The Crucible Script

out from the walls, two doors leading in, two benches on both sides of the room, a long meeting

H.R. 1928 sought to title the bill “Women’s Fair and Equal right to Military Service Act” (Sanchez, 2011, p. 1) as more than 250,000 females had already been deployed to combat zones in the Middle East. As of May 2011,137 females had lost their lives while in combat (Sanchez, 2011). As women continue to work side by side with men, the case of equal placement continues. Contrary to that argument is the power to care for family members, specifically the children and how they are affected when their mother goes into battle.

…The U.S. began the Iraq war with the goal of ridding the region of a tyrannical government that didn’t protect its people. However, a decade later, at the conclusion of the U.S. military mission in Iraq, the people are perhaps worse off than they were before the

Many question women’s overall mental ability to handle the extreme circumstances during war. But the truth of the matter is that no human is immune to mental effects and trauma (Sisters in Arms). According to former Marine officer Jane Blair,“Post-traumatic stress disorder is an unfortunate consequence of war, especially for those who have served multiple deployments — and sadly, no gender is immune to it (Blair).” Blair makes a very clear argument about how men and women are all human and that we are all subject to discomfort from conscious decisions. Troops, whether it be male or female have no control over their mental state after seeing some of the harsh effects of war, whether it be a fallen friend in their batoon, or having to take the life of an innocent child in the wrong place at the wrong time. Things like this can have a powerful effect on any person, no matter their gender.

Cynthia Enloe’s book titled Nimo’s War, Emma’s War: Making Feminist Sense of the Iraq War allows readers to enter the lives of eight women; four American and four Iraqi, in order to better understand the everyday lives of people, their struggles, and the outcomes of war by using particular stories of women to bring together issues present globally. Enloe wrote this book to analyze war from a feminist perspective. Analyzing war through a feminist lens by way of stories makes understanding the war more accessible for wider audiences (Enloe 2010:xii and 218). The use of stories allows for a better understanding of women in both countries and shows that there is no one group of women, whether that be American or Iraqi, there is no monolithic Muslim women or American women (Enloe 2010:xii). In doing so, Enloe (2010) allows for readers of all backgrounds to critically question the gendered aspects of war including the histories, feelings, struggles, and the ways in which women organize and resist war waging (p. xii). Enloe (2010) in both her purpose for writing this book and in the title, does not focus on one group of women which allows for a more serious and balanced engagement with the women in both countries. Enloe connects stories of women from two countries while at war. When women are taken seriously in all of their diversity, and their ideas and actions are explored, the world will better understand how upholding certain forms of masculinity at particular moments in time

“We can’t tell at this point, but she will have to be coming to the hospital for awhile now.” the doctor says

The air resounds with blasts coming from every direction. Bullets zing through the air, piercing through armor and cutting to the heart of their target. As artillery smoke clears, it is obvious that no soldier is left unscathed; wounds caked in mud are the uniform of everyone hobbling away. Few fight as fiercely as a mother defending her children and her choices for her family. The battle will resume, however, as soon as a media-fueled alarm is sounded and a talking head commands the charge. Childcare provider and news commentator Judy Lyden speaks of this on-going war as such: “Every few years, women throw emotional rocks at one another over the issue of staying at home to rear a child or going out to work leaving a child in childcare”

“Oh,” Grant muttered, mostly to himself, “well that’s good, I guess. Thanks, Auntie.” Grant shuffled over to the dining room to help finish setting the table with the other women. He didn’t look back.

Though exponentially setback due to numerous oppressive regimes and both revolutionary and foreign wars, women in Iraq are still making progress. The history of women in public roles during past war times gave them a bit of leverage to retain these roles. Though more oppressed than western women, Iraqi women are far less oppressed than they were during Fernea’s stay, acknowledged as individuals outside of their relation to males, taking on public work roles and participating in political

The Iraq war was a protracted armed conflict that began with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, by a united states-led coalition, which toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. The conflict continued for much of the next decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose the occupying forces and the post-invasion Iraqi government. An estimated 151,000 to 600,000 or more Iraqis were killed in the first 3-4 years of conflict. The United states based its rationale for war principally on the assertion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and that the Iraqi government posed and immediate threat to the United States and its coalition allies. Iraq war is a depiction that war creates havoc and destroy human life and should be avoided as they bring sadness and melancholy through an oral history “the 2000 Dead aren’t the Only Victims”, a newspaper article “2000 Dead: as Iraq Tours Stretch on, a Grim Mark”, a movie “American Sniper” and an image taken

"Son, after I'm gone I want you to keep up the good fight. I never

One of the greatest debates over the past decade has been whether the US’s effort to overthrow a tyrannical leader named Saddam Hussein was truly justified. The aim of this paper is to shed light on what the relations were between the United States and Iraq for over half a century and what factors led to such a disastrous invasion which left over half a million people dead and countless more injured. What justifications did politicians such as Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush give to the American public which convinced the masses that an invasion was necessary after disastrous examples in the past such as the invasion of Vietnam? It is important that one looks over specific turning points in history, such as the attack

consultation for her new medication. She is already on a blood thinner.” I know these

A few months had past, then realizing she felt no real love towards her husband, consequently suggested a divorce which was almost forbidden and harshly shamed upon in the vietnamese culture. A divorce was finally processed, it was then that her daughter started to get severely ill. Diagnosed with low platelets and no cure, her daughter continuously experienced uncontrollable bleeding, through the ears, mouth, and nose. Stressed about the condition of her daughter’s health and horrified of the kind of life they would have when the war ended and the country fell under the communist regime. Due to the revealing turnout of the war she sold all of her assets and gained the determination to flee the country. With her daughter in her arms, she managed to purchase a plain ticket, eighteen hours later they landed in Oakland California. America filled with possibilities and technological advancements, after numerous doctor visits her daughter became healthy and well once again. Both mother and daughter live closely by each other in the city of Westminster, California. This war changed not only Chau’s entire life but also her daughter’s life as

Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, aspires for the Iraqi people to speak up about what they want done in their country. After coming up with a decision, they have the ability to vote for what they believe in. In his message, Annan begins by repeating the pronoun you in phrases such as “you will have the opportunity to exercise your democratic right” and “the future is in your hands” (Annan). He does this to emphasize that the country of Iraq relies on its’ people and these citizens hold the power to decide what should be done. They should use their ability to come up with a righteous decision. He uses the antithesis “keep the guns quiet on all sides and let the voices of the Iraqi people be heard” (Annan). This compares the loud, destructive