Religion Hinduism and Islam Essay - 1277 Words

Hinduism and Islam are two largely practiced religions, specifically in India and the subcontinents. Both Hinduism and Islam have unique practices and traditions, which can vary depending on the town, region or people. They share a common belief in a supreme god, that being either Brahma or Allah respectively. The traditions differ on the central texts used, as well as differences in the process of reaching the afterlife and basic beliefs. Although, Hinduism might be regarded by some as a polytheistic religion in its most basic form Hinduism is based around one deity. The Brahma is the god that all of the other gods are derived from and each god is a manifestation of the one being. There are four other main deities, aside from Brahma,†¦show more content†¦Allah is the creator of everything and is held in the highest regard for Islamic people. Although there is one god, there are a multitude of prophets who bring the word of God to the Muslim people much like the multiple de ities who come from Brahma. It is believed that God sent multiple prophets to tell of the last and most significant prophet, Muhammad. These prophets also preached the Oneness of God and would tell followers to avoid sin. Muhammad, who is believed to be a prophet of God, is considered the last prophet sent by god to the Muslim people. Muhammad is believed to have brought the word of God through the Qur’an. The Prophets’ life started in Mecca where he grew up orphaned. During his life, specifically in the month of Ramadan, he would spend time in a cave outside Mecca where he originally received revelations about the sacred text. Originally Muhammad found little success preaching God’s word but eventually gained a following of Muslim people, which would turn into the tradition it is today. Although their belief in a supreme god aligns in both Islam and Hinduism, the traditions differ on the texts used centrally in each practice. The Veda, written between 1750 B CE and 600 BCE are ancient scriptures, which are the sacred texts of Hinduism. One of the forms the Veda is the Shruti, which is â€Å"that which was heard† and the other form is the Vedir seers or Rishis which means â€Å"saw†. The Veda is split into fourShow MoreRelatedThe Religions Of Islam, Hinduism, And Buddhism1241 Words   |  5 Pages Religion and politics are quite interwoven into society both in the developed world as well as in the developing world. This paper will discuss the major religions of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism and how these faiths connect to politics of nations. Islam has always been a very mixed within state and society as a whole, with no true line between church and state. Islam began in the Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, and is the second largest religion in the worldRead MoreReligion : Hinduism, Islam, And Christianity1079 Words   |  5 PagesReligion is known as having a deep relationship with a supreme being or thing. Also, to believe in them with the extent of worship and to follow their practices. A few of the main religions over time have been Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. These three religions consist of ideas and practices that may be very different, but are made up of the same general idea expressed in a new form. Although their main differences, each religion seeks one thing, and that s an afterlife. Most religions areRead MoreWorld Religion : Judaism, Hinduism, And Islam Essay1391 Words   |  6 PagesWorld Religion At first glance and hearing about, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam these five religions-look and sound a lot alike. Each one was founded and developed by mankind, follow a list of religious principles and directives to live by, and they all share the same consciousness of wrong doings being reconciled. Because anyone can strike up a new religion at any time, however, religion cannot be judged on how it looks or sounds. As a comparison we will see just how differentRead MoreHinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, And Religion1531 Words   |  7 PagesHinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism these are the different types of religions that exist in our society. Religion is a prominent part of most people s lives in our contemporary world. Religion is a cultural system, in this system, there are different beliefs that are normally unique to the religion. In most religions, there is a belief in spiritual beings also known as God. Many people around the world practice their religion by following what is expected of them according to historyRead MoreThe Five Major Religions : Hinduism, Christianity, And Islam868 Words   |  4 Pagesall religions are true and that they are only different routes to God or the Real to find salvation. The religions have same similarities and some areas of conflict that Hick explain with his theory of Pluralism. Pluralism is when more than one religion is true. In the last section of the essay, Hick explain the move of Christians from being exclusive to inclusive. In this period of globalization and diversity, Pluralism is the way communities with different cultures, traditions, and religions manageRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism942 Words   |  4 PagesCCOT Essay Hinduism and Buddhism were both founded and popular in northern India by 600 CE. Although Hinduism and the Hindu caste system maintained a strong influence in South Asia throughout 600-1750 CE, the Hindu majority eventually gave way as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and syncretic faiths gradually moved in and across the Indian Ocean basin by 1750 CE. Even then, Hinduism did spread from northern India through southern India to Southeast Asia. The caste system was maintained from 600-1750Read MoreAnalysis of Hinduism and Islam651 Words   |  3 Pages Amongst the various religions practice are Islam and Hinduism. Both of these religions are widely practiced by people who believe in the same ideals or concepts. These separate religions are similar to one another, but also contrasting. Common themes can be found between Hinduism and Islam, but the differences are predominant as well. Those who practice Islam are typically Arabic and are called Muslim’s. This practice is based off of the text called the Qur’an. The Qur’an is a bible of sorts toRead MoreDifferences Between Hinduism And Islam924 Words   |  4 PagesHinduism and Islam are two of the world’s great religions however, they differ in many regards including their beliefs in god, their ethical beliefs and the afterlife in fact, it would be quite difficult to find to two religions more different then Islam and Hinduism. One major difference is in their belief in god, Muslims are steadfastly monotheistic where Hindus are very much polytheistic. Another key difference is their views on the afterlife Hindus believe in reincarnation, whereas Muslims believeRead MoreDifferences Between Islam And Hinduism1280 Words   |  6 Pages Islam and Hinduism are both very large, popular world religions. Although the two religions have some common ground, there are many distinct differences between the two religions. Many of the differences are centered around two major beliefs. The two major beliefs are the means of salvation and the number of Gods the followers of the religions worship and believe in. Religions often answer questions about spiritual life. A question that is often asked is, â€Å"What happens after death?† Many peopleRead MoreIslam, Hinduism, Buddhism And Christianity Comparison1025 Words   |  5 PagesPractices of Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity Comparison Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity developed centuries ago and have been practiced since then to today. Groups of people who practice these religions are bound to the conventional norms, beliefs, cultures and way of life of each. Each religion has a particular faith in a supreme being (Woodhead, Partridge Kawanami, 2016). Muslims believe in Allah, Christians believe in Jesus Christ, Hindus believe in

The Lost Symbol Chapter 71-75 Free Essays

string(71) " a side door of the Adams Building and out into the cold winter night\." CHAPTER 71 Mal’akh stood naked in the billowing warmth of his steam shower. He felt pure again, having washed off the last remaining scent of ethanol. As the eucalyptus-infused vapors permeated his skin, he could feel his pores opening to the heat. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Symbol Chapter 71-75 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then he began his ritual. First, he rubbed depilatory chemicals across his tattooed body and scalp, removing any traces of body hair. Hairless were the gods of the seven islands of Heliades. Then he massaged Abramelin oil into his softened and receptive flesh. Abramelin is the sacred oil of the great Magi. Then he turned his shower lever hard to the left, and the water turned ice cold. He stood beneath the frigid water for a full minute to close his pores and trap the heat and energy within his core. The cold served as a reminder of the icy river in which this transformation had begun. When he stepped from the shower, he was shivering, but within seconds, his core heat emanated up through his layers of flesh and warmed him. Mal’akh’s insides felt like a furnace. He stood naked before the mirror and admired his form . . . perhaps the last time he would see himself as a mere mortal. His feet were the talons of a hawk. His legs–Boaz and Jachin–were the ancient pillars of wisdom. His hips and abdomen were the archways of mystical power. Hanging beneath the archway, his massive sex organ bore the tattooed symbols of his destiny. In another life, this heavy shaft of flesh had been his source of carnal pleasure. But no longer. I have been purified. Like the mystical eunuch monks of Katharoi, Mal’akh had removed his testicles. He had sacrificed his physical potency for a more worthy one. Gods have no gender. Having shed the human imperfection of gender along with the earthly pull of sexual temptation, Mal’akh had become like Ouranos, Attis, Sporus, and the great castrati magicians of Arthurian legend. Every spiritual metamorphosis is preceded by a physical one. Such was the lesson of all the great gods . . . from Osiris, to Tammuz, to Jesus, to Shiva, to the Buddha himself. I must shed the man who clothes me. Abruptly, Mal’akh drew his gaze upward, past the double-headed phoenix on his chest, past the collage of ancient sigils adorning his face, and directly to the top of his head. He tipped his head toward the mirror, barely able to see the circle of bare flesh that waited there. This location on the body was sacred. Known as the fontanel, it was the one area of the human skull that remained open at birth. An oculus to the brain. Although this physiological portal closes within a matter of months, it remains a symbolic vestige of the lost connection between the outer and inner worlds. Mal’akh studied the sacred patch of virginal skin, which was enclosed by the crownlike circle of an ouroboros–a mystical snake devouring its own tail. The bare flesh seemed to stare back at him . . . bright with promise. Robert Langdon soon would uncover the great treasure that Mal’akh required. Once Mal’akh possessed it, the void on top of his head would be filled, and he would at last be prepared for his final transformation. Mal’akh padded across his bedroom and took from his bottom drawer a long strip of white silk. As he had done many times before, he wrapped it around his groin and buttocks. Then he went downstairs. In his office, his computer had received an e-mail message. It was from his contact: WHAT YOU REQUIRE IS NOW WITHIN REACH. I WILL CONTACT YOU WITHIN THE HOUR. PATIENCE. Mal’akh smiled. It was time to make final preparations. CHAPTER 72 The CIA field agent was in a foul mood as he descended from the reading-room balcony. Bellamy lied to us. The agent had seen no heat signatures whatsoever upstairs near the Moses statue, nor anywhere else upstairs for that matter. So where the hell did Langdon go? The agent retraced his steps now to the only place they’d spotted any heat signatures at all–the library’s distribution hub. He descended the stairs again, moving beneath the octagonal console. The noise of the rumbling conveyors was grating. Advancing into the space, he flipped down his thermal goggles and scanned the room. Nothing. He looked toward the stacks, where the mangled door still showed hot from the explosion. Other than that, he saw no– Holy shit! The agent jumped back as an unexpected luminescence drifted into his field of vision. Like a pair of ghosts, the dimly glowing imprints of two humanoids had just emerged from the wall on a conveyor belt. Heat signatures. Stunned, the agent watched as the two apparitions circled the room on the conveyor loop and then disappeared headfirst into a narrow hole in the wall. They rode the conveyor out? That’s insanity. In addition to realizing they had just lost Robert Langdon through a hole in the wall, the field agent was now aware that he had another problem. Langdon’s not alone? He was just about to switch on his transceiver and call the team leader, but the team leader beat him to it. â€Å"All points, we’ve got an abandoned Volvo on the plaza in front of the library. Registered to one Katherine Solomon. Eyewitness says she entered the library not long ago. We suspect she’s with Robert Langdon. Director Sato has ordered that we find them both immediately.† â€Å"I’ve got heat signatures for both of them!† shouted the field agent in the distribution room. He explained the situation. â€Å"For Christ’s sake!† the team leader replied. â€Å"Where the hell does the conveyor go?† The field agent was already consulting the employee reference schematic on the bulletin board. â€Å"Adams Building,† he replied. â€Å"One block from here.† â€Å"All points. Redirect to the Adams Building! NOW!† CHAPTER 73 Sanctuary. Answers. The words echoed in Langdon’s mind as he and Katherine burst through a side door of the Adams Building and out into the cold winter night. You read "The Lost Symbol Chapter 71-75" in category "Essay examples" The mysterious caller had conveyed his location cryptically, but Langdon had understood. Katherine’s reaction to their destination had been surprisingly sanguine: Where better to find One True God? Now the question was how to get there. Langdon spun in place, trying to get his bearings. It was dark, but thankfully the weather had cleared. They were standing in a small courtyard. In the distance, the Capitol Dome looked startlingly far away, and Langdon realized this was the first moment he had stepped outside since arriving at the Capitol several hours ago. So much for my lecture. â€Å"Robert, look.† Katherine pointed toward the silhouette of the Jefferson Building. Langdon’s first reaction on seeing the building was astonishment that they had traveled so far underground on a conveyor belt. His second reaction, however, was alarm. The Jefferson Building was now abuzz with activity–trucks and cars pulling in, men shouting. Is that a searchlight? Langdon grabbed Katherine’s hand. â€Å"Come on.† They ran northeast across the courtyard, quickly disappearing from view behind an elegant U- shaped building, which Langdon realized was the Folger Shakespeare Library. This particular building seemed appropriate camouflage for them tonight, as it housed the original Latin manuscript of Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis, the utopian vision on which the American forefathers had allegedly modeled a new world based on ancient knowledge. Even so, Langdon would not be stopping. We need a cab. They arrived at the corner of Third Street and East Capitol. The traffic was sparse, and Langdon felt fading hope as he scanned for taxis. He and Katherine hurried northward on Third Street, putting distance between themselves and the Library of Congress. It was not until they had gone an entire block that Langdon finally spotted a cab rounding the corner. He flagged it down, and the cab pulled over. Middle Eastern music played on his radio, and the young Arab driver gave them a friendly smile. â€Å"Where to?† the driver asked as they jumped into the car. â€Å"We need to go to–â€Å" â€Å"Northwest!† Katherine interjected, pointing up Third Street away from the Jefferson Building. â€Å"Drive toward Union Station, then left on Massachusetts Avenue. We’ll tell you when to stop.† The driver shrugged, closed the Plexiglas divider, and turned his music back on. Katherine shot Langdon an admonishing look as if to say: â€Å"Leave no trail.† She pointed out the window, directing Langdon’s attention to a black helicopter that was skimming in low, approaching the area. Shit. Sato was apparently dead serious about recovering Solomon’s pyramid. As they watched the helicopter land between the Jefferson and Adams buildings, Katherine turned to him, looking increasingly worried. â€Å"Can I see your cell phone for a second?† Langdon handed her his phone. â€Å"Peter told me you have an eidetic memory?† she said, rolling down her window. â€Å"And that you remember every phone number you’ve ever dialed?† â€Å"That’s true, but–â€Å" Katherine hurled his phone out into the night. Langdon spun in his seat and watched as his cell phone cartwheeled and splintered into pieces on the pavement behind them. â€Å"Why did you do that!† â€Å"Off the grid,† Katherine said, her eyes grave. â€Å"This pyramid is our only hope of finding my brother, and I have no intention of letting the CIA steal it from us.† In the front seat, Omar Amirana bobbed his head and hummed along with his music. Tonight had been slow, and he felt blessed to finally have a fare. His cab was just passing Stanton Park, when the familiar voice of his company dispatcher crackled over the radio. â€Å"This is Dispatch. All vehicles in the area of the National Mall. We have just received a bulletin from government authorities regarding two fugitives in the area of the Adams Building . . .† Omar listened in amazement as Dispatch described the precise couple in his cab. He stole an uneasy glance in his rearview mirror. Omar had to admit, the tall guy did look familiar somehow. Did I see him on America’s Most Wanted? Gingerly, Omar reached for his radio handset. â€Å"Dispatch?† he said, speaking quietly into the transceiver. â€Å"This is cab one-three-four. The two people you asked about–they are in my cab . . . right now.† Dispatch immediately advised Omar what to do. Omar’s hands were trembling as he called the phone number Dispatch had given him. The voice that answered was tight and efficient, like that of a soldier. â€Å"This is Agent Turner Simkins, CIA field ops. Who is this?† â€Å"Um . . . I’m the taxi driver?† Omar said. â€Å"I was told to call about the two–â€Å" â€Å"Are the fugitives currently in your vehicle? Answer only yes or no.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Can they hear this conversation? Yes or no?† â€Å"No. The slider is–â€Å" â€Å"Where are you taking them?† â€Å"Northwest on Massachusetts.† â€Å"Specific destination?† â€Å"They didn’t say.† The agent hesitated. â€Å"Is the male passenger carrying a leather bag?† Omar glanced in the rearview mirror, and his eyes went wide. â€Å"Yes! That bag doesn’t have explosives or anything in–â€Å" â€Å"Listen carefully,† the agent said. â€Å"You are in no danger so long as you follow my directions exactly. Is that clear?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"What is your name?† â€Å"Omar,† he said, breaking a sweat. â€Å"Listen, Omar,† the man said calmly. â€Å"You’re doing great. I want you to drive as slowly as possible while I get my team out in front of you. Do you understand?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"Also, is your cab equipped with an intercom system so you can communicate with them in the backseat?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† â€Å"Good. Here’s what I want you to do.† CHAPTER 74 The Jungle, as it is known, is the centerpiece of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG)–America’s living museum–located adjacent to the U.S. Capitol Building. Technically a rain forest, the Jungle is housed in a towering greenhouse, complete with soaring rubber trees, strangler figs, and a canopy catwalk for more daring tourists. Normally, Warren Bellamy felt nurtured by the Jungle’s earthy smells and the sunlight glinting through the mist that filtered down from the vapor nozzles in the glass ceiling. Tonight, however, lit only by moonlight, the Jungle terrified him. He was sweating profusely, writhing against the cramps that now stabbed at his arms, still pinned painfully behind him. Director Sato paced before him, puffing calmly on her cigarette–the equivalent of ecoterrorism in this carefully calibrated environment. Her face looked almost demonic in the smoke-filled moonlight that streamed down through the glass ceiling overhead. â€Å"So then,† Sato continued, â€Å"when you arrived at the Capitol tonight, and you discovered that I was already there . . . you made a decision. Rather than making your presence known to me, you descended quietly into the SBB, where, at great risk to yourself, you attacked Chief Anderson and myself, and you helped Langdon escape with the pyramid and capstone.† She rubbed her shoulder. â€Å"An interesting choice.† A choice I would make again, Bellamy thought. â€Å"Where is Peter?† he demanded angrily. â€Å"How would I know?† Sato said. â€Å"You seem to know everything else!† Bellamy fired back at her, making no attempt to hide his suspicion that she was somehow behind all this. â€Å"You knew to go to the Capitol Building. You knew to find Robert Langdon. And you even knew to X-ray Langdon’s bag to find the capstone. Obviously, someone is giving you a lot of inside information.† Sato laughed coldly and stepped closer to him. â€Å"Mr. Bellamy, is that why you attacked me? Do you think I’m the enemy? Do you think I’m trying to steal your little pyramid?† Sato took a drag on her cigarette and blew the smoke out of her nostrils. â€Å"Listen carefully. No one understands better than I do the importance of keeping secrets. I believe, as you do, that there is certain information to which the masses should not be privy. Tonight, however, there are forces at work that I fear you have not yet grasped. The man who kidnapped Peter Solomon holds enormous power . . . a power that you apparently have yet to realize. Believe me, he is a walking time bomb . . . capable of initiating a series of events that will profoundly change the world as you know it.† â€Å"I don’t understand.† Bellamy shifted on the bench, his arms aching in his handcuffs. â€Å"You don’t need to understand. You need to obey. Right now, my only hope of averting a major disaster is to cooperate with this man . . . and to give him exactly what he wants. Which means, you are going to call Mr. Langdon and tell him to turn himself in, along with the pyramid and capstone. Once Langdon is in my custody, he will decrypt the pyramid’s inscription, obtain whatever information this man is demanding, and provide him with exactly what he wants.† The location of the spiral staircase that leads to the Ancient Mysteries? â€Å"I can’t do that. I’ve taken vows of secrecy.† Sato erupted. â€Å"I don’t give a damn what you’ve vowed, I will throw you in prison so fast–â€Å" â€Å"Threaten me all you like,† Bellamy said defiantly. â€Å"I will not help you.† Sato took a deep breath and spoke now in a fearsome whisper. â€Å"Mr. Bellamy, you have no idea what’s really going on tonight, do you?† The tense silence hung for several seconds, finally broken by the sound of Sato’s phone. She plunged her hand into her pocket and eagerly snatched it out. â€Å"Talk to me,† she answered, listening carefully to the reply. â€Å"Where is their taxi now? How long? Okay, good. Bring them to the U.S. Botanic Garden. Service entrance. And make sure you get me that god-damn pyramid and capstone.† Sato hung up and turned back to Bellamy with a smug smile. â€Å"Well then . . . it seems you’re fast outliving your usefulness.† CHAPTER 75 Robert Langdon stared blankly into space, feeling too tired to urge the slow-moving taxi driver to pick up the pace. Beside him, Katherine had fallen silent, too, looking frustrated by their lack of understanding of what made the pyramid so special. They had again been through everything they knew about the pyramid, the capstone, and the evening’s strange events; they still had no ideas as to how this pyramid could possibly be considered a map to anything at all. Jeova Sanctus Unus? The secret hides within The Order? Their mysterious contact had promised them answers if they could meet him at a specific place. A refuge in Rome, north of the Tiber. Langdon knew the forefathers’ â€Å"new Rome† had been renamed Washington early in her history, and yet vestiges of their original dream remained: the Tiber’s waters still flowed into the Potomac; senators still convened beneath a replica of St. Peter’s dome; and Vulcan and Minerva still watched over the Rotunda’s long-extinguished flame. The answers sought by Langdon and Katherine were apparently waiting for them just a few miles ahead. Northwest on Massachusetts Avenue. Their destination was indeed a refuge . . . north of Washington’s Tiber Creek. Langdon wished the driver would speed up. Abruptly, Katherine jolted upright in her seat, as if she had made a sudden realization. â€Å"Oh my God, Robert!† She turned to him, her face going white. She hesitated a moment and then spoke emphatically. â€Å"We’re going the wrong way!† â€Å"No, this is right,† Langdon countered. â€Å"It’s northwest on Massachu–â€Å" â€Å"No! I mean we’re going to the wrong place!† Langdon was mystified. He had already told Katherine how he knew what location was being described by the mysterious caller. It contains ten stones from Mount Sinai, one from heaven itself, and one with the visage of Luke’s dark father. Only one building on earth could make those claims. And that was exactly where this taxi was headed. â€Å"Katherine, I’m certain the location is correct.† â€Å"No!† she shouted. â€Å"We don’t need to go there anymore. I figured out the pyramid and capstone! I know what this is all about!† Langdon was amazed. â€Å"You understand it?† â€Å"Yes! We have to go to Freedom Plaza instead!† Now Langdon was lost. Freedom Plaza, although nearby, seemed totally irrelevant. â€Å"Jeova Sanctus Unus!† Katherine said. â€Å"The One True God of the Hebrews. The sacred symbol of the Hebrews is the Jewish star–the Seal of Solomon–an important symbol to the Masons!† She fished a dollar bill out of her pocket. â€Å"Give me your pen.† Bewildered, Langdon pulled a pen from his jacket. â€Å"Look.† She spread the bill out on her thigh and took his pen, pointing to the Great Seal on the back. â€Å"If you superimpose Solomon’s seal on the Great Seal of the United States . . .† She drew the symbol of a Jewish star precisely over the pyramid. â€Å"Look what you get!† Langdon looked down at the bill and then back at Katherine as if she were mad. â€Å"Robert, look more closely! Don’t you see what I’m pointing at?† He glanced back at the drawing. What in the world is she getting at? Langdon had seen this image before. It was popular among conspiracy theorists as â€Å"proof† that the Masons held secret influence over our early nation. When the six-pointed star was laid perfectly over the Great Seal of the United States, the star’s top vertex fit perfectly over the Masonic all-seeing eye . . . and, quite eerily, the other five vertices clearly pointed to the letters M-A-S-O-N. â€Å"Katherine, that’s just a coincidence, and I still don’t see how it has anything to do with Freedom Plaza.† â€Å"Look again!† she said, sounding almost angry now. â€Å"You’re not looking where I am pointing! Right there. Don’t you see it?† An instant later, Langdon saw it. CIA field-operations leader Turner Simkins stood outside the Adams Building and pressed his cell phone tightly to his ear, straining to hear the conversation now taking place in the back of the taxi. Something just happened. His team was about to board the modified Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter to head northwest and set up a roadblock, but now it seemed the situation had suddenly changed. Seconds ago, Katherine Solomon had begun insisting they were going to the wrong destination. Her explanation–something about the dollar bill and Jewish stars–made no sense to the team leader, nor, apparently, to Robert Langdon. At least at first. Now, however, Langdon seemed to have grasped her meaning. â€Å"My God, you’re right!† Langdon blurted. â€Å"I didn’t see it earlier!† Suddenly Simkins could hear someone banging on the driver’s divider, and then it slid open. â€Å"Change of plans,† Katherine shouted to the driver. â€Å"Take us to Freedom Plaza!† â€Å"Freedom Plaza?† the cabbie said, sounding nervous. â€Å"Not northwest on Massachusetts?† â€Å"Forget that!† Katherine shouted. â€Å"Freedom Plaza! Go left here! Here! HERE!† Agent Simkins heard the cab screeching around a corner. Katherine was talking excitedly again to Langdon, saying something about the famous bronze cast of the Great Seal embedded in the plaza. â€Å"Ma’am, just to confirm,† the cabbie’s voice interjected, sounding tense. â€Å"We’re going to Freedom Plaza–on the corner of Pennsylvania and Thirteenth?† â€Å"Yes!† Katherine said. â€Å"Hurry!† â€Å"It’s very close. Two minutes.† Simkins smiled. Nicely done, Omar. As he dashed toward the idling helicopter, he shouted to his team. â€Å"We’ve got them! Freedom Plaza! Move!† How to cite The Lost Symbol Chapter 71-75, Essay examples

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee free essay sample

Americans who have always looked westward when reading about this period should read this book facing eastward†. Despite the popularity of the eyewitness accounts, Brown is not an absentee narrator. In the book Brown emphasizes two main points, the language he uses and the storyline of the book. He uses these two things to give the eyewitness accounts as much impact as possible. In the process, he attempts to defile his enemy in all kinds of different manners: The way Brown makes his readers; view eastward is by using the faults that have plagued the Native Americans. Brown’s way of emphasizes language allows the readers to connect to the Native Americans and this allows the book to thrive and continue. This book differs from a lot of other books about Native Americans, because he uses many Native American interpretations. For example, the Sioux and Cheyenne’s frequently see trains pass through their land in the Powder River country. We will write a custom essay sample on Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Says Brown: ‘‘Sometimes they saw Iron Horses dragging wooden houses on wheels at great speed along the tracks . They were puzzled over what could be inside the houses. ’’ Brown uses the terms ‘‘Iron Horses’’ and ‘‘wooden houses’’ to describe trains and train cars, as a Native American at this time would have perceived them. Brown also uses the Native American designations for U. S. military ranks in his descriptions. For example, to a Native American at this time, a general was known as a â€Å"Star Chief† and a colonel was an â€Å"Eagle Chief†. In addition, Brown refers to prominent American historical figures by their Native American names. For example, many Native Americans called General George Armstrong Custer ‘‘Hard Backsides,† â€Å"because he chased them over long distances for many hours without leaving his saddle †. Brown also uses Native American naming systems for natural processes like time. Because Americans during this time divide the year into twelve months and refer to these months by names like May and June, however, Native Americans referred to these time periods by their relationship to nature. So, in Brown’s book, May is â€Å"the Moon When the Ponies Shed† and June is â€Å"the Strawberry Moon†. By using distinctly Native American interpretations like these in his narration, Brown takes his readers deep into the Native American experience. In the process, the reader begins to identify with the Native Americans. When readers identify with characters, they tend to feel sympathy for them. Through Dee Browns thesis, Brown organizes his story to maximize his readers’ sympathetic emotions. Brown establishes a three? part structure for most chapters, which demonstrates again and again that Native Americans lost no matter what they did. Francis Paul Prucha for examples states that â€Å"The materials have been selected to make the authors point, not to present a balanced view of what happened, from the Native American standpoint or from any other†. Typically, the chapter begins with a discussion of a chief or tribe who has lost something, generally a piece of their land and still has more to lose. For example, in the beginning of the second chapter, Brown notes: â€Å"As the result of two deceptive treaties, the woodland Sioux surrendered nine? tenths of their land and were crowded into a narrow strip of territory along the Minnesota River†. Following the discussion of what has been already lost; Brown introduces the second part, the struggle. For Native Americans in the nineteenth century, the struggles were many, whether they decided to go to war or did not. Many tribes in the book do choose to fight to retain their remaining land and freedom. In most cases, the tribes win some battles but end up losing the war. The U. S. soldiers are too advanced and numerous to be defeated, something that the Native Americans begin to realize. For example, Little Crow is cautious about fighting at first, because he had been to the East and seen the power of the Americans. They were everywhere and with cannons they would destroy everything in their path. Even when the Native Americans outnumber the whites, the military technology can be the decisive factor in the victory. As many Native Americans learned, even though they had bravery, numbers, and massive charges all of that would mean nothing if the Native Americans were armed only with bows, lances, and clubs. In cases where the Native Americans try to remain peaceful, Brown shows many ways that they are provoked into war. In several cases, settlers or miners hungry for the Native Americans’ remaining land spread lies in an effort to get the government to take their land. During the Civil War, Native Americans were sometimes provoked into fighting because it was the safer of two options for white, male citizens. For example, Brown says there was political pressure on soldiers from Coloradans who wanted to avoid the military draft of 1864 by serving in uniform against a few poorly armed Indians rather than against the Confederates farther east. Even after the Civil War, when the draft was no longer an issue, some drafted soldiers used lies to provoke Native Americans and kill them because peace was not profitable for the settlers. The final part of Brown’s argument in most chapters is the ending. Due to the massive struggles that Native Americans faced whether or not they chose to remain peaceful, most chapters end badly. The chiefs, who are often depicted as strong in the beginning and middle of the chapters when they are fighting for their land and people, end up dead, in prison, in exile, or on a reservation with the rest of their people. Even the exceptions to this rule, such as the chapter depicting Red Clouds successful war, ultimately end negatively. Red Cloud’s story is an example of the overall structure of the book. The book starts out with many Native Americans living free and retaining parcels of their land. As the story progresses and the white emigration start to take over, large armies and groups of white settlers cut down the various tribes. By the end of the book, the effect of white emigration has impacted around so much of the country that most Native Americans are dead, in prison, or on scattered reservations. To conclude I felt the effect on the reader is profound. Brown has gotten his readers to root for the underdogs by using eyewitness accounts and language to draw readers into the Native American experience. Yet, in each chapter Brown steadily crushes any hope that the reader might have for the Native Americans winning much of anything by using his plot. By using these strategies, Brown makes his readers feel more into the book by trying to make them sympathize to the Natives. Brown’s tone, or attitude towards his subject matter, is one of barely restrained outrage, and he wants readers to get angry, too. Tom Phillips, another reviewer states, â€Å"Brown has gone too far at some points and is guilty of the same faults as those who created the raditional image of the Native American as savage, alcoholic and expendable†.