December Blog- Damage from War

~December 30th

Soldiers in the middle of war see truly terrible things. They see fighting, death, explosions, and awful events that no person should ever witness. It is no surprise that many of these heroic people experience post-traumatic stress and other conditions after war. They can never truly rid their minds of the abominable images they saw during battle. They can become extremely paranoid and worried about everything around them. War not only damages a person physically, but also psychologically.

I am going to discuss question 4 of the Slaughterhouse Five Socratic Seminar Questions. I believe Billy's image of Tralfamadore is caused by psychological damage from war. One way it does not seem realistic to me is that the Tralfamadorians picked Billy and Montana as their two prisoners. It is odd they would pick Billy, and older, out of shape, and just overall average guy, along with Montana, a young, beautiful, pop star. This makes it seem more like Billy's imagination. The damage to Billy's brain shows the author wants to create an anti-war atmosphere. The author wants to show the harmful effects of war and why we should avoid it at all costs. The author wants the reader to sympathize with Billy. In my opinion, Billy is just a poor older man who has not received the treatment necessary for a person who has suffered through World War II. He is not damaged; he is psychologically damaged. Billy represents all the people impacted from the harsh realities of war.

The harmful effects of war are seen in veterans all over America. America is continuously raising awareness for these soldiers. Over Christmas break, I have seen multiple commercials for Wounded Warriors. This group is trying to raise money for soldiers who have suffered both physical and mental debilitations. The message that Mark Wahlberg conveys proves just how many veterans are suffering from the impact of war. America needs to do everything possible to help these men and women. These people risk their lives in order to make our world a better place. Because of this, we should give them the best medical treatment they can possibly receive, no matter what the cost. They deserve nothing less for their service.