Our Nation and its warriors
As it nears Veterans Day I think of the many works that have been written on the subject of war. This is not my favorite subject. I always end up pondering the bravery and patriotism of the soldiers who defend us while considering the overwhelming loss of lives and property. What instinct of our nature causes human beings to attack and kill each other in the name of security, revenge, homeland, and, of course, freedom?
While I cannot help but mourn for those who are victims on all sides, I am ever grateful for the men and women who have given their lives with the hope that one day we will learn to settle our differences and safeguard all we hold precious with tolerance, collaboration, negotiation, and respect for others.
I just finished a book that brought the pain of war home to me vividly. Not for everyone, Megiddo’s Shadow by Arthur Slade is based on some of the author’s family experiences in World War I. A sixteen-year-old Canadian boy enlists against his father’s wishes in order to avenge his beloved older brother’s death in the trenches in France. From sea-sickness to harsh training to hazing to scorpions and brutal weather, there is nothing “romantic” about a soldier’s life. What makes it even somewhat bearable are the comrades, the sweethearts, and the occasional officer who commands respect. This novel looks war in its wounded and bloody face and does not minimize the suffering. It also does not pass judgment on the right or wrong of it.
Another thought-provoking book for me was Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government sent thousands of Japanese-American citizens to internment camps motivated by fear and prejudice. This was not one of our most shining moments, in my humble opinion. These people were another kind of “warrior” as they faced losses of dignity and property, living under primitive conditions yet, in most cases, retaining family identity and forging new relationships.
As a country we have confronted our “enemies” and defended ourselves in ways too numerous to count. Many times we can look with pride on our decisions and occasionally we must examine our errors of judment and resolve to do better. I hope that we will always be honest in our self-assessment, accepting blame if it is earned and always resolving to be faithful to our identity…one nation dedicated to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Share with me your thoughts on our warriors. Tell me about books you have read that deal with war or prejudice. Can reading about topics such as these change us? Tell me about your feelings on these subjects.
