Ideas and Forms in Art: Stories on Love, War & Industry, and Women: A Gould Center Passion Project

The Terror of War

I remember seeing a picture of a child suffering and it had to do with napalm. It was in my high school U.S. History textbook when we covered the Vietnam War. In order to find the photo I wanted to include(the one below), I had to look for it. While I wish I never have to face “pictures of kids with napalm” or “Vietnam War children” ever again, it’s images like this that give history a purpose. As a student, facing the history of wars, like the Vietnam War, is so important. It’s even more important when your own country is responsible for the suffering.

When I see an image like this, I have one of those “does God exist” moments. It’s terrifying that any child had to feel this way. Five children, all who appear to be under the age of ten, are running from what’s behind them. They’re screaming. We don’t know where they’re running and I doubt they did either. I can see what they’re running from. What’s behind them is clear: U.S. soldiers and an explosion. Another picture gives a second perspective of the children.

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