Welcome back again!
As we continue with the topic of the War on Terror within our ASTU class, I find myself being exposed to more and more frames in association to it. One of these was the events of Guantanamo Bay, something that I had previously heard of, but had never really known much about. For those of you who may be as uninformed as I was, Guantanamo Bay was an American military prison located in Cuba, established during the era of the War on Terror. This prison was known to be an extreme violation of human rights, as many were detained without trial, or knowledge as to when they would be released. I’m always taken back about how large and traumatic events such as these had so much meaning at the time, but I was either too young or oblivious to truly understand. However, what allows events such as these to be remembered and understood several years later, is the power of poetry. Poetry, an often forgotten genre, allows for feelings and emotions to be shared, interpreted, and understood across cultures and generations.
For me, poems about traumatic events, remain a sort of way to commemorate or memorialize individuals. In connection to the events of Guantanamo Bay, it also allowed the prisoners to expel they’re emotions, and share this knowledge with readers. But this act of commemorating begs the question, who do we choose to remember, and who is forgotten? An interesting take on this is done by American philosopher Judith Butler, as she explains the precarity of life. Butler views life as precarious in the sense that it can be effected voluntarily, or by accident, and perseverance is not guaranteed. The fact that one’s life is always in the hands or affected by others, allows for a new viewpoint of daily interactions. For Butler, this precariousness is an inevitable element of society, as we as humans are all susceptible to injury or pain, and thus is always connected to political implications. This is exemplified as violence and retaliation was expressed in response to the precariousness of life after the events of 9/11.
I believe there is a deep link between poetry and the selective remembrance of individuals. Once specific individuals are represented within poetry or memorialized, why is it that they are remembered more than anyone else? Poetry, as Butler states, “…interrogate the kinds of utterance possible at the limits of grief, humiliation, longing, and rage” (p.59) – expressing itself as a unique genre, suited for dealing with traumatic events. The increase of poetry after the 9/11 event, did not come as a surprise to me. Sometimes events, that are especially traumatic, cannot be expressed vocally. That is why literature, and the arts, are so critical in emotional expression. We can begin to tap into and understand emotions and feel them deep into our core, when the words are so compelling. Also, the fact that so much can be said, in so little, with so much meaning and significance, is the beauty behind poetry.
This idea of commemorating individuals through poetry, and “never forgetting”, helps shape the cultural and collective memories of individuals in regards to these tragic event. Through the use of poetry, whenever we encounter ones in association to either Guantanamo or 9/11, we are reminded of the event. Even as years pass, these emotions will not change in regards to the poems, forever locked into the memories of individuals – and perhaps this is the beauty behind it. Similar to how songs can capture feeling or emotions, forever recalled, poetry can do the same in solidifying what you are feeling, but do not have the words to speak it.
Until next time…
Work Cited:
Butler, Judith. Frames of war: when is life grievable? London: Verso, 2016. Print.
