Army Experience Center, Philadelphia

This piece is in reaction to an Al Jazeera report about an “Experience Center” in Philadelphia. I didn’t know this place existed, but apparently it has been open for several months. In no way do I mean to offend any of the war victims. Essentially, I’m not even making any sweeping statements about war. My whole purpose with this piece is to juxtapose the shinny Mac-store-like  Experience Center with the more gruesome side of war. I see it as a matter of honesty.

In truth, the place looks very appealing and exiting. I’m sure young people are probably attracted to the big screens, the guns and the sound effects. By showing some graphic war images, I hope to bring some sense of the more ugly side of war. I am not one of those people who hates the military or who calls US soldiers “baby killers.” I understand the value and the purpose of having an army. However,  it strikes me as deceiving to present war in such glamorous terms. Specially to impressionable  teenagers.

At one point in the video, one of the people in charge says that the video games do show the kids the dangers of war. That was something that stood out for me as I believe there is no way a video game can honestly show the dangers of war. When I look at footage of people who have died in a war or video of wounded soldiers, I get a terrible glimpse of what real war must be like. Of course, as I have never been to war, I don’t really wholly understand what war is.

But I do know that it is not a clean and fun experience that takes place inside a clean and beautiful mall. In the end, if an adult chooses to join the armed forces, I respect his choice. What’s more, I take it as an act of love for his country and assume that he has the best intentions. If a war is unjust, it is by no means a soldier’s fault. It is the government’s fault. The soldiers are just fulfilling their duty (most of them, honorably so). As I said before, I am not trying to make a point about war as a whole, or even about the shortcomings of our foreign policy. All I’m trying to do is question the idea that war could be as fun as a video game.