The Things Tim O'Brien Carries | Big Think
Summary
TLDRThe speaker reflects on carrying a mix of emotions, including delight and sadness, from their experiences over two decades. They express a deep sense of obligation to honor the savagery and senselessness they witnessed, particularly the impact on the families of the fallen. The narrative is solemn, highlighting the lasting burden on parents, especially mothers, who continue to mourn their children lost in war.
Takeaways
- đ°ïž The speaker carries a sense of the passage of time and its impact on their perspective.
- đ There is a mix of emotions including delight and sadness in the work the speaker does, reflecting a complex inner state.
- đŁïž The speaker is revisiting questions about war that were prevalent two decades ago, indicating a cyclical nature of certain issues.
- đ A tangible burden is felt due to the ongoing relevance of past war experiences and questions.
- đšâđŠ The presence of two children, though not physically present, influences the speaker's identity and actions.
- đ A strong sense of obligation to do justice to the experiences of war and its victims is expressed.
- đą The speaker feels a deep sadness and solemn obligation, especially when discussing the impact on families of the fallen.
- đ”đŽ The burden borne by parents who lost their children in war is a significant theme, highlighting the long-term effects on families.
- đ The speaker's words aim to honor not only a friend but also the broader community of those affected by war, including the Vietnamese and Americans.
- đ€ The setting of the speech is an occasion meant for lucid discussion, indicating the importance of clear communication about war's impact.
Q & A
What emotions does the speaker express about their experiences?
-The speaker expresses a mix of delight in doing what they do, sadness about the ongoing relevance of their work, and a tangible burden from the past.
What does the speaker feel they carry with them?
-The speaker carries a sense of obligation to do justice to the savagery and senselessness they witnessed, as well as the memories of two kids they mentioned.
How does the speaker describe the impact of war on the parents of those who died?
-The speaker describes the ongoing burden on the parents of the deceased, suggesting they still bear the weight of their loss, especially the mothers and fathers who may not sleep many nights without remembering their children.
What is the speaker's goal when discussing war?
-The speaker aims to talk lucidly about the effects of war, to do justice to the memories of the deceased, and to honor the experiences of those affected by war.
What is the significance of the speaker mentioning 'chips' in the context of war?
-The mention of 'chips' likely refers to the speaker's commitment to honoring the memory of a friend or comrade, possibly named Chip, who was lost in the war.
What does the speaker imply about the cyclical nature of discussing war?
-The speaker implies that despite the passage of time, the discussions about war remain the same, indicating a sense of frustration and the feeling of being stuck in a cycle.
How does the speaker's past influence their current work and feelings?
-The speaker's past experiences with war continue to influence their current work, as they feel a responsibility to address the same questions about war they faced decades ago.
What is the 'solemn obligation' the speaker refers to?
-The 'solemn obligation' refers to the speaker's sense of duty to honor the memory of those who died in the war, particularly the children and their grieving parents.
Why does the speaker feel a sense of sadness when doing their work?
-The speaker feels sadness because they are still grappling with the same issues of war that they faced two decades ago, indicating that little progress has been made in addressing the causes and effects of war.
What is the role of the speaker in the context of the script?
-The speaker appears to be an individual with a deep connection to the experiences of war, possibly a veteran or someone who has closely studied the effects of war, and is now sharing their insights and reflections.
Outlines
đ Reflections on a Long Journey
The speaker reflects on the many years they have lived and the weight they carry from their experiences. There is a mix of both positive and negative feelings, with an acknowledgment of the complexity of life. They also express a deep love for what they do, despite the sadness it brings. This sadness is tied to the realization that many of the issues they face, particularly related to war, remain unresolved, leaving them burdened with the same questions they dealt with decades ago.
đšâđ©âđ§âđŠ Carrying Loved Ones in Spirit
The speaker mentions their two children, who, although not physically present, are deeply intertwined with their being. The childrenâs presence is felt spiritually, and they have significantly influenced the person the speaker has become. This presence contributes to the emotional weight the speaker carries.
âïž The Burden of Witnessing War's Atrocities
The speaker conveys a strong sense of obligation to honor the horrors and senselessness they witnessed during war. This obligation is especially poignant in moments like these, where they feel the responsibility to do justice to the people they lost, including a friend named Chip, as well as the ghosts of both Vietnamese and American soldiers who died. The speaker also empathizes with the grief of parents who lost their children in war, imagining the long-lasting sorrow that continues to haunt them.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄobligation
đĄsavagery
đĄsenselessness
đĄburden
đĄdelight
đĄwar
đĄjustice
đĄghosts
đĄsolemn
đĄmothers and dads
đĄorlando
Highlights
Carrying a lot of years and experiences, both good and bad.
A sense of delight in doing what one does, despite the challenges.
A belief in the importance of one's work, even when it's tinged with sadness.
The burden of revisiting questions about war after two decades.
The emotional impact of realizing the cyclical nature of certain issues.
The presence of two children, metaphorically carried, influencing the speaker's perspective.
The internalization of the children's influence on personal growth.
A palpable sense of obligation to do justice to the experiences witnessed.
The desire to honor the savagery and senselessness of war.
The solemn obligation to remember the dead, especially their parents.
The emotional connection to the mothers and fathers who continue to grieve.
The difficulty of moving on from the loss of a child, even after many years.
The importance of lucidly discussing difficult topics in order to do justice to the memories of those lost.
The responsibility to honor the memories of friends and comrades.
The recognition of the ongoing burden carried by those who have lost loved ones to war.
The solemnity of the obligation to remember and honor the past.
Transcripts
[Music]
what do I carry I carry a lot of years
that I feel that are and that's not all
bad it's partly bad I I carry
a what I think I probably was probably
come through in this talk we've had
today is a a kind
of delight in in
doing what I do and a believer in doing
what I do along with a sadness about
doing what I
do um because two decades later I'm
fueling many of the questions about war
that I fieled it all those years ago and
think oh my God you know that's s back
where we
were and then
some that that's feels like a tangible
burden um but I carry with me these two
kids I mentioned and even though they're
not physically here they're
they're all around me and the person I
become and they're living inside
me and
uh I carry a
slight uh but palpable feel of of
obligation to uh do justice to
the savagery I witnessed and the
senselessness of it and
the the
um the sadness of it and it it
would that sense of obligation is with
me especially on occasions like this
like this one where we're doing trying
to talk lucidly about the stuff is to do
justice to chip my buddy and to the
ghosts of the the uh dead Vietnamese and
dead Americans and especially their
mothers and dads who are still bearing
the burden even though their kids are a
long dad I doubt they go to sleep many
nights
without some poor woman in Orlando
remembering
her her son of 40 years ago that she
never got
to ever hold
again and there that's pretty solemn
solemn obligation
[Music]
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