Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Compare/Contrast
Here, Bullet by Brian Turner and Sand Queen, by Helen Benedict are alike in that they both offer reflection of the war in Iraq. However, this is about where the similarities end. Both works give the reader insight into the grim realities of war, but in strikingly different fashions. For one, this can be attributed to the different styles of writing used. Here, Bullet is a collection of poems , Sand Queen is a novel. Turner uses his first-hand experience as an American soldier in the war to furnish a collection of poems that depict harsh realities of war, while providing the reader critical thinking through figurative language. Benedict, on the other hand, is not a veteran. Therefore her novel, which was inspired first hand accounts, can be viewed in a different light than Turner's reflections. Sand Queen's portrayal of a female American soldier and a young Iraqi girl depict the everyday struggles of women in the war, which contrasts Turner's overall portrayal of wartime.
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It is a difficult thing to think about, and sometimes slightly disturbing, how much abuse female soldiers must face. As I said in class, although I do agree that the United States and indeed all of the West is rooted in a patriarchal system, I think that to claim this is the reason why it is difficult to be a female soldier in Iraq is rather weak. The US Army is enormously male dominated. In addition, there is a tradition of camaraderie among troops, and this camaraderie develops out of shared ideas experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Now I am not sexist, but I do believe that men and women are inherently different, and that the things that bring the male soldiers together and connect them may not be the same as what brings the female soldiers together. The disconnect and isolation that many female soldiers face stems from this, far more than the patriarchy.
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