Chemical Hazards In The Working Environment Environmental Sciences Essay

Chemical Hazards In The Working Environment Environmental Sciences Essay Chemical Engineering is defined as the branch of engineering which is involved in the application of physical science and mathematics to processing and converting raw materials and chemicals into more useful forms. The outputs and methods of these processes are not always safe and chemical hazards need to be overcome to make the working environment a satisfactorily hospitable for everyone that the process affects. This includes the general public and the environment as well as the workers involved. Chemical Engineers need to ensure that the safety measures which they devise regarding certain processes are adequate enough not to pose hazards and to meet the regulations of the law. This term paper will outline some of the hazards which Chemical Engineers and other workers in the industry need to neutralise to ensure that the working environment is safe for those involved. A hazard is defined as anything which could result in an accident. Such hazards include those caused by the release of noxious chemicals which can prove damaging to the health of people and the environment. Chemical hazards can be especially dangerous due to the toxic nature of the substances used in the industry. Plant Safety The health and safety of plant workers is a major concern to the chemical industry. Accidents which result in loss of life or injuries are especially damaging due to the high costs they inflict. Costs in retraining personnel, repairing equipment damaged in have huge costs, as well as the interruption in business that ensues after an accident. The trends have shown that over the years fatalities have decreased but property costs have increased. This trend is due to the increased automated systems used in plants. These systems have increased complexity and productivity to older designs. In earlier designs the workers were more exposed to the chemical processes taking place in the plant, and were in turn exposed to more hazards. This however poses another problem because if workers are more isolated from a process, even if this greatly reduces health and safety hazards then if a malfunction occurs in the plant it is much more difficult to have experienced personnel available to fix a process problem. Due to this action compensation must be made in the case of higher property costs as opposed to loss of life and injury to workers. As of the early 1990s, annual worker fatalities ran about 9 per 100,000 employees; annual lost time disabling injuries ran about 4,000 per 100,000 employees. Property Losses increased fourfold from the 1970s. Safety assessments are now undergone on chemical plants to ensure that they adhere to safety levels proposed by regulation standards. Quantification of hazards such as overpressure potential and flammability were done by measurements of vapour pressure and of flash points and flammability limits. The process designers need to make use of data that gives information pertaining to the hazards of a process such as information of reaction rates and the energies involved in exothermic reactions in which heat is given out, that of unstable chemicals, of temperature limits in which explosive decomposition can occur, rates of generation of gas and vapour and emergency fail-safes such as pressure releases for high pressure systems. Citing Wikipedia, Fault tree analysis (FTA) is a failure analysis in which an undesired state of a system is analyzed using Boolean logic to combine a series of lower-level events. This is used to quantitatively combine the characteristics of human and component failure rates to obtain a safety assessment for that process. Many changes arose in the 1980s and 1990s regarding safety requirements in the petrochemical and chemical industry. These were presented by industrial groups such as Chemical Manufacturers Association as and the American Petroleum Institute as consensus guidelines. The objective of these changes was to make sure that all members of these industries were designed, maintained and controlled in the safest way that would be economically viable. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment Hazards associated with in facilities can be in the order of hundreds or thousands if the facility is large enough. These hazards occur as a result of factors such as the type of physical materials being used, the processes that are designed to make a product, the operating conditions and the design of a plant to name but a few. If hazards arent controlled a sequence of events can occur which will result in an accident. A hazard can result in an accident which is an unplanned sequence of events which can result in the loss of life, damage to the environment, damage to products and inventory and damage to equipment. Risk involves probability and consequence of something undesirable occurring. It is impossible to completely define a risk without taking both of these components into consideration. For example a hazard could involve a large consequence but also could have a very low probability of causing an accident or vice versa. In both these cases it would be classed as a moderate risk. The purpose of hazard analysis and risk assessment is therefore to characterise hazards, determine the probability of them occurring and then to consider and evaluate the consequences if an accident did occur. This procedure can be summed up by this flow chart in Figure 1. Flow chart describing the full hazard analysis and risk assessment procedure Fig. 1 Kirk Othmer (1991-1998) Flow Chart Explanation A committee is required to perform hazard analysis and risk assessment. Each member of the committee must have adequate experience to the chemical process that is being considered. The first step is to consider a detailed account of the process which describes it completely. This has to include the physical properties of the materials being used, instrument diagrams of processes, operating temperatures and pressures, materials for the construction of the equipment being used and any other detailed design specifications. The more detailed and updated this is, the more effective the analysis will be. The next step involves identifying the hazards involved in the process. This is done by a certain number of established procedures. In this step it is not uncommon to find hundreds of hazards for complex processes. The next step involves identifying all the scenarios which could result in the loss of control of the system, therefore resulting in an accident. This can be seen to be the most difficult step in the analysis. Most accidents occur due to improper accident scenario characterisation. Many complex chemical processes can have hundreds of different accident scenarios for each hazard but the most important part of this analysis is to pick the scenarios which are most dire but at the same time credible. Risk assessment is the next part of the procedure. This involves determining accident probability and the consequences involved. This procedure is performed for all the accident scenarios that were identified in the last step. Statistical models used to represent failures are the method preferred for determining the probability of each accident. Source models are used to provide information about how material would be ejected from equipment, along with dispersion and explosion models, a good estimate can be made to the cost of the damage to the affected areas. Thus the consequence is now determined. The final part of this procedure is to decide whether the risks involved are acceptable. If they are not then changes must be made and the process must be restarted to ensure that they are subsequently neutralised. If the risk is an acceptable one then the process can go ahead and be implemented. Hazard analysis or risk assessment can be undergone at any time during the course of a process life. It is however, must more cost effective to perform this procedure at the initial stages where changes would be less costly to implement. Process Safety Management Several incidents which occurred in the late twentieth century indicated that there needed a significant improvement in the management of process hazards. There are three incidents that have produced the greatest legislative response. These incidents are as follows The Flixborough disaster, U.K. 1st June 1974 in which a temporary bypass pipe ruptured causing 40 tonnes of cyclohexane to form a vapour cloud 100-200 metres in diameter. The cloud came in contact with an ignition source and exploded causing 1,800 buildings within a mile radius of the site were damaged. 28 dead. 89 serious injuries. Wikipedia, Flixborough Disaster (2010) The Bhopal disaster, India. 3rd December 1984 in which a runaway reaction caused by water entering tank 610 containing 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate vented to the surrounding areas forming a toxic cloud. ca. 3,000 dead. ca. 200,000 serious injuries. Wikipedia, Bhopal Disaster (2010) Polyethylene Plant Explosion, Pasadena, Texas. 23rd October 1989 in which a valve failure caused a large amount of flammable gas to be released which subsequently exploded. 23 dead. 130-300 serious injury. (www.cholarisk.com//Philips%20PE%20Pasadona%20Explosion.ppt). Standards and guidelines have been developed to ensure that these types of accidents do not occur again by improving management of process safety. The Health and Safety at Work Act developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was devised following the Flixborough disaster this meant that the HSE would require that the type or quantity of chemical used or produced was to be registered and also the HSE submitted recommendations for maintenance functions plant design and methods for evaluating process hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Act devised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which was enacted in 1970 established standards for occupational hazards such as toxicity, equipment guarding and protection against falling, noise and electrical shock. The New Jersey Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act was developed after the Bhopal disaster and several other incidents such as that of Institute, West Virginia in 1985 and several chemical release incidents in New Jersey in 1986. This required for each of the 109 materials listed in regulations to be registered based on attainment of a material that can cause acute toxicity at a distance of 100m from a source of 1 hour release. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). Safety and Hazard symbols A hazard symbol is defined as a recognised symbol that is designed to warn about dangerous locations or materials. NFPA 704- National Fire Protection Association NFPA 704 or the fire diamond is a standard maintained by the National Fire Protection Agency in the US. This standard is used by emergency personnel to easily and quickly identify the types of nearby hazards and to help determine what sort of equipment, precautions or procedures would need to be adhered to following an emergency response. There are symbols attached to the fire diamond which each signify a particular type of hazard. They are colour coded. Red signifies a flammability hazard, blue signifies a health hazard, yellow signifies an instability or reactivity hazard and white signifies a specific hazard such as a material that reacts unusually with water such as sodium or certain alkali metals, a specific hazard can be anything from a biological hazard to a corrosive hazard. Each of these hazards is ranked according to the level of risk they pose to personnel. It is ranked with 5 gradations, 4 being the highest and 0 being the lowest; this would pose no hazard at all. For each of the different types of hazards this high level of risk has a different definition. For a flammability hazard of 4 this would mean that the material has a flash point below that of room temperature and will burn readily at regular pressures and temperatures. Propane is an example of such a hazardous substance. For a health hazard of 4 this would signify that if one were exposed to the material for a short amount of time that it could cause death. An example of this would be hydrogen cyanide or phosphine. For an instability or reactivity hazard of 4 this would signify a substance that would be readily capable of detonation or decomposition at normal temperatures and pressure, such an example of this would be nitroglycerine. On the other end of the scale, a flammability hazard of 0 would be a substance that would not burn under any conditions such as water. A health hazard of 0 would be a substance that would pose no health hazard at all such as that of lanolin ointment. An instability/reactivity hazard of 0 would be a substance that is normally stable, even if it is exposed to fire, such as helium or any inert gas. These are some examples of the fire diamonds for various substances nfpa_diamond.png fire diamond for ethanol.jpg caffeine fire diamond.jpg Fig 2.1 Nitroglycerine Fig 2.2 Ethanol Fig 2.3. Caffeine Another method by which hazards can be averted is by specifying the types of precautions needed in handling potentially dangerous chemicals. The Hazardous Materials Identification Guide (HMIG) and Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS) use a different system which signifies what type of protective equipment is needed when handling a certain chemical. This method is similar to the NFPA 704 (fire diamond). The differences lie in the white bar. In this system the white bar holds letters corresponding to different types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which are needed. The letters used are A-K and X and mean the same for both the HMIG and HMIS. They are also augmented with pictures of what icons are pictures showing the types of PPE that would be needed. HMIG.gif Fig 2.4 (HMIG) Safety Glasses Safety Glasses, Gloves Safety Glasses, Gloves, Apron Face Shield, Gloves, Apron Safety Glasses, Gloves, Dust Respirator Safety Glasses, Gloves, Apron, Dust Respirator Safety Glasses, Gloves, Vapour Respirator Splash Goggles, Gloves, Apron Vapour Respirator Safety Glasses, Gloves, Dust and Vapour Respirator Splash Goggles, Gloves, Apron, Dust and Vapour Respirator Air Line Hood or Mask, Gloves, Full suit, Boots X- Ask Supervisor or Safety Specialist for handling instructions Hazardous Materials Regulations In an operation where chemicals are manufactured and distributed the role of packaging these chemicals safely is an important priority to the chemical industry. Careful consideration must be made to ensure that the packaging used provides adequate containment of any hazards that may be held in the packaging so as to ensure that it can be transported safely from the place of manufacture to where it is being used. Not only that, but the product must be packaged as to contain the product adequately to ensure that it does not become contaminated by the surroundings, to provide vital information about product identity, handling information and any potential hazards to shippers and users. Due to environmental concerns packaging practises have undergone scrutiny by governments, regulatory agencies, consumer groups and environmentalists. It is becoming increasingly important that packaging is produced in a reasonable manner, is recycled when economically feasible and permitted by regulation, and is used in an efficient manner so as to ensure no wastage occurs where possible and to minimise usage of materials. Most products can be stored and transported by most means of packaging; the choice of the type of packaging is taken usually by the manufacturer for economic or marketing reasons. For a chemical however the choice of packaging is mainly dictated by safety priorities and chemical compatibility factors. In this case, for physical distribution the cost of the packaging can be comparable to the manufacturing costs of the product and this in turn will have a knock-on effect for the cost of the product for the consumer. Regulations regarding how a chemical product is packaged and shipped depend on whether the chemical is classified as hazardous or nonhazardous. Nonhazardous chemical substances are shipped and packaged subject to the rules of the carrier. The most common rules are those published in National Motor Freight Classification for trucks and Uniform Freight Classification for railroads. If items are not packaged according to the classification requirements then the carriers have a right to collect a surcharge and refuse paying handling or damage claims on such items. The regulations controlling packaging for hazardous materials are different. The primary document The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) devised in the Code of Federal Regulations was changed in order to bring it to par with international rules and to enhance safety through better classification and packaging. The primary change was to replace specific containers with performance oriented packaging. This means that as long a s a packaging system passes test requirements it can be used. Certification of a package is now the responsibility of the shipper. Tests on packaging must be approved by a test laboratory and in turn this laboratory must be approved by the Department of Transport (DOT). Hazardous materials are regulated according to how they are classified. The HMR provides a table classifying the types of hazardous materials. There are 9 classes some with subdivisions. HMR Classification Class Subdivision Explosives 1.1 Mass Explosion Hazard 1.2 Projection Hazard; no mass explosion hazard 1.3 Fire hazard and minor projection or blast 1.4 No significant blast hazard 1.5 Very insensitive mass explosion hazard 1.6 Extremely insensitive detonating substances Compressed Gases 2.1 Flammable Gas 2.2 Non-flammable Gas 2.3 Poison Gas Flammable Liquids Flammable Solids 4.1 Flammable Solid 4.2 Spontaneously Combustible 4.3 Dangerous When Wet Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides 5.1 Oxidizer 5.2 Organic Peroxide Poisonous and infectious Substances 6.1 Poisonous Substances 6.2 Infectious Substances Radioactive Materials Corrosives Miscellaneous dangerous Substances Fig 3. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998) Packaging requirements for hazardous materials are determined by finding them listed in Hazardous Materials table of 49 CFR, section 172. From this the hazard class, packaging group, identification number, label requirements, packaging authorisations and special provisions can be ascertained from this. All types of designed packaging must be tested before approval. If approved, it must be marked with the UN packaging marking which specify any details pertaining to the packaged material such as the type of material, relative density of the material and maximum gross weight for which the packaging has been tested, the packaging group for which the package has been approved, whether the material is solid or under pressure, the state or country of origin, the year of manufacture and the testing facility. When the package is ready for shipment it must be labelled with the identification number and shipping name in the top left corner, the hazardous materials label in the centre of the pan el, and the package marking in the bottom left corner. Shipping documents must also show the hazardous materials identification, the hazard class and an emergency telephone number. Improper packaging procedures including improper shipping documents, marking or handling can result in civil and/or criminal liabilities against the carrier, shipper or the packaging manufacturer. Hazardous Pollutants The chemical process industry is one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. It is regulated regarding areas of environmental protection, health and safety. Everything is affected by the chemical industry, the siting of a new location for a facility, the transportation of raw materials and finished products, working conditions for employees, packaging of finished materials and interactions with the community. The chemical industry also develops additional regulations alongside the regulatory agencies to ensure the proper protection of the community, the environment and the employees. For example, The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) brought out the Responsible Care Initiative. This initiative, initially started in Canada, is a commitment on behalf of the chemical industry to continuously improve health, safety and environmental standards and to respond to public concerns. The initiative is implemented by 6 codes of management practices which cover Community Awar eness and Emergency Response (CAER), Employee Health and Safety, Distribution, Process Safety, Pollution Prevention and Product Stewardship. More than 35 countries in the world have taken on responsible care and are developing their own means of implementation. Uniformity to environmental standards was attempted by the International Standard Organisation (ISO) by following up the ISO 9000 series of quality standards with the ISO 14000 environmental management standards. For example ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems, is a statement of environmental policy which includes the commitment to comply with environmental legislation and a commitment to ensure continual improvement; it also ensures that environmental objectives within the plant are identified, management representatives that ensure that the companies plans are implemented and procedures that might detect any noncompliance to such standards by means of periodic environmental management system audits are carried out. Any company wishing to do business in the international market will need ISO 14001 certification. Environmental Protection Water For a long time in the US water pollution control were taken on a basis of water quality standards for bodies of water such as streams, lakes and rivers, receiving bodies of water. There was no effective, national legal authority which limited the discharge of pollutants into bodies of water and was regulated more so on a state-by-state basis. In the late 1960s the US revived the 1899 Refuse Act which prohibited discharging anything into navigable water unless certain permits were obtained. This provided a new control over discharges of materials by industry. Along with this, legislation from the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments (FWPCA) was put forward with an objective to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). New water quality standards were introduced by means of stream use classification. This gave control to states to decide what they would use their water for. The EPA defined 4 categori es. Class A Primary water contact recreation Class B Propagation of desirable aquatic life Class C Public water supplies prior to treatment and Class D Agricultural and industrial uses After this, water quality criteria were to be developed. This means that for each designated water use there were going to be limits to the allowed concentration of pollutants. Limits of discharged effluent were controlled by means of regulating the unit weight of pollutant discharged per mass of product manufactured, rather than measuring the overall concentration of pollutant in a discharge stream. In this way chemical industries would be unable to dilute chemical pollutants to avoid surpassing concentration limits. Air 2500 years ago lead pollution produced by silver smelters in Rome and Greece were a major cause of concern. Analysis of lake sediments has shown that this lead pollution has spread across the northern hemisphere. Air pollution caused in the modern working environment is usually due to burning of fossil fuels and as early as the 13th century this has been attributed to the burning of coal. The main cause for concern with coal burning was the unpleasant sulfurous odour released and the soot produced but the health effects caused by this has not been made clear until recently. National Ambient Air Quality Standards 6 pollutants that cause major concern have been classed by the EPA under The Clean Air Act 1970. These are Sulfur Oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), lead, particulates i.e. (subdivisions of solid or liquid matter suspended in a gas), and photochemical oxidants (ozone).The EPA developed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to combat levels of air pollution based on the level of highest concentration that would have no adverse effects on the environment or on human health. These standards are expressed by ground level concentrations where the concentrations of pollutants are measured at ground level in measurements of parts per million or micrograms per cubic metre. Solid and hazardous waste Implementation of laws concerning the control of pollution due to solid waste disposal was formulated much slower than for those were for water and air. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1976 (RCRA) was the first act passed where newer substantial controls were authorised. The objective of the RCRA was to conserve public health, the environment and natural resources. It was implemented to ensure that practices regarding the production, storage, transportation and disposal of waste would minimise or completely eradicate the hazard to human health and the environment. The section of the RCRA that caused the most concern to the Chemical Industry was subtitle C. This was the hazardous waste management regulations. The objective of this was to monitor and regulate hazardous waste from the time of production to its disposal. Facilities which would work in the transportation, storage, treatment or generation of hazardous waste are covered by these regulations. The definition of a s olid waste to the RCRA covers a broad category of substances including solids, semisolids or liquids or any contained gaseous materials. A hazardous waste is a substance that must be either listed by the EPA or have a hazardous characteristic Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). Certain types of solid wastes are excluded from the hazardous materials regulations specifically for the large volume by which they are produced or other reasons. These would include household wastes, fossil fuel combustion, exploration wastes and some agricultural and mining wastes. A solid waste is considered hazardous if it is listed in the EPA or has a specific characteristic hazard. There are four characteristics of hazardous wastes: reactivity, corrosivity, ignitability and toxicity. Toxicity refers to how leachable the waste is and the toxicity in the groundwater that would result using Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, an analytical method. Some examples of hazards included in TCLP are listed in the ta ble below. Maximum Concentration of Contaminants for Toxicity Characteristic Contaminant Regulatory Level (mg/L) Arsenic 5.0 Benzene 0.5 Silver 5.0 Lead 5.0 Mercury 0.2 Chloroform 6.0 Chromium 5.0 Selenium 1.0 Fig 4. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998) It is the responsibility of the producer of the substance to determine whether it is hazardous. They are required to hold records; label substances correctly, inform transporters and report to the EPA periodically. Groundwater and air quality are monitored for any facility that could potentially produce emissions. Any regulations concerning nonhazardous waste are controlled by the local and state authorities. Due to increased pressure on landfill sites these regulations are getting more stringent for nonhazardous solid waste. Better management of nonhazardous waste is encouraged through recycling, reduction and reuse. Industrial Hygiene Industrial hygiene is a profession devoted to anticipating, evaluating and recognising any environmental factors or stresses arising in the workplace which could cause impaired health and wellbeing, sickness, inefficiency and significant discomfort between workers and those of the local community. In the U.S., industrial hygienists are usually members of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) or other groups such as the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene (AAIH). Industrial Hygienists work with other professions concerning health in the workplace such as safety engineers and occupational health nursing. All these groups work in implementing the laws regarding the regulation of health and safety in the workplace. The principal laws are the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in the U.S. but similar laws are put into place all over the world which are proposed by International Organisations such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Or ganisation (WHO). Hazards arising from the workplace which industrial hygienists are interested in would include the following categories. Chemical Carcinogens, Reproductive Hazards, Acute Poisons, Irritants, Corrosives, Neurotoxins Ergonomic Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), Back injury, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Human-Machine interaction Physical Noise, Cold, Heat, Ionising Radiation, Extremely Low Frequency Radiation (ELF), Ultraviolet Radiation, Laser Radiation, Infra Red Radiation Industrial Hygienists must be able to detect what potential hazards might result from workplace materials, to evaluate hazards and determine how much risk is posed by it, and to recognise hazards as they occur. The best and cheapest way to approach workplace hazards is to anticipate them and if possible to completely prevent them from happening. When a new chemical process is conceived an industrial hygienist must check the toxicology of the substance produced, either by animal testing or by human epidemiology. Some substances are self limiting, others are potent and carcinogenic but most chemicals lie somewhere in between. Wherever possible it is encouraged to abstain from using potentially dangerous chemicals. Also potentially damaging physical hazards which arise from certain processes such as excessive heat, noise or pressures must also be anticipated and avoided where possible. Usually industrial hygienists are capable in devising methods of using hazardous chemical substances safely. To recognise potential hazards industrial hygienists must have an extensive knowledge of the kind of hazards that may occur in types of industry. Recognising hazards is done by looking for sources of harmful chemical or physical agents that would cause damage if exposed to workers. Fugitive emissions are an example of an industrial hazard, and occur when there is a break in the barrier which provides containment for the chemical process. The main source of loss can be attributed to seal and flange leaks where material could escape. Even though the emissions can be incredibly small so that they are undetectable by a material balance, they can however build up in the work area which could lead to overexposure to harmful chemicals. Valve stem leaks are one example. These can worsen over time if not corrected. Pump seal leaks which are usually quite small can become large if there is total seal fail

A Short History of the Devil by Neil Mohammed :: History

A Short History of the Devil by Neil Mohammed Horned gods were worshipped in Europe and the rest of the world from the dawn of humanity. They were always part of a pagan belief system, a polytheistic belief system, which accepted many gods. Tribal pagan belief systems still in existence share this characteristic: the tribes worship their tribal gods, and other gods mentioned by strangers are not evil, or non-existant, they are simply not their gods. There were many ancient monotheistic religions such as Judaism, but again these were tribal religions, which had no urge to prosyletise, to "spread the word". Jehova was the god of the Jews, and they felt no need to persuade other tribes to worship him as well. Christianity changed all that. It felt an overpowering need to make their one god the god of everybody else within range, and so they invented the missionary. But to do this it was necessary to discredit the old pagan gods, and in particular the goddess and the horned god. Pagan pantheons never include gods of evil. Pagan gods are aspects of Nature, and in Nature there can be no evil; it exists only in the human imagination. They frequently include trickster gods, such as Loki, and gods can have a reputation for being unwise to be involved with, but not actual evil. Monotheistic religions, on the other hand, require a god of evil as an adversary of their god of good. Otherwise, why would you need Him? An obvious way to discredit the horned god and justify punishment of his worshippers is to say that he is, in fact, the god of evil in the new religion. And has been all along. This did not happen all at once. For centuries Christianity existed alongside much older pagan beliefs all across Europe, and adapted to the people there and accomodated their beliefs as far as possible. The Celtic Christian Church in Dark Age Ireland is a typical example. Then in AD 1248 Pope Innocent IV decided that it was time to suppress all heresy and for that purpose he founded The Holy Office, or as it later became better known, The Inquisition. It really took off in the fifteenth century (especially in Spain), and began rooting out all and any lingering traces of pagan belief. Being an organization run entirely by men it took an instant dislike to the old wise women living around every country village, passing on ancient pagan folk-lore to the new generation and selling folk medicine and magic charms.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 29

Chapter 29 When it was all finished, Simon looked great, better than I'd ever seen him look. Joshua had not only raised him from the dead, but also healed his leprosy. Maggie and Martha were ecstatic. The new and improved Simon invited us back to his house to celebrate. Unfortunately, Abel and Crustus had witnessed the resurrection and the healing, and despite our admonishments, they started to spread the story through Bethany and Jerusalem. Joseph of Arimathea accompanied us to Simon's house, but he was hardly in a celebratory mood. â€Å"This dinner's not exactly a trap,† he told Joshua, â€Å"it's more like a test.† â€Å"I've been to one of their trials by dinner,† said Joshua. â€Å"I thought you were a believer.† â€Å"I am,† said Joseph, â€Å"especially after what I saw today, but that's why you have to come to my house and have dinner with the Pharisees from the council. Show them who you are. Explain to them in an informal setting what it is that you are doing.† â€Å"Satan himself once asked me to prove myself,† said Joshua. â€Å"What proof do I owe these hypocrites?† â€Å"Please, Joshua. They may be hypocrites, but they have great influence over the people. Because they condemn you the people are afraid to listen to the Word. I know Pontius Pilate, I don't think anyone would harm you in my home and risk his wrath.† Joshua sat for a moment, sipping his wine. â€Å"Then into the den of vipers I shall go.† â€Å"Don't do it, Joshua,† I said. â€Å"And you have to come alone,† said Joseph. â€Å"You can't bring any of the apostles.† â€Å"That's not a problem,† I said. â€Å"I'm only a disciple.† â€Å"Especially not him,† said Joseph. â€Å"Jakan bar Iban will be there.† â€Å"So I guess it's another night sitting home for me, too,† said Maggie. Later we all watched and waved as Joseph and Joshua left to go back to Jerusalem for the dinner at Joseph's house. â€Å"As soon as they get around the corner you follow them,† Maggie said to me. â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Stay close enough to hear if he needs you.† â€Å"Absolutely.† â€Å"Come here.† She pulled me inside the door where the others wouldn't see and gave me one of those Maggie kisses that made me walk into walls and forget my name for a few minutes. It was the first in months. She released me and held me at arm's length, then, â€Å"You know that if there were no Joshua, I wouldn't love anyone but you,† she said. â€Å"You don't have to bribe me to watch over him, Maggie.† â€Å"I know. That's one of the reasons I love you,† she said. â€Å"Now go.† My years of trying to sneak up on the monks in the monastery paid me back as I shadowed Joshua and Joseph through Jerusalem. They had no idea I was following, as I slipped from shadow to shadow, wall to tree, finally to Joseph's house, which lay south of the city walls, only a stone's throw from the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas. Joseph of Arimathea's house was only slightly smaller than the palace itself, but I was able to find a spot on the roof of an adjacent building where I could watch the dinner through a window and still have a view of the front door. Joshua and Joseph sat in the dining room drinking wine by themselves for a while, then gradually the servants let in the other guests as they arrived in groups of twos and threes. There were a dozen of them by the time dinner was served, all of the Pharisees that had been at the dinner at Jakan's house, plus five more that I had never seen before, but all were severe and meticulous about washing before dinner and checking each other to make sure that all was in order. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I really didn't care. There seemed to be no immediate threat to Joshua, and that was all I was worried about. He could hold his own on the rhetorical battlefield. Then, when it seemed that it would end without incident, I saw the tall hat and white robe of a priest in the street, and with him two Temple guards carrying their long, bronze-tipped spears. I dropped down off the roof and made my way around the opposite side of the house, arriving just in time to see a servant lead the priest inside. As soon as Joshua came through the door at Simon's house Martha and Maggie showered him with kisses as if he had returned from the war, then led him to the table and started interrogating him about the dinner. â€Å"First they yelled at me for having fun, drinking wine, and feasting. Saying that if I was truly a prophet I would fast.† â€Å"And what did you tell them?† I asked, still a little winded from the running to get to Simon's house ahead of Joshua. â€Å"I said, well, John didn't eat anything but bugs, and he never drank wine in his life, and he certainly never had any fun, and they didn't believe him, so what kind of standards were they trying to set, and please pass the tabbouleh.† â€Å"What did they say then?† â€Å"Then they yelled at me for eating with tax collectors and harlots.† â€Å"Hey,† said Matthew. â€Å"Hey,† said Martha. â€Å"They didn't mean you, Martha, they meant Maggie.† â€Å"Hey,† said Maggie. â€Å"I told them that tax collectors and harlots would see the kingdom of God before they did. Then they yelled at me for healing on the Sabbath, not washing my hands before I eat, being in league with the Devil again, and blaspheming by claiming to be the Son of God.† â€Å"Then what?† â€Å"Then we had dessert. It was some sort of cake made with dates and honey. I liked it. Then a guy came to the door wearing priest's robes.† â€Å"Uh-oh,† said Matthew. â€Å"Yeah, that was bad,† said Joshua. â€Å"He went around whispering in the ears of all the Pharisees, then Jakan asked me by what authority I raised Simon from the dead.† â€Å"And what did you say?† â€Å"I didn't say anything, not with the Sadducee there. But Joseph told them that Simon hadn't been dead. He was just sleeping.† â€Å"So what did they say to that?† â€Å"Then they asked me by what authority I woke him up.† â€Å"And what did you say?† â€Å"I got angry then. I said by all the authority of God and the Holy Ghost, by the authority of Moses and Elijah, by the authority of David and Solomon, by the authority of thunder and lightning, by the authority of the sea and the air and the fire in the earth, I told them.† â€Å"And what did they say?† â€Å"They said that Simon must have been a very sound sleeper.† â€Å"Sarcasm is wasted on those guys,† I said. â€Å"Completely wasted,† said Joshua. â€Å"Anyway, then I left, and outside there were two guards from the Temple. The shafts of their spears had been broken and they were both unconscious. There was blood on one's scalp. So I healed them, and when I saw they were coming around, I came here.† â€Å"They don't think you attacked the guards?† Simon asked. â€Å"No, the priest followed me down. He saw them at the same time that I did.† â€Å"And your healing them didn't convince him?† â€Å"Hardly.† â€Å"So what do we do now?† â€Å"I think we should go back to Galilee. Joseph will send word if anything comes of the meeting of the council.† â€Å"You know what will come of it,† Maggie said. â€Å"You threaten them. And now they have the priests involved. You know what will happen.† â€Å"Yes, I do,† said Joshua. â€Å"But you don't. We'll leave for Capernaum in the morning.† Later Maggie came to me in the great room of Simon's house, where we were all bedded down for the night. She crawled under my blanket and put her lips right next to my ear. As usual, she smelled of lemons and cinnamon. â€Å"What did you do to those guards?† she whispered. â€Å"I surprised them. I thought they might be there to arrest Joshua.† â€Å"You might have gotten him arrested.† â€Å"Look, have you done this before? Because if you have some sort of plan, please let me in on it. Personally, I'm making this up as I go along.† â€Å"You did good,† she whispered. She kissed my ear. â€Å"Thank you.† I reached for her and she shimmied away. â€Å"And I'm still not going to sleep with you,† she said. The messenger must have ridden through several nights to get ahead of us, but when we got back to Capernaum there was already a message waiting from Joseph of Arimathea. Joshua: Pharisee council condemned you to death for blasphemy. Herod concurs. No official death warrant issued, but suggest you take disciples into Herod Philip's territory until things settle down. No word from the priests yet, which is good. Enjoyed having you at dinner, please drop by next time you're in town. Your friend, Joseph of Arimathea Joshua read the message aloud to all of us, then pointed to a deserted mountaintop on the northern shore of the lake near Bethsaida. â€Å"Before we leave Galilee again, I am going up that mountain. I will stay there until all in Galilee who wish to hear the good news have come. Only then will I leave to go to Philip's territory. Go out now and find the faithful. Tell them where to find me.† â€Å"Joshua,† Peter said, â€Å"there are already two or three hundred sick and lame waiting at the synagogue for you to heal them. They've been gathering for all the days you've been gone.† â€Å"Why didn't you tell me?† â€Å"Well, Bartholomew greeted them and took their names, then we told them that you'd be with them as soon as you got the chance. They're fine.† â€Å"I lead the dogs back and forth by them occasionally so we look busy,† said Bart. Joshua stormed off to the synagogue waving his hands in the air as if asking God why he had been plagued by a gang of dimwits, but then, I might have been reading that into his gesture. The rest of us spread out into Galilee to announce that Joshua was going to be preaching a great sermon on a mountain north of Capernaum. Maggie and I traveled together, along with Simon the Canaanite and Maggie's friends Johanna and Susanna. We decided to take three days and walk a circle through northern Galilee that would take us through a dozen towns and bring us back to the mountain just in time to help direct the pilgrims that would be gathering. The first night we camped in a sheltered valley outside a town called Jamnith. We ate bread and cheese by the fire and afterward Simon and I shared wine while the women went off to sleep. It was the first time I'd ever had a chance to talk to the Zealot without his friend Judas around. â€Å"I hope Joshua can bring the kingdom down on their heads now,† Simon said. â€Å"Otherwise I may have to look for another prophet to pledge my sword to.† I nearly choked on my wine, and handed him the wineskin as I fought for breath. â€Å"Simon,† I said, â€Å"do you believe he's the Son of God?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"You don't, and you're still following him?† â€Å"I am not saying he's not a great prophet, but the Christ? the Son of God? I don't know.† â€Å"You've traveled with him. Heard him speak. Seen his power over demons, over people. You've seen him heal people. Feed people. And what does he ask?† â€Å"Nothing. A place to sleep. Some food. Some wine.† â€Å"And if you could do those things, what would you have?† Here Simon leaned back and looked into the stars, as he let his imagination unroll. â€Å"I would have villages full of women in my bed. I'd have a fine palace, and slaves to bathe me. I would have the finest food and wine and kings would travel from far away just to look at my gold. I would be glorious.† â€Å"But Joshua has only his cloak and his sandals.† Simon seemed to snap out of his reverie, and he wasn't happy about it. â€Å"Just because I am weak does not make him the Christ.† â€Å"That's exactly what makes him the Christ.† â€Å"Maybe he's just naive.† â€Å"Count on it,† I said. I stood and handed him the wineskin. â€Å"You can finish it. I'm going to sleep.† Simon raised his eyebrows. â€Å"The Magdalene, she's a luscious woman. A man could lose himself there.† I took a deep breath and thought about defending Maggie's honor, or even warning Simon about making advances on her, but then I thought better of it. The Zealot needed to learn a lesson that I wasn't qualified to teach. But Maggie was. â€Å"Good night, Simon,† I said. In the morning I found Simon sitting by the cold ashes of the fire, cradling his head in his hands. â€Å"Simon?† I inquired. He looked up at me and I saw a huge purple goose egg on his forehead, just below the bangs of his Roman haircut. A spot of blood seeped out of the middle. His right eye was nearly swollen shut. â€Å"Ouch,† I said. â€Å"How did you do that?† Just then Maggie came out from behind a bush. â€Å"He accidentally crawled into Susanna's bedroll last night,† Maggie said. â€Å"I thought he was an attacker, so naturally, I brained him with a rock.† â€Å"Naturally,† I said. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Simon,† Maggie said. I could hear Susanna and Johanna giggling behind the bush. â€Å"It was an honest mistake,† said Simon. I couldn't tell whether he meant his or Maggie's, but either way he was lying. â€Å"Good thing you're an apostle,† I said. â€Å"You'll have that healed up by noon.† We finished our loop of northern Galilee without incident, and indeed, Simon was nearly healed by the time we returned to the mountain above Bethsaida, where Joshua awaited us with over five thousand followers. â€Å"I can't get away from them long enough to find baskets,† Peter complained. â€Å"Everywhere I go there are fifty people following me,† said Judas. â€Å"How do they expect us to bring them food if they won't let us work?† I had heard similar complaints from Matthew, James, and Andrew, and even Thomas was whining that people were stepping all over Thomas Two. Joshua had multiplied seven loaves into enough to feed the multitude, but no one could get to the food to distribute it. Maggie and I finally fought our way to the top of the mountain where we found Joshua preaching. He signaled the crowd that he was going to take a break, then came over to us. â€Å"This is excellent,† he said. â€Å"So many of the faithful.† â€Å"Uh, Josh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"You two go to Magdala. Get the big ship and bring it to Bethsaida. Once we feed the faithful I'll send the disciples down to you. Go out into the lake and wait for me.† We managed to pull John out of the crowd and took him with us to Magdala to help sail the ship back up the coast. Neither Maggie nor I felt confident enough to handle the big boat without one of the fishermen on board. A half-day later we docked in Bethsaida, where the other apostles were waiting for us. â€Å"He's led them to the other side of the mountain,† Peter said. â€Å"He'll deliver a blessing then send them on their way. Hopefully they'll go home and he can meet us.† â€Å"Did you see any soldiers in the crowd?† I asked. â€Å"Not yet, but we should have been out of Herod's territory by now. The Pharisees are hanging on the edge of the crowd like they know something is going to happen.† We assumed that he would be swimming or rowing out in one of the small boats, but when he finally came down to the shore the multitude was still following him, and he just kept walking, right across the surface of the water to the boat. The crowd stopped at the shore and cheered. Even we were astounded by this new miracle, and we sat in the boat with our mouths hanging open as Joshua approached. â€Å"What?† he said. â€Å"What? What? What?† â€Å"Master, you're walking on the water,† said Peter. â€Å"I just ate,† Joshua said. â€Å"You can't go into the water for an hour after you eat. You could get a cramp. What, none of you guys have mothers?† â€Å"It's a miracle,† shouted Peter. â€Å"It's no big deal,† Joshua said, dismissing the miracle with the wave of a hand. â€Å"It's easy. Really, Peter, you should try it.† Peter stood up in the boat tentatively. â€Å"Really, try it.† Peter started to take off his tunic. â€Å"Keep that on,† said Joshua. â€Å"And your sandals too.† â€Å"But Lord, this is a new tunic.† â€Å"Then keep it dry, Peter. Come to me. Step upon the water.† Peter put one foot over the side and into the water. â€Å"Trust your faith, Peter,† I yelled. â€Å"If you doubt you won't be able to do it.† Then Peter stepped with both feet onto the surface of the water, and for a split second he stood there. And we were all amazed. â€Å"Hey, I'm – † Then he sank like a stone. He came up sputtering. We were all doubled over giggling, and even Joshua had sunk up to his ankles, he was laughing so hard. â€Å"I can't believe you fell for that,† said Joshua. He ran across the water and helped us pull Peter into the boat. â€Å"Peter, you're as dumb as a box of rocks. But what amazing faith you have. I'm going to build my church on this box of rocks.† â€Å"You would have Peter build your church?† asked Philip. â€Å"Because he tried to walk on the water.† â€Å"Would you have tried it?† asked Joshua. â€Å"Of course not,† said Philip. â€Å"I can't swim.† â€Å"Then who has the greater faith?† Joshua climbed into the boat and shook the water off of his sandals, then tousled Peter's wet hair. â€Å"Someone will have to carry on the church when I'm gone, and I'm going to be gone soon. In the spring we'll go to Jerusalem for the Passover, and there I will be judged by the scribes and the priests, and there I will be tortured and put to death. But three days from the day of my death, I shall rise, and be with you again.† As Joshua spoke Maggie had latched onto my arm. By the time he was finished speaking her nails had drawn blood from my biceps. A shadow of grief seemed to pass over the faces of the disciples. We looked not at each other, and neither at the ground, but at a place in space a few feet from our faces, where I suppose one looks for a clear answer to appear out of undefined shock. â€Å"Well, that sucks,† someone said. We landed at the town of Hippos, on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, directly across the lake from Tiberius. Joshua had preached here before when we had come over to hide the first time, and there were people in the town who would receive the apostles into their homes until Joshua sent them out again. We'd brought many baskets of the broken bread from Bethsaida, and Judas and Simon helped me unload them from the ship, wading in and out of the shallows where we anchored, as Hippos had no dock. â€Å"The bread stood piled like small mountains,† Judas said. â€Å"Much more than when we fed the five thousand. A Jewish army could fight long days on that kind of supply. If the Romans have taught us anything it's that an army fights on its stomach.† I stopped schlepping and looked at him. Simon, who stood next to me, set his basket down on the beach, then lifted the edge of his sash to show me the hilt of his dagger. â€Å"The kingdom will be ours only when we take it by the sword. We've had no problem spilling Roman blood. No master but God.† I reached over and gently pulled Simon's sash back over the hilt of his dagger. â€Å"Have you ever heard Joshua talk about doing harm to anyone? Even an enemy?† â€Å"No,† Judas said. â€Å"He can't speak openly about taking the kingdom until he's ready to strike. That's why he always speaks in parables.† â€Å"That is a crock of rancid yak butter,† said a voice from the ship. Joshua sat up, a net hung over his head like a tattered prayer shawl. He'd been sleeping in the bow of the ship and we'd completely forgotten about him. â€Å"Biff, call everyone together, here on the beach. I haven't made myself clear to everyone, evidently.† I dropped my basket and ran into town to get the others. In less than an hour we were all seated on the beach and Joshua paced before us. â€Å"The kingdom is open to everyone,† Joshua said. â€Å"Ev-ree-one, get it?† Everyone nodded. â€Å"Even Romans.† Everyone stopped nodding. â€Å"The kingdom of God is upon us, but the Romans will remain in Israel. The kingdom of God has nothing to do with the kingdom of Israel, do you all understand that?† â€Å"But the Messiah is supposed to lead our people to freedom,† Judas shouted. â€Å"No master but God!† Simon added. â€Å"Shut up!† said Joshua. â€Å"I was not sent to deliver wrath. We will be delivered into the kingdom by forgiveness, not conquest. People, we have been over this, what have I not made clear?† â€Å"How we are to cast the Romans out of the kingdom?† shouted Nathaniel. â€Å"You should know better,† Joshua said to Nathaniel, â€Å"you yellow-haired freak. One more time, we can't cast the Romans out of the kingdom because the kingdom is open to all.† And I think they were getting it, at least the two Zealots were getting it, because they looked profoundly disappointed. They'd waited their whole life for the Messiah to come along and establish the kingdom by crushing the Romans, now he was telling them in his own divine words that it wasn't going to happen. But then Joshua started with the parables. â€Å"The kingdom is like a wheat field with tares, you can't pull out the tares without destroying the grain.† Blank stares. Doubly blank from the fishermen, who didn't know squat from farming metaphors. â€Å"A tare is a rye grass,† Joshua explained. â€Å"It weaves its roots amid the roots of wheat or barley, and there's no way to pull them out without ruining the crop.† Nobody got it. â€Å"Okay,† Joshua continued. â€Å"The children of heaven are the good people, and the tares are the bad ones. You get both. And when you're all done, the angels pick out the wicked and burn them.† â€Å"Not getting it,† said Peter. He shook his head, and his gray mane whipped around his face like a confused lion trying to shake off the sight of a flying wildebeest. â€Å"How do you guys preach this stuff if you don't understand it? Okay, try this: the kingdom of heaven is like, uh, a merchant seeking pearls.† â€Å"Like before swine,† said Bartholomew. â€Å"Yes! Bart! Yes! Only no swine this time, same pearls though.† Three hours later, Joshua was still at it, and he was starting to run out of things to liken the kingdom to, his favorite, the mustard seed, having failed in three different tries. â€Å"Okay, the kingdom is like a monkey.† Joshua was hoarse and his voice was breaking. â€Å"How?† â€Å"A Jewish monkey, right?† â€Å"Is it like a monkey eating a mustard seed?† I stood up and went to Joshua and put my arm around his shoulder. â€Å"Josh, take a break.† I led him down the beach toward the village. He shook his head. â€Å"Those are the dumbest sons of bitches on earth.† â€Å"They've become like little children, as you told them to.† â€Å"Stupid little children,† Joshua said. I heard light footsteps on the sand behind us and Maggie threw her arms around our necks. She kissed Joshua on the forehead, making a loud wet smacking sound, then looked as if she was going to do the same to me so I shied away. â€Å"You two are the ninnies here. You both rail on them about their intelligence, when that doesn't have anything to do with why they're here. Have either one of you heard them preach? I have. Peter can heal the sick now. I've seen it. I've seen James make the lame walk. Faith isn't an act of intelligence, it's an act of imagination. Every time you give them a new metaphor for the kingdom they see the metaphor, a mustard seed, a field, a garden, a vineyard, it's like pointing something out to a cat – the cat looks at your finger, not at what you're pointing at. They don't need to understand it, they only need to believe, and they do. They imagine the kingdom as they need it to be, they don't need to grasp it, it's there already, they can let it be. Imagination, not intellect.† Maggie let go of our necks, then stood there grinning like a madwoman. Joshua looked at her, then at me. I shrugged. â€Å"I told you she was smarter than both of us.† â€Å"I know,† Joshua said. â€Å"I don't know if I can stand you both being right in the same day. I need some time to think and pray.† â€Å"Go on then,† Maggie said, waving him on. I stopped and watched my friend walk into the village, having absolutely no idea what I was supposed to do. I turned back to Maggie. â€Å"You heard the Passover prediction?† She nodded. â€Å"I take it you didn't confront him.† â€Å"I don't know what to say.† â€Å"We need to talk him out of it. If he knows what awaits him in Jerusalem, why go? Why don't we go into Phoenicia or Syria? He could even take the good news to Greece and be perfectly safe. They have people running all over the place preaching different ideas – look at Bartholomew and his Cynics.† â€Å"When we were in India, we saw a festival in the city of their goddess Kali. She's a goddess of destruction, Maggie. It was the bloodiest thing I've ever seen, thousands of animals slaughtered, hundreds of men beheaded. The whole world seemed slick with blood. Joshua and I saved some children from being flayed alive, but when it was over, Joshua kept saying, no more sacrifices. No more.† Maggie looked at me as if she expected more. â€Å"So? It was horrible, what did you expect him to say?† â€Å"He wasn't talking to me, Maggie. He was talking to God. And I don't think he was making a request.† â€Å"Are you saying that he thinks his father wants to kill him for trying to change things, so he can't avoid it because it's the will of God?† â€Å"No, I'm saying that he's going to allow himself to be killed to show his father that things need to be changed. He's not going to try to avoid it at all.† For three months we begged, we pleaded, we reasoned, and we wept, but we could not talk Joshua out of going to Jerusalem for Passover. Joseph of Arimathea had sent word that the Pharisees and Sadducees were still plotting against Joshua, that Jakan had been speaking out against Joshua's followers in the Court of the Gentiles, outside the Temple. But the threats only seemed to strengthen Joshua's resolve. A couple of times Maggie and I managed to tie Joshua up and stash him in the bottom of a boat, using knots that we had learned from the sailor brothers Peter and Andrew, but both times Joshua appeared a few minutes later holding the cords that had bound him, saying things like, â€Å"Good knots, but not quite good enough, were they?† Maggie and I worried together for days before we left for Jerusalem. â€Å"He could be wrong about the execution,† I said. â€Å"Yes, he could be,† Maggie agreed. â€Å"Do you think he is? Wrong about it, I mean?† â€Å"I think I'm going to throw up.† â€Å"I don't see how that's going to stop him.† And it didn't. The next day we left for Jerusalem. On the way we stopped to rest along the road at a town along the Jordan River called Beth Shemesh. We were sitting there, feeling somber and helpless, watching the column of pilgrims move along the riverbank, when an old woman emerged from the column and beat her way through the reclining apostles with a walking staff. â€Å"Out of the way, I need to talk to this fellow. Move, you oaf, you need to take a bath.† She bonked Bartholomew on the head as she passed and his doggy pals nipped at her heels. â€Å"Look out there, I'm an old woman, I need to see this Joshua of Nazareth.† â€Å"Oh no, Mother,† John wailed. James got up to stop her and she threatened him with the staff. â€Å"What can I help you with, Old Mother?† Joshua asked. â€Å"I'm the wife of Zebedee, mother of these two.† She pointed her staff to James and John. â€Å"I hear that you're going to the kingdom soon.† â€Å"If it be so, so be it,† said Joshua. â€Å"Well, my late husband, Zebedee, God rest his soul, left these boys a perfectly good business, and since they've been following you around they've run it into the ground.† She turned to her sons. â€Å"Into the ground!† Joshua put his hand on her arm, but instead of the usual calm that I saw come over people when he touched them, Mrs. Zebedee pulled away and swung her staff at him, barely missing his head. â€Å"Don't try to bamboozle me, Mr. Smooth Talker. My boys have ruined their father's business for you, so I want your assurance that in return they get to sit on either side of the throne in the kingdom. It's only fair. They're good boys.† She turned to James and John. â€Å"If your father was alive it would kill him to see what you two have done.† â€Å"But Old Mother, it's not up to me who will sit next to the throne.† â€Å"Who is it up to?† â€Å"Well, it's up to the Lord, my father.† â€Å"Well then go ask him.† She leaned on her staff and tapped a foot. â€Å"I'll wait.† â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You would deny a dying woman her last request?† â€Å"You're not dying.† â€Å"You're killing me here. Go check. Go.† Joshua looked at us all sheepishly. We all looked away, cowards that we were. It's not as if any of us had ever learned to deal with a Jewish mother either. â€Å"I'll go up on that mountain and check,† Joshua said, pointing to the highest peak in the area. â€Å"Well go, then. You want I should be late for the Passover?† â€Å"Right. Okay, then, I'll go check, right now.† Josh backed away slowly, sort of sidled toward the mountain. Mount Tabor, I think it was. Mrs. Zebedee went after her sons like she was shooing chickens out of the garden. â€Å"What are you, pillars of salt? Go with him.† Peter laughed and she whirled around with her staff ready to brain him. Peter pretended to cough. â€Å"I'd better go along, uh, just in case they need a witness.† He scurried after Joshua and the other two. The old woman glared at me. â€Å"What are you looking at? You think the pain of childbirth ends when they move away? What do you know? Does a broken heart know from a different neighborhood?† They were gone all night, a very long night in which we all got to hear about John and James' father, Zebedee, who evidently had possessed the courage of Daniel, the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Samson, the devotion of Abraham, the good looks of David, and the tackle of Goliath, God rest his soul. (Funny, James had always described his father as a wormy little guy with a lisp.) When the four came back over the hill we all leapt to our feet and ran to greet them – I would have carried them back on my shoulders if it would have shut the old woman up. â€Å"Well?† she said. â€Å"It was amazing,† Peter said to us all, ignoring the old woman. â€Å"We saw three thrones. Moses was on one, Elijah was on another, and the third was ready for Joshua. And a huge voice came out of the sky, saying, ‘This is my son, with whom I am well pleased.'† â€Å"Oh yeah, he said that before,† I said. â€Å"I heard it this time,† Joshua said, smiling. â€Å"Just the three chairs then?† said Mrs. Zebedee. She looked at her two sons, who were cowering behind Joshua. â€Å"No place for you two, of course.† She started to stagger away from them, a hand clutched to her heart. â€Å"I suppose one can be happy for the mothers of Moses and Elijah and this Nazareth boy, then. They don't have to know what it is to have a spike in the heart.† Down the riverbank she limped, off toward Jerusalem. Joshua squeezed the brothers' shoulders. â€Å"I'll fix it.† He ran after Mrs. Zebedee. Maggie elbowed me and when I looked around at her there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"He's not wrong,† she said. â€Å"That's it,† I said. â€Å"Well, ask his mother to talk him out of it. No one can resist her – I mean, I can't. I mean, she's not you, but†¦Look! Is that a seagull?†

The Presidential Election Of 1984 - 1339 Words

The United States presidential election of 1984 was the 50th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1984. The presidential race was between the incumbent Republican candidate, President Ronald Reagan, and former Vice President Democratic candidate, Walter Mondale. Reagan was helped in the election by a strong economic recovery from the deep recession of 1981–1982. Reagan carried 49 of the 50 states, becoming only the second presidential candidate to do so after Richard Nixon s victory in the 1972 presidential election. Mondale s only electoral votes came from the District of Columbia, which has always been considered a Democratic guarantee, and his home state of Minnesota—which he won by a mere 3761 votes, meaning Reagan came within 3800 votes of winning all fifty states. Reagan s 525 electoral votes (out of 538) is the highest total ever received by a presidential candidate. Mondale s 13 electoral votes is also the 2nd-fewest ever receiv ed by a second-place candidate, second only to lf Landon s 8 in 1936. In the national popular vote, Reagan received 58.8% to Mondale s 40.6% (2016, 270towin.com) For a long period, candidates running for President of the United States often have what’s called a campaign strategy to help attract voters’ attention. The more voters they attracted, more likely those voters would choose them as their president elect. Technology has played a key role in doing that for past elections and current ones. DuringShow MoreRelatedThe Democratic Party And The Republican Party1238 Words   |  5 PagesLibertarian party, and Constitutional party, have a great influence on ideas and elections in the United States. In the rural areas of the West and Midwest ¬, the Populists and the Progressives, and the candidates for the urban middle classes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are the most important examples in the past century. In the most recent of years, Independent candidate H. Ross Perot, who ran in the election in 1992 and in 1996 as the Reform Party’s nominee, won the votes of almostRead MoreA Free Fair Election Is The Keystone Of Every Democracy1429 Words   |  6 PagesA free and fair election is the keystone of every democracy. It is essential for a peaceful transfer of power. The elected leaders shape the future of the society.   Therefore, elections empower the ordinary citizens. Through elections, the citizens are able to influence the policies which made by the government, and thus, their future. The US has been in the forefront in democracy since the year 1788 when the Constitution was ratified. However, the electoral tradition was established during the colonialRead MoreWhy I Deserve Credit For This Class Essay978 Words   |  4 Pagesliterature to current events and today’s society, my use of annotating and paraphrasing to help comprehend a text, as well as how I found, evaluated, and cited research to help support a central argument. During the third quarter of the year when we read 1984 I mastered how to connect literature to today’s society and current events. Winston Smith lived in Oceania and was under direct control of the Party. The Party observed every single thing the members did as well as altered history to make it seem asRead More1984: the Loss of Humanity Essay747 Words   |  3 Pages1984: The Loss of Humanity The novel 1984 has left a lasting impact in the literary world. Though the year in which the book takes place has come and gone, the book can still warn of a future that could come. In all reality, the book could be titled 2100 and have the same plot line. But although the warning still has relevance and citizens of the United States should be conscientious of it, the democratic society of the country provides a protection against the loss of individualism. The firstRead MoreModern Political Campaigns1854 Words   |  7 PagesModern political campaigns, according to the political science community, are known to not be the only external influence on both public opinion and candidate support during presidential elections in the United States. Whether campaigns hold a significant impact on election outcomes or if they influence public opinion is a debate that continues. Political scientists are currently challenged, when it comes to campaigns, with the ability to measure their type and the spectrum of their influence onRead MoreThe American Two Party System1709 Words   |  7 Pagesis the result of the way elections are structured in the United States. Representatives in the Congress and in state legislatures are elected to in single-member districts where the individual with the most votes wins. Seeing that only one party s candidate can win in each district, there is a strong motivation for political candidates to organize themselves into two competing parties. By doing so, party members and candidates maximize their chances of winning elections. In some countries whereRead MoreThe Relationship Between Television and Presidential Elections2349 Words   |  10 Pagesto look at the relationship between the mass media, specifically television, and presidential elections. This paper will focus on the function of television in presidential elections through three main areas: exit polls, presidential debates, and spots. The focus is on television for three reas ons. First, television reaches more voters than any other medium. Second, television attracts the greatest part of presidential campaign budgets. Third, television provides the candidates a good opportunity toRead MoreElectoral System For The Country956 Words   |  4 Pagesis a plurality which is also called â€Å"First-pass-the-post† while Germany has a proportional representation than is a mixed member system. These are just some of the electoral system examples. This could be interesting to see what is going on with elections if electoral system plays a factor in the outcome of voter turnout. Figure 2 shows a diagram of the different electoral families and their subset of the electoral families. Gallagher and Mitchell (2005) explain some countries electoral system itselfRead MorePresidential Vs. Congressional Campaigns1347 Words   |  6 Pages Presidential versus congressional campaigns Introduction Two phases: getting nominated and getting elected Getting nominated Getting a name on the ballot An individual effort (versus organizational effort in Europe) Parties play a minor role (compared with Europe) Parties used to play a major role Major differences Presidential races are more competitive. House races have lately been one-sided for Democrats. Presidential winner rarely gets more than 55 percent of vote Most House incumbents areRead MoreThe Election Of Prime Minister Stephen Harper1504 Words   |  7 PagesThe recent Canadian election, resulting in Justin Trudeau ousting Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was launched prematurely with the undoubted certainty that the Conservatives would remain in office. In deciding whether to begin the election period earlier, it was necessary for Prime Minister Harper to consider a number of factors and examine the institutions in place by which he believed that they could win. The election was called opportunistically, during a time of good standing for the Conservatives