News | Make Peace Not War

The Effect of War on Military Soldiers

Undoubtedly, war is not a simple experience. On the battlefield, war can be devastating on your nerves. For most soldiers, the emotional trauma of having been part of war does not end with the war or when they come back to the safety of their homes. In most cases, coming home is simply the beginning of a long road to getting better.

The most common aftermath of war is posttraumatic stress disorder. This refers to some extreme situations that soldiers may have faced, which are often beyond the scope of human nature. The experiences remain suppressed in them and can take a toll on their mental and physical health. The extent of PTSD as well as the severity of its manifestations varies with each soldier and their emotional capacity. For some it may just be about going into depression. For others, there could be triggers that lead into panic attacks or hyperventilation. In some extreme cases, hallucinations and the thought of being transported back to the field come into play.

This disorder has to be diagnosed and treated in the early stages itself. It can reach the stage of preventing the soldier from trying to lead a normal life. There have been cases of suicide attempts. While for the soldiers of yesteryear, advanced medical and psychological help was not available; today, science has advanced to a great extent. A soldier can now sign up for several forms of treatment as well as become a member of a veteran’s organization and get counseling. There is Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, medication that includes anti-depressants and the like that a soldier can use. Of course, these have to be undertaken with strict medical and family supervision.

Filed Under: News, War Tagged With: Health, Mental health, Posttraumatic stress disorder

Is War Reported Accurately on the News?

War was never really reported until CNN brought it to our living rooms with Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Until then, all that could be heard on war was through the radio and through the experiences of those reporting on the field. The accuracy of these reports in terms of devastation and casualty numbers depended entirely on the reporter and his ability to tell news as he saw it.

With the advent of technology, reporting, war has now reached epic soap opera type proportions. Bombings, air raids and street fights can literally be viewed in real time. Of course, we do have reporters telling us what it is like on the field, but the scope of wrong information coming to the people too has highly increased. Rumor mills run fast with stories about the persecution of women and children, ripping apart of innocent civilians and the like. Such stories often come from propaganda mills that try to tilt the war in various ways.

However, with such rumor mongering, an alternate source of possibly accurate information is from citizen journalists who, through their videos and photos captured live and on the scene, often tell a story that has not been told. This has brought to light several battles, which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. It has also laid to rest rumors that had been doing rounds. Those who indulged in wrongful acts in the name of the war have been brought to task.

Reporting news in this day and age of technology and information overdrive is not easy. Getting the real story out is also difficult since many news channels owe allegiance to different political factions of belief groups. All of this plays a role in what is finally conveyed to the people and how it portrays an ongoing war. In this respect the phrase, “nothing is ever what it seems” could never be truer.

Filed Under: News, War Tagged With: CNN, Gulf War, Report

The After Effects of War

War is a devastating period. It takes a toll on the people, on the land, the environment, the animals and almost every conceivable form of life. Wars fought on a land often render it useless. Farming becomes difficult and the very source of food for the country is threatened. Because the land is ridden with mortar shells and mines, not only do innocent people lose life and limbs, the land too cannot be approached for any sort of development.

Society as we know it is destroyed and it often becomes the survival of the fittest. Social relations go down the drain especially when there is a dearth of food and basic amenities. We have seen countless images of people fighting over emergency relief service vans and the food they offer. The economy of the country takes a beating as well since the nation will have nothing with which to do business with. If no income is generated for the nation, the country will stop being able to progress.

The nation then becomes dependent on foreign aid, which often comes without any riders. The war torn nation can also become indebted to foreign nations and this can put the country at a disadvantage when it comes to international discussions and debates.

War is a terrible thing for the people themselves. Lives are lost and disrupted. Emotions are raw and often the life of peace that seems to be on offer with the end of the war seems meaningless. More often than not people do not agree with the reasons behind the war, there are uprisings against the government in protest, and this can prove dangerous to the governance as well as the future of a country. War has to be the very last thing a nation resorts to for the sake of its people and its own existence.

Filed Under: News, War Tagged With: Emergency management, Nation, World War II

The Media Trap

The saying goes that you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. This may be the case when absorbing the daily news and media concerning the war. Although, it is best to assume that no reporter or news journalist is intentionally being dishonest or spreading lies, one needs to understand the driving force behind news before whole-heartedly embracing it.

If you are like many Americans, you are concerned about our country’s well-being. You wonder about the well-fare of our soldiers serving abroad in the war, and have questions about war efforts which are trying to achieve peace. You may question military strategies or government administration policies about our presence in the Middle East.

As a concerned and active citizen, it is very easy to get caught up in the emotion of it all. This is what the news and media intend. Media thrives on readers. Often news press releases and news articles are not written to just convey facts or information. This would be too dry for some and they would lose interest quickly.

This would be a disaster for the media industry. Although it is their job to keep the public informed, they must employ methods that will attract readers to come back again and again.

Getting the public riled up about issues keeps them hungering for more news. Have you ever noticed that there are hardly ever conclusive articles declaring a complete happy ending? That type of article would be too final and really take the reader no where. The media wants us to join the band wagon, to have fiery opinions, and generally keep us interested.

Originally the news was subsidized by government funds. When times changed though, this funding was withdrawn, and the news had to rely on its own means to stay in business.

So before ranting and raving about the latest news, read various articles. Get a second opinion to decipher what is fact and what is put in to raise your emotions. You can then get the needed information without falling in to the media trap.

Filed Under: News, Society Tagged With: Mass media, Media, Middle East

What is PTSD?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can be caused by psychologically traumatizing events. The events that can cause this disorder are numerous, but may involve experiencing the very real threat of death or some form of physical or even psychological injury. The disorder can come from personally experiencing this threat or witnessing the death or the threat of death or harm of someone else; and results from the overwhelming of the sufferer’s ability to cope with the experience.

The biochemistry of the brain has often been altered in those suffering from PTSD. The traumatic event may cause an overproduction of adrenaline that can change how a person responds to fearful situations in the future. The hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala are three areas of the brain that can be altered in PTSD. These changes can affect memory, emotional responses to stimuli, and even personality. A few of the other psychological or emotional effects can include flashbacks, nightmares, aggression, irritability, and intense distress when reminded of the traumatizing event.

One of the earliest reports of possible PTSD is described by Herodotus, a Greek historian, around 500 BC. He describes an uninjured soldier who goes blind after witnessing the death of another soldier. In more recent history, what is now believed to have been PTSD was then called battle fatigue or exhaustion, shell shock, or the thousand-yard stare – a detached, unfocused facial expression following a traumatic event.

Advances in the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and others allow a more detailed understanding of posttraumatic stress disorder and how to treat it. Therapy or counseling and medication are popular treatments. Biochemical changes in the brain are best treated with medications, but counseling or therapy can also be helpful for those attempting to return to a normal life after the traumatic experience.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Posttraumatic stress disorder

Benefits Of A Peaceful Protest.

: Image via Wikipedia

Anger and violence, especially during a protest leads to more negative attention than positive. Often with a violent or unruly protest the actual meaning behind the demonstration gets left behind and what everyone leaves with is the actions of the participants. When protesting any kind of action, the best and most effective way to do so is through a peaceful demonstration. You will get your point across and everything will be kept in order. We have learnt from history that peaceful demonstrations eventually will bring about successful change. What is more is that the public will actually remember why the protest is taking place and will take an interest in the cause.

Whether the protest is to show your feelings for the war at hand or to show your dismay at rising costs, you and your team will make more of a difference with a peaceful protest. After all the aim of a protest is to bring about change and not harm anyone in its path. With violent protests, often it turns into a blood bath with arrests and other social problems. With a peaceful protest, you will notice that things will run a lot smoother and you will actually have a larger crowd. You are not there to discriminate anyone, nor are you there to hurt anyone and as an organizer, you will receive credit and better coverage of the demonstration you have organized. Also with a larger crowd, your agenda is taken a lot more seriously and your voice is heard.

So next time you organize a protest, make it a peaceful one. Think of the benefits and the increased awareness. In the current global situation, it is more effective to have a peaceful protest to express your views. Think before you act as your action can speak volumes.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Peace, Peace movement

Discrimination Is Not The Answer!

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Discrimination against any race, age, gender, and lifestyle is never an answer when it comes to solving fights. Often we hear about discrimination within our armed forces and servicemen but that only leads to further problems within rather than solving the issue at hand. Then when we are abroad we bring a certain level of discrimination to the region and we add to the conflict out there. The bottom line is until we stop discriminating others we can not bring peace to our own nation. It is not right to look down on the whole population when the ones who act in uncivil ways are only a minority of a certain community, and yet we forget this and target the mass. For those working hard to restore our liberty, discrimination can bring more than just problems in their field. With discrimination and judgment comes hatred and that leads to casualties that we can not even begin to imagine.

Think positive and before a whole society is targeted, think of our troops out there and what kind of consequences they may face due to any discrimination portrayed at home. In order to stop the war at hand, we must first establish a certain level of trust, but that is close to impossible when everyone has a different point of view. One should be able to display and share their points of view but it should not be done in a way that would harm others who are trying their best to bring peace. Next time you feel that a certain community or a certain group of people should be targeted, think about the danger you are putting our servicemen in. They give their lives to bring about peace and we as citizens should do what ever is necessary to protect them in every way possible.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Activism, African American, Black people, Discrimination, Employment, Peace, Prejudice, United States

Basic Information on the National Center for PTSD

Being a veteran of war comes with a huge risk that the veteran will suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder may not show signs immediately upon return from war but can gradually show up over time. The government in an effort to acknowledge the potential for post traumatic stress disorder has set up an exclusive branch of the veterans affairs office just for that.

The National Center for PTSD is a division of the veterans affairs office that is devoted to helping those that suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This center can help tackle the issues that arise from suffering from post traumatic stress disorder ranging from financial assistance, therapy sessions, rehabilitation and even helping those at war re-acclimate themselves back into normal society.

Here are some of the services that the National Center for PTSD offers veterans who return from war.

Clinical Help. There is help finding the right placement for this type of disorder. This can range from figuring out if just therapy is needed or a more intense rehabilitation program will be needed.

Financial Assistance. While a veteran is dealing with the issues that arose from post traumatic stress disorder they will need financial help for themselves and their family. The Center for PTSD will help sort out the issue of medical bills, daily living costs and other financial issues that may arise such as disability or pensions that can be obtained if one suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.

Community Awareness. Friends and family members still do not realize the potential for post traumatic stress disorder that a veteran can have upon returning. The Center for PTSD works to educate family and friends about the risks and signs of post traumatic stress disorder. By having them educated they can see the signs of this disorder and get the veteran immediate help instead of waiting and having them struggle through it.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Anxiety, Disorders, Health, Mental health, Post-traumatic Stress, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Psychological trauma, Veteran

Make Peace Not War – Makes Sense From A Pragmatic And Rational Point Of View As Well

: Image by danny.hammontree via Flickr

War is often described as a continuation and extension of politics. However, to equate war with political negotiations and discussions does not make sense. It is the most unproductive and most futile way of settling political issues.

For starters, war leads to too many difficulties and complications. From death of population; one of the most valuable resources of the country, to loss of natural resources towards the war effort – there is wastage all around. At the end of the day, the gains earned by the nation is bartered and frittered away in few years.

Just take a look at some of the big wars that have been fought in the world in the past few decades. In most cases, it was done to either restore balance of power or to tilt the balance irretrievably in favor of one force. However, all these instances saw great and powerful nations ending up with a bloody nose despite the fact that the opponent nation was many times smaller and may times weaker.

On the whole, the military consumes too much resources and provides very little benefit. Instead of fighting a war, it makes more sense to spend many years thrashing out a political settlement. Of course, the results were not be as glamorous and spectacular as use of force would be. However, the results that these negotiations will bring forth will be permanent.

From a strictly economic point of view and with an eye on long term benefits, there is absolutely no denying that peaceful negotiations are much better than war. If one includes the social cost of war and impact of telling the population that it is acceptable to kill others just because they are the enemy, one realizes that wars can be very harmful for the social fabric and for the well being of any nation.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: History, Nation, Natural resource, Politics, Twentieth Century, United States, Wars and Conflicts, World War I

American and Arab

American and Arab
Ali Hossaini

Can I be at war with myself? Watching the World Trade Center collapse, then living through the aftermath, begs that absurd question. I’m American, with a Muslim name but nondescript appearance. No one takes me for Middle Eastern—I was born in West Virginia, and I’m only a quarter Arab. But thanks to the peculiarities of history, and naming, I have an Arab-American identity.

The attack on the World Trade Center puts me in an awful place. On the one hand, I’ve been deeply fortunate. Neither my loved ones nor I were injured. Like everyone else, I am horrified and angered. I could have been there, munching a bagel on the observation deck. I can’t imagine how someone could have planned such an attack, and my shock is turning into anger and mourning. At the same time, I feel excluded from the national unity that happens after such a tragedy. Why? As an Arab-American, I’m subject to reprisals. I’m nervous, wondering if I will somehow share the blame. Slurs, threats and even violence have already been leveled against anyone associated with Islam, and I wonder what will happen to me. I’m looking for work—will I be denied a job? What if a wider war breaks out? Will I lose my liberty?

Some friends have said I should go to Egypt for safety. They meant well, but their comments betrayed a misunderstanding that verges on racism. Hard as it is for the safely white to comprehend, there is only one place for me and other hyphenated Americans: the United States. America produced me. My grandparents hail from four different countries. Where else could they have created a family? If I’m out of place here, thanks to my name, I’m certainly out of place in the Middle East, where I stick out as an American. What is left for me? Do we have to pick sides in the end? And what can I do if neither side will have me, if both treat me as the enemy?

I’m at a loss to answer these questions, at least under the current logic. Some of my fellow citizens are striking out at American Muslims. Some are even calling for a firestorm to be rained upon Islamic nations. Don’t they see that the terrorists had the same inspiration? The Afghanis were caught between the Soviet Union and the United States for decades. Their country has been reduced to rubble. They have no hope. Violence occurs in cycles, and, if we respond senselessly, striking innocent people in our search for criminals, then we’ll create more radicals, more suicide bombers who embody the despair of poverty and war. The monopoly on violence is broken, and I shudder to think what comes next.

I’m living in fear, and my identity leaves me no shield. I often fly from Newark to San Francisco. Was the attack a one-time event or the first of many? Will our cities ever feel safe? Then, again, what will I face in my day-to-day existence? Will I get mocked and beat up? Are my tears for the dead less potent? Will my name become a Yellow Star that excludes me from society? Will I share in the collective healing that must come?

My situation brings a special clarity, one that opposes the clarity of choosing sides. What do I see from my hyphenated perspective? The absurdity of labels, indeed, of the whole idea that race, religion or flags divide humanity. I have a Muslim name, but my grandfather was Serbian. How would that fly in the Balkans? Is the world becoming a vast Balkan state?

I’ve wondered if I will ever have to choose a side. If so, here is my choice: pacifism and dialog. I choose love, I choose humanity. I may symbolize Islam to some, and America to others, but I transcend these distinctions. I am proof that love conquers hate. My grandparents conquered tradition to found my family, and I stand tall as an American born from a unique and tolerant soil. What race produced me? The human race. Let me plead for understanding and compassion. Chase the criminals if you must, but let us then begin to fight. Let us fight not for oil, money or revenge, but for a world where hatred and weapons belong to a distant, barbaric past.

Filed Under: Geography, News Tagged With: Middle East, United States, World Trade Center