War isn't hell, war is worse. If someone is condemned to hell it is because they have done something wrong. In war you always have innocent bystanders who are killed simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Since the conflict in Syria has started, 210,000 civilians have been killed, while 1.5 million have been injured, and 10.9 million people displaced as a result of the war. It is estimated that 20-25% of deaths are children. Kids who have not even lived long enough to have done something wrong, are victims of war. 1.2 million homes, 36% of hospitals, and 4,000 schools have been destroyed by bombings. Innocent bystanders are losing basic necessities through no fault of their own. These civilians have been put in hell because of a war between four groups trying take control of the country, something they have no control over. The crisis in Syria is only one example of how war can impose it’s hellish conditions to those who do not deserve it. The only thing the innocent bystanders have done wrong to have earned their place in that hell is simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This is an eye-opening argument. A lot of people don't realize that it isn't just soldiers that die in war. These stats really speak for themselves and so does your writing. These pictures are also very powerful. The pictures make the argument even stronger by showing the terror that war causes innocent people who aren't fighting.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really strong argument. I was captured by your title because one of thesis's aims to analyze the statement "war is hell". If you remember from our reading O'Brien also talked about the statement "war is hell" in how to tell a true war story by saying. "For example: War is hell; As a moral declaration the old truism seems perfectly true, and yet because it abstracts, because it generalizes, I can't believe it with my stomach, nothing turns inside (O'Brien 74)." I think that your analysis of war would turn his stomach. Your connection from war to the impact of war on everyday citizens. I have been following the situation with Syria and the effect that war and terrorism has on the people and I completely agree with your statement. You did an excellent job of taking both ideas from the reading and whats happening in our world today to construct a really applicable and powerful statement. The visuals you used are really difficult to look at but, they bring a lot of pathos to your writing. It is one thing to hear the statistics, it is another to see what the destruction looks like. I can tell that your argument and visual expand upon our unit in a way that is relevant to all of us.
ReplyDeleteThe statistics you brought up really opened my eyes into really how many people and places were affected in the crisis in Syria. That there were so many child victims drives your statement home because no matter on how you perceive hell there are no innocent children suffering there. Nice job choosing your images they each give an insight into the crisis that reading just can't do. Great insight.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job Justin! I think you did a really nice job showing how unfair war is. Innocent people are dying because of the desire for power, I think you did a nice job explaining how unfair this is. Leaders, who we put into power, abuse their powers. I think although you did a great job explaining how unfair war is, you could have expanded the conversation on the people controlling the wars. This is something that could have given greater insight into the behind the scenes aspects of war and then later connecting it with those affected by it. War is inhumane, something no one should have to suffer through and I think you did a nice job explaining how terrible war is to those involved and those even who aren't but are just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
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