Friends Are Loyal

Friendship is a very important part of the saga, Njal is very attached to Gunner, and they have been good friends for a long time. They seek each other for help and want to continue being as good friends as before they were married. Their wives don’t like each other and this is one of the reasons they fear their friendship might end. But Bergothora likes the friendship between these two, and really supports it. "Why do you need to say much about it?' said Bergthora. 'It would be much more noble to share our food and hay with him, since you're not short of either." (pg 80) They are always trying to do the best for the other and try to have peace between them. This is a very important part of this, they support each other in difficult situations, giving the best of their part.

Does It Help?

Gunner and Njal had been good friends for a long time, Bergthora loved the friendship between his husband and Gunnar. This wouldn’t change, but she definitely hated Gunner’s wife, Hallgerd. In the Christmas feast they started to hate each other. This was one of the things that they said to each other, which was completely true, "Keep in mind, Bergthora,' said Hallgerd, 'that we're not finished yet."(pg 57) There were many attacks against each family which started from the wife’s ideals, and the power they had over the servants. They were never equal to the other, each one felt superior and wanted everyone else to notice who was better.
By doing this their husbands had to pay each other for the killings, and they both thought that what they did was ridiculous. They tried to avoid each of these confrontments. But the women were so powerful and wanted to be respected, they continued until Njal’s sons went to fight against Hallgerd’s servants.

Is Intelligence All?

Njal was a very intelligent man, he was always willing to give advice and help others. "Njal said that he was the most valiant man, 'and though you have been much tried, you will be tried much more, because many men will envy you." (pg 52) Njal was always trying to show the importance of having his frieds, and expressing his opinion of his friends. Knowing all the good things he was letting the other people know.
Not only he advised them on what he thought, but also seeing the destiny and what would happen if his advice wasn’t followed. After Gunner having killed two people from the same blood line, Njal told him what he should do to keep living, “Just as your first trip brought you great honour, you will gain even more honour this time. Then you will return home with great respect, and live to be an old man, and no one here will be your equal.”(pg122) Everything Njal said was very certain, and Gunner should follow this.

Is It Important?

In Njal’s Saga death is a sign of honor for the killer, which makes them feel more important in society. Gunner gained his honor by defeating the Vikings and killing many others. By following Njal’s advice, he became more honored, and many people appreciated Gunner. “But if you break thus settlement and don’t go abroad, you will be killed in this land, and that will be a terrible thing for your friends to bear.”(pg 122) This shows the fame Gunner had until he killed two people from the same blood line and his destiny could change drastically. Some people, mostly his friends would be affected by Gunner’s death, but this would happen if he doesn’t obey Njal’s advice.
In the vengeances between Hallgerd and Bergthora, many people were killed with no purpose other than both wives being resentful. All those deaths were very costly for Njal and Gunnar, the deaths were paid depending on the owner’s appreciation for that servant. Death had a very high price, and killing was a way of becoming more honorable. Depending on the reason how death was done, the killer was honorable or not, if it had no reason as the ones of the servants and of Otkel’s food and house, it was known for the destruction and the price of it.

We Are Strong

Women in the saga are very powerful, they control their households. They have control over most of the things including their servants, "I'm Njal's wife, ' she said, 'and I have no less authority in hiring than he does."(pg 60) Many men don’t like women to have control, but in this saga they do, men even appreciate it. They have more knowledge than men in some areas, therefore in any case that women demonstrate more knowledge, men get there help, or women just do those things on their own.
Women didn’t like some relationships with some people, and they are able to do whatever is possible to destroy them. They are very resentful with other people’s actions and they usually don’t like to lose. They will give orders to anyone in order to seem more powerful, therefore, all the servants, and people that have less than them, do whatever that woman pleases.

The Tao Of Christmas

Christmas is a very important time of the year for many people around the world. There are many get-togethers that families and friends enjoy. But there are many things that have to get done by the people to be able to have an unforgettable Christmas. I will start by mentioning the Tao for the children which is an important part of their lives which they'll never forget.

It's very said that children have to be good during the year to receive presents from Santa Claus. If this were to be true, children would have to change many of the things they do, but overall they try to be good and are most of the time rewarded at this time of the year.

Kids should be aware of both good and bad things. They should be able to decide whether their actions are for their own good or are good for the people around them. Choosing between right or wrong things is very important, and it's also a great experience to put in practice their judgments based on their knowledge. "Know the white, but keep the black! Be an example to the world! Being an example to the world, ever true and unwavering, return to the infinite. " (pg.30)

Children should be more conscious that they should not only be good as Christmas approaches, but through the year. They should not be perfect with everything they do, because by doing this their childhood will end-up being a nightmare. Where they weren't able to enjoy as much as most children did, by having fights and loosing, winning, showing-off, etc. these kinds of things that kids shouldn't do, but that form up part of their childhood. Occasions that will never be forgotten, and when they grow-up they will be able to say, "Why did I do that!" or "that was very fun, but mean", or similar things that were not well done, but that most kids enjoyed doing. "He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the peace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to the followers of the Tao, "These extra food and unnecessary luggage." They do not bring happiness. Therefore followers of the Tao avoid them."(pg.26) many people think that they kids should do everything correct, but most of these people don't know what things are right or wrong. Maybe things that are considered bad by many people are good, and that children will keep on doing them, and will have a memorable childhood. This will lead them to have great Christmases that will keep on with them for many years.

As a family, to have a nice Christmas, families should be in peace and happy. They should have good relationships between each other and they should feel responsible for one another. By doing this and being together in Christmas it will be a moment of happiness and serenity for them. They will all help each other with anything they need, and they will feel compromised with the family. "When there is no peace within the family, Filial piety and devotion arise. When the country is confused and in chaos, loyal ministers appear."(pg.20) The families will be united, something that is very necessary to have a merry Christmas, that will be enjoyed by all the family.

Many adults might think that Christmas is just for children, but this is not true. Adults should be role models for the children, showing them the how great Christmas can be. They shall not forget the fun they had when they were little. And should keep having the same spirit and preserve the same fun environment that was always there during that special time of the year.

"It is more important to see the simplicity, to realize one's true nature, to cast off selfishness and temper desire."(pg 21) Many adults should have this in mind that they should not feel as if in a different situation than the children. They should realize that they are involved in the same holiday as the children, trying to enjoy the same things that are being celebrated by the families and friends. They should also feel the same as most children feel, and enjoy similar things while they share time together.

Many adults also think that Christmas is just something cultural, that has been done for many years and that's why they should keep on doing it. That is like, "Man follows the earth. Earth follows heaven. Heaven follows the Tao. Tao follows what is natural" (pg.27) It's similar to this because adults sometimes celebrate Christmas just because it's something that's cultural. And most of the people believe in that, what religion has told them to do, so they follow it. And that is what's supposed to be correct, therefore many people keep on doing what they were told to do.

Go

This game was new to me, it was very simple to play at first when they gave you everything you had to. As I passed stages, I had to start learning about the double eyes, double Ataris, illigal moves, ladders, etc. it became harder. You had to be very aware of the many positions your opponent would have and not to make a bad move which could make you loose many stones. You have to make sure that you get many more stones from your opponent and and have the largest territory. The game becomes much more interesting when your opponent already has many stones in the board and the fight becomes very tight. You have to use different strategies to be able to win according to position of each of the stones and the form they make.