Johnny Got His Gun

Johnny Got His Gun
War. The very thought of it conjures thoughts of death and destruction. War. Many men have died far from home and far from family. War. Men sent off as if they were going off towards a paradise, with bands playing, Old Glory raised high. Fathers and brothers going off to die in a strange land. Why is this such a festive event? Should this not be a sad day? Men going off to die in the fields, staring up into the sky and wishing they had had some warning of this. This day should be treated as though every man on that train will never see home again.
Women and children cheer for the departing soldiers. They are going off to fight for our great nation, for democracy, for the women and children. The people see this as a great and just cause. The soldiers, with smiles on their faces and a feeling of pride, board the trains, being lead like lambs to the slaughter. Joe Bonham remembers this as a sad day. A day where he had to leave Kareen and go off to war. The atmosphere at the train station did not make it any easier for Joe. The only thing he could think about was staying there with Kareen. Although his later condition might contribute to some contempt for his departure, he still didn’t want to leave. Joe has no idea of what he has gotten himself into.  
Festive atmospheres greatly boost the morale of soldiers as they depart. It lets them know why there going off to be strangers in a strange land. They’re going off to defend the glory of America. They’re going off to protect everything that their country stands for. They need the smiling faces. They need the bands playing the Star Spangled Banner. Without this, they would feel as though they were being lead to the gallows. A feeling of despair would overtake them and the Last Rites would begin to creep into their minds. Without the festivities, they would not want to fight. They would not want to protect America so fervently. The songs of the bands would sound like requiems before their burials....