WWII
jnimhaoileoin
Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
So over the past few months I've been watching Band of Brothers and the Pacific. Both series were in equal measures captivating and truly horrifying. I struggle to imagine what those soldiers went through or how those who survived coped with what they had seen and done. Men were sent to their deaths in their thousands, giving me a new understanding of the phrase disposable heroes. It's near impossible to comprehend the sheer number of lives lost, now mere figures in black and white in our history books.
We can only hope that we are now in a place where we can be reasonably confident that we will never face such a war again. Yet war still rages around the world and men continue to commit unspeakable acts of cruelty, in the name of what? Their god, their country? Just what is it that they think they're fighting for? I admit to being extremely naive and my simplistic view would be that we all share a common desire, to live a reasonably long and happy life amongst our loved ones. Who are these war-mongerers who spit on this notion and seek instead to force their will on others to satisfy their own twisted aims? Are they born different or what is it that leads them down that path of destruction?
I know I'm foolish to even think for one second that there is any logic or reason behind the acts of such men. I guess I'm just desperate for some explanation, for someone to tell me why all these men had to die such terrible deaths. Watching these recreations it does feel like some terrible fantasy, as such violence and death is quite simply inconceivable to me. In that sense, I know I'm lucky. I have thus far lived in a safe little bubble, untouched by such horror. We should never ever forget it though, nor should we ever stop striving to ensure it never ever happens again.
Must there always be war? Is it that much to hope that some day we could all seek our happiness in peace, rather than at the expense of others?
Forgive the rambling, just needed to vent, guess these dramatisations just really got to me...
We can only hope that we are now in a place where we can be reasonably confident that we will never face such a war again. Yet war still rages around the world and men continue to commit unspeakable acts of cruelty, in the name of what? Their god, their country? Just what is it that they think they're fighting for? I admit to being extremely naive and my simplistic view would be that we all share a common desire, to live a reasonably long and happy life amongst our loved ones. Who are these war-mongerers who spit on this notion and seek instead to force their will on others to satisfy their own twisted aims? Are they born different or what is it that leads them down that path of destruction?
I know I'm foolish to even think for one second that there is any logic or reason behind the acts of such men. I guess I'm just desperate for some explanation, for someone to tell me why all these men had to die such terrible deaths. Watching these recreations it does feel like some terrible fantasy, as such violence and death is quite simply inconceivable to me. In that sense, I know I'm lucky. I have thus far lived in a safe little bubble, untouched by such horror. We should never ever forget it though, nor should we ever stop striving to ensure it never ever happens again.
Must there always be war? Is it that much to hope that some day we could all seek our happiness in peace, rather than at the expense of others?
Forgive the rambling, just needed to vent, guess these dramatisations just really got to me...
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Comments
Horrifyingly so, again.
Don't have much to add at this point (bit of a sensitive, historical and personal area for me), but I encourage you to continue to question - and vent, in your typical well-spoken way.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Please.
Trolling can only be taken so far before it crosses a line into something far more twisted
Your narrative is great.
What are you asking though?
So which question is most important to you that you ask?
Which one of all your questions do you want answered first?
That entails a lot of thinking for someone to answer many questions all at once.
Worthy.
How about you trot your disrespect and mocking - for what reason, I don't know - out of this particular thread for now? Or come back when you have your big-boy pants on.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
For all I know... they were storming the beaches of Normandy.
It's sad that crusty old white haired rich men send young men out to kill and die for pride or profit. It's f**king brutal really.
Don't get me wrong... some hands are forced. But the aggressors are hardly ever on the side of righteousness.
My dad deflected when I used to ask him about it.My grandfather was a bit more vocal and I think he saw some horrible shit.I know he always hated the Nazis and what they did to the Jewish people.He was upfront about some of the violence by his infantry unit and told me some stories of "krauts" they had battled up close.As a Jew And an American I know he felt a responsibility.(I think I respect that more than anything)
After his death I happened upon his "war stuff" in a box in a storage room.Based on the amount of Nazi stuff I found It appears indeed he was thick in the shit.And he must have stripped the soldiers he personally overtaken of their arm bands ,swastikas and medals.It was quite eye opening and sobering.There is film in there I haven't watched and details of some battles along with certain clippings,news stories and the like.
When It comes to WW2 I think It really showed the U.S. At its worst before our involvement (Letting Hitler advance and ethnically cleanse) and At its best during the war,with exception of certain internment camps here in the states.We really were one at that time and showed our patriotic best.and like 30 said,I also try to show my respect to the older generations that did serve to keep our freedoms safe.Its the very least we can do.
My dad was pretty open with what he experienced during actual war - so glad we talked about it but wish I'd asked more - yet mouth zipped on the intelligence work he did after.
Still would like JAG to step up to her questioning of this "even happening".
Talk about being a victim - there were way WAY too many victims in that time. True ones.
It's funny you speak(or don't) of your fathers intelligence connection.My father was reported to be attached to a mechanical outpost near the China Beach Medical Outpost.Everything I could dig up was it was front cover for other activities.Like I said he didn't talk much.But I found a lot of sniper and marksmen stuff ,medals etc in his trinkets.Stuff a heavy jungle clearing mechanical unit shouldn't or wouldn't have.
I met a vet years ago,when my mom ran a support group who said the area and unit in question was indeed knee deep in the action.And as I've posted previously my dad did eventually die of complications of Agent Orange exposure.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"