Review of the book War Is... by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

This book is very thought provoking as well as heavy and depressing. The two editors have compiled a myriad of actual pieces of writings depicting how people handle war. There are news articles, magazine excerpts, letters, etc. for the reader to read and share in the experiences of the authors. 

It is interesting to note that one editor has a more accepting view of war and the other one is totally against it, no matter what. 

The selections covered several different wars; WWII, Korea, Gulf War, Irac, VietNam. 

One selection affected me the most. It was written by Mark Twain and titled "War Prayer". Mark Twain wrote it in 1904 for publication in Harper's Bazaar, a woman's magazine at the that time. However, the magazine rejected it because it was not viewed as appropriate for the readers. The piece was not found until 1910 and was not published until many years later. It is used as a classic view of antiwar believers.

This piece involves a congregation brought together to pray for the men going off to war. A stranger comes in and speaks to them about their prayer. He proposes to them the notion that they are really praying two prayers. One for their loved ones, and one for the other side. One positive and one negative. This piece did make me stop and think about the affects of our prayers and how unwittingly we are praying for the demise of someone or something else. This all happens in how we word our prayers. 

The other pieces in the book are just as provoking. Each one needs to be given its own due.

It was a depressing book, but I am glad I read it. Today we hear so much about whether we should be in Irac or Afghanistan. Peoples draw lines in the sand. Yes. No. But is there really a definitive answer? I don't think so. War is hell. It does not make sense, yet it has been around since time began. What is the answer? I don't know, do you?

Review of the novel Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

The basic story is about a girl, Green, who loses her family and everything she has ever cherished. She retreats into a world of pain and sorrow. She reacts to her loss by becoming Ash. Sewing thorns in her clothes and nails in her shoes she creates a pain that hides her inner pain. As she begins to tatoo her body with symbols of darkness, she reveals how dead she has become; she has turned to Ash.

At first glance, this book seems to be science fiction, other worldly. On further analysis, it becomes an allegory. Green represents all the good, fruitful, loving existence we all hope for. Ash has become pain, nothingness, death.

Everyone can certainly can understand loss. For some, they probably experience it  everyday. Green retreats from her pain by creating more pain to herself with the thorns, nails and needles. She exposes the pain she is feeling through her tatoos.

 However, Green returns to the "land of the living" through time and circumstance and others in need. Her salvation comes when she begins reaching out to others also in pain and suffering.

 I think her evolution from the old Green to Ash to a new Green symbolizes the strength of the human spirit through hope.