 In the list of all the things the soldiers carried, what item was most surprising? Which item did you find most evocative of the war? Which items stay with you?
Reply to two (2) peers during this discussion.
Logan
12/30/2013 05:37:50 am
The most surprising item and most evocative of war was the marijuana that Ted Lavender carries. I thought it was astounding how the soldiers tried anything to get themselves away from war while they were there, and the mental escape that marijuana offers could have many detriments especially when used during war. I do not think he would be able to perform at his maximum capabilities while under the influence.
Cristina
12/30/2013 06:48:29 am
I agree with you about the pot. It would most definitely undermine his abilities to perform. But I think it would help him cope with the situations he was in. Most people use drugs or alcohol to escape reality.
Tori
12/31/2013 09:31:43 am
Logan, I really liked how you pointed out that the reason Ted Lavander carried the marijuana was to get away from the war while he was there. I completely agree with you because sometimes, well most times I could imagine the war would be extremely stressful and it would be a good way to escape that.
Sam
1/3/2014 09:59:54 am
I totally agree that Ted Lavender's drug use was dangerous. He is responsible for the lives of everyone else in his platoon, and he needs to use a gun to perform his duties (haha). How can he do that if he's high as a kite?
Jess
1/3/2014 11:46:36 am
The most evocative of war was the marijuana, I agree. It's crazy that out of all things he thought a drug would be the best idea to bring as an escape route to cover up all the pain of war.
Cristina
12/30/2013 06:35:26 am
I agree with Logan that pot was the most peculiar item that was carried. But at the same time I understand that war is a very trying situation for anyone so they will do anything to keep their sanity. As I understand it, pot is much like alcohol so it will make you lose inhibitions. The more relaxed you feel the easier it is to make oneself comfortable.
Steven
12/31/2013 01:45:21 am
I also believe that the most surprising item that was carried was the marijuana. It surprised me to see that these people would do anything in order to achieve some sort of sanity. The most evocative in my opinion was the bible that Kiowa carried with him. Having that with him showed a sense of faith and believing that everything would turn out fine in the end.
Sam
1/3/2014 09:55:38 am
I agree with you on the marijuana thing. It was surprising at first because of the negative stigmas that surround it. I couldn't figure out why the army would allow it. But you said that it was to "achieve some sort of sanity." I assume what you meant was they did as much as they could in order to feel at home, safe in such a violent, foreign environment. I guess that's why people just overlooked certain behaviors such as the marijuana use.
Logan
1/3/2014 02:33:05 pm
I completely agree about the marijuana. I did not think to include the idea of sanity, and I think that it is great that you brought that up. Because marijuana is a hallucinogen, I think it bizarre to see that in this story it represents clarity.
Samantha
1/3/2014 03:44:00 pm
The marijuana did surprise me as well, but not so much as the condoms. The drug was popular during the time period in which the book is set in. I agree that the soldiers would have done anything to reach a form of sanity. The bible was also an item that stood out to me. I like how you mentioned that Kiowa's bible gave him a sense of faith, but I do not think he believed everything would turn out okay in the end. I mean, he was at war.
Jess
12/31/2013 08:54:49 am
I agree with everyone above that the most surprising thing carried was the marijuana. I believe it could've been a huge threat to how he performed in war and possibly lowered his ambition. It is not the best nor safest way to cope with tragic events. I also would agree with Steven that the most evocative was the bible because I believe that is the best way to cope with things. Believing in some higher spirit helps keep courage and strength because you don't feel alone no matter what.
Tori
12/31/2013 09:34:07 am
I never thought about the marijuana causing a person to have a lower ambition but I can see where you're coming from. The marijuana would be to get away from his problems so he didn't have to think about them; however, you made a good point. If a person was to smoke the marijuana and then suddenly be under attack they wouldn't be fully aware of what was going on and be able to react in a proper manner.
Steven
1/1/2014 11:40:13 am
I absolutely love how you agree with everything that I say. It makes me feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that my post was so spot on. Other than that, I like how you mention that doing the drug is not the safest way to handle the situation that they were put in. Plus, there had to be some sort of way that the military could help the men in the stressful situation other than leading them to drugs, right?
Tori
12/31/2013 09:29:44 am
I agree as well with everyone else that the marijuana was by far the craziest item a soldier carried with him. However, as I think about it, it probably was to take away his stress at the moment and to get away from everything. Again I agree that the most evocative item was the bible. I say this because even when the worst times come around it would give a person many things to believe in and as Jess said, to keep their spirits live.
Samantha
12/31/2013 09:56:08 am
I found the condoms to be the most surprising item brought to war. There was not really a reason to bring the condoms considering there was no women in the military at the time of the Vietnam war. There was only fellow male soldiers and the people of Vietnam. I still do not wholly understand why Sanders carried condoms with him to war. The most evocative item was Bowker's journal. A diary shows that Bowker wanted to remember his experience. I also think it shows that if he were killed, he would want someone to find the diary and know what he experienced. He wanted his experiences to live on. The bible stays with me because Kiowa wanted to stay true to his faith throughout the duration of the war. War is obviously not a time of peace and could mean killing someone; Kiowa remembered his faith to get through this experience.
Steven
1/1/2014 11:33:10 am
I am surprised you considered the condoms to be the most interesting item to the war. As seen in another vignette in the novel, men would find a way, anyway, to get a woman to Vietnam in order to be with them. Also, you have to remember that there were other women in Vietnam. They may not have been the best for the men, but sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do. I love that you mention that the diary was the most evocative item brought to the war, and I especially like the way you describe why you believe so.
Cristina
1/2/2014 09:17:04 am
Samantha,
Logan
1/3/2014 10:59:05 am
I think its interesting that you didn't expect the condoms. Men will do anything to have sex, and Vietnamese women were always an option for them. Being away from women for extended periods of time can make them extremely sexually inclined.
Sam
12/31/2013 10:43:09 am
The item I found most surprising to be carried by one of the soldiers was marijuana. The drug was illegal during the Vietnam War, although not as vehemently opposed as it was after Nixon's campaign against drugs. The reason I found it so surprising is that an illicit drug is so permissible in an environment as strict as the military. I did, however, notice the other character, Kiowa, was carrying a bible, and the image of that seemed to stand out much more than the other items the soldiers carried. The reason it stuck out to me so much is because it seemed so typical and predictable. Understandably, religion is important to soldiers in the heat of combat ("There are no atheists in foxholes.) What I don't understand is how every other character is carrying something unique to describe their personality and background, yet the author decides to characterize someone with an attribute as typical and recurring as Christianity.
Samantha
1/3/2014 03:47:25 pm
Yes, the drug was illegal. Although, it was very popular and easily attainable during the time. Also, the military was not as strict as you think. They needed soldiers to fight in the war. The draft took almost anyone in. I do not believe the bible is predictable. If it were, each soldier would have been carrying whatever book related to their religion. Comments are closed.
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