I began researching the topic of injured Iraq War vets.  My topic is pretty much still the same, however, as I researched I have come across a lot of interesting topics.  I still continue to research I & A war vets and what services are or aren’t provided to them, but recently I have focused more so on how this great influx of I & A war vets has affected our nation, views of our government, and our morals. It seems to me that the overall emotional stance about the war vets coming home and not receiving care or support is of great importance right now.

             I know now that a lot of what is promised isn’t actually promised when coming back home from Iraq or Afghanistan.  This has been an issue for Vietnam vets as well but the increase of war vets from I & A has been drastic.  The GI Bill is struggling to be revised and doesn’t look too promising if McCain gets elected. I have learned that many vets aren’t receiving the benefits promised due to an old GI Bill.  Also,  I think that the issue of health care and those needing physical medical attention is one issue, but also our society is struggling to accept and accommodate the mental and emotional support the war vets need.  In short, direct action such as health care needs to take action to help the vets but what is society doing or not doing that can contribute to their problems.  This has helped me to shape my essay because before I thought it was just black and white…the government and the VA aren’t giving the benefits and care promised….but now other factors come into the picture of why or how the current Iraq War Vets are homesless, jobless, committing crimes etc.  I have learned a lot this information is through blogs, the New York times-War time series, random Google searches, the VA website etc.

            I would like to know more about how our government is actually handling this.  I am getting a lot of views of those who are against war and those who struggle as a war vet.  From the looks of it our government is being portrayed very negatively and nothing is really being done; however that cannot be 100% true.  In order to create a conversational paper I need to present both sides of the story. I will further research scholarly articles and any government websites. Specifically I am very curious to find out how the government and legal system are dealing with the abundant suicides and crimes committed by I & A war vets.  How should we punish these war vets who are struggling with PTSD and have received little to no help cope with these problems and integrate back into society?

             I have yet to organize all my thoughts before writing my final essay but I can see gaps as far as how it portrays the government.  Right now my topic conveys only negative aspect of the Iraq War Vets and I know this isn’t possible.  It’s possible that the stories I have researched are only one-sided and I have yet to research the many success stories, one which has been as experience of our classmate, Nick.  My interview with Nick is still in progress but I’m hoping that the information he gives me and his friends will help me see the other side.

             My main argument right now would be the current situation of why aren’t these I & A vets getting the attention, care and support they need from their government and society?  I also have many other ideas that are still in progress.  For instance I want to further research in more depth the situation with the VA and the health care for the vets.  I have questions about our government who should be in control of all of these issues…whether they just weren’t prepared for so many vets coming home, whether they simply cannot afford to help these men and women due to our country’s severe debt due to the war, or simply if they are not on their top list of priority right now.  Also my researched has shown me that many of the war vets who suffer mentally and emotionally (PSTD) have a hard time relating to other people and cannot easily integrate into society again so many have turned to drugs, crime, and violence….the question here poses whether these crimes will have an effect on the way our legal system works.  Should we treat these crimes as any other criminal or possibly give them help in ways such as therapy or counseling? Is it in best interest to put someone who is traumatized from war in a jail cell?  Is our problem not just the government’s fault or society?  Where do our country’s morals and ethics stand in this situation?

Lembert, Arsenio. “EndrTimes.” [Weblog More Than 160 Arrested at Iraq Protest] EndrTimes. 28 Jul 2008 <http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/IraqVetsAgainstWar.jpg&imgrefurl=http://endrtimes.blogspot.com/2007/09/more-than-160-arrested-at-iraq-protest.html&h=305&w=380&sz=112&hl=en&start=10&sig2=6IZnr1iKcrJJBlTbyB5r9Q&um=1&tbnid=_jE3BCbyzrcgcM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=123&ei=oUmOSJ61EIueeezLlfIP&prev=/images%3Fq%3Diraq%2Bwar%2Bvets%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN>.

            This picture of part of the article titled More than 160 Arrested at Iraq Protest.  The web page is a Christian blog, started by Arsenio.  The picture illustrates the group IVAW, Iraq Veterans Against the War.  This group marched to the white house in 2007 to end the war in Iraq.  They jumped a barricade at the foot of the Capitol steps and more than 160 were arrested. Considering that this is a Christian blog, the audience is Christian or has strong religious opinions.  Most likely the audience feels the same about the war in Iraq-that it needs to end and violence is not the answer.  This is a potential bias because it is a non violent group. Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.

“We’re occupying a people who do not want us there,” Cliburn said of Iraq. “We’re here to show that it isn’t just a bunch of old hippies from the 60s who are against this war.”

This is of importance to my essay because I am trying to show the side of Iraq War Vets and how their handling their own current situation or how they feel about the war.  Also one of my sources is the IVAW website.  What really intrigued me was that these people aren’t just “old hippies” who are against war, they are veterans who have served for our country and have come back disagreeing with our country and war. I think that this image will be very useful in my rhetorical analysis because it appeals to ethos and pathos.  It shows the veterans themselves taking action against our own government and that this is a major issue at hand.  Also, it forces the audience to sympathize with current soliders at war in Iraq or who have come home.

Glantz, Aaron. “Domestic disputes leave Iraq war veterans homeless .” FinalCall 30,07,2007 28 Jul 2008 <http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3661.shtml>.

In the picture is Daniel Marchado at a Los Angelos veteran homeless shelter.  This article discusses how Iraq War Vets outnumber the Vietnam War Vets.  The Vietnam War Vets didn’t end up on the street until about 9 years after they came home but already 10,000 Iraq War Vets are on the streets right now.  The Iraq War Vets are struggling to integrate back into society.  They have mental, emotional, and physical problems and have trouble relating to family members; in turn many have gotten into drugs and crime to deal with their struggles. 

            A quote from the article is

 “…A recent study by Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government found that by the time the Iraq and Afghanistan wars end, there will be at least 2.5 million vets. Because of that, the Harvard study concluded, Congress will have to double the Veteran Administration’s budget simply to avoid cutting services.”

This article and picture will be very useful in my essay. My main topic for my essay is how Iraq War Vets are dealing with coming back home and how the government is taking action in order to help these Iraq War vets.  The influx of Iraq war vets is way more than any other war and they are facing more financial troubles than ever before.  Also, this supports the idea that many of these war vets are turning to crime and violence to deal with their problems due to possibly lack of support and promised benefits by the government.

I think that this article will be key in my essay for persuading my audience. Not only will I use this source in my article to back up points but this image alone is very sad.  It will definitely appeal to pathos and puts the situation into a reality. It creates presence for the issue of Iraq War Vets coming back into the US.

      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.

                  I want further insight into what an Iraq war vet is and some of the struggles these vets have faced when coming back home to the US.  I want to understand the situation from their standpoint rather than what the media and other sources say. 

·        How do I plan on discovering it? (This is called your research methods or methodology)

                  I plan on discovering this by interviewing war vets through other public blogging and chat rooms.  Although it may be difficult for these Iraq war vets to be open about a personal situation to a stranger, I believe that they want the public to know the reality of the stuation.

·        Who am I going to talk to/observe/survey? (These people are called your subjects or participants)

                  I plan on talking to those who have suffered an injury from the war or have known others personally who have gone through a traumatic arrival home.

·        How am I going to be able gain access to these groups or individuals?

                  I will find public websites that offer chat rooms or other blogging that allows open communication; such as http://www.angelfire.com/ok/VetWives/Homepage.html and http://www.kellnet.com/veterans/

·        What are my biases about this topic?

      My biases from what I have researched are that most all arrivals home for Iraq war vets are negative and the United States is unwelcoming.  Also that the government has been unable to compensate the Iraq war vets through benefits that were guaranteed.  Also, I feel as though there is not enough support in general from our US government.

·        How can I make sure my biases are not reflected in my research methods?

      I can make sure my biases are not reflected by asking open ended questions that won’t persuade the person one way or another.  I will be able to get a true perspective of an Iraq war vet.

·        What do I expect to discover?

      I expect to discover that a lot of information I have found to be true. However, I hope to get a few too contradict what I have researched

Possible questions to ask during my interview:

• What has your experience been like when arriving back into the United States and trying to adapt back into the everyday American life?
• What is your standpoint in general on the abundance of Iraq war vets coming back into the US?
• What is your take on the relationship between the US government and Iraq war vets?
• What is your opinion on the current health care issue in the US?  Is this or has this affected you or anyone you know of who is a war vet?
• In general, what is your stance on the war in Iraq?
• What are the benefits of being an Iraq war vet or Iraq war solider?
• Have your original plans changed after your arrival back into the US? If so, how?
• What are some benefits or compensations that you’ve received or haven’t received upon returning back home?
• What are your expectations or hesitations about the future of Iraq war vets or on the war in Iraq?

            I chose this topic for a variety of reasons.  My family owns a business to people who have survived traumatic injuries.  The most common cause for a traumatic brain injury is due to the war.  As medical advances become more abundant TBI cases will flourish.  I also work for this business and get a first hand experience of every day simple struggles that these people have to go through.  I couldn’t imagine sacrificing so much for my country, and all I get for a welcome home is health care expenses and debt.  I think it makes our government look disgusting and unethical.  Denying benefits to Iraq war vets is against my morals and I think shows the world how selfish the US is.  The idea of the American Dream is slowly diminishing and is having a dramatic effect on our country: financially, economically, and socially.  How the image of the US transformed over the past couple years, and what kind of effect does it have on the rest of the world?

            The idea of the government denying benefits, increase of health care expenses, and in general our lack of aid for the income Iraq war vets is extremely popular.  I have searched through blogs and other websites.  I intend to research some scholarly articles and other personal website to find out what the government has to say about this and those in favor of the war.  I personally cannot find reason why we are still in the war, why we haven’t pulled our troops out, and how anyone can back up this idea of denying promised benefits to Iraq war vets.  If possible, I will try and interview a client of our family business who has had experience entering civilian life after war.  I also think the idea mentioned in blog assignment #5 of entering a chat room is great and I plan on doing that.

            I believe that anyone who has an opinion about the war and has followed current events will have an interest in this topic.  This could potentially affect every individual in the US due to economic and social changes.  Someone needs to and I believe will find a solution to this problem.  I think they will take the reins of the situation and we will a dramatic change in our country—possibility coming this fall due to elections, which in this case could devastating.  If anyone has morals, then I think this topic will spark their interest.

            The author creates an original thought of how war porn has become part of our society.  I believe that if we take part in a society, then it is our responsibility to take action and contribute to society positively.  Even though these pictures such as the men piled up on top of each other and the other standing in a cross like figure covered in feces are disgusting and demeaning, this is reality and we must take action accordingly.  No one really wants to see it but war porn unfortunately becomes a part of our society, and as members of the society this issue should be known and taken care of.

            The pictures capture the word war porn.  As stated in the essay, war porn was evident before the Abu photos but never had the intense impact of the photos.  No one really understood the idea of war porn.  Seeing the actual picture and sympathizing with the tortured prisoners moved the viewers and take a step back and really look at the situation. The essay goes back and forth as to whether war porn really forces us to take action after seeing the Abu Gharaib photos or discourages us due to its emotional impact.

            In “From Public Sphere to Public Screen: Democracy, Activism, and the ‘Violence’ of Seattle,” Kevin Michael DeLuca and Jennifer Peeples is an article that discusses how the photos force us the take action, as I mentioned above.  Instead of discouraging us, the photos most definitely motivate us even more to take action.  The media’s visual representation of these photos frequently promotes democratic participation.  To demonstrate the idea that the war porn is so frequently accessed and is open to the public is through Google. Google is a very popular search engine that is used every day and can be accessed by anyone around the world.  The author creates ethos by showing how easily it is to find war porn.   Pretty much anything can be found online and thousands of war porn photos can be see by a click of a button.  As I mentioned above our access to the war porn definitely encourages democratic participation.  The author supports their idea further by Philip Zimbardo’s very popular and recently published book The Lucifer Effect.  It compares two phenomena’s and their influence on public debate.  Both very public affairs will and has raised many eyebrows and have taken attention to.

            The images in this essay are probably the most important part of the essay.  It creates emotional, ethical and logical appeals for the essay.  It grabs the reader’s attention and makes the essay very believable obviously.  If you haven’t seen the war porn images before the essay does a good job of explaining them, and if you have then the author reiterates the war porn very clearly and convincingly.  The author makes logical appeals through Google, and how easy war porn can be accessed. Google is a something that can be related to almost anyone.  If anyone has used Google before, they know the reliability, massive amounts the information, and the accessibility of sources the search engine has.  The author also pulls from other authors and articles, books etc in order to address the author’s idea on war porn.  Through the use of many sources, the main point of the essay develops and doing so makes the essay credible and believable.

“The War Comes Home.” KPFA Radio. 7 Jul 2008 <http://warcomeshome.org/resources>.

            I think this blog will be very helpful to me when writing my sustained research assignment because it allows me to access others opinion about the Iraq war vets and see the situation from a different perspective.  This blog site goes into debth about the Iraq war vets, and gives a first hand account for some bloggers.  Within a few minutes of searching the sight, I was fascinated by all the information I can find on this blog.  As the bloggers converse, I get to see both sides of the situation and how others truly feel about it.  This blog site brings up a variety of topics I know I could contribute to my sustained research assignment.