Alive in War

     The determination to stay alive is one shared by all. This need brings along an ocean of emotions to go along with it. Including the need to protect oneself. Throughout all life and human existence there has been the need to protect oneself. And this need is only heightened in a war situation. Death is all consuming in war situations, giving a new awareness to one's life and its quality. Hiding, running and fighting become a man's best friend when the need to stay alive are heightened. War zones bring out this heightened sense of awareness. "You don't walk anywhere, everywhere you go, you're moving to get behind cover" (Miller). War zones make it so everywhere you go you're looking to stay alive. Walking is no longer an option , the only option is anything you can do to stay alive. The need to stay alive is such a strong drive that it can induce a maddening fear in some cases. Fear of loosing ones life or being injured irreparably is a maddening fear. Jensen in The Things They Carried Jensen struggles with this, after hurting his friend the fear of being hurt back was all consuming "Jensen couldn't relax. like fighting two different wars, he said" (O'Brian 60). Being all consumed in the fear of being hurt drove Jensen mad. The need to stay Alive is all consuming, and heightened when one's life is on the line.

     War can bring out the worst in people. It heightens fear and will bring out an individuals drive for survival. It brings out all reactions based in fear and brings death to many. However, even though "war is hell" (O'Brian 76), it is not all awful. There are many terrible things brought out into light through war and it is devastating, but there is good in it. Lives may be lost, but lives are also saved, and granted freedom they never would have experienced otherwise. "people don't hear the good things from the news" (Muir). War brings safety to those living in corrupt governments, war gives freedom. It is awful, with many lives lost and cities destroyed, yet when fought for the right reasons, there are so many good things that come out of it. War is not this one thing, but instead an array of ideas an emotions felt as a human need and experience.  'because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and dispair and longing and love" (O'brian 76). Humanity is painted in bright colors through the means of war. Through war there are discoveries of who one is as an individual, discoveries of how humanity is felt. War openes eyes to the value of life. Though war brings out the worst in people, it can bring out the best too.