I like this idea of revisiting old college papers. I mean, speaking for myself, most are probably crap, but I think I wrote at least a couple good ones. This certainly was a pretty good one. I'd be excited to hear others.
Very insightful on history and on Vonnegut's novel, which is one of my favorites of his (edged out by Cat's Cradle). You likely know Howard Campbell already had his own novel, Mother Night (also excellent). I've read a lot of WWII fiction by vets and they do address issues like post-war PTSD--The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson and Captain Newman MD by Leo Rosten are two strong examples (both made into Gregory Peck movies). Norman Mailer's novel The Naked and the Dead didn't glamorize war, nor did Wouk's Caine Mutiny imply unity among Americans. I'm planning on reading Shaw's The Young Lions and Jones' From Here to Eternity and I understand they also present unflinching fictionalized firsthand accounts akin to Vonnegut's (minus the sci-fi elements). Thank you for sharing the fruits of your research in this thoughtful and thought-provoking video-essay!
The idea of Good War vs a Justified War is an interesting question. While I wouldn't say that WW2 was justified in it's start. Germany started the war in the West by invading Poland. (Though Japan had been invading China even before then.) While Germany's invasion of Germany was not justified, I would argue that the Allied countries response of fighting the war against the Axis was justified. The war ended up becoming a war against authoritarianism in some ways, as well as for Europe's right to protect itself from aggressive governments that would seek to change maps and populations. *Stalin steps in and says, "AM I A JOKE TO YOU?!"* Russia is the exception to that rule as they tended to be an ally of convenience. The Bolshevik Revolution scared the living hell out of the establishment class in most Western countries. The war in Ukraine hopefully is showing more people how universally ugly, brutal and monstrous war itself truly is through the saturation of first hand media around it (much like Vietnam, only more so). The adage War Never Changes does ring true to the base nature of war.
It was for an upper level humanities course called "War in American Culture" at Oklahoma State. It wasn't a required course but I had to take several upper level humanities courses, and this was one of my favorite classes. But thank you so much!!!!
I suggest that this is not really accurate in tone. I say this as someone born in 1951. Lets first of all dismiss the "good war" as simplistic. But the tone here suggest that America was not really united - but it really was. So even if the US turned away Jewish refugees, in fact the Nazis were univerally hated. It is still hard to imagine fro the US a less controversial war from the standpoint of unity. So the USSR was immoral. There are a host of straw men here - cheap shots too.
Hi hunny this is my niece Mariana’s and she’s trying her best to make these very nice videos while other kids like you are out doing drugs sndbhaving sec before marriage
Are you in a hurry and have to get it over with or on a sugar high? Learning is a lifelong process - take it easy. Don't expect your audience to wear seat belts and hang on to their chairs before you bombard them with information.
