One of the most important aspects of war is that when it is all done, when the fighting is over, later generations will know what excatly occurred during the time of conflict. It is critical that the children of civilians of war who were directly affected by the war, such as the survivors of the Holocaust, or the children of soldiers or even just other people know excatly what happened to these people. Most of those who write down their experiences do it so that if they do not survive their families can know what happened to them. Other times it is just so that later generations can know the precise conditions of the time.
Through Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel “Maus I: My Father Bleeds History” we are shown the story of Art’s father Vladek expereince with World War II. We know excatly what happened to him because his son wrote it all down.
“I still want to draw that book about you…the one I used to talk about…about your life in Poland and the war.” “It would take many books, my life and no one wants anyway to hear such stories.”
Vladek then goes on to talk about what he had to go through from the beginning of the war all the way through is deportation to Auschweitz. Anyone who reads this story knows excatly the lengths he went to when he and his wife were being relocated time after time, how he risked his life to get some food, how they hid in barns and in bunkers in coal bins or attics just to avoid the Gestapo as much as possible. People would never know the lengths people have to go through had this story not been written.
“Carlene says her son believed in what he was doing. He was “always reaching out to the people and the children,” of Afghanistan. She says he constantly volunteered for any humanitarian missions, and he would often try to connect with the children during his time overseas.”
One soldier who fought in Afghanistan wrote many journals during his time fighting. His mother kept them and then sent some to media stations such as CBS so his story and experience could be known.
“Coming into Afghanistan again after just finishing a year long tour 6 months ago isn’t the best feeling in the world. But this is the life I expected when I re-enlisted active duty. BAF is still the same every branch of the military there getting the exact same hazard duty and hostile fire pay as the soldiers out in the s— getting shot at daily, somehow thinking there in danger. Over the years I’ve come to accept everyone has there job, but I can’t help but have animosity towards any American fighting age male in shape that doesn’t have the balls to do a job that doesn’t involve working in a building sleeping in a warm bed their whole tour. So I’m not going to the Korengal valley witch is somewhat dissapointing but at the same time a relief.”
Soldiers and survivors need their stories to be heard and understood so people will know what has occurred in the past and maybe avoid such instances in the future.
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History.
http://www.milblogging.com/index.php?entry=entry091005-193035
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–> <!– –>CBS News Publishes Cpl. Jason Bogar’s Journal Entries, Last Letter to His Family Before Being Killed in Afghanistan in July 2008
Milblogging.com
I absolutely agree with you one hundred percent. Not only is it great for us at home, curious about what’s really going on at the front, but it’s great for those soldiers too. To be able to jot down their thoughts every day. It helps them to clear their heads and to know that their story would be able to be told no matter what. Some of the most influential pieces that I’ve ever read having to do with any war, were all based on true stories. Whether it be from a diary of a prisoner of war, or a memoir of a soldier. There is valuable information to be learned from these people. People can study wars, and learn everything about them. But I’m a firm believer in experiencing something before becoming an expert. I could read a thousand books on how to cook, but without actually getting into the kitchen my learning would be useless. And even more so for war. The personal experiences of soldiers fighting in a war are great resources not only for personal insight, but for students to get more interested in a topic. Keeping journals, and milblogging up is a must.
Writing has so many functions in the everyday life. I would agree that writing about these things are essential on different levels. In one sense it is non-violent form of emotional release for those involved in wars and conflicts. As if, my life does not feel complicated and stressful as it is, I cannot begin to fathom what these individuals lives are like to live in. There are also only so many different ways to cope with these emotional issues. Writing is a productive, civilized way for them and it is great to see so much military bloggers. Because of this, the people on the outside can learn. Things that are written by victims or ‘players’ are the things that we will not see or hear in class and textbooks.
I have always been a believer in first hand experience to learn. As we on the outside are not actually the ones involved, reading about the true experience directly, is the next best way.
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