War, what is it good for? Actually something

War is a very controversial subject that has brought about many political debates. Although nowadays the meaning of war is changing, the importance of war will always remain the same. War can be defined as a state of conflicts involving two or more groups of creatures which then attack each other with intent to destroy the opposing force. There is also another view of war which is depicted as a means to obtain the resources of the other side and/or to protect the resources of their own from capture. 

War is viewed very differently throughout the world.  Some find war necessary as a means of protection and others find it as an obscene way to try to dictate and overrule. The United States has embarked on many fights, battles, and wars throughout history.  The government may find that victory out ways the cost of casualties, but sometimes the causalities in and of itself are not always worth the war.

The issue on whether one believes war is appropriate or not, is that regardless of their belief, war cannot be stopped. No matter how hard society tries, war is inevitable. War is a part of humanity and is necessary for us to evolve and progress in the world we live in today. The world is not perfect in any shape or form and we all do not communicate effectively or agree simultaneously concerning different aspects of life. Many deem war as an evil act because of the dangers, risks and the possibility of death that it imposes on an individual. 



Without war we will not have been able to attain the proper rights and freedoms that are available to the public to date. Just take for example slavery; has war not been effective in eradicating it? If that doesn’t get your mind thinking let’s look back on the other topics that have led to war: genocide, fascism, and Nazism just to name a few. I am not trying to glorify war but instead bring to light the reasons we do go to war and the advantages that can stem from it.

Another notable influence on war is religious differences and the need for valuable resources. Cultures around the world are comprised of different sets of standards for their way of life. If another culture doesn’t agree with it and deem it unreasonable then a divergence arises. Such differences can cause the leader of the group to cut off their valuable resources and put the opposing country in an economical, political, and social strain. These strains can result in war as a means to obtain the liberties of using waterways or resources within the land.

The purpose of war is to bring about a resolution, as John F Kennedy says “it is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.”  The greatest of resolutions have come about from conflicts, such as the French revolution, the UN and even the formation of the United States. War is sometimes necessary because it captures the essence of human quality and through its necessity we are able to progress and prosper.

There is also the reasoning of self defense. The main reason individuals engage in violence is to protect themselves from further danger or the possibility of death. This is the reason why soldiers enlist, as a way to represent our country, defend our constitution and to protect the life and liberty of the oppressed and helpless. 

For many, war is a hard concept to accept. It takes many brave men and woman to embark on this roller coaster and take in the responsibility of becoming a Marine or soldier to defend their people. Although one may not agree with war, never forget the way you have obtained your liberties. For with out war our country or more importantly the people of the United States may not have all the autonomy that exists in America today. 

One Marines View: Semper Fidelis

I wanted to introduce a great blog that I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to come across; it is called One Marine’s View: Semper Fidelis. One Marine’s view is a tell it like is kind of blog. It depicts the view of a former Marine, Maj Pain, which comments on today’s current events that surround the military. Maj Pain is a former veteran; he was once an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corp and went off to become an officer. Through his many deployments and multiple combat tours he has gain a respect and admiration for former Marines.  Each of his posts displays his high regard for the Marines. He gives us his in-depth view and unfiltered commentary on the political and social events concerning our members of The Armed Forces. 

I particularly took interest in his post titled “36 Marine Heroesof the Pacific WWII Theater Found 71 Years After Death.” This post encompasses the sometimes horrible truth about the dangers of war. During WWII Marines fought long and hard in a violent Battle of the Tarawa in November 1943. Do to some unfortunate events many Marines died in the battle, 36 of whom were never brought back home until this year. The post goes on, in detail, describing one of the Marines, the intricate role he played in the war. I decided I wanted to add my own commentary to this post because as a former Marine I know the importance of returning home whether it is safely or not. Under no circumstances do we leave any Marines behind. It is heart wrenching to know that there is a grave stone with these gentlemen’s names on them that blatantly lie, stating it as their final resting ground. I am pleased to hear that after proper identification of these bodies, they will return home and to be placed to rest as they should have been many, many years ago. I go on to write: 

I enjoyed reading this post and admire the importance of bringing our Marines home under any circumstances. It is very unfortunate these brave men have been so far from home through all these years. They died defending our country and deserve to rest in peace in their own home. I am comforted to hear the tale of 1^st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman and gleam with joy that he is finally going to make it home. He has earned the great Medal of Honor amongst other praises, with doing so he has also earned the respect of a final resting place. The dignity I have for all my fellow Marines holds true even up to their very last breath, and it is great to know the same holds true for others as well. I hope my blog; Welcomehomemarine.blogspot.com can be as empowering as yours. Semper Fidelis!

Although  each comment is accepted at the discretion of the author on whether it will be posted, I hope when I check back in I see my comment, it lies right under this wonderful post about these heroic Marines. I surely recommend others in viewing this blog and getting an eagle eyes view of a truly exemplary blog. This blog has went on to win many awards including the Patriotic Website Award, which I can only dream of doing so myself one day.

Iconic imagery

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words. Some of the most iconic images captured during war depict very powerful moments. They have also assisted in shaping modern history. Below are two images that are massively replicated and comes to mind when thinking about the imagery of war.

"The raising of the flag at Iwo Jima is perhaps the most famous war photograph ever. The flag was raised by five US marines and one navy corpsman atop Mount Suribachi in 1945. Iwo Jima was the first piece of Japanese national soil to be captured by the Americans "

  

"This particular photo commemorates the spontaneous event that occurred in Times Square when victory over Japan was proclaimed by President Truman. Since then, the photograph has come to represent VJ Day and the end of WWII "

  There are many photos that you come across that depict vial occurrences while fighting a war. The gruesome pictures of death and defeat encompass an individual’s mind when visualizing combat. But I wanted to focus more on a lighter more blissful note. Too many times we are reminded of the negative effects of war. The pictures above release a sensual feeling of accomplishment and freedom. These images are iconic for a reason. Many like to reflect back on these pictures to hold on to peace and hope.

It is always good to be reminded of the good times while being a soldier. It allows for these strong men and women to embrace the changes that have been made in America, because if it haven't been for them these changes might not even be possible. Every victory is a milestone in American history and something that should be celebrated for many years to come. The way we document these historical moments is through photography. Photography is a essential part of history and reflecting back on our actions. 

American Sniper : movie review

There are plenty of war movies that try and depict the actions and causalities of war. I think the most recent film to come out that was the closest to legitimacy and realism concerning a soldier's experience was American Sniper. 

It focused on the life of Chris Kyle who is internationally known for his sharp shooting and 160 confirmed kills. This film contains some of the more intense battle scenes in recent memory. It’s deafening, explosive, and uncomfortably intimate. It does its best to serve a plate of honesty about the whole thing from the main character's point of view to the American military in Iraq to the vets who come home severely wounded, and try to rebuild their lives after seeing combat.

This movie focuses almost exclusively on Kyle’s four tours in Iraq, and his often strained marriage. It is not just the prolonged absences that cause the problems, but the when these guys return home they are scarred, and often mad at our first-world problems while their friends are off fighting a war that so often we pay no attention to on a daily basis. An underlying message of the film is the reality that what so many of these vets hate about combat is the same thing that keeps pulling them back in.

This film was derived and based on Kyle’s best-selling book,  he collaborated with Bradley Cooper, who played him in the film, and he also served as a producer on the movie before his death. This movie is portrayed through Kyle's perspective, but it does not put him on a pedestal. He was not some Super Dad or Super Husband, and he was not easy to deal with upon his return home from any of his tours. But he was good at his job, and it makes no apologies for it.

The most moving part of this movie was that it was based on real life events and the unfortunate events soldiers endure.  Kyle decided to dedicate his life to helping vet's adapt back into society and live as a civilian, unfortunately his life was taken in the processing of assisting a former soldier who suffered psychologically effects from being deployed and killed Kyle while they were at a gun range. 

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/the-big-mac-blog/article7548743.html#storylink=cpy