American Literature

The United States Armed Forces which consists of men and women fighting and defending the country does so because of patriotism mainly related to the constitution of the land.  The constitution, which is a 200 year old document, has provisions in it that clearly characterize the kind of armed forces that this country should have.  The integrity of the US Armed forces is based on three portions of the constitution, these being the Preamble, Article iii, Section IV and the 2nd Amendment.

The preamble of the constitution states that, We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.(Preamble, US Constitution)  In this portion of the constitution one would easily notice that the US Armed forces play an important role in the establishment of what the preamble describes to be, a perfect union.  In this section of the constitution the more vital elements are the insurance of domestic Tranquility which translates into the security of all American citizens in their own homeland.  The armed forces have a role in this because they are expected to secure the country and its people from external threats that may come from other countries or other hostile forces that do not originate from the United States.  An example of this external threat is terrorism.  In another section of the preamble, the provision of common defense is stated to necessary for the achievement of other liberties.  This means that a singular militia has to be established which will take charge of defending the United States and all that is under and within it.  Here, in the particular section, the constitution provides that no other armed forces are to be recognized as being that of the United States except for the duly established United States Army which is the official and duly constituted body in charge of national defense.

Aside from just the preamble, Article III, Section IV of the United States Constitution provides a basis for loyalty among the US Military as well as among civil society.  This section states, Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. (Art.III,Sec.IV, US Constitution)  This portion of the constitution warns against any citizen who might wage war against the United States, cuddle, or play accessory to any external force that seeks to destroy the US and its liberties.  In effect, this provision includes as well the US Army because anybody who is a member of this army and is proven to have been in cahoots with the enemies of the state as well as have had gone through plans or conspiracies to destabilize the government will be considered a traitor to the United States.  Therefore, the US army, tasked with defending the country and all its liberties should always remain loyal not to politicians or to other international power, but to the US Constitution and to the people of America.

Finally, a third section of the constitution that has something to do with the US Army is the 2nd Amendment which states, A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. (2nd Amendment, US Constitution)  Here in this amendment it is stated that the US Army is vital in the maintenance of liberties and securities, and so there will be no official representing the United States who should do anything to disembody the armed forces from the State or dissolve this for whatever reason.  This amendment outlines the importance of the armed forces in the maintenance of freedom in the country.  Note however, that the phrase well-regulated comes before the word Militia.  This means that other than just the internal operations designed to keep the US Army in top shape, the government is tasked with regulating the Armed Forces to ensure that it has the right numbers required for what it is intended, that it performs according to their duly constituted functions, and it is able to efficiently deliver the services that it was designed for in the first place.

The life of a US Army office is based wholly on the law of the land and what it contains pertaining to the liberty and freedom of the people of America.  It is this particular aspect of the militia that uplifts US Military Officers to a status that is known for its prestige and honor.

The United States Constitution covers all aspects of being an American Citizen and most especially being a member or office of the US Army.  It is the main reason for loyalty and patriotism among the ranks and it defines what a US Army Officer should be like and what heshe is supposed to do.  While the provisions mentioned may be brief in nature, these provisions contain everything that a US Army officer should consider when hisher integrity is put on the line.  It is very important for a US Army Officer to maintain integrity and dignity when serving hisher country because such a service is not an invention by any politician or any world leader, rather, it is succinctly stated in a 200 year old document that is the basis for the existence of this Great American Nation.  Being a member of the US Army is something one should pride himselfherself with as the greatness of being in the armed forces is written in history and is contained in the document that built a nation out of the blood, sweat and dreams of our ancestors.  Serving in the army is serving the country by serving its people and by being faithful to the constitution.  

Adventures of Tom Sawyer
By Mark Twain

1.) Statement about the main character
Tom Sawyer  He showed a range of emotions in the novel  his thirst for adventures, his envy for Hucks freedom, his naivety when he shows belief in superstitions and make-believe, his perseverance during his courtship to Betty and his struggle with Injun Joe and with social custom showed maturity and ability to conform despite his carefree ways.

Huckleberry Finn  He is the son of the towns drunkard who represents Toms envied freedom in the novel. Huck has played a significant part in shaping Toms character by showing him the difference and benefits of living within and outside a society.

Injun Joe  He represents all of Toms fears in the novel and the bad thing that can come out of having too much freedom where one is free to do anything he pleases.

2.) Statement on the subject
A carefree boy who at first thought that life is simply outwitting everyone else to take advantage of every situation. But after a few misadventures  witnessing a crime, being shunned by Becky, becoming pirates and testifying against Injun Joe Tom realizes the importance of social conformity.

3.) Statement on the setting of the novel
The setting of the story took place in a fictional town named St Petersburg during the 1840s

4.) Statement of the Theme
A boys road to adulthood and the struggles he needs to undergo in his quest for moral and social maturation.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
By Mark Twain

1.) Statement on the main characters
Huckleberry Finn  he is a skeptical son of a drunkard who represents people who come from lowest level of white society. From being an undisciplined boy, he turns out to be a thinking human being capable of emotions and not just someone who follow the dictations of the society.
Jim  He is an African American slave who is a representation of how society can be judgmental.

2.) Statement of the subject
A 13-year old boy whose freedom comes from being neglected by his own father in contrast to Jim who is experiencing slavery and oppression in the society mainly because of the color of his skin and their struggles for escape are the novels subject.

3.) A statement on the setting of the story
The story took place on Mississippi River town of St. Petersburg and along the Ohio River before the Civil War when slavery is at its peak.

4.) Statement on the theme
Slavery and oppression is a fact of life. People are judged by their skins color and race by their fellow human beings.

The paper focuses on how the epic of Sundiata has within it hidden connotations towards the spread of the religion of Islam and its adoption by the African people. This is evidenced by the characterization of Sundiatas mother and father which when examined closely could be interpretations of the region at the time and the integration of Islam within it. The paper also attempts to show the importance of women in the epic of Sundiata wherein if it wasnt for their influences since the beginning of the epic Sundiata would not have become the person he was and he wouldnt have become the king of Mali if it wasnt for their interference and assistance in crucial moments of his life. It is in this discussion about women that the paper focuses on how there is a hidden meaning in the story about women wherein it implies that even if a woman stands against a man the man will always triumph. The paper also delved in to the similarity of the epic of Sundiata and that of the epics of the ancient Greek culture.

The story of Sundiata is a semi-historical account of the founding of the Mali empire, in it the main protagonist Sundiata was supposedly an individual of great spiritual power who used this power to defeat his foes and unite the people of Mali into a prosperous empire. While it is true that there was an individual by the name of Sundiata who founded the Mali empire the reason why the story of Sundiata or rather the epic of Sundiata is called a semi-historical account is due to the fact that it blends elements of magic and sorcery with historical fact.  Several scenes present within the story allude to the special nature of the protagonist from the prophecy of his birth that would supposedly make him the king of Mali, his supposed possession of strange mystical powers that enabled him to defeat his rivals who possessed powers of their own, and finally to the use of special totems that supposedly enabled a person to possess special qualities that made them powerful on the battlefield. When read closely the epic of Sundiata can actually come to be interpreted as possessing religious connotations. At the time of its creation the region was actually undergoing a religious transformation as such certain parts of the story when examined closely shows the influences of this transformation. The story in itself though originating from a male dominates culture shows how women are an integral part in the life of Sundiata and were among one of the main reasons why he came to be and were behind his rise to power. Not only that but the epic of Sundiata can also be said to be similar to other forms of ancient epics such as those found in Greek literature. This paper will try to examine the story of Sundiata in order to determine the different connotations associated with it involving religion and prophecy as well as delving into the importance of women in the story and how it compares to other forms of ancient epics.

Religion and the epic of Sundiata
Though it may not be explicitly stated in the epic there are actually religious connotations present in the tale. Africa at the time of Sundiata was actually undergoing a period of religious transformation wherein Islam had taken root among its many indigenous groups. The father of sundiata, Maghan, was actually an Islamic convert. Through the marriage of Maghan, an Islamic, and Sugalon, a representation of the traditional mysticism of Africa we see that the combination of the two creates a strong individual who leads the region to greatness. When it comes to oral history not everything is transferred exactly as it was told originally. African beliefs about magic and spiritual beings posses a rich and deep body of mythology and stories that can attest to the amazing oral tradition of the Griots, similar to the one mentioned in the tale of Sundiata, who have shared it orally from young to old alike throughout the many centuries. With oral traditions sometimes those telling them tend to embellish certain parts which explains why there are instances in the epic wherein Sundiata supposedly annihilated dozens of men with just one sweep of his sword which seems highly unlikely.

There are even times when storytellers add and remove parts in order to convey a message that they themselves want to impart. Sundiatas mother perhaps was never hunch backed or ugly  nor did she probably possess mystical powers rather the story teller at the time probably included these qualities to show that the marriage between African mysticism and the religion of Islam could produce greatness. Perhaps the storyteller was himself an Islamic convert and wanted to connote a message that Islam and Africa were compatible with one another and could produce something profound. Which in the end it did since the relationship between the region and Islam did result in several years of prosperity for the region. An interesting observation in the story is the portrayals of Sundiatas mother and father, the portrayals in themselves also contain significance. If we assume that the storyteller in this instance was a Griot Islamic convert then the portrayal of Maghan as being handsome and Sugalon as being ugly could come to be interpreted as Maghan representing the greatness of Islam and Sugalon representing the current state of the region. That by combining the two greatness for the entire region could be achieved. Not only that but evidenced by the death of Sugalon when Sundiata was about to go to war and claim his destiny could also be interpreted as a dying of the old ways to be replaced by the new.

Importance of women in the epic of Sundiata and a hidden meaning in the story.
Though African society is a male dominated culture the women in the epic of Sundiata played important roles from the start of the epic all the way to the struggle for power and leading to the conclusion which was the victory of Sundiata. It can be said that if it were not for the women in the life of Sundiata he would not have become the lion king of Mali, in fact he wouldnt have even been born at all. To prove this point at the beginning of the epic we see the future father of Sundiata Maghan Kon Fatta sitting under a silk-cotton tree when he is told a prophecy by a hunter who had given him a portion of his kill. The hunter states that the king will marry an ugly hunch backed woman that will be brought to him by two hunters however it is through that woman that a son will be born to him that will rule over the entire region. From this and the succeeding events of the hunters being guided by the spirit of the buffalo woman enabling them to kill the rampaging buffalo and their subsequent presentation of the hunch backed woman Sogolon to Maghan it can be seen that it was through the subtle machinations of women in the form of a womans spirit that guided the hunters that lead to the birth of Sundiata. If it wasnt for the spirit guiding the hunters then they wouldnt have been able to kill the buffalo and take Sugalon to Maghan. Early on in the life of Sundiata he was portrayed as being fat, lazy and being unable to even walk however due to the insults of the kings first wife Sassouma at his mother for giving birth to a cripple Sundiata took it upon himself to ease the sadness of his mother by having a blacksmith fashion a steel rod for him to use to force himself to stand. From this it can be seen that though it wasnt intentional it was through the kings first wife Sassouma that Sundiata found a reason to walk after many years of crawling on the ground. Sassouma herself could even be said to be one of the primary reasons why Sundiata became what he did for if it wasnt through her actions of having him exiled then Sundiata probably would not have been able to travel extensively the way he did and learn the skills and wisdom needed to defeat Soumaoro. The last contribution of a woman in the epic of Sundiata is through his sister Nana Triban. It is through her that he learns that Soumaoros totem animal was the cock and by using the animal Sundiata would be able to defeat Sooumaoro. Sundiata fashioned an arrow with a white cocks spur on the tip which he used to defeat Soumaros by riding him of his magic. Thus from start to finish it can be seen that Sundiatas life even before he was born has been influenced by women and it is through them that he was able to become the lion king of Mali.

Though the tale shows the importance of women it does have a hidden meaning regarding women that is not immediately apparent. From the epic it is well known that Sassouma hates Sundiata and wishes him nothing but ill will and death and takes steps to bring this about. Ironically though it is through her that Sundiata actually achieves his goal and becomes the lion king of Mali. If it wasnt for her actions during Sundiatas youth which resulted in his exile he wouldnt have been able to the wisdom and achievements needed to make him what he was. Not only that but it was due to this exile that he was able to be part of the court of Moussa Tounkara who gave him half of the Mema army which enabled him to gather more men to defeat Soumaoro. It was also through Sassoumas own daughter Nana Triban that Sundiata was able to learn the weakness of Soumaoro. From all these events the hidden meaning becomes obvious that even if a woman wishes ill will and death upon a man the man by right of sort of divine will or right will still triumph over the woman. Though woman are important in the tale of Sundiata his inadvertent victory over Sassouma without even trying shows that the tale is steeped in the African concept of male superiority over women.

Similarities with Stories from Greek Mythology
The story of Sundiata actually has similarities to that of two pieces of ancient Greek literature namely that of the Odyssey and Oedipus. While the story of Sundiata may not contain parts wherein he kills his father and marries his mother a familiar theme in the stories of Sundiata and Oedipus is the importance placed on fate and destiny. In both stories before they were even born their destinies were already prophesized and both fathers believed in the power of prophecy. It is at this point where the similarities in both fathers end since in the case of the father of Sundiata he believed wholeheartedly in the power of prophecy and fate that some things were inevitable and inescapable so much so that he married an ugly woman just to conform to the prophecy of him bearing a son through her. The father of Oedipus also believed in the power of prophecy however he believed that destiny could be changed and took steps to ensure that the destiny of Oedipus wouldnt come to pass by leaving him to die on a mountain when he was a baby. It must be noted though that the reason why the father of Sundiata believed wholeheartedly in the prophecy might be because it was mostly positive and having several wives in Africa was normal so much so that having an extra ugly one wouldnt be an inconvenience however in the case of the father of Oedipus it was mostly negative and meant his death. In such a case it is understandable that a person would fight fate even if they believed in the power of it.

In the case of the similarity of Sundiata and Odysseus both protagonists experienced a long journey before they were able to go back to their homes and both were indebted to Kings for helping them when they were lost. In the case of Sundiata it was King Mousa Tunkara the king of Mema who gave him refuge when he was in self imposed exile while in the case of Odysseus it was the King of the Phaeacians that helped him get back home by giving him a ship to get there. One other similarity between the two is the use of a bow and arrow to win their own perspective trials. In the case of Odysseus he used a bow to shoot an arrow through 12 rings set in a line during a competition to defeat the suitors who were attempting to court his wife in the belief that he was dead . While in the case of Sundiata it was through the use of an arrow wrapped in the tail feather of a white rooster that enabled him to defeat the sorcerer Sumanguru.

In the narrative of her capture and three month imprisonment during the late winter and early spring of 1676, Mary Rowlandson describes her ordeal through descriptions of her captors and environment with the added perspective of Christian scripture. The use of scripture is not merely an indicator of Rowlandsons own religious inclination toward Puritanism but also creates religious parable of her strife. This parable emerges throughout her narrative, aligning Rowlandson with the suffering of such biblical characters as Job and the tribe of Israelites both of whom suffered through the will and lessons of God to attain a greater faith. While the Israelites had the Egyptians and the great unknown of the desert to contend with, Rowlandson is being tested with the vast New England wilderness and the alienness of the native tribes. Within the patterns of Mary Rowlandsons day-to-day and religious observations, she clearly delineates the lines between herself as one of Gods children and the Native Americans as godless heathens, who represent a trial and test to Christian faith.

God and scripture are a presence in Rowlandsons from the beginning of her narrative, though less prevalent than it becomes as her own situation becomes alternately dire and hopeful as the months of captivity pass by. In the introduction, which describes the murder and gathering of her neighbors and family by the Native Americans, Rowlandson makes little initial reference to the Bible as she is caught up in the descriptions of the atrocities that accompanied her capture. However, even within this first section, the parallels between her story of attrition and that of Job are clearly drawn (213). Like the biblical martyrs feels that her capture is retribution for lacking piety and devotion, I remembered how careless I had been of Gods holy time how many Sabbaths I had lost and misspent, and how evilly I had walked in Gods sight which lay so close unto my spirit, that it was easy for me to see how righteous it was with God to cut off the thread of my life and cast me out of His presence forever (215). Even before the natives become a divine trial of faith by being connected with the tribulations of Job, they are presented as a complete antithesis to God and Christian ideals.

Alternately called merciless Heathen, Infidel (212) and black creatures (213), the natives become hellish fiends in the eyes of Rowlandson. Even the charity of the, at first, few who helped to feed her and traded with or helped her is lost on Rowlandson. In initially casting the natives as unredeemable in the eyes of God, she does not sway in her conviction. From the beginning separated in her view from salvation, even the continued good fortune and survival of the natives does not prompt Rowlandson to reexamine her views of Gods attitudes toward her captives. Instead, within her illusions to the martyred heroes of scripture, the natives survival plays into the larger view of their existence being for the sole designs of the Creator is testing his flock. Noting the British soldiers inability to provide rescue Rowlandson excuses this too as part of a larger plan, God did not give them courage or acuity to go over after us we were not ready for so great a mercy as victory and deliverance if we had been, God would have found out a way for the English to have passed the River (219). It is interesting that Rowlandson at no point rebukes the tribes right to existence but is nevertheless certain that they are both an affront to and a lesson from God for his chosen people, Puritans like herself.

Throughout the narrative, despite and perhaps because of the heavy reliance on scripture, Rowlandson does not fail to make note of both the cruel and the charitable amongst the tribe. However, no matter how well intentioned, the Native American tribes continued disbelief in the religious and cultural ideologies of Christianity and European civilization doom them from the beginning. She and the other white Christian captives Rowlandson encounters is, to Rowlandson, a shining beacon in Gods plan. She survives through her belief and comfort in the word of God alone denying herself the concept of self-preservation and therefore the capability of individuality, Rowlandson equally condemns the natives as a whole to the role of immoral heathens, who are in their existence mere tools of God to be used and discarded.

One of the most critical period in human development is said to be from birth to infancy. According to Erik Erikson, trust is to be established between the child and its primary care giver, usually the mother. One can perceive that The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and The Golden  Compass by Philip Pullman have plots and interesting characters that not only entertain its readers but also establish important lessons about the growth and development of children. The novels portray the importance of parent-child relationship that, in reality, people tend to forget. Human personality is shaped based ones life experiences and personal relationships. Individuals have different attitudes towards life and surroundings. Each persons relationships and daily human interactions affect his whole being from birth to old age. The mother supposedly should have the greatest influence upon her child since she was the childs primary care giver and trust should have been established. However, this is not always the case. In the two novels presented, one can see how the lack of maternal bonding shaped the life of the main characters.

The two novels have a rich and lively array of characters. Both novels have children as their main characters. It is very much interesting to read about the thoughts that run through the mind of a child. It is much more exciting since as children, they are prone to be adventurous and imaginative.  The vast characters written in both novels added to their charm. Each child and their relationship to the adults in the novels has been well illustrated.

In The Secret Garden, there are three children that one can read about. These three children were outstanding in terms of their personality and the changes that happened in the story.

Mary Lennox is the girl who lost her parents in a foreign country. This is one fact that may be traumatic for other children but not to Mary.  Mary was practically raised by Indian servants who gave in to her every desire and whim. During her years of growing up, she did not have a real relationship with both her parents.  In the novel, her mother was described as a  great beauty who cared only to go to parties and amuse herself with gay people  (Burnett  7). She was a vain and selfish woman for the reason that she did not wish to see the child often. Mary only remembered her as being beautiful but not for any one motherly act. Mary thought that her mother  was such a tall, slim, pretty person and wore such lovely clothes. Her hair was like curly silk and she had a delicate little nose which seemed to be disdaining things, and she had large laughing eyes. All her clothes were thin and floating, and Mary said they were  full of lace  (Burnett 9)

Growing up without proper guidance and always having her own way with servants made Mary a very difficult child to deal with. She was violent and insulting to the native Indian servants. One instance was when she woke up and was displeased not to find her Ayah (personal servant) instead she found another servant, she kicked and shouted at her. She also thought of things to insult her Ayah, Pig Pig Daughter of Pig  To call somebody a native a pig is the worst insult of all. (Burnett 8). She did not have any friends in India for she proclaimed how she disliked them. She was even teased by Mrs. Crawfords children through a song,  Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow With Silver bells, and cockle shells, And marigolds all in a row.  (Burnett 14). She was close to having a blunt affect, not caring much what others think of her and feeling detached. Her feelings towards her mother was superficial,  but as she knew very little of her she could scarcely have been expected to love her or to miss her very much when she was gone. She did not miss her at all, in fact  (Burnett 13). She turned her face away as Mrs. Crawford tried to give her a kiss. Indeed, this is a sad image of a lonely girl.

However, her personality changed when she was sent back to England. People around her started to take notice and give her attention as well as affection. She became friends with Martha, Mr. Ben Weatherstaff and Dixon. She acquired a motherly figure in the persona of Mrs. Susan Sowerby. In the novel, she once thought that  when Martha told stories of what  mother  said or did they always sounded comfortable  (Burnett 52). These relationships she formed changed her personality, her thoughts and even her physical health. She finally received love and support that eventually sparked her interests in the environment and helped her change other people too, like her cousin, Colin.

The Golden Compass gives its readers another little girl with an adventurous and curious attitude towards life. Lyra is said to be an orphaned girl who lives with scholars in Jordan College. Being raised by mostly male scholars, she had a boyish attitude which portrayed her as being strong yet unrefined in her actions. She was said to be rebellious in the eyes of adults for she often disobeyed rules like going to forbidden places like the Retiring Room and performed tricks like trying to sink Gyptian boats. Her attitude was attributed by adults for her loneliness. There was an instance in the novel where she was consoled by a priest,  You see, none of us would want you to miss all the usual childhood pleasures and pastimes. I sometimes think it must be a lonely life for you here among a company of elderly scholars, Lyra. Do you feel that  (Pullman 19). She shrugged at the concern and denied that she feels lonely. Lyras attitude was made  little refined when she was made assistant by a Mrs. Coulter. She experienced how it was to be  a little girl,  and then they went shopping. Everything on this extraordinary day was the most dizzying  (Pullman 27). She acted like a mother towards Lyra,  then a bath, with thick scented foam. Mrs. Coulter came into the bathroom to wash Lyras hair and she didnt rub and scrap like Mrs. Lonsdale either , she was gentle --- then after the bath, a warm drink with milk and herbs and a new flannel nightdress with printed flowers and a seal loped hem and sheep skin slippers  (Pullman 27).

However, Lyra had a short-lived fantasy of having Mrs. Coulter as a mother for she learned that she was being spied at by Mrs. Coulter. She also learned of the awful things the lady did and so she ran away from her. She learned that she was not to be trusted. Meanwhile, Lyra discovered about her biological parents, Lord Asriel as her father and Mrs. Coulter as her mother. Lyra still chose her own path in the matter. Her independent actions  can be attributed to the fact that she grew up without parental supervision in her life and she decided for herself. She also thought how ill her mother was for lying to her after Mrs. Coulter saved her and her daemon Pan from intercision and even dared harm her. Lyras thoughts were  Oh, Wicked liar, oh the shameless untruths she was telling And even if Lyra hadnt known them to be lies, she would have hated it with a furious passion  (Pullman 93). She has her own beliefs and principles and she stood by them even at a young age. This can also be perceived how little trust Lyra has for her real mother who supposedly be the one she should trust the most.

In both the novels, it was illustrated that there are mothers who cannot play their role towards their children. Readers were introduced to the biological mothers of the main characters, Mrs. Lennox and Mrs. Coulter. They were described to be very beautiful, charming but vain and selfish. One can see that their detachment from their children severed the girls. Mary was a self-absorbed, unhappy and ill child while Lyra was a boyish, stubborn and naughty girl. These two mothers were interested only in the good things in life like shopping, social events and power. It can be said that they just gave birth to their daughters but did not fulfill their role as mother.

Mrs. Lennox did not even want to see her child and let a stranger care for her. She did not even bother check on her from time to time but she had time to attend parties.

Mrs. Coulter craved for power and had little concern for her daughter. She did not present herself as a mother to her own child.  Even though, she did her materials things and cared for her for a little while, she let her be for years. Being a mother should be a full-time job.

One can refer to Mrs. Susan Sowerby as a magnificent mother to her children. She understood that the two worst things for children are to be spoiled and to be left alone. She also knew how children can benefit from each other, how their interactions can shape their bodies and mind. She was the one who gave love and support even from a distance to children she never even saw. She has a pure heart and great motherly instinct that worked its magic towards disagreeable children.

The OP-Ed article which I chose was contained in the Santa Fe New Mexican on Friday, May 7th, 2010 on page A-7. The article was written by Michael Shermer who lists himself as the publisher of Skeptic magazine and an adjunct professor at Claremont Graduate University. He also lists himself as an author. The Santa Fe New Mexican piece was a reprint from the Los Angeles Times.

The title of the article is what originally intrigued me and as I read this opinion piece I realized that I was basically in agreement with him. His thesis which he succinctly summarizes in the last paragraph is that what a lot of people wish for now are the good old days were not so good. He points to many examples in the article of the advantages of today. He acknowledges that modern society has its problems but society has always had its problems and probably always will. He suggests that rather than neglect or ignore problems we ought to recognize that modern society has advantages which surpass those  of any other time in history and that if we focus on the present and accept its challenges humanity can achieve a better future. But, I guess I may be getting ahead of my analysis.

He starts his piece by discussing the relative poverty of a small Brazilian village today and relates it to how most of the worlds population would have existed or subsisted 10,000 years ago. He compares the scarce resources those people have to what the residents of what he calls the village of Manhattan has today. The variety of products and services that are available to the average person are in his words phenomenal.  I am not an advocate that material wealth is the only measure of a person. Although a good deal of the article relates to conveniences, Mr. Shermer does not fall into the trap that is all there is to life. He points out that in past times people expended most of there time just trying to obtain the resources necessary to survive, had a far shorter life expectancy, were more likely to prey upon another or be preyed up.

He does not short change the problems of modern society. He acknowledges them readily.

I believe that this article emphasizes true American values the pursuit of happiness, a willingness to step up to the problems of society, and a resolve to solve them. Mr. Shermer may be a cheerleader for our way of life. He may be a dreamer, but dreams can become a reality.

This opinion column or essay I think demonstrates a good form. It opens with the statement that environmentalists and others portray a gloomy future. He makes a strong argument that we do live in the best of times and concludes with the fact that for more people than in most times in history, life is good.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has been well-known for his extensive essay entitled Nature where he made an input about his personal observations about life and the human experience. The essay which is composed of eight parts reflects his view about Idealism. Emerson was one of the vanguards of the Transcendentalist Movement which rose in the American society in the middle of the nineteenth-century. This movement espouses that reality is not constructed by the human mind hence, disempowering the human mind. Emerson claimed that the material world is only the expression of the real. He likewise favors intuition over reason and the moral and spiritual over the intellectual. For Emerson and the rest of the Transcendentalists, the nature which takes part of the material world is the highest source of reality. By consciously experiencing Nature, we make ourselves closer to the Ideal.

Unlike Berkeleys perception of the Ideal, Emerson puts forth that the Ideal can be pursued on a metaphysical level. This cannot be pursued by mans philosophizing and excessive reliance on material facts and details, as Berkeley suggested. What Emerson offered as an alternative is to imbibe the Ideal by simply experiencing life and raising the notch of this experience. Through Nature, Emerson claimed, the human experience is heightened and the Ideal is nearly perfected.

In the introduction of Nature, he wrote that the most abstract truth is the most practical. A true theory is one that has itself as its very evidence. He stated that there are answers to everything  that there is an Ideal that can be attained by man and this ideal can be clarified by our engagement with Nature. It is not man where the truth and the ideal emanate from it is from the nature -- the not man.

In the first two parts of the essay entitled Nature and Commodity, he expressed his view of Nature as an ideal thing. Nature is heavenly. It is the intercourse of heaven and earth which transports us away from the worldly and mundane. In this engagement, we derive a feeling of pleasure. This pleasure does not emanate only from nature, but from the harmony between man and nature. Moreover, Emerson stated that nature is a commodity in the sense that it provides for our human needs. In that sense, the perfection of the Nature can be achieved by our way of creating an intimate bond with it. As nature provides for our needs, what we give in return is our means of cultivating Nature.

In Chapter 6 of Emersons Nature entitled Idealism, Emerson started a philosophical gymnastic about truth and the challenges in verifying it. He said that our senses can deceive us, but that propensity of being cheated by our own body parts and understanding is dismissed immediately because we refuse to accept the fallibility of our senses. There is a difference between the observer and the spectacle. We are the observers and the Nature is the spectacle where we are subordinated we are mere observers of that grand spectacle so our senses are rendered weak in fully captivating that spectacle. Emerson gives more premium on the spiritual over the material, the mind over the matter. In that sense, he quashes the idea that Nature per se as we see it is the true beauty. It is not. Beauty lies on that abstract feeling we obtain from tasting and experiencing Nature. That is the ideal for him, the absolute. As he said, we behold unveiled the nature of Justice and Truth. We learn the differences between the absolute and the conditional. We apprehend the absolute. We do not see the absolute we just understand and feel it  through engaging with the Nature.

His next argument was his admiration and flattery for the poet as he is the only one who gives justice to the beauty and splendor of nature. The poet, with his skillful manipulation of language and the extent of control he has over it, is able to render nature in ways that are entirely different from what common people can do. Emerson said that language is the emblem of our thought. It is through language that we are able to signify our feelings and our deepest concerns and ideas. In that sense, the poet can signify his own musings and observations using language. As the poet witnesses the everlasting beauty of nature, he will be invoked to translate that beauty he sees into words which he writes. This contact with Nature heightens the spiritual component of the poet and only makes his craft much better.

Emerson also provided a comparison among the poet, the scientist and the philosopher. While all three of them share a passion to explore, to create and to make human life better, they differ in cause and in concern. The poet is largely interested in beauty  the beauty of language, the beauty of events he had experienced, and the beauty of the world in general, in which nature takes up a substantial part. The philosopher, however, is much concerned about the truth -- the nature of things, and how the world and everything in it came to be, whether physical or metaphysical. Emerson said that while both the poet and the philosopher likes to achieve a state of spiritual stability, the philosopher has a greater chance to be lost along the road since he has a greater tendency to let his thoughts get off his head first. He takes up most of his time seeking for an absolute truth  an explanation for all of the things and looks for that in the material world. Whereas the poet communes with Nature and creates a spiritual link with it to find meaning. The philosopher has the tendency to overly rely on what is immediately present and visible, refusing to see what lies beyond the surface of those things.

In the last part of the Chapter, Emerson sought to undermine the concept of religion and spirituality, as religion and spirituality often connotes that the body and the world are evil because they are worldly. Emerson also criticizes the idea that the only truth that is available for man to entertain is religious or spiritual truth. Nature arrives at a second-rate level truth where it is no longer regarded as it should be. Emerson frowns upon this scenario as he has extensively high regards for nature. Nature should be emphasized because it is where the Ideal germinates.

Emerson finishes the Chapter by demonstrating the relationship of people and nature. He emphasizes that there is a Supreme Being greater than nature and man combined therefore he affirms the presence of God as the source of man and nature. He respects the end and recognizes the apocalyptic claims of the Christian faith.

In the chapter entitled Spirit, Emerson stated that there is a force so mysterious that it eludes the grasp of the human mind  this spiritual force emerges from Nature. Having a grip of this spiritual force is an ideal case as we will be able to get out of our physical limitations. However despite our endeavors to analyze Nature and fully apprehend and experience it, we always fell short. This implies that the concept of Nature is so immense that it exceeds the breadth of mankind and our mental abilities.

The unifying spirit that binds mankind, nature, and the rest of the worlds phenomena is what keeps the process of creation revolving. But there is also a line in which Emerson said We are now so far from the road to truth (22). This tells us of the excesses we have created and brought to this world. In reference to Chapter 6, the innovation and invention we have created for ourselves are the largest forms of walls that separated us from nature. Surely, there will be more inventions to come in the future. The beginning of these inventions and the impossibility to put a stop on this technological revolution are the things that keep us away from the road to truth. What Emerson proposes is that we should revert to our old ways. We should start getting rid of excessive material things and begin living in a simplistic lifestyle. We should return to our Nature which we have forgotten with the advent of massive technology. Only by returning to Nature can we look for substance in our lives and move closer to the Truth.

Like Emerson, George Berkeley was also popular with his philosophizing about the Ideal. George Berkeley was most famous because of his Theory of Immaterialism, a theory wherein he claimed that humans can only know sensations and ideas of objects but not abstract things. Throughout the length of Nature, Emerson touched on some points made famous by Berkeley. In the middle part of Chapter 6, in the comparison among the scientist, the poet, and the philosopher, he implied that the scientist is in the worst state because he is relying mostly in abstraction. Scientists, especially mathematicians, refuse to study or begin a study with observation or anything tangible, which misleads them from finding the truth because their way of spiritualizing the physical world through mental process begins in a wrong point.

These points raised by Emerson match greatly with George Berkeleys Theory of Immaterialism. Both Emerson and Berkeley believe that to be able to arrive to the truth, one must begin with something tangible. Having the tangibles will be the best starting point in ones pursuit of the Truth. What Emerson specifically espoused is that we should begin with Nature the foundation and continuation of our existence. However, Berkeley was more particular with where not to begin, never pinpointing a particular point where man can begin in his pursuit of the Ideal and the Truth. He never mentioned that one must begin with nature. Emersons proposal is much better because he identifies a definite starting point for this quest. For Emerson, the Ideal can be attained by beginning with Nature and by continually communing and finding meaning in it.