Whenever I begin to analyze anything, I believe that the most important factor in just how well something has been accomplished is determine by just how much growing and maturing the person has become at whatever they are pursuing. With this being said, as I begin to analyze myself and critique my writing, my development as a thinker on the subject about military families and communities, and my ability to create and argument, I believe that I must analyze myself from beginning to end.
When I first began this particular blogging project, I must admit, that even while I tried to eliminate my biases, it was extremely difficult to separate my personal feelings and write without emotions. I thought that since I grew up in a military town and had military family involvement, then I knew everything about the subject; however, I was extremely wrong.
http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-money-really-worth-destruction.html
The link above is to my very first blog entry that I wrote for this project. As I look back at the blog, I can say that rhetorical situation is rather strong; however, when analyzing the second paragraph, I realize that I am relying more on an emotional appeal to the reader, instead of just a logical appeal. At this point in the project, it was rather difficult for me to separate my emotions and preconceive perceptions and write just objectively. As the blogging project began to progress, I realized that I needed to shift my writing, while it was rather persuading, from trying to attain an emotional appeal and try to prove my argument logically. For example, in this particular post, http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/as-most-of-our-nation-realizes-economic.html , I found myself making a faulty analogy, that at the time seemed logically.
As I began to become more in-depth with the project, my mind was consumed with an abundance of information and I found out that a majority of the ideas that I thought were true were actually extremely FALSE. For example, I began this project with the idea that the wars are actually helping military communities and the nation economically, but rather, it is actually hurting it rather a lot. The only economic factor that I found to be true is that each soldier receives a bonus for being deployed. In military communities, when the soldiers are away, the economic situation in military communities begins to worsen exponentially. A majority of the customers are gone from the town, leaving business waiting for the soldiers to come back. http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/video?id=7063332 – This link provides the military communities perspective of the economic situation when the soldiers are away.
While a majority of the information I found proved that there are many negative effects to the war, there were a few facts that I found that actually were positives effects from the wars on military families. When interviewing a military wife, she said that while she was saddened to see her husband go over seas, the deployment actually improved their relationship and has given her a sense of independence. She now cuts the grass, changes the oil, and she realizes that she can take care of herself. http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/positives-what.html While some women feel this way, there are plenty who have to deal with abuse, a depleting marriage, and tons of other turmoil because of their spouse’s deployment.
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:YQlLRG3FwVkJ:www.owlnet.rice.edu/~nava101/psych.ppt+psychological+disorders+from+war&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us - This link is a PowerPoint presentation that elaborates on the many psychological issues that have been seen in the United States because of the war in Iraq.
The first real shift seen in my writing from just pure emotion to attaining a logical appeal came with the Analysis Post. http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/analysis-post.html - This post forced me to examine both sides of the argument and was forced to find information that supported my assertions. This post shifted my statements from just assertions and actually provided evidence that turned these assertions into arguments. From this point, my rhetorical situation improved and it encouraged me to find facts first and then make assertions later. http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/wars-and-divorce-rates.html - This post about the effect that wars have on the divorce rate within our nation manages to eliminate the emotional appeal that I tried to attain within my first couple of posts, and actually fully focused on logic.
Also during this blogging project, I felt that it was important to not just convey my ideas through words, but through political cartoons, too. A picture says a thousand words, right? The two links below give examples of the type of political cartoons that have been present within my blog.
http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/political-cartoon.html http://wartimeeffects.blogspot.com/2009/10/health-care-cost-v-war-cost.html
Overall, after analyzing my blog, my growth as a thinker, and my ability to create an argument, I think that I have matured as a writer, learned to put my emotions on the back burner, and learned how to create an argument logically.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Theory Post
The effects that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have on military families and communities is an extremely controversial issue that challenges whether these wars overseas are worth the destruction that they bring back home on the home front.
Some may say that the money military families receive when their loved one is deployed is an adequate compromise for the other suffering they may deal with during their mother, father, brother sister, or any other family member’s deployment.
This issue with military families is definitely not a new one and has been around ever since our nation has involved ourselves with war. Yes, I could say ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could solve the issues because soldiers will be back here on American soil; however, the government and other nations will have problems with our withdrawal. Every war in the past has led to another war. For example, the French and Indian War led to the American Revolution. The Spanish-American War led to World War I; World War I led to World War II; and so on.
(The links below show how each war has led to yet another war in the future.)
http://www.ww2pacific.com/ww1end.html
http://www.helium.com/items/598300-the-french-and-indian-war-prelude-to-the-american-revolution
http://www.progress.org/fold37.htm
Yes, we could end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now; but our withdrawal would ultimately lead to yet another war and the cycle will continue. While my solution to this polarized issue is rather huge and likely impossible, I strongly believe that if our nation only needed a military for domestic issues and HELPING, emphasis on HELPING, other nations, and wars were no longer necessary, then we could potentially end many of the issues with military families.
While world peace is an answer that is typically heard only in beauty pageants, I strongly believe that this is the only way that our issue with military families will ever cease.
Some may say that the money military families receive when their loved one is deployed is an adequate compromise for the other suffering they may deal with during their mother, father, brother sister, or any other family member’s deployment.
This issue with military families is definitely not a new one and has been around ever since our nation has involved ourselves with war. Yes, I could say ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could solve the issues because soldiers will be back here on American soil; however, the government and other nations will have problems with our withdrawal. Every war in the past has led to another war. For example, the French and Indian War led to the American Revolution. The Spanish-American War led to World War I; World War I led to World War II; and so on.
(The links below show how each war has led to yet another war in the future.)
http://www.ww2pacific.com/ww1end.html
http://www.helium.com/items/598300-the-french-and-indian-war-prelude-to-the-american-revolution
http://www.progress.org/fold37.htm
Yes, we could end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now; but our withdrawal would ultimately lead to yet another war and the cycle will continue. While my solution to this polarized issue is rather huge and likely impossible, I strongly believe that if our nation only needed a military for domestic issues and HELPING, emphasis on HELPING, other nations, and wars were no longer necessary, then we could potentially end many of the issues with military families.
While world peace is an answer that is typically heard only in beauty pageants, I strongly believe that this is the only way that our issue with military families will ever cease.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Class Links Post
While it was difficult to choose only three from all of the many wonderful blogs present, the three blogs that I think everyone should visit are:
http://allquietonthewesternblunt.blogspot.com/
http://can-i-live-abortion.blogspot.com/
http://battleswithrace.blogspot.com/
These three blogs provide very interesting perspectives on topics; race, the legalization of marijuana, and abortion. These three topics have been focused in order to provide an intellectual debate that removes many biases and entertains the blogger at the same time.
On the first blog that I presented, all quiet on the western blunt, the blogger draws in the reader first with the aesthetics. It is obvious that he or she has taken the time to create a blogging atmosphere for his or her commenters. Next, the blogger develops intellectual arguments, rather than just making pure assertions. The blogger backs up his or her assertion with a tremendous amount of evidence and responds back to commenters with the same tact presented within the original blog post.
On the second blog, rather than just having the common debate about abortion deciding whether it should be legal or not, the blogger focuses on just how the two sides can compromise and bring the debate to an end. I really like the fact that the blogger is taking a different approach to a subject that is typically one way to look at debating.
The reason I enjoy the last blog, battles with race and health care, is because, just like the previous blog, it takes a common debate and shifts it into a new light. While most blogs just focus on how to eliminate racism and the problems with it, this particular blog focuses on how racism is affecting health care, but more specifically, the racism that has occurred with the new health care debate towards President Barack Obama. What I really enjoy is that this issue has shifted from being just about race and is becoming more specific. Typically, when something is more specific, it becomes a lot easier to solve the problem.
http://allquietonthewesternblunt.blogspot.com/
http://can-i-live-abortion.blogspot.com/
http://battleswithrace.blogspot.com/
These three blogs provide very interesting perspectives on topics; race, the legalization of marijuana, and abortion. These three topics have been focused in order to provide an intellectual debate that removes many biases and entertains the blogger at the same time.
On the first blog that I presented, all quiet on the western blunt, the blogger draws in the reader first with the aesthetics. It is obvious that he or she has taken the time to create a blogging atmosphere for his or her commenters. Next, the blogger develops intellectual arguments, rather than just making pure assertions. The blogger backs up his or her assertion with a tremendous amount of evidence and responds back to commenters with the same tact presented within the original blog post.
On the second blog, rather than just having the common debate about abortion deciding whether it should be legal or not, the blogger focuses on just how the two sides can compromise and bring the debate to an end. I really like the fact that the blogger is taking a different approach to a subject that is typically one way to look at debating.
The reason I enjoy the last blog, battles with race and health care, is because, just like the previous blog, it takes a common debate and shifts it into a new light. While most blogs just focus on how to eliminate racism and the problems with it, this particular blog focuses on how racism is affecting health care, but more specifically, the racism that has occurred with the new health care debate towards President Barack Obama. What I really enjoy is that this issue has shifted from being just about race and is becoming more specific. Typically, when something is more specific, it becomes a lot easier to solve the problem.
War and Economy
While the previous political cartoons that I would upload show images that I agree with; I decided that to only be far and unbias I would upload a political cartoon that I do not necessarily agree with completely.
The economy and war are NOT partners and should not go hand in hand. We should not try and stimulate or economy because of the wars. Yes, the world war II got us out of the great depression, but it also got us involved with tons of destruction throughout the entire world.
I strongly believe that these wars are NOT worth the potential money that we can receive. Yes, in the past wars have been an economic stimulator; however, not this time.
The money is NOT worth the destruction.
Water-Testing
Our nation CANNOT simply continue to just "test the waters" while we have soldiers overseas dying EVERY SINGLE DAY. I completely understand that we cannot simply pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan and act like everything is all fine and dandy; but I do realize that something needs to be done, and that something needs to be done quickly.
Throughout Barack Obama’s entire campaign, he was an advocate for change. He believed that our nation needed to undergo and experience a tremendous amount of change. While his message allowed him to receive the vote and become the first African-American president, while this is a major accomplishment, what we need to remember is what he promised throughout his entire campaign.
Well, Obama….WE…..NEED….CHANGE! I understand that it is not going to occur overnight and I would be a hypocrite if I were to be upset that he is focusing on health care because my main focus is that our citizens should come first; however, we cannot ignore this issue forever. Something needs to be done and that something should be done quickly before something tragic happens.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wars and Divorce Rates
Wars typically lead to a “divorce” between nations; however, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the cause of a majority of divorces within our nation. Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have begun, there have been an estimated 10,200 failed marriages in active duty army, and 3,077 failed marriages in the marines. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/04/military-divorce-rates-up-as-conflicts-test-famili/
Military divorce rates have undoubtedly risen sharply since the wars begun in 2001. While this is just the number for those who are currently active in the military, many feel that these rates are inaccurate because they do not include the recent veterans whose divorce occurred shortly after they were inactive from the military.
Not just with military families, but in general, divorce is an extremely nasty task that affects children in an extremely detrimental way. They become forced to make huge decisions, such as who to live with, which ultimately damages ties with the other parent. The child begins to lack a sense of belonging and becomes extremely confused. http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rhetoric/105H16/cova/jlscova.html
Also with divorce, children become highly at risk for psychological issues. There are also statistics that say children who live in a divorced household are less likely to be as healthy. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hidden-effects-divorce-children.html All of these statistics are present at the link above.
There are so many ways that this, in my opinion, unnecessary war is affecting our military families. The cycle is we have a war, the war creates division within a household, divorce occurs, and then the children are ultimately left out to dry.
As I say so many times before, is the money really worth it? I definitely do not think so.
Military divorce rates have undoubtedly risen sharply since the wars begun in 2001. While this is just the number for those who are currently active in the military, many feel that these rates are inaccurate because they do not include the recent veterans whose divorce occurred shortly after they were inactive from the military.
Not just with military families, but in general, divorce is an extremely nasty task that affects children in an extremely detrimental way. They become forced to make huge decisions, such as who to live with, which ultimately damages ties with the other parent. The child begins to lack a sense of belonging and becomes extremely confused. http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rhetoric/105H16/cova/jlscova.html
Also with divorce, children become highly at risk for psychological issues. There are also statistics that say children who live in a divorced household are less likely to be as healthy. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hidden-effects-divorce-children.html All of these statistics are present at the link above.
There are so many ways that this, in my opinion, unnecessary war is affecting our military families. The cycle is we have a war, the war creates division within a household, divorce occurs, and then the children are ultimately left out to dry.
As I say so many times before, is the money really worth it? I definitely do not think so.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Positives? What!?!
When examining my previous analysis post, I was extremely disappointed with the lack of positives that I was able to conclude strictly from evidence found on the internet; so, I decided to take my research to the next level and actually visit some military families in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and get their opinion on the situation.
While a majority of the answers I received from military families were economic related, the stability of the job and the extra money received with their spouses are deployed, there was one positive attribute that was mentioned that is actually really rewarded due to the deployment of their military spouses.
For a majority of military wives when their husbands are deployed, they must become the mother and the father for their children. They take on the tasks that most husbands complete such as, changing the oil, cutting the grass, painting, pumping gas, and other jobs that most males are instructed to complete. However, military spouses feel a sense of achievement knowing that they can survive on their own.
Also, military spouses say that, for those who are really dedicated to their relationship with their military spouse, it makes their relationship even stronger. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and for the military spouses that I talked with, this was their favorite slogan.
While I am still firmly standing on the side that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are detrimental to military families; however, there are some positives for the spouses left back at home because of the sense of self-worth that arises due to their spouse’s absence. Despite this, I am still not convinced that this is enough to keep us in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While a majority of the answers I received from military families were economic related, the stability of the job and the extra money received with their spouses are deployed, there was one positive attribute that was mentioned that is actually really rewarded due to the deployment of their military spouses.
For a majority of military wives when their husbands are deployed, they must become the mother and the father for their children. They take on the tasks that most husbands complete such as, changing the oil, cutting the grass, painting, pumping gas, and other jobs that most males are instructed to complete. However, military spouses feel a sense of achievement knowing that they can survive on their own.
Also, military spouses say that, for those who are really dedicated to their relationship with their military spouse, it makes their relationship even stronger. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and for the military spouses that I talked with, this was their favorite slogan.
While I am still firmly standing on the side that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are detrimental to military families; however, there are some positives for the spouses left back at home because of the sense of self-worth that arises due to their spouse’s absence. Despite this, I am still not convinced that this is enough to keep us in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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