"War, huh, yeah, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing."
These are the opening lyrics to "War" by Edwinn Starr. Indeed, war is not good for anything. War is a drug. Consume by it, and you lose all virtuous facets which separate modern human beings from primitive barbarians. However, without war, there would be no peace. Thus, that is the dilemma portrayed in The Forever War by Dexter Filkins.
Through the eyes of the author, I obtained a small window as to what it must've been like for the military officers overseas. Soldiers my age, leaving their love ones behind, combating an impervious enemy which only seem to multiply with each kill. It could've been me out there. I could only envision in my wildest imagination the courage--with equal levels of fear--bottled within each serviceman. I'm most certain that if the dead could speak, they would advise us to stop the fighting and live life. Undoubtedly, we will join the decease among their ranks one day. Such is the fate of all people.
Love and Peace,
Phai
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Clutter of Profiling
Clutter is the enemy to good profiling. Too often we obsess in trying to include every minute fact in our writing that it consequently becomes murky. To counteract this predicament, give up your need for perfection. Here's one thing about perfectionist: they don't get anything done. Instead, focus on details.
I realize from the reading on pgs. 204-06 of "Featured Writing" is that it is far more essential to concentrate on the details of the piece rather than the miscellaneous items. To help illustrate this idea: think of profiling as a safe. You wouldn't put every piece of useless junk you could find into a safe (I hope); therefore, don't do the same to profiling. I wouldn't. Then again, that is easier said than done. Ultimately, the mutual goal of the writer, as well as the viewer, is to better understand the subject at hand. Along this common ground, the writer's responsibility is to act as a bridge which connects the audience to the story.
All the best,
Phai
I realize from the reading on pgs. 204-06 of "Featured Writing" is that it is far more essential to concentrate on the details of the piece rather than the miscellaneous items. To help illustrate this idea: think of profiling as a safe. You wouldn't put every piece of useless junk you could find into a safe (I hope); therefore, don't do the same to profiling. I wouldn't. Then again, that is easier said than done. Ultimately, the mutual goal of the writer, as well as the viewer, is to better understand the subject at hand. Along this common ground, the writer's responsibility is to act as a bridge which connects the audience to the story.
All the best,
Phai
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