INsight
The four bold verses are the ones that really stood out to me. The comparison made between war and a sport, a harmless and usually fun activity, was very well executed. This comparison made me realize how two seemingly unrelated events can have so much in common. For example, in a video game involving war, passing and shooting seems like a simple, entertaining activity. War can also appear like a straightforward game of passing and shooting, but we can sometimes disregard what is beyond those actions, or the underlying causes of battle. In this way, the person playing the video game may think that the action of shooting is painless and enjoyable compared to how complex and horrific this action can be in times of war. We only see ‘the tip of the iceberg’ but often do not see the depth of the problem which involves other aspects, such as political and social issues, that have been many years in the making.
When I read, “-passing, shooting…passing, shooting.”, it left me thinking how there was no conclusive ending to the poem. We keep playing sports, in this case hockey, to try and win as well as to beat records. Similarly, we keep fighting in war until one side surrenders or until there are no more people left to fight. The poem and the analysis we did in class really made me think about how I perceive war. Now, I am more aware of references made about war in the media, and how it is a terrible part of world conflict which can truly affect most of us. It is no longer an issue I can pass off as not having to worry about or an event that does not concern me. This poem made me reevaluate my position on the issue and figure out ways to educate myself, as well as others, on the different views of war and their impact, as seen from an outsider’s perspective.
When I read, “-passing, shooting…passing, shooting.”, it left me thinking how there was no conclusive ending to the poem. We keep playing sports, in this case hockey, to try and win as well as to beat records. Similarly, we keep fighting in war until one side surrenders or until there are no more people left to fight. The poem and the analysis we did in class really made me think about how I perceive war. Now, I am more aware of references made about war in the media, and how it is a terrible part of world conflict which can truly affect most of us. It is no longer an issue I can pass off as not having to worry about or an event that does not concern me. This poem made me reevaluate my position on the issue and figure out ways to educate myself, as well as others, on the different views of war and their impact, as seen from an outsider’s perspective.