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.
War isn’t really my thing. It just makes me sick thinking about all of those deaths in battle. Though, I thank all of our soliders trying to fight for freedom. We all don’t want to lose our freedom, I thank the soliders on what they have to endure in the past, and right now in Iraq. I’m thankful for all of the soliders that fought for our freedom.
War books arent my type of books but i know everything the army does is for our good.The army has defended us against everything.Like all the wars that we have had with Japan they saved us and died trying.So we made a thing for them it is called Veterans Day.That is their own little holiday.
I think it is great that people would sacrifice their lives or health for our country and our liberty. A book that I have read that deals with this is called Charlie Wilcox. It takes place during World War I, when a boy from Newfoundland goes to the trenches of Europe as a field medic. It discribes with detail the kinds of destruction that take place during war. I think this is a subject that touches many Americans personally.
I believe that defense of you and your nation’s freedoms is important, but for the most part, random attacks on other countries for unclear reasons isn’t something good.
It is important that we remember those that sacrifice time with their families, the comforts of home, and sometimes their lives to defend our freedoms, and Veterans Day is a time to do this.
I don’t usually read many books about war, but I have heard of several good ones. One I have heard is good is Soldier X, a story of a U.S. soldier trapped behind enemy lines durning World War II.
I think the way a soldier fights for freedom is brave.
It is very frightening on how oblivious we are to the raging war going on around us.
I know of a book that is called December Stillness by Mary Downing Hahn.
I would think books like these give us an idea on what is going on around us…
It seems to me that these Topics, however painful they are, give us a clue about what’s going on… I Believe things like this are important to who we are and who we will become.
The solders are brave and fight for what they belive in. I have read a book that was called ‘My name is America’ it is about a man who went to fight in Vietnam and every day he writes things that are happening their. I think that it will not change us just give us memories what happened during that time. Writing about this does not disturb me at all.
to tell the truth ive never read a war book
soldiers fight for us. they give us freedom. in return, we should at least thank them. many of them have died just so we can have the right to vote. being a soldier is a dangerous job! they are gone from home for months. they fight to make us happy!
i think that the ww2 booksare more in formal than the others. they cram tons of info into 1 0ut of about 25.but its always good to reed others.