WWII

jnimhaoileoin
jnimhaoileoin Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
in A Moving Train
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...
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Comments

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Systematic, ridiculously well-organized killing happened then, horrifyingly so. Still happens now.

    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.

  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 44,750
    Find a way to get us past tribalism, then we may begin to see progress toward the common desire you describe.
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    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
  • cp3iverson
    cp3iverson Posts: 8,702
    Nothing really to add except that Easy Company were some brave men. Love watching Band of Brothers.
  • JUST A GIRL
    JUST A GIRL Posts: 372
    Did this even happen?
  • jnimhaoileoin
    jnimhaoileoin Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
    JUST A GIRL said:

    Did this even happen?

    Did what happen?
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    JUST A GIRL said:

    Did this even happen?

    Please confirm you're not questioning that WWII happened.

    Please.
  • jnimhaoileoin
    jnimhaoileoin Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
    hedonist said:

    JUST A GIRL said:

    Did this even happen?

    Please confirm you're not questioning that WWII happened.

    Please.
    I'm the last person to pick a fight but if somebody is about to disrespect the memory of all those who died WWII, I'm telling you now there is going to be trouble.

    Trolling can only be taken so far before it crosses a line into something far more twisted
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    OP
    Your narrative is great.
    What are you asking though?
  • jnimhaoileoin
    jnimhaoileoin Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    OP
    Your narrative is great.
    What are you asking though?

    Like I said, I'm not even sure myself, think I was just spewing out a jumbled mix of thoughts and emotions. I suppose I'd like to know if we are resigned to the fact that war is an inevitable fact of life and humanity and that there is no hope of a peaceful world? In essence, is mankind indelibly flawed, with certain individuals determined to pursue their own ends at the expense of others, whatever the cost?
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    ^^^
    So which question is most important to you that you ask?
  • jnimhaoileoin
    jnimhaoileoin Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    So which question is most important to you that you ask?

    Well the answer to the second question determines that of the first
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    So which question is most important to you that you ask?

    Well the answer to the second question determines that of the first
    Your second question has two questions.
    Which one of all your questions do you want answered first?
  • jnimhaoileoin
    jnimhaoileoin Baile Átha Cliath Posts: 2,682
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    So which question is most important to you that you ask?

    Well the answer to the second question determines that of the first
    Your second question has two questions.
    Which one of all your questions do you want answered first?
    It hardly matters. You can answer all or none. I'm simply sharing thoughts and inviting others to do the same
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    So which question is most important to you that you ask?

    Well the answer to the second question determines that of the first
    Your second question has two questions.
    Which one of all your questions do you want answered first?
    It hardly matters. You can answer all or none. I'm simply sharing thoughts and inviting others to do the same
    Your thoughts are mostly questions.
    That entails a lot of thinking for someone to answer many questions all at once.
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    So which question is most important to you that you ask?

    Well the answer to the second question determines that of the first
    Your second question has two questions.
    Which one of all your questions do you want answered first?
    It hardly matters. You can answer all or none. I'm simply sharing thoughts and inviting others to do the same
    Your thoughts are mostly questions.
    That entails a lot of thinking for someone to answer many questions all at once.
    This is actually serious to some.

    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.
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    The OP who has questions after watching band of brothers and admits they live in a bubble and has been untouched by such horror is subject to big-boy questions.
  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 44,750
    jnimhaoileoin said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    OP
    Your narrative is great.
    What are you asking though?

    Like I said, I'm not even sure myself, think I was just spewing out a jumbled mix of thoughts and emotions. I suppose I'd like to know if we are resigned to the fact that war is an inevitable fact of life and humanity and that there is no hope of a peaceful world? In essence, is mankind indelibly flawed, with certain individuals determined to pursue their own ends at the expense of others, whatever the cost?
    I would judge yes to your second question. In total , Human beings are a parasite to the earth and each other. No way around that.
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    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
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,143
    Band of brothers is awesome; I show three episodes of it when teaching about ww2. Check out saving private next. A lot of vets say that s the movie that comes closest to the real thing. If you want to see what Vietnam was like, go for we were soldiers. Again vets I ve talked to said that s the closest to the real thing.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • rgambs
    rgambs Posts: 13,576
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    The OP who has questions after watching band of brothers and admits they live in a bubble and has been untouched by such horror is subject to big-boy questions.

    So quit trolling and ask some!
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • Thirty Bills Unpaid
    Thirty Bills Unpaid Posts: 16,881
    Every time I get impatient driving... I make sure I'm not getting impatient with an older gentleman.

    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 brain's a good brain!"

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