The
book “Sowing the Dragon’s Teeth” by Philip C. Winslow is about the Landmine
problems in areas that were affected by war, and what’s still left are these
buried bombs that still haunts the residence of these countries. Breaking down
his book Winslow first talks about the problem about these mines that nobody
knows exactly any of them are and that they pose a threat to everybody no
matter where you are since it’s a random encounter. Than the book goes deeper
into chapters such as “Mines are not my problem”(56) and “Under siege”(81)
which he address about the problem at that time. Than before it gets to the end
it talks about what is being done now to educate other people about the Land
mine problems in his chapters like “A museum of Crutches” (105). In these
chapters he is very informative about the problem and the solution that could
have been done to avoid further damage such as the ban of future use land
mines.
Near
the end of his novel, Winslow held interviews, and spoke with victims of these
random encounters that have scar villagers with missing limbs and talks about
their struggle. They are truly the luckiest survivors in the world-to walk
happily down the road, and out of nowhere detonate a landmine blowing off your
flesh and bones. The painful agony, the explosive impact and maybe getting impaled
by shot out random metal shards and to still live. That is truly a blessing,
and the fear to just drive a truck down the road still haunts the people
despite the accident of blowing off one mine, because there are still hundreds
of them still laying around. Philip C. Winslow’s novel “Sowing the Dragon’s
teeth” is a touching piece that hits all the points from the beginning to end on
the issue on landmines.
Philip
C. Winslow uses much of an explicit voice in his novel “Sowing the Dragon’s
teeth” and does so with a strong tone. He speaks straightforwardly about the
problem with evidences such as testimonies and experiences from victims who
have made contact with these bombs. I would like to say he is using the Fallacy
#4 (Appeal to Experience) but I wouldn’t be too sure if it is valid since he is
using someone else experiences. Later on in the chapter he also uses the
Fallacy #5 (Appeal to fear) to aid in his goal with this book which is a
campaign to ban land mines. Overall I want to say that he uses the Fallacy #9
(Assume a posture of Righteousness) because although he is giving us painful
experiences from victims, and the sadden truth about the problem of mines in
the end he talks about the campaign to ban mines. And from his title “Sowing
the Dragon’s teeth” he mentions in his summary that he wants to remove this
dragon tooth from the earth so people can return to live on it peacefully. A
voice of righteousness.
I would
love to say that if you had done past projects on issues like the Khmer Rouge,
or Secret War in Laos than I recommend this book to you. Any Asian History
major, or anybody interested in the culture of South East Asia, or the problems
about the aftermath of any war should read this book. Although the problem with
landmines are focuses more in Cambodia and that region, there are many other
places affected by these remnants of war and literally for they still kill.
Personally I use to be intrigued with the Khmer Rouge in the past and I thought
I knew enough, but reading more in depth, and reading this book, you can never
know enough. Not one person can expect to know about every single pain each person
have felt from a loved one loss from a landmine. It’s like a life being plucked
away at random, and it’s exactly that. As touching as the book is, it’s true;
if you have a passion for that region of studies than I would high recommend
this novel for it talks about the issue from start to present.
Although
this book doesn't provide me directly with a reason why they haven’t tried
looking for better methods to deactivate landmines and if any other procedure
can be made it does give me an idea. Something it does help me understand is
that the measures people are taking to stop these bombs from a prospective view
which is to ban the use of landmines. Another great thing about this book as
well (as browsing through a couple of others) is the passion that many are
showing towards the fight for the removal and ban of landmine. When I first
decided to take on this subject I believed only a few cared about the issue,
going more in depth I realize that there are more than I had picture. If I were
to look the amount 1% I would think that’s the lowest number ever, but 1% of a
million is 10,000 and surely that is a lot!
Quotes:
“Old
black basketball sneakers and sun-bleached bone fragments lie mixed with the
steel and make no sound at all.” Winslow’s (Page 7)
“Based
on information about who laid mines where in Angola in 1990 and the description
of Chisola’s wounds, the device she stepped on was most likely one of these ….”
Winslow’s (page 25)
“Then,
for a month, Loje carried her everywhere, even to the toilet, on his back. She
has only one reflective comment on those days: ‘If I had had poison, I would
have killed myself.’” Winslow (Page 28-29)
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