Knowledge and understanding of oneself is the most valuable knowledge that a person can have and is the key to finding true happiness. To know oneself is more than consciousness of one’s likes and dislikes; it is knowing one’s beliefs, limits, and expectations. Only when one is comfortable with oneself can happiness and purpose be located.
Part of the maturation process of the human mind is establishing a state of peace and comfort with itself. Once that has occurred, the individual is usually markedly different but also focused and sentient as to his/hers future plans. The value found in knowing one’s place in society and purpose is priceless. This mental maturation, or, the process of becoming acquainted with oneself, begins with the individual considering what he/she believes to be true in this world and of humankind. Once a system of beliefs is established, self-expectations can form.
Expectations are whatever the individual expects from themselves, from interpersonal relationships, and society. For example, what an individual expects of his/her self can include where they expect their life to be in the future and what needs to be done to realize that expectation. Desires fall under expectations because what one desires affects what one expects life in the future to be like. This only holds true, however, so long as the individual believes that their desires will be fulfilled. When someone desires for something but acknowledges that the desire will never be consummated, it falls under the classification of limits.
Limits are the realistic check to expectations, both providing knowledge of what is unattainable and what is undesirable. Responsibility can also play a role when something desirable, yet attainable, is forsaken for reasons specific to that individual. Those reasons could include children, relationships, and also the beliefs of the individual. It is from a combination of expectations and limits that purpose is derived, theoretically from a process of elimination between the two. Therefore, to know oneself is to know ones purpose and there is nothing that exists of greater value.
Confidence is what I hold to be my greatest weakness. Interestingly enough, when I look back I find that confidence has historically been a problem of mine; however, as the years have come and gone, role of confidence in my person has changed. From elementary school through my first years of high school, my lack of confidence wore me down. Probably deriving from my puny stature and physical weakness in comparison to my peers, there was a feeling that I was good at nothing, and that everyone was better than me in some way. I lacked confidence and certainty in all of my actions and as a result I set my standards for achievement low and was satisfied with minimal progress and success in all aspects of my life, from school to athletics to Scouting. In retrospect, I can clearly point out the things I wish I had enough confidence in myself to achieve: medals in scouting I should have pursued, girls I should have dated, and effort not properly put into schoolwork and lacrosse- all of which could have made positive impacts on my life today.
At some point during the end of my sophomore year in high school, a change occurred in my in which I matured mentally. I am not certain what prompted this turnaround but whatever did caused me to suddenly take greater pride in my accomplishments, set my standards higher, and put increased effort into the appropriate parts of my life. Confidence remained my weakness, however. Over-confidence in my abilities and the results that I thought were achievable oft lead to embarrassments when failure came or a standard was not met. These embarrassments translated into doing no off-season lacrosse practice to being one of four juniors put on the junior varsity team instead of one of the dozen or so that made the varsity team and not practicing the basketball throw portion of my Candidate Fitness Assessment and failing that portion despite excelling in the other parts. I have taken steps, however, against what I consider to be my greatest weakness. Steps such as frequently reevaluating my status to better determine the effort needed to succeed and improving my efficiency in order to better handle my ever-growing plate of responsibilities. In making an attempt to counteract my over-confidence I have been able to prevent any significant loss of success already achieved.
Ambition is the trait I consider to be my strongest simply because it energizes and drives me to settle for no less than my highest capabilities while always striving to extend my capabilities in order to achieve more. A desire to make a splash, the bigger the better, in the ocean that is humanity is what motivates me in life. This ambition of mine has helped me to set goals in my life that are lofty, but still attainable in my eyes. Consequently my chosen direction in life has been selected because I feel that within my selected path therein lies the proverbial “diving board” from which I will cannonball into that sea which is human existence. Deep down I sincerely feel that I will find in the United States Military Academy will provide me with the means and in the U.S. Army the proving ground from which I will establish myself and be judged. Had I not the level of ambition I do now, I would most certainly explore different avenues in life that would lead me to lesser, but no doubt satisfactory ends. However the prospect of finding joy in that lifestyle is dim for I truly find happiness in success and the subsequent recognition of that success.
Fear of change is the reason that it is so difficult for people to openly discuss their strong and weak points. People are afraid that when their self-opinion is heard, that it will contradict the opinions that the audience already has about the person; and that other people’s perception of one will change when one’s self opinion is heard. In many ways we are afraid that by mentioning our own opinions of ourselves, we will cause others to change the way in which they look back at us. The uncertainty of whether or not they will look back benevolently or scornfully is the basis of our fear of divulging personal information. Conversely, hearing what other people think about us can make us change ourselves based on the popular opinion. We think that once everyone sees something about us, it becomes true, and that our own perception is no longer valid because it has been skewed by our self-esteem preventing the truth from being realized. This is precisely why, for some people, it is easier to talk about oneself to strangers as opposed to family or friends. The theory is: if the audience does not already have an opinion, then one’s self-opinion will be the only one that will be taken as true and personal change need not occur.
I personally feel uneasy about sharing my own views of myself for the same reasons I
mentioned afore. Although I am aware that sharing of personal thought can cause others to form a greater respect and admiration for me, the fact that my opinions may also shatter previous conceptions held by others, ultimately causing them to lose the respect that they once had for me. While others may shrug off the fact that people’s opinions may change and that the loss of some positive relationships in this case is acceptable I do not. I value every relationship that I form with a person, and do not find comfort in being on unfriendly terms with anyone. Therefore I feel like it is more uncertainty than prospect of change that causes my angst of sharing my views about myself.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Counsel on the Course
Traipsing down the 11th hole on a sultry, August morning I find my attention to the game shattered when one of the golfers I’m caddying for says something quite profound.
“Joe,” he says casually, “I’d have to say that all of my success in business can directly attributed to me out-working everybody around me.”
Conversation on the course is limited in nature; it goes against golf etiquette to speak when other players are hitting or putting. However dialogue between the caddies and golfers is another story. Every time I go out on to the course I can expect the same three queries: “What grade are you in? “What high school do you go to? What colleges are you looking at?” Even for the golfers I’ve carried for a half dozen times will still fall back on the safety questions. Aside from the basic trinity, talk is intermittent and short. However when it does come, it can be meaningful.
As we continued to play, I returned time and again to this auto-biographical phrase as I handed him his putter, cleaned his ball, and moved ahead of the group to forecaddie. This particular man, Colin Foster, I’ve known for years. His son is a fellow boy scout in the same troop as me and I’ve camped with the man on numerous occasions. One would think that on account of our previous acquaintances, he would have opted to transfer his clubs from his travel bag to a summer bag before we teed off. Nonetheless, he’s a very successful, high-ranking, corporate man who is quite wealthy; you almost have to be to own membership to a country club. It is precisely because these golfers are so successful financially that I value their advice in the hopes that I can apply it to my own life and also prosper.
The notion that hard work yields rewards is an idea that I hold to be true and one that I aim to live my life by. I have decided that I will not life an insignificant life or be forgotten when I die, and am determined to do everything in my power to make that dream a reality. Hard work, determination, perseverance, and ambition are all qualities that will be need to be put to good work to realize my goal, and it is clear from Mr. Foster’s own experiences that he also possesses those attributes.
While cleaning Colin’s clubs after the match had concluded, I was approached by none other than Mr. Foster and paid a sum that was lower than was typical for the quality of work that I felt I had done. I didn’t bemoan the emission of a tip from my pay, there are some frugal golfers at the club and they are well-known among the caddies for it. What I did take away from the episode however, is that not even the best of efforts will yield the reward they deserve. Mr. Foster inadvertently showed me that it will ultimately be up to others to first judge my efforts in life before determining a reward; acting as a reality check to my idealistic views on hard work.
“Joe,” he says casually, “I’d have to say that all of my success in business can directly attributed to me out-working everybody around me.”
Conversation on the course is limited in nature; it goes against golf etiquette to speak when other players are hitting or putting. However dialogue between the caddies and golfers is another story. Every time I go out on to the course I can expect the same three queries: “What grade are you in? “What high school do you go to? What colleges are you looking at?” Even for the golfers I’ve carried for a half dozen times will still fall back on the safety questions. Aside from the basic trinity, talk is intermittent and short. However when it does come, it can be meaningful.
As we continued to play, I returned time and again to this auto-biographical phrase as I handed him his putter, cleaned his ball, and moved ahead of the group to forecaddie. This particular man, Colin Foster, I’ve known for years. His son is a fellow boy scout in the same troop as me and I’ve camped with the man on numerous occasions. One would think that on account of our previous acquaintances, he would have opted to transfer his clubs from his travel bag to a summer bag before we teed off. Nonetheless, he’s a very successful, high-ranking, corporate man who is quite wealthy; you almost have to be to own membership to a country club. It is precisely because these golfers are so successful financially that I value their advice in the hopes that I can apply it to my own life and also prosper.
The notion that hard work yields rewards is an idea that I hold to be true and one that I aim to live my life by. I have decided that I will not life an insignificant life or be forgotten when I die, and am determined to do everything in my power to make that dream a reality. Hard work, determination, perseverance, and ambition are all qualities that will be need to be put to good work to realize my goal, and it is clear from Mr. Foster’s own experiences that he also possesses those attributes.
While cleaning Colin’s clubs after the match had concluded, I was approached by none other than Mr. Foster and paid a sum that was lower than was typical for the quality of work that I felt I had done. I didn’t bemoan the emission of a tip from my pay, there are some frugal golfers at the club and they are well-known among the caddies for it. What I did take away from the episode however, is that not even the best of efforts will yield the reward they deserve. Mr. Foster inadvertently showed me that it will ultimately be up to others to first judge my efforts in life before determining a reward; acting as a reality check to my idealistic views on hard work.
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Meaning Of Life
At the end of my life, the five things that I want to have accomplished/experienced/possessed are (in no particular order):
1. Experience (i.e. survive) a combat situation
2. Have children (sons)
3. To Be fluent in at least one other language
4. Something profound that will cause my name and deeds to live on forever
5. See the world
Ultimately I hope to have a much more productive life than is implied by a mere list of five, and consequently I think if I really had to make a list it would just go on an on. Most of the items on my list are desirable to me because they fall into line with the underlying theme of my life: to be the best human being possible. I also believe that should I accomplish everything on my list, I will also have gained wisdom, which was not included because I consider it a byproduct of experiences coupled with logic.
One way in which you better yourself is by experiencing. An experience can teach you a great deal about a way of life or shed light on a previously held ideal. Humanity is the benefactor of human migration because as people from separate regions intermingle, there is a sharing of cultures, which enriches society as a whole. As humanity learns more about itself, society becomes more tolerant and less hostile and the quality of life for all improves significantly.
The ability to communicate in another language is a noteworthy skill and one that contributes to a person’s worldliness. I do believe that one can never be too worldly, and fluency in a second (or third) language always is a positive addition to one’s life. In a perfect world, or if I was some incredible being that could learn languages rapidly, I would attempt to gain fluency in Latin, German, Russian, Greek, Arabic, and Gaelic. For now at least, I will simply have to settle with my semi-fluency in Spanish after nearly six years of instruction.
Multi-linguists bridge the gaps between cultures that would otherwise remain separated. The sharing of ideas and mixing of cultures would be utterly impossible if all humans were incapable of learning new languages. Translators bring peace to our world as well. Every delegate to the United Nations has an earpiece through which they can understand the positions and arguments of other nations (through their representatives, of course). Indeed, such things as treaties and international cooperation would not be possible without people behind the scenes deciphering vocalizations.
Seeing the world is something else that goes hand-in-hand with worldliness and experience. I also have an inherent desire to travel the world and see the sights, meet the people, and experience the lifestyles of foreign lands. The feeling that one gets when standing at the base of the Great Pyramids or at a civil war battle field where thousands died is purely magical. When traveling and visiting historical sights, I become immersed in the landscape around me and my mind wanders as I ponder what it was like to have been there at its apex. The best way for me to describe why I want to travel the world is that I love learning about history, and whenever I can live part of that history, it truly is a priceless experience.
The effects of other people visiting other parts of the world have rippled throughout time. The great explorers of the past, who did not so much “discover” lands that were already inhabited, but shed light on their existence and allowed for the mutual acknowledgement of a larger world. Cultural diffusion is another effect of human visitation, and this sharing of ideas has continued from the hand axe to the spread of nationalism to the latest fads of contemporary times.
The greatest fear that I have is dying and being forgotten. I just can’t understand how people can bear living their whole life knowing that in the grand scheme of things their existence has the value equivalent to a grain of sand. I personally decided a long time ago that my main goal in life would be to do something that would make a difference in the world. To have my name be as well known as George Washington’s or Dwight Eisenhower’s would be the greatest accomplishment that I could possibly muster. When I say that I want to be remembered when I die, I don’t mean for a brief moment, but for all of history. 150 years from now I want children to read my name in a history book and be able to know my name and what I accomplished in my life. Being remembered is something that is immensely important to me, and I have turned my fear of being forgotten into a driving ambition that is, and will continue to propel me throughout my life until I have achieved all that I can.
If no one in human history ever had the ambition needed to reign, conquer, triumph, and persevere through hardship, the world would certainly be a far different place than it is today- and probably a worse place. Almost all of the great people that society remembers were ambitious and strived to succeed; the only exceptions being those truly caught by surprise in the right place at the right time. People with this same desire for what is essentially immortality have typically brought out the worst in mankind (i.e. Hitler) but I believe that they were evil by nature and lacked the mental strength to overcome their sinister beliefs and right their wrongs. I do not worry that I will commit some terrible deed in the name of immortality because I have no such desires and I believe my mental strength to be as formidable as ever.
Having children is something that is very important to me. Somewhere down the line (far, far down the line) I want to settle down, get married and have kids. When I say kids, I want sons. I want my sons to play lacrosse and golf, to play guitar, to get good grades – essentially to be like me. Now I would say that I share the same desires as most fathers do, and that is to see their sons grow up in their father's image, and ultimately become greater than their fathers. However, the notion that a son exists only to please his father is foolish and something that every father must understand.
My father once said to me, several years ago, that if I were to die, so would the family name, because my two sisters would be unable to pass it down to their children. I had never thought about life that way until my dad pointed that out to me, and immediately the continuation of my last name became one of my life-goals. There are few things that I would love more than to know that my name and legacy have continued on for generations, and that I did my part by having sons.
Procreation is vital to humanity simply because it ensures the growth and preservation of the species. For example, the only life goal for every other creature in the animal kingdom is to reach mating age and procreate. Once offspring have been produced, the parents must pass all of their knowledge onto their younglings so that their children can repeat the process. With hominids being a species of animal as well, we can see similar patterns in humanity. The concept of parents raising their children is entirely instinctual. In fact it is because of that instinct that we naturally take pity on orphans, or feel the need to adopt other children. Before civilization, the life-goals of every human were clear: survive, mature, reproduce, and repeat. It is because of civilization that the “meaning of life” question exists, and we find ourselves confused as to our individual purpose. Religion, literature, and science are creations of man built out of the necessity to find our place in the world. The “Enkidu-ic” idea that civilization has the power to separate man from beast is proven once again.
My one life-goal that is most difficult to explain is why I want to experience a combat situation. This desire to fight or do battle I something that I know is not shared by everybody, and is very tricky to explicate without coming across as bloodthirsty or savage. The best way that I can describe this phenomenon is that it comes (for me at least) from being curious as to how I would react when my life is truly in danger, and that any action could be by last. Perhaps I see combat as the “ultimate challenge” that one can face, and by surviving it one has reached a higher level. Indeed that must be true, in part because of how we hold veterans in such high esteem in the real world. If a veteran is taken advantage in the real world the public is instantly in uproar and clamoring for justice and compensation and in doing so we elevate the status of combat veterans to a place above the average person.
Combat veterans aid humanity in the sense that their deeds provide a reference for each generation to refer to when considering their own war. If no veterans existed to share their stories, the immense sacrifice of their comrades would pass unnoticed and the reasons for their deaths come under question. Conversely, veterans can also produce the idea/illusion that wars do not result in the destruction of everyone and every thing, and that it is possible to survive combat. America must believe the latter, or else is very stubborn, because for every generation of Americans since the founding of our country has had their own conflict to join. Perhaps fighting is just part of the American spirit, born out of the frequent Indian skirmishes that plagued the first settlers in the North America. It would be reasonable to assume therefore, that as an American I have just caught the “bug” that has afflicted millions of Americans just like me.
1. Experience (i.e. survive) a combat situation
2. Have children (sons)
3. To Be fluent in at least one other language
4. Something profound that will cause my name and deeds to live on forever
5. See the world
Ultimately I hope to have a much more productive life than is implied by a mere list of five, and consequently I think if I really had to make a list it would just go on an on. Most of the items on my list are desirable to me because they fall into line with the underlying theme of my life: to be the best human being possible. I also believe that should I accomplish everything on my list, I will also have gained wisdom, which was not included because I consider it a byproduct of experiences coupled with logic.
One way in which you better yourself is by experiencing. An experience can teach you a great deal about a way of life or shed light on a previously held ideal. Humanity is the benefactor of human migration because as people from separate regions intermingle, there is a sharing of cultures, which enriches society as a whole. As humanity learns more about itself, society becomes more tolerant and less hostile and the quality of life for all improves significantly.
The ability to communicate in another language is a noteworthy skill and one that contributes to a person’s worldliness. I do believe that one can never be too worldly, and fluency in a second (or third) language always is a positive addition to one’s life. In a perfect world, or if I was some incredible being that could learn languages rapidly, I would attempt to gain fluency in Latin, German, Russian, Greek, Arabic, and Gaelic. For now at least, I will simply have to settle with my semi-fluency in Spanish after nearly six years of instruction.
Multi-linguists bridge the gaps between cultures that would otherwise remain separated. The sharing of ideas and mixing of cultures would be utterly impossible if all humans were incapable of learning new languages. Translators bring peace to our world as well. Every delegate to the United Nations has an earpiece through which they can understand the positions and arguments of other nations (through their representatives, of course). Indeed, such things as treaties and international cooperation would not be possible without people behind the scenes deciphering vocalizations.
Seeing the world is something else that goes hand-in-hand with worldliness and experience. I also have an inherent desire to travel the world and see the sights, meet the people, and experience the lifestyles of foreign lands. The feeling that one gets when standing at the base of the Great Pyramids or at a civil war battle field where thousands died is purely magical. When traveling and visiting historical sights, I become immersed in the landscape around me and my mind wanders as I ponder what it was like to have been there at its apex. The best way for me to describe why I want to travel the world is that I love learning about history, and whenever I can live part of that history, it truly is a priceless experience.
The effects of other people visiting other parts of the world have rippled throughout time. The great explorers of the past, who did not so much “discover” lands that were already inhabited, but shed light on their existence and allowed for the mutual acknowledgement of a larger world. Cultural diffusion is another effect of human visitation, and this sharing of ideas has continued from the hand axe to the spread of nationalism to the latest fads of contemporary times.
The greatest fear that I have is dying and being forgotten. I just can’t understand how people can bear living their whole life knowing that in the grand scheme of things their existence has the value equivalent to a grain of sand. I personally decided a long time ago that my main goal in life would be to do something that would make a difference in the world. To have my name be as well known as George Washington’s or Dwight Eisenhower’s would be the greatest accomplishment that I could possibly muster. When I say that I want to be remembered when I die, I don’t mean for a brief moment, but for all of history. 150 years from now I want children to read my name in a history book and be able to know my name and what I accomplished in my life. Being remembered is something that is immensely important to me, and I have turned my fear of being forgotten into a driving ambition that is, and will continue to propel me throughout my life until I have achieved all that I can.
If no one in human history ever had the ambition needed to reign, conquer, triumph, and persevere through hardship, the world would certainly be a far different place than it is today- and probably a worse place. Almost all of the great people that society remembers were ambitious and strived to succeed; the only exceptions being those truly caught by surprise in the right place at the right time. People with this same desire for what is essentially immortality have typically brought out the worst in mankind (i.e. Hitler) but I believe that they were evil by nature and lacked the mental strength to overcome their sinister beliefs and right their wrongs. I do not worry that I will commit some terrible deed in the name of immortality because I have no such desires and I believe my mental strength to be as formidable as ever.
Having children is something that is very important to me. Somewhere down the line (far, far down the line) I want to settle down, get married and have kids. When I say kids, I want sons. I want my sons to play lacrosse and golf, to play guitar, to get good grades – essentially to be like me. Now I would say that I share the same desires as most fathers do, and that is to see their sons grow up in their father's image, and ultimately become greater than their fathers. However, the notion that a son exists only to please his father is foolish and something that every father must understand.
My father once said to me, several years ago, that if I were to die, so would the family name, because my two sisters would be unable to pass it down to their children. I had never thought about life that way until my dad pointed that out to me, and immediately the continuation of my last name became one of my life-goals. There are few things that I would love more than to know that my name and legacy have continued on for generations, and that I did my part by having sons.
Procreation is vital to humanity simply because it ensures the growth and preservation of the species. For example, the only life goal for every other creature in the animal kingdom is to reach mating age and procreate. Once offspring have been produced, the parents must pass all of their knowledge onto their younglings so that their children can repeat the process. With hominids being a species of animal as well, we can see similar patterns in humanity. The concept of parents raising their children is entirely instinctual. In fact it is because of that instinct that we naturally take pity on orphans, or feel the need to adopt other children. Before civilization, the life-goals of every human were clear: survive, mature, reproduce, and repeat. It is because of civilization that the “meaning of life” question exists, and we find ourselves confused as to our individual purpose. Religion, literature, and science are creations of man built out of the necessity to find our place in the world. The “Enkidu-ic” idea that civilization has the power to separate man from beast is proven once again.
My one life-goal that is most difficult to explain is why I want to experience a combat situation. This desire to fight or do battle I something that I know is not shared by everybody, and is very tricky to explicate without coming across as bloodthirsty or savage. The best way that I can describe this phenomenon is that it comes (for me at least) from being curious as to how I would react when my life is truly in danger, and that any action could be by last. Perhaps I see combat as the “ultimate challenge” that one can face, and by surviving it one has reached a higher level. Indeed that must be true, in part because of how we hold veterans in such high esteem in the real world. If a veteran is taken advantage in the real world the public is instantly in uproar and clamoring for justice and compensation and in doing so we elevate the status of combat veterans to a place above the average person.
Combat veterans aid humanity in the sense that their deeds provide a reference for each generation to refer to when considering their own war. If no veterans existed to share their stories, the immense sacrifice of their comrades would pass unnoticed and the reasons for their deaths come under question. Conversely, veterans can also produce the idea/illusion that wars do not result in the destruction of everyone and every thing, and that it is possible to survive combat. America must believe the latter, or else is very stubborn, because for every generation of Americans since the founding of our country has had their own conflict to join. Perhaps fighting is just part of the American spirit, born out of the frequent Indian skirmishes that plagued the first settlers in the North America. It would be reasonable to assume therefore, that as an American I have just caught the “bug” that has afflicted millions of Americans just like me.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Permanence Found
Since the dawn of time, man has loathed the incertainty in his life, and his resolution has always been to acquire some kind of permanence from the tumult that encloses him. Hatred of change may have come from early man's perceptions of death, injury, and disaster, where primitive humans may have connected change with physical danger and natural disasters. Therefore, dislike of change must be an archetypal trait that exists to this day. As the old saying goes, "the only constant is change;" and change has been scaring people since the development of the conscious mind.
Utnapishtim's reply of "There is no permanence," means that there is a constant flux in life, and that humans are rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Although this idea may seem archaic in today's world of science, learning, and discovery, it is only because our society has fallen for a fasade of control over our destinies. When Gilgamesh is refused everlasting life by Utnapishtim, it is because immortality is not his destiny. The idea of fate, that humans are devoid of handling their own destinies is common in human history. From the ancient Greeks to the modern day Catholic Church, many people believe that their life is not in their hands. This link lies in the common belief in a higher authority that is guiding and instructing humans.
Impermanence is apparrent throughout history, as one can see in the Epic of Gilgamesh, in which the character of Enkidu is the spitting image of change. Enkidu is first changed from animal to man in his brush with the harlot, and when Enkidu tries to return to his old way of life, the animals that he had grazed with flee from him. In one simple meeting, Enkidu learns that changes come swiftly and is sometimes disguised as something desirable but in the end the important thing to remember is that change is permanent. No matter how much he longs to rejoin the wild herds, Enkidu can not after he has changed into a man; the change is permanent, and Enkidu has to learn to adapt to a new way of life.
The way in which people coexist with impermanence is by defying it. Civilization is the tool that is used by people to form (and sometimes impose) a sense of order and clarity in life. The role of civilization in establishing permanence for humanity spawns from its definition: civilization can be defined as any society that has a surplus of food, permanent settlement, and division of labor. A member of a civilized society will have nourishment when they need it, will always know where their home is, and will always know where their place in society is. Fear dissappears when we no longer have to consider it. People form habits and desire to have steady jobs with steady incomes so that they need not worry about the risks that entail the life of a vagabond. Because there is no change in a person's daily routine, there is security and only when there arises a situation that threatens to overthrow the status quo is a painful response illicited. In the days of Gilgamesh, the main threat to a continuous lifestyle was war. In the epic, Gilgamesh is hailed as the great king who built the walls of Uruk and therefore the great king who is protecting his people. Conversely, Gilgamesh is also disliked for his promiscuity amongst his subjects and for his frequent challenges against the young men in his city. When Enkidu first appears in Uruk, the people are elated at the possibility that there is someone that can beat Gilgamesh and are in fact, welcoming change. Thus, one can conclude that change is only accepted by humanity when humanity deems it in the best interest of everyone. This theme is prevalent in modern day America, where President Bush initiated the Patriot Act and a foreign policy that is based on preventive war. At first, Americans accepted these actions as a means to protect routine life in America. However, as popular support wanes for those same policies, so does support for the Bush Administration. The 2006 congressional elections were a clear indication of the country's decision that change was in the best interest of everyone, and the coming presidential elections pose to be equally momentous.
Family is yet another means by which humans are able to perceive eternal life. The continuation of one's lineage allows for the extension of one's beliefs, practices, and deeds for years to come. How often does at family get-togethers does one hear how much they looked like another family member at their age, or how the manner in which they do something mimics that of an older family member? As the children who are being compared grow older, they find themselves becoming the reference for the next generation to be weighed against. By passing on our humanity to our familial successors, we are able to life forever. In their child does every parent see themself, and it is for this reason that the death of child is mourned moreso than an adult. The death of a child marks not only the death of a newly begun life, but also the attempt of the parents to carry on their own lives through their child. It would be safe to assume, therefore, that the death of a child also results in the death of the parents in that there is no longer any means for the parents to lengthen their stay on this earth, and it is the realization of this fact that bury one in grief.
Utnapishtim's reply of "There is no permanence," means that there is a constant flux in life, and that humans are rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Although this idea may seem archaic in today's world of science, learning, and discovery, it is only because our society has fallen for a fasade of control over our destinies. When Gilgamesh is refused everlasting life by Utnapishtim, it is because immortality is not his destiny. The idea of fate, that humans are devoid of handling their own destinies is common in human history. From the ancient Greeks to the modern day Catholic Church, many people believe that their life is not in their hands. This link lies in the common belief in a higher authority that is guiding and instructing humans.
Impermanence is apparrent throughout history, as one can see in the Epic of Gilgamesh, in which the character of Enkidu is the spitting image of change. Enkidu is first changed from animal to man in his brush with the harlot, and when Enkidu tries to return to his old way of life, the animals that he had grazed with flee from him. In one simple meeting, Enkidu learns that changes come swiftly and is sometimes disguised as something desirable but in the end the important thing to remember is that change is permanent. No matter how much he longs to rejoin the wild herds, Enkidu can not after he has changed into a man; the change is permanent, and Enkidu has to learn to adapt to a new way of life.
The way in which people coexist with impermanence is by defying it. Civilization is the tool that is used by people to form (and sometimes impose) a sense of order and clarity in life. The role of civilization in establishing permanence for humanity spawns from its definition: civilization can be defined as any society that has a surplus of food, permanent settlement, and division of labor. A member of a civilized society will have nourishment when they need it, will always know where their home is, and will always know where their place in society is. Fear dissappears when we no longer have to consider it. People form habits and desire to have steady jobs with steady incomes so that they need not worry about the risks that entail the life of a vagabond. Because there is no change in a person's daily routine, there is security and only when there arises a situation that threatens to overthrow the status quo is a painful response illicited. In the days of Gilgamesh, the main threat to a continuous lifestyle was war. In the epic, Gilgamesh is hailed as the great king who built the walls of Uruk and therefore the great king who is protecting his people. Conversely, Gilgamesh is also disliked for his promiscuity amongst his subjects and for his frequent challenges against the young men in his city. When Enkidu first appears in Uruk, the people are elated at the possibility that there is someone that can beat Gilgamesh and are in fact, welcoming change. Thus, one can conclude that change is only accepted by humanity when humanity deems it in the best interest of everyone. This theme is prevalent in modern day America, where President Bush initiated the Patriot Act and a foreign policy that is based on preventive war. At first, Americans accepted these actions as a means to protect routine life in America. However, as popular support wanes for those same policies, so does support for the Bush Administration. The 2006 congressional elections were a clear indication of the country's decision that change was in the best interest of everyone, and the coming presidential elections pose to be equally momentous.
Family is yet another means by which humans are able to perceive eternal life. The continuation of one's lineage allows for the extension of one's beliefs, practices, and deeds for years to come. How often does at family get-togethers does one hear how much they looked like another family member at their age, or how the manner in which they do something mimics that of an older family member? As the children who are being compared grow older, they find themselves becoming the reference for the next generation to be weighed against. By passing on our humanity to our familial successors, we are able to life forever. In their child does every parent see themself, and it is for this reason that the death of child is mourned moreso than an adult. The death of a child marks not only the death of a newly begun life, but also the attempt of the parents to carry on their own lives through their child. It would be safe to assume, therefore, that the death of a child also results in the death of the parents in that there is no longer any means for the parents to lengthen their stay on this earth, and it is the realization of this fact that bury one in grief.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Thinking About The Hero
In Beowulf, The Odyssey, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Huck Finn, the protagonist overcomes a series of difficulties resulting in either personal salvation of somekind or salvation for the masses and/or any fellow companions. The theme of overcoming adversity is one that is constant throughout humanity, as shown by Odysseus returning to Ithaca/Penelope, Frodo saving Middle Earth (fictional but written in contemporary times), and Beowulf saving the Danes.
A hero is one that inspires others, triumphs where others have failed, and prevails over hardships of some particular kind. However there is a clause to this definition which must include that the hero must not act solely for personal gain and be the "benefactor of their species." (Just to quote Victor Frankenstein) By defining the hero, we deduce that the actions that the hero takes can be described as: noble, courageous, kind, daring, generous, and humble. All of these adjectives cannot attributed to a single action, but instead outline the expectations or qualities that a hero is expected to have.
The idea of a woman hero is somewhat taboo in literature. The woman hero is extremely uncommon in literature- a fact that can probably be attributed to the lack of woman heroes in history. Now I base my assumption on the legitmacy of a woman hero on my naivety in terms of literature (i.e. the only "literature" that I read is assigned in school; my pleasure reading really consists of biographies, war-stories, etc.) however the legitimacy of heroic women in history is based on facts. To name a few female heroines: Boudica who lead the Iceni in resistance to the Roman conquest of Britain during the first century, Joan of Arc who inspired and commanded French troops during the Hundred Years' War, and Rosa Parks whose actions sparked the American civil rights movement of the mid-twentieth century. However when one tries to recollect all the male heroes in history, significantly more come mind.Every culture has its women heroes, so why the taboo? The reason is that the overwhelming ratio of male heroes to women heroes can sometimes cause the latter to become obscured and uknown. This effect, when coupled with the medieval church's desire to lessen the importance of women, has resulted in the atleast Western view of male superiority. The major regional influences in Western civilization have all left their marks on the culture that is ours today. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and the Catholic Church have all made significant impacts on society during each power's respective dominance. The dominating influence will always challenge the ways of the past and this trend continues to this day as the society's outlook on the importance and role of women is again being challenged by the feminist movement and our modern quests for political correctness.
In a perfect world, heroes wouldn't be necessary. Everybody would be an upstanding citizen and crime and negative human traits would not exist. In fact, everybody would be a hero by the real-world definition, but because heroic traits would be the norm, the term "hero" would lose meaning and its purpose as a term to express an identity would be lost. In the imperfect world, heroes are necessary. Heroes provide for us a standard to which we compare our lives and strive to imitate. A civilization without heroes is a hiker without a compass. Civilization needs heroes to guide the population in the right direction by being an exemplar of virtue so that we can determine where we all stand in respect to the ideal citizens. Much like the hiker requires his compass to always show him north so that he can determine his relative direction and make adjustments accordingly.
Bertold Brecht implies that only plagued and disparaged lands require a heroine to lift them from their mire. Brecht failed to note however, that until humans perfect their existence, they will always need a mould from which to cast anew.
A hero is one that inspires others, triumphs where others have failed, and prevails over hardships of some particular kind. However there is a clause to this definition which must include that the hero must not act solely for personal gain and be the "benefactor of their species." (Just to quote Victor Frankenstein) By defining the hero, we deduce that the actions that the hero takes can be described as: noble, courageous, kind, daring, generous, and humble. All of these adjectives cannot attributed to a single action, but instead outline the expectations or qualities that a hero is expected to have.
The idea of a woman hero is somewhat taboo in literature. The woman hero is extremely uncommon in literature- a fact that can probably be attributed to the lack of woman heroes in history. Now I base my assumption on the legitmacy of a woman hero on my naivety in terms of literature (i.e. the only "literature" that I read is assigned in school; my pleasure reading really consists of biographies, war-stories, etc.) however the legitimacy of heroic women in history is based on facts. To name a few female heroines: Boudica who lead the Iceni in resistance to the Roman conquest of Britain during the first century, Joan of Arc who inspired and commanded French troops during the Hundred Years' War, and Rosa Parks whose actions sparked the American civil rights movement of the mid-twentieth century. However when one tries to recollect all the male heroes in history, significantly more come mind.Every culture has its women heroes, so why the taboo? The reason is that the overwhelming ratio of male heroes to women heroes can sometimes cause the latter to become obscured and uknown. This effect, when coupled with the medieval church's desire to lessen the importance of women, has resulted in the atleast Western view of male superiority. The major regional influences in Western civilization have all left their marks on the culture that is ours today. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and the Catholic Church have all made significant impacts on society during each power's respective dominance. The dominating influence will always challenge the ways of the past and this trend continues to this day as the society's outlook on the importance and role of women is again being challenged by the feminist movement and our modern quests for political correctness.
In a perfect world, heroes wouldn't be necessary. Everybody would be an upstanding citizen and crime and negative human traits would not exist. In fact, everybody would be a hero by the real-world definition, but because heroic traits would be the norm, the term "hero" would lose meaning and its purpose as a term to express an identity would be lost. In the imperfect world, heroes are necessary. Heroes provide for us a standard to which we compare our lives and strive to imitate. A civilization without heroes is a hiker without a compass. Civilization needs heroes to guide the population in the right direction by being an exemplar of virtue so that we can determine where we all stand in respect to the ideal citizens. Much like the hiker requires his compass to always show him north so that he can determine his relative direction and make adjustments accordingly.
Bertold Brecht implies that only plagued and disparaged lands require a heroine to lift them from their mire. Brecht failed to note however, that until humans perfect their existence, they will always need a mould from which to cast anew.
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