P.O.W ?

     Hypothetically, let's pretend that I am a part of the United States armed military and I am on a mission. To capture and obtain information on IED bombs in the Iraqi area. I go on day by day hoping not to suffer a loss or do something I may regret. Unfortunately this did not happen. My squad ran around a house where we found IED bombs in the floor. The residents are captured and held as Prisoners of War. These terrorists are held captive and interrogated. They are sleep deprived and starved unless they give us information about another home in the area that also has IEDs in the floor tiles. Trying our best to maintain order and respect to these "men", but they do make it hard as they curse our name and country, while at the same times spitting at our feet. Any harm that come to these people could prove dangerous to our mission. Our own country may find us as savages, or scum because of the things we may have to do to get the information we need, to keep them safe. Pressure builds, patiences is thinning, not able to take one more insult, one man of my troop backhand slaps one of the captives. He looks wide eyed and then starts telling us where the IEDs are located in the next home down the road. Though it may have been wrong, it was necessary to get what we needed to finish the mission... Getting the image of the face was burned into my head. It's hard to think about, even hypothetically, much less think about how soldiers right now are experiencing this, and are thought of as lower than scum. The pressure would get to them, but torture is varied.     

The Game Called Life.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.brothersoft.com/screenshots/softimage/c/call_of_duty-_black_ops_-_prestige_edition_trailer_hd-395423-1282125110.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.brothersoft.com/games/call-of-duty-black-ops-prestige-edition-trailer-hd.html&usg=__fuBYfQkUVfM7dqys-EB4NzCqPCI=&h=720&w=1280&sz=151&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=K9wKPPTVbpG6pM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=193&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcall%2Bod%2Bduty%2Bblack%2Bops%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1018%26bih%3D682%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=109&vpy=233&dur=131&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=193&ty=99&ei=kGEBTeb1MIH58Aai57zoAg&oei=kGEBTeb1MIH58Aai57zoAg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0
     It seems as though many games in this generation are based off of war and shooting. Games such as "Call Of Duty" and the alien war game of "Halo". These games take the intensity of battling in war, and transfers them to a controlled universe where when you take a bullet for a comrade, you can just hit "reset" or you will spawn again in another area. Sadly we all know that in life and real war, this does not happen. Due to these games, some young children have violent anger spasms or signs of aggression in their daily lives. Some people might say that games like this should not be even made because of the violent content. All though these are the same people who BUY their six year old child the violent game, when the label says "M for mature". These games are made for mature ages because for them, it is an activity to do when they have free time, and relives some stress. As apposed to the six year old child that is playing it twenty-four seven every day. Though these games are somewhat educational as they give players the ability to see into a war infected area. Even as the player goes throughout the game, they are only playing a "simulation" of actual battle for their life. So violent war based games to a point do diminish some feelings and violence of ACTUAL war. I personally think, that with the right boundaries of playing these games should still be allowed. Due to the fact that yes in reality these are just games, nothing more. An account of times the player may get even more intrigued and go look up history on the war they are doing battle in willfully just to get a better understanding of what they are up against. Also for those that wish to enter the military, though its not accurate as it could be, it could give a feel for battle overseas. It also gives players the ability to get out some post aggression and stress from their everyday life. The rate of players are high among high school students and college students as well. As the stress of school work and social pressure gets to them, they use the video games to escape and break free of their dilemmas for a couple for hours. Ever wonder how veterans would view these games ? Well I would think that they would either appreciate and tell their grandchildren of the stories that the games reminded them of, or they would be insulted because people are just playing without seeing and experiencing the true feeling of losing your companion to a land mine or enemy soldier. You never know though, grandpa may surprise you and jump in the game with his PS3 controller and kick you and your online friends' butts ! Player- "Granpa how did you do that ? ",Grandpa- "I was the actual soldier this is based off of", Player- "Woah"

The Last Words Written...

     Back in World War 1, the communication lines were limited. All the soldiers could do to stay in contact with their families and loved ones, was to write letters. Looking at time now, it seems so ridiculous since we have our emails, UPS, FED-EX, Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, and all these technological ways to interact with one another in sheer seconds ! While as these dying or war heroes wrote, they didn't know if they would even live long enough to see a response as the letters took to nearly four to six weeks to arrive in the states and to return to sender. Sadly there was no "rush packaging" options back in the war. One letter I have viewed; "Well Aunt Jean, there is one person who will miss you on Christmas day and he is sitting in a digout wondering what you are all doing and wishing you the best of Christmasses and the happiest year of all.
Loving ????(Sean or Sam)". This poor soldier fighting on Christmas, and not knowing if it would be his last Christmas ever. Hoping to live just to get a reply from his Aunt. It's tragic how much they must've gone through, and to think, as his Aunt was reading this, she didn't know if he was still alive, or if he had perished in battle. Makes you appreciate the devices we have huh ?

Let's Take This To The Sky !

     Dogfights. One crazy way to battle, in the sky. With it just being a scary THOUGHT I'd hate to feel what it would have felt like to actually be fighting in a plane back in WWI. Though it also seems intense and adrenaline pumping. Just stop and think, what was going through the minds of the pilots back then ? Were they excited, or were they terrified, crapping their pants ? I would feel both terrified and excited simultaneously.  The spins, twirls, dives, etc all tricks one must learn to survive. Picture flying forward, head on, to another plane. Then hearing gun shots and firing back, maneuvering around just to stay alive and then circling back to take an offense. Many lives being lost in the process we mourn, as the survivors and heroes we all know, even those who died in battle remain heroes in our hearts. Being able to return from a battle like that must have made soldiers appreciate life so much more. I for one know I would have cherished everyday on if i had to encounter with another in the air behind a fighter plane.