Running Head Consequences Of Crime - 1077 Words

Running Head: CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME by Morgan Robinson CJA 3700-001 CONSEQUENCE OF CRIME The criminal justice system is meant to punish those who commit crimes yet when people are sentenced to serve time in either jail or prison everyone in that persons life is affected by it in some way. Women are incarcerated for the same reasons as men but the problems that they face while incarcerated are vastly different. The number of women being incarcerated has grown in recent years yet the research for improving institutions for women has not. There are few programs in institutions that allow women to develop and remain in contact with their family but the majority of institutions do not. When women are incarcerated it affects their children, their family, and their health both mental and physical. Children Children of incarcerated parents are arguably viewed as the biggest victims of their crimes. It is a simple fact that majority of women who are incarcerated are mothers. Because of this fact, many children grow up with limited, if any, access to their mothers. The children of incarcerated mothers are the ones who seem to suffer the most. It can be difficult for women to maintain a relationship with their children while incarcerated. One issue that women face that not only affects them but also their loved ones is pregnancy. Pregnant inmates is becoming increasingly common. Acoca reported that some of the problemsShow MoreRelatedGoals and Objectives of Security Organization Essay810 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF SECURITY ORGANIZATION Goals and Objectives of Security Organization Judy M. Galarza University of Phoenix SEC / 310 September 19, 2010 Goals and Objectives of Security Organization Security plays a major role in both the business and government worlds. We will discuss the legal aspects of organizational security management. 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Developing strategic management and leadership skills in Virgin Atlantic - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 11 Words: 3360 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? TASK 1.1 Apart from its other management strategies, Virgin Atlantic has used Porters basic strategies to dwelling itself in the marketplace.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Accordingly, a corporation positions itself by consuming its strengths.  Today, more and more people and collections are struggling to be known in the business arena.   With this objective, these supervisions had been able to adeptly and effectively adjust to the situation in the market place by using general strategies that enhanced their enthusiasm.   There are five different common strategies that a company can choose. These include leadership, diversity, focused management and integrated cost leadership/differentiation.   Each standard strategy helps the company to establish and exploit a modest advantage within a particular competitive scope. By applying these assets, three generic strategies are resulted: leadership, strategic differentiation and focus (Johnson..Scholes.1997). One of t he strategies operated by Virgin Atlantic is its ability to professionally promote its brand names all over the marketplace. This strategic promotion has made the airline companies to continuously be known locally and internationally when it comes to travel fulfilment and convenience. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Developing strategic management and leadership skills in Virgin Atlantic" essay for you Create order Alternative strategy that can be recognised to Virgin Atlantic as a whole is its skill to value their customers.   Here, the company has been able to shadow other airline industry to cut their service cost while providing outstanding service to their target marketplace. Lastly, the ability to strategically line up modern technology and it business strategy is the most important strategy that can be involved to Virgin Atlantic. In contrast, the Virgin Atlantic has considered their neighbour airlines as its competitors. Due to the deregulation of the European Airline, many airlines have been talented to cope with the changes and make a tactical move of entering in this travel business. One of the industries that open its marketplace to the airline industry is the Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic is regarded as one of the UKs largest planned airline. It is known for being such because of the strategies executed by the management of the airline industry (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisso n 2003). TASK 1.2 A companys strategy helps as the game plan management and is use to rod out a market position, manner its operations, attract and please consumers, compete successfully, and achieve structural objectives.   Thus, Total Quality Management (TQM) as a strategy is certainly appropriate for such situation. Â     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Total Quality Management is a viewpoint of management that is driven by the constant achievement of customer satisfaction though the nonstop improvement of all organizational procedures (Robbins, 1998).   It is a management viewpoint that seeks to integrate all organizational purposes such as finance, design, marketing, engineering, customer service production, customer service, and others to focus on achiving customer needs and organizational objectives (Hashmi.2000). It is known that every organizations main purpose is to stay in business, so that it can promote the steadiness of the community, generate products and facilities that are useful to customers, and provide condition for the satisfaction and growth of organization associates.   From this perception, it can be said that TQM strategy for accomplishing its normative outcomes is embedded in different management and leadership styles.    Total Quality Management is a strategic procedure  for satisfying internal and external customers and dealers by integrating the business surroundings, continuous improvement, and come through with growth, progress, and safeguarding the cycles while changing organisational philosophy. Furthermore,  TQM is an array of management scheme throughout the organisation, geared to ensure that the organisation to continuously attain or exceed customer requirements. TQM places strong focus on process measurement and controls as means of continuous improvement (McNamara.1999).  Furthermore, Total Quality Management is extremely variable and adaptable. Although originally applied to manufacturing operations, and over the years only utilized in that area, TQM is now being recognised as a standard management appliance, just as applicable in service and public sector groups like the Virgin Atlantic airline industrie (Hashmi, -2004). The Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy of management is customer-oriented. Hence, the Virgin Atlantic operations must be developed in order to gradually deal with the improvement of their operation through the on-going contribution of all employees in problem solving determinations across functional and hierarchical borders. TQM incorporates the concepts of service class, process management, quality declaration, and quality perfection. Therefore, they must be able to control all alteration processes with regards to their operations and services to better satisfy customer requirements in the most economical way. In applying total quality management to this particular airline proced ure, they must be able to chain it with the core strategy of the industries. This does not mean that such airline companies must have entire variations. It is important that in application of the Total Quality Management to the Virgin Atlantic operations and services they must also consider that an suitable strategy should be used in order to employ a total quality operations and facilities that would satisfy all clients and customers. TASK 1.3 CHALLENGE 1 Cost Reduction Strategy To achieve its goal of having a reasonable position in the airline market, Virgin Atlantic uses a cost reduction strategy. Such cost reduction strategy trusts on five main aspects like contracting out services, fleet commonality, airport charges and route guidelines, managed staff costs and productivity and managed marketing charges. With their purchase of aircraft Boeing 787- 9, Virgin Atlantic has been able to gain capacity and decreases the average age of fleet which means savings on maintenance costs and evading the fit of European Union-conform equipment on old feet. The next factor under the cost reduction strategy of Virgin Atlantic is narrowing out services.   In this manner, aircraft handling, handling, ticketing, and other functions are contracted out by Virgin Atlantic to third parties. In addition, in order to limit their expenses engine and weighty maintenance are also contracted out whereas the staff of Virgin Atlantic carries out routine maintenance. Another issue for the cost reduction strategy of the company is in terms of airport charges and route policies. Herein, Virgin Atlantic has made sensible choice of dealing with secondary and regional airports, where the traffic is not blocked and fees incomparably lower. Since Virgin Atlantic, is a true bonus for such airports, the airline company has a bargaining power which enables it getting  favourable  access fees. In addition, Virgin Atlantic provides only a point-to-point provision, thus, it has no cost concerning connecting passengers.   Furthermore, the company pays special focus to on-time departures because it means maximising aircraft use. Managing staff budgets and productivity is another factor used for reducing the cost for Virgin Atlantic. In this manner, the company pays its staff on modest salary but has set up a performance related pay structure which impulses employees to maximize the number of sectors flown daily. This way, Virgin Atlan tic both controls productivty and keeps staff costs down. CHALLENGE 2 Critical Success Factors      Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Although the company had encountered different difficulties, precisely in line with its cost structures, the company had been able to survive and grow in the market.   Virgin Atlantic implement different marketing strategy to make the company last in the competition and to be able to gain competitive position in the airline market.   It is said that the company was regarded recently as the most prompt airline between Dublin andLondon. And because of the strategy of the industry, Virgin Atlantic is now known as the second largest airline in United Kingdom having a network of over 57 routes in 11 countries and served by a number of fleet. In order to position itself in the marketplace the company continuously concentrates on driving own its costs to offer the lowest fares possible and remain profitable.   In addition, Virgin Atlantic offer minimum standards of service and very low pric es for point-to-point, short haul flights.   The goal of Virgin Atlantic is to meet the needs of  travelling  at the lowest possible price.   The Critical Success Factors (CSFs) are as follows in airline industry: the strategic focus of having the lowest prices, being reliable within the marketplace, comfort and service and frequency. It is noted that low-cost companies concentrate on this first critical success factor by trying to offer the lowest prices.   Although Virgin Atlantic has eliminated extras such as in-flight meals, advanced seat assignment, free drinks and other services, it still prioritizes features which remain important to its target market. Such features include frequent departures, advance reservations, baggage handling and consistent on-time services. TASK: 2 TASK 2.1 SWOT Analysis First is the Virgin Atlantic Strengths, there is no doubt that influence, values and legacy of Mr Bronson is one of their major strengths. Other advantage is that the business is privately owned which means they can manage the business well without the aid of following the governments restrictions. The business also set the good image and good marketing strategy which reflects in promoting each others business as part of the alliance. Since it is the first company that offers low prices, they also get a chance to lease the aircrafts. Another factor is the strong leadership team of the seniors who are qualified enough in leading the entire organization toward the competency. Second are the Weaknesses behind the Virgin Atlantic. Because of the different business try-outs of MR. Branson, he is also part of his businesss weakness. All of his proposed projects or business strategies affect his other business although it is successful and stable. Another weakness is the low return of cash flow because they offer low prices for the passengers and there is a high expenditure for maintenance of the aircraft and sustaining the quality of their service.     Ãƒâ€š Third are the Opportunities for the Virgin Atlantic. There are more cities open for another hospitality service and based on the smooth record of the airline, it is another success for them. Some of the large airline companies had experienced bankruptcy and it is a great opportunity and in addition, the European Union is on their side to support. Threats are the fourth analysis on the airlines. The rapid growth and change in the world economy is a factor of threat because of the New Airline Restrictions. Another is the competition and high prices on the cost of fuels, threats on the terrorism, over flight restrictions, and the new airline companies are the other existing threats. Other Strategy The possible strategies of the airline can be through the expansion of partnerships to broaden the service of the Virgin Alliance and start providing the quality of service in smaller markets. They can also try to invest in U.S. for there is a great possibility to capture the markets. Since the airline id popular because of their service offered, they can answer the needs of the customers in the cities where there is a large group of jetsetters and business class which is another advantage to increase the rate of return of the customers (2000). Although the advertising is effective, the company should make it more intense to stay well in the market competition. This will keep the airline be above the standard of their service. In addition, they can even try other marketing strategies. The existing credit cards can be valued and it is more applicable if the advertisement they will create is in the language the potential customers can understand. TASK 2.2 CLASSIC AIRLINE STRATEGIES Issue and Opportunity Identification Classic Airlines COULD commands a fleet of more 375 jets that serve 240 cities with more than 2300 daily flights. In the 25 years since it inception, Classic Airlines has grown to an organization of 32000 employees, and it earned $10 million on $8.7 billion in sales (Simulation, 2009). Classic in no stranger to the challenges that plague todays airlines. Increased uncertainty about flying has affected industry stock prices across the board, and Classic has seen a 10% decrease in share prices. The airline has been operating under a microscope watch, subject to scrutiny from all sectors. In addition, the raising cost, particularly of fuel and labor has limited Classics ability to compete for the valued frequent flier. To alleviate this problem, Classics Board of Directors recently mandated a 15 percent across-the-board cast reduction (Simulation, 2009). Although Classic has charge the company to implement a cost reduction, they must still find a way to increase its frequent flier program with methods that will demonstrate a measurable return on any investment. Stakeholder Perspectives/Ethical Dilemmas Classic stakeholder perspectives are to increase profitability and market share. It must also strengthen its programs and competitive position, while reducing their costs. The ethical dilemma that Classic Airline is facing is the morality of the company. The union representative has steered Classic relatively clear of major obstacles in an increasingly volatile union climate. However, they are concerned that Classic will be unable to meet its current and future obligations to its employees on their importance to the organization (Simulation-2009). This can become an ethical dilemma since must union work with contracts and not meeting their obligation can cause a legal problem as well. Frame the Right Problem This Airline aspires to remain a competitor in the industry. Their goals are to reduce cost and increase customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the company needs to increase sales and target customers that left to other airlines. Scorecards measurements will give results of marketing strategies in order to see if results are favourable. Describe the End-State Vision Airlines will implement marketing strategies to entice existing customers and new ones by delivering quality service and introducing better Classic Rewards programs. Utilizing more the CRM system will help monitor area that require improvement and deliver products that customer wants. To implement the changes a timeline will be put in place. The first half of the year improvement to the CRM system will take effect. This produce statistics needed to see results when the second half of the year new products, programs, and savings are implemented. TASK 3.1 Identify and Assess Risks Virgin Atlantic identified the need to improve their Classic Rewards program. The step that companies recently take in the new-product process to provide a needed focus for ideas and concepts developed in later stages. This statement help one understand that there a several steps to a new product that a company needs to take. Within those steps, many risk are taken that can affect stakeholders and different areas of the company, such as the budget of the company, Changes require new budgeting that a company might not have. Identify the Alternatives and Benchmarking Validation They need to identify alternatives for marketing strategies to help increase customer satisfaction, retain their loyal customers, acquire new cliental, decrease cost, raise morale, and establish new programs or enhance existing ones. To accomplish this, they need to perform benchmarking validation, with other companies, such as British Airways (BA). Some of BAs experiences can help set Classic Airlines in the right direction. To accomplish the changes Virgin Atlantic needed, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer should announce the expanded role of BAs marketing department with the establishment of an Innovation and Strategy group comprised of the following functions: Research and Development, Strategic Insights and Innovation, and Operations Innovation (Restaurant new resource, 2006). They also need to indicate that they have completely retooled and reinvigorated their development process, and their product pipeline is filled with a wide array of exciting opt ions, this was accomplished by creating a single team responsible for driving and enhancing innovation at all levels. Evaluate the Alternatives Airlines marketing strategies were to increase customer satisfaction. As a result, this will increase profit, retain customers, and acquire new ones. Comparing to BAs, they were decreasing revenues, customer satisfaction, and certainly not acquiring new customers. In fact, the ones that stayed with Classic were flying less. Another alternative solution suggests is that they may want to get better CRM system that will help then products reports that tell them where they stand. These reports can segment for different elements such as customer evaluations, customer trends, and customer flying habits. Identify and Assess Risks They identified the need to improve their Classic Rewards program. The step that companies recently take in the new-product process to provide a needed focus for ideas and concepts developed in later stages (Kerin, R A, 2006). This statement help one understand that there a several steps to a new product that a company needs to take. Within those steps, many risk are taken that can affect stakeholders and different areas of the company, such as the budget of the company, Changes require new budgeting that a company might not have. TASK 4.1 Analysis on the future existence The airport dominance has grown competitive in the hospitality industry of every country. Accommodating this competitive growth is the role it plays in the helping the economy to survive. There is always a different philosophy in every business venture in the heads of the entrepreneurs and airlines are a huge investment that still on the case-to-case basis for survival. In addition, there is a regulation that is strictly implemented in the market which makes the competitive advantage hard to catch. The specific strategy that can be applied is out of interest in finding dominant position. This is the evolving issues for the changes that might happen inside an organization. The similarities, differences and crossing out of the unlikely process and procedures are the continuous methods applied in the intermediate term of the companys existence. Sustainable Competitive Advantage The Virgin Airlines outrageous connection to media gave the business a huge market competency advantage. The accessibility to the media such as television, radio, and even newspapers gave the business and the other business under the Virgin Group give the opportunity to promote each other. The leadership of Mr Richard Branson gave an incredible impact on this matter. TASK 4.2 MrBranson incorporated the business under the certain criteria or conditions.it should be in high quality; the business should promote innovation; provide a good value for the money; it should introduce a kind of challenge to existing alternatives; and it must be also with the sense of fun. Virgin Atlantic started back in 1984 with a single 747-200 and flying in route of London to New York. Aside from the gasoline, the business was fuelled with two ideas to offer low price and have a better service. Passengers are the treated as visitors and the business thought of the things to serve better meals, offer more entertainment, create fun, and acquire smiling and enthusiastic flight crews. For over the years, the airlines shook the industry with the project for innovation to provide the quality of service and entertainment. The airline is the first to offer two choices of meals, even in economy class, and spa-services. Thus, they became the industry most favourite in airlines and s econd largest long-haul carrier on the route of London to New York. The leadership of Mr Branson is felt by all of his flight crews and supports them in every step they create. The ingredients to success that Mr Branson formulated is first, he is unafraid to failures and instead of sticking with one you know, he proposes the idea of making great things if an entrepreneur knows one business, then he will know any business. Another is to focus on his employee and staying the course as if in placing the control over the business. The different entered businesses of Mr Branson are not all successful and there are many problems which are different on the leaders idealistic mind. Even if the Virgin Group failed at the other invested business, they still keep the values which is unique than the other organizations. Conclusion The Bransonism, taken from the name of Mr. Branson, believes in the idea that if the company grows larger and larger, the leader should treat the people working under him as human beings and as essential players of the organization. Moreover, he believes that a business will fail if he doesnt give it try for failures are the start of great things. And a leader should find the people who are good at motivating the others and getting the best out of people.  Virgin Airlines has expanded and reached the United States, Asia, and South Africa. Only Mr Branson set sights in building the domain in United States if he can tear down the barriers blocking foreign-owned airlines from offering routes the United States.

The Amber Spyglass Chapter 6 Preemptive Absolution Free Essays

string(35) " his notes and left the courtroom\." â€Å"Now, Fra Pavel,† said the Inquirer of the Consistorial Court of Discipline, â€Å"I want you to recall exactly, if you can, the words you heard the witch speak on the ship.† The twelve members of the Court looked through the dim afternoon light at the cleric on the stand, their last witness. He was a scholarly-looking priest whose daemon had the form of a frog. We will write a custom essay sample on The Amber Spyglass Chapter 6 Preemptive Absolution or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Court had been hearing evidence in this case for eight days already, in the ancient high-towered College of St. Jerome. â€Å"I cannot call the witch’s words exactly to mind,† said Fra Pavel wearily. â€Å"I had not seen torture before, as I said to the Court yesterday, and I found it made me feel faint and sick. So exactly what she said I cannot tell you, but I remember the meaning of it. The witch said that the child Lyra had been recognized by the clans of the north as the subject of a prophecy they had long known. She was to have the power to make a fateful choice, on which the future of all the worlds depended. And furthermore, there was a name that would bring to mind a parallel case, and which would make the Church hate and fear her.† â€Å"And did the witch reveal that name?† â€Å"No. Before she could utter it, another witch, who had been present under a spell of invisibility, managed to kill her and escape.† â€Å"So on that occasion, the woman Coulter will not have heard the name?† â€Å"That is so.† â€Å"And shortly afterwards Mrs. Coulter left?† â€Å"Indeed.† â€Å"What did you discover after that?† â€Å"I learned that the child had gone into that other world opened by Lord Asriel, and that there she has acquired the help of a boy who owns, or has got the use of, a knife of extraordinary powers,† said Fra Pavel. Then he cleared his throat nervously and went on: â€Å"I may speak entirely freely in this court?† â€Å"With perfect freedom, Fra Pavel,† came the harsh, clear tones of the President. â€Å"You will not be punished for telling us what you in turn have been told. Please continue.† Reassured, the cleric went on: â€Å"The knife in the possession of this boy is able to make openings between worlds. Furthermore, it has a power greater than that – please, once again, I am afraid of what I am saying†¦ It is capable of killing the most high angels, and what is higher than them. There is nothing this knife cannot destroy.† He was sweating and trembling, and his frog daemon fell from the edge of the witness stand to the floor in her agitation. Fra Pavel gasped in pain and scooped her up swiftly, letting her sip at the water in the glass in front of him. â€Å"And did you ask further about the girl?† said the Inquirer. â€Å"Did you discover this name the witch spoke of?† â€Å"Yes, I did. Once again I crave the assurance of the court that – â€Å" â€Å"You have it,† snapped the President. â€Å"Don’t be afraid. You are not a heretic. Report what you have learned, and waste no more time.† â€Å"I beg your pardon, truly. The child, then, is in the position of Eve, the wife of Adam, the mother of us all, and the cause of all sin.† The stenographers taking down every word were nuns of the order of St. Philomel, sworn to silence; but at Fra Pavel’s words there came a smothered gasp from one of them, and there was a flurry of hands as they crossed themselves. Fra Pavel twitched, and went on: â€Å"Please, remember – the alethiometer does not forecast ; it says, ‘If certain things come about, then the consequences will be†¦,’ and so on. And it says that if it comes about that the child is tempted, as Eve was, then she is likely to fall. On the outcome will depend†¦ everything. And if this temptation does take place, and if the child gives in, then Dust and sin will triumph.† There was silence in the courtroom. The pale sunlight that filtered in through the great leaded windows held in its slanted beams a million golden motes, but these were dust, not Dust – though more than one of the members of the Court had seen in them an image of that other invisible Dust that settled over every human being, no matter how dutifully they kept the laws. â€Å"Finally, Fra Pavel,† said the Inquirer, â€Å"tell us what you know of the child’s present whereabouts.† â€Å"She is in the hands of Mrs. Coulter,† said Fra Pavel. â€Å"And they are in the Himalaya. So far, that is all I have been able to tell. I shall go at once and ask for a more precise location, and as soon as I have it, I shall tell the Court; but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stopped, shrinking in fear, and held the glass to his lips with a trembling hand. â€Å"Yes, Fra Pavel?† said Father MacPhail. â€Å"Hold nothing back.† â€Å"I believe, Father President, that the Society of the Work of the Holy Spirit knows more about this than I do.† Fra Pavel’s voice was so faint it was almost a whisper. â€Å"Is that so?† said the President, his eyes seeming to radiate his passion as they glared. Fra Pavel’s daemon uttered a little frog whimper. The cleric knew about the rivalry between the different branches of the Magisterium, and knew that to get caught in the cross fire between them would be very dangerous; but to hold back what he knew would be more dangerous still. â€Å"I believe,† he went on, trembling, â€Å"that they are much closer to finding out exactly where the child is. They have other sources of knowledge forbidden to me.† â€Å"Quite so,† said the Inquirer. â€Å"And did the alethiometer tell you about this?† â€Å"Yes, it did.† â€Å"Very well. Fra Pavel, you would do well to continue that line of investigation. Whatever you need in the way of clerical or secretarial help is yours to command. Please stand down.† Fra Pavel bowed, and with his frog daemon on his shoulder, he gathered his notes and left the courtroom. You read "The Amber Spyglass Chapter 6 Preemptive Absolution" in category "Essay examples" The nuns flexed their fingers. Father MacPhail tapped a pencil on the oak bench in front of him. â€Å"Sister Agnes, Sister Monica,† he said, â€Å"you may leave us now. Please have the transcription on my desk by the end of the day.† The two nuns bowed their heads and left. â€Å"Gentlemen,† said the President, for that was the mode of address in the Consistorial Court, â€Å"let’s adjourn.† The twelve members, from the oldest (Father Makepwe, ancient and rheumy-eyed) to the youngest (Father Gomez, pale and trembling with zealotry), gathered their notes and followed the President through to the council chamber, where they could face one another across a table and talk in the utmost privacy. The current President of the Consistorial Court was a Scot called Hugh MacPhail. He had been elected young. Presidents served for life, and he was only in his forties, so it was to be expected that Father MacPhail would mold the destiny of the Consistorial Court, and thus of the whole Church, for many years to come. He was a dark-featured man, tall and imposing, with a shock of wiry gray hair, and he would have been fat were it not for the brutal discipline he imposed on his body: he drank only water and ate only bread and fruit, and he exercised for an hour daily under the supervision of a trainer of champion athletes. As a result, he was gaunt and lined and restless. His daemon was a lizard. Once they were seated, Father MacPhail said: â€Å"This, then, is the state of things. There seem to be several points to bear in mind. â€Å"Firstly, Lord Asriel. A witch friendly to the Church reports that he is assembling a great army, including forces that may be angelic. His intentions, as far as the witch knows, are malevolent toward the Church, and toward the Authority himself. â€Å"Secondly, the Oblation Board. Their actions in setting up the research program at Bolvangar, and in funding Mrs. Coulter’s activities, suggest that they are hoping to replace the Consistorial Court of Discipline as the most powerful and effective arm of the Holy Church. We have been outpaced, gentlemen. They have acted ruthlessly and skillfully. We should be chastised for our laxity in letting it happen. I shall return to what we might do about it shortly. â€Å"Thirdly, the boy in Fra Pavel’s testimony, with the knife that can do these extraordinary things. Clearly we must find him and gain possession of it as soon as possible. â€Å"Fourthly, Dust. I have taken steps to find out what the Oblation Board has discovered about it. One of the experimental theologians working at Bolvangar has been persuaded to tell us what exactly they discovered. I shall talk to him this afternoon downstairs.† One or two of the priests shifted uncomfortably, for â€Å"downstairs† meant the cellars below the building: white-tiled rooms with points for anbaric current, soundproofed and well-drained. â€Å"Whatever we do learn about Dust, though,† the President went on, â€Å"we must bear our purpose firmly in mind. The Oblation Board sought to understand the effects of Dust; we must destroy it altogether. Nothing less than that. If in order to destroy Dust we also have to destroy the Oblation Board, the College of Bishops, every single agency by which the Holy Church does the work of the Authority – then so be it. It may be, gentlemen, that the Holy Church itself was brought into being to perform this very task and to perish in the doing of it. But better a world with no Church and no Dust than a world where every day we have to struggle under the hideous burden of sin. Better a world purged of all that!† Blazing-eyed, Father Gomez nodded passionately. â€Å"And finally,† said Father MacPhail, â€Å"the child. Still just a child, I think. This Eve, who is going to be tempted and who, if precedent is any guide, will fall, and whose fall will involve us all in ruin. Gentlemen, of all the ways of dealing with the problem she sets us, I am going to propose the most radical, and I have confidence in your agreement. â€Å"I propose to send a man to find her and kill her before she can be tempted.† â€Å"Father President,† said Father Gomez at once, â€Å"I have done preemptive penance every day of my adult life. I have studied, I have trained – â€Å" The President held up his hand. Preemptive penance and absolution were doctrines researched and developed by the Consistorial Court, but not known to the wider Church. They involved doing penance for a sin not yet committed, intense and fervent penance accompanied by scourging and flagellation, so as to build up, as it were, a store of credit. When the penance had reached the appropriate level for a particular sin, the penitent was granted absolution in advance, though he might never be called on to commit the sin. It was sometimes necessary to kill people, for example; and it was so much less troubling for the assassin if he could do so in a state of grace. â€Å"I had you in mind,† said Father MacPhail kindly. â€Å"I have the agreement of the Court? Yes. When Father Gomez leaves, with our blessing, he will be on his own, unable to be reached or recalled. Whatever happens to anyone else, he will make his way like the arrow of God, straight to the child, and strike her down. He will be invisible; he will come in the night, like the angel that blasted the Assyrians; he will be silent. How much better for us all if there had been a Father Gomez in the Garden of Eden! We would never have left paradise.† The young priest was nearly weeping with pride. The Court gave its blessing. And in the darkest corner of the ceiling, hidden among the dark oak beams, sat a man no larger than a hand span. His heels were armed with spurs, and he heard every word they said. In the cellars the man from Bolvangar, dressed only in a dirty white shirt and loose trousers with no belt, stood under the bare light bulb clutching the trousers with one hand and his rabbit daemon with the other. In front of him, in the only chair, sat Father MacPhail. â€Å"Dr. Cooper,† the President began, â€Å"do sit down.† There was no furniture except the chair, the wooden bunk, and a bucket. The President’s voice echoed unpleasantly off, the white tiles that lined the wall and ceiling. Dr. Cooper sat on the bunk. He could not take his eyes off the gaunt and gray-haired President. He licked his dry lips and waited to see what new discomfort was coming. â€Å"So you nearly succeeded in severing the child from her daemon?† said Father MacPhail. Dr. Cooper said shakily, â€Å"We considered that it would serve no purpose to wait, since the experiment was due to take place anyway, and we put the child in the experimental chamber, but then Mrs. Coulter herself intervened and took the child to her own quarters.† The rabbit daemon opened her round eyes and gazed fearfully at the President, and then shut them again and hid her face. â€Å"That must have been distressing,† said Father MacPhail. â€Å"The whole program was intensely difficult,† said Dr. Cooper, hastening to agree. â€Å"I am surprised you did not seek the aid of the Consistorial Court, where we have strong nerves.† â€Å"We – I – we understood that the program was licensed by†¦ It was an Oblation Board matter, but we were told it had the approval of the Consistorial Court of Discipline. We would never have taken part otherwise. Never!† â€Å"No, of course not. And now for another matter. Did you have any idea,† said Father MacPhail, turning to the real subject of his visit to the cellars, â€Å"of the subject of Lord Asriel’s researches? Of what might have been the source of the colossal energy he managed to release on Svalbard?† Dr. Cooper swallowed. In the intense silence a drop of sweat fell from his chin to the concrete floor, and both men heard it distinctly. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he began, â€Å"there was one of our team who observed that in the process of severance there was a release of energy. Controlling it would involve enormous forces, but just as an atomic explosion is detonated by conventional explosives, this could be done by focusing a powerful anbaric current†¦ However, he wasn’t taken seriously. I paid no attention to his ideas,† he added earnestly, â€Å"knowing that without authority they might well be heretical.† â€Å"Very wise. And that colleague now? Where is he?† â€Å"He was one of those who died in the attack.† The President smiled. It was so kindly an expression that Dr. Cooper’s daemon shivered and swooned against his breast. â€Å"Courage, Dr. Cooper,† said Father MacPhail. â€Å"We need you to be strong and brave! There is great work to be done, a great battle to be fought. You must earn the forgiveness of the Authority by cooperating fully with us, by holding nothing back, not even wild speculation, not even gossip. Now I want you to devote all your attention to what you remember your colleague saying. Did he make any experiments? Did he leave any notes? Did he take anyone else into his confidence? What equipment was he using? Think of everything, Dr. Cooper. You’ll have pen and paper and all the time you need. â€Å"And this room is not very comfortable. We’ll have you moved to somewhere more suitable. Is there anything you need in the way of furnishing, for example? Do you prefer to write at a table or a desk? Would you like a typewriting machine? Perhaps you would rather dictate to a stenographer? â€Å"Let the guards know, and you shall have everything you need. But every moment, Dr. Cooper, I want you to think back to your colleague and his theory. Your great task is to recall, and if necessary to rediscover, what he knew. Once you know what instruments you require, you shall have those as well. It is a great task, Dr. Cooper! You are blessed to be entrusted with it! Give thanks to the Authority.† â€Å"I do, Father President! I do!† Grasping the loose waistband of his trousers, the philosopher stood up and bowed almost without realizing it, again and again, as the President of the Consistorial Court of Discipline left his cell. That evening the Chevalier Tialys, the Gallivespian spy, made his way through the lanes and alleys of Geneva to meet his colleague, the Lady Salmakia. It was a dangerous journey for both of them: dangerous for anyone or anything that challenged them, too, but certainly full of peril for the small Gallivespians. More than one prowling cat had met its death at their spurs, but only the week before, the Chevalier had nearly lost an arm to the teeth of a mangy dog; only the Lady’s swift action had saved him. They met at the seventh of their appointed meeting places, among the roots of a plane tree in a shabby little square, and exchanged their news. The Lady Salmakia’s contact in the Society had told her that earlier that evening they had received a friendly invitation from the President of the Consistorial Court to come and discuss matters of mutual interest. â€Å"Quick work,† said the Chevalier. â€Å"A hundred to one he doesn’t tell them about his assassin, though.† He told her about the plan to kill Lyra. She was not surprised. â€Å"It’s the logical thing to do,† she said. â€Å"Very logical people. Tialys, do you think we shall ever see this child?† â€Å"I don’t know, but I should like to. Go well, Salmakia. Tomorrow at the fountain.† Unsaid behind that brief exchange was the one thing they never spoke of: the shortness of their lives compared with those of humans. Gallivespians lived to nine years or ten, rarely more, and Tialys and Salmakia were both in their eighth year. They didn’t fear old age – their people died in the full strength and vigor of their prime, suddenly, and their childhoods were very brief – but compared with their lives, the life of a child like Lyra would extend as far into the future as the lives of the witches extended past Lyra’s own. The Chevalier returned to the College of St. Jerome and began to compose the message he would send to Lord Roke on the lodestone resonator. But while Tialys was at the rendezvous talking to Salmakia, the President sent for Father Gomez. In his study they prayed together for an hour, and then Father MacPhail granted the young priest the preemptive absolution that would make his murder of Lyra no murder at all. Father Gomez seemed transfigured; the certainty that ran through his veins seemed to make his very eyes incandescent. They discussed practical arrangements, money, and so forth; and then the President said, â€Å"Once you leave here, Father Gomez, you will be completely cut off, forever, from any help we can give. You can never come back; you will never hear from us. I can’t offer you any better advice than this: don’t look for the child. That would give you away. Instead, look for the tempter. Follow the tempter, and she will lead you to the child.† â€Å"She?† said Father Gomez, shocked. â€Å"Yes, she,† said Father MacPhail. â€Å"We have learned that much from the alethiometer. The world the tempter comes from is a strange one. You will see many things that will shock and startle you, Father Gomez. Don’t let yourself be distracted by their oddness from the sacred task you have to do. I have faith,† he added kindly, â€Å"in the power of your faith. This woman is traveling, guided by the powers of evil, to a place where she may, eventually, meet the child in time to tempt her. That is, of course, if we do not succeed in removing the girl from her present location. That remains our first plan. You, Father Gomez, are our ultimate guarantee that if that falls through, the infernal powers will still not prevail.† Father Gomez nodded. His daemon, a large and iridescent green-backed beetle, clicked her wing cases. The President opened a drawer and handed the young priest a folded packet of papers. â€Å"Here is all we know about the woman,† he said, â€Å"and the world she comes from, and the place she was last seen. Read it well, my dear Luis, and go with my blessing.† He had never used the priest’s given name before. Father Gomez felt tears of joy prick his eyes as he kissed the President farewell. you’re Lyra.† Then she realized what that meant. She felt dizzy, even in her dream; she felt a great burden settle on her shoulders. And to make it even heavier, sleep was closing in again, and Roger’s face was receding into shadow. â€Å"Well, I†¦ I know†¦There’s all kinds of people on our side, like Dr. Malone†¦ You know there’s another Oxford, Roger, just like ours. Well, she†¦ I found her in†¦She’d help†¦ But there’s only one person really who†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was almost impossible now to see the little boy, and her thoughts were spreading out and wandering away like sheep in a field. â€Å"But we can trust him, Roger, I swear,† she said with a final effort, â€Å"because he’s Will.† How to cite The Amber Spyglass Chapter 6 Preemptive Absolution, Essay examples