21 Guns Poem Analysis

It is more than normal for soldiers of war to feel anxious and depressed after they return from war. I have chosen to look into the themes “ the war never ends for soldiers’’ and ‘’soldiers continue to receive no thanks for their commitment”. This theme is exposed immensely and shows this theme strongly in the texts 21 guns by Green Day, Hero Of War by Rise Against, Siege Of Jadotville by Richie Smith, and Rambo by Ted Kotcheff.

At the beginning of the official music video ‘21 Guns’ by green day a man is feeling anxious and depressed as the war is still present in his head. This man has just returned back from war, but the war has not ended, the battle still continues. He is experiencing PTSD ( post traumatic stress disease) people get diagnosed

with this disease after a traumatic event, like war. it is normal to feel stressed, on the edge, and also have trouble sleeping. Maybe he is considering to end his life, but he has a special girl on his mind and he wants to be with her. Whilst he is feeling these emotions there are bullets flying around the room and that is war still present to this man, it never stops. A phone call is made and the girl this man has feelings for comes closer they eventually start kissing and the bullets stop flying. Evidence of this man wanting to kill himself was shown at the beginning of the video the man was touching a bullet with his hands this could mean he was considering to end his life due to PTSD. This man has found his happy place and has found love but does that mean the war stops? Or still stays present? Green Day is exposing this theme so you think about what is actually happening war isn’t fun it leaves a sad trail behind you, it follows you and I personally believe that, that isn’t right it’s wrong. It is not fair and society should feel ashamed of themselves along with the government, until you have enough balls and take a risk for your country you can’t fault a veteran, a veteran isn’t just a family man but a hero.

The song Hero Of war by Rise Against, also shows the theme “the war never ends for soldiers, they continue to face the battle”. The theme was shown when he said “ A hero of war, is that what you see?, Just medals and scars so damn proud of me, and I brought home that flag now it gathers dust’’. This man is second guessing himself because his soldiers along aside him became his brothers and it changed his perception towards war, once he got involved with war he knew it wasn’t right, war wasn’t what the government made it to be, he realised war wasn’t worth all scars that don’t heal. He is saying he went to war for his country and they are all proud of him, but all he is left with is a flag that gathers dust? He is still facing the war and all he has beside him is a dusty flag. The artist key point about this song was to show that war isn’t what the government makes it out to be, you don’t get to travel the world like a tourist you would have to go through some unforgettable pain and experiences. My personal opinion about war has changed after listening to this song, war isn’t what the government says it is, and it is certainly not worth the scars and the depression and the aftermath of war to the veterans.

The movie Siege Of Jadotville by Richie Smith, also exposes the theme “Soldiers continue not getting any thanks for their commitment. The movie was based on a true event between France and Ireland there was conflict between these countries and they thought fighting would save the solution. France fought dirty and they had at least double the men of Ireland but Ireland didn’t give up they kept fighting. This battle went on for 2 days France lost plenty of men and Ireland lost no men. Ireland gave this battle their best shot they were down on men, and yet still took out the French with clever moves. Eventually Ireland surrendered due to they didn’t want to lose any men. A month later Ireland got let out under the French hostage when Ireland men returned back to Ireland they were discriminated majorly for surrendering, the same men that put their lives on the line for their country,the people that they put first discriminated and called these men pussy’s for surrendering. Also the government hated on these men that went to war for them, the government made all the calls for these soldiers when they were far away and safe from the battlefield. This is disgraceful that men sacrifice their lives for their country then get stabbed in the back by society and the government. The director wanted you to think about how you would feel in this situation, and that the government isn’t always the good guy. I can’t really personally relate to this because I have never done something that significant and get no thanks and yet get put down about my efforts. But I can personally say that the society shouldn’t believe everything the government says is right and good.

In the movie Rambo the same theme was shown “The war never ends for soldiers they continue to face the battle”.

The last man from green berets has no family and friends left and Americans try to kill him because he didn’t look the part to the American Sheriff. John Rambo was an experienced killing machine in the green berets, and when the Americans tried to take him out he took them out 1 by 1 in the nicest way possible. Rambo had nobody left all his friends and family are all gone he has nobody to go back too. Rambo put his life on the line for these Americans now they are trying to kill him, he sacrificed everything! Evidence of Rambo sacrificing his life was shown when he went overseas to fight for America with the Green Berets. Rambo could of killed these Americans 1 by 1 but instead he had an emotional break down. “I gave up everything for my country, and this how they treat me’’.This is evidence meaning he could of got revenge and killed this uneducated society 1 by 1 but he decided to give up and just let out all his emotions. John Rambo spent his whole life helping out these Americans defending his country and putting his life on the line. Then the government and society he sacrificed his life for try to kill him. John gave up and didn’t take anymore americans lives. You don’t and Americans don’t understand what John would of been experiencing, depression loneliness anxiety. John has feelings like everyone else and he was hurt and he just wanted to give up. Rambo left war and he still had to face the battle of depression and loneliness. Veterans shouldn’t have to experience this! It is unfair society and the government needs to

change!

I believe that all veterans shouldn’t have to go through this to keep their country safe! These four text support my reason why, it’s not fair it's disgusting all veterans should be able to walk away from war and not look back. Soldiers aren’t ‘worthless’’ they are men, and they are the men that fought to keep their country safe, and they should stop getting blamed for the government’s false information to society. Veterans are hero’s not pathetic murderers.