Monday, January 26, 2015
Snow Day Post: "Bidding Farewell to Arms"
Read over Roman Skaskiw's narrative, beginning on page 118. Using the list of characteristic features of a narrative provided on page 108, evaluate Skaskiw's narrative. Where do you see him making sure his narrative hits those marks? What does he do quite well? Do not focus on what you didn't like: we are focusing on strengths here.
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Personally, this reading was very interesting. I never really understood how the military stuff worked, especially in “finishing” your duty. Roman Skaskiw did a very good job writing his narrative. It caught my attention form the beginning and wasn’t boring to read. He made it very clear who was involved (himself and the army) and what happened (he was served with AHRC, he had to make a decision on what he was going to do since he served his contracted time). He introduced us to his military involvement first in order to lay the foundation of the following story he was going to tell us. His main point wasn’t that he was in the Army, but that the options he had for making a decision on his post contract involvement with the Army. His setting was pretty clear, as he said he described his life in the Army and after service while he was getting his life back on track and trying to make a decision on his MSO. The story did come alive for me especially at the point when he was talking about the word, “if”. I’ve never served in the military, but he did and if he feels so inclined to be finished especially since he served what he agreed to, the word if shouldn’t be there. It should automatically be accepted. Throughout the entire narrative he is telling the story and it’s his point of view. There is no confusion there. This story matters because it shows how difficult a decision can be and that really if need be your contracted service may not be enough even if it is for the person themselves. This article was a very good narrative, and I actually enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteFrom the point of view of a veteran, Skaskiw's narrative of the decision to separate from the military was close to home. The lingering issue of the letter hanging on his fridge is an effective tool to keep the reader interested in the story and keep reading to find out what happens. I believe that most veterans can relate to the feeling of dread and not belonging when they take off the uniform for the last time. It hasn't even been a year for me and I still wonder if I made the right decision by leaving. The explanation of how difficult it is to adjust to civilian life after leaving uniformed life (and having to actually pick out clothes to wear every day) was an effective way to explain to readers the trails that he was facing.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Crystal's statement on the "if" clause in the resignation letter, I have to say that all military members understand when they sign their contract that they are now property of the government. I signed for 6 years with 2 years of inactive reserve time (IRR). At any point, which part of me hopes for with the Russia/ Ukraine crisis, I can be called back to service and be required to report back to the military. It may seem cruel that the government could take you away from your new life just as you are adjusting, but that is something that could happen (though it very rarely does).
I do have to comment that I appreciated that he was not callous after he had been stop-lossed (this is what the military called it when you were not allowed to leave the service when the war in Iraq began and they needed people to deploy and too many people were leaving the military) and that the tone of the narrative was of fondness and pride in his service.
I really loved Skaskiw's narrative because like meghan said it hits close to home. I grew up in a military family, and have always been that "military brat" moving from one city to the next. it is a tough decision for some for their country or their family. I believe that this narrative hit many aspects of such. the writer used a TON of detail, even things that seemed insignificant ended up being very important. i.e. the paper on the fridge. I also like that the narrative is in a time frame and follows through a set of time. over all I loved this!
ReplyDeleteI really loved Skaskiw's narrative because like meghan said it hits close to home. I grew up in a military family, and have always been that "military brat" moving from one city to the next. it is a tough decision for some for their country or their family. I believe that this narrative hit many aspects of such. the writer used a TON of detail, even things that seemed insignificant ended up being very important. i.e. the paper on the fridge. I also like that the narrative is in a time frame and follows through a set of time. over all I loved this!
ReplyDeleteThe article was fantastic. His sentences flowed together in such a way as if I was not reading just an article, but I was peeking through the window blinds of his life. He painted an image for us to see. Using the hiking trip story of his comrade and himself in Africa as a comparison of military life vs civilian. I especially enjoyed his ending. It tied the whole story together. He did this by answering the two questions that the audience had lurking in the back of there minds. "I hereby tender my unqualified resignation", answers the "are you still in the army question"; but also answers the implied question of was he going to continue in the Army. It leaves us satisfied to know he made not just a decision in life, but also learned a lesson in the process, a lesson he then passed on to us the reader. I find that very effective.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed his remark on how the civilian world became more familiar and comfortable; this comment made me feel he was becoming more balanced in dealing with his situation. As Sabrina mentioned, the time set and how it follows through, he has made the description much like a comic strip with only frame to frame to get his word out. I also enjoyed the article.
ReplyDelete