There is a Soldier in All of Us

When we were addressing this topic of War and Popular culture in class, I immediately thought of this commercial for Call of Duty. The title is “There is a Soldier in All of Us” which was perfect for today’s topic. I think this kind of answers the question how America understands war. This game is letting people from all over who range in age to surround themselves in military tactics. Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Kimmel are both featured in this commercial. If they can fight than so can others. This commercial concurs with what Stahl was saying in the article talking about the boundary between citizen and soldier. This commercial depicts that they are one in the same.

An additional topic that was brought into the mix was that of, do video games like shooting and blowing stuff up have an affect in the real world. I feel that history shows that video games can have an affect on individuals because the simulation of the game becomes too real. Take the Columbine shootings for example. The shootings were to have taken place by students who had played shooter games and wanted to try it in “real life.” Another example that does not have to do with shootings, but rumors have spread that the 9/11 pilots used the video game flight simulator to learn how to fly a plane. So, I feel like there is a relationship between video gamers believing that games can become reality.

However, I do think that there are individuals that are mature enough to handle the content simulated in the shooter/military games. Personally, I have become addicted to Call of Duty. For no particular reason do I enjoy this game other than the fact that it is fast paced. I have no desire to make my addiction to the game a reality. In class, the idea was mentioned that teens and younger kids are being targeted and may not have the mind to understand what is going on. I totally agree with this comment. I think that at a younger age there are so many advertisements and video games being pushed out with incredible graphics that kids what to pretend they are something or someone in a video game that they are not and never will be but don’t know it yet.