The article, “In honor of Veterans Day, let’s deal with the real costs of war” by Jean Scandlyn and Sarah Hautzinger, is about veterans and the real costs of war. The author’s argument is that the wars America has had, especially post 9/11 wars, have severely affected veterans and their families in emotional, mental and physical ways that most Americans cannot seem to understand. The fact that the military is now all volunteer based makes it even harder for people to understand the true costs of war and to talk about it (Hautzinger and Scandlyn). I think that the authors prove their point and I am persuaded by their argument. The authors confirm their argument by providing a lot of emotional evidence and some statistical data about the effects …show more content…
Veterans Affairs had long wait lists of veterans that haven't received the care they need. Soldiers who are discharged for their behavior that may have been the result of PTSD or brain injuries are disqualified for benefits. There is no consideration for the fact that their behavior is due to the mental wounds that they have (Hautzinger and Scandlyn). The authors proposes a solution which is to have the conversations about the costs of war to help them heal from the emotional wounds and to help them get back into their normal routines. The authors also urge American citizens to take a few moments to honor those who have endured the costs of war whether it is here in the US or abroad (Hautzinger and Scandlyn). Although the article is very strong the weakness may be that both authors study anthropology. There is no direct link between anthropology and the subject of war. It is hard to see how having a degree in anthropology or being an anthropologist makes someone qualified to discuss war and the effects it has on soldiers. Other than that there are no weak points in the article. Regardless of this I am convinced by the argument. The authors do an excellent job of showing the ways soldiers are affected by war, ways that American citizens do not often think