Tribe On Homecoming Essay

“Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging”, by Sebastian Junger, is an insightful examination of the flaws of a modernized society. Through scientific evidence and first-hand accounts, the book explores the correlation between a nation’s level of modernness and it’s rates of mental illness. Junger careful choice of words and phrasing shows that he is not arguing that a tribal society is better than a modern society- as “there’s no use arguing that modern society isn’t a kind of paradise” - but is instead proposing a blend of both society’s beneficial qualities (Junger 108). His chronological writing style within “Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging” allows for the development of his argument. Particularly focusing upon Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans, Junger utilizes accounts from Vietnam War and World Wars to bring light to the “antihuman society” set forth by our modernized ways (Junger 93).

It is natural for a person to experience worry after a disturbing event. According to Junger it is nearly impossible to not react to a traumatic event. “Almost everybody exposed to trauma reacts by having some sort of short-term reaction to it--acute PTSD” (Junger 80). Most people are able to recover at a rate much faster than war veterans, even though many rape instances may have been significantly more traumatizing than the aspects of the war. This is related to the fact that rape victims do not wish to retain any of their memories, while war victims have many positive aspects of the war. “Treating combat veterans is different from treating rape veterans don’t have this idea that some aspects of their experience are worth retaining” (Junger 81). Comparatively, the war veterans do have a lot of negative experiences, but they also have many great experiences of camaraderie with fellow soldiers. Many soldiers were able to form lasting relationships preceding and during the war, but after the war had trouble forming new relationships. This resulted in the implementation of service dogs to help transition soldiers back to society again. “In this regard, reporters' media accounts of the experiences of veterans with PTSD and the general public's social media response comments were subjected to a triangulated

Michelle Rosenthal once said, “Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose.” Lauren Groff, who has a Masters of Fine Arts in fiction from the University of Wisconsin wrote the short story “Good People” which, shows readers the exact opposite way to recover from trauma. In Groffs short story readers witness a soldier who arrives home after spending three years in war. Although he comes home physically healthy he displays signs of having post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD for short. The soldier and his parents do not say a word to one another during the entire story which rapidly develops tension and makes the readers think that conflict is starting to emerge from this silence. Silence affects numerous issues in society today, but one issue silence affects that tends to be overlooked is PTSD. PTSD not only affects the people who have this illness, but in fact affects everyone around PTSD.

Give them meaning” (Cleland).Once they get home , close to no one understands them. Their doctors, friends, and even family members can’t help them, so they end up getting alienated by the people they love most. Until we understand how to help the returning veterans, nothing will ever get better for them. Topic: war stays with veterans, and it always manages to find to mess with them

Men who have experienced an acute traumatic event or prolonged trauma often turn to their combat unit for support. The support that men get from other soldiers often revolves around revenge fantasies and venting anger (Herman). In terms of psychological recovery, this method of support is really only like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound – a temporary patch that will inevitably fail. The solidarity that a close-knit military unit provides is almost impossible to find anywhere else. Sebastian Junger, a veteran of Afghanistan, says that many veterans actually miss war after they have returned home.

“I literally couldn’t condone any of the things I had to participate in to save my own life”, said John Fischer, a Vietnam Veteran, in an interview for Nancy Sherman’s book The Untold War. Guilt isn’t even a word strong enough to communicate how a War Veteran feels, let alone a War Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a problem today in the U.S. and is seen in all sorts of individuals but most commonly Veterans. Having seen what no human being should see, Veterans aren’t welcomed back home with enough support or being treated for mental illnesses. If average citizens were informed on some background and information, they would see that War Veterans with PTSD are a danger to themselves and affect the communities in which they live.

Throughout the novel “Homecoming,” the effects of the slave trade on the characters are explored. For example, Quey, the son of Effia, feels the pressure of carrying on his father’s slave industry in the midst of struggling with his identities. According to Quey, “he was one of the half-caste children of the Castle, and, like the other half-caste children, he could not fully claim either half of himself, neither his father’s whiteness nor his mother’s blackness. Neither England nor the Gold coast” (Gyasi 55). Quey makes it clear that he struggles to find his place in the world because he could never put an identity on himself. When asked to accept a position in his mother’s village, Quey was not enthusiastic about it because he had

I retain an increased value and compassion toward the military community since this experience. Our society praises and dedicates media to the individuals fighting for our freedom, yet fails to discuss the harsh reality that many veterans face when returning home from war – homelessness, mental illness, relationship failures, and inability to acquire a job. In an essence, our society takes military veterans for granted. We can support and cheer them on while they fight for our freedom, yet we neglect their freedom when they return to the United States. It stands truly heartbreaking how many veterans survive the war, yet find themselves struggling to live in their own nation. At the VA, I noticed that many Veterans, while appearing tough and strong, do not mind discussing their mental health and the components of life they struggle with. I noticed that while the veterans will state where they served and their purpose in the war, they tend to shift the topic away from their service. I am not sure whether this behavior relates to their humble personalities, an inability to discuss military information, or emotional pain. No matter the reason, the “brotherhood” of military veterans remains evident. Veterans connect on a level society will never understand. They are a family that does not discriminate one another based on race, mental health, age, or gender. After

We live in a time where war, armed conflicts, hate crimes, foreign and domestic terrorism are on the rise. Historically there has been a population of individuals that served their country however, when they returned home they were under-served. Many combat veterans returned home only to face new challenges with adjusting to the dynamic environment around them. United States Armed Forces Veterans are confronted with evolved challenges such as; the advent of social media, and increase in news outlets which can keep a steady stream conflict flowing into the veterans home, impairing a veteran’s ability to reduce vigilance. When I separated from the military in July 5, 2007, after 9 years of service, despite my best efforts and all the experience I had acquired I was unemployed. Upon gaining employment, my income was been cut in half, my position of authority was removed, I was now disabled and dealing PTSD, I was having marital problems and struggling to adjust to civilian life. In essence I was struggling fulfill some of my basic needs discussed in Reality Theory. The encouragement and support I received from those with share experiences was monumental factor in my positive progression. Being connected to other veterans, either via family or friends that could empathize, encourage, and confront destructive thinking was a key factor throughout that process. Therefore, therapy in the form of small closed groups called fire teams in therapy can be beneficial in

For military veterans, reintegrating into a civilian lifestyle post-deployment comes with many different challenges. These challenges range from reconnecting with loved ones to receiving treatment for stress-induced mental health diagnoses. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) impacts thousands of military personnel, both active and veteran status, each year. Based on the DSM definition of PTSD, this diagnosis impacts both the sufferer’s life and also his or her close personal relationships. These negative impacts in addition to reintegration into civilian life can result in a greater difficulty with relationship reintegration. In a study done by Elliott, Gonzalez, and Larsen in 2011, PTSD was found to be a mediating variable between intimate relationship strain and combat exposure.

Today, hundreds of thousands of service men and women and recent military veterans have seen combat. Many have been shot at, seen their buddies killed, or witnessed death up close. These are types of events that can lead to Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder ("Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD: A Growing Epidemic. “) Anyone that has gone through a traumatic event can be diagnosed with PTSD but research shows, military men and women are more susceptible to having PTSD (PTSD: A Growing Epidemic.) And, with little help from the US, many Veterans do not get the help they need or get treated for PTSD. Military men and women begin to

To understand each individual soldier’s PTSD diagnosis, we must examine the war theater they were in. For the Vietnam veteran the public support they encountered was that of violent negativism. The combat frontline consisted of little sleep, ragging gun fights that went on for hours or days, and facing the challenge of the racial war between the ranks. They did not have the modern convinces of calling home, e-mailing, or skyping home on a daily basis. Their mindset was shut off from the world of home they left behind, and focused on the war they found themselves in. Also, many lives were lost during Vietnam, and some soldiers did not go out of their way to say hello to a new soldier that was replacing one that died since they to would probably be gone in a day or so (West, 2014). When those that survived the combat battles of war finally came home the only PTSD help they received was that through family, friends, and other soldiers. This could be since the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released a second edition of their manual Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Disorders (DSM-II) that eliminated PTSD as a diagnosis. However, in the first released edition it was considered a diagnosis, however it would be cured in 6 months’ time, or a different diagnosis would be needed (Friedman, 2015).

Though, families and friends are eager to embrace their loved ones with open arms, many often fail to understand that returning home from the longest military operation in United States history often comes with other difficulties. Sister Rosemary Donley, the Jacques Laval Endowed Chair in Justice for Vulnerable Populations stated, "In my experience, we forget about the soldiers, the veterans and the war when it winds down…Given the economy in many communities, finding a job will be more difficult. Then there is the period of adjustment for the veteran but also for his family. The nature of the war and the injuries are significant and will affect vets and their loved ones for the rest of their lives," (as cited in “Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations”, 2012). For many combat veterans, the ability to reintegrate back into their respective families and develop healthy patterns and routines of living can prove to be a daunting task. The responsibilities that come attached with the norm of American society, such as financial management or parenting, often become stress causing factors due to the necessity of readjusting into a sense of normality. Unfortunately, these stressors can lead to any number of destructive habits or behaviors.

Students strut through the hall looking as if they are from another planet. A sea of bright blue flood the Wilke. Ear-piercing cheers rattle the bleachers. Homecoming week is among the most memorable times of high school. Students are able step out of their comfort zone; whether that is by dressing in flamboyant costumes, or meeting new people during Edgewood in the Community. No matter which event is your favorite, homecoming week is an enjoyable and memorable time for all.

Do peace, unity, and equality still exist this day in time among groups of people? Are we influenced by our environment to associate our way of seeing things and create language based on that fact? How we view the environment around us helps shape our understanding by creating language to give it meaning. Based on the linguistic data of the recently discovered tribe, we can draw conclusions about the tribe’s climate and terrain, diet, views on family and children, system of government and attitude towards war. This data shows that the lost tribe was an isolated group that lived in a valley, coexisted in unison, valued life, had high regards for