Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)
Reflect back on the comments other readers have posted on this website. Identify the one (or two?) that you found to be the most thought-provoking (identify the post title, the name of the author of the comment, and briefly summarize what they said) and explain how they got you thinking. This required answer is not a part of your word count.
On chains of command, it's important to note they don't stop at just "Leader and helper" or "Doctor and Nurse" in this case. The Doctors have their own hierarchy, as do the nurses, and they are all beneath those who supervise them, who are underneath their managers, who answer to a board or local government or Dean and University Presiden depending on the type of Hospital.
This was mostly why Frankie was fired. She went above her station without permission and therefore without authority and consent from not just her supervisor and the Surgeon, but the hospital and the patient. The patient now has the ability to use them even if he doesn't have any valid medical complaints since he was treated by a nurse officially unqualified to do what saved his life. It wasn't just the Doctor being miffed and offended at someone upstaging the system (although that was definitely a part of it) but was a legitimate concern of what her actions could have done to the the patient and hospital at large. It threatened not only the just it's owners, but all the workers and even other patients who rely on their care and would be greatly harmed and alarmed by the hospital being in trouble due to a upstart low level nurse. Her actions may have been commendable in that she saved a life, but she took on a responsibility that wasn't hers to take. She was told in Vietnam to go above her station. She was given consent and was even partially supervised. Even that is significantly different from just treating a patient in the ER in secret because everyone else is too busy to notice.
Chapter 3: A Patriot; Paityn Seiger. I really like this post because I agree with what is said about patriotism; you can love your country without agreeing with its actions. As citizens, we don't all have total control over what our government does (even though we should). In my opinion, patriotism is about loving your country through the good and the bad with hopes that one day it will recover. You don't have to choose to agree, but you can still choose to love your country.
Marc talks about how the military offers a “pre-packaged” identity for young people, which can be both beneficial as well as detrimental. This was interesting to me because this is one of the reasons my brother joined. He was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life, so he joined the military to help give him a sense of direction. However, my brother is not a fresh out of high school “baby”-he has an associate's degree. I agree with much of what Marc had to say, as there are many pros and cons for service depending on age, as well as other life factors. All in all, joining the military should not be taken lightly.
Chapter 8: “A Good Guy”, Paige Batman/Scott
Paige said that while Jamie did things that weren't honorable, he isn’t an evil guy. I really appreciated her thought process on that. While yes, Jamie was not loyal to his marriage, that does not necessarily make him a bad person. The fact that he is willing to have accountability for his actions and own up to his mistakes shows that he isn't an awful person. I appreciate this insight because it helps show that people cannot be put into the black and white boxes of “good” and “bad”.
Taylor touched on the stark differences between the envirnment that Frankie worked in at the university she went to. Which was controlled, an environment that encouraged learning ,and was a relatively low pressure environment. This is even shared with the nursing job she had right out of college, where she was basically an assistant doing routine check ups and such. Whereas in Vietnam she was thrown right into the fire. She immediately faced wounds beyond her comprehension, not to mention losing so many soildier in a mass casualty situation. Taylor then tells about how this is still an issue of fresh college graduates moving from the controlled predictability of the classroom, to the unpredictable area of the workforce still causes problems today. It made me think about how not a whole lot has changed in that regard.
Ty O’ Daniel makes that point that if a person allows gender norms to rule their life, it will. However, Frankie made the decision to have a career, instead of becoming a housewife. He stated that he would rather have a satisfying long-term partnership than have a deeply satisfying career. Additionally, he states that success is subjective and choosing relationships over a career isn’t always necessary.
I generally agree with him on most of what he said, however I personally would choose a career over a satisfying long-term relationship. My career is what I want my success to come from. I feel like I would feel stuck, if I wasn’t able to use my mind for my work. Additionally, I would like the independence that comes from having a career and my own money. I could still adopt children and have a family without a partner, and I would get to keep my career. In reality, I will probably be able to have both.
I really liked this post because it was really interesting to hear someone’s opinion that is different from mine. His opinion is in no way wrong because everyone gets to choose what is best for them in their life. I never thought that someone would choose a relationship over a career because a career is so important to me. It made me think about why a career is so important to me as opposed to a relationship. I’m glad that I got to read another perspective and learn more about what other people think.
Ileen talks about how different groups from the war should be recognized but not all as one. They each deserve their own specific memorial that will be special to them and their families. When I read Ileen’s comment, I realized I was thinking like it was a yes or no answer by questioning if they should or should not have a memorial when really, I should be thinking about how they can all be remembered not should they be. I agree when she says there is no right answer because all soldiers, nurses and innocent civilians killed or injured should be recognized in a way that is honorable to them and their service.
Chapter 25: “Time doesn’t mean what it used to” Paige Batman/Scott
In Paige’s response to the question, the topic of different life stages was brought up. Though 18 is technically legal, it is morally wrong for a person who is much older to be with them. An imbalance is formed in relationships where there is a significant age and maturity difference. Grooming is also touched upon in the response.
The topic of maturity in a relationship is complex in many different ways. Paige’s writing started a rabbit hole of thoughts for me. When looking at a person’s maturity and age, can one outweigh the other? Should mental disabilities play a bigger part? Is a person’s appearance a part of it? It is a common stereotype that women mature faster than men. If that is looked at as completely true, does it subsequently make a larger age gap between a younger woman and an older man more acceptable? Likewise, on the opposite side, has this made a relationship between a younger man and an older woman less moral? Mental disabilities are another imbalance that came to mind while thinking about Paige’s words. Many different disabilities can affect a person. The disabilities I specifically pondered over were ones that affect mental age. Is a relationship affected on a moral level if a person is physically in their 20s but is mentally a preteen? What would the moral standing be on the same individual who is mentally a preteen dating a preteen because of their shared maturity levels? When looking into appearance, it can be complicated. Some races are known to age better than others, and then some individuals appear exceedingly young. So if a person looks to be a child but is actually in their 20s, dates a person of the same age, does it become immoral? Overall, Paige’s writing raised many questions and was extremely thought-provoking. I believe these are attributes of a great writer, and I would like to give my applause to you, Paige.
Chapter 33: "The Beginning of Healing" had a response I really liked from Cooper Ragain. The questions were covering the impact that words can have on the healing practice and how much knowledge on correct care should be required for healthcare workers. The response went into specific details on how coma patients hearing distressing words can still have an impact on their bodies, even worsening their conditions. They also tied in how beliefs in some foods being healthy or lower in calorie can actually lead to the body processing that food differently. It was clear that Cooper had a strong opinion and lots of knowledge about the topic, so I learned a lot from it! Also, I love House MD.
Taylor Inselman’s response to Question 18: “What is wrong with the world?” resonated with me. The question posed asks the reader what they think is wrong with the world, and Taylor responded, saying “one of the biggest problems in the world is the follower mentality many people have.” I feel that this is still a huge problem today, and is something we see often in modern day issues and politics. People tend to blindly follow a person, ideal, or belief without really examining what they’re following, leading people to support someone or something that might either be harmful to others or even themselves. It’s easier to blindly follow someone or something like a sheep follows a shepherd, but what we don’t realize is that many of these “shepherds” will lead us down wrong paths.
Taylor commented that the author does not pay too much attention to the clothes, but instead provides the reader with crucial information. Before reading the comment, I would have disagreed with her. I thought the details of the clothes played into gender stereotypes of women liking fashion, but now that I think of each outfit, it shows her character progression. For example, she started out dressing modestly, but wore hot pants to the Fourth of July party. This showed she was less concerned about being perceived as traditional by others. Taylor points out that clothes also portray personality, individuality, and specific messages to the audience. This is very true, and none of the outfits are explained for no reason. Taylor's example of this is perfect. Barb wears clothing out of her comfort zone to help Frankie, showing their bond. If the outfit was skipped over, it would not show Barb’s love for Frankie as strongly. Clothing can be an amazing writing tool to show many aspects of a character, and I would not have realized as much without Taylor’s comment.
I didn't really think about this question like Cooper did. I thought about it from the view of a soldier and the traumas they would have. Cooper shined light on everyday events and traumas. The first section of his answer was the most interesting to me because it made me see the question from the average person's viewpoint. "Forget it" would might not be so hard for someone who does not have very complex trauma to hear. It is interesting to think about how hearing "forget it" could almost make those thoughts linger, especially when it is something that should be very trivial.
Chapter 16: "Don't believe him" Paige Batman/Scott Paige responded to this question explaining how people should be taught the biological aspects of sex ed as well as consent. She said that people should be taught about giving consent as well as getting consent. I thought her response was thought provoking because she said that we needed to be taught what "enthusiastic" consent was and it made me think about how important that is in our society and how consent can be confusing to some people if they are not experienced. This response made me think about how I have only been talked to about consent from my mother, but never anyone from school. So, someone who's parents haven't talked to them about consent may never have that important conversation. It also made me think about HOW we would teach students about consent in sex Ed. It may be a difficult discussion to form.
In summary, the soldiers who wore the body parts of the enemy like a necklace showed how extreme the war had become, and how brutally inhumane the soldiers in both parties were, even for them being in war. It also showed how desensitized the soldiers had become to death and trauma. This comment caused me to truly think about how much the war had affected the soldiers' minds and, as humans, how truly inhumane they were to each other even after death. While at first, I had thought that could be seen as normal for being in the middle of a brutal war, Peyton’s comment made me realize that while it is a horrible and death-filled war, the soldiers treated each other as almost objects to wear as a trophy, rather than people who were loved, and had died fighting for their country and family.
To summarize, she talks about how Jamie is a good person with a weak will, a gentlemanly character, and how it can seem he is being nice in the hopes that Frankie will go to bed with him. She also talks about how there are certainly red flags like how he denies that his wife has anything to do with what’s going on between him and Frankie, which is definitely sneaky and not trustworthy. She also mentions how everyone is grey and people make mistakes and how people can seem entirely different than how they actually are behind closed doors. Finally, she states that a person should be judged on present actions and not entirely on past actions, as well as people can try to atone for their actions but it can never be taken back.
I thought this was beautifully written and it got me thinking about my own past actions and how there really are grey areas in everything. I agree with a lot of what was said too, but I also learned some new perspectives which is always good in my opinion. I don’t have too much to say, I just saw the comment and kept repeating it because I thought it was great and very thought provoking. -Zeeva Skidmore-Beaney
Ch. 30: "I couldn't let you go" Paige Batman/Scott
Paige states that a love built on lies isn't true love. She also claims that if you truly love someone why would you want to lie to them because that can open a door for pain in the future. I agree with all of Paige's claims fully. However, I think that some people may think of love in a different way. They may think that lying to them would do the opposite of hurting them by keeping them away from the knowledge that would cause them pain. I disagree with those beliefs however I know people who may think that way. I believe a lot of it is about the individual's morals.
Taylor notes that Frankie’s mother was shameful that Frankie was not the normal woman of her time. This statement made me think about why public image may reflect poorly on some people. I wondered why social normalities limit the general range of what is acceptable at a given period. Frankie was not the typical woman and yet her mother is shameful of things she cannot control. Some things are meant to change. Few major changes throughout history have been seen as the most correct and normal decisions. Change is normal and should be used to grow and learn from new experiences.
Chapter 18 "What Is Wrong With The World?" Ty O'daniel This comment touched on what they thought was the problem with the world at the time and they stated jumping to conclusions caused a lot of problems in the states because they didn't have a real idea about what was happening in Vietnam. This comment really stuck with me because my grandpa, when coming back from one of his tours in Vietnam, was actually hate-crimed in California because he was serving in Vietnam. This event really stuck with him for the rest of his life, but I also don't think that is makes protesters of the Vietnam war at the time wrong by any means. America was sending young American men and women to Vietnam to be killed in droves to stop the spread of communism. I think that this is something worthy of being protested. Not to mention the fact that the draft was still in progress which is how my grandpa went on to serve in the first place. I do disagree a little with the post because it is more anti-protester which I disagree that the protesters were in the wrong, but overall I really thought a lot with this post about what truly was wrong at the time to create such discourse, and the true answer will always be the government. And that's all I have to say about that.
Chapter 26B: “Immoral Maybe?” Taylor Inselman This comment believes that premarital intimacy in itself is not immoral, but the issue lies in the fact that Frankie doesn’t actually love Henry. The relationship seems one sided and it feels that Frankie is manipulative to Henry because of her dishonesty. This got me thinking because I do agree in the sense that it is incredibly immoral to have any sort of intimacy or relationship with someone that you don’t love. That part is something that I can second and back up because the manipulation and dishonesty is something that I cannot stand. The part that made me think and part that I don’t necessarily agree with is that having premarital intimacy is not immoral. The world has a heavy misconception that having intimacy before marriage or anything along the lines of that before marriage is okay, it might feel good to our flesh and it might even feel right, but that does not make it okay. God created us to be able to enjoy intimacy within the confines of marriage, and we as humans often abuse that free will that He gives us and decide to not wait to do those things. But overall this comment made me think a lot and I enjoyed responding!
One comment that really stood out to me was Peyton Spahn’s post for "Chapter 3: A Patriot.” Peyton answered the question, “Should all citizens feel proud of their country and patriotic?” by saying that while people have the right to feel patriotic, not everyone will, depending on their circumstances. Peyton gave the example of African Americans during segregation, who faced violence, inequality, and racism, making it difficult to feel pride in their country. This comment got me thinking about how patriotism isn’t one simple idea. It’s deeply personal and shaped by lived experiences. I realized that for many people, patriotism isn’t about blind loyalty, but about whether their country truly stands for freedom and equality. It reminded me that acknowledging flaws in a nation doesn’t make someone less patriotic; in fact, it can mean wanting the country to live up to its ideals.
“Success is very subjective because it isn't a specific measurement of anything besides the accomplishment of an important goal.”
I agree with this statement by Ty. These days, that’s not much of a sentiment echoed by much of the world, which makes this perspective as refreshing as a breath of fresh air. Just in America alone, most of us grow up believing that success equals wealth. Being a doctor or a lawyer means you have made it. And of course, depending on your beliefs, gender plays a role in this. There are some out there who believe women’s roles are to stay at home and be caretakers. Get your degree, but once you’re married, your husband will take care of you. Just marry rich. Have a kid with him, and he won’t leave. All of these statements have been told to countless women, and many have listened. Thankfully, because of the brave women who have taught and fought for rights, we are now able to choose our path, learn from their mistakes, and build a future for those who come after us.
While I do agree with the concept of what was written, I felt as though the main point of the post was to point out that doctors are equals to nurses. He made a point that nurses are the first to see you during an appointment because they are expected to be on time, while the doctors are getting to patients “when they can.” I feel as though this is a flawed statement. Nurses are expected to see you in a timely order; however they more importantly see you on time because they have the duty of checking you in and taking your vitals which will make the doctors job easier. The doctor is usually absent from this interaction solely because there is no point for them to be present during the initial in processing and vitals gathering. I would like to make the point that I do not disagree with Lee Cobbs standpoint on the fact that nurses are treated as second-class, I just feel as though some of his reasonings are flawed.
One comment I found very thought-provoking was Colin Pogue’s post under the discussion “Chapter 7: The Degree.” Colin argued that even though Frankie felt unprepared for her nursing work in Vietnam, her college education was not wasted. He explained that college provides a strong foundation of theory, which is essential for building real-world skills later on. I found this idea very interesting because it made me think about my own experience. Like Frankie, I have seen a gap between theory and practice, especially working as a medical assistant in Nepal, where the practical realities of helping patients sometimes differ from what we study in school. I realize that even when the transition to the real world is challenging, the education we receive is still valuable. it gives us a base to grow from and make better decisions as we gain experience.
Chapter 6, "Second Class Citizens", by Cameron Reed.
Cameron is arguing that nurses are overlooked and undervalued in the medical field even though they are just as important to the overall success of a hospital. I think he is right about it being from the public perspective about doctors being more "trustworthy" than nurses when that isn't the case at all, and his second point about there being possible gender stereotypes and misogyny at play that also damper public perspective, which to me isn't fair at all. Nurses whether male or female deserve much respect, for putting in hard work and saving lives. This post got me thinking about all the underappreciated nurses, I look back at my personal experiences with them and I gain even more respect for them.
Chapter 19B, "Shame", by Hannah Turner. Hannah Argued that her parents had more or less ignored her service and tried to cover it up because they were more ashamed of her then proud, she talked about how gender roles may have affected this. I think she is completely right about her parent's shame and gives examples from the book, so it stuck out to me. She really made me think about how big of a change Frankies parents had to make not only within themselves but in public. They felt ashamed like many Americans did at that time. This question in general made me think about how a popular opinion can cause so much pain to minorities. When I look back on it, I realize that her parents were upholding an image they had created and that often times we are so worried about what others may think of us we are unable to voice justice.
Chapter 32A, “You Don’t Belong Here”. Lilian Keller’s response really got me thinking, for a more personal reason. She mentions how she played sports like basketball and baseball but was never athletically gifted, as well as being tall to a fault to where her lankiness was a detriment. The other girls on the teams who were more skilled seemed to fit in better and become friends easier, while she felt more and more pushed out because of this. It was never an intentional action on their part, but a mere consequence of the lack of skill she had. I have always been very tall, and thus was kinda pushed into sports like basketball. I always hated it, but I never really understood why. I’d always have a go-to response like, “I just don’t like basketball.” “I can’t catch a ball to save my life.” “I’m just not very good at it.” But seeing her words, I realized that I felt the same way. While to a coach my height might seem like a plus and a tool to be used for the team, I am actually quite clumsy and run very awkwardly and move in a clanky way. I am not athletically skilled, and the entire team, while always polite to me, never tried too hard to befriend me. They’d all split off into friend groups by the end of the first week, and I mostly stuck to myself. During our breaks I’d eat alone, on the bench I’d sit alone, I always was alone. It was never intentional. But even when I tried my best to fit in, I just didn’t. I felt like the worst player on the team, like I was letting everyone down. Every day at the end of practice, the only thing that ran through my mind was: “I do not belong here.” I quit by the end of the year, and I never picked up a basketball again. I was young when this happened, only 11 or so. I couldn’t process or understand my feelings and reading that comment let me finally sit down and unpack why I never felt fond of the sport. It makes me understand even better how Frankie most likely felt when she was pushed out of therapy and shunned (intentionally or not) by those around her.
Hannah's post is about how, when under great risk, it is always important to fight what you believe in. She relates Frankie and Henry's fight for recognition in Vietnam as incredibly important. Saying that Vietnam soldiers and nurses wouldn't have the recognition they have now without the character's fight. She also states that this fight should be non violent.
This post made me think about the many protests and movements that have happened in history. The civil right movement, Me Too, and the Vietnam Protests wouldn't have even made a smudge onto history without the fantastic persistence of the groups who led them. It truly is admirable how these people were willing to get out and fight for what they believe in, It is something I strive to be.
Eleanor argues that even in war, there should be respect for the people who have passed away on either sides, since they were human and fought for their country. Eleanor also believes that mutilating and harming lifeless bodies is is inhumane and gruesome, even though they acknowledge the fact that the body after death is no longer truly a person.
This got me thinking about a different perspective behind the idea of harming a lifeless body during war. When Eleanor mentioned that the life that makes one human is no longer there when one passes away, it got me thinking because in my response I thought that defiling a lifeless body was worse than killing. However, I do see their point in the statement, and even though I think that it is still monstrous to defile a body after one has died, I can see the point of viewing it as if their "light" and soul that made them human is gone and the body lying on Earth was merely a vessel for their soul.
Rye picked Frankie "up in his arms and carried her through the burning, smoking camp" (177). Does that gesture strike you as gallant and romantic? Does it affirm traditional gender roles in a problematic way? Keegan really hit the nail on the head with her description of romance in media. She describes this specific scenario by saying that although this act could be reinforce gender stereotypes, it remains a romantic gesture. She elaborates further in a wider context explaining how romance media is commonly targeted as feminine and can frequently be dismissed because it is not held in the same high regard as other forms of literature. However, she makes a clear and thought provoking point, asking “why is a genre centered on authentic human emotion reduced to an unreachable feminine fantasy?” Love is not specific to women. Humans on every spectrum, male and female, experience this genuine, visceral emotion. Why should we claim it to be perverse when it invokes something in all of us. The patronization of the romance as a genre and in media can be just as harmful as reinforcing ill stereotypes. Labeling romance as simply feminine or being overtly traditional diminishes the influence this emotion can have in every genre of media. Thus, if a character does a romantic act that fits the narrative, is there purposeful need to label this as problematic?
What Ethan is saying here about how the United States Government viewed their Vietnamese allies, and how they tried to cover up their sacrifices, is very thought-provoking to me. It might not have been something I’d thought of, lest he didn't share this. It really goes to show how the United States treated this war and the people who served in it. Sure, the U.S. government claimed it was to stop the spread of communism, but why would they continue to fight a war that was so obviously lost? What else was the United States in it for? Maybe a fight against communism was all it was; I don’t know what else the government would be after. I do know that historically, the United States government does love to “manifest its destiny,” though.
The question asks us to consider how age might affect the enlisting process for the military. Specifically, our motivations for selecting young individuals. Marc offered a fantastic psychological perspective for these reasons. One rationale that he underscored was how the military gives a "prepackaged" sense of self or calling for the individual. It gives their life a sense of immediate direction that is easily welcomed for many after the combination of the compelling demands nature of wartime society and the young adult brain searching for self-identity.
Chapter 24; Ileen Hull. Talked about how the author did not focus too much in clothing choices, and when the author did it helped showcase the period and the times.
I really liked this post! The paintsuit also was a good example. It made me think about how much fashion and style, clothes in general, not only showcases the times, but also maybe could cause an effect. Not only in an aesthetic fashion, but social and political too. I also wondered about it may be used as a form of control - whether by direct regulation with consequences or by the use of peer pressure in which someone is excluded because they don't dress the same as everyone else.
To extend this even further, maybe one could even take the pain shown externally by the veterans of the Vietnam War as a certain clothing - something to be shown. The clothes that the veterans wear, within this conceit, is immensely different than those of civilians. Because of this, they are pushed out of sight; they are pushed out of mind. And because of the clothing that is their trauma, they are made to live alone, exacerbating every part of their troubled existence when what they need is acceptance and understanding and patience for what they have gone through, and much more.
Chapter 30: I couldn't let you go Paige Batman/Scott "If you truly love someone, then why lie to them?" I really like this question because if you loved someone why do you feel you can't be honest? You should feel comfortable to tell your partner everything. (just my opinion) I really liked all of Paige's comments but this one spoke to me the most. Paige shares a very similar opinion as me on many of the topics.
chapter 8" a good guy" - Paige Batman/Scott Question one. I found Paige's answer very insightful and well thought out. I agree that someone can be both good and evil; the answer isn't always clear-cut. Though he is openly cheating on his wife, he still wants to do good work and save lives. The circumstances play a big role in his decisions. I think that it makes it easier for him to justify his selfish and bad desires to cheat. Paige pointed out that most of his motives seemed to be selfish in nature, which was something I hadn't picked up on before. Overall, I thought she did very well and brought a lot of nuance to the conversation.
This comment really stuck out to me in the many throughout these discussion posts. Cooper illustrates the censorship of the Vietnam war and its participants - notably, the women - by alluding that the United States intended to keep the war tied to a script to further a certain political agenda, so that they can come out as the good guys. I think this is notably interesting because its a trend found throughout many countries, and it causes this ripple effect in education around the world where some countries are deemed good while others are deemed bad, and the definition of which will vary depending on where in the world you were taught. It ties wonderfully into the core idea of The Women, that some groups were designed by countries to be forgotten by history whenever they didn't fit some standard imposed on them.
Hannah summarizes that the gender roles of their family are what lead Frankie's parents to be ashamed of her for going to war. She mentions how they may not believe Frankie would be happy with a life different from what was planned. She summarizes how Frankie's parents changed in the end and wished they had treated Frankie right earlier.
I think this is an intriguing topic. Why have humans as a society deemed that everyone must fulfill a role? It may be due to ancient society where certain tasks needed to be done for the good of the community. However, assigning from birth in modern society is foolish. Is it fair to tell a boy when he grows up he has to be a carpenter if he wants to do something else? Clearly not as he is a person with his own desires. When it's a woman it's always you'll want kids and a husband someday. It's always that people expect women to follow the same plan and be happy. Women's lives do not exist to please men. Frankie's parents are right to realize they should have accepted their daughter the way she needed. I think the stereotype of women as weak and men as tough has caused so many problems in modern society. It is a reason why many men are emotionally stifled and have bad personalities and that women feel that they aren't respected or appreciated.
I agree with this completely. The Vietnam War was so controversial that society found it easier to blame the troops instead of the government, and that shame made people want to forget the veterans altogether. For women, the erasure was even worse because of sexism many people at the time couldn’t accept the idea that women had served in Vietnam, so they ignored it. I also agree with the comparison to homeless people today. It’s often easier for society to look away than to face uncomfortable truths. The distinction you made between hatred and invisibility is really powerful, hatred comes from anger, while invisibility comes from shame. Both are harmful, but erasing people’s contributions or struggles might be even more damaging because it denies them recognition and dignity.
Lydia Gee 22A "You got him killed" I agree with this completely. If you force someone into something and something happens to that person you should take the blame for it. That's one reason why I don't like when family members try to force being in the military on their children because they were in it or someone in the family was. That should be that person's decision not anyone else's.
Zachariah Hobia ch18: "What is Wrong with the World?"
Zach tackles such a heavy question with such a beautiful, poetic answer. If we could all understand that everyone has experienced life and all are yet to experience tomorrow, all that is living is living for the first time and none of us have the correct answer; the closest we can hope to living life successfully is reflecting on our own pasts and the pasts of those before us, seeing what worked and what did not and taking this forward with us day-to-day. And how Zach talks about art in its expression of the human condition as the solution, often surpassing language barriers and allowing individuals to understand one another at a deeper level than can be had with more objective mediums. This comment is extremely well-written and fleshed out, going beyond the prompt to deliver a deep, thought-provoking answer that, for me, provided a glimmer of hope.
Paige Kreis - Chapter 14 : "Maybe it had always been a lie" In her response to this question, Paige displays a well developed understanding of the era of the Vietnam war and the current political status of the United States at the time. She dives into how the description of the country as a camelot came to be relevent at the time. I found it very interesting that she claimed that the U.S. had been through a lot of turmoil in the past and seemed to be heading toward a "time a peace."
This really allowed me to look at the question differently. She provided a brief, detailed explanation of what a Camelot was, along with the prime example, which involved King Arthur. This had become a popular Broadway Production. Overall, this comment helped me further interpret what the words "Camelot" or being a "lie" really means.
IIeen Hull chapter 3: a patriot “Question 1: I do believe it is always honorable regardless of country or time period. Putting your life on the line for others is honorable to me. Whether you do it for the United States, Korea, Russia, or any other country. Putting others above yourself is incredibly selfless no matter the generation or geographic location.”
I cannot agree more with this statement. While you may not agree with why the war is being fought or who is right or wrong when you are willing to die for the people you care about there is nothing more honorable. Its heartbreaking that after the war so many people were turned away after all they have done. Im hoping that the way people were pushed away after Vietnam will never happen again
Braelyn Metcalf-Chapter 3: A Patriot "Should All citizens feel proud of their country and patriotic?"
Braelyn’s answer to this question made me stop for a moment because it was a genuine response that looked at the question from a wider angle. Braelyn gives reasons why some people may not feel pride for their country, and explains that it's an individual experience. This is a very human perspective that I believe is hard to come by today. It made me think deeper about what I see online. I feel some Americans would take the stance that if you don't have pride in the country or its leaders then you don't have the right to live here. Meanwhile, this can be dangerous if it is taken too far in either direction. If you implicitly trust your government and take pride in it no matter what it does, then you open the door to so much corruption. However, what is the alternative? If you never trust the government, then you'll never feel safe and there will always be instability. Ultimately, this is why I like Braelyn’s answer, it made me think a little deeper. It's an individual decision and it's personal.
I completely agree. I too believe in the right to choose what you want to do. If you want to serve and believe in serving your country, you should. In the case of drafting i slightly disagree. I understand that sometimes the military needs people and will call on a draft to get enough people. I agree if it is a just war and the citizens are okay with the war than a draft is justified. If the citizens are against the war that there should be no draft.
Someone who I feel like deserves a tip of the hat to is Ricardo. I have read a couple of his responses, and I can tell he took a lot of time considering them. One that I found to be really interesting and thought-provoking was question 2 from chapter 9. In this discussion, he is weighing the odds of whether or not it is okay to lie. One thing that stuck out to me in his response was that not only did he consider his own perspective, but he also considered the opposing viewpoint, which I believe shows the true consideration he put into his post. I was also super engaged by the different scenarios he used to explain his viewpoint.
I think that you raise some very good points in this response. An entire relationship built upon a lie would feel disingenuous to the person who was lied to, even if the lie did end up making things work out for the better. The basis of the relationship is still built upon a lie, which is far more unstable than the truth. If the truth is like a rock, a lie is like a snowy mountain, incredibly unstable and treacherous. Even a sound that is too loud, a small truth coming to light, can cause a massive avalanche, devastating nearby wildlife or killing nearby civilians, or ruining a relationship. In The Women, the relationship between Rye and Frankie is a perfect example of the mountain situation. Their entire relationship was built upon, but also destroyed by a lie. Frankie was crushed when she found out Rye was dead because she intended on marrying him, not knowing that he was a married man. When she realized he was in fact alive, old wounds opened once again and the passion sparked by a lie was reignited, but this was a dangerous result. Their second relationship was built upon another lie. When Frankie discovered this lie and that Rye had another child on the way, it sparked her downward spiral that honestly made me begin to dislike Frankie’s character.
Paityn’s post really invoked my thoughts regarding patriotism. She explained that love is a choice, and choosing to love your country means you endure both the rights and wrongs with it. I really like how she explained this. Even if you disagree, you still chose to love and endure every hardship with this country through the good and the bad. I love many people, and I even love them when we share different viewpoints regarding things. A patriot chooses to love their country in the same aspect that we choose to love the people we surround ourselves with.
This post by Marc had several well thought out parts that got me thinking about my own viewpoint on the question. To start, the point that younger individuals have less to lose was thoughtful in a sad way. Many young individuals do not have large connections back home and are seen as ‘less important’ of a loss. Marc’s comment on the military having a “pre-packaged” identity for the soldiers to adopt was enlightening. When I think of the military I think of structure and conformity. I don’t typically think about the soldier’s perspective. The military provided a buy-in or incentive to join, and they advertised themselves as having a place for everyone, creating a sense of belonging. Youthful individuals who are searching for that feeling might be drawn to the military for that reason. I also thought his notion that younger individuals might also buy-in to the military's propaganda and that the US’s actions are “right” was insightful. I think pointing out the fact that younger individuals are more likely to have faith in what they are told is a key point in why younger individuals were targeted for the draft.
Chapter 10, by Colin Pogue Question 2. I believe that the partaking in or lack of sex outside of marriage can serve as good indication to judge the actions of others upon. Sex is meant to be a sacred action between a husband and a wife, bonding them together in a way that no other action can. Saving your first time for your partner is an incredible act of self-control, but not doing so proves that someone either doesn’t have the willpower to control themselves or simply doesn’t care enough to preserve their virginity, shedding some light onto their other actions in the process.
I agree with you primarily, but I believe that in certain situations, people do not always get to choose to "Save their first time for their partner". There are always other scenarios, but I understand what you are trying to get across. I also think we should be more open minded and accepting about other people's experiences. I do agree that if you do get to ideally choose who you lose your virginity to, it should be your husband.
Chapter 8: “A Good Guy” – Marc Klippenstine The question is about how nurses are treated as less-than in the healthcare world, and if gender has anything to do with it.
Despite how integral nurses are to the healthcare system, they are not taken as seriously as doctors. Dr. Klippenstine explains that gender has much to do with why nurses are seen as less-than in the health care world. He connects that careers dominated by women tend to have less pay and prestige. Dr. Klippenstine does say that this is changing; only very slowly. I think Dr. Klippenstine provided a very informative and educated view on this topic. It is very true that fields dominated by women are not as respected and generally pay less than fields dominated by men. This is especially true for teachers. Teachers used to be paid more when men were mostly doing the teaching. As more women became teachers, the pay and prestige lessened. Most people are not considered successful if they are, for example, an elementary school teacher. There is, however, a lot of respect for teachers that goes around. Still, it is incredibly unfair that fields dominated by women are taken so much less seriously. Especially when so much work and effort is necessary to get into these fields. I do appreciate Dr. Klippentine saying that conditions are getting better for nurses. It is easy to get pessimistic about the idea that people are treated unfairly, and get stuck in the mindset that it will never change.
Chapter 17: A necklace by Aden Reeves Question 1: I do no think it is right for a soldier to mutilate an enemy's body, especially after that enemy is deceased. I believe the dead should be respected and taking "trophies" is not only disrespectful, but horrific as well.
I very much so agree with the idea of honoring and not disturbing the dead. This comment got me thinking about how different cultures view what "honoring the dead" means. I found some interesting ways that people honor their dead, for instance in Tibet they give some of their dead a Sky Burial where they let vultures come and eat their dead as a way of continuing the circle of life. I think it is very interesting to learn about how other cultures view honoring the dead.
"Question 2: I believe men may have a significantly more difficult time creating a heroes wall of women compared to women. My reasoning is likely similar to what many others have said: women heroes are not portrayed or recognized as frequently as male heroes. It’s been noted that for every one woman mentioned in historical records, there are three men. Women have been widely overlooked in history, and those who wish to learn about them often must seek out that information themselves. As a result, women are often more likely to research women's history, driven by a desire for representation. In short, men would not have difficulty including women on their heroes wall because of a lack of examples. They would have difficulty including them because women are not taught or emphasized to the same degree as historical men. On the other hand, it would generally be easier for women to include men on their heroes wall, simply because male figures are more frequently taught, highlighted, and celebrated throughout history and in education."
I really liked how Jamie explained the differences between how males may have more difficulty than females to include female role models, but also explained how females may find it easy to find male role models to add to their wall.
Chapter 8: A Good Guy Paige Batman/Scott said that he’s just selfish. Human. He owns up to his mistakes, and he’s not an evil guy. She said he needed to stay loyal or end his marriage.
I agree with pretty much everything she said in this honestly. I was also glad that he eventually ended his marriage but never sought Frankie out until he was healed. When they both were. I think the open ending was really good. They eventually found each other but you don’t know if they end up together or not and I think that was a good decision.
I would like to tip my hat to Bobbie's response to Chapter 20 What do you have left? She is absolutely right, the expectation to raise children is on the men and that shouldn't be the case. I was raised by my father and he had no problem with it, I don't see why more men can't be like that. I don't think that women should be like less than men because of that expectation.
I wanted to talk about the comment on chapter 6 by Colin Pogue. I think what he said is very smart. It got me thinking after all nurses do get the short end of the stick they don't get a lot of credit yet they do all the nasty and dirty work that has to be done. All the while doctors get all the praise. I think its a fair point to be made
One of the comments that really got me thinking was written by Dr. Klippenstine under Chapter 4: “Babies.” In his post, he talked about why societies often rely on young people to make up the majority of their military forces. He focused on how younger individuals are still developing their identities and how the military can offer a clear and structured path at a time when many people are unsure of who they are becoming. He also mentioned that younger people might be less skeptical of a nation’s political goals because they have had fewer personal experiences that challenge what they were taught growing up about loyalty, honor, and trusting their country’s decisions. That idea stood out to me because I had never really thought about how someone’s age and life experience can affect how they view their government’s choices. Reading his comment made me reflect more deeply on the reasons younger people often enlist. Some of the ideas align with what I already believed, like how younger individuals usually have fewer family responsibilities and are more physically prepared for the demands of service. But his point about political trust added something new for me. Since younger people grow up hearing that their country is there to protect them, they might be more open to believing that their nation’s objectives are the right ones. Dr. Klippenstine’s comment helped me understand how a mix of physical ability, identity development, and socialization all play a role in who ends up serving and why.
"Second Class Citizens" Colin Pogue, Question 1.:
ReplyDeleteOn chains of command, it's important to note they don't stop at just "Leader and helper" or "Doctor and Nurse" in this case. The Doctors have their own hierarchy, as do the nurses, and they are all beneath those who supervise them, who are underneath their managers, who answer to a board or local government or Dean and University Presiden depending on the type of Hospital.
This was mostly why Frankie was fired. She went above her station without permission and therefore without authority and consent from not just her supervisor and the Surgeon, but the hospital and the patient. The patient now has the ability to use them even if he doesn't have any valid medical complaints since he was treated by a nurse officially unqualified to do what saved his life. It wasn't just the Doctor being miffed and offended at someone upstaging the system (although that was definitely a part of it) but was a legitimate concern of what her actions could have done to the the patient and hospital at large. It threatened not only the just it's owners, but all the workers and even other patients who rely on their care and would be greatly harmed and alarmed by the hospital being in trouble due to a upstart low level nurse. Her actions may have been commendable in that she saved a life, but she took on a responsibility that wasn't hers to take. She was told in Vietnam to go above her station. She was given consent and was even partially supervised. Even that is significantly different from just treating a patient in the ER in secret because everyone else is too busy to notice.
*President
DeleteChapter 3: A Patriot; Paityn Seiger.
ReplyDeleteI really like this post because I agree with what is said about patriotism; you can love your country without agreeing with its actions. As citizens, we don't all have total control over what our government does (even though we should). In my opinion, patriotism is about loving your country through the good and the bad with hopes that one day it will recover. You don't have to choose to agree, but you can still choose to love your country.
Chapter 4: “Babies”, Marc Klippenstein
ReplyDeleteMarc talks about how the military offers a “pre-packaged” identity for young people, which can be both beneficial as well as detrimental. This was interesting to me because this is one of the reasons my brother joined. He was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life, so he joined the military to help give him a sense of direction. However, my brother is not a fresh out of high school “baby”-he has an associate's degree. I agree with much of what Marc had to say, as there are many pros and cons for service depending on age, as well as other life factors. All in all, joining the military should not be taken lightly.
Chapter 8: “A Good Guy”, Paige Batman/Scott
Paige said that while Jamie did things that weren't honorable, he isn’t an evil guy. I really appreciated her thought process on that. While yes, Jamie was not loyal to his marriage, that does not necessarily make him a bad person. The fact that he is willing to have accountability for his actions and own up to his mistakes shows that he isn't an awful person. I appreciate this insight because it helps show that people cannot be put into the black and white boxes of “good” and “bad”.
Chapter 7: The Degree, Taylor Inselman
ReplyDeleteTaylor touched on the stark differences between the envirnment that Frankie worked in at the university she went to. Which was controlled, an environment that encouraged learning ,and was a relatively low pressure environment. This is even shared with the nursing job she had right out of college, where she was basically an assistant doing routine check ups and such. Whereas in Vietnam she was thrown right into the fire. She immediately faced wounds beyond her comprehension, not to mention losing so many soildier in a mass casualty situation. Taylor then tells about how this is still an issue of fresh college graduates moving from the controlled predictability of the classroom, to the unpredictable area of the workforce still causes problems today. It made me think about how not a whole lot has changed in that regard.
Apologies, I forgot to change the anoymous to my name on the above response.
DeleteTy O’ Daniel makes that point that if a person allows gender norms to rule their life, it will. However, Frankie made the decision to have a career, instead of becoming a housewife. He stated that he would rather have a satisfying long-term partnership than have a deeply satisfying career. Additionally, he states that success is subjective and choosing relationships over a career isn’t always necessary.
ReplyDeleteI generally agree with him on most of what he said, however I personally would choose a career over a satisfying long-term relationship. My career is what I want my success to come from. I feel like I would feel stuck, if I wasn’t able to use my mind for my work. Additionally, I would like the independence that comes from having a career and my own money. I could still adopt children and have a family without a partner, and I would get to keep my career. In reality, I will probably be able to have both.
I really liked this post because it was really interesting to hear someone’s opinion that is different from mine. His opinion is in no way wrong because everyone gets to choose what is best for them in their life. I never thought that someone would choose a relationship over a career because a career is so important to me. It made me think about why a career is so important to me as opposed to a relationship. I’m glad that I got to read another perspective and learn more about what other people think.
I forgot to include the response location. Here it is: Chapter 20: What do you have left?, Ty O’Daniel.
ReplyDeleteChapter 35D: Ileen Hull
ReplyDeleteIleen talks about how different groups from the war should be recognized but not all as one. They each deserve their own specific memorial that will be special to them and their families. When I read Ileen’s comment, I realized I was thinking like it was a yes or no answer by questioning if they should or should not have a memorial when really, I should be thinking about how they can all be remembered not should they be. I agree when she says there is no right answer because all soldiers, nurses and innocent civilians killed or injured should be recognized in a way that is honorable to them and their service.
Chapter 25: “Time doesn’t mean what it used to”
ReplyDeletePaige Batman/Scott
In Paige’s response to the question, the topic of different life stages was brought up. Though 18 is technically legal, it is morally wrong for a person who is much older to be with them. An imbalance is formed in relationships where there is a significant age and maturity difference. Grooming is also touched upon in the response.
The topic of maturity in a relationship is complex in many different ways. Paige’s writing started a rabbit hole of thoughts for me. When looking at a person’s maturity and age, can one outweigh the other? Should mental disabilities play a bigger part? Is a person’s appearance a part of it? It is a common stereotype that women mature faster than men. If that is looked at as completely true, does it subsequently make a larger age gap between a younger woman and an older man more acceptable? Likewise, on the opposite side, has this made a relationship between a younger man and an older woman less moral? Mental disabilities are another imbalance that came to mind while thinking about Paige’s words. Many different disabilities can affect a person. The disabilities I specifically pondered over were ones that affect mental age. Is a relationship affected on a moral level if a person is physically in their 20s but is mentally a preteen? What would the moral standing be on the same individual who is mentally a preteen dating a preteen because of their shared maturity levels? When looking into appearance, it can be complicated. Some races are known to age better than others, and then some individuals appear exceedingly young. So if a person looks to be a child but is actually in their 20s, dates a person of the same age, does it become immoral? Overall, Paige’s writing raised many questions and was extremely thought-provoking. I believe these are attributes of a great writer, and I would like to give my applause to you, Paige.
Chapter 33: "The Beginning of Healing" had a response I really liked from Cooper Ragain. The questions were covering the impact that words can have on the healing practice and how much knowledge on correct care should be required for healthcare workers. The response went into specific details on how coma patients hearing distressing words can still have an impact on their bodies, even worsening their conditions. They also tied in how beliefs in some foods being healthy or lower in calorie can actually lead to the body processing that food differently. It was clear that Cooper had a strong opinion and lots of knowledge about the topic, so I learned a lot from it! Also, I love House MD.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Inselman’s response to Question 18: “What is wrong with the world?” resonated with me. The question posed asks the reader what they think is wrong with the world, and Taylor responded, saying “one of the biggest problems in the world is the follower mentality many people have.” I feel that this is still a huge problem today, and is something we see often in modern day issues and politics. People tend to blindly follow a person, ideal, or belief without really examining what they’re following, leading people to support someone or something that might either be harmful to others or even themselves. It’s easier to blindly follow someone or something like a sheep follows a shepherd, but what we don’t realize is that many of these “shepherds” will lead us down wrong paths.
ReplyDeleteTaylor commented that the author does not pay too much attention to the clothes, but instead provides the reader with crucial information. Before reading the comment, I would have disagreed with her. I thought the details of the clothes played into gender stereotypes of women liking fashion, but now that I think of each outfit, it shows her character progression. For example, she started out dressing modestly, but wore hot pants to the Fourth of July party. This showed she was less concerned about being perceived as traditional by others. Taylor points out that clothes also portray personality, individuality, and specific messages to the audience. This is very true, and none of the outfits are explained for no reason. Taylor's example of this is perfect. Barb wears clothing out of her comfort zone to help Frankie, showing their bond. If the outfit was skipped over, it would not show Barb’s love for Frankie as strongly. Clothing can be an amazing writing tool to show many aspects of a character, and I would not have realized as much without Taylor’s comment.
ReplyDeleteI forgot my name! Kaylea Tinsley :)
Delete"Forget It" Cooper Ragain
ReplyDeleteI didn't really think about this question like Cooper did. I thought about it from the view of a soldier and the traumas they would have. Cooper shined light on everyday events and traumas. The first section of his answer was the most interesting to me because it made me see the question from the average person's viewpoint. "Forget it" would might not be so hard for someone who does not have very complex trauma to hear. It is interesting to think about how hearing "forget it" could almost make those thoughts linger, especially when it is something that should be very trivial.
Chapter 16: "Don't believe him" Paige Batman/Scott
ReplyDeletePaige responded to this question explaining how people should be taught the biological aspects of sex ed as well as consent. She said that people should be taught about giving consent as well as getting consent. I thought her response was thought provoking because she said that we needed to be taught what "enthusiastic" consent was and it made me think about how important that is in our society and how consent can be confusing to some people if they are not experienced. This response made me think about how I have only been talked to about consent from my mother, but never anyone from school. So, someone who's parents haven't talked to them about consent may never have that important conversation. It also made me think about HOW we would teach students about consent in sex Ed. It may be a difficult discussion to form.
Chapter 17 "A Necklace" Question 1, Peyton Spahn
ReplyDeleteIn summary, the soldiers who wore the body parts of the enemy like a necklace showed how extreme the war had become, and how brutally inhumane the soldiers in both parties were, even for them being in war. It also showed how desensitized the soldiers had become to death and trauma.
This comment caused me to truly think about how much the war had affected the soldiers' minds and, as humans, how truly inhumane they were to each other even after death. While at first, I had thought that could be seen as normal for being in the middle of a brutal war, Peyton’s comment made me realize that while it is a horrible and death-filled war, the soldiers treated each other as almost objects to wear as a trophy, rather than people who were loved, and had died fighting for their country and family.
Chapter 8 “A Good Guy” Taylor Inselman.
ReplyDeleteTo summarize, she talks about how Jamie is a good person with a weak will, a gentlemanly character, and how it can seem he is being nice in the hopes that Frankie will go to bed with him. She also talks about how there are certainly red flags like how he denies that his wife has anything to do with what’s going on between him and Frankie, which is definitely sneaky and not trustworthy. She also mentions how everyone is grey and people make mistakes and how people can seem entirely different than how they actually are behind closed doors. Finally, she states that a person should be judged on present actions and not entirely on past actions, as well as people can try to atone for their actions but it can never be taken back.
I thought this was beautifully written and it got me thinking about my own past actions and how there really are grey areas in everything. I agree with a lot of what was said too, but I also learned some new perspectives which is always good in my opinion. I don’t have too much to say, I just saw the comment and kept repeating it because I thought it was great and very thought provoking. -Zeeva Skidmore-Beaney
Ch. 30: "I couldn't let you go" Paige Batman/Scott
ReplyDeletePaige states that a love built on lies isn't true love. She also claims that if you truly love someone why would you want to lie to them because that can open a door for pain in the future. I agree with all of Paige's claims fully. However, I think that some people may think of love in a different way. They may think that lying to them would do the opposite of hurting them by keeping them away from the knowledge that would cause them pain. I disagree with those beliefs however I know people who may think that way. I believe a lot of it is about the individual's morals.
"Shame"
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Taylor Inselman
Taylor notes that Frankie’s mother was shameful that Frankie was not the normal woman of her time. This statement made me think about why public image may reflect poorly on some people. I wondered why social normalities limit the general range of what is acceptable at a given period. Frankie was not the typical woman and yet her mother is shameful of things she cannot control. Some things are meant to change. Few major changes throughout history have been seen as the most correct and normal decisions. Change is normal and should be used to grow and learn from new experiences.
Chapter 18 "What Is Wrong With The World?" Ty O'daniel
ReplyDeleteThis comment touched on what they thought was the problem with the world at the time and they stated jumping to conclusions caused a lot of problems in the states because they didn't have a real idea about what was happening in Vietnam. This comment really stuck with me because my grandpa, when coming back from one of his tours in Vietnam, was actually hate-crimed in California because he was serving in Vietnam. This event really stuck with him for the rest of his life, but I also don't think that is makes protesters of the Vietnam war at the time wrong by any means. America was sending young American men and women to Vietnam to be killed in droves to stop the spread of communism. I think that this is something worthy of being protested. Not to mention the fact that the draft was still in progress which is how my grandpa went on to serve in the first place. I do disagree a little with the post because it is more anti-protester which I disagree that the protesters were in the wrong, but overall I really thought a lot with this post about what truly was wrong at the time to create such discourse, and the true answer will always be the government. And that's all I have to say about that.
Chapter 26B: “Immoral Maybe?” Taylor Inselman
ReplyDeleteThis comment believes that premarital intimacy in itself is not immoral, but the issue lies in the fact that Frankie doesn’t actually love Henry. The relationship seems one sided and it feels that Frankie is manipulative to Henry because of her dishonesty. This got me thinking because I do agree in the sense that it is incredibly immoral to have any sort of intimacy or relationship with someone that you don’t love. That part is something that I can second and back up because the manipulation and dishonesty is something that I cannot stand. The part that made me think and part that I don’t necessarily agree with is that having premarital intimacy is not immoral. The world has a heavy misconception that having intimacy before marriage or anything along the lines of that before marriage is okay, it might feel good to our flesh and it might even feel right, but that does not make it okay. God created us to be able to enjoy intimacy within the confines of marriage, and we as humans often abuse that free will that He gives us and decide to not wait to do those things. But overall this comment made me think a lot and I enjoyed responding!
Sorry forgot my name, this is Case Stafford.
DeleteOne comment that really stood out to me was Peyton Spahn’s post for "Chapter 3: A Patriot.” Peyton answered the question, “Should all citizens feel proud of their country and patriotic?” by saying that while people have the right to feel patriotic, not everyone will, depending on their circumstances. Peyton gave the example of African Americans during segregation, who faced violence, inequality, and racism, making it difficult to feel pride in their country. This comment got me thinking about how patriotism isn’t one simple idea. It’s deeply personal and shaped by lived experiences. I realized that for many people, patriotism isn’t about blind loyalty, but about whether their country truly stands for freedom and equality. It reminded me that acknowledging flaws in a nation doesn’t make someone less patriotic; in fact, it can mean wanting the country to live up to its ideals.
ReplyDeleteChapter 20: “What Do You Have Left?”; Ty O’Daniel
ReplyDelete“Success is very subjective because it isn't a specific measurement of anything besides the accomplishment of an important goal.”
I agree with this statement by Ty. These days, that’s not much of a sentiment echoed by much of the world, which makes this perspective as refreshing as a breath of fresh air. Just in America alone, most of us grow up believing that success equals wealth. Being a doctor or a lawyer means you have made it. And of course, depending on your beliefs, gender plays a role in this. There are some out there who believe women’s roles are to stay at home and be caretakers. Get your degree, but once you’re married, your husband will take care of you. Just marry rich. Have a kid with him, and he won’t leave. All of these statements have been told to countless women, and many have listened. Thankfully, because of the brave women who have taught and fought for rights, we are now able to choose our path, learn from their mistakes, and build a future for those who come after us.
Lee Cobb Chapter 6 “Second-class citizens”
ReplyDeleteWhile I do agree with the concept of what was written, I felt as though the main point of the post was to point out that doctors are equals to nurses. He made a point that nurses are the first to see you during an appointment because they are expected to be on time, while the doctors are getting to patients “when they can.” I feel as though this is a flawed statement. Nurses are expected to see you in a timely order; however they more importantly see you on time because they have the duty of checking you in and taking your vitals which will make the doctors job easier. The doctor is usually absent from this interaction solely because there is no point for them to be present during the initial in processing and vitals gathering. I would like to make the point that I do not disagree with Lee Cobbs standpoint on the fact that nurses are treated as second-class, I just feel as though some of his reasonings are flawed.
One comment I found very thought-provoking was Colin Pogue’s post under the discussion “Chapter 7: The Degree.” Colin argued that even though Frankie felt unprepared for her nursing work in Vietnam, her college education was not wasted. He explained that college provides a strong foundation of theory, which is essential for building real-world skills later on. I found this idea very interesting because it made me think about my own experience. Like Frankie, I have seen a gap between theory and practice, especially working as a medical assistant in Nepal, where the practical realities of helping patients sometimes differ from what we study in school. I realize that even when the transition to the real world is challenging, the education we receive is still valuable. it gives us a base to grow from and make better decisions as we gain experience.
ReplyDeleteChapter 6, "Second Class Citizens", by Cameron Reed.
ReplyDeleteCameron is arguing that nurses are overlooked and undervalued in the medical field even though they are just as important to the overall success of a hospital. I think he is right about it being from the public perspective about doctors being more "trustworthy" than nurses when that isn't the case at all, and his second point about there being possible gender stereotypes and misogyny at play that also damper public perspective, which to me isn't fair at all. Nurses whether male or female deserve much respect, for putting in hard work and saving lives. This post got me thinking about all the underappreciated nurses, I look back at my personal experiences with them and I gain even more respect for them.
Chapter 19B, "Shame", by Hannah Turner.
ReplyDeleteHannah Argued that her parents had more or less ignored her service and tried to cover it up because they were more ashamed of her then proud, she talked about how gender roles may have affected this. I think she is completely right about her parent's shame and gives examples from the book, so it stuck out to me. She really made me think about how big of a change Frankies parents had to make not only within themselves but in public. They felt ashamed like many Americans did at that time. This question in general made me think about how a popular opinion can cause so much pain to minorities. When I look back on it, I realize that her parents were upholding an image they had created and that often times we are so worried about what others may think of us we are unable to voice justice.
Chapter 32A, “You Don’t Belong Here”. Lilian Keller’s response really got me thinking, for a more personal reason. She mentions how she played sports like basketball and baseball but was never athletically gifted, as well as being tall to a fault to where her lankiness was a detriment. The other girls on the teams who were more skilled seemed to fit in better and become friends easier, while she felt more and more pushed out because of this. It was never an intentional action on their part, but a mere consequence of the lack of skill she had. I have always been very tall, and thus was kinda pushed into sports like basketball. I always hated it, but I never really understood why. I’d always have a go-to response like, “I just don’t like basketball.” “I can’t catch a ball to save my life.” “I’m just not very good at it.” But seeing her words, I realized that I felt the same way. While to a coach my height might seem like a plus and a tool to be used for the team, I am actually quite clumsy and run very awkwardly and move in a clanky way. I am not athletically skilled, and the entire team, while always polite to me, never tried too hard to befriend me. They’d all split off into friend groups by the end of the first week, and I mostly stuck to myself. During our breaks I’d eat alone, on the bench I’d sit alone, I always was alone. It was never intentional. But even when I tried my best to fit in, I just didn’t. I felt like the worst player on the team, like I was letting everyone down. Every day at the end of practice, the only thing that ran through my mind was: “I do not belong here.” I quit by the end of the year, and I never picked up a basketball again. I was young when this happened, only 11 or so. I couldn’t process or understand my feelings and reading that comment let me finally sit down and unpack why I never felt fond of the sport. It makes me understand even better how Frankie most likely felt when she was pushed out of therapy and shunned (intentionally or not) by those around her.
ReplyDeleteChapter 23 B, "We Have to Try", Hannah Turner.
ReplyDeleteHannah's post is about how, when under great risk, it is always important to fight what you believe in. She relates Frankie and Henry's fight for recognition in Vietnam as incredibly important. Saying that Vietnam soldiers and nurses wouldn't have the recognition they have now without the character's fight. She also states that this fight should be non violent.
This post made me think about the many protests and movements that have happened in history. The civil right movement, Me Too, and the Vietnam Protests wouldn't have even made a smudge onto history without the fantastic persistence of the groups who led them. It truly is admirable how these people were willing to get out and fight for what they believe in, It is something I strive to be.
Peyton Spahn
ReplyDeletechapter 17: A Neckless, by Eleanor Autrey
Eleanor argues that even in war, there should be respect for the people who have passed away on either sides, since they were human and fought for their country. Eleanor also believes that mutilating and harming lifeless bodies is is inhumane and gruesome, even though they acknowledge the fact that the body after death is no longer truly a person.
This got me thinking about a different perspective behind the idea of harming a lifeless body during war. When Eleanor mentioned that the life that makes one human is no longer there when one passes away, it got me thinking because in my response I thought that defiling a lifeless body was worse than killing. However, I do see their point in the statement, and even though I think that it is still monstrous to defile a body after one has died, I can see the point of viewing it as if their "light" and soul that made them human is gone and the body lying on Earth was merely a vessel for their soul.
ReplyDeleteKeegan Bellefeuille: Chapter 15B: "In his arms"
Rye picked Frankie "up in his arms and carried her through the burning, smoking camp" (177). Does that gesture strike you as gallant and romantic? Does it affirm traditional gender roles in a problematic way?
Keegan really hit the nail on the head with her description of romance in media. She describes this specific scenario by saying that although this act could be reinforce gender stereotypes, it remains a romantic gesture. She elaborates further in a wider context explaining how romance media is commonly targeted as feminine and can frequently be dismissed because it is not held in the same high regard as other forms of literature. However, she makes a clear and thought provoking point, asking “why is a genre centered on authentic human emotion reduced to an unreachable feminine fantasy?”
Love is not specific to women. Humans on every spectrum, male and female, experience this genuine, visceral emotion. Why should we claim it to be perverse when it invokes something in all of us. The patronization of the romance as a genre and in media can be just as harmful as reinforcing ill stereotypes. Labeling romance as simply feminine or being overtly traditional diminishes the influence this emotion can have in every genre of media. Thus, if a character does a romantic act that fits the narrative, is there purposeful need to label this as problematic?
Ethan Nowell: Chapter Fifteen C: "I can count"
ReplyDeleteWhat Ethan is saying here about how the United States Government viewed their Vietnamese allies, and how they tried to cover up their sacrifices, is very thought-provoking to me. It might not have been something I’d thought of, lest he didn't share this. It really goes to show how the United States treated this war and the people who served in it. Sure, the U.S. government claimed it was to stop the spread of communism, but why would they continue to fight a war that was so obviously lost? What else was the United States in it for? Maybe a fight against communism was all it was; I don’t know what else the government would be after. I do know that historically, the United States government does love to “manifest its destiny,” though.
Chapter 4: "Babies" | Marc Klippenstine
ReplyDeleteThe question asks us to consider how age might affect the enlisting process for the military. Specifically, our motivations for selecting young individuals. Marc offered a fantastic psychological perspective for these reasons. One rationale that he underscored was how the military gives a "prepackaged" sense of self or calling for the individual. It gives their life a sense of immediate direction that is easily welcomed for many after the combination of the compelling demands nature of wartime society and the young adult brain searching for self-identity.
Chapter 24; Ileen Hull. Talked about how the author did not focus too much in clothing choices, and when the author did it helped showcase the period and the times.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this post! The paintsuit also was a good example. It made me think about how much fashion and style, clothes in general, not only showcases the times, but also maybe could cause an effect. Not only in an aesthetic fashion, but social and political too. I also wondered about it may be used as a form of control - whether by direct regulation with consequences or by the use of peer pressure in which someone is excluded because they don't dress the same as everyone else.
To extend this even further, maybe one could even take the pain shown externally by the veterans of the Vietnam War as a certain clothing - something to be shown. The clothes that the veterans wear, within this conceit, is immensely different than those of civilians. Because of this, they are pushed out of sight; they are pushed out of mind. And because of the clothing that is their trauma, they are made to live alone, exacerbating every part of their troubled existence when what they need is acceptance and understanding and patience for what they have gone through, and much more.
Chapter 30: I couldn't let you go Paige Batman/Scott "If you truly love someone, then why lie to them?"
ReplyDeleteI really like this question because if you loved someone why do you feel you can't be honest? You should feel comfortable to tell your partner everything. (just my opinion) I really liked all of Paige's comments but this one spoke to me the most. Paige shares a very similar opinion as me on many of the topics.
chapter 8" a good guy" - Paige Batman/Scott
ReplyDeleteQuestion one.
I found Paige's answer very insightful and well thought out. I agree that someone can be both good and evil; the answer isn't always clear-cut. Though he is openly cheating on his wife, he still wants to do good work and save lives. The circumstances play a big role in his decisions. I think that it makes it easier for him to justify his selfish and bad desires to cheat. Paige pointed out that most of his motives seemed to be selfish in nature, which was something I hadn't picked up on before. Overall, I thought she did very well and brought a lot of nuance to the conversation.
forgot to add my name.
DeleteChapter 35A "Invisible" - Cooper Ragain
ReplyDeleteThis comment really stuck out to me in the many throughout these discussion posts. Cooper illustrates the censorship of the Vietnam war and its participants - notably, the women - by alluding that the United States intended to keep the war tied to a script to further a certain political agenda, so that they can come out as the good guys. I think this is notably interesting because its a trend found throughout many countries, and it causes this ripple effect in education around the world where some countries are deemed good while others are deemed bad, and the definition of which will vary depending on where in the world you were taught. It ties wonderfully into the core idea of The Women, that some groups were designed by countries to be forgotten by history whenever they didn't fit some standard imposed on them.
Hannah Turner 19B Shame
ReplyDeleteHannah summarizes that the gender roles of their family are what lead Frankie's parents to be ashamed of her for going to war. She mentions how they may not believe Frankie would be happy with a life different from what was planned. She summarizes how Frankie's parents changed in the end and wished they had treated Frankie right earlier.
I think this is an intriguing topic. Why have humans as a society deemed that everyone must fulfill a role? It may be due to ancient society where certain tasks needed to be done for the good of the community. However, assigning from birth in modern society is foolish. Is it fair to tell a boy when he grows up he has to be a carpenter if he wants to do something else? Clearly not as he is a person with his own desires. When it's a woman it's always you'll want kids and a husband someday. It's always that people expect women to follow the same plan and be happy. Women's lives do not exist to please men. Frankie's parents are right to realize they should have accepted their daughter the way she needed. I think the stereotype of women as weak and men as tough has caused so many problems in modern society. It is a reason why many men are emotionally stifled and have bad personalities and that women feel that they aren't respected or appreciated.
John McVeigh 34A " Invisible"
ReplyDeleteI agree with this completely. The Vietnam War was so controversial that society found it easier to blame the troops instead of the government, and that shame made people want to forget the veterans altogether. For women, the erasure was even worse because of sexism many people at the time couldn’t accept the idea that women had served in Vietnam, so they ignored it.
I also agree with the comparison to homeless people today. It’s often easier for society to look away than to face uncomfortable truths. The distinction you made between hatred and invisibility is really powerful, hatred comes from anger, while invisibility comes from shame. Both are harmful, but erasing people’s contributions or struggles might be even more damaging because it denies them recognition and dignity.
Lydia Gee 22A "You got him killed"
ReplyDeleteI agree with this completely. If you force someone into something and something happens to that person you should take the blame for it. That's one reason why I don't like when family members try to force being in the military on their children because they were in it or someone in the family was. That should be that person's decision not anyone else's.
Zachariah Hobia ch18: "What is Wrong with the World?"
ReplyDeleteZach tackles such a heavy question with such a beautiful, poetic answer. If we could all understand that everyone has experienced life and all are yet to experience tomorrow, all that is living is living for the first time and none of us have the correct answer; the closest we can hope to living life successfully is reflecting on our own pasts and the pasts of those before us, seeing what worked and what did not and taking this forward with us day-to-day. And how Zach talks about art in its expression of the human condition as the solution, often surpassing language barriers and allowing individuals to understand one another at a deeper level than can be had with more objective mediums. This comment is extremely well-written and fleshed out, going beyond the prompt to deliver a deep, thought-provoking answer that, for me, provided a glimmer of hope.
Paige Kreis - Chapter 14 : "Maybe it had always been a lie"
ReplyDeleteIn her response to this question, Paige displays a well developed understanding of the era of the Vietnam war and the current political status of the United States at the time. She dives into how the description of the country as a camelot came to be relevent at the time. I found it very interesting that she claimed that the U.S. had been through a lot of turmoil in the past and seemed to be heading toward a "time a peace."
This really allowed me to look at the question differently. She provided a brief, detailed explanation of what a Camelot was, along with the prime example, which involved King Arthur. This had become a popular Broadway Production. Overall, this comment helped me further interpret what the words "Camelot" or being a "lie" really means.
IIeen Hull chapter 3: a patriot
ReplyDelete“Question 1: I do believe it is always honorable regardless of country or time period. Putting your life on the line for others is honorable to me. Whether you do it for the United States, Korea, Russia, or any other country. Putting others above yourself is incredibly selfless no matter the generation or geographic location.”
I cannot agree more with this statement. While you may not agree with why the war is being fought or who is right or wrong when you are willing to die for the people you care about there is nothing more honorable. Its heartbreaking that after the war so many people were turned away after all they have done. Im hoping that the way people were pushed away after Vietnam will never happen again
Braelyn Metcalf-Chapter 3: A Patriot
ReplyDelete"Should All citizens feel proud of their country and patriotic?"
Braelyn’s answer to this question made me stop for a moment because it was a genuine response that looked at the question from a wider angle. Braelyn gives reasons why some people may not feel pride for their country, and explains that it's an individual experience. This is a very human perspective that I believe is hard to come by today. It made me think deeper about what I see online. I feel some Americans would take the stance that if you don't have pride in the country or its leaders then you don't have the right to live here. Meanwhile, this can be dangerous if it is taken too far in either direction. If you implicitly trust your government and take pride in it no matter what it does, then you open the door to so much corruption. However, what is the alternative? If you never trust the government, then you'll never feel safe and there will always be instability. Ultimately, this is why I like Braelyn’s answer, it made me think a little deeper. It's an individual decision and it's personal.
Chapter 3: a patriot. Ethan nowell.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I too believe in the right to choose what you want to do. If you want to serve and believe in serving your country, you should. In the case of drafting i slightly disagree. I understand that sometimes the military needs people and will call on a draft to get enough people. I agree if it is a just war and the citizens are okay with the war than a draft is justified. If the citizens are against the war that there should be no draft.
Someone who I feel like deserves a tip of the hat to is Ricardo. I have read a couple of his responses, and I can tell he took a lot of time considering them. One that I found to be really interesting and thought-provoking was question 2 from chapter 9. In this discussion, he is weighing the odds of whether or not it is okay to lie. One thing that stuck out to me in his response was that not only did he consider his own perspective, but he also considered the opposing viewpoint, which I believe shows the true consideration he put into his post. I was also super engaged by the different scenarios he used to explain his viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteChapter 30: I couldn’t let you go
ReplyDeleteCooper Ragain
I think that you raise some very good points in this response. An entire relationship built upon a lie would feel disingenuous to the person who was lied to, even if the lie did end up making things work out for the better. The basis of the relationship is still built upon a lie, which is far more unstable than the truth. If the truth is like a rock, a lie is like a snowy mountain, incredibly unstable and treacherous. Even a sound that is too loud, a small truth coming to light, can cause a massive avalanche, devastating nearby wildlife or killing nearby civilians, or ruining a relationship. In The Women, the relationship between Rye and Frankie is a perfect example of the mountain situation. Their entire relationship was built upon, but also destroyed by a lie. Frankie was crushed when she found out Rye was dead because she intended on marrying him, not knowing that he was a married man. When she realized he was in fact alive, old wounds opened once again and the passion sparked by a lie was reignited, but this was a dangerous result. Their second relationship was built upon another lie. When Frankie discovered this lie and that Rye had another child on the way, it sparked her downward spiral that honestly made me begin to dislike Frankie’s character.
This was my comment, I forgot to put my name on it.
DeleteChapter 3: A Patriot. Paityn Seiger
ReplyDeletePaityn’s post really invoked my thoughts regarding patriotism. She explained that love is a choice, and choosing to love your country means you endure both the rights and wrongs with it. I really like how she explained this. Even if you disagree, you still chose to love and endure every hardship with this country through the good and the bad. I love many people, and I even love them when we share different viewpoints regarding things. A patriot chooses to love their country in the same aspect that we choose to love the people we surround ourselves with.
Chapter 4: Babies Marc Klippenstine
ReplyDeleteThis post by Marc had several well thought out parts that got me thinking about my own viewpoint on the question. To start, the point that younger individuals have less to lose was thoughtful in a sad way. Many young individuals do not have large connections back home and are seen as ‘less important’ of a loss. Marc’s comment on the military having a “pre-packaged” identity for the soldiers to adopt was enlightening. When I think of the military I think of structure and conformity. I don’t typically think about the soldier’s perspective. The military provided a buy-in or incentive to join, and they advertised themselves as having a place for everyone, creating a sense of belonging. Youthful individuals who are searching for that feeling might be drawn to the military for that reason. I also thought his notion that younger individuals might also buy-in to the military's propaganda and that the US’s actions are “right” was insightful. I think pointing out the fact that younger individuals are more likely to have faith in what they are told is a key point in why younger individuals were targeted for the draft.
Chapter 10, by Colin Pogue
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2. I believe that the partaking in or lack of sex outside of marriage can serve as good indication to judge the actions of others upon. Sex is meant to be a sacred action between a husband and a wife, bonding them together in a way that no other action can. Saving your first time for your partner is an incredible act of self-control, but not doing so proves that someone either doesn’t have the willpower to control themselves or simply doesn’t care enough to preserve their virginity, shedding some light onto their other actions in the process.
I agree with you primarily, but I believe that in certain situations, people do not always get to choose to "Save their first time for their partner". There are always other scenarios, but I understand what you are trying to get across. I also think we should be more open minded and accepting about other people's experiences. I do agree that if you do get to ideally choose who you lose your virginity to, it should be your husband.
Chapter 8: “A Good Guy” – Marc Klippenstine
ReplyDeleteThe question is about how nurses are treated as less-than in the healthcare world, and if gender has anything to do with it.
Despite how integral nurses are to the healthcare system, they are not taken as seriously as doctors. Dr. Klippenstine explains that gender has much to do with why nurses are seen as less-than in the health care world. He connects that careers dominated by women tend to have less pay and prestige. Dr. Klippenstine does say that this is changing; only very slowly.
I think Dr. Klippenstine provided a very informative and educated view on this topic. It is very true that fields dominated by women are not as respected and generally pay less than fields dominated by men. This is especially true for teachers. Teachers used to be paid more when men were mostly doing the teaching. As more women became teachers, the pay and prestige lessened. Most people are not considered successful if they are, for example, an elementary school teacher. There is, however, a lot of respect for teachers that goes around. Still, it is incredibly unfair that fields dominated by women are taken so much less seriously. Especially when so much work and effort is necessary to get into these fields. I do appreciate Dr. Klippentine saying that conditions are getting better for nurses. It is easy to get pessimistic about the idea that people are treated unfairly, and get stuck in the mindset that it will never change.
Chapter 17: A necklace by Aden Reeves
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: I do no think it is right for a soldier to mutilate an enemy's body, especially after that enemy is deceased. I believe the dead should be respected and taking "trophies" is not only disrespectful, but horrific as well.
I very much so agree with the idea of honoring and not disturbing the dead. This comment got me thinking about how different cultures view what "honoring the dead" means. I found some interesting ways that people honor their dead, for instance in Tibet they give some of their dead a Sky Burial where they let vultures come and eat their dead as a way of continuing the circle of life. I think it is very interesting to learn about how other cultures view honoring the dead.
Chapter 1: Heroes Wall by Jamie Harris
ReplyDelete"Question 2: I believe men may have a significantly more difficult time creating a heroes wall of women compared to women. My reasoning is likely similar to what many others have said: women heroes are not portrayed or recognized as frequently as male heroes. It’s been noted that for every one woman mentioned in historical records, there are three men. Women have been widely overlooked in history, and those who wish to learn about them often must seek out that information themselves. As a result, women are often more likely to research women's history, driven by a desire for representation. In short, men would not have difficulty including women on their heroes wall because of a lack of examples. They would have difficulty including them because women are not taught or emphasized to the same degree as historical men. On the other hand, it would generally be easier for women to include men on their heroes wall, simply because male figures are more frequently taught, highlighted, and celebrated throughout history and in education."
I really liked how Jamie explained the differences between how males may have more difficulty than females to include female role models, but also explained how females may find it easy to find male role models to add to their wall.
Chapter 8: A Good Guy
ReplyDeletePaige Batman/Scott said that he’s just selfish. Human. He owns up to his mistakes, and he’s not an evil guy. She said he needed to stay loyal or end his marriage.
I agree with pretty much everything she said in this honestly. I was also glad that he eventually ended his marriage but never sought Frankie out until he was healed. When they both were. I think the open ending was really good. They eventually found each other but you don’t know if they end up together or not and I think that was a good decision.
I would like to tip my hat to Bobbie's response to Chapter 20 What do you have left? She is absolutely right, the expectation to raise children is on the men and that shouldn't be the case. I was raised by my father and he had no problem with it, I don't see why more men can't be like that. I don't think that women should be like less than men because of that expectation.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to talk about the comment on chapter 6 by Colin Pogue. I think what he said is very smart. It got me thinking after all nurses do get the short end of the stick they don't get a lot of credit yet they do all the nasty and dirty work that has to be done. All the while doctors get all the praise. I think its a fair point to be made
ReplyDeleteOne of the comments that really got me thinking was written by Dr. Klippenstine under Chapter 4: “Babies.” In his post, he talked about why societies often rely on young people to make up the majority of their military forces. He focused on how younger individuals are still developing their identities and how the military can offer a clear and structured path at a time when many people are unsure of who they are becoming. He also mentioned that younger people might be less skeptical of a nation’s political goals because they have had fewer personal experiences that challenge what they were taught growing up about loyalty, honor, and trusting their country’s decisions. That idea stood out to me because I had never really thought about how someone’s age and life experience can affect how they view their government’s choices.
ReplyDeleteReading his comment made me reflect more deeply on the reasons younger people often enlist. Some of the ideas align with what I already believed, like how younger individuals usually have fewer family responsibilities and are more physically prepared for the demands of service. But his point about political trust added something new for me. Since younger people grow up hearing that their country is there to protect them, they might be more open to believing that their nation’s objectives are the right ones. Dr. Klippenstine’s comment helped me understand how a mix of physical ability, identity development, and socialization all play a role in who ends up serving and why.