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Scott Cast
Feb 9, 2011, 5:20:19 PM2/9/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
In “church” soldiers are stationed near a pair of kindly monks how do
you think the monks friendly temperament affected the soldiers?
you think the monks friendly temperament affected the soldiers?
Emily Richards
Feb 10, 2011, 1:48:49 PM2/10/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
That's a good question, Scott. I think that the kindness of the monks
showed the soldiers that there is good in the world. I think it
softened them and made them think about their lives before and after
the war. The war is their life, and I think that they have become so
involved in the war, that they forget that they have lives outside of
it. I think that when Henry Dobbins reminices on his life and thinks
about what he would have been if he hadn't gone to war, it brings all
soldiers back to reality. The calmness and serenity also helps them
grasp reality and wish they didn't have to be in a war all the way
around the world. Henry Dobbins proves this point when he says to his
fellow soldiers, "'You know,' Dobbins said to Kiowa one morning,
'after the war maybe I'll join up with these guys...then in high
school, I started to think how I'd like to be a minister...It looked
like a pretty good life'" (O'Brien 114). The soldiers start joking
after that, and O'Brien often mentions how quiet and serene the monks
are during their conversation, showing that their calmness brings
about a reality check in the soldiers. O'Brien says, "Henry Dobbins
closed his eyes briefly, then laughed...The two monks were quiet as
they cleaned and oiled the machine gun. Though they spoke almost no
English, they seemed to have great respect for the conversation, as if
sensing that important matters were being discussed (O'Brien 115).
O'Brien wants us to realize that the monks show a softer side to the
soldiers.
showed the soldiers that there is good in the world. I think it
softened them and made them think about their lives before and after
the war. The war is their life, and I think that they have become so
involved in the war, that they forget that they have lives outside of
it. I think that when Henry Dobbins reminices on his life and thinks
about what he would have been if he hadn't gone to war, it brings all
soldiers back to reality. The calmness and serenity also helps them
grasp reality and wish they didn't have to be in a war all the way
around the world. Henry Dobbins proves this point when he says to his
fellow soldiers, "'You know,' Dobbins said to Kiowa one morning,
'after the war maybe I'll join up with these guys...then in high
school, I started to think how I'd like to be a minister...It looked
like a pretty good life'" (O'Brien 114). The soldiers start joking
after that, and O'Brien often mentions how quiet and serene the monks
are during their conversation, showing that their calmness brings
about a reality check in the soldiers. O'Brien says, "Henry Dobbins
closed his eyes briefly, then laughed...The two monks were quiet as
they cleaned and oiled the machine gun. Though they spoke almost no
English, they seemed to have great respect for the conversation, as if
sensing that important matters were being discussed (O'Brien 115).
O'Brien wants us to realize that the monks show a softer side to the
soldiers.
Raymond
Feb 12, 2011, 2:59:19 PM2/12/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
I agree with Emily. I think the monks reminded the soldiers of their
home and of the content feeling of not being at war. With the
constant fear of the war, being in the church and not worrying about
the fighting and war for a few days helped to calm them and make them
feel at ease. I think being in the church helps to calm the soldiers
and relieve them of the stress they are facing in the war every day.
"I do like churches. The way it feels inside. It feels good when you
just sit there, like you're in a forest and everything's really quiet,
except there's still this sound you can't hear," (116). They can feel
the peace and calm of the church while they stay there.
home and of the content feeling of not being at war. With the
constant fear of the war, being in the church and not worrying about
the fighting and war for a few days helped to calm them and make them
feel at ease. I think being in the church helps to calm the soldiers
and relieve them of the stress they are facing in the war every day.
"I do like churches. The way it feels inside. It feels good when you
just sit there, like you're in a forest and everything's really quiet,
except there's still this sound you can't hear," (116). They can feel
the peace and calm of the church while they stay there.
Moria
Feb 12, 2011, 4:42:02 PM2/12/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
Emily you make a good point, however I think these men know that there
is good in the world, they just look past it when they are taught to
kill and fight.
The soldiers' time with the monks did affect them positively and as
O'Brien says, "it was mostly a very peaceful time" (O'Brien 113). The
time the men spent with the monks and not dealing with any violent
attacks gave them a chance to relax and to restore their minds. Being
around constant threat and treachery was very hard on their minds and
their bodies. The hostility from the Vietcong was something that
always kept them on their toes. Being around the monks that were so
kind and friendly allowed them to be more introspective and look at
things from a view other than that of a soldier. The down-time these
soldiers experienced with the monks was a peaceful time for them to
relax and remember what was important to them.
is good in the world, they just look past it when they are taught to
kill and fight.
The soldiers' time with the monks did affect them positively and as
O'Brien says, "it was mostly a very peaceful time" (O'Brien 113). The
time the men spent with the monks and not dealing with any violent
attacks gave them a chance to relax and to restore their minds. Being
around constant threat and treachery was very hard on their minds and
their bodies. The hostility from the Vietcong was something that
always kept them on their toes. Being around the monks that were so
kind and friendly allowed them to be more introspective and look at
things from a view other than that of a soldier. The down-time these
soldiers experienced with the monks was a peaceful time for them to
relax and remember what was important to them.
Virginia
Feb 12, 2011, 11:38:30 PM2/12/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
I like the elusiveness of this question, Scott. It can have many
answers, depending on how one particular person may have interpreted
the reading. In my opinion, the setting that the monks provided the
soldiers with brought them back to the grounds of humility in which
they were raised into. For one, many of the soldiers in this chapter
opened up about their religious backgrounds as children. I think this
induced a sense of modesty and introspection. The humbleness and
innocence of the monks made the soldiers secretly curse themselves for
the killings they had committed in Vietnam, as well as made them
denounce their jobs as soldiers. Kiowa states, "Setting up Here. It's
wrong. I don't care what, it's still a church" (O'Brien 116). The
soldiers felt bad for those wrongs they had committed, and for those
of which they were soon to commit.
I also like a point that Moria made, on the idea that these soldiers
were forced to look past the good of the Vietnam people and judge
them, not for their character, but simply for their nativity. These
monks allowed the soldiers to re-examine the setting of which they
were in, along with all the killings they had made against Vietnamese
- both good and bad.
> > you think the monks friendly temperament affected the soldiers?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
answers, depending on how one particular person may have interpreted
the reading. In my opinion, the setting that the monks provided the
soldiers with brought them back to the grounds of humility in which
they were raised into. For one, many of the soldiers in this chapter
opened up about their religious backgrounds as children. I think this
induced a sense of modesty and introspection. The humbleness and
innocence of the monks made the soldiers secretly curse themselves for
the killings they had committed in Vietnam, as well as made them
denounce their jobs as soldiers. Kiowa states, "Setting up Here. It's
wrong. I don't care what, it's still a church" (O'Brien 116). The
soldiers felt bad for those wrongs they had committed, and for those
of which they were soon to commit.
I also like a point that Moria made, on the idea that these soldiers
were forced to look past the good of the Vietnam people and judge
them, not for their character, but simply for their nativity. These
monks allowed the soldiers to re-examine the setting of which they
were in, along with all the killings they had made against Vietnamese
- both good and bad.
>
> - Show quoted text -
Rosemary
Feb 12, 2011, 11:55:49 PM2/12/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
I agree with Virginia and Emily that the soldiers got a chance to
reminisce on their lives and look back on childhood memories while
they were with the monks. I think it also helped them get to know one
another even more and refresh their religious beliefs. Kiowa says, "I
didn't know you were all religious" to Dobbins (114). Then, they start
to discuss religion that they probably haven't thought about much
since they got to war. They reveal more of themselves to each other
and talk about a time after the war. The monks inspire the men to
think about religion and its part in their lives after the war.
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
reminisce on their lives and look back on childhood memories while
they were with the monks. I think it also helped them get to know one
another even more and refresh their religious beliefs. Kiowa says, "I
didn't know you were all religious" to Dobbins (114). Then, they start
to discuss religion that they probably haven't thought about much
since they got to war. They reveal more of themselves to each other
and talk about a time after the war. The monks inspire the men to
think about religion and its part in their lives after the war.
Kelly Candeto
Feb 14, 2011, 11:35:44 PM2/14/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
Good question, Scott! I believe that the monks presence made the
soldiers realize that they didn't need to be weary of everyone's
presence in Vietnam; there were some natives that they could feel
totally at peace with. The monks are the first Vietnamese people that
the book shows the soldiers interacting with on a totally non-
defensive level. They are at complete ease with the monks being there
and are even appreciate, I believe, of their company. The monks seem
to bring a calming mood to the soldier's lives, while still bringing
an awareness that this is a human society that they're invading in
order to stop the communism: a society that has churches and religion.
"'It's bad news,' Kiowa said. 'You don't mess with churches.' But we
spent the night there, turning the pagoda into a little fortress, and
then for the next seven or eight days we used the place as a base of
operations. It was mostly a very peaceful time" (O'Brien 113). The
overall effect that the monks have on the soldiers is a calming,
peaceful one, while still reminding them of their homes and
backgrounds, often filled with churches, sermons, and a Christian
upbringing.
soldiers realize that they didn't need to be weary of everyone's
presence in Vietnam; there were some natives that they could feel
totally at peace with. The monks are the first Vietnamese people that
the book shows the soldiers interacting with on a totally non-
defensive level. They are at complete ease with the monks being there
and are even appreciate, I believe, of their company. The monks seem
to bring a calming mood to the soldier's lives, while still bringing
an awareness that this is a human society that they're invading in
order to stop the communism: a society that has churches and religion.
"'It's bad news,' Kiowa said. 'You don't mess with churches.' But we
spent the night there, turning the pagoda into a little fortress, and
then for the next seven or eight days we used the place as a base of
operations. It was mostly a very peaceful time" (O'Brien 113). The
overall effect that the monks have on the soldiers is a calming,
peaceful one, while still reminding them of their homes and
backgrounds, often filled with churches, sermons, and a Christian
upbringing.
Brianna
Feb 15, 2011, 8:12:42 AM2/15/11
to The Things They Carried discussion, spring 2011 (green)
This is a great question Scott. The soldiers were affected by by the
monks because this was the first time they have experienced such
tranquility in a long time for many of them. They feel safe when they
are with the monks and totaolly forget about all war and just focus on
the now. "It was mostly a very peaceful time." (O'Brien 113). This
quote shows that they were for once comfortable in there
surroundings.
monks because this was the first time they have experienced such
tranquility in a long time for many of them. They feel safe when they
are with the monks and totaolly forget about all war and just focus on
the now. "It was mostly a very peaceful time." (O'Brien 113). This
quote shows that they were for once comfortable in there
surroundings.
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