To be brutally honest it is Sunday and I am feeling lazy so I thought I would re-post this article from my other blog, Gulf South Free Press, this for those readers that do not know of my other blog….I do not want to have them miss my brilliant interpretations of things.

I recently got an email from a person that served in the 9th Infantry Division, the unit I served with in Vietnam, saying that he and others were putting together a trip to Vietnam and would like it if I would accompany them as well.

My reply was short and sweet….NO!  I saw that country twice ….do not want to do it a third time.

That email got me to thinking about war tourism.

I know many people like to re-enact and visit famous battlefields and such….but why?  Most do not care one whit for history so what makes the ugliness of war so attractive?

I can understand to a point if you are a student in the field of Conflict Management or Political History….but to vacation with war is just stupid at least to me.

Any way there is a big industry in war tourism…Gettysburg, the Alamo, Battle of New Orleans, Normandy, Pearl Harbor, etc. etc., etc…..again….why?

War tourism, despite the contradiction in its name, refers to recreational travel to areas associated with past or current war zones. These destinations encompass active conflict zones, famous battlefields, war memorials, cemeteries, and museums. Sites of darker historical significance, such as prison camps, mass graves, and execution sites, even fall into this category. The motivations behind such travel are multifaceted, with educational and memorial purposes at the forefront.

While it may be challenging to comprehend the appeal of traveling to regions marked by devastation and conflict, war tourism is not new. It can be traced back to the 19th century, during wars like the Napoleonic, American Civil, and Crimean Wars. Early war tourists were observed visiting war-ravaged cities’ battlefields after the fighting had ceased. Onlookers would picnic at a safe distance from skirmishes and take home macabre souvenirs. Their motivations, it seems, ranged from morbid curiosity to a desensitization to death and suffering.

Another common motivation for war tourism is education and preserving collective memory. Students, scholars, and history enthusiasts often embark on tours of former battlefields, museums, and prison camps. Their primary goal is often to gain a deeper understanding of how wars have shaped a region’s history.

https://travelnoire.com/what-is-war-tourism

I do not agree that it is to educate and impart some sort of understanding among participants….like I stated earlier in this post….most could care less about the history behind the battle but rather some perverse sense of awe at the concept of death and destruction.

I visited many war sites but not out of fascination but rather to further my knowledge because in those days I was a grad student in Conflict and political history….did it help my understanding?

Not so much but it did throw some light on the myths that pop up around war.

So no I will not be going back to Vietnam for a ‘visit’…..I do not need healing, I do not want to heal, the war helped make me who I am and I will forever be grateful for that.

Any thoughts on war tourism?

Have a great Sunday and as always….Be Well and Be Safe…..

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”