The War. It is a deep depiction of what
soldiers can experience after a war. It resembles the challenges they face and
what they want to leave behind. Things that define and make them who they are.
There is only so much our soldiers can take however. Some come home with
disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or P.T.S.D. The War however, through the eyes of Lidia
Simmons and her brother Stu, shows what it’s really like. What people will go
through and experience with someone affected by P.T.S.D. In the case of the
Simmons family, they have been experiencing this challenge for some time. Lois
along her children Lidia and Stu have been coping with Stephens P.T.S.D. Being
the wife of Lois and father of the two children, they are beginning to learn
what has been bothering him over the years. As told through the eyes of Lidia,
there is much to tell of this family.
Lidia is a
12 year old girl is caught in the good and bad things of life. At a time where
being different isn’t what anyone wants or needs. Living in the Deep South is
also why the times are so troubling, with racism at a high she stands out among
her peers. With her best friends Amber and Elvadine, they go through the thick
and thin together. Doing everything from smoke to standing up for each other.
That will become more important later as she taught by her father, Stephen,
what it means to be a good person. The day their father came home from the
hospital was the day Lidia and Stu saw what had happened to their father. It
became apparent to them that their father had come back changed from the war,
although he didn’t talk about it so much it was obvious he was hurt by it.
Lidia didn’t know why he was acting so different but she wasn’t so curious to
know as her brother. Stu was thirteen just a year older then Lidia but the
example for her, listening to every word Stephen said and taking it to heart.
But as he found out from his father Stu learned of how his father left his best
friend in Vietnam. How Stephen had been everywhere with him. But the day they
were attacked in Vietnam, both of them sustained injuries. Stephen carried his
friend Dodge to the extraction zone but with the helicopter almost full to capacity,
he was faced with a choice. To leave Dodge behind or save himself. By leaving
Dodge to die alone in Vietnam, he was never able to forgive himself for leaving
his best friend behind.
Once learned
Lidia and Stu began understanding the lesson he was trying to teach them. Some
more difficult than others, they attempt to understand his intensions as to why
he is being so kind and tolerant with everyone. But as their father becomes
better and more determined to find a good job, they soon learn of why and what
Stephen was teaching them. One the verge of Breaking down Stephen told his wife
Lois of why he needed to teach Lidia and Stu right. Why it was so important for
him to make the commitment to his family and to himself that anything is
possible. He wanted to make a difference in the world and believed he could do
that by joining the Marine Corp, but by screwing up all his life all he wanted
to do was to make sure Lidia and Stu grew up well. By being good people they
would be the good deed Stephen has wanted in life, they are the difference in
the world he wanted to make.
In the end,
to convey the message to Lidia and Stu he had to be killed for them to
understand his true intentions. Why he wanted what he wanted. To show them that
as long as you believe in something then anything is possible and no matter how
badly you want to give up, never quit. And always remember there are people
less fortunate then yourself so always be thankful for what you have and the
ability to do good.
