Are We At War With Terrorists - 833 Words

Are we at war with terrorists? What about the â€Å"Global War on Terrorism†? That sure was a catch phrase in the early 2000s. Don’t we currently have troops in Iraq and Syria? Aren’t we at war with ISIL? All of the answers to these questions are very complicated. We are not currently, legally, at war with ISIL. But why aren’t we? I thought we were dropping tens of thousands of bombs on Raqqa? On September 18th, 2001, Congress enacted the â€Å"AUMF†, Authorization for the use of Military Force. The AUMF was at the request of President Bush, in response to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. The AUMF granted the President the authority â€Å"to use all necessary and appropriate force against those†¦ he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001, or harbored [those who did].† (www.acslaw.org) Al Qaeda was identified as the terrorist group that was responsible for the attack and thus was targeted by the United States Military for the next fourteen years. The AUMF has been referred to as the global war on terror, but that would be an untrue nickname, as the AUMF only authorizes force against those responsible for the September 11th attacks. Osama Bin Laden was identified as the leader of Al Qaeda and subsequently was killed in a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2nd, 2011. So far, conflict in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and DjiboutiShow MoreRelatedIsis And Many Terrorist Groups1511 Words   |  7 PagesISIS and many terrorist groups have been recently attacking at will throughout the entire world. The terrorist group of ISIS is the biggest and most widely known terrorist group recently. One of the biggest controversial arguments today is if the United States should go to war with terrorist groups such as ISIS and others. I believe that the best solution to t his argument is to not go to war with terrorist groups or ISIS just yet. Within the past couple of years, the terrorist group of ISIS hasRead MoreWar On Terror, By Patrick Coaty1249 Words   |  5 PagesWar On Terror In the book War on Terror, by Patrick Coaty discusses issues that reference to terrorism. His main focus was the attack on 9/11 the terrorism issue has been more aware to the public on how dangerous it can be. According to Coaty terrorism was formed during the ending of the revolutionary France by the Jacobins they thought it was â€Å"cleanse† that it would take away all evil (Coaty 84) . The concept of terrorism was a form of have â€Å"power† over people a legitimate system was used to fearRead MoreEssay on The war against terrorism976 Words   |  4 Pages Is war the right way? Why do people resort to such violent acts as bombing, assassinations, and hi-jacking? How do individuals and organizations justify these acts of terror? These acts can be described as terrorist actions. Terrorism is a growing international problem. During the last twenty years, new terrorist groups have sprung up all over the world. Governments have had little success in their attempts to resolve issues in which terrorism is used. A major problem in discussing terrorism isRead MoreIndian Constitution Provides Us Rights, Responsibility, And Duty821 Words   |  4 PagesIndia is bit bitter towards our great nation. Few people saying, we need one more partition which will never happen. The free speech is soul of any democracy. There is no question in my mind that anyone has to prove how much you love India. We do not need to handover patriotic certificate to each other. Nobody is superior over each other. We all are equal and we can express our self freely and without being threatened, that’s why we hop on social media. I personally do not take broad brush and paintRead MoreThe Attack On The United States976 Words   |  4 PagesThe Attack on the September 11, and the consequent War on Terror changed how the American government and its public perceive terrorism and how to formulate a policy to counter the phenomenon. A couple of large wars were waged on the name of War on Terror and many other small wars and conflicts took place in numbers of countries and continents to eradicate the threat of a terrorist attack. Yet the terrorist groups survived and the United States were left with a large debt acquired by expensive counterterrorismRead MoreThe Geneva Convention: Laws and Protocols Essay1714 Words   |  7 PagesThe rules of war; it sounds ridiculous when stated like that. Even though war is a brutal man vs. man, kill or be killed affair, there are rules to war. The 1949 Geneva conventions are the body of international law that deals with armed conflict. They were created for good reasons, but there are also flaws within them. The Geneva Conventions are exploited by terrorists and in some ways interfere with national security. These laws are getting our soldiers undeservedly prosecuted, even though our enemiesRead More Why Terrorism Should Be a Global Concern Essay1380 Words   |  6 PagesThe war on terror is at the peak and there are vivid indications that every stone will be turned to halt it. A central assumption is that terrorism is a religious war, apparently between Christians and the Muslims. This is just a moral claim that terrorists are using to attract more people over to their side, as well as create solidarity among the Muslims. As a result, the imagery and the reality of terrorism differ overwhelmingly. There are various terror occurrences around the globe that are similarRead MorePersuasive Essay On Refugees1096 Words   |  5 PagesTo be defined as a refugee you would have been a person who was forced to leave your country in order to escape war. Every needs help in their own way. I might need help on some homework that I am having trouble with, but refugees are truly in desperate need for help. They are having a rough time in their own country maybe because of war. They are forced to leave to country if the want to be safe. They will life so they can continue to have their life and make it a good one. To be called a refugeeRead MoreThe Wa r Of The Middle East With Islamist Extremists1231 Words   |  5 PagesWar is ugly, no other way to state it, but it is also a necessity. War is an armed conflict between different nations or states (Merriam-Webster). Many say there is always a way around war. Is there really a way? When we look back at World War II, was there any way to avoid it? Do you think that we could have negotiated with Adolf Hitler? The answer is a resounding no. Hitler wanted to exterminate the Jewish race and any other race that weren t what he believed to be perfect (annefrank.org). A moreRead MoreWar On Terror And Terrorism1300 Words   |  6 PagesWar on Terror After the incident of September 11, 2001, War on Terror became a serious problem. That attack made huge effects on U.S government and many other countries. Many innocent people lost their lives because of those terrorists. No one knows if an incident like the one on September 11 will happen again, but we have to know that â€Å"we are the primary target†. According to Patrick Coaty’s â€Å"War on Terror,† the terrorism has been developed throughout history. So that people should know to fight

Essay on The Washington Monument - 991 Words

The Washington Monument The most stunning monument in our capital is the Washington Monument. At 555 feet high, it is the tallest such monument in the world. It is an obelisk by shape, yet not a true obelisk because it is not carved out of a single stone. The monument was built at intervals between 1848 and 1885. It memorializes George Washingtons achievements and his devotion to principles and to his country. The Washington Monument has an interesting history. The idea of a monument celebrating George Washington was first considered by the Continental Congress in 1783. However, the next three decades brought neglect by Congress to take action. Finally, in 1833 the Washington National Monument Society was organized to forward the†¦show more content†¦History of the Obelisk The design of the Washington Monument is a common obelisk and can be found around the world. Its history begins in Egypt. There were a great many obelisks in Egypt, 13 were originally in Karnak where now only 5 stand. Possibly the best known obelisk in Egypt is at the Temple of Luxor in Thebe. This obelisk was raised by Ramses II. He is credited with raising over fourteen obelisks at Tanis alone. The obelisk at the Temple of Luxor was originally one of a pair of obelisks. This missing obelisks was later removed and brought to Paris where it stands in the Place de la Concorde. Many of the obelisks that were originally in Egypt are now in different parts of the world. It appears that these obelisks were the focus of conquerors of Egypt. For example, the Persian leader Cambyses dragged many of these obelisks to the ground and mutilated them. He especially targeted those obelisks which bore the inscriptions of cruel deeds that were performed against the Persians. The destruction of these obelisks by conquerors suggests that these enormous structures represented the power of Egyptian leaders and were very important to the Egyptians. Later conquerors removed many of these obelisks as souvenirs. Two great obelisks, which stood in Egypt for a millennium and a half, were brought to Rome to commemorate Julius Caesar. These became known as Cleopatras needles. Ironically, one is now in London andShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Washington Monument4283 Words   |  18 PagesThe Washington Monument The Washington Monument, a memorial structure designed and constructed in the nineteenth century, signifies an important tribute to the prestigious role and achievements of our nation’s founding father. Ideas for such a monument first arose in 1783, by which time â€Å"the fame George Washington, Commanding General and first President of the United States, was assured in the pantheon of statesmen of the world† (1). It was during this year that the ContinentalRead MoreThe Statue Of Liberty, The Washington Monument901 Words   |  4 Pages Monuments preserve a memory that serves as a reminder of a significant event or person. The Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, Bunker Hill Monument— these structures honor and immortalize remarkable occurrences in history, people, or concepts; and when it is time to construct a monument, many aspects of the established memorial need to be planned. Factors a group or agency should consider when memorializing an event or person and in creating a monument is the location, which should be inRead MoreDescriptive Essay On Lost And Found986 Words   |  4 Pagesexperienced once before. One of the most stressful times I have ever been a part of is when I lost my wallet in Washington D.C. It was this event that taught me a lesson about being responsible. As we arrived at the station, my family and I exited the train and headed to ground level. From there we proposed a plan. Our plan for the day was to visit the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, and the White House. After my family and I devised our plan, we sought out the LincolnRead MoreThe Story Of My Life924 Words   |  4 PagesThe sun shone high, a little too high. Walking down the path of the Washington Monument in, quite obviously, Washington D.C., the Lincoln memorial looked bigger of an obstacle than my friends and I had thought itd be. I made a grand mistake of wearing a heavy shirt; sweat was dripping in torrents down my neck. Elli and Kennedie, my greatest friends who always remained faithful, were walking somewhat a few paces in front of me. The heat was very unbearable, but Ellis mom, who lagged behind me moreRead MoreShort Story : The Story Of The World 3079 Words   |  13 PagesOkay, so because Dak has the power to transform shapes of thi ngs and people, he has made each of us a tent in a part of Washington only we know about. Were going to have to stay here and plan until we stop Cassius because this is the most vulnerable part of the nation: the countrys capital, Violet explained as she lead me to my tent. I noticed once we got past the trees and rocks and into the hiding place that the tents were divided by color. The five on the left were green, the five on theRead MoreThe Liberty Bell, Washington Monument, The Bald Eagle918 Words   |  4 PagesThe symbols of this great nation are many. The Liberty Bell, Washington Monument, the Bald Eagle, the White House, and the document that is the foundation on which this country is built, the Constitution of the United States. These symbols are immediately recognized by the citizens of the United States and some internationally, however the one symbol that is universally recognized is the Stars and Stripes. It is the symbol of a free nation whose citizens are allowed to strive for the AmericanRead MoreGrand Canyon National Park, New York City, and the Washington Monunent Short Report1299 Words   |  6 Pageslandmarks that is visible from space (NATURE, CULTURE, AND HISTORY). Although the canyon is now a national park, it hasn’t al ways been one. Its first designation was as a Forest Reserve in 1893. It was not until much later that it became a National Monument. However, it still had not yet achieved the status of National Park. That status was official achieved in 1919 (History Culture). Although it was a National Park it was still not frequently visited, and only had, approximately, 44,173 visitorsRead MoreThe Statue Of Liberty936 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout centuries, architecture and monuments have given America the name it has today. Some of the oldest forms of art made on American soil hundreds of years ago are what is cherished dearly today. There are over a hundred different statues alone in the US that near and dear to us all but thousands forms of art that makes Americans proud to be called American. United States is a place that underwent plenty of struggles and monumental milestones to make it the powerful land it has become todayRead MoreHonoring The Veterans Essays1403 Words   |  6 Pag esHonoring the Veterans What is Honor Flight? It is an amazing organization that honors World War II and Korean veterans. The veterans go to Washington D.C. to see their monuments for an entire day and some even go for multiple days. The veterans finally get to see the monuments that were built for them. The Korean War memorial, the World War II memorial, and the beginning of Honor Flight all have a great story. Honor Flight is one the widest known organization that is dedicated to veterans. HonorRead MoreMaya Lin Vietnam Veterans Memorial Analysis1276 Words   |  6 Pagesand angered many people. Since them, works and designs she has created for competitions have been mainly memorials and remembrances based on historical events. Her works are intended to use the natural texture and geology of the space around the monument to its advantage in its creation. 2. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization, began collecting private funds and donations to create a memorial. Over 8 million dollars were raised. A site was picked near the Lincoln Memorial

The Vampire Diaries Dark Reunion Chapter Seven Free Essays

Stefan approached the corner house reluctantly, almost afraid of what he might find. He half expected that Damon would have abandoned his post by now. He’d probably been an idiot to rely on Damon in the first place. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Seven or any similar topic only for you Order Now But when he reached the backyard, there was a shimmer of motion among the black walnut trees. His eyes, sharper than a human’s because they were adapted for hunting, made out the darker shadow leaning against a trunk. â€Å"You took your time getting back.† â€Å"I had to see the others home safe. And I had to eat.† â€Å"Animal blood,† Damon said contemptuously, eyes fixed on a tiny round stain on Stefan’s T-shirt. â€Å"Rabbit, from the smell of it. That seems appropriate somehow, doesn’t it?† â€Å"Damon-I’ve given Bonnie and Meredith vervain too.† â€Å"A wise precaution,† Damon said distinctly, and showed his teeth. A familiar surge of irritation welled up in Stefan. Why did Damon always have to be so difficult? Talking with him was like walking between land mines. â€Å"I’ll be going now,† Damon continued, swinging his jacket over one shoulder. â€Å"I’ve got business of my own to take care of.† He tossed a devastating grin over his shoulder. â€Å"Don’t wait up.† â€Å"Damon.† Damon half turned, not looking but listening. â€Å"The last thing we need is some girl in this town screaming ‘Vampire!’ † Stefan said. â€Å"Or showing the signs, either. These people have been through it before; they’re not ignorant.† â€Å"I’ll bear that in mind.† It was said ironically, but it was the closest thing to a promise Stefan had ever gotten from his brother in his life. â€Å"And, Damon?† â€Å"Now what?† â€Å"Thank you.† It was too much. Damon whipped around, his eyes cold and uninviting, a stranger’s eyes. â€Å"Don’t expect anything of me, little brother,† he said dangerously. â€Å"Because you’ll be wrong every time. And don’t think you can manipulate me, either. Those three humans may follow you, but I won’t. I’m here for reasons of my own.† He was gone before Stefan could gather words for a reply. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Damon never listened to anything he said. Damon never even called him by name. It was always the scornful â€Å"little brother.† And now Damon was off to prove how unreliable he was, Stefan thought. Wonderful. He’d do something particularly vicious just to show Stefan he was capable of it. It was no use. He couldn’t keep his mind on the puzzle. He was tired and lonely and in desperate need of comfort. And the stark truth was that there was no comfort to be had. Elena, he thought, you lied to me. It was the one thing she’d insisted on, the one thing she’d always promised. â€Å"Whatever happens, Stefan, I’ll be with you. Tell me you believe that.† And he had answered, helpless in her spell, â€Å"Oh, Elena, I believe it. Whatever happens, we’ll be together.† But she had left him. Not by choice maybe, but what did that matter in the end? She had left him and gone away. There were times when all he wanted was to follow her. Think about something else, anything else, he told himself, but it was too late. Once unleashed, the images of Elena swirled around him, too painful to bear, too beautiful to push away. The first time he’d kissed her. The shock of dizzy sweetness when his mouth met hers. And after that, shock after shock, but at some deeper level. As if she were reaching down to the core of himself, a core he’d almost forgotten. Frightened, he’d felt his defenses tear away. All his secrets, all his resistance, all the tricks he used to keep other people at arm’s length. Elena had ripped through them all, exposing his vulnerability. Exposing his soul. And in the end, he found that it was what he wanted. He wanted Elena to see him without defenses, without walls. He wanted her to know him for what he was. Terrifying? Yes. When she’d discovered his secret at last, when she’d found him feeding on that bird, he had cringed in shame. He was sure that she’d turn away from the blood on his mouth in horror. In disgust. But when he looked into her eyes that night, he saw understanding. Forgiveness. Love. Her love had healed him. And that was when he knew they could never be apart. Other memories surged up and Stefan held on to them, even though the pain tore into him like claws. Sensations. The feel of Elena against him, supple in his arms. The brush of her hair on his cheek, light as a moth’s wing. The curve of her lips, the taste of them. The impossible midnight blue of her eyes. But Bonnie had reached Elena. Elena’s spirit, her soul, was still somewhere near. Of anyone, he should be able to summon it. He had Power at his command. And he had more right than anyone to seek her. He knew how it was done. Shut your eyes. Picture the person you want to draw near. That was easy. He could see Elena, feel her, smell her. Then call them, let your longing reach out into the emptiness. Open yourself and let your need be felt. Easier still. He didn’t give a damn about the danger. He gathered all his yearning, all his pain, and sent it out searching like a prayer. And felt†¦ nothing. Only void and his own loneliness. Only silence. His Power wasn’t the same as Bonnie’s. He couldn’t reach the one thing he loved most, the one thing that mattered to him. He had never felt so alone in his life. â€Å"You want what?† Bonnie said. â€Å"Some sort of records about the history of Fell’s Church. Particularly about the founders,† Stefan said. They were all sitting in Meredith’s car, which was parked a discreet distance behind Vickie’s house. It was dusk of the next day and they had just returned from Sue’s funeral-all but Stefan. â€Å"This has something to do with Sue, doesn’t it?† Meredith’s dark eyes, always so level and intelligent, probed Stefan’s. â€Å"You think you’ve solved the mystery.† â€Å"Possibly,† he admitted. He had spent the day thinking. He’d put the pain of last night behind him, and once again he was in control. Although he could not reach Elena, he could justify her faith in him-he could do what she wanted done. And there was a comfort in work, in concentration. In keeping all emotion away. He added, â€Å"I have an idea about what might have happened, but it’s a long shot and I don’t want to talk about it until I’m sure.† â€Å"Why?† demanded Bonnie. Such a contrast to Meredith, Stefan thought. Hair as red as fire and a spirit to go with it. That delicate heart-shaped face and fair, translucent skin were deceptive, though. Bonnie was smart and resourceful-even if she was only beginning to find that out herself. â€Å"Because if I’m wrong, an innocent person might get hurt. Look, at this point it’s just an idea. But I promise if I find any evidence tonight to back it up, I’ll tell you all about it.† â€Å"You could talk with Mrs. Grimesby,† Meredith suggested. â€Å"She’s the town librarian, and she knows a lot about the founding of Fell’s Church.† â€Å"Or there’s always Honoria,† Bonnie said. â€Å"I mean, she was one of the founders.† Stefan looked at her quickly. â€Å"I thought Honoria Fell had stopped communicating with you,† he said carefully. Stefan was surprised. He didn’t entirely like the idea of Elena’s journal on display. But Honoria’s records might be exactly what he was looking for. Honoria had not just been a wise woman; she had been well versed in the supernatural. A witch. â€Å"The library’s closed by now, though,† Meredith said. â€Å"That’s even better,† said Stefan. â€Å"No one will know what information we’re interested in. Two of us can go down there and break in, and the other two can stay here. Meredith, if you’ll come with me-â€Å" â€Å"I’d like to stay here, if you don’t mind,† she said. â€Å"I’m tired,† she added in explanation, seeing his expression. â€Å"And this way I can get my watch over with and get home earlier. Why don’t you and Matt go and Bonnie and I stay here?† Stefan was still looking at her. â€Å"Okay,† he said slowly. â€Å"Fine. If it’s all right with Matt.† Matt shrugged. â€Å"That’s it, then. It might take us a couple of hours or more. You two stay in the car with the doors locked. You should be safe enough that way.† If he was right in his suspicions, there wouldn’t be any more attacks for a while-a few days at least. Bonnie and Meredith should be safe. But he couldn’t help wonder what was behind Meredith’s suggestion. Not simple tiredness, he was sure. â€Å"By the way, where’s Damon?† Bonnie asked as he and Matt started to leave. Stefan felt his stomach muscles tighten. â€Å"I don’t know.† He had been waiting for someone to ask that. He hadn’t seen his brother since last night, and he had no idea what Damon might be doing. â€Å"He’ll show up eventually,† he said, and closed the door on Meredith’s, â€Å"That’s what I’m afraid of.† He and Matt walked to the library in silence, keeping to the shadows, skirting areas of light. He couldn’t afford to be seen. Stefan had come back to help Fell’s Church, but he felt sure Fell’s Church didn’t want his help. He was a stranger again, an intruder here. They would hurt him if they caught him. The library lock was easy to pick, just a simple spring mechanism. And the journals were right where Bonnie had said they would be. Stefan forced his hand away from Elena’s journal. Inside was the record of Elena’s last days, in her own handwriting. If he started thinking about that now†¦ He concentrated on the leather-bound book beside it. The faded ink on the yellowing pages was hard to read, but after a few minutes his eyes got accustomed to the dense, intricate writing with its elaborate curlicues. It was the story of Honoria Fell and her husband, who with the Smallwoods and a few other families had come to this place when it was still virgin wilderness. They had faced not only the dangers of isolation and hunger but of native wildlife. Honoria told the story of their battle to survive simply and clearly, without sentimentality. With a prickling at the back of his neck, he reread the entry carefully. At last he leaned back and shut his eyes. He’d been right. There was no longer any doubt in his mind. And that meant he must also be right about what was going on in Fell’s Church now. For an instant, bright sickness washed over him, and an anger that made him want to rip and tear and hurt something. Sue. Pretty Sue who had been Elena’s friend had died for†¦ that. A blood ritual, an obscene initiation. It made him want to kill. But then the rage faded, replaced by a fierce determination to stop what was happening and set things right. I promise you, he whispered to Elena in his own mind. I will stop it somehow. No matter what. He looked up to find Matt looking at him. Elena’s journal was in Matt’s hand, closing itself over his thumb. Just then Matt’s eyes looked as dark a blue as Elena’s. Too dark, full of turmoil and grief and something like bitterness. â€Å"You found it,† Matt said. â€Å"And it’s bad.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"It would be.† Matt pushed Elena’s journal back into the case and stood. There was a ring almost of satisfaction in his voice. Like somebody who’s just proved a point. â€Å"I could have saved you the trouble of coming here.† Matt surveyed the darkened library, jingling change in his pocket. A casual observer might have thought he was relaxed, but his voice betrayed him. It was raw with strain. â€Å"You just think of the worst thing you can imagine and that’s always the truth,† he said. â€Å"Matt†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sudden concern stabbed at Stefan. He’d been too preoccupied since coming back to Fell’s Church to look at Matt properly. Now he realized that he’d been unforgivably stupid. Something was terribly wrong. Matt’s whole body was rigid with tension lying just under the surface. And Stefan could sense the anguish, the desperation in his mind. â€Å"Matt, what is it?† he said quietly. He got up and crossed to the other boy. â€Å"Is it something I did?† â€Å"I’m fine.† â€Å"You’re shaking.† It was true. Fine tremors were running through the taut muscles. â€Å"I said I’m fine!† Matt swung away from him, shoulders hunched defensively. â€Å"Anyway, what could you have done to upset me? Besides taking my girl and getting her killed, I mean?† This stab was different, it was somewhere around Stefan’s heart and it went straight through. Like the blade that had killed him once upon a time. He tried to breathe around it, not trusting himself to speak. â€Å"It was the truth.† Stefan waited a moment and then added, levelly, â€Å"But it’s not the whole problem, is it?† Matt didn’t answer. He stared at the floor, pushing something invisible with the side of one shoe. Just when Stefan was about to give up, he turned with a question of his own. â€Å"What’s the world really like?† â€Å"What’s†¦ what?† â€Å"The world. You’ve seen a lot of it, Stefan. You’ve got four or five centuries on the rest of us, right? So what’s the deal? I mean, is it basically the kind of place worth saving or is it essentially a pile of crap?† Stefan shut his eyes. â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"And what about people, huh, Stefan? The human race. Are we the disease or just a symptom? I mean, you take somebody like-like Elena.† Matt’s voice shook briefly, but he went on. â€Å"Elena died to keep the town safe for girls like Sue. And now Sue’s dead. And it’s all happening again. It’s never over. We can’t win. So what does that tell you?† â€Å"Matt.† â€Å"What I’m really asking is, what’s the point? Is there some cosmic joke I’m not getting? Or is the whole thing just one big freaking mistake? Do you understand what I’m trying to say here?† â€Å"I understand, Matt.† Stefan sat down and ran his hands through his hair. â€Å"If you’ll shut up a minute, I’ll try to answer you.† Matt drew up a chair and straddled it. â€Å"Great. Take your best shot.† His eyes were hard and challenging, but underneath Stefan saw the bewildered hurt that had been festering there. â€Å"I’ve seen a lot of evil, Matt, more than you can imagine,† Stefan said. â€Å"I’ve even lived it. It’s always going to be a part of me, no matter how I fight it. Sometimes I think the whole human race is evil, much less my kind. And sometimes I think that enough of both our races is evil that it doesn’t matter what happens to the rest. â€Å"When you get down to it, though, I don’t know any more than you do. I can’t tell you if there’s a point or if things are ever going to turn out all right.† Stefan looked straight into Matt’s eyes and spoke deliberately. â€Å"But I’ve got another question for you. So what?† Matt stared. â€Å"So what?† â€Å"Yeah. So what.† â€Å"Yeah, so what?† Stefan leaned forward. â€Å"So what are you going to do, Matt Honeycutt, if every bad thing you’ve said is true? What are you going to do personally? Are you going to stop fighting and swim with the sharks?† Matt was grasping the back of his chair. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"You can do that, you know. Damon says so all the time. You can join up with the evil side, the winning side. And nobody can really blame you, because if the universe is that way, why shouldn’t you be that way too?† â€Å"Like hell!† Matt exploded. His blue eyes were searing and he had half risen from his chair. â€Å"That’s Damon’s way, maybe! But just because it’s hopeless doesn’t mean it’s all right to stop fighting. Even if I knew it was hopeless, I’d still have to try. I have to try, damn it!† â€Å"I know.† Stefan settled back and smiled faintly. It was a tired smile, but it showed the kinship he felt right then with Matt. And in a moment he saw by Matt’s face that Matt understood. â€Å"I know because I feel the same way,† Stefan continued. â€Å"There’s no excuse for giving up just because it looks like we’re going to lose. We have to try-because the other choice is to surrender.† â€Å"I’m not ready to surrender anything,† Matt said through his teeth. He looked as if he’d fought his way back to a fire inside him that had been burning all along. â€Å"Ever,† he said. â€Å"Yeah, well, ‘ever’ is a long time,† Stefan said. â€Å"But for what it’s worth, I’m going to try not to either. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’m going to try.† â€Å"That’s all anybody can do,† Matt said. Slowly, he pushed himself off the chair and stood straight. The tension was gone from his muscles, and his eyes were the clear, almost piercing blue eyes Stefan remembered. â€Å"Okay,† he said quietly. â€Å"If you found what you came for, we’d better get back to the girls.† Stefan thought, his mind switching gears. â€Å"Matt, if I’m right about what’s going on, the girls should be okay for a while. But you go ahead and take over the watch from them. As long as I’m here there’s something I’d like to read up on-by a guy named Gervase of Tilbury, who lived in the early 1200s.† â€Å"Even before your time, eh?† Matt said, and Stefan gave him the ghost of a smile. They stood for a moment, looking at each other. â€Å"All right. I guess I’ll see you at Vickie’s.† Matt turned to the door, then hesitated. Abruptly, he turned again and held out his hand. â€Å"Stefan-I’m glad you came back.† Stefan gripped it. â€Å"I’m glad to hear it† was all he said, but inside he felt a warmth that took away the stabbing pain. And some of the loneliness, too. How to cite The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Seven, Essay examples

Taxation of Australia

Questions: Dave Solomon is 59 years of age and is planning for his retirement. Following a visit to his financial adviser in March of the current tax year, Dave wants to contribute funds to his personal superannuation fund before 30 June of the current tax year. He has decided to sell the majority of his assets to raise the $1,000,000. He then intends to rent a city apartment and withdraw tax-free amounts from his personal superannuation account once he turns 60 in August of the next year. Dave has provided you with the following details of the assets he has sold: (a) A two-storey residence at St Lucia in which he has lived for the last 30 years. He paid $70,000 to purchase the property and received $850,000 on 27 June of the current tax year, after the real estate agent deducted commissions of $15,000. The residence was originally sold at auction and the buyer placed an $85,000 deposit on the property. Unfortunately, two weeks later the buyer indicated that he did not have sufficient funds to proceed with the purchase, thereby forfeiting his deposit to Dave on 1 May of the current tax year. The real estate agents then negotiated the sale of the residence to another interested party. (b) A painting by Pro Hart that he purchased on 20 September 1985 for $15,000. The painting was sold at auction on 31 May of the current tax year for $125,000. (c) A luxury motor cruiser that he has moored at the Manly Yacht club. He purchased the boat in late 2004 for $110,000. He sold it on 1 June of the current tax year to a local boat broker for $60,000. (d) On 5 June of the current tax year he sold for $80,000 a parcel of shares in a newly listed mining company. He purchased these shares on 10 January of the current tax year for $75,000. He borrowed $70,000 to fund the purchase of these shares and incurred $5,000 in interest on the loan. He also paid $750 in brokerage on the sale of the shares and $250 in stamp duty on the purchase of these shares. Dave has contacted the ATO and they have advised him that the interest on the loan will not be an allowable deduction because the shares are not generating any assessable income. Dave has also indicated that his taxation return for the year ended 30 June of the previous year shows a net capital loss of $10,000 from the sale of shares. These shares were the only assets he sold in that year. (a) Based on the information above, determine Dave Solomons net capital gain or net capital loss for the year ended 30 June of the current tax year. (b) If Dave has a net capital gain, what does he do with this amount? (c) If Dave has a net capital loss, what does he do with this amount? (10 marks, max. 1000 words). Case study 2: Fringe Benefits Tax.. Answers: Capital gain is explained as the difference between the capital proceeds and the cost of acquirement of the capital gain tax property. Capital gain can be calculated by implementing three procedures. The first method is known as Discount method that applies more than 12 months before the capital gain tax event (Apps, P., 2008). The next method involves the indexation method that is applied in case the asset is taken over before 21st September and is kept under possession for an excess of 12 months before the related capital gain tax event. The final method is known as a residual method. The residual method is applicable when the assets are possessed for less than 12 months. Therefore, calculation of the capital gain tax is calculated by the application of the above-mentioned three procedures (Cerexhe, P., 2008). Following are exemptions from the gain of sale or capital asset- A property that is acquired before 20th September 1985 which consist of- Motor vehicles Value reimbursed for specific injuries Selling of Residential house Any collectable that is acquired and costs less than $500 Set off and carry forward of losses that have arisen from capital gain Long term capital loss- Long term loss can be set off against long-term capital gain. No alternate set off is feasible. It is possible to carry forward the succeeding indefinite assessment years and can be set off against in an isolated long-term capital loss (Double taxation, 2003). Short term capital loss- Short-term capital loss can be set-off against similar source or from long-term capital gain. It is possible to carry forward to succeeding indefinite assessment years, as well as, set off against long term and short term gains a) In the provided question, Mr. Dave Solomon residing in a double storey building for the last 30 years that was bought for $70000 was sold for a value of $850000 on the date of 27th June of the present taxable year. The house as sold at an auction and the buyer had to pay $85000 as an advance payment against the purchase. Therefore, the money was continued later on. Therefore, the amount of $ 85000 received can be charged as income from other sources (Fringe benefits tax, 2000). Calculation of the capital gain Sale proceeds $ 865000 is exempted from the definition of the CST I.E family home exemption Therefore, the long term capital gain can be calculated as 0 b) An art of pro hart was bought on 20th September 1985 for a price of $15000 and was sold for 125000. Therefore, the capital gain is described as follows Sale proceeds $ 125000 Less indexed cost of acquisition 15000x123.4/71.3= $25961 The long-term capital gain is $150961 c) A luxury motor car was bought in the later part 2004 for $110000 was sold on 1st June of the present year to a local boat broker for $60000. Therefore, the capital gain will be calculated as sales proceed $ 60000 Less indexed cost of acquisition $110000 Long term capital loss= $ 50000 d) He sold a parcel share in a freshly listed mining company on the date of 5th June of the same year at a price of $ 80000. He purchased the shares on 10th of January of the present year for $ 75000. In the attempt to buy the shares, he had to take a loan of $ 70000 and had to pay an interest of loan of $5000. Dave Solomon had to pay the $ 750 regarding brokerage for the sales of share and $ 250 in stamp duty for the purchase of the share. According to the income tax law, interest on the loan is not a part of cost acquisition (Hewson, , 2014). Therefore, the loan on interest does not need to be included. Part a Therefore, capital gain can be described as follows- Sale proceeds $ 80000 Less: Brokerage= $750 Less cost of acquisition= $ 75000 Less: stamp duty $ 250 Therefore, the short-term capital loss is $ 4000 Hence, the capital gain of the year is as follows Long term capital gain on sale of residential property= $ Nil Long term capital gain on sale of painting= $ 150961 Long term capital loss on sale of boat= $ 50000 Short term gain on sale of share= $ 4000 Therefore, long-term capital gain can be calculated as $ 104961 Therefore the tax return of Mr. Dave Solomon for the year end of 30th June of the previous year displays a net capital loss of $ 10000 from the sales of share. So, it can be adjusted ith present year long term capital gain. Therefore, the net long-term capital for the present year is calculated to be $ 104961- $ 10000= $ 94961 Part b NetCapital gain is a summary of entire gain come from selling of the capital asset subtracted by the entire loss incurred on selling of capital asset that inclusive of the loss from the selling of the capital asset from the earlier years also. It can be said that the capital gain tax is not a distinct tax (Yoon Oh, 2012). From the capital gain assets the assessable income use to be generated as well as the income from the capital gain tax should be assessable and paid within the financial year, in which the asset has been sold, and the tax is assessed for the respective financial year (KimSungKyun, 2007). Therefore, Mr. Dove has to pay capital gain tax on the income he earned from the sale of assets. As an outcome of his contribution, the fund to transferred to his personal superannuation finance (Toward tax reform, 2009). Mr. Dove should maintain relevant records at the time little significant as well as the vital transaction has taken place, which adds interest on loans, receipt of the purchase, expenditure payment regarding litigation fees, legislation fees, etc. (Lee Jae Ho, 2009). The records in respect of the mending as well as maintenance of assets along with the brokerage payment on share have been paid. Part c Net capital loss can be explained as the sum of all the losses that have incurred from the sale of a capital asset that includes loss from the earlier year. The assessee is not capable of setting off his capital loss from other sources of income but needs to carry forward for following years. A capital loss can be carried forward for an indefinite duration (Meagher and Agrawal, N., 2008). The assessee does not have the authority to select not to set off capital losses against any capital gain. However they have the authority to deduct such losses according to the choice with the capital gain, he will have to sell more of his asset or be under debts in order to contribute for his persona; superannuation fund and then buy a rented apartment in the city and at the same time draw tax-free amount from his personal superannuation fund once he arrives the age of 60 in the following year (Prince, 2011). References Apps, P. (2008). Comment:Taxation Reform and Income Distribution in Australia'.Australian Economic Review, 19(3), pp.57-59. Cerexhe, P. (2008).Smarter property investment. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen Unwin. Double taxation. (2003). [Washington, D.C.]: U.S. Dept. of State. Fringe benefits tax. (2000). [Wellington, N.Z.]: Inland Revenue. Hewson, J. (2014). The Politics of Tax Reform in Australia.Asia the Pacific Policy Studies, 1(3), pp.590-599. KimSungKyun, (2007). Review of Inheritance Tax Systemfocused on unrealized capital gain.Seoul Tax Law Review, 13(2), pp.375-413. Lee Jae Ho, (2009). A Study on the Taxation of Capital Gain from the Disposition of Treasury Stocks.Seoul Tax Law Review, 15(1), pp.341-387. Meagher, G. and Agrawal, N. (2008). Taxation Reform and Income Distribution in Australia.Australian Economic Review, 19(3), pp.33-56. Newnham, M. (2012).Tax For Small Business. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons. Park Nosu, and Hun Park, (2014). Research on Unified Application of Tax Laws related Contractual Rescindment on Capital Gain Tax, Gift Tax and Acquisition Tax.Seoul Tax Law Review, 20(1), pp.243-292. Pattenden, K. (2006). Capital Structure Decisions Under Classical and Imputation Tax Systems: A Natural Test for Tax Effects in Australia.Australian Journal of Management, 31(1), pp.67-92. Plancich, S. (2003). Mutual Fund Capital Gain Distributions and the Tax Reform Act of 1997.National Tax Journal, 56(1, Part 2), pp.271-296. Poff, J. (2015). The Effect of Increases in the Capital Gain and Dividend Tax on the Effective Tax Rate for Investments in Stock.Journal of Business and Economics, 6(6), pp.1157-1164.