Women of War

"Women Confronting War" by Jennifer Turpin is an article on the atrocities of war that focuses on the horrifying effects war has had and continues to have on women around the world. 

Armed conflict has primarily always been a male profession. In Canada for instance, women were not eligible to serve in any combat related trades until 1989. Turpin is not talking about female soldiers though. She is talking about the innocent. The bystanders caught in the crossfire of these deadly testosterone filled conflicts. "Women suffer from war in many ways," she says and she has the proof to back up her statement.

As the old saying goes, WAR IS HELL, and this statement is as true for the civilian as it is for the uniformed combatant. Turpin has some chilling statistics on the casualties of war. Half of the casualties of WW2 were civilians. This means women and children. What is even more appalling is that as the accuracy of our weapons increases, so to does the death rate of civilians. At an alarming rate of almost 10 percent every decade. These are wars that for the most part are started by the western world either directly through military intervention, (see Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam) or indirectly through the exporting of weapons to the developing world, (see the entire continent of Africa).

With death also comes destruction. As their homes and communities turn to ruble, these women are quickly displaced and become fleeing refugees trying to find cover. Turpin points out that more than four-fifths of war refugees are either women or young girls. Some of them mothers just trying to find a way to raise their children safely.

As if these women haven't yet suffered enough, they also become targets for sexual violence. Rape is a disgusting side effect of war that we seem to turn a blind eye toward. Turpin grabs your eyelids and makes sure they are open as you read some statistics on wartime sexual violence. History does not lie and Turpin lists several accounts linking the brutality of war with the hideousness of sexual violence towards women.  Forced prostitution and genocidal rape have and continue to happen to women as I write. These women are surrounded and have no where to turn for help. Even the United Nations peace-keepers have committed these atrocities. We are regularly receiving reports of rape and sexual crimes being committed by the occupational troops stationed in the middle east.

While the conflict continues, the women of war not only suffer in the hands of the enemy. Turpin points to recent research that seems to indicate a rise in domestic violence during times of war. Husbands and sons suffering form Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the sudden availability of dangerous weapons and an increase in the consumption of alcohol are all factors that could play into this. This hits a little closer to home as it is generally the only unique effect that war will have on women living in the western world. Soldiers coming home to their families often have a hard time adjusting back to everyday life here and are often haunted by the horrifying experiences they have lived through.

Turpin covers the most profound and unique effects of war on women. As a male I can't help but feel this article was directed towards me. She wants men to see that these conflicts do not just effect those who choose to fight, but even more so the ones who have no choice at all. In the western world, war is portrayed as a heroic and very macho endeavor. We are seldom reminded of the atrocities that go along with it. This article was a stabbing reminder of the ugliness war brings out in us.  

As women become more involved in politics and decision making on world issues, will we see a decrease in world conflict?

The television made me do it!

After reading "Aggression: The Impact of Media Violence" by Sissela Bok, I was immediately overcome with violent rage and felt a disturbing urge to come to fisticuffs with the first person I saw. This is not true of course. In reality I just felt a little thirsty. What "Aggression" did make me do, however, was think. Does seeing violence on television desensitize my reaction to violence in real life? Bok seems to think so. In fact she argues that the glamorization of violence by the media is in direct correlation to the rise in violent crimes.

At first this idea seems a little silly. I mean we all grew up laughing when Wile E. Coyote perpetually blew himself up trying to catch that pesky roadrunner. We cheered when Hulk Hogan repeatedly smashed Macho Mans face off of the uncovered turnbuckle. We even saw Luke Skywalker get his hand chopped off with a lightsaber (by his own father none the less). We witnessed all this violence but it never made us want to harm anyone ourselves. But then I remembered breaking my arm jumping off of my uncle Bill's bar pretending to be the Ultimate Warrior and giving my cousin a flying elbow drop. Yeah, that sucked. But hey, I was just a kid and you got to learn somehow right.

Well it turns out going through puberty doesn't help. Bok tells of a teenage couple who after watching the cult classic film "Natural Born Killers" by Oliver Stone, went on a murderous rampage as they acted out the story of the fictional psychotic killers Mickey and Mallory Knox. Another and perhaps the most famous case of media enacted violence is of course the assassination of John Lennon by the now ironically famous Mark David Chapman. Chapman of course professing he had been pushed to kill after reading J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye". These are some extreme cases and for the most part are carried out by people who are crazy. right? Well sort of.

Bok refers to psychological studies that show that the more accustomed viewers become to seeing violence, the more they will see violence as being acceptable. The viewer will find ways to identify with the aggressor and develop a lack of pity for the victim. Another study showed that within 10 - 15 years after the introduction of television, the rate of violent social crime nearly doubled.

Another cause for concern is what Bok refers to as an "epidemic of children killing children". She uses statistics to prove this pointing to the fact that homicide is now the second leading cause of death for young Americans between the ages of 15 and 35. For African Americans between 15 - 24, it is the leading cause of death. This of course begs the question. Is all this violence in the media creating actually making us aggressive?

Their are of course other factors that come into play when talking about violence. Gun control, drug abuse and broken homes are a few that come to mind. But Bok's goal is to put onus on the media for their part and she makes her point heard.

The whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking about the grotesquely violent video games kids are playing these day. Grand Theft Auto comes to mind. It is also no secret that the U.S. Military has teamed up with some game makers hoping to convince kids that real combat is as cool as button mashing their controllers. This apparently has worked as they have even put out their own games depicting the ongoing conflicts in the middle east.

Do you think we are dishonoring our Veterans when we create and play video games depicting the atrocities that they had to experience in order to preserve our freedom?









  

A blind eye

While the western world entertains itself with apocalyptic tales of mutant zombie outbreaks on the big screen, "Pandemic" by Stephen Lewis reminds us of a real outbreak that is devastating the continent of Africa. In this exert from his book: Race against time (2005), Mr. Lewis first tells us about his love affair with Africa. On a whim he went there and he has called it his second home ever since. Though Africa he says had its fair share of problems in the 1960's when he first arrived, the emergence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has ravaged the people of this soulful continent and nearly all have been effected in some way or another.

Lewis gets personal with this piece. Their are a number of things I believe he wants the reader to feel. First would be sorrow. He tells stories of the people he has met and their seemingly unending hardship and loss due to this disease. Grandmothers who have lost their own children and are now raising their orphaned grandchildren. Children (some as young as 8), who are forced to raise their younger siblings when their parents have passed on from this sickness. Mothers who are left crying as their infants are taken away covered in blankets. These stories I believe are meant to pull at the readers heartstrings. He wants us to realize just how nasty this is.

Throughout the piece, Mr. Lewis tells the reader about the types of treatment that are available to the suffering. By doing this in contrast to what is readily available here in the western world, Lewis points out the double standard we have imposed on the third world. We have said that we are more important than those people over there. They are not worthy of the treatments we have.

Next is food. When Lewis was living in Africa in the 60's, he says that people were hungary but for the most part could get by. Now when he returns, the cries for hunger are so loud he is barely able to talk about the need for better medicine. Food is the most important medicine needed and sadly there is none to be found.

Though this situation looks helpless, Lewis still has hope. Not a hope for a cure or an end to the suffering, but an end to the western worlds blind eye to the people of Africa.

Do you think that the same medical treatment should be available to everyone regardless of where they live?

A concerned neighbor...

Ever since my own so-called political awakening a few years ago, I have become increasingly concerned with our neighbor to the south. And after reading Margaret Atwood's "A letter to America", I now know I'm not the only one.

In her letter, Mrs. Atwood begins by going back and sharing some of her fondest memories of America. It seems as if she begins to daydream as she reminisces on the great american film stars, animated characters, historic authors and musicians. These people clearly had a profound effect on her. One that spawned her love and admiration for American art and culture. In doing so she seems to want the reader, (hopefully an american) to join in this daydream and think back to the fond moments these things brought to their childhood as well.

Next, the letter turns to a different message. What America stood for. Or what it used to stand for anyway. "You stood up for freedom, honesty and justice; you protected the innocent." she writes.  She states how much she believed they meant what they said. These are things that American politicians continue to tout almost every chance they get. "Give me your tired, your poor." she quotes, reminding the reader of what America stood for. Reminding them of the American idea. The idea that has drawn people from all over the world to look up to America as that "city upon a hill".

After taking the reader back to a better day the letter takes a different tone. That of a concerned neighbor.

She reminds the reader of how close we as neighbors actually are. Letting them know how much of a history and effect we have on one another. In a way telling them how much we, Canada, need the U.S.. They are our biggest trading partner and defensive ally. "If you go down..., we go down." she says. I'm sure most americans are aware of the unique relationship our countries share, but it never hurts to remind them.

After 9/11, a lot of things changed for america. Starting with the Patriot act. This act has taken away some of the basic rights given to american citizens through the constitution. This worries the author. "You're gutting the constitution" she writes, giving examples of some of theses violations, incarceration without cause, unauthorized search and entry of personal property. She then kind of teases by asking the reader how such a big and powerful country could be so scared to allow such things to happen. 

Next, the economy. She reminds america of its out of control spending and sweltering debt. A debt that I believe is now upwards of 7 Trillion dollars.

Then finally a warning that she as the concerned neighbor feels she cannot hold back any longer. The warning is simple, continue down this path and we are all in trouble. Big trouble. She states that the american reputation is at stake. That instead of being looked upon as a "city upon a hill", a standard the rest of the world strives to meet, America will be looked on as any other failed empire.  Even worse, the whole democratic system that they've worked so hard to build could be lost. 

Get back to your roots, I believe is the point she is trying to subtly get across. Remember the ideals your great country was based upon and turn things around before it's to late.  

Sadly as this letter was written in 2004, almost every warning that Mrs. Atwood gave seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The debt is still spiraling, the economy is in shambles with an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent. America still finds itself entangled in two international conflicts with no clear end in sight.

Like Mrs. Atwood, I feel like the character Wilson on the sitcom Home Improvement. Peeking over the fence at our neighbor as they grunt and groan their way through the problems facing them just hoping that they will come asking for advice. Advice that we would freely give if only they would listen. 

If you knew they would listen what one piece of advice would you give america? 

PROLOGUE

Hello,

As this is my first entry, I feel an introduction is in order. My name is Richard Paul and for the past 8 years or so I have lived in the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia. I am married to my incredible wife of 2 years now Melissa. Together we have two wonderful dogs. One a Yorkie-X named Malaika (swahili for angel), and the other an adorable Boston Terrier named Chi (said like the tea).

As for me, I am 26 years old and currently a serving member of the Canadian Forces. The Navy to be exact. I work as a Naval Communicator and hold a TOP SECRET security clearance which basically means I can't tell you anymore about my job. What I can tell you though is that for the past 10 years I have served my country proudly. Sadly, it is now time for me to move on from the military life and once again join the civilian populace. I am extremely interested the criminal justice field and will be seeking employment and further education in this area.

In my spare time I have a few hobbies. First and foremost I am a lover of all things hockey. This is incredibly painful at times as I am a fan of the beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, (It takes a lot of  faith). Having grown up just outside Toronto in the city of Brampton, it has been ingrained in me. I will cheer for no one else.  That being said I am also an avid baseball fan and will always remember sitting, eyes glued as Joe Carter first homered, and then caught the ball on the play to first to win two consecutive world series in '92 and '93. Definitely a highlight of my childhood.

This blog was created because...well because I had to really. (school) But I hope to maintain it even afterward. I always find myself delving deeply into political and international issues. You might call me a conspiracy theorist, but I just like to get both sides of a story before forming an opinion. In the future I hope to use this blog to do just that. Give you both sides of the story with links of course and also comment on any other points that I feel the need to share.

For now I will leave it at that. I thank you in advance for reading and please feel free to comment or ask me any questions you may have. Just not about my job of course.

God bless and good reading and remember,
"Minds are like parachutes; they work best when they are open." - Thomas Dewar

Richard Paul