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John Chambers HUMA 1100 Experience of War Journal

Awareness Journal

My reflection on course material and a record of my awareness on the Experience of War.

John Chambers

Humanities 1100

Section 002


Part 1:

4 Assigned Readings/Movies

Reading 1: Why We Love War and What we can do to Prevent it Anyway – By Lawrence LeShan

I found this reading very interesting as I have always been interested in the working of humans’

thoughts and actions, and this piece really describes the processes that go on during wartime that effect

us humans the ways it does. The author made it really clear the stark contrasts between human

experiences during wartime versus during peace. And the way the concepts are structured makes you

agree with him more and more. It seemed to me that he believed it was a part of human nature to fight,

which I disagree with, but looking at the differences between war and peace makes you wonder if war

has more effect psychologically rather than physically.

The question LeShan is trying to ask is: Is there a psychological benefit or satisfaction that we get

from fighting war? Is the reason that so many people love war is because it provides them with a sense

of power and purpose, or for a thrill in choosing a side and then claiming that it is right? I did think that

he based some of his deductions on the concept that we are born to fight, and what he presented didn’t

alter much of my thinking, but overall I think he raised a very valid issue, one that I certainly never

considered before and whether we like it or not, this stuff happens.

Reading 2: On Glory and Warfare – Poem by Callinus (7th century B.C.)

This is a poem written by Callinus, a Greek poet and soldier who fought against the Cimmerians

in 7th Century B.C. I find it very interesting and very different from other poems that were written more

recently on the topic of war. In World War 1 poems, there are often elements in it that go against to

concept of glory in warfare. This poem differs from those ones, in that it is sending the message that to

die for one’s country is a high and glorious honor that young men would be wise to take part in. I can


see how this message would be relevant. It was written during wartime, and I think it was partially used

as propaganda to bring more forces into the war. I do feel that the message this brings out: It is a high

and glorious honor to die during a battle in which you are fighting for your country, is partially wrong

and right. I feel that it isn’t necessarily right to celebrate the war, but it is good to celebrate those who

were brave enough to risk their lives in a war that will help ensure peace in their country.

Callinus starts the poem with a question, and the question he is asking is: why are these young

men not taking part in something that will render them a hero and will ensure peace in their own

country? Do they not know that to die in battle is a glorious honor? And I think that he also wanted to

use this as a motivational tool to all of his comrades. I partially agree with what he is saying, but now,

with the times very different now, I feel that it isn’t relevant to say that war is glorious. But any man

willing to toughen up and risk his life in something that he feels is a noble cause is a hero in my book.

Reading 3: Dulce et Decorum Est – By Wilford Owen

This poem was discussed a lot during class periods that we had, and I found it to be a real eye-

opener and an interesting perspective on the reality of war in the present day. Wilford Owen was an

English soldier who fought in World War 1 and while in the war he wrote poems. These poems now

provide us an inside look at what experiences soldiers go through when fighting in a war. It seems that

there are lots of people in the general public that believe war is something that should be heralded as a

sign of strength and glory. We all feel that rush when we know we are fighting for a cause that we feel is

right, and this is how many of us think about war. But Wilford Owens’s poems say otherwise. In his

iconic poem he describes a short scene that has a big impact on him. One of his friends is choking madly

on a deadly gas, and there is nothing he can do to help. I think that by just illustrating a scene in a war,

rather than explaining his views is enough to make the reader realize his message: that war is not

glorious; it ultimately means misery for those who partake in it.


The question he is asking is: why do we think that war is something good and glorious, when this

is what really happens? I think that he wrote this poem almost out of hatred for those who enlisted him,

and those who made the decision to go to war. He is trying to tell us to wake up and see the pain rather

than the glory that so many people accompany with war. This poem really altered my thinking, and it

made me wake up, but I still feel that it all depends on the reason why that person sacrificed his life, and

the reason why a country is at war. And that’s the way I judge whether war or a person serving in war is

glorious or not. So, in Owens’s case, I highly agree with statement he is making with his poem.

Reading 4: John Brown – Song by Bob Dylan

This song has real power to it. I read the lyrics and decided that this had to be one of the

readings I write about. To me, it illuminates both sides of the spectrum of the concept of war, and also it

brings it all down to the reality that many of us want to avoid. It starts out with a woman feeling proud

and excited for her son who is enlisted to go fight in war, and the son, John Brown, seems excited, but

them as the months pass, they come to realize the true costs of war, and when John Brown finally

returns, they must both deal with the terrible, but real consequences of the war. I think this song

illustrates the ignorance most of us have pertaining to the reality of war, and the unwillingness to accept

the real consequences that come from it. And at the very end when he hands the medals to his mom is

when the entire message concludes: is it all really worth a few medals?

Bob Dylan has amazing and powerful messages in his songs, and the question he is asking in this

is: why can’t we open our eyes and see the reality of war until after we must pay the consequences? We

think war is glorious right up until it’s over and we see the mutilated bodies of innocent victims that

come as a result. We need to see beyond that and realize how real and solid war is. And what impact it

might have on us. I absolutely agree with the statement bob Dylan is trying to express, and this song

really had an impact on my perspective of war.


Part 2:

Decision to go to War or Not

Country: USA

We have received confirmed evidence that Mexico has stationed a military force in southern

Texas. It is confirmed that they are defending the area in order to smuggle nuclear weapons into their

country. Already there have been reports of attacks on cities and neighborhoods in Texas, an estimated

500 citizens have been confirmed killed on U.S. soil. Now we must face the decision of whether or not

we will strike back at Mexico.

I, the president of the United States, have decided that we must take action. We have already

taken a defensive position on this force, and so far we have not taken on any offensive action. We have

reasoned with Mexican officials that if they do not withdraw and pay all damages now, we will be forced

to take military action. They will not accept. So we must act immediately. If not, Mexico may attain

nuclear weapons that can be used against us. I will not let them threaten this countries security. I have

no choice but to issue full military action against the country of Mexico. I have already arranged the

terms, and they are as follows: If we win, Mexico will be forced to withdraw and pay damages, we will

be granted 200,000 square miles of Mexican land that will be annexed into this country, we will receive

half of Mexico’s revenue from tourism from now until the year 2050, and they must grant us ownership

of Pemex, a primary oil company in Mexico. The Mexican leader is aware of these terms, but still he

presses on, and so we must press on. We will not let an enemy to freedom do this to our country. I now

issue our military to withdraw from defensive position and now must take full military against the

Mexican forces.


Part 3:

Is Truth the First Casualty of War?

"'Truth,' it has been said, 'is the first casualty of war.'" – Phillip Snowden

War Reporting is a vital aspect for a country in wartime. It lets people know about the war and it

gives them insight to the experiences that the soldiers are going through. But does it tell the truth about

it? This issue is very large today and many people are starting to question the information and facts they

receive through the media and government. Is what they are saying really happening? Are they leaving

parts out or skewing the data in s certain direction just to get a certain audience response.

My answer is yes, absolutely. Nowadays it seems hard to find an article or news report about

war, politics, and laws that doesn’t explain everything as it happened and what effect it will have. I

believe that the government withholds many important pieces of information and facts in war reporting.

When Snowden said that Truth is the first casualty of war, I think he meant that the government likes to

keep out the truth in war, so that the people will not realize what is really happening, and essentially,

why they are even at war. I think the main reasons they do this is so that people do not question the

motives and do not hesitate to promote the war movement because they saw our soldiers suffering

rather than winning glorious battles. But overall, the biggest reason I think the government suppresses

the truth in war reporting is because they want money. I believe that they want war because it provides

a source of income for them, and we all knew what was really going on, we would be against going to

war.

We discussed this issue of war being a major source of income for the government, and I think

it’s not right for them to use things like the military industrial complex. I think them leaving out the truth

in war reporting is absolutely wrong and should be solved. It’s not that we aren’t able to handle the


truth, it’s that they aren’t going to be able to handle us after we’ve heard the truth. I think they keep it

from us because they know we will understand what is really going on, but they don’t want us to.

Part 4:

Analyzing 2 Media Pieces

Piece 1: Political cartoon by Makhmud Eshonkulov

I think this cartoon really illustrates the concept of war vs peace in the modern world. It shows

what looks to me like an American soldier working with an Arab soldier to cut through a log of peace.

But one of the biggest aspects of this cartoon is the money falling out of the log from both sides. To me,

this implies that both sides are purposely fighting, because they are both benefiting from it. And I think

this really happens in reality. We advocate for peace, but almost unknowingly support war because of


the benefits such as money that we gain from it. I certainly think that the government knowingly uses

war as a means of gaining financial support in cases like the military industrial complex.

I chose this cartoon because it stood out at me when I first saw it, and I felt it perfectly

illustrated a concept we discussed in class. I do agree with the statement I perceive from this cartoon

that we are fighting wars against countries but why? This cartoon explains that it may be all for the

money, which, to an extent, I agree with. I made me feel a little bit resentful that this is happening in

reality. It didn’t really alter my perceptions, it more solidified them, because we discussed this in class,

and I looked at this cartoon and I said to myself, “Yep, that’s a perfect illustration.”

Piece 2: War Poem by Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)"Anthem for a Doomed Youth"

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?--Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattleCan patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyesShall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds,And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

I found this poem on a website by Fordham University and it’s a lot like Wilford Owens’s other

war poems such as the famous “Dulce et Decorum Est” in that he illustrates the reality of fighting in a

battle compared to the perception that most people, who have never fought in a war, have about it.


Essentially, he provides very a descriptive detail of the sudden impact that death in battle really is and

what these men are really being sent to rather than what they might believe they are being sent to. He

describes the scene of countless boys who die in battle, and says that there is no song or prayers or

flowers for those faithful young men. This poem goes against most people’s perception of death in

battle as being glorious; he explains that there is no glory in suffering and misery, and that the only

songs these boys will hear at the time of their death is the cries of his comrades and the sound of bullets

and bombs and mourning of the sick. He’s trying to tell us that it is all a lie, and that there is no glory in

the scenes and situations he has experienced.

I chose this poem because I liked reading poems by Wilford Owen and this one stood out to me.

Also I really enjoy reading this poem because it uses a lot of really good metaphors to explain and

describe these scenes. I agree with the statement he presents, but one thing I want to say is that I don’t

feel that it’s right to celebrate glory in battle, but I think it is good and right to celebrate those who

fought and lost their lives in war. It’s not the war that’s glorious; it’s the people who fight in it that

deserve glory. If there is someone who is brave enough to fight and potentially lose their life, even if

they have no control over the cause of the war, I believe that that courage should be celebrated. This

poem gave me more insight as to how it might feel losing your comrades in battle, and I feel that this is a

sad but true description of the reality of war.


References

Allen, Paul, PhD, and Jennifer Bauman, PhD. "Freedom, Responsibility, and Justice." It Begins With Our Questions: A Thematic Introduction to the Humanities. USA: Hayden-McNeil, 2012. N. pag. Print.

Eshonkulov, Makhmud. "War and Peace." Cartoon. Toonpool. N.p., 3 Aug. 2009. Web. <www.toonpool.com>.

Owen, Wilford. "Anthem for a Doomed Youth." (n.d.): n. pag. Fordham University. Web. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1914warpoets.html>.

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