Comments on: The Letter Most Feared http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/ English 384 GVSU Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:49:45 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: roodme http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-10 roodme Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:45:11 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-10 I can't imagine getting a letter that a loved one has passed away in the war, but I can't imagine getting an e-mail informing me of the death. Written letters are definitely better because you know that someone took the time to hand write it, they had to think about what they were saying, and they meant every word. I think letters are necessary to be given to the family as a coping mechanism. As you pointed out, families learn more about their loved one by reading the letter or letters from other soldiers who knew them. Sometimes the letters most feared are some of the most cherished. I can’t imagine getting a letter that a loved one has passed away in the war, but I can’t imagine getting an e-mail informing me of the death. Written letters are definitely better because you know that someone took the time to hand write it, they had to think about what they were saying, and they meant every word.

I think letters are necessary to be given to the family as a coping mechanism. As you pointed out, families learn more about their loved one by reading the letter or letters from other soldiers who knew them. Sometimes the letters most feared are some of the most cherished.

]]> By: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice… Share It With The World | Those who live with us are our brothers. http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-9 If You Can’t Say Anything Nice… Share It With The World | Those who live with us are our brothers. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:36:31 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-9 [...] Bruce David T. [...] [...] Bruce David T. [...]

]]> By: Gavin http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Gavin Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:45:26 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-8 I think the biggest testament to the letters being wrote by soldiers fellow patriots is the implications that it have for those who actually write them. Initial requirements and typed responses aside, the whole ordeal of having to write a letter either to the soldiers parents, or to the actual soldier themselves, would be a large confrontation of conscience. At the same time that you are coping with the death of a friend and comrade, you are also dealing with death in general. Although writing it all down on paper would be highly therapeutic to the grieving process, it would still be detrimental to the soul. Confronting someone’s death is confronting death in general, and confronting death in general leads to confronting your own mortality. The morbidity of it all would be overwhelming, because the words you would be using to describe your comrade’s actions in service could thusly be applied to you. Maybe not as directly if you went into great depth with the letter, but all the adjectives and verbs could all be the same for the situation that you would be in. I find the whole idea thoroughly depressing, yet completely necessary in the end. I think the biggest testament to the letters being wrote by soldiers fellow patriots is the implications that it have for those who actually write them. Initial requirements and typed responses aside, the whole ordeal of having to write a letter either to the soldiers parents, or to the actual soldier themselves, would be a large confrontation of conscience.

At the same time that you are coping with the death of a friend and comrade, you are also dealing with death in general. Although writing it all down on paper would be highly therapeutic to the grieving process, it would still be detrimental to the soul. Confronting someone’s death is confronting death in general, and confronting death in general leads to confronting your own mortality. The morbidity of it all would be overwhelming, because the words you would be using to describe your comrade’s actions in service could thusly be applied to you. Maybe not as directly if you went into great depth with the letter, but all the adjectives and verbs could all be the same for the situation that you would be in.

I find the whole idea thoroughly depressing, yet completely necessary in the end.

]]> By: Comments | "Did you know the original title for 'War and Peace' was 'War, What is it Good for?'" http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Comments | "Did you know the original title for 'War and Peace' was 'War, What is it Good for?'" Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:24:45 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-5 [...] Bruce [...] [...] Bruce [...]

]]> By: Derek http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Derek Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:15:28 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-4 First I was surprised that you said that there was originally a six paragraph requirement for these letters. It was surprising to me because doing that makes it sound like a homework assignment given to the person who is responsible for the letter. It also seems like there would be potential for people to write these letters with that six paragraph mark in mind. This would take away from the sincerity that is involved in a hand written, personalized letter. I was also struck because I would think that in regards to a death, writing a letter wouldn't take too much effort to fill page after page. But eight pages, that is very impressive that people will put that time and effort into trying console family of a fallen soldier, while honoring the loss of the soldier. First I was surprised that you said that there was originally a six paragraph requirement for these letters. It was surprising to me because doing that makes it sound like a homework assignment given to the person who is responsible for the letter. It also seems like there would be potential for people to write these letters with that six paragraph mark in mind. This would take away from the sincerity that is involved in a hand written, personalized letter. I was also struck because I would think that in regards to a death, writing a letter wouldn’t take too much effort to fill page after page. But eight pages, that is very impressive that people will put that time and effort into trying console family of a fallen soldier, while honoring the loss of the soldier.

]]> By: Lupe http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Lupe Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:58:18 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-3 The handwritten letter carries with it an implication of deep emotion and truth. I had heard of the letter to families of the deceased home but the trend overseas was to write letters to the fallen marine. Letters seemed to help reveal true and unlikely emotions from those who wrote them. Writing in that form seemed to allow a private dialogue between the two even though they were read aloud. We all had the rough and tough mentality but when letters were read aloud, men that you never thought would shed a tear, did. Emotions that the readers would never admit to, showed when they read their goodbyes. We are trained to show no vulnerability but in those letters was an incredible vulnerability exposed that I thought belonged only to the family. The power that letters hold is not always a wanted responsibility. Letters from the government are expected but letters from command and comrades are more heartfelt. They are meaningful and show true appreciation. In times of war I find it interesting how the significance of the letter is augmented. From the most unfortunate message to the morale booster to family and antics. Blogging or emailing or whatever technological advancement in communication comes, will never have the same affect. The handwritten letter carries with it an implication of deep emotion and truth. I had heard of the letter to families of the deceased home but the trend overseas was to write letters to the fallen marine. Letters seemed to help reveal true and unlikely emotions from those who wrote them. Writing in that form seemed to allow a private dialogue between the two even though they were read aloud. We all had the rough and tough mentality but when letters were read aloud, men that you never thought would shed a tear, did. Emotions that the readers would never admit to, showed when they read their goodbyes. We are trained to show no vulnerability but in those letters was an incredible vulnerability exposed that I thought belonged only to the family. The power that letters hold is not always a wanted responsibility. Letters from the government are expected but letters from command and comrades are more heartfelt. They are meaningful and show true appreciation.

In times of war I find it interesting how the significance of the letter is augmented. From the most unfortunate message to the morale booster to family and antics. Blogging or emailing or whatever technological advancement in communication comes, will never have the same affect.

]]> By: All In One Printer News, Reviews, and Deals » Blog Archive » The Letter Most Feared http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/comment-page-1/#comment-2 All In One Printer News, Reviews, and Deals » Blog Archive » The Letter Most Feared Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:28:55 +0000 http://lp297beb.edublogs.org/2008/03/27/the-letter-most-feared/#comment-2 [...] Original post by lp297beb [...] [...] Original post by lp297beb [...]

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