3. How does news media use heroism as a narrative to justify violent ideologies? What is the reality of soldiers experience in war?
(1) About using heroism as a narrative to justify viloent ideologies by News media
I think heroism is kind of humanitarianism. Beyond race, ethnic group and nation, humanitaria-nism leads human peace and welfare. And it is quite similar to the ideology that America has insisted. They pretend like a" World police" and their heroism says, "All the things we do is right. And we are the one that be able to make world peace." It seems really ideal and peaceful, but if you look closely inside, you could find there's a big problem. Central thought of the United states, that is measuring every happening in the world by their sight. And News media used it for justification.
In this clip, Isabel (Sam's daughter) 's dialogue shows us America's dichotomy between friends and enemy. She thinks the men with the beard (Arabs) are evil, and dad who shoot them is hero. And she represents many Americans who have been effected by news media.
You can find glorified heroism in Federal government, not only in news media. The biggest example is Iraq war. After 911, The US has declared war on terrorism. And they said, there's a weapon of mass destruction (W.M.D) which is going to threat the world in Iraq. So they insisted that they have to get rid of it as a world police and they waged the war. Ostensibly, it seemed Good punished Evil. However, it was far from the truth.
The population of America is only 5 % of the national population. However, consumption of imported petroleum is 25% of the world's. Iraq has a large amount of oil reserves, second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of its oil reserves. America had troubles dealing with Iraq because of Saddam Hussein's political isolation. So Saddam was pain in the neck to them. President George Bush who was a governor from Texas has contacted with Taxas oil company. Each election, Bush's family has recieved a lot of political funds from them, and if elected, they are going to manage advantageous policy towards oil companies. So this Iraq war was really naccesary for them. Also, expended war industry could be a reason of inciting the war-lower consumption, higher production. In other words, Iraq war was an advantageous war for America. It fulfilled Americans' desire for revenge on someone after 911, and also it was a good chance to get oil without criticism. Becayse they had an excuse, "We did just for world peace!". This war was 200% advantageous war for the States.
And Also, their interference in domestic affairs after invasion into Iraq looks like they are working for iraqi's human rights and democracy, but it wasn't. It was just a plan to steal strategical, economical, political rights from iraqi. Of course, News media concealed and justified it.
While I searched information, I tried to think again about effect of news media. It looks objective, but there's discourse obviously. They lead audiences to intentional way by hiding & distorting facts, and also they justify themselves to get benefits! I regretted myself without critical eye because I've accepted all information through the media.
(2) Reality of soldiers experience in war
The movie, <Brothers> is a story about one man called Sam who was kind, considerate, and respected before the war. However, the helicopter which he boarded was bombed by terrorists during the war, and he and his company were kidnapped. In starvation and fear of death, Sam was told that "If you want to survive, just kill your company!". He suffered from inner comfliction and finally decides to kill his company. With blaming himself, he returned to his country. But he is racked with guilt and be tormented by a guilty conscience. And story is going to be tragically.
It is not just a fiction. Actually, After war, many people suffer from trauma -depression, insomnia, flashback, and so on. Besides, they feel gulty about the fact that they are still alive, different from their dead friends. Also, they are haunted by nightmares about repeated memories of the war only. They think there's no future, their lives are full with accidents about war. They can't get out of their terrible memories.
People who have trauma usually suffer from relationship between other people. So they feel left out and difference. These things are psychological, but most of them come from surrounding environment. People who face the trauma are usually pass unnoticed, and everyone doesn't want to hang out with them. Because they look weird.
According to one research in 1978, Vietnam veterans were taught that sensibility and sympathy are unnecessary before they went to war. And experience by using violence in the war is going to make "Emotional Paralysis". It is not disappeared even if they return to their country and start new life. As time goes by, it is going to be worse than before. However, melting frozen emotions means recalling severe injure again. So soldiers don't want to break up their inner peace. So they keep themselves more strict. This clip is a good example to show that phenomenon. Distant family-not familiar anymore, doubt about cheating, talking about military make his emotional paralysis melt down. And he lost control finally.
Actually, When I was young, there's one man who lived in the same neighborhood. He survived Vietnam war came back safely. However, I used to be afraid of him because I felt he is psycho. He always hold the bottle and talked to himself all the time. My father said his wife and their children escaped from him- cause he has been suffering from war trauma so she couldn't handle it anymore- and there's no connection with neighbors of course. All of his money was used for his entertaining and buying alcohol. Childrens' parents didn't like him and warned their children to avoid him. Time passed, I grew up and read some books about trauma in high school. And I finally understood why he acted like that. He was fighting with his memories.
Actually, When I was young, there's one man who lived in the same neighborhood. He survived Vietnam war came back safely. However, I used to be afraid of him because I felt he is psycho. He always hold the bottle and talked to himself all the time. My father said his wife and their children escaped from him- cause he has been suffering from war trauma so she couldn't handle it anymore- and there's no connection with neighbors of course. All of his money was used for his entertaining and buying alcohol. Childrens' parents didn't like him and warned their children to avoid him. Time passed, I grew up and read some books about trauma in high school. And I finally understood why he acted like that. He was fighting with his memories.
War is contradictory. Because victim can be an attacker and attacker can be a victim. There's a destruction without winner. After 20c, It was just two weeks when there's no war in the world . So war is prerequisite essential in the history of man because of egoism. But I had a conviction while I wrote this. War, hurting each other, HAS TO BE STOPPED!!
