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Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down

1486 Words6 Pages

Black Hawk Down and MUSD: Project 4
“Looking onto the main road, Sergeant Howe felt boxed in. He’d been stuck in a bad position, and for the first time he began to feel like he might not make it out of here alive”, (Bowden 256). War, as described first-hand by a soldier in the above quote, is not something taken lightly. Black Hawk Down is a novel by Mark Bowden describing the events in Mogadishu, Somalia on Oct. 3rd, 1993. It shows the true account, first-hand, of what took place that day. This novel is essential for teens to read growing up in the Morongo Unified School District, who will become our future leaders. Black Hawk Down offers invaluable academic, social, and nationalistic value to students in the Morongo Unified School District. …show more content…

The conditions in Somalia can promote students to appreciate their blessings living in America and not in the middle of a warzone. While in Somalia, soldiers describe the difference of life there versus America. “The children began to wait with fright, and Yurek quickly realized he needed to throttle things down a notch”, (Bowden 48). Yurek notices how living in war creates everyday fear for citizens in Somalia, something students can be thankful isn’t the case in their towns and country. Black Hawk Down can also help students be nationalistic by showing why they should appreciate America’s soldiers and the sacrifices they make. “Eighteen Americans died and over 70 were wounded. At least 500 Somalis were killed and over 1000 wounded, most of them civilians”, (Matray). Understanding and appreciating the sacrifices of the Deltas and Rangers seen in the novel help encourage nationalistic views in young teens. Last but not least, Black Hawk Down promotes the lesson that war brings misery to all those involved and should be avoided at all costs. “There are sides to be taken in wartime, but one would be wise to remember, the author seems to suggest, that both are made up of men”, (Valby). Bowden shows there is no true “winner” in war, and that students need to appreciate their country and detain from starting conflict with others. This theme commonly seen throughout the novel is extremely …show more content…

Between understanding history and infantry, opposing social viewpoints, and the reasons Americans need to appreciate their country and soldiers, the essential lessons found in this novel far outweigh the fact that many scenes can be a bit confusing and graphic for young readers. To students of the Morongo Unified School District, having an understanding of this mission not only connects them to the Marines on the 29 Palms Base, but prepares them for the future of combat as the leaders of the next generation. The first-hand description of the mission of Mogadishu from American soldier and Somali militia sides in this novel teaches students to view all sides of a situation before reacting. This key lesson could help prevent future, devastating wars, making Black Hawk Down an essential read for all

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