The Legend of the Fifth Sun

The Legend of the Fifth Sun The Aztec creation myth which describes how the world originated is called the Legend of the Fifth Sun. Several different versions of this myth exist because the stories were originally passed down by oral tradition, and also because the Aztecs adopted and modified gods and myths from other tribes that they met and conquered. According to the Aztec creation myth, the world of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish colonization was the fifth era of a cycle of creation and destruction. They believed their world had been created and destroyed four times before. During each of the four previous cycles, different gods first governed the earth through a dominant element and then destroyed it. These worlds were called suns. During the 16th century- and the period in which we still live today- the Aztecs believed that they were living in the fifth sun, and it would also end in violence at the end of the calendrical cycle. In the Beginning In the beginning, according to Aztec mythology, the creator couple Tonacacihuatl and Tonacateuctli (also known as the god Ometeotl, who was both male and female) gave birth to four sons, the Tezcatlipocas of the East, North, South, and West. After 600 years, the sons began to create the universe, including the creation of cosmic time, called suns. These gods eventually created the world and all the other deities. After the world was created, the gods gave light to humans, but to do this, one of the gods had to sacrifice himself by leaping into a fire. Each subsequent sun was created by the personal sacrifice of at least one of the gods, and a key element of the story, like that of all Aztec culture, is that sacrifice is required to begin renewal. Four Cycles The first god to sacrifice himself was Tezcatlipoca, who leaped into the fire and started the First Sun, called 4 Tiger. This period was inhabited by giants who ate only acorns, and it came to an end when the giants were devoured by jaguars. The world lasted 676 years, or 13 52-year cycles according to the pan-Mesoamerican calendar.The Second Sun, or 4-Wind sun, was governed by Quetzalcoatl (also known as the White Tezcatlipoca), and the earth was populated by humans who ate only pià ±on nuts. Tezcatlipoca wanted to be Sun, and turned himself into a tiger and threw Quetzalcoatl off his throne. This world came to an end through catastrophic hurricanes and floods. The few survivors fled to the top of the trees and were transformed into monkeys. This world also lasted 676 years.The Third Sun, or 4-Rain Sun, was dominated by water: its ruling deity was the rain god Tlaloc and its people ate seeds that grew in the water. This world came to an end when the god Quetzalcoatl made it rain fi re and ashes. The survivors became turkeys, butterflies or dogs. Turkeys are called pipil-pipil in the Aztec language, meaning child or prince. This world ended in 7 cycles or 364 years. The Fourth Sun, the 4-Water sun, was governed by the goddess Chalchiuthlicue, sister and wife of Tlaloc. The people ate maize. A great flood marked the end of this world, and all the people were transformed into fish. The 4 Water Sun lasted for 676 years. Creating the Fifth Sun At the end of the fourth sun, the gods gathered at Teotihuacan to decide who had to sacrifice him/herself for the new world to begin. The god Huehuetà ©otl, the old fire god, started a sacrificial bonfire, but none of the most important gods wanted to jump into the flames. The rich and proud god Tecuciztecatl Lord of the Snails hesitated and during that hesitation, the humble and poor Nanahuatzin the Pimply or Scabby One leaped into the flames and became the new sun. Tecuciztecatl jumped in after him and became a second sun. The gods realized that two suns would overwhelm the world, so they threw a rabbit at Tecuciztecal, and it became the moon- that is why you can still see the rabbit in the moon today. The two celestial bodies were set in motion by Ehecatl, the god of the wind, who fiercely and violently blew the sun into motion. The Fifth Sun The Fifth Sun (called 4-Movement) is ruled by Tonatiuh, the sun god. This fifth sun is characterized by the sign Ollin, which means movement. According to Aztec beliefs, this indicated that this world would come to an end through earthquakes, and all the people will be eaten by sky monsters. The Aztecs considered themselves â€Å"the People of the Sun† and therefore their duty was to nourish the Sun god through blood offerings and sacrifices. Failure to do this would cause the end of their world and the disappearance of the sun from the sky. A version of this myth is recorded on the famous Aztec Calendar Stone, a colossal stone sculpture whose images referred to one version of this creation tale linked to Aztec history. The New Fire Ceremony At the end of each 52-year cycle, the Aztec priests carried out the New Fire ceremony, or binding of the years. The myth of the Five Suns predicted the end of a calendar cycle, but it was not known which cycle would be the last one. The Aztec people would clean their houses, discarding all household idols, cooking pots, clothing, and mats. During the last five days, fires were extinguished, and the people climbed on their roofs to await the fate of the world. On the last day of the calendar cycle, the priests would climb the Star Mountain, today known in Spanish as Cerro de la Estrella, and watch the rise of the Pleiades to ensure it followed its normal path. A fire drill was placed on the heart of a sacrificial victim: if the fire could not be lit, the myth said, the sun would be destroyed forever. The successful fire was then brought to Tenochtitlan to relight hearths throughout the city. According to the Spanish chronicler Bernardo Sahagun, the New Fire ceremony was conducted every 52 years in villages throughout the Aztec world. Updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources: Adams REW. 1991. Prehistoric Mesoamerica. Third Edition. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.Berdan FF. 2014. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press.Read KA. 1986. The Fleeting Moment: Cosmogony, Eschatology, and Ethics in Aztec Religion and Society. The Journal of Religious Ethics 14(1):113-138.Smith ME. 2013. The Aztecs. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.Taube KA. 1993. Aztec and Maya Myths. Fourth Edition. Austin: University of Texas Press.Van Tuerenhout DR. 2005. The Aztecs. New Perspectives. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO Inc.

Major General John B. Gordon, American Civil War

Major General John B. Gordon, American Civil War The son of a prominent minister in Upson County, GA, John Brown Gordon was born February 6, 1832. At a young age, he moved with his family to Walker County where his father had purchased a coal mine. Educated locally, he later attended the University of Georgia. Though a strong student, Gordon inexplicably left school before graduating. Moving to Atlanta, he read law and entered the bar in 1854. While in the city, he married Rebecca Haralson, daughter of Congressman Hugh A. Haralson. Unable to attract clients in Atlanta, Gordon moved north to oversee his fathers mining interests. He was in this position when the Civil War began in April 1861. Early Career A supporter of the Confederate cause, Gordon quickly raised a company of mountaineers known as the Raccoon Roughs. In May 1861, this company was incorporated into the 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment with Gordon as its captain. Though lacking any formal military training, Gordon was promoted to major a short time later. Initially sent to Corinth, MS, the regiment was later ordered to Virginia. While on the field for the First Battle of Bull Run that July, it saw little action. Showing himself to be an able officer, Gordon was given command of the regiment in April 1862 and promoted to colonel. This coincided with a shift south to oppose Major General George B. McClellans Peninsula Campaign. The following month, he ably led the regiment during the Battle of Seven Pines outside Richmond, VA. In late June, Gordon returned to combat as General Robert E. Lee began the Seven Days Battles. Striking at Union forces, Gordon quickly established a reputation for fearlessness in battle. On July 1, a Union bullet wounded him in the head during the Battle of Malvern Hill. Recovering, he rejoined the army in time for the Maryland Campaign that September. Serving in Brigadier General Robert Rodes brigade, Gordon aided in holding a key sunken road (Bloody Lane) during the Battle of Antietam on September 17. In the course of the fighting, he was wounded five times. Finally brought down by a bullet that passed through his left cheek and out his jaw, he collapsed with his face in his cap. Gordon later related that he would have drowned in his own blood had there not been a bullet hole in his hat. A Rising Star For his performance, Gordon was promoted to brigadier general in November 1862 and, following his recovery, given command of a brigade in Major General Jubal Earlys division in Lieutenant General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons Second Corps. In this role, he saw action near Fredericksburg and Salem Church during the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863. With Jacksons death following the Confederate victory, command of his corps passed to Lieutenant General Richard Ewell. Spearheading Lees subsequent advance north into Pennsylvania, Gordons brigade reached the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville on June 28. Here they were prevented from crossing the river by Pennsylvania militia which burned the towns railroad bridge. Gordons advance to Wrightsville marked the easternmost penetration of Pennsylvania during the campaign. With his army strung out, Lee ordered his men to concentrate at Cashtown, PA. As this movement was in progress, fighting began at Gettysburg between troops led by Lieutenant General A.P. Hill and Union cavalry under Brigadier General John Buford. As the battle grew in size, Gordon, and the rest of Earlys Division approached Gettysburg from the north. Deploying for battle on July 1, his brigade attacked and routed Brigadier General Francis Barlows division on Blochers Knoll. The next day, Gordons brigade supported an attack against the Union position on East Cemetery Hill but did not take part in the fighting. The Overland Campaign Following the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg, Gordons brigade retired south with the army. That fall, he participated in the inconclusive Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns. With the beginning of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grants Overland Campaign in May 1864, Gordons brigade took part in the Battle of the Wilderness. In the course of the fighting, his men pushed the enemy back at Saunders Field as well as launched a successful attack on the Union right. Recognizing Gordons skill, Lee elevated him to lead Earlys division as part of a larger reorganization of the army. Fighting recommenced a few days later at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. On May 12, Union forces launched a massive assault on the Mule Shoe Salient. With Union forces overwhelming the Confederate defenders, Gordon rushed his men forward in an attempt to restore the situation and stabilize the lines. As the battle raged, he ordered Lee to the rear as the iconic Confederate leader attempted to personally lead an attack forward. For his efforts, Gordon was promoted to major general on May 14. As Union forces continued to push south, Gordon led his men at the Battle of Cold Harbor in early June. After inflicting a bloody defeat on the Union troops, Lee instructed Early, now leading the Second Corps, to take his men to the Shenandoah Valley in an effort to draw off some Union forces. Marching with Early, Gordon took part the advance down the Valley and the victory at the Battle of Monocacy in Maryland. After menacing Washington, DC and forcing Grant to detach forces to counter his operations, Early withdrew to the Valley where he won the Second Battle of Kernstown in late July. Tired of Earlys depredations, Grant sent Major General Philip Sheridan to the Valley with a large force. Attacking up (south) the Valley, Sheridan clashed with Early and Gordon at Winchester on September 19 and soundly defeated the Confederates. Retreating south, the Confederates were defeated again two days later at Fishers Hill. Attempting to recover the situation, Early and Gordon launched a surprise attack on Union forces at Cedar Creek on October 19. Despite initial success, they were badly defeated when Union forces rallied. Rejoining Lee at the Siege of Petersburg, Gordon was placed in command of the remnants of the Second Corps in December 20. Final Actions As the winter progressed, the Confederate position at Petersburg became desperate as Union strength continued to grow. Needing to force Grant to contract his lines and wanting to disrupt a potential Union assault, Lee asked Gordon to plan an attack on the enemys position. Staging from Colquitts Salient, Gordon intended to assault Fort Stedman with the goal of driving east towards the Union supply base at City Point. Moving forward at 4:15 AM on March 25, 1865, his troops were able to quickly take the fort and open a 1,000-foot breach in the Union lines. Despite this initial success, Union reinforcements quickly sealed the breach and by 7:30 AM Gordons attack had been contained. Counterattacking, Union troops forced Gordon to fall back to the Confederate lines. With the Confederate defeat at Five Forks on April 1, Lees position at Petersburg became untenable. Coming under attack from Grant on April 2, Confederate troops began retreating west with Gordons corps acting as a rearguard. On April 6, Gordons corps was part of a Confederate force that was defeated at the Battle of Saylers Creek. Retreating further, his men ultimately arrived at Appomattox. On the morning of April 9, Lee, hoping to reach Lynchburg, asked Gordon to clear Union forces from their line of advance. Attacking, Gordons men pushed back the first Union troops they encountered but were halted by the arrival of two enemy corps. With his men outnumbered and spent, he requested reinforcements from Lee. Lacking additional men, Lee concluded that he had no choice but to surrender. The afternoon, he met with Grant and surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Later Life Returning to Georgia after the war, Gordon unsuccessfully campaigned for governor in 1868 on a staunch anti-Reconstruction platform. Defeated, he achieved public office in 1872 when he was elected to the US Senate. Over the next fifteen years, Gordon served two stints in the Senate as well as a term as Governor of Georgia. In 1890, he became the first Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans and later published his memoirs, Reminiscences of the Civil War in 1903. Gordon died at Miami, FL on January 9, 1904, and was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. Selected Sources Civil War: John B. GordonNew Georgia Encyclopedia: John B. GordonCivil War Trust: John B. Gordon

Discussion 9 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion 9 - Assignment Example I absolutely agree with the facts and the study of this article because small and medium enterprises need to breakthrough to the bigger circle of business so that they can compete at a bigger level. Competition at a global level is going to benefit the customer. It keeps the companies on edge to deliver the best quality at the ideal price. If small and medium enterprises also adhere to the same principles where only 3.4 defects in every million possible defects shows the capability of six Sigma processes (Raghunath & Jayathirta 1), then it is only going to serve the society at a larger scale. It is not only going to help improve the quality of products in small and medium industries but it will also help modify the culture (Raghunath & Jayathirta 2). It is not about statistics, the process is based on scientific methodology that utilizes statistical thinking. By improving the quality through six Sigma methodologies that customers will benefit from the delivery of products and service s. Increasing competition decreases profit margins and that helps promote the SMEs. But they will need competent leadership management to effectively implement Six Sigma methodologies (Raghunath & Jayathirta 6). As a customer I want to see Six Sigma strategy implemented in SMEs. Ragunath, A. & Jayathirta, R. V. Barriers for implementation of Six Sigma by Small and Medium Enterprises. International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology. Vol. 2(2).

MARKETING PLAN FOR PGI COMPANY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

MARKETING PLAN FOR PGI COMPANY - Essay Example Number of words 1482 (excluding appendices/bibliographies and tables) Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 INTERVIEW AND ANSWERS 5 INTERVIEW SUMMARY 12 DEMOGRAPHIC SEGMENTATION 13 GENDER SEGMENTATION 13 AGE SEGMENTATION 14 BEHAVIORAL SEGMENTATION 15 BEHAVIORAL SEGMENTATION SUMMARY 16 MARKETING MIX 16 CUSTOMER AUDIT 18 OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS 18 INTERNAL AUDIT 19 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 19 MACRO ECONOMIC AUDIT 20 MACRO ECONOMIC SUMMARY 21 MICRO ENVIRONMENT AUDIT 21 MICRO ENVIRONMENT AUDIT SUMMARY 22 MISSION 23 EXTERNAL FACTOR (EXTERNAL AUDIT) 23 INTERNAL FACTOR (INTERNAL AUDIT) 23 COMPETITOR AUDIT 24 COMPETITOR AUDIT SUMMARY 24 SWOT ANALYSIS 24 TOWS ANALYSIS 26 MARKETING OBJECTIVES 27 STRATEGY THRUST 27 ANSOFF MATRIX 27 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 28 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE SUMMARY 29 CORE STRATEGY 29 CORE STRATEGY SUMMARY 30 MARKETING MIX DECISION 30 MARKETING PLAN CONTROL 31 CONTROL 31 CONTIGENCY PLAN 32 PGI MARKETING PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PGI is an insurance broker that specializes in motor vehicl e insurance only. The company is now considering expanding its offerings by introducing a general household insurance policy to existing customers. The company has established links with affinity groups such as trade unions which give it access to more than 5 million customers. The target market consists of homeowners across all gender and age segments. The primary needs of the market are price, service and information. This report analyzes the industry and the competitive position of PGI within the industry to recommend a price skimming marketing strategy. INTERVIEW AND ANSWERS Stage 1: Cut and Paste Questions Interviewee 1 Male 46yrs Interviewee 2 Female 56yrs Interviewee 3 Male 25yrs Interviewee 4 Female 23yrs Interviewee 5 Male 61yrs Interviewee 6 Female 43yrs Interviewee 7 Female 63yrs Interviewee 8 Male 48yrs Q1 Would you be prepared to buy a household contents policy from a group which you are a member of? Yes I already get my car insurance from my Trade Union so why not my c ontents policy No I get my contents insurance from my mortgage lender, I thought I had to as they gave me the money. Yes why not, so long as they are competitively priced. Well currently I get my contents insurance from the web, the site searches 20 insurance companies for the best deal. I do have to input my requirements though. So if my staff association had a similar arrangement then I would think about it. Yes from my union but I can’t see it from the Train spotting club. What about when I retire though? No, I like to buy insurance from people who know about insurance, I mean does my trade union know anything about insurance? I don’t think so! Yes from my union but really I use my local insurance broker –they take all the hassle out of buying. What about when I retire though? Yes, why not if they can get me a good deal –must be able to get a bulk discount, I mean my trade union has over 1 million members now. Q2 What would you expect to find in a hous ehold contents policy? Well the contents of my house insured of course! But I would want my portable belongings insured outside of the house in case I lose them or had them stolen, I’d like the kids belongings insured too, especially the eldest while he is at university. I don’t know, how about the obvious, like my contents insured against lose due to fire, accidental damage, theft etc. Oh and outside the house as well. Well, accidental loss cover, the usual fire and theft that’s about it. Just fire and theft mainly. Just like the basic cover. Don’t want to spend too much money. The usual fire, theft, accidental damage, legal expenses insurance and all those telephone help lines –you know the repair, tradesman-sourcing etc. Oh just everything covered really,

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde coursework Essay Example for Free

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde coursework Essay Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde has appealed to a wide audience from the first time it was published in 1886 to the present day. What do you think are the reasons for this? The story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was first published in a time when classes separated the rich and the poor. These classes never mixed and never talked. The poor classes lived on one side of London and the rich classes lived on the other. The rich would of never had been thought about the poor because there was very few means of learning. Before the story of Dr Jekell and Mr Hyde the two classes would have read different books but when the book was published it had elements that appealed to both classes. The genre of the book is gothic horror and fiction. The elements of gothic in it are the horror, super natural and the mystery. It also has a dark and very gloomy setting and it talks about the smog lying very low on the floor. For a moment, the fog would be quite broken up, and a haggered shaft of daylight would glance in between the swirling wreaths. This is gothic because it is quite mysterious and spooky. This could appeal to many people because this is like real life with the smog coming under the door. People could relate to this. It always has a dark and gloomy character in it to. In this case its Mr Hyde. This dark and gloomy character first appears in the beginning of the novel were he tramples the little girl. and then the horrible part of the thing; for the man trampled calmly over the chills body and left her screaming on the ground This would have shocked many people at the thought of this tragedy. I think this is such a popular genre because it gives people the fear without actually getting hurt. This would have been the only type of scary entertainment that they had. Readers would have loved the thrill that it gave them. Mr Enfield witnessed the attack and was horrified when discussing it with a friend as they walked through the park. It sound nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see I think that this is a really important part to the story. There were many stories with death and murder in them but this book was particularly unusual. The castle of otranto was the first gothic novel and laid the foundations for future novels such as Frankenstein and Jekell and Hyde. During the 1800s people technology was not as well advanced as it is today so Dr Jekell would not of understood the changes completely. When Mr Jekell takes the potion and begins to transform but he doesnt know that this could change his life forever and eventually led him to death. Hydes house is in the Soho area, which in the 1800s would have been the poorest area in London. The description of the house sound very dark, gloomy, and depressing. This is the kind of area and house that you would expect a murder to come from. On the other hand the other side of London would have been the area were the richest people would have lived. These were well-respected people and these were the people everyone wanted to be. During this time there was a serial killer on the lose Jack the ripper. His first Victims started with prostitutes and eventually moved on the people with little money and no family. He was never caught although there was p pattern to every murder he committed. To many people Jack the ripper was life imitating fiction because the things that he did and the circumstances that he did them in sounded just like a story or a novel. People also thought that that Jack would of got his ideas from the story Jekell and Hyde. This Novel uses suspension and tension all the way through the book. We often have to play a detective in this story and all the way through we are given pieces to fit together. At the end all revels itself and the mystery is solved. In my conclusion Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was a very enjoyable read. It was also very interesting because it gave an image of what the life was like in the 1800s. I never realised that Victorian life was so hard. Still today I think that many people enjoy the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I think this is because it is a very unusual book and appeals to a wide audience rather than just one type of person. This could be one of the reasons why it is so popular. This book has been around for almost a 100 years and I think that it has got many more enjoyable years to go.

Oliver North :: essays research papers

	In October and November 1986, two secret illegal U.S. Government operations were publicly exposed. In addition to naming other people as illegal operatives, the scapegoat of it all was Lieutenant Colonel Oliver L. North. Only months before he was being heraled in the New York Times as "President Reagan's Man of Action", and now North was being handed the blame of all guilty of illegally negotiating deals with Iran and Nicaragua. As the Iran-Contra Scandal was led into the national spotlight, so was Oliver North. But while in that spotlight, North pleaded the Fifth Amendment, the right to not incriminate yourself. With doing so, he also saved the reputations of many who turned their backs on him. For this and many other achievements, Lt. Col. Oliver L. North is an American hero. 	Oliver L. North was born in San Antonio, Texas. His age and date of birth are being withheld due to security reasons. He attended school in Philmont, New York and later enrolled into the United Sates Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. As graduation neared, North chose the path of being a Marine Corps leader. He was later called into duty in Vietnam, where he was station with K Company of the Third Battalion, Third Marine Regiment, Third Division from December 3, 1968 to August 21, 1969. During his service, North led many covert operations, and was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He was a "marine's marine", and was a one-of-a-kind leader. 	While in Vietnam, he was assigned to counterinsurgency operations in which he met General Singlaub and General Secord, then lieutenant colonels. After coming back from Vietnam, he served as a planner in the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. After being promoted to Major in the Marine Corps, North led a detachment of Marines who were to assist the rescuers of the aborted mission to free U.S. hostages in Tehran. A little more than a year later, while North was studying at the Naval War College in Providence, he came to befriend Navy Secretary John Lehman. Lehman helped North get a spot on the National Security Council. Among several military officers sent to the National Security Council, North was the youngest. He was described as a "bright articulate officer with a gung ho spirit who saw the world in sharply etched blacks and whites." His role was to draw up plans, to get them approved, and to see that they are carried out. Oliver North :: essays research papers 	In October and November 1986, two secret illegal U.S. Government operations were publicly exposed. In addition to naming other people as illegal operatives, the scapegoat of it all was Lieutenant Colonel Oliver L. North. Only months before he was being heraled in the New York Times as "President Reagan's Man of Action", and now North was being handed the blame of all guilty of illegally negotiating deals with Iran and Nicaragua. As the Iran-Contra Scandal was led into the national spotlight, so was Oliver North. But while in that spotlight, North pleaded the Fifth Amendment, the right to not incriminate yourself. With doing so, he also saved the reputations of many who turned their backs on him. For this and many other achievements, Lt. Col. Oliver L. North is an American hero. 	Oliver L. North was born in San Antonio, Texas. His age and date of birth are being withheld due to security reasons. He attended school in Philmont, New York and later enrolled into the United Sates Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. As graduation neared, North chose the path of being a Marine Corps leader. He was later called into duty in Vietnam, where he was station with K Company of the Third Battalion, Third Marine Regiment, Third Division from December 3, 1968 to August 21, 1969. During his service, North led many covert operations, and was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He was a "marine's marine", and was a one-of-a-kind leader. 	While in Vietnam, he was assigned to counterinsurgency operations in which he met General Singlaub and General Secord, then lieutenant colonels. After coming back from Vietnam, he served as a planner in the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. After being promoted to Major in the Marine Corps, North led a detachment of Marines who were to assist the rescuers of the aborted mission to free U.S. hostages in Tehran. A little more than a year later, while North was studying at the Naval War College in Providence, he came to befriend Navy Secretary John Lehman. Lehman helped North get a spot on the National Security Council. Among several military officers sent to the National Security Council, North was the youngest. He was described as a "bright articulate officer with a gung ho spirit who saw the world in sharply etched blacks and whites." His role was to draw up plans, to get them approved, and to see that they are carried out.

Meaning of a word Essay

â€Å"Language is the subject. It is the written form with which I’ve managed to keep the wolf from the door, and in diaries, my sanity. In spite of this, I consider the written word inferior to the spoken, and much of the frustration experienced by novelists is the awareness that whatever we manage to capture in even the most transcendent passages falls far short of the richness of life. Dialogue achieves its power in the dynamics of a fleeting moment of sight, sound, smell and touch.† -excerpt taken from Gloria Naylor’s ‘The Meanings of a Word’. Words The first sentence of this excerpt can have several interpretations, depending on which synonym of the word ‘language’ you choose to use. It could be her theme, her topic, her focus, the area that is under discussion. Language, for her, is the subject, the one she has used to support herself, the form she has employed to preserve her sanity. In the first part of her third sentence, Naylor states that she considers the written word inferior to the spoken in spite of her second sentence; it is second rate, of lesser importance than the words actually verbalized. For her, written words do not hold as much power as those that are spoken; she, and novelists like her, are aware that even the most descriptive and moving of passages do not fully capture a ‘fleeting moment of sight, sound, smell and touch’ the way dialogue does. Naylor is of the opinion that one simple gesture, scene, scent or sound achieves what a thousand words describing them cannot, and this is frustrating to her, hence, her statement, ‘†¦I consider the written word inferior to the spoken’. I disagree with this idea and argue that the written word is superior to the spoken. There is a phrase that says that ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’. Taken in literal terms, this phrase is a physical impossibility. Obviously, he who wields the bigger, stronger sword would triumph over he who brings a flimsy pen to the fight, unless by some slim chance it was some sort of new,  unbreakable pen. What, then, is the meaning of this saying? The answer lies not in comparing the physical appearances of these two objects, but in considering what they can do. A sword, when used by a master of the blade, can kill maybe a dozen people. A pen can kill millions. It can condemn entire cities to death. In 1945, documents authorizing the use of the atomic bomb on Japan did just that; with the signatures of the cabinet and the President of the United States, Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s fates were sealed. Consider also, that while a sword may be used to threaten a village or two, using a pen can set entire countries free, and decide the future of generations to come. The independence of British colonies, such as Zambia in 1964, was finalized by a stroke of a pen at the bottom of the declaration. Think about it and you realize something: it’s not the pen that’s mightier than the sword. It is merely an instrument that is used to achieve an end. It is the words that are written using the pen which hold the power; it is the words on that document or bill or law or article that are mightier than the sword. â€Å"I was jarred and shocked by the style, the clear, clean, sweeping sentences. Why did he write like that? And how did one write like that? I pictured the man as a raging demon, slashing with his pen, consumed with hate†¦I stood up trying to realize what reality lay behind the meaning of his words†¦this man was fighting, fighting with words†¦using words as a weapon, using them as one would use a club. Could words be weapons? Well, yes, for here they were.† -excerpt taken from Richard Wright’s ‘The Library card’ The above excerpt comes from a point in Wright’s ‘The Library Card’ where the main character reacts strongly to a book he has just read. It is clear that the direct, cutting style of writing has affected him, and he hungers to know why and how someone could write like that. This leads him to pondering the hidden meaning behind the words, and the style of writing is such that he likens the author of the book to a demon, ‘slashing with his pen’. In fact, he comes to the conclusion that words can be used as weapons and this  supports the argument that written word is superior to the spoken. Like Mencken in ‘The Library Card’, we can use written words in the same way. They can be used to challenge set ways of thinking and attack prejudices and injustices without the violence of a war or the pettiness of a verbal argument. Using written words, arguments become free of emotional entanglements and are reduced to their simplest, most direct for ms. The spoken words that Naylor prefers would not be able to attain the same effect that a signed document would. A verbal agreement about an important matter, such as Independence of a country, would never hold up to the scrutiny of a legal proceeding. It would be far too easy for either party to change the wording of their verbal agreement ever so slightly to tip the scales in their favor or change the words all together, and in doing so, change the terms completely. There would be no way to prove that the agreement even took place. The spoken word or word of mouth is an unreliable way to learn about historical events. Stories that are passed down from generation to generation stand a high risk of being distorted over time, and with so many storytellers, the original version will be lost within three or four generations. This is another way that the written word is superior to the spoken; written documentation ensures that the facts and details will always be there when we need them, exact and unchanged. With so many variations and dialects of the English Language, it is almost impossible to find a daily word that was not been abbreviated or corrupted into slang. If it is not one or the other, then the context it is used in gives it a completely different meaning anyway. Take the word ‘nigger’ for example. Naylor shows us that depending on the words it is used with in speech, the word takes on multiple implications, thus increasing the chance of mistaking its meaning. Written words are clear cut, especially if written clearly, correctly and succinctly. Words hold power over us all. While the spoken form does hold sway over every living being, words used in speech are like the beginnings of a thought and  it is the written form that ultimately completes the idea.