The Iraq War and the Reason to Fight

The Iraq war, started during the Bush era, was a war filled with misconceptions and innocent deaths. The media sometimes bloated the facts, and sometimes the government ignored things it shouldn't have. The majority of American people were misinformed, and misunderstand what was really happening.

The war began in 2003, after the US invaded with the goal of toppling the dictator's regime. Saddam Hussein was a leader who used fear to remain in power. The US needed to justify going into Iraq, so somehow americans were lead to believe that the Iraqi government had chemical weapons. America couldn't allow this, so we needed to go in there and get them out. In reality, after the war we found out that there wasn't any chemical weapons, and there never had been. The war lasted for over 8 years, however it didn't take very long at all to get Hussein out of office. He disappeared, but was eventually found hiding, and was given a "show trial" and then killed. However, America couldn't just leave. If they did, the situation would only get worse. They needed to remain in Iraq as the people worked to set up a democratic government. But, that meant that bloodshed would continue. After all, we were still in the land that we had invaded, and some civilians wanted us out.

There is an important question that the Iraq war leads us to, in the modern world with technology and instant media, what has changed about war? In the past, as far back as ancient times, war was used to gain power, land, and resources. It was expected that you go in, slaughter every man you see, and take their gold, land, and wives as your own. War was something that the ancient economies were hinged on. The governments and states of Ancient Rome relied on the gold that was brought back in order to stay in power. Also, war is what decided the boundary lines. Rome started as a small city-state and grew into one of the largest empires of the ancient world. One key aspect was that civilians of the past didn't get to see the atrocities of war, unless they were being attacked. They didn't see the murder of an innocent child playing in the street. They didn't feel the fear chunning inside them as the ground started to throb with the sound of horses charging. The people who were protected by the larger and more powerful government never knew of the war crimes and torture. However, now we can. America is absolutely one of the safest places to live. I have never, NEVER, been in the midst of a battle. But, I can see videos online taken by a person who is in a war. I can watch a soldier talk about the terrible things he had to do, and how it has destroyed him inside. I can read the stories of people who I will never get a chance to meet, but who have survived things I pray I never have to encounter.

War has changed. No longer is it used to win a lady or some gold, rather it is used for politics and safety. Now, war must be justified. The people demand a reason to allow the bloodshed of others. While it may not be as widely reported, every person, at least deep down inside them, feels that war means innocent dying. When is it okay for us as Americans to allow that to happen? One answer is that it is okay when government says that it is a humanitarian act. However, war will always result in the deaths of many of the people that we are trying to help. War tears apart cities, families, and takes years to rebuild from. Even minor conflicts result in years and money needed to repair the damage, and there is always the emotional damage that no one can repair. Perhaps another answer is that the only time America should get involved is when another country is killing the innocent, when there is a mass genocide and the 'bad guys' don't care who dies. That does seem like an option, but does that mean that there are no times a countries people needs the current regime ousted, or needs help even when they aren't being killed already? There is no easy answer for war. There is no humanitarian war, but there are humanitarian reasons that we fight it.

Some say that we won the Iraq War. Some are wrong. Yes, we did get rid of Saddam Hussein, but did we gain anything? We were left with billions of dollars in the debt and american soldiers dead. We didn't get rid of chemical weapons because there never were any. We didn't stop communism. We are responsible for the of thousands of Iraqi civilians who are now dead. We are responsible for the damage we did in Iraq, and I don't think that getting rid of the dictator justifies all of that. No one won in Iraq, people only lost. Lost a loved one, lost their house, lost their life. I am not sure that in this modern world we can really say who wins and who looses. We like things to be simple, and like in our comic books, we root for the good guys and cower from the bad. But, who are the good guys and who are the bad? Is it the people who the americans are fighting? Perhaps for us that is the case. But for the children who learn to raise their arms in defeat before they learn to speak, is that the case? There isn't a good side and a bad side. There are just two sides, duking it out, and the people who are stuck in the middle.

My Youth Culture

Youth Culture. I have spent the past school year studying cultures from the past 75 years. Youth culture from the 70's, Pop culture from the 80's, and high culture of the 50's are things that I have all spend time looking into and studying. But now, it is time for my to look at myself, my generation, my culture. What do I and my friends spend time doing? How do those 5-10 years older than me differ, and what sets my generation apart. I look back on the '70's, '80's and '90's, and can make generalizations about youth in that time. What will my children, grandchildren, and future generations remember of me? How will they generalize my generations lifestyle? It is now time for me to take an in-depth look at myself. It is time to talk about my Youth Culture.

First came computers, then came the Internet, and then came Social Media. A new form of communication and interaction at a technological level. The unique thing about Social Media is that, since it everything is so instant, what was cool yesterday may be a platform that is mocked tomorrow. For example, early forms include things like MySpace and AOL Instant Messenger that are now considered the extinct ancestors of modern media. Even Facebook, created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, is starting to lose to other new forms of virtual interaction. Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter, YikYak and many, many others are all examples of popular media platforms that most everybody uses. Social Media is way to connect with everyone, from friends to acquaintances. I can share my life with anyone who will lend an ear to hear.

While there is valid criticism about the constant use of Social Media, and the instant connection we can have with those around us, I think it is important to note that it isn't usually from the youth. You don't hear 25 year-olds complaining about how they can share little snapshots of their life with their friends. It is usually the parents, those 40+ people, who voice their concern with it. The reason that the youth don't have issues with it is because it is all we have known. I have always had access to the internet, to Google, Youtube (although filtered), and to Media. I don't know what is it like to live without being able to just shoot a quick message to my friend. It is difficult for me to imagine a world without this. It is difficult for my peers to, as well. We have not known a world without Media, Computers, and Internet. This is why we don't really see the problem. It is our parents and grandparents, the previous generations, who see the issue. They know what it was like without it, they spent the majority of their life without it. They know what we can lose because of it. While I admit that many of the problems that people have with Social Media are very valid, I am noting that it isn't the youth who usually see it. We may agree, but we certainly won't ever give it up.

A very key piece of media in my generation is Youtube. This is because so many pop icons are now coming from this platform. Justin Bieber originated on Youtube and was turned into a major pop star. Even T.V. shows utilize Youtube. Music shows like The Voice and The X-Factor upload clips from the show because many people will just want to hear one song, or see just one performance. Likewise, late-night shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon sometimes will try to create certain parts of the show that air on television, but also are meant to go viral online. Aside from just television on Youtube, there is now a whole new form of celebrity. They are not actors, singers, or politicians. Rather, Youtube stars are people who have skill, personality and creativity that they share with the internet. Whether it be a weird quirk, strange skill, or impressive talent, they all share people. From vlogging to short videos where they talk about something important, they can share what they want, and they can gain popularity and reach a near celebrity status. There is a more dangerous, dark side to Youtube that cannot be ignored. One can easily and accidentally end up clicking on a pornographic, or just down right gross video that they don't want to see. Youtube can be dangerous, but I think some people don't take into consideration that simply using the internet can be dangerous. You are just as likely to find some terrible thing on Google as you are on Youtube. Even with the risks, Youtube must be recognized as something that not only has changed the way my generation looks at fame, but also the has changed the way we enjoy visual media.

Social Media is something that will be remembered by the generations to come. It is not going away, and I think, like with the invention of the wheel and cotton candy, history will smile back on its creation. However, another way that I think history will remember my Youth Culture is how we label ourselves. From being 'Basic' to being a Potterhead, my generation labels itself, and not in the way people over the past 30 years have. No longer are there the prepsters, Emos, and other classic subcultures, but rather there are a few shining ones that will be remembered. First, 'Basic' people. The group of people who follow the safe trends. Girls are often associated with things like Starbucks (specifically loving the Pumpkin Spice Lattes), Iphones, Uggs and scarfs. They follow what they know, and what is safe. I tend to believe that every person in my generation has a little bit of a 'Basic' person in themselves. A second subculture that I will be remembered really started with the creation of Social Media like Tumblr. The Fandoms. Now, if you read or watch something, you can follow people who also love the same things as you. Every fandom has a name. For example, the Harry Potter fandom is filled with people called 'Potterheads'. People who are in fandoms are often considered Nerdy and Geeky. Attributes of these people are: 'Shipping' characters, feeling all the feels, writing fan-fics, buying T-shirts, having strong theories and ideas about back stories, and just loving a book.

So, looking at my culture, and thinking about how history will remember us, I think the biggest thing that has happened is Social Media. It completely changed how we interact and how what is acceptable. I think that the future generations will see us as a bunch of basic people, who were the guinea pigs for the future. We are the people who are testing out Social Media and the amazing, ever changing and growing technology we have. And while I am sure that many past generations thought the same thing as me, I think that my Youth Culture is cutting a path for those to follow. I am the start of the future. That is how I want to be remembered.
 

Yes, I can tell you exactly what each represent.

The 1990's

With every decade that passes, a legacy is left behind. Each decade is looked back on with laughs, groans, and memories. The 1990's was a growing time for America and Britain as both faced new issues that increased technology and a issues never before faced caused.

First, Princess Diana died in a tragic car accident in 1997. Fleeing the ever intrusive Paparazzi, the "People's Princess" crashed in a tunnel after a night in Paris. News of this death shocked the world. The public was dismayed that a celebrity, who they loved and felt a strong connection with, was no longer around. Her relationship with the Royal Family wasn't never the best. She divorced Prince Charles after finding out he had been having an affair for a long time. This was not a popular decision among her royal relatives. Along with that, she made several rude comments about the inner workings of the family. The 2006 film, The Queen, depicts the difficulty of family, especially the Queen, to handle the situation and the demands of the public. Eventually, British Royal Protocol was broken. The family returned to London, where Queen Elizabeth made a live statement to the people.

Another big issue in the late 1990's, leading into 2000, was the Y2K scare. As technology progressed, and computers began to dominate every part of our society, a fear began to sprout that once the year 2000 hit, there would be a mass technology meltdown. While the intricate details of the potential meltdown were somewhat confusing, basically scientists wondered that a sudden change in the ascending numbers (going from 98, 99, to 00) would result in the computer system no longer working. The Internet had only been around for a little bit, but the technology had been around long enough most everything ran on computers. There was a fear that if it stopped working, people would not be able to get the things necessary for survival. Some even feared an apocalyptic sort of tragedy. Stocking up on anything from grain to guns, there was genuine fear and terror among many people. However, looking back, we know that nothing major did happen. While there were a few errors, they were all minor. Some stores had their credit-card machines stop working, and had to rely on cash transactions, but there were no serious consequences of the scare.

Finally, there were some classic pieces of pop culture created in the 1990's. From movies like Clueless, to television shows like Friends and Fresh Prince of Bel Air, pop culture in the 90's is often remembered by many. References are still generally caught by most 25+ people. The website BuzzFeed commonly makes short videos were people do or talk about something that was popular in the 90's. A recent video contained people trying Lunchables as adults. Created in 1988, the prepackaged meals usually contained snack foods like crackers and meat and cheese, along with a desert and a drink. They were popular in the 90's. People in the video recalled their friends eating Lunchables, and how you would've been a cool kid if you brought one to school. I have tried the 'meals' before, and thought it was a special treat to get as a little kid. Lunchables is just one example of a popular thing from one decade, that trickles into the next.

The 1990's were packed with events, both tragic and strange. Pop culture from the time, from movies to meals, are still referenced in today's current culture. I am too young to remember any of the 90's, but I was born at the start of the end. The first month of the last year. I am from that decade of learning and changing, and I can learn from the 90's; from the Queen whose people led her to break the rules, and from the citizens who feared the meltdown. Everyone can learn from the past, and even the past which is not all too distant.