In intense situations, a person's instinct to run varies based upon said person's definition of self-preservation.
In the Red Badge of Courage, Henry Flemming, aka "the youth," is a rookie solider who only enlisted out of boredom of life on the family farm. His first year in the army is peculiarly uneventful, camping out at the same location, making no friends. He's left with only his thoughts and the canvas of his tent. He comes to realize that he was wrong, war is less glamorous than he fathomed it should be. He begins pondering what he might actually do if he is in a battle, whether or not he would stay put and fight, or break rank and run. His first experience with war comes too soon, but to his own relief, Henry stays and fights. His company ends winning the battle, the enemy retreating. He sleeps well that night because his "supreme trial had passed." The next day, however, to every one's amazement, they are raided again; this time by surprise. Henry tries to prepare himself, but with so little time, he becomes overwhelmed. He "ran like a blind man," fleeing from the enemy, or what here refereed to as the "dragon." As he's retreating, he starts to notice all the other regiment's preparing for battle, calling them 'Methodical idiots!' and 'Machine-like fools!' He runs because he doesn't want to die. In dangerous situations, Henry takes flight. He would rather run from life threatening problems to preserve his life, instead of staying and fighting for his life.
Forrest Gump, in my opinion, is a complete one-eighty from Henry Flemming. Forrest finds himself in the middle of the war in "Vee-at-nah-um," walking into a battle already rageing. After his unit tries to knock out the enemy, they lose hope and Lieutenant Dan calls for aircraft, telling his unit to run. Forrest doesn't understand at first because he wants to stay and fight. But he ends up running, not because he's afraid of dying, but because he was told to. ("Run, Forrest! Run!") He runs, something that he is naturally talented at, and finds himself alone. He stops as he realizes this, and then turns around and runs back into the battle because "Bubba's my best good friend. I couldn't just leave him there." But as he runs back into the Valley of Death, he finds people yelling "Help me, Forrest!" He carries them to safety, but all in a frantic panic because he couldn't find Bubba. Forrest, even though he was told to run, runs back and fights because he's "...gotta find Bubba!" In intense situations, Forrest is a fighter. He gets what he wants because he doesn't realize fear, unlike Flemming. Forrest's definition of self-preservation is almost nonexistent in this situation because of his determination to save Bubba.
The fight or flight reflex is present in everyone, one appearing without the other in all situations. It's different for different people, a perfectly fine example of this being the difference in Flemming's and Gump's reactions when under pressure in different situations.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
War Is...
War is a ram, butting heads with a threat.
War is mean, taking husbands from wives.
War is destructive, tearing down the facade of safety.
War is a gold digger, showing itself in the richest of hands.
War is cunning, planning and scheming for death.
War is ugly, deformed and raging for revenge.
War is territorial, erasing lines on the map.
War is hateful, spitting curse words at it's opponent.
War is rash, making mistakes and wasting time.
War is a sad thing, mourning its loss.
War is mean, taking husbands from wives.
War is destructive, tearing down the facade of safety.
War is a gold digger, showing itself in the richest of hands.
War is cunning, planning and scheming for death.
War is ugly, deformed and raging for revenge.
War is territorial, erasing lines on the map.
War is hateful, spitting curse words at it's opponent.
War is rash, making mistakes and wasting time.
War is a sad thing, mourning its loss.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wounded Warrior Project
The WWP likes to say that their mission is "to honor and empower wounded warriors." WWP educates the public on the storiesof the veterans, provides aid for those injured soldiers, and promotes the acquaintances of the injured military officers. They provide programs to help the service members with fiances and accept donations.
I think that the Wounded Warrior Project is a good idea because most people don't hear about those wounded in service unless you know them. It helps raise awareness for something that we should be very conscious about, but we're surprisingly ill informed. It shows that many lives have been spared because of luck, or what some would call the grace of God.
I also find the WWP very eye-opening. It helps us as Americans see that our brothers and sisters are not just losing their lives, but flesh and bone for this country as well. But all we're concerned about it the cost of groceries and gas prices, and we aren't really concerned with our wounded neighbors who have more hardships than we do.
Along with these, the WWP also makes me very proud to live in a country where we are privileged to have people who want to sacrifice themselves just so we can have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It helps us see that we have people that we have neglected to give our appreciation to, even though they haven't asked for any.
The Wounded Warrior Project helps us recognize the sacrifices that these people have made for our sakes. The organization helps the younger generations, like myself, develop an understanding for the military world. It makes me happy to be an American because of these veterans, who have given their legs and arms for our welfare.
I think that the Wounded Warrior Project is a good idea because most people don't hear about those wounded in service unless you know them. It helps raise awareness for something that we should be very conscious about, but we're surprisingly ill informed. It shows that many lives have been spared because of luck, or what some would call the grace of God.
I also find the WWP very eye-opening. It helps us as Americans see that our brothers and sisters are not just losing their lives, but flesh and bone for this country as well. But all we're concerned about it the cost of groceries and gas prices, and we aren't really concerned with our wounded neighbors who have more hardships than we do.
Along with these, the WWP also makes me very proud to live in a country where we are privileged to have people who want to sacrifice themselves just so we can have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It helps us see that we have people that we have neglected to give our appreciation to, even though they haven't asked for any.
The Wounded Warrior Project helps us recognize the sacrifices that these people have made for our sakes. The organization helps the younger generations, like myself, develop an understanding for the military world. It makes me happy to be an American because of these veterans, who have given their legs and arms for our welfare.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Remembering 9/11
I was six years old. I had just started grade school. I was sitting in Mrs. Rogers' first grade class. I don't remember anything. Not the moment I found out, I remember no emotions. My first recollection of anything having to do with 9-11 was on ABC World News with Charles Gibson. My one and only memory of that day.
"Mommy, why are you guys watching this stuff? It's scary."
"It just happened, honey. This really just happened."
It was almost like I was asking if this was just a TV show. Like someone made this sadistic image up. People leaping off buildings and skyscrapers falling. People dying. Like there was a script and these were actors on the screen, not real people, and no one was getting hurt. This isn't happening in real life. Someone just made it look like it is.
I think my thoughts were right along the line with the rest of America's. 'Did this just happen?' 'This is scary.' 'Who would do this?' But everyone knew one thing for sure: It wasn't accident. No one just so happens to fly two passenger jet's into the same building, killing countless people. Not to mention the other two planes, one smashing home at the Pentagon and the other with its sight set on DC itself. Thank God for the passengers of that flight, otherwise we'd have been talking about rebuilding the Capitol building and elections for a new president.
Does anyone else see the images and watch the clips and silently think to themselves, 'How many people did I just watch die? How many little girls, who were sitting in their first grade class, will never see their daddy's again? How many will never meet their moms, their dads, their sisters?' The answer: countless. Because everybody knows someone who knows someone who was in that building on September 11, 2011. And we will never, ever, forget them.
"Mommy, why are you guys watching this stuff? It's scary."
"It just happened, honey. This really just happened."
It was almost like I was asking if this was just a TV show. Like someone made this sadistic image up. People leaping off buildings and skyscrapers falling. People dying. Like there was a script and these were actors on the screen, not real people, and no one was getting hurt. This isn't happening in real life. Someone just made it look like it is.
I think my thoughts were right along the line with the rest of America's. 'Did this just happen?' 'This is scary.' 'Who would do this?' But everyone knew one thing for sure: It wasn't accident. No one just so happens to fly two passenger jet's into the same building, killing countless people. Not to mention the other two planes, one smashing home at the Pentagon and the other with its sight set on DC itself. Thank God for the passengers of that flight, otherwise we'd have been talking about rebuilding the Capitol building and elections for a new president.
Does anyone else see the images and watch the clips and silently think to themselves, 'How many people did I just watch die? How many little girls, who were sitting in their first grade class, will never see their daddy's again? How many will never meet their moms, their dads, their sisters?' The answer: countless. Because everybody knows someone who knows someone who was in that building on September 11, 2011. And we will never, ever, forget them.
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