Full Version: Some eloquence from the frontlines...
stumbled across the following:
Walking on History
I am a shameless romantic, a slightly better than average student of history, and there is a current of idealism under my skin that has not yet been dulled by reality. Sometimes, these qualities come together and leave me thinking to myself of times long gone and stories all but forgotten. Lately, I've been thinking of the paradoxical enormity and insignificance of my presence here.
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The closing line is incredible....
Walking on History
I am a shameless romantic, a slightly better than average student of history, and there is a current of idealism under my skin that has not yet been dulled by reality. Sometimes, these qualities come together and leave me thinking to myself of times long gone and stories all but forgotten. Lately, I've been thinking of the paradoxical enormity and insignificance of my presence here.
...
read more
The closing line is incredible....
Apparently, this military blogger's prose caught quite a reaction. Jame's Wolcott
His response:
I love it! The world is getting smaller and smaller and more people have a voice. I added his blog to a bookmark. First-hand, up-to-date information from this guy on the ground in Iraq is very enlightening.
QUOTE
The most euphonious bugler is a milblogger with the handle of Teflon Don, who sonorously proclaims:
Here I stand, in modern-day Iraq. I have come further to fight here than any soldier of any nation before me, and I fight with weapons and equipment that lay pale the panoply of earlier armies. I represent the pinnacle of force projection and decisive battle, and yet I fight here, where unnumbered young warriors have fought and died through time stretching out of memory. It was on this land that the Babylonian empire first arose out of those first Sumerian agrarians, only to be conquered by the Assyrians, and still later throw off the foreign chains. It was here that Alexander's phalanxes swept by, trailing Hellenism in their wake. Rome, and later the Byzantines, drew their border with Persia at the Euphrates River. At that river was where the Sassanids made their stand against the spread of Arabian Islam. The Khans of the Mongols laid this land waste, sometimes killing only to build their towers of bones higher.
War is war, his service to his country is commendable, we wish him safe return, but, really, there's no excuse for a pretentious prose style. Hemingway, Stephen Crane--they kept it bone-clean lean. They would have blanched at such gold-leafed Victor Davis Hanson vainglorious horse(expletive). Such as this:
Here I stand, in modern-day Iraq. I have come further to fight here than any soldier of any nation before me, and I fight with weapons and equipment that lay pale the panoply of earlier armies. I represent the pinnacle of force projection and decisive battle, and yet I fight here, where unnumbered young warriors have fought and died through time stretching out of memory. It was on this land that the Babylonian empire first arose out of those first Sumerian agrarians, only to be conquered by the Assyrians, and still later throw off the foreign chains. It was here that Alexander's phalanxes swept by, trailing Hellenism in their wake. Rome, and later the Byzantines, drew their border with Persia at the Euphrates River. At that river was where the Sassanids made their stand against the spread of Arabian Islam. The Khans of the Mongols laid this land waste, sometimes killing only to build their towers of bones higher.
War is war, his service to his country is commendable, we wish him safe return, but, really, there's no excuse for a pretentious prose style. Hemingway, Stephen Crane--they kept it bone-clean lean. They would have blanched at such gold-leafed Victor Davis Hanson vainglorious horse(expletive). Such as this:
His response:
QUOTE
Pretentious prose style? But I thought I was euphonious! I can't say I ever remember trying to compare myself to Hemingway (or Yeats, as someone suggested elsewhere), but I'm not sure I really mind being compared to Victor Davis Hansen. Actually, I'm flattered that someone so self-important as James Wolcott tore into me in the same column as he tore into Pajamas Media. That's ok, James- keep on keeping us honest over here. Sip your latte as you wade knee-deep through your self-proclaimed Iraqi mire in the comfort of your New York office.
I love it! The world is getting smaller and smaller and more people have a voice. I added his blog to a bookmark. First-hand, up-to-date information from this guy on the ground in Iraq is very enlightening.
My favorite introspective post from A Solder's Thoughts:
QUOTE(Zachary Scott-Singley)
What is the human condition? Here in Iraq we fight terrorists and insurgents. We give them names (haji, towel head, rag head) to peal away their humanity. We focus only on the horrible things that have happened so that we can bring ourselves to kill, but in doing so we too become changed. No longer do we fit in when we get home. We become outsiders and misfits amongst our own families and distance ourselves as others too distance themselves from us.
Alone, it becomes easier with time to be that way. You can't let others know the things you have done because they would never understand and it would only serve to make us even more alone.
Alone, it becomes easier with time to be that way. You can't let others know the things you have done because they would never understand and it would only serve to make us even more alone.
I'm always glad to see MilBlogs getting the attention that I think they deserve. They often tell the story behind the story, and give perspectives that are disdained by corporate media whores and complacent masses alike.
Two of my favorites are Blackfive, who aside from posting his own wit and fact, links many other MilBlogs, which gives a daily roundup of what is being talked about in the community.
And An American Soldier, who was wounded in Iraq.
Two of my favorites are Blackfive, who aside from posting his own wit and fact, links many other MilBlogs, which gives a daily roundup of what is being talked about in the community.
And An American Soldier, who was wounded in Iraq.
QUOTE
I stumbled across this video this morning and it really brought me back. While holding my baby daughter in my arms I clicked on this video. I’ve never really spoken or written of the day I got hurt. The exact details and what happened to me when it actually happened still embedded in my brain. I’m talking about the spiritual event that occurred at the very moment of the explosion. Beyond the pain it was the mindset and feeling that I was about to leave my body and move on. The visions in my mind were quite peaceful and reassuring that it was ok. Not many people have had a near death experience and come back to tell about it. I’ve kept it sort of private because I didn’t really know how to describe it.
So I clicked on this video and literally found myself tearing up and remembering my moment. The day that my world was turned upside down. A warm morning in Ramadi. In what was probably seconds these were my thoughts.
So I clicked on this video and literally found myself tearing up and remembering my moment. The day that my world was turned upside down. A warm morning in Ramadi. In what was probably seconds these were my thoughts.
First. I don't see anything 'pretentious' in what this soldier wrote at all. As far as I am aware, being pretentious is when one makes a claim to being greater than one really is where as this soldier is merely pointing out a simple truth. I don't read anything on that blog to indicate this Teflon Don person thinks as highly of himself as his critic would imply. His expressive language may be some what romantic but the last time I checked that was not a crime...
Second. Who is James Wolcott anyway?
Second. Who is James Wolcott anyway?
Sorry, moif. 
James Wolcott is a contributing editor for 'Vanity Fair'. He isn't a household name by any measure, but the magazine is pretty popular here in the states (at least I read it from time to time). It just amazes me that an editor for this magazine could take notice of some anonymous military blogger on the net and mention him thereby expanding his readership, which might have an influence somehow.
The internet has given a voice to people who would have typically had none in the past. Of course, this new knowledge has implications from all sides. But, per this topic, military enlisted personnel and junior officers in general haven’t had much of a voice to speak of in the past. We seldom (never basically) see any officers below the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel listed regarding their input in reports (such as the ISG, for example). Yet the war is being fought at the local level...and NOW, via blogs, we can hear how it is from the ground.
Thanks, DTOM and Lesly, for those links. I'll add them to my bookmarks as well.
James Wolcott is a contributing editor for 'Vanity Fair'. He isn't a household name by any measure, but the magazine is pretty popular here in the states (at least I read it from time to time). It just amazes me that an editor for this magazine could take notice of some anonymous military blogger on the net and mention him thereby expanding his readership, which might have an influence somehow.
The internet has given a voice to people who would have typically had none in the past. Of course, this new knowledge has implications from all sides. But, per this topic, military enlisted personnel and junior officers in general haven’t had much of a voice to speak of in the past. We seldom (never basically) see any officers below the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel listed regarding their input in reports (such as the ISG, for example). Yet the war is being fought at the local level...and NOW, via blogs, we can hear how it is from the ground.
Thanks, DTOM and Lesly, for those links. I'll add them to my bookmarks as well.
QUOTE(Mrs. Pigpen)
The internet has given a voice to people who would have typically had none in the past. Of course, this new knowledge has implications from all sides. But, per this topic, military enlisted personnel and junior officers in general haven’t had much of a voice to speak of in the past. We seldom (never basically) see any officers below the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel listed regarding their input in reports (such as the ISG, for example). Yet the war is being fought at the local level...and NOW, via blogs, we can hear how it is from the ground.
I agree I read a few, my most frequented one is windsofchange.net
My husband helped implement AKO, which is Army Knowledge Online and him and all the people who worked on the AKO project did think about the above reasons as a good cause to invest their time in.
QUOTE
James Wolcott is a contributing editor for 'Vanity Fair'.
Ahh, there's some Irony. "Vanity Fair" now...
QUOTE
No longer do we fit in when we get home. We become outsiders and misfits amongst our own families and distance ourselves as others too distance themselves from us.
That's, by and large, a crock. Wallowing, self-absorbed malarkey that is self-inflicted, bad mojo carried over from the Vietnam era. Are things different when they come home? Yes. Are they different? Yes. Outsiders and misfits? Only if they choose to be...Suggested watching ... the 1946 Academy Award Best Picture Winner
The Best Years of Our Lives
It beat out It's a Wonderful Life and The Yearling
QUOTE(Bikerdad @ Feb 5 2007, 03:29 AM) 
QUOTE(A Soldier's Thoughts)
No longer do we fit in when we get home. We become outsiders and misfits amongst our own families and distance ourselves as others too distance themselves from us.
That's, by and large, a crock. Wallowing, self-absorbed malarkey that is self-inflicted, bad mojo carried over from the Vietnam era. Are things different when they come home? Yes. Are they different? Yes. Outsiders and misfits? Only if they choose to be...I'm sorry, BD. I didn't know anti-agenda milblogs needed your blessing to pass some sort of authenticity test. It's a goddamn shame we can no longer edit posts older than a day.
QUOTE
His response:
QUOTE
Pretentious prose style? But I thought I was euphonious!
Perhaps Teflon Don doesn't realize that it is possible to be euphonious and pretentious. His language is extremely flowery and, while it may be pleasing to the ear, it reads - at times - as being pleasing to the ear simply for the sake of being pleasing to the ear.
Personally, I find this type of writing to be a bit saccharine for my taste. Which is not to say that it is all bad... it isn't. He does need to learn that some flowers - as beautiful as they may be - just stink.
Euphoniousness, alone, does not eloquence make.
QUOTE(Lesly @ Feb 5 2007, 07:23 AM)
I'm sorry, BD. I didn't know anti-agenda milblogs needed your blessing to pass some sort of authenticity test. It's a goddamn shame we can no longer edit posts older than a day.
My blessing? He doesn't need it, and I hope he's got enough cajones to take criticism.
Authenticity test?
Let's just say that his use of "we" is overreaching.I didn't know that I needed your blessing to point out what a steaming pile of dreck you quoted. Perhaps I should check with you in the future before I post?
QUOTE
I didn't know that I needed your blessing to point out what a steaming pile of dreck you quoted. Perhaps I should check with you in the future before I post?
You went out of your way to comment on the quote Lesly posted--what did you expect?
Seems like you clearly expected a response to your criticism--or why bother commenting at all. You do not wear innocence well at all BD.
I liked his writing and the ending was very cool.
interesting to hear their voices on milblogs
I must be missing the pretension...or maybe I just appreciate purple prose. It may not bare the guts of the situation in the same way that Hemingway or Remarque could have, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have value.
It's nice to know that this soldier is interested in the history of the region in which he's fighting, and he's certainly not the only one who uses romanticism to get through the day.
It's nice to know that this soldier is interested in the history of the region in which he's fighting, and he's certainly not the only one who uses romanticism to get through the day.
The web is literally bulging with such reports, perspectives, chats, however you would like to word them, you just have to take the time to look. I personally don’t read them as there are plenty of them living in my unit.
Talk aside on the point how could you get upset about people talking about there take on the situation. If you go through them you will find such a broad spectrum on the situation in many regards its hard to say statistically overall what the opinion is, and another is I doubt such people post many things to be taken in as some political commentary or whatever. I think the internet is good for this, should they just sit and ball up with stress until they simply burn out? Captain America aside they are after all people.
You have to remember that regardless of training or moral stances on issues or a particular persons perception there is not much in life that will offer you such an experience, its going to have its impact on a person, its the same thing with police officers and of course one could wonder about stress and suicide rates amongst the two professions.
People view it I think more in the various areas you could study in say anthropology or sociology, the person loses being a human being and instead is a form of an icon, a social role, mush like the dismay when a priest of all people is found to be a child rapist, under all the perception of it all is still just a human, with a brain and a heart pumping blood like anyone else. I don’t wear my uniform outside because I don’t want people to view me in such a light, its kind of scary, in one instance you are just a regular Joe, put the uniform on though and in peoples eyes you become so much more, from hated to exalted and everything inbetween, last of course is the idea you are still a person though...
You can read these reports though and fine people that support everything we do in Iraq, you can read reports where the soldier or marine or troop in general feels that they have been forgotten, and you can read reports where they disagree with everything we are doing, but of course like in the above the nature and nurture comes into a play and for what its worth its not anymore just an individual it seems, just like terrorism and now Muslims in general are viewed differently. I don’t know how to sum up my position on it any better.
Talk aside on the point how could you get upset about people talking about there take on the situation. If you go through them you will find such a broad spectrum on the situation in many regards its hard to say statistically overall what the opinion is, and another is I doubt such people post many things to be taken in as some political commentary or whatever. I think the internet is good for this, should they just sit and ball up with stress until they simply burn out? Captain America aside they are after all people.
You have to remember that regardless of training or moral stances on issues or a particular persons perception there is not much in life that will offer you such an experience, its going to have its impact on a person, its the same thing with police officers and of course one could wonder about stress and suicide rates amongst the two professions.
People view it I think more in the various areas you could study in say anthropology or sociology, the person loses being a human being and instead is a form of an icon, a social role, mush like the dismay when a priest of all people is found to be a child rapist, under all the perception of it all is still just a human, with a brain and a heart pumping blood like anyone else. I don’t wear my uniform outside because I don’t want people to view me in such a light, its kind of scary, in one instance you are just a regular Joe, put the uniform on though and in peoples eyes you become so much more, from hated to exalted and everything inbetween, last of course is the idea you are still a person though...
You can read these reports though and fine people that support everything we do in Iraq, you can read reports where the soldier or marine or troop in general feels that they have been forgotten, and you can read reports where they disagree with everything we are doing, but of course like in the above the nature and nurture comes into a play and for what its worth its not anymore just an individual it seems, just like terrorism and now Muslims in general are viewed differently. I don’t know how to sum up my position on it any better.
QUOTE(Cyan @ Feb 5 2007, 05:08 PM)
I must be missing the pretension...or maybe I just appreciate purple prose. It may not bare the guts of the situation in the same way that Hemingway or Remarque could have, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have value.
It's nice to know that this soldier is interested in the history of the region in which he's fighting, and he's certainly not the only one who uses romanticism to get through the day.
Well, he's using words that come close to being appropriate, but are reaching. Certainly, I'm being critical and I would never argue that he shouldn't be writing this stuff. I do find it interesting, however, the vehemence with which he defends his writing and find it funny - and telling - the manner in which he does so. He uses a poem by Whitman to respond to his critic. While the poem is a response to criticism, Whitman is, apparently, responding to a claim that he hasn't used language flowery enough - a bit ironic. I would never deny a writer his requisite spat with a critic, but he's certainly only proving his critic's point with such rebuttals.
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