Point of View
Statement: The point of view taken in this poem is from Hubert Wilson himself reflecting back on the Vietnam War. Hubert Wilson expresses himself very forcefully in this poem and shows his rage to how America made decisions in the Vietnam War.
Evidence: 'Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn'
Elaboration: The evidence suggests to us that Hubert was very furious with his country when it launched the operation which killed many innocents in Vietnam. The word 'omnipotent' is defined as an al-mighty person and in this case, America. Hubert thinks that America did not care for the Vietnamese and as they disregarded the people who were already mourning for the dead. He did not think that America was all that powerful as it did not realise that so many were suffering.
Statement: Hubert Wilson also expressed his condolences for the people suffering from the Agent Orange operation.
Evidence: 'Toll on the innocent and unborn' , 'Generations untold WILL pay'
Elaboration:Hubert mentioned in his poem the different effects of the disease and uses striking phrases to start the readers thinking and reflecting whether what America had done was morally right. Through the evidences, we can see that Hubert cared a lot for the innocents who were suffering and also realised that more wwould be affected as these diseases may be passed down from the mother to the foetus. This shows that Hubert was very grieved that the innocent lives in Vietnam are going to suffer such a fate, some of them are just infants and they are already born with diseases and disfunctions.
Situation and Setting
Statement: This poem is probably written during the post Vietnam War period.
Evidence: 'agent orange' , 'America did not foresee'
Elaboration: The first evidence 'agent orange' is a major incident which took place during the Vietnam War and this tells us that this poem is going to revolve around the incidents in the Vietnam War. The second evidence is phrased in a manner of reflection which shows that the persona is actually recounting on his past experiences in the Vietnam War and so we can infer that this poem should have been written after the war.
Statement: The situation at hand is probably the after effects of the war and particularly how the civilians in Vietnam were affected by the Agent Orange operation.
Evidence: 'Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead'
Elaboration: The evidence creates an imagery of the many people in Vietnam having different illnesses and medical problems as they were exposed to the chemicals in the Agent Orange operation. The different symptoms of this illness clearly shows us that the Agent Orange operation was too much for Vietnam and now that country will face many problems to contain the disease and ensure that the ecosystems are still kept safe.
Language and Diction
Statement: Hubert showed to us that there were many casualties of this war through the use of metaphors.
Evidence: 'Death potpourri'
Elaboration: The word 'potpourri' is defined as a collection containing a variety of sorts of things which is used as a metaphor, refers=ring to the victims of the Vietnam War. This evidence shows us that people from all walks of life in Vietnam were dying and this clearly highlights to us the severity of the death toll in Vietnam.
Statement: Hubert also carefully used different words to express his feelings in this poem through diction.
Evidence:'omnipotent' , 'nefariously'
Elaboration: Hubert used omniptent to describe how America was al-mighty and all but his tone was slightly sarcastic as deeper down, he was actually very angry over America's negligence which had led to so many lives being lost. Hubert also used nefariouly to describe that America was being led atrociouly astray such that it probably did not understand what matters most but could only be bent on winning the war at the expense of the many innocent Vietnamese lives.
Personal Response
I think that after this extensive research and analysis of this poem, I have found out lots more about the Vietnam war and understood what the different colours being brought up in the poem actually mean. I feel that cruelty of the American force was greatly displayed in the poem as many lives were lost when America launched the Agent Orange operation. Ths poem brings out the cruelty of war as countries would not care about the people but would only focus on their target --- to win the war.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Background of the poem
This poem was written in memory of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War, as known as the American War, was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975 when Saigon fell.
The Viet Cong, a lightly-armed South Vietnamese communist-controlled common front, largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment.
During the Vietnam war, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed 12,000,000 US gallons of chemical defoliants in South Vietnam as part of the aerial defoliation program known as Operation Ranch Hand. 20 percent of South Vietnam's jungles were sprayed over a nine year period. The first objective was to reduce the dense jungle foliage so that Communist forces might not use it for cover and to deny them use of crops needed for sustenance. In 1965, 42 percent of all herbicide spraying was dedicated to food crops. The second objective was spot clearing in sensitive areas such as around base perimeters. It was also used to drive civilians into RVN-controlled areas.
In 1963, the United States (suspecting the negative effects) initiated a study on the health effects of Agent Orange that by 1967 confirmed that the chemical caused cancer, birth defects and other serious health problems.
Links to pictures of affected Vietnamese:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Agent-orange-deformities-vietnam.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_vietnamese_Professor_is_pictured_with_a_group_of_handicapped_children.jpg
The Viet Cong, a lightly-armed South Vietnamese communist-controlled common front, largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment.
During the Vietnam war, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed 12,000,000 US gallons of chemical defoliants in South Vietnam as part of the aerial defoliation program known as Operation Ranch Hand. 20 percent of South Vietnam's jungles were sprayed over a nine year period. The first objective was to reduce the dense jungle foliage so that Communist forces might not use it for cover and to deny them use of crops needed for sustenance. In 1965, 42 percent of all herbicide spraying was dedicated to food crops. The second objective was spot clearing in sensitive areas such as around base perimeters. It was also used to drive civilians into RVN-controlled areas.
In 1963, the United States (suspecting the negative effects) initiated a study on the health effects of Agent Orange that by 1967 confirmed that the chemical caused cancer, birth defects and other serious health problems.
Links to pictures of affected Vietnamese:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Agent-orange-deformities-vietnam.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_vietnamese_Professor_is_pictured_with_a_group_of_handicapped_children.jpg
Purpose of this poem
Have you read the poem, "Rainbow Death"? If you had, I think you would have landed yourself in the same situation when I first started to read this poem. What do all the different colours mean? Purple, Pink, Green and Agent Orange...
This small poem speaks of a modern day ingredient of warfare that has caused appalling death and suffering – not only to its intended victims, the Vietnamese people, but also the service personnel that used or even just came into contact with “Agent Orange”.
“Agent Orange is the code name for a herbicide and defoliant—contaminated with TCDD—used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War.
According to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, resulting in 400,000 deaths and disabilities, and 500,000 children born with birth defects.
From 1962 to 1971, Agent Orange was by far the most widely used of the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides" employed in the herbicidal warfare program. During the production of Agent Orange (as well as Agents Purple, Pink, and Green) dioxins were produced as a contaminant, which have caused numerous health problems for the millions of people who have been exposed. Agents Blue and White were part of the same program but did not contain dioxins.”
Hubert Wilson was part of the team which took part in the Vietnam War. He was also exposed to this disease and wrote this poem to highlight to others that many Vietnamese had died during the war not because they were on the frontline but because they were infected by this incurable disease. This poem may remind us that wars aren’t over when the wars are over. Both countries can call for a truce to stop the war, but the aftereffects of war would always stay etched in the victims' minds.
This small poem speaks of a modern day ingredient of warfare that has caused appalling death and suffering – not only to its intended victims, the Vietnamese people, but also the service personnel that used or even just came into contact with “Agent Orange”.
“Agent Orange is the code name for a herbicide and defoliant—contaminated with TCDD—used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War.
According to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, resulting in 400,000 deaths and disabilities, and 500,000 children born with birth defects.
From 1962 to 1971, Agent Orange was by far the most widely used of the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides" employed in the herbicidal warfare program. During the production of Agent Orange (as well as Agents Purple, Pink, and Green) dioxins were produced as a contaminant, which have caused numerous health problems for the millions of people who have been exposed. Agents Blue and White were part of the same program but did not contain dioxins.”
Hubert Wilson was part of the team which took part in the Vietnam War. He was also exposed to this disease and wrote this poem to highlight to others that many Vietnamese had died during the war not because they were on the frontline but because they were infected by this incurable disease. This poem may remind us that wars aren’t over when the wars are over. Both countries can call for a truce to stop the war, but the aftereffects of war would always stay etched in the victims' minds.
Background information of Hubert Wilson
Hubert Wilson was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the USAF Security Service. He followed the footsteps of his 4 brothers to join the USAF. He was allocated as a group with 12 others and together, they prepped for about 14 months at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, before anticipating being sent to Vietnam or elsewhere in southeat Asia in 1970. About half of the team ended up in Da Nang (an Agent Orange hotspot) in the 6924th Security Squadron. The rest of Hubert's team were assigned to Shemya Island, Alaska, with the 6984th Security Squadron, which was more polluted and contaminated than Da Nang.
Hubert's health problems started approximately 15 years ago with unexplained headaches and limb pains. Four years ago, his central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors, severe headaches, progressive limb pains, etc. No physician has ever diagnosed the specific illness. There was no proven cure for this disease till now. Huberts's guessed that the heavily contaminated drinking water at Shemya during my year there as an intelligence analyst was the toot of this disease. Organo-phosphate toxins may not run their toxic course until 20 to 30 years after initial exposure.
Although Huberts's limbs are deteriorating, his brain still functions moderately well. "I have turned to writing just like my late Father and the late singer (and writer) Johnny Cash." Hubert Wilson
Referred from: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow
Hubert's health problems started approximately 15 years ago with unexplained headaches and limb pains. Four years ago, his central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors, severe headaches, progressive limb pains, etc. No physician has ever diagnosed the specific illness. There was no proven cure for this disease till now. Huberts's guessed that the heavily contaminated drinking water at Shemya during my year there as an intelligence analyst was the toot of this disease. Organo-phosphate toxins may not run their toxic course until 20 to 30 years after initial exposure.
Although Huberts's limbs are deteriorating, his brain still functions moderately well. "I have turned to writing just like my late Father and the late singer (and writer) Johnny Cash." Hubert Wilson
Referred from: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow
Rainbow Death (Hubert Wilson)
America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.
Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.
Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Italian Job (Reflections)
I really liked this movie a lot as this movie had effectively captured my attention brough up a few strong themes. The first theme is teamwork. Charlie's crew was competent as it had members who were skilled in different areas. Electronics, computers, driving and hacking of safes, this team was perfectly suited to pull off this mission. The crew worked as a team and they were very bonded. Charlie was an effective leader with a carefully drawn up plan made the attack seem flawless. Most importantly, the plan was so effective as the crew's aim is just to acquire the gold bricks and seek revenge for John and in the process, no guns and bullets were involved. The team proceeded well with the plan and totally outsmarted Steve's team with their many tricks and strategies.
Another theme which surfaced in the movie was friendship. Even though the members were inactive during six months, they still met up with each other to have a game of basketball and Handsome Rob also taught Lyle how to ride a motorbike. The crew carried lots of respect for John and wanted to seek revenge for their good friend. Even they know they are dealing with guns and bullets and were shaken by how John was killed, they were still persistent to help Charlie in his attack.
I feel that this movie i really a very good movie and I have watched it about 10 times. You should definitely watch it too.
Italian Job (Review)
The movie started with Charlie Croker and his gang of 6 members, Handsome Rob, Lyle, Leaf Ear, John and Steve devised a excellent plan to steal a whole cupboard of gold ballerina bricks. The plan was perfect and the execution was better. After pulling off a successful gold bullion heist, the gang was unaware that Steve was an inside man and was going to double-cross them. When the gang went to the mountains to celebrate their wealth, they were blocked on a bridge and were confronted by two MPVs fulled of armed guards who belonged to Steve. Steve's people held Charlie's gang at gunpoint and shipped all the gold bricks to their cars. John tried to resist and Steve shot him in his stomach. The situation was getting out of hand and the gang was not ready for a hijack. Handsome Rob accelerated the car right into the freezing river while the bullets from Steve's crew sprayed all around in the freezing water. The gang helped each other to survive by sharing oxygen from a single oxygen mask. John had lost too much blood from his wound and lost his life.
Charlie was extremely devastated by John's death and was adamant to get back at Steve as John was like a father to him. The was dejected too but they knew that they have to put John's death behind them and start the planning to stage a revenge at Steve. After 6 months, Charlie came up with a plan. He knew that Steve would only spend the some of the gold bricks and would not sell all of them. These gold bricks would definitely be stored safely in a high-classed safe. As John was the safe-cracker of the gang, Charlie needed a new member who was skilful at breaking the codes of the safes so that they can aquire the gold bricks. Charlie then seeked help from John's daughter, Stella, who was a professional at handling safes. Stella refused to help at first as she blamed Charlie for her father's death but she was tempted by the thougt of avenging for her father's death. After much deliberation, she wanted a part in the gang.
Charlie and his team spend weeks staging lookouts at Steve's house, keeping tabs of the activity at Steve's mansion. He was determined to find the exact location of the safe in Steve's house to facilitate the hijack of Steve's house. However, he was unsuccessful at his attempts. Charlie then devised a plan to enter Steve's premises. He ask Left Ear, the electronic expert of the group to cut off the electrical power of the mansion. (Left Ear is called Left Ear as he went deaf in his leaft ear when he was 8 as his accidentally bombed up a toilet bowl. Ever since that day, he developed an unwaverig interest in electronics and bombing techniques.) Steve was pissed to have a power failure in his house. He called for assistance from the electronic company. Stella was then selected to be a repair woman assigned by the company after Charlie managed to contact the company to allow Stella to help Steve. Steve did not know Stella but knew the rest of the gang and so Stella was the best choice to enter the mansion and determine the location of the safe which kept the gold bricks so that the crew can stage a attack so as to minimise suspicions.
Steve was very attracted to Stella's charm and beauty and invited her to dinner. Stella was caught unprepared and she did not make a decision. However, Stella did probe around the house and had found the safe which kept the gold bricks. Stella then made it out of the house, but was shaken having met the person who had killed her father. Charlie comforted her and they continued their planning to rob the gold bricks back from Steve. Charlie aquires the help of a fat man and a person whose cousin was killed by Steve.
Stella then accepted Steve's date and went for a dinner with Steve. Steve started to have suspisions about Stella when Stella made a comment which her father always used - "I trust everyone, but I do not trust the devil inside their hearts". Steve started to find that Stella looked very alike John, his enemy. He questions Stella and went overboard. Charlie and his gang then appeared to help Stella. Steve then found out that Stella was indeed John's daughter and she was in cahoots with Charlie. Charlie punches Steve when Steve insulted Stella and John and hinted to Steve to watch out as they would strike back.
When Charlie was busy setting up and planning his attack, Lyle receives intel that Steve was about to leave the country and was going to ship the gold bricks out of the country to Spain. This was a dramatic change and the team had to act fast as the gold bricks were going to be shipped out very soon. Charlie acquires the help a Wrench, a mechanic with lots of experience with cars. Charlie then experimented how the gold bricks were going to be stolen and how the bricks were going to be loaded in the cars. After days of preparation, the plan was out and the team was ready to get hold of the gold bricks.
On that day, Handsome Rob and Left Ear were positioned outside the residence of Steve in a White Mini Cooper, making sure that the gold bricks were really going to leave the mansion. Charlie was in the Blue Mini Cooper while Stella was behind the wheel in the Red Mini at the Metro Station. Lyle was stationed in the metro station and after hacking into the traffic control system, Lyle had all the power to control all the traffic lights in California.
To the team's surpise, three armored plated trucks exited Steve's mansion, all of them might carry the gold bricks. This was challenging as the crew did not know which truck to follow which contained the gold bricks. Charlie then instructed Lyle to determine which truck was travelling lower which means that the truck was with the bricks. With a wave of hand, the target was locked to one out of the three trucks, allowing the team to zero in on their target. The White Mini then went to the Metro Station to join the other Minis. Lyle then manupulated the traffic system and forced the truck to the Metro Station.
Lyle then signalled to Charlie and the 3 Minis zoomed to the underground station where they were going to bomb the road so that the truck is going to drop down and the crew would then have access to the safe. The execution was perfect and the Minis were soon loaded with the bricks which amounted to 27 million. The team was ecstatic and Lyle even cried out in joy in the Metro Station. However, the crew's laughter were shortlived as they were immediately caught by Steve's helicopter in hot pursuit.
Charlie then instructed Lyle to provide all the green lights for them to the train station. Charlie beckoned to Stella and Handsome Rob to return to the train station first while he decoyed Steve's helicopter away. Steve knew that Charlie was in the Blue Mini and followed Charlie. Charlie was then forced into a corner in a dunkyard. With excellent driving skills, Charlie broke free from Steve's pursuit and made a beeline to the train station. Steve's helicopter broke down and he hijacked a car and went after Charlie.
However, Steve arrived shortly at the train station shortly after Charlie. However, he was no match for the large numbers of guards supplied by Markov, Charlie's ally. Steve was then held at gunpoint and then dragged off by Markov's men to help out ath Markov's workplace.
Charlie and his gang succeeded in staging a revenge for John. Everyone had a fair share of the money. Left Ear bought a mansion in Spain with a whole room just dedicated for shoes. Handsome Rob bought an Aston Martin. Lyle bought a stereo which was his dream and the stereo was so loud that it can blow off clothes which people are wearing. Charlie and Stellafell in love with each other and spent their lives together.
Charlie was extremely devastated by John's death and was adamant to get back at Steve as John was like a father to him. The was dejected too but they knew that they have to put John's death behind them and start the planning to stage a revenge at Steve. After 6 months, Charlie came up with a plan. He knew that Steve would only spend the some of the gold bricks and would not sell all of them. These gold bricks would definitely be stored safely in a high-classed safe. As John was the safe-cracker of the gang, Charlie needed a new member who was skilful at breaking the codes of the safes so that they can aquire the gold bricks. Charlie then seeked help from John's daughter, Stella, who was a professional at handling safes. Stella refused to help at first as she blamed Charlie for her father's death but she was tempted by the thougt of avenging for her father's death. After much deliberation, she wanted a part in the gang.
Charlie and his team spend weeks staging lookouts at Steve's house, keeping tabs of the activity at Steve's mansion. He was determined to find the exact location of the safe in Steve's house to facilitate the hijack of Steve's house. However, he was unsuccessful at his attempts. Charlie then devised a plan to enter Steve's premises. He ask Left Ear, the electronic expert of the group to cut off the electrical power of the mansion. (Left Ear is called Left Ear as he went deaf in his leaft ear when he was 8 as his accidentally bombed up a toilet bowl. Ever since that day, he developed an unwaverig interest in electronics and bombing techniques.) Steve was pissed to have a power failure in his house. He called for assistance from the electronic company. Stella was then selected to be a repair woman assigned by the company after Charlie managed to contact the company to allow Stella to help Steve. Steve did not know Stella but knew the rest of the gang and so Stella was the best choice to enter the mansion and determine the location of the safe which kept the gold bricks so that the crew can stage a attack so as to minimise suspicions.
Steve was very attracted to Stella's charm and beauty and invited her to dinner. Stella was caught unprepared and she did not make a decision. However, Stella did probe around the house and had found the safe which kept the gold bricks. Stella then made it out of the house, but was shaken having met the person who had killed her father. Charlie comforted her and they continued their planning to rob the gold bricks back from Steve. Charlie aquires the help of a fat man and a person whose cousin was killed by Steve.
Stella then accepted Steve's date and went for a dinner with Steve. Steve started to have suspisions about Stella when Stella made a comment which her father always used - "I trust everyone, but I do not trust the devil inside their hearts". Steve started to find that Stella looked very alike John, his enemy. He questions Stella and went overboard. Charlie and his gang then appeared to help Stella. Steve then found out that Stella was indeed John's daughter and she was in cahoots with Charlie. Charlie punches Steve when Steve insulted Stella and John and hinted to Steve to watch out as they would strike back.
When Charlie was busy setting up and planning his attack, Lyle receives intel that Steve was about to leave the country and was going to ship the gold bricks out of the country to Spain. This was a dramatic change and the team had to act fast as the gold bricks were going to be shipped out very soon. Charlie acquires the help a Wrench, a mechanic with lots of experience with cars. Charlie then experimented how the gold bricks were going to be stolen and how the bricks were going to be loaded in the cars. After days of preparation, the plan was out and the team was ready to get hold of the gold bricks.
On that day, Handsome Rob and Left Ear were positioned outside the residence of Steve in a White Mini Cooper, making sure that the gold bricks were really going to leave the mansion. Charlie was in the Blue Mini Cooper while Stella was behind the wheel in the Red Mini at the Metro Station. Lyle was stationed in the metro station and after hacking into the traffic control system, Lyle had all the power to control all the traffic lights in California.
To the team's surpise, three armored plated trucks exited Steve's mansion, all of them might carry the gold bricks. This was challenging as the crew did not know which truck to follow which contained the gold bricks. Charlie then instructed Lyle to determine which truck was travelling lower which means that the truck was with the bricks. With a wave of hand, the target was locked to one out of the three trucks, allowing the team to zero in on their target. The White Mini then went to the Metro Station to join the other Minis. Lyle then manupulated the traffic system and forced the truck to the Metro Station.
Lyle then signalled to Charlie and the 3 Minis zoomed to the underground station where they were going to bomb the road so that the truck is going to drop down and the crew would then have access to the safe. The execution was perfect and the Minis were soon loaded with the bricks which amounted to 27 million. The team was ecstatic and Lyle even cried out in joy in the Metro Station. However, the crew's laughter were shortlived as they were immediately caught by Steve's helicopter in hot pursuit.
Charlie then instructed Lyle to provide all the green lights for them to the train station. Charlie beckoned to Stella and Handsome Rob to return to the train station first while he decoyed Steve's helicopter away. Steve knew that Charlie was in the Blue Mini and followed Charlie. Charlie was then forced into a corner in a dunkyard. With excellent driving skills, Charlie broke free from Steve's pursuit and made a beeline to the train station. Steve's helicopter broke down and he hijacked a car and went after Charlie.
However, Steve arrived shortly at the train station shortly after Charlie. However, he was no match for the large numbers of guards supplied by Markov, Charlie's ally. Steve was then held at gunpoint and then dragged off by Markov's men to help out ath Markov's workplace.
Charlie and his gang succeeded in staging a revenge for John. Everyone had a fair share of the money. Left Ear bought a mansion in Spain with a whole room just dedicated for shoes. Handsome Rob bought an Aston Martin. Lyle bought a stereo which was his dream and the stereo was so loud that it can blow off clothes which people are wearing. Charlie and Stellafell in love with each other and spent their lives together.
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