Thursday, August 12, 2010

How to Tell a True War Story


"War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because was is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead" (pg 76).


This quote really stood out to me, because I think it is extremely true. Not only about war, but about life. The use of oxymoron after oxymoron gets the point across well. "War is nasty; war is fun." This part reminds me of the "shit field," which is disgusting beyond belief. It also makes me think of their stories. The soldiers love listening to each others stories while partying. "War is thrilling; war is drudgery." O'Brien later speaks of how he misses the action of the war and being part of the unit and the special bond that they share. He also talks about how miserable his pain in his butt is and how he can't sleep on his back anymore. "War makes you a man; war makes you dead." I have never heard war described so accurately before in my life. The valor of fighting for one's country makes one a man, but in the actual fighting, this man may be killed.

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