Analysis of Article The Weight of What If Essay example -- Anna Quindl

In her article â€Å"The Weight of What If,† Anna Quindlen writes about the tragedy of fallen soldiers. She says that we often forget how each soldier is a life unlived, and we often forget â€Å"what if† they had lived. Speaking in a balanced tone, she deals with the Iraq conflict, as well as World War II and Vietnam. She forces us to ask questions about war and the effect it can have on us. Quindlen clearly wants us to think more compassionately about the veterans. Because we are so far removed from Iraq, we may think that â€Å"the spectacle of hometown kids’ leaving home to be killed or maimed is bearible only when it’s given an antiseptic name.† We sometimes only see war as a lot of strategy and far-away fighting, when it is something personal that affects us all. At one point, she quotes Ernest Hemingway, who asks, â€Å"Why don’t we stop fighting?† This is obviously a very personal issue for Quindlen. She is passionate about what she is writing about. She brings up powerful examples of the lives never lived. When she talks about her past, it resonates with us because we can imagine her fear. Th...

Accident essay

It was my 13th birthday. I decided to celebrate my birthday at the Cage, a soccer pitch, with my new friends, including my best friend, Stung Grunts. His name sounds like, â€Å"strong†, which is indeed true. Once, he was able to move this big table by himself to the other end! Isn’t it amazing? The people in the soccer pitch that I had rented were filled with emotions. We knew that there are exciting hours waiting for us. However, I had different plans. Every alternate day in my school whenever my friends, including Strung Grunts, and I went to the school field to play soccer, my friends would always praise Strung Grunts saying, â€Å"Hey!Strung! You are the best soccer player! You rock! † I curled my upper lip to keep myself from speaking. My mind was whirling with thoughts that only made me assume the worst. The feeling of jealousy was slowly growing in me; filling my blood, making my eyes go dark, and my mouth become a straight line. I knew that this was the time when I could do something to Strung Grunts and make sure that he does not play soccer for the rest of his life. I decided to hurt him indirectly. However, a million of thoughts ran through my mind at that point of time. Should I really cause him pain? Isn’t he my best friend? Is it wrong?Or is it right? Shouldn’t I train myself to become a better soccer player than him? I was in a dilemma. However, my jealousy got the better of me. Rather than thinking whether my act is right or wrong, I spent the time thinking what I shall do to him. Suddenly, an idea struck my mind. There were still 10 minutes left before we planned to start playing a game of soccer. Everybody went to the washroom to get a shower before playing except me. Strung Grunts left his boots outside the washroom before entering. Within a flash, I quickly went near the washroom, tied the laces of both the shoes together and fled from the washroom. minutes passed. Everyone came out of the washroom. It was very wet and slippery outside the washroom. My heart was thumping and pounding hard. A chill ran down my spine. Strung Grunts went on to put on his shoes without realising what had happened. When he took his first step itself, he slipped and fell down with a â€Å"thud†. Three, two, one†¦ Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! , Strung Grunts shouted out loud as our ears became almost deaf. A flood of tears gushed down his ashen pale cheeks staining the floor. He tried moving both his legs but he was not able to do so. All of us came to him frantically, including me, and gathered around him.We quickly informed this news to his mother as soon as possible. Within a flash, his mother came down to the pitch, horrified and bloodcurdling. I was informed that he fractured each of his legs. Moreover, the doctor advised him not to engage in any activity that requires the use of his legs for the next six months. Till now, everyone thinks that the slippery floor was the main cause of his accident. Howeve r, only I knew the truth. The scar which I have on my heart is invisible to anyone but more painful than anything I have ever felt. I would like to tell him the truth but I think it is not the right time yet, what about you?

The Negative Effects Of Divorce - 1447 Words

Popular disputed subjects are argued every day, and in many cases these arguments can mean life or death. For example, people who view televised arguments often feel targeted for their beliefs. People have an opinion they want heard, which, in many circumstances, turns into a national debate. A well-known controversy that is increasing worldwide is divorce. Research has shown that there is a significant amount of effects on children after a divorce. This is most likely because of the mental and physical chaos the children are feeling. In many divorce cases, there are long-term effects that hinders children from having a peaceful adult-life. These effects include: relationship issues, inability to make a place feel like a home, and the†¦show more content†¦Because of sudden divorce, children always expect something to go wrong, which makes them vulnerable and insecure. In addition, many short-term effects are based off insecurity. A normal reaction from a child of recently di vorced parents is anger. Anger is most often the first emotion they use against their parents. This is because they do not know how to feel; their world has just been shaken, and they blame their parents for the inconvenience of the situation. Wallerstein later suggests in her article that â€Å"They are remarkable, really, in that they do for themselves what children really have a right to expect from their parents. They create their own morality† (Wallerstein). This statement contributes to the assumption that most children blame their parents, but it goes against the theory that, because of the divorce, the child was forced to grow up. They are just children trying to make sense of the sudden commotion in their life. At first, emotions overwhelm the child, leaving them with a feeling of abandonment. The next action made decides the future life of the children: custody. Custody battles are an increasingly relevant and an important aspect of divorce. AlthoughShow MoreRelated Negative Effects Of Divorce1475 Words   |  6 PagesDivorce is the termination of a marriage or marital union, the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, Divorce occurs after a husband and wife decide not to live together anymore and they do not want to marry one another. They agree to sign legal documents that allow them to marry other people if they so wish. Divorce is a problem that is increasing every year. It also affects our society, which most countries face. Divorce causes many negative effects, someRead MoreNegative Effects Of Divorce1718 Words   |  7 PagesDivorce is a controversial issue in the United States. On one side of the argument, some researchers claim that children of divorced parents are still able to adapt to their new environment and have an enhanced level of maturity, among other things. On the other hand, researchers like Karl Zinsmeister believe that the effects of divorce on children can never be fully overcome and marital conflicts cause significantly less damage to children than divorce does (Zinsmeister, 1996). The purpose of thisRead MoreNegative Effects of Divorce1303 Words   |  5 PagesDivorce c an be one of the biggest environmental pressures put on a child with lasting affects that can lead well into their adulthood. With an increase in the number of divorces taking place each year it is starting to become a major concern for not only children and their families but also for society as a whole. Every year around one million children are affected by divorce; furthermore when looking at this year alone half of the children born will see their parents divorce before they reach ageRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Divorce1710 Words   |  7 PagesGetting a divorce is not an easy decision. As a matter of fact, for many people getting a divorce is one of the hardest things they will have to deal with. Divorce has a long-lasting effect on the entire family. For example, according to Clarke-Stewart and Brentano (2006, p. 56), the couple getting a divorce can feel anxious and depressed by the situation. They also mention that children can be the most affected because they might fe el confused and betrayed. However, the aftermath of divorce is differentRead MoreDivorce Negative Effects1285 Words   |  6 Pages2017 A Positive Outlook on a Divorce Divorce is always a dreadful experience in a persons life, especially a childs’. When parents divorce, children are left hopeless and confused. A divorce can cause a child to have a variety of different reactions. The effects on the child are much more important than the actual divorce. A divorce causes the most damage to the children in the divorce. Each child sees a divorce differently, but most divorces have a negative impact on the childs life. WhenRead MoreNegative Effects Of Divorce1409 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Center for Disease Control and Prevention 813,862 divorces have been granted in 45 out out the fifty states in 2017 alone (Marriage and Divorce). Around half of those divorces will involve children. With divorce becoming a prominent phenomenon it has become increasingly important for the two parties involved to remain courteous. Children’s lives are easily impacted when they are forced to go through this life altering situation. Divorce can inflict damage both mentally and psychologically. WhenRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Divorce689 Words   |  3 PagesWith approximately 876,000 divorces per year in the United States alone, many people today are bringing up the controversial topic: should divorces be made harder to obtain? Many people think that it would be best if families stayed together, while others believe that an unhappy marriage is useless, and the dissolution of the marriage is the best choice. However, with current laws being the way they are, the process of getting a divorce is too simple, which is why people tend to opt out of theirRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Divorce1089 Words   |  5 Pagesending a marriage, but it can no longer ignore the massive effects that come with it, especially to children. To the parents, the effect is separation from one another. To the children, the effects include engaging in drug abuse to get over the emotional turmoil, committing a crime to earn money to support the family, and performing poorly in school, especially in spelling, reading, and mathematics (Scott et al., 2014). With the rate of divorce increasing rapidly in the country, children are going toRead MoreNegative Effects Of Divorce On Children1072 Words   |  5 PagesWhat are the Negative Effects of Divorce on Children When I was five years old I was forced to make a choice. This was a choice many children should not have to make and can never really be prepared for. My parents were getting a divorce and they decided it was in my best interests to give me the option to live with whomever I chose. It was a burden that to this day affects my relationship with one of my parents. Ultimately, I chose to live with my mother and from then on, my father would barelyRead MoreThe Negative Effect of Divorce on Children Essay941 Words   |  4 PagesThe Negative Effect of Divorce on Children Divorce has a negative effect on the psychological and social aspects of our children, which may appear instantly or not come to the surface for years. This is why I think that divorce should only be a last resort and not rushed into even by couples with the most troubled marriages. The only acceptable reason for someone rushing into divorce is if they or their children are in danger. I believe that marriage is a commitment not to be taken lightly and