Source #1
Sontag. D. “In More Cases, Combat Trauma Is Taking the Stand ,” The New York Times 27/01/08. 24 Jul 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/us/27vets.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
This article was taken from the The New York Times which is a highly factual and well respected newspaper. Also, this article was taken from the War Torn-Series that The New York Times began. Sontag is perhaps best known among conservatives for her 6,000-word revisionist history on the Middle East peace talks in July 2001.
“Still, more and more, with the troops’ mental health a rising concern, these defendants are succeeding in at least raising the issue of psychological war injuries. Aggressive defense lawyers, many in the military bar, are insisting that Iraq or Afghanistan be factored into the calculus of justice in these cases. They are arguing that war be seen as the backdrop for these crimes, most of which are committed by individuals without criminal records”
-What do I think of this idea?
I think this gives us a new perspective on crimes in our nation. We are dealing with more veterans in this war than ever before. The rise of PSTD has increased dramatically and this nation must face this dilemma now.
- How true is it?
PSTD is a very real disease that is not only affecting war veterans from Iraq but other people as well due to crime increase. This War Torn Series is particularly dedicated to those who have committed crimes due to dealing with PTSD.
-Why does it resonate with you?
This resonates with me because as the influx of war vets there is becoming a new demographic in the US. Just as any new culture of people we have accepted and accommodated any differences they have from our American culture. These war vets are coming home with serious physical, mental, and emotional difficulties and as any other demographic we must accept and accommodate them back into our American culture.
- Does it challenge or support anything I know or believe?
I firmly support the troops that are coming back into the United States and are faced with such difficulties. Putting myself in their shoes makes me sympathize with those who struggle day to day.
- Does it raise or answer questions?
This raises questions of how as a nation we should respond to their revolts and crimes. Is it still a crime or should their condition and background be taken into consideration?
- How does this quotation or claim make you think differently about your topic? How does it challenge or push your thinking or give you a new line of thought to pursue? What new original ideas arise from your encounter with this source.
Before this article I didn’t realize the increase of crimes due to PTSD and emotional and mental consequences of the war. As mentioned in the quote… how we should deal with the consequences of the war vets actions is in question.
Source #2
“Why We’re Against the War.” Iraq Veterans Against the War. 2008. The Action Mill. 24 Jul 2008 <http://ivaw.org/faq>.
The IVAW mobilizes the military to withdraw the troops. They help give voice “to the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent. Membership includes recent veterans and active duty servicemen and women from all branches of military service, National Guard members, and reservists who have served in the United States military since September 11, 2001”
“Combat stress, exhaustion, and bearing witness to the horrors of war contribute to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a serious set of symptoms that can lead to depression, illness, violent behavior, and even suicide. Additionally, depleted uranium, Lariam, insufficient body armor and infectious diseases are just a few of the health risks which accompany an immorally planned and incompetently executed war. Finally, upon a soldier’s release, the Veterans Administration is far too under-funded to fully deal with the magnitude of veterans in need”
-What do I think of this idea?
Again these consequences are very real, serious and not taken care of as a nation. Whether we are really taking care of the situation is in question.
- How true is it?
This is a topic that we are learning to address…the media has taken the reign of this topic and we are realizing how severe these consequences are every day through the relentless media.
- Why does it resonate with you?
This addresses my topic for this unit-US war vets from Iraq dealing with injuries or struggles and adjusting back into society.
-Does it challenge or support anything I know or believe?
This supports my belief that nothing is really being done by the US government for the Iraq war vets. The VA is too overwhelmed and unprepared for this influx of surviving war vets.
- Does it raise or answer questions?
This struggle to help these war vets get back into daily routines, get jobs, health care, disability etc questions the morality of this war and our country.
- How does this quotation or claim make you think differently about your topic? How does it challenge or push your thinking or give you a new line of thought to pursue? What new original ideas arise from your encounter with this source.
This quote brings up the new idea of the depleting uranium that I didn’t know much about before and didn’t realize that that was a major cause of injuries and illnesses. Also, it makes me further research what kind of protection the army is getting and whether these injuries can be prevented in a slight way.
Haley. Good job thinking about and responding to the sources you have found thus far for your project. I hope you find this strategy useful. At any rate, the following point you make is really provocative to me: This raises questions of how as a nation we should respond to their revolts and crimes. Is it still a crime or should their condition and background be taken into consideration?
As your reader, I am curious about how the courts are handling these cases. Are soldiers having to pay for their crimes as any other U.S. citizen would or are the courts sympathizing with them and recommending therapy rather than prison? What are others, including yourself, arguing that should be done to help these war vets?
In my mind, this phenemenon challenges us to rethink our entire penal system. I wonder, for instance, how many criminals have suffered some kind of traumatic experience in the past that could explain their violent behavior? I know in other countries, rehabilitation centers that provide mental counseling have been proven far more effective in decreasing violence and other deviant behavior than prisons. I wonder if the phenomenon of war vets committing crimes and the resulting ways in which they are prescribed punishment could be an impetus for changing the entire way we deal with crime in this country. Wishful thinking, perhaps!
I also think that the War Torn Series is doing a good job of showing the negative implications of underfunding for returing War Vets who need medical attention that the IVAW speaks of. It reminds me a story I read about in the newspaper once about a man with scitzophrenia. He apparently had pushed a women onto the tracks while they were waiting for the Ltrain in Chicago, and she was run over by the train. When the police arrived at the man’s door to arrest him, the man replied, “Does this finally mean I can receive some help?”
Anyway, good work here. In future, really let yourself freewrite in response to the questions I offer as strategies to elicit your own voice into the conversation. Think about writing back to the authors of the articles…