Because We Had No Choice
Recently, on the National Public Radio syndicated show “ This American Life”, hosted by Ira Glass, one of the segments involved a reporter going on assignment at an elementary school. One Kindergarten teacher had come up with the radical idea that the word “no” should be banned in the classroom. Children shouldn't say “no” be it when another child asks if they can join a game or if they can share a snack or anything. After the teacher thought of banning the term, she asked the class for their opinion. Kindergartens are supposed to be malleable in their beliefs and ideas, but these kindergartens would not have it. They strongly opposed the ban on the word, those who actually actively said the word sited that it would be highly unfair if they couldn't reject those they didn't like and the children who always heard the word directed at them were already so cynical that they felt that it was completely pointless, the children who reject them will always reject them and some silly ban wont stop it. It is how life works. In a perfect world, it would be nice to prove that these Kindergarten's are wrong, people should always strive to maintain kindness, being cruel and rejecting others is not simply “How life works”. Unfortunately, however, similar ideas have been proved all throughout history. And one particularly prevalent period was that of the Anglo Saxons. After the Romans fell, the world had fallen into chaos and violence and the Anglo Saxons are the people who survived it. The theme of Anglo Saxon was that violence was a necessary evil, as can be seen in their epic poem Beowulf. In the poem, emphasis on the values of heroism and vengeance are used to reveal how violent the Anglo Saxons were forced to be in order to protect themselves in a treacherous world.
First of all, the value of heroism is used to reveal how violence is essential for living in a fearful world. Initially, this can be seen in how Hrothgar greets Beowulf on his...