Week 12 Open Post

I'm a little confused on the whole Vietnam war thing, or any war for that matter. War freaking pisses me off, because it is stupid and not necessary. At times you might think the only thing left to do is attack, but it never gets you anywhere. What has going over into Iraq gotten anybody? We can't even get ourselves out because we are to busy establishing a new government after we destroyed the old one. It is not our duty to decide how other nations should run their country. If they are screaming for help then perhaps we should try to do something in a way that doesn't promote the loss of lives. I can understand how the notion for war comes to mind, because hell after 9/11 I wanted to kick some butt, but it doesn't prove anything. Everybody knows that the U.S.A is the most powerful country in the world. And in the 9/11 situation I think the best thing to do would have been to get on the news and make those people feel guilty. I believe everybody is born with a sense of what is right and wrong. Those people who crashed those planes believed they were dieing for a purpose, but If you talk logically things just have to click in your head. My mom's best tool is not to ground me or take anything away, because she knows that people will do what they want, but to instill what is right in the world and let me make my own decisions. When i mess up her disappointment in me is what tears me up inside. I know a lot of things that I have discussed here may not be the truth, but it's just how I feel. I also know everything is a lot deeper than I made it seem, but what isn't in life, and it is up to us to try to make some sort of sense out of things.

week 12 assigned post

There are many important literary elements found in the novel In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason that are important to the novel’s theme. In my opinion, the major theme is escaping reality. Throughout the entire book, all characters are always drinking alcohol, watching TV, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, consuming branded products, or in the case of Emmett, ignoring his pimples. All of these actions are means of escaping reality. Emmett ignores completely his pimples and his heartburns completely saying that they are normal and have nothing to do with Agent Orange (27, 30-31). But his niece Sam knows better, and keeps insisting that those are side effects of the Agent Orange that was sprayed during the Vietnam War…even though Emmett says that they were told to go inside when the Agent Orange was being sprayed outside. At the same time, he also escapes his own life by watching TV, specially the hit show M*A*S*H, which is about the Vietnam War. Emmett has no job or anything, and he keeps dodging that reality ball of having to put his life together, by being drunk or high all the time. Sam also keeps escaping her own reality of having to choose in what university to go by also drinking, watching TV and smoking with her uncle. And throughout the entire novel, they are lost in this brand consumer society trying to shift their thoughts of real life into something else.

Week 12- Closed

I have never been to Kentucky and to be honest am not sure why I would go. Kentucky makes me think of Whiskey and well to be honest not much else. I decided to broaden my Kentucky knowledge and find out who some famous Kentuckians are. Muhammed Ali the famous boxer tops the lists, which is equally matched by Robert Penn Warren and president Abraham Lincoln. So maybe I am mistaken and Kentucky does in fact have a lot to offer. Kentucky however, is a major element in my eyes to understanding In Country. I feel Kentucky as a whole enables the reader to get a stronger insight into many American towns and suffering war veterans around the country that live in small towns and are often forgotten. An Underlying theme in In Country is the suffering of war veterans once back in America; we see a prime example of this in Emmett who fought in Vietnam. The town people of Hopewell look at Emmett as crazy and separated themselves from Emmet and his family once he flew the Vietcong flag with his hippy friends. Across America, soldiers are returning to their states and towns in particular with fresh views on society and the feeling of an outsider. I felt that Bobbie Ann Mason does a great job in portraying to the reader what many war veterans go through when returning “home”. I have noticed that the majority of books only dwell on soldiers at war or leaving for war, but many do not indulge into the war vet’s life after war and the effects it has on the families around them. Kentucky in my eyes was important to understanding ‘In Country” as it enabled the reader to remember that across America soldiers are returning from war and feeling this sense of distance from there past. One of my favorite moments is when Sam is talking to Lonnie and states her view on the war and gives the insight from a war veteran’s family member. “You might ask my opinion first. The ones who don’t get killed come back with their lives messed up, and then they make everybody miserable.” (71) I enjoyed In Country as it was thoroughly honest and put many thoughts that people have into words.

Week 12 closed topic

I think that isolation and assimilation are portion of the themes in this book. Emmitt comes home from war and feels out of place and a bit isolated because his home and he have both changes. Sam throughout this novel is trying to assimilate into what and how Emmitt feels. She actually seems to be searching for isolation. When they are traveling she makes a comment about not being able to get lost in America but that she wishes she could. She wanted to be somewhere where no one could find her just like Emmitt was somewhere he couldn't be found. Just like in Tim O' Brien's "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" Sam is wanting and trying to become part for the war and the experience. While Emmit struggles to assimilate back into society Sam is trying to assimilate out.

Week 12- Open Topic

Over the weekend, I made a terrible life decision. On Saturday night my friend Ross and I decided to go to the cinema. After browsing the film selection, we narrowed our list down to Drillbit Taylor starring Owen Wilson, Superhero movie and 21. All of which are as bad as the other, at least it was not Catwoman staring Halle Berry, which may possibly be the worst film of all time. After a 30 second debate, we decided to go and watch Drilbert Taylor as we honestly believed Owen Wilson would bring some humor to the story. We saw the film at The Movie Tavern on Hulen and I can honestly say that if I decided to watch the film at any other cinema, I would of hated the film, yet my friends Ross and Miller light made it somewhat enjoyable. While on the topic of films, I thought I would bring forth the topic of War films. Earlier in the semester Dr. Berger and I had a brief conversation over what are the greatest war films of all time, I stated my love for Francis Ford Coppola and his lengthy film “Apocalypse Now”. I truly believe that the struggles Coppola went through in order to make this film, are represented in the aesthetic beauty and feeling behind the film. If you ever get a chance, I would highly recommend Apocalypse now, yet if you really have the time, take a look at Hearts of Darkness, the documentary following Apocalypse now and understand how Coppola nearly ruined his career, marriage and life in making this war time thriller. After searching through numerous websites of the top ranked war films, it came to my attention that there are three films regularly regarded as the top dog of war films. Apocalypse now found its place to number one on AOL’s top list, while others suggest Steven Spielberg’s black and white classic, Schindlers lists. A true story about a man named Oskar Schindler who puts his life on the line to save over 1000 Polish Jews from their death in the holocaust. A remarkably and emotional story that will require a large box of tissues for viewing. The other top contender found on websites is Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan staring Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller. Hanks leads a group of men uncertain of war into a WWII thriller, where they are in search of a brother who is missing and needs to be returned home. Everyone has a different perspective on “the greatest” war film. Below I have composed my top 5 war films of all time, if you get a chance, check them out. In the meantime, do you have a top 3 or even 5? If Rambo is in your top 5, please do not fill out the list; your opinion is not needed.

1. Apocalypse Now (1979)
2. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
4. The Great Escape (1963)
5. Platoon (1986)

Week 12 - Open Topic

In gathering information on post traumatic stress disorder for the upcoming literary project, I ran across some rather disturbing, or at the very least, unsettling statistics. According to Psych-Central, over half of the male Vietnam War veterans, and an almost equal percentage of female veterans, suffer from some form of post traumatic stress disorder. Of those who suffer from the disorder, 31% of males and 27% percent of females cope with the disorder for the remainders of their lives. The symptoms are divided into three basic categories: re-experiencing, avoidance, and increased arousal. These veterans are dealing with intrusive memories that may be accompanied by physical or mental discomfort, recurring dreams that disrupt their sleeping patterns, or even the sensation that they are physically experiencing the trauma of combat though they are many miles removed from the environment. They may avoid memory triggers or even mentally block these memories from their consciousness altogether. Often they feel disconnected from society, including their loved ones, and experience a decreased desire to participate in activities they used to enjoy. Some have experienced difficulties concentrating, paranoid behaviors, and irritable outbursts. In short, these veterans return home with a similar physical appearance, but a completely changed personality. This makes it difficult for their loved ones to relate to them and even more difficult for them to reciprocate. They are left with feelings of isolation on top of their terror, which leads some to turn to alcohol (39.2%) or drugs (5.7%). Then what do we do to help them when they return home? Put them on medication of course! They are prescribed either benzodiazepines, also known as habit-forming mild tranquilizers, or antidepressants, or both if it is a really stubborn case of anxiety. This way we can mask their symptoms in order to integrate them smoothly into a society that is also very medicated.

Week 12 Open Post

One of the things that I noticed in the novel is how Sam has no female model to follow. She does have her mother, but she doesn’t live with her, and she is kind of abandoned by her. Her mother has her separate life with her new husband, leaving Sam alone with Emmett. I believe that having a female role model in your life is very important. But Sam lives alone with her uncle Emmett, and is always surrounded by Emmett’s friends, or her boyfriend Lonnie. She has no one to tell her to do or not do something.
I think that this is why she is smoking pot and getting high, getting a little drunk with her uncle, and sleeping with her boyfriend whenever she pleases.
Sam kind of looks up to Emmett, and that is fine that he is her role model… but I also think that it is important to look up to someone of your same sex. In this book, her character might as well be a boy and it would not make a difference because of the way she acts.

Week 12 open topic

Talking about Vietnam for the past few weeks, I keep thinking about those who fled to Canada or tried to get out of the draft. I remember the only time I ever talked about Vietnam, it was in 6th grade. We had to do a project on WWII and I had to interview my grandpa. After the interview, I was curious as to who else in my family went to war. I learned that my uncle was in the military, but he was the only other one, other than my grandpa. I asked my dad why he never went to war, and that's when my mom told me about the Vietnam war and how my dad was going to have to go, except that he was in school. When I asked my dad about the war, he said that was one of the main reasons he went straight to college was because if he quit school, he would have been drafted and had to go to war. My mom always told me that my dad probably would have died over there, or he would have been different when he came back. I never understood why she said that, but I now know. The Vietnam war changed people, and not for the best. People who came back from Vietnam had many psychological problems and some physical problems as well. My dad has always been a "softy"...war would not have been good for him. He's not the kind of guy who would enjoy being at war or would be able to sleep through the night after war. He has a heavy concious, so war would not be good for him. I don't really care why he didn't go to war, I'm just glad that he didn't...my dad wouldn't be the same he is today.

Week 12 Open Topic

This is the first literature class that I have been in that the students have been encouraged to communicate amongst themselves and share and discuss their own ideas,interpretations and view on the text read in class. I wanted to take this opportunity to share how the books and stories we have read and studied have impacted me. I am a person who generally enjoys reading but has a difficult time reading things assigned. I have had no issues reading the assigned text for this class. I think that the reason for this is that it has really opened my eyes and sparked my interest. My father has an addiction to the history channel and he is partial to documentaries on War, Vietnam/WWI and II. He has always encouraged me to watch them with him to learn but I just could not get into them. I had no interest at all because I didn't feel that I could identify in any way shape or form to what was being discussed. After reading the text in class mostly "The Things They Carried" and "Missing" I have a new found respect and interest in what happened and the different points of view held. "How to Tell a True War Story" really drove into me the reality of the things that happened over there and what has followed to soldiers home. Though many of the stories told by O'Brien seemed very unreal they ate away at me and made me feel. I felt that internal torment when the baby water buffalo was slowly killed, not just pain for the buffalo for why the situation occurred. "Missing" was an excellent follow up to "The Things They Carried" because I saw hope in it. After reading it I realized that even though war is awful and does affect everything in a negative way that things do happen for a reason and that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The main characters assimilation into his new family and his happiness in his daughter would have never occurred if he had not gone to war. Though he felt slightly alienated in the end what I took away from that story was hope. I have thoroughly enjoyed the texts we have read and hearing what my group members think about them as well. You all have given me insight into things I would not have originally noticed. Thank you!

Week 12 closed topic

This story was about a girl on the quest to find out who she truly is. Her whole life she has known that her dad died in Vietnam, and thus had never met him. She also knows that her uncle, Emmett, went to Vietnam and he survived. She is very protective over her uncle, always telling him to go get tested for Agent Orange because of his health problems. She talks to a picture of her father, trying to make him more personable, and less of a picture. At one point, she goes to visit her grandma and grandpa to talk about her father. There, she finds a diary he kept during the war. When she reads this, she becomes disgusted with her father, and at one point says she hates him. She decides to visit the War Memorial, where she finally figures out who she is. It is important to understand who Sam is in order to see why this is important.


At the end, Sam is going through the directory of those who lost their lives. She finds a version of her name, Sam Alan Hughes, and is touched by it. "Her heart pounding, she rushes to panel 14E, and after racing her eyes over the string of names for a moment, she locates her own name....She touches her own name. How odd it feels..." (244-245). Throughout the story, Sam has taken for granted that she is alive. I think at this point in the story, she values her life more and the fact that had her dad not died, she wouldn't have been who she is today.

Week 12 Closed Post

I want talk about a theme that I call connection. And it's not just the connection that people have that fought in the war, but more of a connection that everything has to everything. As I've been reading I have been getting better at noticing things that were put there as a hint about the underlying meaning. A specific example I want to mention is the part were Emmett fills his glass with Pepsi without adding any ice. When I read that I thought, "what the hell did he write that for?" So I underlined it and to my surprise it came up again except this time it was Sam poured her a glass of Pepsi with no ice. That's when I thought there is got to be some connection there. When Sam talks about things that she does it's always me and Emmett do this and that. It's like a set schedule, and she tries more and more to be apart of what Emmett does. Sam sometimes will go to McDonald's with him, or to the Vietnam reunion dance. Emmett and Sam watch a lot of war movies like M*A*S*H that just fuel Sam's wonderment about the Vietnam War. By imitating things that Emmett does and hanging out with all his old war buddies she is molding herself to be able to have more of a feeling of what it was like to be in Nam. She is fascinated with it and is almost all she can talk about. Sam is always asking question's about her dad and things that went on while Emmett was there. Her passion to know the war has fueled a weapon that I fear has pushed her to the edge of insanity. She states how she gets vivid images of the war like a Vietnamese mom caring her dead baby around and lots of others. Sam's never been there, but from all the information she has gathered, she is building a connection that her brain recognizes as real. You kind of see this connection in "The Things they Carried," specifically chapter "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong." It is in this story you see similarities between the guys girlfriend that came over to Vietnam and Sam in "In Country." In her case she is surrounded in the element and becomes consumed in it, and starts going out on night missions and other things. She also wore a necklace of ears that was also mentioned in "In Country." Sometimes war is just to much for the mind to handle and it molds itself to be able to cope with whats going on around you. From an outside perspective you most likely are viewed as a crazy person, but from the inside your right as rain. I believe everything is connected in life and this shows throughout all the novels we have read. The war not only effects the individual there but the families of sons of war who have either lost them to the enemy or have suffered the pain that comes with PTSD and other wounds.