images, and biblical allusions. Using these styles, Eliot acknowledges the tragic endeavor of single, reclusiveRead MoreThe Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock1729 Words   |  7 PagesThe Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock The dramatic monologue â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock was written by Thomas Stearns Eliot and published in June of 1915. Eliot was born in St Louis, Missouri on September 26, 1888, where he grew up and lived until the age of eighteen. After high school, Eliot studied at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Eventually, Eliot ended up in England where he married his wife Vivien and spent the remainder of his lifeRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock1125 Words   |  5 Pagesmodernism. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, despite being one of T.S Eliot s earliest publications, still manages to remain one of the most famous. He uses this poem to not only draw out the psychological aspect of members of modern society, but also to draw out the aspect of the time that he lived in. The speaker of this poem is a modern man who feels alone, isolated, and incapable of making decisive actions for himself. Prufrock desires to sp eak to a woman about his love for her, but heRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock986 Words   |  4 PagesIn The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot and Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold the poets utilizes poetic devices to convey their respective themes. Through use of symbols and metaphors, the speaker in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock displays his fears of the changes brought with the younger generation, and isolation from the changing society. The speaker in Dover Beach, utilizes symbols, metaphors, and similes to state that the younger generation has less faith than the older, and societyRead MoreThe Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock1966 Words   |  8 Pagessymbolism to capture the readers attention in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. The poem has a dramatic discourse. The percipience of lifes emptiness is the main theme of the poem. Eliot exhorts the spiritual decomposition by exploring a type of life in death. T. S. Eliot, who in the Clark Lectures notes, Real Irony is an expression of suffering(Lobb, 53), uses irony and symbolism throughout the poem to exemplify the suffering of J. Alfred Prufrock who believes he is filled with spiritual morbidityRead MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock1005 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† published in 1915, was written by a man named T.S. Eliot. The speaker of the poem begins to describe an evening that appears to be somewhat romantic and a little mysterious. As the reader progresses into the poem, the mood soon fades and the reader starts to figure out that this evening is not what they pictured. â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† is a poem written by Robert Frost. The poem was first published in 1927. The speaker of the poem has a similar mood as

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Chapter 14 The War Of The Union - 1333 Words

Chapter 14: The War of the Union, 1861-1865 1. Identify the respective advantages of the North and South and explain how they affected the military strategies of the Union and Confederacy. When the start of the war had begun, the people were very confident going into it. When the war took place on the Confederates own territory, this ended up giving them a much better chance of taking control over the war. The confederates also were hoping for the support of Britain and France but in the end this never ended up taking place. In regards to population and industrial development, the union had the upper hand. There was a very big campaign that was initiated by the Union to take control over the Confederate capital. The enthusiasm for a quick and fast victory went out in flames at the First Battle of Bull Run. When the First Battle Bull Run occurred, this ended up proving that war could not be determined with just one blow. The union ended up coming up with the Anaconda Plan, which was the union’s main war strategy, which c alled for a naval siege of major southern seaports and with the Confederacy taking over Tennessee, Cumberland, and Mississippi Rivers. 2. Evaluate Lincoln’s decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on the war. President Abraham Lincoln finally came to terms that the only way that the war would be won, would be if slavery completely was abolished. There were reasons provided by Lincoln in regards to the Emancipation Proclamation (1862),Show MoreRelatedRichard Nixon and Supreme Court1634 Words   |  7 PagesChapter 28 1. Which country did NOT become politically controlled by the Soviet Union after World War II? *Yugoslavia* 2. The Soviet Union first learned of the American atomic bomb how? *through the use of espionage* 3. The Baruch Plan would do what? 4. George Kennans containment policy proposed what? *American vigilance regarding Soviet expansionist tendencies.* 5. George Kennan believed firmly that foreign policy should be left to whom? 6. The Truman Doctrine stated that American policyRead MoreFor Cause and Comrades Essay757 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Civil War. The initial motivation the union and confederacy sustain throughout the story proves that personal honor is valued more than their lives. The opening chapter of the book is mostly a plot overview of the events that had yet to come. Fratricide, Meaning one that murders or kills an individual (as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister, and Rage Military were the main themes of the opening chapters. The fact intrigued me that the Civil War so dividedRead MoreReconstruction Of The Civil War879 Words   |  4 PagesThe Civil War can be described as one of the bloodiest and gruesome war ever fought on American soil. The Civil War was fought between the Union and the Confederates. The Civil War lasted for 5 years and during that 5 year period many people ended up dying, 620,000 people to be exact and millions injured, but while the numbers can be appalling; it isn t even the beginning. The war led a schism to happen in the U.S, the whole country was divided and devastated. Abraham Lincoln the president whoRead MoreJames L. Swanson s Bloody Times : The Funeral Of Abraham Lincoln And The M anhunt For Jefferson Davis950 Words   |  4 Pages James L. Swanson’s Bloody Times: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and The Manhunt for Jefferson Davis describes the separate journey of the two most important faces of the civil war, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. Swanson seems to write for the purpose of allowing readers to experience the final journeys of what he believes is the most unique time in history. This adolescent version of Swanson’s adult novel, Bloody Crimes, describes Lincoln’s journey to the grave and the manhunt for the accusedRead MoreThe Battle Of The War I And World War II Essay980 Words   |  4 PagesIn five chapters of this book, from chapter five to chapter ten the author writes about land and water, space and water. In these five chapters the author covers, forests, jungles, terrains, corridors, waters, glaciers, peninsulas, sea costs and islands. He writes about the US civil war, World War I and World War II. The author would like to compare the tactics and strategies used by the US Confederate and Union Generals during the Civil War, the US military strategy and tactics in Vietnam, AsiaRead MoreKilling Lincoln By Bill O Reilly And Martin Dugard1609 Words   |  7 Pagesmostly about assassinations or deaths of political, religious, and other figures. Therefore, O’Reilly and Dugard are qualified to write this book, because they are both his torical authors. The content of this book is in chronological order. Each chapter is prefaced with a date and location and/or time. The authors use both primary and secondary sources as a part of a realistic approach to relay the events surrounding President Abraham Lincoln s death. They drew from memoirs and documents writtenRead MoreBrinkmanship And The Cuban Missile Crisis1264 Words   |  6 Pagesnegotiating leverage - -participants. For example, the struggle between National political and military, if a long-term military confrontation between the two countries, both sides have nuclear weapons, the weaker side in order to avoid a conventional war can be used to launch nuclear weapons to threat another one which side is stronger. However, this threat may be considered to be incredibly for strong side. The question is coming that how it can threaten by one of the weak side becomes confidence andRead MoreEssay about President Abraham Lincoln1151 Words   |  5 Pagesagricultura l production. The two sections developed differing economies and ideas and by April 14, 1861, at Fort Sumter, the tensions came to a head as the American Civil War began. Skillfully guiding the nation through this time of hardship and considered one of the greatest presidents in American history, Abraham Lincoln left a legacy that lives on in America today due to his preservation of the Union, clash with slavery, and innate leadership in times of crisis. Although Abraham Lincoln servedRead MoreChapter Outline Apush Ch.151056 Words   |  5 PagesChapter 15: Crucible of Freedom: Civil War, 1861-1865 Both North and South were ill prepared for war in 1861. Initially dependent on volunteers, the Confederacy established a draft in 1862, and the Union did so the following year. At first the South relied on imported arms and munitions but soon was able to produce its own. It had more trouble with clothing and food throughout the duration of the war. Financing the war was also a problem. Americans had been unaccustomed to paying taxes to theRead MoreContemporary Mainstream Approaches : Neo Realism And Neo Liberalism1527 Words   |  7 PagesChapter 8: Contemporary mainstream approaches (neo-realism and neo-liberalism) In the previous chapters, we’ve taken a broad glance of Realism and Liberalism; in this chapter we take a look at the modern version of these political theories and their respective differences. Although Realism and Neo-realism are close in name, they aren’t that close in ideologies. Both theories differ on their definitions of power and anarchy along with their respective model structures of the international system.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Urban Paradise Essay Example For Students

Urban Paradise Essay I’ve never traveled much. Frankly, I’ve never felt the urge to leave Roseburg. If you’ve never heard of Roseburg, that’s a pretty good description of it. Maybe I’m not being fair. I guess Roseburg isn’t a shrouded glen or lost hamlet; the Dixie Chicks played in our most prominent city park just two summers past. Strangely enough, when offered the chance to go to Portland to see one of my favorite bands, I seized the moment. The Vandals are a punk band. Stereotypical punks resemble infested lepers. These unwashed adolescents are rebels without cleanliness. The pierced, tattooed freaks don’t rabble rouse, because they are the rabble. Sadly to say these guys are too hardcore for me, for two reasons. My current financial situation seems to be one of perpetual poverty. Self expression costs money, that my parents wouldn’t be willing to pay. They seem dead set to never see me in a lime green mohawk. My second reason has already been briefly mentioned. My parents represent the more conservative party in the house. Dregs still need a place to sleep and food to eat. I was shocked when my parents agreed to let me go to Portland with two of my friends. The advanced plans were made and we left. The concert took place at La Luna. La Luna is normally a dance club, but on certain, rare occasions it mutates into a concert hall. When we arrived the show had already started. The first punk band had just finished. We were a little disappointed at missing Longfellow, for they are very talented. The condition of the interior was strangely frightening to this country boy who had dared to invade it. The floor was packed with a wide assortment of punks. Some had dyed mohawks towering above the crowd, signaling position and radiating the mood of the mohawk bearer. We had an assortment of Rude Boys and Mods there also. As is custom, the Mods were dressed in dark suits and frying on acid, while there similarly dressed cousins, the Rude Boys, where eyeing the skinheads. The skinheads or skins, obviously stuck out like sour middle fingers. It was quite apparent that many of them had recently shaved their heads. Some SHARP’s were there also, leaning against a shadowy corner, smoking and drinking. SHARP stands for SkinHead Against Racial Persecution. I am half-Asian and shouldn’t fear these benevolent skins but maybe they should be called SHAFF’s, or SkinHead Affectionate For Fighting. The embodiment of fury and urban desperation stalked in the shadows. Chances are they beat up the â€Å"bad† skinheads after the show. After two more cover bands it was time for the Vandals. My adrenaline was pumping through constricted veins. Their crew purposely took an eternity to setup. Angst and anxiety were at an all high. My comrades were just sitting calm and relaxed, I guess one benefit of cigarettes. The fact that everyone else knew the secret of tobacco relaxation was painfully aware to me. The air was a blanket of dense black smoke threatening to water my eyes and choke my lungs. Virgin lungs had never been molested like this before. The smoke had been affecting me this whole time, but had went unnoticed until right before the Vandals played. The intense throbbing of the black strobe light directly in front of the back wall where I was sitting pounded into my head. With teary eyes and overwhelmed nose, my ears came through for me. It was they who caught the first guitar rift and bass line. In line all other sense came to me. The pounding strobe was brought down and replaced with smoothing, flashing aqua blues and sea green stage lights. The figures of the bassist and drummer appeared. .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 , .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .postImageUrl , .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 , .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:hover , .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:visited , .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:active { border:0!important; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:active , .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51 .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u01fcc95121460589ce30fd71f9e85d51:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Alexander the Great EssayThese two young guys were faceless. They existed only in the shadows. They had not been part of the old steady Vandals we all loved. Dave and Warren then appeared. Dave had joined the band in 1980, while Warren was still a founding member, 1978. Dave, as lead vocalist had the predominant position of center stage. He wore a light blue shirt with a picture of Mr. Rogers branded across it’s front. The word â€Å"MASTURBATE† was proudly displayed below the visage. He seemed in his 30’s, but his youth at heart shown brightly. The lights lacerated through the oppressive layer of cancerous ozone. His contorted face bellowed out old lo ves and new favorites. His energy and charisma entranced me. I had worked through sweaty 20 somethings to make it to the retaining wall that separated audience from idols. On my left was a tall man. He was clad in a black leather jacket and wore glasses. He too had made it to the barrier, but by more forceful means. We never spoke but he saved me multiple times. I was threatened many times by the vacuum of a circle pit. The circle pit is an opening within the center of the crowd. The brave few inside are bounced off the sides of the circle and each other. The insiders out weighted me by probably 80 to 100 pounds. Entry was easy, escape was not. The circle pit existed a few people behind me. When the circle shifted toward me, I just grabbed the man’s arm and held on. He understood my plight and eventually quite taking notice of my clinging grip. I never had a chance to thank him. Occasionally, I freed myself from enchantment and turned my head to view the back.Actually my attention was broken many times. Something about being kicked in the head will always do that. Crowd surfers, what can I say? Crowd surfing represents the ultimate social shift. The lucky individual can go from back of audience to stage in a fun, fast wild ride. Many women have complained about crowd surfing. They don’t like being groped by one guy; why would they like one thousand sweaty hands? Guys don’t like groping hands either. I especially don’t like the crowd surfer. The standard army surplus boot or Doc Martin worn by punks is unbelievably good at causing bruises. The front of the audience was the paradise of crowd surfers and my head stood between them and that. I was kicked probably ten times in two hours. Only two blows really affected me and required time to recover. By the concert’s end, I was ravaged. My hair was a shaggy black mess upon bruised scalp. My eyes were red from sweat and smoke entering them. My delicate eardrums rang with the familiar ringing of permanent damage. My white T-shirt was sodden and stained slightly off-white by the cigarette fumes ever present. I was pleasantly surprised to find the blood on my shirt was not my own. Falling on the dirty ground trampled by filthy boots soiled my pants. My heart raced and I felt amazing. I had discovered the secret of endorphins and adrenaline. Since that summer, two years ago, I have been to at least fifteen such concerts. Maybe I have learned the wrong lesson from my concert going experience, but I now realize to enjoy youth and seize the day.