Hubert Wilson
Ssgt USAF, 1968-1972
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”.
Wikipedia reports, “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.[1]
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.”
This poem may remind us that wars aren’t over when the wars are over.
Task 2 - Analysis
An American soldier
Evidence and Elaboration:
"Expecting others to pay a high price." - America expects the Vietnamese to pay the price for being at war with America, but it is proven that the price is too high for the to pay.
"Nefariously America led astray" - America, being a leading powerhouse in the world is showing a bad example here by using such means to try and subdue the Vietnamese.
2. Situation and Setting:
Evidence and Elaboration
"All the deceit continues to spread." - Hubert felt that the Vietnamese did not deserve this type of treatment from the Americans.
"Toll on the innocent and unborn." - Hubert felt that countless innocent people were negatively affected and harmed by America's actions, and that they were suffering badly.
3. Language and Diction:
Evidence and Elaboration
There are instances where he uses interesting diction like "potpourri", which in this case would symbolise the mixture of death on both sides of the army. The poet also personifies America, "nefariously it led astray" and it "did not foresee" the sufferings it would bring upon the many people on both sides of the war, Americans and Vietnamese.
There is is also a hint of sarcasm in the sentence "Now thinking twice?" Hinting that America should reconsider its actions but even if it really does realise its mistakes, it is all too late as the effects are already done.
4.Personal Response:
I feel that this poem has shown the true devastating effects that war has on people on both sides. Regardless of which side launches the attack, both parties are bound to suffer at a point in time, and that their generations too would suffer as a result of the war. Countless innocent people are killed just because the leader's of the countries decide on going to war. They didn't even have the chance to voice out their opinions about a war and hence it shows the selfishness of war. Aptly named "Rainbow Death", signifies the colour of Agent Orange which determines the death of the people who come into contact with it.
References for Background:
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html
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