Walking Dead

     "Maybe some of us are walking dead, soulless shells of the men we were"(Huze 17). This single line seems to sum up the main idea of The Sand Storm; the effects of war on the individuals involved. All throughout the story characters speak of a feeling of disconnect, of a longing to feel human again. The characters speak of an inability to describe their feelings, as well as a feeling of nothingness at the sight of death and destruction.

     I chose this passage because it is something I know all too much about. Having been in situations similar to those described in the play, I saw truth in his words. I have watched as combat has turned once loving husbands and fathers into alcoholics, child abusers, and adulterers. I have seen friends risk life and limb with highly dangerous "stunts" just trying to reach the "high" they felt when they were in combat. It can take days or even years for an individual to begin feeling the psychological effects of what they have seen and done in combat.

     This line shows that moment of realization by the combatant, where he finally sees that surroundings of death have changed him and those around him. The effects of war are far reaching. It is not only the individual who suffers from the after effects of war; it is the neglected child, the abused wife, the forgotten family. The raw truth in Huze's play was refreshing and a bit depressing at the same time. It is good to see a writer who has been there tell his story, but they are not enjoyable memories remember. To learn more about PTSD and the lasting effects of war take a look HERE.

 

http://www.theveteransvoice.com/TheWalkingDead19.html