Gratitude Sarah Whelihan

In chapter 4 of her book Memorial Mania, Doss discusses the concept of gratitude. Gratitude is different from thanks because it adds an aspect of appreciation and indebtedness for the sacrifices of others, and giving credit where credit is due. She says that gratitude memorials are necessary to maintain equilibrium in the overall give and take of America, created through the provision of services and utilization of said services by both groups and individuals.  Doss examines the ways in which we show gratitude at memorial sites, and questions whether they are appropriate, which brings into question the legitimacy of living memorials. These living memorials are defined by the way that their visitors interact with them, as opposed to a statue of an individual that people simply appreciate and move on. Examples would include, benches, amphitheaters, museums, airports, parks, et cetera. Mumford suggests that these living memorials do not fully honor the individuals or events for which they are created as they serve an additional purpose for the public, but I disagree with his view. I believe that through the creation of living memorials, the public is better able to gain an appreciation and understanding of the memorial's devotee. In providing an immortalization of great men and women, it makes sense to create memorials to their honor that reflect their commitment to their country, and further cultivate the appreciation and gratitude for their service.

I was especially struck by the author's discussion of "war porn," in relation to video games and movies that glorify war and are so popular today amongst children and young adults. Growing up as an only child I was never exposed to what I refer to as the "brother phenomenon" of boys breaking everything, being dirty, and maintaining an obsession with video games until adulthood. The numerous first person shooter games on the market strive to put players in the position of combatants and soldiers, experiencing the chaos and violence first hand. There have been many controversies surrounding the rating system for video games, and whether or not exposing young children to violent games makes them more likely to become confrontational or aggressive adults as a result of the negative examples that these games set. Studies have shown that children who play lots of video games are more likely to respond aggressively to high anxiety situations, and also learn a skewed moral code, that when they kill multiple people with a single shot for example, they get extra points. So despite scientific findings and parental concerns, why is war porn still widely accepted in America? This could possibly stem from a desire to understand and experience the lives of active duty soldiers as a way to better show our appreciation and gratitude, or the glorification of battle, valor, and braveness that has accumulated over many decades. Regardless, whichever the reason, there are better ways to understand the trials and victories of war than through overly violent material that corrupt the nations youth, the future leaders of America.

Lastly, speaking about the World War II memorial in DC and the city built using ancient Rome as a model, as many cities have been for centuries in an effort to echo the power and scope of the Romans. The architect who created the monument intended to parallel the imperialism, power, and authoritative dominance of the Roman empire. It is because Washington was intended to have a European feel that with the advent of the skyscraper, Congress passed the Height of Buildings Act in 1899 to limit the height of buildings to 110ft tall in a response to worries of the residents that towering buildings would destroy the European feel. This is why I love my city so much, the low skyline is nothing like New York City, it allows light to reach the streets and doesn't distract from the monuments scattered around downtown. In summary, living memorials are an even greater display of gratitude toward an individual or group by allowing the space to have a functionality for the public, "war porn" should be controlled before it affects the future of our leaders and therefore America, and through examining our own expressions of gratitude when visiting and thinking about memorials, we can better understand the importance and relevance of the devotee in the context of their lives and our society today.