Essay about different sides of war

The ideas behind anti-war interpretations mainly stem from fear and devastation. Without a doubt, death is a result of war. The death of soldiers is a mournful but often unavoidable effect. Soldiers give their lives every day in service to their nation, and this fact often causes civilians to view them as heroes. But delving more into the topic of loss, many are unaware of the civilian lives taken by a war. It is not uncommon for victims of war to be used as pawns (Why is War Wrong). Innocent civilians can be driven from their homes, abused and beaten, and their towns are often burned and destroyed. Even more shocking to some is the fact that they are sometimes forced into the fighting by government officials (Why is War Wrong). “How could there be a way to justify this?” is often asked. Another negative effect of war is the economic burden. Yes, war does breed an environment where economic stability can be achieved through peace; however, the serious amounts of money used in fighting a war are often overlooked. Vast amounts of money are used in training for soldiers and military officers. Without the right type of training, officials would not have the necessary means to fight, and many wars would be over before they begin. Money is also used when devising and manufacturing weapons and machinery. Modern weapons and protection methods are extremely costly and greatly deepen a war

War leads to oppression and leaves negative implications on all people and societies by impacting the poor, women, children, and nations as a whole. "War is a state of violent conflict between one or more groups" (Rasenberger 3). Rasenberger defines war as a state of conflict between one group within itself or several groups in combat with each other, what is not mentioned are the after-effects of war. War itself leads to many civilian and military deaths, an estimated 1.5-3.8 million people died during the Vietnam War and an approximate 500,000 people died in the Iraq war. The biggest tragedy of War is that it always results in fatality, but another key, negative, factor to understand is that after the War many adverse implications arise. Post-war ramifications in the nation fall upon the poor, women, and children, making them weaker and less motivated leading to the downfall of a society. Regardless if a nation wins or is defeated in war they have to deal with consequences of war and find solutions to the impacted people and society. It is essential to understand that there is never a true victor in war because regardless of the outcome, fatality and a fall of morale within society on both sides are inevitable. War has often been the solution to situations that required force or violence, but in recent times this has

The Slopes of War written by N.A. Perez follows a realistic fictitious story about the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, which is also told by the characters told in different perspectives, the Union and the Confederates. The story utilizes many historical facts regarding the battle, even including dialogues from Union and Confederate generals. It also tells us the audience the emotional and physical effects of war, and how the characters are affected by the end of the battle. Although the novel does portray many themes, imagery, and is told in different perspectives to convey the story, let’s take a look into the physical and emotional effects of the battle, and how those effects make the story.

The operations of the Potomac and Rappahannock started with eight on board the Blossom. One person who was named Bagley was reported being engaged in traffic between the states of Virginia and Maryland upward to a full year. There were 30 sacks of wheat on the vessel. On the 11th instant, Acting Master Josselyn chased and ran on shore a small sloop which was attempting to cross to Virginia from Breton’s Bay. The crew managed to escape while also destroying or carrying with them everything except some salt and 2 hogsheads of sugar. The prisoners, vessel, and prize goods are secure and were handed over to the provost-marshal which was according to

What a society considers fighting, and dying, for says a lot about that society. Homer’s The Iliad, and Thucydides’ The History of the Peloponnesian War are both centered on some of the largest wars that their authors knew about. In the case of The Iliad, this war started when Paris offended the honor of the Spartan king, Menelaus, by taking Helen, the king’s wife. This is just an example of the culture of the times because, right from the start, the Greeks of Homer fight for their honor. Thucydides lived during the Peloponnesian War, hundreds of years after Homer. During those hundreds of years, war itself had fundamentally changed. In The History of the Peloponnesian War, honor was still important, but the war’s main purpose was much more tangible. The main cause of the Peloponnesian War was Athens’ desire for more land, more tribute states, and, most importantly, more power. Both of the works deal largely with why the people in them think the wars are worth fighting. In the case of The Iliad, the battles, both for the states and the people fighting, are fought for honor, while in The History of the Peloponnesian War, Athens fights for the power of her empire.

This epic poem eulogizes the acts of chivalry executed by the men during the Trojan War. “My friends, quit yourselves like brave men, and shun dishonour in one another’s eyes amid the stress of the battle. They that shun dishonour more often live than get killed, but they that fly save neither life nor name.” ( Homer Book 5). Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, tells the soldiers that they are to be courageous in battle and their good deeds will carry through with them until death, but that those who are glorious will seek death long after the cowards and deceivers. Those that are loyal to their society will be brought to mind as ideal and rewarded by the gods and their commonwealth. In The Iliad, Homer’s description of a noble hero is one that will have enough bravery to fight in battle. The desire the be godlike is voiced

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both important activists in the fight for civil rights. They had the same desire for equal rights; however, they adopted very different views on how to achieve those rights. As Goldman says in Malcolm X: Witness for the Prosecution, “Malcolm and King were not so much Manichaean opposites as halves in a yin-yang duality deep in the black soul” (pg. 226). King is known as a peaceful man who used a nonviolent approach. He used what he called “weapons of love” to fight for freedom. King was fighting to show people that they could accept blacks and look at them as equals. It was vital for him to find peace among all races and overcome the hatred felt for one another. Malcolm

“Courage isn’t a matter of is or is not; it’s about being afraid and doing what has to be done in spite of it” (Jon Pertwee). War is always hard, no one wants it and many people try to avoid it. No one wants to see their kids die, or for them to see people they know very well, even love, burn. No one wants to bury their kid or their husband, father, wife, mother, or anyone. War in itself, is needed. War is profitable to the winning side, war reparations and the payments made to soldiers help the economy. War can also defend the natural human rights. It also bring people who would have never otherwise of talked become the closest friends. War also helps with the countries understanding of any scientific field. War is controversial but it can

The Iliad seems to celebrate war and the idea of worthy combatants. The men that aren’t successful as warriors are ridiculed in the text, men that don’t take to the idea of fighting. Consequentially these men’s families and/or lovers look down upon them as lesser beings. On the other hand, Achilles is glorified to no end considering that he would rather fight at any chance possible rather than sit back. The text appears to give these fighters a champion status. It gives an idolized view of deities like Athena and pokes fun at others such as Artemis and Aphrodite. These beings are used as comic relief. The point that the Iliad attempts to make is that honor can’t be proven without battle; that one cannot exist without the other. To avoid battle

On December twenty-third of the year 1776, Thomas Paine wrote the renowned words, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Never had truer words been written. Not only was the revolution trying for the men of the colonial army, but for the British army, and all those who had something riding on the outcome of the war. Though they were subjected to different sides of the war, George Washington, King George III of England and William Howe all experienced the hardships and trying times of the year 1776.

Historical events can play an important role in a person's life.  In A Separate Peace, the whole atmosphere at the Devon School changed as World War II progressed.  The boys either eagerly awaited the draft, enlisted in the area of war they wanted, or did not want to go at all.  The students at the school created new activities for enjoyment since the customary past times could not be played due to a lack of materials.  When a friend "returns" from the war, the boys at Devon got a real sense of what the war was like.  The boys learned that going to war was not all fun and games like they had anticipated.  The influence World War II had on the characters in A

Warriors of ancient Greece were considered heroes by following the Heroic Code of excellence. They achieved this by acquiring a kleos; establishing fame, glory and a positive reputation. It was not an easy task to become a Grecian hero. Building and maintaining kleos meant that a warrior must be brave and strong, be “a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.” The solider had to protect his friends and harm his enemies, respect the gods and his elders, and most of all value his honor over his life. To die in battle, and be spoken of after death was the most important act of honor for a hero. The Greek tragedy, Iliad, attributed to Homer, portrays Achilles as the most gallant hero of the Athenian army. The story tells of Achilles, who develops into the greatest hero of the Trojan War. While the end of the end of the poem does portray Achilles as the solider that the story foretells throughout the poem he does not act like that. Many times in the story Achilles actions are perceived as unheroic but ultimately they shape the course of the few weeks of the Trojan Wars described in the Iliad, the Achaean’s final victory at Troy and his emergence as a hero.

In the Essential Iliad the period in which the occasions occurred were not quite the same as today. In those days, the most essential part of life for a man was to be remembered and to be a hero. One's pride would precede everything else. In the present day, this idea would be thought of as foolish.

In the Homer’s Iliad, Homer portrays men as the strong figure in the family; they fight to protect their family and country. From text, “For I must head home quickly so that I may see my beloved Andromache and my infant boy, and my domestic servants, since I am ignorant if ever I will see them again, or if my fate ordains my now to fall by Grecian hands. (Homer, 345-368)” Hector does not fear the war, but he is also a husband and father. He had the responsibility to take care of his family. The text shows Hector wants to go back home to see his wife and children before he goes to war, because he is not sure if he can come back or just died in the war. Later in the Homer’s Iliad, even when Andromache tells Hector to not go to war, Hector explains to his wife “…because far greater is the sorrow I would have when the Greeks take you away crying, and take away your freedom. (Homer, 427-451)” For the men in the society, they are strong, they must be brave to fight war, not just protect their family, and it’s their role to protect their country. They do not want to see their enemies take away their homeland, freedom, and destroy their family stated in the text. Even men died from the war, they will still feel the honor that they did what they did to protect their home. Then in the Homer’s Iliad, Homer wrote, “War belongs to man; to all men; and of all who first drew vital breath in Troy, and most of all to me. (Homer, 478-497)” This shows a strong view on how the respective role of men was like in the society. Wars are for men. If the men show fear of the war, society will see him as not strong, then men will be not respected in that society. According to these texts, we see the respective

In the Iliad, Homer describes heroism as a victory on the battleground in which the desire to win and the call to aggressive action represents courage. It is this courageous notion that links figures like Agamemnon, Achilles, Hektor, Palamon, and Arcrite. Homer's "The Iliad" shows how the heroic code was deep-rooted in ancient Greek soldiers. In many instances, the Greeks placed this code of honor above their lives. The heroic ideal was supreme.