Summary: "Man I killed"
In this story Tim O'Brien talks about one of his experiences on killing a young man. He explains in details how the young man looked after thee incident. Brien's reaction to what he had done, had made him feel "guilty " of something wrong he had done. Not knowing what to do or what to say. Brien didn't realize how affective he was going to turn out after his reaction on seeing the young man. He explains as he knew the man future, as if he had plans for his future. As his men told him their was nothing else he could of done to the young man, once the young man had appear it was life or death on Brien's hands.
Response:
I felt this story was really terrifying. If I would of been in Brien's stop I honestly wouldn't of known what to do. I couldn't imagine what he was going through after killing someone. How couldn't the other feel the guilt as he did. Being in war must be very hectic watching people die or take their lives for their country is pretty intense. If this was a just a little glimpse of a story what more goes on. I think my reaction would have been the same as his, freezing in the moment not thinking but reacting right away, if an enemy would approach.
I agree. I could preach about the sanctity of life and how I would never take a life all I want but if I were in such a conflicting position, not even sure if I was in danger or not, I'm not sure what I'd do. I would definitely be shook up by it like he was if I had killed someone. You have to be a strong person to come to terms with such a thing and move on.
ReplyDeleteIt also must be very difficult because he didn't want to be in the war because he didn't totally understand why the U.S. was even in that war and to him he could be killing someone without meaning or reason.
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