Benjamin+Shipp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghengis_Khan
 * __Assignment #1 My Hero__ **
 * Joseph Campbell defines a hero as,"someone who dedicates their life to something better than themselves." Ghengis Khan, who was called leader by over one million people at the peak of his empire, certainly fulfills this, and many other requirements of a hero. Like so many fictional heroes before him, Temujin had a humble beginning. His father was murdered and his tribe abandoned him, forcing him and his family into a life where their only quest was survival. When he was seventeen his wife Borte was stolen by the Merkid tribe. He set out on his quest, not originally knowing the power he would one day wield from it, but to get his wife back. After defeating the Merkid, Khan was visited by a man from a rival tribe who pledged loyalty to him after supposedly hearing from a talking ox that the gods had decided Temujin would be ruler of the earth. Khan slowly gained power and though his journey he faced three trials. The Tatars, the Keirat, and the Naiman where the three strongest tribes in the Mongolian Steppe. They were all more powerful than Khan's forces, but he defeated them through trickery and divine help.Before a large battle with the Tatars near Lake Balijuna he ordered all of his men to create three fires, miles apart. His forces appeared much larger in numbers than they ****actually were, leading to Genghis's victory.While fighting an arranged battle against the Naiman, dramatically being led by his childhood blood brother, his shamans put on a show of sacrifices and chanting. Stories of the battle say that the thunder was incredible, leading many Naiman soldiers to desert, fearing that the gods where against them.Finally in one of his greatest strikes against the Kerait, he sent a peace offering. As soon as they laid down their defenses he attacked during a feast, killing many commanders. Eventually he prevailed in his quest and united the Mongolian steppe and many more lands under his rule. Though some of the records of his life must be fabricated for the sake of a good legend, most aspects of his live followed the stereotypical definition of a hero.**

__**Assignment #2 The Golden** **Age**__
 * A Golden Age tailored specifically to me would have to be constantly changing to keep me interested. Even if there are some struggles I could not bear to be trapped in that kind of limbo. The idea of this type of idyllic, **** idle society would be appealing to the people who wrote these myths, who were more than likely struggling to survive on a frequent basis, but no struggles, no change would be a never ending hell. **

__//Assignment # 3 The God Teacher.......Gifts//__
Many gifts that I have received, while not from gods have had profound impacts on my life. One of these gifts that has produced both positive and negative impacts on my life was a video game, "Civilization 5". While I have enjoyed the time I spent playing this gift, that time could have been spent on things that while I wouldn't enjoy, I would enjoy the consequences of. When given a choice between short term and long term benefits, it is easy to make the wrong decision. The other double edged gift I received was on the opposite end of the spectrum, a good education. While the benefits obviously outweigh the struggles, they are still difficult to overcome. These gifts are not burning me, or teaching me to kill, but they give me a responsibility that I could terribly mismanage, and that is terrifying.

__**//Assignment #4 End of Childhood//**__ A big part of paradise is not only optimal external conditions but also internal conditions. If you think the wrong way you can go down a path of self-destruction with no turning back. These emotions of fear, guilt and confusion can be prevented by one thing; security. Last year the trend of school shootings made me realize something, while unlikely, today could be my last. I lost a level of security, and therefore a level of childhood.

//__**Assignment #5 The Cataracts of Heaven**__// Fire and brimstone flow from the sky Ash and fear prevail over peaceful blue But I know that I should fell fine Because theres nothing I can do The battle is over To the loser go the shame But I will sit here in a moment of bliss Instead of a pile of blame A flower in a wasteland Brought on by our sin and hubris

Assignment #8 A Human Year
Cold weather, Christmas, and plenty of break time all come in Winter, the greatest season of all. Atlanta weather can't be flexible. We get pollen in spring, unrelenting heat and humidity in the summer, and endless waves of mosquito's in the fall. The one break we get is winter. Temperature can determined by the wearer of clothes, and we get just enough snow that you still want it but it doesn't annoy you. There is a reason so many events occur in winter. Even though Christmas means church at all kinds of ridiculous times It is a great time to visit relatives and receive gifts, and a generous break. In the past winter was associated with death and suffering, but with modern conveniences and technologies it is a great time

Assignment 9 Evaluation
In all of the myths that we read the problems that they faced are parts of human life that we face too. It seems like this is due to the fact that humanity is so futile that in thousands of years our weapons improved infinitely but we still have these same flaws that hurt us, but I thought of a different explanation. All of the myths were about people ding bad, and being punished by the watchdog gods. Now we see a different theme in our stories. All of our modern stories are about overcoming our imperfections which shows how much we have changed. At least now we want to fix our imperfection and see it as the enemy. We are our own watchdog and punisher. I also drew a connection between the gods of their time and the superheroes of our time. Our modern gods do not portray human qualities and are thus usually qualify to wield there amazing powers. Most superheroes however are humans, and have to use their powers responsibly against great temptation. They have pantheons of good and evil and must battle to save or harm mankind.