There are many strong parallels between the poem, "Dulce Et Decorum Est", and the present-day situation with Iraq. Though fought for different reasons, most wars feature the same kind of ghastly events that soldiers are subjected to. This heartrending poem depicts a soldier's first-hand experience of the atrocious events that occur in war. .
The poem goes deeply into detail by describing some of the horrible aspects of war that many young men and women are not prepared to face. This image could, quite possibly, be what many young adults may have to confront very soon in their lives as they prepare to head overseas to Iraq. As with every generation of soldiers that head into a war, they will have to face the unexpected. Wilfred Owen was so appalled by some of his experiences in war that he exclaims in his poem that "a devil's sick of sin" (l. 20). This phrase means that the events in war are so repulsive and immoral that a devil would be sick from them. .
Another factor that many in the armed forces may be unprepared for is chemical warfare. The damaging, long-term effects of such harmful gasses described in the poem are so inhumane that no one could possibly be prepared to face the consequences of them. However against the law and restricted from warfare, it is believed that Suddam Hussein possesses such dangerous weapons somewhere in the country of Iraq. If chemical warfare became the main artillery of war, then the world would be doomed to destruction as harmful gasses and chemicals would fill the air and ground, contaminating every living organism.
In every major war, there has been a massive number of deaths. In the past, some victims of war were so disgusted by the number of lives that were lost in war that they began to question the reasoning behind the fighting. After encountering such horrific experiences, there is not any reason at all why these people should be able to question this idea.
