War Entertainment

Here is my final project for Fall English 101 on War Entertainment. Enjoy!
War Entertainment

Expensive War

There are many costs to war, literally. I am not talking about death being a price; I am talking about money. War is a very expensive thing. There are so many things to be payed for. From vehicles to payroll, war costs money because we always need to be bigger and better than the other side. I mean, we are the United States of America, and we do have a reputations for having the strongest army and the largest and most destructive weapons. Just to give you a glimpse of how much war costs I have decided to pull in some media sources to help better my point. Here is a video from YouTube that lists the top five most expensive military weapons on earth.

         Billions and billions of dollars go into military weapons, but why? It's all about scare-factor. When the United States realized that North Korea had developed nuclear weapons in 2009, the level of mass destruction increased drastically, which resulted in the US developing larger and more precise weapons. This resulted in more money being spent on war efforts. I am not saying that we don't need to make these advancements. To be honest, we need to keep up with our competitors; however, we do need to realize that we have more areas than need more money than others. So, the money that is being put toward weapon development is probably a little extreme in my opinion.

Let's look at a more specific cost of war. The Iraq war has cost the US citizens around two-trillion dollars, and it doesn't stop there. 

 

        As US citizens, we will probably be paying for this war for a very long time. Like Larry Korb said, had the US of known what would of happened in ten years we probably wouldn't have pressed forward with invading Iraq like we did; however, we had to take a chance, and the consequences of this war not only falls on Iraq, but it does fall on us, the tax payers.

So, what do we do about something like this? Why should our money, as tax payers, continue to go toward war costs? Why not? It's honestly a big deal that can quickly go unnoticed because we have to be bigger and better at everything. 

How War Has Changed: A Photo Essay

        Certain this in life never really change. The food we eat stays pretty standard, the government system has continued it's same traditions for almost one hundred years, and people will always talk the same way. However, war has had dramatic changes in the two hundred thirty-seven years the United States has existed. To better explain myself, here are some photos that I have found that greatly show the changes in war.

(To see more American Revolutionary War photos, click here)

This is a photo of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Trenton. Notice that Washington is riding a horse, the weapons consist of swords, gun powdered rifles with bayonets, and gun powder cannons. Something to specifically notice in this photo is the attire that the soldiers are wearing. Everything from the hats don to their boots really portray the war during the colonial period.

(To see more pictures from the Battle of Vicksburg click here)

This is a drawing of the Battle of Vicksburg that took place during the Civil War. To be honest, not a whole lot changed from the American Revolutionary War to the Civil War in terms of operation and what ammunition and weapons were used. The most significant different would definitely be the uniforms.

(Click here to go to the article where this image was found)

This particular image from World War I shows British infantrymen staying low in a trench just as they are about to advance in the Battle of the Somme. Trenches were a large improvement to World War I, but soldiers could occupy a trench for several days or weeks. There were also many other advances in this war including tanks, ships, and much more efficient ammo and uniforms. Notice that the soldiers pictured here are wearing what looks to be much stronger helmets than that of the Civil War.

(To learn about the Naval Battle of Midway, click here)

A major change in World War II is that most countries, by then at least, had sustainable air crafts. So, this led to them being used in the war. Technology advanced in so many ways in World War II because most of everything being produced was for the war effort. 

(To see more Korean War photos, click here)

Because the Korean War started in 1950, shortly after World War II ended, not a lot of advancement was made in how wars function and what instruments of destruction were used. 

(To read more about Vietnam, click here)

The Vietnam War was a trying time for a lot of people. Honestly, that time frame, overall, was a trying to time for everyone. There was so much going on, and only so much could have been done about certain things. One thing is certain, the U.S. did lose this conflict, but we did not lose out advancements in technology in this war. The helicopter became a major player in this war. unlike airplanes, helicopters can be landed just about anywhere, as long as the surface is flat. So, this was excellent for quick drop offs or get-a-ways during battle.

(To learn more about the War on Terrorism, click here)

The War on Terrorism, still taking place today, has so much that can be said about it. From IED's (improvised explosive devices), to the latest computer chip, this war has the best technology available in terms of operation, function, and even durability. Uniforms, like the one above, have changed so much in the past fifty years. Ammunition is now automatic, bombs are more powerful than ever, and war vehicles can now cross just about any terrain with hardly any effort at all. However, because of these advances in technology, the opponents have figured out how to make technological advances, and to be quite honest, that just makes the job that much harder.

The Power of a Suicide Bomber

Suicide bombers.It’s a horrific reality that is happening almost in every nation in today’s world. Sadly, people do kill themselves to make sure others die, and I honestly find that to be one of the sickest things in the world. No, it’s not rape, but it definitely is murder. It is such an extreme form of murder that I don’t think anyone would ever be able to fathom the idea unless they were a suicide bomber themselves. So, what makes someone want to die while killing others? Is it a religious thing, are they suicidal, or are they scared to live?

In the movie The Hurt Locker, Sergeant First Class William James, played by Jeremy Renner, is the EOD (American Explosive Ordnance Disposal) leader. His job is to deactivate bombs, a very critical yet dangerous job that could kill him at any instance. Toward the end of the movie, he comes in contact with a suicide bomber. He does everything in his power to help him. Here is a clip from YouTube that will give you much more insight.

After watching the clip, was the suicide bomber innocent or guilty? In my own opinion, I think he was taken hostage, had bombs strapped to him, and was killed horrifically. Clearly, he was killed, but the unknown is everything leading up to the point between himself and Sergeant James. If you watch closely, right before the bombs detonate, the man prays up to his god, realizing that death has, in fact, met him. So, it may also be assumed that he could have done this for religious purposes.

As you can tell from the clip, suicide bombers can cause a lot of damage. The UN News Center reported recently that on September 29, 2013 a suicide bombing took place at a mosque in Timbuktu, Mali. Here is what the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization had to say about the bombing:

“Yesterday's attack, which targeted the military personnel of the Malian armed forces at the entrance of their base in Timbuktu, occurred near the Djingareyber Mosque. There was substantial damage to the mosque and many houses nearby, UNESCO said in a news release.

Many suicidal bombings, like this one, happen all the time. The damage is very substantial, and recovery can take a very long time.  Boston.com reports about a suicide bomber in their article “The Truth About Suicide Bombers”. Here is what they reported:

“’Qari Sami did something strange the day he killed himself. The university student from Kabul had long since grown a bushy, Taliban-style beard and favored the baggy tunics and trousers of the terrorists he idolized. He had even talked of waging jihad. But on the day in 2005 that he strapped the bomb to his chest and walked into the crowded Kabul Internet cafe, Sami kept walking — between the rows of tables, beyond the crowd, along the back wall, until he was in the bathroom, with the door closed. And that is where, alone, he set off his bomb. The blast killed a customer and a United Nations worker, and injured five more. But the carnage could have been far worse. Brian Williams, an associate professor of Islamic studies at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, was in Afghanistan at the time. One day after the attack, he stood before the cafe’s hollowed-out wreckage and wondered why any suicide bomber would do what Sami had done: deliberately walk away from the target before setting off the explosives. “[Sami] was the one that got me thinking about the state of mind of these guys,” Williams said. Eventually a fuller portrait emerged. Sami was a young man who kept to himself, a brooder. He was upset by the US forces’ ouster of the Taliban in the months following 9/11 — but mostly Sami was just upset. He took antidepressants daily. One of Sami’s few friends told the media he was “depressed.” Today Williams thinks that Sami never really cared for martyrdom; more likely, he was suicidal. “That’s why he went to the bathroom,” Williams said.”’

This report gives the idea that maybe the bombing took place because Sami was potentially suicidal. However, it does state that he grew a beard and began to wear a cloak and turban just like of someone like Osama bin Laden. Whatever his reason may have been, it definitely was a very personal matter. The main difference in this attack verses the one in “The Hurt Locker” is that in the movie, we see the man’s expression, his fear, and his plea. When someone goes to the restroom and blows the place up from that location, it’s clear that his purpose was to be extremely selfish and die while killing others.

The power of a suicide bomber, in my opinion, is determined by the reason(s) for the bombing in the first place. People are probably going to disagree with that, but I really feel that the man in the movie did not do that on purpose. It’s very clear that Sami’s intentions were to kill himself while killing others regardless of depression or religious views. Overall, suicide bombers are something that haunts the world. We honestly never know when they could be around.

Rome Georgia's Civil War History

Downtown Rome, GA

The Civil War is one of those topics that not everyone will be completely interested in. In fact, most people today don't have a large interest in the history involving it. I, on the other hand, love it. I am from Rome, Georgia, which is about an hour east of Jacksonville, Alabama. While growing up in Rome, I was always bombarded with Civil War history. There was absolutely no way to escape it. So, I embraced it. 

Gen. Sherma

The reason Rome's history of the Civil War is so alive today is because much of the city was left in tact when General Sherman made his march to Atlanta. He absolutely loved the city. Much of his time spent in Rome was to plan out how his attack on Atlanta was going to go down. So, he spent a great deal of time in Rome.

In downtown Rome, there are two churches that really represent the Civil War as a whole. St. Peter's Episcopal Church and the First Presbyterian Church both served as hospitals for the wounded during battle. The reason this represents the war as a whole is because

St. Peter's

they not only cared for the Confederate soldiers, but they would take in Union soldiers as well. That shows a great deal of selflessness, and it shows that they could wipe of the pride and tend to the wounded. Also in downtown Rome is the Rome Area History Museum. I would say that over 3/4 of the museum is all Civil War memorabilia and artifacts. It tells such a wonderful and rich heritage of Rome's role during those times.

Rome, overall, is a wonderful place. It has the world's largest college campus there, which is Berry College. The Coosa River is formed in downtown Rome. It has phenomenal ties with Rome, Italy. However, I think it's the Civil War history that truly ties all of it together that makes Rome's heritage so rich.

Let War Happen

“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.”

―Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

           This is one of my favorite quotes by Longfellow. It speaks a great truth about life, and to be quite honest, it speaks a great truth about war. Think about it: when it rains, not one person has control over starting and stopping the rain. To me, war is just the same to soldiers. When soldiers are required to go to war, there isn’t much they can do about it. They can prepare, train, and work hard to prep themselves for battle, but in the end, they have to let war be war. Let me share a story with you.

Several years ago, I remember entering into my freshman year of high school. It was a big social change for me; for I felt the safety that middle school had granted me. I never was a student that got into fights with my peers. I was one to get along with everyone. After all, is there any reason to get mad over things? About one month into my high school journey, I remember seeing a fight. It was a lunch of all places. Typical, I know. Like middle school, fights were something that occurred often; however, these fights were much more aggressive than fights I had witnessed in my earlier years as a student. Instead of pushing, shoving, and yelling, there was a much more aggressive state of punching, kicking, and screaming. There was blood. Now, let me back up for just a second. Ever since I knew what the color red looked like, I have hated blood. The site of blood makes me nauseous. It literally freaks me out. The case was no different for me the day of this fight in high school. As soon as the first drop of blood was in view, I ran to the restroom, and well, you can fill in the blanks. I had never seen anything like this in person before. I only thought blood happened in fights on television. After seeing this fight, remembering that this was the first fight I ever witnessed in high school, all fights seemed to have this same trend. Blood became a very common thing in the fights I saw. Nevertheless, I had to let the fights happen; I didn’t have control over them.

Everyone in the United States remembers the haunting tornado incident back in April of 2011. It was a devastating, horrific time for many states, including Alabama and Georgia. Homes were torn to pieces, lives were lost, and many lives were forever changed. Not one person had any control over the incidents of those events. No one started it, and no one certainly could stop it. No matter how many storm shelters there were, the best things anyone could do were to take as much cover as they could, and let the weather take over.

Having a fear of the unknown, especially in a grueling situation such as war or a natural disaster, can cause people’s lives to being on a new journey. In many of these incidents, if not all, some lives are brought anew by ending. It’s a terribly thing to think about, but it does happen. After all, it’s a part of life; everyone knows that. However, it is understanding that fact in which people have a hard time dealing with death. The best thing to do when people die, is let them die.

Soldiers have no choice but to accept the horrors of war. They could possibly escape it through their minds, but they cannot go home at the end of the day like many people that have nine to five jobs five days a week. If all war were to cease, the world, and especially those soldiers in combat, would be thrilled. However, that will probably never be the case as long as the planet exists. The reason? Everyone doesn’t get along with one another. Let me say that again, because everyone doesn’t always get along! It’s a fact. Just like death is a part of life, differences are apart of life also. They always have gotten in the way of a worldly unified peace, and they will always play their part in arguments, fights, and certainly in the grand scheme of war. Supposedly there has been talk of peace in the past few years. Has it happened yet? No. So, the best thing we can do when wars, known as fights, happen is to let the fights happen.

Now, I am not here to try to change anyone person’s view on war. I am just accepting fact for what it is. No, I don’t like war. There, I said it, but because war is a part of my life, I have to accept it for what it is. I can’t change it, I can’t become in control of the world, and I certainly can’t make any country change their view on it. No, this isn’t the most pleasant article you’ve ever read. I promise you that, but the facts are true. So just remember: Even though you, or myself, aren’t out there in combat fighting the war we are in now, someone is in the place of you. The reasons? They love this country, and they love you. So, let war happen.

Tom Burnett - "The Prayer"

 

 This is me performing at the Phi Mu Alpha, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Kappa Kappa Psi End-of-the-Year Musicale. This is "The Prayer", which was originally composed by  David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa and Tony Renis. It was made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. This is my personal arrangement of that piece.