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?