• English Term 1 Holiday Homework • James •

'At the root of every tantrum and power struggle are unmet needs.' Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg's statement epitomizes the fact that behind all problems lie psychological tension. Furthermore, Rosenberg's statement accentuates the notion that we must have challenges in order to find true meaning, however there are other dimensions to human happiness that cannot simply be explained by psychology.

The change shown in those suffering teaches us that challenges are needed to grow. Such ideas are reflected in 'Paradise Road'. When the woman are targeted and singled out and in order for them to survive they have to adapt, having them realise that they need each other more than anything, and in order to survive they have to put aside all of their differences to get through this difficult time that they are faced with. The notion of growth though challenge is also paralleled in Clint Eastwood's 'Letters from Iwo Jima' which depicts the pacific war against the Japanese. Eastwood suggests the idea that we can’t just look at things from one side of the story, we have to see both, and therefore we have to see the events which unfolded and the obstacles the Japanese had to face, the living conditions and particularly what they gave up for their country and for their fellow men in arms, and the heroics they showed in which they thought was for a better nation for themselves and also their children to grow up in and witness. This it appears that difficult circumstances, whilst painful, lead to positive changes over time, an example seeing how far Japan has come, after having nuclear bombs dropped on them to now being one of the most highly populated countries in the world not to mention all the technological advances they make. Therefore showing how much a human has to overcome in life just to get by, what each and every person has to give up in there hope to better themselves and hopefully one day better there judgment and better their nation.

Victims of conflict can show us how morals and ethics are important in life. A clear example of this in history can be seen by the actions of