The War Prayer

I enjoyed reading this work, and not just because it was short! America is alight with patriotism as it prepares to go to war. Everyone in the country shows their enthusiasm--drums beat, fireworks crack, children play with toy guns. Those that oppose the war are stifled and shunned, showing the vast majority is in favor of the war.

The day before the troops are to head off to war happens to be a Sunday. All of the men, along with their families, friends, and supporters head to church. The preacher blesses the troops, asking God to "watch over...noble young soldiers...bless them, shield them...help them crush the foe." During the prayer, another man, dressed in a black robe with pale skin, comes to the altar and begins to scold the people and the prayer, saying there are two sides to it. By praying for their soldiers victory, they are also praying for the other sides defeat and devastation. The people deem the man a lunatic.

Was the man supposed to represent death or something like that? I also think the words he spoke were very true. People never really think about both sides of what they are asking because humans are so superficial. By praying for their own success and safety, the people neglect to think about what they are wishing upon the enemy:  slaughter, death, pain, destruction, and grief. This kind of reminds me of Huck Finn and his prayer lessons from Miss Watson. She tells Huck to pray for other people and not for himself because it's the right thing to do. Huck, like the people in the story, see no point in praying for anyone or anything else because it will not benefit themselves. Lastly, it was easier for the people to deem the man a lunatic so that they might rationalize why they shouldn't listen to him.