Legs loaded like a pair of springs. Sweat beading off my brow. My heart is beating 1,000 times a minute in anticipation of hearing the sheer sound of a gun blast. Nothing in the world can compare to the adrenaline rush of seeing over 4,000 screaming fans on their feet cheering a group of young, athletic boys to victory. Only four of us will move on, leaving three to go home with nothing to show for the brutal efforts it took to get here. As I hear the gunfire, the adrenaline rushes through my mind as though I were in some sort of delusional daydream. Simple experiences such as the events of a track meet can trigger emotions of fear and disbelief.
I ponder to think of the possibility of war in our world today. With the events that have taken place within the past few years, my mind slowly drifts into a state of consciousness beyond the normality of everyday life. To face the fact that I could be chosen to fight for and protect my country creates fear and confusion within my heart. Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “I prefer the most unjust peace to the justest war that was ever waged.” Cicero, who lived from 106 to 143 B.C., was both a Roman orator and statesman. In this quote I believe Cicero was saying that he would rather have peace with little freedoms than any type of war. It is admirable to know that Cicero had the same feelings of disgust with war as many men of his age have today. Cicero’s extensive philosophical interest led him to author several classic philosophical works. He felt that the Greeks had already exhausted the possible methods for the pursuit of truth. The originality if his ideas lie in their combination and not their components.
Throughout
the history of mankind, many civilizations have been established through force
rather than will. If a person were
to research every culture’s history, they would find at least one type of
forceful takeover. Even the United
States can be found guilty of this crime. “History
teaches us that when a barbarian race confronts a sleeping culture, the
barbarian always wins.” The
author of this quote, Arnold Toynbee, was an English historian. As a professor at the University of London and the Royal
Institute of International Affairs, Toynbee held positions with the British
Foreign Office. He is best known
for his 12-volume A Study of History, which put forward a philosophy of
history, based on an analysis of the development and decline of 26 civilizations
throughout the world. In this
quote, Toynbee compares a sleeping culture to an overconfident nation.
The United States was once asleep to the possibility of an attack on
American soil. Barbarians of a
terrorist group escalated panic and hatred within our free world society.
Every
human nationality has the natural desire to survive and be the dominant culture.
A man by the name of Adolf Hitler is best known for his barbaric
tendencies. He once said, “The
one means that wins the easiest victory over reason: terror/and force.”
Even though many horrid events have taken place within the past few
years, this statement can easily be proven wrong.
Terror and force are only administered in those who posses a weak heart.
The strong are those who stand up for themselves and fight.
America is a good example of being strong.
Instead of cowering in our homes, Americans united together to fight
against the terror inflicted on our great nation.
The
finish line grabs at my attention as the daydream in which I am involved
concludes itself. My will to win is
at its highest as I listen to the noise of my competitors.
Their presence is felt, but my confidence overthrows my doubts in
finishing last. I know now with a
few more steps my victory will become reality.
If my greatest efforts are put forth, the possibility of losing is
inevitable. As I lean to break the
string, my step is mislaid, and with a clumsy crash, pieces of flesh rip away
from my face and arms. Looking up
from the ground, I watch as the other runners pass me by.
The cuts and bruises of the fall can be healed, but the scarring of my
pride will forever be imbedded in my heart.
The United States has been ahead of the race for many years,
but when it comes to the facts, our competitors are only a few steps behind us.
One little stumble during the race will not stop us.
Loss will only make us strive to be better and surpass our opponents.