Oasis

Suffragettes

2006-10-06T17:24:00.000+01:00

So, after reading all of these articles in the Times this week about the Suffragettes, and then on Petrona, I have decided to put forward my own views, seeing as so many people want to know.

First and foremost, I should say that I studied the Suffragettes for about a term last year, so I am quite well-educated on them. I also wrote an essay (actually my GCSE coursework) and I achieved an A* on this. The questions on my essay were: Explain why women failed to gain the right to vote between 1900 and 1914 and discussing the statement "Without the First World War British women would not have gained the right to vote in 1918."

OK, I am not against the Suffragettes at all, but I believe they are not the main reason women gained the right to vote. I believe it was a mixture of the Suffragists and the First World War.

The reason people believe WW1 gained the vote for women was because they showed they were responsible, hard working, patriotic women, not women that threw stones through windows and chained themselves to gates etc. In fact, the way that women behaved during the War, was the same way as the Suffragists were like normally. They protested peacefully, by signing petitions and going on marches. This was they showed that they were mature enough to have the vote, as the main argument against women having the vote was the fact that they were immature and not in the "correct sphere" to vote.

When I heard that new evidence had been revealed that there had been a plot to assassinate Asquith, I was not shocked. This is because it had been tried before. The suffragettes set fire to his house, even when he was for them. I believe that the Suffragettes did do one thing for the cause, however. They brought the attention, although in most cases the attention was bad. Here are some cartoons to illustrate my points:

For those with glasses:
"Coming to our bonfire?" "Ra-ther. Whose house are you burning?"

Here, you can quite clearly see that this cartoon is saying that the suffragettes harmed the cause more that helping it. This was certainly the view of a lot of people at the time.

I hope this helps you understand why I do not believe that the suffragettes are used the right methods to win the right to vote, but this does not mean I don't think they were very brave women, and I still admire them, but not as much as I admire the Suffragists.

A new theory...

2006-09-10T12:56:00.000+01:00

Sorry I haven't been posting lately, but I've been so busy! Anyway, I have a new theory concerning Dumbledore. After listening to Harry Potter 6 in the car when driving to and back from France, I have decided he is dead. Now for the justification. Don't read this if you haven't read book 6!

Dumbledore said himself that he taught Tom Riddle at school, which means he knows his type of magic and what he is like. Dumbledore tells this to Harry when they are trying to find a way into the cave. 'Magic always leaves traces... I taught Tom Riddle. I knew his style.' Therefore Dumbledore knew there was a possilbilty that he was going to die that night. However, having taught Tom, Dumbledore knows it will probably be a slow and painful death that would not kill him instantly, but leave him in the cave so that Voldemort could come and see who tried to take his Horcrux. 'Lord Voldemort would not want to kill the person who reached this Island... I'm sorry Harry; I should have said, he would not want immediately to kill the person... He would want to keep them alive long enough to find out how they managed to penitrate so far...' However, Dumbledore would have been able to leave the cave because he had Harry with him- which is something Voldemort could never have foreseen. Dumbledore also points this out when they are entering the boat. 'Vodelmort would not have cared about weight, but the amount of magical power that crossed the lake. I rather think an enchantment will have been placed on this boat so only one wizard at a time may be able to sail in it... I do not think you will count, Harry: you are under age and unqualified...Voldemort's mistake Harry, Voldemort's mistake...'
Meanwhile, assuming that Snape is a "goddie," he and Dumbledore knew what Malfoy was trying to do (kill Dumbledore and bring Deatheaters into the school) but they weren't quite sure when. But, Harry provided them with this information. 'Professor Trelawney was just in the Room of Requirement, trying to hide her sherry bottles, and she heard Malfoy whooping, celebrating!' So, when Dumbledore drank the potion, he knew he was going to die a long and painful death. When he and Harry returned to the school, and saw the dark mark, Dumbledore knew that that night he would die.
One of Dumbledore's main concerns was Malfoy, because Dumbledore wanted to protect him from Voldemort 'Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completley than you can possibly imagine...' . If he hadn't been dying he would have stopped Malfoy disarming him and stopped all of the death eaters because he is a brilliant wizard. But he was dying andHarry didn't know it. Therefore Dumbledore petrified Harry so he would not interfere and get himself killed also. He knew that Malfoy couldn't kill him- and if he didn't Malfoy would be killed himself. So, Dumbledore was going to die anyway, so was Snape killing him a mercy killing? If it was- it served four purposes. 1) It saved Dumbledore suffering. 2) It saved Malfoy from dying. 3) It proved Snape's "loyalty" to Voldemort. 4) It saved Snape from dying (remember the unbreakable vow he made at the beginning of the book?) So Dumbledore's death actually saved 2 other people's lives.
There is also another hint that Snape gives to prove he is on the Order's side, but Harry does not see it. When Snape is escaping, he gives Harry some advice. ***

So that is my new theory, but I am still not convinced of Snape's loyalty. But I think Snape will never be able to help the Order again until Harry can forgive him, if he is good. Snape killed Dumbledore, and in Harry's eyes, Snapes actions led to the death of Lily, James and Sirius. Being the character Harry is, can he ever forgive Snape? Will Harry ever see that Snape would be so useful to the order? Maybe Snape will try and explain himself, maybe Harry will understand? There are so many questions, and I hope that Harry Potter 7 has an amazing ending and some good answers to our questions.

Breaking the Storm

2006-08-04T09:06:00.000+01:00

Recently, I went to see the film Stormbreaker. It was an amazing cast, amazing plot, amazing acting and generally an amazing film. Not only did it star the fabulous Ewan McGregor, but also Mickey Rourke, Bill Nighy, Andy Sirkus, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry and Alicia Silverstone, and we are introduced to Alex Pettyfer playing Alex Rider, the hero of the movie. Fantastic as the film may be, people must remember that it was based on a book written by Anthony Horowitz. The film was loyal to the book simply because Horowitz wrote the screen play.

Stormbreaker is the first of 6 books; Point Blanc, Skeleton Key, Eagle Strike, Scorpia and Arc Angel. Also soon to be a seventh: Snakehead. I have read the books, but as they came out, so I can't really remember them that well. So I was inspired to read the books again. Due to large font size, I have read 5 of them in about 3 days.

The official book website is very good and you need to have an account to view it. You can also find a secret page, which allows you to fing information of the film. I recomend going to see the film, and to read the books, as they are gripping and don't allow you to put them down!

Dumbledore Is Not Dead

2006-07-30T09:56:00.000+01:00

Who has read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince without crying? Certainly, it appears that our favourite headmaster, Dumbledore dies, which for me is a major blow. If you haven't read the book stop reading now, but if you have.... read on.

Last week I was informed of a website... DumbledoreIsNotDead. Ok, ok, it was ages since the last book came out; so why am I writing this now? Well, truth be told, it's an amazing website. It could convince someone who thought that Dumbledore was truley dead, that he was actually alive.

It goes through many arguments including:

Clues about Dumbledore
Clues about Snape
Un-answered questions...

When reading this site, I was thinking: how could Dumbledore be dead? He has such an important role and he is such a great character. If he really was dead then there would have to have been some huge reason and I can't think of one.

One clue that the site didn't really talk about was one that my mum came up with. So, for the Harry Potter fans out there, Harry and Voldemort have some connection... they can feel each others emotions. What if Harry had to believe that Dumbledore was dead in order for Voldemort to believe he is dead. So in the "death" scene, it can be explained why Dumbledore put a freezing charm on Harry, so he could not interfere... And why the "murder" was carried out by Snape, an enemy of Harry. This also could have been showing Snape's loyalty to Voldemort.

J.K Rowling was believed to have cried when she killed off Sirius Black, and then said that she had to do it. This maked me think that Sirius is really dead, because he died for a reason, although no one is quite sure what this is yet. Nothing of the sort was mentioned about the death of Dumbledore.

I really recomend reading the website, written by Dave Haber. I just wish there was a website www.siriusblackisnotdead.com!

Into the Light

2006-06-06T17:31:00.000+01:00

The long-awaited English essay! Thanks for all of the tips on Petrona! Well here it is... hasn't been marked yet but fingers crossed! Please leave a comment to tell me where in the story you guessed it, I will leave a comment to say what it is, after reading it to my friends at school, I've had some pretty wierd guesses.... enough said.

Into the Light
It’s always dark. Most of the time it’s quiet too, except for the first day of every month. Then I hear wailing and crying, shouting and cursing, until I find the origin of the source and silence it. Apart from that, all I hear is the drip, drip, drip of the water falling down the wet walls, the walls that I can never see, due to the darkness. I am completely alone with no company except myself.

There is a place I like to go, but often it is hard to find. There is a tunnel that rises, with stone steps leading to a wooden door. My eyes hurt and sting as I look up for around the edges of the door light shines through. I cannot count the number of times I have tried to climb those stairs, but I am too large. I just wish I had known about this place when I was younger and smaller.

I have no idea if it is day or night; my only way of telling is by the light that comes through that door. If I see none, I go to the centre and lay on a pile of black robes. It is not comfortable as I can always feel the stone underneath me.

On the first day of every month, another human enters the darkness. Every time I see that human, my instinct to survive hits me and takes control of my body. I am possessed, a completely different person. I do not like what I make myself do, it makes me sick afterwards, but I must eat or I also would die. Sometimes there is resistance, but none are successful for my strength is great.

Most of the time, I find myself wandering around. Sometimes I run, sometimes I walk. I race down the longer stretches, counting the seconds in my head. As I charge along now I am on sixteen counts, seventeen, eighteen… but here I stop. I have fallen down and the pain in my leg is unbearable. I turn to see where I fell and I see a piece of thread on the floor. I do not know why it is there and for a moment I wonder if I am seeing things, after all it is very dark. I then realise the thread is black, which means it must be the first day of the month. The thread has come from a humans robe, which are always black. I am hungry, but the pain in my leg reminds me I am in no state to fight. I manage to limp back to my robe pile and I collapse.

As I lay on the floor, I know I cannot sleep. My leg is preventing it, the pain searing, I can feel sweat on my body. I do not know how much longer I can stand.

I jump as I hear a male voice. ‘There you are you beast’ says the man. I know this is my food, I know what I must do, however much I hate it. The voice of the man rings through the emptiness again. I cannot see him. ‘You’re inhumane, you’re so ugly.’ I do not understand. He is a human, just like me. ‘You and I are so different, I hate you for what you have done to my people, my innocent people.’ It was as if he had read my mind.

I try to stand, my instinct to kill him getting greater. But I fall; my leg cannot support my weight. I am so hungry, I need this food. I turn away and try to gather my strength but then I feel cold in my back. The pain in my leg rushes to my spine and I roar. I grab the cold weapon and tug it from my body, yet I can feel the heat of my blood as I do so. Even the darkness cannot hide the reflection I see in the weapon. I am no human, but a beast. Half human, half beast. Before I can react I see a bright white light, finally, after the darkness of my home, my labyrinth, my dungeon.

A Carrot

2006-05-29T21:24:00.000+01:00

This is an exercise set by Minx, I do not love vegetables! (Well... maybe a little!)

Long in size,
Smooth when peeled,
Bumpy in shape,
Rich in colour.
Moist inside,
Vitamin A supplied,
Cold on the skin,
(When kept in the fridge),
A real unique smell,
Fresh on the nose.
A vivid orange,
A lively green,
A cylinder of goodness,
All for me!!!

Two Minds

2006-05-28T09:55:00.000+01:00

One day I'll look and he's smiling,
His life is good, all is well,
The sun beats down on his golden locks,
The rain never dares to come out
When he is happy, when all is well.

The next day I pray it will remain,
That the smile will never fade away,
But it is never there as I stare,
At his altered face.

Inside and out, he is different.
Who knows what controls it, if not himself,
I seem to be the only one
Who sees and then who cares,
And as I look, I wish
That one day the smile will stay.

Ballad of Loss and War

2006-05-21T18:13:00.000+01:00

Silently she stood,
Her silhouette tall and proud,
Against the evening sun,
Before the waiting crowd.

Eager to fight, they waited,
Swords in war-ridden hands,
They looked for the enemy,
Far across the lands.

Their leader was a beauty,
Standing on the hill,
Power buried within her,
To fight for freewill.

The enemy was approaching,
The time was very near,
With one look at her,
They began to cheer.

Freedom, they wanted, freedom,
Freedom in their voices,
Freewill, they cried for, freewill,
They wanted more choices.

And as white clashed with black,
And the fighting had begun,
She killed and killed then stopped,
What had she done?

Corpses lying on her left,
Corpses on her right,
And then she completely lost
The will to fight.

Standing in the battlefield,
Sword dropped to the ground,
She took a look around her,
She couldn't hear a sound.

A demon eager for a kill,
Saw the beauty on her own,
Flew to the spot where she stood,
All, all alone.

And as she fell she smiled,
At her horrid life-taker,
For he had given her the chance,
To meet her life maker.

Charlotte

2006-05-15T20:08:00.000+01:00

This is a poem written by me but based on Charles Causley's 'The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond'

It was a Sunday evening,
And in the night time mist,
That they went out together,
Their love could not be missed.

Charlotte holding his hand,
Mathew holding it back,
But she never saw the happiness
That his face did lack.

Her mind full of aspiration,
A future for them both,
And in his head a plan
To cut her gentle throat.

And as they reached the moor-land,
He knew it must be done,
With one stray take her life away,
He pulled out his gun.

'Mathew, what are you doing?'
Cried Charlotte with a start,
'Only what you did to my
poor, poor broken heart.'

And as she fell she wondered,
What was her deadly sin?
And then her last breath of life
Was taken by the wind.

And Mathew, he stood there,
The gun fallen to the floor,
He looked at his dead lover,
Bleeding in the Moor.

What did you do, Charlotte?
What have you done, you wonder?
The only lie that you lied
Is that you loved another.

How could I compete with him?
This man, full of your love?
The one who took it all from me,
Like the olive to the dove.

And when they find me, Charlotte,
And sentence me to die,
At least we'll be together,
And your love won't be a lie.

Cathy Irving 15/5/06

"Tom"

2006-05-13T12:02:00.000+01:00

Hi how are you?
Says angel@hotmail.com
Fine thanks, and you?
Replies the 14 year old "Tom."

Can you send me a photo?
Sure I'll find a good snap
Hey this is an exellent picture
I always wear that cap.

Do you want to meet somewhere?
OK, that sounds great!
I won't tell Mum,
She doesn't like me out late

Maybe at the Cinema
Around 4.00pm?
We'll see a movie,
It's only £5.10

While a 14 year old girl
Doesnn't sense any doom,
A 63 year old man
Leaves his computer room.

The bell rang at last,
Out of school Julie ran,
She got on the bus,
Sipping coke from a can.

She gets of the bus,
Tom's photo in her rucksack
An old man grabs her
She gibes him a whack.

'Julie,' he whispers
'Listen to me'
'How do you know my name?
You look 63!'

She pulled away hard
'Call the police' someone said
'But I thought you liked me.'
But Julie had fled, had fled.

The ????man

2006-05-07T10:58:00.000+01:00

If I had a choice,
I would have long since been set free,
Inside my little cage,
Where the only company is me.

Cooped up by myself,
Where it always snows,
It is never sunny,
Harsh winds always blow.

Who am I you may wonder?
And why do I moan?
I’m merely a helpless snowman,
Trapped in a snow dome.

Lady Macbeth

2006-05-07T10:54:00.001+01:00

Lady Macbeth
Like clockwork she walked,
One foot over the other,
Had she killed the King?
Or was it another?

As pale as a lily,
As delicate as a rose,
All alone, alone
Down her face a tear flows.

Nothing on her left,
No noise on her right,
The shaggy dog behind her,
Gave her no fright.

The fames flickered,
And the shadows danced,
Alone she stood;
In her trance.

‘Lady Macbeth, my Lady,
Where art thou tonight?’
But Lady Macbeth was silent,
Her lips went tight.

Why should she go back?
She liked it here alone,
And alone was where she met her end,
With a small moan.

Easter

2006-04-04T10:52:00.000+01:00

Easter is here! Chocolate, bunnies, no school, is this what it is all about? Isn't Easter supposed to be about the death and resurrection of Christ? Easter has become so commercial these days it is hard to remember the true meaning of Easter. I went on google and typed in Easter. The images I got back were all of chocolate and bunnies, I do admit they do have significance in the old pagan festivals, but the first image of Jesus was number 21. The next one did not occur until page 9, and even then it was a picture of a cross. To young children Easter is a time for chocolate, for woolworths Easter is a time when chocolate sales go up, for people dieting Easter is a time when they can have a small break and have a Easter egg but for me Easter does not equal chocolate. So this Easter as you eat your chocolate, just think a bit about the real meaning of Easter.

The first image on google images, when I typed in 'Easter.'

Half Full or Half Empty?

2006-01-30T18:07:00.000Z

One commonly known metaphor is to refer to the glass being half full or half empty. Currently I am in a debate: 'This house believes that the glass is always half empty.' I am the opposition but have been doing the subject a great deal of thought. Whilw surfing the net, I found a quote:
‘The glass is always full, it just depends if you want the glass to be full of air or water.’ I thought this was a really good interpretation. Sometimes you may think that the glass is half empty- but it never really is- it's air- you just can't see it sometimes. So I think that no one should ever say the glass is half empty- because it never really is.

Welcome

2005-12-24T10:57:00.000Z

This is my first ever post!