I'm reading the novel All Quiet on the Western Front and there is a young soldier who had enlisted into the German war and his character changed dramatically. I was just curious on what everyone things...mentally,emotionally, and physically...about why the war changes the people there. I'm sure everyone has heard once you leave your never the same when you return or something like that. I know it's an obvious answer but i was just wondering about what everyone thought.
2007-01-04 15:42:45 · 14 answers · asked by mellamolola.hola. 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
because of all the violence they experience
2007-01-04 15:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by the kid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
21 years in the military I know the feeling. I am not the person I was years ago. I more educated and more mature than i was 21 years ago. They change because of the discipline and training that soldiers receive. War is hell on everyone who participates. It can take the softest of people and turn them hard as stone. As a people we are forced to do things that we would have never dreamed of as children. Yea sure we played Cowboys & Indians, & Cops & Robbers as kids, but it was all make believe like the movies. The young men & women who enter the military now do change, some I have seen for the better, some not so good, But the Military is a Great way of life and I can say that i wouldn't do anything different.
2007-01-04 15:59:11 · answer #2 · answered by SOSFG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That was a good movie! I never read the book but the movie is really good. War changes people in many ways. Physically, they could become strong, or they could lose limbs. Mentally, it all depends on how strong your mind is and if you can handle what you're seeing. Some minds are stronger then others, you can come out saying what you say was terrible, and have nightmares once in awhile or something...OR the memories could completely take over your life, seeing things that aren't there, in constant fear of "attack" and so on.
One teacher we had at our school had a family member in WWI, he was lucky to survive but, she said every night until the day he died he woke up screaming from horrible nightmares, reliving the war every night for the rest of your life wouldn't be any fun. Especially WWI, that war was nasty (from what I've learned in history and such. Trench warfare with modern technology is not a good combination.)
2007-01-04 15:54:55 · answer #3 · answered by Dinner 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People change every day even if they don't go to a war. But people change much more drastically during a war action because the things they witness are much more horrific than things they see other times. Seeing people killed, maimed, starving, refugees, kids in all sorts of situations, will change you. Also if you are in a situation where you are being shot at you don't sleep the same way that you do otherwise. You quickly learn when to duck, even if you are asleep. If you don't you probably don't come home alive. Loud noises or surprises, awake or sleeping, make a GREAT startle reflex. Living on MRE's for month after month, gee that would change anyone's outlook on life. Doing without sex for months on end, seeing your loved ones faces, hearing their voices..... the list can go on and on.
2007-01-04 15:55:07 · answer #4 · answered by Karen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is a good question...war changes people because when you see things that you dont normally see you change your views in life...you loose a part of you when you go to war, something that you can never get back no matter where you go..some say you loose your soul, well they are correct, physically you change becasue you have to be strong enough to endure the hardships of war, and mentally you have to take in all that is happening without getting to your breaking point, emoptionally it will change you becasue you see things differently..you see thing diffferently, you smell things differently, and it opens your eyes up so you dont take anything for granted, you realize that what you have is enough to live for...i hope that helps out..
2007-01-04 16:27:51 · answer #5 · answered by Juggernaut 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because people see and do things that you wouldnt otherwise see in everyday life and that changes you. Killing a human being and/or witnessing a human being killed is not something you take lightly. it forever changes your life as well as your outlook on it. it makes you realize that all the things you stress about are petty and that life is a precious gift that can be taken away in the blink of an eye if you are not careful. War is not something to be taken lightly bc it costs people thier lives as well as their loved ones.
2007-01-04 16:06:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fear changes people. It puts them face to face with their mortality -and upsets their value systems... Most of us go out of our way to escape or avoid the realities of life....-But when your fellow soldiers are being torn to pieces by shrapnel on either side of you, & the bombs are whistling by just over your head- it can't HELP but leave a lasting impression on ones psyche. Life is harder to face- when you've seen your friends lose theirs.
2007-01-04 16:01:12 · answer #7 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Becauase of the destruction and sufferings that come with a war!
2007-01-04 15:45:41 · answer #8 · answered by Sami V 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Indeed, especially the combatants whose lives are forever more traumatized psychologically than physically.
2007-01-04 23:06:23 · answer #9 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well to be honest we (us veterans) dont know we've changed. I've been to afghanistan and iraq and my wife has told me i have changed alot, but i dont think i have. I guess everyone has there own different ways of dealing with it though.
2007-01-04 16:26:38 · answer #10 · answered by Jason 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a year I'll try to describe five minutes of combat.
2007-01-04 17:32:55 · answer #11 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋