I sit here and watch as the Vikings come sweeping down stream in their boats of dragon. I see women and other children flee from areas closest to the water, to take shelter in their houses from the incoming threat. As the boats of floating death come nearer, I see that it is not just one, but two boats floating down the river. Panic is flowing through my quiet little village, with the men, and those old enough to attempt to defend the village scrambling to get whatever potential weapon they can and preparing to fight. I my oldest brother rushes past me with our fathers sword, I stop him, I know this will be the last time I should have any communication with him, he cant fight, he has only ever held that sword once, and has never even practiced swordplay with a stick and a tree. Before I can say anything an elder man yells at him to come outside and form a battle line. My mother rushes inside with tears welling in her eyes, but I can also see fear and anxiousness. She hides what little valuables as best she can before coming over to me and attempting to shield my view of what is happening down by the shores.
By the time I can negotiate my position so I can see what is happening, the Vikings have already landed and are on their way up the hill towards our defence and my brother. As the first wave comes through the barrier of men, I see the brother slice down a Viking warrior before being knocked to the ground by another one. I close my eyes and tuck my head into my mothers embrace. She must have been watching as I feel her squeeze me tighter, let out a little scream, and the start crying onto the top of my head. I dare not look for fear of seeing him lying dead on the ground, head cleaved in half by a Viking battle axe. I can hear noise and the screaming of women and children, and the sound of breaking ceramics in the houses close to us, and know our time will come soon. The sound of wood and reeds being cracked in two by a large Viking shield is not a sound that you want to hear, though it didn't last for long however, as my mother screams as a large set of arms comes between us to drag her away from me.
“Don’t hurt my boy”. I hear her scream.
I open my eyes to see her being dragged by her hair out the door, I yell after her and get up to run after her, but as I go to get up, I feel a hand placed on my shoulder, and a point of cold steel, warm with the blood of my townspeople, pierce the skin of my back, before forcing its way through me. I look down to see a metal tip, shiny with my blood poke its way through the skin of my stomach, as I scream, my stomach muscles contract, sending waves of unbearable pain throughout my body, it was at this point the sword is withdrawn from me, sliding with ease through the soft flesh that was me. I black out and fall, landing in a pool of my blood that had already collected on the floor beneath me. That is where I lay, slowly bleeding out into a peaceful oblivion.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Ten Years On
It has been 10 years since the events of September 11, and the effects are still being felt around the world.
9/11 is possibly the darkest day in America's more recent history. It was the day that the entire world stopped and saw that America was under attack from an enemy that was known, but not overly acknowledged. It was a time of panic and distress in the States, as well as for its allies.
However, despite the hugely detrimental effect these attacks have had on the confidence and security of the United States, the over all out come is slowly becoming more and more positive for themselves as well as the rest of the world. It's War on Terror has led to the uniting of multiple countries against the common enemy of Al-queda, and any other terrorist group, as well as the death of Al-queda's major ringleader, Osama Bin-laden earlier this year.
Any positive or negative results that may have come from this, it has put the United States in a considerable amount of debt, due to the high amount of money that has been invested in the war on terror, several trillion dollars, as well as the deaths of many soldiers of the US and her Allies. The War on Terror has also been a big discussion point, as many feel that in 10 years that the war has accomplished nothing but debt and death, and want troops to be pulled out of the war. Which in Iraq has been the case with a substantial percentage of US troops brought home or being cross posted to Afghanistan. Where as others feel that in order to create world peace, every last terrorist must be found and killed, and their belief is that even more troops should be sent to Afghan, and other middle-eastern countries. So for this all of its success, the War on Terror has been unsuccessful due to the high monetary cost, as well as the cost of many lives, as well as increasing anti-US sentiment in middle-eastern/ Muslim countries due to the US's in the government and issues of these countries.
The aftermath of 9/11 has led to increased airport security of every airport anywhere, as well as increased vigilance of suspect terrorist activities and suspects, while teaching us to value life in its fullest, as you never know when some radical group of people trying to prove a point, will come in and take it everything away from you.
9/11 is possibly the darkest day in America's more recent history. It was the day that the entire world stopped and saw that America was under attack from an enemy that was known, but not overly acknowledged. It was a time of panic and distress in the States, as well as for its allies.
However, despite the hugely detrimental effect these attacks have had on the confidence and security of the United States, the over all out come is slowly becoming more and more positive for themselves as well as the rest of the world. It's War on Terror has led to the uniting of multiple countries against the common enemy of Al-queda, and any other terrorist group, as well as the death of Al-queda's major ringleader, Osama Bin-laden earlier this year.
Any positive or negative results that may have come from this, it has put the United States in a considerable amount of debt, due to the high amount of money that has been invested in the war on terror, several trillion dollars, as well as the deaths of many soldiers of the US and her Allies. The War on Terror has also been a big discussion point, as many feel that in 10 years that the war has accomplished nothing but debt and death, and want troops to be pulled out of the war. Which in Iraq has been the case with a substantial percentage of US troops brought home or being cross posted to Afghanistan. Where as others feel that in order to create world peace, every last terrorist must be found and killed, and their belief is that even more troops should be sent to Afghan, and other middle-eastern countries. So for this all of its success, the War on Terror has been unsuccessful due to the high monetary cost, as well as the cost of many lives, as well as increasing anti-US sentiment in middle-eastern/ Muslim countries due to the US's in the government and issues of these countries.
The aftermath of 9/11 has led to increased airport security of every airport anywhere, as well as increased vigilance of suspect terrorist activities and suspects, while teaching us to value life in its fullest, as you never know when some radical group of people trying to prove a point, will come in and take it everything away from you.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
The Middle Ages-Dark or Not?
The Middle Ages were a time of barbaric leaders trying to take western Europe for themselves. How ever I believe that this was a time that can be credited with a lot of modern thinking.
For example, the middle ages were a time that brought out Christianity as the prominent religion of the time. That prominence has continued through to today with almost all regions of the world still practising this religion to some extent. It also gave an excuse for the leaders of the independent nations to increase their lands and rule, with out seeming like blood-thirsty murderers, rather as warriors of faith. While providing the hope for eternal peace after death.
Nations rose and fell during this time, with the ones coming out on top progressing in the struggle of time, of life and land. It was at these times that many of modern day's country names are derived from, and many of today's border somewhat similar to that which were held in the middle ages.
This was also the time of knights, albeit late on in the middle ages, that are perhaps the most notable and instantly recognisable of the time. Slightly romanticised they may be, pictured in shining armour, riding a proud looking horse into battle for king and country, these knights would have been something of an icon to small townspeople, something to look up to and dream of being.
So therefore, I believe that despite the term 'dark ages' that some have given the time period, I believe that the middle ages were a time that Europe needed to have in order to progress in culture and civilisation. As per the saying "One step forward, Two steps back".
For example, the middle ages were a time that brought out Christianity as the prominent religion of the time. That prominence has continued through to today with almost all regions of the world still practising this religion to some extent. It also gave an excuse for the leaders of the independent nations to increase their lands and rule, with out seeming like blood-thirsty murderers, rather as warriors of faith. While providing the hope for eternal peace after death.
Nations rose and fell during this time, with the ones coming out on top progressing in the struggle of time, of life and land. It was at these times that many of modern day's country names are derived from, and many of today's border somewhat similar to that which were held in the middle ages.
This was also the time of knights, albeit late on in the middle ages, that are perhaps the most notable and instantly recognisable of the time. Slightly romanticised they may be, pictured in shining armour, riding a proud looking horse into battle for king and country, these knights would have been something of an icon to small townspeople, something to look up to and dream of being.
So therefore, I believe that despite the term 'dark ages' that some have given the time period, I believe that the middle ages were a time that Europe needed to have in order to progress in culture and civilisation. As per the saying "One step forward, Two steps back".
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