Hello and welcome back to my blog!
Unfortunately, this will be my last post for my ASTU 100 class. As the end of the year is approaching, so is our time within ASTU, where we have explored various works of literature, along with intriguing subjects. Throughout this year, literature has allowed me to draw more insight and knowledge, on topics that I never could never have thought to deeply analyze before. Furthermore, these blogs, became a haven for me to share my own personal thoughts and reflections, in connection to these deep and multidimensional topics we were discussing. When thinking about my final post, I decided I would like to wrap-up my feelings in connection to the War on Terror, a topic that continues to be extremely prevalent in the 21st century.
For those who have perhaps not read my previous posts, the War on Terror is a period focused on the conflicts and tensions erupting in the post 9/11 world, specifically, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These wars, also brought with them the creation of various cultural memories in connection to the East, and was a pivotal point in the relations between the East and the West. Due to the events of 9/11 being extremely publicised and public, which was experienced by several individuals, it also led to the creation of various literary works, as a means of expression personal interpretations.
However, as seen with most events interpreted into either literature or the media, events are not always explored or represented fully accurately. Specifically, when discussing war or combat, we often see the media mostly focusing on the death toll, and the actions employed by soldiers, but rarely personal the experiences of these soldiers. This is why, most individuals, do not consider or understand, the severe impacts that war and combat can have, even when the conflict period has come to a stop.
It is mostly believed, that once a war is over, then so are the dangers that the soldiers face. Thus, the psychological consequences are often ignored, and not taken into account during the return of soldiers. It is true that the war may end, but the effects still linger for years to come. The mental health consequences are far greater than the number of deaths reported during these wars, creating a massive group of individuals who are suffering from psychological issues, without the proper attention or care from society.
These problems were further explored within our class, as we read the short story Redeployment by Phil Klay. This story tells the tale of a solider returning from combat, and the issues he faces reintegrating to normal civilian life. It also touches upon the often ignored, or forgotten, aspects of combat, such as mental health issues, as previously mentioned.
I personally found this story extremely compelling, and it made me question whether the outcomes of these wars are justified with the damage done to not only civilians, but also the soldiers involved. I also found the writing of the author, at times satirical, very compelling as it described the unravelling events.
The story, in detail, portrays the alienation that soldiers returning from combat can face, and the rough transition period – “you’ve been in a no-shit war zone and then you’re sitting in a plush chair, looking up at a little nozzle shooting air-conditioning, thinking, what the fuck?” (Klay, 2). The story further dispels the common misconceptions that all soldiers are emotionless, and become accustomed to war, by representing the different emotions that an take form. These soldiers are not cold and heartless, they have simply taken on this form due to being accustomed to war, but they still continue to face severe emotional and mental issues.
Another interesting part of the story, occurs when the returning soldier does not know how to rest his body without his weapons, “that was the first time I’d been separated from it in months… [I] didn’t know where to rest my hands” (Klay, 6). He is so used to combat and war, that he does not even know what to do with his body, let alone the emotions he is feeling. This can also be represented, as returning soldiers can also feel a deep disconnection with their loved ones, as they are both in different states of minds. This is exemplified in Klay’s story, as the returning soldier feels exactly this, once he is reunited with his wife. The disparity between his emotions and hers, are exemplified in the sign she is using to greet him. Her sign reads:
SGT PRICE. NOW THAT YOU’RE HOME YOU CAN DO SOME CHORES. HERE’S YOUR TO-DO LIST. 1) ME. 2) REPEAT NUMBER 1. (Klay, 7)
While this may be a sweet and fun welcome for his wife, it is completely detached with how he is feeling upon his return. He even expresses this saying, “I moved in and kissed her… I figured that was what I was supposed to do” (Klay, 8), displaying the feelings of alienation and discomfort. There is almost an air of the unspoken between them, as they do not openly discuss his mental state upon his return, but the underlying tension is still there. Cheryl (his wife), constantly asks “how are you” (Klay, 8), “isn’t it good to be home” (Klay, 9), looking for cues that he is properly adapting.
Similar to this theme of returning home, and life after combat for soldiers, the film American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood, sets a similar scene. This film, tells the story of Chris Kyle, and his mission to protect his country, accompanied with the severe consequences associated with war. Having previously seen the film, when I started reading Redeployment, I instantly made a correlation between the two. However, what I did find different was, American Sniper more openly displayed American nationalistic sentiments, such as with subtle elements like posters, or stickers in the background displaying American domination. Another example can be seen when Chris attributes his want to be in the army, to America being the greatest country, and that is why he wants to protect it. Redeployment, on the other hand, was much more subtle, conveying these beliefs, without having to openly display them.
Ultimately, both works are deeply connected to soldiers being unable to leave war, once they return back home, and the consequences associated. Within the Klay story, we see the soldier saying “I started feeling like I wanted to go back… because fuck all this” (Klay, 11), as they almost find adapting to their old lives more difficult, then simply going back to war. They become so familiarized, that they almost cannot remember or recognize their lives before combat.
Throughout both these works, we are able to witness and understand the impacts and consequences that soldiers face, in connection to war. When engaged in combat, individual lives are sometimes forgotten, as the focus is usually on the collective. It is undeniable that war has large and severe impacts for all individuals involved, and should not be taken lightly at all. As long as there is violence, turmoil, and conflict, then there will be severe psychological and social consequences for generations to come.
Ending on this note, I would like to finish my ASTU blogging career, with shedding light on the power that literature and the arts can hold on interpretations and depictions of events. Literature carries with it the immense power of portraying events, whether it be that of soldiers, such as in Redeployment and American Sniper, or the lives of women, such as in Persepolis. This is why, deep consideration must be put into the creation of these works, to maintain that equal, accurate, and truthful representations are created. Furthermore, literature also holds the key to ending global conflicts, as it sheds light on the difficulties and realities of life. Whether it be through representing war and genocide, such as in Safe Area Goražde, or abuse, such as in Obasan, literature plays an essential role in connecting the past to current readers.
I hope to continue blogging about my opinions in connection to literature, and works I come across, as I have truly enjoyed the experience this year.
Until next time…
Sinem Culhaoglu
Works Cited:
Klay, Phil. Redeployment. New York, NY: The Penguin Press, 2015. Print.
