Tim O'Brien:
The Things They Carried

“A true was story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest models of proper human behavior, nor restrain men from doing the things men have always done. If a story seems moral, do not believe it. If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie” (O’Brien 68-68).

            When reading Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, I receive no feeling of uplift or rectitude, I feel no sense of sorrow or sadness, no happiness, and no anger, when reading The Things They Carried, I feel disbelief and bewilderment. The stories that Tim has presented us with take us into the utter reality of war; they offer an illustration we never thought we would get a glimpse of without being in attendance. The imagery and depiction in these stories is incredible. He has a way of making the reader feel involved and connected to the soldiers exposed in his writings.

            In the short story, On a Rainy River, I, as the reader, became closer in a sense to the utter reality of war and the feelings and emotions an individual faces when they determine they are approaching danger. In this story Lieutenant Jimmy Cross gives the reader a more extensive look into his own journey where previously he spend much of his time telling the stories of his fellow comrades and the things they were facing and taking part in. This story is about Lt. Cross before he set out to war. The things he did and the emotions he felt when he found out he was going to be drafted. He starts this story by mentioning that this was his first time presenting anyone with it, he felt embarrassment and shame at the time and didn’t have the courage to share these events until now. This shows the reader a sense of how important these episodes were to the writer, and how close to the heart he held them. It makes me realize how hard it must be to share many of the events that happened while at war or in the procedures of it.

            “Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can’t remember how you got from where you were to where you are now.  Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story” (O’Brien 38). These stories told by O’Brien are questionable. But that disbelief is what makes them so admirable, and so true. When I read How to Tell a True War Story I found myself examining if what I read was the same as what was written. These aspects are what make the stories war stories. I think Tim O’Brien has an indescribable way of sharing his experiences and the experiences of fellow soldiers. He puts into perspective the challenges that so many men and women face everyday and the absurd things they witness. I am grateful to gain such a deep mental vision through these readings. 

   

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. Print.

Sean Huze

"The Sandstorm"

            “War stories. Everyone that’s actually been over there has ‘em. See, truth be told, war hasn’t changed much over the years.” Sean Huze relays the war stories of ten marines who spent their time in Iraq through his play “The Sandstorm”. This play is a true reflection of the men and women fighting daily for our freedom and safety and the things they witness in their days overseas. The harsh reality of things these individuals observe on the daily is completely out of our perspective and understanding. The stories they share are unbearable and disturbing. They give the reader a real glimpse into the life of being a soldier, something none of us are able to fathom.

            We are so quick to place judgment and blame on the people of Iraq for the harsh reality that so many of our American men and women are risking their lives due to the stupidity of another individual, and the actions that have been made against our country. I found one act in this play to be exceptionally touching.  “Everyone from the President down to some boot private wants to pass the burden of the horrors we were onto the Iraqis.” Doc Matthews share one horror he experienced while overseas. He recalls, “We had come across a burned out 4 door compact. Its wheels had melted and it was still smoking. We saw 3 burned corpses in the car and he was lying next to it. I don’t know how the hell he survived but he did. His wife and two children were a different story.” He continues reliving that moment, “I could smell their still smoldering flesh and I just broke down. I couldn’t stop crying and I hugged this man whose family had just been massacred by us, by Marines. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” The Man looked up at me, “ Not your fault. I blame Saddam. You, you Americans are a gift from Allah. You are here to deliver us from Saddam. I only wish I could have gotten my family out sooner.” This scene was stood out incredibly to me because it is something some of our American civilians do not understand. It is an important reality we may not otherwise grasp. The reality that not every person in Iraq means harm, it is not the civilians whom are to blame, but instead the piece of shit that started this war. The people of Iraq are grateful for our American troops, as are we, and show them the respect they deserve.

            The utter reality of emotional exhaustion that our soldiers endure can never really be understood through these stories but Sean Huze has a way of relaying their pain in a manner that the reader can truly feel for and perceive. From their harsh conditions, the heat and dehydration, to the devastating images they are subject to daily. This play is not only scrutinizing but an authentic truth of the lives these people live and the challenges they face while overseas. Many of us experience culture shock when moving to a new place or being in an unfamiliar situation. The amount of shock and disbelief these soldiers are facing I cannot imagine and I give them the upmost respect for their courage and strength. God Bless. 

Here I have inserted a link to more stories of those soldiers we have fighting in Iraq, and the things they have witnessed while overseas: 

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2007/07/stories-from-soldiers-in-iraq/ 

Responding to a Poem:

            We are born with dreams in our hearts, looking for better days ahead (Baca 1). This line came from the poem Immigrants in Our Own Land. This poem has a personal effect on me because I believe I am able to relate, in all honesty I think all of us can relate. We have all come from somewhere, and almost every one of us is an immigrant to the land we now occupy. Jimmy Santiago Baca, the author of this particular poem speaks deeply. You are able to gain a real sense of understanding. The message he is trying to convey is one he feels deeply about. It brings upon a feeling of resentment for me. In the beginning of the poem the author speaks about immigrants all wanting a new life. He talks about the way they are treated, and the things they are taught to believe about this new life they are hoping for. One line stands out to me, “The old men who have lived here stare at us, from deep disturbed eyes, sulking, retreated (Baca, 1).” This reminds me much of what is going on in Arizona currently. We are shipping many immigrants back to Mexico daily. At one point in time, we were new residents to a foreign place, and the looks we received were similar to those stated in this poem. Now the tables have turned and we are the men giving disturbed looks and feeling retreated. This poem brings a new light to a situation that we otherwise might not consider. The life that this particular author lived was one of many hardships, and due to that I believe we are able to feel the voice in his writing, and really gain an understanding of where he is coming from. Jimmy Baca was sent to an orphanage at a young age, he later spent 5 years in a high security prison, and this in fact was where he began producing his poetry. I believe Baca relives his life in a sense through this poem. He is telling the reader about the second chance he was given at creating a better life for himself. This poem is a great example of poetry of witness. I have inserted a link to a website where you are able to read the entire biography on this poet: http://www.jimmysantiagobaca.com/biography.html

            Many of us loose the beauty in our own lives, and oftentimes it is something that we are unable to retrieve. In the poem The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window we are able to relate to the way this stranger feels. This poem sends a strong message, and relays the basic idea the writer is trying to get across through a harsh point of view. Sometimes we loose sight of our lives and the things that once made us happy. I can relate to this poem because I am a victim of loosing sight of the things that once made me happy. Sometimes this happens due to a sudden change is schedule, other times it can be a relationship that changes our lives, I know in many cases you get very wrapped up in your partner and loose sight of yourself when you are in a deep emotionally draining relationship. We have the opportunity to pick up ourselves and regain self worth, or continue to be unhappy. That is the message I received at the end of this poem. The woman hangs from the 13^th floor window crying for the lost beauty in her own life. She sees the sun falling over the grey plane of Chicago. She thinks she remembers listening to her own life break loose, as she falls from the 13^th floor window on the east side of Chicago, or as she climbs back up to claim herself again (Harjo 2). These poems I could relate most to and found the most meaning in. I really enjoy reading poetry of witness. Here is a link where you are able to learn a little more about this poet: http://project1.caryacademy.org/echoes/poet_joy_harjo/Defaultharjo.htm

Sam Hammil Response:

Sam Hammil makes an important statement and it goes as follows, “We think poetry is about emotions. We are dead wrong. Poetry is not about. Take the rhyme out of it, and there is still poetry; take even the words themselves away, and poetry remains.” I believe the statement to be very true. Poetry does indeed have the tendency to reveal itself. I am not much of a poet but I feel as though in every poem I have ever wrote the message has been revealed through the circumstance I, the author, was communicating. The same concept remains with poems I have read from various authors.

 Hammil talks about how the battered woman learns that violence is one of the forms love takes, about how the battered child learns that one can remain the victim, or one can seize power and become the executioner. In the following examples it is pointed out that there is no real positive outlook when you are the victim. You are always taught that what you are facing is acceptable because the person doing the harm makes it seem as though it is. In a sense you are sheltered to the truth, or maybe even you haven’t had the opportunity to learn better because you have been taught a certain belief or way of life for so long. Through poetry this is often conveyed. It can be hard for a victim to find the strength to share their personal experiences. Poetry makes this much easier, or so it seems. Poetry in a sense shields the author from criticisms or judgment. I believe this is why Poetry of witness is able to make such a strong impact on the reader in so many words. It is an indirect way of sharing many heart wrenching experiences. These poems are a way that the author is able to speak with saying little to nothing at all and never completely revealing the exact circumstances with which they are dealt.

This is what I believe makes poetry so special. Hammil also states that we are unable to bear very much reality. In poetry we oftentimes don’t realize the reality of the story behind the lines of rhyme or reason. In poetry we accept responsibility for our own words and feelings. We suddenly become okay with the hardships life has dealt us because we know somewhere out there, in this vast world, there is an individual who is going through a worst time then we are, and they are able to read our poem and gain a sense of understanding, a form of strength, and maybe even hope that one day they will be the sender on the other end gaining satisfaction from helping another individual.

Like I said previously, I am not much of a poet, nor do I have many experiences where I feel like I am able to really convey a message to a reader that is beyond the words I write; but I do have a respect for poetry. Like Hammil stated so well, poetry is about. It will reveal itself, and the message will be conveyed if the reader chooses to dig and receive it. It is not based on emotions, but in most cases reality. I love poetry, and hope to one day be able to write much like many poets. It is a difficult thing to understand and even more difficult to distribute. Good poetry is unlike anything else written. It takes a special person to produce a good poem. 

I have inserted a link http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-victims/ of a poem by Sharon Olds. She is a poet Hammil mentioned in this article. This poem is entitled "The Victims" and it is a good example of a poem of witness. Enjoy!