I sat sullenly watching the TV flicker before my eyes without
much interest. A few words penetrated my listless stupor,
”
nuke bazooka launcher.
”
I perked up and looked to the TV
– a man dressed in fatigues was extolling the amazing weaponry
innovations made during the World War II and Cold War eras.
I watched with more interest as the man carried on about the
accuracy and power of the guns and missiles that were on exhibit
for the show. It wasn’t my fascination with the weapons that kept
my attention tuned to the TV. It was the realization that the death
caused by these weapons, especially the missiles, was just too
easy, too simple. With the missiles, it was point and click,
instant death. And because of that, it drove my mind to wonder if
the pusher of the button really understood what was going on.
I sat sullenly watching the TV flicker before my eyes without much interest. A few words penetrated my listless stupor, “nuke bazooka launcher.” I perked up and looked to the TV – a man dressed in fatigues was extolling the amazing weaponry innovations made during the World War II and Cold War eras.
I watched with more interest as the man carried on about the accuracy and power of the guns and missiles that were on exhibit for the show. It wasn’t my fascination with the weapons that kept my attention tuned to the TV. It was the realization that the death caused by these weapons, especially the missiles, was just too easy, too simple. With the missiles, it was point and click, instant death. And because of that, it drove my mind to wonder if the pusher of the button really understood what was going on.
The pusher knew what the bomb was capable of and they knew it would cause many people to lose their lives because of it, but I doubt they really believed it. Sending some rockets would just seem like playing a game. “Wow! You just destroyed a thousand little pixilated icons or computer bites.” It just doesn’t seem to sink in – those pixels were actually people at one time. They’re not really people anymore – just dead bits and lumps.
It’s a big difference being out in the field watching the sorrow, pain and death than sitting in an over-stuffed office chair in a climate-controlled room.
Even guns make it too easy to kill someone. Death should be difficult so that the person knows exactly what they are doing when they kill. Guns distance you from the truth. The gun killed them, not me. It’s just another technological advancement that makes it easier to kill. You now get the job done quicker.
I think we should bring back the sword. That way, death is always seen and felt. The knowledge that you are killing is up close and personal in your face. You see the man you killed at your feet, his blood pooling on the ground and you know that the blood is on your hands and there is no ifs, ands or butts about it.
The armies of the world should fight for their lives with cold steel in their hands, not a fully automatic AK-47 that sprays destruction everywhere the owner points it. Death should be difficult based on skill and strength, not on technology.
Katie Crane is a senior at Anzar High School.
