The interwar years between WWI & WWII

During the interwar years between WWI & WWII, the world was on its continual revolution. The horrors of the trenches were put into literature and art for the masses to see. With the horrors brought forth by this new type of total war, people looked inwards for their inspiration. Artists, writers, architects, philosophers, psychology, scientists, and theologians all found new inspirations. Each with their interpretation on how to bring humans in-touch with their inner selves.
Literature was greatly impacted by the WWI. There were many writers and poets who participated and were forever changed by it. They wrote about the war in all its anti-glory. The battles inspired poetry, plays, narratives, and novels. Each never failing to bring a full description of the barbarity that "civilization" committed upon itself.
Artists also brought change to the view of the world. What once was a plain view of how to see the world had now been turned into abstract. Many new forms of art were given birth. Such schools as cubists and surrealists were created. Art no longer simply represented the world as a picture would but as what a dream would.
One of the most important figures of this time was Albert Einstein. While others of the time created art to be looked at and literature to make one wonder about one self, Einstein changed the world through science. Science that has brought atomic energy and all the inventions that came with radiation. Electronic devices were invented, such as X- rays and most importantly, at least to me, television.
The interwar years continued the radical change in the world brought on by new ways of thought and also by increases in science. WWI created a feeling to look at ourselves and find understanding. Ultimately it was science that has most influenced the world of today. The globe has become one virtual Pangaea again through globalization. While intellectuals continue to argue about what is man's new role in the ever changing phases of the human world, it is the science of Einstein that brings exciting new possibilities to physical reality.

"Far above the feverish gaze of those on the ground, the bodies buried under the mud of the earthly lower depths and the wasted fields, this whole procession advances from the four corners of the horizon, driving back the infinity of the sky and hiding its blue depths."
Henry Barbusse
Under fire

WWI came during the time of the second Industrial Revolution. This was a time of great advancement in technology. Military needs were being met along with civilian needs during this time of great change. This was not only a time of great change in industry but also one in society. For all the change in lifestyles that occurred during the move from rural to urban, there was one state of mind that did not, it was the idea of war as a tool for national advancement. The totality of WWI and WWII led to the loss of millions of lives. Henry Barbusse wrote about his experience in WWI and this line from his book Under Fire best captures the mass deaths of WWI.
Those who have survived the previous battle, are waking from being buried in the mud from the heavy rain. The constant rain, is one of the factors which Barbusse thinks of as the worst of the conditions of the war. The rain is causing this level of mud because of all of the bullets, bodies, and artillery bombardment that has destroyed the once beautiful countryside.
Then Barbusse describes how the entire field is covered in bodies for as far as the eye can see. For Americans, this brings back memories of The Civil War. Advancements in miliary technology along with outdated military tactics brought terrible destruction in that war too. This war in Europe, brought unprecedented death to that region.
Unfortunately WWI was not the end of such mass destructive warfare. WWII would again plunge the world into total war and create fields of death again. Again there would be people writing about their experiences in this brutal time. It is up to people who have experienced these horrors first hand to write about them or to take an active role in their democracies. This is important, so those who have not experienced this can unleash the destructive force of war as a last resort.

I believe that there is more contrast between WWI and Iraq than similarities. I myself think that the Vietnam-Iraq comparison is a stronger one. The biggest similarity that I can see right away in the WWI- Iraq comparison is that they both had their explosion with a terrorist act. One last important comparison is that both were avoidable. From there, there are far too many differences.
The first difference is that America did not even want to get into WWI. America had an isolationist mentality. The war in Europe was a old style European conflict that the U.S. did not wish to enter in. It was only after Germany continued their unrestricted warfare did the United States enter WWI. Others had their conspiracy theory that the war profiteers wanted to enter WWI though. The Bush administration, in my belief, always had every intention of attacking Iraq for what ever reason they have made up now. Unlike WWI, the United States was the aggressor here.
The WWI comparison also fails because after the war, Europe wanted to make Germany suffer. This was especially true in the case of France, who had always been a main target for German aggression. The United States was the aggressor in the Iraq war and now it is trying to rebuild Iraq with BILLIONS in aid.
Wilson did also have his idea of his 14 points. His point that was stressed the most in the Paris peace conference was his idea of self determination. His idea of self determination did not apparently apply to Vietnam or the Middle East. These areas were quickly divided up between France and Britain, thus continuing on their pre-WWI imperialism.
As this current administration is finding out, democracy is something that cannot be forced upon people, especially with bombs and guns. Democracy is something that has to be a peoples choice and it has to be universal. The U.S. was not the perfect example of universal suffrage in the WWI era. The differences in these conflicts are too vast.

Serbian nationalism is still very strong today. Serbian nationalism was one of the many dominoes that started WWI. The Serbian Nationalism is geared today towards Kosovo. Although Kosovo comes later in the history of Serbia, it gave me a first hand glance at Serb pride.
I recently returned this past December from a 12 month deployment to Kosovo. The NATO peace enforcement mission is still going strong there. The enforcement of peace there has been a success there.
During our patrols there we went to both Albanian and Serbian villages equally. Our reception was equally different though. Albanians greeted us with waves and Serbians with not the warmest of stares. The differences were always distinct between the both.
During an interview with a Serb, we asked "if he would cheer for an independent Kosovo soccer team?". His response to this question was textbook. " No of course not, because Kosovo is the heart of Kosovo. The spirit of the Serbs!". Now when I say we asked this question, I really mean some other guy in my squad.
The Serbs were always doing everything to keep themselves separate from Kosovo, to our frustration. Kosovo uses Euros and they want to use the Serbian money of Dinars. They ask for separate municipalities to deal with their basic services. The Serbian flag is always made sure to fly high and visible.
This constant want of separation because of nationalism is a big thorn in improving the situation in Kosovo. Kosovo is a beautiful land with great people, but its potential is being ruined by nationalism on not just the Serbian part but on the Albanians part too. Nationalism can be a great driving force to raise a group of people to their proper station in a society and or it can break that society apart.