Grapes of Wrath
I’m reading “Grapes of Wrath” now as part of my classics kick. As I was reading last night, I made a connection between the “communities” that are set up and tore down every night by the people who are traveling north, the relationships made in harsh circumstances and the communities and relationships that are made when Soldiers are thrown into a war zone together.
In the book, the travelers are bound together by extreme poverty, by hunger, starvation, fear, death, tragedy and hope. Everything they have in life is precious, because they have so little. Their experiences are those that are shared by all of the families that have been forced onto the road with them.
They come from every part of the midwest, joined together on the same road. Their extreme circumstances and suffering brought them together, bonded them, united them.
They set up camps by night, a bunch of strangers, coming together out of need. They are all alike, yet they have different stories of how they ended up at that point in their lives. They talk and laugh in the night. They share what little they have with each other. In the morning they pack up and continue their journey, camping the next night, in the same way, but with different people.
The government camp in the story, with its rows of shacks and community toilets reminds me exactly of how we live here. They set up their tents and meet the neighbors. They explore their surroundings at first, amazed at the newness of the place. They interact with the key people in the camp, the leaders, the veterans who have been there, the religious zealots, the crazy drunks.
They have a special government, almost apart from the government outside the camp. Within their community they govern themselves, they answer to their own leaders. But in the outside community, there is always someone who wants to bring them down because they pose a threat to their society.
They are ostracized by those who are not like them. Not welcomed in the country where they have been forced to live. They are organized, determined and beyond fear. Because, when you have nothing, no choice, what is stopping you?
In the military, we are all bonded by a common force, our lives are guided by something bigger than ourselves. We travel throughout the world, not always knowing why or what we may find at the end of our journey. We meet people along the way who are in the same position as we are and we are bonded together.
The military is made up of people from every part of the nation, from every walk of life. Everyone comes together because we have the same purpose, we have the same end-state, and along the way we help each other when we can.
We live where we have to. Setting up camps that get more modern as we progress. We survive, that’s what we do, that’s what we’re forced to do.
15 Comments:
grapes of wrath, eh. what a loser. only losers read. you are a big fat loser. i can't believe i'm wasting my time reading this. you're a loser. loser. loser. loser. fatty.
Hi BB, I just got back from my leave and thought I'd check in with you in Mosul. I see you get people taking potshots at you too.
Got a favor to ask, I noticed you put up a link to my blog...would you mind removing it? Thanks, R1 in B'dad
Hi - Stopped by after finding Doc in a Box, who mentioned you.
I like your writing in this post. Very perceptive.
I'll stop back occasionally to read what else you have to say.
- Mike
Great book. Great writer. You might try "Melville's "The White Whale: Moby Dick". Some consider it the greatest American novel; it's got a lot of stuff in it.
Inspirational Aug 19 post about visiting the bombed out village and the bravery of the interpreters, etc. I wanted to email it some of my more liberal friends.
Thanks for doing a super job for us and the people of Iraq. Thank you. You write very well; very clearly.
felipe808@gmail.com
All you guys in Iraq deserve more than this government gives you. You're doing a thankless job for the sake of those people over there who (in my opinion) don't deserve it. Whenever we turn on the news here in the States, there is another car bomb or another attack. There isn't much reporting of the American troops that have died; I suspect the Bush administration has a gag on the media since it's close to the election. If you ever visit the al-jazeera (english language) site http://english.aljazeera.net you will see what the people in the Middle East really think of us. They refer to the insurgents in Iraq as "resistance fighters" and it almost seems like they hold them in some sort of high regard. Why are we trying to help them? To hell with them, let them rot in their own corruption, violence and filth. Iraq is destined to become another corrupt theocracy like Iran, ruled by another tyrant. This brings to mind a quote:
“People get the government they deserve.” – Thomas Jefferson
I for one am not afraid to say that the best thing that could happen now is for all of you to be brought back home to your families. The Iraqi people don't deserve the sacrifices you guys are making for them.
Hi. Im ditdamon. I enoy your percive writing. Having jusr recently reading "the Grapes of Wrath", I recall my own familys experiences. These and others like them went on to fight and win World War II. They knew what they were fighing for, and the true value of what they had.
Back here in the states, the politicins are still stuck in Viet Nam!. The people of the Mid East dont know about Freedom and democracy, but your description of the travelers making camps, gives hope that they will eventually learn from thier ( and our countrys soldiers, like you) who are bonding together in their struggle to find peace and justice.
Perhaps the biggest benifit from this War on Terror will be the development of a next "Greatest Generation " as described by Tom Brokaw in his book on the WWII Veterans. Maybe you could relate on the changes you see in yourself and your fellow soldiers
Keep up the good work and God Bless you. ditdamon
I love "The Grapes of Wrath." In 11th grade english class we had to get permission slips signed by a parent to read it.
~Tragic
Tikitibu sez,
You can't go wrong with Steinbeck. Books or film.
Please read Last of the Mohicans. Read For Whom the Bell Tolls. I am so proud of your efforts, GI's. You are changing the world in a positive manner. And putting your lives on the line just underscores the potency of your commitment to that change. The novels I mention underscore that notion.
Great article! Thanks.
Thanks for interesting article.
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