Romerica

by generalred123

I find the analogy of America being the new Rome very interesting because many things point to the fact that the U.S. is becoming more and more like Rome was. I believe that America is becoming the new Rome because they are similar in so many ways. Some of the ways that they are similar are in there economy, Military, culture and technology. If you asked this question of, if America is the new Rome, to average American citizens they would most likely disagree because they see us as being a democracy and free. We see ourselves as being a role model for everyone else and that everyone should be like America. This would show that these people have not truly seen the similarities between these two powers because that is exactly what Rome was like. They believed that they were the best and went out conquering new places all around the world just like how America is stationed throughout the world. Our militaries are very similar because they are both very powerful and capable of conquering lots of places. Our economies were very good also. Since Rome was stationed around the world it allowed for lots of trade and money flow just like in America today. Our technology and culture were also very similar because they were both very advanced. I believe that since America is still such a young country, that it is still on the incline and will be around for a long time. Will America fall like Rome? Probably, considering that all good things must come to an end.

Homecomings

by generalred123

Throughout a soldiers life he deals with many hardships, which include the battlefield and homecomings. In the Odyssey we see Odysseus come home from war after being away for twenty years. At first Penelope has a hard time trusting Odysseus because she hasn’t seen him in so long. Once they find the trust and she realizes that it’s truly him she is very happy but there is a lack of communication because they don’t know how to talk to one another. This is the same in ‘’Tips for a smooth transition.’’ We see the soldier come home from war and there is a lack of communication because they have forgotten how to talk and interact with one another. Evie is scared to talk to her husband because she doesn’t want to say anything that would trigger him off.   It seems that Evie is having a harder time with the transition than her husband is. In ‘’No mans War’’ Angela talks about how hard of a transition it was for her family because she got used to living and caring for the kids on her own. She did it her way. When her husband came home she had to adjust her schedule and life around in order share her life and live with this man who just came home. It almost like she forgot that she was married. In the ‘’Hurt locker’’ its much different because Jeremy Renner just once to get back to the battlefield once he comes home. He does nothing but think about it. He is just an adrenaline junky and doesn’t worry about his family and just goes back to war for himself.

general vs. soldier relationship

by generalred123

In ”base details,” the main idea was to distinguish the difference between the role of generals and the fighters.  We found out that generals never see the front lines.  Because of this they start to forget the reality of war and don’t think about the well being of his soldiers.  The fighters on the front line are the ones doing all the dirty work and are faced with death.  We see this in both the ”Iliad” and in ”paths of glory.”  In the Iliad agamemnon is seen as the general who doesn’t see the front lines and benefits off of all of his soldiers hard work.  Achilles is seen as the hard working soldier who is fighting for his general who is doing nothing but being greedy and selfish.  Achilles has had enough and calls out agamemnon for his wrong doings toward his men.  When the plague is put on his men Agamemnon doesn’t even attempt to fix it, it is achilles who takes the problem upon himself to try to help get rid of the plague.  it is the same way in paths of glory because Mireau is also seen as the general who doesn’t know what it is like on the front lines.  Dax could be seen as achilles because he is the one who is experiencing the battle and fighting.  Mireau is seen as Agamemnon because he doesn’t fight and only cares about winning the battle, he doesn’t even think about the mens lives.  He can almost be seen as a tyrant because he has to have his way and if he doesn’t he threatens people around him and puts the blame on someone else.  he gets so insane that he tries to kill his own men for not leaving the trenches but Dax is willing to take the blame because he is the more honorable one of the two.