reflection 4

I found the Crawford reading to be a bit of a reality check. His account about the most modern war made me think about what is currently happening and how Americans aren't as aware or involved with it as they were during WWII. What struck me the most, and I pointed this out in discussion, was the way he described his ideal homecoming and how he would want his friends to perceive his experiences. He hoped his friends would be curious and pester him until he told what they hoped would be thrilling war stories- and he succumbed to their pressure and told them the real tale of what war was like- he told them of accidentally killing an innocent child. His story was a brief description of his idea of what real war was like and he hoped they would take something away from that. Crawford wanted the American people to understand and care about the reality of a war he didn't believe in, but what his account demonstrates is how war, to Americans, has been reduced to a far-off story of valiant soldiers who are fighting for themselves, when in fact the soldiers are fighting for Americans who don't seem to care. We as Americans have bumper stickers and signs that say "Support Our Troops" but how much are we actually doing? Are we acting on a cause we claim to believe in? Some people are, but the community involvement is not nearly at the extent it was in previous wars. The media plays a huge part in downplaying American soldiers' experiences in the War on Terror. What's happening is sad, like Crawford's story, and true -- like Crawford's story.