How Young is Too Young????
The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East hit home for many Americans. Whether or not you are aware of it, chances are likely that you have some affiliation to a soldier or know someone who does. Knowing a soldier doesn’t necessarily mean they are fighting oversees, but it seems more and more lately that this case is true. So many young men and women willingly enlist in the armed forces in attempts to tie down some permanent peace in the Middle East. What I want to know is how young is too young? Is 18 much too young of an age for Americans to risk their lives and the many opportunities they face if they were to remain on American soil?
For years and years while growing up adults always claimed that our teenage life was supposed to be “the time of our life!” We were practically ordered to enjoy it while we could, because apparently aging is some horrific and unfair event…It almost seems a little crazy then to throw away this supposed fantastic time and enlist in something that could turn fatal. In “Vera Brittain: Testament of Youth” Brittain writes about how the youth of her turn was forced to grow up over night to prepare for battle, death, and destruction.
The War, we decided, came hardest of all upon us who were young. the middle-aged and the old had known their period of joy, whereas upon us catastrophe had descended just in time to deprive us of that youthful happiness to which we had believed ourselves entitled (129).
Those who fought in the war were tormented by days and weeks stuck in trenches and in desolate battlefields, while those who remained home sat around for months on end wondering if they would ever see their loved ones again, all the while finding themselves responsible for all of the work the soldiers are no longer there to perform.
Another thing I have become aware of is that all of the people I know who are both my age (early twenties) and preparing for the Middle East view war as the ultimate glory for America. They have built up in their minds this image of slaying evil and spreading peace, returning home to eternal glory and satisfaction. This is a major misconception, the truth of war is grim. In Iraq and the Middle East, roadside bombings leave our nations youth a pile of blackened corpses and singed rags on the side of the road. Doesn’t sound too glorious…maybe it’s just me though. Brittain touched on this in her memoir when talking of a letter she received from her “squeeze”, Roland. Roland wrote:
I used to talk of the Beauty of War; but it is only War in the abstract that is beautiful. Modern warfare is merely a trade, and it is only a matter of taste whether one is a soldier or a greengrocer, as far as I can see (172).
War is deadly and cruel, beautiful and glorious only from afar. War will not take into consideration your age, your gender, race, occupation…War does not give a damn.
on October 20, 2009 on 2:52 am
The words “how young is too young?” caught my attention. I had an idea of what would follow as I have discussed this concept in another class. And I ask you this, who else is going to do it? No offense, I completely agree that it is a strange thing the youth of our country are the ones defending it. The truth is that these young men may perform better than older individuals. They are stronger, less likely to have a wife and kids at home, and also less likely to think about dieing. Theses young kids are more likely to think they are invincible and not worry about being killed. This can be helpful when it comes to the performance of the soldier. A thirty year old with other priorities in their life is less likely to want to become a soldier. These young men are the ones we depend on. I read more about this article and it seems to me that you view war as somewhat of a waste. It is true that it is very wasteful but there will always be a war in this world we live in. I guess I just think of myself as patriotic. Life and death is a funny thing to contemplate but it is inevitable. Those brave men and women chose to be there. Don’t ruin their memory by saying something like, “…roadside bombings leave our nations youth a pile of blackened corpses…” because thats not right. They gave their lives for a greater purpose. Be thankful we don’t live in a time like in WWII. You yourself would most likely find yourself involved in the war. Be thankful there are others willing to step up and fight so you and others don’t have to.
on October 20, 2009 on 4:39 am
I was forced to write this blog for a class that I have since dropped. I wrote what I did to speak in the voice of some grim poets of the past. I do not agree even with what I wrote. I said this in order to better fall in line with the class. I do feel war is glorious to the youth, and that is a very good thing. I know dozens of kids from my high school who, instead of being excited that they were accepted into some university, we excited that they were joining the armed forces. I agree entirely with what you said, we rely on these people. I am very thankful they are over there, doing what they want to do, so that I am not forced to do it. I consider myself patriotic, but the constraints of the assignment made it more acceptable for me to speak in a grim and depressing manner.
on November 27, 2009 on 7:43 pm
[...] http://mkunka.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/how-young-is-too-young/ [...]