With the recent death of two Australian soldiers and the wounding of three others in Afghanistan, President Obama has reminded the country of the bombing in Bali conducted by al-Qaeda a few years ago. Additionally, he has stated that the war there might last for “several years.” It’s all here, in an article by Ian McPhedran and Malcolm Farr in the Herald Sun, an Australian paper.
Throughout its duration, I’ve sort of tacitly supported the war in Afghanistan; rooting out al-Qaeda terrorists seems like a worthy goal. Having justice served to those responsible for the events of 9/11 sounds like a good idea. I do not really think about it much, though; it’s on the back burner. That is what I mean by “tacit support,” I guess. But what if I were called to actually fight in this war? I am reminded of the story “On the Rainy River” from Tim O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried:
“There should be a law, I thought. If you support a war, if you think it’s worth the price, that’s fine, but you should have to put your own precious fluids on the line. You have to head for the front and hook up with an infantry unit and help spill the blood. And you have to bring along your wife, or your kids, or your lover. A law, I thought.” (p. 42)
O’Brien is writing here about his experience being drafted in 1968 for Vietnam, a war he was opposed to. However, it is a well-made point, in my opinion. Maybe people wouldn’t be so willing to support war if they knew their lives would be on the line. O’Brien says that LBJ should’ve sent his daughters, or General Westmoreland his family, to fight the war if they supported it so much. Imagine George W. Bush having to go fight the war in Iraq with his family… or Obama and his little girls off to Afghanistan to look for Osama bin Laden.
If you are your loved ones are directly responsible for waging the war, then just maybe it isn’t so worth it after all. It’s definitely something powerful to think about.
*Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, 1990
I am glad you touched on that passage from O’Briens, “The Things They Carried”. It is something important to think about. How can you think a war should be fought but not be willing to fight in it yourself or have those close to you fight in it either? Of course, no one wants their children to suffer or their husbands to die, but at what point do those supporting the war stop contributing to the war effort? Can you support a war without supporting it fully? Of course, every American who is fighting in a war today is a volunteer, not a drafted soldier. However, I often wonder how many people who volunteer for the service do so for lack of options and opportunities. I believe some people truly want to fight for their country but I also believe others join for different reasons.
By: klynchmorin on April 14, 2009
at 3:26 pm
[...] Posted in Uncategorized You think war’s a good idea? Fine, go fight it. -Drew [...]
By: My Comments « What is it good for? on April 14, 2009
at 4:29 pm