Her Almighty, "King" Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth’s speech to the troops at Tilbury was an effective and shaking message not only in its time, but for the centuries ahead. The subject was the war that the army was about to wage against Spain. The occasion was the Spanish Armada invasion of England in 1588. The audience were the British soldiers. The speaker was Queen Elizabeth. The purpose was to encourage the military to fight in the name of its people with full spirit and might. As well as to inspire them under the queen. She claims that “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.” By demonstrating her courage, she motivated thousands of troops to do the same. The tone was honorable, comforting, assuring, hopeful yet authoratative. As the queen, she claimed to “have the heart and stomach of a king”, which made her look powerful. This was necessary to portray such an image as the leading general of England. Although Elizabeth is declared the ruler, she affirms to be on the same level with her troops by referring herself and England as a whole. She achieves this by using pronouns like “we” and “us”.  With confidence, she claims that “we shall shortly have a famous victory...” 

The Lost Generation of Syria

The children of Syria lead the way of the nation’s next generation, filled with hostility and confusion. The Syrian war has been continuing its deathly toll for three years. Victims of all ages were and are still being terribly affected. However, the people’s present is not only threatened, but as well their future. According to the L.A Times, the number of kids that were forced to flee the country was estimated at 1 million. Also, 2 million were displaced within Syria. To top it all off, another 100,000 were tragically slaughtered in the midst of the fighting. 

The children usually are seperated from their family and friends while escaping their country to either Lebannon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq or Egypt. “Even after they have crossed a border to safety, they are traumatized, depressed and in need of a reason for hope” , states U.N High Commissioner for Refugees. 

  The youth, as down the line leaders of Syria, unfortunately are perishing alongside their adults. This can only mean leaving a society without anyone to run it properly in the future. Survivors of the war would only grow up to become uneducated and split as a people. Research studies give evidence of similar scenarios. Twenty years ago in the bloodshed of Bosnia, its children suffered long-term consequences still visible. The population today is divided politcally, ethnically and culturally. Sadly, the same will happen to Syria if no steps are taken to remedy the situation. 

Without its youth, no society will last. Within the L.A Times’ “Syria’s Lost Generation”, written by Alexandra Zavis on August 23, is highlighted the horrible reality of the Syrian conflict, that makes one treasure the importance children have within a country, that being the years ahead.