Chapter Summary:
This chapter describes the events leading up the the final march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and the roles of President Lyndon B. Johnson and racist, pro-segregation Governor of Alabama George Wallace in the voting rights struggle. It begins with an introduction of the violent marches leading up to the events of March 13th, the "culmination of a series of steps that had pitted George Wallace against the civil rights movement and against the federal government." After the death of Jimmy Lee Jackson in Alabama during a bloody attack upon a crowd of demonstrators, which was ordered by Wallace, African Americans were outraged and decided to march to the state capital of Alabama to address Wallace himself. Wallace "issued an edict banning it," yet the civil rights movement still occurred. But not for long - on Wallace's orders, the demonstrators encountered state troopers who attacked the peaceful marchers. More bloodshed and violence caused outrage among white and blacks all over America, who called upon Johnson to take some sort of action. This led up to Wallace calling for a meeting with Johnson to discuss the "racial agitators and the growing menace of the Communist demonstrators in Alabama," but he was quickly shamed to silence by LBJ's rant which accused Wallace of police brutality in Alabama, as well as refusing educated blacks the right to vote.
At the end of the meeting, Johnson had "achieved what he set out to do- to make undeniably clear that the governor was not going to be able to wriggle out of letting the march take place." He made the governor a sort of scapegoat, and addressed the people of America, saying that what Wallace had done was wrong, and that "whether the governor agrees or not...law and order would prevail in Alabama." He ordered Wallace to let the march to Montgomery occur without opposition, and he ordered a voting rights bill to be passed that would "mass the power of the national government behind the right of African Americans to vote in elections in the Deep South." Johnson further instructed Wallace that he must employ the Guard to protect the demonstrators involved in the march, but Wallace broke his agreement by "claiming that the state could not afford to activate the Guard and he shifted responsibility for policing the march to the federal government," angering the president greatly. Johnson, however, did employ the guard to protect the demonstrators in the march, which in turn "[signaled] the overwhelming popular support for the president's new program of far-reaching voting rights legislation."
Chapter Reflection:
I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's description of Lyndon B. Johnson's scornful and somewhat demeaning rant against Wallace - he was witty, he was charming, but he was harsh and angry. He made it know the injustices that Wallace performed, and exactly how he felt about it. This chapter was clearly set out and I could see the process of the events and how they affected each other, which helped me to better understand what was going on and how it impacted America and the voting/civil rights movements. I loved the triumphant return of the march, this time protected on all sides by Johnson's Guard, while Wallace hid in the capitol. Very symbolic.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Chapter 19: Memory, History, and the March on Washington
Chapter Summary:
This chapter illustrates the intellectual journey of a girl just becoming familiar with the fight for freedom, and her spontaneous attendance of one of the most influential events in history. For most of her childhood, the narrator was isolated from many of the social reforms going on around her, such as civil rights movements - once she went out on her own, she was drawn to the almost militarism of the civil rights activist movements, especially one known as the SNCC. She became involved with the younger generation of the more urgent, intense sense of freedom, sort of denouncing the elderly generation of solemnly following orders to get what you want. Although she respected Martin Luther King, she viewed him as "a cautious older leader," and "increasingly resented the tendency of reporters to focus on King rather than on student activism and SNCC's valiant campaign against hardcore racism." Throughout the chapter the narrator explains her growing appreciation of King, through the editing and reading of his works as well as a better understanding of the meaning of social justice and the fight for freedom. She realized that King's great gift as a speaker was his ability to transform traditional American values into "convincing, vivid portraits of a transformed world," which she grew to appreciate rather than to scorn, as she has witnessed "positive changes in the world that seem to give credence to King's hopeful vision."
Chapter Reflection:
I felt that although she grew to know and appreciate her experience at the March on Washington, it seemed that she didn't talk much about her actual experience and her feelings during the event that she actually witnessed. I would like to hear more of a firsthand account of the event, it seems as though her comments are like something that anyone looking back through history might find. I enjoyed reading her journey through the understanding of what civil rights and social justice really mean, and the description of her feeling a part of the march was moving. I loved her last quote: "it was one of those exceptional moments when injustice seemed outnumbered if not subdued." No matter what way you might view the 'best way' to attack social injustice, the unity and accomplishment when the goal is achieved in some way feels the same.
This chapter illustrates the intellectual journey of a girl just becoming familiar with the fight for freedom, and her spontaneous attendance of one of the most influential events in history. For most of her childhood, the narrator was isolated from many of the social reforms going on around her, such as civil rights movements - once she went out on her own, she was drawn to the almost militarism of the civil rights activist movements, especially one known as the SNCC. She became involved with the younger generation of the more urgent, intense sense of freedom, sort of denouncing the elderly generation of solemnly following orders to get what you want. Although she respected Martin Luther King, she viewed him as "a cautious older leader," and "increasingly resented the tendency of reporters to focus on King rather than on student activism and SNCC's valiant campaign against hardcore racism." Throughout the chapter the narrator explains her growing appreciation of King, through the editing and reading of his works as well as a better understanding of the meaning of social justice and the fight for freedom. She realized that King's great gift as a speaker was his ability to transform traditional American values into "convincing, vivid portraits of a transformed world," which she grew to appreciate rather than to scorn, as she has witnessed "positive changes in the world that seem to give credence to King's hopeful vision."
Chapter Reflection:
I felt that although she grew to know and appreciate her experience at the March on Washington, it seemed that she didn't talk much about her actual experience and her feelings during the event that she actually witnessed. I would like to hear more of a firsthand account of the event, it seems as though her comments are like something that anyone looking back through history might find. I enjoyed reading her journey through the understanding of what civil rights and social justice really mean, and the description of her feeling a part of the march was moving. I loved her last quote: "it was one of those exceptional moments when injustice seemed outnumbered if not subdued." No matter what way you might view the 'best way' to attack social injustice, the unity and accomplishment when the goal is achieved in some way feels the same.
Chapter 18: JFK and RFK Meet about Vietnam
Chapter Summary:
This chapter illustrates the behind the scenes communications between brothers John and Robert Kennedy, from the devious process in which Bobby was made Attorney General, to the "politically sensitive issue of Vietnam, which could involve the United States in a long-term military operation in Southeast Asia." John consistently opposed the involvement of American troops in overseas conflicts, especially volatile and unstable ones, unless an imminent threat was posed to the country. However, "questions about instability in South Vietnam mounted and advisers urged JFK to use American power to ensure the survival of an anti-Communist government," and JFK was forced to make a decision. The narrator imagines conversations between JFK and his most trusted and loyal ally discussing the best course of action. John was reluctant to involve American troops in Vietnam because of the obviously "dangerous and unprofitable terrain," and he didn't want to be drawn into a long-term conflict "at a cost in blood and treasure." He was also apprehensive because as he didn't want to use U.S. military troops, his solution (send military advisers to train and help the Vietnamese people fight their war) had to be kept on the down low, because if America seemed to be too involved in helping Vietnam, if the country seemed in danger of defeat, he would be backed into a corner by domestic pressures to increase the American support in the country, which is exactly what he planned to avoid. He took great pains to make sure the involvement was kept mostly from the public, and only confided in his brother Bobby, who loyally agreed and understood his thoughts. Soon, JFK began to speak of a coup in Vietnam which would lead to the "greater stability" the U.S. needed "as a prelude to pulling out [their] advisers." However, in the unsuccessful coup, one of Kennedy's friends was slain, and he felt much responsibility for encouraging the coup, which "divided the government [in America] and in Saigon." Next the narrator poses the question of how might Kennedy have handled the situation in Vietnam had he served a second term?
Chapter Reflection:
I like how the narrator connected this moment in history to how Kennedy might have felt about a modern event, the Iraq war. The overarching theme throughout the chapter expressed by both Kennedy's was a reluctance of involvement in other countries' political developments, especially unstable countries where involvement will probably do more harm than good. I like JQA's quote, "Do not go in search of monsters abroad." The brothers' personalities also seemed to work together very well, as JFK's leadership and wisdom were supported by his brother's loyalty, understanding, and serious dedication. I liked seeing a recreated thought process of the both of them during this historical event, and I'd like to learn more about the background information that led up to and was going on at the time.
This chapter illustrates the behind the scenes communications between brothers John and Robert Kennedy, from the devious process in which Bobby was made Attorney General, to the "politically sensitive issue of Vietnam, which could involve the United States in a long-term military operation in Southeast Asia." John consistently opposed the involvement of American troops in overseas conflicts, especially volatile and unstable ones, unless an imminent threat was posed to the country. However, "questions about instability in South Vietnam mounted and advisers urged JFK to use American power to ensure the survival of an anti-Communist government," and JFK was forced to make a decision. The narrator imagines conversations between JFK and his most trusted and loyal ally discussing the best course of action. John was reluctant to involve American troops in Vietnam because of the obviously "dangerous and unprofitable terrain," and he didn't want to be drawn into a long-term conflict "at a cost in blood and treasure." He was also apprehensive because as he didn't want to use U.S. military troops, his solution (send military advisers to train and help the Vietnamese people fight their war) had to be kept on the down low, because if America seemed to be too involved in helping Vietnam, if the country seemed in danger of defeat, he would be backed into a corner by domestic pressures to increase the American support in the country, which is exactly what he planned to avoid. He took great pains to make sure the involvement was kept mostly from the public, and only confided in his brother Bobby, who loyally agreed and understood his thoughts. Soon, JFK began to speak of a coup in Vietnam which would lead to the "greater stability" the U.S. needed "as a prelude to pulling out [their] advisers." However, in the unsuccessful coup, one of Kennedy's friends was slain, and he felt much responsibility for encouraging the coup, which "divided the government [in America] and in Saigon." Next the narrator poses the question of how might Kennedy have handled the situation in Vietnam had he served a second term?
Chapter Reflection:
I like how the narrator connected this moment in history to how Kennedy might have felt about a modern event, the Iraq war. The overarching theme throughout the chapter expressed by both Kennedy's was a reluctance of involvement in other countries' political developments, especially unstable countries where involvement will probably do more harm than good. I like JQA's quote, "Do not go in search of monsters abroad." The brothers' personalities also seemed to work together very well, as JFK's leadership and wisdom were supported by his brother's loyalty, understanding, and serious dedication. I liked seeing a recreated thought process of the both of them during this historical event, and I'd like to learn more about the background information that led up to and was going on at the time.
Chapter 17: The Sick Man in the White House
Chapter Summary:
The condition of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in April of 1944 was alarming - "god-awful," as described by a physician who had examined the president. This physician diagnosed FDR with congestive heart failure and hypertension, both seriously dangerous ailments, and suggested strict dietary, physical, mental, and medical changes to improve his condition. The president's own personal physician Dr. McIntire, however, refused to acknowledge these findings - he seemed to be in denial about the state of the president, as well as his own misjudgments. Almost no one who knew about FDR's fatal heart problems wanted to tell him about it, partly in fear and probably partly with good intentions (refer to the article on "How to Keep Well," that suggests that forgetting about an illness helps keep stress levels down), hoping that the president would continue on for his fourth term in office, no matter how numbered they knew that his days were. They recognized that Roosevelt needed to stay in office, for it was the climax of the war and no one wanted to lose him as a leader, no matter what it would do to his health. Roosevelt, however, possibly knew about the risks and would want to stay in office no matter what, because he wasn't about to take orders from any doctors and abandon his country in need - "he was in it for the duration."
Chapter Reflection:
In my opinion, it was the duty of the president's physicians to let him know the state of his health, especially as dire as it was, no matter what the outcome was. Even if all of the doctors felt that it wasn't there right to tell the president what he should do, they should have at least told him about his conditions and the suggestions they had to prolong his life, which I'm pretty sure he would have wanted to hear, even if to serve the term and better serve his country. McIntire's "look-see's" seemed almost too casual - shouldn't he have been paying better attention to one of the most important men in the world at the time? His employer?
The condition of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in April of 1944 was alarming - "god-awful," as described by a physician who had examined the president. This physician diagnosed FDR with congestive heart failure and hypertension, both seriously dangerous ailments, and suggested strict dietary, physical, mental, and medical changes to improve his condition. The president's own personal physician Dr. McIntire, however, refused to acknowledge these findings - he seemed to be in denial about the state of the president, as well as his own misjudgments. Almost no one who knew about FDR's fatal heart problems wanted to tell him about it, partly in fear and probably partly with good intentions (refer to the article on "How to Keep Well," that suggests that forgetting about an illness helps keep stress levels down), hoping that the president would continue on for his fourth term in office, no matter how numbered they knew that his days were. They recognized that Roosevelt needed to stay in office, for it was the climax of the war and no one wanted to lose him as a leader, no matter what it would do to his health. Roosevelt, however, possibly knew about the risks and would want to stay in office no matter what, because he wasn't about to take orders from any doctors and abandon his country in need - "he was in it for the duration."
Chapter Reflection:
In my opinion, it was the duty of the president's physicians to let him know the state of his health, especially as dire as it was, no matter what the outcome was. Even if all of the doctors felt that it wasn't there right to tell the president what he should do, they should have at least told him about his conditions and the suggestions they had to prolong his life, which I'm pretty sure he would have wanted to hear, even if to serve the term and better serve his country. McIntire's "look-see's" seemed almost too casual - shouldn't he have been paying better attention to one of the most important men in the world at the time? His employer?
Chapter 16: Lost-Found Nation: The Last Meeting between Elijah Muhammad and W.D. Fard
Chapter Summary:
This chapter explores the religion of the Nation of Islam, the rise to fame of an exotic, unexplainably compelling light skinned man by the name of Wallace Fard Muhammad. Muhammad gained much of his followers because of the time period in which he appeared, "a period of both intense disillusionment and radical religious departure within the black community," as well as the fact that more blacks, "ground down by poverty and embittered by continuing white intransigence, had begun to turn to new gods." No one exactly knows where Fard came from, or who he was, but the religion that he created became iconic - using Noble Drew Ali's religion as a jumping off point, he invented his own theology involving Europeans as "crude savages" and "black people as the "progenitors of civilization," whom had become "slavish imitations of their white masters" and whom Fard had come to empower and eliminate the white man altogether. Elijah Poole was a man who found his salvation with Fard and the Temple of Islam - he eventually became Fard's right hand man and kept the secret that Fard was the messiah (the incarnation of God on earth). However, once the general public found out (by Robert Harris's human sacrifice) about Fard's voodoo cult which included plans for an apocalyptic genocide of whites, leaving only a purified world made up of the "Original People," people began denouncing the faith left and right, as the people of Detroit were ashamed of its existence. Fard was arrested, and back and forth he went from imprisonment to disappearance to sneaking back in to revive his religion, to being arrested again, to finally denouncing his own faith, saying ti had all been a scheme to "get as much money out of it as he could." Mysteries still remain as to what happened to Wallace Fard Muhammad after he swore he would never return to Detroit, as well as what he told to his alleged successor Elijah Muhammad - did Elijah know of his faithful master's retraction? Was foul play involved? We may never know.
Chapter Reflection:
This chapter made me uneasy, because of the mystery surrounding this "messiah." The religion kind of scared me, it seemed like a science-fiction made up movie or something that convinced black people to turn against all white people and want to kill them all to purify the world - very Holocaust/genocide. The very notion of a messiah, and especially what converts would do for him scares me especially, the ideas of cults and how people are drawn into what seems like such ridiculousness. I also was unsettled by the mystery which surrounded the disappearance of W.D. Fard and how did he just drop off the face of the earth? I'd like to learn more about it but I'd also not like to learn more about it...
This chapter explores the religion of the Nation of Islam, the rise to fame of an exotic, unexplainably compelling light skinned man by the name of Wallace Fard Muhammad. Muhammad gained much of his followers because of the time period in which he appeared, "a period of both intense disillusionment and radical religious departure within the black community," as well as the fact that more blacks, "ground down by poverty and embittered by continuing white intransigence, had begun to turn to new gods." No one exactly knows where Fard came from, or who he was, but the religion that he created became iconic - using Noble Drew Ali's religion as a jumping off point, he invented his own theology involving Europeans as "crude savages" and "black people as the "progenitors of civilization," whom had become "slavish imitations of their white masters" and whom Fard had come to empower and eliminate the white man altogether. Elijah Poole was a man who found his salvation with Fard and the Temple of Islam - he eventually became Fard's right hand man and kept the secret that Fard was the messiah (the incarnation of God on earth). However, once the general public found out (by Robert Harris's human sacrifice) about Fard's voodoo cult which included plans for an apocalyptic genocide of whites, leaving only a purified world made up of the "Original People," people began denouncing the faith left and right, as the people of Detroit were ashamed of its existence. Fard was arrested, and back and forth he went from imprisonment to disappearance to sneaking back in to revive his religion, to being arrested again, to finally denouncing his own faith, saying ti had all been a scheme to "get as much money out of it as he could." Mysteries still remain as to what happened to Wallace Fard Muhammad after he swore he would never return to Detroit, as well as what he told to his alleged successor Elijah Muhammad - did Elijah know of his faithful master's retraction? Was foul play involved? We may never know.
Chapter Reflection:
This chapter made me uneasy, because of the mystery surrounding this "messiah." The religion kind of scared me, it seemed like a science-fiction made up movie or something that convinced black people to turn against all white people and want to kill them all to purify the world - very Holocaust/genocide. The very notion of a messiah, and especially what converts would do for him scares me especially, the ideas of cults and how people are drawn into what seems like such ridiculousness. I also was unsettled by the mystery which surrounded the disappearance of W.D. Fard and how did he just drop off the face of the earth? I'd like to learn more about it but I'd also not like to learn more about it...
Monday, September 2, 2013
Chapter 15: Trying John Scopes
Chapter Summary:
The events surrounding the trial of John Scopes seem to be entirely blown out of proportion. It began as a conspiracy of sorts among men to take on the Butler Act (antievolution law) by electing a defendant (Scopes) with the real intention of getting the town of Dayton some fame. The defendant was to be accused of violating the law by teaching from a textbook that used evolution in the study of biology, and in the process, hopefully spark a heated debate over science and religion, truth and faith - and what better way to heat it up then to set up two enemies against each other - William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution, and Clarence Darrow for the defense? The "sideshow" of the trial was less about "the actual arguments about evolution's viability or its compatibility with the teachings of the Bible" and more about the exploitation of a town and a simple matter of the law. Eventually the trial's focus was narrowed to simply a case "involving the fact as to whether or not a school teacher has taught a doctrine prohibited by stature," which Scopes obviously had. Evolution and the debate between science and religion was off the table. However, the defense rose that there "was no conflict between evolution and the Old Testament," and they "had expert witnesses to prove it." Although by now Scopes's guilt had basically already been established, the defense still wanted to try and prove "that evolution was compatible with the story of divine creation in the Bible," and therefore "show that its teaching was not a violation of the law." The prosecution argued that the people of Tennessee had already made their opinion clear in the passing of the Butler Act, and no amount of experts could change their mind. Then, in perhaps the most inspiring yet unknown event of the trial, defendant Malone made a powerful speech imploring that the next generation needed to be open to all knowledge, to all of the facts available, and not to succumb to fear. In the end, the judge ended up ruling against expert testimonies, eliminating the debate over evolution and finding Scopes guilty, with a fine of $100. It was as if the trial had never happened, but it was so publicized that it became a legacy in the debate over evolution.
Chapter Reflection:
I was actually confused about the whole point of this chapter: if no one actually debated about whether evolution went against the teachings of the Bible, then what was the point of the whole trial? Just so some guy could get fined a hundred dollars for simply teaching out of an outdated textbook? I understand the hype about the sensitive topic of evolution at that time, but it just seemed so pointless to me. I was also confused about who was working with who, because at the beginning it seemed as if the whole thing was orchestrated among a group of conspirators who knew what was going to happen, but in the end it didn't turn out the way they had planned.
The events surrounding the trial of John Scopes seem to be entirely blown out of proportion. It began as a conspiracy of sorts among men to take on the Butler Act (antievolution law) by electing a defendant (Scopes) with the real intention of getting the town of Dayton some fame. The defendant was to be accused of violating the law by teaching from a textbook that used evolution in the study of biology, and in the process, hopefully spark a heated debate over science and religion, truth and faith - and what better way to heat it up then to set up two enemies against each other - William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution, and Clarence Darrow for the defense? The "sideshow" of the trial was less about "the actual arguments about evolution's viability or its compatibility with the teachings of the Bible" and more about the exploitation of a town and a simple matter of the law. Eventually the trial's focus was narrowed to simply a case "involving the fact as to whether or not a school teacher has taught a doctrine prohibited by stature," which Scopes obviously had. Evolution and the debate between science and religion was off the table. However, the defense rose that there "was no conflict between evolution and the Old Testament," and they "had expert witnesses to prove it." Although by now Scopes's guilt had basically already been established, the defense still wanted to try and prove "that evolution was compatible with the story of divine creation in the Bible," and therefore "show that its teaching was not a violation of the law." The prosecution argued that the people of Tennessee had already made their opinion clear in the passing of the Butler Act, and no amount of experts could change their mind. Then, in perhaps the most inspiring yet unknown event of the trial, defendant Malone made a powerful speech imploring that the next generation needed to be open to all knowledge, to all of the facts available, and not to succumb to fear. In the end, the judge ended up ruling against expert testimonies, eliminating the debate over evolution and finding Scopes guilty, with a fine of $100. It was as if the trial had never happened, but it was so publicized that it became a legacy in the debate over evolution.
Chapter Reflection:
I was actually confused about the whole point of this chapter: if no one actually debated about whether evolution went against the teachings of the Bible, then what was the point of the whole trial? Just so some guy could get fined a hundred dollars for simply teaching out of an outdated textbook? I understand the hype about the sensitive topic of evolution at that time, but it just seemed so pointless to me. I was also confused about who was working with who, because at the beginning it seemed as if the whole thing was orchestrated among a group of conspirators who knew what was going to happen, but in the end it didn't turn out the way they had planned.
Chapter 14: The Road to Butgnéville-November 11, 1918
Chapter Summary:
This chapter discusses in detail the fighting that went on on the morning of November 11th, with the armistice to end World War I being signed. On the road to Butgnéville, France, the front lines of the Western Front were fighting a battle against the defeated, weak Germans. Negotiations with the Germans were under way, however the divisions fighting the German defensive line on the road between Saint-Hilaire and Butgnéville had no way of knowing the end of the war was upon them and obeyed their orders to keep attacking in order to clear the way for an attack upon Metz, a larger city close by. The narrator describes the journey of a friend's grandfather, Meyer Strauss, along the difficult and treacherous road to the front line of battle on the morning of November 11th, 1918. Once the armistice was signed, the message was sent out that the war was over, but because communication was difficult, the troops in the midst of battle along these roads in France had no idea, and the battle cost heavy casualties on both sides, as both Americans and Germans fought to the end, although suspicions of the end had been aroused. It was very hard to "call back..an attack in progress," but a ceasefire was finally called at 11:00, and the Germans celebrated immediately. Fireworks were set off, cigarettes were smoked, beers were drank, symbolizing the celebration and ushering in of a hopefully new era of peace. The soldiers really believed "that their sacrifices were worthwhile, that their mission really had been accomplished," but the narrator questions this almost too good to be true ending.. Were the casualties really necessary, even though the armistice had already been signed? Why was the wait so long to inform the troops of the decision? Would the Americans have called off their attacks if they had known? And most importantly, did this almost half-defeat plant the seeds of the next war, because the Germans were not fully defeated and came back for revenge?
Chapter Reflection:
The questions raised by the narrator after the retelling of the story were very thought provoking to me: if the Germans had felt fully defeated, would they have been less likely to look for revenge later on? Maybe they would have been shamed into submission...
I also liked how the narrator put a personal touch on it by imagining his friend's grandfather in the midst of the iconic battle, and the end to the great war. Something that surprised me was the way the Germans and Americans fraternized and "shook hands and made up," when minutes before, they had been shooting to kill one another. It was astounding to me that one order could make them all friendly towards one another in a matter of minutes.
At certain times during the story, however, I was lost - I had no idea who was fighting who or where or why and I wish it could have been a little bit more specifically focused on a single event in a single place, or at least explained a little better.
This chapter discusses in detail the fighting that went on on the morning of November 11th, with the armistice to end World War I being signed. On the road to Butgnéville, France, the front lines of the Western Front were fighting a battle against the defeated, weak Germans. Negotiations with the Germans were under way, however the divisions fighting the German defensive line on the road between Saint-Hilaire and Butgnéville had no way of knowing the end of the war was upon them and obeyed their orders to keep attacking in order to clear the way for an attack upon Metz, a larger city close by. The narrator describes the journey of a friend's grandfather, Meyer Strauss, along the difficult and treacherous road to the front line of battle on the morning of November 11th, 1918. Once the armistice was signed, the message was sent out that the war was over, but because communication was difficult, the troops in the midst of battle along these roads in France had no idea, and the battle cost heavy casualties on both sides, as both Americans and Germans fought to the end, although suspicions of the end had been aroused. It was very hard to "call back..an attack in progress," but a ceasefire was finally called at 11:00, and the Germans celebrated immediately. Fireworks were set off, cigarettes were smoked, beers were drank, symbolizing the celebration and ushering in of a hopefully new era of peace. The soldiers really believed "that their sacrifices were worthwhile, that their mission really had been accomplished," but the narrator questions this almost too good to be true ending.. Were the casualties really necessary, even though the armistice had already been signed? Why was the wait so long to inform the troops of the decision? Would the Americans have called off their attacks if they had known? And most importantly, did this almost half-defeat plant the seeds of the next war, because the Germans were not fully defeated and came back for revenge?
Chapter Reflection:
The questions raised by the narrator after the retelling of the story were very thought provoking to me: if the Germans had felt fully defeated, would they have been less likely to look for revenge later on? Maybe they would have been shamed into submission...
I also liked how the narrator put a personal touch on it by imagining his friend's grandfather in the midst of the iconic battle, and the end to the great war. Something that surprised me was the way the Germans and Americans fraternized and "shook hands and made up," when minutes before, they had been shooting to kill one another. It was astounding to me that one order could make them all friendly towards one another in a matter of minutes.
At certain times during the story, however, I was lost - I had no idea who was fighting who or where or why and I wish it could have been a little bit more specifically focused on a single event in a single place, or at least explained a little better.
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