The Generals Die in Bed - Book Report/Review Example

Your Full Here Your here Your and Number 000 December 15, 2008 Introduction When asked to think about the military who doesn't picture a smartly attired military man in uniform The boots are polished with a mirror gloss. The pants creased to a sword's sharp edge. The belt buckle perfectly flushed and centered to the crisp shirt placket front. The decorations, oh, the shiny colorful decorations, pinned to the broad chest. The vision is topped off by the hat squarely sitting on a handsome head with a firmly jutting chin of the perfectly clean and serviceable hero. When one thinks of young boys playing, what are they usually acting out War! Sticks turned into battle weapons, guns and swords. And there's GI Joe and his theme song: "He'll fight for freedom where ever there's trouble. GI Joe is there. He never gives up. He'll stay til the fight's won. GI Joe will dare. GI Joe - A real American hero." (Kinder ) When picturing the outcome of the winning side of war - doesn't the picture include that of a soldier being greeted by his loving family at the airport; train station or dock - whole, happy and intact - a conqueror Reading the book, Generals Die in Bed - puts a bitter end to all those illusions. Illusions created by those who benefit from recruiting the best of the citizens to contain or put down a disagreement with another society that will not be worked out in peace. The book holds back nothing in it's descriptions of the filth, cold, starvation, sleep privation and painful death. Camaraderie The human nature wants to identify with others of the same kind while remaining a distinct individual. It is often this desire that one will find a name and good character among others of the same bent; and that entices us to join. "Identity is a result of classification of the world. Classification is the basic mental activity, universal although varied in form, and is the basis of cultural constructions' through which people make order in the universe of their perception. Human thinking consists in distinguishing and defining objects and establishing relations between them." (Mach p 5) In the book, the author puts to bed any illusion of camaraderie resulting from membership in the military and participating in a battle. Throughout the book he describes acts of base behavior enacted by the members of the squad against each other. He tells of the fight that breaks out over a moldy piece of bread. He tells about how one of the members of the squad kills the leader of the group - on purpose. He tells over again about the various members that die in a conflict; and he tells how the others just accept it without much comment or genuine sympathy. "Out on rest we behaved like human beings; here we are merely soldiers. We know what soldiering means. It means saving your own skin and getting a bellyful as often as possible ...that and nothing else. Camaraderie--esprit de corps--good fellowship--these are words for journalists to use, not for us. Here in the line they do not exist." (Harrison, X) From Chapter 6 Killing the enemy is heroism - a rite of manhood Joining the military is about the rites of passage into maturity. It is clear that you will be separated from the boys. It is clear that you will be tried hard but you will overcome. It is clear that you will make who you really are - a reality. And you will return to the folds of your loved ones, your society - a hero. This can be seen in the slogans of some of the various military, like Canadian Airborne Regiment Creed. "I am Canada's best. In peace and war I never fail, anywhere, anytime, in anything." And the US Marines - "The Few the Proud" - a culture of the select chosen privileged ones. The US Air Force slogan: "Aim High!" is that you will be admired. Your choices in the military will be filled with honor! The Army Slogan: "Be all that you can be!" implies you are not whole until you join. "It's not just a job. It's an adventure!" From the US Navy - how much more fun can that be In chapter 6, the author makes short work of heroism with his description of his reaction after he has killed one of the oppositions, a German, named Karl, who he later finds out, is a brother and a son. "I am proud of myself. I have been tested and found not wanting. I lie on my blanket and think of the raid. I feel quietly sure of myself. I went through all that without breaking down. I feel colder now that the rum no longer acts. I begin to shiver. I draw my greatcoat over my head. I begin to shake. "Cold," I say to myself, "cold." My hands shake--my whole body. I am trembling all over. "Fool," I say to myself, "fool; why are you trembling The raid is over. You are safe. You will get an MM--ten days' leave in London or Paris." I try to decide where I shall go, to Paris or to London, but the thoughts do not stick. The image of Karl, he who died on my bayonet, seems to stand before my eyes. The shaking becomes worse. The movements are those of one who is palsied. I begin to sob. I am alone." "What is so terrible about the death of one of these boys--about the death of one of us I guess it is because we do not want to die--because we hang on so pitifully to life as it slips away. Our lives are stolen--taken from us unawares." (Harrison X) And later in Chapter 11, he explains that the officers are exhorting the men to show some pride in their actions. ""I hope," he concludes, "that you will conduct yourselves to the greater glory of Canadian arms." (Harrison X) The term "Canadian arms" sounds strange to us. Most of us are clerks, students, farmers, and mechanics--but staff officers have a way of speaking like that. To us this business of military glory and arms means carrying parties, wiring fatigues, wet clothes, and cowering in a trench under shell-fire." This is not a hero's pride. This is not a hero's reward for an adventure well done. Altruism or Profit Who doesn't recall the image of "Rosie the Riveter" as she works in the metal manufacturing all for the glory of the war How about the image of the soldiers at Iwo Jima putting the American flag up How about the banking industry that offered Liberty Bonds at $100 And let's not forget, Uncle Sam - a fictional characterization of the US Government pointing his finger at "You" and telling you that he needs you! According to Gen. Butler, in his book, War is a Racket, $16,000,000,000 (no mistake's in the zeros - that is billion) dollars were made in profits alone from the World War I. These profiteers were shoe makers, saddle makers, engine manufacturers, steel companies, sugar refining companies and even medical suppliers, in all 21,000 millionaires were made from the great war. In case you are wondering, the banks bought back the bonds at $84 - 86.00. ""I bet that dump going up over there must cost a billion dollars." "And I'll bet somebody is making a profit on those shells whether they are fired at the Germans or whether they just blow up . . ." "Sure they do." A surprised voice from a corner says: "Just think of all the people that's getting a big hunk of swag out of it. Shoes, grub, uniforms, bully beef . . ." He breaks off. We all join in enumerating the various materials of war on which someone may be making a profit. "...and big profits, too."" (Harrison X) from Chapter 11 Conclusion "At the individual level identity is an answer to the question 'who am I in relation to other people' At the social level it is a response to the question: who are we in the relation to other human groups" (Mach, p 4). The current US president display this universal feeling as witnessed by his recent statement quoted by Reuters ""I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."" ("Bush says if younger, he would work in Afghanistan") "Only a fool or a fraud sentimentalizes the merciless reality of war." Sen. John McCain. (Rhee) The author, Charles Harrison, is no fool in writing his story - and the message is received clearly. What good is a general or admiral if he does not have the troops to make him look good, to keep his job and earn his promotions The enlisted ranks - are used at any cost to fight the war - and the generals go home to live another day. Works Cited "Bush says if younger, he would work in Afghanistan" Mar 13, 2008 10 December 2008 http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1333111120080313feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews Airborne Regiment Creed. Canadian Airborne Regiment, 10 December 2008 Butler, Smedley D. War is a Racket Gainesville, Fl: Crises Press 1995 Harrison, Charles Yale. Generals Die in Bed. Toronto: Annick Press, 2007 Kinder, Ford & Spencer Michlin "GI Joe Theme Song" 10 December 2008 1985 Mach, Zdzisaw. Symbols, Conflict, and Identity: Essays in Political Anthropology. Albany, NY SUNY Press 1993 Rhee, Foon "McCain proposes new global coalition" The Boston Globe March 27, 2008. 12 December 2008 Read More