Imagining the Future in Iraq Essay -- Politics Political Iraq Essays

Imagining the Future in Iraq The future of Iraq remains unclear. There are those who have tried to categorize the current conflict as the next Vietnam. Others have dubbed it the next Afghanistan, and others still see a future for Iraq unlike any seen in history. In the midst of all this speculation, one thing is certain: eventually, the US military must withdraw from occupied Iraq. As a matter of history, occupation does not last unless there is a concomitant colonization and/or a significant population influx. Since the latter is absent from the current situation in Iraq, it holds that an eventual American military withdrawal is inevitable. Interestingly enough, the U.S.'s "divide and conquer" method, i.e. one which attempts to polarize Iraq and hence cause an instability that will require a U.S. presence, seems not to have the intended effect originally postulated by the neo-conservatives who are running the show in Washington. Recent clashes in Fallujah and Najaf have shattered prior claims from the White House that laid blame for Iraqi resistance exclusively on Sunni, pro-Saddam residues within the country. Indeed, the resistance is phenomenon shared by several Iraqis, and Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld' s recent call for ten thousand new troops to enter the country doesn't help the situation. Already, Iraq has 115,000 American troops within its borders (compare that to Afghanistan's 13,500), and clashes between the resistance fighters and American troops are at a high. Despite claims that the White House publicizes regarding its intention to subvert terrorism, the increasing military presence in Iraq is the strongest catalyst for the sort of anti-American political religiosity that might manifest itself in... ...is do the same based on their own moral convictions. In The Word for World is Forest, the occupied Athsheans were driven to the point of harming their occupiers for the sake of their own independence. Like the Athsheans, the Iraqis are being pushed to new levels of animosity against the occupying coalition forces, and the American public must be wary of the potential risks that come with their presence in the region. Aggressive action could spell for us an economic downturn, loss of life, and diplomatic crisis if things are permitted to go out of hand. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. New York: Anchor Books, 1986. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1950. Le Guin, Ursula. The Word for World is Forest. Rpt. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1972. Orwell, George. 1984. Rpt. New York: New American Library, 1984.

A Textual Analysis and Response to: In Memory of Zoe Yalland and Tortoise

Both poems represent suffering in the twentieth century, albeit different types. Both are also written in blank verse. This allows the author to write using a very flexible form not being hampered in the expression of thought or syntactic structure by the need to rhyme. The title ‘In Memory of Zoà « Yalland’ is stating clearly that this is a memorial to the lady; however, this does not mean that it is an obituary. Although it is written after her death I don’t necessarily see it as an obituary, rather more of an epitaph, and a bitter one at that. Obituaries are generally very generous in their remembrance of the deceased. They usually describe their life and the contributions they made to it, paint a pretty picture of how loved they were and how sadly missed they’ll be. This poem is totally contrary to the norm as regard to obituaries. I see this written on a tomb, as if to say, â€Å"Look! Here lays a young woman, who during her life suffered a great deal. Go live your life to the full, savour each moment, love those around you, for you know not what tomorrow brings†. Tortoise is a different title altogether. It is written in the same context as the verse, ambiguously and metaphorically. Initially you believe that the verse is literally about a tortoise, until you come to realise that the author is using a clever play on words. As you read on you find yourself analysing the text, struggling to understand what the author is trying to say, which is totally contrary to ‘In Memory of Zoà « Yalland’. While Zoà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s poem is straight talking and to the point, ‘Tortoise’ is ambiguous Zoà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s poem is weighed down with mental and physical anguish, the torturing of mind and body. It represents the struggles of everyday life against society and disease. The text used is very harsh, no frills, the author has told it like it is. This is a poem that could be written for so many and yet I feel that this is personal to the author. I believe Zoà « was close to him and he is airing his anger and frustration at the waste of such a young life. Zoà « was clearly a person who never found true happiness. It evokes pathos, I felt quite disturbed when I read this. Also you can read Analysis July at the Multiplex Tortoise, I feel portrays the story of a soldiers suffering. This is the suffering of a tormented soul, the very suffering of ones spirit. Here is a man who has fought wars, seen comrades suffer and die, and is left but a shell of his former self. He has shut himself away from the world, for it’s grievances are nothing compared to what he has seen and experienced. He walks around like you or I and yet in his eyes his turmoil is clearly visible. Nothing is important to him anymore; he wanders day to day, questioning nothing, existing, and drifting like a forgotten spirit. This poem is brimming with bathos. It made me feel melancholy. Zoà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s poem is quite angrily written. There are undertones of bitterness and regret, maybe these are emotions felt by the author for his subject. Words such as ‘dog shit’ and ‘nothing done’ show the harshness of the author’s feelings towards her situation. His tone throughout is sad and regretful, with a hint of unfairness; he knew an awful lot about her life. It paints a very bleak picture of a young, hopeful, yet very sad life that never quite came up to her expectations. I believe the author is trying to say that we should all care a little more about those around us, to open our eyes and see the reality of life, and to live each day as if it were our last. He is trying to convey the cruelty and unfairness of the world. At first glance the reader of the ‘Tortoise’ could be totally baffled by the text in this one. It definitely requires further scrutiny to try and understand what the author is trying to say. The text is much more gentle and simple, yet more difficult to understand due to the ambiguity. I believe only the author truly knows the meaning behind Tortoise, it is left up to the reader to interpret it in their own way. Maybe this was the intention. While Zoà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s poem is quite clear to understand Tortoise is open to many interpretations. The text in ‘In Memory of Zoe Yalland’ is very negative. For example ‘no space’, no sun’, ‘nothing done’, ‘boxed in’, ‘ dragged down’ and ‘not true’. There is also text, which indicates the struggle in her life such as; ‘battling’, ‘hoping luck could run out’ ‘more like praying’, ‘that with time just staying meant starting to belong’. As you read the text in the first verse it draws you into the emotional turmoil that she is experiencing, you are able, quite easily, to relate to her suffering. In the second verse I felt the emotion the author was displaying. He was unmistakably hurting; not only at the loss of this woman, but also at the poor hand fate had cruelly dealt her. His words were cutting, as if to shock the reader into recognising the reality of this awful situation. Read also  Case 302 July in Multiplex The text of ‘Tortoise’ in comparison to ‘Zoà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ is quite positive, although in a sad way. ‘So he became a sort of miraculous stone’ suggests that even though he was struggling he overcame his problems and adjusted, even after he had everything ‘shot away’. Everything about the poem suggests a gentle surrender to life’s difficulties. ‘You see?’ is almost like saying, â€Å"oh well!† phrases like ‘no question either’, ‘no reason to hurry’ and ‘life is simple’, are all positive, but in the context of the poem it’s as if he has given up, and so, life is no longer difficult. He can’t change what has happened, so he just lives with it, inside his shell. In conclusion I found ‘In Memory of Zoà « Yalland to be a very negative poem with harsh realities and no hope, while ‘Tortoise’ was more positive and hopeful, although it still cleverly portrayed suffering using a clever use of language. While ‘In Memory of Zoà « Yalland’ bore pathos, ‘Tortoise’ contained bathos. These were two poems both displaying suffering but in entirely different ways.

The Hymn Of The Nile - 857 Words

Ancient Egypt believed in many gods, making them polytheistic. One of their major gods was Ra, the god of the sun. They believed in a process called mummification. Mummification is a process that an important man in Egypt had to go through before going into the afterlife. The afterlife was very important to the Egyptians because they believed in second chances in life. Osiris and Anubis would judge an individual s heart to the feather of Ma’at. If the heart outweighed the feather, then Ammut would devour the heart, condemning the individual to oblivion (Book of the Dead, Pinedjem II). The Hymn of the Nile was written in 2100 BCE by a man named Khety. The Hymn of the Nile refers to the Egyptian religion and the relationship to the Nile. It states that the Egyptians appreciated what the Nile has done with the food. By the flooding the Nile has done, it has made the soil rich to plant crops. It is said that the Nile is flooded every year because that same day, Isis lost Osiris to death. If it was not for the Nile River, the Egyptians could not have made a civilization because they had no food (Hymn of the Nile, Khety). The Story of Ra is the creation story of the Egyptians. It is about Ra’s different names and how he created the world.; â€Å"I am Khepera at the dawn, and Ra at noon, and Atum in the evening†. When he spoke other names, they came into existence. â€Å"He first passed across the sky and set for the first day. Then he named Shu, and the first winds blew;Show MoreRelatedThe Nile Is Unknown1219 Words   |  5 Pagesproperly analyze the meaning of the texts, it is necessary to recognize the background of the source. The author of Hymn to the Nile is unknown, but a reader can conclude that the writer is most likely an Egyptian. The Egyptian praises the Nile for the purpose of sharing the wonders of the Nile. He presents his argument to the Egyptians in the form of a poetic praise or hymn, stating that the Nile is â€Å"the creator of all good things† and supplies food for them such as fish and crops. Upon reading the paperRead MoreDeath and Afterlife in Ancient Egyptian Society and the Mesopotamian Society746 Words   |  3 Pagesreliable Nile for constant irrigation as well as a location that was almost impossible to invade. Egyptians didn’t have to deal with warfare for some two thousand years. The Nile’s annual flood was so predictable that it provided the moisture needed to sustain life. (Hause, 2001, pg. 11) An example of how important the Nile was can be seen in â€Å"Hymn to the Nile.† This hymn praises the Nile as well as the gods of the Nile. They received such great praise for its abundance since this the Nile wasRead MoreComparing Religious And Political Authority Of Early Civilizations1352 Words   |  6 Pageshuman society, whereby a high level of culture and science, as well as industry and government has been attained. This paper compares civilization in the line of authority, both in religious and political spheres among the three groups; Mesopotamia, Nile in Egypt and Indus Valley (Mahenjodaro and Harrapa) in India. Mesopotamia Political organization The name Mesopotamia is derived from a Greek word that means the land between two rivers identified as Euphrates and Tigris in this case. Much of it isRead MoreThe Myths Of Ancient Egypt And The Near East1554 Words   |  7 Pagesfear into a world full of beauty, Hamilton contends, and this imitates a deep sagacity of humanism and even intention amongst the primordial Greeks. This is further explored in the myths involving Persephone in the Homeric Hymns. Persephone is Zeus’ daughter in this particular hymn, Persephone is on the brink of adulthood, and she is standing in a flowery field looking on fleek on the cusp of getting married. Hades approaches on his chariot, and snatches her and takes her to the underworld. DemeterRead MoreMyths And Poems Of Mesopotamia And Egypt920 Words   |  4 Pagesreptiles and vegetation. Water, wind, sky, warmth, and anything that one may perceive has a god that creates this. â€Å"Hymn to the Nile† shows us the importance of the Nile to the people, and the understanding that the Nile nourishes all. Very different from the stark, desert landscape of the Mesopotamians; the Egyptians enjoy cattle, orchards, corn, barley and fish all sustained through the Nile. Their life is easier and calmer than the life of the Mesopotamians, which I assume gives rise to the kinder opinionRead MoreAncient Egypt And Ancient Egyptian Culture2322 Words   |  10 PagesRevolution. Their civilisation was situated adjacent to the Nile River. Evidently, this allowed for the ancient Egyptians to transition into an agricultural lifestyle with relative ease, as stated by Marc Van De Mieroop â€Å"wherever its waters reaches the soil can be farmed; where it does not reach the earth is parched and it is impossible to grow anything on it.† This subsequently allowed the ancient Egyptians to begin farming with relative ease as the Nile River stretched some 6500 kilometres, which is moreRead MoreThe Influence of Geography and the Enviro nment On the Development of Early Civilization 790 Words   |  4 Pagesthe banks of the Nile River, which overflowed on a regular timetable, provided the necessary nutrients to the normally dry desert soil, allowing the people to build a thriving empire that lasted over 3000 years. This overflowing and irrigation of the river regulated Egyptian farming, and allowed for specialization within the society. (Chavalas, 42) The people of Egypt recognized this, and there are many places in their writings where they thank the gods for gifting them with the Nile: for example,Read MoreMesopotamia and Egypt Essay1125 Words   |  5 PagesEgypt, on the other hand, was centered on the dependable Nile. The rich and fertile soil of the Nile Valley provided agricultural wealth. Even though the river was known to flood yearly the Egyptians had no reason to fear it. It helped them predict nature and they began to use this knowledge to their benefit. Since the Nile Valley was surrounded by des erts and the Red Sea, Egypt was free relatively free from foreign invasions. The Nile was also used for travel in their civilization. Read More The History of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt Essay1323 Words   |  6 Pagesastrology and astronomy, and even created a lunar calendar. The early cities of Mesopotamia fell from one warlord to another, and were constantly changing, unlike the kingdoms of Ancient Egypt that kept its stability. The Egyptians lived along the Nile River, which probably made it easier to govern the people. The King was the owner and ruler of all Egypt and was considered a god by the people. The economy was a royal monopoly, the peoples duties was to serve the King. In the old Kingdom the EgyptiansRead MoreEgyptian Art and Religious Influences1461 Words   |  6 Pagesof religion and its famous aspect of afterlife. Two art forms are included to demonstrate that religion influenced Egyptian art. The two art forms that will be analyzed in this excerpt are The Tomb of Seti I, and pyramid texts such as The Cannibal Hymn. Egyptian Art and Religious Influences â€Å"The art of Egypt is heavily influenced by spiritual and religious ideas and culture that extends back thousands of years† (Dagan, 2008). The Egyptians wrote their history and painted images